After those days wherein this Propagation of Christianity by the Ministry of Fugatius and Damianus in this Province, is supposed to have fallen out; a sad decay in faith and holiness of life, befell Professors, not only in this Nation, but for the most part, all the world over; which, especially, took place after God had graciously in the Conversion of the Emperors to the Faith, entrusted them with outward Peace and Prosperity. I desire not to make naked their miscarriages, whom I doubt not, but in mercy, God hath long since pardoned; but it cannot be denied, that the Stories of those days are full of nothing more then the oppressions, luxury, and sloth of Rulers, the Pride, Ambition, and unseemly scandalous contests for preeminence of Sees and extent of Jurisdiction, among Bishops, the sensuality and ignorance of the most of men. In this season it was, that the Bishop of ⟨p. 254⟩Rome advantaged by the Prerogative of the City, the ancient Seat and Spring of the Empire, began gradually to attempt a Super-intendency over his Brethren, according as any advantages for that end (which could not be wanting in the intestine Tumults and Seditions wherewith Christians were turmoiled) offered themselves unto him. Wherever an opportunity could be spied, he was still interposing his Umpirage, and Authority amongst them, and that sometimes not without sinful Artifices, and down-right forgeries, wherein he was always accepted, or refused, according as the Interest of them required with whom he had to do. What the lives of Priests and People, what their knowledge and profession of the Gospel, of the poor Britons, especially, in those days were, our own Country-man Gildas doth sufficiently testify and bewail. Salvianus doth the same for other parts of the world. And generally, all the pious men of those ages; whilst the Priests strove for Sovereignty and Power, the people perished through ignorance and sensuality. Neither can we possibly ⟨p. 255⟩have a more full conviction of what was the state of Christians and Christianity in those days in the world, than may be seen and read in the horrible Judgments of God wherewith he punished their wickedness and ingratitude. When he could no longer bear the provocations of his people, he stirred up those swarms of Northern Nations Goths, Vandals, Huns, Franks, Longobards, Alans, Saxons, &c.
After those dayes wherein this Propagation of Christianity by the Ministry of Fugatius and Damianus in this Province, is supposed to have fallen out; a sad decay in faith and holiness of life, befel Professors, not only in this Nation, but for the most part, all the world over; which, especially, took place after God had graciously in the Conversion of the Emperours to the Faith, intrusted them with outward Peace and Prosperity. I desire not to make naked their miscarriages, whom I doubt not, but in mercy, God hath long since pardoned; but it cannot be denyed, that the Stories of those dayes are full of nothing more then the oppressions, luxury, and sloth of Rulers, the Pride, Ambition, and unseemly scandalous contests for preheminence of Sees and extent of Jurisdiction, among Bishops, the sensuality and ignorance of the most of men. In this season it was, that the Bishop of ⟨p. 254⟩Rome advantaged by the Prerogative of the City, the antient Seat and Spring of the Empire, began gradually to attempt a Super-intendency over his Brethren, according as any advantages for that end (which could not be wanting in the intestine Tumults and Seditions wherewith Christians were turmoyled) offered themselves unto him. Whereever an opportunity could be spyed, he was still interposing his Umpirage, and Authority amongst them, and that sometimes not without sinful Ar•ifices, and down-right forgeries, wherein he was alwayes accepted, or refused, according as the Interest of them required with whom he had to do. What the lives of Priests and People, what their knowledge and profession of the Gospel, of the poor Brittains, especially, in those dayes were, our own Countrey-man Gildas doth sufficiently testifie and bewail. Salvianus doth the same for other parts of the world. And generally, all the pious men of those ages; whilst the Priests strove for Soveraignty and Power, the people perished through ignorance and sensuality. Neither can we possibly ⟨p. 255⟩have a more full conviction of what was the state of Christians and Christianity in those dayes in the world, than may be seen and read in the horrible Judgments of God wherewith he punished their wickedness and ingratitude. When he could no longer bear the provocations of his people, he stirred up those swarms of Northern Nations Goths, Vandals, Hunnes, Franks, Longobards, Alans, Saxons, &c.
