S. Paul to the Romaines and to the Hebrewes vppon the Gospell of S. Iohn and vpon the Canonicall epistle He departed out of this life at the end of Nouēber in the yeare 1531. Whoso wil read more largely of his life let him read Simon Gryneus Wolfgangus the booke of Martyrs Bucer a learned man was also in the time of Luther and Zuinglius hee gaue also greate light throughout all Christendome not only by pure doctrine but also by holinesse of life Iohn Caluin in the preface of his comentaries vppon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romaines speaking of certaine good deuines of that time and naming expresly Bucer saith of him in these wordes This man besides the profounde and excellent knowledge that he had in many matters besids the fine wit and that he had read much and besids many and sundrie vertues that he had in which none at this present doth excell him yea few comparable to him had this prayse proper and particular that none of his time applyed himselfe more to the interpretation of the holy scripturs and that with greater diligence then he He was sent for from Strausbourg to refourme the Churches of Colloine He preached to the godly being in great daunger amongest the Spaniards at that time the Emperour came down through Rhein who by his ambassadours did earnestly intreate the Archbishop to giue him libertie He for religion fled into England whereas hee was courteously intreated and had the charge of interpreting the holy scriptures in the vniuersitie Hee was diligent in writing Comentaries and sundrie workes And amongest other towarde his latter yeares he composed a booke of the kingdome of Iesus Christ our Sauiour which hee gaue to the worthie kinge of Englande shewing the way how the reformation of true Christian religion must be had and howe a Realme and Christian common weale ought to be gouerned according to the will of God A booke worthie to bee read of kinges princes and Lords The seauen and tweentith day of Februarie in the yeare 1551. Bucer departed this life at Cambridge and was honourably buried and praysed by Epitaphes of learned men Looke Sleidan in his historie of religion and of the common weale in the booke of Martyrs 145 Phillip Melancthon an excellent man in doctrine prudence and pietie was borne in the yere 1497. in a citie called in latine Bretta appertayning to the Prince Palatine He was a doctour in the Church and vniuersitie of Wittemberge He disputed against the aduersaries of the puritie of Gods true seruice diuers times with liuely infallible argumēts by which he shewed what good true foundation he had vppon the holy scriptures whereby he confounded all the aduersaries He made and composed diuers bookes aswell of humanitie as also Commentaries and common places vppon the holy scripture which be extante at this present He liued 63. yeares and died in the yeare 1560. and was honourably buried Peter martyr a Florentine a doctour and professour in diuinity in a Church of Zurich in Suisse wrote the Cathechisme in Italian that is the exposition of the principall articles of Christian religion He made a treatise of the sacrament of the Eucharistie and many Commentaries both on the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romaines and to the Corinthians and also vppon the Iudges and Samuel with others Augustine Marlorate hauing a certaine time exercised the function of a good and faithful pastour in the seignieuries of Berne was at the last elected minister of the Church of Rouan in which he faithfully discharged his duetie and therefore was taken and hanged he dyed constantly yelding vp his spirite to the Lorde in the yeare 1569. He had a great dexteritie in collecting the opinions of the Doctours aswell olde as newe vpon Esay Genesis and the Psalmes and on the new Testament also wherevnto he added his own he made certaine pretie treatises and amongst others one of sinne against holy the Ghost Musculus a Germaine a Doctour in the Church of Berne made diuers good and large commun places vpon the holy scripture and also good commentaries that be founde til this present He dyed in the said citie of Berne was honorably buryed 1563. 147 Amongst al others the bookes of Iohn Caluin minister of the word of God at Geneua can sufficiently testifie with what faithfulnesse singular giftes graces God had adorned him according to the necessitie of the time And what constancie he had in mainteyning the Lords quarell To be short in as much as his works be yet extant and his memoriall rife I will make of him no further discourse referring the reader to his works that he hath written Nowe yée may sée by this discourse howe God hath from the first creation of Adam and Eue had and conserued his Church and hath thorough all ages raised some vp and giuen them knowledge of his trueth and hath by weaklings of the worlde ouerthrowen whole garrisōs of the wicked worldlings to the end that all men might know that the Lorde alone is almightie that his light is vnquenchable his power infinite his mercy towards his vnspeakable and that although he suffereth wickednesse to florish for a time yet he wil whē he séeth time make his kingdome triumph ouer all To which God thrée persons and one eternall deitie be all praise honour and glorie for euer and euer Amen FINIS A Table containing the dinumeration or catalogue of the Doctours of the Church of God of whom mention is made in the discourse following GOd by his sonne and spirite instructed Adam and Eue and from time to time made him to haue vnderstanding in his church Adam was ordeyned a Bishop and Doctour thorough the promise that was made of the seed of the woman 1. Of the sonnes of Adam were Doctours of the Church Abel 2. Seth was substituted vnto the ministerie 3. Enos Cainam Malaleel Iared 4. He noch an excellent doctour amongst the fathers who also was transported vnto God out of this miserable life to an euerlasting life 5 Mathusalem 6 Lamech These nine before named being excellent personages were helpers vnto Adam in the Doctrine and worke of the Church for to teach and instruct the true seruants of God 7 After them succeeded in the gouernment of the Church Noe. 8 Sem the sonne of Noe a Doctour of the Church of God 9 Arphaxad the sonne of Sem. Sale Heber Phaleg Reu. Sarug Nachor Thare the father of Abraham This is the first order of the doctors of the church of God to wit the order of the fathers whose gouernance endured about the space of 2023. yeares The second order of the gouernours of the Church of God is of the Patriarches Abraham with his posteritie bare rule and guided the Church of God and Isaac succeeded him 11 Iacob a bishoppe of the church of God for his time And afterwarde did succede the twelue Patriarches and Cahat the sonne of Leui. Amram the sonne of Cahat and father vnto
A TESTIMONIE OF THE TRVE Church of God CONFJRMED AS WELL BY THE DOCTRINE AS LIVES OF SVNDRY HOLY MEN BOTH PATRIARKES AND PROPHETES AND ALSO BY THE APOSTLES AND THEIR TRVE SVCCESSOVRS WHEREIN IS MANIFESTLY SHEWED HOW THAT GOD hath in all ages raysed vp some yea euen in most horrible darkenesse which haue beene faithfull Stewards and true dispencers of his will with a Catalogue of their names TRANSLATED OVT OF French by William Phiston AT LONDON Printed by H.M. for Thomas Charde at the signe of the Helmet in Pauls Church yarde TO THE WORTHIE AND RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL M. A. Nowell Deane of Paules William Phiston wisheth the enioying of all true felicitie IF that Philosophie which is but an obscure and vnperfect knowledge of things naturall and morall hath beene so highly esteemed amongest the Paganes not onely with those nations which were holden for ciuil and best gouerned but also with those of the barbarous sorte like as witnesseth Diogenes Laertius writing of the liues and sentences of Philosophers that the Persians had their Magi the Babylonians Assyrians their Chaldaei the Indians their Gymnosophistae the Gaules their Druidae whiche were also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. whome these nations honoured and held for their knowledge in great price why shoulde not we much rather who liue not onely vnder a verie temperate Climate and are a nation not onely accounted amongest those which are called ciuill but whereas Philosophie I meane not that of thinges naturall or morall such as was vsed and esteemed among the heathen but whereas the Christian and verie true Philosophie is professed all abroade and of some I doubt not imbraced reuerently esteeme the memorie of such as bee or haue beene wise philosophers and profounde expositours and instructers of the true deuine and right spirituall and heauenly knowledge which doctrine we ought withall earnest diligence to seke and with most ioyfull heartes to imbrace chiefely for the excellencie there of which is exceeding all humane science as far as the heauen is distant from the earth and also in respecte of our owne benefite because it maketh vs partakers of the verie diuine and spirituall knowledge of Gods omnipotent goodnesse shewing vs the way to eternall felicitie for which doctrine spiritual philosophie our profit receiued thereby although we ought to attribute the whole and chiefest glorie and thankes vnto God alone the onely author thereof yet it will be profitable to register imperpetuall memorie the names of some godly setters foorth of the saide trueth whose memoriall may serue to incite others to follow the like zeale godly vertues not that they shuld be estemed Gods to haue won heauen with their merites after the iudgement of heathen infidels nor yet to be prayed vnto for as Caluin truely reporteth God alone will haue the seignieure and will be exalted in his people as indeed of right he is most worthie in asmuch as he is the Lorde of all and our onely benefactor and patrone In consideration whereof I haue demed it not amisse right worthie and worshipfull to be cause of publishing this present discourse partly to the end that such as haue not either monie at wil to buy it or not sufficient laysure to reade ouer M. Foxe his booke of Martyres would willingly seek for the antiquitie of the same faith and religion that true Christians nowe holde and imbrace may haue for a small price wherein to find the same somewhat effectually and partly for that men may see howe that in other realmes whereas great persecution and tyrannies haue beene begonne and cruelly executed and especially in the countries of Allemaigne France yet vnto this day many do resist against as their forefathers haue some in all ages done withstand the rage of Antichrist and his hirelings that notwithstanding the vprors caused in France of late yeares with the great effusion of bloud moued by Sathan against the flocke of Christ besids the innumerable multitude of other valiant souldiars and professours of Christes trueth some haue maugre the heard of Gods enemies published the worthie gestes of Gods true seruants through al ages to the encouraging of their godly successours to the opprobrie condemnation of the wicked as may appeare by Iohn Crespin others mētroned in this present discours Which discourse I haue thought good to offer vnto your worship as to a true patron of godlines vertue beseching you to accept herein of my simple good will Tui obseruantiss W. Ph. SIMON DE VOYON TO ALL THOSE THAT DESIRE TO BE OF THE SAME CHVRCH AND TRVE RELIGION OF GOD THE which hath beene from the beginning of the world and shall be for euermore health and peace through our Lord Iesus Christ ALbeit that many good and learned men haue made mention in their books of the doctors of the Church of God yet I haue ben of this opinion that it will not be a thing vnprofitable at this present to publish vp̄o the like matter this present discourse being collected out of diuerse authours and compiled in one after the manner and fashion that you see deeming that it will be profitable to many who haue not leasure at wil to read much to see hereby vnderstand of a continuall order of good doctors wh̄o God hath raysed vp from the beginning of the world vntil this present time how God hath euerlastingly collected for himselfe a perpetuall Church through the word of the gospell from this masse of sinne that is to say of men amongest wh̄o the gospel which we heare at this present hath at all times shinned in the middest of most thicke darkenesse And hereby we may see and vnderstand that there neuer hath ben any maner of religon neither can be which hath continued so long and hath had such efficacie and vertue so continuall an order such and so wonderful a doctrine conteined in the holy scriptures as hath the Church of God had the which like as shall be shewed in the discourse following God himself hath minded euer since the beginning of the worlde to teach declare by the voice of his own son after that he hath sēt his doctrin before by the ministerie of the holy fathers Patriarches Prophetes Gouernours Priestes and Apostles and lastly hath conserued the same by a singular grace and goodnesse vntil this present time through faithfull Bishops and good pastours and doctours of the Church of God being sent frō time to time and still placed in the roumes of others their predecessours the which same shal be conserued also defended by a singular grace and goodnes of God euen vnto the glorious comming of his sonne our lord Iesus Christ And thus seing that God himselfe hath established blished and ordeined the ministery of his word which we at this present do follow we nede not to dout but that he doth and will alwaies mainteine the same as may easily be vnderstoode by the effectes of all tymes For
although that the deuill in his enchantmentes hath at all times found out a rage more then horrible against the Church and faithfull doctours like as here is manifested by Abel who was slaine by Caine being moued thereto by a deuilish enuie by the persecution and oppression of the people of Israel by the high priestes who were slaine by Saule by Isay and Ieremie who were put to death by the captiuitie of the people when they were carried away into Babylon likewise by Iohn Baptist by our Lord Iesus Christ and by the Apostles who haue beene cruelly slayne and by so many millions of Martyrs yet notwithstāding the Church hath continued through out all ages and there haue beene alwayes doctours diuinely raysed vp in the places of others for to set vp agayne and to conserue the light of the doctrine to make it shine in the middest of those peoples and Realmes that God woulde haue it It hath then been alwayes conserued and defended for God is the protector and gardein thereof who maketh it to withstande all such assaultes And for this cause Sathan in his illusions of these times hath suggested and put in practyce the moste cruell tormentes that coulde be deuised but all in vaine There haue beene kindled fires great and small There haue beene set vp also for the true Christians Scaffoldes c. some haue beene caste into the bottomes of ponds and riuers and to conclude Sathan hath by sword and force vsed all sortes of most cruel violences for to cause that the holy seruice of God might be altogether extinct and buried but he neuer coulde neither euer shall be able to doe it Wee muste then consider and vnderstande that true religion hath of GOD an efficacie and vertue more great and wonderfull then any thinge that can bee or euer hath bene seeing that so mightie an enemie as sathā the prince of the children of this world hath so often and strongly besieged it and yet coulde neuer hinder but that alwayes thorough the goodnes of God it shoulde be set vp Now to speak of other religions which haue beene and be what continuance haue they had what stedfastnesse and assurance of the trueth haue beene founde in them what number amongst so many as were professours of the same haue euer beene so steedfast in their religions that they would euer suffer most cruell tortures therfore like as haue done an infinite multitude for the assurance and steedfastnesse that they had in the trueth which no man is able to number by whome God woulde be glorified So many and such manner of religions as haue ben haue they had euer such order such a doctrine which hath plainly shewed vnto them the truth of the being of the first originall of things that haue bene since the beginning of the world and of thinges that haue come to passe and that bee daily accomplished as God hath made his to vnderstande from time to time first by visions and oracles and since euen vntill this present time by his Prophetes and Apostles Such and so manie religions which haue beene howe coulde it euer be found in them as may be founde in the true Church by the holy scriptures howe that the supernaturall he who is euerlastingly that is the Lorde Iehova who of himselfe hath his being and not of any others and of him all thinges their beinges hath by his eternall worde and spirite created all thinges made and fashioned them and by him not by our owne force and vertue wee haue such dignitie and excellencie aboue all creatures of the earth that we were made according to his owne image which excellencie and our first perfection was lost by our ingratitude in our first parentes and that since that time we be and shall bee restored thereto againe in a more large perfection by the onely meanes of his onely sonne by which he hath made vs and that for the manifestation of his inestimable goodnesse and glorie by the which he teacheth vs in his holy scriptures and assureth vs by his spirite that wee shall be euerlastingly taken vp to his glorie forasmuch as he is able to doe so and will doe it So many and such sundrie sortes of religion as haue bene had they euer yet since the beginning of the world so continuall an order of good and faithfull doctors who being inspired with the spirit of god haue constantly taught and mainteined against all the rage of the worlde the trueth of his holy doctrine as hath the right religion of the protestants which is the verie Christianitie done Doth not GOD thereby and by sundrie other meanes sufficiently declare the vertue and efficacie of the ministerie of his holy worde and true religion which he from time to time hath approued for asmuch as therein hee hath placed and set the true and pure infallible veritie for to instructe and guide man euen vnto him who is the authour and creatour of all thinges Nowe seeing that we haue such a founder of our religion who giueth vs also grace to follow the same let Sathan inuent as many meanes as he will for to ouerthrow and extinguish it Let him breath as many illusions and inchantmentes into the mindes of men as he can for to perswade them that this true religion which wee hold began but of late and that it shal soone decay againe c. It is notwithstanding most euident that it hath bene euer since the beginning of the worlde and that wee haue testimonie of him who hath established the same and may surely repose our confidence in him that like as hee hath ordeined that whilest the sunne Moone shall giue light to the earth he will neuer faile to helpe and asiste his and that finally we shall bee with our heade and Lorde Iesus Christ And hereof we doe assure our selues and doe feele of the same in our selues a certaintie proceeding of the spirite of God that so it shall come to passe at the time which God hath ordained neither is this religion that we holde false or wicked as some yet say inasmuch as it is grounded vpon that pure word of God according to the which we labour and are willing to serue God without mingling therewith any thing imagined by our owne braine like as we be slaundered to do for to make a religion of our owne deuising And therefore let such vnderstande that this our religion had not the first beginning at Luther or Iohn Hus and that it was neuer hearde of before as some falsely say and that it shall not therefore long abide For notwithstanding that thorough the great vngodlinesse and euill that hath beene and yet is amongst some men of the Church and thorough the outrage of carnall affections with carelesnesse and not regarding the glorie of God or his trueth yea through the verie contempt and falling away from God and all trueth the doctrin which he had published set forth before by his Prophetes and Apostles and by his
sonne he hath suffered and bene willing that this true religion should be by his most iust iudgement obscured and hidden from men so as they might not discerne it according to any outwarde appearaunce neither that it could bee redressed by the good doctours yea the trueth was so darkened that to the view and outward iudgement of the worldly there coulde be seene no tracke or steppe of God in the Church and that according to worlde mens fantasie it seemed that God had forsaken his Church and giuen it vtterly to the spoyle seeing that all was turned to ydolatrie and superstition which God in his word sheweth that he misliketh most villy abhorreth yet euen thē he had reserued some in his Church that had neuer bowed the knee before the idoll Ball before this Antichrist for to consent vnto or beleeue his doctrine being directly against the pure worde of God as came to passe in the time of Elias when the confusion and vngodlinesse of the people was such that there was no semblance of the Church seene in-in so much that this holy Prophete thought that all had beene vtterly giuen ouer vnto the worshipping of images and to idolatrie but he was deceiued for God hath reserued seauen thousandes which neuer had bowed the knee vnto Baal And in like manner if after the time of the primitiue Church the like also proued that for the wickednesse and vnthankfulnesse of the people GOD suffered the like confusion and idolatrie to raigne yet we muste vnderstande that forasmuch as God is one and the selfe same God aswell nowe as he was in the time of the Apostles that hee hath reserued vnto himselfe through all ages seauen thousande yea an infinite number which neuer bowed their knees before this stately ydoll before this man of sinne this sonne of perdition who sitteth in the temple of God The faithfull I say haue not sought for saluation in his doctrine but rather forsaking and renouncing that haue beene assured in their heart by the spirite of God to obtaine redemption by the alone meane and merites of Iesus Christ our onely sauiour They therefore be of a wrong opinion whiche iudge and esteeme the Church of God according to their fantasie not to haue continued alwayes If the doctours who were verie godly and righteous haue not wel discerned the ministerie and true religion of his Church and moreouer if that this excellent Prophet who was filled with the spirit of God so aboundantly was so much deceiued when hee woulde according to humaine iudgement recken the people of GOD what may wee thinke shal happen vnto vs whose iudgement for the moste parte is altogether vnperfecte They are also deceiued and doe foolishly and presumptuously which iudge the number of the electe acording to the capacitie of their senses for God hath a meane to him nothing difficult but to vs vnknowne by the which he may conserue his elect marueilously then when all seemeth turned vpside downe and spoyled Well may the elect then be persecuted but neuer confounded nor the Church extinct insomuch as it hath God for the founder and defendour and the elect haue God the creatour of heauen and earth for their gardein and protector like as he hath neuer fayled to helpe his at all seasons with the assistance of his holy spirite making euen seene and knowne to the worlde his greate loue and care towarde them throughout all ages as hath beene euidently seene Let vs not doubt therefore of the trueth of him who hath promised to abide with vs vntill the ende of the worlde of which his promise we see and feele daily effectes albeit that we are vnworthie thereof Thus much haue I thought good to speake concerning the continuance of the true Church whose founder is Christ Nowe will I shew briefely the order of the discourse following which is this That all the gouernement of the Church which hath beene from the beginning of the worlde vntill this present is comprised in fiue orders the first this present is comprised in fiue orders the first of which contayneth the first fathers to wit from Adam who was instructed by the son of God c. The second of the Patriarches and beginneth at Abraham The third of the Prophets and beginneth at Samuel The fourth the high priestes and gouernours and beginneth at Iosue otherwise called Iesus and at the conductour Zorobabell The fift and last beginneth at Iohn Baptist and our Lorde Iesus Christ and at his Apostles and their disciples Bishops Pastours that succeeded after them and euen vnto the Bishops whom God hath raised vp also in these last times for the mainteinance of his Church and for to correct the errours and abhominable traditions of men which doe infect the true and pure doctrin of God the which he hath conferued and will conserue for euer for the true instruction of his Church For the which also O Lorde I beseech thee that thou wilt nowe dayly more and more sende good and faithfull doctours true setters foorth of thy worde thorough out all the real mes and prouinces to the ruine and destruction of the kingdome of this man of sinne Antichrist and to the establishing of the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ our onely sauiour and Lord Amen A TESTIMONIE OF the true Church of God Confirmed as wel by the doctrine as liues of sundrie holie men both Patriarches and Prophets and also by the Apostles and their true successours THE ARGVMENT Here is first declared howe that man was created in all perfection of beautie righteousnesse and puritie and that he hath despised the commaundement of God and his trueth through the persuasion of sathan to whome he with all his posteritie became seruant and slaue and was spoyled both of his vnderstanding and al beatitude and therefore he had neede to be instructed to the end he might discerne and be fully assured of the meane of his deliuerance and perfect restauration the which the eternall sonne of God hath manifested vnto him and hath vpholden perpetually his Church GOD after that he had created Heauen and Earth and all things comprehended in them created last of all man according to his owne semblance and likenesse that is to say wholy good pure full of perfection without sinne in all equitie of heart of iustice and vnderstanding and placed him with Eua his wife in earthly Paradise for to liue there in a blessed estate Then the occasiō which might make them abide in this estate was that they should in humblenesse submit them selues daily before the maiestie of God magnifying him with giuing of thankes and that in them selues they should not séeke their owne proper glory but considering that all thinges procéeded from aboue they should therefore haue their affections fixed on high for to glorifie God alone vnto whom al praise and glory is due But immediatly after when they had cast the commaundement of God behinde their backes and despised it in eating through the persuasion of the
Serpent of the fruit that was forbidden them they lost then the whole dignitie and excellencie of their first creation were quite spoyled of the great glory wherewith they were before indowed and were made seruants and bondslaues to him who by subtil sleights and wiles had so intangled them that he caused them to giue credite vnto him and to withdrawe them cleane out of the way of al felicitie and trueth and to fill them with all errours and wickednesse that he might make them in all thinges and by all thinges like vnto him selfe who in like sort through his ingratitude had fallen from all beatitude and goodnesse which GOD had first placed in him And thus God in the beginning hath made our first parents in all integritie of heart in trueth and righteousnesse good pure and perfect And the same diuell speaking by the mouth of the serpent was in the beginning pure and good For as Moses wrote being inspired with the spirite of God in the first chapter of Genesis at the end of the chapter GOD sawe all that he had made and behold it was excéeding good And hereby we may sée and knowe howe that this craftinesse and wickednesse in the serpent was not so created and made in him and that the diuell of his maliciousnesse and subtiltie vndertooke through deceits full of lyes to beguile and to allure vnto him Adam and Eua as in the end he did in déede through the iust iudgement of God And that bicause they cleaued not fast to the cōmaundement of God but rather were willing to sticke vnto the persuasion and counsel of sathan who for bicause he might put the same in effect had power to make the serpent speake one of the most craftiest beastes in the fieldes not that he was such by his owne nature but made such through the instigation of sathan who not only had for that present time permission at the handes of God so to frame his words in the mouth of this beast but afterward vnto many other brute beasts as the prophane histories do beare witnesse of such as haue spoken Wherevpon we haue to consider that the diuell séeketh from time to time by al meanes that he possibly can for to beguile men and to make them giue credit vnto lyes wherein he taketh great pleasure dimming al the eyes of their vnderstanding by certaine priuie and secrete meanes that he may kéepe them still vnder his subiection and thraldome Beholde here from whence do come so many false persuasions so many vntrue and wicked thoughtes ful of leasings wherevnto men do more leane then to the truth of God Marke here the chiefest fountaine of all disorders and woes which euer happened vnto the world marke the way which our forefathers tooke by which they fell from that high degrée of felicitie of peace of rest and of ioy wherevnto they were first appointed by God and by what meanes they with al their posteritie are falen and are tumbled headlongs into this great disorder and confusion in which we vntill this day sée our selues remaine in as much as we followe after them the same counsell that they did Therefore for as much as we knowe the fountaine or first originall of the maladie why should we not labour to cure the same by contrarie remedies séeing that wickednesse hath begunne to take roote we must followe the counsel and will of God and not regard the persuasions of sathan but let vs forsake him with all his counsels and imaginations and let vs go with prayers fastings and humble intreatings to require at the handes of God for his counsel and that he would instruct vs according to his will and that we may followe the same And we may thus assure our selues that we shall féele a wonderfull vnderstanding of the trueth of God of his good will which he hath declared in the doctrine of his holy Prophetes and Apostles of whome sathan would that we should haue no knowledge but rather that their memorie should be wholy extinguished for as much as he séeth that in them is declared the way of equitie the mediatour by whome we haue deliuerance out of the gulfe of all horrour and euill made manifest The diuel nowe séeing him selfe to be depriued of this excellent glory of God which shined very clearely in him at the beginning of his creation he in likewise hath assayed from our first parents to depriue vs eternally of this excellent glory and felicitie wherevnto he séeth no meanes offered him by God howe he may be any more restored But God who had created mankinde to the end he might be glorified thereby was willing to redéeme him againe although he was so alienated from him he would not so confound destroy spoyle and throwe him downe to hell nor giue him so ouer wholy to the diuell for to let him deale with him as him lusted but through his most great goodnesse mercy and grace he hath sustained and vpholden Adam and Eua shewing vnto them that he who is the enimie vnto all truth iustice and true felicitie they shall haue once in their powers to bruse his head albeit that in the mean time by his iust iudgement he suffered and was willing that he should sting and afflict them with diuers assaultes Nowe to the intent that Adam and Eua should be assured of their restauration euen in like sort as GOD by his diuine word and spirite had created made and fashioned all things in their being so also by the same word God hath decréed that the séede of the woman should breake the head of the serpent and by consequence shuld be deliuered vtterly from all his thraldome This word then being almightie subsisting in the essence of GOD from all eternitie by which the worlde and all things had bene made called vnto repentance Adam and Eua giuing them time and leasure to returne to reforme them selues againe vnto the obedience from which they had erred And thereby may we clearely vnderstand that it hath from the beginning of the world instructed and taught Adam For this word the sonne of GOD which reproued Adam for his fault and offence and which declared that the strength force that was in the serpent should be broken hath also taught and rebuked him for his misdoing letting him well vnderstand how abhominable a thing sinne is and howe many mischiefes it causeth the death and euerlasting participation in al ignominie and shame with this wicked craftie wretch that had brought him into such slauerie vnto him selfe that through him selfe or any other creature a full deliuerance from this subiection or perfect satisfaction for the abhominable sinne that he had committed against God could not be made but by the onely meanes of this promise by which alone Adam and Eua had knowledge that they were fréely pardoned without any mediation of their owne workes or merites And in all these thinges had they some sight and knowledge of by the inspiration of
at one onely battaile 58. thousand men as Nicephorus saith Anselme speaketh of 50. thousand and of fifty fortresses that were taken and 985. Villages destroyed both by famine and fire and bloudsheade And all the rest of the Iewes were driuen away from Ierusalem and solde into all partes of the worlde So terrible a destruction as they had by Titus might sufficiently teach them that the kingdome was taken away from them like as the Prophets had foretolde them but it came so to passe that they felt almost as great a punishment at the seconde time as they had at the first Then many Christians of the Gentyles gathering themselues together elected as before I was telling Marke for their Bishop who was the 16. Cassianus the 17. Publius the 18. Maximius the 19. Gayan the 21. Symmache the 22. Caius the 23. Iulian secundus the 24. Capito the 25. This is recorded of Eusebius lib. 5. Chap. 12. For asmuch as the Church of the Gentyles had then their habitation there the Lorde woulde declare that the true Messias was alreadie come and that they ought to looke for none other 72 In the time of Marcus Aurelius Antonius about the yeare 160. after the natiuitie of Iesus Christ Melito borne in Asia was Bishop of Sardis he wrote to the Emperour Marcus Aurelius concerning the Christian faith Theophilus bishoppe of Antioche wrote against Marcion Apollinaire Denis bishop of Corinth Iustus bishop of Vienna wer Martyrs for the faith There were also Philip bishoppe of Créete or Candie Egesippus Iustin the Philosopher Modestus Musan and certaine others of whose bookes we haue but fewe Eusebius doth partely and Hierome partely rehearse the bookes written by them 73 Eleutherius borne at Nicopolis in Gréece gouerned the Church of Rome 15. yeare and more in the time of Marcus Aurelius the 17. Emperour in the yeare of Christ 179. he gaue commaundement against the Seueriens herisie that then raigned Also that no Christian for any ceremong should forsake any kinde of meates accustomed to bee eaten 1. volume of councells 74 Ireneus the scholar of Polycarpus was ordeyned byshop of Lions after that Photin bishop of the said Church had suffered Martyrdome when he was 90. yeares old and with him a greate many moe Frenchmen Hee was in the time of Prince Commodus about 170. or a 180. yeares after the natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus It is saide that hée was put to death in the citie of Smyrna vnder the raigne of Maximine Hée lyued aboue fourescore yeares There was great persecution in the Church about that time and it lasted very long For the Paganes were offended because that the Christians reproued and sought to abolysh their olde accustomed manners of worshipping and the Religion of their auncestours And for this cause a great multitude of Christians were put to death all abroade in dyuers countryes and regions especially aboue all others the Doctours Bishops and Pastours of the Churches Nowe during these venemous rages and horible crueltie of the Deuil God preserued some faithfull Doctours and prolonged the liues of some others to the ende that by them the pure doctrine might be conserued and publyshed abroad amongst whiche were Polycarpus Ireneus and others 75 About this time or shortly after lyued Theodotion bishoppe of Ephesus of Alexandria Pautene Miltiades Appollonius Serapion and Policrates of whose liues Eusebius and S. Hierome make larger demonstration and of their bookes also All the which sustayned sundrie combattes against many heretykes to wit Marcion Montanus Valentinian and the Hermogenians and diuers others 76 Victor bishop of Rome gouerned the church 10. yeares in the time of Didius Iulianus Milancius Emperours Hée ordeyned that those which woulde not reconcile themselues shoulde be depriued of the table of the Lorde 77 About 200. yeares after the natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus in the raigne of Seuerus Pertinax Antonius Carcalla Emperours was Tertullian of Affrica of the citie of Carthage His bookes be nowe extant in which Cyprian tooke so great pleasure as saint Hierome wryteth that he woulde not passe ouer one day without reading some of his workes It is written of him that he lyued vntill the last age 78 Leonides the father of Origene was martyred for the faith he had his head cut off in the persecutions stirred vp against the Christians by the Emperour Seuerus in the tenth yeare of his Empyre Origene his sonne being then young of 17. yeares of age saide my father take héede that in no wise you change and swarue from the trueth you haue begon This Origene after that the goods of his Father were confiscate for the faith kept and mainteined his mother and brethren with teaching schole and being but eightéene yeares olde he was called by the Bishop of Alexandria in Egypte to the office of a Catechiser for to instructe children and straungers Out of his schoole came many Martyrs If any woulde sée what was his life his manners exercises writinges and bookes let him haue recourse to Eusebius in the ecclesiasticall historie in the sixt booke He lyued vntill the time of Gallus that is vntill the 70. yeare of his age Amonius the philosopher was his maister who perseuered in the Christian faith vntill he died Origene was 255. yeares after the natiuitie of our Lorde Suidas saith that he was buried in the citie of Cyr. In that time was also Tryphon Minutius Felix that was a Romain Berillus Hippolitus Alexander bishop of Cappadocia Iulius Affricanus Gregorie bishop of Pontus in Nercesarea Dionise bishop of the citie of Alexandria all which for the most part had béene the scholers of Origene 79 Vrbane a Romaine Bishop of Rome gouerned the Church 8. or 9. yeares in the time of the Emperour Heliogabalus Damasus saith that he was of a holy life so as he drewe certeine Gentlemen as Tyburtius and Valerian the husbande of S. Cecil to the Christian faith Moreouer Damasus saith that he ordeined that the Churches shoulde possesse landes farmes and other possessions and that the saide goods should be common and distributed for the sustenance of the mynisters the poore and the notaries called the protonotaryes who wrote the actes of the martyrs 80 Cyprian of the country of Affrica bishop of Carthage suffered martyrdom vnder the empyre of Valerian and Galerien in the yeare after the natiuitie of our Lord Iesus 260. Nowe in that time that is to say in the reigne of Dionisius the Emperour arose great persecution and thereof Nicephorus saith in his fifth booke and twenty Chapter that it is as easie to number the multitude of those that suffered in this persecution as it is to number the sande of the sea Alexander bishop of Ierusalem honourable because of his pietie and age was brought before the seat iudiciall in Cesarea and after that he had made confession of his faith he died in prison Babyle byshop of Nicomedie Asclepiades of Antioche Germane Theophilus Cesarius Vital Polichronius bishop of Babylon Serapion Apolline the
virgin and others infinites were martyred in this horrible persecution Passing all other cities Alexandria was then as a scaffolde in which the faithfull were brought to the viewe of the worlde Looke Euseb liber 6. Chap. 40. Sundry kindes of tormentes then vsed against the martyres are recited by Eusebius as sharpe pricks of rose bushes thrust against their faces eyes then bruised with stones burned their entrailles torne they cast downe from high places their flesh rent with cardes of yron rackings they cast vnto brute beastes condemned to be whipped To conclude the most horrible and cruell tormentes that coulde be imagined was executed vppon them S. Cyprian being then in exile wrote letters of great consolation to those that suffered such afflictions and like as Tertullian in his time defended by writing the Christians against Scapula euen so did Cyprian againste Demetrius the Pagane gouernour showing that the calamities of the world be falsly imputed to the Christians Dionisius Alex. writeth that after the publishing of the edict made by Decius for confirming of this horrible persecution manie of the most excellent shewed themselues cowardes and of their owne accorde made abiuration and did offer sacrifice vnto idols Cyprian made a sermon of them that fought hardily that is of those that perseuered in the confession of Iesus Christe He then set downe examples of the punishment of those that had made abiuration and affirmed that many of them were tormented with euill spirites He saide that there was one who became dumbe immediately after he had abiured Also of a mayden that was possessed with a deuill soone after and cut a sunder her tongue with her téeth Also there be of late yeares examples memorable of the punishmentes happened vnto those that made abiuration aswell Italians Flemings Germanes Frenchmen as of other nations For some of them after that they had denyed the truth lost imediately the taste both of meate and drinke without being able to receiue any comforte at the handes of their parentes and friends and were intangled with madnes tormented day and night because of their horrible sinne the which was always without ceasing present before their eyes And some others were tormented in their consciences so as they cast themselues downe into the bottomes of ryuers and pondes and others cried and howled as though all the Deuils had béene assembled possessed their bodies and soules others euen of the most learned and wise fell into dispaire so that one of them openly said these words as Luther maketh mention on the Epistle to the Galathians I haue denied Christ and therefore is he nowe before God the father who accuseth me For he was before time so grounded in this perswasion and Sathan by his illusions and temptations had so imprinted in him this dispaire that he receiued no consolation nor admonition which could be giuen him hauing still in his mouth the foresaide words in such sorte that in this myserable dispaire he wofully killed himsefe Lastly the examples of many the iudgementes of God are verie notable and worthy to be marked the which were written by people worthy of credit and were imprinted at Lions of some that are past and some that are to come To conclude it is a horrible thing to fall into the handes of the liuing GOD who notwithstanding woulde not enter into iudgement with all those the denied his holy trueth but hath suffered them looking for their amendement stedfastnesse and constancie the which we ought dayly to craue for that we may finishe our course to the mainteinance of the kingdome of our onely Sauiour and Redemer Iesus Christ 81 Xistus an Athenian in the time of Gallien the Emperour about the yeare after the natiuitie of our Lorde Iesus 264. was ordeined bishoppe of Rome by the election of the cleargie comming back againe out of Spaine where he had preached Bergomensis and Sabellicus doe witnesse that Xistus laboured greatly for to take away the heresies of the Sabellians At the last he was accused by thē before Gallien and was by his commaundement beheaded sixe Deacons with him Saint Ambrose in the firste booke of his offices Chap. 41. saith that as he was going one day to prayer Laurence the Deacon spake to him in this sorte father doe you go without your sonne and Xistus aunswered him sonne I leaue thee not there draweth neare vnto thée yet greater combates for the faith thou shalt follow me within thrée dayes in the meane space if thou hast any treasures distribute them to the poore This Laurence was the first of the seauen Deacons of Rome who had the dealing with the goods deputed for almes The gouernour of Rome being then hungry of monie was perswaded that the Church had golde and moueables of syluer and he woulde néeds compell Laurence to shewe him where those treasures were Laurence hauing thrée dayes terme appoynted for to doe this distributed in the meane time all that he had to the poore gathering together in a troupe al the impotent lame that were succoured with almes he at the day appointed prayed the gouernour that he woulde goe vp to that place and showing him all the poore he saide loe here the moueables of siluer behold the talents set in order take them and with them thou shalt repaire the citie of Rome and shalt enrich the reuerenue of the Emperour holde it The gouernour séeing that he was mocked commaunded that there shoulde be made ready a hote burning grydyron wherevppon they laide Laurence who with great courage calling vpon the Lorde gaue vp his soule most happely Prudentius a Christian Poete in his booke de coronis described this martyre 82 Archelaus Bishop of Mesopotamia confuted the errours of the Manichees in the Syrian language and his confutation was afterwarde translalated into the Gréeke tongue For Manes or Manichée was of Persia Archelaus was in the time of the Emperour Probus about the yeare 284. after the natiuitie of Iesus Christ Anatholius liued also in that time 83 In the time of Dioclesian the Emperour and in the 300. yeare after the natiuitie of our Lord Iesus Authimus bishop of Nicomedie after that hée had made confession of his faith was beheaded with a great multitude of Martyrs Serena the wife of Dioclesian constantly endured martyrdome so cruel was this persecution that they spared none looke Hermanus Gig. In Europe aboue all other at Rome was a great multitude of martyrs The Prouost Rictiouarus in France made great hauocke especially at Collogne at Treues and towarde Mosella Beda writeth that the persecution extended euen vnto Englande then when as saint Albain a man greatly renoumed receiued the crowne of a martyre After that time they beganne to inuent diuerse kindes of tormentes but so much the more horrible as they were so much the more exquisite séemed the constancie of the martyrs Eusebius saith that he was a beholder of the persecution that was at Thebaida and saith that the swordes of the executioners of
receiued but that alone which god hath commaunded That there is but one onely mediatour therefore they not ought to call vpon saincts That there is no purgatorie but that all men that are iustified thorough Christ goe vnto eternall life That there is no thirde nor fourth place They receiue and allowe two sacraments only Baptisme and the Lords supper They say that all masses and especially those inuented for trespasses bee damnable and that they ought to be abolished That all humaine traditions must bee reiected and not be accounted any thing necessarie to saluation That singings and rehearsing of offices fastings tyed vnto a certein day superfluitie of feasts difference of meates so many degrées and orders of priestes Monckes and Nonnes so many blessings and consecrating of creatures vowes pilgrimages and all the confusion and great heape of ceremonies inuented heretofore ought to be abolyshed They deny the prymacie of the Pope and especially the power that they vsurpe ouer cyuill pollycies And they allowe none other degrées saue of bishops ministers and Deacons That the sea of Rome is the verie Babilon and that the Pope is at this present the fountaine of all euils That the marriage of ministers is good and necessarie in the Church That those that heare the word of God and vnderstande it aright be the true Church vnto whom Iesus Christ hath giuen the Keyes for to let in the shéepe and to driue away the Wolues Lo here is briefely the doctrine of the Waldenses the which the enemies of the puritie of the holy scriptures haue impugned against for the which by their owne testimonie they haue béene persecuted Mathias Illiricus in the Catalogue that he collected of the witnesses of the trueth speaketh of the consultations of certeine aduocats of Auignon Also of the thrée Archbishops of Narbonna of Arles and of Aix and likwise of the Bishop of Albanie about the rooting out of the Waldenses written thrée yeares past by which it appeareth that at that time and before were a great nomber of the faithfull dispersed here and there throughout all Fraunce It may also be gathered by the consultations of the saide thrée Archbishoppes that as the number was great the persecution also was very cruel for in the ende of them it is founde thus written Who is so young in Fraunce that hee knoweth not the condemnation of the heretikes called Waldenses executed of long time so iustly A thing so famous and so manifest which at so great costes and charges of the Catholikes was sealed with so many condemnations and the deathes of those wicked infidels can it bee called in doubt It appeareth then what bouchery was vsed at that time with the faithfull what crueltie the supposts of antichrist exercised then against the good which were willing to mainteine the puritie of the holy true seruice of God like as by his holy word he teacheth vs that he woulde be adored serued and honoured I will also recite some thing of that which is written of Albigeois or Albois a people that had receiued a beginning of the light of the trueth and stoode in contention against the Idolatrie of transubstantiation which thing first caused them to retyre from the Romish Church They inhabited the countrie about Tholouse Albi. S. Dominick author of that newe secte that call themselues preachers came out of Spaine and persecuted them greatly both in worde and déede Pope Innocent the thirde sent also in that time vnto them a legate Nicholas bishop of Thusculane who comming thither with foure horses two mules returned in short space with fiftie and with great pillage which hee brought thence hauing exercised great crueltie and tyrannie against these poore people whom also hee charged with horrible crymes thereby to make them odious to all the worlde The said Pope caused to be published a croisard against them and gaue ful indulgence and remission of sinnes vnto those that woulde make warre against them Simon Earle of Mountforde went against them and destroyed a great multitude of them neare Tholous a hundreth and fortie were burned in the diocese of Narbonna and 4. hundreds in the diocese of Tholous at sundrie times In this discomfiture of the Albigeois Peter king of Tarracon who had fauoured them was slayne in combat Simon de Mountford pursued his victorie Looke Mathew Paris the English historigrapher who was in that time 127 In the yeare 1240. was Peter de Vinea Chauncelour to the Emperour Frederyke the seconde of that name who wrote at that time many letters in the name of the Emperour of which some be in print till this present wherein hee complayneth that all the worlde cannot content the insatiable couetousnesse of the Pope That the beastlynes of the Cleargie is so filthie that it is a shame to bée named Hée openly mainteyned that the Pope hath neither by deuine nor humaine right any power of the sworde Guillame le Orfeure also in his time shewed that the Pope was Antichrist Rome Babylon the prelates members of Antichrist Cesarius in the 10. Distinct of his dialogues Then the fruite of the doctrine that the Waldenses at that time spread abroade appeared in manie who did set themselues against the fraudes and abhominations in the sée of Rome Robert Grosted sometime bishop of Lincolne 1253. a man famously learned as that time serued in thrée tongues both Latin Gréeke and Hebrew also in al other liberall sciences whose works to this day are extant this Godly and reuerent Byshop after dyuers conflicts and agonies sustayned against the bishoppe of Rome after the Example of Guliel de sainct Amour of Nico. Gallus and other afore mentioned at length after great labours and trauels of life finished his course and departed at Buckdoue in the moneth of October 1253. Math. Pariensiens Of this Robert Grosted writeth Cestrensis in the seuenth booke of his historie that partly for that it gréeued him to sée the intollerable exactions of the Pope in the Realme of Englande partly because he refused to admitte a certaine young Nephew of the Pope to be canon of his Church Hee therefore writing to the Pope and signifying that he coulde not admit any such persons into his Church which neither knewe themselues nor the tongue of the people nor the charges committed vnto them was called vp to Rome there excommunicated who then appealing from the Pope shortly after departed in the yeare aboue written It chaunced within two yeares after his decease that Pope Innocent being a sléepe a certein Bishop apparelled Bishoplike appeared vnto him and striking him with his staffe on the left side said Surge miser veni in iudicium that is rise wretch and come to thy iudgement The next day after the Pope was founde amased and greatly troubled 128 In the yere 1260. flourished Guil. de sainct Amour a doctour of Paris a Chanon of Bauuais In his sermons as he himselfe doth witnesse hee especially reprehended the Hipocrisie of Prelates saying that
this vice was most daungerous of all others wherewithal the Church was wholly infected He stoode against the orders of monkes and especially the begging sort accusing and blaming them for because they troubled the Churches he alleaged testimonies out the scriptures which made mention of Antichrist and of his adherents and applying it vnto the time present he proued by thirtie nine tokens that the begging Fryers were false Apostles Hee expounded this place of the holy Gospell If thou wilt be perfect go and sell all that thou hast c. Matt. 19. Chap. vers 11. Whereupon the begging fryers doe founde their order and hee gaue to note that this place is not vnderstoode of actuall pouerty as the sophisters doe argue but in habituall that is to say that Iesus Christ demaundeth of vs not that we should cast away and rid off that we haue but that we shoulde be readie whensoeuer the confession of the name of God and the glorie of Iesus Christ shall require to abandon not onely that which we possesse but our owne soule and not onely as it is declared in S. Luke Chap. 14. vers 26. to forsake father and mother yea to hate both them and our owne liues in respect thereof To conclude Iesus Christ wolde that we should forsake all when the confession of the trueth do require Mathew Paris an english historiographer wryteth that in the same time there was greate contention in the vniuersitie of Paris againste the monkes who by multitudes woulde oppugne and beate downe all that they lusted hauing forged a new booke full of errours and blasphemies the which they had renued and intituled Euangelium Aeternum that is to say the euerlasting Gospell which booke they woulde haue published abroade Then for to appease this tumult there were sixe appoynted out of the schole who were at that time the most famous in al the vniuersity amongst whom was Guil. de sanct Amour for to sende vnto Rome to the Pope and to shewe the insolencie and blasphemy of the monkes The monks sent also on their partes and after great contention their errours touching their eternall Gospell was condemned But the Pope with certaine Cardinals and Monkes did not represse the tyranny of these begging monks writing that it was greatly néedefull that such souldiars shoulde become most mightie all abroade These bee the very wordes of Matthew Paris who was in the same time There is also a booke founde to haue bene written in the same time intituled de periculis mundi that is to say of the daungers of the world which the papists attributed to Guillame de sainct Amour making him onely of this opinion but it appeareth to haue béene written by many and conteineth the complaints against this new vermin of monks with an aduertisement to the Church that great euils will come thereby The saide sainct Amour was condemned for an heretike wherevpon rose great adoe betwéene the scholars of Paris but for fulfilling of the Popes commaundement M. William was banished out of Fraunce Some holde opinion that certaine of his bookes are vntill this present day in the lybrarie of Sorbona and many other Doctours haue written the like To conclude we sée that albeit the trueth is dayly reiected and banished yet notwithstanding it groweth vp euery day more and more in time and place For what though it be reiected and banished neuerthelesse for al the great bulwarks that can be deuised against it they can in no wise hinder but that the trueth will shine yea in the middest of the most profounde and thicke darkenesse in the tempests and outrages of our time Wherevppon wee must acknowledge that it is no humaine worke for that it seemeth feble but that it is of God who in his time will bestowe on vs so singular a grace benefite 129 Laurence an Englishe man a doctour of Paris in the yeare 1275. mainteined the opinion of M. Guillam de saint Amour and wrote agaist the Monks one booke containing an admonition to beware of false prophetes and one other booke by which he defendeth the foresaide saint Amour The booke that these Monkes had set foorth afore of the eternall and spirituall Gospell was burned openly and for to couer their filthines and impudencie they made the people beléeue that a certaine monke who was deade long afore had composed the same Petrus Iohannes was about the yeare of our Lorde 1290. which taught and maintained manie thinges against the Pope prouing that he was Antichrist and that the sinagogue of Rome was great Babylon He wrote vppon Mathew vppon the Epistles and vpon the Apocalyps Mention of this Petrus Iohannes is made in Nicho. Emericus in lib. Inquisitionum c. And because the Pope coulde not burne him aliue afore his death he caused his bones to be taken vp and burned Robertus Gillus who being borne of a right noble parentage for deuotion sake was made a Dominicke frier about the same yeare of our Lorde 1290. This man as appeareth by his visions and the prophetie of Hildegardis his visiōs all tend against the spiritualtie of Rome Where in the fift chapter he calleth plainly the Pope an Idole which hauing eyes seeth not neither lusteth to sée the abhominations of his people nor the excessiue enormitie of their voluptuosnes But onely to sée to heaping vp of his treasure and hauing a mouth speaketh not but saith I haue set good men ouer them whiche is sufficient for me to doe them good either by my selfe or by some other And it followeth in the same Chapter woe be to that Idole woe be to the mightie and proude who shall be equall in earth to that Idole He hath exalted vp his name in earth saying who shall bring me vnder Is not my house compared with mightie potentates of the land I am higher then Emperours kings or princes knightes on their horse backe do seruice vnto me That which my fathers had not before me that haue I done to me c. This godly man did forewarne as in a certaine chronicle is declared how God would punish the simonie and auarice of the cleargie with such plague that riuers shoulde runne with bloud c. It is said that there is remaining a gret volume of his visions which are not yet abroade for those which are extant are but a briefe extract out of his visions and reuelations Dante 's an Italian writer a Florentin liued in the time of Lodouicus the Emperour in the yeare 1300. and tooke parte with Marsilius Patauinus against thrée sortes of men which he said were enemies to the trueth That is the Pope Secondly the order of religious men which count themselues the children of the Church when they are children of the diuell their father Thirdly the doctors of decrées and decretals Certaine of his writinges be extant abroade wherein hee proueth the Pope not to be aboue the Emperor nor to haue any right or iurisdiction in the empire He refused the donation of Constantine to be
Moyses gouerned the church 12 Moyses and Aaron great excellent restorers of the church of God 13 Iosue and with him was in the gouernement Ecclesiastical Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the priest Othoniel being dyuinely stirred vp at the prayer that the people made vnto God And likewise gouerned in the church 14 Debora a prophetisse and Barac had the like gouernaunce 15 Gedeon and others that followed by order the number of whom ye may find in the booke of the Iudges The gouerning of the patriarches endured aboute 850. yeares 16 The Prophets bee in the thirde order of the doctours of the Church of God and began at Samuel 17 Dauid a prophet and king and with him were deputed and apointed to the gouernment of the church of God the Prophets Nathan Gad and the high priests Sadoc and Abimelech 18 Salomon the son of Dauid succeeded his father Semeia the prophet Ado the prophet Iadi the prophet Ahias the prophet Hanani the prophet Azarias the prophet Iohn the Prophet Iosue the sonne of Nun the prophet All these prophetes haue reproued the Kinges and people for their Idolatries and abhominable misdeeds 19 Elie the Thesbite raysed vp by the power of God for to purge doctrine againe forthwith to kindle the lyght thereof 20 Elizeus substituted in the roume of Elie. 21 Isaias succeeded immediately after Elizeus and in his time were the prophets Amos Micheas Osee 22 Ieremie gouerned the church more then 40. yeres and in his time also were gouernours the Prophets Sophonie Abacuc and Abdie 23 Danyell was instructed by Ieremie gouerned the Church in his time 24 Ezechiel the Prophet 25 Osee the prophet 26 Ioel the Prophet 27 Amos the Prophet 28 Abdias the Prophet 29 Ionas the Prophet 30 Micheas the Prophet 31 Nahum the Prophet 32 Abacuc the Prophet 33 Sophonie the Prophet 34 Aggee the Prophet 35 Zacharie the Prophet 36 Malachy was the last propher that was amongst the Iewes before the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ This is the thirde order of the Doctours of the church of God to wit that of the Prophets the gouernement of whome endured about 600. yeares 37 The gouernours high priests be in the fourth rable and order of the the Doctours of the Church that were after the returne from the captiuity of Babilon vntill the comming of Iesus Christ the sonne of God Mardocheus 38 Iehosue or Iesus with the conductor Zorobabell 39 Ioachim Esdras Nehemias others that gouerned in the Church 40 Symon and Eleazar being brethren and the sonnes of Onias 41 Simon the iust 42 Matathias the high Priest 43 Iudas Machabeus being raised vp by the power of God 44 Ionathas the brother of Iudas Machabeus succeeded him 45 Simon the third sonne of Matathias 46 Iohn Hircanus the great 47 Mathan the graundfather of the virgin Marie Ioachim who also was named Elie father of the virgin Marie 48 Simeon Anna. Zacharie the high Priest 49 This is the fourth rablement and order of the gouernaunce of the Church since the returne from the captiuitie euen vntil Christ and this endured about 500. yeares The fift and last order of the Doctours of the Church of god is that whiche wee beginne from Iohn Baptist our Lord Iesus Christ Iohn Baptist the sonne of Zacharie the Priest 50 Iesus Christ the sonne of the eternall God tooke humain flesh vpon him of the virgin Marie c. 51 Now here be placed in the fift order the Apostles their disciples the Bishops the pastours the Doctours ministers the which the sonne of God hath raised vp in short space after vnto other ages for the conseruation and maintenance of the ministerie of the word and of his Church The first are the Apostles Peter the Apostle 52 Andrewe the brother of Peter the Apostle 53 Iames the sonne of Alphee the Apostle 54 Iames the sonne of Zebede the Apostle 55 Mathew the Apostle and Euangelist Bartholomewe the Apostle Mathias the Apostle Phillip the Apostle 56 Thomas the Apostle 57 Iohn the Apostle and Euangelist 58 Paul a persecutour conuerted vnto Iesus Christ made an Apostle 59 The second of the fift order be the disciples Amongst many Disciples of the Apostles these here named haued haue ben the principall Barnabas who was also named an Apostle Epaphroditus who was in like sort named an Apoof the Phillippians Andronicus and Iunia were reputed notable amongst the Apostles Simon which was called Niger Lucius Cyreneus Manahem Iudas Barsabas Silas S. Luke called them doctours and prophets Crescence Clement Trophimus 60 Luke the Euangelist and companion of S. Paul 61 Marke the Euangelist disciple of S. Peter 62 The third sort that were of this fift order be the Bishops Timothie bishop of Ephesus Titus bishop of Creete Apollo Aristarcus Gayus Derbe Iason Sosipater Tychicus Secundus Syluanus Tertius Quartus Sosthenes Epaphras Iesus the iust Demas Anthippus bishop of the Colossians Eubulus Pudens Linus Artenas Zenas Dyonise Areopagita bishop of the Athenians 63 Annianus the first bishop of Alexandrie 64 Ignatius the Disciple of sainct Iohn the Euangelist and seconde bishop of Antioch 65 Clement bishop of Rome 66 Anaclete bishoppe of Rome 67 Quadratus disciple of the Apostles bishop of Athens 68 Euaristus bishoppe of Rome 69 Policarpe disciple of S. Iohn the Euangelist was bishop of Smyrna 70 Mark being come of the Gentils was elected bishop of Ierusalem after the saccage made by Titus These succeeded then afterward Cassianus Publius Maximus Symmache Caius Iulian the 2. Capito 71 Melito of Asia bishop of Sardis Thophilus bishop of Antioch Apollinare Dyonise Bishop of Corinth Iustus bishop of Vienna Phillip bishop of Crete or Candie Egesippus Iustin the philosopher Modestus Musan 72 Eleutherius bishoppe of Rome 73 Ireneus scholar to Policarpus bishop of Lyons 74 Theodotian bishop of Ephesus Miltiades Apillonius Serapion Policrates 75 Victor bishop of Rome 76 Tertullian of the country of Affrica that is to say of Carthage 77 Leonides Amonius Origene Tryphon Minutius Felix Berille Hyppolitus Alexander bishop of Capadoce Iules the Affricane Gregory bishop of Pōtus Dyonise bishop of the citie of Alexandrie all these almost were the discyples of Origene 78 Vrbane bishop of Rome 79 Cyprian of the countrie of Affrike bishop of Carthage Whereas is spoken of those that in his time made abiuration denying againe the truth of the holy gospel what the iudgemente of God against them was and in like sort of them in our time Alexander Bishop of Ierusalem Babile bishop of Nicomedie Asclepiades of Antioch Theophilus Cesarius Vital Polichronius bishop of Babilone 80 Xistus of Athens bishop of Rome Laurentius the first of the seauen Deacons of the Church of Rome 81 Archelaus Bishop of Mesopotamia Anatholius 82 Anthimius Bishop of Nicomedie Albine greatlye renoumed who also receiued the the crowne of a martyr 83 Arnobius Pierius Melitius Lucien Phigeas the Egyptian These here mentioned were excellent doctours of the Church of their time Lactantius