IN the Primitive Christians Times Africa was held not to be more fertile in her production of Mon­sters, then of Heresies: which uphappy fruitfulness if, with Astrologers, we may, with any appearance of Truth, ascribe to the prevailing Influence of its ruling Planet; of later years we may as justly suspect, that the Heavens have looked upon Europe also with as malign an Aspect. For, if we consider either those Here­tical Opinions, that first swarmed in the Low-Countries, through that Toleration and Indulgence they found there, after they had been banished and drove from their Native Hives; or those, that afterwards trans­planted themselves hither amidst our late Distracti­ons, which if they did not actually begin, they unhappily fomented and continued at least: we have very little reason to account these Parts of Christendom less tainted at present, then that Quarter of the World was of old, with that Infection. Heresie is of it self impudent: and those croaking Religions, that like Pharoah's Frogs creep into the Ovens and Kneading-Troughs at first for Bread only, will, if per­mitted [Page 2]once by the Civil Magistrate, go up in time in­to His Bed-Chamber, and, though they beHaere­sin expel­las surcà licèt, us (que) recurret. flang out with Shovels and Tongs over and over, yet with Im­portunity plead if not for a Settlement, at least for a Toleration. Which Schisms like that Egyptian Plague the Divine Providence never sends of courtesie; but inflicts rather as a punishment. One would admire how specious Pretenses the primary Br [...]achers and Founders of Novel Opinions frame at first, and how different and unequal their Super-structure is at last from their Foundation: which I shall not dispute whether it be, because those, who succeed them, im­prove their Principles higher, then they were ori­ginally intended; or whether it be naturally incident to such Spirits to pretend Liberty of Conscience, and Religious Affairs, when their chiefest Aim is Innovati­on both in Church and State. It is therefore the best Prudence and Policy of a Prince, or State, to eradi­cate and root-up those Weeds out of the Gardens of their Government, while young and tender; or, as we deal vvith Wolves, vvhen got at liberty, unkennel all the Mastiffs in a Country to worry them, e're they come to litter, and fill the soil vvith so pestilent a Ver­mine: and not to hazard the future Peace of their Kingdomes by any seeming Political, or at-present-ne­cessary Toleration. This Experience through conti­nued Ages hath made good, and a late Example in the French State under the most Christian King confirms. Which Church, as She retains Her antient and pristine Privileges on one side free from the Papal Ʋsurpation; as appears by the late Censures and Decree of the Court of Parliament at Paris there past on the tvven­ty [Page 3]second of January last against those Conclusions, that were intended to have been asserted in the Sor­bon, in defence of several Theses, and Positions, assert­ive of the Popes Authority over the Church, and making Him equally infallible with Jesus Christ: So doth She on the other hand keep back from In­dulging and upstart Opinions, or novel Factions in Religion; which, though at first they may seem foolish and contemptible, yet having spread once, and gotten head, become oftentimes of dangerous Con­sequence to a State, and not seldome venture to give Check-mate to the Prince Himself. To avoid which Evil there (in France I mean) since the Decree a­fore-mentioned against those Positions of the Sor­bon, there past a Sentence ofIn their Sess [...]ons-House at Paris, like our Old-Be­ley Iudg­ments. Chastelet, con­firmed by an Arrest of Parliament, by power whereof in the end of February last one called Simon Morin was burnt alive at Paris. He was born at Au­male, his Parentage but ordinary, his Education not greatly Learned, his Parts quick enough, but either by deferbescency or design brought into such a subservi­ency to a Religious and reserved Temper, that he seem­ed to be so far Master of himselself and his Endow­ments, that by that very Means he might be able to manage any Practice or Design for his own Repute: which (as it is thought) put him upon a Project of raising a new Sect by ways seemingly wilde enough; as if, because the Turks account their Santons, or Fools, in the Catalogue of their Saints or Happy men, be­cause they pass this Life without care for the things of this World, it were the nearest Cut to the acqui­ring of a Sanctified Repute to purchase it by Projects [Page 4]absolutely mad, or purely ridiculous. Such certainly his Attempt of boasting and professing himself to be Jesus Christ will seem at first: but when we consider how that King's Army was then intended; and with­all how commonly when Princes are upon forein De­signs Rebellions are fomented at home, and those com­monly begin either with the Ring-leader of a new Sect, or an Innovation in Religion (as it is manifest from our own Home Histories both in the Time of King John, and other Kings) we may not improbably suspect, that his Design was rather to arrive at Cano­nization the way that John Clemens and Ravilliack had done before him. To back his Project, his Visage Hair, and Beard (which, it is said, he wore bi-partite, or two-forked, according to the common Pictures of Jesus Christ) were suited and formed as near as he could, to the imitation of our Saviour; and a negli­gence in Apparel studiously affected, and all other Things suitable to the stirring up a Belief in the minds of his Disciples, that he was the same indeed he would be taken for. His Life is for the greatest part unknown to us, it having been obscure and unsetled, while he travelled far and near to gain Proselytes; of whom within the space of twenty years a very considerable number, and too great to be trusted by the Magi­strate, was infected with his Errors: which (as we are informed from France) were found at his Convi­ction to be many more, and his Practices very danger­ous, both to the Church, and to the State; he ha­ving (as we said) engaged so great a number of Per­sons within so small a space of time, that it was more then seasonable for the Prince to look after him in that [Page 5] Conjuncture of Affairs, and purge his Countrey of such a Monster, that might in time produce such deadly effects. He was therefore seized, and commit­ted to theThe publick Gaol at Paris, like our New­gate. Conciergery, where little sign of amend­ment or repentance appearing, but greater danger ra­ther of the spreading his Errors by the concourse of his Disciples thither, he was after Tryal condemned, and publickly burnt; his Errors at the same time suf­fering the same Condemnation, and forbidden to be propagated, or published; a Book, wrote by him, en­tituled Pensées du MORIN, (or, The Opinions of MON­RIN) containing, as it should seem, the substance of his Erroneous Doctrine being burnt together with him: for which reason it is impossible to give you an exact Catalogue of his other Errors; but it may be sufficient to know, that they were so monstrous, that the Civil Magistrate thought them not fit to come to the knowledge of any else, lest they might be liable to the same Infection. To put a final end to such an Imposture, and the farther spreading of his Errors, his Disciples, which we have said were numerous, were every where imprisoned, and enjoyned to recant, or be banished, and sent to the Gallies; and among the others those two Priests, whom he had seduced, and who (we are informed) attended him, besides those appointed by the Magistrate, to his Execution. This was His Beginning, Progress, and End; who might probably, if he had not been stopt here, have in time produced Troubles, which would not quickly have found an end: So pestilent a Thing is Heresie and Er­ror, when it once gets Head, for to be rebated; and is much easilier prevented in the growth, then cut-off [Page 6]when grown-up. For, as we had in our memories the same Game plaid here in England by James Naylor; so, had not the timely severity of the then temporary Powers curbed him, I do not doubt, but had he con­tinued, and been still on foot, he would have put in, as well as his Party do, for a Toleration. But (thanks be to God) it is not France onely, which in this late Example, or those former ones of Caesar Vaninus and others at Tholouze; nor the State of Geneva in that of Servetus, burnt there on October 27, 1553. for denying the Divinity of our Saviour, and other Errors; that can make shew of their opposing all such erroneous and novel Opinions, as might disturb the Peace of the Church, and serenity of their Go­vernment: But England may as justly boast of Her constant extirpation of Heresie and Schism, as of Her purging out Superstition; and may She continue in that Mean, neither inclining to the right Hand nor to the left, but keep inviolate that mediocrity, whereon, as on Her true Basis, Her Interest is so certainly ground­ed and established.