The estate of the Church with the discourse of times, from the apostles vntill this present: also of the liues of all the emperours, popes of Rome, and Turkes: as also of the Kings of Fraunce, England, Scotland, Spaine, Portugall, Denmarke, &c. With all the memorable accidents of their times. Translated out of French into English by Simon Patrike, Gentleman.

The Eccclesiasticall administration.

* 1.1Basile diuideth the Auditors of Gods word into two com∣panies: the one, of such as were rude: and the other, of such as had made some progresse therin. Ambrose distinguisheth them into Lay-men & Clarkes, in his booke of the Sacerdotall digni∣tie. chap. 2. Hierome vpō the expositiō of the 7 chap of the 2. to the Cor. diuideth them into 3. that is, Catechumenes, faithfull, and penitent.

* 1.2Praiers were ordinarily made for all things necessary; for the prosperitie of the Empire, for the health of the Church, for publique tranquilitie, for enemies, and for such as were not yet conuerted. See Socrates, lib. 2. cap. 37.

* 1.3Nectarius first tooke away in the Church of Constantinople the ceremony ordained for penance and confession; wherein a Priest particularly applied absolution, & ordained that each one after the witnes of his conscience, should approach the cōmu∣nion. The occasion of this defence came of a woman of a noble house, who hauing confessed to a Priest that shee had had the company of a Deacon in the Church: the Priest reuealed this scandal to the said Bishop, and the ceremony of confession was abolished. Socrates lib. 5. chap. 9.

* 1.4In the time of Constantine, many ceremonies vnnecessary

and euill agreeing with the word of God, were brought in; as candles lighted in the day time; which this Costantine instituted in Temples, newly by him builded, and consecrated worthy or∣naments and other things altogether superfluous and supersti∣tious, which other Churches then tooke vp.

Bishops also at this time denounced to their people Feast-dayes. As Basile rehearseth of himselfe,* 1.5 that he denounced in a Sermon the feast-day of a Martyr Iulitta.

One new thing not vsed in times past,* 1.6 was now brought in. The Emperour Constantine gaue power to Clarkes, to ap∣peale from ciuill Magistrates to Bishops: which thing was the first that gaue occasion to Antichrist to chaunge & transforme the kingdome of Iesus Christ into a polliticke kingdome, & by litle & litle to lift himselfe vp aboue Magistrates, & of Mini∣sters and Doctors, to become Dictators and Kings, leauing the charge of soules.

A new thing also of this time,* 1.7 the care to build Temples was committed to Bishops. As Constantine cōmitted to Macari∣us Bishop of Ierusalem the building of a Temple, which he wil∣led should be builded in the place where the Sepulchre was, Sozomene in his 4. booke and 13. chap, rehearseth, that Basile builded the Tēple of the Towne of Ancyra in Gallatia.

A new charge also was giuen to Bishops of this time, to con∣secrate Temples, to seeke out & transport frō place to place, re∣liques of Saints. As we may see in the 85. Epistle of S. Ambrose.

Such graunts peruerted the true office of a Bishop, which is to teach and feed the flocke with the pure word of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Diuers sorts of Auditors.
• * 1.2

  Prayers.
• * 1.3

  Confession taken from the common people.
• * 1.4

  Ceremonies inuented.
• * 1.5

  Feastes.
• * 1.6

  The Immuni∣tie of Clarkes beganne.
• * 1.7

  Building of Temples.