Pansebeia, or, A view of all religions in the world with the severall church-governments from the creation, to these times : also, a discovery of all known heresies in all ages and places, and choice observations and reflections throughout the whole / by Alexander Ross.

The Authours Preface, TO THE READER

THE doctrine of the ANA∣BAPTISTS, Courte∣ous Reader, to give it thee in a single expression, is nothing but lying and deceit. Thou haply thinkest them a sort of people divinely inspired, and Prophets: Thou art deceived. They are false Prophets and false Teachers, as being a contagion, than which hell it self hath not vomited up a more dangerous since the beginning of the world. For I do not think it can be easily demonstrated, what other mischief could have reduced not only the Ne∣therlands, but almost all Germany, into so great calamity and devastation. When I more narrowly look into the Heresy of these men, I confesse I am puzzel'd to find a name for the Monster, but what its aimes are, I may haply gesse.

Its first part speaks a Lyon, its last •• Dragon, the middle a pure chim••ra.

I call it a Monster, and I may adde the most monstrous that ever was, as having in it the Ingredients of all formerly condemned Sects. Which when I consider, me thinkes all the anci∣ent

Hereticks, such as Nicholas Antioche∣nus, the Gnosticks, the Valentinians, Noetians, Sabellians, Patropassians, Par∣menians, present themselves anew out of Hell to me. So that I can make no other judgement of THOMAS MUNTZER, that Authour and Raiser of a most pernicious Sect, then that he hath r••-trected the Standards of all former heresies. But that it may not be said, as in the Proverb, that Affrick alwayes furnishes us with Novelties, he also with his desperate di∣sciples, hath sacrilegiously attempted to ad∣vance some altogether new and unheard of opi∣nions, whereof who shall say that what is MADE is GOOD, must be very ex∣travagant. Out of these, have they resolved and decreed, that children till they come to age, are only Catech••••meni, and ought not to be clad with the robe of holy Baptisme. Out of these, have they declared a commu∣nity of all things. Out of these, teach to disho∣nour and discard Magistrates, who are the living ectypes of God, while in the mean time they themselves aspire to Soveraignty, and would be accounted Potentates, when they are indeed the wickedst among men; Dissemblers, Cheats, Hypocrites, Novators, or Advancers of No∣velties, and the subtle generation of the old Viper Novatus. Which said Novatus, if I display in the colours wherein the holy Father and Martyr Cyprian sets him forth, discreet men shall be my Iudges, whether I have not hit the mark, and the same description most fitly suites the greatest par•• of the Proselytes of

Muntzer. As concerning Novatus (sayes that Ornament of his Carthage, lib. 11. Epist. 8. to Cornelius then Bishop of Rome) We needed not any relations to be sent to us of him, since that from us you were to expect a more par∣ticular account of Novatus, a man that is a constant Advancer of novelties, of an insatiable avarice, furious in his ra∣pines, blowne up with arrogancie and pride, even to astonishment; a man not admitting any good understanding with the Bishops: the end of his curi∣osity is to betray, of his flattery to sur∣prise, his love is dogg'd by his infide∣lity, he is the fuell and fire-brand that heightens the combustions of sedition, and the hurrican and tempest which causes the shipwrack of Faith, an opposer of Tranquility, and an enemy to peace. These were his thoughts of No∣vatus, which what wise man but will allow us to attribute to our Novators? Certainly, if John that Botcher of Lei∣den, the ulcer and deformity of that gal∣lant City, were to be drawne in his own co∣lours, we need borrow them no where else. You therefore, Orthodox Doctors, reduce those erroneous and miserably seduced men, which yet are so, into the way of Truth, Deliver them, I beseech you out of this phrensy, and omit no opportunities which may help to recover them out of this imaginary disease to which they are so accustomed.

This shall be your reward, this is the prize you shall obtaine. Him that overcometh, will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God, and I will write upon him the name of my God, &c. Revel 3. 12.