A Relation of Christians in the World, License – Map
Perlegi Tractatum hunv cui Titulus est (A relation of the Christians in the World) eumque typis mandari permitto.
Iulij 29. 1639. Sa. Baker.
A RELATION Of the CHRISTIANS in the World.
Revelations 7. 9.
After this I beheld, and loe, a great Multitude which no man could number, of all Nations, and Kinreds, and People, and Tongues, stood before the Throne and before the Lambe.
LONDON: Printed by I. Okes. Anno Domini. 1639.
Reverendissimo in Christo Patri ac Domino Honoratissimo, Domino Gulielmo Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo, totius Angliae Primatiac Metropolitae, Regiae Majestati à Consilijs Sanctioribus, Academiae Oxoniensis Cancellario, & Patrono suo Colendissimo.
HAbes in libello isto (amplissime Praesul) Ecclesiae Catholicae statum, et pomoeria. In quo, Augustam Ecclesiam Catholicam, non angustis modo Romani Pontificis limitibus, (ut incassum somniant Pontificij) circumscriptam; nec in obscuro aliquo, ut Africae, angulo, (ut non minus olim vane concluserunt Donatistae) coarctatam; sed vere Catholicam: Hoc est, Universaliter extensam, & ab Oriente in Occidentem, et a meridie in Septentrionem sparsim diffusam videri licet. Et mihi certe summa delectatio, et consolatio fuit, cum legendo invenissem, et contemplando intellexissem, quam magna sit domus Dei Omnipotentis; quam ingens possessionis ejus locus; quam fortis Ecclesia, columna Dei viventis; contra quam, nec tyrannorum bujus mundi malitia, nec potestatum infernarum astutia, quicquam sint praevalitura. De Dedicatione huius Operis, (cum argumentum sacrum sit, ac Ecclesiasticum) non diu deliberandum fuit, cuius tutelae Consecrarem. Tibi (Illustrissime ac Reverendissime Praesul, (qui in Anglia nostra summus es Sacrorum Praeses, et Ecclesiae Patronus, non vigilantissimus modo, sed et verissimus,) optimo iure dicari debet.
Ignosce itaque (Reverendissime Praesul) huic meae in dedicando foreign: et dignare etiam (suppliciter oro) hoc meum qualecunque sit opusculum, sub alarum vestrarum umbra protegere.
Ego sane iam annosus, et senio confectus, hoc opus non sine magno labore & multis vigilijs concinnatum, ad lucem publicam, (Reverentiae vestrae patrocinio fretus,) fidens expono. Mibi quidem, in istiusmodi rhapsodijs conscribendis, coepisse sat est. Nunc, ut alij, longe me eruditiores, ad gumentum isthoc prosequendum et illustrandum instigentur, vestrum erit. Quod ut usui publico sit, Deum Optimum Maximum precor, per Iesum Christum, ut Authoritatem vestram Ecclesiae tranquillitati quam diutissime servet.
Amplitudini vestrae addictissimus, & Reverentiae vestrae servus humillimus, Ephraim Pagitt.
In Europe are 4 Sorts of christians The Protestants Papists Moscouits Greekes These two last agree With the Protestants and are not subiect to the Pope
In Africa are The Cophtie Under the Patriarch of Alexandria And the Abassin christians in Aethiope Under theire Abunna or Patriarch
In Asia are the christians Under the Patriarch of Ierusalem, and Antioch, the Armenians, Georgians, Circassians Christians in Cazan and Astracan ect. Under the Patriarch Mosco. of ASia the lesse, & Under the Patriarch of Musall, The Iacobits, Christians of St Thome Maronites ect
A Relation of the Christians in the WORLD.
HAving made a diligent enquiry of the estate of the Church of God upon Earth, I doe finde, that it is not confined to any one Country or Nation; nor impaled within any one Bishops Dioces; but truely Catholick or universal, dispersed over the face of the whole Earth. Our blessed Lord and Saviour being ready to ascend into Heaven, commanded his Apostles, saying: Goe yee Mat. 28. 19.and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, of the Sonne, and of the Holy Ghost; And this his Commandement the holy Apostles (being inspired from above) put in execution. They went forth and preached every where, the Lord Mar. 16. 20.working with them. In the Ecclesiasticall Histories the Countries and Nations are named in which, and to whom, they preached. And although some are perswaded that those Churches are altogether perished, or become hereticall; yet according to our Lords promise of Assistance (not only to his holy Apostles, viz. I am with you alway but also to their Successors preaching after them even to the Mat. 28. 20.latter end of the world) Christianity in the substantiall and essentiall points of it remayneth in many of these Countries to this day. And truly it is to mee a matter of great consolation, (in so many changes of this VVorld, and oppositions of wicked men against them that doe professe the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ) to see the Church of God preserved, and propagated upon the face of the Earth: and not only the Doctrine of Christian Religion but also the ancient Ecclesiasticall Policie and government of Bishops to be mainted, The Turks doe not only permit but defend every man in the exercise of his Religion.and defended, (through the providence of Almighty God) not only by Christian Princes, but also by Mahumetan and Pagan Kings.
The world may be divided into the
Old, known to the ancients which may be subdivided into
Europe,
Asia,
Africa,The division of the World.
New, late found out which may bee sub-divided into
America.
the North and South unknown lands.
EVrope hath in Longitude (as some write) from the further part of Ireland West, and the River Tanais East, about 2166 Miles, and in latitude 2220 Miles, or there abouts. Affrica is about twice as large as Europe; and Asia is esteemed to be larger than them both.
I finde in Europe foure sorts of Christians: viz.
Protestants,
Romanists,
Muscovites,
and Greeks.
The Protestants who inhabit the 1 Protestāts England. Scotland. Cambdens Brit. pag. 2. Ireland.Kingdomes of England and Scotland, being about 1836 miles in compasse, and Ireland conteyning about 400 Miles in length, and 200 in breadth. Gildas writeth, that Britanie received the Faith in the time of Tiberius. Nicephorus, Dorotheus, and others also write, that the Ecclesia
Occidentalis,
Reformata in Regnis,
Angliae.
Scotiae,
Hiberniae,
Daniae,
Norvegiae,
Succiae,
Transilvaniae.
Inhabitant etiam hi Christiani, Pontifi. cijs mixti,
Germaniam,
Poloniam,
Eranciam,
Helvetiam,
Rhetiam,
Hungariam,
Bohemiam,
Belgiam.
Pontificia, in
Hispania
Italia,
Francia.
nhabitant etiam hi Christiani, Protestantibus mixti partem
Germaniae,
Poloniaae,
Franciae,
Belgiae,
Helvetiae,
Rhetiae,
Hungariae,
Bohemiae.
Orientalis
Graeca, sub Patriarcha
Constantinopolitano,
Antiocheno,
Alexandrino,
Hierosolymitano,
Moscoviae,
Bulgariae,
Iberiae seu Georgianorum.
Chaldaea, aut Chaldaeis lingua vicina: haec Ecclesia dividitur in eam cui imputatur, quod sit
Nestoriana sub Patriarcha de Mosul alijs que …hiChristiani Mahumetanis & infidelibus mixti, inhabitant,
Babyloniam,
Assyriam,
Mesopotamiam,
Parthiam,
Mediam,
Catthaiam,
Tartariam,
Indiam, &c.
Monophysitica
Armeniorum,
Iacobitarum,
Coptorum seu Christianorum Aegyptiacorum,
Aethiopum seu Abassinorum.
Apostle Simon Zelotes preached in Britanie, and that he was Crucified, & lyeth buried there: some suppose that he came with Ann. Anno. 35. addit. mar. manu. S. quae habetur in Bibliotheca vaticana.Ioseph of Arimathea into Britanie: which Ioseph you may read in Cardinal Baronius his Annals, to have arrived here about the five and thirtieth yeare of our Lord. Aristobulus, one of the seventy Disciples, Dorotheus.was one of the first Bishops of Britanie.Some write that the Scots had a Bishop calld Palladius about the year 196. in the time of Donald, who first of all the Kings of Scotland stamped the Crosse upon his coin, being the badge of Christianity. Merm. de conv. p. 60 Quorum sanctâ praedicatione rex Lucius & totius Britanniae primates Baptismum susceperunt. Lib. sa. Teilai Ecclesiae landaven. Archiep.
The memory of these Arch-Bishops following, (viz.) Of Patrick in Ireland, Palladius in Scotland, and of David in Wales; who Preached the most sweete Name of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ in these Countries before named, will never be forgotten.
In St. Peters Church in Cornehill, London, remaineth a Monument, declaring that King Lucius founded that Church for a Bishops See, and of a succession of Arch-Bishops there for 400 yeares. Elvanus sate Arch-Bishop there, by whose preaching, with others, King Lucius had beene converted: as also Restitutus, a married Bishop, who with other British Bishops subscribed the Synode at Arles, Anno 350. Neither is Vodinus, one of the Arch-bishops Arles anno 350.of London, to be left in oblivion, who was murthered for reproving King Vortiger for putting away his wife, and marrying Rowen daughter to Hengist an Infidel. Reverend Bede telleth us of many Learned men and Bishops, in Britany before and about the comming of Austin the Monk: As also of Bishop Aidan and Finan, who are at this day reckoned among the Romish Saints although they would have no Communion with the said Austin. Likewise, Arch-bishop Cranmer, Bishop Ridley, Bishop Latimer, and others, who restored Religion to the ancient Purity, and sealed their Confession with their Blood, will be had in Everlasting memory. There are now in the Kingdomes above named eight Arch-bishops, and about eighty Bishops. The Clergy in these Kingdomes are learned, best provided for, and the most honorable of the reformed Churches.
The Bishops are Barons, and sit in their Parliaments: and two of the English Bishops, As there have beene of the Clergy about 160. Lord Chancellours of England, 80 Lord Treasurors, & all the Lord Keepers of the Privy Seale, were generally Clergy men. The masters of Roles were all clergy men untill the 26. year of K. Henry 8. There have bin 12. Clergy-men Lord chief Iustices of England. The victorious K. Edward 3. having a great care to advance such persons in the great Offices of his kingdō and houshold, as did excel others in innocency of life, About the 39. of his raigne, had these clergy mē officers. The Lord Chancellor, the L. Treasurer, the L. Privy Seale, the Mr. of the Roles, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Treasurer of the Houshold, the Mr. of his Jewel house, with many others. Vide Stow, p 266. Moreover in the absence and minority of the Kings, divers Clergy-men have bin Custosses or Vice-royes of the Kingdome.viz. Durham and Eley, have some regalities in their Diocesses. In ancient time the Kings of England placed Clergy-men in the greatest Offices of the Kingdome. The Protestants also inhabit the Kingdome of Denmark, with the Balticke Islands, and the great Islands in the Ocean, as Islands part of Freisland.
The Kingdome of Norway being in length about 1300. miles, and not halfe so much in breadth. There are in Denmarke and Norway two Archbishopricks, and foureteene Bishoprickes. These Kingdomes received Christianity from the Apostles or Disciples, as Merman *Merm theatrū convers. pag. 83.affirmeth. There were two Danish Bishops in the first Councell of Nice, viz. Marcus Metropolitanus & Protogenes.
The Kingdome of Sweden bigger then France and Italy, in which Kingdome is one Arch-Bishopricke, and seven Bishopricks.Mirae. de stat. relig. p. 128. Transilvania.
The Kingdome of Transilvania in a manner intire.
In the Kingdome of Poland (being of no Poland. Brerw. enquire pref.lesse space than Spaine and France laid together) the Protestants in great numbers are diffused through all the quarters thereof; having in every Province their publicke Churches orderly severed, and bounded with Dioces.
There are also in Polonia many Greeks, or Russes, who have eight Bishops, whose Metropolitane is the Arch-Bishop of Kiovia. These Bishops are not beggarly, but well provided for, and of good esteeme. Isidore, Arch-Bishop of Kiovia, Matth. a Micou. l. 2.before named, went to the Councell of Florence, attended with 100. Horse.
There are also many Armenians Christians, whose Bishop is resident in Leopolis.
In France the Protestants had at the conference of Poisie 2150 Congregations.France.
In this Christian Kingdome, Philip the Apostle, with many holy Bishops, preached the faith: as Dionysius Disciple of S. Paul, the first Bishop of Paris and Martyrs, Lazarus Photinus Disciple of Polycarp, and Irenaeus B. of Lions, Hilary B. of Poicteurs, Lazarus was the first Bishop of Masillea. Doroth. in Synop.who tooke great paines to purge France from the Arrian Heresie; Remigius Bishop of Rhemes, who baptized Clodoveus the first Christian King of France. Neither should wee forget Germanus Bishop of Anxer, nor Lupus Bishop of Tros, who Bed. l. 1. c.crossed the Seas to aide the British Bishops against the Pelagians.
The Protestants have also the greatest Part of Germany.part of Germany: all the temporall Princes of note, being of late Protestants, except the Dukes of Bavaria and Cleere, and in a manner, all the Free Cities and Hanse Thesaur. Polit. Apot. 6Townes. The Protestants detain also in their possessions the Archbishopricks of Mirae de stat. Relig. lib. 1. cap. 33.Magdenburgh and Breame, with the Bishopricks unto them belonging. As also the Bishopricks of Verdden, Halberstad, Osnaburgh, and Minden. When Magdenburgh Mercat. pa. 134.was converted to the Faith, Albert was there Bishop. Cresceus Disciple of Saint Paul was one of the first Bishops in Germany; and Winibrode an Englishman, commonly Theat. convers. pag. 57.called Boniface, is Famous amongst the Archbishops of Ments, whom the Pagans murthered in hope of prey, and found only in his Coffers a few bookes and Relicks. The first Bishop of Wertburgh was Burchard a Britaine: this Bishop is Duke of Franconia, and Lord of part of Vortland. The first Archbishop of Breme was Ausgarius, who converted Erick the third King of Denmarke. Also in these later times, the memory of Doctor Luther, (who caused Reformation in some parts of Germany) is very precious in the Countries by him reformed.
They have also halfe the Netherlands: Parts of the Netherlandsthere were lately Bishops in these parts, as amongst others, Amandus Bishop of Utrecht, who converted the Gauntois to the Christian Faith. As also Frederick, Bishop of the said See, who for reproving Lodowick the Emperour, for keeping Iudith, was put to death, but now in these Countries, and some others, they have no Bishops: but appropriating the Church-livings to themselues, they give their Ministers Pensions. But I fear, that in this their taking to themselves the Church-livings, set apart by their Fore-fathers for the service of Almighty God, and paying their Ministers pensions, they doe no otherwise than a King of Spaine did, who taking very much from the Church, built a Monastery, or two; of whom the Proverbe went, That he had taken a Sheep from Almighty God, and given him again out of it the Trotters. Now what the miserable Effects are, which follow upon the want of Bishops in those Countries, let the abundance of Heresies, Sects, Schismes, and Religions amongst them, testifie to the world.
Also, they have more than halfe Switzerland, Switzerland, Grisons.and the Grisons Country, in which Countries have beene many Bishops.
The Protestants also live mingled with the Romanists in Hungarie, Austria, Bohemia, Hungary. Austria. Bohemia.Piemont, and other places. Severinus is accounted the Apostle of Austria. In those Countries have beene many holy Bishops and Doctours, who have shined like Stars in the Firmament, illuminating the Darknesse of the blind World, with the light of their Celestiall Doctrine.