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
_Christian_ godliness, but without the power thereof, 2 _Thess_. ii. 7-10.

For tho some stop was put to the _Cataphrygian_ Christianity, by Provincial
Councils, till the fourth century; yet the _Roman_ Emperors then turning
_Christians_, and great multitudes of heathens coming over in outward
profession, these found the _Cataphrygian_ Christianity more suitable to
their old principles, of placing religion in outward forms and ceremonies,
holy-days, and doctrines of Ghosts, than the religion of the sincere
_Christians_: wherefore they readily sided with the _Cataphrygian
Christians_, and established that Christianity before the end of the fourth
century. By this means those of understanding, after they had been
persecuted by the heathen Emperors in the three first centuries, and _were
holpen with a little help_, by the conversion of _Constantine_ the great
and his sons to the _Christian_ religion, fell under new persecutions, _to
purge them_ from the dissemblers, _and to make them white, even to the time
of the end_.

Notes to Chap. XIII.

[1] Lib. 4. c. 28, 29.

[2] In vita Constantini, l. 4. c. 28.

[3] Epist. 10.

[4] L. 32. de Episcopis.

* * * * *

CHAP. XIV.

_Of the _Mahuzzims_, honoured by the King who doth according to his will_.

In scripture we are told of some _trusting in God_ and others _trusting in
idols_, and that _God is our refuge, our strength, our defense_. In this
sense God is _the rock of his people_, and false Gods are called _the rock
of those that trust in them_, Deut. xxxii. 4, 15, 18, 30, 31, 37. In the
same sense the Gods of _the King_ who _shall do according to his will_ are
called _Mahuzzims_, munitions, fortresses, protectors, guardians, or
defenders. _In his estate_, saith [1] _Daniel_, _shall he honour
_Mahuzzims_; even with a God whom his fathers knew not, shall he honour
them with gold and silver, and with prec