A Seasonable discourse shewing the unreasonableness and mischeifs [sic] of impositions in matters of religion recommended to serious consideration / by a learned pen.
      
       
         
           1687
        
      
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             A Seasonable discourse shewing the unreasonableness and mischeifs [sic] of impositions in matters of religion recommended to serious consideration / by a learned pen.
             Learned pen.
          
           38 p.
           
             Printed and are to be sold by R. Baldwin,
             London :
             1687.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Freedom of religion -- Great Britain.
           Church and state -- Great Britain.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           
             Seasonable
             Discourse
          
           ,
           Shewing
           the
           Unreasonableness
           and
           Mischeifs
           OF
           IMPOSITIONS
           In
           Matters
           of
           RELIGION
           ,
           Recommended
           to
           Serious
           Consideration
           .
        
         
           By
           a
           Learned
           Pen.
           
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           and
           are
           to
           be
           Sold
           by
           
             R.
             Baldwin
          
           .
           1687.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           SEASONABLE
           DISCOURSE
        
         
           THE
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           as
           first
           Instituted
           by
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           ,
           was
           the
           greatest
           security
           to
           Magistrates
           by
           the
           Obedience
           which
           it
           taught
           ,
           and
           was
           fitted
           to
           enjoy
           no
           less
           security
           under
           them
           by
           a
           Practice
           conformable
           to
           that
           Doctrine
           .
           For
           our
           Saviour
           himself
           ,
           not
           pretending
           to
           an
           Earthly
           Kingdom
           ,
           took
           such
           case
           therefore
           to
           instruct
           his
           Followers
           in
           the
           due
           Subjection
           to
           Governors
           ;
           that
           ,
           while
           they
           observed
           his
           Precepts
           ,
           they
           could
           neither
           fall
           under
           any
           Jealousy
           of
           State
           as
           an
           ambitious
           and
           dangerous
           Party
           ,
           nor
           ,
           as
           Malefactors
           upon
           any
           other
           account
           ,
           deserve
           to
           suffer
           under
           the
           Publick
           Severity
           :
           So
           that
           in
           this
           only
           it
           could
           seem
           pernicious
           to
           Goverment
           ,
           that
           Christanity
           ,
           if
           rightly
           exercised
           upon
           its
           own
           Principles
           ,
           would
           render
           all
           Magistracy
           useless
           .
           But
           although
           he
           ,
           
             who
             was
             Lord
             of
             all
             ,
             and
             to
             whom
             all
             Power
             was
             given
             beth
             in
             Heaven
             and
             in
             Earth
             ,
             was
          
           nevertheless
           contented
           to
           come
           in
           the
           form
           of
           a
           Servant
           ,
           and
           to
           let
           the
           Emperors
           and
           Princes
           of
           the
           World
           alone
           with
           the
           use
           of
           their
           Dominions
           ;
           he
           thought
           it
           good
           reason
           to
           retain
           his
           Religion
           under
           his
           own
           cognizance
           ,
           and
           exempt
           its
           Authority
           from
           their
           Jurisdiction
           .
           In
           this
           alone
           he
           was
           imperious
           ,
           and
           did
           not
           only
           practise
           it
           himself
           against
           the
           Laws
           and
           Customs
           then
           received
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           face
           of
           the
           Magistrate
           ;
           but
           continually
           seasoned
           and
           hardned
           his
           Disciples
           in
           the
           same
           confidence
           and
           obstinacy
           .
           He
           tells
           them
           ,
           
             They
             shall
             be
             brought
             before
             Kings
             and
             Governours
             for
             his
             Name
             ,
          
           but
           sear
           them
           not
           ,
           he
           will
           be
           with
           them
           ,
           bear
           them
           out
           ,
           and
           justify
           it
           against
           all
           Opposition
           .
           Nor
           that
           he
           allowed
           them
           hereby
           to
           violate
           their
           Duty
           to
           the
           Puplick
           ,
           by
           any
           resistance
           in
           defiance
           of
           the
           Magistracy
           ;
           but
           he
           instructed
           and
           animated
           them
           in
           their
           Duty
           to
           God
           ,
           in
           dispight
           of
           Suffering
           .
        
         
           In
           this
           manner
           Christanity
           did
           at
           first
           set
           out
           ,
           and
           accordingly
           found
           reception
           .
           For
           although
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           ,
           
             having
             fulfilled
             all
             Righteousness
          
           ,
           and
           the
           time
           of
           his
           Ministry
           being
           compleated
           ,
           did
           by
           his
           Death
           set
           the
           Seal
           to
           his
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           shew
           the
           way
           toward
           Life
           and
           Immortality
           to
           such
           Belivers
           as
           imitate
           his
           Example
           :
           yet
           did
           not
           the
           Heathen
           Magistrate
           take
           the
           Government
           to
           be
           concerned
           in
           Point
           of
           Religion
           ,
           or
           upon
           that
           acount
           consent
           to
           his
           Execution
           .
           
             Pontious
             Pilate
          
           ,
           then
           Governour
           of
           Iudea
           ,
           though
           he
           were
           a
           Man
           unjust
           and
           cruel
           by
           Nature
           ,
           and
           served
           Tiberius
           ,
           the
           most
           tender
           ,
           
           jealous
           and
           severe
           in
           point
           of
           State
           or
           Prerogative
           ,
           of
           all
           the
           Roman
           Emperors
           ;
           though
           he
           understood
           that
           great
           multitudes
           followed
           him
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           was
           grown
           the
           Head
           of
           a
           new
           Sect
           that
           was
           never
           before
           heard
           of
           in
           the
           Nation
           ,
           yet
           did
           not
           he
           intermeddle
           .
           But
           they
           were
           the
           Men
           of
           Religion
           ,
           the
           chief
           Priests
           ,
           Scribes
           and
           Elders
           ,
           and
           the
           High
           Priest
           Caiphas
           .
           And
           yet
           ,
           altho
           they
           accused
           him
           falsly
           ,
           That
           
             he
             taught
             that
             Tribute
             was
             not
             to
             be
             given
             to
          
           Caesar
           ,
           that
           
             he
             was
             a
          
           Fifth
           Monarch
           ,
           and
           
             made
             himself
             a
             King
          
           ,
           and
           (
           as
           it
           is
           usual
           for
           some
           of
           the
           Clergy
           to
           terrifie
           the
           inferiour
           Magistrates
           out
           of
           their
           duty
           to
           Justice
           ,
           out
           of
           pretence
           of
           Loyalty
           to
           the
           Prince
           )
           threatned
           Pilate
           ,
           that
           
             if
             he
             let
             that
             Man
             go
             he
             was
             not
             
             Caesar's
             Friend
          
           ;
           he
           understanding
           
             that
             they
             did
             it
             out
             of
             Envy
             ,
          
           and
           that
           the
           Justice
           and
           Innocence
           of
           our
           Saviour
           was
           what
           they
           could
           not
           bear
           with
           ,
           would
           have
           adventured
           all
           their
           Informing
           at
           Court
           ,
           and
           first
           have
           freed
           him
           ,
           and
           then
           have
           exchanged
           him
           for
           Barrabas
           ;
           saying
           ,
           that
           
             he
             found
             no
             fault
             in
             him
             :
          
           but
           he
           was
           overborn
           at
           last
           by
           humane
           weakness
           ,
           and
           poorly
           imagined
           that
           by
           washing
           his
           own
           hands
           he
           had
           expiated
           himself
           ,
           and
           wiped
           off
           the
           Guilt
           upon
           those
           alone
           who
           were
           the
           occasion
           ,
           But
           ,
           as
           for
           Tiberius
           himself
           ,
           the
           growth
           of
           Christianity
           did
           never
           increase
           ,
           his
           cares
           of
           Empire
           at
           Rome
           ,
           nor
           trouble
           his
           sleep
           at
           Capreae
           :
           but
           he
           both
           approved
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           threatned
           the
           Informers
           with
           Death
           ;
           nor
           would
           he
           have
           staid
           there
           ,
           but
           attempted
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           way
           of
           their
           Superstition
           ,
           upon
           the
           intelligence
           from
           Pilate
           ,
           to
           have
           received
           Christ
           into
           the
           number
           of
           their
           Deities
           .
           The
           Persecution
           of
           the
           Apostles
           after
           his
           Death
           ,
           and
           Martyrdom
           of
           Stephen
           ,
           hap'ned
           not
           by
           the
           interposing
           of
           the
           Civil
           Magistrate
           in
           the
           Matter
           of
           Religion
           ,
           or
           any
           Disturbance
           occasioned
           by
           their
           Doctrines
           :
           but
           arose
           from
           the
           High
           Priest
           and
           his
           Emissaries
           ,
           by
           suborned
           Witnesses
           ,
           stirring
           up
           the
           Rabble
           in
           a
           brutish
           &
           riotous
           manner
           to
           execute
           their
           cruelty
           .
           How
           would
           the
           modern
           Clergy
           have
           taken
           &
           represented
           it
           ,
           had
           they
           lived
           in
           the
           time
           of
           St.
           
             Iohn
             Baptist
          
           ,
           and
           seen
           
             Ierusalem
             ,
             Iudaea
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             Region
             round
             about
          
           Jordan
           
             go
             out
             to
             be
             baptized
             by
             him
             !
          
           Yet
           that
           Herod
           ,
           for
           any
           thing
           we
           read
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           though
           he
           wanted
           not
           his
           Instillers
           ,
           apprehended
           no
           Commotion
           :
           and
           had
           not
           Caligula
           banished
           him
           and
           his
           Herodias
           together
           ,
           might
           in
           all
           appearance
           have
           lived
           without
           any
           change
           of
           Goverment
           .
           T
           was
           she
           that
           caused
           
           Iohn's
           imprisonment
           for
           the
           conveniency
           of
           her
           Incest
           .
           Herod
           indeed
           
             feared
             him
          
           ,
           but
           rather
           reverenced
           him
           ,
           
             as
             a
             just
             Man
             and
             an
             holy
             ,
             observed
             him
             ,
             and
             when
             he
             heard
             him
             ,
             he
             did
             many
             things
             and
             heard
             him
             gladly
             .
          
           Nor
           could
           all
           her
           subtilty
           have
           taken
           off
           his
           Head
           ,
           but
           that
           Herod
           thought
           himself
           under
           the
           obligation
           of
           a
           Dance
           and
           an
           Oath
           ,
           and
           knew
           not
           in
           that
           Case
           they
           ought
           both
           to
           be
           dispensed
           with
           .
           But
           
             he
             was
             exceeding
             sorry
             at
             his
             death
             ,
          
           which
           few
           Princes
           are
           if
           Men
           lived
           to
           their
           jealousie
           or
           danger
           .
           The
           killing
           of
           Iames
           ,
           and
           imprisonment
           of
           Peter
           by
           that
           Herod
           ,
           was
           
             because
             he
             saw
             he
             pleased
             the
             people
             ,
          
           when
           the
           Priesls
           had
           once
           set
           them
           on
           madding
           :
           a
           Complaisance
           to
           which
           the
           most
           Innocent
           may
           be
           exposed
           ,
           but
           which
           partake
           more
           of
           Guile
           then
           Civility
           or
           Wisdom
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           find
           out
           what
           the
           disinteressed
           and
           prudent
           Men
           of
           those
           days
           took
           
           to
           be
           the
           wisest
           and
           only
           justifiable
           way
           for
           the
           Magistrate
           to
           proceed
           in
           upon
           Matters
           of
           Religion
           ;
           I
           cannot
           see
           any
           thing
           more
           pregnant
           than
           the
           concurrent
           Judgment
           of
           three
           Persons
           ,
           of
           so
           different
           Characters
           ,
           and
           that
           lived
           so
           far
           asunder
           ,
           that
           there
           can
           be
           no
           danger
           of
           their
           having
           corrupted
           one
           anothers
           Understanding
           in
           favour
           to
           Christianity
           .
           Gamaliel
           ,
           the
           Deputy
           of
           Acaia
           ,
           and
           the
           Town-Clerk
           of
           Ephesus
           ;
           the
           first
           a
           Jewish
           Doctor
           ,
           by
           Sect
           a
           Pharisee
           ,
           one
           of
           the
           Council
           ,
           and
           of
           great
           Authority
           with
           the
           People
           ,
           who
           (
           when
           the
           chief
           Priest
           had
           cast
           the
           Apostles
           in
           Prison
           ,
           and
           charged
           them
           for
           preaching
           against
           the
           Command
           he
           had
           before
           laid
           upon
           them
           )
           yet
           gave
           this
           advice
           ,
           confirming
           it
           with
           several
           fresh
           Precedents
           ,
           
             Acts
             5.
             
             That
             they
             should
             take
             heed
             to
             themselves
             what
             they
             intended
             to
             do
             with
             those
             Men
             ,
             and
             let
             them
             alone
             ;
             for
             if
             this
             Counsel
             ,
          
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             or
             this
             Work
             be
             of
             Men
             ,
             it
             will
             come
             to
             nought
             ,
          
           but
           
             if
             it
             be
             of
             God
             you
             cannot
             overthrow
             it
             ,
             lest
             ye
             be
             found
             fighting
             with
             God.
          
           So
           that
           his
           Opinion
           grounded
           upon
           his
           best
           experience
           ,
           was
           that
           the
           otherwise
           unblameable
           Sect
           of
           Christianity
           might
           safely
           ,
           and
           ought
           to
           be
           left
           to
           stand
           or
           fall
           by
           God's
           Providence
           under
           a
           free
           Toleration
           of
           the
           Magistrate
           .
           The
           Second
           was
           Gallio
           ,
           Acts
           18.
           a
           Roman
           ,
           and
           Deputy
           of
           Achaia
           .
           The
           Iews
           at
           Corinth
           hurried
           Paul
           before
           his
           Tribunal
           ,
           laying
           the
           usual
           Charge
           against
           him
           ,
           
             That
             he
             persuaded
             Men
             to
             worship
             God
             contrary
             to
             the
             Law
             ,
          
           which
           Gallio
           looked
           upon
           as
           so
           slight
           and
           without
           his
           Cognizance
           ,
           that
           altho
           most
           Judges
           are
           willing
           to
           encrease
           the
           Jurisdiction
           of
           their
           Courts
           ,
           
             He
             drave
             them
             away
          
           ,
           saving
           Paul
           the
           labour
           of
           a
           defence
           ,
           and
           told
           them
           ,
           
             If
             it
             were
             a
             Matter
             of
             wrong
             or
             wicked
             lewdness
             ,
             reason
             would
             that
             he
             should
             bear
             with
             them
             ;
             but
             if
             it
             be
             a
             question
             of
             Words
             and
             Names
             ,
             and
             of
             your
             Law
             ,
             look
             ye
             to
             it
             ,
             I
             will
             be
             Iudg
             of
             no
             such
             Matters
             :
          
           and
           when
           he
           had
           so
           said
           ,
           Paul
           was
           released
           ;
           but
           the
           Greeks
           that
           were
           present
           took
           Barnabas
           ,
           and
           before
           the
           Judgment
           Seat
           beat
           Sosthene
           ;
           
             the
             chief
             Ruler
             of
             the
             Synagogue
             ,
          
           and
           Ringleader
           of
           the
           Accusers
           .
           His
           Judgment
           therefore
           was
           that
           ,
           to
           punish
           Christians
           meerly
           for
           their
           Doctrine
           &
           Practice
           ,
           unless
           they
           were
           Malefactors
           otherwise
           ,
           was
           a
           thing
           out
           of
           the
           Magistrates
           Province
           ,
           and
           altogether
           unreasonable
           .
           The
           third
           Case
           was
           no
           less
           remarkable
           :
           For
           one
           Demetrius
           ,
           that
           was
           a
           Silversmith
           by
           Trade
           ,
           &
           made
           Shrines
           for
           Diana
           ,
           stirred
           up
           all
           the
           Freemen
           of
           his
           Company
           against
           Paul
           ,
           and
           indeed
           he
           stated
           the
           Matter
           very
           fairly
           and
           honestly
           ,
           assigning
           the
           true
           Reason
           of
           most
           of
           these
           Persecutions
           :
           
             Ye
             know
             that
             by
             this
             Craft
             we
             have
             our
             Wealth
             ,
             but
             that
             by
          
           Paul
           '
           
             s
             Preaching
             that
             they
             be
             no
             Gods
             which
             are
             made
             with
             hands
             ,
             not
             only
             our
             Craft
             is
             in
             danger
             to
             be
             set
             at
             nought
             ,
             but
             also
             the
             Temple
             of
             the
             great
             Goddess
             and
             her
             Magnificence
             ,
             whom
             all
             Asia
             and
             the
             World
             worship
             ,
             should
             be
             despised
             and
             destroyed
             .
          
           And
           it
           is
           considerable
           ,
           that
           even
           the
           Iews
           ,
           tho
           of
           a
           contrary
           Religion
           ,
           yet
           fomented
           ,
           as
           it
           usually
           chances
           ,
           this
           difference
           ,
           and
           egg'd
           the
           Ephesians
           on
           against
           the
           Apostle
           and
           his
           followers
           .
           But
           when
           they
           had
           brought
           Alexander
           ,
           one
           of
           
           Paul's
           Companions
           ,
           into
           the
           Theatre
           ,
           the
           Recorder
           of
           Ephesus
           (
           more
           temperate
           and
           wise
           than
           some
           would
           have
           been
           in
           that
           Office
           )
           would
           not
           make
           an
           Inquisition
           upon
           the
           matter
           ,
           nor
           put
           Alexander
           upon
           his
           trial
           and
           desence
           ,
           but
           (
           altho
           he
           himself
           could
           not
           have
           born
           that
           Office
           without
           being
           a
           great
           
           Dianist
           ,
           as
           he
           declared
           too
           in
           his
           discourse
           )
           he
           tells
           the
           People
           ,
           
             They
             had
             brought
             those
             Men
             which
             were
             neither
             robbers
             of
             Churches
             ,
             nor
             blasphemers
             of
             their
             Goddess
             ,
          
           (
           for
           that
           Judg
           would
           not
           condemn
           Men
           by
           any
           Inferences
           or
           Expositions
           of
           old
           Statutes
           ,
           which
           long
           after
           was
           
           Iulian's
           practice
           ,
           and
           since
           imitated
           )
           ;
           
             and
             therefore
             if
          
           Demetrius
           
             and
             his
             Craftsmen
             had
             any
             matter
             against
             them
             ,
             the
             Law
             was
             open
             ,
             and
             it
             should
             be
             determined
             in
             a
             lawful
             Assembly
             ;
             but
             that
             the
             whole
             City
             was
             in
             danger
             to
             be
             called
             in
             question
             for
             that
             Vproar
             ,
             there
             being
             no
             cause
             whereby
             they
             might
             give
             account
             of
             that
             concourse
             .
          
           And
           by
           this
           he
           plainly
           enough
           signified
           ,
           that
           if
           Paul
           and
           his
           Companions
           had
           stoln
           the
           Church
           Plate
           ,
           they
           might
           well
           be
           Indicted
           ;
           but
           that
           Demetrius
           had
           no
           more
           reason
           in
           Law
           against
           them
           ,
           than
           a
           Chandler
           might
           have
           had
           ,
           if
           by
           
           Paul's
           preaching
           Wax
           Tapers
           as
           well
           as
           Silver
           Candlesticks
           had
           grown
           out
           of
           fashion
           .
           That
           it
           is
           matter
           of
           Right
           and
           Wrong
           ,
           betwixt
           Man
           and
           Man
           ,
           that
           the
           Justice
           of
           Government
           looks
           too
           :
           but
           that
           ,
           while
           Christianity
           was
           according
           to
           its
           own
           Principle
           carried
           on
           quietly
           ,
           it
           might
           so
           fall
           that
           the
           disturbers
           of
           it
           were
           guilty
           of
           a
           Riot
           ,
           and
           their
           great
           City
           of
           Ephesus
           deserved
           to
           be
           fined
           for
           it
           .
           And
           taking
           this
           to
           have
           been
           so
           ,
           he
           dismist
           the
           Assembly
           ,
           Acts
           19.
           
        
         
           After
           these
           Testimonies
           which
           I
           have
           collected
           out
           of
           the
           History
           of
           the
           Acts
           ,
           as
           of
           greatest
           Authority
           ,
           I
           shall
           only
           add
           one
           or
           two
           more
           out
           of
           the
           same
           Book
           ,
           wherein
           Paul
           likewise
           was
           concerned
           before
           Heathen
           Magistrates
           of
           greater
           eminence
           ,
           
             Acts
             23.
             
             Ananias
          
           the
           High
           Priest
           (
           these
           always
           were
           the
           Men
           )
           having
           countenanced
           and
           instigated
           the
           Iews
           to
           a
           Conspiracy
           ,
           in
           which
           
           Paul's
           life
           was
           endangered
           and
           aimed
           at
           ;
           Lysias
           the
           chief
           Captain
           of
           Ierusalem
           interposes
           and
           sends
           him
           away
           to
           Foelix
           then
           Governor
           of
           Iudaea
           ;
           signifying
           by
           Letter
           ,
           
             That
             he
             had
             been
             accused
             only
             of
             Questions
             of
             their
             Law
             ,
          
           but
           he
           found
           nothing
           to
           be
           laid
           to
           his
           Charge
           worthy
           of
           Death
           or
           of
           Bonds
           ;
           whereof
           Foelix
           also
           ,
           tho
           the
           High
           Priest
           was
           so
           zealous
           in
           the
           prosecution
           ,
           that
           he
           took
           a
           Journey
           on
           purpose
           ,
           and
           had
           instructed
           an
           exquisite
           Orator
           Tertullus
           to
           harangue
           Paul
           out
           of
           his
           Life
           ,
           as
           a
           
             pestilent
             Fellow
             ,
             a
             mover
             of
             Sedition
             ,
             and
             a
             Ring-leader
             of
             the
             Sect
             of
             the
          
           Nazarenes
           ,
           not
           omitting
           even
           to
           charge
           Lysias
           for
           
             rescuing
             him
             by
             great
             violence
          
           from
           being
           murdered
           by
           them
           ,
           was
           so
           well
           satisfied
           of
           the
           contrary
           ,
           upon
           full
           hearing
           ,
           that
           he
           gave
           him
           his
           liberty
           ,
           and
           
             a
             Centurion
             for
             his
             guard
             ,
             with
             command
             that
             none
             of
             his
             Acquaintance
             should
             be
             debarred
             from
             coming
             and
             ministring
             to
             him
             .
          
           But
           being
           indeed
           to
           leave
           his
           Government
           afterwards
           ,
           
             left
             him
             in
             Prison
          
           ,
           partly
           to
           shew
           the
           Iews
           and
           their
           High
           Priest
           another
           piece
           of
           complaisant
           policy
           ,
           which
           ,
           't
           is
           possible
           they
           paid
           well
           for
           ,
           seeing
           the
           other
           Reason
           was
           ,
           because
           tho
           he
           had
           
             sent
             for
          
           Paul
           
             the
             oftner
             ,
             and
             communed
             with
             him
             ,
             in
             hopes
             that
             he
             would
             have
             given
             him
             Mony
             to
             be
             discharged
             ,
          
           there
           came
           nothing
           of
           it
           .
           Which
           was
           so
           base
           a
           thing
           in
           so
           great
           a
           Minister
           ,
           that
           the
           meanest
           Justice
           of
           the
           Peace
           in
           England
           would
           scarce
           have
           the
           face
           to
           do
           so
           upon
           the
           like
           occasion
           .
           But
           his
           Successor
           Festus
           ,
           having
           called
           Agrippa
           and
           Bernice
           to
           hear
           the
           Cause
           ,
           they
           all
           three
           were
           of
           opinion
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           all
           on
           the
           Iews
           side
           calumny
           and
           impertinence
           ,
           but
           that
           Paul
           had
           
             done
             nothing
             worthy
             of
             Death
             or
             of
             Bonds
             ,
             and
             might
             have
             been
             
             set
             free
             ,
             but
             that
             having
             appealed
             to
          
           Caesar
           ,
           he
           must
           be
           transmitted
           to
           him
           in
           safe
           Custody
           .
           Such
           was
           the
           sence
           of
           those
           upon
           whom
           the
           Emperors
           then
           relied
           for
           the
           Government
           and
           security
           of
           their
           Provinces
           :
           and
           so
           gross
           were
           their
           Heathen
           understandings
           ,
           that
           they
           could
           not
           yet
           comprehend
           how
           Quietness
           was
           Sedition
           ,
           or
           the
           innocence
           of
           the
           Christian
           Worship
           could
           be
           subject
           to
           Forfeiture
           or
           Penalty
           .
           Nay
           ,
           when
           Paul
           appeared
           even
           before
           Nero
           himself
           ,
           
             and
             had
             none
             to
             stand
             by
             him
             ,
             but
             all
             forsook
             him
             :
          
           he
           was
           by
           that
           Emperor
           acquitted
           ,
           and
           permitted
           a
           long
           time
           to
           follow
           the
           work
           of
           his
           Ministry
           .
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           that
           afterwards
           this
           Nero
           had
           the
           honour
           to
           be
           the
           first
           of
           the
           Roman
           Emperors
           that
           persecuted
           Christianity
           ;
           whence
           it
           is
           that
           Tertullian
           in
           his
           Apologetick
           saith
           ;
           
             We
             glory
             in
             having
             such
             a
             one
             the
             first
             beginner
             and
             Author
             of
             our
             Punishment
             ,
             for
             there
             is
             none
             that
             hath
             read
             of
             him
             ,
             but
             must
             understand
             some
             great
             good
             to
             have
             been
             in
             that
             Doctrine
             ,
             otherwise
          
           Nero
           
             would
             not
             have
             condemned
             it
          
           .
        
         
           And
           thenceforward
           Christianity
           for
           about
           three
           hundred
           Years
           lay
           subject
           to
           Persecution
           .
           For
           the
           Gentile
           Priests
           could
           not
           but
           observe
           a
           great
           decay
           in
           their
           Parishes
           ,
           a
           neglect
           of
           their
           Sacrifices
           ,
           and
           diminution
           of
           their
           Profit
           by
           the
           daily
           and
           visible
           increase
           of
           that
           Religion
           .
           And
           God
           in
           his
           wise
           Providence
           had
           so
           ordered
           ,
           that
           ,
           as
           the
           Iews
           already
           ,
           so
           the
           Heathens
           now
           having
           filled
           up
           their
           measure
           with
           iniquity
           ,
           
             Sprinkling
             the
             Blood
             of
             his
             Saints
             among
             their
             Sacrifices
             ,
          
           and
           the
           Christians
           having
           in
           a
           severe
           Apprentiship
           of
           so
           many
           Ages
           learned
           the
           Trade
           of
           Suffering
           ,
           they
           should
           at
           last
           be
           their
           own
           Masters
           and
           admitted
           to
           their
           Freedom
           .
           Neither
           yet
           ,
           even
           in
           those
           times
           when
           they
           lay
           exposed
           to
           Persecution
           ,
           were
           they
           without
           some
           Intervals
           and
           catching
           seasons
           of
           Tranquillity
           ,
           wherein
           the
           Churches
           had
           leisure
           to
           reap
           considerable
           advantage
           ,
           and
           the
           Clergy
           too
           might
           have
           been
           inured
           ,
           as
           they
           had
           been
           Exemplary
           under
           Affliction
           ,
           so
           to
           bear
           themselves
           like
           Christians
           when
           they
           should
           arrive
           at
           a
           full
           prosperity
           .
           For
           as
           oft
           as
           there
           came
           a
           just
           Heathen
           Emperor
           and
           a
           lover
           of
           mankind
           ,
           that
           either
           himself
           observed
           ,
           or
           understood
           by
           the
           Governours
           of
           his
           Provinces
           ,
           the
           innocence
           of
           their
           Religion
           and
           Practices
           ,
           their
           readiness
           to
           pay
           Tribute
           ,
           their
           Prayers
           for
           his
           Goverment
           and
           Person
           ,
           their
           faithful
           Service
           in
           his
           Wars
           ,
           but
           their
           Christian
           valour
           and
           contumacy
           to
           Death
           ,
           under
           the
           most
           exquisite
           Torments
           ,
           for
           their
           holy
           Profession
           ;
           he
           forthwith
           relented
           ,
           he
           rebated
           the
           Sword
           of
           the
           Executiner
           ,
           and
           could
           not
           find
           in
           his
           heart
           or
           in
           his
           power
           to
           exercise
           it
           against
           the
           exercise
           of
           that
           Religion
           .
           It
           being
           demonstrable
           that
           a
           Religion
           instituted
           upon
           Justice
           betwixt
           Man
           and
           Man
           ;
           love
           to
           one
           another
           ,
           yea
           even
           their
           Enemies
           ,
           Obedience
           to
           the
           Magistrate
           in
           all
           Humane
           and
           Moral
           Matters
           ,
           and
           in
           Divine
           Worship
           upon
           a
           constant
           exercise
           thereof
           ,
           and
           as
           constant
           Suffering
           in
           that
           cause
           ,
           without
           any
           pretence
           or
           latitude
           for
           resistance
           ,
           cannot
           ,
           so
           long
           as
           it
           is
           true
           to
           it self
           in
           these
           things
           ,
           fall
           within
           the
           Magistrate's
           Jurisdiction
           .
        
         
           But
           as
           it
           first
           was
           planted
           without
           the
           Magistrates
           hand
           ,
           and
           the
           more
           they
           plucked
           at
           it
           ,
           so
           much
           the
           more
           still
           it
           flourished
           ,
           so
           it
           will
           be
           to
           the
           end
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           whensoever
           Governors
           have
           a
           mind
           to
           try
           for
           it
           ,
           it
           will
           by
           the
           same
           means
           and
           method
           sooner
           or
           later
           spoil
           them
           ,
           but
           if
           they
           have
           a
           mind
           to
           pull
           
           up
           that
           Mandrake
           ,
           it
           were
           advisable
           for
           them
           not
           to
           do
           it
           themselves
           ,
           but
           to
           chuse
           out
           a
           Dog
           for
           the
           Imployment
           .
           I
           confess
           whensoever
           a
           Christian
           transgresses
           these
           bounds
           once
           ,
           he
           is
           impoundable
           ,
           or
           like
           a
           Waif
           and
           Stray
           whom
           Christ
           knows
           not
           ,
           he
           falls
           to
           the
           Lord
           of
           the
           Mannor
           .
           But
           otherwise
           he
           cannot
           suffer
           ,
           he
           is
           invulnerable
           by
           the
           sword
           of
           Justice
           :
           only
           a
           Man
           may
           swear
           and
           damn
           himself
           to
           kill
           the
           first
           honest
           Man
           he
           meets
           ,
           which
           hath
           been
           and
           is
           the
           case
           of
           all
           true
           Christians
           worshipping
           God
           under
           the
           power
           and
           violence
           of
           their
           Persecutors
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           Truth
           is
           ,
           that
           even
           in
           those
           times
           which
           some
           Men
           now
           ,
           as
           oft
           as
           it
           is
           for
           their
           advantage
           ,
           do
           consecrate
           under
           the
           name
           of
           Primitive
           ,
           the
           Christians
           were
           become
           guilty
           of
           their
           own
           punishment
           ,
           &
           had
           it
           not
           been
           ,
           as
           is
           most
           usual
           ,
           that
           the
           more
           Sincere
           Professors
           suffered
           promiscuously
           for
           the
           Sins
           and
           Crimes
           of
           those
           that
           were
           Carnal
           and
           Hypocrites
           ,
           their
           Persecutors
           may
           be
           looked
           upon
           as
           having
           been
           the
           due
           Administrators
           of
           God's
           Justice
           .
           For
           (
           not
           to
           go
           deeper
           )
           if
           we
           consider
           but
           that
           which
           is
           reckoned
           the
           Tenth
           Persecution
           under
           Dioclesian
           ,
           so
           incorrigible
           were
           they
           after
           nine
           preceding
           ,
           what
           other
           could
           be
           expected
           when
           ,
           as
           
             Eusebius
             l.
             3.
             c.
          
           1.
           sadly
           laments
           ,
           having
           related
           how
           
             before
             that
             the
             Christians
             lived
             in
             great
             trust
             and
             reputation
             in
             Court
             ,
             the
             Bishops
             of
             each
             Church
             were
             beloved
             esteemed
             and
             reverenced
             by
             all
             mankind
             ,
             and
             by
             the
             Presidents
             of
             the
             Provinees
             ,
             the
             Meetings
             in
             all
             the
             Cities
             were
             so
             many
             and
             numerous
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             necessary
             and
             allowed
             them
             to
             erect
             in
             every
             one
             spacious
             and
             godly
             Churches
             ;
             all
             things
             went
             on
             prosperousty
             with
             them
             ,
             and
             to
             such
             an
             height
             ,
             that
             no
             envious
             Man
             could
             disturb
             them
             ,
             no
             Devil
             could
             hurt
             them
             ,
             as
             long
             as
             walking
             yet
             worthy
             of
             those
             Mercies
             they
             were
             under
             the
             Almighty's
             care
             and
             Protection
             :
             after
             that
             our
             Affairs
             by
             that
             too
             much
             Liberty
             ,
             degenerated
             into
             Luxury
             and
             Laziness
             ,
             and
             some
             prosecuted
             others
             with
             Hatred
             and
             Contumely
             ,
             and
             almost
             all
             of
             us
             wounded
             our selves
             with
             the
             Weapons
             of
             the
             Tongue
             in
             ill
             Language
             ,
             when
             Bishops
             set
             upon
             Bishops
             ,
             and
             the
             People
             that
             belonged
             to
             one
             of
             them
             ,
             stirred
             Sedition
             against
             the
             People
             of
             another
             ;
             then
             horrible
             Hypocrisie
             and
             Dissimulation
             sprung
             up
             to
             the
             utmost
             extremity
             of
             Malice
             ,
             and
             the
             Iudgment
             of
             God
             ,
             while
             yet
             there
             was
             liberty
             to
             meet
             in
             Congregations
             ,
             did
             sensibly
             and
             by
             stops
             being
             to
             visit
             us
             ,
             the
             Persecution
             at
             first
             discharging
             it self
             upon
             our
             Brethren
             that
             were
             in
             the
             Army
             .
             But
             we
             having
             no
             feeling
             of
             the
             Hand
             of
             God
             ,
             not
             endeavouring
             to
             make
             our
             Peace
             with
             him
             ,
             and
             living
             as
             if
             we
             believed
             that
             God
             did
             neither
             take
             notice
             of
             our
             Transgressions
             ,
             nor
             would
             visit
             us
             for
             them
             ,
             we
             heaped
             up
             Iniquity
             upon
             Iniquity
             .
             And
             those
             which
             seemed
             to
             be
             our
             Pastors
             ,
             kicking
             under-foot
             the
             Rules
             of
             Piety
             ,
             were
             inflamed
             among
             themselves
             with
             mutual
             Contention
             ,
             and
             while
             they
             minded
             nothing
             else
             but
             to
             exaggerate
             their
             Quarrels
             ,
             Threats
             ,
             Emulation
             ,
             Hatred
             and
             Enmities
             ,
             and
             earnestly
             each
             of
             them
             pursued
             his
             particular
             Ambition
             in
             a
             Tyrannical
             manner
             ,
             then
             indeed
             the
             Lord
             ,
             then
             I
             say
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Voice
             of
             the
             Prophet
          
           Jeremy
           ,
           
             he
             covered
             the
             Daugheer
             of
          
           Sion
           
             with
             a
             cloud
             in
             his
             anger
             ,
             and
             cast
             down
             from
             Heaven
             to
             Earth
             the
             beauty
             of
          
           Israel
           ,
           
             and
             remembred
             not
             his
             footstool
             in
             the
             day
             of
             his
             Anger
             .
          
           And
           so
           the
           pious
           Historian
           pathetically
           goes
           on
           ,
           and
           deplores
           
           the
           Calamities
           that
           in
           sued
           ,
           to
           the
           loss
           of
           all
           that
           stock
           of
           Reputation
           ,
           Advantage
           ,
           Liberty
           and
           Safety
           ,
           which
           Christian
           people
           had
           by
           true
           Plety
           ,
           and
           adhering
           strictly
           to
           the
           Rules
           of
           their
           Profession
           formerly
           acquired
           &
           injoyed
           ,
           but
           had
           now
           forfeited
           ,
           and
           smartly
           and
           defervedly
           suffered
           under
           
           Dioclesian's
           persecution
           .
           And
           it
           was
           
             a
             severe
          
           one
           ,
           the
           longest
           too
           that
           ever
           happened
           ,
           ten
           Years
           from
           his
           beginning
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           continued
           by
           others
           :
           by
           which
           time
           one
           might
           have
           thought
           the
           Church
           would
           have
           been
           sufficiently
           winnowed
           ,
           and
           nothing
           left
           but
           the
           pure
           Wheat
           ,
           whereas
           it
           proved
           quite
           contrary
           ,
           and
           the
           holiest
           and
           most
           constant
           of
           the
           Christians
           being
           blown
           away
           by
           Martyrdom
           ,
           it
           seem'd
           by
           the
           succeeding
           times
           ,
           as
           if
           nothing
           but
           the
           Chaff
           and
           the
           Tares
           had
           remained
           .
           But
           there
           was
           yet
           such
           a
           Seed
           left
           ;
           and
           notwithstanding
           the
           defection
           of
           many
           ,
           so
           internal
           a
           vertue
           in
           the
           Religion
           it self
           ,
           that
           Dioclosian
           could
           no
           longer
           stand
           against
           it
           ,
           and
           tired
           out
           in
           two
           Years
           time
           ,
           was
           glad
           to
           betake
           himself
           from
           rooting
           out
           Christianity
           to
           gardening
           ,
           and
           to
           sow
           Pot-herbs
           at
           Salona
           .
           And
           he
           with
           his
           Partner
           Maximiamus
           ,
           resigned
           the
           Empire
           to
           Galerius
           and
           Constantius
           ,
           the
           excellent
           Father
           of
           a
           more
           glorious
           and
           Christian
           Son
           ,
           Constantine
           the
           Great
           ,
           who
           in
           due
           season
           succeeded
           him
           ,
           and
           by
           a
           chain
           of
           God's
           extraordinry
           providence
           ,
           seemed
           to
           have
           been
           let
           down
           from
           Heaven
           to
           be
           the
           Emperor
           of
           the
           whole
           World
           ,
           and
           as
           I
           may
           say
           ,
           the
           Universal
           Apostle
           of
           Christianity
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           unexpressible
           the
           Vertue
           of
           that
           Prince
           ,
           his
           Care
           ,
           his
           Indulgence
           ,
           his
           Liberality
           ,
           his
           own
           Example
           ,
           every
           thing
           that
           could
           possibly
           tend
           to
           the
           promotion
           and
           incouragement
           of
           true
           Religion
           and
           Piety
           .
           And
           in
           order
           to
           that
           he
           thought
           he
           could
           not
           do
           better
           ,
           neither
           indeed
           could
           he
           ,
           then
           to
           shew
           a
           peculiar
           respect
           to
           the
           Clergy
           and
           Bishops
           ,
           providing
           largely
           for
           their
           subsistence
           ,
           had
           they
           too
           on
           their
           part
           behaved
           themselves
           worthy
           of
           their
           High
           Calling
           ,
           and
           known
           to
           make
           right
           use
           of
           the
           advantages
           of
           his
           Bounty
           to
           the
           same
           ends
           that
           they
           were
           by
           him
           intended
           .
           For
           if
           the
           Apostle
           ,
           1
           Tim.
           5.
           17.
           requires
           
             that
             an
             Elder
          
           ,
           provided
           
             he
             rule
             well
             ,
             be
             accounted
             worthy
             of
             Double
             Honour
             ,
             especially
             those
             who
             labour
             in
             the
             Word
             and
             Dactrine
             ,
          
           it
           excludes
           not
           a
           Decuple
           or
           any
           further
           proportion
           ,
           and
           indeed
           there
           cannot
           too
           high
           a
           value
           be
           set
           upon
           such
           a
           Person
           :
           and
           God
           forbid
           too
           that
           any
           measure
           of
           wealth
           should
           render
           a
           Clergy-man
           uncanonical
           .
           But
           alas
           ,
           Bishops
           were
           already
           grown
           another
           Name
           and
           Thing
           ,
           than
           at
           the
           Apostles
           Institution
           ;
           and
           had
           so
           altered
           the
           property
           ,
           that
           Paul
           would
           have
           had
           much
           difficulty
           by
           all
           the
           marks
           in
           the
           1
           Tim.
           3.
           to
           have
           known
           them
           .
           They
           were
           ill
           enough
           under
           Persecution
           many
           of
           them
           ,
           but
           that
           long
           and
           sharp
           Winter
           under
           Dioclesian
           ,
           being
           seconded
           by
           so
           warm
           a
           Summer
           under
           Constantine
           ,
           produced
           a
           Pestilence
           ,
           which
           as
           an
           Infection
           that
           seizes
           sometimes
           only
           one
           sort
           of
           Cattol
           ,
           diffused
           it self
           most
           remarkably
           thorow
           the
           whole
           body
           of
           the
           Clergy
           .
           From
           his
           reign
           the
           most
           sober
           Historians
           date
           that
           New
           Disease
           which
           was
           so
           generally
           propagated
           then
           ,
           and
           ever
           since
           transmitted
           to
           some
           of
           their
           Successors
           ,
           that
           it
           hath
           given
           reason
           to
           enquire
           whether
           it
           only
           happened
           to
           those
           Men
           as
           it
           might
           to
           others
           ,
           or
           were
           not
           inherent
           to
           the
           very
           Function
           .
           It
           show'd
           it self
           first
           in
           Ambition
           ,
           
           then
           in
           Contention
           ,
           next
           in
           Imposition
           ,
           and
           after
           these
           Symptoms
           broke
           out
           at
           last
           like
           a
           Plague-Sore
           in
           open
           Persecution
           .
           They
           the
           Bishops
           who
           began
           to
           vouch
           themselves
           the
           Successors
           of
           Christ
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           of
           his
           Apostles
           ,
           yet
           pretended
           to
           be
           Heirs
           and
           Executors
           of
           the
           Iewish
           High
           Priests
           ,
           and
           the
           Heathen
           Tyrants
           ,
           and
           were
           ready
           to
           prove
           the
           Will.
           The
           Ignorant
           Iews
           and
           Infidels
           understood
           not
           how
           to
           Persecute
           ,
           had
           no
           Commission
           to
           meddle
           with
           Religion
           ,
           but
           the
           Bishops
           had
           studied
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           knew
           better
           things
           ,
           and
           the
           same
           ,
           which
           was
           Cruelty
           and
           Tyranny
           in
           the
           Heathens
           ,
           if
           done
           by
           a
           Christian
           and
           Ecclesiastical
           hand
           ,
           was
           allowed
           to
           be
           Church-government
           ,
           and
           the
           care
           of
           a
           Diocess
           .
           But
           that
           I
           may
           not
           seem
           to
           speak
           without
           book
           ,
           or
           out-run
           the
           History
           ,
           I
           shall
           return
           to
           proceed
           by
           those
           degrees
           I
           newly
           mention'd
           ,
           whereby
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           was
           usurped
           upon
           ,
           and
           those
           things
           became
           their
           crime
           which
           were
           their
           duties
           .
        
         
           The
           first
           was
           the
           Ambition
           of
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           which
           had
           even
           before
           this
           ,
           taken
           its
           rise
           ,
           when
           in
           the
           intervals
           of
           the
           former
           Persecutions
           the
           Piety
           of
           the
           Christians
           had
           laid
           out
           ample
           provisions
           for
           the
           Church
           ;
           but
           when
           Constantine
           not
           only
           restored
           those
           which
           had
           been
           all
           consiscate
           under
           Dioclesian
           ,
           but
           was
           every
           day
           adding
           some
           new
           Possession
           ,
           Priviledge
           ,
           or
           Honour
           ,
           a
           Bishoprick
           became
           very
           desirable
           ,
           and
           was
           not
           only
           
             a
             Good
             Work
          
           ,
           but
           a
           good
           Thing
           ,
           especially
           when
           there
           was
           no
           danger
           of
           paying
           as
           it
           was
           usual
           ,
           formerly
           their
           First-fruits
           to
           the
           Emperor
           by
           Martyrdom
           .
           The
           Arts
           by
           which
           Ambition
           climes
           ,
           are
           Calumny
           ,
           Cruelty
           ,
           Bribery
           ,
           Adulation
           ,
           all
           applied
           in
           their
           proper
           places
           and
           seasons
           ;
           and
           when
           the
           Man
           hath
           attained
           his
           end
           ,
           he
           ordinarily
           shows
           himself
           then
           in
           his
           colours
           ,
           in
           Pride
           ,
           Opiniastry
           ,
           Contention
           ,
           and
           all
           other
           requisit
           or
           incident
           ill
           Qualities
           .
           And
           if
           the
           Clergy
           of
           those
           times
           had
           some
           more
           dextrous
           and
           innocent
           way
           than
           this
           of
           managing
           their
           Ambition
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           be
           lamented
           
             inter
             Artes
             Deperditas
          
           ,
           or
           lies
           enviously
           hid
           by
           some
           musty
           Book-worm
           in
           his
           private
           Library
           .
           But
           so
           much
           I
           find
           ,
           that
           both
           before
           ,
           and
           then
           ,
           and
           after
           ,
           they
           cast
           such
           Crimes
           at
           one
           another
           ,
           that
           a
           Man
           would
           scarce
           think
           he
           were
           reading
           an
           History
           of
           Bishops
           ,
           but
           a
           Legend
           of
           Devils
           :
           and
           each
           took
           such
           care
           to
           blacken
           his
           adversary
           ,
           that
           he
           regarded
           not
           how
           he
           smutted
           himself
           thereby
           ,
           and
           his
           own
           Order
           ,
           to
           the
           laughter
           or
           horror
           of
           the
           By-standers
           .
           And
           one
           thing
           I
           remark
           particularly
           ,
           that
           as
           
             Son
             of
             a
             Whore
          
           is
           the
           modern
           Word
           of
           Reproach
           among
           the
           Laity
           ,
           of
           the
           same
           use
           then
           among
           the
           Clergy
           was
           Heretick
           .
           There
           were
           indeed
           Hereticks
           as
           well
           as
           there
           are
           Bastards
           ,
           and
           perhaps
           it
           was
           not
           their
           fault
           ,
           (
           neither
           of
           'em
           could
           help
           it
           )
           but
           the
           Mothers
           or
           the
           Fathers
           ;
           but
           they
           made
           so
           many
           Hereticks
           in
           those
           days
           ,
           that
           't
           is
           hard
           to
           think
           they
           really
           believ'd
           them
           so
           ,
           but
           adventur'd
           the
           Name
           only
           to
           pick
           a
           Quarrel
           .
           And
           one
           thing
           that
           makes
           it
           very
           suspicious
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           in
           Ecclesiastical
           History
           ,
           the
           Ringleader
           of
           any
           Heresy
           is
           for
           the
           most
           part
           accused
           of
           having
           a
           mind
           to
           be
           a
           Bishop
           ,
           though
           it
           was
           not
           the
           way
           to
           come
           to
           it
           .
           As
           there
           was
           the
           damnable
           Heresie
           of
           the
           Novatians
           ,
           against
           which
           Constantine
           ,
           notwithstanding
           his
           Declaration
           of
           general
           Indulgence
           at
           his
           coming
           in
           ,
           was
           shortly
           after
           so
           incensed
           ,
           that
           he
           published
           a
           most
           severe
           Proclamation
           against
           
           them
           ;
           
             Cognoscite
             jam
             per
             legem
             hanc
             quae
             à
             me
             sancita
             est
             ,
             O
             Novatiani
             ,
          
           &c.
           prohibiting
           all
           their
           Meetings
           ,
           not
           only
           in
           publick
           ,
           but
           in
           their
           own
           private
           Houses
           ;
           and
           that
           all
           such
           P●aces
           where
           they
           assembled
           for
           their
           Worship
           ,
           should
           be
           rased
           to
           the
           ground
           without
           delay
           or
           controversy
           ,
           
             &c.
             
             Eus.
          
           1.
           3.
           c.
           6.
           
             de
             vita
             Constantini
          
           .
           Now
           the
           Story
           the
           Bishops
           tell
           of
           Novatus
           the
           Author
           of
           that
           Sect
           ,
           Euseb.
           6.
           l.
           6.
           c.
           42.
           is
           in
           the
           words
           of
           Cornelius
           the
           Bp
           of
           Rome
           ,
           the
           very
           first
           line
           ;
           
             But
             that
             you
             may
             know
             that
             this
             brave
          
           Novatus
           
             did
             even
             before
             that
             affect
             to
             be
             a
             Bishop
             ,
          
           (
           a
           great
           Crime
           in
           him
           )
           
             that
             he
             might
             conceal
             that
             petulant
             Ambition
             ,
             he
             for
             a
             better
             cover
             to
             his
             Arrogance
             ,
             had
             got
             some
             Confessors
             into
             his
             Society
             ,
          
           &c.
           and
           goes
           on
           calling
           him
           all
           to
           nought
           ;
           
             but
             then
          
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           
             he
             came
             with
             two
             Reprobates
             of
             his
             own
             Heresy
             into
             a
             little
             ,
             the
             very
             least
             ,
             Shire
             of
          
           Italy
           :
           
             and
             by
             their
             means
             seduced
             three
             most
             simple
             high-shoon
             Bishops
             ,
             wheedling
             them
             that
             they
             must
             with
             all
             speed
             go
             to
          
           Rome
           ,
           
             and
             there
             meeting
             with
             other
             Bishops
             ,
             all
             Matters
             should
             be
             reconciled
             .
             And
             when
             he
             had
             got
             thither
             these
             three
             silly
             Fellows
             ,
             as
             I
             said
             ,
             that
             were
             not
             aware
             of
             his
             cunning
             ,
             he
             had
             prepared
             a
             company
             of
             Rogues
             ,
             like
             himself
             ,
             that
             treated
             them
             in
             a
             private
             Room
             very
             freely
             ;
             and
             having
             thwack'd
             their
             bellies
             and
             heads
             full
             with
             meat
             and
             drink
             ,
             compell'd
             the
             poor
             drunken
             Bishops
             ,
             by
             an
             imaginary
             and
             vain
             Imposition
             of
             Hands
             ,
             to
             make
          
           Novatus
           
             also
             a
             Bishop
          
           .
           Might
           not
           one
           of
           the
           same
           Order
           now
           better
           have
           conceal'd
           these
           things
           ,
           had
           they
           been
           true
           ?
           but
           such
           was
           the
           discretion
           .
           Then
           he
           tells
           ,
           
             that
             one
             of
             the
             three
             returned
             soon
             after
             ,
          
           repenting
           it
           seems
           next
           morning
           ,
           
             and
             so
             he
             receiv'd
             him
             again
             into
             the
             Church
             ,
          
           unto
           the
           
             Laick
             Communion
          
           .
           But
           for
           the
           other
           two
           ,
           he
           had
           sent
           Successors
           into
           their
           places
           .
           And
           yet
           after
           all
           this
           ado
           ,
           and
           the
           whetting
           of
           Constantine
           ,
           contrary
           to
           his
           own
           Nature
           ,
           and
           his
           own
           Declarations
           against
           the
           Novatians
           ,
           I
           cannot
           find
           their
           Heresy
           to
           have
           been
           other
           ,
           than
           that
           that
           were
           the
           Puritans
           of
           those
           times
           ,
           and
           a
           sort
           of
           Non-conformists
           ,
           that
           could
           have
           subscribed
           to
           the
           Six
           and
           thirty
           Articles
           ,
           but
           differed
           only
           in
           those
           of
           Discipline
           :
           and
           upon
           some
           Enormities
           therein
           separated
           ,
           and
           (
           which
           will
           always
           be
           sufficient
           to
           qualify
           an
           Heretick
           )
           they
           instituted
           Bishops
           of
           their
           own
           in
           most
           places
           .
           And
           yet
           afterwards
           ,
           in
           the
           time
           of
           the
           best
           Homoousian
           Emperors
           ,
           a
           sober
           and
           strictly
           Religious
           People
           did
           so
           constantly
           adhere
           to
           them
           ,
           that
           the
           Bishops
           of
           the
           Church
           too
           found
           meet
           to
           give
           them
           fair
           quarter
           ;
           for
           as
           much
           as
           
             they
             differ'd
             not
             in
             the
             Fundamentals
             ,
             and
             therefore
             were
             of
             use
             to
             them
             against
             Hereticks
             that
             were
             more
             dangerous
             and
             diametrically
             opposite
             to
             the
             Religion
             .
          
           Nay
           insomuch
           ,
           that
           even
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Constantinople
           ,
           yea
           of
           Rome
           ,
           notwithstanding
           that
           most
           tender
           Point
           and
           Interest
           of
           Episcopacy
           ,
           suffered
           the
           Novatian
           Bishops
           to
           walk
           
             cheek
             by
             joul
          
           with
           them
           in
           their
           own
           Diocess
           ;
           until
           that
           ,
           as
           Socr.
           l.
           7.
           c.
           11.
           the
           Roman
           
             Episcopacy
             having
             ,
             as
             it
             were
             ,
             passed
             the
             boands
             of
             Priesthood
             ,
             slip'd
             into
             a
             Secular
             Principality
             ,
             and
             thenceforward
             the
          
           Roman
           
             Bishops
             would
             not
             suffer
             their
             Meetings
             with
             Security
             ;
             but
             ,
             though
             they
             commended
             them
             for
             their
             consent
             in
             the
             same
             Faith
             with
             them
             ,
             yet
             took
             away
             all
             their
             Estates
             .
          
           But
           at
           Constantinople
           they
           continued
           to
           fare
           better
           ,
           the
           Bishops
           of
           that
           Church
           
             embracing
             the
          
           Novatians
           ,
           
             and
             giving
             them
             free
             liberty
             to
             keep
             their
             Conventicles
             in
             their
             Churches
             .
          
           What
           ,
           and
           to
           have
           their
           Bishops
           too
           ,
           Altar
           
           against
           Altar
           ?
           A
           Condescension
           ,
           which
           as
           our
           Nonconformists
           seem
           not
           to
           desire
           or
           think
           of
           ,
           so
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           these
           time
           ;
           would
           ,
           I
           suppose
           ,
           judg
           to
           be
           very
           unreasonable
           ,
           but
           rather
           that
           it
           were
           sit
           to
           take
           the
           other
           course
           ;
           and
           that
           whatsoever
           Advantage
           the
           Religion
           might
           probably
           receive
           from
           their
           Doctrine
           &
           Party
           ,
           't
           is
           better
           to
           suppress
           them
           ,
           and
           make
           havock
           both
           of
           their
           Estates
           and
           Persons
           .
           But
           however
           ,
           the
           Hereticks
           in
           
           Constantine's
           time
           had
           the
           less
           reason
           to
           complain
           of
           ill
           Measure
           ,
           seeing
           it
           was
           that
           the
           Bishops
           meted
           by
           among
           themselves
           .
           I
           pass
           over
           that
           Controversy
           betwixt
           Cecilianus
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Carthage
           ,
           and
           his
           Adherents
           ,
           with
           another
           set
           of
           Bishops
           there
           in
           Africk
           ;
           upon
           which
           ,
           Constantine
           ordered
           ten
           of
           each
           Party
           to
           appear
           before
           Miltiades
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           others
           ,
           to
           have
           it
           decided
           .
           Yet
           after
           they
           had
           given
           Sentence
           ,
           Constantine
           found
           it
           necessary
           to
           have
           a
           Council
           for
           a
           review
           of
           the
           Business
           ,
           as
           in
           his
           Letter
           to
           Crestus
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Syracuse
           ,
           Euseb.
           l.
           10.
           c.
           6.
           
           
             Whereas
             several
             have
             formerly
             separated
             from
             the
          
           Catholick
           Heresy
           ,
           (
           for
           that
           word
           was
           not
           yet
           so
           ill
           natured
           ,
           but
           that
           it
           might
           sometimes
           be
           used
           in
           its
           proper
           and
           good
           sense
           )
           ;
           and
           then
           relates
           his
           Commission
           to
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           others
           ;
           
             But
             forasmuch
             as
             some
             having
             been
             careless
             of
             their
             own
             Salvation
             ,
             and
             forgetting
             the
             reverence
             due
             to
             that
             most
             holy
             Heresy
             ,
          
           (
           again
           )
           
             will
             not
             yet
             lay
             down
             their
             enmity
             ,
             nor
             admit
             the
             Sentence
             that
             hath
             bin
             given
             ,
             obstinately
             affirming
             ,
             that
             they
             were
             but
             a
             few
             that
             pronounced
             the
             Sentence
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             did
             it
             very
             precipitately
             ,
             before
             they
             had
             duly
             enquired
             of
             the
             Matter
             ;
             and
             from
             thence
             it
             hath
             happened
             ,
             that
             both
             they
             who
             ought
             to
             have
             kept
             a
             brotherly
             and
             unanimous
             agreement
             together
             ,
             do
             abominably
             and
             flagitionsly
             dissent
             from
             one
             another
             ;
             and
             such
             whose
             Minds
             are
             alienated
             from
             the
             most
             holy
             Religion
             ,
             do
             make
             a
             mockery
             boih
             of
             it
             and
             them
             .
             Therefore
             I
             ,
          
           &c.
           
             have
             commanded
             very
             many
             Bishops
             ,
             out
             of
             innumerable
             places
             ,
             to
             meet
             at
          
           Arles
           ,
           
             that
             what
             ought
             to
             have
             been
             quieted
             upon
             the
             former
             Sentence
             pronounced
             ,
             may
             now
             at
             least
             be
             determind
             ,
          
           &c.
           
             and
             you
             to
             be
             one
             of
             them
             ;
             and
             therefore
             I
             have
             ordered
             the
             Prefect
             of
          
           Sicily
           
             to
             furnish
             you
             with
             one
             of
             the
             publick
             Stage-Coaches
             ,
             and
             so
             many
             Servants
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           Such
           was
           the
           use
           then
           of
           Stage-Coaches
           ,
           Post-Horses
           ,
           and
           Councils
           ,
           to
           the
           great
           disappointment
           and
           grievance
           of
           the
           many
           ,
           both
           Men
           and
           Horses
           ,
           and
           Leather
           being
           Hackney
           ,
           Hackney
           ,
           jaded
           ,
           and
           worn
           out
           upon
           the
           Errand
           of
           some
           contentions
           and
           obstinate
           Bishop
           .
           So
           went
           the
           Affairs
           hitherto
           ,
           and
           thus
           well
           disposed
           and
           prepared
           were
           the
           Bishops
           to
           receive
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           a
           second
           time
           ,
           at
           the
           great
           and
           first
           general
           Council
           of
           Nice
           ,
           which
           is
           so
           much
           celebrated
           .
        
         
           The
           occasions
           of
           calling
           it
           were
           two
           .
           The
           first
           a
           most
           important
           Question
           ,
           in
           which
           the
           Wit
           and
           Piety
           of
           their
           Predecessors
           ,
           and
           now
           theirs
           successively
           had
           been
           much
           exercised
           and
           taken
           up
           :
           that
           was
           upon
           what
           day
           they
           ought
           to
           keep
           Easter
           ;
           which
           tho
           it
           were
           no
           Point
           of
           Faith
           that
           it
           should
           be
           kept
           at
           all
           ,
           yet
           the
           very
           Calendary
           of
           it
           ,
           was
           controverted
           with
           the
           same
           zeal
           ,
           and
           made
           as
           heavy
           ado
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           as
           if
           both
           Parties
           had
           been
           Hereticks
           .
           And
           it
           is
           reckon'd
           by
           the
           Church
           Historians
           ,
           as
           one
           of
           the
           chief
           felicities
           of
           
           Constantine's
           Empire
           ,
           to
           have
           quieted
           in
           that
           Council
           this
           main
           Controversy
           .
           The
           
           second
           cause
           of
           the
           assembling
           them
           here
           ,
           was
           indeed
           grown
           ,
           as
           the
           Bishops
           had
           order'd
           it
           ,
           a
           Matter
           of
           the
           greatest
           weight
           and
           consequence
           to
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ;
           one
           Arrius
           having
           ,
           as
           is
           related
           ▪
           to
           the
           disturbance
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           started
           a
           most
           pernicious
           Opinion
           in
           the
           Point
           of
           the
           Trinity
           .
           Therefore
           from
           all
           parts
           of
           the
           Empire
           ,
           they
           met
           together
           at
           the
           City
           of
           Nice
           ,
           250
           Bishops
           ,
           and
           better
           ,
           saith
           Eusebius
           a
           goodly
           company
           ;
           318
           say
           others
           ;
           and
           the
           Animadverter
           too
           ,
           with
           that
           pithy
           Remark
           ,
           
             Pag.
             23.
             
             Equal
             almost
             to
             the
             number
             of
             Servants
             bred
             up
             in
             the
             House
             of
          
           Abraham
           .
           The
           Emperor
           had
           accommodated
           them
           every
           where
           with
           the
           publick
           Posts
           ,
           or
           laid
           Horses
           all
           along
           for
           the
           convenience
           of
           their
           Journey
           thither
           ;
           and
           all
           the
           time
           they
           were
           there
           ,
           supplied
           them
           abundantly
           with
           all
           sorts
           of
           Provision
           at
           his
           own
           charges
           .
           And
           when
           they
           were
           all
           first
           assembled
           in
           Council
           ,
           in
           the
           great
           Hall
           of
           the
           Imperial
           Palace
           ,
           he
           came
           in
           ,
           having
           put
           on
           his
           best
           Clothes
           ,
           to
           make
           his
           Guests
           welcome
           ;
           and
           saluted
           them
           with
           that
           profound
           Humility
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           all
           had
           been
           Emperors
           ,
           nor
           would
           sit
           down
           in
           his
           Throne
           ;
           no
           ,
           it
           was
           a
           very
           little
           &
           low
           Stool
           ▪
           till
           they
           had
           all
           beckoned
           &
           made
           signs
           to
           him
           to
           sit
           down
           .
           No
           wonder
           if
           the
           first
           Council
           of
           Nice
           run
           in
           their
           Heads
           ever
           after
           ,
           and
           the
           ambitious
           Clergy
           ,
           like
           those
           who
           have
           been
           long
           a-thirst
           ,
           took
           so
           much
           of
           
           Constantine's
           Kindness
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           scarce
           come
           to
           themselves
           again
           ,
           after
           so
           many
           Ages
           .
           The
           first
           thing
           was
           that
           he
           acquainted
           them
           with
           the
           Causes
           of
           his
           summoning
           them
           thither
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           grave
           and
           most
           Christian
           Discourse
           ,
           
             exhorted
             them
          
           to
           keep
           the
           Peace
           ,
           or
           
             to
             a
             good
             Agreement
          
           ,
           as
           there
           was
           reason
           .
           For
           (
           saith
           Russin
           .
           1.
           1.
           c.
           2.
           )
           
             the
             Bishops
             being
             met
             here
             from
             almost
             all
             parts
             ,
             and
             as
             they
             use
             to
             do
             ,
             bringing
             their
             Quarrels
             about
             several
             matters
             along
             with
             them
             ,
             every
             one
             of
             them
             was
             at
             the
             Emperor
             ,
             offering
             him
             Petitions
             ,
             laying
             out
             one
             anothers
             Faults
             ,
          
           (
           for
           all
           the
           good
           advice
           he
           had
           given
           them
           )
           
             and
             were
             more
             intent
             upon
             these
             things
             ,
             than
             upon
             the
             business
             they
             were
             sent
             for
             .
             But
             he
             ,
             considering
             that
             by
             these
             Scoldings
             and
             Bickerings
             ,
             the
             main
             Affair
             was
             frustrated
             ,
             appointed
             a
             set-day
             by
             which
             all
             the
             Bishops
             should
             bring
             him
             in
             whatsoever
             complaint
             they
             had
             against
             one
             another
             .
          
           And
           they
           being
           all
           brought
           ,
           he
           made
           them
           that
           high
           Asiatick
           Complement
           ;
           
             God
             hath
             made
             you
             Priests
             ,
             and
             hath
             given
             you
             power
             to
             judg
             me
             ,
             and
             therefore
             it
             is
             in
             you
             to
             judg
             me
             righteously
             ;
             but
             you
             cannot
             be
             judged
             by
             any
             Men.
             It
             is
             God
             only
             can
             judg
             you
             ,
             and
             therefore
             reserve
             all
             your
             quarrels
             to
             his
             Tribunal
             .
             For
             you
             are
             as
             Gods
             to
             me
             ,
             and
             it
             is
             not
             convenient
             that
             a
             Man
             should
             judg
             of
             Gods
             ,
             but
             he
             only
             of
             whom
             it
             is
             written
             ,
          
           God
           standing
           in
           the
           Congregation
           of
           the
           Gods
           ,
           and
           discerneth
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           them
           .
           
             And
             therefore
             setting
             these
             things
             aside
             ,
             apply
             your
             Minds
             ,
             without
             any
             contention
             ,
             to
             the
             concernments
             of
             God's
             Religion
             .
          
           And
           so
           ,
           
             without
             opening
             or
             reading
             one
             Petition
             ,
             commanded
             them
             altogether
             to
             be
             burnt
             there
             in
             his
             presence
             .
          
           An
           Action
           of
           great
           Charity
           and
           excellent
           Wisdom
           ,
           had
           but
           some
           of
           the
           words
           been
           spared
           .
           For
           doubtless
           ,
           tho
           they
           that
           would
           have
           complained
           of
           their
           burthen
           ,
           grumbled
           a
           little
           ;
           yet
           those
           that
           were
           accusable
           were
           all
           very
           well
           satisfied
           :
           and
           those
           expressions
           ,
           
             You
             can
             judg
             me
             right
             eously
             ,
          
           and
           ,
           
             you
             cannot
             be
             judged
             by
             any
             Man
          
           ;
           and
           ,
           
             God
             only
             can
             judg
             you
             .
             You
             are
             Gods
             to
             me
             ,
          
           &c.
           were
           so
           extreamly
           
           sweet
           to
           most
           of
           the
           Bishops
           Palates
           ,
           that
           they
           believ'd
           it
           ,
           and
           could
           never
           think
           of
           them
           afterwards
           ,
           but
           their
           Teeth
           watered
           ;
           and
           they
           ruminated
           so
           long
           on
           them
           ,
           that
           
           Constantine's
           Successors
           came
           too
           late
           to
           repent
           it
           .
           But
           now
           the
           Bishops
           having
           mist
           of
           their
           great
           end
           of
           quarelling
           one
           with
           another
           ,
           betake
           themselves
           ,
           tho
           somewhat
           aukwardly
           ,
           to
           Business
           .
           And
           it
           is
           necessary
           to
           mine
           ,
           that
           as
           shortly
           as
           possible
           for
           the
           understanding
           of
           it
           ,
           I
           give
           a
           cursory
           account
           of
           Alexander
           and
           Arrius
           ,
           with
           some
           few
           others
           that
           were
           the
           most
           interessed
           in
           that
           general
           &
           first
           great
           Revolution
           of
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Affairs
          
           ,
           since
           the
           days
           of
           the
           Apostles
           .
           This
           Alexander
           was
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Alexandria
           ,
           and
           appears
           to
           have
           been
           a
           pious
           old
           Man
           ,
           but
           not
           equally
           prudent
           ,
           nor
           in
           Divine
           things
           of
           the
           most
           capable
           ,
           nor
           in
           conducting
           the
           Affairs
           of
           the
           Church
           very
           dextrous
           ,
           but
           he
           was
           the
           Bishop
           .
           This
           Character
           that
           I
           have
           given
           of
           him
           ,
           I
           am
           the
           more
           confirm'd
           in
           from
           some
           passages
           that
           follow
           ,
           and
           all
           of
           them
           pertinent
           to
           the
           matter
           before
           me
           .
           They
           were
           used
           ,
           Sozem.
           l.
           2.
           c.
           16.
           at
           Alexandria
           ,
           to
           keep
           yearly
           a
           solemn
           Festival
           to
           the
           memory
           of
           Peter
           ,
           one
           of
           their
           former
           Bishops
           ,
           upon
           the
           same
           day
           that
           he
           suffered
           Martyrdom
           ,
           which
           Alexander
           having
           celebrated
           at
           the
           Church
           ,
           with
           publick
           Devotion
           ,
           was
           sitting
           after
           at
           home
           ,
           expecting
           some
           Guests
           to
           dine
           with
           him
           ,
           Sozom.
           1.
           2.
           c.
           16.
           
           As
           he
           was
           alone
           ,
           and
           looking
           towards
           the
           Sea-side
           ,
           he
           saw
           a
           pretty
           way
           off
           ,
           the
           Boys
           upon
           the
           Beach
           at
           an
           odd
           Recreation
           ,
           imitating
           it
           seems
           the
           Rites
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           Office
           of
           the
           Bishops
           ;
           and
           was
           much
           delighted
           with
           the
           sight
           ,
           as
           long
           as
           it
           appear'd
           an
           innocent
           and
           harmless
           representation
           :
           But
           when
           he
           observed
           them
           at
           last
           how
           they
           acted
           ,
           the
           very
           administriation
           of
           the
           Sacred
           Mysteries
           ,
           he
           was
           much
           troubled
           ;
           and
           sending
           for
           some
           of
           the
           chief
           of
           his
           Clergy
           ,
           caused
           the
           Boys
           to
           be
           taken
           and
           brought
           before
           him
           .
           He
           asked
           them
           particularly
           what
           kind
           of
           Sport
           they
           had
           been
           at
           ,
           and
           what
           the
           Words
           ,
           and
           what
           the
           Actions
           were
           that
           they
           had
           used
           in
           it
           .
           After
           their
           fear
           had
           hindred
           them
           a
           while
           from
           answering
           ,
           and
           now
           they
           were
           afraid
           of
           being
           silent
           ,
           they
           confess'd
           that
           a
           Lad
           of
           their
           Play-fellows
           ,
           one
           Athanasius
           ,
           had
           Baptized
           some
           of
           them
           that
           were
           not
           yet
           initiated
           to
           those
           Sacred
           Mysteries
           :
           Whereupon
           Alexander
           inquired
           the
           more
           accurately
           what
           the
           Bishop
           of
           the
           Game
           had
           said
           ,
           and
           what
           he
           did
           to
           the
           Boys
           he
           had
           baptized
           ;
           what
           they
           also
           had
           answered
           or
           learned
           from
           him
           .
           At
           last
           ,
           when
           Alexander
           perceived
           by
           them
           ,
           that
           this
           Pawn
           Bishop
           had
           made
           all
           his
           Removes
           right
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           whole
           Ecclesiastical
           Order
           &
           Rites
           had
           been
           duly
           observed
           in
           their
           Interlude
           ,
           he
           by
           the
           advice
           of
           his
           Priests
           about
           him
           ,
           approved
           of
           that
           Mock-baptism
           ,
           and
           determined
           that
           the
           Boys
           ,
           
             being
             once
             in
             the
             simpliciey
             of
             their
             minds
             dipped
             in
             the
             Divine
             Grace
             ,
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             Re-baptized
             ,
          
           but
           he
           perfected
           it
           with
           the
           remaining
           Mysteries
           ,
           which
           it
           is
           only
           lawful
           for
           Priests
           to
           administer
           .
           And
           then
           he
           delivered
           Athanasius
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Boys
           that
           had
           acted
           the
           parts
           of
           Presbyters
           and
           Deacons
           ,
           to
           their
           Parents
           ;
           calling
           God
           to
           witness
           ,
           that
           they
           should
           be
           Educated
           in
           the
           Ministry
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           that
           they
           might
           pass
           their
           lives
           in
           that
           Calling
           which
           they
           had
           chosen
           by
           imitation
           .
           But
           as
           for
           Athanasius
           ,
           in
           a
           short
           while
           after
           ,
           Alexander
           took
           him
           to
           live
           with
           him
           ,
           and
           be
           his
           Secretary
           ,
           
           having
           caused
           him
           to
           be
           carefully
           Educated
           in
           the
           Schools
           of
           the
           best
           Grammarians
           and
           Rhetoricians
           ;
           and
           he
           grew
           ,
           in
           the
           opinion
           of
           all
           that
           spoke
           with
           him
           ,
           a
           discreet
           and
           eloquent
           person
           ,
           and
           will
           give
           occasion
           to
           be
           more
           than
           once
           mentioned
           again
           in
           this
           Discourse
           ;
           I
           have
           translated
           this
           ,
           in
           a
           manner
           ,
           word
           for
           word
           from
           the
           Author
           .
           This
           good-natured
           old
           Bishop
           Alexander
           ,
           that
           was
           so
           far
           from
           Anathemising
           ,
           that
           he
           did
           not
           so
           much
           as
           whip
           the
           Boys
           for
           the
           Profanation
           of
           the
           Sacrament
           against
           the
           Discipline
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           but
           without
           more
           doing
           ,
           left
           them
           ,
           for
           ought
           I
           see
           ,
           at
           liberty
           ,
           to
           regenerate
           as
           many
           more
           Lads
           upon
           the
           next
           Holy-day
           ,
           as
           they
           thought
           convenient
           :
           He
           Socr.
           l.
           1.
           
             c.
             3.
             being
             a
             Man
             that
             lived
             an
             easie
             and
             gentle
             life
             ,
             had
             one
             day
             called
             his
             Priests
             ,
             and
             the
             rest
             of
             his
             Clergy
             together
             ,
             and
             fell
             on
             Philosophizing
             divinely
             among
             them
             ,
             but
             something
             more
             subtily
             and
             curiously
          
           (
           though
           I
           dare
           say
           he
           meant
           no
           harm
           )
           
             than
             was
             usual
             ,
             concerning
             the
             Holy
             Trinity
             .
          
           Among
           the
           rest
           ,
           one
           Arrius
           ,
           a
           Priest
           too
           of
           Alexandria
           ,
           was
           there
           present
           ,
           a
           Man
           who
           is
           described
           to
           have
           been
           a
           good
           Disputant
           ;
           and
           others
           add
           ,
           (
           the
           Capital
           Accusations
           of
           those
           times
           )
           that
           he
           had
           a
           mind
           to
           have
           been
           a
           Bishop
           ,
           and
           bore
           a
           great
           pique
           at
           Alexander
           ,
           for
           having
           been
           preferr'd
           before
           him
           to
           the
           See
           of
           Alexandria
           ;
           but
           more
           are
           silent
           of
           any
           such
           matter
           ;
           and
           Sozom.
           l.
           1.
           c.
           14.
           saith
           ,
           
             he
             was
             in
             great
             esteem
             with
             his
             Bishop
             .
          
           But
           Arrius
           ,
           Socr.
           l.
           1.
           c.
           3.
           
             hearing
             his
             discourse
             about
             the
             Holy
             Trinity
             ,
             and
             the
             Vnity
             in
             the
             Trinity
             ,
             conceiv'd
             that
             ,
             as
             the
             Bishop
             stated
             it
             ,
             he
             had
             reason
             to
             suspect
             he
             was
             introducing
             afresh
             into
             the
             Church
             ,
             the
             Heresie
             of
          
           Sabellius
           the
           African
           ,
           who
           
             Fatebatur
             unum
             esse
             Deum
             ,
             &
             ita
             in
             unam
             essentiam
             Trinitatem
             adducebat
             ,
             ut
             assereret
             nullam
             esse
             vere
             subjectam
             proprietatem
             personis
             ,
             sed
             nomina
             mutari
             pro
             eo
             atque
             usus
             poscant
             ,
             ut
             nuncde
             illo
             ut
             patre
             ,
             nunc
             ut
             filio
             ,
             nunc
             ut
             spiritu
             sancto
             disseratur
             :
          
           And
           thereupon
           ,
           it
           seems
           ,
           Arrius
           argued
           warmly
           for
           that
           opinion
           which
           was
           directly
           contrary
           to
           the
           African
           ,
           driving
           the
           Bishop
           from
           one
           to
           a
           second
           ,
           from
           a
           second
           to
           a
           third
           seeming
           absurdity
           ,
           which
           I
           studiously
           avoid
           the
           relation
           of
           ;
           that
           in
           all
           these
           things
           I
           may
           not
           give
           occasion
           for
           Mens
           understandings
           to
           work
           by
           their
           memories
           ,
           and
           propagate
           the
           same
           errors
           by
           the
           same
           means
           they
           were
           first
           occasion'd
           .
           But
           hereby
           Arrius
           was
           himself
           blamed
           as
           the
           maintainer
           of
           those
           absurdities
           ,
           which
           he
           affixed
           to
           the
           Bishops
           opinion
           ,
           as
           is
           usual
           in
           the
           heat
           and
           wrangle
           of
           Disputation
           .
           Whereas
           Truth
           ,
           for
           the
           most
           part
           ,
           lies
           in
           the
           middle
           ,
           but
           Men
           ordinarly
           seek
           for
           it
           in
           the
           extremities
           .
           Nor
           can
           I
           wonder
           that
           those
           ages
           were
           so
           fertile
           in
           what
           they
           called
           Heresies
           ,
           when
           being
           given
           to
           meddling
           with
           the
           mysteries
           of
           Religion
           ,
           further
           than
           humane
           apprehension
           ,
           or
           divine
           revelation
           did
           or
           could
           lead
           them
           ,
           some
           of
           the
           Bishops
           were
           so
           ignorant
           and
           gross
           ,
           but
           others
           so
           speculative
           ,
           acute
           ,
           and
           resining
           in
           their
           conceptions
           ,
           that
           there
           being
           moreover
           a
           good
           fat
           Bishoprick
           to
           boot
           in
           the
           case
           ,
           it
           is
           rather
           admirable
           to
           me
           how
           all
           the
           Clergy
           from
           one
           end
           to
           another
           ,
           could
           escape
           from
           being
           ,
           or
           being
           accounted
           Hereticks
           .
           Alexander
           hereupon
           ,
           Soz.
           l.
           1.
           c.
           14.
           instead
           of
           stilling
           by
           more
           prudent
           Methods
           this
           new
           Controversie
           ,
           took
           doubtless
           with
           a
           very
           good
           intention
           ,
           a
           course
           that
           hath
           seldom
           been
           successful
           :
           makes
           himself
           judg
           of
           that
           wherein
           he
           had
           first
           been
           the
           Party
           ,
           and
           calling
           to
           him
           some
           oothers
           
           of
           his
           Clergy
           ,
           would
           needs
           sit
           in
           publick
           ,
           to
           have
           a
           solemn
           set
           Disputation
           about
           the
           whole
           Matter
           .
           And
           while
           Arrius
           was
           at
           it
           Tooth
           and
           Nail
           against
           his
           Opposers
           ,
           and
           the
           Arguments
           flew
           so
           thick
           ,
           that
           they
           darkned
           the
           Air
           ,
           and
           no
           Man
           could
           yet
           judg
           which
           side
           should
           have
           the
           Victory
           ;
           the
           good
           Bishop
           for
           his
           part
           sat
           
             hay
             now
             hay
          
           ,
           neither
           could
           tell
           in
           his
           Conscience
           of
           a
           long
           time
           ,
           which
           had
           the
           better
           of
           it
           ;
           but
           sometimes
           he
           lean'd
           on
           one
           side
           ,
           and
           then
           on
           the
           other
           ,
           and
           now
           encouraged
           and
           commended
           those
           of
           one
           Party
           ,
           and
           presently
           the
           contrary
           ;
           but
           at
           last
           ,
           by
           his
           own
           weight
           ,
           he
           cast
           the
           Scales
           against
           Arrius
           .
           And
           from
           thenceforward
           ,
           he
           excommunicated
           Arrius
           for
           obstinacy
           ;
           who
           writing
           in
           behalf
           of
           himself
           and
           his
           Followers
           to
           the
           Bishop
           ,
           each
           one
           stating
           his
           own
           ,
           and
           his
           Adversaries
           case
           ,
           with
           the
           usual
           candor
           of
           such
           Men
           in
           such
           Matters
           ;
           the
           Bishops
           too
           all
           over
           began
           to
           divide
           upon
           it
           ,
           and
           after
           them
           their
           People
           .
           Insomuch
           ,
           that
           Constantine
           ,
           out
           of
           a
           true
           paternal
           sense
           and
           care
           ,
           found
           necessary
           to
           send
           a
           very
           prudent
           and
           eminent
           Person
           to
           Alexandria
           ,
           to
           try
           if
           he
           could
           accommodate
           the
           Matter
           ,
           giving
           him
           a
           Letter
           to
           Alexander
           and
           Arrius
           :
           How
           discreet
           ,
           how
           Christian-like
           ,
           I
           never
           read
           any
           thing
           of
           that
           nature
           equal
           to
           it
           ,
           it
           is
           too
           long
           for
           me
           here
           to
           insert
           ;
           but
           I
           gladly
           recommend
           my
           Reader
           to
           it
           ,
           in
           the
           2
           Eus.
           de
           vitô
           Const.
           c.
           67.
           where
           he
           begins
           ,
           
             I
             understand
             the
             Foundation
             of
             the
             Controversy
             to
             have
             been
             this
             ,
             That
             thou
          
           Alexander
           
             didst
             inquire
             of
             the
             Priests
             concerning
             a
             Passage
             in
             the
             Scripture
             ;
             nay
             ,
             didst
             ask
             them
             concerning
             a
             frivolous
             quillet
             of
             a
             question
             ,
             what
             was
             each
             of
             their
             Opinions
             :
             And
             thou
          
           Arrius
           
             didst
             inconsiderately
             babble
             what
             thou
             neither
             at
             the
             beginning
             couldst
             conceive
             ;
             and
             if
             thou
             hadst
             conceived
             so
             ,
             oughtest
             not
             to
             have
             vented
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           But
           the
           Clergy
           having
           got
           this
           once
           in
           the
           Wind
           ,
           there
           was
           no
           beating
           them
           off
           the
           Scent
           .
           Which
           induced
           Constantine
           to
           think
           the
           convening
           of
           this
           Council
           the
           only
           Remedy
           to
           these
           Disorders
           .
           And
           a
           woful
           ado
           he
           had
           with
           them
           ,
           when
           they
           were
           met
           ,
           to
           manage
           and
           keep
           them
           in
           any
           tolerable
           decorum
           .
           It
           seemed
           like
           an
           Ecclesiastical
           Cock-pit
           ,
           and
           a
           Man
           might
           have
           laid
           Wagers
           either
           way
           ,
           the
           two
           Parties
           contending
           in
           good
           earnest
           ,
           either
           for
           the
           Truth
           or
           the
           Victory
           ;
           but
           the
           more
           unconcern'd
           ,
           like
           cunning
           Betters
           ,
           sate
           judiciously
           hedging
           ,
           and
           so
           ordered
           their
           Matter
           ,
           that
           which
           side
           soever
           prevail'd
           ,
           they
           would
           be
           sure
           to
           be
           the
           Winners
           .
           They
           were
           indeed
           a
           most
           venerable
           Assembly
           ,
           composed
           of
           some
           Holy
           ,
           some
           Grave
           ,
           some
           Wise
           ,
           and
           some
           of
           them
           Learned
           Persons
           :
           And
           Constantine
           had
           so
           charitably
           burnt
           the
           Accusations
           they
           intended
           against
           one
           another
           ,
           which
           might
           otherwise
           have
           depopulated
           and
           dispirited
           the
           Council
           ,
           that
           all
           of
           them
           may
           be
           presumed
           in
           one
           or
           other
           respect
           ,
           to
           have
           made
           a
           great
           Character
           .
           But
           I
           observe
           Soz.
           l.
           1.
           c.
           16.
           that
           these
           great
           Bishops
           ,
           although
           they
           only
           had
           the
           decisive
           Voices
           ,
           yet
           thought
           fit
           to
           bring
           along
           with
           them
           ,
           certain
           Men
           that
           were
           cunning
           at
           an
           Argument
           ,
           to
           be
           auxiliary
           to
           them
           when
           it
           came
           to
           hard
           and
           tough
           Disputation
           ;
           besides
           ,
           that
           they
           had
           their
           Priests
           and
           Deacons
           ready
           at
           a
           dead
           lift
           ,
           alway
           to
           assist
           them
           :
           So
           that
           their
           Understandings
           seem'd
           to
           be
           sequester'd
           ,
           and
           for
           their
           daily
           Faith
           ,
           they
           depended
           upon
           what
           their
           Chaplains
           
           would
           allow
           them
           .
           And
           in
           that
           quality
           Athanasius
           there
           waited
           upon
           Alexander
           ,
           being
           his
           Deacon
           ,
           (
           for
           as
           yet
           it
           seems
           Arch-Bishops
           nor
           Arch-Deacons
           were
           invented
           )
           .
           And
           it
           is
           not
           improbable
           that
           Athanasius
           having
           so
           early
           personated
           the
           Bishop
           ,
           and
           seeing
           the
           declining
           Age
           of
           Alexander
           ,
           would
           be
           careful
           that
           Arrius
           should
           not
           step
           betwixt
           him
           and
           home
           upon
           Vacancy
           ,
           but
           did
           his
           best
           against
           him
           to
           bar
           up
           his
           way
           ,
           as
           it
           shortly
           after
           happened
           ;
           Athanasius
           succeeding
           after
           the
           Council
           in
           the
           See
           of
           Alexandria
           .
           In
           the
           mean
           time
           you
           may
           imagine
           
             Hypostasis
             ,
             Persona
             ,
             Substantia
             ,
             Subsistentia
             ,
             Essentia
             ,
             Coessentialis
             ,
             Consubstantialis
             ,
             Ante
             soecula
             Coaeternus
             ,
          
           &c.
           were
           by
           so
           many
           Disputants
           pick'd
           to
           the
           very
           Bones
           ,
           and
           those
           too
           broken
           afterwards
           ,
           to
           come
           to
           the
           Marrow
           of
           Divinity
           .
           And
           never
           had
           Constantine
           in
           his
           Life
           so
           hard
           a
           task
           ,
           as
           to
           bring
           them
           to
           any
           rational
           Results
           ;
           
             Meekly
             and
             patiently
          
           (
           Euseb.
           l.
           3.
           c.
           13.
           de
           Vita
           Const.
           )
           
             listning
             to
             every
             one
             ,
             taking
             every
             Man's
             Opinion
             ,
             and
             without
             the
             Acrimony
             with
             which
             it
             was
             delivered
             ,
             helping
             each
             Party
             where
             they
             disagreed
             ,
             reconciling
             them
             by
             degrees
             when
             they
             were
             in
             the
             fiercest
             Contention
             ,
             conferring
             with
             them
             apart
             courteously
             and
             mildly
             ,
             telling
             them
             what
             was
             his
             own
             Opinion
             of
             the
             Matter
             :
          
           Which
           tho
           some
           exceptious
           Persons
           may
           alledg
           to
           have
           been
           against
           the
           nature
           of
           a
           free
           Council
           ,
           yet
           truly
           ,
           unless
           he
           had
           taken
           that
           course
           ,
           I
           cannot
           imagine
           how
           possibly
           he
           could
           ever
           have
           brought
           them
           to
           any
           conclusion
           .
           And
           thus
           this
           first
           ,
           Great
           ,
           General
           Council
           of
           Nice
           ,
           with
           which
           the
           World
           had
           gone
           big
           so
           long
           ,
           and
           which
           look'd
           so
           big
           upon
           all
           Christendom
           ,
           at
           last
           was
           brought
           in
           Bed
           ,
           and
           after
           a
           very
           hard
           Labour
           ,
           delivered
           of
           Homoousios
           .
        
         
           They
           all
           subscribed
           to
           the
           new
           Creed
           ,
           except
           some
           seventeen
           ,
           who
           it
           seems
           had
           rather
           to
           be
           Hereticks
           than
           Bishops
           .
           For
           now
           the
           
           Anathema's
           were
           published
           ,
           and
           whoever
           held
           the
           contrary
           ,
           was
           to
           be
           punish'd
           by
           Deprivation
           and
           Banishment
           ,
           all
           Arrian
           Books
           to
           be
           burned
           ;
           and
           whoever
           should
           be
           discovered
           to
           conceal
           any
           of
           Arrius
           his
           Writings
           ,
           to
           die
           for
           it
           .
           But
           it
           fared
           very
           well
           with
           those
           who
           were
           not
           such
           fools
           as
           to
           own
           his
           Opinion
           .
           All
           they
           were
           entertain'd
           by
           the
           Emperor
           at
           a
           magnificent
           Feast
           ,
           received
           from
           his
           hand
           rich
           Presents
           ,
           and
           were
           honourably
           dismist
           ,
           with
           Letters
           recommending
           their
           great
           Abilities
           and
           performance
           to
           the
           Provinces
           ,
           and
           enjoining
           the
           Nicene
           Creed
           to
           be
           henceforth
           observed
           .
           With
           that
           stroke
           of
           the
           Pen
           ,
           (
           Socr.
           l.
           1.
           c.
           6.
           )
           
             For
             what
             three
             hundred
             Bishops
             have
             agreed
             on
             ,
          
           (
           a
           thing
           indeed
           extraordinary
           )
           
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             otherwise
             conceiv'd
             of
             ,
             than
             as
             the
             Decree
             of
             God
             Almighty
             ,
             especially
             seeing
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             did
             sit
             upon
             the
             Minds
             of
             such
             and
             so
             excellent
             Men
             ,
             and
             open'd
             his
             Divine
             Will
             to
             them
             .
          
           So
           that
           they
           went
           ,
           I
           trow
           ,
           with
           ample
           satisfaction
           ;
           and
           ,
           as
           they
           could
           not
           but
           take
           the
           Emperor
           for
           a
           very
           civil
           ,
           generous
           ,
           and
           obliging
           Gentleman
           ,
           so
           they
           thought
           the
           better
           of
           themselves
           from
           that
           day
           forward
           .
           And
           how
           budg
           must
           they
           look
           when
           they
           return
           back
           to
           their
           Diocesses
           ,
           having
           every
           one
           of
           'em
           bin
           a
           principal
           Limn
           of
           the
           
             Oecumenical
             ,
             Apostolical
             ,
             Catholick
             ,
             Orthodox
          
           Council
           !
           when
           the
           Catacheristical
           Title
           of
           the
           Church
           and
           the
           Clergy
           were
           so
           appropriate
           to
           them
           by
           custom
           ,
           that
           the
           Christian
           People
           had
           relinquished
           or
           forgotten
           their
           Claim
           ;
           when
           
           every
           Hare
           that
           crossed
           their
           way
           homeward
           ,
           was
           a
           Schismatick
           or
           an
           Heretick
           ;
           and
           if
           their
           Horse
           stumbled
           with
           one
           of
           them
           ,
           he
           incurr'd
           an
           Anathema
           .
           Well
           it
           was
           that
           their
           Journeys
           lay
           so
           many
           several
           ways
           ,
           for
           they
           were
           grown
           so
           cumbersom
           and
           great
           ,
           that
           the
           Emperor's
           High-way
           was
           too
           narrow
           for
           any
           two
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           there
           could
           have
           been
           no
           passage
           without
           the
           removal
           of
           a
           Bishop
           .
           But
           soon
           after
           the
           Council
           was
           over
           ,
           Eusebius
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Nicomedia
           ,
           and
           Theognis
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Nice
           ,
           who
           were
           already
           removed
           ,
           both
           by
           Banishment
           ,
           and
           two
           others
           put
           in
           their
           places
           ,
           were
           quickly
           restor'd
           upon
           their
           Petition
           ;
           wherein
           they
           suggested
           the
           Cause
           of
           their
           not
           Signing
           to
           have
           been
           only
           ,
           because
           they
           thought
           they
           could
           not
           with
           a
           safe
           Conscience
           subscribe
           the
           Anathema
           against
           Arrius
           ,
           appearing
           to
           them
           both
           by
           his
           Writings
           ,
           his
           Discourses
           ,
           and
           Sermons
           ,
           that
           they
           had
           been
           Auditors
           of
           ,
           not
           to
           be
           guilty
           of
           those
           Errors
           .
           As
           for
           Arrius
           himself
           ,
           the
           Emperor
           quickly
           wrote
           to
           him
           .
           
             It
             is
             now
             a
             considerable
             time
             since
             I
             wrote
             to
             your
             Gravity
             to
             come
             to
             my
             Tents
             ,
             that
             you
             might
             enjoy
             my
             Countenance
             ;
             so
             that
             I
             can
             scarce
             wonder
             sufficiently
             why
             you
             have
             so
             long
             delayed
             it
             :
             therefore
             now
             take
             one
             of
             the
             publick
             Coaches
             ,
             and
             make
             all
             speed
             to
             my
             Tents
             ;
             that
             ,
             having
             had
             experience
             of
             my
             kindness
             and
             affection
             to
             you
             ,
             you
             may
             return
             into
             your
             own
             Country
             .
             God
             preserve
             you
             ,
             most
             dear
             Sir.
             Arrius
          
           hereupon
           (
           with
           his
           Comerade
           Euxoius
           )
           comes
           to
           
           Constantine's
           Army
           ,
           and
           offers
           him
           a
           Petition
           ,
           with
           a
           Confession
           of
           Faith
           ,
           that
           would
           have
           pass'd
           very
           well
           before
           the
           Nicene
           Council
           ,
           and
           now
           satisfied
           the
           Emperor
           ,
           Socr.
           l.
           1.
           c.
           19
           ,
           &
           20.
           insomuch
           that
           he
           writ
           to
           Athanasius
           ,
           now
           Bishop
           of
           Alexandria
           ,
           to
           receive
           him
           into
           the
           Church
           :
           but
           Athanasius
           was
           of
           better
           mettle
           than
           so
           ,
           and
           absolutely
           refused
           it
           .
           Upon
           this
           Constantine
           writ
           him
           another
           threatning
           Letter
           :
           
             When
             you
             have
             understood
             hereby
             my
             Pleasure
             ,
          
           see
           that
           you
           afford
           free
           entrance
           into
           the
           Church
           ,
           to
           all
           that
           desire
           it
           :
           for
           if
           I
           shall
           understand
           that
           any
           who
           desires
           to
           be
           admitted
           into
           the
           Church
           ,
           should
           be
           either
           hindred
           or
           forbidden
           by
           you
           ,
           I
           will
           send
           some
           one
           of
           my
           Servants
           to
           remove
           you
           from
           your
           Degree
           ,
           and
           place
           another
           in
           your
           stead
           .
           Yet
           Athanasius
           stood
           it
           out
           still
           ,
           tho
           other
           Churches
           received
           him
           into
           Communion
           :
           and
           the
           Heretick
           Novatus
           could
           not
           have
           bin
           more
           unrelenting
           to
           lapsed
           Christians
           ,
           than
           he
           was
           to
           Arrius
           .
           But
           this
           ,
           joined
           with
           other
           Crimes
           ,
           which
           were
           laid
           to
           Athanasius
           his
           Charge
           ,
           at
           the
           Council
           of
           Tyre
           ,
           (
           though
           I
           suppose
           indeed
           they
           were
           forged
           )
           made
           Athanasius
           glad
           to
           fly
           for
           it
           ,
           and
           remain
           the
           first
           time
           in
           Exile
           .
           Upon
           this
           whole
           Matter
           ,
           it
           is
           my
           impartial
           Opinion
           that
           Arrius
           ,
           or
           whosoever
           else
           were
           guilty
           of
           teaching
           and
           publishing
           those
           Errors
           whereof
           he
           was
           accused
           ,
           deserved
           the
           utmost
           Severity
           which
           consists
           with
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           .
           And
           so
           willing
           I
           have
           been
           to
           think
           well
           of
           Athanasius
           ,
           and
           ill
           of
           the
           other
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           on
           purpose
           avoided
           the
           reading
           ,
           as
           I
           do
           the
           naming
           of
           a
           Book
           that
           I
           have
           heard
           ,
           tells
           the
           story
           quite
           otherwise
           ,
           and
           have
           only
           made
           use
           of
           the
           current
           Historians
           of
           those
           Times
           ,
           who
           all
           of
           them
           tell
           it
           against
           the
           Arrians
           .
           Only
           I
           will
           confess
           ,
           that
           as
           in
           reading
           a
           particular
           History
           at
           adventure
           ,
           a
           Man
           finds
           himself
           inclinable
           to
           favour
           the
           weaker
           Party
           ,
           especially
           if
           the
           Conqueror
           appear
           insolent
           ;
           so
           have
           I
           been
           affected
           in
           reading
           
           these
           Authors
           ,
           which
           does
           but
           resemble
           the
           reasonable
           pity
           that
           men
           ordinarily
           have
           too
           ,
           for
           those
           ,
           who
           ,
           though
           for
           an
           erroneous
           Conscience
           ,
           suffer
           under
           a
           Christian
           Magistrate
           .
           And
           as
           soon
           as
           I
           come
           to
           Constantius
           ,
           I
           shall
           for
           that
           reason
           change
           my
           compassion
           ,
           and
           be
           doubly
           engaged
           on
           the
           Orthodox
           party
           .
           But
           as
           to
           the
           whole
           matter
           of
           the
           Council
           of
           Nice
           ,
           I
           must
           crave
           liberty
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           from
           one
           end
           to
           the
           other
           ,
           though
           the
           best
           of
           the
           kind
           ,
           it
           seems
           to
           me
           to
           have
           been
           a
           pitiful
           humane
           business
           ,
           attended
           with
           all
           the
           ill
           circumstances
           of
           other
           wordly
           affairs
           ,
           conducted
           by
           a
           spirit
           of
           ambition
           and
           contention
           ,
           the
           first
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           greatest
           oecumenical
           blow
           that
           by
           Christians
           was
           given
           to
           Christianity
           .
           And
           it
           is
           not
           from
           any
           sharpness
           of
           humor
           that
           I
           discourse
           thus
           freely
           of
           Things
           and
           Persons
           ,
           much
           less
           of
           Orders
           of
           men
           otherwise
           venerable
           ,
           but
           that
           where
           ought
           is
           extolled
           beyond
           reason
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           prejudice
           of
           Religion
           ,
           it
           is
           necessary
           to
           depreciate
           it
           by
           true
           proportion
           .
           It
           is
           not
           their
           censure
           of
           Arrianism
           ,
           or
           the
           declaring
           of
           their
           Opinion
           in
           a
           controverted
           point
           to
           the
           best
           of
           their
           understanding
           ,
           (
           wherein
           to
           the
           smalness
           of
           mine
           ,
           they
           appear
           to
           have
           light
           upon
           the
           Truth
           ,
           had
           they
           likewise
           upon
           the
           measure
           )
           that
           could
           have
           moved
           me
           to
           tell
           so
           long
           story
           ,
           or
           bring
           my self
           within
           the
           danger
           and
           aim
           of
           any
           captious
           Reader
           ,
           speaking
           thus
           with
           great
           liberty
           of
           mind
           ,
           but
           little
           concern
           for
           any
           prejudice
           I
           may
           receive
           ,
           of
           things
           that
           are
           by
           some
           Men
           idolized
           .
           But
           it
           is
           their
           Imposition
           of
           a
           new
           Article
           or
           Creed
           upon
           the
           Christian
           world
           ,
           not
           being
           contained
           in
           express
           words
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           to
           be
           believed
           with
           Divine
           Faith
           ,
           under
           Spiritual
           and
           Civil
           Penalties
           ,
           contrary
           to
           the
           Priviledges
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           their
           making
           a
           Precedent
           follow'd
           and
           improv'd
           by
           all
           succeeding
           Ages
           for
           most
           cruel
           Persecutions
           ,
           that
           only
           could
           animate
           me
           .
           In
           digging
           thus
           for
           a
           new
           deduction
           ,
           they
           undermined
           the
           fabrick
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           to
           frame
           a
           particular
           Doctrine
           ,
           they
           departed
           from
           the
           general
           Rule
           of
           their
           Religion
           ;
           and
           for
           their
           curiosity
           about
           an
           Article
           concerning
           Christ
           ,
           they
           violated
           our
           Saviour's
           first
           Institution
           of
           a
           Church
           ,
           not
           subject
           to
           any
           Addition
           in
           matters
           of
           Faith
           ,
           nor
           liable
           to
           Compulsion
           ,
           either
           in
           Belief
           or
           in
           Practice
           .
           Far
           be
           it
           from
           me
           in
           the
           event
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           from
           my
           Intention
           ,
           to
           derogate
           from
           the
           just
           authority
           of
           any
           of
           those
           Creeds
           or
           Confessions
           of
           Faith
           that
           are
           receiv'd
           by
           our
           Church
           upon
           clear
           agreement
           with
           the
           Scripture
           :
           nor
           shall
           I
           therefore
           ,
           unless
           some
           mens
           impertinence
           and
           indiscretion
           hereafter
           oblige
           me
           ,
           pretend
           to
           any
           further
           knowledg
           of
           what
           in
           those
           particulars
           appear
           in
           the
           ancient
           Histories
           .
           But
           certainly
           if
           any
           Creed
           had
           been
           Necessary
           ,
           or
           at
           the
           least
           Necessary
           to
           have
           been
           Imposed
           ,
           our
           Saviour
           himself
           would
           not
           have
           left
           his
           Church
           distitute
           in
           a
           thing
           of
           that
           moment
           .
           Or
           however
           ,
           after
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           upon
           his
           departure
           ,
           was
           descended
           upon
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           
             they
             the
             Elders
             and
             Brethren
          
           (
           for
           so
           it
           was
           then
           )
           were
           assembled
           in
           a
           legitimate
           Council
           at
           
             Ierusalem
             ,
             it
             would
             have
             seemed
             good
             to
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             and
             them
          
           to
           have
           sav'd
           the
           Council
           of
           Nice
           that
           labour
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           the
           Apostle
           Paul
           ,
           2
           Cor.
           12.
           2
           ,
           and
           4.
           
             who
             was
             caught
             up
             into
             Paradise
             ,
             and
             heard
             unspeakable
             words
             ,
             which
             it
             is
             not
             lawful
             for
             any
             Man
             to
             utter
             ,
          
           having
           thereby
           a
           much
           better
           opportunity
           than
           Athanasius
           ,
           to
           know
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           would
           not
           have
           been
           wanting
           ,
           
           
             through
             the
             abundance
             of
             that
             revelation
             ,
          
           to
           form
           a
           Creed
           for
           the
           Church
           ,
           sufficient
           to
           have
           put
           that
           business
           beyond
           controversie
           .
           Especially
           seeing
           Heresies
           were
           sprung
           up
           so
           early
           ,
           and
           he
           foresaw
           others
           ,
           and
           therefore
           does
           prescribe
           the
           mothod
           how
           they
           are
           to
           be
           dealt
           with
           ,
           but
           no
           Creed
           that
           I
           read
           of
           .
        
         
           Shall
           any
           sort
           of
           Men
           presume
           to
           interpret
           those
           words
           ,
           which
           to
           him
           were
           unspeakable
           ,
           by
           a
           Gibbrish
           of
           their
           Imposing
           ,
           and
           force
           every
           Man
           to
           Cant
           after
           them
           ,
           what
           it
           is
           not
           lawful
           for
           any
           Man
           to
           utter
           ?
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           speak
           articulately
           enough
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           without
           any
           Creed
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           we
           are
           or
           ought
           to
           be
           capable
           of
           .
           And
           the
           Ministry
           of
           the
           Gospel
           is
           useful
           and
           most
           necessary
           ,
           if
           it
           were
           but
           to
           press
           us
           to
           the
           reading
           of
           them
           ,
           to
           illustrate
           one
           place
           by
           the
           authority
           of
           another
           ,
           to
           inculcate
           those
           duties
           which
           are
           therein
           required
           ,
           quickning
           us
           both
           to
           Faith
           and
           Practice
           ,
           and
           showing
           within
           what
           bounds
           they
           are
           both
           circumscribed
           by
           our
           Saviour's
           Doctrine
           .
           And
           it
           becomes
           every
           Man
           to
           be
           able
           to
           give
           a
           reason
           and
           account
           of
           his
           Faith
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           ready
           to
           do
           it
           ,
           without
           officiously
           gratifying
           those
           who
           demand
           it
           only
           to
           take
           advantage
           :
           and
           the
           more
           Christians
           can
           agree
           in
           one
           confession
           of
           Faith
           ,
           the
           better
           .
           But
           that
           we
           should
           believe
           ever
           the
           more
           for
           a
           Creed
           ,
           it
           cannot
           be
           expected
           .
           In
           those
           days
           ,
           when
           Creeds
           were
           most
           plenty
           and
           in
           fashion
           ,
           and
           every
           one
           had
           them
           at
           their
           fingers
           end
           ,
           't
           was
           the
           Bible
           that
           brought
           in
           the
           Reformation
           .
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           a
           Man
           would
           not
           stick
           to
           take
           two
           or
           three
           Creeds
           for
           a
           need
           ,
           rather
           than
           want
           a
           Living
           ;
           and
           if
           a
           Man
           have
           not
           a
           good
           swallow
           ,
           't
           is
           but
           wrapping
           them
           up
           in
           a
           Liturgy
           ,
           like
           a
           Wafer
           ,
           and
           the
           whole
           dose
           will
           go
           down
           currently
           ;
           especially
           if
           he
           wink
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           and
           give
           his
           Assent
           and
           Consent
           without
           ever
           looking
           on
           them
           .
           But
           without
           jesting
           ,
           for
           the
           matter
           is
           too
           serious
           :
           Every
           Man
           is
           bound
           to
           
             work
             out
             his
             own
             Salvation
             with
             fear
             and
             trembling
             ,
          
           and
           therefore
           to
           use
           all
           helps
           possible
           for
           his
           best
           satisfaction
           ;
           hearing
           ,
           conferring
           ,
           reading
           ,
           praying
           for
           the
           assistance
           of
           God's
           Sprit
           :
           but
           when
           he
           hath
           done
           this
           ,
           he
           is
           his
           own
           Expositor
           ,
           his
           own
           both
           Minister
           and
           People
           ,
           Bishop
           and
           Diocess
           ,
           his
           own
           Council
           ;
           and
           his
           Conscience
           excusing
           or
           condemning
           him
           ,
           accordingly
           he
           escapes
           or
           incurs
           his
           own
           internal
           Anathema
           .
           So
           that
           when
           it
           comes
           once
           to
           a
           Creed
           ,
           made
           and
           imposed
           by
           other
           Men
           as
           a
           matter
           of
           Divine
           Faith
           ,
           the
           Case
           grows
           very
           delicate
           ;
           while
           he
           cannot
           apprehend
           ,
           tho
           the
           Imposer
           may
           ,
           that
           all
           therein
           is
           clearly
           contained
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           may
           fear
           ,
           being
           caught
           in
           the
           expressions
           ,
           to
           oblige
           himself
           to
           a
           latitude
           or
           restriction
           ,
           further
           than
           comports
           with
           his
           own
           sense
           and
           judgment
           .
           A
           Christian
           of
           honour
           ,
           when
           it
           comes
           to
           this
           once
           ,
           will
           weigh
           every
           word
           ,
           every
           syllable
           ;
           nay
           fruther
           ,
           if
           he
           consider
           that
           the
           great
           business
           of
           this
           Council
           of
           Nice
           was
           but
           one
           single
           letter
           of
           the
           Alphabet
           ,
           about
           the
           inserting
           or
           omitting
           of
           an
           Iota
           .
           There
           must
           be
           either
           that
           exactness
           in
           the
           Form
           of
           such
           a
           Creed
           ,
           as
           I
           dare
           say
           ,
           no
           Meu
           in
           the
           world
           ever
           were
           or
           ever
           will
           be
           able
           to
           modulate
           :
           or
           else
           this
           scrupulous
           privat
           judgment
           must
           be
           admitted
           ,
           or
           otherwise
           all
           Creeds
           become
           meer
           instruments
           of
           Equivocation
           or
           Persecution
           .
           And
           I
           must
           confess
           ,
           when
           I
           have
           sometimes
           considered
           
           with
           my self
           the
           dulness
           of
           the
           Non-conformists
           ,
           and
           the
           acuteness
           on
           the
           contrary
           of
           the
           Episcoparians
           ,
           and
           the
           conscientiousness
           of
           both
           ;
           I
           have
           thought
           that
           our
           Church
           might
           safely
           wave
           the
           difference
           with
           them
           about
           Ceremonies
           ,
           and
           try
           it
           upon
           the
           Creeds
           ,
           which
           were
           both
           the
           more
           honourable
           way
           ,
           and
           more
           suitable
           to
           the
           method
           of
           the
           ancient
           Councils
           ,
           and
           yet
           perhaps
           might
           do
           their
           business
           as
           effectually
           .
           For
           one
           that
           is
           a
           Christian
           in
           good
           earnest
           ,
           when
           a
           Creed
           is
           imposed
           ,
           will
           sooner
           eat
           fire
           ,
           than
           tak
           it
           against
           his
           judgment
           .
           There
           have
           been
           Martyrs
           for
           Reason
           ,
           and
           it
           was
           manly
           in
           them
           :
           but
           how
           much
           more
           would
           Men
           be
           so
           for
           Reason
           Religionated
           and
           Christianized
           !
           But
           it
           is
           an
           Inhumane
           and
           Unchristian
           thing
           of
           those
           Faith-stretchers
           ,
           whosoever
           they
           be
           ,
           that
           either
           put
           Mens
           Persons
           ,
           or
           their
           Consciences
           upon
           the
           torture
           ,
           or
           rack
           them
           to
           the
           length
           of
           their
           Notions
           :
           whereas
           the
           Bereans
           are
           made
           Gentlemen
           ,
           and
           Innobled
           by
           Patent
           in
           the
           Acts
           ,
           because
           they
           would
           not
           credit
           Paul
           himself
           ,
           whose
           Writings
           now
           make
           so
           great
           a
           part
           of
           the
           New
           Testament
           ,
           until
           they
           had
           
             searched
             the
             Scripture
             daily
             ,
             whether
             those
             things
             were
             so
             ,
             and
             therefore
             many
             of
             them
             believed
             .
          
           And
           therefore
           ,
           although
           where
           there
           are
           such
           Creeds
           ,
           Christians
           may
           for
           Peace
           and
           Conscience-sake
           acquiesce
           while
           there
           appears
           nothing
           in
           them
           flatly
           contrary
           to
           the
           words
           of
           the
           Scripture
           ;
           yet
           when
           they
           are
           obtruded
           upon
           a
           Man
           in
           particular
           ,
           he
           will
           look
           very
           well
           about
           him
           ,
           and
           not
           take
           them
           upon
           any
           Humane
           Authority
           .
           The
           greatest
           Pretence
           to
           Authority
           ,
           is
           in
           a
           Council
           .
           But
           what
           then
           ?
           shall
           all
           Christians
           therefore
           take
           their
           Formularies
           of
           Divine
           Worship
           or
           Belief
           upon
           trust
           ,
           as
           writ
           in
           Tables
           of
           Stone
           ,
           like
           the
           Commandments
           ,
           deliver'd
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           obeyed
           in
           the
           instant
           ,
           not
           considered
           ;
           because
           three
           hundred
           and
           eighteen
           Bishops
           are
           met
           in
           
           Abraham's
           great
           Hall
           ,
           of
           which
           most
           must
           be
           Servants
           ,
           and
           some
           Children
           ;
           and
           they
           have
           resolv'd
           upon
           't
           in
           such
           a
           manner
           ?
           No
           ,
           a
           good
           Christian
           will
           not
           ,
           cannot
           atturn
           and
           indenture
           his
           Conscience
           over
           ,
           to
           be
           Represented
           by
           others
           .
           It
           is
           not
           as
           in
           Secular
           matters
           ,
           where
           the
           States
           of
           a
           Kingdom
           are
           deputed
           by
           their
           fellow
           Subjects
           to
           transact
           for
           them
           ,
           so
           in
           spiritual
           :
           or
           suppose
           it
           were
           ,
           yet
           't
           were
           necessary
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           Polish
           constitution
           ,
           that
           nothing
           should
           be
           obligatory
           as
           long
           as
           there
           is
           one
           Dissenter
           ,
           where
           no
           Temporal
           Interests
           ,
           but
           every
           Mans
           Eternity
           and
           Salvation
           are
           concerned
           .
           The
           Soul
           is
           too
           precious
           to
           be
           let
           out
           at
           interest
           upon
           any
           humane
           security
           ,
           that
           does
           or
           may
           fail
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           only
           safe
           when
           under
           God's
           custody
           ,
           in
           its
           own
           Cabinet
           .
           But
           it
           was
           a
           General
           Council
           .
           A
           special
           General
           indeed
           ,
           if
           you
           consider
           the
           proportion
           of
           three
           hundred
           and
           eighteen
           to
           the
           Body
           of
           the
           Christian
           Clergy
           ,
           but
           much
           more
           to
           all
           Christian
           Man-kind
           .
           But
           it
           was
           a
           General
           Free
           Council
           of
           Bishops
           .
           I
           do
           not
           think
           it
           possible
           for
           any
           Council
           to
           be
           free
           ,
           that
           is
           composed
           out
           of
           Bishops
           ,
           and
           where
           they
           only
           have
           the
           Decisive
           Voices
           .
           Nor
           that
           a
           Free
           Council
           that
           takes
           away
           Christian
           Liberty
           .
           But
           that
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           founded
           upon
           Usurpation
           ,
           so
           it
           terminated
           in
           Imposition
           .
           But
           't
           is
           meant
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           Free
           from
           all
           external
           Impulsion
           .
           I
           confess
           that
           good
           Meat
           and
           Drink
           ,
           and
           Lodging
           ,
           and
           Mony
           in
           a
           Man's
           purse
           ,
           and
           Coaches
           ,
           and
           Servants
           ,
           and
           Horses
           to
           attend
           them
           ,
           did
           no
           violence
           
           
           
           
           
           to
           'em
           ,
           nor
           was
           there
           any
           false
           Article
           in
           it
           .
           And
           discoursing
           now
           with
           one
           ,
           and
           then
           another
           of
           'em
           in
           particular
           ,
           and
           the
           Emperor
           telling
           them
           this
           is
           my
           opinion
           ,
           I
           understand
           it
           thus
           ;
           and
           afterwards
           declaring
           his
           mind
           frequently
           to
           them
           in
           publick
           ;
           no
           force
           neither
           .
           Ay
           ,
           but
           there
           was
           a
           shrewd
           way
           of
           persuasion
           in
           it
           .
           And
           I
           would
           be
           glad
           to
           know
           when
           ever
           ,
           and
           which
           free
           general
           Council
           it
           was
           that
           could
           properly
           be
           called
           so
           ;
           but
           was
           indeed
           a
           meer
           Imperial
           or
           Ecclesiastical
           Machine
           ,
           no
           free
           agent
           ,
           but
           wound
           up
           ,
           set
           on
           going
           ,
           and
           let
           down
           by
           the
           direction
           and
           hand
           of
           the
           Workman
           .
           A
           General
           Free
           Council
           is
           but
           a
           word
           of
           Art
           ,
           and
           can
           never
           happen
           but
           under
           a
           Fifth
           Monarch
           ,
           and
           that
           Monarch
           too
           ,
           to
           return
           from
           Heaven
           .
           The
           Animadverter
           will
           not
           allow
           the
           second
           General
           Council
           of
           Nice
           to
           have
           bin
           Free
           ,
           
             because
             it
             was
             overaw'd
             by
             an
             Empress
             ,
          
           and
           was
           guilty
           of
           a
           great
           fault
           (
           which
           no
           Council
           at
           liberty
           he
           saith
           could
           have
           committed
           )
           the
           Decree
           for
           worshipping
           of
           Images
           .
           At
           this
           rate
           a
           Christian
           may
           scuffle
           however
           for
           one
           point
           among
           them
           ,
           and
           chuse
           which
           Council
           he
           likes
           best
           .
           But
           in
           good
           earnest
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           see
           but
           that
           Constantine
           might
           as
           well
           at
           this
           first
           Council
           of
           Nice
           ,
           have
           negotiated
           the
           Image-worship
           ,
           as
           to
           pay
           that
           superstitious
           adoration
           to
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           and
           that
           Prostration
           to
           their
           Creeds
           was
           an
           Idolatry
           more
           pernicious
           in
           the
           consequence
           ,
           to
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           then
           that
           under
           which
           they
           so
           lately
           had
           suffer'd
           Persecution
           .
           Nor
           can
           a
           Council
           be
           said
           to
           have
           been
           at
           liberty
           ,
           which
           lay
           under
           so
           great
           and
           many
           obligations
           .
           But
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           was
           present
           ,
           where
           there
           were
           three
           hundred
           and
           eighteen
           Bishops
           ,
           and
           directed
           them
           ,
           or
           three
           hundred
           .
           Then
           ,
           if
           I
           had
           been
           of
           their
           Council
           ,
           they
           should
           have
           sate
           at
           it
           all
           their
           lives
           ,
           lest
           they
           should
           never
           see
           him
           again
           after
           they
           were
           once
           risen
           .
           But
           it
           concerned
           them
           to
           settle
           their
           Quorum
           at
           last
           by
           his
           Dictates
           ;
           otherwise
           no
           Bishop
           could
           have
           been
           absent
           ,
           or
           gone
           forth
           upon
           any
           accusation
           ,
           but
           he
           let
           him
           out
           again
           :
           and
           it
           behov'd
           to
           be
           very
           punctual
           in
           the
           Adjournments
           .
           'T
           is
           a
           ridiculous
           conception
           ,
           and
           as
           gross
           as
           to
           make
           him
           of
           the
           same
           substance
           with
           the
           Council
           .
           Nor
           needs
           there
           any
           stronger
           argument
           of
           his
           absence
           ,
           then
           their
           pretence
           to
           be
           actuated
           by
           him
           ,
           and
           in
           doing
           such
           work
           .
           The
           Holy
           Spirit
           !
           If
           so
           many
           of
           them
           ,
           when
           they
           got
           together
           ,
           acted
           like
           rational
           men
           ,
           't
           was
           enough
           in
           all
           reason
           ,
           and
           as
           much
           as
           could
           be
           expected
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           was
           one
           affectation
           ,
           among
           many
           others
           ,
           which
           the
           Bishops
           took
           up
           so
           early
           ,
           of
           the
           stile
           ,
           priviledges
           ,
           powers
           ,
           and
           some
           actions
           and
           gestures
           peculiar
           and
           inherent
           ot
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           which
           they
           misplaced
           to
           their
           own
           behoof
           and
           usage
           ;
           nay
           ,
           and
           challenged
           other
           things
           as
           Apostolical
           ,
           that
           were
           directly
           contrary
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           and
           Practice
           of
           the
           Apostles
           .
           For
           so
           ,
           because
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           did
           in
           an
           extraordinary
           manner
           preside
           among
           the
           Holy
           Apostles
           at
           that
           Legitimate
           Council
           of
           
             Ierusalem
             ,
             Acts
          
           15.
           they
           ,
           although
           under
           an
           ordinary
           Administration
           ,
           would
           not
           go
           less
           whatever
           came
           on
           't
           :
           nay
           ,
           whereas
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           in
           the
           drawing
           up
           of
           their
           Decree
           ,
           dictated
           to
           them
           by
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           ,
           said
           therefore
           no
           more
           but
           thus
           :
           
             The
             Apostles
             ,
             Elders
             ,
             and
             Brethren
             ,
             send
             greeting
             unto
             the
             Brethren
             of
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           
             Forasmuch
             as
          
           ,
           &c.
           
             It
             seemed
             good
             to
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             and
             us
             ,
             to
             lay
             upon
             you
             no
             greater
             burthen
             than
             these
             necessary
             
             things
             ;
             that
             ye
             abstain
             from
             ,
          
           &c.
           
             from
             which
             if
             ye
             keep
             your selves
             ,
             you
             shall
             do
             well
             .
          
           Fare
           ye
           well
           .
        
         
           This
           Council
           denounces
           every
           Invention
           of
           its
           own
           ,
           (
           far
           from
           the
           Apostolical
           modesty
           ,
           and
           the
           stile
           of
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           )
           under
           no
           less
           than
           an
           Anathema
           .
           Such
           was
           their
           arrogating
           to
           their
           inferior
           degrees
           ,
           the
           stile
           of
           Clergy
           ,
           till
           custom
           hath
           so
           much
           prevailed
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           at
           a
           loss
           how
           to
           speak
           properly
           ,
           either
           of
           the
           Name
           or
           Nature
           of
           their
           Function
           .
           Whereas
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           in
           the
           true
           and
           Apostolical
           sense
           ,
           were
           only
           those
           whom
           they
           superciliously
           always
           call
           the
           Laity
           :
           The
           word
           Clerus
           being
           never
           but
           once
           used
           in
           the
           New
           Testament
           ,
           and
           in
           that
           signification
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           very
           unlucky
           place
           too
           ,
           1
           Pet.
           5.
           3.
           where
           he
           admonishes
           the
           Priesthood
           ,
           
             that
             they
             should
             not
             lord
             it
             ,
             or
             domineer
             over
          
           the
           Christian
           People
           ,
           
             Clerum
             Domini
          
           ,
           or
           
             the
             Lord's
             Inheritance
          
           .
           But
           having
           usurp'd
           the
           Title
           ,
           I
           confess
           they
           did
           right
           to
           assume
           the
           Power
           .
           But
           to
           speak
           of
           the
           Priesthood
           in
           that
           stile
           which
           they
           most
           affect
           ,
           if
           we
           consider
           the
           nature
           too
           of
           their
           Function
           ,
           what
           were
           the
           Clergy
           then
           ,
           but
           Laymen
           disguis'd
           ,
           drest
           up
           perhaps
           in
           another
           habit
           ?
           Did
           not
           St.
           Paul
           himself
           ,
           being
           a
           Tent-maker
           ,
           rather
           than
           be
           idle
           or
           burthensom
           to
           his
           People
           ,
           work
           of
           his
           trade
           ,
           even
           during
           his
           Apostleship
           ,
           to
           get
           his
           living
           ?
           But
           did
           not
           these
           ,
           that
           they
           might
           neglect
           their
           holy
           Vocation
           ,
           seek
           to
           compass
           secular
           Imploiments
           ,
           and
           Lay-Offices
           ?
           Were
           not
           very
           many
           of
           them
           ,
           whether
           one
           respect
           their
           Vices
           or
           Ignorance
           ,
           as
           well
           qualified
           as
           any
           other
           to
           be
           Lay-men
           ?
           Was
           it
           not
           usual
           ,
           as
           oft
           as
           they
           merited
           it
           ,
           to
           restore
           them
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           case
           even
           of
           the
           three
           Bishops
           to
           the
           Lay-communion
           ?
           And
           whether
           ,
           if
           they
           were
           so
           peculiar
           from
           others
           ,
           did
           the
           Imposition
           of
           the
           Bishop's
           hands
           ,
           or
           the
           lifting
           up
           the
           hands
           of
           the
           Laity
           ,
           confer
           more
           to
           that
           distinction
           ?
           And
           Constantine
           ,
           notwithstanding
           his
           Complement
           at
           the
           burning
           of
           the
           Bishops
           Papers
           ,
           thought
           he
           might
           make
           them
           ,
           and
           unmake
           them
           ,
           with
           the
           same
           Power
           as
           he
           did
           his
           other
           Lay-Officers
           .
           But
           if
           the
           inferior
           Degrees
           were
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           the
           Bishops
           would
           be
           the
           Church
           :
           altho
           that
           word
           in
           the
           Scripture-sense
           ,
           is
           proper
           only
           to
           a
           Congregation
           of
           the
           Faithful
           .
           And
           being
           by
           that
           title
           the
           only
           Men
           in
           Ecclesiastical
           Councils
           ,
           then
           when
           they
           were
           once
           assembled
           ,
           they
           were
           the
           
             Catholick
             Church
          
           ,
           and
           ,
           having
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           at
           their
           Devotion
           ,
           whatsoever
           Creed
           they
           light
           upon
           ,
           that
           was
           the
           
             Catholick
             Faith
             ,
             without
             the
             believing
             of
             which
             ,
             no
             Man
             can
             be
             saved
             .
          
           By
           which
           means
           there
           rose
           thenceforward
           so
           constant
           Persecutions
           till
           this
           day
           ,
           that
           ,
           had
           not
           the
           little
           invisible
           
             Catholick
             Church
          
           ,
           and
           a
           People
           that
           always
           search'd
           and
           believ'd
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           made
           a
           stand
           by
           their
           Testimonies
           and
           Sufferings
           ,
           the
           Creeds
           had
           destroy'd
           the
           Faith
           ,
           and
           the
           Church
           had
           ruined
           the
           Religion
           .
           For
           this
           General
           Council
           of
           Nice
           ,
           and
           all
           others
           of
           the
           same
           constitution
           ,
           did
           ,
           and
           can
           serve
           to
           no
           other
           end
           or
           effect
           ,
           than
           a
           particular
           order
           of
           Men
           by
           their
           usurping
           a
           trust
           upon
           Christianity
           ,
           to
           make
           their
           own
           Price
           and
           Market
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           deliver
           it
           up
           as
           oft
           as
           they
           see
           their
           own
           advantage
           .
        
         
           For
           scarce
           was
           
           Constantine's
           Head
           cold
           ,
           but
           his
           Son
           Constantius
           ,
           succeeding
           his
           Brothers
           ,
           being
           influenced
           by
           the
           Bishops
           of
           the
           Arrian
           Party
           ,
           turn'd
           the
           wrong
           side
           of
           Christianity
           outward
           ,
           inverted
           the
           Poles
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           
           
           
           
           
           Faith
           (
           if
           I
           may
           say
           so
           )
           with
           its
           Heels
           in
           the
           Air
           ,
           was
           forced
           to
           stand
           upon
           its
           Head
           ,
           and
           play
           Gambols
           ,
           for
           the
           Divertisement
           and
           Pleasure
           of
           the
           
             Homoieusians
             .
             Arrianism
          
           was
           the
           Divinity
           then
           in
           Mode
           ,
           and
           he
           was
           an
           ignorant
           and
           ill
           Courtier
           ,
           or
           Church-man
           ,
           that
           could
           not
           dress
           ,
           and
           would
           not
           make
           a
           new
           Sute
           for
           his
           Conscience
           in
           the
           Fashion
           .
           And
           now
           the
           Orthodox
           Bishops
           (
           it
           being
           given
           to
           those
           Men
           to
           be
           obstinate
           for
           Power
           ,
           but
           flexible
           in
           Faith
           )
           began
           to
           wind
           about
           insensibly
           ,
           as
           the
           
             Heliotrope
             Flower
          
           that
           keeps
           its
           ground
           ,
           but
           wrests
           its
           neck
           in
           turning
           after
           the
           warm
           Sun
           ,
           from
           day-break
           to
           evening
           .
           They
           could
           look
           now
           upon
           the
           Synod
           of
           Nice
           with
           more
           indifference
           ,
           and
           all
           that
           pudder
           that
           had
           been
           made
           there
           betwixt
           Homoousius
           and
           Homoiousius
           ,
           &c.
           began
           to
           appear
           to
           them
           
             as
             a
             Difference
             only
             arising
             from
             the
             Inadequation
             of
             Languages
             :
          
           Till
           by
           degrees
           they
           were
           drawn
           over
           ,
           and
           rather
           than
           lose
           their
           Bishopricks
           ,
           would
           join
           ,
           and
           at
           last
           be
           the
           head-most
           in
           the
           Persecution
           of
           their
           own
           former
           Party
           .
           But
           the
           Deacons
           ,
           to
           be
           sure
           ,
           that
           steer'd
           the
           Elephants
           ,
           were
           thorow-paced
           ;
           Men
           to
           be
           reckon'd
           and
           relied
           upon
           in
           this
           or
           any
           other
           occasion
           ,
           and
           would
           prick
           on
           ,
           to
           render
           themselves
           capable
           and
           Episcopable
           ,
           upon
           the
           first
           Vacancy
           .
           For
           now
           the
           Arrians
           in
           grain
           ,
           scorning
           to
           come
           behind
           the
           Clownish
           Homoousians
           ,
           in
           an
           Ecclesiastical
           Civility
           ,
           were
           resolved
           to
           give
           them
           their
           full
           of
           Persecution
           .
           And
           it
           seem'd
           a
           piece
           of
           Wit
           rather
           than
           Malice
           ,
           to
           pay
           them
           in
           their
           own
           Coin
           ,
           and
           to
           Burlesque
           them
           in
           earnest
           ,
           by
           the
           repetition
           and
           heightning
           of
           the
           same
           Severities
           upon
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           had
           practised
           upon
           others
           .
           Had
           you
           the
           Homoousians
           a
           Creed
           at
           Nice
           ?
           we
           will
           have
           another
           Creed
           for
           you
           at
           Ariminum
           ,
           and
           at
           Selucia
           .
           Would
           you
           not
           be
           content
           with
           so
           many
           several
           Projects
           of
           Faith
           consonant
           to
           Scripture
           ,
           unless
           you
           might
           thrust
           the
           new
           word
           Homoousios
           down
           our
           Throats
           ,
           and
           then
           tear
           it
           up
           again
           ,
           to
           make
           us
           confess
           it
           ?
           Tell
           us
           the
           word
           ,
           (
           't
           was
           Homoiousios
           )
           we
           are
           now
           upon
           the
           Guard
           ,
           or
           else
           we
           shall
           run
           you
           thorow
           .
           Would
           you
           Anathemize
           ,
           Banish
           ,
           Imprison
           ,
           Execute
           us
           ,
           and
           burn
           our
           Books
           ?
           You
           shall
           taste
           of
           this
           Christian
           Fare
           ,
           and
           as
           you
           relish
           it
           ,
           you
           shall
           have
           more
           on
           't
           provided
           .
           And
           thus
           it
           went
           ,
           Arrianism
           being
           Triumphant
           ,
           but
           the
           few
           sincere
           and
           stomachful
           Bishops
           ,
           adhering
           constantly
           ,
           and
           with
           a
           true
           Christian
           Magnanimity
           ,
           especially
           Athanasius
           ,
           thorow
           all
           Sufferings
           ,
           unto
           their
           former
           Confessions
           ,
           expiated
           so
           in
           some
           measure
           ,
           what
           they
           had
           committed
           in
           the
           Nicene
           Council
           .
        
         
           Sozomen
           ,
           1.
           4.
           c.
           25.
           first
           tells
           us
           a
           Story
           of
           Eudoxius
           ,
           who
           succeeded
           Macedonius
           ,
           in
           the
           Bishoprick
           of
           Constantinople
           ;
           that
           in
           the
           Cathedral
           of
           
             Sancta
             Sophia
          
           being
           mounted
           in
           his
           Episcopal
           Throne
           ,
           the
           first
           time
           that
           they
           Assembled
           for
           its
           Dedication
           ,
           in
           the
           very
           beginning
           of
           his
           Sermon
           to
           the
           People
           (
           those
           things
           were
           already
           come
           in
           Fashion
           )
           told
           them
           :
           
             Patrem
             impium
             esse
             ,
             Filium
             autem
             pium
          
           ;
           at
           which
           then
           they
           began
           to
           bustle
           ;
           
             Pray
             be
             quiet
          
           ,
           saith
           he
           ;
           I
           say
           ,
           
             Patrem
             impium
             esse
             ,
             quia
             Colit
             neminem
             ,
             Filium
             vero
             Pium
             quia
             colit
             Patrem
          
           ;
           at
           which
           they
           then
           laughed
           as
           heartily
           ,
           as
           before
           they
           were
           Angry
           .
           But
           this
           I
           only
           note
           to
           this
           purpose
           ,
           that
           there
           were
           some
           of
           the
           greatest
           Bishops
           among
           the
           Homoiousians
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Homoousians
           ,
           that
           could
           not
           reproach
           
           one
           anothers
           Simplicity
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           was
           not
           impossible
           for
           the
           Many
           to
           be
           wiser
           and
           more
           Orthodox
           than
           the
           Few
           ,
           in
           Divine
           matters
           .
           That
           which
           I
           cite
           him
           for
           as
           most
           Material
           ,
           is
           ,
           the
           Remark
           upon
           the
           Imposition
           then
           of
           Contrary
           Creeds
           :
           
             Which
             verily
          
           ,
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             was
             plainly
             the
             beginning
             of
             most
             great
             Calamities
             ,
             forasmuch
             as
             hereupon
             there
             followed
             a
             Disturbance
             ,
             not
             unlike
             those
             which
             we
             before
             recited
             over
             the
             whole
             Empire
             ;
             and
             likewise
             a
             Persecution
             equal
             almost
             to
             that
             of
             the
             Heathen
             Emperors
             ,
             seized
             upon
             all
             of
             all
             Churches
             .
             For
             although
             it
             seemed
             to
             some
             more
             gentle
             ,
             for
             what
             concerns
             the
             torture
             of
             the
             body
             ,
             yet
             to
             prudent
             persons
             it
             appeared
             more
             bitter
             and
             severe
             ,
             by
             reason
             of
             the
             Dishonour
             and
             Ignominy
             .
             For
             both
             they
             who
             stirred
             up
             ,
             and
             those
             that
             were
             afflicted
             with
             this
             Persecution
             ,
             were
             of
             the
             Christian
             Church
             ;
             and
             the
             grievance
             therefore
             was
             the
             greater
             and
             more
             ugly
             ,
             in
             that
             the
             same
             things
             which
             are
             done
             among
             Enemies
             ,
             were
             Executed
             between
             those
             of
             the
             same
             Tribe
             and
             Profession
             :
             But
             the
             holy
             Law
             forbids
             us
             to
             carry
             our selves
             in
             that
             manner
             ,
             even
             to
             those
             that
             are
             without
             ,
             and
             Aliens
             .
          
           And
           all
           this
           mischief
           sprung
           from
           making
           of
           Creeds
           ,
           with
           which
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           at
           Tilting
           ,
           aim'd
           to
           hit
           one
           another
           in
           the
           Eye
           ,
           and
           throw
           the
           opposite
           Party
           out
           of
           the
           Saddle
           .
           But
           if
           it
           chanced
           that
           the
           weaker
           side
           were
           ready
           to
           yield
           ,
           (
           for
           what
           sort
           of
           Men
           was
           there
           that
           could
           better
           manage
           ,
           or
           had
           their
           Consciences
           more
           at
           command
           at
           that
           time
           than
           the
           Clergy
           ?
           )
           Then
           the
           Arrians
           would
           use
           a
           yet
           longer
           ,
           thicker
           ,
           and
           sharper
           Lance
           for
           the
           purpose
           ,
           (
           for
           there
           were
           never
           Vacancies
           sufficient
           )
           that
           they
           might
           be
           sure
           to
           run
           them
           down
           ,
           over
           ,
           and
           thorow
           ,
           and
           do
           their
           Business
           .
           The
           Creed
           of
           Ariminum
           was
           now
           too
           short
           for
           the
           Design
           ;
           but
           ,
           saith
           the
           Historian
           ,
           they
           affix'd
           
             further
             Articles
             like
             Labels
             to
             it
             ,
             pretending
             to
             have
             made
             it
             better
             ,
             and
             so
             sent
             it
             thorow
             the
             Empire
             with
          
           Constantius
           
             his
             Proclamation
             ,
             that
             whoever
             would
             not
             subscribe
             it
             ,
             should
             be
             Banished
             .
          
           Nay
           ,
           they
           would
           not
           admit
           their
           own
           beloved
           
             Similis
             Substantia
          
           ;
           but
           to
           do
           the
           work
           throughly
           ,
           the
           Arrians
           renounc'd
           their
           own
           Creed
           for
           Malice
           ,
           and
           made
           it
           an
           Article
           ;
           
             Filium
             Patri
             tam
             substantia
             ,
             quam
             Voluntate
             ,
             Dissimilem
             esse
             .
          
           But
           this
           is
           a
           small
           matter
           with
           any
           of
           them
           ,
           provided
           thereby
           they
           may
           do
           Service
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           that
           is
           their
           Party
           .
           So
           that
           one
           (
           seriously
           speaking
           )
           that
           were
           really
           Orthodox
           ,
           could
           not
           then
           defend
           the
           Truth
           or
           himself
           ,
           but
           by
           turning
           of
           Arrian
           ,
           if
           he
           would
           impugn
           the
           new
           ones
           ;
           such
           was
           the
           Subtilty
           .
           What
           shall
           I
           say
           more
           ?
           As
           the
           Arts
           of
           Glass
           Coaches
           and
           Perriwigs
           illustrate
           this
           Age
           ,
           so
           by
           their
           Trade
           of
           Creed-making
           ,
           then
           first
           invented
           ,
           we
           may
           esteem
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           
           Constantine's
           ,
           and
           Constantius
           his
           Empire
           .
           And
           in
           a
           short
           space
           ,
           as
           is
           usual
           among
           Tradesmen
           ,
           where
           it
           appears
           gainful
           ,
           they
           were
           so
           many
           that
           set
           up
           of
           the
           same
           Profession
           ,
           that
           they
           could
           scarce
           live
           by
           one
           another
           .
           
             Socr.
             1.
             2.
             c.
          
           32.
           
           Therefore
           uses
           these
           words
           .
           
             But
             now
             that
             I
             have
          
           tandem
           aliquando
           ,
           
             run
             through
             this
             Labyrinth
             of
             so
             many
             Creeds
             ,
             I
             will
             gather
             up
             their
             number
             :
          
           And
           so
           reckons
           Nine
           Creeds
           more
           ,
           besides
           that
           of
           Nice
           ,
           before
           the
           death
           of
           Constantine
           ,
           (
           a
           blessed
           Number
           .
           )
           And
           I
           believe
           I
           could
           for
           a
           need
           ,
           make
           them
           up
           a
           dozen
           ,
           if
           Men
           have
           a
           mind
           to
           buy
           them
           so
           .
           And
           hence
           it
           was
           that
           Hilary
           ,
           then
           Bishop
           of
           Poictiers
           ,
           represents
           that
           state
           of
           the
           Church
           pleasantly
           ,
           yet
           sadly
           ,
           
             Since
             the
          
           Nicene
           Synod
           ,
           
           
           
           
           
           saith
           he
           ,
           
             we
             do
             nothing
             but
             write
             Creeds
             .
             That
             while
             we
             fight
             about
             words
             ,
             whilst
             we
             raise
             Questions
             about
             Novelties
             ,
             while
             we
             Quarrel
             about
             things
             doubtful
             ,
             and
             about
             Authors
             ,
             while
             we
             contend
             in
             Parties
             ,
             while
             there
             is
             difficulty
             in
             Consent
             ,
             while
             we
             Anathematize
             one
             another
             ,
             there
             is
             none
             now
             almost
             that
             is
          
           Christ's
           .
           
             What
             a
             Change
             there
             is
             in
             the
             last
             years
             Creed
             ?
             The
             first
             Decree
             commands
             that
          
           Homoousios
           
             should
             not
             be
             mentioned
             .
             The
             next
             does
             again
             Decree
             and
             Publish
          
           Homoousios
           .
           
             The
             third
             does
             by
             Indulgence
             excuse
             the
             Word
          
           Ousia
           ,
           
             as
             used
             by
             the
             Fathers
             in
             their
             simplicity
             .
             The
             fourth
             does
             not
             Excuse
             ,
             but
             Condemn
             it
             .
             It
             is
             come
             to
             that
             at
             last
             ,
             that
             nothing
             among
             us
             ,
             or
             those
             before
             us
             ,
             can
             remain
             sacred
             or
             inviolable
             .
             We
             Decree
             every
             year
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             a
             new
             Creed
             concerning
             God
             ;
             Nay
             ,
             every
             Change
             of
             the
             Moon
             our
             Faith
             is
             alter'd
             .
             We
             repent
             of
             our
             Decrees
             ,
             we
             defend
             those
             that
             repent
             of
             them
             ;
             we
             Anathematize
             those
             that
             we
             defended
             ;
             and
             while
             we
             either
             condemn
             other
             Mens
             Opinions
             in
             our
             own
             ,
             or
             our
             own
             Opinions
             in
             those
             of
             other
             Men
             ,
             and
             bite
             at
             one
             another
             ,
             we
             are
             now
             all
             of
             us
             torn
             in
             pieces
             .
          
           This
           Bishop
           sure
           was
           the
           Author
           of
           
             the
             Naked
             Truth
          
           ,
           and
           't
           was
           he
           that
           
             implicitely
             condemn'd
             the
             whole
             Catholick
             Church
             ,
             both
          
           East
           and
           West
           ,
           
             for
             being
             too
             presumptuous
             in
             her
             Definitions
             .
          
        
         
           It
           is
           not
           strange
           to
           me
           ,
           that
           Iulian
           ,
           being
           but
           a
           Reader
           in
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           should
           turn
           Pagan
           :
           Especially
           when
           I
           consider
           that
           he
           suceeded
           Emperor
           after
           Constantius
           .
           For
           it
           seems
           rather
           unavoidable
           that
           a
           man
           of
           great
           Wit
           ,
           as
           he
           was
           ,
           and
           not
           having
           the
           Grace
           of
           God
           to
           direct
           it
           ,
           and
           show
           him
           the
           Beauty
           of
           Religion
           ,
           through
           the
           Deformity
           of
           its
           Governours
           and
           Teachers
           ;
           but
           that
           he
           must
           conceive
           a
           Loathing
           and
           Aversion
           for
           it
           ,
           Nor
           could
           he
           think
           that
           he
           did
           them
           any
           Injustice
           ,
           when
           he
           observed
           that
           ,
           beside
           all
           their
           Unchristian
           Immorality
           too
           ,
           they
           practised
           thus
           against
           the
           Institutive
           Law
           of
           their
           Galilean
           ,
           the
           Persecution
           among
           themselves
           for
           Religion
           .
           And
           well
           might
           he
           add
           to
           his
           other
           Severities
           ,
           that
           sharpness
           of
           his
           Wit
           ,
           both
           Exposing
           and
           Animadverting
           upon
           them
           ,
           at
           another
           rate
           than
           any
           of
           the
           Modern
           Practitioners
           with
           all
           their
           study
           and
           Inclination
           ,
           can
           ever
           arrive
           at
           .
           For
           nothing
           is
           more
           punishable
           ,
           Contemptible
           ,
           and
           truly
           Ridiculous
           ,
           than
           a
           Christian
           that
           walks
           contrary
           to
           his
           Profession
           :
           And
           by
           how
           much
           any
           man
           stands
           with
           more
           advantage
           in
           the
           Church
           for
           Eminency
           ,
           but
           disobeys
           the
           Laws
           of
           Christ
           by
           that
           priviledge
           ,
           he
           is
           thereby
           ,
           and
           deserves
           to
           be
           the
           more
           Exposed
           .
           But
           Iulian
           ,
           the
           last
           Heathen
           Emperor
           ,
           by
           whose
           cruelty
           it
           seemed
           that
           God
           would
           sensibly
           admonish
           once
           again
           the
           Christian
           Clergy
           ,
           and
           show
           them
           by
           their
           own
           smart
           ,
           and
           an
           Heathen-hand
           ,
           the
           nature
           and
           odiousness
           of
           Persecution
           ,
           soon
           died
           ,
           as
           is
           usual
           for
           Men
           of
           that
           Imployment
           ,
           not
           without
           a
           remarkable
           stroke
           of
           Gods
           Judgement
           .
        
         
           Yet
           they
           ,
           as
           they
           were
           only
           sorry
           that
           they
           had
           lost
           so
           much
           time
           ,
           upon
           his
           death
           strove
           as
           eagerly
           to
           redeem
           it
           ,
           and
           forthwith
           fell
           in
           very
           naturally
           into
           their
           former
           Animosities
           .
           For
           Iovianus
           being
           chosen
           Emperor
           in
           Persia
           ,
           and
           returning
           homeward
           ,
           Socr.
           1.
           3.
           c.
           20.
           
           The
           Bishops
           of
           each
           party
           ,
           in
           hopes
           that
           theirs
           should
           be
           the
           Imperial
           Creed
           ,
           strait
           took
           Horse
           ,
           and
           rode
           away
           with
           Switch
           and
           Spur
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           had
           been
           for
           the
           Plate
           ,
           to
           meet
           him
           ;
           and
           he
           that
           
           had
           best
           Heels
           ,
           made
           himself
           cock-sure
           of
           winning
           the
           Religion
           .
           The
           Macedonians
           ,
           who
           dividing
           from
           the
           Arrians
           ,
           had
           set
           up
           for
           a
           new
           Heresie
           concerning
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           (
           and
           they
           were
           a
           Squadron
           of
           Bishops
           )
           Petition'd
           him
           that
           those
           who
           held
           ,
           
             Filium
             Patri
             dissimilem
          
           ,
           might
           be
           turn'd
           out
           ,
           and
           themselves
           put
           in
           their
           places
           :
           Which
           was
           very
           honestly
           done
           ,
           and
           above-board
           .
           The
           Acacians
           ,
           that
           were
           the
           refined
           Arrians
           ,
           but
           ,
           as
           the
           Author
           saith
           ,
           
             Had
             a
             notable
             faculty
             of
             addressing
             themselves
             to
             the
             Inclination
             of
             whatsoever
             Emperor
             ,
          
           and
           having
           good
           Inteligence
           that
           he
           balanced
           rather
           to
           the
           Consubstantials
           ,
           presented
           him
           with
           a
           very
           fair
           Insinuating
           subscription
           ,
           of
           a
           considerable
           number
           of
           Bishops
           to
           the
           Council
           of
           Nice
           .
           But
           in
           the
           next
           Emperors
           time
           they
           will
           be
           found
           to
           yield
           little
           Reverence
           to
           their
           own
           Subscription
           .
           For
           in
           matter
           of
           a
           Creed
           ,
           a
           Note
           of
           their
           Hand
           ,
           without
           expressing
           the
           Penalty
           ,
           could
           not
           it
           seems
           bind
           one
           of
           their
           Order
           .
           But
           all
           that
           Iovianus
           said
           to
           the
           Macedonians
           ,
           was
           ;
           
             I
             hate
             Contention
             ,
             but
             I
             lovingly
             embrace
             and
             reverence
             those
             who
             are
             inclined
             to
             Peace
             and
             Concord
             .
          
           To
           the
           Acacians
           ,
           who
           had
           wisely
           given
           these
           the
           precedence
           of
           Application
           ,
           to
           try
           the
           truth
           of
           their
           Intelligence
           ,
           he
           said
           no
           more
           (
           
             having
             resolv'd
             by
             sweetness
             and
             perswasions
             to
             quiet
             all
             their
             Controversies
          
           )
           but
           ,
           
             That
             he
             would
             not
             molest
             any
             man
             whatsoever
             Creed
             he
             follow'd
             ,
             but
             those
             above
             others
             he
             would
             Cherish
             and
             Honour
             ,
             who
             should
             show
             themselves
             most
             forward
             in
             bringing
             the
             Church
             to
             a
             good
             Agreement
             .
          
           He
           likewise
           call'd
           back
           all
           those
           Bishops
           who
           had
           been
           Banish'd
           by
           Constantius
           ,
           and
           Iulian
           ,
           restoring
           them
           to
           their
           Sees
           .
           And
           he
           writ
           a
           Letter
           in
           particular
           to
           Athanasius
           ,
           who
           upon
           
           Iulian's
           death
           had
           enter'd
           again
           upon
           that
           of
           Alexandria
           ,
           to
           bid
           him
           be
           of
           good
           courage
           .
           
             And
             these
             things
             coming
             to
             the
             Ears
             of
             all
             others
             ,
             did
             wonderfully
             asswage
             the
             Fierceness
             of
             those
             who
             were
             Inflamed
             with
             Faction
             and
             Contention
             :
          
           So
           that
           ,
           the
           Court
           having
           declared
           it self
           of
           this
           Mind
           ,
           the
           Church
           was
           in
           a
           short
           time
           in
           all
           outward
           appearance
           peaceably
           disposed
           ,
           the
           Emperor
           by
           this
           means
           having
           wholly
           repressed
           all
           their
           violence
           .
           Verily
           ,
           concludes
           the
           Historian
           ,
           the
           Roman
           
             Empire
             had
             been
             prosperous
             and
             happy
             ,
             and
             both
             the
             State
             and
             the
             Church
          
           (
           he
           puts
           them
           too
           in
           that
           Order
           )
           
             under
             so
             good
             a
             Prince
             ,
             must
             have
             exceedingly
             flourished
             ,
             had
             not
             an
             Immature
             death
             taken
             him
             away
             from
             managing
             the
             Government
             .
             For
             after
             seven
             Months
             ,
             being
             seized
             with
             a
             mortal
             Obstruction
             ,
             he
             departed
             this
             Life
             .
          
           Did
           not
           this
           Historian
           ,
           trow
           you
           ,
           deserve
           to
           be
           handled
           ,
           and
           is
           it
           not
           ,
           
             now
             the
             Mischief
             is
             done
             ,
             to
             undo
             the
             Charm
             ,
             oecome
             a
          
           Duty
           ,
           to
           Expose
           both
           him
           and
           
             Iovianus
             ?
             By
             their
             ill
             chosen
             Principles
             ,
             what
             would
             have
             become
             of
             the
             Prime
             and
             most
             necessary
             Article
             of
             Faith
             ?
             Might
             not
             the
             old
             Dormant
             Heresies
             ,
             all
             of
             them
             safely
             have
             Revived
             ?
          
        
         
           But
           that
           
             Mortal
             Obstruction
          
           of
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           was
           not
           by
           his
           death
           (
           nor
           is
           it
           by
           their
           own
           to
           be
           )
           removed
           .
           They
           were
           glad
           he
           was
           so
           soon
           got
           out
           of
           their
           way
           ,
           and
           God
           would
           yet
           further
           manifest
           :
           their
           intractable
           Spirit
           ,
           which
           not
           the
           Persecution
           of
           the
           Heathen
           Emperor
           Iulian
           ,
           nor
           the
           Gentleness
           of
           Iovianus
           the
           Christian
           ,
           could
           allay
           or
           mitigate
           by
           their
           Afflictions
           or
           Prosperity
           .
           The
           Divine
           Nemesis
           executed
           Justice
           upon
           them
           ,
           by
           one
           anothers
           hand
           :
           
           And
           so
           hainous
           a
           Crime
           as
           for
           a
           Christian
           ,
           a
           Bishop
           to
           Persecute
           ,
           stood
           yet
           in
           need
           ,
           as
           the
           only
           equal
           and
           exemplary
           Punishment
           ,
           of
           being
           reveng'd
           with
           a
           Persecution
           by
           Christians
           ,
           by
           Bishops
           .
           And
           whosoever
           shall
           seriously
           consider
           all
           along
           the
           Successions
           of
           the
           Emperors
           ,
           can
           never
           have
           taken
           that
           satisfaction
           in
           the
           most
           judicious
           Representations
           of
           the
           Scene
           ,
           which
           he
           may
           in
           this
           worthy
           Speculation
           of
           the
           great
           Order
           and
           admirable
           conduct
           of
           wise
           Providence
           ;
           through
           the
           whole
           contexture
           of
           these
           Exterior
           seeming
           Accidents
           ,
           relating
           to
           the
           Ecclesiasticals
           of
           Christianity
           .
        
         
           For
           to
           Iovianus
           succeeded
           Valentinian
           ,
           who
           in
           a
           short
           time
           took
           his
           Brother
           Valens
           to
           be
           his
           Companion
           in
           the
           Empire
           .
           These
           two
           Brothers
           did
           as
           the
           Historian
           observes
           ,
           Socr.
           l.
           14.
           c.
           1.
           (
           alike
           ,
           and
           equally
           take
           care
           at
           the
           beginning
           ,
           for
           the
           advantage
           and
           government
           of
           the
           State
           )
           but
           very
           much
           disagreed
           ,
           though
           both
           Christians
           ,
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           :
           Valetinianus
           the
           Elder
           being
           an
           Orthodox
           ,
           but
           Valens
           an
           Arrian
           ,
           and
           they
           used
           a
           different
           Method
           toward
           the
           Christians
           .
           For
           Valentinian
           (
           who
           chose
           the
           western
           part
           of
           the
           Empire
           ,
           and
           left
           the
           East
           to
           his
           Brother
           )
           as
           he
           embraced
           those
           of
           his
           own
           Creed
           ,
           so
           yet
           he
           did
           not
           in
           the
           least
           molest
           the
           Arrians
           :
           But
           Valens
           not
           only
           labor'd
           to
           increase
           the
           number
           of
           the
           Arrians
           ,
           but
           afflicted
           those
           of
           the
           contrary
           Opinion
           with
           grievous
           Punishments
           .
           And
           both
           of
           'm
           ,
           especially
           Valens
           ,
           had
           Bishops
           for
           their
           purpose
           .
           The
           particulars
           of
           that
           heavy
           Persecution
           under
           Valens
           ,
           any
           one
           may
           further
           satisfie
           himself
           of
           in
           the
           Writers
           of
           those
           times
           :
           And
           yet
           it
           is
           observable
           ,
           that
           within
           a
           little
           space
           while
           he
           pursued
           the
           Orthodox
           Bishops
           ,
           he
           gave
           Liberty
           to
           the
           Novatians
           ,
           (
           who
           were
           of
           the
           same
           Creed
           ,
           but
           separated
           from
           them
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           said
           ,
           upon
           Discipline
           ,
           &c.
           )
           and
           caused
           their
           Churches
           ,
           which
           for
           a
           while
           were
           shut
           up
           ,
           to
           be
           opened
           again
           at
           Constantinople
           .
           To
           be
           short
           ,
           Valens
           (
           who
           out-lived
           his
           Brother
           ,
           that
           died
           of
           a
           natural
           Death
           )
           himself
           in
           a
           Battel
           against
           the
           Goths
           ,
           could
           not
           escape
           neither
           the
           fate
           of
           a
           Christian
           Persecutor
           .
           
             For
             the
          
           Goths
           
             having
             made
             application
             to
             him
             ,
             he
             ,
          
           saith
           Socrates
           ,
           
             not
             well
             fore-seeing
             the
             Consequence
             ,
             admitted
             them
             to
             Inhabit
             in
             certain
             places
             of
          
           Thracia
           ,
           
             pleasing
             himself
             that
             he
             should
             by
             that
             means
             always
             have
             an
             Army
             ready
             at
             hand
             against
             whatsoever
             Enemies
             ;
             and
             that
             those
             Foreign
             Guards
             would
             strike
             them
             with
             a
             greater
             Terror
             ,
             more
             by
             far
             than
             the
          
           Militia
           
             of
             his
             Subjects
             .
             And
             so
             slighting
             the
             ancient
             Veterane
          
           Militia
           ,
           
             which
             used
             to
             consist
             of
             Bodies
             of
             Men
             ,
             raised
             proportionably
             in
             every
             Province
             ,
             and
             were
             stout
             Fellows
             that
             would
             Fight
             Manfully
             ;
             instead
             of
             them
             he
             levied
             Money
             ,
             rating
             the
             Country
             at
             so
             much
             for
             every
             Souldier
             .
          
           But
           these
           new
           Inmates
           of
           the
           Emperors
           soon
           grew
           Troublesom
           ,
           as
           is
           customary
           ,
           and
           not
           only
           infested
           the
           Natives
           in
           Thracia
           ,
           but
           Plunder'd
           even
           the
           Suburbs
           of
           Constantinople
           ,
           there
           being
           no
           Armed
           Force
           to
           repress
           them
           :
           Hereupon
           the
           whole
           People
           of
           the
           City
           cried
           out
           at
           a
           publick
           Spectacle
           ,
           where
           Valens
           was
           present
           neglecting
           this
           matter
           ,
           
             Give
             us
             Arms
             and
             we
             will
             manage
             this
             War
             our selves
             .
          
           This
           extreamly
           provok'd
           him
           ,
           so
           that
           he
           forthwith
           made
           an
           Expedition
           against
           the
           Goths
           :
           But
           
             Threatned
             the
          
           Citizens
           
             if
             he
             return'd
             in
             safety
             ,
             to
             be
             Reveng'd
             on
             them
             both
             for
             those
             Contumelies
             ,
             and
             for
             what
             under
             the
             Tyrant
          
           Procopius
           ,
           
             they
             had
             committed
             against
             
             the
             Empire
             ;
             and
             that
             he
             would
             Raze
             to
             the
             Ground
             ,
             and
             Plow
             up
             the
             City
             .
             Yet
             before
             his
             departure
             out
             of
             the
             fear
             of
             the
             Foraign
             Enemy
             ,
             he
             totally
             ceas'd
             from
             persecuting
             the
             Orthodox
             in
          
           Constantinople
           .
           
             But
             he
             was
             kill'd
             in
             the
             Fight
             ,
             or
             Flying
             into
             a
             Village
             that
             the
          
           Goths
           
             had
             set
             on
             fire
             ,
             he
             was
             burnt
             to
             ashes
             ,
          
           to
           the
           great
           grief
           of
           his
           Bishops
           ;
           who
           ,
           had
           he
           been
           Victorious
           ,
           might
           have
           revived
           the
           Persecution
           .
           Such
           was
           the
           end
           of
           his
           Impetuous
           Reign
           and
           rash
           Counsels
           ,
           both
           as
           to
           his
           Government
           of
           State
           ,
           in
           matters
           of
           Peace
           and
           War
           ,
           and
           his
           Manage
           of
           the
           Church
           by
           Persecution
           .
        
         
           His
           death
           brings
           me
           to
           the
           Succession
           of
           Theodosius
           the
           Great
           ,
           than
           whom
           no
           Christian
           Emperor
           did
           more
           make
           it
           his
           business
           to
           Nurse
           up
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           to
           Lull
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           to
           keep
           the
           House
           in
           quiet
           .
           But
           neither
           was
           it
           in
           his
           power
           to
           still
           their
           Bawling
           ,
           and
           Scratching
           one
           another
           ,
           as
           far
           as
           their
           Nails
           (
           which
           were
           yet
           more
           tender
           ,
           but
           afterwards
           grew
           like
           Tallons
           )
           would
           give
           them
           leave
           .
           I
           shall
           not
           further
           vex
           the
           History
           ,
           or
           the
           Reader
           ,
           in
           recounting
           the
           particulars
           ;
           taking
           no
           delight
           neither
           my self
           in
           so
           uncomfortable
           Relations
           ,
           or
           to
           reflect
           beyond
           what
           is
           necessary
           upon
           the
           Wolfishness
           of
           those
           which
           then
           seemed
           ,
           and
           ought
           to
           have
           been
           the
           Christian
           Pastors
           ,
           but
           went
           on
           scattering
           their
           Flocks
           ,
           if
           not
           devouring
           ;
           and
           the
           Shepherds
           smiting
           one
           another
           .
           In
           his
           Reign
           ,
           the
           second
           General
           Council
           was
           called
           ,
           that
           of
           Constantinople
           ,
           and
           the
           Creed
           was
           there
           made
           ,
           which
           took
           its
           name
           from
           the
           place
           :
           The
           rest
           of
           their
           business
           ,
           any
           one
           that
           is
           further
           curious
           ,
           may
           observe
           in
           the
           Writers
           .
           But
           I
           shall
           close
           this
           with
           a
           short
           touch
           concerning
           
             Gregory
             Nazianzen
          
           ,
           then
           living
           ,
           than
           whom
           also
           the
           Christian
           Church
           had
           not
           in
           those
           times
           (
           and
           I
           question
           whether
           in
           any
           succeeding
           )
           a
           Bishop
           that
           was
           more
           a
           Christian
           ,
           more
           a
           Getleman
           ,
           better
           appointed
           in
           all
           sorts
           of
           Learning
           requisite
           ,
           seasoned
           under
           
           Iulian's
           Persecution
           ,
           and
           exemplary
           to
           the
           highest
           pitch
           of
           true
           Religion
           ,
           and
           Practical
           Piety
           .
           The
           eminence
           of
           these
           Vertues
           ,
           and
           in
           special
           of
           his
           Humility
           (
           the
           lowliest
           ,
           but
           the
           highest
           of
           all
           Christian
           Qualifications
           )
           raised
           him
           under
           Theodosius
           ,
           from
           the
           Parish-like
           Bishoprick
           of
           Nazianzum
           ,
           to
           that
           of
           Constantinople
           ,
           where
           he
           fill'd
           his
           place
           in
           that
           Council
           .
           But
           having
           taken
           notice
           in
           what
           manner
           things
           were
           carried
           in
           that
           ,
           as
           they
           had
           been
           in
           former
           Councils
           ,
           and
           that
           some
           of
           the
           Bishops
           muttered
           at
           his
           promotion
           ;
           he
           of
           his
           own
           mind
           resigned
           that
           great
           Bishoprick
           ,
           whis
           was
           never
           of
           his
           desire
           or
           seeking
           ;
           and
           ,
           though
           so
           highly
           seated
           in
           the
           Emperors
           Reverence
           and
           Favor
           ,
           so
           acceptable
           to
           the
           People
           ,
           and
           generally
           to
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           whose
           unequal
           Abilities
           could
           not
           pretend
           or
           justifie
           an
           envy
           against
           him
           ;
           retired
           back
           for
           more
           content
           ,
           to
           a
           Solitary
           Life
           ,
           to
           his
           little
           Nazianzum
           .
           And
           from
           thence
           he
           writes
           that
           Letter
           to
           his
           Friend
           Procopius
           ,
           wherein
           .
           p.
           418.
           upon
           his
           most
           recollected
           and
           serious
           reflexion
           on
           what
           had
           faln
           within
           his
           observation
           ,
           he
           useth
           these
           remarkable
           words
           :
           
             I
             have
             resolved
             with
             my self
             (
             if
             I
             may
             tell
             you
             the
          
           Naked
           
             Truth
             ,
             )
             never
             more
             to
             come
             into
             any
             Assembly
             of
             Bishops
             :
             for
             I
             never
             saw
             a
             good
             and
             happy
             end
             of
             any
             Council
             ,
             but
             which
             rather
             increased
             than
             remedied
             the
             mischiefs
             .
             For
             their
             obstinate
             Contentions
             and
             Ambition
             are
             unexpressible
             .
          
        
         
         
           It
           would
           require
           too
           great
           a
           Volume
           to
           deduce
           ,
           from
           the
           death
           of
           Theodosius
           ,
           the
           particulars
           that
           happened
           in
           the
           succeeding
           Reigns
           about
           this
           matter
           .
           But
           the
           Reader
           may
           reckon
           that
           it
           was
           as
           stated
           a
           Quarrel
           betwixt
           the
           Homoousians
           ,
           and
           the
           Homoiousians
           ,
           as
           that
           between
           the
           Houses
           of
           York
           and
           Lancaster
           :
           And
           there
           arose
           now
           an
           Emperor
           of
           one
           Line
           ,
           and
           then
           again
           of
           the
           other
           .
           But
           among
           all
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           there
           was
           not
           one
           Morton
           ,
           whose
           
             industrious
             Brain
             could
             or
             would
          
           (
           for
           some
           Men
           always
           reap
           by
           Division
           )
           
             make
             up
             the
             fatal
             Breach
             betwixt
          
           the
           two
           Creeds
           .
           By
           this
           means
           every
           Creed
           was
           grown
           up
           to
           a
           Test
           ,
           and
           under
           that
           pretence
           ,
           the
           dextrous
           Bishops
           step
           by
           step
           hooked
           within
           their
           Verge
           ,
           all
           the
           business
           and
           Power
           that
           could
           be
           catched
           in
           those
           Turbulences
           ,
           where
           they
           mudled
           the
           Water
           ,
           and
           Fished
           after
           .
           By
           this
           means
           they
           stalked
           on
           first
           to
           a
           Spiritual
           kind
           of
           Dominion
           ,
           and
           from
           that
           incroached
           upon
           and
           into
           the
           Civil
           Jurisdiction
           .
           A
           Bishop
           now
           grew
           terrible
           ,
           and
           (
           whereas
           a
           simple
           Layman
           might
           have
           frighted
           the
           Devil
           with
           the
           first
           words
           of
           the
           Apostles
           Creed
           ,
           and
           
             I
             defie
             thee
             Satan
          
           )
           one
           Creed
           could
           not
           protect
           him
           from
           a
           Bishop
           ,
           and
           it
           required
           a
           much
           longer
           ,
           and
           a
           double
           and
           treble
           Confession
           ,
           unless
           himself
           would
           be
           delivered
           over
           to
           Satan
           by
           an
           Anathema
           .
           But
           this
           was
           only
           an
           Ecclesiastical
           sentence
           at
           first
           ,
           with
           which
           they
           marked
           out
           such
           as
           sinned
           against
           them
           ,
           and
           then
           whoop'd
           and
           hallow'd
           on
           the
           Civil
           Magistrate
           ,
           to
           hunt
           them
           down
           for
           their
           Spiritual
           Pleasure
           .
           They
           crept
           at
           first
           by
           Court
           Insinuations
           &
           Flattery
           into
           the
           Princes
           favor
           ,
           till
           those
           generous
           Creatures
           suffered
           themselves
           to
           be
           backed
           &
           ridden
           by
           them
           ,
           who
           would
           take
           as
           much
           of
           a
           free
           Horse
           as
           possible
           :
           But
           in
           Persecution
           the
           Clergy
           as
           yet
           ,
           wisely
           interposed
           the
           Magistrate
           betwixt
           themselves
           &
           the
           People
           ,
           not
           caring
           so
           their
           end
           were
           attained
           ,
           how
           odious
           they
           rendred
           him
           :
           And
           you
           may
           observe
           that
           for
           the
           most
           part
           hitherto
           ,
           they
           stood
           crouching
           &
           shot
           either
           over
           the
           Emperors
           back
           ,
           or
           under
           his
           belly
           .
           But
           in
           process
           of
           time
           they
           became
           bolder
           and
           open-fac'd
           ,
           and
           Persecuted
           before
           the
           Sun
           at
           Mid-day
           .
           Bishops
           grew
           worse
           ,
           but
           Bishopricks
           every
           day
           better
           and
           better
           .
           There
           was
           now
           no
           Eusebius
           left
           to
           refuse
           the
           Bishopcick
           of
           Antiochia
           ,
           whom
           therefore
           Constantine
           told
           ,
           
             That
             he
             deserv'd
             the
             Bishoprick
             of
             the
             whole
             World
             for
             that
             Modesty
             .
          
           They
           were
           not
           such
           Fools
           as
           
             Ammonius
             Parates
          
           ,
           I
           warrant
           you
           ,
           in
           the
           time
           of
           
             Theodosius
             .
             He
          
           ,
           Socr.
           
             l.
             6.
             c.
             30.
             being
             seised
             upon
             by
             some
             that
             would
             needs
             make
             him
             a
             Bishop
             ,
             when
             he
             could
             not
             perswade
             them
             to
             the
             contrary
             ,
             cut
             off
             one
             of
             his
             Ears
             ,
             telling
             them
             that
             now
             should
             he
             himself
             desire
             to
             be
             a
             Bishop
             ,
             he
             was
             by
             the
             Law
             of
             Priesthood
             incapable
             :
             but
             when
             they
             observed
             that
             those
             things
             only
             obliged
             the
          
           Jewish
           
             Priesthood
             ,
             and
             that
             the
             Church
             of
          
           Christ
           
             did
             not
             consider
             whether
             a
             Priest
             were
             sound
             or
             perfect
             in
             limb
             of
             Body
             ,
             but
             only
             that
             he
             were
             intire
             in
             his
             manners
             ;
             they
             return'd
             to
             seize
             on
             him
             again
             :
             But
             when
             he
             saw
             them
             coming
             ,
             he
             swore
             with
             a
             solemn
             Oath
             ,
             that
             if
             ,
             to
             Consecrate
             him
             a
             Bishop
             ,
             they
             laid
             violent
             hands
             upon
             him
             ,
             he
             would
             cut
             out
             his
             tongue
             also
             ;
             whereupon
             they
             fearing
             he
             would
             do
             it
             ,
             desisted
             .
          
           What
           should
           have
           been
           the
           matter
           ,
           that
           a
           man
           so
           Learned
           and
           Holy
           ,
           should
           have
           such
           an
           aversion
           to
           be
           promoted
           in
           his
           own
           Order
           ;
           that
           ,
           rather
           than
           yield
           to
           be
           a
           Compelled
           or
           
           Compelling
           Bishop
           ,
           he
           would
           inflict
           upon
           himself
           as
           severe
           a
           Martyrdom
           ,
           as
           any
           Persecutor
           could
           have
           done
           for
           him
           ?
           Sure
           he
           saw
           something
           more
           in
           the
           very
           Constitution
           ,
           than
           some
           do
           at
           present
           .
           But
           this
           indeed
           was
           an
           Example
           too
           Rigid
           ,
           and
           neither
           fit
           to
           have
           been
           done
           ,
           nor
           to
           be
           imitated
           ,
           as
           there
           was
           no
           danger
           .
           For
           far
           from
           this
           they
           followed
           the
           precedent
           rather
           of
           Damasus
           and
           Vrsinus
           ,
           which
           last
           ,
           Socr.
           l.
           4
           c.
           24.
           in
           Valentinian
           '
           
             s
             time
             ,
             perswaded
             certain
             obscure
             and
             abject
             Bishops
          
           (
           for
           there
           were
           it
           seems
           of
           all
           sorts
           and
           sizes
           )
           
             to
             create
             him
             Bishop
             in
             a
             Corner
             ,
             and
             then
          
           (
           so
           early
           )
           
             he
             and
          
           Damasus
           ,
           who
           was
           much
           the
           better
           Man
           ,
           waged
           War
           for
           the
           Bishoprick
           of
           Rome
           ,
           to
           the
           great
           scandal
           of
           the
           Pagan
           Writers
           ,
           who
           made
           Remarks
           for
           this
           and
           other
           things
           upon
           their
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           Bloodshed
           and
           Death
           of
           a
           multitude
           of
           the
           Christian
           People
           .
           But
           this
           last
           I
           mention'd
           ,
           only
           as
           a
           weak
           and
           imperfect
           Essay
           in
           that
           time
           ,
           of
           what
           it
           came
           to
           in
           the
           several
           Ages
           after
           ,
           which
           I
           am
           now
           speaking
           of
           ,
           when
           the
           Bishops
           were
           given
           ,
           gave
           themselves
           over
           to
           all
           manner
           of
           Vice
           ,
           Luxury
           ,
           Pride
           ,
           Ignorance
           ,
           Superstition
           ,
           Covetousness
           ,
           and
           Monopolizing
           of
           all
           secular
           Imployments
           and
           Authority
           .
           Nothing
           could
           escape
           them
           :
           They
           meddled
           ,
           troubled
           themselves
           and
           others
           ,
           with
           many
           things
           ,
           every
           thing
           ,
           forgetting
           that
           
             one
             ,
             only
             needful
          
           .
           Insomuch
           that
           I
           could
           not
           avoid
           wondring
           often
           ,
           that
           among
           so
           many
           Churches
           that
           with
           Paganick
           Rites
           they
           dedicated
           to
           Saint
           Mary
           ,
           I
           have
           met
           with
           none
           to
           Saint
           Martha
           .
           But
           above
           all
           ,
           Imposition
           and
           Cruelty
           became
           inherent
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           the
           power
           of
           Persecution
           was
           grown
           so
           good
           and
           desirable
           a
           thing
           ,
           that
           they
           thought
           the
           Magistrate
           scarce
           worthy
           to
           be
           trusted
           with
           it
           longer
           ,
           and
           a
           meer
           Novice
           at
           it
           ,
           and
           either
           wrested
           it
           out
           of
           his
           hands
           ,
           or
           gently
           eased
           him
           of
           that
           and
           his
           other
           burdens
           of
           Government
           .
           The
           sufferings
           of
           the
           Laity
           were
           become
           the
           Royalties
           of
           the
           Clergy
           ;
           and
           ,
           being
           very
           careful
           Christians
           ,
           the
           Bishops
           that
           not
           a
           word
           of
           our
           Saviour
           might
           fall
           to
           the
           ground
           ,
           because
           he
           had
           foretold
           how
           men
           should
           be
           persecuted
           for
           his
           Names
           sake
           ,
           they
           undertook
           to
           see
           it
           done
           effectually
           in
           their
           own
           Provinces
           ,
           and
           out
           of
           pure
           zeal
           of
           doing
           him
           the
           more
           Service
           of
           this
           kind
           ,
           inlarged
           studiously
           their
           Diocesses
           beyond
           all
           proportion
           .
           Like
           Nostrodamus
           his
           Son
           ,
           that
           to
           fulfil
           his
           Father's
           prediction
           of
           a
           City
           in
           France
           ,
           that
           should
           be
           burned
           ;
           with
           his
           own
           hands
           set
           it
           on
           fire
           .
           All
           the
           Calamities
           of
           the
           Christian
           world
           in
           those
           Ages
           ,
           may
           be
           derived
           from
           them
           ,
           while
           they
           warm'd
           themselves
           at
           the
           Flame
           ;
           and
           like
           Lords
           of
           Misrule
           ,
           kept
           a
           perpetual
           Christmas
           .
           What
           in
           the
           Bishops
           name
           is
           the
           matter
           ?
           How
           it
           came
           about
           that
           Christianity
           ,
           which
           approved
           it self
           under
           all
           Persecutions
           to
           the
           Heathen
           Emperors
           ,
           and
           merited
           their
           favour
           so
           far
           ,
           till
           at
           last
           it
           regularly
           succeeded
           to
           the
           Monarchy
           ,
           should
           under
           those
           of
           their
           own
           Profession
           be
           more
           distressed
           ?
           Were
           there
           some
           Christians
           then
           too
           ,
           that
           feared
           still
           lest
           Men
           should
           be
           Christians
           ,
           and
           for
           whom
           
             it
             was
             necessary
          
           ,
           not
           for
           the
           Gospel
           reason
           
             that
             there
             should
             be
             Heresies
          
           .
           Let
           us
           collect
           a
           little
           now
           also
           in
           the
           conclusion
           what
           at
           first
           was
           not
           particulariz'd
           ,
           how
           the
           reason
           of
           State
           and
           Measure
           of
           Government
           stood
           under
           the
           Roman
           Emperours
           ,
           in
           aspect
           to
           them
           .
           I
           omit
           Tiberius
           ,
           mention'd
           in
           the
           beginning
           of
           this
           
           Essay
           .
           Trajane
           ,
           after
           having
           persecuted
           them
           ,
           and
           having
           used
           Pliny
           the
           second
           in
           his
           Province
           to
           that
           purpose
           ,
           upon
           his
           relation
           that
           they
           lived
           in
           conformity
           to
           all
           Law
           ,
           but
           that
           which
           forbad
           their
           Worship
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           other
           things
           were
           blameless
           ,
           and
           good
           men
           ,
           straitly
           by
           his
           Edict
           commanded
           that
           none
           of
           them
           should
           be
           farther
           enquired
           after
           .
           Hadrian
           ,
           in
           his
           Edict
           to
           
             Minutius
             Fundanus
          
           ,
           Proconsul
           of
           Asia
           ,
           commands
           him
           that
           ,
           
             If
             any
             accuse
             the
             Christians
             ,
             and
             can
             prove
             it
             ,
             that
             they
             commit
             any
             thing
             against
             the
             State
             ,
             that
             then
             he
             punish
             them
             according
             to
             the
             crime
             :
             but
             if
             any
             man
             accuse
             them
             ,
             meerly
             for
             calumny
             and
             vexation
             ,
             as
             Christians
             ,
             then
             i'faith
             let
             him
             suffer
             for
             't
             ,
             and
             take
             you
             care
             that
             he
             feel
             the
             smart
             of
             it
             .
             Antoninus
             Pius
          
           writ
           his
           Edict
           very
           remarkable
           ,
           if
           there
           were
           place
           to
           recite
           it
           ,
           to
           the
           States
           of
           Asia
           Assembled
           at
           Ephesus
           ,
           wherein
           he
           takes
           notice
           of
           his
           Fathers
           command
           ,
           that
           
             unless
             the
             Christians
             were
             found
             to
             act
             any
             thing
             against
             the
          
           Roman
           
             Empire
             ,
             they
             should
             not
             be
             molested
             ,
          
           and
           then
           commands
           ,
           
             that
             if
             any
             man
             thereafter
             shall
             continue
             to
             trouble
             them
             ,
          
           tanquam
           tales
           ,
           
             as
             Christians
             ,
             for
             their
             Worship
             ,
             in
             that
             case
             ,
             he
             that
             is
             the
             Informer
             ,
             should
             be
             exposed
             to
             punishment
             ,
             but
             the
             Accused
             should
             be
             free
             and
             discharged
             .
          
           I
           could
           not
           but
           observe
           that
           among
           other
           things
           in
           this
           Edict
           ,
           where
           he
           is
           speaking
           .
           
             It
             is
             desirable
             to
             them
             that
             they
             may
             appear
             ,
             being
             accused
             ,
             more
             willing
             to
             die
             for
             their
             God
             than
             to
             live
             :
          
           He
           adds
           ,
           
             It
             would
             not
             be
             amiss
             to
             admonish
             you
             concerning
             the
             Earth-quakes
             which
             have
             ,
             and
             do
             now
             happen
             ,
             that
             when
             you
             are
             afflicted
             at
             them
             ,
             you
             would
             compare
             our
             affairs
             with
             theirs
             .
             They
             are
             thereby
             so
             much
             the
             more
             incouraged
             to
             a
             confidence
             and
             reliance
             upon
             God
             ,
             but
             you
             all
             the
             while
             go
             on
             in
             your
             ignorance
             ,
             and
             neglect
             both
             other
             gods
             ,
             and
             the
             Religion
             towards
             the
             immortal
             ,
             and
             banish
             and
             persecute
             them
             unto
             death
             .
          
           Which
           words
           of
           that
           Emperors
           ,
           fall
           in
           so
           naturally
           with
           what
           ,
           it
           seems
           ,
           was
           a
           common
           observation
           about
           Earth-quakes
           ,
           that
           I
           cannot
           but
           to
           that
           purpose
           take
           further
           notice
           ,
           how
           also
           
             Gregory
             Nazianzen
          
           ,
           in
           Or.
           2.
           
             contra
             Gentiles
          
           ,
           tells
           ,
           besides
           the
           breakings
           in
           of
           the
           Sea
           in
           several
           places
           ,
           and
           many
           fires
           that
           happened
           ,
           of
           the
           Earth-quakes
           in
           particular
           ,
           which
           he
           reckons
           as
           Symptoms
           of
           
           Iulian's
           Persecution
           .
           And
           to
           this
           I
           may
           add
           ,
           Socr.
           l.
           3.
           c.
           10
           ,
           who
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           Valens
           ,
           that
           notorious
           Christian
           Persecutor
           ,
           saith
           ,
           at
           the
           same
           time
           there
           was
           an
           Earth-quake
           in
           Bithynia
           ,
           which
           turned
           the
           City
           of
           Nice
           (
           that
           same
           in
           which
           the
           general
           Council
           was
           held
           under
           Constantine
           )
           and
           a
           little
           after
           there
           was
           another
           .
           
             But
             although
             these
             so
             happened
             ,
             the
             minds
             of
          
           Valens
           ,
           
             and
             of
          
           Eudoxius
           ,
           
             the
             Bishop
             of
             the
          
           Arrians
           ,
           
             were
             not
             all
             stirred
             up
             unto
             Piety
             ,
             and
             a
             right
             opinion
             of
             Religion
             .
          
           For
           
             nevertheless
             they
             ceased
             not
             ,
             made
             no
             end
             of
             persecuting
             those
             who
             in
             their
             Creed
             dissented
             from
             them
             .
             Those
             Earth-quakes
             seemed
             to
             be
             certain
             indications
             of
             tumults
             in
             the
             Church
             .
          
           All
           which
           put
           together
           ,
           could
           not
           but
           make
           me
           reflect
           upon
           the
           late
           Earth-quakes
           ,
           great
           by
           how
           much
           more
           unusual
           here
           in
           England
           ,
           thorow
           so
           many
           Counties
           two
           years
           since
           ,
           at
           the
           same
           time
           when
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           some
           of
           them
           ,
           were
           so
           busie
           in
           their
           Cabals
           ,
           to
           promote
           this
           (
           I
           would
           give
           it
           a
           modester
           name
           than
           )
           Persecution
           ,
           which
           is
           now
           on
           foot
           against
           the
           Dissenters
           ;
           at
           so
           unseasonable
           a
           time
           ,
           and
           upon
           no
           occasion
           administred
           by
           them
           ,
           that
           those
           who
           comprehend
           the
           reasons
           ,
           yet
           cannot
           but
           wonder
           at
           the
           wisdom
           
           of
           it
           .
           Yet
           I
           am
           not
           neither
           one
           of
           the
           most
           credulous
           nickers
           or
           appliers
           of
           natural
           events
           to
           human
           transanctions
           :
           But
           neither
           am
           I
           so
           secure
           as
           the
           Learned
           Dr.
           Spencer
           ,
           nor
           can
           walk
           along
           the
           world
           without
           having
           some
           eye
           to
           the
           conjunctures
           of
           God's
           admirable
           Providence
           .
           Neither
           was
           
             Marcus
             Aurelius
          
           (
           that
           I
           may
           return
           to
           my
           matter
           )
           negligent
           as
           to
           the
           particular
           .
           But
           he
           ,
           observing
           ,
           as
           Antonnius
           had
           the
           Earth-quakes
           ,
           that
           in
           an
           expedition
           against
           the
           Germans
           and
           Sarmatians
           ,
           his
           Army
           being
           in
           despair
           almost
           for
           want
           of
           water
           ,
           the
           Melitine
           (
           afterwards
           from
           the
           event
           called
           the
           Thundring
           )
           Legion
           ,
           which
           consisted
           of
           Christians
           ,
           kneel'd
           down
           in
           the
           very
           heat
           of
           their
           thirst
           and
           fight
           ,
           praying
           for
           rain
           ;
           which
           posture
           the
           Enemies
           wondring
           at
           ,
           immediately
           there
           brake
           out
           such
           a
           thundring
           and
           lightning
           ,
           as
           together
           with
           the
           Christian
           valour
           ,
           routed
           the
           adverse
           Army
           ,
           but
           so
           much
           rain
           fell
           therewith
           ,
           as
           refreshed
           Aurelius
           his
           Forces
           ,
           that
           were
           at
           the
           last
           gasp
           for
           thirst
           :
           He
           thence
           forward
           commanded
           by
           his
           Letters
           ,
           
             That
             upon
             pain
             of
             death
             none
             should
             inform
             against
             the
             Christians
             ,
          
           as
           Tertullian
           in
           his
           Apology
           for
           the
           Christians
           witnesses
           .
           But
           who
           would
           have
           believed
           that
           even
           Commodus
           ,
           so
           great
           a
           Tyrant
           otherwise
           ,
           should
           have
           been
           so
           favourable
           as
           to
           make
           a
           Law
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Informers
             against
             Christians
             should
             be
             punished
             with
             death
             ?
          
           Yet
           he
           did
           ,
           and
           the
           Informer
           against
           Apollonius
           was
           by
           it
           executed
           .
           Much
           less
           could
           a
           man
           have
           thought
           that
           ,
           that
           prodigy
           of
           cruelty
           Maximine
           ,
           and
           who
           exercised
           it
           so
           severely
           upon
           the
           Christians
           ,
           should
           ,
           as
           he
           did
           ,
           being
           struck
           with
           God's
           hand
           ,
           publish
           when
           it
           was
           too
           late
           Edict
           after
           Edict
           ,
           in
           great
           favour
           of
           the
           Christians
           .
           But
           above
           all
           ,
           nothing
           could
           have
           been
           less
           expected
           than
           that
           ,
           after
           those
           Heathen
           Emperors
           ,
           the
           first
           Christian
           Constantine
           should
           have
           been
           seduced
           by
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           to
           be
           after
           them
           ,
           the
           first
           occasion
           of
           Persecution
           ,
           so
           contrary
           to
           his
           own
           excellent
           inclination
           :
           'T
           was
           then
           that
           he
           spake
           his
           own
           mind
           ,
           when
           he
           said
           ,
           Eus.
           de
           vitâ
           
             Const.
             69.
             
             You
             ought
             to
             retain
             within
             the
             bounds
             of
             your
             private
             thoughts
             of
             those
             things
             ,
             which
             you
             cunningly
             and
             subtly
             seek
             out
             concerning
             most
             frivolous
             questions
             .
          
           And
           then
           much
           plainer
           ,
           c.
           67.
           where
           he
           saith
           so
           wisely
           .
           
             You
             are
             not
             ignorant
             that
             the
             Philosophers
             all
             of
             them
             do
             agree
             in
             the
             profession
             of
             the
             same
             Discipline
             ,
             but
             do
             oftentimes
             differ
             in
             some
             part
             of
             the
             Opinions
             that
             they
             dogmatize
             in
             :
             But
             yet
             ,
             although
             they
             do
             dissent
             about
             the
             Discipline
             that
             each
             several
             Sect
             observeth
             ,
             they
             nevertheless
             reconcile
             themselves
             again
             for
             the
             sake
             of
             that
             common
             Profession
             to
             which
             they
             have
             concurred
             .
          
           But
           again
           compulsion
           in
           Religious
           .
           matters
           so
           much
           every
           where
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           needless
           to
           insert
           one
           passage
           .
           And
           he
           being
           of
           this
           disposition
           ,
           and
           universally
           famous
           for
           his
           care
           and
           countenance
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           .
           Eusebius
           saith
           these
           words
           ,
           
             While
             the
             People
             of
             God
             did
             glory
             and
             heighten
             it self
             in
             the
             doing
             of
             good
             things
             ,
             and
             all
             fear
             from
             without
             was
             taken
             away
             ,
             and
             the
             Church
             was
             fortifi'd
             as
             I
             may
             say
             ,
             on
             all
             sides
             by
             a
             peaceable
             and
             illustrious
             tranquility
             ,
             then
             Envy
             lying
             in
             wait
             against
             our
             prosperity
             ,
             craftily
             crept
             in
             ,
             and
             began
             first
             to
             dance
             in
             the
             midst
             of
             the
             company
             of
             Bishops
          
           ;
           so
           goes
           on
           ,
           telling
           the
           History
           of
           Alexander
           and
           Arrius
           .
           I
           have
           been
           before
           large
           enough
           in
           that
           relation
           ,
           wherein
           appeared
           that
           ,
           contrary
           to
           that
           great
           Emperours
           pious
           intention
           ,
           whereas
           
             Envy
             began
             to
             dance
             among
             the
             
             Bishops
             first
             ,
          
           the
           good
           Constantine
           brought
           them
           the
           Fiddles
           .
           But
           it
           appear'd
           likewise
           how
           soon
           he
           was
           weary
           of
           the
           Ball
           ,
           and
           toward
           his
           latter
           end
           ,
           as
           Princes
           often
           do
           upon
           too
           late
           experience
           ,
           would
           have
           repressed
           all
           ,
           and
           returned
           to
           his
           natural
           temper
           .
           Of
           the
           other
           Christian
           Emperours
           I
           likewise
           discoursed
           ,
           omitting
           ,
           that
           I
           might
           insert
           it
           in
           this
           place
           ,
           how
           the
           great
           Heathen
           Philosopher
           Themistius
           ,
           in
           his
           Consolar
           Oration
           ,
           celebrated
           Iovianus
           for
           having
           given
           that
           toleration
           in
           Christien
           Religion
           ,
           and
           thereby
           defeated
           the
           flattering
           Bishops
           ,
           which
           sort
           of
           men
           ,
           saith
           he
           wittily
           ,
           
             do
             not
             worship
             God
             ,
             but
             the
             Imperial
             Purple
             .
          
        
         
           It
           was
           the
           same
           Themistius
           ,
           that
           only
           out
           of
           an
           upright
           natural
           apprehension
           of
           things
           ,
           made
           that
           excellent
           Oration
           afterward
           to
           Valens
           ,
           which
           is
           in
           Print
           ,
           exhorting
           him
           to
           cease
           Persecution
           ;
           wherein
           he
           chances
           upon
           ,
           and
           improves
           the
           same
           notion
           with
           Constantines
           ,
           and
           tells
           him
           ,
           
             That
             he
             should
             not
             wonder
             at
             the
             Dissents
             in
             Cstristian
             Religion
             ,
             which
             were
             very
             small
             if
             compared
             with
             the
             multitude
             and
             crowd
             of
             Opinions
             among
             the
             Gentile
             Philosophers
             ;
             for
             there
             were
             at
             least
             three
             hundred
             differences
             ,
             and
             a
             very
             great
             dissention
             among
             them
             there
             was
             about
             their
             resolutions
             ,
             unto
             which
             each
             several
             Sect
             was
             as
             it
             were
             ,
             necessarily
             bound
             up
             and
             obliged
             :
             And
             that
             God
             seemed
             to
             intend
             more
             to
             illustrate
             his
             own
             glory
             by
             that
             diverse
             and
             unequal
             variety
             of
             Opinions
             ,
             to
             the
             end
             every
             each
             one
             might
             therefore
             so
             much
             the
             more
             reverence
             his
             Divine
             Majesty
             ,
             because
             it
             is
             not
             possible
             for
             any
             one
             accurately
             to
             know
             him
             .
          
           And
           this
           had
           a
           good
           effect
           upon
           Valens
           ,
           for
           the
           mitigating
           in
           some
           measure
           his
           severities
           against
           his
           fellow
           Christians
           .
           So
           that
           after
           having
           cast
           about
           in
           this
           Summery
           again
           ,
           (
           whereby
           it
           plainly
           appears
           ,
           that
           according
           to
           natural
           right
           ,
           and
           the
           apprehension
           of
           all
           sober
           Heathen
           Governours
           ,
           Christianity
           as
           a
           Religion
           ,
           was
           wholly
           exempt
           from
           the
           Magistrates
           jurisdiction
           or
           Laws
           ,
           farther
           than
           any
           particular
           person
           among
           them
           immorally
           transgressed
           ,
           as
           others
           ,
           the
           common
           rules
           of
           human
           society
           )
           I
           cannot
           but
           return
           to
           the
           Question
           with
           which
           I
           begun
           .
           What
           was
           the
           matter
           ?
           How
           came
           it
           about
           that
           Christianity
           ,
           which
           approved
           it self
           under
           all
           Persecutions
           to
           the
           Heathen
           Emperours
           ,
           and
           merited
           their
           favour
           so
           far
           ,
           till
           at
           last
           it
           regularly
           succeeded
           to
           the
           Monarchy
           ,
           should
           under
           those
           of
           their
           own
           profession
           ,
           be
           more
           distressed
           ?
           But
           the
           Answer
           is
           now
           much
           shorter
           and
           certainer
           ,
           and
           I
           will
           adventure
           boldly
           to
           say
           ,
           the
           true
           and
           single
           cause
           then
           was
           the
           Bishops
           .
           And
           they
           were
           the
           cause
           against
           reason
           .
           For
           what
           power
           had
           the
           Emperours
           by
           growing
           Christians
           ,
           more
           than
           those
           had
           before
           them
           ?
           None
           .
           What
           obligation
           were
           Christians
           Subject
           under
           to
           the
           Magistrate
           more
           than
           before
           ?
           None
           .
           But
           the
           Magistrates
           Christian
           Authority
           was
           what
           the
           Apostle
           describ'd
           it
           while
           Heathen
           ;
           
             not
             to
             be
             a
             terror
             to
             good
             works
             ,
             but
             to
             evil
             .
          
           What
           new
           Power
           had
           the
           Bishops
           acquired
           ,
           whereby
           they
           turned
           every
           Pontificate
           into
           a
           Caiaphat
           ?
           None
           neither
           ,
           2
           Cor.
           10.
           8.
           
           Had
           they
           been
           Apostles
           .
           
             The
             Lord
             had
             but
             given
             them
             Authority
             for
             edification
             ,
             not
             for
             destruction
             .
          
           They
           ,
           of
           all
           other
           ,
           ought
           to
           have
           Preached
           to
           the
           Magistrate
           the
           terrible
           denunciations
           in
           Scripture
           against
           usurping
           upon
           ,
           and
           persecuting
           of
           Christians
           .
           They
           ,
           of
           all
           others
           ,
           ought
           to
           have
           laid
           before
           them
           the
           horrible
           Examples
           of
           God's
           ordinary
           
           Justice
           against
           those
           that
           exercised
           Persecution
           .
           But
           ,
           provided
           they
           could
           be
           the
           Swearers
           of
           the
           Prince
           ,
           to
           do
           all
           due
           Allegiance
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           to
           preserve
           the
           Rights
           and
           Liberties
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           however
           they
           came
           by
           them
           ,
           they
           would
           give
           them
           as
           much
           scope
           as
           he
           pleased
           ,
           in
           matter
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           and
           would
           be
           the
           first
           to
           solicite
           him
           to
           break
           the
           Laws
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           ply
           him
           with
           hot
           places
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           all
           manner
           of
           Oppression
           and
           Persecution
           in
           Civils
           and
           Spirituals
           .
           So
           that
           the
           whole
           business
           how
           this
           unchristian
           Tyranny
           came
           ,
           and
           could
           entitle
           it self
           among
           Christians
           ,
           against
           the
           Christian
           priviledges
           ,
           was
           only
           the
           case
           in
           
             Zech.
             13.
             6.
             7.
             
             And
             one
             shall
             say
             unto
             him
             ,
             What
             are
             these
             wounds
             in
             thy
             hands
             ?
             Then
             he
             shall
             answer
             ,
             those
             with
             which
             I
             was
             wounded
             in
             the
             house
             of
             my
             Friends
             .
          
           Because
           they
           were
           all
           Christians
           ,
           they
           thought
           forsooth
           they
           might
           make
           the
           bolder
           with
           them
           ,
           make
           bolder
           with
           Christ
           ,
           and
           wound
           him
           again
           in
           the
           hands
           and
           feet
           of
           his
           members
           .
           Because
           they
           were
           Friends
           ,
           they
           might
           use
           them
           more
           coarsly
           ,
           and
           abuse
           them
           against
           all
           common
           civility
           ,
           in
           their
           own
           house
           ,
           which
           is
           a
           Protection
           to
           Strangers
           .
           And
           all
           this
           to
           the
           end
           that
           a
           Bishop
           might
           sit
           with
           the
           Prince
           in
           Iunto
           ,
           to
           consult
           wisely
           how
           to
           preserve
           him
           from
           those
           people
           that
           never
           meant
           him
           any
           harm
           ,
           and
           to
           secure
           him
           from
           the
           Sedition
           and
           Rebellion
           of
           men
           that
           seek
           ,
           nor
           think
           any
           thing
           more
           ,
           but
           to
           follow
           their
           own
           Religious
           Christian
           Worship
           .
           It
           was
           indeed
           as
           ridiculous
           a
           thing
           to
           the
           Pagans
           to
           see
           that
           work
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           afterwards
           in
           England
           to
           Strangers
           ,
           where
           Papists
           and
           Protestants
           went
           both
           to
           wrack
           at
           the
           same
           instant
           ,
           in
           the
           same
           Market
           ;
           and
           when
           Erasmus
           said
           wittily
           ,
           
             Quid
             agitur
             in
             Angliâ
             ?
             (
             Consulitur
             ,
          
           he
           might
           have
           added
           ,
           though
           not
           so
           elegantly
           ,
           
             Comburitur
             )
             de
             Religione
          
           .
           Because
           they
           knew
           that
           Christian
           Worship
           was
           free
           by
           Christs
           Institution
           ,
           they
           procured
           the
           Magistrate
           to
           make
           Laws
           in
           it
           concerning
           things
           necessary
           :
           As
           the
           Heathen
           Persecutor
           Iulian
           introduced
           some
           bordering
           Pagan
           Ceremonies
           ,
           and
           arguing
           with
           themselves
           in
           the
           same
           manner
           ,
           as
           he
           did
           ,
           Soz.
           l.
           5.
           c.
           16.
           
           That
           
             if
             Christians
             should
             obey
             those
             Laws
             ,
             they
             should
             be
             able
             to
             bring
             them
             about
             to
             something
             further
             ,
             which
             they
             had
             designed
             .
             But
             if
             they
             would
             not
             ,
             then
             they
             might
             proceed
             against
             them
             without
             any
             hope
             of
             pardon
             ,
             as
             breakers
             of
             the
             Laws
             of
             the
             Empire
             ,
             and
             represent
             them
             as
             turbulent
             and
             dangerous
             to
             the
             Government
             .
          
           Indeed
           ,
           whatsoever
           the
           Animadverter
           saith
           of
           the
           Act
           of
           Seditious
           Conventicles
           here
           in
           England
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           were
           Anvill'd
           after
           another
           of
           the
           Roman
           Senate
           ;
           the
           Christians
           of
           those
           Ages
           had
           all
           the
           finest
           tools
           of
           Persecution
           out
           of
           
           Iulian's
           Shop
           ,
           and
           studied
           him
           then
           as
           curiously
           as
           some
           do
           now
           Machiavel
           .
           These
           Bishops
           it
           was
           ,
           who
           ,
           because
           the
           Rule
           of
           Christ
           was
           incomparable
           with
           the
           Power
           that
           they
           assumed
           ,
           and
           the
           Vices
           they
           practised
           ,
           had
           no
           way
           to
           render
           themselves
           necessary
           or
           tolerable
           to
           Princes
           ,
           but
           by
           making
           true
           Piety
           difficult
           ,
           by
           Innovating
           Laws
           to
           revenge
           themselves
           upon
           it
           ,
           and
           by
           turning
           Make-bates
           between
           Prince
           and
           People
           ,
           instilling
           dangers
           of
           which
           themselves
           were
           the
           Authors
           .
           Hence
           it
           is
           ,
           that
           having
           awakened
           this
           Jealousie
           once
           in
           the
           Magistrate
           ,
           against
           Religion
           ,
           they
           made
           both
           the
           Secular
           and
           the
           Ecclesiastical
           Government
           so
           uneasie
           to
           him
           ,
           that
           most
           Princes
           began
           to
           look
           upon
           their
           Subjects
           
           as
           their
           Enemies
           ,
           and
           to
           imagine
           a
           reason
           of
           State
           different
           from
           the
           Interest
           of
           their
           People
           ;
           and
           therefore
           to
           weaken
           themselves
           by
           seeking
           unnecessary
           and
           grievous
           supports
           to
           their
           Authority
           .
           Whereas
           if
           men
           could
           have
           refrain'd
           this
           cunning
           ,
           and
           from
           thence
           forcible
           governing
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           leaving
           it
           to
           its
           own
           simplicity
           and
           due
           liberty
           ,
           but
           causing
           them
           in
           all
           other
           things
           to
           keep
           the
           Kings
           and
           Christs
           peace
           among
           themselves
           ,
           and
           towards
           others
           ,
           all
           the
           ill
           that
           could
           have
           come
           of
           it
           ,
           would
           have
           been
           ,
           that
           such
           kind
           of
           Bishops
           should
           have
           prov'd
           less
           implemental
           ;
           but
           the
           good
           that
           must
           have
           thence
           risen
           to
           the
           Christian
           Magistrate
           and
           the
           Church
           ,
           then
           and
           ever
           after
           ,
           would
           have
           been
           inexpressible
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           discourse
           having
           run
           in
           a
           manner
           wholly
           upon
           the
           Imposition
           of
           Creeds
           ,
           may
           seem
           not
           to
           concern
           (
           and
           I
           desire
           that
           it
           may
           not
           reflect
           upon
           )
           our
           Clergy
           ,
           nor
           the
           Controversies
           which
           have
           so
           unhappily
           vex'd
           our
           Church
           ever
           since
           the
           reign
           of
           Edward
           the
           Sixth
           unto
           this
           day
           .
           Only
           ,
           if
           there
           might
           be
           something
           pick'd
           out
           of
           it
           towards
           the
           Compromising
           of
           those
           differences
           (
           which
           I
           have
           not
           from
           any
           performance
           of
           mine
           ,
           the
           vanity
           to
           imagine
           )
           it
           may
           have
           use
           as
           an
           Argument
           ,
           
             a
             Majori
             ad
             Minus
          
           ,
           their
           disputes
           having
           risen
           only
           from
           that
           of
           Creeds
           ,
           ours
           from
           the
           Imposition
           only
           of
           Ceremonies
           ,
           which
           are
           of
           much
           inferior
           consideration
           .
           Faith
           being
           necessary
           ,
           but
           Ceremonies
           Dispensable
           .
           Unless
           our
           Church
           should
           lay
           the
           same
           weight
           upon
           them
           ,
           as
           one
           did
           .
           
             This
             is
             the
             time
             of
             her
             settlement
             ,
             that
             there
             is
             a
             Church
             at
             the
             end
             of
             every
             Mile
             ,
             that
             the
             Soveraign
             Powers
             spread
             their
             wings
             to
             cover
             and
             protect
             her
             ,
             that
             Kings
             and
             Queens
             are
             her
             Nursing
             Fathers
             and
             Nursing
             Mothers
             ,
             that
             she
             hath
             stately
             Cathedrals
          
           ;
           there
           be
           so
           many
           arguments
           now
           to
           make
           Ceremonies
           Necessary
           ,
           which
           may
           all
           be
           answered
           with
           one
           Question
           that
           they
           use
           to
           ask
           Children
           :
           
             Where
             are
             you
             proud
          
           ?
           But
           I
           should
           rather
           hope
           from
           the
           Wisdom
           and
           Christianity
           of
           the
           present
           guides
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           that
           they
           will
           (
           after
           an
           age
           and
           more
           ,
           after
           so
           long
           a
           time
           almost
           as
           those
           Primitive
           Bishops
           I
           have
           spoke
           of
           ,
           yet
           suffered
           the
           Novatian
           Bishops
           in
           every
           Diocess
           )
           have
           mercy
           on
           the
           Nation
           that
           hath
           been
           upon
           so
           slender
           a
           matter
           as
           the
           Ceremonies
           and
           Liturgy
           so
           long
           ,
           so
           miserably
           harass'd
           .
           That
           they
           will
           have
           mercy
           upon
           the
           King
           ,
           whom
           they
           know
           against
           his
           natural
           inclination
           ,
           his
           Royal
           Intention
           ,
           his
           many
           Declarations
           ,
           they
           have
           induced
           to
           more
           Severities
           then
           all
           the
           reigns
           since
           the
           Conquest
           will
           contain
           ,
           if
           summ'd
           up
           together
           ;
           who
           may
           ,
           as
           Constantine
           among
           his
           Private
           Devotions
           put
           up
           one
           Collect
           to
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           Euseb.
           de
           vitâ
           
             Const.
             7.
             70.
             
             Date
             igitur
             mihi
             Dies
             tranquillos
             &
             Noctes
             curarum
             expertes
             .
          
           And
           it
           runs
           thus
           almost
           altogether
           verbatim
           in
           that
           Historian
           ▪
           
             Grant
             ,
             most
             merciful
             Bishop
             and
             Priest
             that
             I
             may
             have
             calm
             days
             ,
             and
             nights
             free
             from
             care
             and
             molestation
             ,
             that
             I
             may
             live
             a
             peaceable
             life
             in
             all
             Godliness
             and
             Holiness
             for
             the
             future
             by
             your
             good
             agreement
             ;
             which
             unless
             you
             vouchsafe
             me
             ,
             I
             shall
             wast
             away
             my
             Reign
             in
             perpetual
             sadness
             and
             vexation
             .
             For
             as
             long
             as
             the
             People
             of
             God
             stands
             divided
             by
             so
             unjust
             and
             pernicious
             a
             Contention
             ,
             how
             can
             it
             be
             that
             I
             can
             have
             any
             ease
             in
             my
             own
             Spirit
             .
             Open
             therefore
             by
             your
             good
             agreement
             the
             way
             to
             me
             ,
             that
             I
             may
             continue
             my
             Expedition
             towards
             the
             East
             ;
             and
             grant
             that
             I
             may
             see
             both
             
             you
             and
             all
             the
             rest
             of
             my
             People
             ,
             having
             laid
             aside
             your
             animosities
             ,
             rejoycing
             together
             ,
             that
             we
             may
             all
             with
             one
             voice
             give
             lund
             and
             glory
             ,
             for
             the
             common
             and
             good
             agreement
             and
             liberty
             ,
             to
             God
             Almighty
             for
             ever
             ,
          
           Amen
           .
           But
           if
           neither
           the
           People
           nor
           his
           Majesty
           enter
           into
           their
           consideration
           .
           I
           hope
           it
           is
           no
           unreasonable
           request
           that
           they
           will
           be
           merciful
           unto
           themselves
           ,
           and
           have
           some
           reverence
           at
           least
           for
           the
           
             Naked
             Truth
          
           of
           History
           ,
           which
           either
           in
           their
           own
           times
           will
           meet
           with
           them
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           next
           Age
           overtake
           them
           :
           That
           they
           ,
           who
           are
           some
           of
           them
           so
           old
           ,
           that
           as
           Confessors
           ,
           they
           were
           the
           Scars
           of
           the
           former
           troubles
           ,
           others
           of
           them
           so
           young
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           free
           from
           all
           the
           Motives
           of
           Revenge
           and
           hatred
           ,
           should
           yet
           joyn
           in
           reviving
           the
           former
           persecutions
           upon
           the
           same
           pretences
           ;
           yea
           ,
           even
           themselves
           in
           a
           turbulent
           ,
           military
           ,
           and
           uncanonical
           manner
           execute
           Laws
           of
           their
           own
           procuring
           ,
           and
           depute
           their
           inferior
           Clergy
           to
           be
           the
           Informers
           .
           I
           should
           rather
           hope
           to
           see
           not
           only
           that
           Controversie
           so
           scandalous
           abolished
           ,
           but
           that
           also
           upon
           so
           good
           an
           occasion
           as
           the
           Author
           of
           
             the
             Naked
             Truth
          
           hath
           administred
           them
           ,
           they
           will
           inspect
           their
           Clergy
           ,
           and
           cause
           many
           things
           to
           be
           corrected
           ,
           which
           are
           far
           more
           ruinous
           in
           the
           Consequence
           than
           the
           dispensing
           with
           a
           Surplice
           .
           I
           shall
           mention
           some
           too
           confusedly
           ,
           as
           they
           occur
           to
           my
           Pen
           ,
           at
           present
           ,
           reserving
           much
           more
           for
           better
           leisure
           .
           Methinks
           it
           might
           be
           of
           great
           edification
           ,
           that
           those
           of
           them
           ,
           who
           have
           ample
           possessions
           ,
           should
           be
           in
           a
           good
           sense
           ,
           
             Multas
             inter
             opes
             inopes
          
           .
           That
           they
           would
           inspect
           the
           Canons
           of
           the
           ancient
           Councils
           ,
           where
           are
           many
           excellent
           ones
           for
           the
           regulation
           of
           the
           Clergy
           .
           I
           saw
           one
           ,
           looking
           but
           among
           those
           of
           the
           same
           Council
           of
           Nice
           ,
           against
           any
           Bishops
           removing
           from
           a
           less
           Bishoprick
           to
           a
           greater
           ,
           nor
           that
           any
           of
           the
           Inferior
           Clergy
           should
           leave
           a
           less
           living
           for
           a
           fatter
           .
           That
           is
           methinks
           the
           most
           Natural
           use
           of
           General
           ,
           or
           any
           Councils
           to
           make
           Canons
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           By-laws
           for
           the
           ordering
           of
           their
           own
           Society
           ;
           but
           they
           ought
           not
           to
           take
           out
           ,
           much
           less
           forge
           any
           Patent
           to
           invade
           and
           prejudice
           the
           Community
           .
           It
           were
           good
           that
           the
           greater
           Church-men
           relyed
           more
           upon
           themselves
           ,
           and
           their
           own
           direction
           ,
           not
           building
           too
           much
           upon
           Stripling
           Chaplains
           ,
           that
           men
           may
           not
           suppose
           the
           Master
           (
           as
           one
           that
           has
           a
           good
           Horse
           ,
           or
           a
           fleet
           Hound
           )
           attributes
           to
           himself
           the
           vertues
           of
           his
           Creature
           .
           That
           they
           inspect
           the
           Morals
           of
           the
           Clergy
           ;
           the
           Moral
           Hereticks
           do
           the
           Church
           more
           harm
           than
           all
           the
           Non-conformists
           can
           do
           ,
           or
           can
           wish
           it
           .
           That
           before
           they
           admit
           men
           to
           subscribe
           the
           Thirty-nine
           Articles
           for
           a
           Benefice
           ,
           they
           try
           whether
           they
           know
           the
           meaning
           .
           That
           they
           would
           much
           recommend
           to
           them
           the
           reading
           of
           the
           Bible
           .
           'T
           is
           a
           very
           good
           Book
           ,
           and
           if
           a
           man
           read
           it
           carefully
           ,
           will
           make
           him
           much
           wiser
           .
           That
           they
           would
           advise
           them
           to
           keep
           the
           Sabbath
           :
           If
           there
           were
           no
           Morality
           in
           the
           day
           ,
           yet
           there
           is
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           Prudence
           in
           the
           observing
           it
           .
           That
           they
           would
           instruct
           those
           that
           come
           for
           Holy
           Orders
           and
           Livings
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           a
           terrible
           Vocation
           they
           enter
           upon
           ;
           but
           that
           has
           indeed
           the
           greatest
           reward
           .
           That
           to
           gain
           a
           Soul
           is
           beyond
           all
           the
           acquists
           of
           Traffick
           ,
           and
           to
           Convert
           an
           Atheist
           ,
           more
           glorious
           than
           all
           the
           Conquests
           of
           the
           Souldier
           .
           That
           betaking
           themselves
           to
           this
           Spiritual
           Warfare
           ,
           they
           ought
           to
           disintangle
           from
           the
           World.
           That
           they
           do
           
           not
           ride
           for
           a
           Benefice
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           were
           for
           a
           Fortune
           ,
           or
           a
           Mistress
           ;
           but
           there
           is
           more
           in
           it
           .
           That
           they
           take
           the
           Ministry
           up
           not
           as
           a
           Trade
           .
           That
           they
           make
           them
           understand
           as
           well
           as
           they
           can
           ,
           what
           is
           the
           grace
           of
           God.
           That
           they
           do
           not
           come
           into
           the
           Pulpit
           too
           full
           of
           Fustian
           or
           Logick
           ;
           a
           good
           life
           is
           a
           Clergy-mans
           best
           Syllogism
           ,
           and
           the
           quaintest
           Oratory
           ;
           and
           till
           they
           out-live
           'm
           ,
           they
           will
           never
           get
           the
           better
           of
           the
           Fanaticks
           ,
           nor
           be
           able
           to
           Preach
           with
           Demonstration
           of
           Spirit
           ,
           or
           with
           any
           effect
           or
           Authority
           .
           That
           they
           be
           lowly
           minded
           ,
           and
           no
           Railers
           .
        
         
           But
           these
           things
           require
           a
           greater
           Time
           ,
           and
           to
           enumerate
           all
           that
           is
           amiss
           ,
           might
           perhaps
           be
           as
           endless
           as
           to
           number
           the
           People
           ;
           nor
           are
           they
           within
           the
           ordinary
           sphere
           of
           my
           Capacity
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           the
           Judicious
           and
           Serious
           Reader
           ,
           to
           whom
           I
           wish
           any
           thing
           I
           have
           said
           ,
           may
           have
           given
           no
           unwelcome
           entertainment
           ;
           I
           shall
           only
           so
           far
           justifie
           my self
           ,
           that
           I
           thought
           it
           no
           less
           concerned
           me
           to
           vindicate
           the
           Laity
           from
           the
           Impositions
           that
           the
           Few
           would
           force
           upon
           them
           ,
           than
           others
           to
           defend
           those
           Impositions
           on
           behalf
           of
           the
           Clergy
           .
           But
           the
           Reverend
           Mr.
           Hooker
           in
           his
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Polity
          
           ,
           says
           ,
           The
           
             time
             will
             come
             when
             three
             words
             ,
             uttered
             with
             Charity
             and
             Meekness
             ,
             shall
             receive
             a
             far
             more
             blessed
             reward
             ,
             than
             three
             thousand
             Volumes
             written
             with
             disdainful
             sharpness
             of
             Wit.
          
           And
           I
           shall
           conclude
           .
        
         
           
             I
             trust
             in
             the
             Almighty
             ,
             that
             with
             us
             ,
             Contentions
             are
             now
             at
             the
             highest
             float
             ,
             and
             that
             the
             day
             will
             come
             (
             for
             what
             cause
             is
             there
             of
             Despair
          
           )
           when
           
             the
             Passions
             of
             former
             enmity
             being
             allaid
             ,
             men
             shall
             with
             ten
             times
             redoubled
             tokens
             of
             unfainedly
             reconciled
             Love
             ,
             shew
             themselves
             each
             to
             other
             the
             same
             which
          
           Joseph
           ,
           
             and
             the
             Brethren
             of
          
           Joseph
           
             were
             at
             the
             time
             of
             their
             Enterview
             in
          
           Egypt
           .
           And
           upon
           this
           condition
           ,
           
             let
             my
             Book
             also
          
           (
           yea
           ,
           my self
           if
           it
           were
           needful
           )
           
             be
             burnt
             by
             the
             hand
             of
             those
             Enemies
             to
             the
             Peace
             and
             Tranquility
             of
             the
             Religion
          
           of
           ●ngland
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .