ought not nay may not put out a Lordly Soveraign power over the Church or Brethren is plain to all that will read it 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. Secondly That ordinary Church-Officers have not any power or charge given them over diverse Churches is plain from Scripture and Reason When Paul called the Bishops together and spake to them all present yet he presses every one to take care of his own particular Flock Acts 20. 28. If any through prejudice should seek other glosses to put upon this text to hold their own opinions they let goe natural reason and deal worse with Christian souls than they are willing to doe by their flocks of Sheep Certainly a Shepherd that takes charge of divers flocks in several places is very like to Rot them all But my business is to gather an Epitomy of the Papacy that the rise and growth of this proud scarlet Whore who rides the Roman Empire may bee yet more perfectly discovered and that the Antichrist of Rome may appear to bee the very Whore of Babylon shadowed out in Types and Figures unto John in his Revelations The Gospel was no sooner preached by the Apostles but Satan had some ministers ready to pervert the truth of it and turn away Disciples The Apostle Paul not only describes but discovered the working of Antichrist in his time Paul said then the Mystery of iniquity doth already work 2 Thes. 2. 7. that is in that very age pride end usurpation of false teachers corruption of Doctrine and Discipline grew fast on and many were drawn off from the simplicity of the Gospel to Idolatrous and Superstitious practices through ignorance and blind devotion It cannot be denied but that the first Bishops of the Church of Christ in Rome were many of them sound in the faith and sealed the truth of the Gospel with their bloud in Martyrdome yet in those times Heresies and Sects in Religion grew fast and after more and more I shall pass in silence all the first Bishops and begin with Elutherius the twelfth Bishop of Rome Elutherius was chosen Bishop of the Church at Rome in the fifteenth year of Antonius Verus the Emperour Anno 178. and governed that Church thirteen years untill this time the same Doctrin and Order in the Church which was left by the Apostles was observed in the Church of Rome In his time England received the Christian Faith and when Lucius the British King sent to Rome as a famous Christian Church and desired Elutherius to send them the Roman Lawes the good Bishop not dreaming then of a Supremacy modestly refused it and referring of the Christians to the Books of the Old and New Testament to gather out Lawes from thence urged this reason The Roman Lawes and the Emperours Lawes we may ever reprove but the Law of God wee may not out of them take yee a Law and by that Law rule your Realm of Britain At this time there was a Sect followed Marcus who denied the real suffering of Christ and that there was no resurrection of the Flesh and therefore lived in Adultery Victor succeeded Elutherius In his time there fell a great difference between the Eastern and Western Churches about the time of Easter or the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Some observed it upon the fourteenth day of the Moon after the Jewish Passeover some upon the Sunday following Upon this contention many Synods of Bishops were called in all parts and so Victor called a Synod at Rome where he himself sate President In this Synod at Rome Victor took upon him to Excommunicate the Churches in Asia because they conformed not to the practice of the Western Churches But this insolent attempt of Victor was stoutly opposed and Victor overcome Soon after this Victor dyed when hee had governed twelve years anno 203. At this time sprung the Heresie of Artemon the Disciple of Theodotus a Tanner who denied the Divinity of Christ. Zephyrinus was the next Bishop of Rome and governed eighteen years Anno 221. In his time was Neotus who denied the Trinity of the Deity He called himself Moses There were also the Sect Melchisedechiani who held Melchisedech to bee greater than Christ. Some taught also that the Soul dyed with the Body yet rose again at the general resurrection Calistus now took the Chair and continued five years and dyed Anno 226. Urbanus followed Calistus and governed eight years Anno 234. Pontanus succeeded Urban and continued six years Anno 240. Anterus came next to the place It is Historied that when the Church was met upon the death of Pontanus for a new Election a Dove setled upon the head of Anterus and so the multitude cried out Anterus is worthy of the Bishoprick I repeat this as a Popish relation yet possibly this might be one of Antichrists Miracles to deceive which after were more frequent But however Anterus entred he held his honour but one Month and gave way to Fabian Fabian was Bishop of Rome and dyed a Martyr in the seventh Persecution raised by the Emperour Decius Anno 254. Cornelius followed Fabian and ruled three years Anno 257. Lucius followed Cornelius and kept the Sea not full eight months About this time was Novatus who called the Sect following him Puritans Hee refused to receive into their Fellowship again those that fell though they shewed their repentance He also denied second Marriages Stephen was chosen next Bishop of Rome and ruled two years Anno 260. In his time it was much controverted whether Hereticks converted or persons baptized by Hereticks should bee again baptized Also in Stephens Government some Bishops deposed in Spain and Africk fled to Rome and sought to bee restored by the authority of Stephen It seems Stephen was willing to close with such an opportunity or else in a brotherly way the Bishop of Rome writ to the Bishops of Spain and Africk to receive again those Bishops deposed the Bishops of Rome made other use of it in after times But whether Stephen writ to command or desire yet the Bishops to whom Stephen did write returned answer That the offenders running to Rome could not have those just Censures past upon them reversed c. Xystus came next in place and governed eleven years Anno 271. About this time the Heresie of Novatus was revived and some Bishops corrupted with it Dionysius governed nine years and died Anno 280. In this time were the Sect Origeniani These denied Marriage yet lived worse than Beasts using vile ways to keep Women from conceiving with childe Faelix had the next turn and ruled five years Anno 285. Eutychianus followed Faelix yet governed but ten Months Caius then had the rule of the Roman Church and continued fifteen years Anno 300. At this time the Heresie of the Origeniani was broached afresh by Adamantius a Priest in Alexandria and much increased These held there was
Henry the 8. and was crowned at 9. years of age In the 2. year of his reign he did so much towards reformation that the Church-service was turned into English In the Kings Minority the Duke of Somerset was made Lieutenant Protector but not long after was committed to the Tower and after was beheaded at Tower-hill King Edward about 16. years of age fell sick and died when he had reigned 6. years 5. months and odd daies An. 1554. After the death of Edward Lady Jane wife to the Lord Clifford fourth son to the Duke of Northumberland was proclaimed Queen as given to her by Edward the 6. But Lady Mary eldest daughter to King Henry had the grater party and so came to the Crown She soon restored the Pope Cardinal c. to his former Supremacy over England and dashed the reformation begun and appointed the Church-service again in Latine To make sure Queen Mary beheaded the Lady Jano Clifford the Duke of Suffolk the Lord Clifford and others to take them off from laying claim to the Crown Yet she did not sit quiet in the Throne But to compleat her sin she drunk deep of the bloud of the Saints and sent many multitudes to heaven in fiery chariots The Queen married Philip Prince of Spain Yet the Lord shut up her womb that she had no child and cut her off when she had raged over the Saints in this Nation 5. years 4. months and odd daies Anno 1559. Elizabeth sister to Queen Mary now came to the Crown she again rejected the Pope and did something towards Reformation of Religion She had great honour in the hearts of the people and was a terror to forain Nations and reigned 45. years An. 1604. After Queen Elizabeth James King of Scots descended from Margaret daughter to Henry the 7. came to the Crown of England He was a man of much learning and writ divers Books But his practice answered not his light and professions How he passed over the death of his son Prince Henry was observed by many and how the Lord reached him at last many have said more then I will write King James sawyed the Scepter of England Scotland and Ireland 22. years 3. days An. 1626. Charles succeeded his father James Contrary to the counsel once given by King James to Heary his son Charles did marry with Henerietta Maria of France a Papist and gave her the liberty of her Religion by Articles of Marriage By her interest Popery was advanced through corrupt Bishops and the true worship of God was little known in England what the life of Charles was is yet fresh in the memory of most alive at this day He set all the three Nations on a fire that yet is not quenched nor is like to be In England Ireland and Scotland the sword hath spilt the bloud of many thousands and as he was worthy the Lord gave him bloud to drink who was beheaded at White-hall West minster January 30. An. 1649. when he had born the Crown 24 years 10. months and 7. days Thus as in a Map I have represented some remarkable passages in the rise and succession of Kings from Saul to our present Age. If this little be laid up in the minds of men by this taste you may judge much of all their Lives and Reigns that is vailed under the Curtain To my best skill I have only run down sacred and prophane History and have taken the relations of others and written their Stories But if so much wickedness came to light what was done in the dark that is open to the all-seeing eye of Heaven Surely a woful sad burden have this sort of men I may well say Monsters been to all People and Nations where-ever they were And that the Dragon the Beast and all their limbs shall be utterly destroyed by Jesus Christ who is King of Kings I question not I am perswaded the work is now upon the wheel and as Jesus Christ is imbraced here will appear more and more to clear up to the Saints another way of governing his people then yet we see There is nothing hinders but our unworthiness But if I may discover what I see yet afar off I conceive the Governours call'd and set up by Jesus Christ shall be like Jesus Christ himself humble self-denying Saints such as shall set up a publike and not a self-interest Such as shall ease burdens and not oppress Such as shall deliver the poor and not seed upon them Such as shall guide the people by the rule of Gods sacred word and not make lust and self-will their law and force it by a long Sword For certain if the Lord did not leave wise-men to themselves they could not but easily reade their own ruine by multiplied examples in all times God is the same yesterday to day and for ever And in the same way that God did manifest his righteousness and justice under the sacred Scriptures the same hath been the Lords providences and dispensations in the world ever since the Scriptures were written and as the Apostle expresseth it These things were written for our examples upon whom the ends of the world are come I may say sin was the rise of Monarchy sin hath been the strength of Monarchy and Monarchy hath been the punishment of sin ever since it was Therefore when the sin of Kings grew high the Lord stirred up some to punish pull down these Kings by the shedding of much bloud and exhausting of treasure But when such had got into the Kings State they did the same that the King did before them when their sin again was full the Lord raised up others to destroy them and their Families And this is the track of times But when Jesus Christ is truly received there shall be an end of this proud oppressing sort of men the Saints shall rule then judgement and righteousness shall run down like mighty streams Now for the accomplishment of these blessed promises wait and pray till Christ say It 's done AN EPITOMY OF PAPACY THat there was a Gospel Church in the City of Rome in the times of the Apostles is clear by Divine authority And that this Church of Christ had ordinary Church Officers Bishops and Deacons I think there is no question But the better to discover the Roman Antichrist two things have been in debate amongst the godly 1 Whether the first Bishops of the Churches of Christ had and did exercise by power given from Jesus Christ a Lordly and Soveraign Jurisdiction over the Saints in their particular Churches 2 Whether the power of one Bishop or Pastor by the institution of Jesus Christ did extend to divers Churches The judgements of many learned men are published to the World upon these needful questions yet I desire to assert my thoughts in this place First That ordinary Church Officers
Firmament of all Bishops the Top of all Churches and Sericius in an Epistle to the Bishop of Arragon said It was not lawful for any Priest of the Lord to bee ignorant of the Decrees of the Sea Apostolick And Innocent would not so wrong Peters Chair as to let any Papal Dignity fall in him and therefore claimed Authoritative Censures in all greater matters to be only in the Apostolick Sea This Innocent begged what would not bee granted for fifteen years and ceased Anno 417. Zosimus was the Successor of Innocent and strongly followed his Plea for Supremacy He supposed having had three Predecessors before him that had begged hard for Supremacy hee might well require it In the first year of his Government was held the sixth Council of Carthage where were assembled two hundred twenty seven Bishops To this Council Zosimus sent three Legats requiring the Bishops of Africk to appeal to the Sea Apostolick But Zosimus obtained it not from the Council and dyed in the second year Anno 419. Boniface the First succeeded Zosimus He was also the first Bishop of Rome that assumed and exercised Kingly Authority over Secular people which he put out in banishing the Novatians and seizing their estates He pursued the claim of Zosimus in the Council of Carthage but obtained it not yet that I may the better discover the shamelesse impudence of the Bishop and the working of Antichrist in this age Zosimus pretended to the Council that this Supremacy was given to the Sea of Rome by the Council of Nice but the Bishops knowing of no such Canon past in that Council sent Letters presently to the Bishops of Constantinople Alexandria and Antioch desiring them to send the Acts of the Nicen Council sealed up In this interim Zosimus dyed and Boniface came to the Sea but the Council finding no such Canon in the Nicene Council it was not granted and so Boniface only pursued it yet saw no end of it and dyed in the third year of his Government anno 422. Coelestine was chosen next to the Episcopal Dignity now the Bishops of Rome exalted themselves exceedingly and affected great swelling Titles Coelestine blushed not to take into protection such Bishops and Priests as were justly excommunicate and banished for Heresie and Scandal out of Africk and other Countries and took up the names of Blasphemy that these flattering Parasites put upon him the very Titles of God himself yea and sent out his roaring Bulls much threatning those Churches if they did not again receive the banished Bishops Whereupon St. Augustine writ a tart Letter to Coelestine saying wee are threatned with a Posse comitatus and force of armes to put the sentence of the Apostolick Sea into execution Let not these things be so I doe conjure thee by the bloud of Christ and by the memory of the Apostle Peter who warneth those that are set over Christian Assemblies to be meek and humble not to domineer with violence over your brethren But Coelestine was above brotherly admonition and beat on boldly through all opposition to establish Supremacy in the Roman Sea yet after nine years deceased Anno 431. In this time Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople broached his Heresie against the union of the two Natures in Christ Cyril now Bishop of Alexandria opposed this Heretick but to determine the Controversie the Emperours Valentinian and Theodosius the second of the East called the General Council of Ephesus Anno 431. in which Council Nestorius was condemned and banished Sextus came next to the Sea of Rome he was accused of several Crimes laid to his Charge before the Emperour Valentinian and was put to purge himself in a Synod called at Rome This Bishop kept the Sea eight years Anno 439. Leo the first had the next turn and in his time hee mightily advanced the Supremacy of the Roman Sea In the Government of Leo a Provincial Council was called at Constantinople about Eutiches an Abbot who maintained the Heresie of Nestorius in which Council Eutiches was condemned and degraded yet by another Council of corrupt Bishops held at Ephesus Eutiches was again restored But after there was a general Council called at Chalcedon of six hundred and thirty Bishops to re-examine the Case of Eutiches in this Council the Heresie of Nestorius was again damned and Diascorus with other Bishops deprived the thirteenth of Octob. Anno 453. Unto this Council Leo sent his Legates to accuse Diascorus and the main matter of his complaint against Diascorus was that hee had rejected the Decrees of the Roman Church In this Council also it was ordered that no Clerk should bee admitted into two Churches By this time the Bishops of Rome had got some preheminence and in this Counil had the title of Pope The Empire of Rome was now in great confusion Enemies made invasions and to fulfill the Word of the Lord Leo took his time to raise the Episcopal Throne by the woeful distractions in the Civil State the Emperour had little power and all he could doe was to preserve himself But now Leo took his opportunity to advance the Sea of Rome and though hee could exercise but little Jurisdiction yet he took upon him the Title of Pope of the Roman Catholick Church and universal Bishop Thus Leo continued one and twenty years Anno 460. Hillary was Successor to Leo of whom I find little mentioned he had the Government six years Anno 466. Simplicius followed Hillary but now there arose much strife between the Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople which should bee supream but Leo Emperour of the East gave the Supremacy to Constantinople as being his royal City Simplicius used his utmost endeavour to reverse the Edict of the Emperour and dyed in pursute of desired Supremacy when he had ruled fifteen years Anno 481. Faelix followed Simplicius in his Papal Dignity and in his eager pursute for Supremacy in the Roman Chair but left the Work undone and departed in his ninth year of Government Anno 490. Gelasius came next to the Chair but was a man of more modesty than many that went before him He neither pleaded his Supremacy from the Nicene Council or the antient custom of the Church but held to the text Tu es Petrus This goeth not said Gelasius by Synodal Decrees but by the very voyce of the Gospel Therefore hee spake it openly that the Sea of Rome might either absolve such as were wrongfully condemned by any Council or condemn such as deserved it yet after forgetting himself hee pleaded Synodal authority saying The Canon hath so ordained it that all Churches ought to appeal to this Sea and not from it Thus Gelasius laboured subtilly to advance the Roman Sea yet held it but four years Anno 494. Anastatius the second followed Gelasius To all other evils in
A LITTLE VIEW OF THIS OLD VVORLD IN TVVO BOOKS I. A Map of Monarchy Wherein the state of the World is represented under Kings with their entrance Reign and Ends from King Saul to King Charls II. An Epitomy of Papacy VVherein is discovered the rise of Anti-christ with the Entrance Reign and Ends of the Popes of Rome for 740 years till the Pope was fully declared to be the Anti-christ A Work fitted for the Press Five years agone and now published by Tho. Palmer Pastor of a Church of Christ in Nottingham LONDON Printed for Livewell Chapman and are to bee sold at his Shop at the Sign of the Crown in Popes-head Alley 1659. To the Council of State of the Common-Wealth of England Honourable Worthies THe Lord God Almighty is the original of all Created beings and his glory is the great end he is carrying on both in Earth and Heaven Wisdome Grace and Power are the Essence of God and from himself he made and governs the whole Creation independently and none can say Why hast thou done thus There is some parity between a Saints Soul-state and the true Church-state Darkness and bondage precedes light and comfort sufferings goe before rest Abrahams true Seed are in AEgypt they pass the red Sea and wander in a houling Wilderness before they can possess the promised Land of Canaan and all these former dealings of God with his people in Covenant were written for examples and types for us upon whom the ends of the world are come Jehovab hath not usually made great promises to his people and inriched them with his Free Grace but he hath brought them to live upon him by faith for the performance of the word that went out of his mouth yet as God saw the state of future times he was pleased still to discover and fore-tell to his suffering Saints the enemies fall and the Churches advance and glory in this world The state both of the Jewish and Christian Church as to their sufferings union and glory were fully represented in Daniels Visions and Johns Revelations When Jesus Christ was in the Flesh hee was frequently Preaching and in Parables representing the Churches suffering and raised estate and after him the Apostles taught the same things The Prophets and Apostles spake not only of the Churches future sufferings under the Beasts false Prophet the Dragon and the Whore but God was pleased also to compute and measure the time of Saints sufferings to their promised Redemption In Christs fore-telling the events of time after his Resurrection hee gives not his Disciples the number of years but leaves with them several fore-going signs of their promised Redemption that both by computation of time and by signs the Saints might the better finde the time of the Beasts reigns and the appearing and Kingdome of Jesus Christ. Indeed Chronologies are imperfect and I judge the very year of the Beasts fall and Churches deliverance cannot be asserted by man yet I humbly conceive that both from computations and signs God hath begun his Churches deliverance in these Nations The Churches Restoration is as fully promised as her afflicted state fore-told and when the Dragon and the Whore have had their time of tyranny over the Saints why should we not certainly beleeve and look for promised rest If you please here to take a view of the Kings of the Earth and examine Antichrists plots and practices they have fulfilled the Word of God by the mouthes of his Prophets and answer them exactly as face answers face in a Glasse Great Senators I may be bold to say God hath honoured England above all the Nations of the earth and you above many Sons of men in making use of you to begin and prosess your resolutions for the establishment of Truth and Holiness in these Lands it was only the Lords free mercy that brought and hath continued the Gospel in England above any Country and Kingdom in Europe and may we not upon that ground beleeve that appearing and kingdom of the Son of Man promised shall here begin and from hence run from Nation to Nation till all the Vials of Gods Wrath be poured out upon the Churches enemies that great voyce out of the Temple in Heaven be fulfilled saying The Kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Truely the night is not yet past and the Lords work in your hands is attended with great difficulty yet you shall ever have a Pillar and a Cloud to guide and defend if you keep your eye upon them I think I may say God now calls you to an unwonted work the bringing in of the New Heavens and New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness which is the Kingdom of Saints in this World Carnal Counsellours and worldly Politicians know little of the Lords designs at this day and will doe as little in his work God is now staining worldly glory God is now fulfilling promises to his Son and his Saints and none but the Spiritual-wise understand the work before you I beseech you look much to God hearken after the teaching and light of the Spirit in the Churches of Christ and so act that you may render up your account with joy not with fear This is the end and all of my desires in this little peice I humbly present you with who shall rejoyce to bee found serviceable in his generation to promote the great design of Jesus Christ and shall abide Your Honours real and faithful Servant in my Lords Work Tho. Palmer From my Lodging upon London Bridge the 4th Mon. 1659. To all that beleeve and look for the Kingdom of Christ and glory of the New-Testamen-Church in this World Precious souls IT was the providence of my dear Father when he took me from more rough imployment in the Warrs of England to call me to preach the Gospel of Light in a dark corner which was not without success and comfort to my soul and refreshing to many at home and abroad but after a little time Satan raised so great opposition against some few painful Servants of the Lord who with my self joyned freely to preach the Gospel on week-days from Town to Town where we were invited by any of the Lords people that after the continuance of this course for about two years and some light especially in the order of the Gospel brake forth the Parish Ministers shut the doors of the Comman Meeting-places against us and by degrees put an end to those fruitful and blessed exercises My more publick Ministration of the Gospel being so prevented and my preaching in my Parish-relation by the same spirit of Antichrist made very ineffectual that young Converts were staggered about Church-order and many Christians drew back It was upon my heart to imploy my spare hours to prepare something for the Presse and preach in Print when I could not preach in other mens Pulpits
that by the help of the Souldiery he kept his Chair and slighted the Emperor continued his government 13 years anno 701. John the sixth followed Sergius he still sought to promote the Papal Dignity as not having what was aymed at The better to perswade John to subscribe the General Councils Justinian sent to him a Confession of his Faith but John also refused it and gave this reason Because of certain Articles in them which were contrary to the Church of Rome This Pope ruled three years anno 704. John the seventh took the next turn but by this time the Popes of Rome began to grow great in the world and did cause others to know it The Eastern Empire was now brought low by the Lumbards in the West and the Saracens in the East that the Emperour was constrained quietly to put up all affronts from the Pope and speak him fair too It is said also that Aripert King of the Lumbards to keep John on his part gave to the Sea of Rome the Cottian Alpes Anno 705. yet John kept the Sea but three years anno 707. Zosimus the second came next to the Papal Dignity yet held it so little time that some Historians pass him by without naming Constantine followed next but did improve his time above many his Predecessors Upon offence given by the Patriarch of Constantinople to the Emperour he sent the Patriarch prisoner to Rome thinking thereby the more to please the Pope Anno 708. as yet the Emperours Exarchs at Ravenna kept the Pope under that he could not work his will but in this Popes time the Souldiers conspired against Justinian slew him and made Philipicus Bardanes Emperour By this means the Eastern Empire was brought near to ruine and a door was opened for the second Beast to enter Philipicus coming thus to the Empire thought to doe some eminent act to please the good people and so made an Edict That all Images should bee puld down in the Churches upon this the Pope took occasion to cast off the Emperor pronounced him an Heretick and forbad the people of Rome to receive the Emperours Commands his Image on their Coyn or mention him in their Service This was not so much an Excommunication as a final Deposition of the Emperour and soon after hee had his eyes put out and thrust out of the Empire This was the first Pope that proceeded so high against the Emperours and this doth sufficiently evidence that the Antichrist is now come and hath taken his Throne All this was accomplished by Constantine who governed seven years Anno 714. Gregory the second succeeded Constantine and was not inferiour to any that went before him in Pride Policy or Tyranny It is said that this Pope was so expert in Conjuring that he was called Gregory the Diabolist At this time Leo Isaurius General of the Emperours Army put down Theodotius from government and set up himself Emperour and having a little respit from the Saracens he renewed the Edict of the former Emperour against Images and hoped to maintain it in Italy But Gregory called in the Lumbards and by their help routed the Emperours Army now Gregory and the Lumbards shared Italy and by this means a huge Dominion was added to the Church Though the Lumbards had done the Pope great service in this expedition yet Gregory casts how to clear Italy to the Sea of Rome It seems the Pope feared a complyance of the Lumbards with Charls Martil of France who now grew great and to engage him for the Church Gregory sent an Ambassador to Charls with a present of the Keys of the Holy Sepulcher and St. Peters Chain These unheard of Relicks were greatly accepted and Charls Martil ratified an accord with the Pope Gregory did this for the Sea and after he had ruled seventeen years departed Anno 731. Gregory the third succeeded Gregory the first Hee Decreed in a Synod That whosoever would not doe religious honour unto Images should bee cut off from the Body and Bloud of Christ and the unity of the whole Church At this time Thrasamond Duke of Spoleto intending to revolt from Luitprand King of the Lumbards he fell in with Gregory and to ingage the Church on his Party Thrasamond delivered into the Popes handsome strong Holds which he had kept for the Lumbards and upon this ground the King of Lumbards raised an Army and came against the Duke and worsted him in that Battel The Duke fled to Rome and the King demanded him of the Pope but the Pope refused to deliver him thereupon he laid siege to Rome Gregory was now sore puzled and sent for Charls Martil to interpose upon the perswasion of Charls the King of Lumbards raised his siege and returned into Pavia and in that year Gregory dyed when he had ruled ten years Anno 741. Zachary next took place and carried on the main design stoutly and now an opportunity was offered to compleat the work Pipin Master of the Kings House to Childrick King of France had a great desire to get into the throne yet had some scruples how to be absolved from his Oath but in a little time Pipin was informed that the Pope had the power of Christ and St. Peter and could doe all things Pipin dispatches away Ambassadours to Pope Zachary about the businesse At first the Pope made a pause and thought the attempt vile but considering of what advantage this might be to the Roman Sea he put on impudence and exercised all his power Zachary deposed Childrick absolved the French people from their Allegiance and gave the Kingdom to Pipin This was such an ingagement upon Pipin that hee must not refuse the commands of his new Father the Pope and as a requital to Zachary Pipin drove the Lumbards out of Italy and gave the whole Dominion to the Church of Rome This Booty did so please Zachary that in token of thankfulnesse he confirmed Pipin in the Kingdom of France gave him the title of most Christian King and to answer this new kindness Pipin prostrated himself kist the Popes feet and sware Fealty to him Thus you have the advance of Antichrist and the ingagements of the French Crown to Peters Chair I need not seek further for the discovery of that Man of Sin that Son o Perdition spoken of by the Prophet and Apostles nor need any a sharp sight to discern him sitting in the Sea of Rome Now was that word of the Lord perfectly fulfilled spoken by the Prophets and Apostles who described the Antichrist by several marks some of which I will here observe These are the Prerogative Royal of God Almighty to dispose of Kingdoms and pardon Sin so that he who shall assume these out of the Hand of God is the Antichrist as described at large by the Apostle Paul and both these Pope Zachary took upon