The abridgment of Eusebius Pamphilius's ecclesiastical history in two parts ... whereunto is added a catalogue of the synods and councels which were after the days of the apostles : together with a hint of what was decreed in the same / by William Caton.

Apollinarius concerning Montanus. * 1.1

It is now a great while ago, well-beloved A. M. since thou didst enjoin me this Task, that I should publish some Book against the Follow∣ers of the Heretick Montanus, whereupon I doubted unto this day what was best to be done: Not because I was not able to confure their Falshood, and give Testimony unto the Truth, but that I feared greatly, lest by writing I should seem to add something to the Doctrine of the New Testament, whereto nothing may be ad∣ded, and wherefrom nothing may be taken away, by him that will lead a Life agreeable to the Go∣spel. I being of late at Ancira in Galatia, found the Church through Pontus, not with Prophets, as they call them, but rather, as it shall be pro∣proved, with Fal•…•…e Prophets; where through * 1.2 the Lord, as much as in me lay, I disputed in the Chuhch, the space of many Days, against them and their several Objections, so that the Church rejoiced, and was thereby confirmed in the Truth; but the contrary Part yet repi∣ned, and the Gainsayers were very sorrowful.

It is written of Montanus, that he was puffed up with an immoderate Desire of Primacy, i. e. Chief Authority, opened a Gap for the Adver∣sary to enter into him; and being mad and e∣stranged suddenly, and bereft of his Wits, wax∣ed furious, and published strange Doctrine, con∣trary to the Tradition and ancient Custom of ancient Succession, now received, under the Name of Prophecy; they which then were Auditors of this unlawful Preaching, some cha∣stised and checked him for a Lunatick (i. e. one possed with Lunacy, who at certain times of the Moon is distracted in his Wits) and one that was possessed with the Spirit of Errours, and forbad him to Preach, being mindful of the Forewar∣nings and Threatnings of our Saviour tending to this end, that we should take diligent heed of False Prophets. Others waxed insolent (i. e. proud) and boasted and bragged of him not a little, as if he had been endued with the Holy Ghost and Gift of Prophecy; so that through disobedient Persons, he came to be more ho∣noured than his Merit did require: And two Women being possessed of a foul Spirit, spoke fond, foolish, and fantastical things, even as he had before, and they gloried and rejoiced in that Spirit which pronounced them happy, and puffed them up with infinite fair Promises; yet * 1.3 sometimes by Signs and Tokens he rebuked them to their faces, so that he seemed a chasti∣sing Spirit. There were few of the Phrygians seduced, notwithstanding that bold and blind Spirit instructed them to blaspheme and revile generally every Church under Heaven, because

they neither did Homage (i. e. a servile Ceremo∣ny of some Tenants, which by Duty they owe to their * 1.4 Lords) neither courteously received among them that false Spirit of Prophecy. Those things he wrote in his first Book; and in his second Book he writeth thus of their Ends: These, say they, are the Prophets which the Lord promised to send his People. Let them answer me: I charge them in the Name of the Living God, O ye Good People, Is there any of the Sect of Montanus, and these Women which have been persecuted by the Jews, * 1.5 or put to death by any Tyrant? Not one of them bearing the Name was either apprehended or cru∣cified, neither was their any Woman of them in the Synagogues of the Jews either scourged or stoned at all, but Montanus and Maximilla are said to die' another kind of Death.

Moreover, when the Bishops went about to rebuke the Spirit which spoke in Maximilla, they were hindred by others that wrought by the same Spirit, saying, Let not the Spirit of Maximilla say, I am chased as a Wolf from the Sheep: I am no Wolf, I am the Word, the Spirit and Power; but let him manifestly express the power by the Spirit, and prevail.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chap. 14.
• * 1.2

  False Pro∣phets were entered.
• * 1.3

  A deceit∣ful Spirit.
• * 1.4

  Saints did no homage
• * 1.5

  False Pro∣phets are not perse∣cuted to death.