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.

Section 2.

How the Christians Societies were called Factious, how unprofitable they were judged to be in Commerce, who could gain nothing from them, how they renounced the Hea∣thenish superstitions in peril of their lives, &c.

THe Societies of the Christians were called factious * 1.1 (i. e. troublesom or contentious) but saith Tertullian to such as called them so, tell me, did we ever Assemble to procure the hurt of any one; as we are in the particular, so we are in the ge∣neral, that is to say, in whatsoever State we are found, we offended no body, we injure no body: And farther saith he, when any vertuous or godly people are associated, when any Pious or chast persons Assemble together, their union should not be called a faction, but a lawful society, page 142.

Are not the Societies of the true Christians called Factious at this day also? because they * 1.2 worship God in the Spirit, and meet at places distinct from the common ordinary places of the National worship, though they by their peaceable Assembling procure the hurt of none now, no more then the Antient Christians heretofore did.

The Heathen cryed out against the Christians, * 1.3 and said, they were not any way profitable in Com∣merce (i. e. entercourse, or marchandise) of the world: Yet Tertullian saith, neither were they without their publick places, their Markets, their Shops, their Inns, &c. pag. 150.

Have not the true Christian in like manner * 1.4 been upbraded, when they have been diligent in their places in the Creation, and have fre∣quented both Faires and Markets, &c. about their lawful Callings; for their Religion did * 1.5 not separate them from their ordinary and lawful Commerce, but from the superfluity of needless and frivolous words, and from the de∣ceit therein; though its true some have laid aside that kind of Commerce in the world, which was neither useful to God, nor beneficial unto man, but prejudicial to the Creation, and it is very like the Antient Christians did the like, after their illumination and conviction.

There were certain persons that did complain of * 1.6 the Christians, as people of whom there was nothing to be gained for them, but they were such saith Tertullian, as were infamous corrupters of chastity, who meddled with giving Poyson, and Magicians (i. e. Conjurers) and finally Southsayers, Diviners, and Astrologers, to whom it is very profitable in this life to be unuseful, saith Tertull. p. 152, 153.

Some such like men have of late als•…•… accused * 1.7 the true Christians, together with Taverren and Alehouse-keepers, Musitioners and Stage players, with some sort of Shop-keepers, that have sould Gold, and Silver-lace, with Jewels, Pearles, Rings and Ribbins, with such other unnecessary Toys, such like men, with the Priestly Merchants of Babilon, may in part com∣plain so well as Southsayers and Astrologers, of the true Christians now, as some such heretofore among the Heathen have done, of the Antient Christians: But most commonly they that do

complain of them without a cause, are infamous corrupters of chastity, who are adicted to speak evil of dignities.

The Heathen tollerated the Sects of the Phi∣losophers * 1.8 without punishing of them, but the Chri∣stians Doctrine which they published was forbid by the Laws, and they were exposed to all sorts of pu∣nishments; But the Philosophers were not so forced to sacrifice, to swear by their Gods, and light Can∣dles at noon, which things were imposed upon the Christians as necessary, which they refused on peril of their lives. page 158.

It is well known in the Nation of England, * 1.9 how that the Christian-Quakers have been much more restrained of their Liberty then other Sects, and their Doctrine hath been more pro∣hibited by the Laws of the Land then others, which have been much more pernitious, never∣theless it hath been tollerated if not upheld by a Law; when that the true Christians have been exposed to grievous punishment, and o∣thers that have been guilty have gone free: Yea have not many observed how their ad∣versaries have endeavoured to force them to come to their places of Worship and likewise to take the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy, which have been hard imposed upon them, and which they have refused on peril of being shut out of the Kings protection, and of forfeiting their Estates, Goods and Chattels unto him, yet others are connived at as the Philosophers were by the Heathen, and in the mean time the true Christians are exposed to sundry sorts of pu∣nishments, as the Antient Christians were by the Heathen,

Some said that even among the Christians there * 1.10 were a people, that gave themselves the liberty of doing evil; but said Tertullian so soon as they fall into this disorder, we own them no more for Chri∣stians. pag. 162.

With the like thing have the true Christians * 1.11 been upbraded in these latter days by many, who have cast the failings and disorder of the unfaithful and disorderly upon the innocent, who have no more approved of their evil, then the Antient Christians did of the disorder of the disorderly among them, whom they did not judge worthy of the name; which at this day is not a little dishonoured by the life and conversation of Antichristians, who until this pre∣sent, have retained the Name, but are wholly degenerated from the nature, as their fruits do abundantly declare.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Tertull.
• * 1.2

  Parallel.
• * 1.3

  Pertull.
• * 1.4

  Parallel.
• * 1.5

  Nota.
• * 1.6

  Tertull.
• * 1.7

  Parallel.
• * 1.8

  Tertull.
• * 1.9

  Parallel.
• * 1.10

  Tertull.
• * 1.11

  Parallel.