History of the First Ten Persecutions, Treatises 1 · Treatise 3

History of the First Ten Persecutions · Treatises 1 · Treatise 3

p. 127A TREATISE, Of the Monasticke life.

THE originall of the Monasticke life is referred by some men to Helias, by others to John Sozo… ▪ lib. 1 cap. 12 Act. 2. 44Acts 2:44Baptist: some referre it to those who were in companie with the Apostles, and had all things common: Others referre it to the Essenes, a sect of the Iewes, of whose customes Iosephus accurately Ioseph. Antiquit. li. 18 cap. 2writeth. And indeede the similitude of the maners of the Monkes and the Essenes conuerted to Christian Religion, agreeth in many points: for they had all things common, they laboured with their hands, & were men accustomed with long abstinence from meate and drinke. Eusebius reserreth the beginning of the Monasticke forme of liuing, to the auditors of the Euangelist Marke in Alexandria: for a number of them inclined Euseb. lib. 2 cap. 17their minds to the contemplation of diuine mysteries, and separated themselues from the companie of the multitude who dwelt in townes, and they had their habitation in the wildernes, about the lake Maria, or Maris. This place was called the Wildernesse of Nitria. Eusebius confirmeth this opinion by the testimonie of Philo. Finally, some referre it to the time of the Philo de vie… comtempla….tenne Persecutions, at what time many fled to the Mountaines, to the Wildernesse, and to solitary places, wherein they contracted such a custome and habite of solitary liuing, that euen Sozom. lib. 1 cap. 12in time of peace, and when Persecutions were ended, they continued still liuing in the Wildernesse.

Whatsoeuer was the originall of the Monasticke life, it is certaine, there was a greater show then substance of Religion in it: 1, Tim, 4. 8for bodily exercises they profite little, & the not sparing the bodie, is counted by the Apostle foreign, that is, a voluntary Colloss. 2 verse, 23Religion, which men hauehave inuented to themselues, and GOD hath not commanded it. True it is, that men doe well if they subdue their bodies, as Paul did, to bring it in subjection, lest by any meanes, when he had preached to others, he himselfe should 1. Cor. 9 verse 271 Cor 9:27be reproued. And as true it is on the other part, that incase men p. 128repose vponupon these outwarde exercises, as thinges in themselues meritorious, and referre them not vntounto the right ende, as Paul did: yea, and if they joine not with abstinence from meate, an abstinence also from sinne, the LORD regardeth not the outwarde affliction of the bodie, as the Prophet Isai clearely declareth in these wordes, …s it such a fasting that I hauehave chosen, that a man should afflict his soule for a day, and to bow downe his head, as a bulrush, and to lie downe in sacke-cloth and asshes? Wilt thou call this a fasting, or an acceptable day to the LORD?

In the very originall ground of the Monasticke life, I see this infirmitie, That men imagined by changing of place to bee free of the snares of the Deuill: But it is otherwise, Adam was tempted in Paradise, & CHRIST was tempted in the Wildernesse, Genes. 3 Matth. 4Gen 3Matt 4and Sathan is ready to spreade his nette both in the prison and in the palace, and by changing of place we cannot be free from his malice. In the Epistle written by Basilius Magnus to Gregorius, this is illustrate by the fit similitude of a man who saileth Epist. Basil. ad Gregor.in a ship, and findeth himselfe to bee sicke, and secretely in his owne mind blameth the greatnesse of the vessell whereinto hee saileth: but when hee steppeth downe into the little bote, that accompanieth the ship, his sicknesse continueth, and is not abated, whereby hee is compelled to come to a consideration of the Similitude.right cause of his sicknesse, that it is neither the great vessell, nor the little vessell, that is the cause of his grieuance, but rather the corrupt humours that lurke within his owne bodie. Euen so the permutation of place will not make vsus free of the tentations of the Deuill, as some men imagined. And like as the consolations of GOD are not tyed to any certaine place, for Moses in Exod. 24Exod 24Arabia, and vponupon Mount Horeb was delited with the sight of GOD, and in Pisga, with the long expected sight of Deut. 34Deut 34the promised land: and the Apostle Iohn in the Isle of Pathmos saw many comfortable reuclations: euen so the perilous snares Apocal. 1Rev 1of Sathan are spred out eueryevery where, no lesse then the consolations of GOD are.

The Monkes of olde were not all of one ranke, for some of them were called Coenohitae, or Conventuales. Others were called Anchoritae. The conuentuall Monkes, albeit they were separated Socrat. lib. 4 cap. 23from the fellowship of the common people, yet they had a p. 129fellowship amongst themselues, and some of them dwelt in the Wildernesse: such as the Conuentuall Monkes of Aegypt dwelt in the Wildernesse of Nitria and Schethis: but the Conuentuall Monkes of Syria, Persia, Armenia, and other places, not so Sozom. lib. 6 cap. 34neere approaching to the Equinoctiall line as those of Aegypt were, they dwelt in Townes and Villages, because the inclemencie of alterable weather permitted them not to dwell in the Wildernesse, as the Monkes of Aegypt did. Notwithstanding, some of the Conuentuall Monkes of that part of Syria which is called Interamnis, or Mesopotamia, as it were striuing against nature, ouer-went the Monkes of Aegypt, in that which the Apostle calleth foreign, that is, a not sparing of the Colloss. …bodie: for the Monkes of Aegypt dwelt in little Cottages, and ate some quantitie of bread, after long abstinence: but the Monkes fore-saide had their remaining vponupon the Mountaines, and were couered with no roofe of any shop or lodge defending them against the injurie of the weather, except onelyonly with the roofe of Heauen: and they ate no bread, but only refreshed their hungrie bodies with the rootes of hearbes, which they houcked out of the ground: and for this kinde of pasturing the people called them Greges. Of this ranke of conuentual monks about Sozom. lib. 6 cap. 33Nisibis & Mount Sigeron were the monks following, famous and much renowned, to wit, Batthaeus, Eusebius, Barges, Abbos, and Lazarus (who afterward was ordained a Bishop) and Abdaleos, Zenon, and Hetrodorus an olde man, of whom Sozomen in the place Sozom. ibid.aboue specified maketh particular mention. To all these Conuentuall Monkes, wheresoeuer they dwelt, this was common, that they were diuided into Conuentes, and eueryevery Conuent was gouerned by one Gouernour, whom they reuerenced, as children reuerence their father.

The Anachorites were Monks who dwelt in the Wildernes seuerally, & by themselues, not deliting in fellowship, as the Conuentual monks did. Ruffin. maketh the more reuerend record of the Anachorites, or Eremites of Aegypt, because he visited them, & Ruffin. lib. 2. cap. 8had the honour to be blessed by imposition of their hands, such as two Eremites bearing the name of Macarius, Isidorus, Pambus, Moses, Benjamin, Scyron, Helias, Paulus in Apeliote, Paulus in Focis, Poemen, & Ioseph in Pispiri, of whom there are large treatises in the p. 130Ecclesi…sticall Historie. Some of the Anachorites were so rude Euagr. lib. 1. cap 21and i…mane, that they bowed their faces to the ground, and ate … and hearbes, as beastes doe: and if they had seene another m…n, they fled from him, & hid themselues, as if they had no b…ne procreated of the race of mankind. The brethrē of foreign, of whom Plutarch writeth, are to be set by, as Plutarch. in …. A…ton.vnworthie of any further remembrance: And the common people justly called them Armenta, that is, Cattell. There was yet another ranke of Eremites called Circulatores, who after long abstinence from all kinde of delicate pleasures, they left the wild…rnesse, and came to townes, sate in tabernes, resorted to stoue-ho…ses, and yet were not intangled with any kind of desire of earthly pleasures, as dead men to the world: but when Euagr lib. 1 cap. 21occasion of prayer was offered vntounto them, the …ldest and weakest of them did plucke vp his heart, and with vigore and courage did performe that Holy s…ruice. Euagrius commending these Circulatores, with exces…iue praises, borroweth a similitude from Plato whereby hee would declare, that as a man who hath vnclothed himselfe of his vpper garmentes, and in ende hath Similitude.cast off his shirt also, this man is naked indeede: euen so these Circulatores, after they had forsaken all carnall delites, in ende they forsooke also foreign, that is, vaine glorie, which is like vntounto the shirt of a man, and the last of all garmentes casten off. The similitude is very good, if it had bene rightly applied, but I cannot see howe it can bee rightly applied to these Circulatores, who needed not to hauehave come to townes, as to stages and theaters, to make oftentation of their abstinence, if they had not beene couetous of vaine glorie.

The orders of Monkes that sprang vp after the three hundreth yeere of our LORD, were like vntounto rootes planted in an Orchard, which spreade out in many branches, such as the Basilidians, Ambr…sians, the Augustine Monkes, Hieronymian…, Gr…gorians, and Benedictines. But the Augustines and Benedictines were beyond the rest. The order called Grandimontenses, the Orders of Premonstratenses, in the low countreys of Germanie, neere to Le… dium, of Guilelmitae in Aquitania, Milites D. Jacobi, and Calatrinenses in Spaine: All these followed the rules of the Augustine Monkes. But the Orders of the Cluniacenses in France, of the p. 131shadowed valley, who dwelt in Italie, and vponupon the Apenneine of Cistertienses in Burgundie, of Bernard…ines, Coelestines, of Iustinians, of Mount Oliue…, of Humiliati, and diuers others: all these were branches of the order of S. Benedict. And this diuersitie of names was imposed to Monkes liuing vnderunder the rules of Augustine and Benedict, partly to declare the places wherein, and partly the persons by whom the dissolute conuersation of the Monkes of these two orders was reduced to the strickt abstinence of their first institution. Many other Orders I hauehave of purpose ouer-passed with silence, because the number is exceeding great onelyonly of the Charterous Monkes, of the Franciscans and Dominicans, and of the vnhappie order of the Layolites and a few more wee shall speake hereafter, GOD willing.

Now to keepe some order in this Treatise, I shall fi…st declare (GOD willing) the meanes whereby the Monasticke forme of liuing was increased, magnified and admired, euen beyond all measure. Secondly, of the degrees of the decay of their fame, which insued soone after the excessiue commendation of that state. And thirdly, the vild and vnsufferable abuses of the Mon…sticke life of late dayes, whereby Monkes are become a heauie and loath some burthen, ouer-charging the world, and like vntounto the offensiue Locustes, who euen when they hauehave flowne away they leaue behind them such detriment and losse to parts whereinto they hauehave beene, that of a long time they cannot be forgotten againe. First, the Monastries of olde were called foreign, or places of honestie, whereinto all lasciuiousnesse, wantonnesse, and riote was abhorred, as it was wont to be detested i… Selga, a towne of Pisidia, in so farre that the Apostle Paul himselfe Rom. 13 verse, 13Rom 13abhorreth not from the word foreign, whereby hee betokeneth wantonnesse. Likewise they were called foreign, for their solitarie liuing, foreign and foreign, for their meditation and continuall holy exercises. In these places men were well brought vp, and were furnished with knowledge, & were meete to stop the mouthes of Heretiques, who in the fourth CENTURIE did abound. In these places were continuall exercises of Prayer, Reading, Meditation, and abstinence from all kind of delicate pleasures. And men brought vp in Monasteries were meete to vndertake the weighty charge of Pastors and Bishops. p. 132Epiphanius from his youth was brought vp in the Monastries both of Palestina and Aegypt. And Nazianzenus drew with him Sozom. l…b. 6 cap. 3 2Basilius Magnus to the Wildernesse, where they laide aside all the bookes of Gracian Philosophers, and searched out the mysteries of the Kingdome of GOD, out of the bookes of Holie Ruffin. lib. 2 cap. 9Scripture, and very diligently read the bookes of ancient Fathers, who before their time had written Commentaries vponupon diuine Scripture: so were they both well prepared for great emploimentes, by thirteene yeeres continuall exercise of reading in the Wildernesse. Barses, Eulogius, Lazarus, Leo, and Prapidius of Monkes in Syria and Persia, were made Bishops. And this Sozom. lib. 6 cap. 34was the first honour of Monastries, that in them, as it were in Colleges of Learning, men were well exercised, and prepared for the Pastorall office.

Secondly, the great giftes of GOD that appeared in some of them, who professed the Monasticke life, brought this kind of liuing in wonderfull great admiration amongst the people, especially the gift of working of miraculous workes. In this point like as I am not altogether incredulous, to doubt of euerie miracle which GOD wrought by the hands of Monkes, so likewise will I not bee so childish credulous, as to beleeue eueryevery thing that Ecclesiasticall Writers doe record of them, as namelie, the thirtie yeeres silence of THEONAS, conjoined with a Propheticall gift. GOD suffered not ZACHARIAS the Sozom. lib. 6 …p. 28father of IOHN BAPTIST (albeit justly punished with dumnesse Luc. 1. 22Luke 1:22for his incrudelitie) to bee so long silent, seeing the talentes of GOD are giuen to bee occupied, and not to be hidden in the ground.

The miracle of Apelles an Aegyptian Monke, who brunt the Deuill in the face with an hote yron, who appeared vntounto him in the similitude of a beautifull woman, and tempted him to vngodly lust: is it not a childish fable, and repugnant also to Scripture, wherein the weapons are described wherewith wee shoulde fight against spirituall wickednesse, and all are pieces of …. 6spirituall armour onelyonly?

The miraculous transporting of Ammus ouer a broocke, to the ende hee shoulde not drawe off his owne hose, and see his Socrat. lib. 4 cap. 23owne naked legges, is not agreeable to the ende that GOD p. 133hath in working of miracles: namely, to confirme the weakenesse of Faith, but not to foster vaine conceites in mens hearts. Was it a fault of CHRISTES Disciples to see their owne naked Ioh. 13. 5John 13:5legges, when our LORD IESUS washed them?

The superstition of the Monke Dorotheus, hating sleepe as hee hated the Deuill, when as our Maister IESUS CHRIST abhorred not from refreshing his owne bodie with naturall rest. The multiplied number of prayers which PAULUS in Pherma Sozom. lib. 6 cap. 29as a dayly taske offered to GOD, numbring his prayers by the like number of three hundreth stones put in his bosome, and after eueryevery prayer casting out a stone, vntill his bosome was emptied of all the three hundreth little stones laide vp in his bosome. This deuotion is much praised by Sozomenus, and out of question it is the first grounde of Popish beades. The vowe Sozom. ibid.of P…, when hee went to the Wildernesse of Aegypt, that hee shoulde neuer see anie of his owne kindred in the face againe, and his endeuour to performe his vowe by closing his eyes, and permitting his sister to satisfie her minde, which longed for a sight of him, but hee would not once open his eye liddes to see his sister, lest hee should breake his vow by so doing. All these thinges and many more are recorded by Ecclesiasticall Writers, and that not without a Note of high commendation: So that the report of their Miracles, of their extraordinary abstinence from lawfull refreshments, of their long continuance in prayer, brought the people to a wonderfull admiration of the Monasticke life.

The third meane whereby the fame & renowne of monks was mightily augmented, was their good carriage in their conuersation, for a long time: They were temperate, chaste, obedient to their superiours, full of charitie, giuen to Prayer, Reading, Meditation, and hearing of godly Exhortations: With manuall labours also they gained foode and raiment to themselues, and that which superabounded, was bestowed to the support of the poore their policie was commendable: the conuent was diuided by tens, & eueryevery ten Monks had a Decanus to attēd vponupon them, August. d… …morib. Eccl, Cathol…so called because he attended vponupon the company of ten Monks: from them hee receiued the worke they had wrought with their hāds, & sold it in the townes of Aegypt, & bought food & raimēt p. 134to the Monkes, and the rest was bestowed on the poore, so that sometimes Ships were hired to transport to Christian people (whom they heard of to bee indigent) support from the Monks of Nuria and Schethis. Moreouer, the glorious name giuen of olde to Hethnicke Philosophers, nowe was transferred to the Monkes: for the Emperour Valens had slame all the Philosophers in the East for their curiositie, in seeking out by the tripode …oZom. lib. 6 cap. 35of Apollo the name of him who should succeede to the Emperour Valens: so that both the common people and Ecclesiasticall Writers, conferred the glorious name of Philosophers vntounto the Monkes onelyonly.

The Monkes beeing thus aduanced by the wind of populare applause, & mounted vp vponupon the benches of high estimation, their number also was dayly augmented: so that in the Wildernesse of Nitria were found fiftie seuerall companies of Monks, and in eueryevery company three thousand and aboue, who were all subject to one Gouernour, as many sonnes to one Father, August. de …iorib. Eccl. Cathol.These companies make out the number of an hundreth and fiftie thousand Monkes, all dwelling in one Wildernesse of Nitria, ouer and beside other Aegyptian Monkes, who had their remaining in the Wildernesse of Schethis, where the Conuents of Monkes subject to one common Father, consisted of the number of fiue hundreth Monkes. And like as in the Countrey of Arabia foelix at the noone-tide of the day innumerable flying Serpentes are found bizzing about the Aromaticke trees, not in respect of a delite they hauehave in the sappe of those trees, but in Similitude.respect of the delite they hauehave in the warmenesse of an hot day… euen so the applause of the people encouraged many to embrace the Monasticke life, rather then a deli…e in the st…ickt abstinence of a solitarie life.

Finally, ancient Fathers commended the Monasticke life ou… Au…ust. de morib. Eccl. Cathoi.of all me…sure, Augustine calleth…, Excellens fast g…m sanct…, that is, the exc…lent eminencie of …: And Basilius. Magnus was earnest in building Monasteries in Pontus, and sedulous in writing bookes called Ascetica, containing Precepts of c…elie and manerly liuing, to be practised by Monks: le…om inuerted Bi…il. Ascetica.the ancient order, and of a presbyter became a Monke, in a Monastery builded at Bethlehem, when as before the Monasticke p. 135life had beene a preparation to the Minis…rie: Yea, and the Monasticke life was so highly praised and admired, through the great commendations, that learned Fathers gaue vntounto it, that in ende it was a prouerbe in the mouthes of the people, Malus August. Aurel. Epist. LXXVI.Monachus, bonus Clericus, that is, an euill Monke, a good Cleargie man, where in the worst of the Coruent of Monks was equalled to the best of the Ministrie. Augustine was offended at this prouerbe: notwithstanding it was the Fathers themselues, such as Augustine, Epiphanius, Basilius, Ambrose, and Ierom, who rooted this opinion in the peoples heartes, that Monachatus was excellens fastigium sanctitatis, as hath beene declared.

Now if comparison should bee made betwixt the Monks of the Conuent, and the principall members of the Cleargie, what shall wee say of Epiphanius Bishop of Cyprus, Basilius B. of Caesarea in Cappadocia, Nazianzenus Bishop of Constantinople, Dioscorus Bishop of Hermopol…, Acholius Bishop of Thessalonica, and innumerable more of the like ranke, who of Monkes became Bisshops? Were they more perfect when they lurcked in the Wildernesse, and cared for their owne soules onelyonly, or when they were made Bishops, and cared for the soules of many people, bought with the precious ransome of the blood of CHRIST; Dare any man say, that by vndertaking the office of a Bishop they abased themselues, & stepped downe to a lower degree of perfection, then the former, which they had during their remaining in the Wildernesse? Hath the prouerbe Ab Equis ad Asinos, that is, from Horses to Asses, any place in this exchange of their estate? Yea, what shall wee say of Narcissus Bishop of Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 9Hierusalem, who left his Pastorall office, and fled to the Wildernesse and in his olde age returned againe to Hierusalem? Doeth any …. … Writer count his going to the Wilde…nesse a mounting to a degree of further …fection? and not rather a piece of i…becillitic and weakenesse in him, who could not patiently indure when …alse testimonie was borne against him?

Concerning the place of Scripture, wherein it is said, If …hou Mat. …9. 21Matt 9:21would bee perfect, goe, and sell all thou ha…, and giuegive it vntounto the poore, and th… shalt hauehave treasure in Heauen: This was spoken to a rich man, and to an Hypocrite puffed vp with a conceit of his owne rightecus…es, and for discouery of his hypocrisie a particular commandement p. 136is giuen to him onelyonly, and not generally appertaining to all Christians: Like as another commandement was giuen to ABRAHAM, in particulare, and not generally appertaining to all men, to offer vp his sonne ISAAC a sacrifice to Genes, 2…GOD: And CHRIST in that place, is not describing the perfection of a man, but hee is discouering the false conceit of an Hypocrites heart, glorying in the perfect righteousnesse of the Lawe. CHRIST will let the worlde see, that for all his bragging, yet he loued his riches better then he loued GOD, and consequently hee knew not so much as the Generall summe of the Law, which warneth men to louelove GOD aboue all things.

In the next head the decay of the fame and glory of the Monasticke life is to be declared, which ensued soone after the excessiue commēdation of it, & that through manifold defections Sozom. lib. 8 cap. 11both in doctrine and maners, that fell out amongst Monkes: First they became both inuentors and propagators of Heresies: Aud…i, otherwise called Anthropomorp…itae, who supposed GOD Theod. comp. ….to be fashioned according to the similitude of a man, with head, armes, legges, feete, and other members, proportionallie The…oros. li. 4. cap. 10agreeing to the similitude of a mans bodie. These Heretiques (I say) first sprang vp in the Wildernesse of Nitria. Eustachius Bishop of Sebastia in Armenia, albeit hee was not a Monke, yet hee was an admirer of the Monasticke life, and afterwarde was condemned as an obstinate Heretique, in the Councill of Ancyra. Marathonius, who had beene a Thesaurer in the dayes of Concil. Ancyr.the Emperour Constantius, and furnished money to the Emperours Souldiours, in ende became rich, & by aduise of Eustachius Bishop of Sebastia in Armenia, hee builded a Monastrie in Constantinople, Sozom. lib. 4 cap. 27where hee propagated the Heresie of Macedonius, which had beene quenched in Constantinople if Maratbonius vnderunder Theod. lib. 4 cap. 11pretence of Religion had not propagated it. Moreouer the Heresie of Messaliani and Euchytae, did so ouer-spreade in Monastries, that Letoi…s Bishop of Meletina founde no better meane to suppresse this Heresie, then by driuing the Monkes out of their Cloisters, and setting the Monastries on fire. Likewise Amphiloc…ius Bishop of Iconium in Lycaonia, and Flavianus Bishop of Antiochia, with great fightings and wressing hardly could get these Heretiques in their bounds discouered and subdued. And Eutyches, p. 137whose errour like a Canker-worme so long time molested the Church of GOD, was hee not an Abbot in Constantinople… Poly… also a ridiculous Monke, obstinately defended the Heresie of the Monoth…tes in the fixt Generall Councill, Co…cil. G… neral. 6and offered to confirme that doctrine with a miraculous worke: but with shame and confusion hee succumbed, and was curs…d by the Councill. Moreouer Monkes were the chiefe defenders of the adoration of Images. And in the second Council of Nue worshipping of Images is proued by a confabulation betwixt the Deuill & a Monke, and by another foolish dialogue Damascen. de Imaginibus.betwixt a Monke & his Abbot. This was the first great dash that the Monastic…e life got, that many of them were founde rather propagators of Heresie, then defenders of the trueth.

Corruption of maners amongst the Monkes, began at disobedience to their superiours. Of old the Conuent was very obedient to their Gouernour (who some time was called Prepositus, afterward Archimandrita, and last Abbas) and the Gouernour was obedient to the Bishop, and the Bishop to the Emperour and his Deputies. Neuerthelesse vnderunder the reigne of the Emperour A…cadius, the Monkes of Aegypt went foorth out of their Socrat. lib. 6 cap. 7Monastries, and came to Alexandria, of purpose to slay their Bishop Theophilus… which thing also they had performed, if so be that by subtilty of flattring wordes hee had not mitigated their anger, as is a…eadie declared. In like maner the Monks of Nitria, to the number of 500. came out of the wildernesse to Alexandria not against their B. Cyrillus, but against Orestes the deputie Socrat. lib. 7 cap. 14of the Emper. Theodosius, whome they both outbraided and wounded: And the Monke Ammonius, who wounded the deputie, was deseruedly punished to the death for his seditious attempt: yet was hee commended by Cyrillus, and counted a martyr, but with the great disliking of good Christians, who hated seditious enterprises against lawfull Magistrates. Also the seditious Monkes of CONSTANTINOPLE, whose insolencie Sozom. lib. 8 cap. 9Iohn Chrysostome … to correct, they slandered him as a senere angri…, fi…ce, and proude man, and opened the first doore to his trouble: so that his hatefull enemies both in Court and Church, were encouraged by their meanes to procure his deposition, banishment, and death. Likewise, the p. 138Monkes of Nova Laura in HIERUSALEM, who for Hereticall opinions were driuen out of their Monastries by their owne Bishop Eustochius, they became very seditious, and stirred vp horrible contention, betwixt Theodorus Ascidas Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, and Eustochius Bishop of HIERUSALEM. No contention ha… beene more pernitious in the Church of CHRIST, then this (Th…odorus beeing in great fauour with the Emperour Iusti…an) if the fift Generall Councill had not staide Euagr. lib. 4 cap. 38all the attemptes of Theodorus, by comdemning the Hereticall opinions of Origin, which both the monkes of Nova Laura, and Theodorus As…das did maintaine. Finally, the monks became so contentious & seditious, that not only they contended against their superiours, but also they contended amongst themselues with vnsupportable hatred, and euen in the wildernesse of …tria, Socrat. lib, 6 cap. 7where their great fame and commendation did spring vp, in that same place the fame and beautie of the Monasticke life did fade and wither.

Beside Heresie and contention, other corruptions of maners stained and defaced the glorie of the Monasticke life: namelie, an inclination to idlenesse, abstinence from manuall labours, & heaping vp of riches, which they gathered of the sweate of other mens labours. And this appeareth clearely by the writinges of August. de opere Mona…rum, cap. 23Augustine, who not onelyonly testifieth, that the monkes of his dayes so did, but also they defended, that it was lawfull to them to bee idle, because CHRIST Saieth in the Gospell, …, the foules of Heauen, for they sow not, neither reape, neither carrie into Matth. 6 verse, 26Matt 6the barnes, yet your Heauenly Father feedeth them: Are yee not much better then they? Against whose idlen…sse Augustine most sharpely enueieth, saying, that by the example of the foules of Heauen they coulde learne idlen…sse, but they woulde not imitate the foules of Heauen in carrying nothing into the barnes, but they would lay vp in barnes and prouision houses those riches which other men with painefull trauels gained and brought vntounto them. And hee is so stomached against them, that hee saieth, Quis fer at homines contumaces, ut gemina illeccbra corrumpantur, & dissolutalicētia vacationis, & falsonomine sanctitatis? that is, who can suffer contumacious men, intangled with double corruption, both with the dissolute liberty of vacance frōlabour, & with the false conceit also of holines?

p. 139From the six hundreth yeere of our LORD, vntill our dayes, Monastries began againe to bee in great account in the sight of the world not for the exercises of reading, praying, meditation, laborious working in a lawfull calling, and charitie, which were the ornamentes of the monkes of olde, but for the splendor of costly buildinges, like vntounto the Palaces of Princes, magnificent Churches, pluralitie of Reliques, great reuenewes daily increased by the liberalitie of Princes: and this new beautie was like vntounto the fairding of an olde woman, when naturall beautie is Similitude…spen…, then must shee bee decked with pictured colours, inuented by the art of man: and this kinde of beautie rauisheth the senses of such as are simple and ignorant. And it is a wonderfull thing to consider how the heartes of men were transported with this new show of holinesse: in so farre, that some Kinges thought it to bee an holyer thing to enter into a Monastrie, than to sit in their Royall Thrones, and to gonerne in Iustice and Righteousnesse the affaires of their Kingdome. Bamba… King of Gothes (which nation reigned in Spaine) resigned the title of his Royall authouritie to Euringus, and entred into a Mon…erie. S…bbus King of the Orientall Saxons, left his Kingdome, and entred into a Monasterie: & to the end that it might seeme that GOD gaue allowance vntounto this superstition, false Beda lib. 4 cap. 11miracles were inuented to grace this fact of sebbus: for the tombe whereinto his bodie was laide, beeing …n length an hand br… shorter then his corpes, was miraculously enlarged, and lengthened to the just proportion of his dead bodie: so that in the seuenth CENTURIE, and about the dayes of Pope Vitalia…s, it was a prouerbe in the mouthes of the people, that three adm rable thing s feil out in their age: First, innumerable Abbaci…s were builded: Secondly, the heads of King were Hist. Magd. Cent. 7. Cap. 6shauen, and they entred into Monastries: Thirdly, that whoredome wa… canonized, that is, notable …arlots were counted Saintes. So with the increasing number of Monast…ies, superstition, false miracles, and a lewde conuersation in like maner daily increased In the eight CENTURIE Rachis King of Lom-bardis Platina, da vita Ponti….entred into the Abbacie called Cassinerse in Italie, and his brother Aistulphus gouerned the affaires of the Kingdome, in the dayes of Pope Zachari…, Caralomannus the elder brother of p. 140Pipinus King of France, was first in the Monasterie builded vponupon the Mount Sarapte, afterwarde in the Monasterie called Cassin…nse (whether voluntarily or against his will I dispute not) and Hist. Magd. Cent. 8 cap. 10hee ended his life in the Monasterie of Vienne in France, beeing transported thither against his heart by the violence of his brother Pipinus. In the ninth and tenth CENTURIES, the Bilshops of Rome finding, that their estate was mightily aduanced by Abbacies and Nunneries, they also on the other part endeuoured to aduance the Monasticke life, in so farre that Kings & Princes were allured to profef… themselues to be of the order of Monkes, with dispensation not the lesse to them from the Bisshop of Rome (vnderunder whose souereignity all high powers began Hist. Magd. Cent. 9 cap. 7to stoupe) to gouerne their owne Kingdomes, prouiding alwayes, that with liberall giftes they had enriched the chaire of Rome: So it came to passe, that the world saw a rare and vnquoth Aruulphus, lib. 5 cap. 30spectacle, to wit, Kingly Monks, and Monkes Kinges.

Yea, and Kings were so bewitched with seducing speaches, that they who would not abase their Royall estate with participation of Monkish orders, yet they thought it was so holy and meritorious a turne to build Monasteries, that by so doing, they might merite forgiuenes of hainous sins, As Edgarus king of England, a man contaminated with many vild spots of sinne, such as adultery, murther, tyranny, and an a…tender vponupon three notable harlots: yet because hee was accustomed eueryevery yeere to build an Abbacy, this holy fact abolished the remembrāce of all his faultes, and made him worthie af…er his death to hauehave his name, tog…ther with the name of W…frida an holy Nunne (and yet the Kings whore) & the name of her daughter Ed…ha, whom she did beare to the King, All their names (I say) were counted Bal…us, Cent. 2. script. Britan.worthie to bee enrolled in the Catalogue of Saintes, Caziminus King of Poll, beeing driuen from his Kingdome, entered into a Monasterie of France, in the dayes of Benedict the ninth: and the Polo…ian Ambassadours, who came to France, to entrait their king to returne againe to his Kingdome, & w…re fore grieued at his Hist. Magd. Cent. 11 cap. 6negatiue an were: Yet by the meanes of Pope Benedict the ninth (at whose handes all thinges might hauehave be…ne obtained for money) they obtained their King againe, with libertie to him to marrie, and to procreate children. If Monasticke vowes bee p. 141lawfull, the loosing of the bandes of Monasticke vowes for money was not lawfull. This Bened…ctus the ninth is he of whom Platina writeth, that after his death his effigie appeared vntounto a c…rtaine man, horrible and monstrous, more like the similitu…e Platina de vita Po…tif.of a Beast, then of a man, which betokened the beastly conuersation of this vnhappie Pope in his lifetime. The examples of late dayes, that are recent in all mens memorie, of Lordes, Earles, Dukes, Ladies, yea, and of the Emperour Charles the fift in his olde dayes, who entered into Monastries and Nunneries, whether to leade, or to conclude their lifetime, I passe ouer with silence. This was the glorie of Monkes, since the six hundreth yeere of our LORD vntill our dayes, that Kinges, Monarches, Popes, and mightie men in the world magnified their estate by repairing olde Monasteries, building new Abbacies, and bestowing great reuenewes and rents vponupon them: and some times, as saide is, entering themselues into Monastries, either to leade, or to ende their liues.

Monasteries also of late dayes became places of imprisonment, especiallie of Noble persons, dejected from their anteriour dignities: so that Pope Christophorus himselfe in the dayes of the Emperour LODOVICUS the thirde, beeing dejected from his Papall dignitie, was thrust into a Monasterie: Unicum … refugium, as saieth Platina, that is, the onelyonly refuge Platina, de vita Pontif.of men who were in calamitie. Constantine the sonne of the Emperour Leo, thrust his brethren into a Monasterie, rendri g…vntounto them a just recompence of the like inhumanitie that they Hist. Magd. Cent. 10 Cap. 6had practised against their owne father. Likewise Monastries became places whereinto men entered, to sorrowe for by-past offences, imagining that by the strickt obseruation of the rules of the Monasticke life, they might obtaine forgiuenesse of sins at the handes of GOD. Paulus Cyprius Bishop of CONSTANTINOPLE before the seconde Councill of NICE, entered into a Monasterie, and lamented for that hee had consented to the abolishing of Images, in the Councill assembled by CONSTANTINUS COPRONYMUS.

This PAULUS CYPRIUS was a man of a base, timorous, and feeble spirite, who neuer knewe what the Godlie sorrowe, described by the Apostle PAULE, did meane, p. 142which causeth repentance to saluation, not to bee repented, for hee had great neede to hauehave repented: this his repentance and his sorrowe was not foreign, whereof Paul speaketh, 2. Corint. 7.

This bastard glorie aboue specified, whereof Monkes rejoiced, when the fir…t ornamentes were lost, did rather belong to the Conuentuall Monkes, than to the Anachorites. Wee reade not of Kinges, who delited to exchange their Kingdomes with the solitarie liuing by themselues apart in the Wildernesse, except Suatacopius King of Moravia, who beeing ouercome in Aeneas Silv. Hist. B…hem. cap. 13battell by the Emperour Arnulphus, hee went to the Wildernesse, wherin hee continued vntill the day of his death, eating hearbes, and drinking water with greater contentment of mind then hee liued before in the pleasures of his Kingdome. As concerning …saphat King of India, of whom Damascene writeth, Damascen. Historia.that hee forsooke his Kingdome, and went to the Wildernesse, and exercised himselfe continually in reading and praying, for the space of fiue and thirtie yeeres, it is but a fabulous narration, and the writer of it cannot cite so much as one approued Author for confirmation of his alleadged Historie: But the purpose of Damascene is to confirme a lying narration with lying miracles, wrought at the sepulchres of Ios…phat, some time King of India, and Barlaam an Eremite, whose bones hee alleadgeth were transported by King Baracbias out of the Wildernesse, into the Countrey of India: but I leaue Damascene lying, and I proceede.

VnderUnder the shadowe and coloure of all this counterfeit glorie aboue mentioned, from the sixe hundreth yeere of our LORD, vntill our owne time, horrible abominations hath beene hatched, so farre surpassing the defections preceeding the sixe and seuenth hundreth yeere of our LORD as the darknes of the winter night goeth beyonde the darkenesse of the summer night. Beside the doctrine of Images, where of Monkes were the principall authors: yea, and Paulus Cyprius, before hee coulde procure the gathering of the second Councill of Nice entred into a Monastrie, as it were into the shop and office house of Sathan, and with his vntimous sorrowing moued the Empresse Jrene to gather the Councill fore-saide. But beside this (I say) Monks p. 143were the first forgers of the doctrine of Transsubstantiation: for Damascene expre…ely writeth, foreign: that is, the very Bread and Wine are changed into the Bodie and Blood of the LORD. And againe Damascen. d… Orthohox. fid. …b. 4. cap. 14he saieth, foreign: that is, the Bread and the Wine are not a figure of the Bodie and Blood of CHRIST, but the verie Dei-fied Bodie of our LORD. This errour was receiued, dispersed, and propagated, the more willingly in Monastries, because it was forged by the braine of a Monke. Likewise the doctrine of the merite of mens workes, cuen such workes as are superstitious, and not commanded in the Law of GOD: This doctrine (I say) as a banner displaide against the merites of the sufferings of CHRIST, it was chiefely spred out in Monastries, wherein the grand our of great and legible letters made their opinion knowne to the worlde, ORDO SERVAT US DUCIT AD VIT AM, that is, The keeping of order (to wit, Monasticke rules) leadeth to life. Other points of erronious & corrapt doctrine, where of they are not the first inuenters, they are the principall propagators of them: as namely, prayer for the dead, and the opinion of purgatorie: these errours inuented of old, had died out long agoe as the fires of Aetna and Vesuvius hauehave done, if that the fables of Monkes (dayly renewed) had not beene like vntounto fewell, intertaining the flame of foolish opinions.

The vilde and vnchaste conuersation of the Monkes, from the sixe hundreth yeere of our LORD, vntill our time, he who vndertaketh to describe it, vndertaketh an …nnecessarie worke, as they did who of olde commended H…rcules, whom no man did …: euen so they, who presume to describe the vnchastitie of Monastries and Nunneries, they spend time in vaine to prou… that thin…, which no man can denie: yea, and their owne speaches cont…ine a confession o… the Guiltines, of vnchaste liuing. When any of their number is d…prehended in whoredo…e and adu…rie, they do not aggre g… th… fault as a shame and dishonou… done vntounto their holy Order. but rather extenu…e the horrour of sinne, saving, it is better to bee a secrete whore-monger, than an open Heretique. The commendation p. 144that the Poet Nigellus giueth to the Nunnes of the Gilbertine order, in our neighbour Countrey, is but slender: namely this, that when they were aged they left off bearing of children. This Order began in ENGLAND, ANNO 1140.

The Monkes and Nunnes of our owne Countrey, where they were best knowne, they were worst liked: and …hey might hauehave suffered a triall of anie persons, except of neighbours, and such as knew them well. In other Countreyes, albeit the turpitude of an vnchaste life was couered with lesse transparent vailes, alwayes GOD is like vntounto himselfe, and hee hateth the workers Psal. 5. 6Ps 5:6of iniquitie. Let S. Adonei a Monke of Row…m bee an examplarie type of the maners of manie others, when hee fell ouer the bridge in the night time, and drowned in the water of Seane, the good and euill Angels stroue for his soule, because it was to bee doubted, whether his foote-steps led to the Church, or to Hist. Magd. Cent. 10 cap. 6his harlot: And in ende the decision of this controuersie, was referred to RICHARD Duke of Normandie. It appeareth by this fable, inuented by Normand Monkes, that their purpose was not only to excuse the villanie of Adonei, and to count him a Saint, but also to encourage themselues to lasciuiousnesse, because the good Angels woulde striue for the soule of a villane, who was cled with an holie Monkish habite, and at last the decision of the controuersie must bee referred to some mortall man: not vnlike vntounto Paris, who was more fauourabiie inclined to Venus, then hee was either to I…no, or Minerva.

Now it is time to speake of the multiplied number of the orders of Monkes, not to make a perfect reher…all of them, but to let the Reader vnderstand, that the woride groned vnderunder the charge of an importable burthen, which neither were they willing to shake off, nor able to beare it. Ouer and beside the multiplied number of the branches of the Augustine and Benedictine Orders, aboue specified, other Orders also sprang vp, such as the order of the Charterus Monkes, where of Br… a man bo ne i… Colne was the author, ANNO 1080. It is rumored that a certaine man in Paris died, who was renowned for the honestie of an vnreproueable life: notwithstanding after his death, in audience of the people, who were assembled to performe p. 145the last funerall duetie to him, hee sate vp in the bire, and vttered terrible wordes, that hee was accused, and in the righteous judgement of GOD condemned. Bruno was present, and heard these tragicall wordes, and saide vntounto the people, If so bee that this man bee condemned, it is not possible that any man can bee saued, except hee renounce the worlde: And so being accompanied with a few followers, he went into a Wildernesse, ne…re to Gratianopolis, and was the author of a new Order of the Charterus Monkes, whose continuall abstinence from flesh, vnmanerly silence, and purging with fire the footesteps of women, was in their opinion a renouncing of the world. If this bee true, the people of Aethiopia called foreign, hauehave renounced the worlde, and are neerer to the Kingdome of GOD, then the Charterus Monkes.

By the like Diabolicall inuention the Order of Catherina de Senis was found out, ANNO 1455. The marks of CHRISTS sufferinges, the spousing Ring shee receiued from CHRIST, with foure pretious Pearles of inestimable value, the emptying her body of her owne heart, to the ende the heart of CHRIST might bee thrust in place of it, What are all these forgeries, but as the filthie exhalation of a stirred mire of vncleanenesse? yet are these fables published to the worlde, in that booke laden with lies, called Chronica Chronicorum: yea, and this woman was canonized by Pope Pius the seconde, ANNO 1470. And the Order of S. Catherene was receiued amongst other holy orders. Hospitalarii, Templarii, Teutonici gladiatores, are reckoned amongst orders of Monkes, yet was their emploiment more in desending Christians from the injurie of Infidels, then in reading, praying, or any other spirituail exercises. What became of these Templarii, after they were dispersed throughout EUROPE, and whether they were justly or vnjustly cut off all at one time, by the ordinance of Clemens the fift, in the Councill of Vienne, I omit to speake: but whether they had beene guiltie or innocent, it was but small clemencie in Pope Clem. to giuegive out a sentence of death against so many, before they were warned, heard, and sufficiently conuicted of faults laide vntounto their charge.

p. 146The Orders of Carmel…es, who dwelt vponupon Mount Carmell, 1. Reg. 18 421 Kgs 18:42where Helias prayed, and of Camaldinenses, Ioannites, the Order of white Monkes, of the holy Trinitie, of S. Clara, of Penitentiers and scourgers of themselues, of Crosse-bearers, and Starrebearers, of Minimes, and of Bonehomes, of Penitent sisters, of Saccit, of Bethlehemites, of the seruantes of Marie, of Georgians, and many more. This multiplication of Orders declareth, that there was greater care amongst late Monkes, to find out some dissimilitude of habite and ceremonies amongst themselues, then to conforme themselues to the similitude of CHRIST.

The Orders of the Franciscans and Dominicans, ouerspred the worlde, about the 1200. yeere of our LORD: Their number in short time was mightilie increased: so that the Francis…ans rejoyced, that there were founde of their Order in diuers Nations two thousande, one hundreth, fourescore and sixe Monasteries. And the Dominicans numbred foure thousande, one hundreth and fourtie sixe Monasteries in EUROPE, all professing their Order, as Creccelius, sometime an Augustine Monke, reckoneth. These were like vntounto the Frogs of AEGYPT, whose number made them to bee fearefull: And like vntounto the Exod. 8. 6Exod 8:6Grasse-hopp…rs of AEGYPT, which ate the residue that remained, Ibid. 10. 5and escaped from the Haile, These were like vntounto Mothes in a garment, like Myce in a barne, like Caterpillers amongst corne, and roust in mettals, so offensiue vntounto the world, that the people groned for the oppression of begging Friers, The Dominicans followed the rules of the Augustine Monks: & this is the cause wherefore Crecc…lius, of whom we spake before, reckoneth not the Dominicans as one of the principall stockes and rootes, from which other Orders as branches did proceed. Both these Orders of Franciscans and Dominicans, had their allowance and confirmation from Innocentius the third, who dreamed that the Church of Laterane was bowing and inclining to fall, and that saint Francis and saint Dominicke set to their shoulders, to vphold the decaying Church of Laterane. What wonder is it, that these Orders teach a doctrine of lyes & dreames, whose confirmation coulde not bee obtained, vntill Pope Innocentius p. 147the third dreamed that these two did vphold the Church of Laterane. In the Sermones of the begging Friers saint Francis is extolled with excessiue praises, as if by long fasting, earnest prayers, and deepe meditations, he had beene counted worthie to see Celestiall visions, and to bee marked in handes, feete, and side, with the markes of the sufferinges of CHRIST. Notwithstanding of all these Hyperbolicke praises, in the verie beginning of his deuotion, hee beganne at theft, and stole money from his father, and gaue it to a Priest, to helpe the reparation of the Church of saint Damian. And for this cause his father tooke him, and did beate him with manie stripes. In so farre, that they who doe pleade saint Francis cause, deny Hist. Magd. Cent. 13 Cap. 10not, that hee tooke away his fathers money, neither doe they deny, that for this cause hee was chastised by his father, but they call the foresaide chastilement persecution.

The Monkes and Friers of the Order of Saint DOMINICKE doe attribute vntounto him, both in his life-time and after his death, the working of so manie and so great miracles, as if it were their purpose not onelyonly to preferre him vntounto saint FRANCIS, but also to equali him to CHRIST, and to his Apostles. Notwithstanding his greatest deuotion was in beating himselfe thrise …uerie night with an yron chaine, partlie Hist. Magd. ibidem.for his owne sinnes, partlie for the sinnes of other men who were aliue, and partlie for the sinnes of those who were in purgatorie. This fact (I saie) was as foolish and derogatorie to the honour due to CHRIST, and to the merites of his sufferinges, as anie thing that was done by that notable foole saint FRANCIS.

The latest Orders, such as the Iacobines and Capuscings, are but branches of the Francis…ane and Dominicane Orders, and are famous, as Erostratus was, rather for euill, then for good. The lapuscings are fine Trumpetters, to proclaime warre-fare against the Citie of GOD: And the Iacobines are souldiours of Sathan, to put hande to worke, and to fight against the Heauen, in not sparing the Anointed of GOD, and him who was anointed p. 148with that Celestiall oile that came from aboue, as they themselues and others of their Religion doe affirme.

Concerning the Iesuites, who may more properlie bee called Layolites then Iesuites, because they walke rather in the foote-steps of Layola, the author of their sect, then in the footesteps of IESUS, who neuer taught any man to follow the way of Cain, as they doe: But Layola was a souldiour, and delited Epist. Iudein shedding of blood. Of them (I say) I am in doubt whether to call them an Order or not: for the old Aenigma is reuiued in them, Vir, non vir, percussit, non percussit, lapide, non lapide, avem, non avem, super arbore, non arbore. Euen so the Layolites may be called an order, and not an ordere, because they will not be bound vntounto a certaine habite, as a distinguishing note, separating them from other Orders, lest by their habite they shoulde bee discouered, and made knowne to Princes, against whose estate they trafficke with most treasonable attemptes: neither will they conteine themselues within their owne boundes, as if they woulde counterfeit the Apostles, but with a preposterous counterfeiting called by the Gracians foreign. The Apostles were the Ambassadours of CHRIST, the Iesuites are the ambassadours of the antichrist, the Apostles endeuoured to set vp the Throne of CHRIST, by preaching the death of CHRIST, the Iesuites endeuour to repaire the losse of the antichrist, with the slaughter of Christian Princes. O generation of Vipers the broode alreadie conceiued in their venomous breastes, will bee their destruction, as it is the destruction of the feminine Vipers: but I leaue a description of their bloodie attemptes to others, who hauehave better knowledge of the profundities of Sathan, more clearely manifested in them then it was of olde in the tenne persecuting Emperours.

To all these fore-mentioned Orders, one thing is common, that they are all obliged & bound by vowes of chastity, pouerty & obedience, eueryevery one to the attēdance of his owne order: the Layolites hauehave added the vow of temperancie, without which custody it is hard to keepe chastitie: the vow of chastitie is good, p. 149prouiding that Matrimonial chastity be included vnderunder the generality of the word Chastity, seeing that Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed vndefiled. But the vow of Virginall Hebr. 13. 4Heb 13:4chastitie, is the sacrifice of fooles, as if a man would vow to bee a Preacher, before hee were perswaded that GOD had vouchsafed vponupon him the gift of preaching: Euen so it is a foolish thing to any man to binde himselfe by a solemne vow to Virginall chastitie, before hee bee fully perswaded, that GOD hath vouchsafed vponupon him that rare gift.

VnderUnder pretence of the vow of pouertie, a number of Monks, especiallie Abbots, Channons, and Capitulare Monkes, as it were Bishops chiefe Counsellers, hauehave heaped vp infinite riches, and in pompe, wealth, ciuile preheminence and splendor of worldly magnificence hauehave ouer-went Earles, Lordes, and Barons, in many Countreys: and in the meane time they were but a nest of idle bellies, keeping for a fashion seuen Canonicall houres, which they spent in reading & singing (oftener by their substitutes, then by themselues) as if they had beene ca…led Canonici, for keeping Canonicall houres, and not for st…dying holy Canonicke Scripture, to the ende they might bee able to interprete it to the vtilitie of others.

Concerning the vowe of obedience kept in all Orders, but more stricktly amongst the Layolites, then all the rest, The commandement of GOD should hauehave beene obserued, whereinto Mumb. 30 verse, 4. 5the authoritie of the father must bee regarded, in such sort, that if hee ratifie not the vowe of his young daughter, remaining as yet in his house, then her vowe is vndone, and cannot stande: Euen so the vowes that mortall men doe make in earth, if they bee not ratified by the allowance of our Heauenly Father, they are vndone, and cannot consist and stand. Notwithstanding the commanders amongst the Layolites, will trie the obedience of their disciples in maters vnhonest, vncomly, vngodly, and deuilish such as to walter themselues into a filthie mire, if so it please the commander to enjoine & to violate the commandement of the Phis…ion, in rubbing that thing outwardly vponupon p. 150the bodie which the Phisition commanded to bee eaten by the diseased person, and in drinking that liquor of oile wherewith the Phisition appointed the bodie to be anointed. Also in commanding …heir disciples to kill Christian Princes. Hath GOD kept silence in his blessed word, and by his taciturnitie giuen a secrete allowance to such vngodly commandementes? Reade the Scriptures of GOD, whereinto hee forbiddeth to touch the Anointed of the LORD: but they hauehave touched the Anointed Psal. 105 verse, 15Ps 105of the LORD, euen betwixt the Porch and the Altar, not ashamed to defile their holy sacrament of auricular confession, with treasonable consultations against the Anointed of the LORD.

To conclude, The Orders of Monkes from appearance of commendable beginninges, hauehave degenerated so farre, that they who seemed to bee Starres fixed in Heauen, and shining with the splendor of Celestiall light, in end they are become busie-bodies, practisers of treasons, vnderunder colour of late inuented sacraments, whom the LORD in his owne time with the tempest of his wrath will scatter as dust, and no man shall bee able to gather them againe.

FINIS.