dayes and Meats and Drinks some Running this way and some that way and forging things upon the Apostles and Churches in Asia saying that John the Disciple gave them an order to observe Easter the fourteenth day of the Month And Rome and the Western parts alledge Peter and Paul for their Author how they left them this tradition both alike true for this came up more by custom then any injunction from the Apostles or tradition either for they condemned such things in their life time and called them beggarly rudiments such as inhabit at Rome they began to make fasts and fasted three weeks before Easter excepting the Saturday and the Sunday Illyricum Greece and Alexandria began their fasting dayes six weeks before Easter and that they call fourty dayes fasting or Lent others begin to fast seven weeks before Easter Yet in all the while they use abstinency but onely fifteen dayes and hath intermission amongst those dayes and yet calls these fourty dayes fasting or Lent so that they disagreed in the time disagreed in the months disagreed in the dayes and times and in the abstinence and contended about these things or for life and death and excommunicating one another and judging one another Hereticks and at last when they got power killed one another and stirred up the Emperours one against another and this in the 350 or 400 years after Christ. And all this fasting was but from some meat as though some had been clean and some unclean some abstained onely from flesh and fed onely upon fish and abstain from all other Creatures others upon fish and fowls of the Air affirming their Original is of the water and so no flesh and others some fasted till nine of the Clock and then eat of divers sorts as they pleased and here was their fast and their Lent about which all this contention and stir all which practices are condemned in the Apostles writings and such ignorance and hypocrisie for the Kingdom of God stands not in meats and drinks and yet the Protestants and them that calls themselves reformed will needs presse these things as holy Institutions when as it is manifest when the Christians in former dayes began to judge one another about these things and strive and bite one another and devoure one another and they lost the power and then Mystery Babylon began to rise these things became her Merchandize and these practices became to be called Christianity which Christ and the Apostles would have been ashamed of And about the Sacrament great contention arose as about the time and the manner some did receive the bread and wine every Sabbath day yet Alexandria and Rome do not use it Yet the Egyptians joyning to Alexandria and the Inhabitants of Thebes they had another order they did receive it when they had banquetted and filled themselves with delicates and then received their Communion and so they judged one another in these things In Thessalonica Macedonia and Hellas in Achaia they baptize only on the Easter holy dayes Likewise in Hellas Jerusalem and Thessalia their service they said with Candle-light likewise in Caesaria Cappadocia and at Cyprus the Priests and Bishops expound the Scripture on the Saturdayes and Sundayes by Candle-light as Socrates saith Lib. 5. In this time it is said the Customes and observations were so many that none was able to find two which did retain one Order of the service At Caesaria in Cappadocia they receive not into communion such as sin after Baptism and even so the Macedonians in Hellespont did the same The Phrygians allow not of two Marriages The Original Authors of so great diversity of services rights and customes were Bishops which governed their Churches at several times and such as do like of such practices have commended them to posterity for Laws and such vain and frivolous Contentions did arise in this age whereby it is manifest the Apostacy from the life and power of God was great and Gods wisdome and the Unity of the Spirit was wanting and Philosophy and customary practise was their chief Foundation And one Bishop exiled another and complained to the Emperors and banished one another and so the sheep was made havock of and starved and scattered and the name of Christ and Christian came to be evil spoken of by the many fractions and contentions that were amongst them But to return to the Bishops of Rome after the raign of Constantine in which persecution ceased many Superstitious Injunctions and Idolatrous practices were set up in the first five hundred years which I shall not much trouble the Reader with further then what is already said But divers other things were brought in afterwards more gross then the former Gregory called the Great the Bishop of Rome of whom it is said of all that went before him he was the basest or worst and of all that came after him he was the best It is he that brought in this Title among the Roman Bishops to be called the servant of Gods servants but by his practise he proved a Lord over Gods servants consciences and over their faith he made an Act that Priests should not marry a wife and he ordained a book called the Service or Letany which goes under the name of Gregories Mass-book to be recived in all Churches After the death of him Fabianus was Bishop who continued scarce 2. years he was the last of the Roman Bishops who had not the Title of universal Bishop or Head of the Church he was the last of sixty five Bishops before the first Pope he died in the year six hundred and five Palagius the first was the 69 Bishop of Rome in the year 355. he ordained that Hereticks and Shismaticks should be punished with temporal death there was 65 Bishops before Boniface the third who was the first Pope and since there hath been 179 Popes Boniface the third who succeeded Fabianus was the first Pope he reigned but one year and did more hurt in that year then Gregory could do in many before he obtained of the Emperour Phocas that he and his Successors after him in the See of Rome above all other Churches should have the preheminence and that the Bishop of Rome should be the head of all the Churches of Christ in Christendom alleadging this frivolous and reasonless reason that Saint Peter had left to Saint Peter his successors in Rome the Keyes of binding and loosing for before this Constantinople Asia and other Churches their Bishops had some stroak and divers times many of the Bishops of Rome were reprehended by the rest but now obtaining this Decree of Phocas he began to take head over all other Churches and this Phocas to aspire to the Empire of Rome he murthered his own Master and Mauritius the Emperour and his Children so Phocas somewhat fearing and willing to have Boniface his favour gratifies him and condescends to all his petitions and grants him to be universal head Bishop over all Christian Churches and there was
not in the Doctrine and Ordinances of Christ went out into the World and the World went after them and so lost both Power and form of Godliness and invented things some from the Heathen and much from the Priests under the Law Sextus the first commanded that the Corporis should be of linen cloath only and that of the finest and purest and forbad that Lay-men should handle the Hallowed Vessels and namely Women were Prohibited hallowing the Priest Vestures and Altars and Cloaths diversity of vestures of sundry orders were muchwhat taken from the example of the Hebrew Priest-hood was practised and ordained by S. even Bishop of Rome And Sabinianus decreed first that the people should be assembled together to hear Service at certain hours by ringing of bells And John the 22. Bishop of Rome ordained that bells should be roled every day three times and that theâ— every man should say three times Aâ—emary as Polidore saith Lib. 6. The invention of bells was from imitation of the Hebrews because the high-Priest had in the skirts of his uppermost garments little bells to ring when he was in the holy place within the vaile And the banners and trophies which are hung up in Churches were taken from the Heathen which did bear them to signifie the Conquest of their enemies and these have been set up in the Churches so called by some of the Bishops of Rome to declare as they said the triumph of Christ over death and hell Now all Nations who are called Christians look to your original and from whence these practices have risen and those things are continued even amongst the Protestant Churches are either from the Iews or from the Heathen or from the Apostatized Bishop of Rome long after the dayes of the Apostles and so these Hoods and Surplices and Caps and Bonnets and Cowls and Tipets and Miters and canonical Coats and Girdles and divers strange attires it is like to prove these things we must have Aarons breeches brought in and the linnen Ephod and his Sons Girdles and Coats and Bonnets and the high-Priests Mitre and all these Candlesticks for a Gospel proof CHAP. X. Concerning Mattens and singing of Psalms by course in musical tunes and supplications and short prayers called Letany THE Jews under the Law had many Officers which belonged to the Temple-worship among which were singers as the sons of Corah and the sons of Asaph and Exrahites and chief Musitians c. and divers Psalms were given forth by the Spirit of God by David and others upon several occasions sometimes after victories and sometimes when he felt the presence of God and the working of his power and who were eye-witnesses of his wonderous works as the rest of Israel was many times as at the dedication of the Temple and also when they came out of captivity Neh. 7. 44. chap. 12. 27. 42 43. Psal. 149. 3 150. 3 4. and all these Singers of songs pertain to the Temple and the first Covenant and to that Priest-hood which could not continue by reason of the faultiness thereof Heb. 8. 7. and because all these things did not make perfect as pertaining to the conscience and was but to continue for a time untill the time of Reformation and then an end of the Temple Priests and Worship of the Singers and Porters and Organs and stringed Instruments as in matter of worship an end was put to all these when he was offered up that perfecteth for ever them that are sanctified And the Christians and true Believers in the primitive times who had received the spirit in which they did Rejoyce in and with what words the Spirit was pleased to utter and they that had received the Holy Ghost did joy in the Holy Ghost and they that did sing sang in the Spirit and with the Spirit and with understanding from the feeling of the living which they had in their hearts of Gods presence and his assurance and he that had a Psalm might sing but all the Church did not sing together a Psalm was a gift of the Spirit every one had it not there was diversity of Gifts and diversity of Operations Prophecy Interpretation and a Psalm were Gifts which were received from the Spirit and not by tradition 1 Carinth 14. 15. Ephes. 5. 19. James 5. 13. And they that overcome and were redeemed from the Earth who had followed the Lamb who had given them victory over sâ—n death and the Grave they sang a new song which none could learn but those whose names were Written in the Lambs Book of life Rev. 14. 1 2 3. chap. 19. 1. 6. and these were the songs of the redeemed which God had delivered our of their Enemies Hands and they were witnesses of his Wonderous Works and praised the Lord in the Spirit and with understanding and did not get a form of words of Davids words which he spake after his victories and Triumphs over his enemies and also they prayed in the Spirit and with understanding and spoke as it gave utterance and as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and were not limitted as how Short or how Long but as the Spirit gave utterance and not limited to hours and set times but when the Spirit of God which they had received moved thereunto and then their Prayers were accepted and were as sweet incense Rev 5. 8. chap. 8. 3. 〈◊〉 and were not stinted to set hours but as they saw in the Wisdom of God and were moved by his Spirit But since the Apostacy that the Spirit hath been lost by many and the power and some of form retained and then they began to imitate three times a day and seven times a day but Mattens at set times and hours was appointed by Hierom as Polydore and others say Also the Heathen they had Mattens as Apuleus saith which they sung at divers times of the day and so sorted the hours of the day for sacrifices which they did offer unto their Idols Pelagius the second was the first that Commanded Priests to say them dayly and said as the just man falleth seven times so by instant prayers and Mattens he might as often rise and amend Urbanus the second ordained the Mattens called the Ladies Mattens to be said daily and confirmed them in a Councel which he had at Mount Clear in France and Damasus Bishop of Rome gave Commandment that Martens should be said or sung in all Churches and added Gloria Patri to the end of every Psalm Damasus also instituted that Psalms should be said or sung by course Damasus also Commanded that the Creed should be said every hour And Vitilianus invented the decent tunes wherewith the hymns be sung and joyned the Organs but there was divers and sundry manners of prayers and forms and Mattens and singing devised by many as Bennets Monks had one use and Bernard another and Dominicks brethern had one order by themselves and every provincial Bishop made a several use in
Empire and led a Private life having Raigned one and twenty years which was in the year 305. these two latter Emperors Maximinius and Constantius who were called Cesars now became the Emperors of the whole one in the East and the other in the West Maxentius was set up Emperor by the Souldiers and goes against Maximinius the Emperor who sent Severus his Son to War against him which Severus being slain Lycinius Caesar was chosen in the room so that Maximinius Constantius and Maxentius continued the tenth Persecution after Dioclesian and his partner had given over saving Constantius and esepcially his Son Constantius were kind to the Christians Constantius Chused those who refused to offer Sacrifice and commit Idolatry to be in his Court and Banished the Heathen Idolaters as unfit for his service that were Traitors to God and this was about the year 311. On the other hand Maximinius the Emperor and his partner was very Wicked in Idolatry and Cruelty God struck him with a great Plague in the Belly and secret parts which purrifying broke our with swarms of Lice which caused such a stink that the Physitian could not endure the same wherefore he slew the Physitian and by the anguish of his Disesase he slacked Persecution making confession that his Persecuting of them had brought this upon him and so acknowledged his offence and the Infidels divers exalted the God of the Christians yet afterwards being incensed against the Christians this Emperor set up Decrees afresh to Persecute the Christians whereby many Bishops and others were Martyred here was no titles of Lord Bishops and Arch-Bishops not yet in the first three hundred years neither was there any Pope then that did lay claim to supremecy over all the Churches neither had these Bishops whole Counties and Provinces for their maintenance neither all Rome Constantinople Antioch and Jerusalem and all People therein for their Dioceses but them only of the Christians who believed in each of those places but afterwards in the great Persecution there followed great famine and pestilence on the Heathen which caused the Persecution to cease and caused Maximinius to revoke his Decrees and punished the Inchanters that incensed him against the Christians Maxillianus who was joyned in the Empire with Dioclesian who laid down the Goverment of the Empire endeavoured to have slain Constantius the Emperor that he might have got up again into the Empire but failing of his enterprize was slain of Constantius Maxentius this time Reigns wickedly and tyrannically at Rome which caused the Romans to entreat Costantine to come against Maxentius for his Wickedness who made War against him and upon a Bridge made of boats over the River Tyber he was intraped by Constantine and drowned in Tyber and thus the Righteous Judgements of God at last came upon them for their Blood and cruelty as a recompenence and a reward for their deeds but Constantine set forth Decrees of favour to the Christians Marcellinus was Bishop of Rome about the tenth year of Dioclesian in the Persecution he sacrificed to Idols and was excommunicated by three hundred Bishops but afterwards was killed in the Massacre of Dioclesian Marcellus succeeded and one Lucina a rich maid of Rome dying made Marcellus her heir and gave him all her substance and from that time saith Pollidore lib. 1. the Bishops of Rome were greatly enriched and so began to grow up in earthly honours higher and higher But Constantine the Emperor about the year 318. caused a Cross to be made of Gold and precious stones and to be born before his Army instead of a Standard when he went to fight against Maxentius Maximinius and Lucimus these were the least Persecutors of the Christians in the Romane Monarchy which this Constantine did vanquish and set the Christians at liberty who had been Persecuted about three hundred years and so afterwards this Cross others began to Imitate and set up in their Churches and became a flat Idol notwithstanding after this some Persecution was stirring in the Eastern Counties yet in Rome and the Western parts and there was no general Persecution for many years and also in the East part he subdued those Tyrants and we read of no Persecution against the Christians untill the time that John Wickliff suffered which was when the Spirit of the Heathen was entred into the Bishops of Rome and Popes who had retained the name of Christian but lost the life and the Power he began with fire to Persecute the Members of Christ. But long before this time the Wisdom and Power of God was much lost among many of the Bishops of Rome and also divers others that the Apostacy was entred in and they made great contentions about Easter and about dayes which should be Fasted and some was for two and some was for three and some was for forty dayes all the Churches of Asia and their Bishops was for keeping it the fourteenth Moon as Eusebius saith lib. 5. For Asia observed the Feast of Easter and they called a great Council together and decreed that it should be observed the fourteenth Moon upon what day soever in that week the Moon fell and appointed fasting dayes and Meetings and Synods in all parts met together about this trivial matter in the year 199. At Rome likewise there was a Synod gathered together wherein Victor the fourteenth Bishop was President and the Eastern Churches decreed it the day aforesaid and fastings before it and a Western Church decreed it to be the day wherein Christ rose from death to Life but Victor Bishop of Rome with the adjoyned Congregations pronounces flatly all the Westren Churches to be excommunicated Persons and gives them up to Sathan so that it became a Proverb that the Bishop of Rome must judge all and be judged of none this was about the year one hundred ninety nine after Christ when they had respit from Persecution And Iraeneus Bishop of Lyons he was of Victors mind that it ought to be celebrated on the Sunday only yet reproved Victor Bishop of Rome Peters successor as they say for cutting off all the Churches of God in Asia for such a trivial thing And Policarpus and Anisatus contended about trivial things and although there was much good in them both yet this weakned the Christians and led the minds of People out into the observance of outward things and neglected the life and the Power Lucius the two and twentieth Bishop of Rome about the year 255. and Stephanus who succeeded him a great contention in their time about baptism the matter was whether they that returned from any heresie should be rebaptized or be received in with Prayer and laying on of hands only and so here was a great jangling and contention about outward things which were geting up as Idols And Cyprian Bishop of Carthage judged that Hereticks had no way to be purged from Error but by baptism but Stephanus was greatly offended with Cyprian for this After Stephen Xystus succeeded and
the first rise of the Pope But Phocas for his murther was justly rewarded for Heraclius the Emperour cut off his hands and feet and cast him into the Sea but Rome would not so soon loose her supremacy once given as the giver lost his life and ever since that time the Popes have holden defended and maintained the same by all force pollicy and cruelty that possible can be this was in the year 606. And so the Bishop now became Pope his rise was not because of his holiness or righteousness or doctrine or holy practices suitable unto Peter whom he saith he succeeded for his Doctrine and practice Peter had condemned the same things before Boniface was but his rise was by a Heathen Emperor who had Command over a great party at that time and so by the force of his edict he claims authority Vitilianus the eleventh Pope in the year 657 he confirmed that practice which was set up before by some other of the Bishops of Rome that organs should be set up in Churches Paschal in the year 817 was the first that appointed Cardinals to be in number 70. Adrian the third the 47 Pope in the year 884 ordained that the Emperour of Rome from thenceforth should have no more to do with the election or confirmation of the Pope but that it should be left wholly to the Romane Clergy So now that which first gave the Pope power to wit the Emperour he now throws off the yoak and if the Emperour please not him hath stirred up the people to mannage war against him and against divers Princes as may be seen in the histories of latter ages Sergius the third was the first who ordained bearing of Candles in the feast of the purification of Mary thence called Candlemas day Calistine the second in the year 1143 was the first inventer of cursing or anathamizing any who received not his Ordinances with Bell Book and Candle Innocent the third 1198 was the first that brought in the Doctrine of Transubstantiation and imposed auricular confession upon the people Clement the fifth 1350 was the first that sold indulgencies and pardons Sixtus the fourth 1471 brought in the beads to be numbred when they prayed authorized the Ladies psalter Leo the tenth in the year 1553 set Indulgencies and pardons on sale in Germany and France which things caused Luther in Germany and Zunglius amongst the Switzers to write against the Popes Ministers and afterwards questioned many points of the Popish Doctrine upon which the Pope burned Luthers writings and condemned him for an Heretick and Luther burned the Popes Canon Law at Wittenburg and declared the Pope to be a persecutor and a very Antichrist The Inquisition began first in Spain which was set up by the Papists there to terrifie the Moors who had inhabited Spain for 760 years and so long Spain was governed by the Emperour of the Moors in Africa until the year 1492. And after this time the inquisttion began against the Moors which was not so cruel at first as afterwards it began to be against the Protestants and is now accounted the greatest violence and torture and the greatest Tyranny and severest kind of persecution upon the Earth insomuch that many papists abhor the very name and mention of it and to the death withstand the bringing in of this slavery amongst them the extremity and rigor of this inquisition untill the year 1609. in Philip the third King of Spains time notwithstanding though the Moors did make a shew of the Papists Religion because of the Inquisition yet eleven hundred thousand of them was forced to quit the Country it was so dreadful And all these kind of Ordinances and Institutions before mentioned compare them with the Scriptures and the cruelty and severity which hath been exercised towards them who could not receive them none who have their eyes open in any measure but must needs conclude that all this is in the Apostacy and so all who prosess reformation flee from these things and from this Spirit and from this Church who forces and kills all them that oppose who are under his power and why should any plead for the holding up of those practices as good and warrantable when as so many has been killed about them and so many has been led from the life and power of godliness while they received and practised these humane inventions vain and customary traditions for the Doctrine of Christ and for Apostolick Ordinances and must it not needs be concluded them who would tye people up and bind men to observe such and such things as is mentioned before in this book and persecute for not observing that they are they who draws back to perdition and keeps people from laying hold upon eternal life Many more vain practises and Doctrines which have been brought in since the Apostles dayes might be mentioned but in that which is said already the understanding will see that there hath been a great Apostacy both in life doctrine and practise from the Apostles time downward untill now that which is called the Catholick Church in Rome is in it And likewise diverse of them who are separated from her sticks too much in these things because of the custom Tradition and Antiquity of them In part I have shewn their Antiquiry and their rise and also shewn that which is more antient then they from which they have swarved to the intent that all may come out of Babylon and drink no more of the cup nor buy no more of the Merchandize nor wear no more the harlots cognizance nor the false Churches at tire but that all may come to see before this heap of dark confusion and beyond the vain observations which hath been introduced which maketh no man through the observation thereof more acceptable unto God but rather twofold more like children of the wicked one who abode not in the truth CHAP. XIIII Something further of the Decrees and Ordinances of the Church of Rome which are holden out for Apostolical Ordinances POpe Paul about the year 757 condemned the Councel at Constantinople for condemning worshipping of Images he wrote a book of the worshipping and vitility of Images calling them the Laymens Kalendar Pope Adrian about the year 770 cloathed the image of Saint Peter with silver and covered the Altar of Saint Paul with a pall of gold and condemned them for Hereticks who kept Peter and Pauls Doctrine which declared against idols Pope Nicholas about the year 858 enlarged the Popes Decrees equaling them to the writings of the Apostles he decreed that service should be said in Latine And although by the Emperours the Pope was first elected yet now having got head did climb up so high in power and pride and arrogancy endeavoured that no Emperour should be crowned without his leave in Germany And Pope Clement the fifth excommunicated Andronicus Peleologus Emperour of Constantinople as a Heretick because he would not suffer the Greek Church to appeal to
THE GLORY OF THE True Church DISCOVERED As it was in its PURITY in the PRIMITIVE TIME Also A Manifestation how and when the Apostacy came and how long it hath continued in the Church of Rome proved to be in it because she differs in Doctrin Practice from the Church of Christ in the Apostles dayes Published for this end that People may be informed and their understandings opened to discern of the times and seasons and see the difference between the Lambs Wife and the Mother of Harlots By one who desires that all may come to the Knowledge of the Truth and be saved and walk in the Light of the Lord FRANCIS HOWGIL LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls 1661. TO THE READER OR Readers GReat hath been the Wisdom which God hath shed abroad in the hearts of his People and made known unto his servants through Ages wherein he hath made known his mind and will at sundry times and in divers manners sometimes by Types sometimes by Shadows and Representations sometimes by Dreams sometimes by Visions sometimes by Prophecy and there was not the least Ministration but it had a glory in it and the one living God manifested his mind unto the sons of men who feared his Name in every Generation and shewed unto them and signified his mind unto them what he was and shewed unto them how he would be worshipped and they that were obedient unto that which was made manifest in every Age and Ministration found acceptance with the Lord and the peace of God in their hearts After man had transgressed and gone from his Maker and lost the guide of his youth and broken Gods Covenant then blindness came upon him and a vail was betwixt him and his Maker and man increased and grew in an earthly part and lusted after earthly things whith fed and increased that part and the Image of God was lost in which the creature delighted yet notwithstanding such was and is the Love of God towards his Creation and to his workmanship that he did not utterly cast off man for ever but followed him to draw him back again out of the transgression to have unity with him who was his Maker and when man was gone into the darkness the Lord stooped so low as to come near him and to that state he was in and made a Covenant with man when mans heart was outward upon outward things and gave him commands outward and Statutes and Ordinances outward that he might worship therein which were shadows and types of some better thing to come and these were the Ordinances of the first Covenant which pertained to the changeable part that was above the seed but they typed forth more Heavenly things which was to be revealed in due time and when the seed came to be manifested and raised up they had an end and the cloud passed away and the day did spring forth in clearness and he brought forth which restored all that believe unto God viz. Christ Jesus then did God more clearly manifest himself in the earth through his Son who had the will of the Father and declared it who rent the vail and put an end to the shadows and blotted out the hand-writing and ended the types and figures and all that believed in him who was the end of them and the sum of all he overthrew the nature in them which was changeable unto which they pertained until the time of Reformation which was when he was sacrificed up a Propitiation for the sins of the whole world and they that did believe and received him came to be the Sons of God and declared the mind of God as it was revealed and as the spirit gave utterance and many did believe and did grow up and become of one heart mind and soul and worshipped God with one accord and in the spirit and in the power of the Father and separated from the Jewish worship and the form thereof and met together in the Power of God and glorified God and spoke of the things of his Kingdom unto all that waited for it freely and the Lord was honoured by them and glorified in them But soon after the mystery of godliness was brought forth the mystery of iniquity began to work and opposed the work of the Lord and transformed into the similitude and outward appearance and form and yet lived in the flesh and there began to be an apostacy and a deviation from that glory and power which was once revealed and Antichrist wrought with signs and lying wonders and got the words and hated the life and power and them that appeared in it and then they that were under his Government and Reign hated the Reign of Christ and said in their hearts we will not have him to rule over us though in words they confess him and then persecuted and drove the true Church into the wilderness and set up imitations and inventions and traditions and vain customs which they have called Apostolical and holy Institutions which are contrary unto Primitive Institutions and Ordinances onely brought in by them when darkness began to spread over the earth when the Bishops in the first three hundred years after Christ began to contend about dayes and times and meats and drinks and Rome began to claim superiority over all Churches called Christian and the Pope became as a Law-giver I have led thee through divers ages and times as briefly as possible may be to single out the Original and beginning of those things and who were the first Ordainers of them betwixt this and the Apostles dayes which are now accounted as holy Institutions The state and glory of the true Church in this Treatise thou wilt see before the Apostacy and the state in the Apostacy how she fled into the wilderness and how Mystery Babylon was raised and the false Church called her self visible many of her Doctrines and Practices which are contrary to the Primitive Church are here discovered and the Authors and formers made known whereby thou may come to see a difference in the Ordinances of the true Church and the Traditions and Inventions of the false Church which are too much contended for in this day by them who say they are come to the true Reformation according to the Primitive times but thou wilt see as thou compares but their practice with the Primitive times to be quite contrary and to be but smoke and that which has darkened the ayr clouded peoples understandings and hath led them into ignorance and darkness so that the way of Truth hath not been discovered unto many but the Lord is arisen and that which comprehends time is made manifest and all that which hath got up in the Apostacy is viewed and seen and laid open to the view of all that they may depart out of these things which are but the inventions and traditions of men in which Eternal Life is not to be had Read with meekness and
were quickned by it in their hearts and minds who believed and heard the voice of him who was the Son of God and so came to live Who could not be made alive in the exercising themselves in the Ordinances and many believed in him and he chose unto him Disciples who believed in him and sent them out to preach Repentance and to begin at Jerusalem though they were the chiefest professors and ordinance men and were for conformity to the Ordinances of the first Covenant yet repentance was to be preached to them and the first Principles of Religion though they had been and were the greatest professors and observers of the Ordinances of the first Covenant that was in the Earth at that time And afterwards he sent out Disciples and gave them Commandment to preach and Disciple all Nations in the name of the Father Son and holy Ghost and these which he sent out to preach the Gospel unto whom he gave power to cast out Devils and work Miracles Prophesied after a season the word of the Kingdom both to Jews and Gentiles according as the Prophets had testified And these who was sent out and made Ministers by the holy Ghost and received gifts from the holy Ghost for the work of the Ministery they preached not up the Ordinances of the first Covenant but preached Christ the everlasting Covenant and the power of God and the wisdome of God for the remission of sin and the word of faith they declared in the mouth and in the heart and went not to Tables of stone to direct people thither but to bring people to believe in him who was the Light of the World and lighteth every man that cometh into the World that all men through him might believe And many did believe in him who was the Covenant and did believe through the Apostles words who was commissionated and fitted for the work of the Ministery and through their words which they declared many did beleive both of Jews and Gentiles and as many of Jews as did believe and separated from the Temple Priests Sacrifices Ordinances of the first Covenant and they met together in houses and other places Acts 20. 7. Chap. 28. 30 31. And the Gentiles which believed separated from their dumb Idols after which they had been led formerly and from their Temples and ceased any more to offer unto Idols and they met together at certain places in Towns and Cities not onely at Jerusalem but also at Antioch Collosse The ssolonica Corinth and divers other places which were long to enumerate Act. 11. 9. Chap. 17. 1 2. Chap. 18. 4. But now mark this that by which the Apostle gathered them from the Jewish Temples and Priest-hood and the Gentiles from their â—dols Temples was by the preaching of the everlasting Gospel to wiâ— noâ— the Law nor the Ordinances of the first Covenant but the Power of God and the word of reconciliation for the first Covenant of the Jews made not the comers thereunto perfect as pertaining to the conscience Neither the Gentiles Idols Temples nor Worships made them perfect as pertaining to the conscience but rather made them worse and more corrupted Heb. 9. 9. But the preaching and publishing of the word of reconciliation that did it was committed to the Disciples it was received and believed in by many both Iews and Gentiles as at Ephesus and elsewhere and they were made a habitation of God through the Spirit Ephes. 2. 22. Now mark this they preached not up the Letter of the Law nor that which was written in Tables of stone for the first Priest-hood that was ended and the Ministry of that and the vaile was over their hearts while Moses was read and their ability stood not in the litteral knowledge or in that which was written But they were able Ministers of the New Testament of the Spirit and so all that did beleive both Jews and Gentiles who received the word of Faith which was nigh in the mouth and in the heart Rom. 10. 8. They grew up in the knowledge of God and of his holy Sprit and great gifts grew amongst them as of Prophecy of speaking with Tongues of Interpretation and there was diversity of gifts and diversity of operations yet all by the same Spirit which the Apostles was made Ministers of and which they that did beleive and receive received gifts from it and knew the operation of it which wrought in them mightily to the throwing down the strong holds 2 Cor. 10. 4. And the principalities and powers of Darkness and to the translating and changing of them from darkness to Light and from Saâ—ans power to the power of God even into the Kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1. 13. And several Congregations in divers Places were all one body whereof Christ the life was the head in which they had believed and of whose power they had tasted grew up in knowledge and wisdom and gifts and the day of Christ approached which Abraham saw And they exhorted one another admonished one another and when they met togethere at several places every one according to the gift of God as he had received nor from the Letter but from the Spirit did and might admister to the edification one of another and to the building up and comforting one another in the most holy faith which gave them victory over sin which faith was ought in them by hearing of the word that was nigh them in the mouth and in the heart which was the word of consolation which was in the beginning Moreover when they met together they might Prophesie one by one and every one exercise his own gift to the edification and comfort of the body as the Spirit did lead them in order and if any went out from his measure he was judged by them that were in the Spirit Furthermore they that had beleived the Gospel which was published to them for remission of sin they grew up into great enjoyments and attainments in the righteous life of Christ which was manifest in them And though first they knew the Ministration of Condemnation and the sentence of death yet afterwards came to know the Ministration of the spirit and the sweet assurance ard Testimony of it bearing witness to the Spirit that they were the Sons of God and they were made heirs according to the promise Heb. 6. 17. and were made joynt heirs and co-heirs with Christ in the Kingdome which is immortal which fados not away and did come to know Mount Sion and the City of the Living God Heb. 12. 22. and it were large to speak of the glory and the transcendent excellency of the Church of Christ which became a purchased possession to him in the primitive times or the first hundred years after the manifestation of Christ in the flesh But take notice of this that them that were sent out who had received freely of the Father of Christ and of the Spirit Ministred freely as they had received freely without
called though the words declare of it but is not it Now they went and preached and Discipled in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost which is a Ministery far beyond the written or declarative sound and indeed is a Spiritual and invisible thing which the Apostles Acts 26. 18. declaring his Message which he had received by the holy Ghost saith I was sent to turn them viz. the Gentiles and Iews and them of Arabia and else where he Sojourned from darkness unto light and from Satans power unto Gods Power that they that beleived in the light and received the power of God which he preached to them might receive remission of fins for remission of sin was onely preached in his Name and no name under Heaven there is by which men can be saved but by the Name of Jesus though the Apostles spoke according to the motion of the Spirit in divers words calling him the gift of God the free gift of righteousness the unspeakable gift the true Light that lightneth every man that cometh into the World the Power of God and the wisdom of God which wisdom and power they had received and because the Son of God was revealed in them The Apostle said I am a debter to the Jews and the Greeks Rom 1. 14. and he having received this freely of the Father he went to the â—ews and went to the Greeks to the Gentiles and Heathen where the name of this gift and power and Jesus had not been named and published freely without gifts and rewards and the necessity did lie upon him 1 Cor. 9 16. and the love of Christ which was shed abroad in his heart constrained him and made him reckon himself as a debter unto all because of the abundant loving kindness and riches of Gods love and grace and spiritual gifts which he had received he longed and thirsted and travelled to communicate it unto others Largely I might speak of this hidden mystery as to demonstrate what the Gospel of Christ was and is but in what I have already said them that are any thing spiritual minded will iudge that the Law and the Prophets Matthew Mark Luke and John and the Epistles was not the everlasting Gospel but it was a thing beyond and above and before any of these writings was although they all in their several ages bore Testimony of it viz. the power of God which condemns sin in the flesh and mortifies the deeds thereof and gives victory over it and taketh up all that believe in it into one life power and vertue into pure peace and heavenly contentment and perfect satisfaction So you who are calling the letter the Gospel or the new Testament writings the Gospel I would ask you a question also when was there a time since the first hundred years after Christ or in that time till now but these words and writings have not been spoken and preached bought and sold as a Gospel not only in the Church of Rome but also among all them that are separated from her even untill now this hath been preacht to Nations Kindreds Tongues and People and if the writings be the everlasting Gospel then how doth John say or why did he so say that the everlasting Gospel should go forth again and be preacht again after the Apostacy or to bring out of the Apostacy But it clearly implies the words had been preached and published and the temporary writings which was given sorth at divers times had been preached up for Gospel these many hundred years which many have received by tradition but the power of God and the gift of God by which and from which the Ministers of Christ in all ages ministered hath been wanting if not altogether lost for the most part among them that are called Christians Then what is the quarrel betwixt you and the Romanists it s but in translation at the most and while words and translations and vertions have been contended about the everlasting Gospel hath been hid Therefore all people are upon heaps and the Nations like waters rowling up and down in instabillity Now the reformed Ministry so called are in many things in the same practice with the former You deny an immediate call and sets up an outward Ordination and a form of Laying on of hands without the holy Ghost ordaining such and such who have some skill in natural Tongues or some words of Oratory to be a subject matter to make Ministers upon and that which they preach in words which hath been held in the form long without the life you call the Gospel and these are confined to a Parish as the former to such a Cloyster and such a Monastry and these preach for hire and gifts and rewards and for maintenance and kepts up all the soresaid wayes and maintenance as Lawful and will make people believe it is according to Gospel institution when alas it is but the Popes Tythes Oblations Obventions Mortuaries and Prayers for the Dead keeping up the wages but denyes the work And Tythe of all things as Piggs and Geese Hens and Eggs Apples and Cherries and Turnips and all nothing excepted this is a feeble thing as to hold out to people for Gospel maintenance and the preachers of the Gospel are ashamed of it Furthermore them that will not give it sue them at Law throw them into holes till they dye take away ten fold that which is claimed say the man is not subject to Gospel order denies Ministers maintenance this hath been crime enough to take away the estates and lives of men all this is in the Apostacy And seeing it is said we are under a Gospel administration and ordinances what do you with Organs whistlers and Pipes in any part of your Services this pertained to the Jews and not to the Primitive Church And what do you do with Surplices Tipets Hood and other strangâ— kind of Garments It may be the High-priests Garments or the Priests linin Ephod or linin breeches must be brought in for a Gospel proof and for an Apostolick Ordinance And what do you with the Popes Lent And why should the Popes Lent be among the reformed Protestants Churches forbiding meats and drinks And why forbidding marriage in Lent and who ordained these dayes What have they been borrowed from the Heathen Or are they looked upon to be such dayes as used to be cited in the Callender for the dog-dayes which have been brought from the Heathen and stands to this day in too much credit among believers so called And why is one day preferred before and above another and some counted holy dayes as though some others were unholy dayes and why such a Collect and such a Gospel and such a Chapter and such a Psalme mincing and cutting and severing the Scriptures into pieces and shreds Is this like Apostolick Doctrine Truly friends many things we have to say if you had an ear to hear and that upon good grounds we can speak that we look upon all
and their Candlemas dayes this came of the Gentiles and Pagans who honoured their false God Saturu and their Altar which they have builded in this Temple and their tables upon which they offer and set their sacrifice these Boniface the third commanded that they should be covered with linen clothes and here was the beginning of these kinds of orders so that as I said before most of theâ—e things in and about the worship which hath been since the reign of Antichrist and since the Whore hath sate as a Queen they have been either borrowed from the Jews or else from Pagans and Heathens and the mother of Harlots hath put these things off for Apostolick institutions these many hundreds of years and divers other things which are in and about the Parish Churches your many crosses in and about them of wood and stone your baptized bels and consecrated pulpits and sonts and hour-glasses and soft cushions to preach on all these the Scriptures makes no mention of not in the Christian Churches the first two hundred years after Christ. Now Protestants who have denied the Church of Rome and their practices which was contrary to the Primitive and the Scriptures look about you and see how you are sticking yet in Babylon and buying yet the merchandize thereof and as for your holy ground called your Church-yards which you only judge fit to bury the dead in and would compell all to come thither because there are many Officers in and about this Temple who are greedy of rewards so that they would not miss any thing that might be commodious unto them and so would compell all to come there for their gain But Abraham was the first we read of that made any place of burial in Hebron which he bought so Ephron an Hittite for thirty shekels of silver and there was he and his wife buried and this was no Parishyard neither did he leave any Priest or Clerk that we read of to receive wages and fees and for ringing a bell and reading and singing over the dead and so for shame you who profess the Scriptures and the Apostolick order and institutious of Christ come out from among all this trumpery and wait that you may come again into the order of the Gospel and the primitive order which hath been talked of these many years and yet not known CHAP. VII Concerning swearing by the Gospel and kissing a book and that which is commonly confirmation or Bishoping Children things invented contrary to the Apostles Doctrine and are in the Aopstacy IN the first Covenant the Jews were commanded to swear by the Lord and oaths were observed by the Jews that were in the first Covenant which was faulty Heb. 8. 7. which Ordinance did nor make perfect as pertaining to the Conscience and so there came to be an end of that Covenant and the better was brought in which stood upon better promises and then the Priest-hood Law first Covenant and the ordinances thereof which was only to continue till the time of Reformation H. b. 9. 10 by Christ the everlasting Covenant came to be made manifest the everlasting offering who perfected them that are sanctified who is the oath of God the end of oaths and of all strife and contention his Doctrine was Sweaâ— not at all Mat. 5. 32 24 35 36 3â— neither by the head nor 〈◊〉 nor Books nor Gospel nor any other thing but that yea should be yea and nay nay in all things and James an Apostle of Christ Jesus who knew the New Covenant which was everlasting which saw over the ordinances of the first Covenant of the Jews saith Above all things my brethren sweare not at all neither by heaven neither by the earth nor by any other oath but let your yea be yea and vour nay nay lest you fall into condemnnation James 5. 1 2. and this was Apostolical and Catholick Doctrine in the Primitive Churches But afterwards the faith being lost which once was delivered to the Saints and the power lost they began to set up oathes again imitating the Iews and bringing the commands of the Iews who were under the first Covenant as their Ground But this was in the Apostacy And Justinian the Emperour appointed first that men should swear by the Gospel or book called the Gospel and lay their hands thereon and kiss it saying So help me God and here Christendom may see who are in the Apostacy and who were the first instituters of this Swearing and the manner thereof which the teachers of these latter ages do ignorantly press for an ordinance of God In the primitive times they that had the word of reconciliation who had received the holv Ghost and gift of prophesie and were made able Ministers of the Spirit who had discerning and saw by the Spirit who was fitted for the work of the Ministry and fit to be Elders and helpers in the Church they laid hands on them in Gods power and they received the holy Ghost but now since the Apostacy came in this kind of Imagination of laying on of hands one Hypocrite upon another who are out of the power who have not received the holy Ghost neither they upon whom their hands are said but afterwards it came to be a custom and a holy rite to be performed upon Children Sylvester Bishop of Rome ordained that all that were Christned Churches and Chalices should be anointed with oyl And Fabianus commanded that it should be renewed every Munday and Thursday Clement the first ordained that Children that were Christned should be anointed with Chrisme and he also instituted the Sacrament as it is called of Confirmation or as it is now called Bishoping and did suppose that no man was a perfect Christian if this Rite and Ceremony was omitted and for this cause it hath been judged and lookt upon as Catholick Doctrin both by the Church of Rome and the Protestants that the holy Ghost is more plentifully given them by the hands of the Bishop and on this wiâ—e in the first Institution thereof it was only administred by the Bishop First he asked the name of the child making the sign of the Cross in his forehead saying I sign thee with the token of the Cross and confirm thee with the Chrisme of Salvation in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost c. and smote the cheek of the Child softly but if of greater age which was to be confirmed the Bishop gave a sharper stroak that he might remember this great mystery and here you may see how these things came in and the traditions and inventions and precepts of men have been and are taught for Doctrine and Apostolick institutions many of which are upholden in the reformed Churches so called unto this day and so people are kept in blindness in a multitude of traditions and heathenish customes and their minds led out from seeking after the living God CHAP. VIII Concerning Fasts Feasts and holy dayes THe Jews in
hardly stir from thence till they die except some greater advance offer it self also Commissaries Procters Parotters and these are subservient to the former then Chancellors Vice-chancellors Doctors of Divinity Batchelors of Divinity Doctors of Art Masters of Art Batchelors of Art Graduates under-graduates and these belong to the former then Prelates Parsons Vicars Priests Curates and Church wardens all which titles and names and Officers if they be but compared with the Scripture there will be hardly any parallel either concerning office work or Doctrine and notwithstanding all these orders and sorts who are fitted by humane learning or natural study though divers years exercised therein are not skilled in the word of righteousnesse neither hath the tongue of the learned to administer a word in season to the weary nor to turn the sinner from his sins and thus the form of things titles and names are holden up but who seeks after the power of God or to be made able Ministers of the Spirit Literal Ministers enough while maintenance lasts but the ministration of the Spirit few is acquainted with and if there be any such it is well if they be not Persecuted So in that which I have said the understanding will see that there hath been a great Apostacy since the Apostles dayes in the Ministry in Doctrine in Worship and practice divers of which I have touched upon to the intent that they that enquire after the Lord may depart out of the mist of ignorance and come to worship God in spirit and truth and in the Temple made without hands and be joyned to the Church which is in God which the Gates of Hell prevails not against though many will claim Authority from the Apostles few will own their life neither walk after their example so take but a few more Institutions which is called Apostolick to this day among them called Christian Churches Clatus the third Bishop of Rome was the first that wrote this tittle that is greeting and Apostolick blessing he ordained the order of Priesthood Everastus the fifth Bishop ordained that Priests should be honoured and that they should be shaven Alexander the sixth Bishop of Rome ordained that Matrimony should be only solemnized and that the married should be Blessed with the Priest there was the beginning of being married by Priests Sextus about the year 114. after Christ the seventh Bishop of Rome ordained Holy Water and ordered that it should be strowed abroad in Christians houses and when the People met to worship Telesphorus the eight Bishop of Rome ordained that the Communion should be laid upon an Altar and that Lay people should not touch the Holy vessels nor the Holy Garments of the Priests he ordained Lent which was to be kept by the Clergy in the year one hundred forty two Higinus the ninth Bishop ordained the Communion to be celebrated three times at Christmas and that Lent should be fasted Pius about the year 147 after Christ the tenth Bishop ordained that Crism should be Ministred as Baptism and that Children should have God-fathers and God mothers here was the beginning of this great Ordinance and he ordained that Easter-day should be kept on the Sunday Urbanus the seventeenth Bishop of Rome ordained Church-yards to be hallowed and forbad marriage of Priests Pontianus the eighteenth Bishop ordained that Psalms and Mattens should be sung in Church night and day to drive away evil spirits Sextus the twenty fourth Bishop in the year 222. after Christ ordained that Priests should wear Holy Garments as Coops and divers other things in imitation of Aaron and then came up surplices he commanded Images to be set up in Churches Foelix the twenty sixth Bishop of Rome ordained division of Parish Churchres and Diocesses to Bishops Leo the Emperor gave Commandment that all Images and Pictures of Saints should be taken out of the Churches for the avoiding of Idolatry but the Bishop of Rome withstood the Emperor the Emperor for his confirmation of taking of Images away called a Councel of Bishops about three hundred and thirty and they ordained and decreed that all Images should be taken away and burned in the 740. But in the year 769. Gregory the third called a Council together at Rome near a thousand Bishops and condemned Leo the Emperor and three hundred Bishops for taking Images out of the Churches and yet the former Counsel and this all of one Faith and Church which they use to say could not erre and the latter decreed they should be adored and Worshiped with all reverence Boniface the eighth he gave licence to the mendicant Friars to hear the private Confession of sins that people should confess to them Pope Alexander gave commandment that the Sacrament should be made of the Sweet Bread and commanded that water should be mingled with wine Innocentius the third ordained that People should confess their sins to a Priest once a year in the year at the least And these kinds of Decrees stand for Apostolical to this day among the Apostates and the reformed Churches so called do own many things that are too near a kin to them and preffeth them for Ordinances and holy Institutions yea in many Countries the self same things are both owned and practised in many particulars which I have mentioned before in other parts of this Book and are looked upon as divine service and holy Worship which the Ministers of Christ who have the word of reconciliation to publish are ashamed of knowing them to be such things as never was practised nor holden out by Christ or his Apostles but are brought in since darkness hath over-spread the Earth and the Power of God hath been lost And at the first Institution thereof though there might be some shew of a good intention in the formers of them but now they are become absolute Idols and however at the first some of the things mentioned might seem to some to be indifferent yet now being prest of necessity as the Ordinances of God they are become Idols and ought to be thrown away and departed from by all that professeth the Gospel of Christ Jesus and the worship of God in the Spirit For the Lord God hath drawn away his presence out of all formal and visible appearance since Antichrist and the false Church hath got them on for a Garment and to cover themselves withall to the deceiving of the Nations And now in this the day of his power hath appeared in a more mysterious and secret and hidden way and in a more spiritual appearance Into this deceit cannot enter nor transform and therefore all Babylons Merchants are angry and Antichrists followers are full of Wrath and the Dragon cast out floods after the heir and her that brings him forth and makes War with her Seed but the Lord is putting on her Beautiful Garments and Marrying her to himself and she shall reign and her Seed who are born of the Spirit when she that sat as a Queen upon the
their Brethren there was made of necessity also a change of the Law and a disanulling of the Commandment going before Christ Jesus when he had finished his Office upon earth by fulfiling all righteousnes he offered up himself through the eternal spirit sacrifice unto God without spot The Apostles and Ministers who were made partakers of the divine nature and of the word of reconciliation did not look back to the former Ordinances of the first Priesthood but testified an end was put to them witnessed again the Temple wherein the Priests Ministred Paul and likewise Stephen was stoned to death against circumcision saying It was not that of the Flesh and against all the outward ordinances of that Covenant called them carnal preached up Christ Jesus his doctrine the new and living way wch was not manifest while the first Tabernacle was standing they preached freely the ever lasting Gospel and did not desire or require setled maintenance but were Ministred unto only by them who had believed their report were turned to Christ Jesus and were made partakers of spiritual things though they often denied that which was given unto them Here was no Tythes spoken on either to the Jews or Gentiles who believed At Jerusalem and there abouts such was the love and unity of heart among the Saints in the Apostles time that all things were in common none wanted So likewise the Church gathered by Mark at Alexandria in Egypt followed the same practice and the Church at Jerusalem and Philo Judeus saith in many other provinces the Christians lived together in societies In the Church of Antioch Galatie and Corinth the Saints possessed every man his own Estate where the Apostle ordained that a weekly offering should be made of the Saints that every one might offer freely of that which God had blessed him with which was put into the hands of the Deacons of the Churches whereby the poor was relieved and other necessary services were supplied In the next age monthly offrings were made not exacted but freely given as appears plainly by Tertullian in Apologet. chap. 29. where he upbraids the Gentiles with the piety and charity of the Christians he saith Whatsoever we have in the Treasury of our Churches it is not raised by taxation as though we put men to ransom their Religion But every man once a month or when he pleaseth himself gives what he thinks good for no man is compelled but left free to his own descretion and it is not bestowed in vanity but in relieving the poor and for maintenance of poor Children Deffitute of Parents and aged people and such as are cast into Prisons for professing the Christian faith And this way of contribution continued till the great persecution under Maximinian and Dioclesian about the year 304 as Eusebius witnesseth and so doth Tertullian Origen Cyprian and others Also about this time some Land was given to the Church by them that believed and the revenue thereof was distributed as other free gifts were by the Deacons and Elders to the poor for the fore mentioned uses but the Bishops or Ministers medled not with them Origen saith It is not lawful for any Minister to possesse Lands given to the Church to his own use Cyprian Bishop of Carthage about the year 250 also testifieth the same sheweth how the Church maintaineth many poor and that her own diet was sparing plain and her expences full of frugality Prosper saith also that a Minister able to live of himself ought not to desire any thing to be given unto him and he that receiveth it doth it not without great sin The Council at Antioch Anno 340 finding that much fault had been among the Deacons to whom it properly belonged to distribute the offerings or free gifts where there was need which they detained for their own covetous ends the Council did ordain that the Bishop might distribute the Goods but required that they took no part thereof to themselves nor to the use of the Priests using the Apostles words having food and rayment be therewith content Chrysostome notes who lived about the year 400 that Christian converts joyned in societies and lived in Common after the example of the former Saints at Jerusalem by whose writings it doth appear that three was not the least mention made of Tythes in that age The Church at this time living altogether by free offerings of Lands Monies and Goods the people were much pressed to bountifull Contributions for holy uses as may be seen in the writings of Hirome and Chrysostome who brought the liberality of the Jews in their payment of Tythes for an example beneath which they would not have Christians determine their charity Chrysostome saith I speak not these things as commanding or forbidding they should give more Yet as thinking it fit they should not give less then the tenth part And Hierome also doth admonish them to bounty and charity towards the poor not binding at all to offer this or that part leaving them to their own Liberty yet pressing them not to be shorter then the Jews in their tenths Ambrose who was Bishop of Milane about the year 400 preached up tenths to be offred up for holy uses as the phrase was then But his Authority he produceth wholly from Moses writings Likewise Augustin Bishop of Hippo joyns and agrees with Ambrose in this thing but from the Law given to Israel take their whole Doctrine and threatned them with great penalties and heavy Judgments from God that did not give their tenths But yet take notice to what end they required them that the poor might not want and saith God hath reserved them for their use So by this time love did grow cold in many and the power of God was much wanting which would have kept the hearts of people open in love and mercy to their members And therefore they were much prest on and threatned by the Bishops to give their tenths Not that the Bishops had any better ground but only the Jewish Law for their foundation and so in process of time this Doctrine came to be received many following the opinion of the antient Fathers yet hitherto it was not laid down as a positive Doctrine to pay them as the Jews did but onely brought the Jews for an example that Christians should not pay less Leo called the great about the year 440 who reigned twenty years he was very earnest in stiring up mens devotion to offer to the Church but speaks not a word of any quantity Severin also 470 stirred up the Christians in Panona to give the tenth to the poor Likewise Gregory not only admonished the payment of Tythes from Moses Law but also the observing of Lent which he reckoned as the tenth of time in the year And this he would have given unto God saying we are Commanded in the Law to give the tenth of all things unto God And thus Ignorance
latter ages by the Apogates who had erred from the Spirit who then admired and set up natural Languages and Philosophy that thereby they might be furnished to make discourses speeches and Sermons to get money by and as they are holden up at this day are made an absolute Idol and as to their Practise it s generally known to be prophane and no way meet to advance the Church of Christ. CHrist Jesus the Everlasting High Priest and Minister of the Tabernacle when he was manifest in the fulness of time to fulfill the work which was given him to do of the Father he chused unto him twelve Disciples which believed in him men who were not brought up at Universities neither had studied Philosophy nor natural Tongues but some Fishermen and such as were illiterate to be Ministers of the glad tidings of the Gospel of peace to the Nations and their ability stood in the Spirit where the ability of all the Ministers of Christ now standeth viz. not in the Letter not in Philosophy not in natural Languages not in Gramar and Musick but in the Spirit which qualified them and from whence they received abilities to declare the word of Righteousness and by it they had skill to divide it aright and to give every one their Portion and to minister to every one suitable to their state in which they were and they were skilled in the word of Righteousnesse and many did believe through their Testimony though they had not the wisdome that was from below nor much read in natural Languages and some not learned at all yet they wanted not wisdome and utterance and words meet and suitable to declare and demonstrate the Heavenly mind of Christ although it is true many of the Jews and learned Rabbies opposed them and set them at nought the Philosophers Stoicks and Epicures resisted yet they desired not to be approved in that wisdome which man Teacheth but in the wisdome which is from above which the natural man with all his natural parts does not understand and natural men with their naturall parts despises the simplicity of the Gospel and they seek qualifications which the Lord never sought and such will not heed the qualifications which is laid down by them that were Ministers of Christ for they that had received the Spirit and were made Ministers by it were qualified by it and their holy conversations preacht unto others they were vigilent they were watchful they were sober they were in Temptations and Tryals but their lives were of good report no covetous persons seekers for their gain from their Quarters no Lords over mens faith nor Masters over mens Consciences but were servants unto all for Christs sake not like the Ministers in these dayes who will assume the office but has not received the gift of God neither are so qualified or fitted as they were who had no Universities nor Schools of Learning and these are they that cries up Natura Tongues and Languages as the chief Abilities of a Minister of Christ and that none are fit to dispence the word of God but such who are bred up and educated in these things and such in former daies dispised the Cross of Christ and the simplicity of the Gospel and set up Tongues above it and so do they now But let us consider whether soon after the Primitive times they had any such Universities or seven years prentiships as they have now or whether it was their practise to be studying these things which be buâ— natural and whether they did esteem them as any way helpfull to the Ministry But that I may not be mis-understood I know each Language and each Tongue hath a proper signification and is not evil in themselves Schools of learning I am not against natural Languages they may be servicable for natural uses natural transaction in civil affairs betwixt Nation and Nation man and man but as they are extolled and cried up to be nurseries of piety and to fit men for the Ministry as to make it effectual is utterly false and more mischief is learned and impiety practised in these Universities then in any other parts of the Nation and indeed it is one of the main props and pillars of Antichrists Throne and Kingdome and that which upholds his seat And that they only are the only fitted and called men to Minister who have natural Tongues and have read a little in a few Heathen Authors and thereby is able to comment and make a discourse to the hearing of the ear but Gods witness is not reached at all and such dispises the spirit and sets light by them that enjoy it which clearly evidences they are out of the power of God which was among the first Christâ—ans who received the Spirit and spoke from it which is only sufficient and able to make a Minister of Christ So let us see what antiquity saith Gaudentius de mor. secul Justinian saith We do not read that ever the antients did ever openly in Schooles Teach Philosophy since they did rather abhor it And saith a good Author I would fain see a man that could shew that Christians either before or in the time of Justinian did openly teach Philosophy And Hadrian Saraviah informs us the Primitive Christians had no Accademicall Schooles like to those now adayes yet there was one at Alexandria but in these Schooles they read only Catachristicall Lectures and we do not read of any Universitie of the Waldenses Albigenses and Bohemians for most of their Ministers were Tradsemen and Handy-crafts men and did not spend their time in reading tongues or studying Authors Herrald anaimad in ar nob The Christians in the Primitive times living excluded from all honours and Magistracies did neglect these Studies which were for the discharge of civil imployments because that Sophisters and Philosophers were the principal Enemies of Christianity Therefore upon this Account they condemned also all Politie Learning they condemned Tragedies and Comedies and other poetical writings being the main part of humane Learning as Judging they did not conduce to solid knowledge Tertullian Liber de Idolatr page 138 139. Judged that Schoole-Masters professing learning were guilty of great Idolatry because they only explained names and Genealogies and Fabulous Acts of Heathen Gods and generally believers in those dayes harbered a very bad esteem of Natural Learning generally the Christians were provoked thereunto because the Gentiles did upbraid them that the Teachers were Illiterate persons as Combers of woolls Weavers Fullers and the like These things being objected a-against the Christians The Christians on the other side rejected all Learning as an useless thing and no way advantagious to Salvation though their adversaries boasted of it Origen Lib. 3. saith the Christians did declare that men of any Condition might be saved Servants Idiots and Rusticks and such as the World valued as fools and that God did confound the wise in their own wisdome and Selsus as Origen in his Book saith that Christians