Anti-Socinianism, Part 22
Jacobus Palaeologus Graius.
Si quaeras, cur iſte Pal'ologus igne crematur,
In promptu cauſa eſt, haereſiarcha fuit.
TO be looſe in the main joynts of Religion is very bad, and gives the Devil and his inſtruments great advantage againſt us; we may ſee the truth of this in the example here ſet before us; Jacob Palaeologus of the ancient and Jmperial family of the Graecian Palaeologi, came from his own country to Rome, where having ſpent ſome time, in obſerving the ſeveral ſorts of Orders which were there, he choſe (as being moſt, and beſt affected with their manner and Diſcipline) the order of the Fryer Dominickes, according to whoſe rule he lived and conformed himſelf. Yet did he not carry the matter ſo cloſe, nor live ſo regularly therein, but that he gave to ſome (it ſeems) that had an eye over him, a ſhrewd ſuſpicion, and jealouſy of his wavering, and incertainty in the faith, In ſo much that he is delivered over to the Inquiſitors, and by them (as who ever eſcaped their talons, being once ſuſpected and taken by them?) committed to priſon, out of which eſcaping, he fled away ſecretly, firſt into Germany to the Proteſtants, with whom he lived for a time, but like…ng not the way of truth, as children of darkneſs love not the light, he forſook them, and went into Poland to the Arians, as they were then called, to whoſe hereſy he was ſo cloſely rivetted, that he was never looſed from them to his dying day. He that hath ſtrayed into theſe thickets, is ſo amazed with intricate circumnolutions, that he can very hardly unwind himſelf ever after. Now he paſſeth from thence to Moravia, where he manifeſts his affection to theſe deſperate opinions, which he formerly entertained and digeſted; Here he makes all ring again, ſo that neither Scriptures, Patriarchs, Prophets, Evangeliſts, Apoſtles, no nor Christ himſelf can be heard for him, and his Socinians. Pope Pius V. did his utmoſt endeavour to catch him in his traps, which he had laid in ſeveral places, and by ſeveral perſons for him, but while he lived, he kept out of his clutches. But Gregory the 13. by the means of Maximilian the 2. brought it to paſſe, that being at dinner with ſome other company, he was ſuddainly apprehended, clapt up into a coach, which ſtood ready provided for him, was brought firſt to Vienna, from thence to Rome, where he was made ſure enough for ever eſcaping again. He was often examined by the Jeſuites Magius and Bellarmine, and being conuicted of Arianiſme, which it ſeems ſtuck cloſer to him then any other profeſſion, he was for the preſent doomed to the deep dungeon of the tower of Nonnana, into which, his hands, feet, and neck being laden with gyves and fetters, he was miſerably thruſt down, there to remain til farther order ſhould be taken with him. Where in the mean time, he had divers exhortations and admonitions to forſake thoſe damnable hereſies, into which he was fallen. But continuing, or rather encreaſing in his former obſtinacy, being brought forth to the Chappel of St. John de Lateran, according to the Ceremonies of the Church of Rome, was firſt degraded, then delivered over to the Secular Power, and ſo condemned to the fire. When he came to the place of execution, and beheld the fire prepared for him, with certain Sorcerers ſtanding ready bound to their ſtakes, which were to be burned with him, he was ſo exceedingly terrified, and wholly agaſt, that he gave publick teſtimony of his will…ngneſs to retract and recant his errours if he might have liberty ſo to do; Which being ſignified to the Pope, he is repreived from the fire, and brought back again; In a place appointed for that purpoſe he makes his recantation, renounces and forſwears his errours and damnable hereſies, confeſſing, that Jeſus Chriſt is the very true and eternal Son of God. We ſee that fire could extract from him a confeſſion of that truth, which before he denied. The fear of death ſtriketh us into ſuch a dump, that we are contented to do any thing, rather then dye. By the way, what is it, ſhould make us ſo unwilling to dye, ſeeing it is a debt we owe to nature, and the payment thereof cannot be avoyded? Is it the horrour of the pain that doth affright us? Is if the fear and doubt of what ſhall become of us hereafter that doth terrify us? Or, is it the guilt of our miſguided ſouls, already condemning us, by the preapprehenſion of a future puniſhment, which waits upon us? If death were alike terrible to all, we might think there were ſomething more in it, then we can imagine: But ſome men can look upon it, when it comes, w…thout any terrour at all, though …t ſet out in all it's pomp for to deſtroy them; yea they long for it before it comes, and ſing St. Pauls cupio diſſolvi, deſire to paſſe hence, though it be in Elias fiery Charriot: whereas others are ſtroke into ſuch a tripidation, with the very ſight of it, that they are at their wits end, know not which way to turn themſelves. The cauſe of this difference is not in death, but in our ſelves; for death comes alike to all, but finds not all alike when it comes. Guilt of ſin, and fear of puniſhment here, and hereafter, may be cauſe why many labour to avoid it; which might for the preſent, as not being fully hardened in impiety, move Palaeologus to deſire mercy: But now he comes to act his laſt part upon the Stage of this world, and 'tis a deadly one; for remaining as yet in priſon, till he had given a further confirmation of his former recantation, he moſt wretchedly hardens his heart, inſomuch as that God hardens it alſo; and the Devil driving him on to a relapſe into his former heriſie; which being openly manifeſted, he is ipſo facto condemned, and by the fury of the flames wholly conſumed. This, ſaith Raemundus, is briefly the Hiſtory of the unhappy life, the heretical Religion, and the deſerved death of miſerable Palaeologus: I… any man ſhall think the better of him, or his Doctrine, becauſe he was condemned by the Church of Rome for an Heretick by whom all true Religion …s accounted Hereſie: let him know 'tis the cauſe and not the ſufferings, that make the Martyr, though ſome are unjuſtly condemned by them; yet this man for Hereſie, and that juſtly.