THE WEATHERCOCK OF ROME'S RELIGION: WITH HER SEVERAL CHANGES. OR: THE WORLD TURNED TOPSIE-TURVIE BY PAPISTS. printer's or publisher's device LONDON: Printed by George Purstowe for john Marriot, and are to be sold at his Shop in Saint Dunstanes Churchyard in Fleetstreet. 1625. THE WORLD TVRNED TOPSIE TURVIE BY PAPISTS. IN old World, The Bishops of Rome preached painfully, and ordinarily, as may appear by the Homilies which are extant unto this day, under the names of Leo the First, and Gregory the First: But à multis seculis vix quisquam (ex Romanis Pont.) reperitur è Cathedra docuisse: It can hardly be proved, that any one Bishop of Rome, for many of these hundred years last passed, were seen in a Pulpit, as a De Rege ex li. 3. cap. 2. p. 225. joh. Mariana confesseth. In old World, The Bishops of Rome were Censu pauperrimi, erudition divites▪ Poore in purse, but rich in wisdom and goodness: But, nunc aliquoties contingunt Rom. Pont. aerario locupletissimi Apostolicis opibus, hoc est, sacrâ doctrinâ, & pietate nudissimi: In these latter days we have many Bishops of Rome, rich in purse, but as poor in learning and piety, as job of wealth, in his greatest misery, as b Scholijs in Ep. Hieron. ad Demet. de virgin. seruand. To. 1. operum Hieron. Erasmus witnesseth, In pontificibus nemo hodiè sanctitatem requirit: No man, in these days, looks for honesty in a Bishop of Rome, as c De verb. Episc. l. 6. in vit. july 3. pag. 401. b. Mussonus confesseth. In old World, All Bishops, and such Presbyters who were of any special note for their honesty and learning were called Popes, as d Panopl. lib. 4. cap. 80. fol. 4●2. Lindan, e Tract. de vocum obscur. Eccles. Interpret. ad finem Plat. de vit. Pont. Onuphrius, f De suc. Eccles. minist. ac benefic. lib. 1. cap. 10. Duaren, and g Not. in Martyr. Ro. jan. 10. c. Baronius confess. Saint Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage; Saint Austin, Bishop of Hippo: Saint Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, were called Popes. But now the Bishop of Rome claims it in his sole right to be called Pope. h Ad sin. Epist. 55. Greg. 7. apud Binn. To. 3. Conc. part. 2. pa. 1196. Gregory the Seventh, about the year 1073. (a little after the Devil was let loose) made a Decree to that purpose, providing: Vt Papae nomen unicum esset in universo orbe Christiano, nec liceret alicui seipsum vel alium eo nomine appellare: That there should be but one man in all Christendom called Pope: and that no man should dare to style himself, or any other, with the name of Pope. In old World, The Bishops of Rome were styled by other Bishops with such Titles as argued good fellowship among them, and no superiority in one over another. i Ep. 52. Anton. Saint Cyprian termed Cornelius Bishop of Rome, frater, Collega, Coepiscopus, Brother, Colleague, and fellow Bishop. The k Theodor. Hist. lib. 2. cap. 8. Bishops assembled in Council at Sardica, speaking of Julius Bishop of Rome, gave him no other titles, than that of Brother, & Colleague: which they gave indifferently to Athanasius, Asclepas, and all other Bishops to whom they writ, and of whom they had occasion to speak. In like manner, the l Theodor. Hist. lib. 5. cap. 9 Bishops of Constantinople used Damasus Bishop of Rome, Brothering him, and Colleaguing him, as they did others, to whom they writ as well as to him. But now the Bishop of Rome is called, m Bell. l. 2. de Ro. Pont. cap. 31. Vniversalis Episcopus, n Mosconius de Mayest. milit. etc. lib. 1. part. 1. c. 1. de Rom. Pont. universalis Pastor, ᵒ universalis judex, p Salm. Comment. in Matt. 16. Prorex Coelestis, q Vice-deus, r joh. Ang. Panthaeus in arte & Theoriae transmutat. Metal. ad ●●on. 10. impress. Uenet. 1518. Deus mortalis, s Staplet. praefat. doctrine. princep. ad Greg. 13. Opt. Mar. t Ibid. Supremum in torris numen, ᵘ Caput totius Ecclesiae, ᵘ Pater Ecclesiae, ˣ Sponsus Ecclesiae, ʸ Mater Ecclesiae, ᶻ Rex regum, & Dominus dominantium: The universal Bishop; the universal Pastor; the universal judge; the Viceroy of heaven; a mortal God; the best, and the greatest; the highest power on earth; the head of the whole Church; the father of the Church; the Church's husband; the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. In old World, Cicarell. in vita Sixti 5. ad finem Platinae. The Bishops of Rome stood not upon superscriptions of Letters, but received such as were sent unto them, how ever they were endorsed: But now they have made a Decree in consistory: Ne post hac ab ullis Principibus missae recipiantur literae, quae debitis Titulis non sunt inscriptae: That no Letters be received from any Prince, unless they give the Bishop of Rome his due titles. Constantinus Melchiadi. Euseb. Hist. lib. 10. cap. 5. In old World, When Emperors writ to the Bishops of Rome, they prefixed their own names before the Bishops: Constantio Liberius apud Baron. Annal. Tom. 3. ad Ann. 354. nu. 2. and when the Bishops writ to the Emperor, they set their names after the Emperors: But hic stylus impraesentiarum in Rom. Curia exolevit: This manner of writing is out of use in the Roman Court in our days. In literis ad nos missis nomen tuum nostro praeponis, Alcial. in Codic. justinian, de sum. Trinit. & fide Cathol. c. inter claras. in quo, insolentiae, non dicam arrogantiae, nomen incurris: In the letters which you sent unto us, you set your own name before ours: whereby you incur suspicion of insolency, I will not say arrogancy, saith Pope Adrian to Frederick the Emperor. Append. ad Radevicum quae habetur apud Baron. Annal. Tom. 12. ad An. 1159. nu. 5. And, Falsum-praesumi rescriptum, in quo non legatur summi Pontificis nomen ante caetera: That is supposed to be a false writ, in which the Pope's name is not set in the first place, saith a Popish Lawyer. In old World, Guilielm. in spec. de prased. Re script. teste Alciato loco citato. Apud Baron. Annal. Tom. 12. ad. An. 1159. nu. 4. They who writ unto the Pope, used words of the singular number, thou-ing hint, as they did others. But Pope Adrian took that in great snuff at the hands of Frederick the Emperor: And since that, no man dares thou the Pope. In old World, a Greg. 8. Epist. lib. 2. Indict. 11. Epist. 61. The Pope of Rome acknowledged the Emperor for his Lord and Master: But in these latter times, the Popes of Rome have taught the Emperor to acknowledge them for his Lord and Master. In old World, even till Gregory the First his time (by b Dist. 63. Tibi Domino. Bell. his confession) Imperator dominium temporale in urbem Rom. c Lib. 2. de sum● Pont. cap. 28. habebat: The Emperor had the temporal government of the City of Rome: But now the Pope 〈◊〉 taken it into his own hands. The Emperor hath not so much as a Goose-gate in the City of Rome. In old World, the Popes were not wont to give arms, as Princes and Noblemen did: Veteres Pontifices talem, morem non leguntur habuisse: The ancient Popes had no such custom, saith a Institut. Moral. part. 2. cap. 43. Col. 941. Azorius: But, about the year 1040. this custom was taken up, and is continued, Vt Ro. Pont. insignibus Gentilitijs uterentur, saith the same Azorius. In old World, till Silvesters time, Cardinalium nomen non legimus: we read not so much as of the name of Cardinal, as b Instit. moral. part. 2. lib. 4. ca 1. 4. quaer. Col. 604. Azorius confesseth; yet now the name is common. In old World, there were Cardinals in other places, as well as at Rome. c Onuph. Tract. de obscur. voc. interpretat. & Moscon. de Mayest Eccl. Milit. lib. 1. part. 1. c. 5. There were Cardinals at Ravenna, at Pisa, at Milan, at Naples in Italy, at Compostella in Spain, at d Episcopus Eliensis resp. ad Bell. Apolog. cap. 4. pag. 103. Paul's Church in London: But now, as the Bishop of Rome hath robbed other Bishops of the name Pope: so hath he robbed other Cardinals of the name Cardinal. Pius 5. in suo deplomate Anno 1568. penitùs hoc nomen in omnibus aliis Ecclesijs praeterquam in Rom. extinxit: & solummodo Cardinalis nomencompetere voluit Cardinalibus S. R. E. à Papacreatis. Pius the 5. in his Bull, bearing date 1568. hath cried down the name Cardinal in all other Churches but in Rome: and he hath decreed, that such only as are created Cardinals of the Church of Rome, by the Pope, shall be called Cardinals, as is witnessed by e Loco suprà citat. Mosconius, Vicar general to the Archbishop of Bononia. In old World, the Cardinals of Rome were inferior to Bishops: in so much, that a Cardinallship was but a step to a Bishopric▪ But now Cardinals are superiors to all Bishops. A Bishopric is a step to a Cardinal-ship, as f Lib. 1. de Clericis, cap. 16. Bell. himself confesseth. In old World, it was decreed, g Conc. Narbon. sub Necca. Rege, Anno 589. apud Bin. Tom. 2. Conc. p. 722. Vt nullus Clericorum vestimenta purpura induat: That none of the Clergy should wear purple: But now the Pope and his Cardinals are clad in purple: And h Tom. 8. Annal. ad Ann. 589. Baronius justifies them therein. In old World, it was decreed, a Mater Histor. Ne deinceps Ro. Pont. & Cardinals uterentur Equis & Mulis sed tantum Asinis, Christi, cuius videri vellent vicarij, exemplo: That the Popes of Rome, and their Cardinals, should not ride upon Horses or Mules, but on Asses, as our Saviour Christ did, whose Vicars, they say, they are. But b Chronolog. lib. 4. ad An. 1294. Genebrard upon mention of this, cries out, O legem nunc prodigiosè eversan! O excellent Law, but as now quite out of force! In old World, it was c Greg. lib. 4. Epis. ep. 55. decreed, That no Archbishop should pay any thing for the d Platina in vita Leon 2. Pall which they received of the Bishop of Rome: But e Sleidan Comment. lib. 13. de Archiep. Mogunt pallio. now it stands some, ere they can get it home, in 30. ferè millibus aureorum, almost 30000. French Crowns. In old World, it was f Anastas. in vit. Bonifacij 3. & Baron. Annal. Tom. 8. ad An. 606. decreed, under pain of the great Curse; That no man should dare so much as to talk of electing a new Pope or Bishop of the City wherein he lived, nisi tertio die depositionis eius, but the third day after his burial: But since the making of this, g Massonus de vib. Ep. in Coelest. 3. Plat. de vit. Pont. in Leo 3. they have chosen new Popes at Rome, ere the former Popes were buried, yea, ere their bones were throughly cold. In old World, even in chrysostom, Ambrose, Austin, Leo the First, Gregory the First his time, all Bishops, even the Bishops of Rome, were chosen by the Clergy, and people of their Cities, as h Lib. 1. de Cl●ricis, cap 9 Bell. confesseth: But now the i Su. Pol. Virg. de Invent. rerum, lib. 4. cap. 10. Bishop of Rome is chosen by the Cardinals only: and all other Bishops are chosen by the Bishop of Rome. A custom so absurd, that k In sum. verb. Lex. 13. quaer●. Silvester Prierias did note it in these words: Hodie, quando ambitio & lascivia totam Ecclesiam deturpavit, Papa reseruat sibi collationem omnium dignitatum, (i.) Patriarcharum, Metropolitanorum, Episcoporum, etc. In old World, l In joh. cap. 6. Annot. 27. as Cardinal Tolet confesseth, Prohibita fuit sub una specie communio, & iniunctum Catholicis, ut sub utraque communicarent: It was forbidden the Laity to communicate in one kind, and enjoined them to receive in both kinds: But now m Conc. Irid. sess. 24. Can. 2. the Laity among the Papists, receive in one kind only: n Conc. Constant. sess. 13. The Priest who delivered it to a Layman in both kinds, is excommunicate. In old World, Eucharistia sub utraque specie 〈…〉 lita: The Communion was reserved in both kinds, 〈…〉 a Annal. Tom. 5. ad An. 404. nu. 32. Baronius confesseth. But b Ibid. now the Popish Church hath taken order it shall be reserved in one kind only, to wit, in bread. In old World, the words of Consecration were uttered openly, c Tho. Aq. Sum. Theol. part. 3. q. 78. Art. 1. Hardings Answer to Bishop jewels challenge, 16. Article. as the Papists generally confess. But d Conc. Trid. sess. 22. Can. 9 now, submissâ voce proferuntur: they are uttered in secret. In old World, e Painel. Annot. in Cyprian. de Lapsis, nu. 82. It was the custom to deliver the Sacrament of Christ's body into the hands of the Receiver. But f Ibid. & Durantus de ritibus Eccl. lib. 1. ca 16. nu. 12. now (by Papists) the Sacrament is put into the Receivers mouth, and not given into his hand. In old World, g Greg. dial. l. 2. Cap. 23. the Deacon was accustomed to bid then depart, who did not communicate. h Chrysost. Hom. 3. in Epist. ad Eph. They were reputed impudent, and wicked wretches, who looked on, & communicated not. But now Papists allow lookers on. In old World, It was the custom to communicate ●uery day: Nomo Catholicus inficiari potest fuisse Apostolorum, & S. Rom. Ecclesiae consuetudinem, imo institutum utque sancitum ab Anacleti temporibus, viz. ut omnes quotidiè communicarent: No Catholic can deny, but that it was the custom of the Apostles, and of the Church of Rome, ever since Pope Anaclotus days: yea, no Catholic can deny, but it was an Ordinance and Decree of the Apostles, and of the Roman Church ever since Anacletus days, That men should communicate every day, i De frequenti communione c. 4. saith Madridus the jesuit. But now, Videtur relictum arbitrio cuiuslibet: it seems to be left to every man's choice, whether he will do so or no, as the k In cap. peracta de consecrat. d. 2. Glosser notes. In old World, this Canon stood in force, l Conc. Agathense, Can. 18. Seculares qui in Natali Domini, Pascha, Pentecoste, non communicaverint, nec inter Catholicos numerentur: Those Laymen who do not communicate at Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide, shall not be called, nor held for Catholics. But their Decree consuetudine abrogatus est; is repealed by a contrary custom, m Instit. Moral. part. 1. lib. 5. cap. 19 saith Azorius. In old World, they were wont to break the Sacramental bread. And, Ecclesia Graeca, & Ethiopica reti●●● veterem illam consuetudinem: The Greek and Aethiopian Church retains that ancient custom still, a Comment. in Act. 2. saith Lorinus. But now, Non usurpatur fractio, sed singuli panes, seu minores hostiae consecrantur ad vitandum periculum decidentium micaerum; there is no breaking of bread used, but little Wafercakes are consecrated, and delivered whole, for fear, that if they were broken, some crumbs should fall to the ground, b Ibid. saith the same man. In old World, c Chrysost. Hom. 18. in 2. Cor. the people had as good a share of the Communion bread as the Priest had: But now the Laity and such of the Clergy as consecrate not, are taught, That they must be content with a lesser Host than that which the consecrating d jorinus loc. citat. Priest hath. In old World, the tradition of the Romish Church was such, e Innocent. 1. in Epist. ad Decent. cap. 4. That they did not consecrate upon any Friday or Saturday throughout the year. But now, the Papists consecreate every day, save only on Good-Friday. In old World, the Papists (on Sheare-Thursday) might have celebrated the Communion, though they had not been fasting: for, ut Sacramentum Altaris non nisi à ieiunis hominibus celebretur, excepto uno die anniversario, quo Coena Domini celebratur, was f Can. 29. decreed by the third Council at Carthage. But now, hac Decreti posterior pars abrogatur: this latter part of the Decree is repealed, g Anton. Aug. de Emendat. Grat. lib. 1. Dial. 16. pag. 138. as Papists confess. In old World (as Papists say) it was decreed, That such as received the Sacrament, should fast certain hours after. But this, hodiè non seruatur, sed paulò pòst comedi potest, secundùm Thomam, saith h In Sum. verb. Lex. 13. quaeritur. Silvester. Consuetudo sive praecep●um nihil comedendi post susceptionem Eucharistiae, per contrariam consuetudinem abrogatum est: The custom or commandment of not eating after the receiving of the Sacrament, is abrogated by a contrary custom, i Part. 1. quaest. in 4. Sentent. q. de suscip. Euch. difficult. 4. saith josephus' Angles. In old World, Omnes simul psallebant in Ecclesia: All Christians sung together in the Church. Yet now, soli Cleri●i canunt: the Clerks only sing, as k Lib. 2. de verbo Dei. cap. 16. & lib. 1. de bonin 〈…〉 peribus in partio. cap. 16. Bell. confesseth. Yea, though the l 〈◊〉 To 〈…〉. Conc. Not. in Conc. jaodic. Can. 11. p. 293. Papists confess, that it was given in commandment by Saint Paul, Vt fideles in suis conventibus Psalmis & Hymnis alternatim corde simul & ore decantatis Deum laudent: That the faithful in their Assemblies should in their turns praise God with heart and voice, by singing of Psalms: yet a Idem. ibid. they tell us, that Ecclesiastica instit optimè provisum est, ne praeter certos ad hoc inscriptes, alij in Ecclesia psallerent: It is excellently well provided for by the orders of the Church, that none shall sing but a set number apppointed for that purpose, viz. Priests, Clerks, and Choristers. In old World, even ab initio naescentis Ecclesiae, populus post recitatas preces, respondebat, Amen: from the first birth of the Church, the common people at the end of prayers, said Amen, as b De Rit. Eccl. lib. 2. cap. 17. nu. 2. ser. Baron. Annal. Tom. 1. ad An. 60. nu. 28. Durantus proves. But now with Papists, the Parish-Clerke only saith Amen. In old World, the Bible was translated into known Languages, as c Bell. lib. 2. de Verbo Dei, c. 16. Papists confess. But now, Id ipsum fieri omninò non expedit: It is not meet it should be so, d Alfons. de Castro adversely. haer. li. 1. cap. 13. Sixt. Senens. lib. 6. Annal, 152. say they. In old World, it was ordered, That no books should be read in the Church, nisi solos libros novi & vet. Test. but the Books of the Old and New Testament. But, hodiè quorumlibet somnia, imò muliercularum deliramenta leguntur inter divinas Scripturas: At this day every idle body's dreams, and old wife's fancies are read with the Canonical Scriptures, e Scholar in Catal. script. Eccl. Hieron. verto Ephraen. saith Erasmus. In old World, Patres dicebant, ad Hebraicos vel Graecos codices recurrendum esse: The Fathers said, we ought to have recourse to the Hebrew or to the Greek Copies, saith f Instit. Moral. part. 1. lib. 8. cap. 3. Azorius. But now, Non est quòd ad Hebraica vel Graeca ex●mplaria recurramus: There is no reason why we should do so, saith * Ibid. the same man. In old World, Bishops and Presbyters read all manner of books; heretical as well as orthodoxal: by the g Velofillus Aduertat. in 9 tom. Hieron. ad 9 quaesitum p. 171. Papists confession. Yet at this day, they are agreed upon this point, Haereticorum libros non esse legendos hodie, nisi solùm ad illis, quibus ex speciali licentia summi Pontificis id concessum fuerit: h Ibid. That no man may read in these days any heretical books, except they have a special licence from the Pope. Quod partibus antiquissimis licuit, nobis non licet; It is not lawful for us to do that, which it was lawful for the ancient Fathers to do, a Ibid. say Papists. In old World, he was thought to wrong a Martyr, who prayed for him: for it ran currant of old, Iniuriam facit Martyri, qui orat pro Martyr. But now, the Papists pray for them whom they account Martyrs, for, pro celeberrimis illis Carthusianis in Anglia Martyribus, totus, ordo Carthusiae per orbem Christianum diffusus, consuetas pro defunctis preces ad Deum fudit; The whole Order of the Carthusian Monks throughout the world, said their ordinary prayers for the dead, for those famous Carthusian Monks who were martyred in England, saith b Resp. Quodlibet ad 3. quaest. dict. Lovanij 1568. cap. 6. Molanus: concluding, that pro nostri temporis Martyribns absque iniuria oratur: Men may pray for the Martyrs of these days without wronging them: giving this pretty reason hereof, Because c Ibid. plerunque sunt imperfecti Martyrs: The most of the Martyrs in our time are poor Martyrs, such are all your Tyburn Martyrs. In old World, Leo the First said, d Epist. 63. tom. 1. Conc. apud Binnium, pag. 970. Non permittendum est ut quisquam extra Sacerdotalem ordinem constitutus, gradum sibi praedicatoris assumat: It is not to be suffered that any who is not Priested should preach. But now the Popes of Rome dispense with Jesuits, Lay-Iesuites, who are not Priested, to preach, as e De Ritibus Eccl. Cathol. lib. 2. cap. 25. num. 7. Durantus witnesseth. In old World, Imperator congregabat Concilia: The Emperor called Counsels, saith a f Franc. Zabarel. de schismat. P●nt. Cardinal of France Tempore magni Constantini & aliorum Augustorum ad congreganda Concilia non quaesitus est magnoperè Roman assensus Papae: In the time of Constantine the Great, and other Emperors, the Bishop of Rome his assent was not greatly required to the calling of a Council, saith g De gest. Conc. Basil. lib. 1. p●. 20. Aeneas Siluius. But now it is h Bell. lib. 1. de Conc. cap. 12. overruled, That calling of Counsels belongs to the Pope, and not to the Emperor. In old World, A tempore Apostolorum per multos annos, etiam per aliquot secula, Presbyteri et Diocam omnes ad Concilia vocabantur: From the Apostles times, for many years, yea for many ages, all Elders (Priests if you will) & Deacons were called unto Counsels, as a Lib. 1. de Cleicis, cap. 16. Bellarm▪ confesseth. But now, either few or none are called. Now Bishops only are the Domini facientes totum. In old World, Reges ac Imperatores non adfuisse tantùm Synodo, sed praefuisse legimus: We read that Kings and Emperors were not only present at Counsels, but as Precedents of them, b De suc. Eccl. Minist. li. 1. c. 20. saith Duaren. And so much may be gathered out of Marcianus the Emperor's words, which are to be found in c d. 96. Nos ad fidem. Gratian. But d Bell. lib. 1. de Conc. cap. 19 now, the Pope must needs be Precedent, either in his own person, or by his Deputy. In old World, primis sexcentis veloctingentis annis, summi Pontifices cogebant Concilia Nationalia Episcoporum Italiae: for the space of six hundred or eight hundred years after Christ, the Bishops of Rome, for the weightier matters of the Church, called national Counsels of the Bishops of Italy, as e Lib. 1. de Clericis, cap. 16. Bell. confesseth. But now they have left that. Now the Pope and his Cardinals dispatch all, as f Ibid. Bell. tells us. In old World, before Gregory the First his days, Lent always began on that day which we call the First-Sunday in Lent, as g Instit. moral. part. 1. lib. 7. c. 12. 2. quaeritur. AZorius proves well. But now, all men know, theirs begins on Ash-Wednesday. In old World, Lent was thought to end upon Palme-Sunday: for Quadragesima impletur ad Festum Palmarun, saith h Quaest. in script. q. 77. Col. 98. Tom. 1. Bibl. vet. pat. edit. 3. Anastasius Nicaenus. But now, theirs is thought to end upon Easter-even. In old World, it was decreed, i Gratian. d. 4. Statuimus. That the Clergy should have one week more in their Lent than the Laity. But now this Decree is out of force, saith k Instit. moral. part. 1. lib. 5. cap. 19 pag. 399. Azorius: Clerici hodie non servant, sed initium faciunt i●iuniorum ut Lays: The Clergy keep not this Decree, but begin Lent when the Laity begin it, saith l De emendat. Grat. lib. 1. dial. 16. pag. 134. Antonius Augustinus. In old World, Wednesday was commanded to be a Fastingday, as m Lib. 2. de bonis operibus in party. cap. 17. Bell. and n Instit. moral. part. 1. lib. 7. cap. 15. 3. quae●itur. Azorius prove fully. But now, a man may eat flesh upon Wednesday, by both their confessions. In old World, a Ser. Bell. de bonis operibus in partic. lib. 2. cap. 20. they fasted at Rome in the time of Aduent. But now they use not to fast then. In old World, they might drink no wine on Fasting-days; for veteres Canones vinum interdixêre diebus ieiuniorum; The old Canons forbade wine on Fasting-days, saith b De Abstinant▪ doctrine. Cathol. cap. 4. Alfonsus Pisanus. But c Azorius instit. moral. part. 1. lib. 7. cap. 10. 7. quaeritur. now Papists drink, and may drink wine, hold belly, hold. In old World, d Pisanus loco citato. veteres Canones interdixêre siceram, & omne quod inebriare potest, & mulsam, & cerui●iam: It was not lawful to drink any liquor which might intoxicate a man's brains. But e Azor. loco citato. now no liquor is exempted on fasting-dais. In old World, veteres Canones interdixêre Pisces: the ancient Canons forbade fish on fasting-dais, saith f Ibid. Pisanus. But now, Piscibus uti licet: a man of their Church, may lawfully eat fish, saith the same g Ibid. Pisanus. In old World, they who fasted, ate but one meal on a day: for, Vnicam in ieiunio refectionem esse debere, exempla Scripturarum, testimonia Patrum, & perpetua consuetudo fidelium probant: The examples in Scriptures, the testimonies of the Fathers, and the continual practice of the faithful, prove they should have no more, saith h Lib. 2. de bonis operibus in pertit. cap. 2. Bellarmine. But i Azor. instit. moral. part. 1. lib. 7. cap. 8. 4. & 7. quaeritur. now, over and beside a dinner, men may have at night refectiunculam, or collationem, as some of them call it: indeed, a banquet (for it consists of fruits, & sweetmeats) upon a fasting-day. Yea, they may have this, though refectiunculae nocturnae veteribus prorsus ignotae: Such night-banquets were altogether unknown to antiquity, saith k Loco suprà citato. Pisanus. In old World, they used not on fasting-dais to take their meal before night, or toward night; Apud veteres inauditum est prorsus ut ante horam 9 quae est tertia post merid. ieinnium quodcunque soluatur: It was never heard of among the Ancients, that any Fast ended before three of the clock in the afternoon, saith l Loco suprà citato. Bell. But now, Jeiunium in vesperam usque prorogari solitum, in meridiem transtulit Ecclesia: The Popish Church allows men on fasting-dais to take their meal at noon, which was wont to be▪ taken at night, as a In Epist. de delectu ciborum ad Episc. Basil. cap. 11. loco suprà citato. Erasmus notes. Suppers are changed into dinners, saith Bellarmine. In old World, Vt constat ex Patribus, praesertim Ambrosio, Augustino, Leone, ieiunia cum Eleemosynis, precibus & vigilijs de more coniung ebantur: Fasting was accompanied with Alms, with prayer, with watching, as the Fathers testify, especially Ambrose, Austin, and Leo, saith b Instit. moral. part. 1. lib. 7. cap. 20. 9 quaeritur. A Zorius. But now, Usury & more vigiliae sunt sublatae, & consuetudine factum est, ut ieiunia nostra careant illis comitibus quos extra solebat habere, nimirum precibus, & ele●mosynis: Watching is out of use, and so is prayer, and alms: fasting walks by itself: it hath lost his old companions, as the same c Ibid. Azorius confesseth. In old World, Formula ieiunij prisci verè Christiana: The manner of fasting was truly Christian. But, jeiunia Catholicorum passim Epicurea: the manner of fasting observed by Papists at this day, is Epicurean-like, as d Panopl. lib. 3. cap. 11. Bishop Lindan confesseth. In old World, e d. 93. à Subdiacono. Abbots were inferior to the meanest of the Clergy, even to dog-keepers, or doorkeepers, as they call them. But now, Abbots are next to Bishops: and some of them are Bishops fellows, f Cassan●eus Catal. gloria mundi, part. 4. consid. 31. entitled not as the ordinary sort, Reverend Patres, Reverend Fathers: but Reverendi Patres in Christo; Reverend Fathers in Christ. In old World, g d. 93. à Subdiacono. Monks were underlings to Abbots: even then when Abbots were underlings to doorkeepers. But now Monks have gotten the precedency of most of the Clergy, as h Institut. moral. part. 1. lib. 12. cap. 19 11. quaeritur. AZorius confesseth. In old World, Monks lived in Wildernesses, remote from all press of people, as out of the world: which the i Du●ren. de sac. Eccl. Minist. ac benesic. lib. 1. cap. 20. Polyd. Virgil. de invent. rerum lib. 7. cap. 1. Papists themselves are driven to confess, as sufficiently proved by Saint Hierom: for, k Epist. ad Paulin. de institut. Monachi. Si cupis esse quod diceris, Monachus. 1. solus: quid facis in urbibus, quae ubique non sunt solorum habitacula, sed multorum: If thou desire to be that indeed which thou art called, a Monk, that is, a solitary person: what dost thou mean to live in a City, which is not a place for solitary persons, but for such as love good-fellowship, saith Saint Hierome? Upon which a Popish k In cap. 16. q. 1. Si cupis. glozer 〈…〉, Quòd Monasteria non sunt constrai 〈…〉 in urbibus: There should be no Monasteries in Cities. But now there are Monasteries in Cities: and as much good fellowship among Monks, as among good-fellows of the Town. The case is now altered. A Monk is a merry fellow. In old World, a Socrates hist. 4. cap. 1●. Duaren. lib. & cap. sup. citat. Monks lived by the labour of their hands. The Monk that laboured not with his hands for his living, was reputed a Thief. But now Monks live either altogether idly, or after another manner than in old time. They cannot away to work. In old World, Monks were in no degree of Church-Ministery. Monachos usque ad tempus Eusebij, SoZimi, & Siricij, Monachos simpliciter & non Clericos fuisse, Ecclesiastica testatur Historia: The Ecclesiastical Histories witness, that till about. EuZebius, Sozimus, and Siricius days, Monks were Monks only, and not of the Clergy, saith b Cap. 16. q. 1. post. cap. 39 Hinc est. Gratian: Primùm Monachi omnes, etiam Abbates Laici erant: At the first all Monks, yea and Abbots, were Lay persons, saith c Instit. moral. part. 1. lib. 12. cap. 19 11. quaeritur. Azoriu●, d Loco suprà citato. Duaren, and others. But now, e Azorius loco citato. Vsus obtinuit ut Monachi, ijsdem atque Clerici muneribus & Officijs in Ecclesia fungerentur; The Monks are turned Clerks, and do all the offices belonging unto the Clergy. In old World, Monks were of sparing diet: for, Conuivia fugias, sit vilis & vespertinu● cibus, etc. Take heed of feasting, and let thy meat be of the worst, and eat it towards evening, etc. saith f Epist. ad Paulin. de instit. Monachi. Saint Hierome: giving his opinion how Monks should be dieted. But now Monks have so pleasant and large fare, and so many meals, that their fatness and great bellies are grown into a proverb. In old World, Monks were not notorious by singular weed, but every 〈◊〉 ware such apparel as he thought good, so it were decent. They were not tied to this or that, which made them markable in the streets as they went: for, in veste nulla discretia, nulla admiratio: utcunque placuerit incedere, nec detractionis est, nec laudis, saith g Epistol. ad Marcellum, ut commigret▪ Bethle●m. Saint Hierome, speaking of a Monk. But now, as there 〈…〉 In old World▪ a August. de ●●res. ad Quodvul● Deum, h●r. 40. Monks might marry, and enjoy 〈…〉 possess 〈…〉 Monk marry, it's tho 〈…〉 deserves hanging. 〈◊〉 he may have no propri● goods. In old World, b 〈◊〉 in spec▪ 〈◊〉 etc. cap. 3●. 〈…〉, Monks 〈…〉 not urged to vow. They might go or stay at their pleasure. And if they reported them of what they had do●● they might return to their former trade of life as c De Instant. i●rum, lib. 7. cap. 1. 〈◊〉 dor Virgil and d Scholijs in Epist. Hier●●. ●d Rusticum Monachum. Erasmus witness▪ But now they 〈◊〉 bound by-Vowes, etc. FINIS.