Priest 10. That Infidels and impious persons yea ratts and mise may eate the body of Christ 11. That the Laiety are not bound by Christs institution to receive the Communion in both kindes 12. That private Maffes wherin the Priest saith Eat drink ye all of this yet eateth drinketh himselfe only is according to Christs institutioÌ„ 13. That extreme Vnction is a Sacrament properly so called 14. That the publique service of God in the Church ought or may be celebrated in an unknowne tongue 15. That wee may worship God by an Image c. These and other new Tenets and Doctrines defide of the now Church of Rome cannot be shewed to bee the Doctrines of faith of the old ancient Church of Rome To conclude this point as there is Antiquity of Time so also of Truth and Doctrine for a people to receive Christianity the true faith from the Apostles or Christ himselfe profiteth nothing except they doe still retaine the said Faith Doctrine as our Lord told the Pharises boasting of antiquity that they had Abraham to their Father That they were of their father the devill not doing Abrahams workes So it may be said of them Iohn 8. that boast only of Antiquity of Time without Antiquity of Truth Doctrine The succession of Bishops CHAP. V. WHereas inquirie is made but for one Bishop of our Religion before Cranmer although wee neede no witnesses having our blessed Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ the great Bishop of our Soules and the twelve Apostles with Saint Paul Saint Iohn Baptist St Marke and St Luke for our Bishops Doctors teaching the truth professed by us yet I have set downe a fuccession of Bishops in some of the Patriarchall Churches as of Hierusalem Antioch Alexandria Constantinople and also of Rome for the first 600 yeeres amongst whom you may finde very many noble witnesses Hierusalem St. Iames. Simeon Cleophas Iustus a Iew Zacheus Tobias Benjamin Iohn Matthias Philip Sennecas Iustus the second Levi Ephrem Ioseph Iudas Marcus Cassianus Publius Maximus Iulianus Caius Symachus Caius the 2. Iulianus the 2. Capito Maximus Antoninus Valens Dolychiauus Narcissus Dios Germanon Gordius Narcissus and Alexander Mazabanes Hyminaeus Zambdas Hermon Macarius Maximus Cyrillus Herenius Heraclius Hilarius Cyrillus Iohn Nepos Prayllius Invenalis Polycbronius Theodosius Anastasius Martyrius Salustius Helias Petrus Macarius Eustochius Iohn c. Antioch St Peter Euodius Ignatius Heros Cornelius Theophilus Maximinus Serapion Asclepiades Philetus Zebinus Babylas Fabius Demetrianus Paulus Samosatenus Domnus Timaeus Ciryllus Dorotheus Tyrannus Vitalis Philogonus Eustathius Eulalius Euphonins Placitus Steven Leontius Eudoxius Anianus Meletius Euzojus Dorotheus Paulinus Evagrius Dorotheus Meletius Flavianus Porphyrius Alexander Theodotus Iohn Domnus Maximus Martyrius Iulianus Basilius Peter Gnapheus Stephen Calandio Peter Gnapheus Paladius Flauianus Severus Paulus Euphremius Domninus Anastatius Gregorius c. Alexandria St. Marke Anianus Abilius Cerdo Primus Iustus Eumenes Marcus Celadion Agrippas Iulianus Demetrius Heraclas Dionysius Maximinus Theonas Peter Achillas Alexander Athanasius Gregorie Peter Timothie Theophilus Cyrillus Dioscorus Proterius Timotheus Aelurus Timotheus Basilicus Peter Athanasius Iohn Theodosius Zoilus Appollinarius Iohn Eulogius Rome St. Peter Linus Clemens Cletus Anacletus Euarestus Alexander â—yxtus Telesphorus Hyginus Pius Anicetus Soter Eleutherius Victor Zepherinus Calistus Vrbanus Pontianus Anterus Fabianus Cornelius Lucius Steven Xystus Dionysius Felix Eutychianus Caius Marcellinus Marcellus Eusebius Miltiades Silvester Marcus Iulius Liberius Felix Demasdele Siricius Anastasius Innocentius Zosimus Bonifacius Celestinus Sixtus Leo Hilarius Simplicius Felix Gelasius Anastasius Symachus Hormisda Iohn Boniface Agapetus Silverius Vigilius Pelagius Iohn Benedict Pelagius Gregorie the great c. Constantinople St Andrew Stachis Onesimus Polycarpus Plutarchus Sedecion Diogenes Elutherius Felix Polycarpus Athenodorus Euzoius Laurentius Alippius Pertinax Olympianus Marcus Cyrillianus Constantius Ciriacus Castinus Titus Domitius Metrophanes Probus Alexander c. AS there is a Succession of Bishops in the Patriarchall Churches before-named so generally of the Metropolitans and Bishops kept in the Registers as is reported Titus was the first Bishop of the Church of the Cretians Tit. cap. 3. placed there by St Paul hee was not a Parson Tit. cap. 1.15.5 or Minister of one Parish but Bishop of the whole Isle called Hecatompolis of one hundred Cities placed as aforesaid by St Paul to ordaine Elders in every City Mirae lib. 4. pa. 181. de notitia episcop Miraeus reporteth that there are in the Isle of Crete one Archbishop and seven Bishops Of Ephesus Timothie was the first Bishop 2 Tim. 4. in fin placed there also by St Paul Caius succeeded him and many other famous men as Marke so famous in the last Florentine Councell Of Thessalonica Silvanus was the first Bishop Theatrum convers gentium anthor frat Arnol. Iohn Merman pag. 42. Chryt de statu Eccles pag. 159. Idemibidem placed there also by St Paul I heare that Athanasius is now Metropolitan thereof and I read ten Bishopricks to be under that See In Corinth Silas was also placed by St Paul The Metropolitane of Corinth hath foure Bishops under him Of Caesarea Apollo was the first Bishop Idem pag. 44. 45. Of Sardis Clemens the first Fruits of Achaia or Convert of the Gentiles Of Nicomedia Procorus the Deacon In Nice St Andrew placed Calistus In Iconium Tertius was first In Smyrna Polycarpus In Thebes Rusus In Philpipi Hermas And so I might name some others But to shew the Greatnesse of some of these Churches I will set downe a Catalogue of some of their Metropolites Of the Metropolites and Archbishoprickes which are or have been belonging to the Patriarch of Constantinople Metropoles 1 Caesarea 2 Ephesus 3 Heraclea 4 Ancyra 5 Cyzicus 6 Sardes 7 Nicomedia 8 Nicaea 9 Calcedon 10 Sida 11 Sebastea 12 Amasea 13 Melitene 14 Tyana 15 Gangra 16 Thessalonica 17 Claudiopolis 18 Neocaesarea 19 Pissinas 20 Mira 21 Caria 22 Laodicea 23 Synada 24 Iconium 25 Antiochia 26 Sylaeum 27 Corinthus 28 Athenae 29 Mocissus 30 Seleucia 31 Calauria 32 Patrae 33 Trapezus 34 Larissa 35 Naupactus 36 Philippopolis 37 Trajanopolis 38 Rhodus 39 Philippensis 40 Adrianopolis 41 Hierapolis 42 Dyrrhachium 43 Smyrna 44 Catana 45 Ammorium 46 Camachus 47 Cotyaium 48 Sancta Seuerinae 49 Mitelena 50 Novae Patrae 51 Euchaita 52 Amastris 53 Chonae 54 Hydrus 55 Kelzene 56 Colonia 57 Thebae 58 Serrae 59 Pompeiopolis 60 Rossia 61 Alana 62 Aedelenus 63 Tiberiopolis 64 Euchania 65 Cerasus 66 Nacolia 67 Germanicia 68 Madyta 69 Apamea 70 Basileum 71 Drystra 72 Nazianzus 73 Corcyra 74 Abydus 75 Methymna 76 Christianopolis 77 Rusium 78 Lacaedaemonia 79 Naxia 80 Attalia c. Archiepiscopatus 1 Bizya 2 Leontopolis 3 Maronea 4 Germia 5 Arcadiopolis 6 Parium 7 Miletus 8 Praeconesus 9 Selybria 10 Chius 11 Apros 12 Cypsella 13 Nice 14 Neapolis 15 Selga 16 Cherson 17 Messana 18 Garella 19 Brysis 20 Dercos 21 Carabyzya 22 Lemnus 23 Leucas 24 Misthea 25 Cudrae 26 Soteropolis 27 Pedachthea 28 Germa
Mr. Birckbeck hath written a catalogue who acknowledgeth Doctor Featlies great furtherance in it as I also doe but most especially I acknowledge my selfe bound unto your Lordship for your helpe and incouragement which imboldened me both to write and publish this Treatise Now although the contents of the former writing have beene sufficiently answered againe and againe and neede nothing of mine being one of the meanest of all my brethren Yet I shewed them that brought it me that in stead of a Catalogue of Names I would shew them a Catalogue of Churches in which there now are and have beene many millions of Christians who have generally borne witnesse and now doe to the truth professed by us and our Religion in the principall points in controversie betweene the Roman Church and us as the Greeke Church which hath foure great Patriarches The first of Constantinople whose succession I have set down from Saint Andrew to Cyrill the now Patriarch which succession The Cophti have also a Patriarch of Alexandria Alexandria was inhabited with Greekes and also many other great Cities and Provinces both Africa and Asia have at this day many Greekes in them hath not beene so interrupted with so many Schismes as the Romish succession hath beene The second of Alexandria The third of Antioch The fourth of Hierusalem which Greeke Church is much bigger then the Romish Church in Europe and more ancient The Romish Church having received Christianity from them Againe the Moscovite or Russe Christians who inhabit many countries not onely in Europe but also in Asia as the great Kingdomes of Casan and Astracan and other great Provinces all which together are of greater extent then all Europe besides As also the Christians under the Patriarch of Musall in Asia which Christians Vitriacus the Cardinall reporteth to live in severall Vt de his qui seorsum habitant quorum infinitus est numerus taceamus inter Saracenos non pauciores ut dicitur sunt Christiani infidelibus Vitria histo orient cap. 77. in infinite numbers with their King and also where they live mingled with Saracens they are not fewer then they and howsoever some say that these Christians are decayed since Vitriacus time yet Postell reporteth idem pag. 76. de Iacobitis that they are yet more then the Latine Church Postel Compend Cosmog pag. 69. Dico pauci comparatione priorum temporum â—on in se namsunt nobis latinis multo plures As also the Jacobites dispersed in fortie Kingdomes The Armenian Christians in Europe Asia and Africa who have a thousand Bishops as Cardinall Baronius reporteth out of Otho Frisigensis and also the Abissin Christians in Aethiopia under their Emperour who hath many great Kingdomes of Christians vnder him All these and many more hereafter set downe as they doe agree with us in the maine points of Religion being all baptized in the name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost c. so also 1. They deny the Popes Supremacie some of them excommunicating him yeerely for an Hereticke or Schismaticke accounting him and his Church hereticall 2. They receive the Communion in both kindes 3. They have no private Masse 4. They hold no Transubstantiation 5. They offer no sacrifice for the quicke and the dead in their Liturgies 6. Married Priests doe administer amongst them 7. They know no Purgatorie nor use any Prayers nor sell any Pardons to release soules from thence 8. Most of them have their Service in their owne tongues Now howsoever the Romanists account no more of the testimonies of these Christians then of the testimonies of Iewes Turkes and esteeme them damned persons as they doe us yet let them know that these Christians are baptized beleeve in Christ and also live devoutly to God obediently to Princes and sincerely to men yea many of them suffer very much for Iesus Christs sake which they might free themselves of if they would renounce their Religion and obtaine great honour and estate for the Turkes Janisaries and Basha's are most of them renegado Christians but these poore Christians account their Saviour more deere to them then all the honours and riches of the world Therefore farre bee it from any Christian Soule to account these men damned as the Romanists doe onely for not being subiect to the Bishop of Rome Bonif. 8. in extrar de major obedi cap. unam sanctam c. according to their Tenet That every Soule must of necessity of Salvation be subject to the Bishop of Rome As for the Dedication in regard I have received many kindnesses from your Lordship both when you were my neighbour and since I am bold to present this Treatise to your Lordship desiring your patronage and protection and also most humbly intreating Almighty God to multiply his blessings upon you to your owne Comfort and good of his Church Your Lordships most humbly devoted EPHRAIM PAGITT Parson of the Church of St. Edmonds the King in Lombardstreet London To the Reader THat which J intend in this treatise is to shew that there are many Christian Churches as well in Europe as in the other parts of the world that doe not adhere to the Roman Church nor acknowledge the Pope for their head Invaine therfore and to no purpose doe many of that party run up and downe the world and cry up the Church of Rome for that one holy catholicke Church which is so assisted by the holy Ghost that it cannot erre wheÌ„ she is indeed but a member and no sound one neither of that body as being miserably infested at this day which also the learned and sober men amongst themselves cannot deny with many new fond opinions and with superstitious practices not a few The Greeke Church may for ought I know by the same reason say that she is that one infalible Catholicke Church that all are Schismatickes that coÌ„municate not with her that out of that church there is no salvation to be had One thing Iadde by way of caution J haue cited many of the opinions practices of those Christians that live in the Easterne and other remote parts of the world but J doe not undertake to justify them in every particular J would not be so understood it sufficeth for my present purpose to shew that many Millions of Christians in the world differ from the Papists J and that in the most of those things wherein they and we do disagree which is the maine of all that few or none of all these doe acknowledge the Church of Rome for their Mother or have any dependance on her The God of peace make peace in Christendome and grant that all they that confesse his holy name may agree in the truth of his holy word and live in unity and godly love Amen So prayeth Thine in our common Saviour The Contents of the first Chapter THe severall sorts of Christians in the World not subject to the Pope or differing in Religion from him First
contra Christi praceptum agat qui sub vtraque specie communicare praecipit Prateol elench Alphab omni Haeres lib 7 pag. 202 The say of necessitie they must Communicate in both kindes both of the bread and the wine so that if any take it vnder one kinde although a lay-man he is said to sinne because they say he doth against Christs Commandement Who hath commanded to communicate under both kindes 5 They denie Purgatorie fire Cyrill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cap. 18. pag. 66. Patriarch of Constantinople We beleeve the soules of the dead to be in blisse or in damnation according as every one hath done Nilus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nilus pag. 119. de Purgator igne Archbishop of Thessalonica Wee have not received by Tradition from our Teachers that there is any fire of Purgatorie nor any temporall punishment by fire and we doe know that the Easterne Church doth not beleeve it Alfonsus de Castro It is one of the most knowne errors of the Graecians and Armenians Vnus ex notissimie erroribus Graecorum Armenorum est quo docent nullum esse Purgatorium locum quo animae ab has luce migrantes purgentur à sordibus quas in corpore contraxerant antequam in aeterna Tabernacula recipi maereantur Advers Haeres lib. 12. pag. 188. that they teach that there is no place for Purgatorie where soules after this life are purged from their corruptions which they have contracted in their bodies before they deserve to be received into the eternall Tabernacles Guido sarth Quintus error Graecorum est quia dicunt Purgatorium non esse De Haeresibus Graecorum It is the fifth error of the Greekes that they say there is no Purgatorie Gaulter That there is no Purgatorie Purgatorium non esse quod idem Calvinus c. De Photio pag. 603. which Calvin affirmeth c. 6 They allow married Priests 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prim. Patri Respon p. 129. Jerem. Patr. Wee doe permit those Priests that cannot containe the use of Marriage before they be consecrated for GOD hath commanded Marriage And we are not ignorant Marriage being forbidden to Priests filthie things to be committed by them Pope Stephen the second The Priests Deacons Distinctio 31. Aliter and Subdeacons of the Easterne Church are married 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cyril Resp ad inter 4. p. 97. 7 Concerning Jmages Cyrill the Patriarch We doe not forbid Pictures the Art is noble We grant unto them that wil have them the Pictures of Christ and Saints but their adoration and worship we detest as forbidden by the holy Ghost in holy Scripture lest we should ignorantly adore Colours Art and the creature in stead of our Creator and Maker Damascen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Damascen lib. 4. cap. 17 p. 343. Basileae They make no Image of God Who can make an Image of God who is invisible incorporeall and incircumscriptible c. 8 For the Bookes of Canonicall Scripture they agree with us Damascen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ortho. fidei lib. 4. cap. 18. The Wisedome of Salomon and others are not numbred amongst the Canonicall Cyrill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Respons 3. pag. 91. the Patriarch Wee beleeve the Bookes of Canonicall Scripture to be those which the Laodicean Synod hath set downe and which the Catholicke Orthodox Church of Christ being illuminated by the holy Ghost hath confessed to this day to wit 22 Bookes of the Old Testament 9 The sufficiencie of holy Scripture Cyrill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cyril p. 91. Resp 3. We call the holy Scriptures all the Canonicall bookes which we receive as the rule of faith and of our salvation and so we do retaine them and chiefly because being divinely inspired they set before vs the doctrine which is sufficient to instruct to inlighten and to make perfect him that commeth to the faith Againe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cyrill cap 2. pag 5. Lomb lib 1. Distinct 11. v. Dicunt quod veritas in Evangelio fidem integram continet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nilus de caufis dissent pag 2.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de Ortho fide lib. 1 cap. 1. the Authority of the Scripture is aboue the authority of the Church c. Men may erre and be deceaved but the holy Scripture cannot erre nor deceive nor be deceived but is alwayes infallible and certaine Lombard The Grecians beleive and say that the truth in the Gospell conteineth intirely the faith that is to say the doctrine of Faith Nilus Archbishop of Thessalonica To accuse the Scriptures is as great a fault as to accuse God himselfe But God is void of all blame Damascen whatsoever is delivered unto us in the law and the prophets by the Apostles Evangelists that we receive acknowledge reverence and be sides these we require nothing else 10 They do not forbid the Laitie the reading of the Scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cyrill Respon 1. pa. 81. Cyrill the Patriarch As the hearing of the holy Scriptures is forbidden to no Christian man So no man is to be kept from the Reading of it For the word is neere in the mouth and in their harts Therefore manifest iniurie is offered to any christian man of what ranck or condition soeuer he be who is deprived or kept from reading or hearing the holy Scriptures 11 They Renounce workes of Supererogation and Merit workes Hierem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Patriarch Affirmeth That we must doe good workes but put no confidence in them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prim. Respons Patr. cap 6 pa. 71 we must not trust nor beleeve in Them Although we have fulfilled all things yet we are unprofitable servants according to the words of our Saviour Cyrill the Patriarch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cyril cap. 13. We beleive a man to be Iustified by faith not of workes They concurre in Assertion with the Protestants Sir Fdwin Sands Relation of the religion in the West sect 53. That it is impossible for any creature to merit as by way of right the least dramme of reward at his Creators hands But whatsoever reward is bestowed vpon the creature floweth forth from the meere bountie and gratiousnes of the Creator who as in goodnes alone and meere grace did make him so also in meere grace doth advance him to that high happinesse 12 They allow not private Masse Chytraeus No private Masses are celebrated amongst the Greekes Constat missas privatas absque cōmunicantibus non ab eis celebrari solere Chyt de statu eccles pag 14 without other Communicants as their Liturgies and Faithfull Relations testifie Ioannes Hoff-meisterus Res ipsa clamat tam in Graeca quam latina ecclesia Non solum Sacerdotē sacrificātem sed et re The thing it selfe doth speake and cry alowd both in the Greeke and in the Latin Church that not only sacrificing Priest but the Priest and Deacons and the
benedictione Similiter Evangelium legitur 5 5 Sacerdos maiore digito facit in libo quinque signa tanquam stigmata The Priest with his greatest finger maketh five signes or prickes upon the Cake 6 6 Consecrat in sualinguae iisdem verbis quibus et nos et non sublevat He doth Consecrate in the vulgar tongue in the same words that we doe and doth not elevate it 7 7 Id ipsum quoque facit in calice et no◠elevat The same he doth with the Cup but not elevate it 8 8 Sacramentum panis in manibus acoipiens partitur per medium Taking the sacrament of the bread in his hands he divideth it in the midle 9 9 Ex summitate partis paululum detrahit quam particulam pro se accipit Of the uppermost he taketh a little for himselfe 10 The dish with the Sacrament 10 Lancem in̄ sacramento porrigit ei qui evangelium legit he delivereth to him that readeth the Gospell 11 The Cup with the Sacrament 11 Calicom cum sacrumento porrigit ei qui legit Epistolam he delivereth to him that readeth the Epistle 12 12 Qui continuo dant communionem sacerdotibus qui astant altari Then he giveth to the Priests that stand at the Altar 13 The Deacon taking the Sacrament out of the dish 13 Diaconus sacramentū ex lance sumens manuquo dextra tenens minutim distribuit and holding it in his right hand doth distribute it in parts 14 In the meane season the subdeacon delivereth the blood in a golden silver or wodden spoone 14 Interea Subdiaconui pauxillum de sanguine cochleari aureo argenteo vel ligneo sumptum porigit illis qui sumpserunt sacramentum corporis to them that have received the sacrament of the body 15 In the same manner 15 Eodem modo datur communio illis qui stant ante primam cortinam et aliis qui stant iuxta alteram cortinam the communion is given to them that stand neere the other Cortin 16 Last of all 16 Postea fecularibus qui stant inxta portam princi palem tam viris quam mulieribus to the lay people both men and women 17 Whilst the communion is administring 17 Dum datur communio aut altud quippiam officii sit amnes stant erecti or any other service is doing in the Church all the people stand upright 18 To the Communion all come 18 Ad communionem omnes veniunt sublatis complicatisque manibus lifting up their hands and folding them together In these Liturgies before named although some of them seeme to be corrupted and expurged as they plainely confesse the expurging of the Jndian Liturgie yet the Eucharist is administred in both kinds There is no privat Masse There is mention made of a spirituall sacrifice I finde not Transubstantiation in them There is no elevation of the Sacrament Maried Priests administer And Mans merit is renounced in them as before c. And the like will also appeare in the other old antient Liturgies attributed to St. Peter St. Matthew St. Ambrose St. Andrew St. Dennis St. Clement c. And for the Masse now used in the Roman Church fathered upon St. Gregorie although it hath beene purged and purged againe yet therein still appeareth some footing of truth and Antiquitie As the bread and wine are called Dona and Munera And after Consecration they are called Creatures per quem haec bona semper Creas commaund thy Angells to carry up these to thy high Altar in heaven whereas the Preist would have us beleeve that after he hath gone over them that they are no more Creatures but the Creator that made all things One thing more I note by the way that there is a Liturgie attributed to Saint Peter set downe in Bibliotheca veterum Patrum used in some part of Calahria Now who can beleeve that the Church of Rome holding so much of Saint Peter that under his name shee exalteth her selfe over the whole world would offer Saint Peter so much wrong as to drive his Liturgie out of Rome and suffer a few Preists to use it inhabiting the Mountaines of Basilica in Calabria Also whereas the Romish writers call all these Liturgies Masses as the Masse of Saint Basill the Masse of Saint Chrysostome the Armenian Masse the Aethiopian Masse There is a difference betweene the Romish Masse and their Liturgies for the Church of Rome in their Masse intendeth cheifely a Sacrifice but these Churches a Communion The Aethiopians call the Communion Codash and the bread Corban The Greekes call it the Liturgie as the Liturgie of Saint Basill the Liturgie of Saint Chrisostome As these Liturgies before named agree with us in many things so also there are some things in them which I doe not Iustifie as before and in viewing them and comparing them with our service booke I have great cause to magnifie Gods great goodnesse and mercie to us and this section I will conclude with the words of the Reverend and holie Martir Docter Rowland Tailor vnto Bishop Gardiner and others There was saith he Ecclesiast hist 3. Volum fol 171. Printed 1631. set forth by the most innocent King Edward for whom God be praised everlastingly the whole Church service with the best advice of the learned men of the Realme and authorised by the whole Parliament and received and published gladly by the whole Realme which Booke was never reformed but once said my author in his time and yet by that once reformation it was so fully perfected according to the rules of our Christian Religion in every behalfe that no Christian Conscience can be offended with any thing therein conteined I find that these Churches are not hereticall but Orthodox for the maine Wheras these Churches are charged by some to be heretiques you shall find divers good Authors to have written to the contrary As first for the Greeke Church Azorius thinketh them to be no heretikes and sheweth a reason therefore Azorius Instit moral lib 8. cap. 20. quest 10. because in those articles wherein they are thought to erre they differ verbally onely and not really from those that are undoubtedly beleevers and giveth instance in the question touching the proceeding of the holy Ghost wherein he thinketh they differ in the forme of words only Lomb lib 1. div 10. And the like saith Peter Lombard The Craecians affirme that the holy Ghost proceedeth frō the Father only and not from the Son yet they doe acknowledge the Holy Ghost to be the Spirit of the Son as well as of the Father because the Apostle saith that he is the Spirit of the Sonne and in the Gospell Gal. 4◠He is called the Spirit of Truth and now seeing it is no other thing Iohn 10. to be the spirit of the Father and the Sonne then to be from the Father and the Sonne they
Churches and many others whom they scandall and accuse of divers heresies and errors which we and they abhorre and detest This point I will conclude with Doctor Fields observations First Doct. Field of the Church lib 3. cap. 1. that by the mercifull goodnesse of God all these different sorts of Christians though distracted and dissevered by reason of delivering certaine points of faith mistaking one another or variety in opinion touching things not Fundamentall yet agree in one substance of faith and are so farre forth orthodox that they reta in a saving profession of all divine verities absolutly necessary to salvation and are all members of the true Catholicke Church of Christ The second that in the principall controversies touching matters of Religion betweene the Papists and those of the reformed Churches they give testimonie of the truth of that which we professe As Docter Field also hath collected 1 They all denie and impugne that supreame universalitie of Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction which the Bishop of Rome claimeth 2 They thinke him subiect to error as other Bishops are 3. They deny that he hath any power to dispose of principalities kingdomes of the world or to depose Kings 4 they acknowledge all our righteousnesse to be imperfect and that it is not safe to trust thereunto but to the meere mercy and goodnesse of God 5 They adâ—nit not of the merit of Congruence condignitie nor works of Superrogation 6 They teach not the doctrine of satisfactions as the Romanists doe 7 They beleeue not Purgatorie and pray not to deliver men out of temporall punishments after this lfie 8 They reiect the Romish doctrine touching Indulgences and pardons 9 They beleeve not that there are seven Sacraments 10. They omit many ceremonies which the Roman Church useth in Baptisme as spittle c. 11. They haue no private Masses 12. They minister the Communion in both kindes to all communicants 13 They beleeve not transubstantiation nor the now reall sacrificing of Christ They have their divine service most of them in their owne tongue 15. Their Preists are married and although they permit theÌ„ not to marrie a second wife without dispensation yet if any do they do not avoid or dissoluethe mariage 16. They make no image of God 17 They have no Massy Images but pictures onely 18. They think that properly God onely is to be invocated and howsoever they have a kinde of invocation of Saints yet they thinke that God onely heareth them and not the Saints And thus much of the Vnity of these Churches with us 4 The Vnitie of the Reformed Churches appeareth by their severall Confessions OF Auspurge Set downe in a booke called the Harmonie of ConfessioÌ„s of the faith of the Chrislian Reformed Churches Printed Cambridge 1586. which was first presented in the Germaine tongue at the Citie of Auspurge in the yeare 1530 to Charls the fift being Emperor by certaine most renowned Princes of Germanie and other States of the sacred Empire whoÌ„ they call Protestants Of Straugsborough Constance Meminga Lindan presented to the said Emperour Of Basill called also the Confession of Millaine Of the Helvetian Churches Of the Saxon and Meissen Churches Of Wirtemberge presented by the Ambassadours of Christopher Duke of Wirtemberge and Tecca Earle of Mountbelgard presented to the Councell of Trent the 24 of the Month of Ianuary Anno. 1552. Of the French Confession which was in the yeare 1559. presented to Francis the second King of France Of the latter Confession of the Helvetian Church which was written by the Pastors of Zurich in the yeare 1566. Of Belgia which was published in French in the name of all the Churches of Belgia in the yeare 1566 and in the yeare 1579. In a publique Synod held at Belgia it was repeated confirmed and turned into the Belgian tongue Of Bohemia published in divers places was also approved by common testimonie of the Vniversitie of Wirtembergâ— published in the yeere 1532. Of Scotland subscribed by King James of famous memorie and the States thereof to the glory of God and good example of all men At Edenborough the 28 day of Ianuary 1581 and in the 14 yeere of his Maiefties Raigne Although some private men led more by passion and their owne selfe pleasing conceipt then by the sacred rules of piety and truth have laboured to sow the tares of dissention in the vineyard of the Lord and have made Crooked some branches cleaving unto them as Anabaptists Brownists and others yet the generall societies of these Orthodox Churches in the publique confessions of their faith do so agree that there is a most sacred har mony betweene them in the more substantiall points of Christian Religion necessary to salvation as touching the Holy Scripture the Sacred Trinitie the person of the Sonner of God God and man The providence of God Sinne Freewill the Law the Gospell Iustification by Christ faith in his name Rogeneration the Catholique Church and supreme head thereof Christ the Sacraments their number and use the state of Soules after death the Resurrection Doctor Potters wantâ— of charitie pag. 93. Doct Field of the Church pag 819. and life eternall They differ rather in Phrases and formes of speech concerning Christs presence in his holy Supper other things then in substance of doctrine and also in Ceremonies And to manifest preface to Mr. Brerwoods enquiries this their unity The first Act in the Polonian Synods of which they have had divers lately as before in which assembly are Protestants embracing Bohemick Augustan and Helvetique confessions The first Act is a religious confession of their unfeined consent in the substantiall points of Christian faith necessary to Salvation and also that all disputation should be cut of concerning the manner of Christs presence All of them beleeving the presence it selfe and that the Eucharisticall elements are not naked and emptie signes but doe truely exhibite to the faithfull receiver that which they signifie and represent And for as much as they all accord in the substantiall veritie of Christian doctrine they professe themselves to be content to tollerate diversities of ceremonies according to the divers parctise of their particular Churches 5 Of the differences and want of unitie in the Roman Church WHereas our Adversaries boast much upon unitie and thinke it to be the glorie of their Church as Coster writeth that the Catholickes in the world are under one Pope whom they all obey and constantly retaine one faith they speake one thing they thinke one thing and beleeve one and the same in all things so that they disagree not in the least point of Religion Yet for all this their want of unitie will appeare not onely in the want of concord and love one to another but also in their difference in opinions amongst themselves and moreover they in their new doctrines differ from all the true Catholike Churches of the world yea even from holy Scriptures it selfe Their want of concord and unitie
Thou shalt not kill 6. Thou shalt not commit adultery 7. Thou shalt not steale 8. Thou shalt not beare false witnesse 9. Thou shalt not desire thy neighbours wife 10. Thou shalt not desire thy neighbours goods 4. And that which is worst of all they forbid the Reading of the holy Scriptures Haeresin esse si quis dicit necessarium esse ut scripturae in vulgares linguas convertantur Sander visib monar lib. 7. hares 191. Credo institutum hoc a Diabelo esse inventum Peresius de Trad. par 1. Assert 3. pag. 47. Characteres mortui Lindan Lib. 2. Stromat cap. 3.6 traducing them and blaspheming them viz. that it is 〈…〉 that it is the Devils in vention to permit the Laitie to reade them that they are dead Characters and not to be permitted Which if they should be suffered to be read they would casily discover their new Articles of Faith to bee blasphemous their Image-Worship to bee Idolatrie and their not erring Bishop to bee a meere Imposture and Deceiver 5. And also to breede an Antipathie and hatred betweene the Papists and Protestants they are taught to beleeve that the Protestants are Blasphemers of God and all Saints That in England Churches are made Stables and that the people are growne barbarous To these they have wilfully feyned many scandalous lies of us and the Reformers set downe by learned Doctor Hall In his scrious disswasive from Poperie pag. 37. now Lord Bishop of Exeter as of Wickliffs Blasphemies of Luthers advice from the Devill of Tindalls communitie of Calvins blasphemous death of Bucers breaking his necke of Beza's Revolt of the blasting of Hugonites of Englands want of Churches and Christendome of our putting English Catholikes into beares skinnes and casting them to dogges to be baited of the Lutherans nightrevelling of Scories drunken or dination of our Bishops in a Taverne of the casting of the remaine of our Sacraments to Doggs of Mounsier Plessis overthrow and the like And lately they have published two Bookes commonly sold in Jtalie and in France one of them of the late Right Reverend Father in God Doctor King late lord Bishop of London his Apostacie the other containing a relation of Gods Iudgement showne upon a sort of Protestant hereticks by the fall of a house in Black-fryers London in which they were assembled to heare a Geneva Lecture Octo. 26. Anno. Dom 1623. By which the simple people were made to beleeve that Iudgement to bee upon the Protestants which God sent upon the Papists and as they scandall us so also the other Christians not subject to them Thus you may see in the Church of Rome Religion to be Metamorphised into Policie and all their Policie tending to maintaine their atchieved Majesty and greatnesse The Conclusion TO Conclude in this little Treatise you may see the Church of God not to be in Rome onely but to bee Catholike and dispersed over the face of the whole Earth Here is also set downe the large habitations and dwellings of the Christians not subject to the Pope and how they doe agree with the Protestants in the mayne Points in difference and the Harmony of the Protestants amongst themselves with the differences in the Roman Church Also the Antiquitie of some of these Churches with a succession of Bishops in some of their Churches not subject at all to the Pope nor acknowledging the Papall Iurisdiction And as these Churches agree with us so you may see what Correspondency they have with the Bishops of Rome The Greeke Church excommunicateth yerely the Pope and his Church for Schismatickes The Muscovites account him an Hereticke The Christians under the Patriarch of Musall call the Pope the reprobate Bishop as before The Churches of Asia answered Pope Iohn the 23. who wrote to them that hee was the alone Head of the Church and Christs Vicar after this manner Wee firmely beleeve thy great authority over them that are subject to thee we cannot indure thy great pride and ambition we cannot satisfie thy great Covetousnesse c. And whereas Pope Gregory as before calleth him Antichrist and Lucifer who shall but in the pride of his heart desire to be called universall Bishop what would hee say if hee lived now to see the Pope lifted up above Kings and Emperors and the whole Catholike Church To conclude I wish every man that hath a care of his Soule to follow the grave and divine instruction of that excellent Light of the Church Saint Augustine for establishing of his Conscience to performe our Saviours Commandement Search the Scriptures 1. Now search diligently whether you can finde in holy Scripture that Christ made Saint Peter and his Successors his alone Vicars 2. Or gave them dominion over the other Apostles 3. Or gave them power to depose Kings 4. Or to dispence with oathes made Sacred by Gods holy name 5. Or to license incestious marriages 6. Or to give pardons for money 7. Or to release Soules out of Purgatory 8. Or whether in holy Writt marriage is forbidden to Priests 9. Or the reading of the Scriptures to the Laiety 10. As also the Symbol of Christs blood in the holy Sacrament 11. Or power given to a Priest to make his Maker 12. Or to Communicate alone And if thou canst finde none of these things in holy Scripture remember what Saint Paul saith Gal. 1.9 if any man preach any other Gospel unto you then that you have received let him be accursed And whereas our Adversaries boast and make a great cry of the Catholike Church here you may see how the Catholike Church of God agreeth with us Now to put an end to this Treatise I thanke God for his truth revealed unto us and his Church and most humbly intreate his divine Majesty to open the eyes of them that erre and have gone astray that they may returne to the great Shepherd and Bishop of their Soules and for them that are in darkenesse that they may also know the great Mystery of Salvation in Iesus Christ Now to Him that is able to doe exceeding abundantly above all that we can aske or thinke to Him be Glory in the Church by Iesus Christ throughout all ages world without end Amen Literae à Patriarcha Alexandrino ad Archiepiscopum Cantuariensem ex Aegypto in Britaniam transmissae ex autographo Cyrilli graeco in Latinum jussu Archiepiscopi traductae à Daniele Featleyo eidem Archiepiscopo à sacris Inscriptio literarum Beatissimo magnificentissimo Domino Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi totius Angliae Primati Metropolitano Georgio Abbati mihi multis nominibus colendissimo officiose cum honore debitâ reverentiâ in Britaniam tradantur istae Subscriptio Cyrillus dei gratia Papa Patriarcha magnae urbis Alexandriae Iudex oecumenicus Exemplar Literarum BEatissime amplissime Archiepiscope Cantuariensis totius Angliae Primas Metropolitane Domine Georgi Domine frater charissime Exopto amplitudini vestrae prosperam valetudinem ademolumentum
Abbat by the divine providence Archb. of Cant. Primate of all England Ad verbum most holy Bis ad ver Pope which title was anciently given to all Bishops and and is retained this day in the Greeke Church and Metropolitan to Cyrill his most honoured Lord and brother the Bishop and Patriarke of Alexandria and judge ccumenicall sendeth greeting in Christ AS in many things else the sympathy of the catholique Church and the most sweet communion among her members manifesteth it selfe so at this time especially it appeareth to me in this that I haue opportunity to salute your brotherhood whose face I neuer saw and embrace as it were with both armes a person distant from me many 100. miles severed by a large tract both of land sea yet the unity of faith joyneth us and the bond of charity tyeth us fast together through one and the same spirit Professe ad ver we both breath By which we worthily magnifie one Christ whom we both profesle hartily congratulate the peace of your Church troubled with no schisme as you intimate nor other intestine evill Also we rejoyce together with you for your outward tranquility and after a sort halcyon dayes which you enioy and though even amidst the sworne and most implacable enemies of the Christian faith Psal 110.2 whereby the words of the Kingly Prophet are concerning Christs king dome accomplished in you be thou ruler in the midst of thine enemies We in like manner Ad verb pietie beseech your Grace to blesse God with us for the manifold gifts of his bounty liberally bestowed upon our Churches of great Britaine wherein that which your Chrysostome spake of old concerning our brittish Islands is verified at this day every where a man may heare the people discoursing of the scriptures strangers indeed in speech yet of the houshold of faith in tongue barbarians but in conuersation drawing neerer unto Saints for the Christian Laitie in our Churches which is not permitted in the Romane walketh in the most cleare light of the Gospell and drinke their fill of the pure streames of the water of life in Scripture none driving them from thence but rather encouraging them there abundantly to quench their thirst And for discipline which is not so in other reformed Churches wee retaine the most antient forme of Church governement and distinct orders and degrees in the clergie in every Diocesse The fountaine of all goodnes continue these blessings unto us still though wee such is the corruption of our nature by reason of our sinnes especially the staine of ungratefull hearts have long agoe deserved that our golden Candlestick should be removed and we left in the dark utterly destitute of all comfortable light of Gods word for farre be it from us to ascribe these extraordinary blessings of God to our merits which we know are none at all But first we attribute them to Gods merey next to the singular love which he beareth to his anointed our Soveraigne King Iames the choise instrument of his glory Heire to Queene Elizabeth of blessed memorie aswell in her Religion as in her Realmes both which he establisheth by Law and is a principall ornament to both by his princely example for he is not onely a constant hearer of Sermons and a most devout pertaker of the Sacrament and religious observer of the festivals of the Church But which is beyond example and most to be admired in so great a King who alone beares the burthen of so weightie affaires he strongly maintaines argument with his Bishops best versed in controversies about the most intricate points of Schoole Divinity Moreover we are indebted to his Royall pen for many excellent Treatises written by him and lately printed by speciall command wherein he fortifieth the orthodox faith and demolisheth the Romish forts newly erected against it I am exceeding glad that your Grace hath purchased unto you the friendship of such and so great a Monarch who most curteously returnes your Salutations and speakes all good of you and in testimony of his great good will unto you gave mee charge to make much of your Metrophanes whom I receive from you as a pledge of your love and most precious pawne of our indissoluble friendship and accordingly I will see him provided of all things fitting And for the present I have set that noble plant takeÌ„ out of your Greeke Nurserie in a most fertile garden to the end it may grow the faster and more kindly and maturely beare fruit among us I meane the Vniversity of Oxford beautified with seventeene Colledges fairely built and a Library furnished with infinite variety of Bookes in which Academie as in the Prytaneum of Athens a multitude of learned Students is maintained at the publique charge into which number your Metrophanes is admitted who as soone as hee shall grow ripe and fructifie among us as your wisedome shall thinke fit and it shall stand with the good of your Church either his Root shall bee fixed with us here or hee shall bee returned backe to bee transplanted in his native soyle For conclusion wee most earnestly desire your affectionate prayers most holy brother for our Brittish Churches as we also shall not cease to offer up our fervent devotions for your Greeke Church that you together with all the members of the Catholique Church may bee compassed with the Divine custodie as with a of brasse and may bee established in Truth and Peace together and withall that you may bee freed from those prying innouators you speake of who undermine as well Christian verity as liberty among whom you are chiefly to beware of a sort of Monkes newly come out of the Romish forge assuming to themselues the most venerable name of our Saviour who prefesse themselves to follow peace yet trouble all the Christian world and they would seeme to teach onely the truth yet deliver doctrinally the art of lying even with implied perjurie under the name of equivocation from these Foxes and rauenous Wolues Ad verb. Pietie the great Shepheard of the sheepe preserve his flocke and in it your Grace crowning you with his manifold favors and perpetuall felicity London November the 17. Your Graces most loving brother and fellow servant in Christ Ad verbum Your blessednes GEORGE CANT IN the Epistle pag. 11. Line 13. The Armenians have not so many Bishops as the Card. reports Jn the Contents pag. 19. line 16. r. most of them p. 4. l. 21. To be aded Part â— read Ierusalem and others pag. 10. line 23. in England 4. ships for one pag. 20. line 19. adde Luxenburg and part of Guelders pag. 22. line 1. Some of the Grecians p. 32. l. 27. Meotis and Tanais p. 33. l. last reade one of p. 44. l. 9. Alexandria hath two Patriarchs one a Cophite the other a Greeke p. 130. l. 2. r. most p. 152. l. 14. for these r. some of these p. 154. Espens de continent l. 3. c. 4. Margent Nicephorus setteth downe most ofthem p. 40 l. 16. some of the. p. Part 2. 41. l. 14. r. 1000. 1000. p. 44. l. 11. r. some Psalters p. 55. l. 2. in the margent put Microcosme the same pag. 50. l. 12. p. 52. l. 19. Zeged speculum pontif Pag. 1. l. 9. of the Epistle r. their Church p. 14. l. 5. r. Wit temberg p. 18. l. 3. r. Errata Part 1. 100000. margent adde extendit p. 19. in the margent for numbers univers p. 22. l. 5. r. Bulgaria Rascia p. 44. mar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. 49. l. 13. for called r. of p. 59. mar 6. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 6. mar r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 63. mar read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 66. mar r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 94. marg r. non reperiatur Ibid. for vas r. uvas p. 136. l. 25. r. Navaret p. 137. mar r. consensit p. 141. mar r. pascitur potatur p. 139 mar for Hester r. Paster p. 146 for Andrew â—â—stusten Page 9 l. 16. for desmadell Damasus p. 10. l. 3. for Silverius r. Liberius l. 6. add Felix p. 11. l. 20. r. Philipi p. 12. l. 21. for Caria r. Stauropolis l. 2. adde Creta Errata Part 2. 4. Rhegium 10. for Euchania r. Achaia p. 42. l. 6. for Henry the Seventh reade Henry the Second p. 52. l. 10. r. as before p. 56. l. 13. for sudolis r. subdolis Other literall faults mend with thy pen. Protestants Papists Papists Protestants Greekes mingled with Turkes Moscovites