trumpet was heard to these places I say did people bewitched by Satan resort in frequent numbers to bee taught by the mouth of him who was a liar from the beginning and who remaineth a liar albeit he speake at some time the trueth because he speaketh it animo fallendi vpon a purpose to deceiue It is very credible that the blessed Seede who came to breake the heade of the Serpent did stoppe his mouth also in the time of his blessed Natiuitie The countrie of Iudeâ—… at this time was subject to the Romanes and payed tribut to CAESAR Luc. 2. The deputies of AVGVSTVS in Iudea and Syria were CYRENIVS COPONIVS AMBIBVCHVS and ANNIVS RVFVS one succeeding to another Ioseph Antiq. lib. 18. cap. 3. HEROD the sonne of ANTIPATER by fauour of ANTONIVS obtained this honour to be gouernour of the nation of the Iewes but the honourable name of a King hee receiued from AVGVSTVS CAESAR this was ratified for his further assurance by the Senat of Rome Ioseph Antiq. lib. 15. cap 10. for which cause HEROD to testifie his thankfull minde toward ANTONIVS builded a Castle in Ierusalem very neere to the temple called Arx Antonia And to the honour of AVGVSTVS he builded Caesarea Palestinae sometime called the towre of STRATON Now a forreiner and stranger of his fathers side an Idumean of his mothers side an Arabian Sozom. lib. 1. cap. 1. and an aliant both from the stocke of DAVID and also from the Commonwelth of Israel was reigning in Iudea and the scepter was sliding from Iuda now I say was it time that SHILOCH should come according to IACOBS prophecie to whome the people should be gathered Gen. 49. 10. Now was it time that the promised Mâ—…SSIAS should come and sit in the Throne of his father DAVID and of his Kingdome there should be none end And indeed how can the Kingdome of Christ haue an end who acquireth a new title and right of gouernement by death which is the last period of other Kings gouernements and in death they leaue a vacant roome to a successour but Christ Iesus by dying and rising againe hath a right to rule both ouer deade and quicke Rom 14. 9. Yea in verie death it selfe he was practising his kingly office in most effectuall maner and tramping Satan vnder feete and vndoing the power of death Hos. 13. 14. In AVGVSTVS time also IOSEPH was admonished in a dreame to take the babe and his mother and to flee into Egypt Mat. 2. 13. SOZOMEN not content with the certaintie of Scripture addeth a particular nomination of the towne Hermopolis in Thebaida whereinto Christ sojourned vntil the death of HEROD the great This he had by the vncertaintie of tradition The miracle of the hudge and high tree Prestis that bowed the top lowlie to the ground and worshipped her maker Christ and afterward had a medicinable vertue in fruit leafe and barke to cure diseases rather derogateth credit to that Egyptian tradition then assureth vs of the veritie of that report Sozom. lib. 5. cap. 21. HEROD before his departure from this life had put to death three of his sonnes ARISTOBVLVS ALEXANDER and ANTIPATER and by testamentall legacie had diuided his dominions amongst his remanent sonnes ARCHELAVS HEROD ANTIPAS and PHILIP which testament being ratified by AVGVSTVS Iudea Samaria and Idumea were alloted to ARCHELAVS the Tetrarchie of Galile to ANTIPAS and Iturea and Trachonitis to PHILIP Ioseph Antiq. lib. 17. cap. 13. IOSEPH being returned from Egypt when he heard that ARCHELAVS did reigne in Judea in stead of his father HEROD feared to dwell in Iudea but beeing warned of God in a dreame went to the partes of Galile and dwelt in a citie called Nazaret Mat. 2. ver 22 23. All this was done in the dayes of AVGVSTVS After he had reigned 56. yeeres or as Iosephus writeth 57. yeeres viz. with ANTONIVS 14. yeeres and after he ouercame ANTONIVS and CLEOPATRA Queene of Egypt in sea-warfare ouer against Epirus he had the imperiall soveranitie himselfe alone all his dayes and died in the 77. yeere of his age Ioseph Antiq. lib. 18. cap. 3. Tiberius AFter AVGVSTVS reigned TIBERIVS NERO 22. yeres 7 moneths 7. dayes Bucolc Index The Romane Deputies that were sent to Iudea in the time of his reigne were VALERIVS GRATVS PONTIVS PILAT and VITELLIVS VALERIVS GRATVS for loue of gaine remooued the Priests of the Iewes from their offices at his owne pleasure ANANVS ISMAEL ELEAZARVS SIMON the sonne of CAMITHVS all these were denuded of their priestly dignitie when as two of them viz. ELEAZARVS and SIMON had continued scarse one yeere in office In end IOSEPHVS CAIAPHAS is aduanced to the priesthood This is the cause wherefore the Euangelist Iohn calleth CAIAPHAS the high Priest of that same yeere Iohn 18. ver 13. Matters of religion were now come to an horrible abuse and were not ordered according to Gods holy ordinance but according to the appetite of the Romaine Deputies Ioseph antiq lib. 18. cap. 3. After GRATVS PONTIVS PILAT was sent to be Deputie in Iudea a man vigilant and actiue in all civile adoes as the blood of the Galileans mixed with their sacrifices clearely prooueth Luc. 13. 1. but in the cause of Christ remisse negligent and slacke After the issue of ten yeeres VITELLIVS is appointed Deputie in Iudea and PONTIVS PILAT addresseth toward Rome By gratifying of the Iewes in a matter of small importance he conquessed great fauour The priestly garments were wont to be kept in the Castle called Antonia but VITELLIVS gaue commandement to the Captaine of the Castle to let the high Priest haue the vse of them when he pleased and to choose what place he liked best for the custody of the priestly garments He disauthorized CAIAPHAS following as appeareth the example of VALERIVS GRATVS and gaue his office to IONATHAN the sonne of ANANVS sometime high Priest Ioseph antiq lib. 18. cap 6. In the 15. yeere of the reigne of TIBERIVS Christ our Lord and Sauiour was baptized by IOHN in Iordan was led to the wildernesse fasted fourtie dayes was tempted of the deuil and began to preach Euseb. hist. eccl lib. 1. cap. 10. Mat. 3. and 4. In the eighteenth yeere of TIBERIVS the Lord Iesus was crucified and offered a sacrifice for our sinnes which hath a perpetuall vertue to saue such as beleeue Heb. 7. He arose againe the thirde day from death The high Priestes and rulers of the people gaue money to the souldiers to obscure the glory of his resurrection yet it was sufficiently knowne not onely to Christes disciples by his frequent apparitions to them but also to PONTIVS PILAT the Romaine Deputie himselfe who had giuen out a sentence of death against Christ. PILAT by letters signified to TIBERIVS the miracles of Christ his resurrection and that he was supponed of many to bee God but the Senat of Rome refused to acknowledge the divinitie of Christ because hee was worshipped as God before
of Caesarea No man is so senslesse or ignorant but may perceiue that this lying miracle is brought in to the confirmation of the excellency of the monastick life The miracle of Thomas B of Apamea tendeth to the adoration of the tree of the Crosse. The miracle of the fire that came out of Barsaunphius shop at Gaza consumed the most part of them who were in companie with Eustochius B of Jerusalem is a notable lie and tendeth onely to confirme superstitition The miracle of the Image of the virgine MARIE detesting Anatolius an hypocrite an Idolater and a sorcerer and yet insinuating himselfe in familiar acquaintance with Gregorius B. of Antiochia in the dayes of the Emperour Tiberius any man may perceiue that this miracle is forged not so much for detestation of hypocrisie Idolatrie and sorcerie as for worshipping the Image of the Virgine with a deuote minde The miracle of Simeones who in his youth miraculously tamed a Pard and fastened his girdle about the necke thereof and brought it like a catte into the Monasterie and afterward liued vpon the toppes of pillars and mountaines sed with branches of trees 68. yeeres this fable whereunto it tendeth all men doe see And finally the golden Crosse sent by Cosroes to Sergiopolis tendeth not onely to the invocation of Saintes but also to put our trust and confidence in them as the last wordes of the Epistle of Cosroes and his wife Sira clearly proporteth No we let the iudicious Reader pardone mee in preâ—…ermitting many things written by others lest I should wearie them by filling their eares with fables and lyes CHAP. III. Of Heresies IN this and the next Centurie I finde that the error of Eutyches is like vnto a root of bitternesse which budding out with new branches not seene before but fostered with the venemous sappe of the old root that seemed to bee abolished did mightily perturbe the Church The errour of the Monothelites was but a branch of the errour of Eutyches but this belongeth to the seuenth Centurie In this Centurie a great number of people especially of Monkes fauouring the heresie of Eutyches spake against the Councill of Chalcedone these were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they had no principall heade vpon whom they depended and they were anteâ—…iour to Anthimus or Anthimius B. of Constantinople and to Theodosius B. of Alexandria and Severus B. of Antiochia therefore they were not called Anthimians Theodosians or Severues but indeede they might haue beene called Eutychians alwayes the vulgare name giuen vnto them was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Another branch which sprang vp from the root of Eutyches heresie was the errour of those who supponed that the flesh of CHRIST was voide of all kinde of humane infirmitie expresly contradicting holy Scriptures which attributeth to the body of CHRIST hunger and wearines and other infirmities which he voluntarily accepted for our sakes And where it is said that the LORD IESVS did eate and drinke To this they answered that hee seemed to eate and drinke as hee did after his â—…esurrection but hee had no necessitie of eating and drinking but the veritie of his death stoppeth the mouthes of these heretiques for CHRIST was content to taste of all our infirmities death it selfe not except that we might know he will be a mercifull high Priest because he hath tasted of our infirmities and can haue compassion of those who are in trouble In this opinion was the Emperour Iustinian in his olde dayes whose vices did almost equall his vertues especially in comporting so much with Theodora the Empresse to the great aduancement of the errour of Eutyches and hinderance of the Gospell In this Centurie the defenders of the bookes of Origenc such as Theodorus Ascidas B. of Caesarea Cappadocia and the Monkes of Nova Laura whom Eustochius B. of Jerusalem eiected out of their monasteries were counted heretiques as wil be declared hereafter Godwilling in the head of Councills Finally there were some heretiques who durst derogate perfection of knowledge to the Sonne of GOD in his diuine Nature these were called Agnoitae whome I leaue as buried in the dust and according to their name neuer worthy to haue beene knowne in the world CHAP. IIII. Of Councills THE schisme that fell out in the election of Symmachus was the cause of the gathering of the Councill of Rauenna Laurentius was his competitour In this Councill it was found that Symmachus was first ordeined and that the most part both of Clergie and people adherâ—…d to him therefore he was declared to be bishop of Rome and Lanrentius was ordeined bishop of Nuceria The multiplied number of Councills in Symmachus time all conueened by the authoritie of Theodoricus King of Gothes who reigned in Italie All this number of Councills I say was assembled for matters of litle importance except the fourth and fifth Councill whereinto a lible of accusations was giuen in against Symmachus but he compeared not before the Councill to answere yet was hee absolued by the most part of the Councill beeing his owne fauourers chiefly for this reason because they thought that the high Pricst should be iudged by no man but his doings should bee examined onely before the Trihunall of GOD. Marke how this matter goeth the bishoppes of Rome are lying vnder the feet of the Gothes neither haue they libertie to assemble themselues together except that licence be sought and obteined from Theodoriâ—…us King of Gothes Not withstanding supremacie that great Idole whereat they aimed continually runneth so high in their heades that the flatterers of the bishop of Rome would absolue him as a man whose actions came not vnder the iudicature of mortall men His accusers protested in write that if the successours of PETER should bâ—…e iudged by no man then with the â—…est of the priui'edges of their chaire they had also a pâ—…iuiledge to sinne and to doe what they pleased The Councils of Spaine called Ilerdensc and Valâ—…ntinum assembled in Valentia are very obscure Councils In the one â—…ight bishoppes were present in the other sixe bishoppes Many new and superstitious Canons were made in these assemblies and farder I see nothing In the first called Ilerdense a prohibition of mariage in time of Lent and three weekes before the sestiuitie of Iohn the Bapâ—…st and betwixt the dayes of the Aduent of our LORD and the dayes called Epiphania In the other Councillit was appointed that in the ordinarie seruice the Gospell should be read after the Epistle partly in respect that all the people of GOD haue entresse to heare the wholesome precepts of their Sauiour and partly in respect that by such hearing some were found to bee conuerted to the faith where of it may bee perceiued that the Gospell was read vnto the people into a knowâ—…e and intelligible language els it could not worke faith in the heartes of the hearers In the twentieth yeere of the reigne of the
as when the Romane doctrine was sounded in their cares that we are iustified partly by faith and partly by workes If by good workes theymeane workes of superstition such as leaning in their legacies rents to sacrificing Priestes for saying of soule Masses wee are glad that by the preaching of the Gospell superstition is somewhat abated like as the great d◅luge of waters beganne by degrees to bee diminished in the dayes of NOE and that by meanes of the winde which the LORD sent foorth to blow vpon the waters But if they meane by good workes such workes as GOD hath commanded in his holy law then I answere that the faults of some people are not to be imputed to the doctrine of the Gospell but to the corruption of mans nature continually repining against the knowne trueth of GOD. Like as when RACHEL left her fathers house and followed IACOB her husband and the ca◅ling of GOD and in the meane time shee stale her fathers Idoles with them polluted the house of IACOB Nowe who shall beare the blame of this fault whether the holy calling of GOD or IACOB the preacher of the LORDS calling to his wiues or RACHEL who followed not the calling of GOD aright Here I know euery man will lay the blame vpon RACHEL because shee left in outward appearance her fathers house yet she left not the corrupt maners of her fathers house In like maner in our dayes the feastred maners of the people are not to bee imputed to the Gospell neither to the true preachers of it but to the corrupt nature of man taking occasion by the Lawe to worke all kind of iniquitie And in like maner taking occasion by the Gospell to bee more bent to euill doing than euer it was before but let true Christians marke that albeit the doctrine of Iustification by faith only were a thousand wayes abused yet because it is the holy Apostolicke doctrine and necessare vnto eternall life it must needes be preached and beleeued of all the true disciples of CHRIST The Law and the Gospell goe not so in handes together as Iustification and Sanctification does but rather by the great prouidence of GOD the one standeth ouer against the other and either of them pointeth out the finger to the other The Law is a paedagogue to CHRIST and pointeth out the finger to the Gospell that in it wee may finde CHRIST and in CHRIST Saluation The Gospell on the other parte pointeth out the finger to the Law not to find in keeping of it saluation which we haue already found in CHRIST but to testifie our thankfulnes to GOD who hath freely forgiuen vs in CHRIST his sonne for what better testimonie of thankfulnesse can wee render to GOD than a voluntare obedience to his holy Commandements according as CHRIST saith If any man loue mee hee will keepe my Commandements and my Father will loue him and wee will come and dwell with him It may be demanded Can not the righteousnes of the Law the Gospell be mixed together in the matter of our Iustification the Apostle PAVL giueth a negatiue answere vnto this question that like as one woman cannot lawfully haue two husbands at one time but when the first husband is dead shee may be lawfully coupled to another who is liuing Euen so we cannot adhere to the righteousnes of faith in CHRIST vntill we giue ouer the righteousnes of the Law because in the matter of Iustification the Law is vnto vs like a dead husband of whome we can receiue no comfort so dead is our nature that the Lawe cannot quicken it but we must be coupled to CHRIST as vnto a liuing husband who by the righteousnes of faith shall bestowe vpon vs that comfort which the Law could not afford vnto vs. And in this Allegorie let vs consider that the Law is called the first husband not because it was anterior to the Gospel for the Apostle PAVL prooueth the contrare in his Epistle to the Galatians but because a man naturally seeketh first helpe in his own workes and seeketh not helpe in CHRIST vntill the time hee be vtterly denuded of all hope of the righteousnes of the Lawe that is of the righteousnes of his owne workes Surely ignorance is the mother of many errours and they who seeke righteousnes in the Law they are ignorant in many things First they knowe not the right end wherefore the Lawe was giuen to wit for transgression that is to manifest it but not to wipe it away Secondly they know not the nature of the Law that it is spirituall to the perfection whereof carnall men cannot attaine Thirdly they are ignorant of the strict condition of the legall Couenant which binds vs vnto a full obedience of all things commanded in the Law Fourthly they are ignorant of the perill that insueth vpon the seeking of the righteousnesss of the Lawe that they cannot submit themselues to the righteousnesse of GOD. When all these inconueniences doe follow vpō secking iustification by the Law or by works it were a wise course to seeke righteousnes where it may be found that is to say in faith which coupleth vs to CHRIST whome the father hath giuen vnto vs to be our wisdome our iustification our sanctification and our redemption and let it not be said that the fishers of Busphorus Tracius in seeking fish are wiser than we in seeki◅g the saluation of our soules For they spread not out their nets in the shallow coast of Chalcedone where no fish can bee found but in the deepe coast of Byzantium where abundance of fih are to bee found Euen so if wee bee wise let vs seeke saluation where it may be found In the thirde heade it is to be declared that neither in our owne workes neither in other mens works CHRITTS workes only excepted can a sauing power be found to worke our saluation Our workes are considered two maner of wayes First as they are before our regeneration altogether sinfull and no man doth affirme that such workes can saue vs either in whole or in part Secondly as they are after our regeneration and of these workes much is spoken namely that Christs death is so meritorious that by vertue of it he hath purchased a power to our workes after regeneration that they might merite good things at the hands of GOD. To this I will returne such an answere as Alamundarus prince of Saracens returned to the Eutychian Heretiques sent by Seuerus to perswade him to their opinion To whome hee replied that strange tythings were lately come vnto his eares namely that GABRIEL the Angell of GOD was dead When they answered that was impossible and repugnant to reasoun that an Angel should die Then the Prince subioyned that like as they would not r◅ceaue his information because it was repugnant to reason euen so hee would not receiue their instructions because they neither agreed with Scripture nor yet with good reason In