The Catholic Doctrine of the Eucharist in All Ages, Book 2 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
That the means the Emiſſaries have uſed for the introducing of the Roman Religion amongst the Schiſmaticks, The Seminaries which have been ſet up for the ſame deſign, and the particular Inſtructions given them touching the Doctrine of Tranſubſtantiation, do ſufficiently ſhew that there can no Advantage accrue to Mr. Arnaud by their belief. Mr. Arnaud's fifth Artifice diſcovered.
WHOSOEVER conſiders the foregoing Chapters will not I ſuppoſe overmuch value Mr. Arnaud's Labours touching the Grecian and other Eaſtern Chriſtians called Schiſmaticks. For 'tis certain there was never a more vain and fruitleſs Amuſement, than his whole Diſpute on that Subject; at the end whereof I am much miſtaken if he finds not he has ill beſtowed his time, having given no light at all to the main Queſtion, which is to know whether the Doctrine of the preſent Roman Church is the ſame with that of all Antiquity. But beſides what I already offered, it remains, that I make ſome important Reflections on thoſe things, the moſt part of which Mr. Arnaud has paſt over in ſilence, and which I ſhall recollect as briefly as I can in this Chapter, to the end I may not any longer detain the Reader on a point, which I believe I have ſufficiently evidenced.
Firſt, Then I find in the Relation of the Emiſſaries of St. Erinys, that one of the reaſons for which they were ſent, was to endeavour the Advancement of the honour of the Holy Sacrament. The Author of theſe Relations deſirous to give the World an account of the Honours they have endeavoured to procure from the Inhabitants of this Iſland, to the Sacrament, begins thus, I believe, ſay's he, the Gentlemen of C. 20. P. 304.the Confraternity of the Auguſt Society of the Holy Sacrament, having teſtified ſo great Zeal for the Advancement of this Devotion, eſpecially in the Eaſtern Countries, will approve of theſe Diſcourſes, ſeeing they will be inform'd by them that the Prayers and Vows they have made for the Converſion of theſe poor wretches, were not fruitleſs. Theſe words ſufficiently ſhew (if I be not miſtaken,) that one of the chief ends which the Emiſſaries propoſed to themſelves in the Converſion of the Greeks, is to give them thoſe Sentiments which they have not yet entertained concerning the Holy Sacrament, and 'tis unto this whereunto tends the Zeal and Prayers of the Confraternity.
WHENCE it follows, that 'tis no great wonder if they have accompliſhed their Deſign; and that if theſe people do at this day believe Tranſubſtantiation and Adore the Euchariſt, it cannot be hence concluded that this Doctrine has been amongſt them ever ſince they firſt received the Chriſtian Faith.
BUT the better to convince Mr. Arnaud of the vanity of his pretended Conſequence, and how little I would eſteem his victory if it were as real as it is falſe and imaginary; I need but ſet before him the means theſe Emiſſaries have uſed whereby to inſinuate the Roman Religion, in theſe Countries, in all which I ſhall relate no more than what I learn from Authors no wiſe ſuſpected by the Church of Rome.
THE firſt inſtrument they uſe is Money, Francis Richard the Jeſuit, in the foreſaid Relation of the Iſle of St. Erinys, plainly tells us ſo. Above an hundred poor Greeks, ſay's he, became our own, being drawn over to us by C. 16. P. 247.ſome ſmall Charity we beſtowed on them. Money can do all things in theſe parts, and we are certain that provided we had wherewithal to give the Greek Biſhops, they would ſuffer us, to Confeſs, Preach and Inſtruct them who are under their Charge, in whatſoever we pleaſed. So that are not theſe very fit people to determine the Antiquity of our Doctrines. Anthony de Gouveau one of the Anthony Gouveau's Relation lib. 3.Emiſſaries of Perſia, in his Hiſtory of the Reduction of the Armenians, which were carried over into Perſia, under the Conduct of the Patriarch David, expreſly obſerves, that one of the firſt courſes the Miſſionaries took to draw theſe people to them, was to diſtribute money amongſt them, by which means they were eaſily wrought on to come to Catechiſings.
BUT beſides Money, they make the practice of Phyſick, to ſerve as a pretence, for the introducing of them into Houſes, where they take their opportunity, Relation of the Iſle of St. Erinys C. 16. p 248.to diſcourſe of Religion. By this means, ſay's the Jeſuit Richard, we have free admittance into the Houſes of the Greeks, and many times gain by Converſation what we could not effect by Preaching.
THE knowledge of the Mathematicks draws to 'em ſeveral perſons and furniſhes them with occaſions of entertaining them. Beſſon the Jeſuit, ſpeaking of one of their Emiſſaries at Damaſcus; he drew, ſay's he, to our Holy Syria part 1. 3 Treatiſe c. 5.houſe ſeveral Greeks, by the fame of his Skill in the Mathematicks, which is a Science in great Eſteem amongſt the Levantine People, and eſpecially Aſtronomy, upon which account our Emiſſaries have eaſie admittance into great Houſes, whether of Turks, or Chriſtians.
THEY endeavour more eſpecially to gain the Biſhops and Patriarchs, and that with ſucceſs, as it will appear, by the Teſtimony I ſhall produce. Father John Amien, ſay's Beſſon ſpeaking of the Emiſſaries of Tripolys, gain'd Ibid. Treatiſe the 4. c. 4.the Greek Biſhop of Tripolys to the Romiſh Religion.
The ſame Beſſon, diſcourſing of the Miſſion in Aleppo, and of one of its Fathers, he hath intirely won, ſay's he, Philip the Patriarch, who is Patriarch Ibid. Treat. 1. C. 9.of great Armenia whoſe Seat is in Perſia, at Eſchiniadzin. This venerable Prelate being come to Aleppo, to viſit the holy Places, received the Father with great Expreſſions of good Will, and ſhewed him that he was a Catholick in hit Heart, being of a very frank Nature, he farther declared this in the preſence of another Patriarch. He ſay's moreover that this ſame Emiſſary converted an Armenian Biſhop, who was afterwards forc'd by the Schiſmaticks to leave his Country, and retire into a Monaſtery in Cappadocia, and would turn Jeſuit, but, ſay's he, whatſoever great qualities he had, it was not judg'd meet to deprive the Armenians of this Paſtour.
Speaking in another place of an Emiſſary of Aleppo, he has brought over, ſay's he, to the Roman Church another Greek Biſhop, and with this perſon endowed Ib. chap. 10.with ſuch good Qualifications, he doubts not but he ſhall gain ſeveral others who will 'tis likely follow ſo great an Example. Certainly, adds he, in theſe Miſſions of the Levant there ought to be a particular regard had to the Biſhops, whoſe Example the people will not fail to imitate.
Diſcourſing elſewhere, of the Emiſſaries of Seyde. We are obliged, ſay's he, to the Biſhop of the Greeks, who beſides his being won to the Roman Church Treatiſe 6. c. 7.by one of our Fathers lays other Obligations on us. For he opens to us his Heart as well as his Church, and publickly declares to his hearers that the Frank's Church and that of the Maronites are, the true Churches. Theſe Conqueſts cannot be loſt, unleſs by the ill conduct of the Paſtours, and the pernicious Maxims they may give out. Gain but one of them, and you gain them all, but if one of 'em holds out and will not yield, what you have done already ſignifies nothing.
Diſcourſing of the Miſſion of Aleppo, he ſay's that the Biſhop of the Syrians at Aleppo, before his Ordination, conceived a great hatred againſt the Syrian Hereſie, and turn'd Catholick, and within a while, went to Rome, from whence returning, he was Conſecrated by the Patriarch of the Maronites, and ſettled in the Syrian Church at Aleppo. From whence being conſtrain'd to withdraw, he was brought there again at the requeſt of the Curats and by the Aſſiſtance of Mr. Piquet. He generouſly ſerves, adds he, Almighty God amongſt his own people, whom he exhorts to keep ſtedfaſt to the Church of Rome. And thus have the Endeavours of our Emiſſaries, been aſſiſted by the Divine Grace, which we doubt not but will prove of great conſequence to the Syrians, ſeeing that in gaining a perſon of his merit, they have done as much as if they had converted a whole Nation.
The Sieur Stochove, ſpeaking of the Jeſuits at Galata, Theſe Fathers Endeavours, ſay's he, have not been ineffectual amongſt the Hereticks and Schiſmaticks, Stochovius's Voyages p. 98.for they converted ſeveral Greek Biſhops and diſpoſed others, in caſe of any Revolution, to abhere to the Roman Church.
I acquainted my ſelf, ſay's Busbequius, the Emperour's Embaſſadour, with Metrophanus the Metropolitain and Superiour of the Monaſtery of Chalcy, he Busbeq. Voyages lib 4. p. 5. 26.is an honeſt and learned Man, and one that paſſionately deſires the re-union of the two Churches, contrary to the cuſtom of his Nation, who deteſts them of our Communion, as prophane and impure Perſons.
GOUVEAU the Monk relating how he and other Auguſtin Portugaiſes Gouveau's relation lib. 5. 3.proceeded in order to the Re-union of the Armenians in Perſia to the Roman Church, tells us, that they particularly applyed themſelves to the winning David their Patriarch, making uſe of him afterwards as an inſtrument to prevail on the Biſhops and all the reſt of the People.
NOW tell me, I pray after this, with what ſincerity the Greeks and other Eaſtern Chriſtians can be alledged in this matter? they are won by Money, ſeveral pretences are made uſe of by the Emiſſaries to introduce themſelves into their houſes, they prevail on their Biſhops, not making them publickly change their Religion, but leaving them in the ſame Communion wherein they find them, to the end that they may likewiſe endeavour the Eſtabliſhment of the Roman Faith. Now what can be ſaid of theſe people, but that if they believe Tranſubſtantiation (it not appearing they believed it before all theſe Intrigues) they have received this Doctrine from the Emiſſaries, by theſe indirect ways which they practiſe.
BUT this is not all, for one of the moſt uſual and effectual Courſes they take to eſtabliſh inſenſibly, and without any noiſe, the Roman Religion in Greece, and amongſt all other Nations, is the inſtruction of their Youth, which employment they commonly take upon them whereſoever they come; for under pretence of inſtructing them in Human Learning, they inſtil into their minds the Principles of the Romiſh Faith, ſo that a great part of the Greek Prelates are of this number, that is to ſay their Schollars, having received from them in their tender Age a favourable Opinion of the Roman Church.
WE are inform'd by the Author of M. de la Haye's Voyages who was Voyages of M. de la Haye c. 5. pag. 125.Embaſſador to the late King of France, that the Jeſuits at Galata, are very ſuccesful in their undertakings in this kind; for beſides their Preaching and Confeſſions, they inſtruct all the Youth, as alſo the Schiſmaticks, whom they have convinced (for the moſt part of them) of their Errors, ſo that ſeveral Principal Greek Biſhops and Archbiſhops, (who have been their Schollars) do favour the Doctrine of the Church of Rome, and are capable of doing it great Service.
THE Sieur Stochovius, ſpeaks to the ſame effect, the Greeks, ſay's he, do Stochov. Voyages pag. 98.not at all ſcruple the ſending their Children to School (he means to that of the Jeſuits) wherein they are inſtructed as well in the Catholick Religion, as in Human Learning. And diſcourſing of the Iſle of Chios, he tells us, that the Jeſuits have a ſtrong-built Convent there, beſides a fair Church, that they are twenty in number who are all of them naturaliz'd, and take upon them according to their cuſtom the inſtruction of Youth, and bring divers over to the true Religion. The Carmelites, adds he, have a Church and Convent there, who likewiſe apply themſelves to the inſtructing of Youth, and convert divers from the common Hereſie of the Greeks.
THE Sieur du Loir tells us likewiſe, that the Jeſuits of Galatia, keep Loir's Voyages pag. 67. Thevenot, part. 1 c. 61.School for the Children of the Greeks and Armenians. And the Sieur Thevenot informs us, that in the Iſle of Chios, there is a Convent of Capucins who teach human Learning and the Chriſtian Doctrine, to ſeveral Children who repair thither. He tells us in another place, that in the Iſle of Andria the Capucins do greatly eaſe the Biſhop, by their Preachings and Confeſſions, and by Chap. 13.their School, to which go all the Greek Children, and that ſome are ſent from Athens for that purpoſe.
LA Boulaye le Goux tells us, that the Jeſuits have a convenient Houſe at Boulay's Voyages part. 1. c. 9. Relat. of St. Erinys c. 5.Smyrna wherein they inſtruct the Greek Children. And the ſame do they at St. Erinys, as appears by the relation of Richard the Jeſuit, who introduces another Jeſuit ſpeaking as follows, I ſet open my School every day to all that will come and learn any thing, being ever ready and moſt willing to inſtruct Youth, as well out of Obedience to my Superiour, who earneſtly recommended to me this courſe, as for that likewiſe it has been revealed to me from Heaven, that this is the ſureſt way to reform by degrees the Greek Church, and perhaps one of the moſt likelieſt means to maintain us in theſe forraign Countries.
IT already appears, by theſe Teſtimonies, that one of the principal things recommended to the Emiſſaries, when they are to be ſent abroad, is the Education of Children, as an infallible means to ſet up the Romiſh Religion in the midſt of theſe people, and that the Emiſſaries on their ſide do well acquit themſelves in this particular. But the Author of the Book called A Deſcription of the Holy Land, delivers himſelf more plainly. For diſcourſing how the Jeſuits employ themſelves in the City of Aleppo, he tells us, that their chief buſineſs is to inſtruct Youth, which has always been eſteemed a matter of great importance and highly conducing to the reformation of theſe Nations. Obſerve, I beſeech you, what he ſays, that the Emiſſaries do not only carefully apply themſelves to this, and that by order from their Superiors, but that this is an eſpecial means to make all theſe people in a ſhort time to become inſenſibly Roman Catholicks.
BUT we muſt likewiſe take notice that theſe Gentlemen who leave no means untryed, do wholly betake themſelves to theſe two laſt ways, namely, that of gaining the Prelates and that of inſtructing Youth. For when they have won any Biſhop to their Party, they oblige him to ſet them upon the educating of their Children, making uſe of his Authority that they may manage their buſineſs with greater ſucceſs and ſecurity. Which the ſame Author of the Holy Land ſhews us, Father Queriot, ſay's he, was a fit perſon to offer his ſervice to the Greek Metropolitain, who was a good Catholick, Holy Syria part. 1. Treat. 1. c. 4.and a man of a ſtrict Life (he means the Metropolitain of Aleppo) he has oblig'd him to truſt us with the Education of the Grecian Children of that Country, and to ſlight the diſcourſes of the Enemies of the Roman Religion. And a little farther, it is to be moreover obſerved, ſay's he, that the Patriarch of Conſtantinople reprehending him for employing a Religious Frank in the teaching of the Greeks, even in his Epiſcopal Houſe, this great man who is ever like himſelf, does notwithſtanding permit the Father to proceed on ſtill in his undertaking.
SPEAKING of the Miſſion of Damaſcus, this Miſſion, ſay's he, is the work of Father Jerom Queriot who was ſent from Aleppo to Damaſcus, in the beginning of the year 1643, by the Greek Patriarch Euthymius, who was of the Iſle of Chios, and of the Romiſh Religion, for the inſtruction of Youth, and eſpecially of his Nephew, and for the compoſition of his circular Letters and Greek and Arabian Patents. Yet he tells us, this Father was forc'd to leave the place, the Greeks growing jealous of him, in as much as that he being a Religious Frank was employed in the chief affairs of the Patriarchate.
I cannot forbear mentioning what the ſaid Author relates on the ſame Subject, namely, the inſtruction of the Greek Youth. We muſt betake our ſelves to this Courſe, ſay's he, for the converting the Greek Schiſmaticks. We are too old, ſaid Jeraſimus an Archbiſhop and Vicar of the Patriarchate, to receive new Impreſſions: but inſtruct our Youth, who by your care will be capable of trying good things and prove a Seminary of perfect Chriſtians; words, ſay's he, which he uttered in the hearing of the Youth on purpoſe to encourage them to make uſe of the advantage offered them. It is certainly a great ſatisfaction to us when we ſee young Greeks who are naturally eloquent, to inſtruct ſo handſomely their Servants; and I had almoſt ſaid, even their very Parents, who become as it were their Diſciples in Religion. Is there any thing more great and glorious than the building of new Churches with the Apoſtles, and converting the World? For new Churches are planted by the ſettlement of theſe Miſſions, and the old ones repaired at the ſame time, by means of the Inſtruction of Children who teach their Parents. This Jeſuit lays open the matter plainly and ſincerely, whereas Mr. Arnaud does not ſo, for he would have theſe new Churches paſs for old ones.
THE ſame Author relates that having obſerv'd John Damaſcen was eſteem'd in this Country as an infallible Doctor, and that his Teſtimony againſt Hereſies was of great weight with them; One of our Fathers, ſay's he, undertook to teach this Saints Logick and Divinity touching the controverted Points. He ſay's, this invention took, and inſpired the Schollars with great Zeal. But ſay's he, this their forwardneſs was taken notice of by ſome envious Perſons, who informed the Vicar of the Patriarchate of the matter, and ſo far incenſed him that he caus'd the young Students to be brought before him, and having reprehended their Boldneſs, condemned their Opinions and charged them to deſiſt from ſuch Diſcourſes, adding therewithal, that if they obeyed not his Commands, he would ruine them and their Families. Theſe Arguments, ſay's he, could not prevail with the Schollars to change their Opinions, or break off their Aſſemblies, and forſake their Maſters, but they were more cautious afterwards, and did forbear publiſhing any thing in the Circles as they had heretofore done.
IT is is an eaſie matter to comprehend the Advantage the Church of Rome makes of the labours of theſe Emiſſaries; and to be more particularly informed thereof, we need but read what the Sieur Poulet has written concerning Poulet's Voyages 2. part. C. 20.the Jeſuits, and their manner of proceedings in the Eaſt. They rightly underſtood, ſay's he, how difficult it is to work on the mind of a Perſon grown old in his Errors, and that the firſt impreſſions being ſtrengthened by a long custom, become a new Nature in us, wherefore our inſtructions muſt be beſtowed on them whoſe minds are not yet corrupted by Maxims of Schiſm and Hereſie. They have therefore very adviſedly, ſet up Schools, whereunto the Children of Schiſmaticks and ſometimes of Turks too do reſort. The deſire of having ſome Images, or Agnuſſes draws them to our Congregations, where hearing our Doctrine, they become effectually Catholicks without perceiving themſelves to be ſo: as for the other Schiſmaticks, they hear our Sermons, and pretend to be Catholicks only in hope of ſome Advantage they expect by this their Diſſimulation.
WE need likewiſe but read what Beſſon the Jeſuit has written, touching Part. 1. Tr. 1. C. 11.the proceedings of the Society at Aleppo. The Religious Orders, ſay's he, even the moſt regular amongſt them, have received from the Society at Aleppo not a few Advantages, and the Eaſtern Church has had ſuch Prelates from them as are at this day the greateſt lights of the Syrian Clergy. Whereupon he tells us in another place, that the Greeks and Syrians admit Apoſtolical Men into Part. 1. Tr. 1. C. 2.their Houſes. They likewiſe permit them the uſe of their Churches, and the Curats accept of our help, the Biſhops entreat us to prune their Vines, and this Church in the Eaſt being now weary of its miſeries, and blinded with its tears, expects from the Weſt the moſt pure lights of the Goſpel.
I confeſs theſe Gentlemen have been very dext'rous and fortunate in performing what has been given them in charge, and that the Church of Rome in general is very much obliged to them, but I …ind Mr. Arnaud to be more fortunate than they: for it ſeems as if theſe perſons had foreſeen long before, by a Prophetical Spirit, the book Mr. Arnaud was to make, and therefore would prepare him Materials, and furniſh him with this fine Collection of Atteſtations and Teſtimonies. Who would ever have thought that theſe Gentlemen the Jeſuits ſhould paſs over the Seas and run to the fartheſt parts of the World to do Mr. Arnaud honour? Yet is it true, that they have been his Meſſengers, and a man would be apt to think, they went only into theſe Countrys upon his account.
NEITHER muſt we paſs over in ſilence the Seminaries, eſtabliſh'd in Rome, and other places, for the bringing up of Greek Children, wherein they are taught on one hand the Rites and Ceremonies of the Greek Church, and on the other, the Doctrines and Opinions of the Church of Rome: for leaving theſe Schools, they betake themſelves to the Eaſt, where it frequently happens they are called to the Exerciſe of Eccleſiaſtical Functions, and theſe are as ſo many of the Court of Romes Creatures, who endeavour to the utmoſt of their power to eſtabliſh the Doctrines and Maxims of the Latins. It is well known that during the Popedom of Gregory the XIII, there was a Colledge founded at Rome; to what end, we may be informed by Leo Allatius. The Colledge of the Greeks, ſay's he, was built in Gregory De Perp Conſ. lib. 3. cap. 6. pag 970.the thirteenth's time, to the end the Grecian Children might learn the Arts and Sciences, which are not now to be found in Greece, and alſo be inſtructed in the Catholick Religion, that they may afterwards communicate it to others, and eſpecially to them of their own Nation. And in the following Chapter, relating what means has been uſed to propagate the Roman Religion in Greece, ſince thoſe Countrys have been poſſeſſed by the Turks, he adds, Thus thro a long ſeries of time has Religion made its progreſs in Greece. But at length Gregory the XIII, deſirous to quench the fire which waſted all Greece, and remedy its miſeries, has therefore cauſed to be built at Rome the Greek Church, which he Dedicated to St. Athenaſius. He bought likewiſe at the ſame time, the neighbouring Houſes, for Dwellings to entertain the Greek Schollars which ſhould be brought over from Greece, being all the Children of Greeks. He gave likewiſe a conſiderable yearly Revenue for their Maintenance; to the end that they being inſtructed in the Greek and Latin Tongues might ſerve as an Ornament and help to their diſtreſſed Country. Now this is not a matter needs proving, ſeeing this Church continues even to this day at Rome, in the ſame uſe for which 'twas intended.
THE Fruits gathered hence are not inconſiderable, for there has been and is now every day ſent, I know not how many perſons, full of Zeal for the Roman Church its Rites and Ceremonies, into the Eaſt, who ſpreading themſelves over all parts of it, and profeſſing the Religion of the Schiſmatical Greeks, and living in the ſame Communion with them, do not fail to inſinuate the Doctrines of the Church of Rome into their minds. Leo Allatius has made a Catalogue of theſe Perſons, which the curious may ſee, if they pleaſe, he has obſerv'd that ſeveral of them have been made Archbiſhops, and a great number of others promoted to Epiſcopal Charges: ſome of them having been too zealous, occaſion'd the Greeks to riſe up againſt them; and others have been ſo ſuccesful in their Endeavours, that they gained the very Patriarchs of Conſtantinople themſelves. He mentions amongſt others one Joſaphat Azales, who having finiſh'd his Studies in the Seminary, was ſent to Meſſene, a City of Pelopeneſus, to inſtruct the Monks of St. Baſil who live there, and having been ſome time after made Papas, that is to ſay, a Greek Prieſt, he went to Mount Athos, and there ſay's Allatius, he taught the true Faith. Now it is to be obſerved, that this Mount Athos is the general Seminary of the whole Eaſt, as Mr. Arnaud tells us, it being from thence the Religious do diſperſe themſelves over all Greece; from this place they have their Patriarchs, Archbiſhops and Biſhops, ſo that to carry the Roman Religion to Mount Athos, it is to go to the ſource, which is a means to gain in a ſhort time all the Greeks. He mentions another, whom he calls Ignatius Mindon, who leaving the Seminary, returned into Greece, where he taught ſeveral years; and from thence went to Trebizonde which is a City on Pont Euxin, where as before he ſet himſelf to the inſtructing of people, and that with ſuch ſucceſs, that he was taken by them for a Prophet; And in fine, being ſent for by Raphael the Patriarch of Conſtantinople, to be Rector of the Patriarchal Church at Pera, he endeavoured, ſay's he, with all his power to advance the Intereſt of the Church of Rome.
IT is in this Seminary wherein were brought up two Perſons who made Arcudius Epiſt, ad Sigiſm. Regem Poloniae de reb. Moſc. pag. 10.a great noiſe in the World, to wit, John Mathew Caryophilus Archbiſhop of Iconia, and Peter Arcudius; the firſt of theſe was ſent into Greece, but having not diſcreetly carried himſelf, was forc'd for his preſervation, to return to Rome, where he ſet himſelf to writing againſt the Greeks: and the other was ſent into Poland, Lituania, Ruſſia and Muſcovia, where he employed himſelf, according to his own relation for the ſpace of twenty years in the propagating of the Roman Faith.
POSSEVIN the Jeſuit writing to Pope Gregory the 13th, touching the means to be uſed for the introducing of the Doctrines of the Roman Church amongſt the Moſcovits, he ſo highly eſteems Seminaries, that he adviſes him to ſettle one at Rome for the Ruſſians, and another at Vilna in Bibl. Select. lib. 6. cap. 1.Lituania, where he ſay's, that the Jeſuits have likewiſe their Colledge in which there are many Schollars. He tells us in another place, that this Pope in effect founded ſeveral Seminaries for the Ruſſians in Lituania and other places.
M. the Biſhop of Pamiez having told us in his Annals that Gregory founded Spondanus. Annalaom. 3. …d ann. 1584a Seminary at Rome for the Maronites, ſays farther, that the ſame Pope founded others for the Eaſtern and Northern Countries as well at Rome as in the Provinces.
AS to what remains we muſt not imagine the Turks, under whoſe Government the Greeks live, do hinder the Endeavours of the Latins; it was never heard of, ſay's John Cottovicus, that the Turks have been in any ſort ſevere againſt the Religious, who having finiſhed their Studies at Rome, and taken Orders, returned into their own Countrys and were raiſed to Dignities, nor that the Turkiſh Magiſtrate hath upon this account made them ſuffer the leaſt Dammage. In effect provided they oppoſe not their Religion, they are ready enough to connive at all other matters. They favour them that give 'em moſt Money, and from thence 'tis we ſee on the Patriarchal See of Conſtantinople, Perſons who keep a good Correſpondency with the Court of Rome, or elſe ſuch who have been the Jeſuits Schollars, who feeing themſelves rais'd to this Dignity, do not fail to favour, as much as in them lies, this change ſo long proſecuted: and 'tis in this rank we muſt place Raphael, Neophytus, Timotheus, Cyrillus of Berrhaea, and I know not how many others whom the Roman Party has at divers times helped to the Patriarchate, and who in requital did them afterwards great Service.
ALL this, me thinks, ſhews evidently that Mr. Arnaud has been very diſ-ingenuous in his whole proceeding, who concealing theſe Intrigues, confidently undertakes to convince us, of the Antiquity of the Roman Creed touching the Euchariſt, upon this Principle, that this ſame Doctrine is held by other Chriſtian Churches, as if all the paſſages from Rome to Greece were ſo blocked up that theſe Doctrines could never be tranſported thither, or as if the Latins had never attempted this. Had theſe People received theſe Doctrines elſewhere, or invented them themſelves; Mr. Arnaud would have ſome pretence for his Argument; neither could we then charge him with aſſerting things as we do now againſt the light of his own Conſcience: But ſeeing he knew well enough, the Latins have been perpetually endeavouring to introduce their Doctrines in theſe Countrys, and conſtantly laboured at this, ſince I know not how many Ages; he therefore upon ſuppoſal they have effected this, comes and offers us the belief of theſe People as an undoubted Proof of the Perpetuity of this Doctrine, this is, to ſpeak modeſtly, ſuch a way of proceeding as will never be approved by juſt and reaſonable men.
IT will perhaps be objected, that I do indeed here ſhew, That the Latins endeavour'd to inſinuate their Religion in the Eaſt; but that I do not make it particularly appear, they at any time endeavoured to introduce their Doctrine of Tranſubſtantiation. To which I anſwer firſt, this is not neceſſary; for propoſing only to my ſelf at preſent, to ſhew the Nullity of the Conſequence Mr. Arnaud pretends to draw in order to the proving of the Perpetuity of the Roman Creed, touching Tranſubſtantiation, in that he imagines the Eaſtern Churches hold the ſame, it ſuffices me to ſhew thereupon, That this Opinion might be communicated to them by the Latins themſelves, in their ſeveral attempts to introduce their Religion into the Eaſt, eſpecially conſidering that Tranſubſtantiation is one of the moſt important Doctrines of it. And if Mr. Arnaud would have his Proof ſubſiſt, he muſt ſet aſide all the time of theſe efforts we now mentioned, and betake himſelf only to thoſe Ages which preceded them. For unleſs he proves, that Tranſubſtantiation has been believed in theſe Churches, before all theſe endeavours to bring them over to the Roman Faith, there is no Perſon endued with ſence, but will perceive how little ſtrength his Argument carries along with it, ſeeing he is ever lyable to be told, they have received it from the Latins, it not appearing amongſt them before.
BUT in the ſecond place, I will not have it ſtick here, to the end Mr. Arnaud may receive full ſatisfaction touching this point. I ſay then, that in the Year 1627. Clement the Fourth intending to make his Advantage of that Raynald. ad ann. 1267. num. 75.great Earneſtneſs Michael Paleologus ſhewed for the Reunion of his Church with the Roman (as it has been obſerved in the third Chap. of this Book) he thereupon ſent him a Confeſſion of Faith, which he would have received by the Greeks, becauſe he found that which the Greeks ſent him, not only deficient in ſeveral things, but full of Errors, altho the Fryar Minorites then at Conſtantinople had accepted it. Now Amongſt other Articles in this Confeſſion there is one, which relates to the Euchariſt, and which runs thus in Latin. Sacramentum Euchariſtae ex azymo conficit eadem Romana Eccleſia, tenens & docens quod in ipſo Sacramento panis verè tranſubſtantiatur in Corpus, & Vinum in Sanguinem Domini noſtri Jeſu Chriſti, which is to ſay, the Church of Rome Celebrates the Sacrament of the Euchariſt with unleavened Bread, Believing and Teaching that in this Sacrament the Bread is really tranſubſtantiated into the Body, and the Wine into the Blood of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. He ſent afterwards Dominicains to Confirm this Confeſſion and procure its acceptance with the Greeks.
IN the Year 1272, Gregory the Tenth ſent Fryar Minorites into Greece, Raynald. ad ann. 1272. num. 27.to endeavour afreſh the Reduction of the Greeks, under the Authority of the ſame Michael Paleologus, who reſolved to finiſh this Affair at any rate, and to whom he likewiſe recommended the ſame Confeſſion of Faith.
IN the Year 1288. Pope Nicholas the Fourth ſent Fryar Minorites into Idem ad ann. 1288. num. 30.Eſclavonia, to bring off theſe People from the Greek Religion to that of the Church of Rome, he gave them Letters to King Uroſius, and Helena the Queen Mother; and recommended to 'em the ſame Form of Doctrine, containing the Article of Tranſubſtantiation, to the end this might be the Rule of their inſtructions to the People.
THE ſame Pope ſent it likewiſe to three Biſhops in the Eaſt, who embraced his Communion, exhorting them to inſtruct the People according Ibid. num. 33.to the Doctrine contained therein, and at the ſame time he recommended to them the Emiſſaries ſent into thoſe Countries, for the Converſion of the Greeks, Bulgarians, Valaquians, Syrians, Iberians, Alains, Ruſſians, Jacobites, Neſtorians, Georgians, Armenians, Indians; whence it is eaſie to conjecture, that the Emiſſaries were likewiſe enjoyned to uſe this Formulary.
IN the Year 1318. Pope Innocent the twenty Second ſent this Confeſſion Raynald. ad ann. 1318. num. 13.to the King of Armenia; And not only, ſay's Rynaldus, The Armenians which inhabited Cilicia, and Armenia embraced the Doctrine of the Roman Church: but others alſo who being driven out of their Country by the Sarracens, had retired into Cherſoneſus Taurique. They ſubmitted themſelves to the Roman Church, in the preſence of the Biſhop of Capha, who was a Latin. The Pope, adds he, congratulated them, and ſhewed 'em, that in the Divine Myſteries, the Subſtance of Bread is changed into the Body and Blood of Chriſt, the Species remaining entire.
IN the Year 1338. Bennet the Twelfth received Letters from the Alains, Idem ad ann. 1338. num. 77.who were a ſort of Chriſtians, that profeſſed the Greek Religion, and lived under the Government of the Tartars. He return'd them an anſwer, and ſent the Confeſſion of Faith I already mention'd for their Inſtruction. Raynaldus referrs this Letter to the Year 1338. But there is an old Book I lately cited intitled The marvelous Hiſtory of the great Cham of Tartaria, which referrs this to the Year 1328. The Article of Tranſubſtantiation is expreſly mentioned in it.
IN the Year 1366. John Paleologus the Grecian Emperor deſigning to Idem ad ann. 1366. num. 6.reunite himſelf to the Church of Rome, that he might be aſſiſted againſt the Turks, Pope Urbain the Fifth ſent him, as his Predeceſſors had done to Michael this ſame Confeſſion of Faith.
SO that here then the Latins are not only enjoyned to propagate their Religion in general amongſt the Eaſtern Chriſtians, but particularly the Doctrine of Tranſubſtantiation, and to the end it may not be ſaid this Confeſſion contains the other Points of the Chriſtian Faith, as well as that of the Subſtantial Converſion, it is to be obſerved, that it has two diſtinct parts: in the firſt of which the Articles of the Apoſtles Creed are explained, and in the other there are ſeveral particular points expreſly determined by the Church of Rome, propter diverſas Haereſes a quibuſdam ex ignorantia & ab aliis ex malitia introductas, by reaſon of certain Hereſies introduc'd by the ignorance of ſome, and Malice of others. Now 'tis under theſe laſt points that the Doctrine of Tranſubſtantiation is contained; which plainly ſhews, that this Doctrine was propoſed to them as lately defined by the Church of Rome, and of which thoſe People had at that time no certain Knowledge.
MR. Arnaud then muſt ſeek elſewhere for Proofs whereon to ground his pretenſion touching the Antiquity of the Opinion in queſtion, and I will not ſtick to affirm, he muſt be an extraordinary Perſon if he can ſolidly acquit himſelf of what I have lay'd before him, and in all which I defie him to produce a falſe Quotation. He has been ſhewed five remarkable deceits whereby he has impoſed on the World, in concealing whatſoever was neceſſary to be known in order to a right underſtanding of this Controverſie, and in turning to a vain and unprofitable uſe whatſoever concludes directly againſt him. He has been ſhewed the profound Ignorance wherein theſe People have lay'n from the eleventh Century to this preſent, and the fond Superſtitions reigning amongſt them, which makes them very unfit Judges of our Controverſie. He has been ſhewed the miſerable condition of theſe Churches in reſpect of Temporals, and the Violences offered them by the Latins to make them change their Religion. We have repreſented him with the Perſecutions they ſuffered from their own Princes upon this account; We have obſerved all theſe Countries ore-ſpread with Monks and Emiſſaries, time out of mind, and that without interruption to this day; We have repreſented him with a particular account of what the Emiſſaries do, and what the Seminaries contribute towards the making them receive the Roman Faith. And in fine, we have ſhewed him, that one of their chiefeſt cares for theſe People was to make them learn the Myſtery of the Subſtantial Converſion. Now after this, whether they do believe it, or not, it is an indifferent matter in reſpect of the main of our Controverſie. So that it only now lies upon me to vindicate my own particular Reputation; that is to ſay, whether I have rightly or no affirmed that they do not believe it, and which I ſhall demonſtrate by God's Aſſiſtance in the following parts of this Work, and that in ſuch a manner as I doubt not but will ſatisfie all reaſonable Perſons.
BOOK III.
Wherein is ſhewn that the Greek Schiſmatical Church ſo called holds not Tranſubſtantiation.