These Churches are governed by four Patriarchs ; Governed by four Patriarchs . each of which has full power in his Patriarchate of calling his Metropolitans and Bishops together , of receiving Appeals , of conferring holy Orders , of determining Controversies , and of Excommunicating grievous and notorious Offenders : a Primacy of Order being onely allowed to the Patriarch of Constantinople , upon the account of his being a a 3. Canon Concilii Constantinopolitani , & 28. canon Concilii Chalcedonensis . Bishop of the Imperial City , and by Ecclesiastical right becoming and made next in dignity to the Bishop of old Rome .

The four Patriarchs are of Constantinople , Their Jurisdictions , Limits , and Titles . Alexandria , Antioch , and Jerusalem : who , according to b b Histor. Ecclesiastic . lib. 5. cap. 8. Socrates Scholasticus , had the Limits and Boundaries of their several Districts and Jurisdictions set them by the Fathers of the first general Council held at Constantinople . But 't is certain , from other Authorities , that they had not then the Power of the Patriarchs of the following Ages . Nor was the word in common use ( it being introduced to diminish and overtop the Title of Exarchus ) till the times of the Council of Chalcedon , which a a Vid. actionem 16. Concil. Chalcedon . & 28. canon . cjusdem Concil. advanced Jerusalem to the supereminent dignity of a Patriarchal See , and assigned the Asian , the Thracian and the Pontic Dioceses to the Patriarch of Constantinople . It cannot be supposed otherwise but that these Boundaries and Limits have in the several successions of Ages from that time to this been subject to great alterations and changes .

The Patriarch of Constantinople , Patriarch of Constantinople . as he is the chiefest in Dignity , so he has a larger Jurisdiction than any of the other three . It takes in all the lesser Asia , except two of the most Easterly Provinces , which border upon Syria , Thrace , Macedonia , and all the other Provinces of Greece , and the Islands that are scatter'd up and down in the Archipelago , Dalmatia , Albania , Walachia , and Moldavia . His usual Title , when he subscribes any Letter or Missive , is , b b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . by the mercy of God Archbishop of new Rome , Constantinople , and Oecumenical Patriarch . But of this I shall have occasion to speak more distinctly in another place .

The Patriarch of Alexandria exercises his power over the Christians throughout Aegypt , Alexandria . Libya , and part of Arabia . The Title which he still retains , is this , a a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the mercy of God Pope and Patriarch of the great City of Alexandria , and b b This Title of Oecumenical Judge , Nicephorus Callistus Hist. Eccles. lib. 14. c. 34. says , has belonged to the Bishops of this See from the time of Cyrillus , who presided in the Council of Ephesus , Pope Coelestine writing to him to supply his place there . Which does not in the least suppose a Supremacy in the See of Rome , but onely a Precedence or a Primacy of Order . Oecumenical Judge . Sometimes he styles himself Oecumenical Patriarch ; it having been the c c V. Epist. Cyrilli Lucaris , tunc temporis Patriarchs Alexandrini , ad Johannem Vytenbogaert . in Epistol. Ecclesiastic . pag. 407. chief See before the times of Constantine , and founded by S. Mark . Hence Alexandria is called frequently the Throne , the Seat , the Chair of that Apostle . Sometimes the Title runs in larger terms , d d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Vide 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad finem Codini de officiis & officialibus Curiae & Ecclesiae C. P. Parisi●s 16. 18. pag. 411. & 419. Patriarch of Alexandria and all Aegypt , Pentapolis , Libya and Aethiopia : the Abyssines using from the time of their first Conversion , till of late years , to send their chief Bishop or Metropolitan to be Consecrated and Confirmed by him . This Patriarch , for his own better ease and accommodation , and for the greater benefit of the Christians of his Communion , makes his usual residence at Grand Cairo , where they are very numerous , and where , in case of any grievous oppression , they may have recourse to the Bassa , who keeps his Court in that City .

The Patriarch of Antioch governs the Churches of Syria , Antioch . Mesopotamia , and of the two Provinces of Isauria and Cilicia , which are in the lesser Asia . He writes himself thus , a a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . by the mercy of God Patriarch of the great City of Antioch , called Theopolis , and of all the East : alluding to the ancient and restrain'd sense of the Eastern Diocese . His usual residence is at Damascus .

The Patriarch of Jerusalem has Palestine and part of Arabia within his District . Jerusalem . His Title is , b b . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the mercy of God Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem , and of all Palestine : and sometimes he is saluted by the name and a a V. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad finem Codini pag. 419. Title of Patriarch of Jerusalem , the Holy Mount of Sion , Syria , Arabia , beyond Jordan , Cana of Galilee , and of all Palestine .

For these Four Patriarchs they pray in their Publick Liturgies , Prayers made for them . without any mention of the Bishop of Rome . Which omission being look'd upon as an argument of disrespect and ill will , among other heads and articles of Agreement and Union between the Churches of old and new Rome , it was required by Alexander the Fourth , the then Pope , of the Emperour Michael Palaeologus , that in their Publick Offices and Hymns the Pope should be named at the same time with the Four Patriarchs , as b b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Histor. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . lib. 5. cap. 1. pag. 89. Colon. Allobiogum 1615. V. Phransen . in histor. lib. 1. cap. 6. This is called by Cardinal Bessarion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in the letter he wrote , to the Governour of the Sons of Prince Thomas Palaeologus , in the vulgar Greek , published by Meursius . Nicephorus Gregoras relates . And since this , upon a disuse , the same was agreed to at Florence ; at least the Instrument of Vnion in the close , where the Five Patriarchs are reckon'd up in their Order , may seem to suppose it . But the Proceedings of that Council , and the Vnion which followed , being generally disliked upon the return of the Greeks to Constantinople , they have not since pray'd for him publickly by name , but adhere to the old number and form .

The other Sects of Religion have their distinct Patriarchs ; Patriarchs of other Sects . as the Armenians , Maronites , Jacobites , &c. And there is usually a Titular Patriarch of Constantinople , the Pope pretending a power of constituting such a one , not onely upon the account of his usurped Oecumenical Pastorship ; but because the Latines were once in possession of that City , which they held between fifty and sixty years ; that is , from the year 1203. to 1260 , at which time it was recovered out of their hands by Michael Palaeologus . And for the most part there resides at Constantinople a Bishop sent from Rome , who has the power of a Legate . In my time a Franciscan Fryer resided there for this purpose with the title of the Bishop of Calurmina , a City in India , upon the Coasts of Coromandel , where S. Thomas was martyred .

The Greek Church , Extent of the Greek Church . consider'd in it self and with reference to the vast extent of those Countries , where the doctrine and rites of it are profest and maintain'd , is a very considerable part of the Catholick Church . All the Christians of the vast dominions of the Emperour of Moscovy , the Cossacks , the Inhabitants of Podolia , and of the black Russia , who are Subjects of Poland , the people of Aethiopia in the inner part of Africk , lying South of Aegypt , of Circassia , of Georgia , formerly Iberia , and of Mengrelia , the Colchis of the Ancients , and of the Islands of the Mediterranean under the Venetians , being of its Communion . In all which places it may be justly said to flourish , being the establisht Religion , and where the Christians are either absolute Lords and Masters , or else onely make some acknowledgment to the Grand Signior or Sophy of Persia for their peace and quiet , as do those Asiatick Princes , who live beyond the Euxine Sea , and whose Country reaches towards Mount Caucasus , and so are as it were miserably harassed and ground between the two mighty Empires of the East . But I am to consider the Greek Church , chiefly as it is contain'd in the dominions of the Turks , where it is most sadly afflicted . For though the Greeks have the free use and exercise of the Christian Religion , and are allowed their Churches for the publick Worship of Christ , and in Moldavia and Walachia especially which the Turks leave wholly to be inhabited by them under the Government of the respective Princes , ( who indeed are in effect but their Tax-gatherers , and who swear Allegeance to the Port , and whom they prefer and degrade as their interest or covetousness incline them , ) yet in all other respects they are no other than as Slaves .

'T is meerly out of interest and a sense they have of the benefit of their service , Oppression of the Greeks . and not any regard to the last Testament of Mahomet , which commands all his followers to shew kindness to the Christians ( for to That they are strangers , it being most probably the invention of some good meaning persons of our Religion , who hoped by this pious kind of fraud to take off the Conquerours from that fury and barbarity wherewith their own ●ough temper and the Chapter of the Sword in the Alcoran might inspire them ) that they admit the Greeks to the favour of enjoying their lives and their Religion together . Which they dearly pay for , being subject to innumerable arbitrary taxes upon all occasions , besides their head mony , which is severely exacted every year , even of boys , if above 14 years of age : ( not to mention either the extortions of the Cadies , who suck their very bloud upon every slight miscarriage , when they fall into their clutches , and oftentimes upon unjust and frivolous avanias or pretensions , when they are wholly innocent , or the insolencies of the Souldiers , who enter their houses , in the Country especially , and rob and spoil and tyrannize over the poor people , these injustices , though too much connived at , being besides the intent of the Government . ) They are forced sometimes into the wars to doe all the drudgery of the Camp , or to serve as Pioneers in working their Mines , or to look to their Carriages , and the like : exposed daily to horrid indignities and injuries , against which they have no remedy , every rascally Turk making use of his Privilege to triumph over them , oftentimes out of zeal to his false Religion , but oftener out of wantonness and a proud insolent humour .

This wretched state and condition of life , How heightned and aggravated . though it cannot but strike a horrour into the minds of all , who enjoy the happiness of freedom and a mild government , might be digested well enough and born with some kind of patience , if they suffer'd onely in their bodies or in their purses ; if they were not upbraided with their being Christians , if they could be free from either their menaces or invitations of renouncing their Faith and their Saviour : if their Children were not ravaged and torn from their arms , and bred up in the false and bruitish Religion of Mahomet , to be afterwards their plagues and tormentors .

For to supply their Seminaries , Collection of Christian children . formerly as often as the necessity of affairs required , though of late years they have forborn to practise it , they send forth Officers into the several Provinces of Europe ( they yielding generally the most hardy and best Souldiers ) who coming to any Town command the poor Christians to bring their male-children from seven or eight years old and upwards before them . If any should dare to conceal them at home , or send them away into the woods or upon the mountains , they are punished . But of these they chuse the best complexion'd and strongest and the most likely to answer the ends of their Collection . Some of their Parents indeed out of natural pity and out of a true sense of Religion , that they may not be thus robbed of their children , who hereby ly under a necessity of renouncing their Christianity , compound for them at the rate of fifty or a hundred Dollars , as they are able , or as they can work upon the covetousness of the Turks more or less . Though others to the great shame and dishonour of their Religion , Christians onely in name , part with them freely and readily enough , not onely because they are rid of the trouble and charge of them , but in hopes they may , when they are grown up , get some considerable command in the government . After some trial some of the most hardy are taught the use of arms in order to their being Janizaries ; others , that are of a softer but more docile temper are bred up in the studies of the Persian language and fitted for civil affairs , and advanced to some place and office about the Emperour's Person : the more stupid are sent into the Seraglio to be Cooks , Bakers , Gardiners , Confectioners , and such like inferiour servants ; or else are cut , that they may be the better qualified to attend at the women's apartments .

What a Glorious design would it be , A Vnion of Christian Princes desired in order to the freeing the Greeks from the slavery of the Turks . and how much for the honour of our Religion , if the Christian Princes would unite and enter upon a Holy War , and redeem the Oriental Christians from the burthen of this intolerable tyranny and slavery ! But alas ! there is little hope of such an Union in this great declension of Christianity , when the life and spirit of it seem to be lost and swallowed up in those horrid feuds and factions , that disturb the peace of Christendom , and expose it to the assaults of the common enemy , whenever he shall be at leisure to attaque it , and when interest seems wholly to govern and influence all Publick Councils .

However the Bishops of Rome , A Holy War . who then exercised an entire and absolute dominion over the consciences of all of their Communion , might have private designs of their own in Publishing their Crusades and putting the several Princes of the West upon the recovering the Holy Sepulchre out of the hands of the Sarazens : yet this ought not to diminish from the glory of their piety and generous Courage , who undertook those long , painfull , and hazardous Voyages . This we may miscall easiness of temper , and misguided and ill-managed zeal : but in the meantime do not the Infidels inlarge their conquests and gain ground continually , and advance their half Moons , where the Cross before was placed ? Where have we recover'd for several scores of years so much as a village or slight fortification from them , except perchance one or two in Dalmatia ?

The poor Christians in those parts of the World are in a desperate and remediless condition , The Greeks quite dispirited , their temper low and mean . as to any help and assistance they may receive from us , who have not that compassion for them , which their condition deserves . And indeed all they have to doe to make their condition tolerable is to flatter their Imperious Patrons , and scrape a little mony together , to buy their favour and good will . For long slavery , continued for several years , has broken their spirits , and quite alter'd their tempers , and taken them off from the natural courage and vigour and love of liberty , wherewith their Ancestors were inspired . They are content ( not to say well pleas'd ) with their slavish condition of life , they dare not entertain any generous thoughts of revenge , they are afraid to venture , though there were probable hopes of gaining their liberty by it : They are so overaw'd and stupified and lost to all sense of honour , that they have abandon'd all thoughts and hope of a change , which uses to be the poor and miserable comfort and support of the distressed .

'T is sad to consider the great number of wretched people , Renegados . who turn Turks : some out of meer desperation : being not able to support the burthen of slavery , and to avoid the revilings and insultings of the Infidels : some out of a wanton light humour , to put themselves into a condition of domineering and insulting over others , or of wearing a pair of yellow shoes ; which is the peculiar finery and gallantry of the Musulmans ; the Christians and Jews wearing either red or black ( though the Greeks , belonging to the Christian Ambassadours , relying upon their protection , presume to doe otherwise ; a miscarriage which has sometimes been complain'd of by the Turks and severely punish'd with drubbing ) some to avoid the penalties and inflictions due to their heinous crimes , and to enjoy the brutish liberties , that Mahomet consecrated by his own example , and recommended to his followers . These are the great and tempting arguments and motives of their Apostasy , meer considerations of ease , pleasure , and prosperity , or else of vanity and guilt : for it cannot be presumed , that any through conviction of mind should be wrought upon to embrace the dotages and impostures of Turcisme .