A DISCOVERY Of 29. Sects here in London. all of which, except the firſt, are moſt Diveliſh and Damnable, being theſe which follow.
My houſe is called a houſe of Prayer, but yee have made it a den of theeves,
Printed Anno, 1641.
PRINTED. 1641.
I have deſcryed within this City of London, no leſſe then 29 Sects, all which thou maiſt read in the Title, of which there is but one, which are not moſt damnable and wicked. This have I undertaken, that the good might ſee and hate, and the wicked ſeeing their errors deſpiſe. But I ſhall onely give a touch of each, becauſe my intention is onely for a Pamphlet.
THis Religion which you ſee here placed firſt, is not unknowne unto you in the true badge of a Chriſtian, neither can the placing of it among theſe corrupted Sects, any whit diminiſh its luſter: it is like to a Diamond, which, though it bee caſt to the Dung-hill, loſeth not a jot of its ſplendor, or like to a Glow-worme which ſhineth moſt brightly in the night: judge favourably of the Author, for his intentions are good towards the Proteſtant Religion, hee hath placed it here to this intent, that the ignorant Profeſſors of the reſt may ſee the light, which ſeemes more glorious to thoſe who have walked ſo long in darkneſſe.
Here is one which is fluttered from the Cage of Amſterdam, ſtriving to poyſon, as neare as he can, the3 truth with his true-lyes, he holds with Conventicles, and private meetings, hee ſpeakes through the noſe, holding that it was made for the ſame purpoſe.
This is an old Recuſant to the truth, dect with his Beads, Croſſes, & Crucifixes, Cheap-ſide-croſſe cannot ſtand in quiet for him, being troubled with his daily adorations: he is aſhamed to pray to God himſelfe his prayers are ſo full of Idolatry, but hee muſt have Saints to interceed from him.
This is a fellow which is all wit but the heade, he had rather heare a Cobler, or a Feltmaker preach, ſo hee doth it extempore, then heare a premeditated Sermon, pend, and preach'd by a Scholler who can diſtinguiſh, and unloke the ſecrets of the Scripture.
Now followeth one which holds his Antiquitie from Calvin whoſe opinion was as far diſtant one way, as the Papiſts is the other way, they will not allow of that which beares but the name of a Ceremony.
This Luther from whom they take their name was at firſt a great Recuſant, till it pleaſed God to enlighten his eyes, and fled hither into England for Religion ſake, now you may immagine that he returned a great main point which were erroneous, and they yet practiſe them.
Her's a loving ſect preſented to you they thinke that a man may gaine ſalvation by ſhewing himſelfe loving, eſpecially to his neighbours wife; For by their Law it is allowed for one man to lye with another mans wife whilſt he ſleepeth.
This ſect is led along with a certaine fooliſh beliefe of Mahomet, which profeſſed himſelfe to be a Prophet, and this was his manner of deceiving: He taught a pigeon to pecke a peaſe from forth his eare, bearing the ignorant in hand that the Holy Ghoſt brought him newes from Heaven.
Here is a ſhameleſſe ſect, they ground their religion from our Father Adam (and yet they goe naked when they heare prayers or propheſying, when he did himſelfe) from the preſence of God becauſe he was naked.
This ſect is not of very long ſtanding, they hold with Conventicles, are enemies to the very name of a Biſhop, holding with civill government, having no Miniſters but Prophets, according as the Spirit ſhall move them.
Armenius was the firſt of this Sect, they hold many unhallowed things, as liberum arbitrium, Penances, Faſts, and ſuch like, nay J thinke I moſt neereſt5 expreſſe them, when J call them Couzin German to the Papiſt.
Soſinus, the wrangling Diſputant was the Father of this Sect; They hold no true point at all with the Proteſtant, but wrangle in every Article.
Theſe men hold onely the new Teſtament to be Canonicall, they will not allow of any thing of the old Teſtament; They alſo ſet a prefixed time for the day of judgment, ſaying that before hand they know who ſhall be ſaved, and who ſhall be damned.
Theſe men ſet themſelves wholly againſt the Doctrine of John the Baptiſt, except onely in this that they will baptize with Water, but they will not doe it whileſt they are children, till they be able to anſwer for themſelves. They write themſelves Members and Children of God, and certaine inheritours of the Kingdome of Heaven.
The Latine word Separo, doth fully denote their fooliſh opinions, they will not keep company with the wicked (as they tearme them) for feare they bee taken, as Aeſops ſpeaking daw was.
Chaldeus a notable Negromancer, was the firſt which brought up this new Religion, they hold it fit to goe to the Divell to know any ſecret.
They ſay themſelves to be Gods choſen, they gather two from a houſe, and one of a family.
Now here comes our charitable Sect, who though they have bin Whore-mongers, Adulterers, Theeves or murtherers, yet if they give of their ſtore to the poore for that good deed, they merit everlaſting life.
This Sect hath juſt as much Religion as a Beaſt, and no more; for they bow in adoration to the riſing Sun, and I have read as much, that the Elephants adore the Moone.
The derivation of their name is from the Greeke words, anti nomos, which ſignifies as much as Law-breakers, men that will live after their owne Lawes, nay, they will not yeeld that any one of their owne Sect ſhall command another.
Syrus of Syria in Chalcidea, was the firſt that ever brought up this Sect, for hee being in love with a Maid knew not how to enjoy her company without the invention of this conventicle, where there is no talke, but muſt ſavour of love.
Theſe hold themſelves onely ſubjects to the King7 of Macedon, who is their God and King of the whole World.
Theſe hold that there is a God, and they feare that God, but they hold that he is ſo Majeſtical and proud, that hee will not meddle with men; Therefore they live very Beaſt-like.
Theſe men doe all goe like Shepheards, and they worſhip the Heathen God Pan, whom they feigne to be the God of Sheepe.
The Saturnians worſhip one Saturne, whom they ſay was King of Heaven, but hee was baniſhed from thence by his Sonne Iupiter, who they ſay reignes now in Heaven.
Contrary are theſe to the opinions of the Saturnians, for they ſay that Saturne dyed, and left his Daughter Iuno Queen of heaven, who married with this Jupiter, and made him God, and from their loines have proceeded the reſt of the Gods.
Theſe men are more mad, ignorant, or impious then the reſt, for they thinke, nay they certainly beleeve, that they ſhall gaine Heaven by drinking healths, and he which can drink moſt is worſhipped among them, ſaying that hee is choſen a Prieſt to Bacchus.
From Damas they are called Damaſcians, and this Damas is a Mountain in Perſia, where they ſay, that our Saviour preached unto the people of that Countrey; for which cauſe, they will heare no preaching at all, but what ſhall be delivered on that Mount.
Now I am come to a Period, for here is the Brotherhood, which is our laſt ſect, yet one too many, as are all the reſt which are Sects. It is unlawfull among them to call any one, by any other name then Brother, or Siſter, and they are as Whoring rogues, as ever breathed, but it is Religion among them, when it is done in zeale, you muſt pronounce the ſame termes which they doe, or elſe you are prophane, as hee taught well not preacht, &c.
Here Reader, maiſt thou ſee, how I have briefly run over theſe 29. Sects: reade it over, and the Lord give thee grace to make the beſt uſe of it, that is, to apply thy ſelfe to the firſt, and hate and eſchew all the reſt.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A81543)
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