[4] _Si quos forte Episcopi deesse sibi Clericos arbitrantur, ex monachorum numero rectius ordinabunt: non obnoxios publicis privatisque rationibus cum invidia teneant, sed habeant jam probatos. Dat. _vii._ Kal. Aug. Honorio A. _iv._ & Eutychianio Coss._ A.C. 598. The _Greek_ Empire being now in the hands of these _Encratites_, and having them in great admiration, _Daniel_ makes it a characteristick of the King who doth according to his will, that _he should not regard the desire of Women._ Thus the Sect of the _Encratites_, set on foot by the _Gnosticks_, and propagated by _Tatian_ and _Montanus_ near the end of the second century; which was condemned by the Churches of that and the third century, and refined upon by their followers; overspread the _Eastern_ Churches in the fourth century, and before the end of it began to overspread the _Western_. Henceforward the Christian Churches having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, came into the hands of the _Encratites_: and the Heathens, who in the fourth century came over in great numbers to the Christians, embraced more readily this sort of Christianity, as having a greater affinity with their old superstitions, than that of the sincere Christians; who by the lamps of the seven Churches of _Asia_, and not by the lamps of the Monasteries, had illuminated the Church Catholic during the three first centuries. The _Cataphrygians_ brought in also several other superstitions: such as were the doctrine of Ghosts, and of their punishment in Purgatory, with prayers and oblations for mitigating that punishment, as _Tertullian_ teaches in his books _De Anima_ and _De Monogamia_. They used also the sign of the cross as a charm. So _Tertullian_ in his book _de Corona militis_: _Ad omnem progressum atque promotum, ad omnem aditum & exitum, ad vestitum, ad calceatum, ad lavacra, ad mensas, ad lamina, ad cubilia, ad sedilia, quacunque nos conversatio exercet, frontem crucis signaculo terimus_. All these superstitions the Apostle refers to, where he saith: _Now the Spirit speaketh expresly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils_, the _Daemons_ and Ghosts worshipped by the heathens, _speaking lyes in hypocrisy_, about their apparitions, the miracles done by them, their reliques, and the sign of the cross, _having consciences seared with a hot iron_; _forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats_, &c. 1 Tim. iv. 1,2,3. From the _Cataphrygians_ these principles and practices were propagated down to posterity. _For the mystery of iniquity_ did _already work_ in the _Apostles_ days in the _Gnosticks_, continued to work very strongly in their offspring the _Tatianists_ and _Cataphrygians_, and was to work _till that man of sin_ should _be revealed_; _whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs, and lying wonders, and all deceivableness of unrighteousness_; coloured over with a form of