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.

How the Ancient Christians suffered by the Hea∣then; and how true Christians now suffer by the same Spirit of Enmity and Persecution, which is entered into the false Christians, alias Antichristians.

The First Persecution.

WHen that the Jews were bereaved of their Power by the Heathen, and that the time was expired wherein they had so cruelly used the People of God, nevertheless the Christians were not therefore freed from suffering, for they were therein exercised under the Heathens * 1.1 Power, and Nero was said to be the first Ty∣rannical Emperour that persecuted the Chri∣stians; it was called the first Persecution, be∣cause it was under the Emperors Power, and it began in the year 66, after the Birth of Christ, and at that time was chiefly within the City of Rome: About that time did People be∣gin to accuse the Christians, with all manner of Wickedness, and to esteem them as Reprobates, because they did not honour the Gods.

Note, Have not the true Christians suffered in England, under the sundry Powers that have been

of late, even as the Antient Christians suffered under the Iewes. And it appears that when the Iewes were deprived of their Power, then did the Heathens Persecute the Christians; And did not both Protectors and Parliaments persecute the Innocent when they were in Authority? but since they have been deprived of the power, and turned out as the Iewes were, when the Gen∣tiles came to have the preheminence, hath not the King himself become Guilty of their Sin in persecuting or suffering the Innocent to be per∣secuted within his Dominions; And hath not all manner of Evil been spoken of them, and they been accounted unfit to live in either Kingdom or Commonwealth, and that chiefly because they could no more honour that Proud and Ambiti∣ous Spirit which is gotten up in the hearts of Men, then the Antient Christians heretofore could honour the Gods of the Heathen?

The Second Persecution.

IN the Year of our Lord 93. did the second Persecution begin under the Emperour Do∣mitianus, under whom several were put to Death, and about the same time was the Apostle Iohn Banished unto the Island Pathmos, where * 1.2 he Wrote his Revelation; In those days the Christians were so little esteemed, that the Peo∣ple called them Cobler, Weavers, Combers of Wool, Illiterate and exceeding Rustick, or Clownish, yea such as knew no good fashions.

Note. Have not some of the true Christians

been put to death of late in New England? and have not many of them suffered the spoiling of their Goods, and their Bodies to be cast into Prison, to be Whipt, and shamefully intreated by the Anti-Christians, and that about their Re∣ligion? And have not many of the true Chri∣stians * 1.3 been in derision called Coblers, Taylers, Weavers, Plowmen, &c. So little esteem have the true Christians now among the Children of this World, as the Antient Christians heretofore have had among the Children of Men.

The Third Persecution.

IN the Year 102. did the third Persecution be∣gin under the Emperour Trajanus, who tho' he was called a good Emperour, did nevertheless Persecute the Christians, out of Humility to the Gods, in which Persecution several Bishops were put to Death, as the Bishop of Rome, the Bishop of Ierusalem, &c. And at that time the Bishop of Antioch testified, That Sufferings made us like unto Christ, who had suffered for us himself, pre∣paring a way through suffering unto Eternal Life: About the same time did a Governour Write unto the Emperour in the Christians behalf, whereupon the Emperour wrot, That they should seek no more of them, but those they had in Prison should they put to Death.

Note. Without Controversie the Bishop or Pope of Rome, must needs be much degenerated from that State in which those Bishops then were; forasmuch as he now (by that Power

through which they were put to death) doth put others to Death about their Religion, for which they then suffered Martyrdom: From hence it may be observed that the Bishops now, which persecute tender Consciences about Religion, are found rather in the Footsteps of the Heathen, then in the condition of those Bishops that suf∣fered Martyrdom: Moreover in these latter days the Lord hath stirred up some at times to speak a Word, or to Write a few Lines in the behalf of the true Christians unto them in Au∣thority, whereby their hearts have been so far moved and reached, that they have done some∣thing in order to the mitigating of the Suffer∣ings of the Innocent, who at this day share with their Brethren in the Fellowship of the Suffering of the Gospel.

The Fourth Persecution.

IN the year, 164. was the fourth Persecution of the Christians, which arose under the Em∣perour, * 1.4 Marcus Aurelius and Lucias Verus, in which Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna was put to Death, who had been a Disciple of John, and had been many years in the service of the Lord, as he himself acknowledged; About the same time was Iulianus put to death at Rome, in whose time the Christians were accused for ha∣ving a Fleshly conversion one with another, which he marked to be Lyes by their willingness to Die, and thereby he coming to be Converted, * 1.5 became an Eminent Teacher of the Christians.

At Lyons in France did there go forth a Pro∣clamation, That the Christians might not dwell in their Houses, nor that they must not converse upon the Streets, nor shew their Faces; which being Impossible for them to perform, their sufferings became exceeding great; and in the mean time some of the Slaves gave out that the Christians lived in filthy Lasciviousness among themselves: In this Persecution there was one Lucius put to Death, for reproving the Judge for puting the Christians to crueller Deaths then any other Transgressors.

Note, Though the true Christians now are Vilified and Falsly accused by Anti-Christians as the ancient Christians were in former Ages, yet wise men can see their Innocency, and there∣fore do they love them in their Hearts, and some time some have been Convinced, by beholding the Patience, Long-suffering, and Innecency of the Innocent in these latter days: who now some time do suffer the loss of their Liberty, and the spoyling of their Gods, if not Banishment, either by vertue of Proclamations, or of Decrees, or of corrupt Laws, which true Christians now can * 1.6 no more observe and obey, then the antient Christians observed the aforesaid Preclamation of the King; and this hath been evident, that sundry of the true Christiant in these later days have died in Prison [as some did in the afore∣said Persecution] where they-Sealed their Testi∣mony with their Blood, as many have done be∣fore them: And sometimes it hath hapened that Affliction hath been added to the Bonds of some of the true Christians, when they have

told a Judge or an Inferior Officer, that Male∣factors have had more freedom and liberty then they, and more favour shewn them, by such as were in place of Trust; and this hath been manifest enough in many parts of the Na∣tion as is well knowd to many.

The Fifth Persecution.

IN the year 201. did the fifth Persecution be∣gin under the Emperor Severus, which was * 1.7 hence in part occasioned (to wit) when the Em∣peror had a War, and had gotten the Victory, the Christians kept themselves Still, without making tokens of Joy, with Fires or May-polls, or other Triumphs, according to the manner of the Heathen: Whereupon they accused the Christians out of Envy, as if they had despised and hated the Emperour, and the rather, because the Christians would not Swear by his Fortune: Again, they reported that the Christians blew out their Candles in their Meeting in the Even∣ings, and that they did behave themselves un∣seemly one towards another, so that the Chri∣stians were despised of (almost) all: Something to this purpose Tertullian rehearseth, saying, * 1.8 The Heathen accused the Christians of Meeting together to Sacrifice a Child, and after they had taken away his Life in a Barbarous Super∣stition, that then they committed Incest, (i. e. Carnal knowledge betwixt near Kindred) they al∣so added, That the Christians had Doggs which served to overthrow the Candles, and loosing all

shame in taking the Lights from them, and co∣vering their Actions under the vaile of Dark∣ness, Emboldened them to seek the use of Un∣godly and Sacrilegious (i. e. Abominable) plea∣sures.

Again, (said he) The Christians were accu∣sed of Sacriledge, (i. e. an abusing of Sacraments or Holy Misteryes) for they did not Solemnize with the Heathen the days they Feasted on in Honour to the Emperours with all kind of Beastly Ceremonies, Repugnant (i. e. contrary) to the Christians Modesty, Chastity, and Pu∣rity.

In those days it was a manner among the Christians not to go to any Comedies or Stage-Plays, * 1.9 for they understood, that if they did for∣sake the Devil and all his Works, with the World, that then they must forsake Comedies and Stage-plays: Moreover the Christians said, We re∣nounce (i. e. resign or refuse) your Shews, as we condemn their divers Originals by the know∣ledge we have, that they are effects of Supersti∣tion and Idolatry, &c.

Note. Doth it not from hence plainly appear, that the Tokens of Triumph which are used by Anti-Christians in England, are Heathenish In∣ventions and Traditions, in which many have been found of late who profess themselves to be Christians: Did not many of our English People [who glory so much of Christianity] make Bone-fires [so called] set up May-poles, and In, and With such like Heathenish Inven∣tions, * 1.10 Tryumph when the King was Proclai∣med, when he came to London, and when he

was Crowned? And did not then the true Chri∣stians that Feared the Lord, keep themselves Still and Quiet, like unto the antient Christians? And were not they judged to be Enemies to the King, and Despisers of him, because they did not run with the Multitude to the like ex∣cess of Vanity: But renounced their Idolatrous Superstitious Shewes, which many did not only produce upon the times before mentioned, but which are produced by Popishly affected Anti-christians upon their Popish Holy [but rather Prophane] Days: and upon their Mayor Days, even like unto the Heathen, whose manner was to set forth such vain Shews upon the days on which they Feasted, in whose practise the Anti-Christians are now found, who also are offen∣ded as the Heathen were, when they that fear the Lord do not observe their days and times, which they, or the Heathen have appointed to be Solemnized, which sometime they spend in Voluptuousness, Fulness, and Excess, with all kind of Beastly Ceremonies, (as Tertullian well calls them) which are now indeed as disagree∣ing and contrary to Christians Modesty, Chastity, and Purity, as the Ceremonies were, which the Heathen joyned the Christians to observe.

Moreover the true Christians have been the rather supposed to be Evilly affected to the KING, and to be despisers of him, because they can no more take the Oaths of Allegance (i. e. Obedience of a Subject to his Prince) and Supremay (i. e. chief Authority) then the Christi∣ans heretofore could swear by the Emperours Fortune, for the true Christians now are of Ba∣silides

mind, who said, It did not become him * 1.11 to swear, because he was a Christian, neither would it become them now to do that which their Lord and Master hath forbid, who said, Swear not at all.

Again, Have not the true Christians been also upbraided with such false Accusations, as if they put out their Candles and did behave themselves uncivilly in the Evening Meetings; but let such as have thus falsly accused them see in whose steps and practise they are found.

Moreover it appears, that it was the pra∣ctise of the Heathen to have Comedies, or Stage-Playes, but the Christians manner then, was not to go to them, and behold it is not the man∣ner now of Antichristians to have Comedies, but the manner of the good Christians is not to come at them, except it be to bear a Testimony a∣gainst them; wherefore may not even little Chil∣dren judge, that they who have their Comedies for their pastime, at set times and appointed places that such are in the nature and practise of the Heathen, who derided the Christians and said; Their pleasures were not the Christians, * 1.12 and therefore they had Reason to reject the things which pleased them as they said: even as Anti-Christians now reject Piety and God∣liness which pleaseth the true Christians, who have pleasure in the Lord, and not in Unrighte∣ousness, in which the Apostatized Christians now take pleasure, as the Heathen herefore have done.

The Sixth Persecution.

IN the year 237. did the Sixth Persecution un∣der the Emperour Maximinus arise, who partly out of Envy to his Kinsman Alexander (who had been favourable to the Christians) did persecute the Christians: In which perse∣cution there were many put to death; For the Heathen in those days were so spiteful against the Christians, that when there was an Earth-Quake, or a storm, or the like, they laid the blame upon the Christians, saying, Their Gods * 1.13 were Angry, because their Honour went to no∣thing through the Christians; This Emperour did not Raign very long, therefore did this Per∣secution cease the sooner.

Note. The same spirit of Envy which was in the Heathen, hath often appeared in the Anti-Christians, against the true Christians in these latter days, who have boren a faithful Testi∣mony against the vain Honour of false Christi∣ans, which must be brought to nothing by the Power and People of God, even as the Honour of the Gods, of the Heathen was brought to no∣thing, by the Antient-Christians, who could not bow to the Gods of the Heathen, no more then the true Christians now, can bow to the corrupt wills of Ambitious and unreasonable men, and though the Innocent suffer therefore for the present, yet for their sakes, will the Lord shorten the days of the Wicked, as he did the days of that Persecuting Emperour.

The Seventh Persecution.

IN the year 253. did the Seventh Persecution arise under the Emperour Decius, who with Excessive Cruelty did Persecute the Christians, In this Persecution several of the Bishops were put to death and such as were the chief among the Christians did they torture with many Tor∣ments, and the Houses of the Christians they Plun∣dred, and that which the Plunderers did not esteem that they burned; In this Persecution many suffer∣ed Martyrdom, some being Burned, some Behead∣ed (Women so well as Men) some being whipt to death, and some Souldiers (for Incouraging these Martyrs in their Suffering) were put to death; In this Terrible Persecution several de∣parted from the Faith for fear of the Torments, * 1.14 yet afterwards came to be restored again, the Suffering of the Christians was great under this Emperour, but his days were also shortened, for he had not Raigned two years but was caught in a Whag of Mire, where he met with a check or Reproof for his cruelty.

Note. Thus it appears that the Christians that lived Godly in Christ-Iesus, suffered Persecution, according to what the Apostle hath said; 2 Tim. 3, 12. And many now that live Godly and Righteously do suffer not only the Imprisonment of their Bodies, but also the Spoyling of their Goods, which have been Spoyled both by Priests and People, who have sometime (as it were) Plundred their Houses for their dishonest gain, and they have shewed themselves in their car∣riage

and behaviour to be liker unto the Hea∣then then the suffering Christians; who suffer∣ed their Houses to be Plundred, but we do not Read that they then Plundred the Houses of any, but with patience suffered the Plundring of their Goods, and in this patience and long Suffering are the Christians (that are so not in Name on∣ly, but in Nature) found, in these Perillous times.

Again, have not some Souldiers been turned out of their places, yea and brought into suffer∣ing for countenancing and favouring the Sober, Innocent, true Christians, among whom some for fear of Suffering, may in some respect desert the Truth, as some faithless ones among the ancient Christians did; yet we know certainly there are a Remnant that cannot bow their knee to Baall, but would chuse rather to die the death which many ancient Christians suffered, then they will forsake the Lords Truth, or Transgress his Righteous Law, by breaking his commands.

The Eighth Persecution.

IN the year 259. did the eighth Persecution arise under the Emperour Valerianus, who put forth a Proclamation against the Christians, wherein he forbad their Meetings, and when this Proclamation or Order was not observed, then did there follow a great Persecution of the Christians, in which there was very many put to death, and some were Banished, and they

converted of the Heathen in the place to which they were Banished; but the Emperour under whom the Christians thus suffered, did not go unreproved for his cruelty, for he was taken Prisoner by the King of Persia, who made use of him for a Foot-stool when he got up upon his Horse, &c.

Note. Hath it not happned so in England, that by the Kings Proclamation the Meetings of the true Christians have been forbidden? And when that, they observed the Kings Proclamation no more then the antient Christians observed the Emperours; hath not a great Persecution fol∣lowed? have not many of the Prisons he silled with them, partly because they could not Swear, and partly because they continved their Meet∣ings, when they were forbidden by the Kings Proclamation, as the Religion of the Christians * 1.15 was forbidden by the Laws of the Heathen; and therefore did the Heathen with much rigour pronounce these words unto the Christians, Your Religion is forbidden by the Laws &c. And did not Anti-christians the like, when they abu∣sed them in their Meetings, and broke them up with much Violence; did they not also pro∣nounce these words with much Rigour, Your Meetings are forbidden by the Kings Proclama∣tion, &c.

And forasmuch as the true Christians now have chused rather to suffer Bonds and Impri∣sonment, yea the spoyling of their Goods, and what not? then they would renounce the Faith, deny their Religion, or forsak the Assembling of themselves together; it doth therefore ap∣pear

that the same mind is found in them now, which was heretofore in the antient Christians, who chused rather to suffer the loss of their Lives, then to forsake him, for whose cause they suffered; yet we see their Persecutors did not always go unreproved; Oh! that other Kings, Princes, and Magistrates, would take warning from that which happened to these Persecuting Emperours.

The Ninth Persecution.

IN the year 273. did the ninth Persecution arise under the Emperour Aurelianus, but this Persecution was not so great as the other, because he was cut off by death soon after he had determined the same: yet in this Persecuti∣on was Felix the Bishop of Rome put to Death, with several others here and there in divers places.

Note. Often doth the Lord frustate the pur∣poses, and Determinations of such as conspire Mischief against his People, yea have we not seen sundry Powers overturned in England, and Parliments broken up, and Councels (if not Com∣mittees also) shattered to pieces, when they have been determined to do Wickedly? so that some∣time they have not had power to bring that forth which they had Conceived and brought to the Birth, so mightily hath the Lord con∣founded their Conspiracies and brought their de∣vices to nought, and this the true Christians have concluded to be the Lords doing, which

they have beheld, and which thing hath been indeed marvelous in their Eyes.

The Tenth Persecution.

IN the year 302. begun the Tenth Persecuti∣on, which was so great, that it exceeded all that had been before it, not only in cruelty, but in continuance, for it continued 12 Years, Eusebius (who lived at that time) Writes of it at large in his Eclesiastical History; saying, it was occasioned through the freedom of the Christians, who were come into great Reputa∣tion, and were put in places of Office, to Rule in Countrys and Cities, but through their pros∣perity and voluptuousness, Brotherly Love came to decrease, Haughtyness and Pride got up, and in stead of the worship of God, an insolent au∣thority begun to get up in the Church of the Christians; And at that time the Emperour Diocletianus gave forth a Proclamation, wherein he commanded that all the Christian Churches should be pulled down, and the Holy Scriptures Burned, and that the Christians should be tur∣ned out of their places, with other such like things.

After that there came another Order that they should cause the chief of of the Church to offer unto Idols, or else they were to be put to death, then did they begin to Rack, Torture, and put to death such as resisted, and some were constrained to offer.

This Persecution hegun as a little sparke,

but it spread over the whole Church, and the Persecution was so hot and great that the Per∣secutors themselves were troubled if not wear∣yed; In Syria there was so many of the Chri∣tians in hold that their Prisons were filled with * 1.16 them, and with joy they went unbound to their death,

Eusebius Writes how that many of the Chri∣stians had their Ears cut off, and their Noses slit, and other of their Members were cut off also, but they who caused it to be thus done unto the Christians, did not escape the Hand of the Lord, For Diocletianus who had endeavoured to root out the Name of Christians, did never∣theless see in his Old Age that the Christians flourished, at which he was troubled and killed himself; and Maximinianus another Persecutor, was terribly perplexed with Pain in his Bowels and other Misery which came upon him, the Hand of the Lord was heavy upon others, who had Persecuted the Christians, yea and some was made to confess that they had deserved the Iudgement from the Hand of the Lord.

Note. As the Christians were then much prejudiced by their external Prosperity, and Preferment, so have many Thousands been Since; And (it's like) the most of the Sects that are yet in being among the Christians may experience somthing of this (to wit) that their great external liberty, and Prosperity in the flesh, with their Promotion and Preferment in the World hath been a great Snare unto them, as it was unto the Antient Christians, who afterwards felt the Chastizing hand of the

Lord, and if all wanton Persecuting Christians in Europe and all the World over felt the same, it might (I am perswaded) be good for the humbling of them, who have exalted themselves higher then ever the Lord exalted them; and so are become Haughty and insolent, the Bro∣therly Love being Extinguished, and so have set up an Usurpation of Authority in matters of Religion, concerning the Worship of God; But Oh, will not the Lord visit for these things, will he not avenge his Soul of such Hypocritical Anti Christians, who are now found Persecu∣ting and shamefully intreating the Lambs of God, with whom in those latter days Prisons have been filled, and some of them have had their Ears cut off, and the Lives of others have been taken away, and that by professing [but Persecuting] Christians who have run on in their Blind Zeal in Persecuting the Innocent and Harmless Christians; and sometime the remakeable hand of the Lord hath been up∣on their Persecutors, though others have not laid it to Heart, yet they that have felt it, have Mourned under it, and therefore true is that saying.

Qui ante non cavet, post dolebit

The Eleventh Persecution.

IN the year 316 did the Eleventh Persecution of the Christians arise, under the Emperour Licinius; who formerly had been inclining to the Christians and a favourer of them, yet af∣terwards

did he Imitate the Wickedness and Impiety of other Tyrants, for he by his Injun∣ctions gave Commandment, that no Charrity should be extended to the Christians, for they that shewed them favour were to be Punished like the rest. In this Persecution the Bodies of some were cut in small pieces and thrown into the Sea, for to feed the Fish: And the flattering Presidents to gratify this Tyrant Tormented such as had done no Evil, even as if they had been Murtherers, but when the Emperour Constantine could bear his Wickedness no longer he made War with him and overcame him, then did this Persecution cease, by whose means also the Christians lived in External Peace and * 1.17 Tranquillity, but after this Peace there ensued Wars and deadly hatred among the Christians themselves.

Note. Many were the Tribulations of the Antient Christians, during the time of these Persecutions whereof I writ, howbeit it is very like that then true Brotherly Love abounded among them, and that they had a perfect fellow feeling of one anothers Sufferings, for their Hearts was bound up in the bond of Love, while they were kept in the unity of the Faith, and exercised together in the fellowship of the sufferings of the Gospel; But when these pro∣fitable Chastizments ceased, and that they who succeeded in the places of those Persecutors be∣came the great Friends and Favourers of the Christians, so that they thereby came to enjoy external Peace, ease in the Flesh, and liberty in the outward; How soon then did they En∣tertain

Prejudice and Evil, surmizing one a∣gainst another, how then did they begin to rend and tear one another, and that often about their * 1.18 Bishopricks, an Benefects? How then did they run into Sects, heaps, and Partys, and how did they weary the Emperour [their special Friend] with their complaints one against ano∣ther, and with the perpetul strife, and di∣vision that superabounded among them? To demonstrate these things at large, would require. a greater Volum then I intend to make at this time, and particularly to prescribe them would ask more time then at present I have to spend about this matter, yet thus much I may avouch or boldly affirm, that in those days many evils crept in among Christians, which unto this day could not be totally excluded root and Branch; And about that very time when the Church was thought to Flourish most of all, did many hurt∣ful Weeds and degenerat Plants took rooting, which have much more thriven and grown a∣mong the Anti-Christians, then the Seed of the Kingdom, which Seed hath been so overgrown and overtopt, that, that little which yet there∣of remains, is as hard to be found now in the * 1.19 Children of Men, as Faith wili be to be found upon the Earth at the coming of the Son of Man.

The Twelfth Persecution.

IN the year 362 did the Twelfth Persecution arise under the Emperour Julianus the Apo∣state

(i. e. one that revolted from true Religion who had been accounted a Christian, but was an Hyprocritical dissembler, and counterfeated a Monkish life, who being sent into France by the Emperour to make War with the Bar∣barians, and obtaining some notable Victo∣ries was afterwards Proclaimed Emperour by the Souldiers, and then did he set wide open the Temples and Idoll groves, and Sacrificed to Pictures and Intituled himself an High Priest.

Then the Pagans at Alexandria stomaked the Christians, and that the more, because they went about to disclose unto the World the Pa∣gans Pictures, to the end their fond Ceremonies might be derided of all Men: Whereupon they Boyled within themselves for Anger, and took what first came to their Hands, set upon them; * 1.20 and Slew of them every kind of way, so that some were run through with Swords, some o∣thers Brained with Clubs, other some Stoned to Death, some Strangled with Haltors about their Necks; in the end (as commonly it fal∣leth out in such hurly-burlies) they held not their Hands from their dearest Friends (for one Brother sought the other Brothers. Life, one Friend fell upon another, yea the Parents put their Children to death, and to be short, the one cut the others Throat.

Moreover the Emperour Julianus gave out a Proclamation, that such as would not renounce the Christian Faith mould Warfare no longer in the Emperours Palace, likewise that all should prepare themselves to Sacrifice, and that no Christian should bear office in the common * 1.21

Wealth; For their Law (saith he) forbideth the use of the Sword unto such as deserved death, and therefore they are not fit to be Magistrates.

Afterwards he devised a certain slight to wring Money from the Christians, for he set a great fine upon the Heads of such as would not Sacrifice, and the Tax was very grievous and duly demanded of the Christians; Then did the Heathen insult over the Christians, and the Governours of Provinces, suposing now that it was High Tyde for them under colour of the Emperours Religion to make up their Bagges, vexed the Christians far sorer then the Emper∣ours * 1.22 Proclamation bore them out, demanded greater Tax then they were sessed at, and some time Tormented their Bodys.

The Emperour understanding of their doings winked at them, and answered the Christians, which complained unto him in this sort, it is your part when you have injuries offered unto you, to take the same patiently, for so your God com∣manded you.

The Emperour made a Law that the Chri∣stians should not be trained up in prophane Li∣terature (i. e. learning, or cunning, Grammer Writing) for (saith he) seeing they have the gift of utterance so readily, they shall easely be able to overthrow the quirks of Logick where∣with the Gentills (i. e. Heathen) do uphold their Doctrine &c.

Note. As this Apostatized Emperour Julia∣nus exceeded many of his Predecessors in Sub∣tilty and Wickedness, even so have many Apo∣statized

professing Christians, exceeded the common sort of Ignorat People in Hypocrisie and Craftiness, in Deceipt and Spiritual Wick∣edness, so that the Sufferings of the true Chri∣stians have been very great under such, as they were, under this Emperour Iulianus, and as theirs are at this present; whose Sufferings are augmented oftentimes through the Covetousness and Cruelty of Inferiour Magistrates, whose Wickedness now is not only wincked and con∣nived at, but Tollerated and Countenanced by their Superiors: Hath not this been appearent * 1.23 enough at sundry times in Englland, where the chief Officers have been privy to the unjust and illegal proceedings of their under Officers, and yet they have passed it by, as if it had not been worthy of Reproof; in the mean time the Innocent, Harmless and true Christians they have suffered the spoyling of their Goods, and that because they would not Swear, nor Pay Tythes to an Hireling Priest, nor be conform∣able to the National way of Worship for Consci∣ence sake, no more then the antient Christians could Sacrifice, or Uphold the Worship of the Heathenish Gods, for the refusing of which they suffered as before mentioned, but it was indeed by and under the Heathen, who did nei∣ther owne nor profess the Doctrine of Christ, like as the antient Christians doe, who in many things are found as much out of it, as the Hea∣then were, and so consequently rather in the practise of the Heathen, then in his Doctrine, who said, Love your Enemies, Bless them that Curse you, do good to them that hate you, and

Pray for them which Dispitefully use and Perse∣cute you. Math. 5. 44. But this Doctrine is lit∣tle more regarded by some Anti-Christians, then by the Heathen themselves, whose manner was to uphold their Doctrine by quirks of Logick, even as the Priests do now, for when they can∣not * 1.24 uphold their Doctrine, and maintain their Religion by Spiritual Weapons, then will they betake themselves unto their quirks of Logick, and when they are Insufficient for them, then do they ordinarly make their addresses unto them in Authority, for to crave their help and assistance, but this was not the practise of the ancient Christians, neither is it the matter of the true Christians now, but the custom of the Anti-Christians, who are found in the practise of the Heathen.

I have read, how that when the Nicene Coun∣sel was Sommoned, which consisted of above three hundred Bishops, besides the Priests, Dea∣cons and others which were heard to be num∣bered, the Logicians busied themselves, pro∣pounding against divers others certain pream∣bles of Disputation, and when divers were there drawn to disptuation, and allured as it were by bait; a Lay-man (that is not one of the Clergy, who was of a simple and sincere mind, set himself against the Logitians, and told them * 1.25 thus in plain words, That neither Christ nor his Apostles had delivered unto us the Art of Logick, neither vain Falacies (i. e. crafty devises) but an * 1.26 open and plain mind to be preserved of us with Faith and good Works. Afterwards the Logitians quieted themselves and held with his Sentence, Logick.

Note. Thus we see that this Art of Logick (in which the Heathens were very expert, and by the quirks of which they upheld their Do∣ctrine was not approved of by all the ancient Christians, tho is begun to creep in amongst them when they Appostized, but by some it was testified against then, as it is now, by the true Christians, who are in the life and power of Godliness, which was before this Sophiestical and deceitful Art was, by the quirks of which, Persecutors have upheld their Doctrine, and by the quirks of it, Persecutors do uphold their Doctrine; but so did not Christ, nor his Apostles, nor the ancient suffering Christians, neither doth the true Christians now, who a∣bide in the Light and Doctrine of their Lord and Master, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, blessed for ever more.

The Histories do relate, that in these twelve Persecutions which were against the Christian Church, the Blood of about five hundred thou∣sand was shed; and that among all these that Suffered, there was not one that by Weapons revenged himself, but patience was their Ar∣mour, and thereby did they conquer the seve∣rity of the Emperours: Relig. Vryh. Lib. 1. Fol. 198.

Note. Therefore such Christians now as suf∣fer patiently for Righteousnes sake, without re∣sisting or revenging themselves by violence with carnal Weapons, are rather found in the Spirit and Practise of the ancient Christians, then re∣vengeful persecuting men, who are commonly called Christians, yet do not only do wrong to

their Brethren and Fellow Creatures, but are also found revenging themselves of the wrong done unto them by others, contrary to the Do∣ctrine of the Apostle, and contrary to the Pra∣ctise of the ancient Christians, in which Do∣ctrine and Practise the true Christians are found.

Thus have I very briefly run through these twelve remarkable Persecutions which were Sustained by the Antient Christians under the Heathen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Baron. 66 num. 1.
• * 1.2

  Origen Lib. 13.
• * 1.3

  Christians. now vili∣fied as for∣merly.
• * 1.4

  Baron. An. 164. Num. 2.
• * 1.5

  Euseb. l. 4. c. 16.
• * 1.6

  Christians no•…•… are in the same mind as formerly.
• * 1.7

  Baron. An. 100. Num 2.
• * 1.8

  Tertul. 30. pag. 127.
• * 1.9

  The anti∣ent Chri∣stians would not go to any Ceremo∣nies.
• * 1.10

  Heathnish inventi∣ons.
• * 1.11

  Euseb. l. 6. ch. 4.
• * 1.12

  The Hea∣thens plea∣sures were not the Christians
• * 1.13

  The Honour of the Gods decayed.
• * 1.14

  How some fell from the Faith, in the time of Tryal.
• * 1.15

  Tertul. Apol. pa. 19.
• * 1.16

  Prisons fill'd with Christians
• * 1.17

  Socra. 1. l. ch. 2.
• * 1.18

  How evils crep in a∣mongst the Chr∣stians.
• * 1.19

  Luke 18. 8.
• * 1.20

  Socrat. l. 3 c. 2.
• * 1.21

  thap. 11.
• * 1.22

  chap. 12
• * 1.23

  How the Wickedness of Officers was Tolle∣rated.
• * 1.24

  How the Priests help them∣selves with the Quirks of Logick.
• * 1.25

  Socrat. li. 1. c. 5.
• * 1.26

  Christ nor his Apo∣stles the Author of Logick.