A Relation of Christians in the World, Part 5 – Part 6
In Africa are these Christians Africa.following
1 VNderUnder the Patriarch of Alexandria, 1 Alexandria.whose iurisdiction hath been from the River of Nilus, to the Gaditan straits. In the City of Caire only are thought to be 200000 Christians, Saint Marke was their first Bishop, and now Metrophanes governeth and precedeth there, brought up in Oxford, sent hither by Cyrill the then Patriarch to our late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. In Cardinall Baronious Annalls, you may read of a Succession of Bishops from Saint Marke, to Gabriell, the then Patriarch. There is a service in the Syrian tongue, set forth by Severus Patriarch of Alexandria: also a service in the Cophts Language set forth in print by Kirkerus. The Cophts are the native EEgyptians, and have a Patriarch of their owne.
Moreover Demetrius of Thessalonica hath set forth a Service used in Cair, and among the Christians in Arabia. The Holy Bishop Athanasius, who opposed the Arrian World, was sixe and forty yeares Patriarch of Alexandria, with many other Holy Bishops, as among others Poterius Bishop Evagr. li. 2. cap. 8.of Alexandria, who was slaine by the Eutychian Hereticks, haled through the streetes, his body cut in pieces, and his Entrailes chewed by them. The Patriarchs of Alexandria have beene great Princes, and weare a Crowne: His title is Oecumenick Iudge.
So many Holy men lived in this Merman, theat. convers. pa. 30.Church in ancient time, that it was called the Paradise of God.
2 The Abassine Christians, under the Abassines.Emperour of Aethiopia, who inhabit many Kingdomes of Affrica: They received the Faith first from Philip, and afterwards Saint Matthew the Apostle preached among them: they have a Patriarch, or Abuna, a-man of great esteeme and estate. Their Abuna (when Alvares was in Aethiopia) was called Marke, a Reverend old Alvar. sect. 14 pa. 1089. Purch.Man, aged about 110, a man gracious in his speech, never speaking without blessing of God, and giving of Thankes: when hee goeth out of his Tent he rideth upon a Mule, well attended: Their Churches are builded round, adorned with rich hangings and Plate; They have their Service in their owne tongue. Zago Zabo Bugana Raze, that is, The Vice-Roy of Bugana, an Aethiopian Damian. à Goes de Aethiop. morib pag. 203.Bishop, was sent Ambassadour from the Aethiopian Emperour, to Iohn King of Portugall, who remained in Europe many yeares; whose Confession of faith is set downe by Damianus a Goes. As also the Aethiopian Rites are set forth in Print by Alvares, a Portugall Priest, who was some yeares Leidger in Aethiopia, sent thither by the King of Portugall. Thomas a Iesuite De convers. omnigent. pa. 373.writeth of a long succession of the Abassin Abunas. There is also a succession of the Christian Abassin Emperours, from Abraham called the Saint, who reigned about the yeare 427, to Abbas and Claudius their late Emperours: It is reported, Vid Gaulter Iesuit in Chronolog.that the Turke hath subdued much of the Prets Country; yet the Abassine Religion may continue, which the Turke taketh not from any.
3 The Christians also inhabit the Kingdome 3 Cephala. Cosmograp. fol. 99.of Cephala. Thevet writeth that they received the faith by the preaching of the Abassines.
4. Moreover the Matacasian Kingdome 4 Matacassiās Thevet. ib.received Christianity by the means of the King of Cephala. The Matacasian King placed over his Churches eight Bishops, and over them a Primate, or Patriarch, whom they call Elchadie, or Ismael.
In time past Christianity flourished 5 North-west of Africa.in the North-west part of Africa. Wee read of Synods there of above 200 Bishops, and in one Province called Zingitana, (where Carthage stood) of 164 Bishops to bee under one Metropolitane. When these Churches flourished, they opposed the iurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome over them, as appeareth by writings of St. Cyprian, St. Augustine, the sixt Councell of Carthage, and by a Synod at Melevis, in both which the African Fathers forbad appeales to Rome. In the North-west parts of Africa doe remaine onelyonly now two Bishopriks: (viz) Septa and Tanger: And whereas in Barbary, Algier, and other places, there are many thousands of Christians in Captivity, they are allowed by their Patrons, the Moores, the liberty of their Religion: and the learnedest or eldest, is to the rest in stead of a Priest.
6 Beside the subiects of Prester Iohn, very many people of the neighbour Kingdomes, mixed with Mahumetans, and Heathen people doe professe the Religion, Miraeus de stat. Relig. lib. 3. p. 196.and Rites of the Abassin Christians, as Miraeus affirmeth.
7 In Congo, called by some Manicongo, there are, or have beene some Christians. Idem ibid.Miraeus reokoneth up a succession of nine Christian Kings in that Kingdome.
8 In Monomopata there have bin some Monomopata.Christians: and they have had a King baptized.
9. In the Isle of Zocotora there are some Zocorara. Herbert. relat.Christians, who have also a Protomist, or Bishop over them.
10 The Portugals and Spaniards inhabit certaine Townes and Forts in Africa, as also the English and Hollanders reside in some places of Africa.
Miraeus setteth downe Alphabetically the Bishopricks of Africa, and reckoneth about 430; but howsoever many of the Bishopricks are not, but ruinated and dissolved; yet the Fame of the Sanctity, and learning of their Holy Bishops heretofore, shall continue for ever: As of St. Cyprian Bishop of Carthage: St. Austin Bishop of Hippo: Aurelius Bishop of Carthage: Athanasius Patriarch of Alexandria; Origen, Tertullian, Arnobius, and others, who governed the Church of God after a most singular manner, and having finished their course, rest with God in Heaven.
But by the way, to adde a word or two, for the better understanding of this my Relation: VVhereas you have heard of many Bishops in Europe, Asia, and Africa, it will not be impertinent to set downe what manner of men these Bishops in the Primative Church were: for some suppose Bishops and Elders to be all one, (which was the Herefie of Aerius) and that they lived meanly upon Almes and Stipends.
For the first, the Office of a Bishop is set downe by St. Paul, Titus the 1. and 5. For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order things that are wanting, and ordaine Elders in every City. Here we see Elders, or Pastors to be in every City: But Titus, the Bishop, had the charge to order, and ordaine Elders for the whole Island, in which wee reade 100 Cities to have been, besides Townes: Titus was their first Bishop, and there is now an Archbishop residing there, who hath Bishops under him.
For the second, whereas some suppose that Bishops then lived upon almes or stipends, heare what Saint Augustine hath left written of his little Bishopricke of Epist. 225. Bishop of Hippo, anno 395.Hippo, in Africa. (Saint Augustine was a Patricians sonne, and had a faire estate from his Father:) I (saith hee) went not from Riches, but to Riches: my fathers estate left mee, was not the twentieth part in comparison of the Farms & other Estates which I was Lord of by being Bishop of Hippo. In the 60 Epistle of Saint Cyprian, Cyp Ep. 60. Bishop of Carthag. an. 250.you may perceive the estate of the Church of Carthage, of which place hee was Bishop. Also Eusebius setteth downe Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 42. Cornel Bishop of Rome, anno 252.the condition of the Church of Rome, under Cornelius the Bishop and Martyr: who had under him 155 Clergie men, besides a multitude of Widdows and Poor, who were abundantly relieved, and lest any man should thinke this to be done penuriously. The said Cornelius, writeth to Fabian Bishop of Antioch, that so great a multitude were by the Providence of God made rich, and abounding in all plenteousnesse. In ancient time the Church Goods were divided into foure Reade Do. Saravia, lib. 2. of honour due to Prelates, c. 12.parts, one to the Bishop for the mayntenance of his Dignity and State, the second to the inferiour Clergy, the third to the poore, and the fourth for building, repayring and adorning of the Church, and other uses.
But whereas, some think, the chiefe points of Reformation to be put downe Bishops, and to ceaze upon Church-livings, and to put their Ministers to stipends. I suppose it to be a great plague laid upon a Church, to make their Ministers Stipendaries: and so to depend upon the benevolences of their people, it being the curse of God denounced upon the Priests of the Posteritie of Elie, to bow for a piece of silver, and to crowch for a morsell of bread: For the miserable condition of 1 Sam. 2. 36.Stipendarie Ministers, reade Doctour Saravia, Lib. Honour due to Prelats, c. 32.who setteth downe the poornesse of their Stipends, as also the difficulty of attaining those little Pittances allotted to them, viz. that oft the Ministers are compelled to travell no small iourneyes to their Pay Masters, in most humble manner (as if it were begging their Stipends) and yet many times sent away with empty Purses, and laden with reproachfull words, and this not only by the Treasurers, but all by men of base condition, as Shoomakers, Taylors, Curriers, &c. who are ready to reproach their poore Ministers, saying, You are our servants, wee pay you your wages: he reporteth also that he heard some of their Burgomasters say, Wee must take heed to these our Ministers, especially, that their Stipends be not so great: they that too much pamper their servants, shall finde them stubborn and contumacious.
The greatest of the Primative Persecutours, is affirmed, to be Iulian the Emperour: Lord Coke 2 part of his Reports.Who although hee set forth no Mandate to put Christians to death; yet hee endeavoured by subtile meanes to undoe Christian Religion: forbidding Christian Schools, and the use of Learning, debarring them from all offices of government, and burthening them with heavie taxes and payments: he robbed the Church, and spoyled Spirituall Persons of their Revenues, and tooke away their mayntenance:
Whereas other Tyrants persecuted Presbyterors: the Presbyters, or Ministers Iulian persecuted Praesbyterium, the whole Order of Ministers, or Priesthood: by which meanes none would apply themselves to the studie of Divinitie, when after long, painfull, and costly study, they should have nothing to live upon. Such Reformations before-named, may rather be called Persecutions than Reformations of a Church.
Is this a Reformation, to dispoyle their Bish…ps of their Livings, which they enioyed from the very beginning of Christianity amongst them, and to root out the very name of Bishops from among them.
Is this a Reformation to appropriate to themselves, or convert to prophane uses the Livings of their learned Pastors, set apart by their fore-fathers for their maintenance, and put them to poure Stipends, and oft pay them as the Souldiers are paid in some places with Flemmish cheese?
Is this a Reformation to pilfer and pill Churches of their Plate and rich Ornaments, which many a devout Saint had offered to the service of Almightie God, and to convert them to profane uses, which the very Goths and Vandals durst not touch (no not in their Enemies Churches) for feare of Gods heavy indignation upon them?
Is it a Reformation to pluck down Churches, built to the honour of God with great labour and cost? (I have heard one tell me, that he saw the great Church at Redding, overthrowne with a Myne) God be mercifull to us, and deliver all them that beare the name of Christ from such Reformations. But whom should I exclaime upon for this exercrable wickednesse: upon the Reformers, God forbid? they I hope, had no such intent, or upon the Ministers who had delivered their Magistrates from their slavery to the Pope: alas, by this meanes they were brought to misery and slavery. But upon some covetous persons, men void of all Religion, who under colour of Religion and Pietie, ioyning with the Reformers, made a prey of the Church, and brought it to this misery.
How can these men expect an inheritance with Christ in Heaven, who have defrauded him here in earth? But what do I telling them of Heaven. If Almighty God did punish Ananias and Saphyra with suddaine death, who gave much to the Church, and kept back only some part dedicated to God, and that of their owne: how shall these men stand in iudgement that never gave any thing of their owne, but have seized upon those livings, which not they, but their Pious Forefathers, with many Execrations had given and dedicated for the Service of Almightie God.
In this their execrable dealing, they have given great offence, not only to the Romanists, but to them who are displeased with the Roman Superstitions and Doctrines, and would willingly make a separation from them: but they see in these Reformations, not a secession from their enormities, but rather a defection from all Antiquitie. In my poore opinion, to overthrow the Policie and Government instituted by Christ in his Church, and continued to this our age, and used in all Churches else, cannot be a Reformation, but rather a Deformation. All this I write not that I blame that which is reformed, but for the amendment of that which is deformed, which Almighty God grant in his good time. Queene Elizabeth of blessed memory, was wont to say, That it is in a manner all one to have no Clergie at all, as a beggerly or base one.
In America.
THere are some Christians, both Roman Catholicks, and Protestants. The King of Spaine is said to have in America foure Regions, or at least the Maritine parts of the said Regions.
The Regions are New Spaine, Castella, Neuva, Peru, and Brasile.
The Hollanders have surprised a great part of Brasile.
Some write that the Indians had some knowledge of Christ before the Spaniards arriued there.
For the Estate of Religion in West India, under the Spaniard, most of the Inhabitants Breew. p. 20.of the Inland Countries, and wilder parts, continue in their Paganisme. Thomas a Iesu writeth. Although De convers. omni Gent. lib. 1. pag. 4.(saith he) the Indians have long enioyed the Husbandry of Ministers, so that all are baptized, yet very many of them worship Idols, who taking offence at the covetousnesse of their Parish Priests, blaspheme the Christian Faith.
In America also are divers Plantations of Protestants, English and Dutch, not onelyonly in the Ilands, but also in the continent. And thus much I have related of the Christians in the World: but whereas many places of the World are unknowne to us, so also are the sheepe of our great Shepheard, who cannot all be counted, wee being ignorant of the Pastures in which they feed. The Spaniards have in West India some Bishops.