The Catholic Doctrine of the Eucharist in All Ages, Book 2 · Chapter 1

The Catholic Doctrine of the Eucharist in All Ages · Book 2 · Chapter 1

p. 61CHAP. I.

Containing the chief Heads of this whole Controverſy touching the Eaſtern Churches, and their Opinion from the eleventh Century to this Preſent. Mr. Arnaud's Artifice laid open.

WE are now come to treat of the Belief of the Greek, and other Eaſtern Churches, touching Tranſubſtantiation and the adoration of the Euchariſt, and muſt endeavour to ſhelter our ſelves from the violent Inſultings of Mr. Arnaud and his Friends. We need not mention how this has bin the Subject of their Triumph, ſeeing all the World knows it. For the Author of the Perpetuity has 2d. Part of the Perpetuity. C. 5. P. 256.already thereatned us with producing of twenty Millions of Witneſſes on his ſide; and Mr. Arnaud who is not a Perſon of that Humour as to abate any thing, is continually charging us with Abſurdities, Raſhneſs, Confidence, Convictions, Demonſtrations, and telling us of Miniſters confounded by the number of his Proofs. He tells the World in his Preface, that he hath left us no reaſon P. 11.to doubt, in a matter ſo apparent as is that of the Conſent of all theſe Chriſtian Churches, in the Doctrine of Tranſubſtantiation. He tells us moreover in L. 2. C. 2. P. 113.another place, that this is a Point moſt clear and evident, and that were we not withheld by Obſtinacy, we ſhould confeſs as much our ſelves, and not let our Tongues thus bely our Conſciences. Nay even before Mr. Arnaud's Book appeared abroad in the World; it had already gotten the Name of Invincible, like to that Legion of old, under the Emperour Marcus Aurelius, which cauſed Fire from Heaven to fall down on the Heads of its Enemies. And we may truly affirm the World hath not bin wanting to uſher in this his pretended Victory with their Shouts and Acclamations. Now if it be enquired of Mr. Arnaud, what Advantage he can expect from this whole Controverſy; He will tell us, it is the Intereſt of the Catholick Church, and that be L. 2. C. 2. P. 115.will never be perſwaded to ſuffer one of its cleareſt Proofs to be ſnatcht out of p. 62his Hand, ſeeing it eſtabliſheth the Faith of a Myſtery, wherein conſiſteth the Object of its Devotion thro the whole World. That God preſerves all theſe Chriſtian Societies, altho divided from his Church, and ſuffers not the Tyranny of Infidels wholly to ſwallow them up, nor the knowledg of principal Myſteries to be quite extinguiſht amongſt them, to the end they may remain as Witneſſes for the Catholick Cauſe, in teſtifying the Antiquity of thoſe Doctrines which the new Hereticks deny. If he be demanded whether none of the Doctors of the Church of Rome, have hitherto made uſe of this Argument; he will tell you, that no In his Prefa. P. 10.one yet hath exactly handled this matter. Which is to ſay that this great Intereſt of the Catholick Church, and this Proof, which is one of the moſt famous ſhe hath, whereby to eſtabliſh her Faith and Devotion, in reſpect of this Myſtery, was reſerved for Mr. Arnaud, and that the Divine Providence has not withheld, for ſo many Ages the Violence of the Infidels, nor put a ſtop to the Progreſs of the Mahometans, nor preſerved theſe Reliques of Chriſtianity in the Eaſt, but only for the ſake of Mr. Arnaud's excellent Treatiſe, which was to be the Admiration of the Univerſe. You muſt not then think it ſtrange, if he himſelf after this, hath judged it worthy to be Preſented to Kings and Princes, and Dedicated even to the Head of the Romiſh Church, and ſuffer'd ſo many Doctors to make Panegyricks in its Praiſe. What farther remains but that it ſhould be compared to the Saviour of the World. And this Honour has not bin wanting to it.

THE Author of the Enthuſiaſms ſays, that as the Son of God before his Birth, purifyed John the Baptiſt his Fore-runner, and having wrought this Miracle, left the Virgins Boſom, to publiſh to Men the glad Tidings of Peace; So likewiſe Mr. Arnaud's Book, when as yet in the Boſom of its Author, has repleniſhed a great Man with its Divinity, and having begun its Miracles by this Converſion, was publiſhed in the time of this late Peace, made in the Roman Church. So far have they carried it on beyond Reaſon and Chriſtian Modeſty.

NAMQUE ſi liceat puſilla magnis plenum & numine numini libellum aequare, ut gravibus licet Poetis. Iis omnibus diem ſubibis, O quantum omnibus Libelle fauſtis, quibus Sydereus ſubit puellus, qui dum delituit tenebricoſus ſacris viſceribus Sacrae Puellae, quot miracula ſunt ſecuta natum? Hoc monſtro fuit auſpicatus uno quod cum numinis ad ſui perenne lumen & prodomo ſuo que Vali futuro ingenitas fugâſſet umbras, purgaſſet veteri que labe foedum, nil beatius aeſtimârit ille quam per pacificos ſubire plauſus diem, & Virginis ſinu Parentis involare ſinum recentioris pacis. Quid melius beatiuſve iis ominibus diem videbis? O quantum ominibus libelle fauſtis, ex quo, dum latites tenebricoſus, abſ que ſole, tui in ſinu Parentis Dius—immigravit ardor affulſit que viro undequa que numen quod imas animi in ſui medullas, quando ambilius vir ille ſenſit chartis gliſcere de tuis libelle magis gliſcere quo magis magiſ que luſtraret latebras ſinuſ que rerum tua luce, liber, nitoribuſ que raptus numine quo tumebat intus raptus numine, numen, ecce numen, ib numeni ait, ſeverior que in ſe ſe exerit hoc ſides libello, Enthuſiaſmo.

TO all which I have no more to ſay, but only that I am not at all concerned at this pretended Divinity, and that Mr. Arnaud's Thunder has neither ſcared nor hurt me, his twenty Million of Witneſſes are no more in my Apprehenſion than twenty Millions of Phantaſms; and in ſhort I doubt not but I ſhall prove the Truth of theſe three Propoſitions. Firſt, ſuppoſing that Mr. Arnaud is able to make good his Pretences concerning the Greek and other p. 63Eaſtern Churches, from the eleventh Century to this preſent, it would not hence follow, that either the Alteration here in Queſtion muſt be impoſſible, or that it hath not actually hapned, and conſequently, that this tedious Diſpute on this Subject is vain and uſeleſs, in reſpect of the main of the Cauſe which I defend. Secondly, That the true Greek Church, and others whom the Latins call Schiſmaticks have never reckoned Tranſubſtantiation, nor the Adoration of the Sacrament amongſt the Articles of their Creed. Thirdly, That all Mr. Arnaud's Endeavours to prove the Affirmative, are Ineffectual, and that even the greateſt part of his Proofs conclude the contrary of what he pretends. And for as much as it may not be amiſs to enquire into the Reaſons of this his pretended Triumph ſo loudly proclaimed, we ſhall therefore in confirming theſe three aforementioned Propoſitions, obſerve likewiſe how Mr. Arnaud impoſes on the World, to the end his Proceedings may be the better laid open.

TO Evidence then the Truth of the firſt of them, we muſt begin from the State of the Eaſtern Churches, ſince the eleventh Century, that is to ſay from the time Berengarius was condemned, to this preſent, for by this means we ſhall come to know thoſe happy Fields which have furniſhed Mr. Arnaud with ſo many Laurels, and at the ſame time diſcover the firſt of his Artifices, whereby he would conceal the Condition of thoſe Churches, to the end he might make the World believe the Argument he draws from their Conſent, hath all the Weight and Strength which it is poſſible for Arguments of this Nature to have. I ſay ſince the eleventh Century to this preſent, becauſe that Mr. Arnaud having divided his Diſcourſe touching the Greeks into two parts. The firſt from the ſeventh Century to the eleventh, and the other from the eleventh to this preſent, and having begun with this latter part, I am thereby obliged to follow his order, that I may accommodate my ſelf as much as in me lies to his Method. It muſt then be remembred, the preſent Queſtion only concerns theſe Churches, and eſpecially that of the Greeks, from the eleventh Century to this preſent; for we ſhall examine in its place this other part of Mr. Arnaud's Diſcourſe, which reacheth from the ſeventh to the eleventh Century.

IT muſt not be imagined, theſe Chriſtian Churches are now in as flouriſhing a Condition as they have bin heretofore. For they loſt ſoon after the eleventh Century their antient Splendor, being fallen into a moſt profound Ignorance, and corruption of Manners, and a horrid Croud of Superſtitions, and Diſregard to the Myſteries of Religion; Which State of theirs inſtead of being amended by time, has grown every day worſe.

WILLIAM Arch-Biſhop of Tyre, deſcribing the Cauſes of the Inundations of the Barbarians into Syria, and the Holy Land, and of this long Bell. S…cr. L. 1. C. 8.Servitude of the Eaſtern Chriſtians; The Faith, ſaith he, and fear of God departed the whole Earth, and eſpecially from amongſt them who ſtyled themſelves the Faithful. Juſtice and Equity were no longer to be found amongſt them, for Fraud and Violence reigned everywhere, and Malice had taken up the Place of Virtue, ſo that the World ſeemed to be at its Period, and the time of the coming of the Son of Man at hand. For the Charity of many waxed cold, and there was no longer Faith to be found on Earth. The whole Face of things was changed, and a man would have thought the Univerſe to be at the point of falling into its antient Chaos. The Princes inſtead of keeping their Subjects in Peace, broke their Allyances and made War upon every frivolous Occaſion. Waſting whole p. 64Provinces by their Violences, and expoſing the Goods of the Poor to the fury of the rude Soldiery, there being nothing which could be preſerved from their Snares. Men were haled into Priſon, and ſuffered the moſt exquiſit Torments to make them confeſs and reſign up their Eſtates. Neither could the Churches Treaſure, nor Monaſteries eſcape their Hands, altho their Priviledges and Immunities had bin granted by Princes. The Sanctuaries were Violently broke open; the Veſſels dedicated to Gods Service, together with the Sacerdotal Veſtments and Ornaments were forcibly carried away. The Churches were no longer a ſhelter to the Miſerable. The High-ways were filled with Robbers, who ſpared neither Pilgrims nor Religious. The Towns and Cities were as little free from Danger, being full of Cut-throats who la…d wait for innocent Blood. Fornication in all kinds was common, and ſuffered without ſhame or Puniſhment, as a thing lawful. Men added Inceſt to their Adulteries, and Chaſtity which is a Virtue ſo acceptable to God, was grown out of uſe amongſt them, as well as Moderation and Sobriety, which were forced to give Place to Luxury and Drunkenneſs. And as to the Eccleſiaſticks, they lived no more regularly than the others, it was the ſame with the Prieſt as with the People, as ſpeaks the Prophet. For the Biſhops growing careleſs, became dumb Dogs, having Reſpect to Perſons; They beſmeared their Heads with the Oyl of Sinners, like Hirelings abandoning their Flocks, and leaving them to the Mercy of Wolves; and becoming Simoniſts they forgat the Word of God, freely you have received, freely give. The Almighty then being provoked by ſo many Crimes, did not only ſuffer the Faithful in the Holy Land to remain in Bondage, but farther to Chaſtiſe them who were at Liberty, he ſtirred up Belpherus the Satrapas of Perſia and Aſſyria againſt Romainus Sur-named Diogenes, Emperour of the Greeks.

JAMES de Vitry, who makes almoſt the ſame Obſervations touching Jacobus de Vitriac…. L. 1. C. 14.Gods Diſpleaſure againſt his Church, addeth moreover a thing very likely, which is, that the Careleſneſs and Ignorance of the Prelates, and the ſeveral Hereſies, which had then Infected the Eaſt; occaſioned the ſuccesfulneſs of the Mahometan Religion.

LEO Allatius, diſcourſing of the State of the Greeks during the twelfth Allat. de Eccle. Occid. & Orien. Perpe. Conſenſ. L 2. C. 13.Century, tells us that, after the Death of the Emperor Emanuel, the Grecian Empire began every Day to Decay, either by the Incurſions of them of the Weſt, and the Barbarians of the Eaſt, or elſe through the ſoftneſs and delicacy, or Tyranny of the Emperors, or Avarice of their Miniſters; and frequent Inſurrections of the Nobility, till ſuch time as at length, this Empire was miſerably oppreſſed by the Armies of the Latins. Religion it ſelf likewiſe was involved in the Ruin of the Empire, for matters were no longer determined by Reaſon and Honeſty, but by Rage and Hatred, which tranſported mens Spirits into Raſhneſs and Fury. At that time all things were in Confuſion, Divine and Prophane, the Juſt and Unjuſt were mixt together without any Diſcrimination, and theſe Chriſtians (who had indeed no more of Chriſtianity but the Name) inſtead of obeying the Doctrine of the Church, minded nothing but how to be revenged on their Enemies.

WILLIAM de Rubruquis an Emiſſary ſent by Pope Innocent the fourth Ru…n qu…s his Voyage. C. 13.to the Tartars, in the Year 1253. Relates that the Allains, which are ſaith he a kind of Christians that ſpeak the Greek Language, and have Grecian Prieſts, but are ſo Ignorant, that they know not any of the Ceremonies belonging to the Chriſtian Religion, and ſcarcely have learned any thing more than the Name of Christ.

p. 65THE Author of the Hiſtory of the Council of Florence, relates a matter Syropul. Sec. 3. C. 7.which ſufficiently ſhews the Ignorance and ſmall Capacity of the Greeks, for he tells us, that when the Emperor John Paleologus determined to go in Perſon to the Council, and take along with him ſome of his Clergy, he ſent for Marcus of Epheſus and George Scholarius, who altho they were the moſt Learned in the Empire, yet were fain to apply themſelves to the ſtudying of Cabaſilas's Treatiſe, and to ſent to Mount Athos for Books, to the end they might be inſtructed in the Points Controverted between the two Churches.

AND 'tis in effect in the Monaſteries of this Mount, wherein hath for a long time bin confined all the Knowledg and Learning of this Church, to Lib 4. C. 8. P. 400.which Mr. Arnaud Conſents; for he tells us, that this Place is the Seminary of all the Religious in the Eaſt, becauſe they who are there Educated, do afterwards diſperſe themſelves over all the Provinces of the Patriarchate of Conſtantinople, and are uſually ſetled as Superiours over the reſt. So that adds he, the Doctrine of Mount Athos, is the ſame of that of all the Religious of the Eaſt, and the Belief of the Religious of the Eaſt, is the ſame with that of all the Biſhops, who are all taken hence. Whereupon we may conclude I think from Mr. Arnaud's own Teſtimony, that the Knowledg at Athos is that of all Greece, and conſequently to underſtand wherein conſiſts this Knowledg, we need but Read what they Relate who have travelled into theſe Countries. The Greeks belonging Belon's Obſervatiuns. L. 3. C. 39, & 40.to the Monaſtery of Mount Athos, ſaies Belon, have bin far more Learned heretofore than at preſent. There are not any of them now but are very Ignorant, there being not to be found above one knowing Calojer in each Monaſtery. He that deſires to have Books of Divinity, in Manuſcripts may be furniſhed with ſome, but as for any Books of Philoſophy or Poetry they have none. We muſt attribute this loſs of Greek Books to the Careleſſneſs and Ignorance of that People who are totally Degenerated. And not only within our own Memory, but for a long time there has not bin any Learned Man thro out all Greece. Amongſt the ſix thouſand Calojers that Inhabit the Mountain, in ſo great a Multitude I ſay, ſcarcely can we find above two or three in a Monaſtery that can Write and Read.

JOHN Cottovic ſpeaking of the Monks of this Mount, and others that inhabit Itinebar. Hi… roſol. & Syr. L. 2. C. 6.the Mountains of Sinay and Olympus, tells us they apply themſelves particularly to Husbandry, that they Live on their Labour, and that there are few of them addicted to Study, the greateſt part of them being very Stupid and Ignorant.

HE that wrot the Voyage of Mr. De la Haye who went Embaſſador from the late King to Conſtantinople, gives almoſt the ſame account of the Learning Mr. Hays Voyage. Paris Edit 2. 1629. P. 338.of thoſe good Religious: we Viſited, ſaith he, Mount Athos, which they of that Country call the Holy Mountain, becauſe of five thouſand Calojers who live in great Auſterity in twenty three Monaſteries about it; theſe Religious are of St. Baſils Order, and acknowledge the Patriarch of Conſtantinople for their Head. They are greater Lovers of an Active than a Contemplative Life, for there are few of them that can read; ſo that the greateſt part employ themſelves in Tilling of the neighbouring Grounds, which are very fertil.De Graecor. recentior haer. ad Greg. XIII. L. 6. Ms. ex biblio. Reg. P. 75.

ANTHONY Caucus Arch-Biſhop of Corfu, giving an Account to Pope Gregory the thirteenth, of the State of the Greek Church in his time, deſcribes it after this manner. There is no body but knows, ſaies he, that the p. 66Arts and Sciences came from Greece, as the Hero's out of the Trojan Horſe. But it is now much otherwiſe, for I found ſo much Ignorance of all things amongſt theſe modern Greeks, and eſpecially the Prieſts that have the charge of Inſtructing the People, that ſcarcely do they know how to read the Church Service. And we need not be aſtoniſhed at this: for thoſe that are called to the Exerciſe of the Miniſtry are Tradeſmen, who leaving their Shops and Trades become immediately Papa's. It is ordinarily obſerved in Greece, that to day you may ſee a man who is a Taylor, to become to morrow a Prieſt. To day he is a Perfumer or Barber, who the next day is a Papas. To day a Goldſmith, and to morrow a Prelate. If you ask them concerning their Belief, or Ceremonies, and require a Reaſon for their Cuſtoms, they return no other Anſwer, but they follow their Predeceſſors. If you proceed farther and ask who theſe Predeceſſors were, they become mute.

THE ſame John Cottovic whoſe Teſtimony I already produced concerning the Monks of Mount Athos, Olympus, and Sinay, affirms the Religious thro out all Greece, to be no better learned than thoſe aforementioned, That It n…r. L. C. 13.which I find, ſaies he, moſt deſpicable in this Nation, is, they have no town nor City, wherein there are any Schools or Colledges for the bringing up of their Youth. Neither take they care to form their Childrens Minds, to Arts or Sciences. They are ſo averſe to Learning, that they ſeem as it were to be afraid of it: So that we may truly affirm, Learning is wholly baniſhed from Greece, which was heretofore the Mother of it. For at this day there is not the leaſt Trace to be found of it, the Greeks becoming Barbarians with the Barbarians.

BELON made the ſame Obſervation before him: All the Greeks, ſaith Obſervat. L. 1. C. 3.he, as well thoſe under the Venetians, as them under the Turkiſh Empire, are ſo marvelouſly Ignorant at this day, that there is not a City thro out all their Country, wherein there is any Univerſity; for they care not to have their Children Inſtructed.

EUGENIUS Roger, a Franciſan Fryar, who was an Emiſſary in Barbary, Holy Land. L. 2 C. 2.tels us (in his Deſcription of the Holy Land, That the greateſt part of the Religious and Secular Prieſts (he means of the Greeks in Paleſtine) are extreamly Ignorant, and apply themſelves to mean Exerciſes, and mechanical Arts.

Mr. Thevenot confirms the ſame, in his Voyages, where ſpeaking of the Thevenot's Voyages Part 1. P. 188.Greeks of the Iſle of Chios. Learning, ſaith he, is a Stranger to them of that Country, being all extreamly Ignorant. And a little farther, ſpeaking of the Iſland of Nixia, and of a Church there, it is ſerved, ſaies he, by Monks, who are all of 'em Peaſants, void of Learning, and 'tis not only ſo there, but 'tis the ſame in all the Iſlands of the Archipelago, they are ſo Ignorant that it may be truly ſaid of them, they Worſhip the unknown God.

FRANCIS Richard the Jeſuit, in his Relation concerning the Iſle of Relation of the Iſle of St. Erini C. 9.St. Erinis, makes the ſame Obſervation, the Ignorance, ſaies he, of our Myſteries is ſo great in Turkey, eſpecially where the Emiſſari's have not frequented, that I wonder, conſidering the ſeveral particular Difficulties in our Faith, and the Temptations they have offered them to leave it, that all of 'em do not take the Turbant, after the ſame manner as them of Candia, where above ſixty thouſand Perſons have already done it.

p. 67DU Loir, diſcourſing of the Arnautes, or Albanoiſes, (that are a kind of People Loir's Voyages. P. 303.whoſe Original is ſcarcely known,) they are, ſaies he, diſperſed over the Campains of Greece and call themſelves Chriſtians, but yet know nothing of our Religion more than the Name, and exerciſe no more of it but the Sign of the Croſs.

BUT it may be perhaps anſwered, there ought not to be the ſame judgment made of the Greeks at Conſtantinople; ſeeing the Patriarchal Church being there, it is likely they are not ſo Ignorant as the others, where the ſame Care has not bin taken for the Preſervation of Religion. I am willing to believe that if there be any Knowledg left in Greece, the Church of Conſtantinople hath it, and yet if we would know the Condition of this Church we need but read John Barbarean's the Jeſuits Letter which was written from Forrain Letters ſent to the Procur of the Emiſſ. printed at Paris, 1688. Let 1. P. 3.Conſtantinople, the tenth of July, 1667. The Schiſmatical Greeks, ſaies he, which are in this City to the Number of three hundred Thouſand, are ſo many Souls to be won to our Saviour, becauſe that in effect, after they have told us they are Chriſtians, and for a Teſtimony thereof have croſſed themſelves, there is no other ſign of Chriſtianity to be expected from them: for as to what concerns Prayers and other religious Exerciſes they are Names and Things unknown to them. I have oftentimes asked Perſons whom I took to be the moſt intelligent amongſt them, whether there were more Gods than one, and whether Jeſus Chriſt from whom they derived their Name, was God and Man, and ſeveral other Queſtions which are put to Children in France, when they learn their Catechiſm. But they all of 'em anſwered they were not ſo deeply learned in Divinity as to anſwer ſuch great Points, and when I told them they were bound to know theſe things under Pain of Damnation, I perceived they were not much troubled thereat, for as they believed nothing, ſo they feared nothing. Now not only the common People and Seculars are no better Learned, but moſt of their Prelates, and others of the Clergy. I have oftentimes asked the Prieſts of religious Orders, who were brought up all their life times in Monaſteries, concerning their Belief, whether they thought there was more than one God, and whether Jeſus Chriſt was the true God, and other principal Myſteries, but I could not find one amongſt them able to anſwer me. And ſome of 'em being aſhamed of their own Ignorance and Stupidity, made this Excuſe, that their Abbot knew all theſe things, but for their parts they never ſtudied Divinity. And demanding how it was poſſible they could live twenty or thirty Years in a Monaſtery, without hearing any Mention made of theſe neceſſary Points, they thereupon told me, that in Monaſteries and in all other places, all their Endeavours are laid out in getting their Living; (He afterwards tells us) that one of the chiefeſt Cauſes of this Diſorder is, that the Patriarch buys his Patriarchate, and ſells all other Eccleſiaſtical Promotions, and that the Arch-Biſhops, and Biſhops do the ſame to their inferiour Clergy. Neither muſt we imagine other Eaſtern Chriſtians in a better Condition than the Greeks. Pietro Della Vallé a famous Traveller, aſſures us, that the Chriſtians at Bagdad, being of ſeveral Communions, know nothing of Religion, but its Name, and Pietro Della Vallés Voyages. Tom. 1. P. 76.to make the ſign of the Croſs, having no Churches, Sacraments, nor Perſons who can adminiſter them, or if they have, their Prieſts are ſo Ignorant that 'tis impoſſible for them to inſtruct the People in thoſe things, they themſelves do not underſtand.

THE ſame Author ſpeaking of the Chriſtians of Presbyter John, there Tom. 4. P. 434.are, ſaies he, I know not how many Chaldean Chriſtians, called Chriſtians of St. John or Sabea, but have no more of Chriſtianity than the name, for they have p. 68no other Church but the Lodgings of a Prieſt, a very ignorant man, which place they had in my time, and where ſcarcely any body aſſiſts at Divine Service. They keep no Faſts, nor obſerve any Abſtinence from Meats, Eating indifferently of all ſorts, neither have they ſcarcely any thing like a Sacrament amongſt them. He obſerves the ſame concerning the Georgiens, they are, ſaies he, leſs infected Tom. 3. P. 188.with Errors than others, and being leſs addicted to Learning than the Greeks, they have leſs Malice, and more Ignorance.

THOMAS Herbert, a famous Engliſh Man, (whoſe Voyages are Tranſlated into French, by Mr. De Vicqfort) ſpeaking of theſe ſame Georgiens, in Herbert's Voyages L. 2. P. 244.the City of Aſſepoſe, ſaies he, and thereabouts, dwell near forty thouſand Georgiens, and Circaſſians, who all of 'em profeſs Chriſtianity, but live moſt miſerable Lives, being Slaves, and deſtitute moreover of all Knowledg of the Chriſtian Myſteries, only they have a great Veneration for St. George, who was Biſhop of Cappadocia, and their Apoſtle.

AS to what concerns the Coptites, they are ſaid to be as Ignorant as any of Thevenot's Voyages Part 2. C. 75.the reſt. Theſe Coptites, ſaies Mr. Thevenot, are a ſort of very dul and ſtupid People, ſo that there can be hardly found a Perſon amongſt them who is fit to be a Patriarch, Montconys, after the ſame manner tells us, that the Coptites Montconis Voyages. P. 129.hold the heretical Doctrine of Dioſcorus, Patriarch of Alexandria, and are very Ignorant in matters of Religion.

EUGENIUS Roger, a Franciſcan Fryer, one of the Popes Emiſſaries Deſcription of the Holy Land. L. 2.in Barbary, ſpeaking of theſe Coptites, tells us, That this Nation is the moſt dull and Ignorant of all the Eaſtern Chriſtians. They are never heard to diſcourſe concerning Divine Myſteries, or Religious Matters. The greateſt part of their Prieſts can neither Write nor Read, and ſeem to act with as little Reflection as bruit Beaſts, as far as I could perceive, all the time I ſojourned in Egypt, He adds, that the greateſt part of the Religious, who dwell in Monaſteries in the Deſerts of Thebes, are extream Brutiſh, and work like Horſes.

Mr. De Sponde Biſhop of Pamiez, giving an Account in his Annals of a Spond. Ann. Tom 3. Ann. 1561.pretended Union of the Coptites with the Church of Rome, made in the Year 1561, Pius the fourth being Pope, he tells us amongſt other things, that their Patriarch whoſe Name was Gabriel, was a very ignorant Man, and one of their Errors was, they reckoned ſeven Sacraments, and inſtead of thoſe of Marriage, Confirmation, and extream Unction, they ſubſtituted Faith, Faſting, and Prayer, which they adopted into the Number of Sacraments. The Armenians are no leſs Ignorant, for Anthony de Gouveau tells us Gouveau's Relations. L. 3. C. 3. P. 368.they are a Peope wholly Unlearned and Simple, and that moreover David their Patriarch knew no more than only to Write and Read in his own Language, which is, adds he, a thing very common amongſt them.

JOHN Barbereau, a Jeſuit whom I already mentioned, ſaies they are in Conſtantinople to the number of above ſixty Thouſand; and are, if poſſible, more Ignorant than the Greeks. They hold the ſame Errors with them, and have a particular Hereſy which diſtinguiſhes them from the reſt. Their Ignorance, addeth he, is ſo great, that I have heard themſelves ſay, they never go to Church Forrain Lettors Let. 1.but when they Conſecrate, knowing neither the Uſe nor Deſign of that Myſtery, and who can inſtruct them in theſe things? their Patriarchs and Prelates are buſied in getting Mony, like the Greeks, that they may have whereon to live.

p. 69VINCENT le Blanc, ſpeaking of the Chriſtians of the India's, called the Chriſtians of St. Thomas, and who follow the Neſtorian Hereſy, the Le Blanc's Voyages. Part 1. P. 115.Chriſtians of theſe Places, ſaies he, have ſtill retained ſome part of the Inſtructions left them by St. Thomas, but they are extream Ignorant in the principal Articles of Faith, and know not how to ſing in their Churches, ſo that 'tis a hard matter to keep them in any kind of Tune.

THE Inhabitants of the Iſle of Socotora, ſaies Du Jarric the Jeſuit, call themſelves Chriſtians (being likewiſe Chriſtians of St. Thomas, that is to ſay Hiſtory of the Eaſt Indias. L. 1. C. 6. P. 84.Neſtorians) they very much honour and reverence the Croſs. They are all of them very Ignorant, ſo that they can neither Write nor Read, and 'tis the ſame with their Caciques (that is to ſay their Prieſts) who having learned certain Prayers by rote, ſing them in the Church, and often repeat a Word which comes near to our Halleluja.

THIS ſame Du Jarrick, who wrote the Hiſtory of the Reduction of the Neſtorians of Malabar to the Obedience of the Pope, which was brought to paſs by Alexis de Meneſes Arch-Biſhop of Goa in the Year 1599, does ſufficiently ſet forth the Ignorance of this People. For he tells us, that there was ſo great Confuſion amongſt them, in reſpect of the eſſential form of Baptiſm, that every Cacanar (for ſo do they call their Prieſts) baptiſed after a ſeveral manner, and the greateſt part of them, (addeth he) cannot be ſaid in any kind to adminiſter the Sacrament, ſeeing they uſe not Words eſſential thereunto. So that the Arch-Biſhop found one of the greateſt Towns of this Biſhoprick of (Angomalé) to have bin deficient in this important Point of our Religion, whereupon he privately Baptiſed the greateſt part of the People, after a right and due manner. He relateth moreover that there were ſeveral amongſt them who were not Baptiſed at all, and yet received the Euchariſt, which was a very common thing amongſt them, that they uſually did not Baptiſe their Children till ſome Months or Years after their Birth: and that there were ſome at ten or eleven years of Age Unbaptized. That they were wont every Sunday to kindle a Fire in the middle of the Church, and having caſt Incenſe thereon, every one drew near to take of the Smoak with his Hand, with which carrying it to their Breaſts, they thought thereby their Sins were chaſed out of their Souls. He adds, that the Latin Biſhop which was ſent them, after their Reduction, viſited ſeveral Places of his Dioceſs, in which there had no Prelate bin for this thirty Years, where he found ſuch a Degeneracy both as to Points of Faith and Manners, that moſt of them had no more of Chriſtianity in them but the Name.

ALTHO the Maronites have bin long ſince reconciled to the Church of Rome, yet are they not better Inſtructed than the reſt. Joſeph Beſſon in his Treatiſe of the Holy Land, ſaies, They are ſtriken with four Plagues worſe than the Plagues of Egypt, viz, Ignorance, want of Devotion, Uſury, and Injuſtice, they can ſcarcely be perſwaded, ſaies he, that the ſecond Perſon of the Trinity is the Son of God; and that Jeſus Chriſt who is God, dyed, and that God ever had a Son. It is incredible ſay they with the Turks; How can he have a Son ſeeing he was never married? and if he was God how could he dye?

I could eaſily produce ſeveral Teſtimonies touching the State of the Moſcovites, Abyſſins, and Jacobites; for their Condition is no better than the reſt, God having ſuffered all theſe Churches which were heretofore ſo favoured p. 70with the Light of his Truth, to fall inſenſibly into ſo great Darkneſs, that a man can ſcarce perceive the leaſt Mark of Chriſtianity amongſt them. There is not in Moſcovia, ſaies Poſſevin the Jeſuit, any Greek Books or Academies; having made diligent Search for ſome that underſtood Greek, I could find none. They have heaped up Error upon Error, and altho they brag of their Bibliot. Select. L. 6. C. 5.Chriſtianity above other People, yet do they refer all things to the Wiſdom of their Prince as to an Oracle, having imbibed this Principle from their Infancy. They value not Strangers nor ſuffer them to come into their Country unleſs they be Polanders, Germans, or Portugaiſes, for they deſpiſe all others. He ſaies moreover Derebus Moſco. P. 2.the Moſcovits have ſuch Confidence in their Prince, that when they are asked touching any Point, they commonly anſwer, God only and our Prince know that. Our great Czar knows all things, he can immediately ſolve all Difficulties. There is no Religion whoſe Ceremonies and Opinions he is not acquainted with. Whatſoever we have or are, whether on Horsback, or in Health, 'tis all owing to our great Prince, he ſaies farther, they have neither Schools nor Academies amongſt them, only bringing up their Children to Write and Read, learning them the Goſpels, the Acts of the Apoſtles, a certain Chronicle which they have, with ſome of St. Chryſoſtom's Homelies, and the Lives of ſome of their Saints, that ſhould any Perſon endeavour to make a farther Progreſs in Learning, he would be in danger of being puniſhed. As to their Prieſts and Monks, he aſſures us, they are prodigiouſly Ignorant, for having demanded of them who was the founder of their Order, not one of them could anſwer him; and as to the People he ſaies, they work at all times, not excepting Sundaies and Holydaies, and think it belongs to Gentlemen, and not to them to frequent the Church. That they are very well pleaſed with their own Simplicity, and often make the Sign of the Croſs, and are great Worſhippers of Images. As concerning the Ruſſians, which are under the King of Polands Government, he ſaies, that ſometimes their Biſhops performe the Divine Service in Greek, altho few of them, if any, do underſtand that Language, and that they are very Ignorant in Divinity.

AS to the Abyſſins, the Relation of the Jeſuit Paez, which Du Jarrick has inſerted in his Hiſtory of the Eaſt Indias, gives us ſufficiently to underſtand their Ignorance. For he tells us, that the Spiritualities of the Empire, depend wholly on the Emperour. That the Eccleſiaſticks do nothing but what he would have them, and that ſhould he command them all to turn Catholicks, they would not diſobey him. He tells us he diſputed with one of them, upon occaſion of the legal Ceremonies which they obſerve, and that this Perſon could not tell how to anſwer him otherwiſe, than that there were ſome who could ſatisfy him on that Point. He farther adds, That theſe People knowing little, there was immediately ſpread a Report concerning me, that I was a great Doctor, and thereupon never came any Perſon afterwards to diſpute with me. Du Jarric obſerves that the Jeſuit Paez having taught ſome Children their Catechiſme, the King and all his Court were ſo aſtoniſhed at the matter, that he told thoſe about him, ſaying, what ſhould our Monks diſpute with this Father for, who are not able to anſwer theſe little Children, the plain Truth of it is, we have neither Doctrine, nor Inſtruction, neither any thing more than the Name of Chriſtians.

MAFFEUS the Jeſuit, relates, that a Prieſt named Gonſalvus Rhoderick, ſent from Goa to Claudus King of the Abyſſins, in the Year 1556. Found Hiſtory of the Indias. L 16. P. 938.him and his greateſt Courtiers very Ignorant both in the Knowledg of Councils, and all kinds of Divine and Humane Learning. Theſe are his own Words.

p. 71Mr. De Sponde, relating in his Eccleſiaſtical Annals the principal Articles Annal. Eccl. ad ann. 1524.of their Belief, according to the Confeſſion of Zaga Zabo, concludes in theſe Terms. They have ſo many ridiculous Fopperies amongſt them, that they have ſcarcely any thing more of Chriſtianity than the Name.

MOREOVER they are not only Ignorant of the Myſteries of Religion, but likewiſe in all kinds of Learning, which made Beſſon the Jeſuit ſay concerning Syria. That the Sciences are more rare in the Eaſtern Parts than the Phenix, and mechanical Arts more prized than Sciences, wherefore, addeth he, the continual multitude of Books which encreaſe every Day in Europe, continually decreaſe in Syria. The beſt of them have already paſſed the Seas, ſeveral of which are to be ſeen in the Libraries in France, ſo that thoſe which remain are very ordinary ones.

TO this groſs Ignorance, we may joyn their Superſtition, the uſual attendant of Ignorance; for 'tis certain theſe People are incredibly guilty of Hiſ…r. Eccl. L. 18. C 53.Sir 50:18it. The Armenians according to the Teſtimony of Nicephorus, ſtill Celebrate Eaſter after the manner of the Jews, ſlaying Sheep and Oxen, and ſprinkling the Poſts of their Doors, with the Blood of a Lamb, and inſtead of communicating of the Blood of our Saviour, they Sacrifice a Lamb, which being Roaſted they divide it amongſt them. This Cuſtom being a very antient one, is yet in uſe amongſt them.

BESSON the Jeſuit tells us, They call this Sacrifice Korban, and that he that offers it, cauſeth a Sheep to be brought to the Church Porch, where the Prieſt Holy Syria. Part 1. of the Armenians. P. 48.bleſſes Salt, and puts it down the Throat of the Sacrifice, afterwards Conſecrates the Knife, and then laies his Hand on the Head of the Sheep and cuts its Throat, The Biſhop and Prieſt take their Share, one part whereof is diſtributed to the Poor, and another ſerves for the Feaſt, which is Celebrated with all publick Teſtimonies of Rejoycing. The ſame Emiſſary informs us, that the great Diſorders of the Levant are its Superſtitions, and the Peoples Recourſe to Magicians, the number of whom is very Conſiderable amongſt Chriſtians, whoſe Poverty and Sickneſſes make them uſe theſe wretched Remedies,

THE Coptites, and Abyſſins, beſides Baptiſm, uſe Circumciſion, which they receive the eighth day, after the manner of the Jews. The Abyſſins Boucher Bouquet ſacr. L. 4. C. 7. Brerowood's Inquiries. C. 22, 23. Villamont, & alii paſſim de reb. Moſco. P. 6.Baptiſe themſelves every Year on Twelfth Day, in the Lakes or Ponds, in remembrance of our Saviours Baptiſm. Poſſevin relates the ſame of the Moſcovites. For he tells us that twice a Year, viz. on the day of the Epiphany, and that of the Aſſumption, the Metropolitan Bleſſes the River of Moſco; and that the Prieſts Bleſs after the ſame manner other Rivers, that ſeveral Men and Women Waſh themſelves therein with the Ceremony of a triple Immerſion; that the Horſes and Images are Baptiſed in like manner, and that this in their Language is called Baptiſm.Chriſtoph. Angel. Stat. & rit. Eccl. Graec. C. 25. vide Annot. Geor. Felsau. Eucholog. Goar P. 689. Allat. Epiſt. de quorun…. Graecer. opin.

I ſcarce know what to think of that Cuſtom amongſt the Greeks, of taking up their Dead, a Year after they are buried. If they find their Bodies are not yet conſumed, they examine what remains of them, and if it doth not ſtink, but hath a good Colour, they eſteem that Perſon a Holy Man: But if on the contrary, the Corps be Black or Swelled, they repute him to have bin an ill Liver, and an Excommunicated Perſon. Wherefore it is, that in their form of Excommunication, one of their Imprecations is, that ſuch a Perſon p. 72may not be conſumed after Death, neither in this World nor in that which is to come, but that he may be ſwelled like a Drum. They verily believe this is perfectly accompliſhed: And Leo Allatius tells us ſeveral Stories of thoſe Phantaſms which they call Burcolaques, which are ſaith he, Excommunicated Perſons, who being deceaſed torment the living, and of whom the Greeks are as much afraid, as our Children, when we tell them of Fryar Bourru's Ghoſt. Nay ſo greatly are they Prepoſſeſſed with falſe Opinions, as to imagine an Excommunication pronounced by a Chriſtian that afterwards turns Turk, produces the ſame Effect, that is to ſay, keeps the Body from Conſuming, and cauſes it to grow hard and ſwell, till ſuch time as this Excommunication be taken off by him who pronounced it, altho never ſo great an Infidel. Which is confirmed by Leo Allatius concerning the Patriarch Raphael, who to diſſolve Chriſtoph. Angel. C. 42.the Body of an excommunicated Perſon, was forced to apply himſelf to a Renegado for his Abſolution.

WE may reckon in the Number of the Grecian Superſtitions, the belief they have long held, touching a Miracle that happens every Year, in the Sepulcher at Jeruſalem, on the Saturday before Eaſter, which is, That all the Lamps being extinguiſhed, the Patriarch enters alone into the Sepulcher, and God ſends a Beam of Light from Heaven, wherewith he kindles the Torch he holds in his hand, and therewith lights all the reſt. Which is performed Annot. Allat. de quorund. Graecor. opinat. & alii paſſim.with great Ceremony, and publick Acclamations of Rejoycing, not only by the Greeks, but all the Eaſtern Chriſtians which are at Jeruſalem, for they all hold this Miracle to be true.

NEITHER do they at all ſuſpect the Truth of another Miracle, which Chriſtoph. Angel. C. 42.they ſay happens once a Year in Caire, near the River of Nile, and which laſts from Holy Thurſday to Aſcenſion Day. Which is, that in ſeveral Countries the dead Bodies ariſe out of their Graves: But this Miracle only happens when they celebrate Eaſter according to antient Cuſtom; Whereas ſhould they Celebrate it according to the new Kalender, the Miracle would infallibly ceaſe, as it fell out about fourſcore or a hundred Years ſince, when the Greeks altered the time of the Celebration, upon which the dead Bodies aroſe no more, and the Sacred Fire was alſo withheld from the Sepulcher, which obliged them to the Obſervance again of the former Day, whereupon the Miracles returned. And this Relation we have from Chriſtophorus Angelus, and ſome others. We might give a farther Deſcription of the Ignorance and Superſtition of theſe poor People, were not what has bin already mentioned ſufficient to inform the World of M. Arnaud's vain Triumphs. For when it ſhould appear that all theſe Sects held Tranſubſtantiation and the real Preſence, what Advantage would accrue to him thereby? Would it hence appear impoſſible that theſe Doctrines have crept in amongſt them, by the ſame means the true Myſteries of Chriſtianity have ſlipt out; for Ignorance and Superſtition are but ſorry keepers of Evangelical Truths. It is eaſy to impoſe on theſe People whoſe Minds have bin ſo darkned with Errours, all marks of Chriſtianity having bin long ſince loſt amongſt them. They may be made believe any thing, being in this reſpect as white Paper, whereon men may write what they pleaſe. There needs but one mans falling into an Errour, to draw all the reſt after him. And this Mr. Poulet hath well Relation of the Levant, or the Sieur of Poulet's Voyage. Part. 2. C. 28.obſerved in the Account he gives us of the Neſtorians, who ſtill obſtinately retain their old Errours, for which Reaſon they are hated by all the Levantine Chriſtians, They know not what they Believe, ſaies he, being ready to receive any new Opinion, be it what it will, provided it includes not a Submiſſion to the p. 73Holy See. Which is as much as to ſay, they are not firm or Precautioned, againſt any Article but that of Obedience to the Pope, having bin oftentimes tempted, and ſometimes ſurprized into an acknowledgment of his Supremacy, but as to other Points, they are very Ductil, being ignorant of their Meaning. And theſe are ſuch People Mr. Arnaud deſires, and who ſeem to him fit Objects to ground his Diſpute on. He thought to make his Advantage of this Confuſion; but certainly he ought to give the World a true account of theſe Matters, and not ſo highly to extol his own Victories, ſeeing the Honour of them is much diminiſhed by what I have allready offered.