in which the doctrine of Babylon of long tyme hath triumphed And it is our parts to pray that her credit may dayly more more decrease that the kingdome of Christ may be perfectly established amoÌ„gst vs the kingdom of Antichrist may be ouerthroweÌ„ euen from the foundacions That no superfluous relikes of Babylonical religion mai remain wher the church of Christ is in building but that the doctrine of Babylon may fal altogether Thus haue I declared that Babilon in wealth and substance in power autority in credit estimation of her doctrine is fallen that with out hope of recouery For her credit is cracked not onely among her enemies the Protestants but euen among her best friendes and greatest Archpapists For I suppose ther is none in the world so blinde so supersticious so deuoutly addict in all points of popish idolatry and supersticion as they were xxx or xl yeares past Although they close their eyes neuer so obstinatly against the light of Gods word yet some effect of the beames of force wil pearce euen through their eye lids And that they them selues caÌ„not dissemble although they would neuer so faine but that they haue bene deceiued wyth grosse errors shameful supersticions Their Pardons their Pilgrimages their Legends who is now so blinde that séeeth not how the world hath bene seduced by them And the simplicity of the people abused to satisfy their vnsatiable couetousnes As for the greatest Patrones of Popery that be learned they cannot deny but that great errors haue bene receyued taught for truthes yea the Pope himself hath acknowledged that many errours haue crept into the church yea euen into the Masse but the reformation of them pertaineth to him alone the general councel But what hope of reformatioÌ„ is to be looked for at their hands let it be sene in the decrées of the last councel of Trent What litle Mise those great mountaynes in so many yeres trauel haue brought forth In fortye or fifty yeres consultacion two great matters reformed One for Pardoners not to be coÌ„mon Pedlers another for the Communion in both kindes to those that desire it so they confes it were as good in one kinde and agrée with them in al other pointes of Popery Yet all was not wel they confes by their correction And as for the greatest pillers and Proctors they haue if they be pressed nere acknowledge a great deale more As one that landed lately at Yarmouth before witnes of good credite restified that if he might be satisfised in two pointes concerning y Popes supremacy the real presence for other matters he would not greatly striue So that I will conclude that Babylon is fallen in riches in power in credit of doctrine not onely with protestants but euen with Papists them selues But now I know what wyll be obiected against me that I haue traueled all in vayne to proue that Babylon is fallen that Babylon is Rome And that I haue abused the textes of scripture and sentences of old Doctors to proue the â—ame For what soeuer is contained either in â—he scripture or in the writing of the auncient Doctors to proue that Babylon is Rome is to â—e vnderstood of Rome vnder the heathen Emâ—erours not vnder the Popes And that all â—his while I haue wrested the scriptures enâ—orced the Doctors to affirme that which they â—euer thought of In dede I wil confes the some â—rophecies contained in this Reuelation were â—ulfilled in the heathen Emperours that the â—eathen Empire was an introduction vnto Anâ—ichrist but that Antichrist the great enemy of the church of Christ which is principally called Antichrist could not be any of the heathen Emperors neither the state of the heathen Monarchy I wil make it manifest by plain demonstrations And first I wil retain this principle sufficiently proued before that Rome is the Sée of Antichrist and that by autority of scriptures and consent of auncient writers we can seeke him no wher but in the Romane Empire And now the controuersy resteth in this whether that heathen Emperors or the Pope vs them First s. Paule in the second chap. of the second Epistle to the ThessaloniaÌ„s speaking purposely of Antichrist saith expresly that he shal syt in the temple of God which is y church of Christ â–ª But it is manifest that the heathen Emperorâ— did not sit in the church of God therfore that heathen Emperor is not this Antichrist And by that same reasoÌ„ it is manifest that Mahomet is not that especial Antichrist because he sitteth without the temple of God as ther be diuers that wold haue these things to be vnderstood of Mahomet or Ottomanus but it is as clere as the Sunne at noone daies for as much as neyther the heathen Emperors nor Mahomet nor Ottomanus sitteth in the temple or church of God that none of them is that great Antichrist oâ— whom the prophecies of the scripture are to bée expounded And where as some of them interprete the abominacion of desolation whereof Christ speaketh to be ment of Antichrist or at least wise to be a figure of him that cannot be vnderstood of the heathen Emperors or any other that is without the Church for that standeth in the holy place which is the temple and signifieth the church Now the Pope sitteth in the midst of the temple of God boasteth him self to be God challenging to him selfe such autority as is proper onely to God vsurping such honor as is peculiar onely to god Therefore not in the heathen Emperors but in the Popes is this prophecy accomplished Another reason to proue y Antichrist which in this Reuelation is foreshewed to come into the world caÌ„not be vnderstood to be the heatheÌ„ Emperors is taken out of the. 17. chap. of the same booke For there the Angell interpreting vnto s. Iohn the mistery of the Beast that beareth the Harlot which hath seuen heads after he hath shewed that the seuen heads signify vij hyls he declareth that they signifye also seuen Kings or principall estates or formes of regiment for so the name of King is often taken in the Prophets and specially in Daniel at which prophecy s. Iohn borroweth many phrases Of â—hese seuen heads fiue he saith were fallen the sixt was then presently in autority and the â—euenth was not yet come which seuenth was the monstrous beast Antichrist that was both the seuenth and the eight Now it is euident that this could not be vnderstood of the heathen Emperors for Nero the first persecuting Paynim was come and gone Domitian an other persecuter by whose tyranny s. Iohn was banished into the Isle of Patmos wher he saw receiued this Reuelation was then in autority So that of the Monarchy or tyranny of heathen Emperors this could not be vnderstood of the Christian Emperors no man wil expouÌ„d it so that it must needes be turned ouer to the Pope for it can rest in no place els
circumlocution then Rome For it any man wyll be so froward to except that the word of hyls is not taken in the proper sence but figuratiuely and Metaphorically for some other thing as some would seme to interprete seuen hils in this place for vij kingdoms he shall plainly be conuinced by these reasons First it wer absurd that the Angell should repeate one thing twise for in the next clause hée sheweth that the seuen heads doo signify kyngdoms also But specially we must remember that this is an interpretacioÌ„ of the Angel which must either be plaine easy to be vnderstood or els it deserueth not the name of an interpretacioÌ„ Therfore if the Angel offering to expound the mystery of the seuen heads geueth this exposition that they signify seuen hyls if hyls be not taken in their proper sence to what purpose serueth this exposition For if the name of hyls hath nede of an other exposition he had bene as good to haue left the name of heades vnexpounded And as for the interpretacioÌ„ of hyls to signify Kings is more obscure dark far fet then that heads shuld represent Kings for it is more apt by Metaphore to call a King an head then to call him an hyl Therfore except we wil say that the interpretacion of the Angel is in vain yea more darke then the thing that is expounded by him we must needes confes that hyls ar taken in their proper sence for hyls and then the Citye builded vpon seuen hyls without all controuersy is the City of Rome The fourth last proofe that I wyll take out of the holy scripture is the last verse of the same 17. chapter which is yet a more plain descriptioÌ„ of Rome if any thing can be more plaine then that hath bene already spoken of For ther the Angel in plaine woords expoundeth that the woman which S. Iohn saw which was the great whore Babylon is that great City which hath doâ—inion ouer the Kings of the earth What brasen face is so impudent to deny that Rome was that great city which had dominion ouer the Kings of the earth at that time when this was spoken Or what other city had dominion ouer the Kings of the earth in s. Iohns time but Rome Who is therfore so froward and vntoward the he will not acknowledge Babylon here to be plainly called Rome If I should name the chiefe City of England who would not vnderstand London If I should speake of the cheif city of Eraunce who would not conceiue Paris And when the Angel named the chiefe citie of the world who could be ignoraunt liuing in that time or knowing the history of that time that he vnderstood it of the city of Rome which was the Sée of the Empyre and from whence wee should looke that Antichrist should come according to the former prophecies For it is a shame in this place to slée vnto Allegories and further expositions of this Angelicall interpretacion which as I said before if it be not cleare playn and easy to be vnderstood deserueth not that name of an exposition as when one knowen thing is expouÌ„ded by another as much or more vnknowen it is vayne superfluous and ridiculous Wherfore whom any bandes of reason wyll hold in they must be satisfied with the expositioÌ„ of the Angel that Babylon is Rome For seing it was necessary for the church of God to know as well the place wher Antichrist should sit as to be instructed of his craft and cruelty our sauiour Christ the Author of thys Reuelation would not suffer his congregation to be ignoraÌ„t therof but sent his Angel playnly to interprete and expound the vision of the great whore that the Church being throughly admonished of her wickednes instructed perfectly to know her might more easely take heede of her flée from her and abhorre her So that according to my promise I haue sufficiently proued by autority of holy Scripture this first proposition which I tooke in hand that Babylon is Rome But because some ar of such obstinate wilful frowardnes that nothing will satisfy them but they wyl styl grudge and repine â—arpe and obiect against my interpretacions of the holy scriptures for the text they caÌ„not deny I wish them that are such if they like not these expositions which I haue brought to the defacing of Antichrist his religion then that they admit and reuerence those expositions which their own Authors bring for the maintenance of the Popes authority his religion Of which sort are these God saith Moses in Genesis made two great lights the Sunne to rule the day and the Moone to gouern the night That is saith the famous Interpreter God ordained the Pope and the Emperour to rule the world By the Sunne is ment the Pope by the Moone the Emperour And looke how much greater and more glorious the Sunne is then the Moone so much greater and more glorious is the Pope then the Emperor And not content with this he couÌ„teth by Arithmatike how much greater the Sunne is in quantity then the Moone by proportion that it hath to the earth so by many parts be coÌ„cludeth that the Pope is greater then the Emperor But here a maÌ„ might help him what by Geometry what by Arithmatike for wher as the Sunne is 166 times greater then the earth the earth 39. times greater then the Moone as is proued by Mathematical demonstration the Pope shoulde bée 6474. times greater then the Emperor This is one noble exposition that is set forth to aduaunce the dignity of the Pope and his kingdome Another like to this is vpon the words of the Apostels which answered vnto our Sauiour Christ when he commaunded him that had no sword to sell his coate bye one signifiyng the great daunger the was at hand Lord say they here are two swordes These words sayth the Glosar are the Ciuill Ecclesiasticall power which remâ—ined in Peter therfore his successor the Pope hath preheminence of both No doubt a worthy interpretacion that agréeeth wel w the text doth the Pope great worship Againe S. Paule saith to the Corinthians 1. Cor 2. The spiritual man iudgeth althings and he himselfe is iudged of none This spirituall man saith the Interpreter is the Pope which is Iudge of all the world may not be controlled of any man no though he draw with him innumerable soules into hel fier ther to be tormented with the Deuil him for euer more yet no man must be so bold as to finde fault with him or to say Domine quid ita facis Lord why do you so Is not this an handsome exposition Yes I promis you euen like vnto this other Statuimus vt Clerici nec ceruam nutriant nec barbam radant We decrée sayth the Canon of an auncient Counsel that the Clergy shall neither weare loÌ„g héere nor shaue their beards The Glosar finding this Canon to be so cleane contrary
was the stay that he was not presently reuealed But when that stay is taken away he shuld be reuealed in his due time Chrysostome expouÌ„deth this stay to be the Romane Empire which must geue place vnto Antichrist That like as the Persians came in place of the Chaldeans the Grecians in place of the Percians and the Romanes in place of the Graecians euen so Antichrist should inuade the Empire of the Romanes Vacantem imperij principatum inuadet tentabit ad se capere hominum Dei imperium Antichrist sayth he shal inuade the vacant principallity of the Empire shal assay to draw vnto him self the Empires both of God men And is it not manifest that the Papacie grew tooke increase by the decay of the Empire at the fall of the Monarchy challenged full possession of all dominion both spirituall and temporall Of the same iudgement is s. Ierome writing vpon the same place of Paule vnto Algasia in the eleuenth question whose wordes are these Nec vult aperte dicere Romanum imperium de struendum quod ipsi qui imperant aeternum putant vnde secundum Apocalypsim IohaÌ„nis in fronte purpuratae meretricis scriptum est nomen blasphemiae id est Romae aeternae c. that is Neither wil he openly say that the Romane Empire should be destroyed which they that gouerne it thinke to be euerlasting whereforâ— according to the Reuelation of s. Iohn in the forehead of the purple whore ther is written a name of blasphemi which is Rome euerlasting Loe here another witnes of good antiquity and sufficient credit which not onely agreeeth plainly with Chrysostome that Antichrist should take possession of the Romane Empire when it should be decayed in the Emperours but also most plainly agréeing with Tertulliane calleth that Babylonicall strumpet which is described in the 17. chapter of this Apocalips that purple whore of Rome the name of the blasphemye to be Rome euerlasting As though hee had heard the Pope brag of the eternity of his Sée which he saith is the Rocke against which the gates of hel caÌ„not preuaile But he is fowly be giled for Rome the Sée of his Popedome is by s. Ieromes iudgement that Babylon of whoÌ„ the Angel preacheth the howsoeuer the boast of her eternity She is fallen she is fallen euen Babylon that great city neuer shal rise againe They cry out agaynst vs that we rayle and speake coÌ„tumeliously of the holy Sée of the Pope when we call Rome the whore of Babilon but when the old Doctours to whose iudgement they themselues appeale from the authority of the scripture feare not so plainly in their writings to paynt out the Babylonycall strumpet in her right coulors in flat words to say she is Rome the mother of al abominacions the Sée of Antichrist why should we be blamed for saying as we are taught by them And especially of those men that make so great vauntes that the iudgement is altogether on their side by whom they offer to be tryed when they dare not abide the iudgement of the Scriptures Againe consider I pray you of the old Doctors before Antichrist were openly reuealed did vnderstand by the scriptures that he should â—yt at Rome what thinke you would they haue said and written if they had lyued in these dayes knowen and sene all that was prophecied to be fulfilled in him wyth what confidence suppose ye they wold haue inueyed against him With how open mouthes would they haue cryed out vpon him At least wyse do you not thinke in your conscience that when they had considered the autority of the Pope his wholesome doctrine they would haue chaunged their minds and recanted their writings against Rome and repented that euer they had called her the purple whore of Babylon seing she is the holy mother church of Rome the Sée of the most holy father the Pope the head of the same church I must néedes say thus much in your behalfe O ye Papists as yll as I loue you that if Hierome Tertulliane and the rest of the Doctors dyd so account of Rome as you affirme of them they were much to blame to defame her wyth such odious names as to call her the purple whore of Babylon which must néedes make her vehemently suspected to be the church of Antichrist and not of christ For what Papist in these dayes dare say that which Hierome sayd that Rome is that purple harlot Babylon which S. Iohn speaketh of in the Apocalips The same Hierome in his 13. booke of CoÌ„mentaries of the prophecy of Esay vpon the 47 chap. writeth in this maner Licet ex co quod iuxta 70 scriptuÌ„ est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est filia Babylonis noÌ„ ipsum Babylonem quidam sed Romanam vrbem interpretantur quae in Apocalypsi Iohannis Epistola Petri Babylon specialliter appellatur c. That is For as much as the seuenty Interpreters write not the daughter Babylon but the Daughter of Babylon some doe interprete therof not Babylon in Chaldea but the City of Rome which in the Reuelation of saint Iohn the Epistle of Peter is specially called Babylon Note that Hierome in this place accoÌ„pted Rome to be Babylon the yonger daughter of Babylon the elder And secondly that this was not his opinion onely but the consent of many other in his time and namely of such as vsed to interprete the Prophet Esay Thirdly and especially coÌ„sider that he affirmeth Rome in the Apocalips to be specially called Babilon So that Babylon in the Apocalips by his iudgement cannot be vnderstood for nothing els but Rome because Rome is there specially figured by Babylon What meaneth Hierome so often to beate in this naile that Babylon is Rome If it had slipped out of his pen but once he myght haue bene pardoned for his ouersight but wheÌ„ he hath neuer done writing that Rome is Babylon and in the Reuelation specially called Babylon why should we accompt him any longer for a Catholike For in hys Preface vnto the booke of Didimus De spiritu sancto which he translated out of Gréeke into Latin writing to Pauinianus he vttereth these wordes Cum in Babylone versarer purpuratae meretricis essem Colonus iure Quiritum viuerem c. Of late saith he when I was in Babylon and was an inhabitant of the purple harlot liued after the lawes of the Romanes I thought to intreate somewhat of the holy Ghost What néeded Hierome in this place so odiously contumeliously to call Rome by the name of Babilon but that he could neuer consider Rome otherwise but to be that See appointed for Antichrist for in other places wher he interpreteth that scriptures Prophecies concerning Antichrist we may lesse maruel if he interprete Babylon for Rome because no reason could leade him to expound it otherwise But here talking pleasaÌ„tly with his friend what necessitys compelled him to vse such descriptions of Rome
Babylon when she is at the lowest of her fall should euer be set vp agayne And in the 19. chap. it is said That the smoke of her burning ascended vp for euer and euer Also of her vtter desolation descriptioÌ„s ar made in the 18. chapter wher it is said that Babilon is made a dwelling place of diuels a cage of vncleane birds according to the prophecy of Esay concerning old Babilon that Zyim and Ohyiâ— which be Sprights Goblins shal walke in heâ— pallaces Scrichowles Ostriges shal cry in heâ— houses Apes Satyres shal daunce in her beutiful buildings No voyce of men shal be heard in her no sound of a myl shal be heard no lyght of a candle shal be seene but perpetual solitude sorrow shal dwel ther for euermore Therfore saith the Angel She is fallen she is fallen that is she is destroyed and neuer shal be repaired But if we wyll better vnderstand how she iâ— fallen we must consider more distinctly wherin the is fallen First in wealth and riches she hath sustained a great fal Consider how many kingdoms and states of the world haue renouÌ„ced her obedience al these haue withdrawen great renâ—s reuenues commodities that in times past were addict to the mayntenance of Babylon the church of Rome A great fal without peraduenture that will neuer be recouered RemeÌ„ber so many Abbies Monasteries Nunneries Frieries Hospitals Chauntries Churches Chappels now â—uerthrowne and made euen with the ground Al lands is wels ornaments great treasures that belonged vnto them cleane taken away from them you wyl confes with me that Rome in riches hath a great fall Yea if you would see with your eyes â— manifest example of Gods iudgemeÌ„t agaynst Babylon behold that euil fauoured mynes and â—eaâ—â—es of Monasteries that wer somtyme gorâ—eous sumptuous buildings The same end â—emaineth all that pompe pride of Babylon â—or yet altogether beaten down but euen now â— falling For the mouth of the Lord hath spoâ—en it his immutable counsell hath decréeed 〈◊〉 and he hath sent an Angel to proclaime it Some wish perchaunce that Monasteries had â—ood styl bene conuerted to better vses But â—ndoubtedly the prouidence of God so ordred al â—â—ings that his cursse which was vpoÌ„ them might â—e executed the prophecies that were concerâ—ing them might be fulfilled that they myght be a monument of hâ—s wrath vnto all the posterity the beginning of the fall of Babilon and an example of the destruction of all the rest that should followe soone after Who would euer haue thought that so great ryches treasures reuenues should so sodaynly be ouerthrowen destroyed and come to nothing Therefore it is manifest that in wealth and worldly substance whereby the pryde voluptuousnes and intemperaunce of riotous Rome was maintayned and grew to an intollerable exces is greatlye diminished sore decayed and hath a foule fall and shortly shall haue a finall fall Well Babylon is not fallen onely in wealth and riches but also in power and autority For the Kings of the earth which somtimes were subiect to that monstrous Beast haue now shaken of the yoke of her seruitude wythdrawen the obedience of al their subiects from her Yea â–ª the most part of the. x. hornes which somtyme gaue ouer their power and authority vnto thâ— Beast which were all the Kings Potentateâ— that acknowledged the Pope for their supremâ— head soueraigne Lord do now hate and abhorre the Harlot of Rome and shall make heâ— desolate by withdrawing their subiectes from her obedience and nakedly spoyling her of heâ— treasures shall eat her fleshe for pure hatreâ— and burne her wyth fier For great is the Lorâ— which iudgeth her So that she which before at her pleasure might coÌ„maund all Princes to begyn war to cease from war to defend her quarrels to annoy her enemies now is glad to flatter a few seduced Princes to take her part that she be not vtterly forsaken of al men Or els to practise by treasoÌ„ treachery suborning Roges and Vacabonds to styrre vp tumults among the rude people to trouble godly estates common wealthes that despise her dominion but without all hope euer to recouer her auncient tyranny Her thunderboits of ExcoÌ„munication which were somtime terrible to all men are now feared of no man What though she retayne her proud presumptuous stomacke and wyll doo while her breath lasteth to pronounce sentence of depriuatioÌ„ against Princes that abhorre her wickednes Her impudent arrogancy is not so much detested of many as laughed to scorne of all Her Proctors and priuy practisers though they chaunge them selues like Proteus into neuer so vnlikely shapes are espied in euery corner For God himselfe reuealeth their pretences wyl not suffer her to preuaile any longer So that in power autority Babylon is fallen and falleth dayly more and more into vtter contempt with all men vntyl she be vtterly consumed brought to nothing which wil not be loÌ„g before it come to pas For this sentence that God hath throwne agaynst her begun also to execute caÌ„not be chauÌ„ged or much loÌ„ger differred But especially chiefly Babylon is fallen in credit of her doctrine For besides so many princes and states of Christendome that by publike autority haue receiued the Gospel vtterly abolished all Babilonicall doctrine Euen in the midst of her tyranny persecution great multitudes daylye are lyghtened wyth the bryght beames of the Gospel that for all Inquisitions imprisonments exquisite torments cruel burnings they neuer a whit diminish but rather increase as God hath prouided that the blood of the Martyrs should be the seede of the Church And they ar more then obstinate if they do not acknowledge that this matter is gouerned froÌ„ God aboue For if it had bene of men it must needes haue decayed before this time and haue come to naught as Gamaliel sayd of y doctrine of the Apostels Therfore in fighting against it they shew them selues but after the maner of the old Giants to make war against god Or as it is contayned in this prophecy the Antichrist should gather together the Princes of the earth to make battail against him that sitteth vpon the white Horse whose name is the woord of God but al to their own vtter confusion destructioÌ„ For the word of God must conquer and preuail in the last age Antichrist must be consumed by the spirit of the mouth of Christ which is his holy word vtterly abolished by the glorious brightnes of his coÌ„ming to iudgemeÌ„t as s. Paul testifieth in the second chap. of the second Epistle to the Thessalonians Therfore it is in vaine that they seeke to vnderprop the doctrine of Babylon by cruelty tyraÌ„ny for al wil not serue seeing the time of her final fall approcheth and now already our sauiour Christ with the spirit of his mouth hath wasted consumed a great part of that credit estimation
And being referred vnto him all the rest hath a very apâ— exposition of the city of Rome the dominions therof hath had seuen principal states or formes of regiment The first state of Kings the secoÌ„â— of Consuls the third of Decemuiri the fourtâ— of Dictatores the fift of Triumuiri the sixt oâ— Caesars or Emperors the seuenth of Popes Now fiue of these states or formes of regimenâ— were fallen and abolished in s. Iohns time thâ— sixt which was the Emperors in his time waâ— in place and the seuenth which is the Popes was not yet come which was the very beast iâ—selfe the Romane Empire reuiued and raise vp from the bottomles pit of hel into the vsurped tyranny of the Pope And this is that Beasâ— that somtimes was of wonderful great poweâ— and glory in the daies of Augustus and some other of his successors but then much decayed as if it had not bene although in some sorte it wer but should be restored in the vsurped autority of the Pope that claimeth al the world to be his Diocesse Which power commeth not from God but from the Prince of pride out of the bottomles pyt But chiefly let vs consider that the beast although he be but one yet in the accompt he standeth for two for he is that seuenth head the sight also And remember that the Pope challengeth double authority namely the power of both swordes the spiritual the temporal So that in this exposition althings agrée most aptly Againe it is manifest in the scriptures that Antichrist should deceiue the world with false doctrine vnder pretence coullor of true religion therfore so often times the scripture warneth men that they be not seduced by him which were needeles if any open professed enemy of Christ should be that Antichrist For there is no likelyhood that an heathen man a Iew or a Turke shuld deceiue any multitude of true ChristiaÌ„s but he that vnder the pretence of the name of Christ seeketh most of all to deface the honor of Christ he is a subtil aduersary the very spirit of Antichrist as S. Iohn also in hys Epistle doth testify For in the second chap. speaking of those Antichristes which were the forerunners of that great Antichrist be sheweth that they went out from the church in the fourth chap. he calleth them false Prophets and teacheth them how to know that spirit of Antichrist He that denieth IESVS to be Christ he that denieth that IESVS Christ is come in the flesh That is he that derogateth anye thing from the honor of Iesus to be Christ and in his flesh to haue performed the ful worke of mans redemption as that Pope doth most blasphemously he is Antichrist and who so teacheth anye such doctrine speaketh by that spirit of Antichrist For the testimony of IESVS is the spirit of prophecy Seing therfore that S. Iohn accompteth Antichrist for one that is gone from the Church for a false Prophet it is cleare that Antichrist is no heathen Emperor which was neuer of the Church nor anye false Prophet that tooke vpon him to teach in the church The same may be said of Mahomet who neuer professed him selfe to be a Christian nor yet a Prophet in the Church of Câ—rist pretending to vphold the religion of Christ but an open enemy or the Gospell and of our Sauiour Christ altogether without the Church By these arguments I doubt not but all men may see that seeâ—ng Babyloâ— is Rome and that the head of Babylon is Antichrist that he cannot be any of the heathen Emperors but euen the Pope him selfe And therfore I conclude according to my text that Rome is fallen if Babylon by fallen Now remaineth the last part that I promised to entreate of namely the cause of Gods so seuere iudgemeÌ„t against Babylon that he hath decreeed her vtter ouerthrow and destruction which the Angel compreheÌ„deth in these words Because she hath made al Nations dronke with the wyne of the fury of her fornication That is She hath deceiued all the world wyth false doctrine which he compareth vnto two kindes of vices wherby men are so deceiued that they léese al right iudgement Dronkennes and Fornication For as these two vices do allure men to commit them by coueting of vayne deâ—ectacion that is in them euen so Babylon hath enticed all men lyke an other Circe to drinke of the cup of her delectable errors and to commit most filthy fornication with her idolatrous religion For of all other religions to the carnall man none is so pleasant as Popery is in which be so many kindes of satisfaction to be obtayned both in this life after men be dead that there is no greater security of an hipocriâ—e to sleepe in then in the faire promises of Poê‘erye And that causeth so many willingly to embrace it so loth to depart from it because they wold styll continue without checke of true doctrine which calleth men to repentaunce and amendment of lyfe or els threateneth eternal damnation For howsoeuer it pleaseth them to charge the doctrine of the Gospell with cause of security it may easely be sene by comparison of it with the doctrine of Popery whether be cause of security that which teacheth no satisfaction but one for them that be penitent in this lyfe or theirs that hath so many waies to merite rewardes to satisfy for synnes not onely while men lyue in the world but also for them that are already gone out of it And ther is no wine so swéete to the taste of a carnall man as that which maketh hym droonke with opinion of his own righteousnes as it is the nature of strong wyne to make very Cowardes thynke them selues to be valiant Champions and such is the cup of popish doctrine contayning merites and satisfactions Agayne when we consider that Antichrist should make men droonke wyth hys erroneous doctrine we maruel lesse how men could be so blinded and infatuate that they could not sée and perceiue such grosse errours and manifest vntruthes as are in Popery For as they that are ouercome with the strength of wyne haue lost the right vse both of their wyt and of their sences euen so they that are droonke with the hereticall doctrine of Papistry do grope in the cleare light of the Sunne and sée not their own deformity though all the world beside cry out of them In like maner they that be ouercome with the vnhonest loue of Harlots haue theyr reason so imprisoned in corrupt affection and foolish fantasy that they are at libertye neither to see their own folly nor admit any wyse and godly counsel So it fareth with those that the Babylonicall Circe the church of Rome hath alâ—ured by her enchauntments to commit spiritual fornication with her they cannot abide to heare the voice of them that calleth them out of that damnable estate so highly they please them selues in their own misery as if they were in case of