truth though they come adorned and furnished with as many portents wonders and signes as the man of sinne and his ministers described by the Apostle shall by the great power and vertue 2. Thess 2. of Satan be able to worke Admirers of visions Prodigye-deuisers and wonder-workers euen such as should falsely professe Christ were foretold both by Christ and by his Apostles First if we aske the time they were most to abound yea as it were to swarme towards and in the latter times which Matth 24. 2. Thess 2. Apocal 13. manner of dealing with daily aduantage and new increment in that kinde is so liuely to be found amongst the Popish that I dare boldly ashrme it and will stand to iustifie it notwithstanding the infinitie of fables reiected by themselues in their old legends and portesses that in respect of their glorying in visions and miracles there is no comparison to be made betwixt the former times and these so that in them and in their congregation it is most euident that the neerer they approach to the later or latest times the more they abound with their lying visions prodigyes wonders And if they themselues be not the men that should falsely ptofesse Christ and gloriously vaunt in miracles and prodigyes let them shew vnto vs point out vnto vs some others that teach here and there is Christ by tying Christs faith and religion to some one See or by pretending and preaching some reall presence of Christ vpon earth let them I say shew some manner of men who glory in the name of Christ though most falsely and yet doe prodigyes wonders miracles for confirmation of their errours and heresies as cleare as the heauens it is that there is no sect which doth so absolutely rest and confide in their miracles wonders as themselues and to them it doth agree so properly euen 4 to modo that there was neuer yet any popish Doctour who hath written in defence of their heresies and errours who challengeth not miracles and visions as peculiar to themselues and as frequent in their Church alone making the same as a sure note of true Christianisme amongst themselues Wherefore else doth Bristow in his motiues and demands mountanouse Hill in his quartron of reasons without all reason truth or honestie wholly quartered out of Bristowes motiues and Gasper Vlenbergius his causes wherefore else doth Bellarmine in his notes of the Church Stapleton Coster Baronius Coccius Sanders and all other whatsoeuer writers for that sect so triumph vpon their miracles and visions they haue them therefore and we willingly yeeld them vnto them for otherwise we should not esteeme them as ministers of him who without compere or equall sitting that is ruling 2. Thes 2. and gouerning in the Temple the visible externe house of God was to come in all power signes and lying wonders marke the words obserue the mysterie I say it and repeat it againe who was to come and to sit in the temple of God not shewing a few miracles not weake wonders not with small power but in all power signes and lying wonders was to beare himselfe as in the steed and place of God was also to contend with the elect yea to ouercome the Saints was to persecute and afflict those who embracing the charitie of truth that is the loue of Christ who is the way life and truth should refuse to accept or Ioh 14 6. admit of any other meanes for saluation but the name of Christ which onely is giuen for our saluation as the holy Scripture deliuereth If it be demanded whether Act 4. these sincere professours of Christ which were to be afflicted by the man of sinne and his manciples were to oppose miracles against their miracles and wonders Exod 7. 19. 8. 6. 7. against their wonders as Moses did against the Egyptians To this answering I suppose agreeing to sacred Scriptures that either they were to worke none at all or else so few that in comparison of those which should be wrought by the Antichristian synagogue they would seeme none at all and this is clearely gathered out of Matth. 24. 24. Marc. 13. 12. holy Scriptures agreeing to the sense of auncient Fathers where it is said that the prodigyes and wonders of these Pseudochrists should be so many and so great that if it were possible the very elect should be peruerted which feare of peruerting the elect how should it take place if they should haue miracle for miracle vision for vision wonder for wonder to oppose against these pseudochrists and false prophets Cleare therefore it is that multitudes of wonders and great wonders were to be towards and in the later times peculiar to him who should sit in the temple of God bearing himselfe for a Vice-God euen as Paul the 5. with blasphemous impudencie now doth suffering himselfe to be termed in certaine Theses of diuinitie defended by a Dominican Fryer called Caraffa at Naples by the name Vice-Deus Vice-God whose blasphemie herein is intollerable as alike is that of his Burghesian Familie for the eternizing of which those arrogant Nephew-Cardinalls of him are not afraid to haue ingraued in their cupps and plate this poesie AETERNITATI BVRGHESIANAE DICATVM Consecrated to the Burghesian Eternitie Is not this more blasphemous then Constantius his Numen diuinitie for which religious antiquitie so much condemned him But we may not forsooth deny eternitie to the Familie of a Vice-God to whose predecessor Gregorie the 13. Stapleton was not ashamed to giue Numen a Diuinitie Godhead And truly seeing they will needs haue Eternitie Numen Diuinitie Godhead Omnipotencie seeing they alone will needs sit in the temple of God ouer-ruling all commanding all seeing they will needs haue wonders and prodigies and in great store and frequencie for my part I will neuer denie them vnto them and I doubt not but withall easily to proue that they haue lost charitatem veritatis the charitie 2. Thess 2. of truth for which God hath giuen them ouer to strong illusions to beleeue these errours and lyes Saint Gregorie worthily discourseth to this purpose In exposit Iob lib. 34 cap 3. apud Pateriū in 2. ad Thessal whose speech although it be large yet I will not omit to set downe a great part thereof Terribili ordine dispositionis occultae c. By the terrible order of secret prouidence saith he before the old enemie appeare in that damned man Antichrist whom he shall assume the signes of vertues shall be taken from the holy Church for prophecie shall be hid the grace of curing shall be taken away the vertue of longer abstinence shall be diminished words of doctrine shall cease and the prodigies of miracles shall be remooued the which notwithstanding the diuine disposition shall not vtterly take away but shall not so openly and so frequently shew them as in former times And a little after therefor for the greatest part signes of miracles and vertues shall be withdrawen
may dispence what hee will Yea say they if the question were to marry the King of Spaine to an hereticall Princesse the Pope will first dispense him to marry his owne Sister Is not this to go aboue the power of God who hath said of his holy Law that a jot thereof shall not perish nor be changed Well to vrge Theologicall Arguments I will not but I remit your Lordship to search the Scriptures to see who it is there that doth sit in the Church of God and exalt Dan. 11. 2. Thes 2. himselfe aboue all that is called God And now I appeale to the diuine light of your Lordships conscience whether you doe not thinke that the contemplation of so grosse things first such Ethnicke Idolatry that while Paul and Barnabas being aliue did teare their cloathes and runne vpon the people because they would haue adored them saying they were but men like vnto themselues Now so much adoration must bee done to the Statues of their dead bodies that one shall not enter within Saint Peters Church at Rome but we must kneele to salute him where hee sits in brasse we must lay our head vnder his feete and kisse euery one of his â—oes seuerally Then such impious and base auarice in this trade of Purgatory and Indulgences that in their Camera de Componendis there sitteth Simon Magus vnder the name of Simon Peter making sale of the Spirit of God for money of the mercies of God of remission of sinnes and the Kingdome of heauen and that with such insatiable hands that if euer I who came from a remote Countrey to honour the Apostolicall Seat would giue him largely for dispensation hee would willingly embrace it as who knowes what I did pretend to bee the more assured I appeale to your Lordships conscience whether you thinke those were not sufficient to breede doubts of Religion in any man in whom God hath left a sparke of his feare or one graine of right knowledge Assuredly they mooued me to great iealousie and they were to me as the first sight of the Angell was to the poore Asse of Balaam terror albeit I confesse sincerely the strong opinion which I had drunken so long before the plausible shew of things did for a while violently hold me into the same way as Balaam did force his Asse to goe on after the first sight of the Angell But when I begun to looke vpon the manners of the The Manners of Rome people and to consider what were the faults which were so ordinarily and easily pardoned which is the third thing in number of those which I most narrowly obserued what shall I say I know not how to speake the trueth and therewith to prouide that my penne be not slandered for contumelies and Philippicke passions alwayes I shall so limitate my selfe that I shall not blot so graue a purpose with an humour of rayling or shamelesnesse In the day of visitation and punishment I shall beginne at my sanctuary saith the Lord and wherefore is this because Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis as the Prelates be so are the people the example of the Rulers makes the manners of the multitude as the Spirit of God doth testifie by the Prophet Daniel Egressa est Dan. 11. iniquitas à Senioribus ab ijs qui videbantur regere populum Iniquitie hath gon out from the Elders and those who seemed to gouerne the people For this cause in a iust censure of the manners of Rome it cannot be auoided first to looke vpon the Court wherein is to bee seene such fastuous and intollerable pompe and such a degree of glory as hath neuer beene vsurped by any earthly Monarch to behold the maiestie of the Papall carriage borne one mens shoulders auro fulgens smaragdis shining amidst gold and Iewels those who beare him treading vpon fine cloth wherewith the Church pauement is couered accompanied with a fearefull guard the thundering of Canons the sound of trumpets and all sorts of musicall instruments at whose presence numbers of Princes stately Embassadours great parsonages and multitudes of people doe fall to the ground saluting him holy holy as if he would not onely be Christs Vicar vpon earth but also emulator of his diuine glory in the Heauens and be worshipped like that glorious Lambe before whom numbers doe fall downe to crie holy holy holy that vpon the sight thereof I was indeed amased as if it had beene a vision and demaunding a French Gentleman who had newly also arriued with me and was a zealous Papist how he did esteeme of that which he had seene he answered me in the termes of be God that he thought it farre different from the carriage of him who said Regnum meum non est de hoc mundo and who said to his Disciples Exemplum de di vobis vt quemadmodum ego feci it a vos faciatis which answer I haue many times since thought to be as pertinent as if the holy Spirit had inspired it into him For if the kingdome of the world be called the kingdome of sinne and what reason had Mr. Flud to frame his first argument out of the vncertaintie of his Aduersaries opinions Iudge yee c. But put case Mr. Flud that our Diuines were concerning this point of your Popes being Antichrist equally diuided or iust so as you affirme they are what would the same make their doctrine of the Popes being Antichrist to be onely a fancie See then how you may be whipped with your owne rodd Are you a Rabbie in Iezreel and dispute so what then will become of the feast of Conception instituted in the honour of the immaculate and vnspotted Conception of the euer blessed Virgin Mary Are not there many of your Doctors who affirme yea affirme not without the reproching of others with the note of errour heresie c. that the blessed Virgin was not conceiued in original sinne And are there not against them others who peremptorily affirme that shee was conceiued in originall sinne this being so shall your feast of Conception which is indowed with so many Papall indulgences be a fancie God forbid Againe what will become of your making adoring and worshipping of the Image of God the Father as he Abul in deut Duar. alij Bell. de Imag. lib. 2 cap. 8. Nic. act 5. 6. is in the Deitie himselfe Are there not many of your Diuines who condemne the same Doth not Bellarmine affirme it to be in opinione in opinion Did not your second Generall Nicene Sinod condemne and inhibit the same what then shall your generall making thereof and adoring the same be a fancie God forbid it for if so it would proue not onely a fancie but a most damnable impietie as in truth it is Further what then Gentle Sir will betide the inerrable Rule of your Faith the vnappellable Iudge of all controuersies Is it not a dogmaticall position affirmed by your Canonists deliuered
Saint Iohn as the ancients herein are diuersly conceited Let vs consider diligently what is the natiue signification of the Greeke word vsed in this place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the Greeke word hath in Authors diuers significations yet taken in any of them in this place it Stephanus in Thes Scapula in dict maketh against the Papists Idolatry For it is indifferently taken to signifie either first a secret closset or close and lockt parlour or secondly a very hutch chest or ampere such as victualls are vsually put in preserued or thirdly a coffer Arke or boxe such as treasure is laid vp and conserued in this is cleare because as the learned know that of Stephanus is most true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 passim See Stephanus his Thesaurus and his Greeke Concord obuium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is euery where to bee found and very common in Greeke Authours now that the later worde is taken in the three significations aboue mentioned by me it is very manifest and so as cleare that the first is vsed in the same significations and so in this place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in penetralibus in penetralls in secrets may be taken in any of those significations but doubtlesse it is most cleare that the very signification intended by Christ is that which we see now most agree with the accomplishment of the Prophecie amongst the Papists who in the three significations of the word doe teach Christ to be amongst them either as a spirituall food and viction in their tabernacles amperes â—iutches or as a mysterie in their lockt closets priuate Chappell 's or as a treasurie saide vp in boxes borne in pixes carried about them as most rich ornaments and treasures And to thinke that Christ in this place did aime at this their Pseudâ—christianisme I am induced thereunto by this one reason if there were no other that seeing the pseudochristian Synagogue was to teach and doth teach to the perdition of innumerable soules and high contempt of Gods Maiestie a corporall carnall presence of Christ vpon earth in Arkes secret clossets boxes coffers there to be eaten yea sensibly to be eaten as Berongorius his recantation hath it It cannot be thought but that Christ would in some place foretell the same and no where more likely then in that very place in which so many other properties practises and conditions of the great Antichrist and his are foretould as in this Reason 1 Chapter they are Christ answereth his disciples question concerning his owne coÌ„ming made vers 3. See Luc. 17. 22. 23. Closets are in the sense and vse of all nations not any places for any conuersation but to preserue and keepe any daintiest necessaries for mans vse they are reputed secret storchouses My first reason that these wordes of Christ are literally to be vnderstood against some who would pretend to teach a secret corporall presence of Christ himselfe not another Christ vpon earth I frame out of a double reason of Christ himselfe which hee maketh against them First beleeue them not saith Christ if any shall say behould he is in the penetralls in the secrets or as the Remists interpret it in closets For at the lightening commeth out of the East and shineth into the west so also shall the comming of the sonne of man be thus argueth Christ now as cleare as the very heauens it is that this of Christ is to be vnderstood of Christs corporall and reall comming in person to iudgement which granted then our infinitely wise Sauiour who without blasphemie may not bee impeached of an impertinent discourse must needes be thought to oppose this his publike comming in person against some secret reall presence of him before that time pretended by the false Prophets For if hee should haue spoken this only against the priuate Conuenticles of Heretikes and Schismatikes pretending his Church and spirituall or mysticall presence to be amongst them then shall he be thought thus to argue If any false Prophet shall teach you any false doctrine or seeke to draw you to any priuate Conuenticle beleeue them not for my comming at the latter day to iudgement shall not be secret but publike in glory like as the lightning which shineth from the East and appeareth vnto the West and shall such maner of arguing beseem the infinite wisdom of the Father who dare say so but vnderstanding the same as the truth and the Text requireth then is the reason most diuine befitting the infinite wisdome of God thus If any shall teach you that I am in any secret place or desert here or there for you to make pilgrimage vnto me or to worship and adore mee in your priuate closets or in the retiredst and most priuate part of the house my house is the Church or Temple beleeue them not for I shall not be corporally and presentially thus I interpret according to Christs ordinarie power and prouidence present vpon earth vntill like as the lightning appeareth from the East vnto the West so also I shall appeare in Glorie and Maiestie filling with glory the heauens euen from East to West And this exposition as consequent is confirmed by the comparison or second reason which our Sauiour maketh against the false Prophets thus Wheresoeuer the dead bodie is there will the Eagles be gathered together Matth 24. 28. Touching which saying of our Sauiour all interpretations being seriously weighed that of Chrysostome with Chrysost in hunc locum many of the Ancient and moderne writers will be agreeing vnto the truth to wit that like as the dead bodie being openly exposed in the fields the Eagles by naturall instinct doe repaire to the same to prey thereon so likewise where hee himselfe should be in presence there should not be wanting multitudes of Angells assisting and ministring vnto him and by spirituall contemplation feeding on him So that our Sauiour argueth thus If any false Prophets shall teach that I shall be obscurely in some hidden manner vpon earth in Coffer Celler or Desert beleeue them not for like as the carcase is neuer without Eagles so for hereafter my presence after my ascension shall neuer be without multitudes of Angells assisting and ministring vnto mee And surely if wee Act 7. 9. 2 Cor 12. Apoc 1. 2. saepe search the Scriptures wee shall finde that those extraordinarie apparitions which our Sauiour made after his ascension to some vpon earth were neuer but of himselfe as in glory neuer without the presence and attendance of Angells And so I come to another reason of this my exposition My second Reason I make thus Our Sauiour in this Reason 2 place for the fore-instruction of his faithfull giueth vnto them certaine cleare and euident signes which should Behold I haue told you before Matth 24. 25. happen before his comming to iudgement and by
which by them are instructed to take your holy Father for that man of sinne who was foretold should come in the power and efficacie of such signes By which you may obserue how fond your Remists annotation is in which they write thus They that In 2. Thess 2. now follow the simplest and grossest Heretikes that euer were without seeing miracles would then much more follow this great Seducer working miracles This great Seducer then must worke miracles such as are aptest to deceiue to wit profitable And to adde a little more of this kinde I aduise you Master Floode to call to minde first how the Deuill in times of Heathnish ignorance is reported by Liuie Elian Apollonius Tianeus and others to haue done many profitable signes Secondly how vnder the new Testament the same Satan is by Gods permission to transforme himselfe into an Angell of light by doing or pretending 2. Cor. 11. 14. to doe workes of light workes beneficiall works profitable workes beseeming in the opinion of the Seduced Antichrist and his in the opinion of the seduced shall do miracles beseemâ—ng God himselfe euen God himselfe What may he be able to do some workes of light euen for the time of those 1000. yeeres in which he is bound and shall it be thought that his power will bee lesse in the time of Antichrist when he shall be set at libertie and when as the Scripture saith he shall shew great rage knowing his time to bee Apoc. 12. 12. but short If it be an opinion receiued by all Diuines that the power of wicked Angells is so great that they can apply corporales causas ad producendos corporales effectus corporall causes to produce corporall effects Why shall it bee denied but that they may do by such meanes God permitting the same some beneficiall and profitable effects Aske Aquinas and he will tell you that Magicians per Aquin. 1. q. 110. art 4. ad 12. priuatos contractus by priuate contracts can doe mira miracula quoad nos as to vs wonders and miracles and I thinke it was neuer denied by any sound Philosopher or Diuine but that the Magicians do or may doe sometimes profitable wonders and beneficiall effects and yet notwithstanding howsoeuer the same may seeme profitable to man doubtlesse Satans proiect is thereby to hurt both body and soule if not at the present yet in the end and winding vp of the matter Mr. Floode pag. 151. num 34. Such are miracles which Antichrist shall worke as making the picture of a beast speake bringing downe fire from heauen feigning himselfe dead and rising againe For neither is the Antichrists miracles in M. Floodes opinion Deuill so courteous towardes mankinde that hee will bestow benefits on their bodies nor God so hard as to let him entrappe their Soules by so strange illusions as multitudes of such miraculous helpes and benefits are ANSWER What manner of miracles Antichrist and his ministers shall worke the Scriptures with the Ancient Sages of the Church haue sufficiently declared vnto vs It pleaseth you following Bellarmines tracke to cast a mist of errour before your Readers eyes by putting him in minde of three kindes of miracles which as you pretend most vainely shall be proper to Antichrist euen 4. modo so that by them as by a speciall badge hee may be knowne The first miracle is that hee shall make the picture of a beast to speake Secondly hee shall bring downe fire from heauen Thirdly hee shall faine himselfe dead and rise againe To answere you and shew the most childish vanitie of your conceits Touching the first I challenge your fingers of legerdemaine for where I beseech you Sir haue you read that Antichrist shall make the picture of a beast to speak We read indeede that the second beast which rose out of the earth by which all with one consent vnderstand Antichrist as he pretendeth to be a spirituall Monarch shall cause the inhahitants of the earth to make the image of the beast which arose out of the sea and which is described Apoc. 13. 14. 15 ibidem v. 2. 3. in the beginning of the chapter to haue had seuen heades and tenne hornes being in body like a Leopard in feete like to a Beare and in mouth like to a Lyon and further that the said second Beast should giue to the Image of this first beast both life and speach and should command all the inhabitants of the earth to adore the same This being so I doe now demand in good earnest of your Fatherhood of which of the Ancients haue you learned this your literall theologie that there should in very deed arise such a beast out of the Sea hauing seuen heades tenne hornes and in body feete mouth representing a Leoparde a Beare a Lion Againe of which of them haue you learned that there should arise a pretty lesse beast out of the earth with two hornes like vnto a lambe vpon his head which of the ancients euer taught you that such two beasts should in such shapes and formes succeede each other and in the same shapes and formes be adored and worshipped by the inhabitants of the earth Sir bethinke your selfe what time the inhabitants of the earth shall haue to assemble themselues to the place where this picture shal be erected that they may come and worshippe the same A Iubily of three yeares and a halfe will hardly serue the turne Againe bethink your selfe how great this picture shall be which the Inhabitants of the earth shall bee caused to make greater surely then the cabbage for seething of which as the idle fable goes a 1000. workmen were a whole yeare in prouiding a caldron Bethinke your The Papists literall diuinitie touching the Beasts Image selfe what adoe there will bee to raise vp and set vp this picture greater doubtlesse then your Pope Sixtus the 5. had to reare his Pyramis before Saint Peters Church in Rome Bethinke your selfe how the deuout feminine sexe will dare to appeare before a God of so monstrous so fearefull shape Bethinke your selfe how many sheep lambes c. are to bee prouided for a Bell that hath so many mouthes Consider how the elect may be in danger to be seduced by such abominable Idolatrie which the very sense of men will seeme to detest Idolatrie more vaine then that of the Calecutians which adore their God in the shape and forme of a Cat and equall with that by which they adore and worship the Deuill in a most horrible dreadfull shape Answere sir I pray you you and yours which talke Ignatians most fond in their literall interpretation of the two beasts they regard not what they either say or write so they may cleare their holy Father from being Antichrist so much of the madnesse of others may it not iustly bee replied vnto you Insanitis si ita dicatis you are madde if you so vnderstand the Euangelist and Prophet that such beasts shall
he entred into Hierusalem some fiue daies before his passion those were as publike protestations of his true Diuinitie and these of yours are as applaudings of your Vice Gods forged Deitie and yet si Dijs placet you doe not honor him as a God sitting in the Temple Further who can excuse him for his most shamefull dilapidating of S. Peters Patrimonie his impudent profusing of Church liuings vpon his Nephewes and kinred of which he hath made no lesse then fiue Cardinalls a very monster and Portent in your Church Pius the V. was so Saintly at his entrance into the Papacie that by no meanes he could be induced to create any one of his kinred Cardinall for which Marphorius blasphemously applied that vnto him Qui propter nos homines propter nostram salutem descendit de coelis who for vs men and for our saluation came downe from heauen But not long after being changed by the working of the chaire of Pestilence and making one of his kinred a Cardinall your said foule-mouthed Marphorius applyed vnto him that which followeth in the Creed Incarnatus est homo factus est Hee became fleshly incarnate and was made man that is like vnto his Predecessours men of sin and sonnes of perdition But this your Paul surpasseth them all so doth your chaire of Pestilence make the Insidents proficere in peius to proue worse and worse for hee hath made diuers Cardinalls of his owne blood and vpon him who beareth the name Burghesius Nonus Homo fine of his exhaust and spent Familie he hath heaped such a world of wealth that it passeth all measure Him hee maketh as it were the necke betwixt himselfe the Head and the Church the bodie so that no Church can be prouided of a Pastour but through his hands Wherevpon it followeth that there is an infinitie of Concurrents at Rome where the Marte is kept of such as seeke to chaffare for some Church-liuing non vt dentur digniori Not that the same may be giuen to the more worthy for present pay carries all away and so goes the game whereof you Mr. Flud cannot be ignorant and such a one is your Optimus Sanctissimus Vice-Deus to him and his you may sing Gloria Patri nepotibus in secula seculorum I haue touched briefly some of your holy Fathers virtues I will pretermit many others as his rashnesse effeminatenesse inconstancie c. yet may I not let passe his Iudas-like sinne who by a kisse betrayed his Master When your holy Prouinciall Garnet his Brethren and Garnet Tesmond Gerrard Holdcorne Cateâ—by Percy their Associates were about their pouder barrells and billets in Westminsters vault with which they intended if the heauens had not letted them to haue blown vp our Cesar his progeny and all his worthies this most detestable plot of them was not vnknowne to your Ioue of Rome yet then he to dazell the eyes of our State-gouernours must send forsooth a Breefe by which he chargeth most strictly all Romane Catholikes in this Iland not to attempt any thing against his Maiestie our most dread Soueraigne and to whom must this breife be especially commended as obteined by It was colourably directed to Blackwell intended for Garnet his procuring to Garnet forsooth euen one of the cheifest Architects of the Pouder proiect O treachery of treacheries and most perfidious treacherie Orcus it selfe may be astonished thereat and notwithstanding all this euen yet dare some abusing Clemency and vertue of affabilitie and integritie her selfe which is prone to iudge the best of all to suggest to speake in the behalfe of the suspected Confederates of such Infernall locusts yea to vse as instruments Church-Papists and coÌ„munion Recusants for what further proiects future times and occasions may make easie O Lord be pleased to open the eyes of those who sit at the sterne Giue them yea engraue and imprint in their soules a resolution neuer to giue credit to any promessos or Iuramentos whatsoeuer made by the Ignatianed or their disciples Be pleased ô Lord to grant that our Lyon may defend and exalt the glory of the Crosse that he may sleepe and rest in securitie in securitie yet apertis oculis dormiat vigilans let him sleepe ô Lord waking and vigilant with his eyes open against the Machauilian pollicies of these times Cadant à latere cadant à dextris let them fall both at the left hand and at the right hand which intend ill to Sion and let all who pray for the peace of Hierusalem say Amen I could adde much more in this place concerning the enormities of Rome and your serralls but I willingly omit so to doe whereby you may vnderstand Mr. Flood with what great reason I was moued to wish that your miracles would worke some good conuersions in the Cheeftaines of your Church especially at that place where the Marte of your miracles is kept and in such other places where like Markets are kept as at Brussells Louaine Doway S. Omers Arras Seuill c. I will not enter into particulars concerning such places your own consciences are best witnesses what pernicious proiects what calumnious detractions what odious imputations what abominable hipocrisies are there on foote I onely say that the standing Stationers and Assistants at your miracle markets and miracle forges are for most part of lewdest life and wickedst behauiour so powerfull are your miracles for the working of sanctity in the beholders To proceede you tell vs Master Floode of diuerse conuerted from heresie you terme Christianitie heresie to your Catholike faith Alac what pittie that those Laddes were not conuerted who stole away the Sichimite Lady-image can you tell vs any newes of their conuersion after so many yeares since the pretty Goddesse was stolne away what maruell that none were conuerted by some miracles for the defacing of your Idolls here in England O that Margaret Iesop that Brusfells-lasse or lame Clement had liued sanctified liues vpon their miraculous pretenced recuring You haue heard I am assured of Ginkes who at the time of the sweating sickenesse was condemned at Oxford your Ignatians and ignatianed haue proclaimed euery where that for the wronges then offered vnto this your sanctified Ginkes who gaue testimonie to your Poperie God sent that greeuous punishment which tooke both Bell Barham away happie it had beene if that your roling Ginkes had liued vpon so miraculous a deliuerance a more sanctified life then he did at Rhemes where how vainely he liued you cannot but haue heard What did Master Newtons late vision which he hath pretended to haue had at Staunford against the Oath of Allegiance any whit transforme that man into a more sanctified course of life then he liued vpon the very point when he was honoured by the heauens with so gracious a vision Of what nature that idle vision was the Reader may finde in Master Widrington who handleth the same Disputat Theologica de Iuram Fidelitatis cap.
the same being accomplished there presenteth it selfe vnto the serious meditator such a clearnes of truth that out of them not only coniecturall but euen necessarie arguments may be gathered for this purpose I suppose fourthly that in the very obscurest passages Suppos 4 of that hidden booke if it happen as it often doth that the vnderstanding of some principall part thereof is made cleare by reason that some part of the Vision is accomplished and fulfilled then the other parts and adiuncts of that Vision are to be interpreted and explaned by the same prouided that he who expoundeth hath a carefull eye to other parts of Scripture and the analogie of faith as also to examine carefully and diligently the autenticall Histories of those times in which the principall part of the vision is accomplished As for example in the thirteenth of the Reuelation we haue the arising vp of two beasts described The first out of the Sea with diuers heads and hornes and Diademes vpon the same The second out of the Earth hauing two hores like the Lambe with other particulars describing him to be rather a pretended spirituall Gouernour than a Temporall Monarch Now wee haue in Apoc 13. 12 14 15. this same 13. Chapter in the 12 and other verses it most clearely described that this second Beast is so linked and ioyned to the first that they seeme both to make but one totall compleat and monarchicall Gouernment the one being subsidiarie and helping to the other and this is deliuered by most of the Pontificians who will haue Antichrist himselfe to be signified by the first by the other either a multitude of his false Prophets or else some one most notorious and immediate Precursor of his as Viega with diuers others By which it is most Viega in Apoc. cleare euen by the confession of the Aduersaries that by these two Beasts is signified the whole Antichristian Gouernment both in head and members which also seemeth to be deliuered by the Prophet himselfe who Apoc 17. 7 8 9 10 11 c. declaring how the Beast was described by the Angell that appeared vnto him maketh mention of one onely Beast including and conteyning the latter in the former Now that we may come to know what manner of false Prophet or false Prophets are signified by the second Beast working miracles and prodigies for the seruice of the first Beast wee are to search what manner of Gouernment Rule and Monarchie and where in what place and what time is signified by the first that had heads and Diademes vpon it the which wee may very easily performe seeing it pleased God by his Angell to interpret the same vnto his Prophet S. Iohn By whose interpretation together with that which Pontificians themselues doe deliuer wee may easily come to know what Gouernment or Monarchie is described by the first which being knowne the vnderstanding of the other will be facill and easie the examining of which I refer till anon These things thus supposed I come to my reasons which I ground vpon three seuerall heads or foundations The first shall be out of the very specialties of Antichrists miracles described in S. Iohn The second head shall be out of certaine qualities and conditions which the holy Scriptures doe fasten vpon Antichristian miracles The third shall be out of some cleare circumstances of holy Scripture by which we are pointed both to Antichrist and his miracles which performed the Courteous Reader may not expect more in this place concerning this argument and withall hee may vnderstand that wee are not chiefly to proue the Pope to be Antichrist by his miracles but that truth being otherwise euicted and convinced wee confirme the same position by the Antichristianisme of his miracles I might adde a fourth head of such places as point vs to Antichrist but make no mention of his miracles but of them hereafter if occasion require some of them I haue examined in my first Prelude Out of the first ground thus I argue First reason Whosoeuer in himselfe and in his Ministers hath done those speciall miracles which S. Iohn describeth in the thirteenth Chapter of his Prophecie hee hath in himselfe and in his Ministers done Antichristian miracles But the Pope of Rome both in himselfe and in his Ministers hath done those miracles described by S. Iohn verses 13. 15. in the 13 of his Prophecie Ergo the Pope of Rome in himselfe and in his ministers hath done Antichristian Miracles The Maior or first proposition I suppose as manifest confessed by all gainesaid by none The second or Minor thus I proue The miracles described by S. Iohn in the 13 chapter of his Prophecie and in the 13 and 15 verses are two The one to make fire to come downe from heauen vpon earth in the sight of men The other that hee should giue life to the Image of the Beast so that the Beast should speake But the Pope of Rome and his haue done these two Ergo. That the Pope and his haue done these two thus I make it manifest And to begin with the first which is to make fire to come downe from heauen vpon earth in the sight of men If wee vnderstand this according to the plaine sense of the wordes as probably wee must like as Elias caused fire 1 Reg 18. 38. 2 Reg 1. 12. to come downe from heauen against the false Prophets vpon and against the fiftie seruants then cleare it is that the Pope and his haue caused fire to come from heauen For what else then fire from heauen when Constantine the Pope making tryall of the Archbishop of Rauennas Caution at S. Peters memorie the same was scorched and made as blacke as a burnt cole What other then fire from heauen were those torches which gaue light from out of the clouds to Zacharie Pope as he iourneyed to Rauenna What else then fire from heauen was that which burnt Tilman lib. 2. Sac. Collat. cap 26. the house of a Lutheran Matrone because she commanded an ouen to be heated vpon the day of the Virgin Maries assumption What else then fire from heauen when as to shew the force of Excommunication bread hath been excommunicated and therevpon scorched and made blacke as a dead burnt cole as we may read in your Speculo exemplorum What other then fire from heauen was and is the miraculous Arras Candle What else then fire from heauen was that splendent light like vnto that of your young Saint Bently in Rome which appeared to a Monke attending at Masse Like was that when your Specul v. fletus ex 5. Sacrament-god skipt from a mules backe hanged in the aire with resplendant and fiery beames ouer it and round about it What else then Fire from heauen was that Spec. v. Euchar. ex 26. when a certaine Bishop being excommunicate by your Pope for taking part with Henry the 4. he was as Auentine reporteth from the mouth of another stroken with
the Pope for this his vnbounded supremacie and vnlimited Independancie is assumed by the Popes themselues For howsoeuer the Ancient Church for orders sake did account him to be the first Bishop in ordine order at least of the West yet I dare All those ceremonies which are for adoration acclamation c. and for deportatioÌ„s of his Holines vpon mens shoulders are by his owne approuâ—ng or appointment See Lib. 1. Ceremon sect 5. vndertake there was neuer any Councell or Father of the first sixe hundred yeeres that gaue him any degree or sort of that Supremacy and vnlimited independancy which he now challengeth he now challengeth I say For though most of his Parasites both Canonists Monkes Friers and Ignatians doe giue him as much as he desireth yet I speake what I know there are very many of the learned of that Church which doe grone and sigh to thinke of this his arrogant presumption and both for his challenge and practice but yet they dare not say Domine cur ita facis Lord why dost thou so I note againe the Apostle saith he shall shew himselfe as a God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if he were a God that is he shall not beare himselfe for God who made heauen and earth but for a Vicarian God a God substitute an Antichrist or a Vice-Christ Cleere it is as noone daies that Antichrist shall not beare himselfe for the absolute and one onely God who made heauen and earth for if so where is then mention made of such apparate and order for publike sacrifices as are beseeming to such a one bearing himselfe as God himselfe If so how then shall he Dan 11. 38. 39. Matth 24. worship the God Maozim with Gold and siluer and pretious stones If so what danger should the elect be in to be seduced by him if he shall deny both the God of heauen and Iesus Christ his only Sonne If so why and how according to the Pontificians shall he cause an image of the Beast like a Leopard Beare and Lyon to bee made and worshipped If so how can his comming be a mistery How in fallacia erroris in deceiueablenes of error Further I obserue the word of the Apostle that he sitteth if this wee vnderstand of absolute gouernement as it is most probable then I haue spoken thereof already but if we take the same literally so also the Pope sitteth as God as a God I haue beheld him with mine owne eyes often sitting vnder his Throne in the material Temples of Rome God like as a God hauing as great outward adoration giuen vnto him not only by the people but by the purpured brethren by the Priests and others who assist at the altar as is giuen by them vnto Christ whom they beleeue adore as presentially there present the difference only is they adore their Sacrament-Christ as true Christ their Pope-Christ as a Vice-Christ Antichrist a Christ-substitute The Apostle saith The Temple of God which we must not so vnderstand that he shall sit in the Temple of God and yet not defile and prophane the same for how is it possible that Autichrist should fit in the Temple of 1 Machab. 1. 52 Ioseph liâ— Antiquit lib. de Bell Iudaico saepissime God against God and yet not prophane it But as the Temple of Ierusalem was called Gods Temple and the Temple of God though most impiously prophaned first by Antiochus and after by Caius so shall the visible Church in which Antichrist shall sit be still called the Temple of God though most impiously and sacrilegiously prophaned by him yea so prophaned by him with such abhominations that doubtlesse whosoeuer shall therein partake with him shall for the same perish eternally And so we may see how idle that bragging instance See Chrysost Theodor. Ambr Oecumen Aquinas and others in 2 Thess 2. of the Papists is when they obiect vnto vs that we make the Pope to be Antichrist and yet to sit in the Church of God and so say they we make their Church to be the Church of God but how vaine I say is this instance we confesse indeed that their Church is the Church of God but prophaned yea impiously sacrilegiously prophaned so that all who partake formallie and willingly with the Pope in his prophanations shall eternally perish I said formally and willingly for I doubt not to affirme but that there are very many who grone after a reformation of that Church and hope for a redemption making welnigh as small account of many of their Tridentine Decrees as I do That there are many such in Popish kingdoms I refer my selfe to the Ignatians other Professionists consciences who know how many there are in their Churches which can neuer be setled in their minde without continual doubtings concerning diuerse points of popery as adoration of their Sacrament adoration of Images vse of Indulgences praying to Saints Iustification of workes the Popes vnbounded Supremacie worshipping of relikes sacrifice propitiatory for the dead Transsubstantiation c. To proceede this man of â—mne must beare himselfe as a God in the temple which argueth that he will challenge and assume vnto himselfe some Godlike and diuine worship the which that we may vnderstand how it is acted by the Pope wee are to consider how the true Lord and true God is honoured by his Saints and Seruants in the temple The holy Prophet declareth the same thus Omnes Apoc. 7. 11. 12. autem Angeli c. But all the Angells stood in sight of the Throne and of the Elders and of the foure liuing creatures and fell downe before the throne vpon their faces and worshipped God saying Amen Blessing and Clarity and Wisedome and Thanksgiuing and Honor and Power and Fortitude be to our God for euer and euer Thus the Prophet is there any one iot of this honor adoration which is not giuen to Romes-vice-God by the Papists and by The Pope making a Cardinall saith Creote c. or thus Sis frater nester Princeps Orbi his creatures the Purpured They when they first acknowledge him I meane the Cardinals for their holy Father Pope do they not the same by adoration he sitting in a chaire they one after one adoring for vntil their adoration be finished and compleated he is not compleate Pope by adoration he is made Pope and being made he is adored And for as much as is conteyned in the 12 verse doe they not fully yeeld vnto him euery point thereof What generall acclamations are made to him by all in the Temple and of that Temple calling him Beatissimus Sanctissimus Diuinissimus Supremum in terris Numen most Blessed most Holy most Diuine the supreamest Numen vpon earth and in like Benedictio Blessing sort his Holinesse his Sanctitie his most Holie Holinesse c. he hath then Benediction Blessing c. As for Charitie Glory or Magnificence which is the second attribute giuen to God by his