Father of Christ and author of the Gospel but Moses Law they rejected and the old Testament as proceeding from the other god to wit of justice The Cerdonians also denyed the Resurrection of the flesh and Humanity of Christ Affirming that he was not born of a Virgin nor suffered but in shew Marcion by birth a Paphlagonian neer the Euxin Sea was Cerdons Scholar whose opinions he preferred to the Orthodox Religion out of spleen because his Father Bishop Marcion excommunicated him for Whoredom and because he could not without true repentance be received again into the Church therefore he professed and maintained Cerdons Heresies at Rome in the time of M. Antoninus Philosophus 133. years after Christ but he refined some points and added to them some of his own phansies With Cerdon he held two contrary gods and denied Christs Incarnation of the Virgin and therefore blotted his Genealogy out of the Gospel affirming his body to be from heaven not from the Virgin He denied that this world by reason of the Ataxie and Disorder in it could be the work of the good god He rejected the Old Testament and the Law as repugnant to the Gospel which is false for their is no repugnancy He denied the Resurrection and taught that Christ by descending into hell delivered from thence the souls of Cain Esau the Sodomites and other reprobates translating them into heaven He condemned the eating of flesh and the married life and renewed baptism upon every grievous fall into sin If any of the Catechumeni died some in their name were baptised by the Marcionites They also baptised and administred the Eucharist in presence of the Catechumeni against the custom of the Church They permitted Women also to baptize They condemned all Wars as unlawfull and held transanimation with the Pythagoreans Q. 15. What was the Religion of Apelles Severus and Tatianus A. Apelles whose scholars were called Apellitae was Marcions Disciple and a Syrian by birth He flourished under Commodus the Empâ—ror about 150. years after Christ. He taught that there was but one chief God to whom was subordinat a fierie God who appeared to Moses in the bush who made the world and gave the Law to the Israelites and was their God He gave to Christ a body compacted of the Stary and Elementary substance and appeared in the shape onely of man This body when he ascended he left behind him every part thereof returning to their former principles and that Christs spirit is onely in heaven He rejected the Law and Prophets and denied the Resurrection Severus author of the Severians was contemporarie with Apelles under Commodus 156. years after Christ. He used the company of one Philumena a Strumpet and Witch He taught his disciples to abstain from Wine as being poyson begot of Satan in the form of a Serpent with the Earth The world he said was made by certain Powers of Angels which he called by divers barbarous names He hated Women and Marriage denied the Resurrection the Old Testament and Prophets using in stead of them certain Apocryphall Books Tatianus a bad Scholar of a good Master Iustin Martyr was a Mesopotamian by birth and lived under M. Antoninus Philosophus 143. years after Christ his disciples were called Tatiani from him and Encratitae from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 temperance or continence for they abstain from Wine Flesh and Marriage They were called also Hydro-Paristatae users of Water for in stead of Wine they made use of Water in the Sacrament They held that Adam was never restored to mercy after his fall And that all men the sons of Adam are damned without hope of salvation except the Tatiani They condemned the Law of Moses the eating of flesh and the use of wine and held Procreation of Children to be the work of Satan yet they permitted though unwilingly Monogamy or the marrying once but never again they denied that God made male and female and that Christ was the seed of David Q. 16. Of what Religion were the Cataphrygians A. Montanus disciple to Tatianus who was his contemporary was author of this Sect who for a while were from him called Montanists but being ashamed of his wicked life and unhappy end they were afterward from the Country where he was born and which was first infected with his heresie called Cataphrygians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were named also Tascodragitae because they used in praying to thrust their forefingers into their Nostrills to shew their devotion and anger for sin Tascus in their Language signifieth a long slick or slaff and Druggus their Nose as if you would say Perticonasati as the interpreter of Epiphanius translates it They loved to be called Spirituales because they bragged much of the gifts of the Spirit others that were not of their opinion they called naturual men This Heresie began about 145. years after Christ and lasted above 500. years He had two Strumpets which followed him to wit Prisca and Maximilla these forsook their Husbands pretending zeal to follow Montanus whereas indeed they were notorious Whoors they took upon them to prophesie and their dictates were held by Montanns as divine oracles but at last he and they for company hanged themselves He blasphemously held himself not onely to be in a higher measure inspired by the Holy Ghost then the Apostles were but also said that he was the very Spirit of God which in some small measure descended on the Apostles he condemned second marriages and yet allowed Incest He trusted altogether to Revelations and Enthusiasmes and not to the Scripture In the Eucharist these wretches mingled the Bread with Infants Blood they confounded the persons of the Trinity affirming the Father suffered Q. 17. What was the Religion of the Pepuzians Quintilians and Artotyrites A. These were disciples of the Cataphrygians Pepuzians were so called from Pepuza a town between Galatia and Cappadocia where Montanus dwelt and Quintillians from Quintilla another whorish Prophetesse and companion to Prisca and Maximilla They held Peprza to be that new Ierusalem fore told by the Prophets and mentioned in the Epistle to the Hebrews and in the Revelatien In this they said we should enjoy life eternal They perferred Women before Men affirming that Christ assumed the form of a Women not of a Man And that he was the author of their wicked Tenets They commended Eve for eating the forbidden fruit saying that by so doing she was the author of much happinesse to man They admitted Woman to Ecclesiastical functions making Bishops and Priests of them to preach and administer the Sacraments They mingled also the Sacramental Bread with humane Blood The Artotyritae were so called from offering Bread and Cheefe in the Sacrament in stead of Wine because our first Parents offered the fruits of the Earth and of sheep and because God excepted Abels sacrifice which was the fruits of his sheep of which Cheese cometh therefore they held cheese
give them notice of the Messias his comming Then the richer sort lighting a torch taking a silver box full of spices with one hand and a cup of wine in the other they say certain blessings to God for the benefits of Light Wine Spices and the Sabbath and with some ridiculous ceremonies they end the Sabbath and begin their week Some wash their eyes and face with that consecrated wine counting it medicinable others sprinkle it about their houses against all Charms and Witchcraft They smell to the spices that they may not faint when one of their soules deparreth which it doth at the end of every Sabbath and returneth at the beginning of the same so that every Sabbath day they have two souls besides they think that Hell fire stinks in the week days but not in the Sabbath therefore they smell to the spices when the Sabbath is ended They pour out some of their consecrated wine on the ground to refresh Core and his complices who live yet under the ground in fire On the Sabbath they will not light their Candles make their fires milk their Cows snuff their Candles dresse their Meat themselves but have Christians to do such trivial things and then they brag that they be the Lords of the world and the Christians be their servants Q. How do the modern Iews keep their Passover A. The richer sort spend thirty dayes in preparation and buying of the purest wheat for their unleavened bread with which also they furnish the poorer sort who cannot buy Their first born onely fast the Eve before The Sabbath which immediatly precedeth the Passover is very holy among them In this they have long Sermons concerning the Passeover and use thereof this they call the great Sabbath They are very curious in cleansing their houses and washing their utensils three dayes before Easter being more carefull with the Pharisees to wash the outside of the platter then to purge out the rapine and intemperance that is within The night before the Passeover they take great pains to finde out all the Leavened bread that is in their houses They search and sweep every corner and Mouse-hole for crums with wax candles if they finde none they purposely fling down some that they might not seem to have prayed and laboured in vain All the crums they finde they lay up carefully against the next day and burn them They are very curious about the grinding kneading and baking of the unleavened bread the corn must be ground three dayes before it be baked The Mill stone must be cleansed from all former Meal and so must the Chest that holds it The water that is used must be brought in consecrated vessels about the going down of the Sun covered The Master of the Family must draw the water himself The form of their unleavened cake is round and full of holes to let in aire least it should swell No other ingredient is permitted in the flower but water About ten or eleven they dine but soberly that they may with the better appetite eat their unleavened bread in the Evening But first they repair to their Synagogues where they sing and pray onely the women stay at home to cover the tables to hang the walls with Tapestry and to expose their cupbords of Plate and other riches to be seen to put them in minde of that wealth which was in the Temple when it was robbed and demolished Each Master of the Family if he be rich hath his chair of state wherein he sits like a Prince to shew that they were now redeemed from the bondage of Egypt The poorer sort sit majestically also in their seats Q. What is the manner of eating the Pascal Lamb at home A. When it begins to grow dark they run home from the Synagogue a platter is uncovered wherein are three Cakes the uppermost representing the High Priest the middle the Levite and the lowermost the people of Israel in another dish is a roasted leg of Lamb or Kid with an hard egge there is also a dish of Pap or thick stuff made of divers fruits with wine spiced and chiefly Cinnamon representing the straw and brick of Egypt in another platter there are Letrice Parsley Ivy Raddish and such like herbs with another dish of vinegar to represent the sower herbs caten heretofore with the Lamb. Every one hath his draught of wine The middle cake is broken into two pieces the one whereof the Master hides in a Napkin to shew how the Israelites fled with their dough unleavened out of Egypt Then laying hold on the other peece of Cake they sing Such was the bread of affliction our Fathers eat in Egypt Here we are now the next year we shall be in Canaan The platter with the Cakes is carried from the Table to the Children that they night demand what that is as we read Exod. 12. 26 27. When the Cakes are set down again they sing a song of their deliverance and drink another glasse of Wine leaning like Princes in their chairs Then some of the Cakes are eaten with thanks-giving and some of the Herbs dipped in the Pap. And at last the third Cake is broken and some more of the herbs are eaten Q. By these passages it seems that the Iews do not observe the Passover as they were commanded by Moses A. It s true for the most of their modern Ceremonies are Rabbinical rather then Mosaical They say that now they are not tied to the Rites of Moses because they are not in their own Land but live amongst profane Gentiles for so they call Christians But indeed the true cause why they keep not the old Passeover is because Christ our true Passeover is sacrificed for us who hath put an end to all the old Ceremonies and it is observeable that those Jews who now live in Canaan even in Ierusalem do use altogether the same Rabbinical Rites and do not sacrifice at all seeing Christ the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world is the only perfect and satisfactory sacrifice Q. What may we observe concerning the Iews at this day A. That they are a blind hard-hearted stiff-necked people who as the Apostle saith have always reâ—isted the Holy Ghost and are given up to a reprobate sense they will not yet part with the vaile of Moses which is over their eyes who after so many miracles wrought by Christ and his Apostles after the accomplishing of all prophesies and types in him after the finishing of the time prescribed by Daniel of seventy weeks after sixteen hundred years expectation of a Messiah since the end of those seventy weeks after so many calamities which they have suffered for their obstinacy and blasphemies against the Son of God after so many delusions by Ben Cozbah David Moses and other faâ—â— Prophers who gave themselves out to be the Messiah after so many testimonies and confessions of their own writers that Christ Jesus was the true Mestiah yet
the Jews eight days together The two first and two last are solemnly kept the other four are but half festivals They first repair to their Synagogues then after some praying and singing they run home to their Tents but do not stay there all night as their Ancestors were wont to do They use to take in one hand boughs of Palme Olive and Willow and in the other a Pome-citron then they bless God and shake the boughs towards the four cardinal points of Heaven then having placed the Law upon the Pulpit they go round about it seven times in seven days in memory of the Walls of Iericho encompassed seven times Then having shaken the branches in their hands they pray against Christians This feast is kept about the middle of September in which moneth they beleeve shall be fought the great battel between Gog and Magog in which Gog shall be slain and the Jews restored to their own Land About night they go abroad in the Moon light believing that God doth reveal to them by the shadows of the Moon who shall live or die that year for then they begin the computation of their year The shaking of the branches towards the four corners of the world signifies the destruction of the four great Monarchies to wit the Assyrian Persian Grecian and Roman They make great use of Citrons in this feast for they send sixteen men every year into Spain to bring with them as many of these as they can for by the Citrons they say are represented just men who are as full of good their workes as this fruit is full of seeds Q. How do they keep their new Moons A. Their new Moons are but halfe holy days with them for in the morning they go to their Synagogues the rest of the day they spend in eating drinking and gaming The day before the new Moon they use to fast when they first see her they utter a Benediction and leap three times towards her wishing that their enemies may come no neerer to hurt them then they are able to come neer and hurt her The women have more right to keep this day holy then the men because they would not part with their Ear-rings and Jewels towards the making of the Golden Calf but willingly parted with them towards the building of the Temple They give a ridiculous reason why sacrifices were commanded every new Moon because say they the Moon murmured against God in the beginning therfore he took her light from her and appointed sacrifices to expiare her crime Q. Why do the Iews fast in the moneth of August A. Because they hold the world was made in September therefore they make that moneth the beginning of their year and believe that about that time God will come to judge the world for this cause they fast and pray divers days before and baptize themselvs in Lakes and Rivers and where these are wanting they make pits which they fill with water in these they dip themselves over head and ears thinking this a meanes to expiate their sins they frequent their Synagogues and Church yards desiring God to pardon them for the good Jews sake who are buried there and in the same they distribute large Alms to the poor In some places there they cause Rams horns to be sounded when they go to their Synagogues to put the greater terrour in them when they consider their sins and the horror of Gods judgements Their fasting ceremonies being ended they shave and bath themselves and begin their year with much mirth and jovialty Q. What solemnity use they in beginning their new year A. Because they are commanded by Moses Lev. 23. 24. to keep holy the first day of the seventh moneth therefore they begin their Civil year from that day which after evening peayer in their Synagogues they initiate with a cup of wine wishing to each other a good year The younger sort repair to the chief Rabbi for his blessing which he bestoweth on them by prayer and imposition of hands Being returned home they fall to eating drinking and making merry On the Table is set down a Rams head to put them in minde of that Ram which on this day was sacrificed in Isaacs stead and to signifie that they shall be the Head and not the Tail of Christians They feed that night plentifully on fish and fruit to shew that they will encrease and multiply in good works as the fish do in the Sea and that their enemies shall be cut off from all help as the fruit is plucked off from the tree In the morning they go betimes to their Synagogues to sing and pray the Law is taken twice out of the Ark and some Lessons read after which one soundeth a Rams horn on the Pulpit if he sounds clear it s a good sign if otherwise they hold it ominous and a sign of a bad year This horn-trumpet is also in memory of Isaacs delivery by the Ram this day as they hold The rest of the day they spend in good cheer and mirth After dinner they go to the waters there to drown their sins If they see any fish in the water they shake their cloaths that their sins falling upon those fishes may be carried away by them into the Sea as of old they were by the scape-goat into the wilderness At night they feast again and so initiate the year with two days mirth Q. How doe they prepare themselves for Morning prayer A. They hold it necessary that every Jew from the fifteenth of Iune till Pentecost should rise before day because then the nights are long but from Pentecost till the fifteenth of Iune they may rise after day their rising will be the more acceptable to God if they have weeped in the night for with such the stars and planets do weep they must let their tears fall down their cheeks because then God is ready with his bottle to receive them these tears may serve them for good use because when at any time the enemies of Israel send out Edicts to destroy the Jewes God is ready with these bottles to pour them out upon these writings and to blotuot the Edict that the Jews may receive no hurt thereby They hold the morning the best time to enter into the house of God because David faith Thou wilt heat my voice betimes in the morning In the evening they say God commands all the gates of Heaven to be shut which are guarded by certain Angels who are silent till after midnight then a great noise is heard in Heaven commanding the gates to be opened this noise is heard by our cocks here below who presently upon this clap their wings and crow that men thereby may awake then the evil spirits who had leave to wander up and down in the night whilest Heaven gates were shut lose all power of doing hurt as soon as they hear the cock crow they must say this prayer as they are taught by their Rabbins
not sufficient to hold out above one night but by miracle it maintained the Lights for the whole eight days Now this feast consisteth in drinking and gormandising and in pompous superstition about their lights Yet Christ honoured this feast with his presence Iohn 10. 22. not to countenance the abuses thereof but the institution it self for all places set apart for the service of God ought to be consecrated and dedicated to him by prayer and decent ceremonies therefore Moses dedicated the Tabernacle to God and Solomon the Temple with great solemnity and prayers when the Temple was rebuilt after the peoples returne from Babylon it was dedicated again and now the third time it was dedicated when it was profaned by Antiochus These second Dedications are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Renovations The Temple was also newly consecrated or dedicated under Ezechia after it had been profaned by Achaz 2 Chron. 29. The Priests and Levites spent eight dayes in this dedication Q. What is their feast of Purim A. That is of Lots for Haman by lot had appointed the Jews to be massacred all through the Persian Kingdom in one day to wit the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth which is Adar or February but the Plotters were massacred themselves by the Jews the same day For at Sufae Haman with his ten Sons and five hundred men more were slain and three hundred the day after and on the same day through the rest of Assuerus his Dominions were slain by the Jews 75000. So because this day they destroyed their Enemies and the next day rested themselves therefore at this feast they keep two holy days or rather days for Bacchus In their Synagogues they set up lights in the night time aâ—d the whole book of Esther is read As often as they hear the name of Haman they keep a cruel noise and stamping with their feet They read all that passage of the death of Hamans Sons at one breath to signifie the suddennesse of that death These two days are spent in singing playing eating and drinking The men wear womens apparrel and the women mens against the Law of God which they think at this time of mirth they may lawfully violate And that the poor may be merry also the richer sort furnish them with meat and drink and so with this ryotous Bacchanal they conclude their Anniversary Feasts for this is the last of the year having none between this and Easter Q. What Fasting days do the Iews observe now A. They keep the four Fasts mentioned by Zachary chap. 8. 19. to wit that of the tenth moneth on the the tenth of December in memory of Ierusalem besieged that day by Nebuchadnezzar Secondly they fast the seventeenth day of the fourth moneth or Iune in memory of the two Tables of the Law broken for the loss of their dayly sacrifice for burning of the Law for setting up idolatry in the Temple for besieging Ierusalem the second time and for breaking down the walls thereof They count the days from this till the ninth of the next moneth all unlucky so that they avoid all great businesse and School-Masters during that time will not beat their Scholars Thirdly they fast the ninth day of the fifth moneth or Iuly because then the Temple was burned therefore they go bare-foot sit on the ground read Ieremiahs Lamentations and in the Church yards among the dead they bewail the losse of Ierusalem From the first till the tenth of this moneth they abstain from flesh wine shaving bathing marrying and pleading and from all kind of delights Fourthly they fast the third day of September because Gâ—doliah Governor of those Jewes that were not carried away in Captivity was treacherously murdered as we read Ieremy 40. and 41. Besides these fasts they have others but not so generally observed for some of their preciser sort fast every Monday and Thursday Some fast the tenth of March because Miriam died that day and the people wanted water in the Desart Some fast the tenth of April for the death of Eli and his two Sons and the losse of the Ark. Some fast the eighteenth of this moneth for the death of Samuel At Ierusalem the Jewes used yearly to fast in remembrance of the Translation of the Bible out of Hebrew into Greek by the seventy Interpreters This fast was observed the eighth day of Tebheth or December and was a day of much heavinesse among them which must proceed from their pride or envy or too much superstition disdaining that their Law should be imparted to the Gentils and that this Translation was a profanation thereof So superstitious they are in their fasts that they will read no passages in the Bible but such as are sad and sorrowfull as the destruction of Ierusalem Ieremies Lamentations c. and not any passage that is joyful such as their delivery from Egyptian slavery or Hamans tyranny The only fast that God commanded was that upon the day of Expiation other fasts were enjoined by the Prince upon emergent occasions as the fast commanded by Iehosophat by Ioachim and other Princes Divers other private fasts they have upon private occasions Their fast is from all meat and drink till the evening that the stars appear Q. What is the manner of their Marriages A. They are married in the open air either in the streets or gardens by their Rabbies The Bridegroom wears about his neck a hair-cloath the end of which the Rabbi puts on the Brides head after the example of Ruth who desired to be covered with the skirt of Boaz his garment Then the Rabbi takes in his hand a glasse full of wine over which he pronounceth a blessing praising God for this Conjunction and gives it to the Bride-man and his Spouse that they may drink Then he takes from the Bridegroom his gold ring and asks of the standers by if it be good and worth the money given for it and so puts it upon one of the Brides fingers then are the marriage writings read openly Then the Rabbi takes another glass of wine over which he prayeth and presents it to the married couple to be tasted but the Bridegroom takes the glasse and dashes it against the wall in memory of the destruction of Ierusalem and for the same cause in some places ashes are put on the Bridegrooms head so the Bride in sign of sorrow puts on a black cloak and the Brideman a black hood they are married in the open aire that by looking up to Heaven they may be put in mind of multiplying like the stars The other ceremonies used before and after marriage are not to our purpose as not being Ecclesiastical But we must know that besides the principal Wife they have others that are subordinate which we may call Concubines who have not the command of the family nor gifts or presents from the Husband as Rebecca had from Isaac nor matrimonial writings as the chief Wife hath nor may their Children
birds and their Priests are in such esteem that they think life and death plenty and famine are in their power In the Kingdome of Congâ— they worship some monstrous creatures in stead of God But they were converted to Christianity by the Portugal Anno 1490. At the City of Banza afterward called Saint Saviours was erected a Cathedral Church for the Bishop who was there received by the King in great magnificence This Church had 28. Canon Residents All their Idols of beasts birds trees and herbs with their conjuring characters were burned Divers Religious persons and Jesuits were sent from Portugal thither to erect Schools and Colledges for Divinity and the Arts. See Purchas Lopez Maffaeus Osorius of the acts of Emanuel Q. What Religion do the northern neighbours of Congo professe A. In Loango under the Line they worship idols and are circumcised Every trades-man appeaseth his god with such things as belong to his trade the husbandman with corn the weaver with cloath c. At the death of their friends they kill Goats to the honour of their idols and make divers feasts in memorial of the dead They will rather dye then touch any meat which is prohibited by their Priests At Kenga the Sea-Port of Loango there is an idol kept by an old Woman which is once a year honoured with great solemnity and feasting There is another idol at Morumba thirty leagues northward where boys are sworn to serve this God and are initiated with hard diet ten days silence abstinence from certain meats and a cut in their shoulder the blood of which is sprinkled at the Idols feet Their trials of life and death are in the presence of this Idol At Anzichi they are circumcised worship the Sun and Moon and each man his particular Idol In some of these neighbouring countries the people are man-eaters and worship the Devil to whom when they offer sacrifice they continue from morning till night using charming Vociferations dancing and piping See Lopez Barros and others Q. Of what Religion are the Islands about Africa A. In some of them are Mahumetans in some Christians but in most Heathens In Socotera an Island neer the mouth of the Red Sea whence we have our best Aloes they are Iacobites and are governed by their Abuna or Priest They much reverence the Crosse. They have Altars in their Churches which they enter not but stand in the Porch In Madagascar or the great Island of Saint Laurence there are many Mahumetans upon the coast but more Idolaters within the Land who acknowledge one Creator and are circumcised but use neither to pray nor keep holy day They punish adultery and theft with death In the Isle of Saint Thomas under the Line are Christians and Moors In divers Islands are no people at all In the Canaries are Christians before they were idolaters and had many wives whom they first prostituted to their Magistrates and this uncivil civility they used to strangers instead of hospitality They bury the dead by setting them upright against a wall with a staff in their hand and if he was a great man a vessel of milk by him Madera is also possessed by Christians and so be the other Islands on this hither part of the African coast see Ortelius Mercater and other Geographers Q. What Religion was professed among the Americans A. Before the Spaniards came thither they were all Pagans who as they were distinguished into divers Nations so they worshipped divers gods after divers manners but they did generally acknowledge the Sun and Moon for the chief gods In Canada they worshipped the Devil before the French came thither and in most places there as yet they worship him who when he is offended with them flings dust in their eyes The men marry two or three wives who after the death of their husbands never marry againe but go still after in black and besmear their faces with coal dust and grease they do first expose their daughters to any that will lie with them and then give them in marriage They believe that after death their soules ascend into the Stars and go down with them under the Horizon into a Paradise of pleasure They believe also that god stuck a multitude of arrows in the beginning into the ground and of these sprung up men and women They have divers ridiculous opinions of God as that he once drank much Tobacco and then gave the pipe to their Governour with a command that he should keep it carefully and in so doing he should want nothing but he lost the Pipe and so fell into want and misery Such senselesse conceits have these people who as they are savage in their carriage so in their understandings they are little better then beasts They use to sing the Devils praises to dance about fires which they make to his honour and leap over them They bemoan the dead a great while and bring presents to the grave Many of these ignorant souls were converted to Christ by the industry of the Jesuites Anno 1637. and 1638. See Father Pauls relation of new France See also Champlain and Iaques Cartier c. Q. What is the Religion of Virginia A. Before the English planted Christianity there they worshipped the Devil and many idols as yet they doe in many places there They beleeve many Gods but one principally who made the rest and that all creatures were made of water and the Woman before the Man who by the help of one of the gods conceived and bore children They are all Anthropomorphites giving to their gods the forms of men whom they worship with praying singing and offerings They hold the soules immortality rewards and punishments after this life the one in heaven the other in a burning pit toward the west The Priests are distinguished from other people by garments of skins and their hair cut like a comb on their crowns They carry their gods about with them and ask counsel of them Much of their devotion consisteth in howling and dancing about fires with rattles of Gourd or Pompian rindes in their hands beating the ground with stones and offering of Tobacco Deer suet and blood on their stone Altars They undertake no matters of consequence without advice of their Priests the chief whereof is adorned with Feathers and Weasels tails and his face painted as ugly as the devils They bury their Kings after their bodies ate burned and dryed in white skins within arches of mats with their wealth at their feet and by the body is placed the devils Image The Women expresse their sorrow with black paint and yellings for twenty four hours None but the King and Priest may enter these houses where the Images of Devils and their Kings are kept Instead of saying Grace at meat they fling the first bit into the fire and when they will appease a storm they cast Tobacco into the water Sometimes they sacrifice children to the devil But of these passages See
went about dancing with the Ancilia or Targets in their hands Liberalia which the Greeks call Dronysia were kept in March to the honor of Bacchus or Liber whose Priests that day did sacrifice with Ivy Garlands on their heads Cerealia in Aprill in memory of Proserpina found again by Ceres The ceremonies of this day were performed by the Roman Matrons but originally this was a Greek feast Palilia in April to Pales the goddesse of shepherds Vinalia in April too this feast was also called Veneralia because kept to Venus in whose Temple much Wine was poured out the Gardens dedicated and Sacrifices offered to her Robigalia to Robigo the god of smut this feast was kept in April that the Corn might not be smutty Compitalia in May these feasts were kept in compitis â—â—eets and high ways to the Lares and their mother Mania to whom Children were wont to be sacrificed till Iâ—nius Brutus instead of these commanded the heads of Poppies and Onyons to be offered Lemuria in May so called from the Lemures or night Ghosts which they pacified with this feast in which they used to fling Beanes thinking thereby they drove these Ghosts out of their houses Matralia in May were feasts to Matuta which the Greeks call Leucothea no serving maids were admitted into this feast except one whom each Matron was to smite on the cheek because Matuta was jealous that her husband loved her maid better then her selfe whereupon she grew mad and drowned her selfe with her son Melicerte and so was made a goddesse she was also called Ino. Neptunalia iâ— Iune were celebrated to the honour of Neptune Portumnalia to Portumnus the God of harbours in August this feast was kept in the harbor of the River Tibris Consualia in August to the honour of Consus the god of Counsel in this feast the Asses and Horses were crowned and kept from work In the same moneth were kept Vulcanalia to Vulcan Meditrinalia in October to Meditrina the goddesse of Physick for in this moneth they used to tast of old and new wine for a Medicine Augustalia the same moneth in memory of Augustus his return to Rome from his victories and conquests Fontinilia in October in which feast all fountains and wells were crowned with Garlands Mercurialia to Mercury in November and Brumalia the same moneth to Bromus or Brumus that is Bacchus In December were kept not onely Saturnalia Feasts to Saturn but also Opaliâ— to his Wife Ops. And Angeronalia to Angerona the goddesse of anguish and griefe And then also was the Feast called Laurentialia to Acca Laurentia Besides these and many other set Feasts they had others called Conceptivae imperativae and Nundinae of all which Q. What Gods did the Romans worship A. Their chief deities were twenty namely Iupiter the God of thunder Iune of riches Venus of beauty Minerva of wisdome Vesta of the Earth Ceres of Corn Diana of hunting Mars of wars Mercury of Eloquence Vulcan of fire Apollo of Physick Neptune of the Sea Ianus of Husbandry Saturn of time Genius of Nativities Orcus of Hell Bacchus of Wine Tellus of Seeds Sol the Sun and Luna the Moon But indeed under all these names they understood the Sun to whom for his divers effects and operations they gave divers names as Macrobius sheweth Besides these they worshipped many other Deities of lesse note As Bellonâ— the goddesse of war Victoria of Victory Nemesâ—s of revenge Cupido of love Gratiae or Charites of thanks Penates mans tutelar Gods Lares the houshold Gods Parcae the goddesses of destiny Furiae or Eumenides the goddesses of punishments Fortuna the goddesse of Providence All these were called Dii majorum Gentium there were others whom they named Indigiteâ— these were men who for their merits were Canonized and made Gods Such were Hercules Faunus Evander Carmenta Castor and Pollux Aesculapius Acca Laurentia Quirinus c. And not onely vertuous men but the Vertues themselves were deified these had their Temples Sacrifices and Festivals Such were the Minde Vertue Honour Piety Hope Chastity Peace Concord Quietnesse Liberty Safety and Felicity Besides these they had inferiour Gods whose merits deserve not Heaven nor scarce veneration these they called Semones as it were semi-homines halfe men such were â—riapus Vertumnus Hippona Naenia and all these petty Gods which waited upon every servile office and action of man such were Nascio the goddesse of birth Cunina of Cradles Rumina of Sucking Potina of drinking Educa or Edusa of eating Carnea of flesh Iuventus of youth Volupia of pleasure Lubentia of lust or desire and many more of this sort They had also their Gods of marriages as Iugatinus the God of joyning Domiducus who had the Bride home and many more of this kinde Child-bearing women had their several goddesses as Partunda Egeria and many more Mens actions also had their deities such were Horta the goddesse of exhorting Volumna of willing Laverna of stealing Naenia of funerals Libitina of graves or Coffins the Rusticks had their peculiar Gods as Robigus the God of smut Sterculius of dung Bubona of Oxen Hippona of Horses Mellona of Hony Pomona of fruitâ— Pales of fodder Flora of Flowers Terminus of bounds Pan of shepherds Silvanus of fields and woods Priapus of seeds and gardens besides many more and so ridiculous they were in multiplying deities that sinks and privies had their Cloacina Feavers their Febris fear and palenesse had their Gods to wit Pavor and Pallor they worshipped also forraign Gods as Isis Serapis Osiris the deities of Egypt Sanctus or Dius Fidius the Sabins God And many more which they borrowed of those Nations they subdued But we must observe that although the ignorant multitude among the Gentiles did worship many Gods yet the wiser sort acknowledged but one true God thus Mercurius Trismegistus the ancientest of the Philosophers confesseth there is but one Unitie the root of all things one goodnesse of infinit power the Author of life and motion in the world So Pythagoras who first assumed the name of Philosopher saith that God is one and all in all the light of all powers the beginning of all things the torch of heaven Father mind life and motion of the Vniverse Empedocles who succeeded Pythagoras sheweth that from this one entity proceed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things that have been are and shall be This same is acknowleged by Parmenides Thales Anaxagoras Timaeus and other Philosophers of that age Socrates confirmed this truth by his death Plato his Scholar calleth God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that entity which hath being of himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 begot of himself the beginning middle and end of all things c. Iamblicus calls God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sufficient in himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Father to himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 goodnesse it selfe the fountain and root of all things intelligent and intelligible c. Proelus writeth that he is King of all things the only God
the consecrated Corn were named Parasitiâ— They that met to sacrifice were called Oâ—geones from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to sacrifice Phylothytae were those who superstitiously upon all occasions were given to sacrifice Sacred feasts were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because much wine was drunk to the honour of the gods and therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to be drunk because they used to be drunk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after they had sacrificed The burning of Incense or such like before the sacrifice were called Prothyoâ—â—ats Q. What Priests and Temples had the antient Greeks A. As they had multiplicity of gods so they had of Priests anciently The Priests of Iupiter and Apollo were young boyes beautiful and well born The Priests of Cybele were gelded Ceres Bona Dea and Bacchus had their women Priests Bellona's Priests used to sacrifice with their own blood The Athenian Priests called Hierophantae used to eat Hemlock or Cicuta to make them impotent towards women No man was made a Priest who had any blemish in his body Their garments and shoes were white if they were the Priests of Ceres Purity was the chief thing they observed outwardly They that sacrificed to the infernal gods wore black garments but Purple if they were the Priests of the Celestial deities They used also to wear Crowns or Myters with Ribbans or Laces Their office was not only to pray and sacrifice but also to purifie with brimstone and salt water Their chief Priests called Hierophantae were the same in authority with the Pontifices at Rome The Athenian noble Virgins called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from bearing on their shoulders the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was a basket or chest of gold in which the first fruits and other consecrated things were carried in their Panathenaian pomps to the honour of Minerva I say these Virgins did much resemble the Vestal Nuns at Rome the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was as a Bishop or overseer of their sacred mysteries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was he that attended the sacred fire on the altar they had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cryces or Preachers and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Church-Wardens and other officers Now for their Temples At Athens the Temple of Minerva was built in the highest part of the City so was Iupiters Temple at Rome built in the Capitol The Temple of Mercy called Asylum which was a Sanctuary for Delinquents was erected at Athens by the sons of Hercules Theseus had erected one before called Theseum in imitation of which Romulus at Rome built such another At first the Gentle gods had no Temples at all but were worshipped either on Hills or in Groves Cerops was the first as some think who built a Temple in Athens and Ianus in Italy Before that time they had no other Temples but the Sepulchres and Monuments of the dead The Temples of the celestial Gods were built upon the ground of the infernal under In the Country of Sparta Iupiter had a Temple called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the darknesse thereof being obscured with Groves There was also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Chappel of the Earth and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Chappel of the Destinies the place where they had their Assemblies and Sermons called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Their Temples were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the black smoak of their sacrifices and incense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or according to the Atticks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the general name for Temples because the Gods dwelt In them and because they were consecrated and holy they were named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was that part of the Temple where the Idol stood the same with the Latine Delulirum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to cut or separate did signifie the Temple as it was set apart and separated from other buildings Such honour they gave to their Temples that they durst not tread on the threshold thereof but leapt over it nor must they passe by any Temple without reverence to it there they kept their treasures for the more security sacriledge being held then an execrable crime and so it was held an impiety to walk in the Temple of Apollo Pythius and punishable with death by the Law of Pisistratus Hence the Proverb when any danger was expressed or impiety 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it had been better you had walked in the Pythium the word also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies easing of the body which that none might do the Images of Serpents were set over the gates of consecrated places Pinge duos angues sacer est locâ—â— extra me ite Their martimonial and funeral Rites were the same with the Romans The Contents of the fifth Section The Religion of the old Germans Gauls and Brittains 2. Of the Saxons Danes Swedes Moscovites Russians Pomeranians and their neighbours 3. Of the Scythians Getes Thracians Cymbrians Goths Lusitanians c. 4. Of the Lithuanians Polonians Hungarians Samogetians and their neighbours 5. Of divers Gentile gods besides the above named 6. The ranks and arms of their gods 7. With what creatures their Chariots were drawn 8. Of peculiar gods worshipped in peculiar places 9. The Greek chief Festivals SECT V. Quest. OF what Religion were the Germans Gauls and Brittains Answ. The Germans at first had neither Images nor Temples but abroad worshipped the Sun Moon and Stars Mother Earth was in chief esteem among them to her they dedicated a Chariot in a Grove which was lawful onely for the Priest to touch He was never to leave the Chariot which was alwyes covered with cloath and was drawn by two Oxen in Procession then holy days were appointed at the end of her journey she with the Chariot and cloathes were washed in a certain Lake but the Ministers who performed this work were never seen any more but were swallowed by the Lake and the goddesse restored again by her Priest to her Grove The ancient Gaules worshipped Mercury in the first place as being the god of High-ways Journys Gain and Merchandising after him they worshipped Apollo Iupiter Mars and Minerva They and the Germans were wont to sacrifice men sometimes so did the ancient Brittains which with the Gaules had the same Religion and Priests called Druidae from the Oakes under which they used to teach and sacrifice for they expounded all religious mysteries taught the youth decided controversies and suits in Law ordained rewards and punishments and such as obeyed not their decrees they excommunicated debarring them from all divine exercises and all commerce with men These Druidae had one chief over them whose successour was always elected They were free from paying taxes from serving in the war aâ—d had many other priviledges They committed not the mysteries of their Religion to writing but to the memory of their Disciples who spent
one Nature and one Will some affirming him to be onely God some onely man some made up of both some altogether deny him some will have his body come from Heaven some from the Virgin some from the Elements some wil have our Souls Mortal some Immortal some bring it into the body by infusion some by traduction some wil have the soul created before the world some after some will have them created altogether others severally some will have them corporeal some incorporeal some of the substance of God some of the substance of the body So infinitly are mens conceits distracted with variety of opinions whereas there is but one truth which every man dims at but few attain it every man thinks he hath it and yet few enjoy it The main causes of these distractions are pride self-love ambition contempt of Church and Scripture the Humour of Contradiction the Spirit of Faction the desire of Innovation the want of preserment in high Spirits Anger Envy the benefit that ariseth to some by fishing in troubled waters the malignant eye that some have on the Churches prospeâ—ity the greedy appetite others have to Quailes and the Flesh-Pots of Egypt rather then to Manna though sent from Heaven the want or contempt of Authority Discipline and order in the Church which like Bulwarks Walls or Hedges keep out the wild Boars of the Forfest from rooting up the Lords Vineyard and the little Foxes from eating up the Grapes thereof Therefore wise Governours were forced to authorize Bishops Moderatours or Superintendents call them what you will for regulating curbing and punishing such luxurious wits as disturbed the peace of the Church and consequently of the State by their fantastical inventions knowing that too much liberty was no lesse dangerous then Tyranny too much mercy as pernitious as cruelty and a general permission in a Kingdom or State no lesse hazzardous to the publick tranquillity then a general restriction The Contents of the Ninth Section The first original of the Monastical Life 2. The first Eremites or Anchorites 3. The manner of their living 4. Their Excesses in Religion 5. The preheminence of the Sociable Life to the Solitary 6. The first Monks after Anthonie 7. The rules of Saint Basil. 8. Saint Hieroms order 9. Saint Austins order 10. If Saint Austin instituted his Eremites to beg 11. Of Saint Austins Leathern Girdle used at this day 12. The institutions and exercises of the first Monks 13. Why Religious persons cut their Haire and Beards 14. Whence came that custom of Shaving 15. Of the Primitive Nuns 16. Of What account Monks are at this day in the Roman Church 17. How the Monks and Nuns of old were consecrated 18. The Benedictine order 19. Of the orders proceeding from them 20. Of Saint Bennets rules to his Monks 21. The Benedictines Habit and Dyet 22. Rules prescribed by the Councel of Aix to the Monks 23. The Rites and Institutions of the Monks of Cassinum 24. The manner of electing their Abbots 25. The Benedictine Nuns and their rule 26. Of the Laws and Priviledges of Monasteries SECT IX Quest. 1. HAving taken a view of the Opinions in Christian Religion for 1600 years it remains that we now take notice of the strictest observers thereof therefore tell us who they were that separated themselves from other Christians not so much in opinion as in place and strictnesse of living and what was the first original of this separation A. When the Christian Religion in the beginning was opposed by persecutors many holy men and women to avoid the fury of their persecutors retired into desart places where they gave themselves to fasting prayer and meditation in the Scriptures These were called Eremites from the Desart where they lived and Monachi from their single or solitary life And Anchorites from living a part by themselves Such were Paul the Eremite Anthony Hilarion Basil Hierom and others Afterward the Eremites growing weary of the Desarts and Persecution at an end betook themselves into Towns and Cities where they lived together and had all things in common within one building which they called Monastery Covent or Cloyster These Monks were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Worshippers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exercisers or Wrestlers in Christianity Clerici also as being the Lords inheritance and Philosophers from their study and contemplation of Divine and Humane things Their houses were called Caenobia because they held all things among them in common and Claustra or Cloysters because there they were inclosed from the rest of the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Schools of cares and discipline and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 places of exercise As the men had their peculiar Houses or Cloysters so had the women who were willing to separate themselves from the world these were called Nâ—nnâ— or Nuns from the Egyptian word Nennus for there were the first Monasteries from their solitary life they are named Moniales and from their holinesse Sanctimoniales and from the Roman phrase Virgines Vestoles now because these holy men and women lived at first in caves and subterraneal holes they were named Mandritae for Mandrae signifies caves or holes and Troglodyta from those Ethiopians in Arabia neer the Red Sea who lived on Serpents flesh and Roots whose skins were hardned with the nights cold and tanned with the Suns heat They were so called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from their caves where they dwelt Q. 2. Who were the first Eremites or Anchorites A. If we take Eremites for such as have lived in desarts for a while to avoid persecution then we may say that Eliah Iohn Baptist and Christ himself were Eremites For they were forced sometimes to live an Eremitical or solitary life in desarts But if by Eremites we understands such as wholly addicted themselves to an Eremitical or solitary life from the world and worldly affairs that they might the more freely give themselves to fasting prayer and contemplation then the first Eremite we read of since Christ was Poul the Theban who having lost in the persecution under Decius both his Parents and fearing to be betrayed by his Sisters Husband betook himself to a cave at the foot of a Rocky Hill â—bout the year of Christ 260. and there continued all his life to wit from fifteen years of age till he died which was the one hundred and thirteenth year of his life All which time he saw no body but Antonius who being Ninety years old by divine instinct came to Paul on the day he died This Antonius instituted this Eremitical life in Egypt Being twenty years old he sold his Estate and bestowed it on the poor then in remote places he lived alone but that sometimes he would visit his disciples At 35. years he betook himself to the desart till he was 55. Then he returned to the Cities and preached Christ there Afterward he returned again to the desart where he spent the remainder of his life and dyed the 105. year of
the evening and completory and at midnight Particular Psalmes are appointed for each of these canonical hours that they must pray with all reverence That their be Deanes chosen in each Monastery to ease the Abbot That every Monk have his own bed to sleep in that a candle burn by them till the morning That they sleep in their cloathes girt that at the ringing of the bell they may be the more ready for prayer divers degrees of Pennance are injoyned according to the degrees of offences That the Abbot use all the means he can to reclaim the excommunicate persons that the lost sheep may be brought home with joy That if no correction will prevail the obstinate person be expelled the covent who upon repentance may be received three times but never after the third time That the Steward of the Monastery be a man of discretion government and trust That the Abbot keep an inventory of all utensils belonging to the Covent That all things be common among the Brothers That there be no grudging or murmuring That every one serve in the kitching and in other places when his turn is That a special care be had of the sick and infirme so likewise of the aged and children That their be chosen a weekly Reader to read in time of refection That each man be content with a pound of bread for a day and that onely the sick be permitted to eat flesh That wine be drunk sparingly That from Easter to Pentecost the Brothers may have their refection at the sixth hour and their supper in the evening in the Summer let them fast every fourth and sixth day in the week till the ninth hour The other days let them dine at the sixth hour From the midist of September till Lent let them have their refection at the ninth hour but in the Lent time at the evening so it be by day light That after the Completory there be no speaking at all if any come late to prayers or to the table he is to stand apart by himself and to be last served and shortned in his victuals if any for some great offence be excommunicated out of the Oratory he shall make satisfaction by prostrating himself before the Oratory that they shall not onely give themselves to prayer and meditation at the appointed hours but shall also labour some part of the day with their hands to keep them from idlenesse That they observe Lent with all strictnesse that they use strangers with all reverence and cheerfulnesse and that the Abbot salute them with a holy kisse and wash their feet that none receive letters or tokens from their Parents without the Abbots leave That the Abbot cloath his Monks as he findeth the seasons of the year requireth That no Novice be admitted into the Monastery without sufficient trial of his constancy and patience That if a Priest desireth to enter into a Monastery he submit himself to the Laws thereof and that he have the next place to the Abbot That Noble men who offer their Children to God in the Monastery swear they will never give them any part of their Estate but that it be conferred on the Covent That if a stranger Monk desire to continue in the Monastery he be not denied so his life be not scandalous If the Abbot desire to have a Priest or Deacon ordained let him choose one of his own Covent That he shall be Abbot whom the whole Covent or the greater and better part shall choose That the Provost or Praepositus be chosen by the Abbot to whom he must be subject That the Porter be an ancient and discreet man who may receive give answers that the Monastery be provided with Water and a Mil and other necessaries within it self left the Brothers should wander abroad If the Abbot enjoyn to any Monk impossibilities he must with reverence and submission excuse his inability if the Abbot urge it he must obey and trust to Gods assistance That in the Monastery none presume to defend or strike or excommunicate another But that they be obedient and loving to each other That they be zealous for Gods Glory and when they are working to be still singing of Psalmes Q. 21. What habit and dyet do the Benedictines use A. Their habit is a round coat a hood called Cuculla Cappa and Melos from Melis a brock gray or badger because it was wont to be made anciently of the skin of that beast Scapulate is so called from Scapulis the shoulders which this covereth In winter their hoods are lined They were not wont to wear breeches but when they travelled into the countrey The colour of their upper garment is black under which they wear a white wollen coat with sack-cloath and they go booted The ancient Benedictines were wont after they were Bishops to wear the habit of their former profession and to this they were enjoyned by the eighth General Council held at Constantinople they were also tyed by their rule to lie in their coats and hoods and to wear course cloth but now the case is altered and so it was in Saint Bernards time who complains against the Monks luxury in apparrel wearing Non quod utilius sed quod subtilius Silk garments to shew their pride but not of cloth to keep them warm Their simple and course Dyet as it was prescribed by Benet is changed into dainty fare they now eat Flesh and drink Wine plentifully of this Hugo de Sancto Victorâ— complaineth Q. 22. What Religious Rules did the Second Council of Aquisgran or Aix prescribe to be observed by the Monks A. This Council being held the eight hundred and sixteenth yeare after Christ ordered that no Lay-man or Secular Priest be received into a Monastery except he become a Monk that the Monks do not swear that in the Parasceve they use nothing but bread and water That before they goe to sleep the Prior besprinkle them with holy water thaâ— the tenth part of their almes be given to the poor That they hath not without the Priors leave That particular Psalmes be sung for the dead That they how not their knees in Whitsun-week nor fast but they must fast the Ember-weeks and on the Eves of the Apostles that in case of necessity the Brothers walk with slaves That in uncertaine theft there be a suspending from supper till the guilty party confesse That at Christmasse and Easter for eight dayes together they that will may eat the flesh of birds That all Monks if they can learne their rules by heart that in the Kitchin Mill and other such places they work with their owne hands That the delinquent cast himselfe on the ground before his Abboâ— or Prior That they kisse no Women That in Lent they wash each others feet At the Lords Supper let the Abbot wash and kisse the feet of his brethren In Easter and Whitsun-week and on Christmasse and other festival dayes let there be no speaking in the
Saint Austins Monks and of his Eremites He as we said before wore on his naked body a Coat of Males his bed was a hard board without either straw or coverlid with often kneeling kissing of the ground and beating it with his forehead and nose he made his hands and knees hard like a Callus or Corn and his nose crooked This order at first was ruled by a Prior afterward Pope Iohn 22. gave them an Abbot The Carthusians or Charter Friers were instituted by Bruno born in Collen and professor of Philosophy in Paris about the year of Christ 1080. upon this occasion being present at the singing of the office for his fellow Professor now dead a man highly reputed for his holy life the dead corps suddenly sitteth up in the Beer and crieth out I am in Gods just judgements condemned these words it uttered three several days at which Bruno was so affrighted that a man held so pious was damned what would become of himself and many more therefore concluded there was no safety for him but by forsaking the world hereupon he with six of his scholars betook themselves to a hideous place for dark woods high hills rocks and wilde beasts in the Province of Dolphinie neer Grenoble the place was called Carthusia whence his Monks took their name and there built a Monastery having obtained the ground of Hugo Bishop of Grenoble who also became a Monk of that order By their rule these Monks should wear sack-cloth or a hair shirt next their skin a long white cloth-coat loose with a hood and a black cloak over when they walke abroad The Lay-Brothers wear a short coat to their knees They eat no flesh at all they buy no fish but eat them when offered they eat branny bread and drink wine mingled with water On the Lords day and fifth day of the week they feed onely upon cheese and egges On the third day or Saturday on pulse or pot-herbs on the second fourth and sixth upon bread and water onely Every one dresseth his own meat they eat apart and but once a day Yet on the chief Festivals of Christmasse Easter Whitsuntide Epiphany Purification the twelve Apostles Iohn Baptist Michael Martin and all-Saints they eat twice a day and together at one Table and then may talk together at other times they must keep silence every one hath his own cell wherein they pray read meditate and write books and in these cells they observe the Canonical hours but their Mattins and Vespers they keep in their Churches and have Masse on these days wherein they eat twice They are not suffered to go abroad except the Prior and Procurator and that upon the affairs of the Covent They are limited to enjoy a certain quantity of land a certain number of sheep goats and asses which they must not exceed They must admit no women into their Churches nor were they to have in one Covent above twelve Religious meâ— besides the Prior and eighteen Converts or Lay-Brothers with a few servants who are not to come into the Quire where the Prior and his brothers sit but these are in a lower Quire by themselves They never admit any again into their society who once leaves them These were the ancient rules to which they were tyed but in some things are fallen off now the Monks of this order have a meeting or chapter yearly at Carthusia about their own affairs hither two Monks out of every Cloyster do repaire where they stay fourteen days this order was confirmed by Pope Alexander the third An. 1178. they came into England An. 1180. and seated themselves at Witham neer Bath Q. 4. What were the Monks of Saint Anthony of Vienna the Cistertians Bernardins and Humiliati A. About the year of Christ 1095. Saint Anthonies Monks of Vienna were set up by Gastho and Gerondus two Noble men of that place and were to live according to Saint Austins rule of which we have already said The Cistertians began about the year 1098. by one Robert Abbot of Molismenia who as we have said taking offence at the loose lives of the Benedictines by the perswasion of Steven Harding an Englishman forsook that society and being accompanied with one and twenty other Monks came to Cistertium in Burgundy where they erected their Covent Here they resolved to stick close to the rule of Saint Bennet and to cut off all the superfluities of apparrel and dyer introduced by the loose Monks of that order and because they did not find that Saint Bennet ever possessed Churches Altars Oblations Tythes and Sepultures or that he had Mills Farmes or that he ever suffered Women to enter into his Covent or that he buried there any except his own Sister therefore they meant to abandon all these things and to professe poverty with Christ they would not suffer their Monks to meddle with Husbandry or any secular affairs and with Saint Bennet they ordered that their Monastery should consist but of twelve Monks and an Abbot They must keep silence except it be to the Abbot or Prior. If any Monk run away from his Monastery he must be forced back again by the Bishop The Cistertiant must be contented with two coats and two hoods they must work with their hands and observe strictly their fasts they must salute strangers by bowing their head and body and in imitation of Christ must wash their feet No Fugitive is to be received into the Covent after the third time The Abbots Table must be furnished for strangers This order was confirmed by Pope Vrban the second An. 1100. and came into England An. 1132. Their colour was gray whence in the beginning they were named Grisei The Bernardines so called from Saint Bernard Abbot of Clarivallis were the same with the Cistertians but that as we said before they wear a black coat over a white cloak Yet on festivals they wear the Cistertian habit to shew whence they came The Bernardines and Cistertians are not subject to Advocats or Bishops And Pope Alexander the third ordered that if the Bishop refused to blesse the Abbot he may receive benediction from his own Monks The Humiliati arose in Germany about the year of Christ 1164. in the time of Frederick Barbarâ—ssa who in his Wars against Lambardie brought captive thence into Germany multitudes of men with their Wives and Children these growing weary of their long exile cloath themselves in white and approaching to the Emperour fall down at his feet begging pardon for their delinquency from this posture they were called Humiliati the Emperour being moved with their tears and habit gave them leave to return home into their Country who being returned resolved to live a Monastical life therefore they built Monasteries in which they gave themselves to prayer fasting meditation and making of cloth Innocent the third did first ratifie this order and then their succeeding Popes They wear a plain coat a Scopular and a white
in confessing their sins only to God in rejecting purgatory and prayers for the dead in giving the Sacrament in both kindes and in unleavened bread and in tolerating Priests marriages in the same points also they agree with the 〈◊〉 or Christians of Egypt with the Abyssins Armenians and Maronites But the Protestants difher from the above named Churches in these subsequent points 1. They believe that the holy Ghost proceedeth from the Son 2. They use unleavened bread in the Sacrament 3. The English Protestants allow Confirmation 4. They hold that the blessed souls enjoy Gods presence and that the wicked are tormented in Hell immediately after their departure hence 5. They permit Priests after ordination to marry 6. They reject pictures as well as Massie-images 7. They observe not the Saturday 〈◊〉 Sabbath 8. They have but one Lent in the year 9. They make no scruple in 〈◊〉 of blood in these points the Protestants dissent both from the Greekâ— Melchâ—tes Georgians 〈◊〉 Circassiani Moscovites and other Sects above named They defer not baptisme till the eighth year with the Circassians they pray not for the dead nor give the Sacrament in a spoon nor divorce their Wives upon every light occasion with the Mâ—scovites they affirm not two persons in Christ nor deny Mary to be the Mother of God nor reject the Councel of Ephesus and all other Councels after it with the Nestorians They defer not baptism till the fortieth day nor exclude Priests from second marriage with the Christians of Saint Thomas They do not ascribe one nature only one will and one operation to Christ nor do they use circumcision and a hot Iron in baptisme nor do they reach that Angels are composed of fire and light with the Iaoobites They give not the Eucharist to Insants they marry not in the second degree of consanguinity nor do they read the Gospel of Nicodemus with the Copâ—ti They do not hold traduction of souls by seminal propagation nor baptize themselves every year nor suffer they their Ministers to live by mechanical labours with the Abyssins They use nor rebaptiâ—ation nor fasting on Christmasse day nor abstain from eating of uncleane beasts prohibited by the old Law with the Armenians they do not hold that all souls were created together nor that parents ought to dissolve their childrens marriages when they please nor that Children should be made Sub-Deacons nor that Menstrâ—ous Women should be excluded from the Sacrament with the Maroâ—ites The Protestants do not celebvate their Liturgy in an unknown tongue as the 〈…〉 Iacobites Indians and Nestorians do who make use of the 〈◊〉 or Syriack language in their divine service which few understand nor with the Greeks Melchiâ—es Georgians Circassians and others do they use the ancient Greek tongue in their liturgies which these above named know not and yet make use of it in their Churches nor with the Boman Catholicks doe they read and pray in Latine but in their own vulgar languages which are intelligible by all in which point they agree with the Abyssins Aâ—menians Moscovites Russians 〈◊〉 anciently called Illyrians Lastly Protestants differ from the Roman Catholicks in these points 1. Of the number of Canonical Books of Scripture of their sufficiency authority and interpreter 2. Of Christs descent into hel 3. Of the head of the Church and of the Popes supremacy 4. Of the true Catholick Church 5. Of their Clergy their orders immunities and 〈◊〉 6. Of â—he Monastical life vows and Evangelical Counsels 7. Of the power of the Civil Magistrate 8. Of Purgatory 9. Of invocation of Saints 10. Adoration of Images and Reliques 11. Sacraments their number efficacy and ceremonies 12. Baptisme its necessity effects and ceremonies 13. Transubstantiation and the consequences thereof 14. Of administring in both kinds 15. The sacrifice of the Masse 16. Auricular confession 17. Satisfaction 18. Indulgences 19. Extream Unction 20. Original sin 21. Free will Predestination and Grace 22. Justification Faith and good woâ—kâ— 23. The Latine Service 24. Traditions Some other small differences there are and fewer there might be if men would be moderate on either side but the spirit of contention and contradiction hath hitherto hindered and will yet hinder the peace of the Church till the Prince of Peaâ—e our true Solomon who built this mystical Temple without noyse of Axes or Hammers put an end to all jâ—rrs and discords till he whom both the Winds and Seas do obey awake who now seemes to be asleep till he I say awake and rebuke the stormy winds and proud billows on which his ship is tossed to and fro that at last she may eâ—joy a calm time and some Halcyonian days and may cast Anchor in the safe harbour of tranquillity where we may finde our Saviour not in the Earthquakes Whirlewinds and fire of contention but in the 〈◊〉 and quiet voice of peace concord and unity which he left to us as a Legacy but we have lost it by our pride sacriledge â—nvy 〈◊〉 covetousness profanenesse and vain-glory The Contents of the Fifteenth Section Religion is the ground of all government and greatnesse 2. By divers reasons it is proved that Religion of all Common wealths and humane societies is the foundation 3. That Princes and Magistrates ought to have a special care in setling and preserving of Religion 4. That one Religion onely is to be allowed in a Common wealth publickly 5. In what respects different Religions they be tolerated in private 6. A Christian Prince may not dissemble his Religion 7. Why God blesseth the professors of false Religions and punisheth the contemners thereof 8. False Religions are grounded upon policy what use there is of Ceremonies in Religion 9. The mixture and division of religions and of Idolatry 10. How the Gentile Religion in worshipping of the Sun seems to be most consonant to natural reason with divers observations concerning Sun-worship and the knowledge the Gentiles had of a Deity the Vnity thereof with some glimmering of the Trinity 11. That the honour maintenance and advancement of a Priest hood is the main supporter of Religion 12. That the Christian Religion is of all others the must excellent and to be preferred for divers reasons being considered in it selfe and compared with others with an exhortation to the practice of religious duties which is true Christianity SECT XV. Quest. I. HAving now pass't through all Religions known in the World it remains that we make some use of what we have viewed let us know then to what end and purpose hath this View been taken A. First to let us see that there is no nation so barbarous or brutish except some particular fools who have said in their heart there is no God which hath not made profession of some Religion by which they are taught to acknowledge and worship a Deity For Religion is the pillar on which every Commonâ—wealth is built so long as the pillar is stable and firm which is the foundation so long