dead sitting on his Throne of majesty chap. 20. VII The seventh and last Problem therefore must needs be concerning the Enemies of the Church whether we may not understand that of them also in this booke there be named Seven viz. 1 The Divel that old Serpent the great Red Dragon with seven heads and ten horns Rev. 2 10. 12 9. and seven crowns upon his heads 2 False Apostles Hypocrites Rev. 2 2. 3 Nicholaitans Hereticks chap. 2 15. 4 The followers of Iezabel and Balaam chap. 2 20. Licentious and Idolatrous Teachers 5 The first beast rising out of the Sea chap. 13. The old heathenish Roman Empire 6 The second Beast rising out of the Earth which seemeth peculiarly to signifie Antichrist unto us chap. 13. the proper and principall subject of this our Investigation 7 Gog and Magog heathenish and open Persecutors joyned with secret and intestine enemies whereof wee have not here to speake These things seeme to me not altogether improper nor inconvenient yet seeing I am no Prophet nor the sonne of a Prophet I dare not determine of them but leave them to Theologians to consider And with favorable permission going forwards to search and find out this great enemie of the Church of God I demaund whether he be not fully described unto us in this book of the Revelation and other parts of Holy Scriptures by seven notable and notorious Attributes 1 His place 2 His state or body politick which must be subject vnto him and support him 3 His Names 4 His Rising 5 His Raigning 6 His words and actions 7 His Times Of which Christ Iesus assisting I meane to speak in order J. Of the place of Antichrist BY the rules of methode we ar taught to proceed à notioribus ad minus nota froÌ„ things better known to infer proue things not so well known of things knowen they say those are best knowen which are visible or sensible and that the outward visible sensible adjuncts accidents do very much conduce to finde out and discover the nature and essence of everie thing Euen our divine Euangelist Prophet being taught by the spirit of God seemeth to approue of these observations where he beginneth his Epistle with this protestation That which was from the beginning 1 Iohn 1. which we haue heard which we haue seene with these our eyes c. making the senses a sufficient proofe of the humanitie conjoyned with eternitie This is the cause wherfore I thought best to begin my enquirie at the Place of Antichrist For what is more cleare and evident then that everie thing which hath an existence must haue a place he that seeketh for a thing out of his proper place or element as they now speak doth as if he should seeke for a fish in the fire or a swallow in the Sea The learned Grecian Aristotle the riches of whose learning I see no cause but it may be brought into the Holy citie according to the Prophecies referreth place to the Predicament ubi which importeth a Relation defineth it verie acutely I thinke truly to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which I know not how well but thus I think it may be rendred The unmoueable and nearest confine of that which compasseth any thing about He calleth it unmoueable because in all motions it is not the place that removeth from the thing nor with the thing but the thing it self is removed from one place to another It must be nearest indeed contiguous for els it can not be the place of one thing but may contein another it must compasse it about for if it do but touch it in part it is to be called adjacent or contiguous but not a place The most learned Roman maketh place one of his four principia Varro August And the learned also of later age number it among those things which necessarily concurre to the constitution of things Existent Cajcâ—an By all agreed to be a Relatiue which therefore must haue a Correlatiue Everie place is so called in respect of the bodie placed in it Everie Continent in respect of the thing conteyned everie Principle in respect of the thing proceeding from it as a Father cannot be so called without a sonne nor a master without a servant nor a cause without his effect Herehence are derived those rules and observations of the learned Posito corpore necesse esâ— poni locum posito loco locatum poni necesse est That Places must haue a due proportion of quantitie and magnitude great things must haue greate places for else they could not be compassed or comprehended in them Litle things litle places for els there would be vacuum Things of long continuance must haue places of equall duration and places of long continuance are not appropriated to things that must soone perish or passe away Also Places must haue a due temperament of qualitie agreeable to the things placed and the things placed to the places for else the one would destroy the other and contraries can no more be and continue in one place then in one subject These Observations being discovered unto us by the ordinarie light of nature it hath pleased the God of nature whose majestie is terrible his wisdome incomprehensible and his waies past finding out who numbereth the droppes of the Sea and the sand of the shore who calleth the starres by their names and filleth heaven and earth to descend into the narrow and poore capacitie of humane intelligence and by these outward visible sensible things to teach us who is a Teacher like to him to finde out things most obscure and difficult Let us see therefore what place of what capacitie quantitie and quality the great Governour and Disposer of all things hath appointed for Antichrist And first I demand whether it be not plainly described to be Rome and that Christian upon the consideration of these seven places of Scripture that follow The first in the seventeenth chapter of the Revel where it is set forth to be 1. That great citie Revel 17. 2 which was set upon seven hills 3. which had seven heads or governours 4. And ruled over the kings of the earth 5 which in a mysterie is called Babylon And 6. Most aboundant in riches glory 7 Yet most filthy in all fornication and uncleannes Let us examine these words every one by it self It is first a great Citie A city is by some considered as it consisteth of howses and buildings neare joyning together so Ninivie Tyrus the old Gen. 10. Babylon and others in the Scripture are called great citties So Tully calleth Pergamus and Smirna cities pro Flacco li. 1 de bell li. and Caesar also calleth Rome Civitatem taking that for a principall cause of his Parricidial warrs ut Trib. plebis ex civitate expulsos restitueret that he might restore the Tribunes of the people that were driven out
the description also of this beast here is almost the same with that which is expressed in the 17 chap. of this Book I ask then what kingdome or Empire can be understood in this place Surely he that will say that this beast here and the beast in the 17 chap. do signifie any other kingdom beside Rome must produce some other great Empire to whom the seaven heads and the other attributes there given unto it may be applied aswell as to the Roman which no man yet could ever do Let us therefore see the description of this mightie Empire comparatiue and wherein it doth agree or differ from that which is described by the Prophet Daniel and by this our Euangelist in the 17 ch The fourth Beast saith the Prophet comming out of the sea was fearfull and terrible and verie strong It had great Iron teeth it devoured and brake in peeces and stamped the residue under his feet it was unlike the other beasts for it had ten horns there came up among them another little horne before whom three of the first hornes were plucked away and in this horne were eyes like a man and a mouth speaking presumptuous things And this fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdome and shall be unlike to all kingdomes and shall devour the whole earth and tread it downe and breake it in peeces and the teene hornes out of this kingdome are ten kings and another shall arise after them and he shall be unlike the first and shall subdue three kings And shall speak words against the Most High and think that he may change times and lawes and they shall be given into his hands untill a time times and half a time But the judgment shal sit and they shall take away his dominion to consume and destroy it unto the end This is Daniels description of the fourth Monarchie Let us heare again how the Euangelist describeth it in the 13 chap. I saw a beast rising out of the sea having seuen heads Rev. 13. and ten hornes so Daniell and upon his hornes ten crownes upon his heads the names of blasphemie And the Beast which I saw was like a Leopard and his feete were as the feete of a Bear his mouth as the mouth of a lyon and the dragon gaue him his throne and great authoritie and I saw one of his heads as wounded to death but the deadly wound was healed and all the world wondred and followed the beast and they worshiped the dragon which gaue power to the beast saying Who is like to the beast who is able to make warre with him so Daniell it shall devour the whole earth c. And there was giuen unto him a mouth that spake great things blasphemies power was giuen him to continue 42 months And he opened his mouth in blasphemie against God to blaspheme his name his Tabernacle and them that dwelt in heauen And it was giuen unto him to make warre with the Saints and to overcome them and power was giuen him over everie kindred tongue and nation Therefore all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the booke of life of the lambe which was slayn from the beginning of the world In the 17 chap. of the Revelation it is thus The woman sate upon a scarlet beast full of names of blasphemie Rev. 17. which had seuen heads and ten hornes so in the former prophecies And the beast which thou hast seene was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pitte and shall goe into perdition And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world when they behold the beast that was and is not and yet is Here is the minde that hath wisdome The seuen heads are seuen mountains they are also seuen kings fiue are fallen one is another is not yet come and when he cometh he must continue a short space And the beast that was and is not is the eight is of the seuen and shall go into destruction And the ten hornes which thou sawest are ten kings which yet haue not receaved a kingdome but shall receaue power as kings at one houre with the beast These shall haue one minde and shall giue their power athoritie to the beast These shall fight with the Lamb and the Lambe shall overcome them the ten hornes shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and shall burne her with fire They that be of indifferent Iudgment may see in that Prophecie of Daniell many things that cannot be applyed to Antiochus or to the kingdome of the Seleucidae Vide Brightmâ— in Dan. 11. As first the great power of this fourth kingdome which the Prophet setteth forth in more terrible dreadfull manner then any of the former But was the kingdome of the Seleucidae more terrible or more powerfull then the Assirian and Caldean the Median and Persian or the Grecian Monarchie was Antiochus any way comparable to Nabuchadnezzar Cyrus or Alexander Did he devour the whole earth Also this fourth kingdom shall think to make changes of times or lawes Dan. 7. c. did Antiochus so Besides by the words of Daniel it may seem that the fourth kingdom shall continue untill the finall judgment which cannot agree to the Seleucidans Letting therefore that opinion passe as a Iewish conceit approved by none of the ancient that I can finde Hieron in Daâ— but Porphyry some few of late that are too much addicted to the Rabbins I thinke there is litle doubt to be made but although some things may be applyed to Antiochus Hieron in Dan 2 4. Quartum regu perspic ue pertinet ad Rom. August Nich de Lyra. Antoninus Marsil Fic Sleidan Napier in Apoc. Abbat demonstr Antâ—chr Pâ—raeus Not. Geneven c yet this beast here signifieth the Roman Monarchie and the little horne signifieth Antichrist shadowed in some things by Antiochus And so I finde the opinion of the ancient and best interpreters Then to goe forward and see what points these two excellent and divine Prophets apply to the Roman Empire and wherein they agree or differ And truly to my understanding they seeme to agree in seuen points verie materiall 1. In the rising of this beast which both affirm to be out of the sea 2. In the name a Beast that is a Kingdom as the Angel expoundeth it not one King individuall although if he did say a King we may understand well enough the whole succession as where he saith Thou o King art that head of Gold 3. In the attribute which they give unto him Great strength and power unmatchable and unresistable 4. In his disposition most cruell and bloudy 5. In the instruments of his power Ten horns that is ten Kings 6. In his Warre against the saincts prevailing against them 7. In
himselfe to be the thiefe and restore the stollen goods to the right owner But as the acknowledgement of error and of injurie is not to be expected from him or his who loue the world the pompe glorie and power thereof a little too well to resigne their Soveraigntie So in all these courses whilst he thinkes cunningly to hide himselfe he bewrayes himselfe the more to be ANTICHRIST unto such as haue spirituall eyes illuminated by grace from aboue to discerne trueth from falsehood Thus you see their Egiptian wisedome and what paines they take with those Magicall Iuglers Iannes and Iambres 2 Tim. 3 8. to conceale themselues and how much it concerns them so to doe On the other side it concernes us with Moses to relye upon the Hebrew simplicitie and sinceritie for our salvation but withall to be learned in all the Egiptian wisedome Act. 7 22. the better to discover Antichrist his clowdie walking that so diverse Controversies may be at an end For were he fully discovered then all that belieue in Christ and loue him and desire his glorious comming would hate this Monster who is like Iudas amongst the twelue a counterfeit Apostle carrying the bagge an Hypocrite playing the parte of a Vicar a Deputie a Substitute but from the stage appearing a naked ragged beggerly vacabond And doubtlesse his person being thus discovered his lawes and decrees would be rejected and Kings Princes and people would cast the Egiptian yoake from their overgalled neckes Yea such as thinke they doe now God good service in murthering the poore Lambs of Christ in all places for him would leaue him come out of his Babylonish profession and not so much as trade or trucke with him in the least exchange of those doubtfull commodities or touch any of those garments spotted with the flesh It cannot be denyed but Iesabell was once young and Chast and faire But this proues not that she is so now It cannot now be denyed but that she is full of wrinckles and a royall whore the Mother of fornication Rev. 2 20. fitte for all commers and withall painted to uphold her rotten reputation And we doubt not but God will stirre up some Iehu zealous perhaps for his owne interest if not for Gods to cause her owne Eunuchs those Fryars Monks and other Votaries 2 King 9 30 to throw her out of the windowe that he may treade her under his horses feete And doubtlesse as this shall in time come to passe by the powerfull preaching of the word which shall wast him by degrees 2 Thes 2. so as an effect of the word preached first the usurped authoritie of the Papacie and Roman Cleargie over Kings and Princes shall be broken and reformation shall begin where deformation came first into the Church So that Antichrist shall say as Hanniball once did Eadem arte qua prius cepimus Tarentum amisimus And this is with Iehu to treade Iesabel under foote Bellarmine confesseth that Constantine the Greate gaue the Pallace of Laterane Bellarm. li. 2 cap. 17. de Rom. Pontif. multa alia temporalia to the Pope Ditionem tamen spiritualem neque dedit ullam neque dare potuit So the spirituall dition made way for the temporall donation and then was poyson powred into the Church when the bountie of Princes sought to satisfie the ambition of Priests The Priests then grew downwards towards the earth and Princes then began to climbe upwards towards heauen And the coveteous Clergie finding the fayth of fewe for the faythfull are but fewe a verie little flock and oftentimes not very rich in wooll not to be so fruitfull as the superstition of many they nourished that profitable and liberall humour by their uttermost arte and from hence got S. Peter a rich patrimonie being dead who when he lived had scarse a house wherein to hide his head This temporall patrimonie graced with so holy a patronage as the reverenced name of S. Peter did speedily and mightily increase in all places especially where superstition was interteyned in the name and stead of true Religion and where Clergie men knew how cunningly to raise questions and quarrels under hand and then to intrude themselues as equall arbitrators and impartiall umpires but ever to manage and determine all for the advantage of the Catholike cause as they called it and for the ruine of particulars as it is reported of that Lawyer who decided the difference betwixte the lame man and the blinde concerning their oyster that each of them should haue a shell and he the meat Thus dealing for the Church by pretence themselues being mostly single and unmarried and so unsuspected to trade for the world and posteritie they had oportunitie to inrich themselues and their particular fraternities and to performe such actes with commendation because they pretended S. Peter and the Church not themselues as would haue been counted cousenage treacherie exaction oppression injustice and perhaps forgerie and Robberie if perpetrated by any other persons or to any other ends But the generall opinion of their Cause and Persons supposed and stiled sacred made all passe currant without question or controule Thus in a short time where they were lately glad to be graced by Kings Kings were now glad to be graced by them And where Kings had persecuted their predecessors for the trueth they now persecuted Kings for falsehood and chalenged the investiture of such Princes by right upon whom their predecessors out of the opinion of their pietie and the superstitious desire to be inaugurated by so blessed an omen had been sometimes formerly invited or admitted to lay their holy hands Now therefore they began to cutte out large cantles of the earth for their owne share and made so manie sanctuaries and Citties of refuge that they incouraged malefactors who ought to haue represt them and gotte well by the bargaine too For they so mightily grew by this meanes that the world and the wealth of it was found with Priests and pietie was onely found with the poore the secular was onely regular according to Christ and the Regular was master of misrule in all secular affaires Marchandize forraigne negotiations and the Government civill and ecclesiasticall first by the civill and imperiall lawes after by the Cannon Law a Law of their owne was wholly moderated and managed by them Kings were made their wardes and deposed for Hereticks as soone as they once thought themselues of age to rule themselues and their people aright without their helpe Yea Mars himselfe was interteyned into their service and the Crosse of tribulation fayth and patience which was at first but a staffe in the hand of the Cleargie to support them in their constant sufferings was now perverted in the use and turned upwards in prosperitie and spirituall pride and so became a sword in everie Cleargie mans hand to invade and disturbe the peace of Christendome and Confession served as a secret racke or torture of Conscience a kinde of
doubted or any other man neede to doubt of the trueth but as it should seeme being no profest Churchman he modestly disputes the point as a man that would learne himselfe and others by asking questions wisely and withall inquiring whether it can be imagined that any man can be more like Antichrist then the Pope is he concludes negatiuely that none can and plainely layes downe in everie Probleme the obstinate absurdities of such as looke for Antichrist and beleeue he shall come yet cannot now see him to be come because either he stands too neare them as a beame in their eyes and they are parte of him bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh or they expect him when he comes to be so qualified for publique observation as the Church of Rome hath cunningly and poetically described him But such an Antichrist they shall never see for the church of Rome did so paint him in policie not for the disclosing but for the concealing and clowding of his proper and personall appearance and diverting the eyes of all men from beholding the right object For my parte meeting with this Booke in a manuscript and seeing the profit it may bring to all I could doe no lesse then be a midwife for the edition of this since I am not able to be parent for procreation of the like And I haue taken the boldnes upon me to dedicate it to no lesse persons then to the Kings and Potentates of the Earth for it concernes them all especially aboue and more then others to reade and to understand this Controversie least they should be made drunke or kept drunke with the dregges of that abhominable cuppe of Inchantments wherewith diverse of their forefathers haue been intoxicated and slept to death and least they should under the appearance of Christianitse countenance and support Antichristianisme and so thinking to doe Christ good service persecute his poore members ignorantly Besides many of them haue suffred much from the hand of Antichrist and his members The Kings of France haue beene butchered by their instruments and the kingdome put in Combustion by their incendiaries of the Roman Catholique league or partie Our Queenes Father Henrie IIII. of renowmed memorie must not be forgotten his blood is yet too fresh upon their fingers to be hidden from her Majesties eyes except they force her weake sexe as they haue done manie of the masculine gender to winke by threatning to dippe their fingers as deepe in her bloud which the Lord forefend if she cast an eye towards her Fathers Funerall or so much as inquire whether or no he dyed by age or by some injurious and traiterous hand Our Kings haue beene and are still excommunicated cursed exposed to slaughter and deposition by them The King and Queene of Bohemia haue beene pursued from place to place and all Christendome imbroyled with bloodie warres for the upholding of Papall usurpation against regall Iurisdiction Other Princes haue formerly felt and may hereafter feele the strength of his Imperiall and Catholique Armes and therefore it concernes these also to knowe the man of sinne for their owne comfort that they may the better beare their Crosses considering from what head and hand they come and that they may with more courage and assurance looke up towards deliverance Luke 21 28. as Christ hath willed them who at the length will be too hard for Antichrist and giue a happie yssue to all their afflictions And as it concerns Princes especially so it concerns others also as much as their salvation may concerne them to know Christ their Saviour and Antichrist the chiefe enimie of their Saviour and of their Salvation from each other and therefore I haue dedicated it to all Christians But if any wonder why in the Title of the Dedication I use these words To all Christians Reformed and Romish as if I contradicted my selfe in calling the Romish professors Christians which in other places I terme Antichristians I answer that the Pope himselfe could not be the Antichrist except he were a Christian and tooke upon him also to be the chiefe Christian in externall profession A man may in diverse respects be a Christian and an Antichristian at once The Pope is baptized professeth the fayth in generall termes as Peter did and thus he is a Christian and one of S. Peters successors as all other Bishops are but as he chalengeth to be head of the Church universall Bishop of an infallible spirit Iudge of the Scripture c he is Antichrist that is Rev. 18. Rome as head of the church is Babylon such as so dwell in it mystically by adhering to it are in Babylō whether they be in Rome or no such as renounce this Babylonish doctrine of Romish supremacie suprelacie holding the true head which is Christ Iesus alone those are with out Babylon though they dwel in Rome for Christ in shew but against him in trueth So those of the church of Rome are Christians in outward profession but as they adhere to the Pope as to the Vicar of Christ and head of the Church they are Antichristians and such of them as belong to Gods election are called out of Babylon by the holy spirit and may come out from thence by renouncing the Babylonish doctrine of the Church of Rome though for their persons and dwellings they continue in the same place and cittie still And that these Romish Christians may be informed and all other Reformed Christians established in the trueth is the end which the Author proposed to himselfe in the collection and composition and I in the publication of this treatise All that I feare is that both this worke and my owne indeavour shall meete the greatest discouragements from some of those that should protect and countenance us who eyther from error of judgment deny the Pope to be Antichrist and yet separate from him at which I wonder or else out of humane wisedome and policie seeme still to be in doubt and will not be resolved as fearing a diminution of their worldly greatnesse and glorie if this truth should be generally acknowledged Because they suppose much of their authoritie would be found to be built upon the sandie foundation of Antichristian usurpations But shall we loose heauen for earth or looke so low as to bring temporall respects into the ballance with eternall Can there be no provision for upholding the honour and countenance of the Clergie from common contempt and for the incouraging and rewarding of learning but what Antichrist invents to uphold himselfe withall Then let me rather be still poore and despised with Christ and accounted ignorant with his Apostles then rich and respected learned with those of Rome Truth and simplicitie are the chiefe ornaments of Church-men and should be inseparable Their serpentine wisedome should not be used for this world for that naturall subtiltie which hath no mixture of doue-like simplicitie infused by grace Christ did not teach to his Apostles
of one bodie so is Christ for by one spirit we are all baptised into one bodie c. And this that divine Apostle himself learned of the words of our Saviour Christ from heauen Saul Saul Act. 9. why persecutest thou me Now according to these different acceptions of these two words let us consider of the word Antichrist and to whom it may be applied And first for the name of Vicarship The Pontifex max. of Rome who is the seauenth head or king of the Roman state and confesseth and professeth himself to be head Governour of Rome he also confesseth and professeth himself to be the Vicar of Christ and of God and in this sense the name agreeth unto him and so his advocates and followers affirme him to be But as the word Antichrist signifieth an enimie to Christ it is by them all stoutly denied that the Pope is that Antichrist Let us come therefore to the touch that is the text where Antichrist is named and thereby learne how the word is to be understood The first place where it is expresly named is in this our Apostle S. Iohn Who is a lyer sayth he but he that denyeth that Iesus is the Christ 1 Iohn 2 22 The same is the Antichrist And againe 1 Iohn 4. Everie spirit that confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God 2 Iohn 7. but this is the spirit of the Antichrist These be all the places where I can finde the verie name used in the New Testament It may percase seeme strange to finde it in the old and yet there it is to be found and that in a most excellent prophecie though not the same in letters yet the same in sence and signification Psal 2. The kings of the earth set themselues sayth the Prophet and the princes assembled against the Lord and against his Anoynted This Psalme if we marke it well conteyneth in brief words the summe and effect of all the Prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation concerning the enemies of the Church and namely Antichrist and that appeareth in seauen particulars First the rage and furie of the enemies 2 their joyning together against God and Christ and their intention to shake off the yoke of Christ Iesus 3 the providence of God for his church sitting in heauen as in a watch-tower watching over his enemies laughing them to scorne 4 the meanes which God useth to defend them by setting Christ to raigne in his church 5 the anoynting of our Saviour in his eternall generation and arming him with regall and soveraigne power to suppresse all his enemies 6 a loving and serious advise to all Princes and Rulers of the earth to beware to whom they cleaue and adhere either to Christ or to his enimies And lastly an assured promise of happines to all those that trust in him Behold then an excellent Prophecie and the same is touched againe in the 89 Psalme and other places Psal 89 51. But to our purpose Psal 2 2. The word in this Psalme is Al-Meshico against his Anoynted wherein Messhiah as it is commonly known signifieth Annointed or Christ And the preposition Al or Gnal in Hebrue is taken as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke not onely for adversus but for juxta or secundum and sometimes super In the second signification that is juxta or secundum it is accepted by the Pope neither is it denyed by him or his followers in the third signification which is super if we take the name of Christ either for his mysticall bodie for therein he affirmeth himself to be aboue the Church to be head thereof of if we take the name Christ for all that are anoynted namely kings prophets and priests he affirmeth himself to be superiour and aboue them also which is a speciall note of Antichrist as S. Paul sayth He shall exalt himself aboue all that is called God or that is worshiped Neither do I finde 2 Thes 2. that ever any Emperor Prince Prelate or Potentate but onely the Pope tooke upon him the names either of Vicarius Dei or Christi Generalis or Caput ecclesiae catholicae or to be super ecclesiam catholicam not the Emperors of Rome not the Turke nor any other But the onely thing that they stand upon is as I said before that he is not adversarius Christi personally and therefore not Antichrist But how can this be For Christ is in heauen and Antichrist for all his malice power cannot touch him there Let us therefore examine the places of Scripture aforesaid where the name of Antichrist is used and we shall easily perceiue that the name of Christ cannot neither ought to be taken for his person For Christ cannot be found personally present upon earth but either spiritually according to his graces or sacramentally in the Sacrament or appellatiuely as the name is communicated to others or mystically as to the Church So therefore must the name of Antichrist be taken for an enimie to the graces Sacraments or ministers of Christ and that not individually in one person but spiritually in his works or appellatiuely in succession For otherwise it can not expresse the true intention or effect of the thing for the Emphasis or principall force of the sentence in all the places aforesaid resteth upon the word Christ that is Anointed as in the first place He that denyeth our Saviour is the Anointed he is Antichrist 1 Ioh. 2 so in the second and third places 1 Ioh. 4 He that denyeth that the Anointed Saviour is come into the world is Antichrist So in the Psalme The kings and princes set themselues against the Lords Anointed Now the ointment wherewith our Saviour was anointed was the fulnes of the graces of the H. Ghost as the scripture testifieth 1 that he was full of grace Iohn 1. Hebr. 1. 2 that he was full of truth 3 that by himself he purged our sinnes 4 that he is made to us wisedome 1 Cor. 1. 5 Iustification 6 sanctification And 7 redemption such like Now he that denieth these graces in our Saviour and fighteth against those that ascribe these graces unto him he or none must be the Antichrist for other warres against Christ who sitteth in heauen at the right hand of God cannot be made Who then are those that send us to other Mediators and Intercessors namely to the virgin Marie the Apostles and Saints to speak and pray for us if it be the Pope his followers then I aske them why or for what reason they will haue us so to do if they do acknowledg our Saviour to be full of grace why do they send us to others if our sinnes make us unworthie to goe to him that calleth us to himself how many we go to the virgin Marie or the H. Apostles who do not call us Is he not as full of grace that calleth us as they that call us not Is he not
locis ecclesiae and yet confesseth that Antichrist must continue to the end Let the whole place be considered Howsoever it be it can not be said that this question was so well ventilated in those times as it hath been of late Then for answer I demand what or how much the question will be altered if the Pope be acknowledged to be Antichrist though he be not proved to be that Antichrist what difference will it make in the end Must not all true Christians beware avoide detest everie Antichrist But to the point It is coÌ„monly known in Grammer schooles that this particle Ho in Greeke is not alwayes used significantly nor in a significant use is it alwaies taken to signifie a particular and individuall person nor yet in particulars is it alwaies used to note Eminence or singularitie Sometimes and that verie frequent it is used indefinitely many times it is joyned with a name of multitude or with a name of succession He that hath any knowledge in the Tongues may easily obserue that Ho in Greeke is not so Emphaticall as Ha in Hebrew or the in English which yet is sometimes emphaticall and sometimes not For in the same chapter where it is said Ho Antichristos in the same it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Ioh. 2. he that sayth he is in light and hateth his brother is in darknes And again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The lust of the flesh the pride of life c. and the verie last word of that Epistle is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Keepe your selues from Idols So in other places it is joyned with names indefinite as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in another place with the name of Christ Ephes 5. to signifie his mysticall body consisting of a multitude successiue under one head immortall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sayth he so is Christ Hebr. 9. Abbat in demonst And in another place it is joyned expressely with a name of personall succession 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is ever translated thé High-Priest once a yeare entred into the holy place there spoken of 1 Pet. 2 17. So in another place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Honour the King Will any man say it was meant onely of one king And again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Highpriest Hebr. 13 11 And the use of Ho in these places wherein it cannot be meant of one singular Priest or King is so like and paralell to the use of it in the name of Ho Antichristos that I see not what difference can be made betweene them Yet if any will not take this for a sufficient answer let him well consider how he can answer the problems following by which I thinke it will appeare that the Pope is not onely an Antichrist but euen that Antichrist whereof the Scripture speaketh Forasmuch as the Prophecies can be verified of none but of him and that not of one alone but of the whole succession And therefore to proceede to the Names I desire the Reader to examine whether any of the six names that I shall now produce do not fully agree to the Pope and to all the Popes that haue bèen in Rome since the time of Pope Constantine and if these names do agree I must demand How it can be denied but that they and everie one of them is Ho Antichristos that Antichrist The second name therefore is Pontifex maximus or summus the Higest or Great Priest This name I am sure they will not deny to their Pope and likewise I am sure that they will deny it to any other unlesse it be to our Saviour Christ To our Lord it belongeth of right if any other take it upon himself it must be by usurpation and such an usurper of the right and title of our Saviour Christ must be Antichrist It was never given to any by God but to our Saviour Christ Melâ—hisedeck is called a Priest of the High God Hebr. 6 20. and 8 1. Aaron is called an High Priest our Saviour Christ the High Priest and the great Sheepheard of our soules Ecce Pontif. sum qui non eget alieno ex piarisauguine Aug. medit and such like titles but the title of the Highest or Greatest belongeth to none but peculiarly to our Saviour Christ I aske then first whether the Pope of Rome do not declare himself an enimie to Christ in that he doth exalt himself aboue all that is called God or that is worshiped in taking a name upon him higher and greater then was ever giuen to the sonnes of men not to Aaron the holy not to Phinehas the zealous not to Iehojada the worthie not to Iehoshua the noble not to Simeon the glorious not to Iohn the fore-runner nor to Melchisedek the royall and singular everie one in his time the type of our great and eternall High Priest farre aboue them all whose consecration is eternall whose Priesthood is eternall Hebr. 7 16 24. 6 8. 9 10. whose entrie into the Holy place is eternall whose oblation is eternall whose sacrifice is eternall whose mediation is eternall and whose presence in his Church is eternall Againe the Apostle proveth the excellencie and divinitie of our Saviour farre aboue all Angels because he hath received a more excellent name Doth not the same argument proue that the Pope in taking an equall name maketh himself equall in dignitie therefore never durst any of the faythfull Martyrs or Bishops of the primitiue Church take upon him this name of Summus or Maximus Pontifex never any of the Holy Patriarks or Prophets never any of the divine Euangelists never any of the most blessed Apostles for they all knew it belong onely to that great High Priest whose Priesthood is for ever And how darest thou O miserable mortall man take upon thee a name so divine as to be called the Highest or Greatest Priest whilst he is living to whom it so inseparably belongeth Why dost thou not also directly call thy selfe Christ as well as the Highest Priest which is equivalent I demand againe whether in taking this name thou dost not proclaim that thou dost deny that our Lord Christ Iesus is now the Highest or Greatest Priest and so professe thy self to be his enimie and claime to be aboue him seeing it must be confessed that if the Pope be greatest then Christ is not the greatest For two may be great but of two each of them cannot be greatest no more then two can be infinite or two principall But say they Christ is in heauen Head of the Triumphant Church Panorm the pope is onely head of the church militant upon earth O blaspheamerâ— is not Christ Iesus truly God in earth as present by his power Enter praesenter Deus est ubique potenter Ps 139 Sed familiarius in electis pergratiam to rule the church militant as in heauen How then darest thou sitting onely at Rome proclaim thy self Head of the universall
church as well which is in Brittanie Germanie France Spaine Africa America and India parts where thou art not as at Rome and yet confine him to heauen as if he were wholly excluded from the earth who is here as present as there But they say againe the Pope claymeth onely as Vicar to Christ O still blaspheamer answer againe what hath a Vicar to doe in the presence of his superiour yea of such a Superiour who filleth heauen and earth and hath bound himself by speciall promise Ier 23. Matth. 28. to be with his church for ever Dost thou not in making thy self his Vicar deny his presence and in denying the presence of our Lord and Saviour Christ in his church deny him to be truly God Quid verba audiam cum facta videam Againe I aske whether thou dost not in this name usurpe the rights of our Saviour and so also declare thy self to be his enimie When the valiant King Edward the third of England intended warr against Phillip the French King he proclaymed himself King of France that was the beginning of the warr so everie Prince taketh it for a denuntiation of war when his neighbour Prince taketh his title And shall not we say that this is a publike proclamation of war by the Pope against our Saviour Christ when he taketh upon him the stile of Pont. Max. that properly belongeth to our Saviour and was never giuen truly to any man but to him yea doth he not exalt himself aboue Christ For Christ did not take it to himself but received it of his Father But the Pope taketh it to himself without the gift of any unlesse it were of Phocas the Murtherer of whom we shall speake hereafter Neyther yet doth he onely take this title to himself but other titles also not inferiour as caput and sponsus ecclesiae c. which onely belong to our Saviour I demand further whom doth he follow in this title Doth he follow Melchisedek or Aaron They were both called High Priests and they were indeede Types of our Saviour Christ the onely true High-Priest and ordeined by God for certeine signes that he should come and so had a lawfull calling But when the truth was come then all types were abolished yea and they also are abolished from Christ fallen from grace whosoever do use them Whereupon the godly Fathers do affirme that the Céremonies of the Law are now not onely mortuae but mortiferae not onely in use dead but to be used deadly And the reason is apparant for that whosoever doth use them doth deny that our Saviour is come in the flesh namely by using those Ceremonies which were Instituted to shew that he was not then come but to be expected But the Pope using the title of High Priest after the order of Melchisedek or of Aaron doth use a Ceremonie instituted to shew that Christ was not come in the flesh but was to be expected Therefore I aske Whether he doth not denye that Christ Iesus is come in the flâ—sh and so also declare himself to be Antichrist But if they will say that in taking this title upon him he followeth our Saviour Christ I aske by what authoritie or who calleth him to it No man sayth the Apostle taketh this title upon him saue he that is called of God as was Aaron And againe the Priesthood of Christ cannot passe from one to another The reason because Christ is God eternall who can haue no successor in his offices and therefore he that will take upon him to succeed Christ doth deny his divinitie as he that will be his Vicar by pretence of his absence Well if the Pope can shew no calling then I ask by what example or precedent if it were a title lawfull to be used why did none of the Apostles nor of the Disciples use it not Tuus not Timothie not Paul nor Peter not Iames the brother of our Lord Bishop of Ierusalem President of the counsell of the Apostles nor yet our Apostle S. Iohn which outlived all the rest and therefore might best do it In a word I finde none to whom this title of Summus or Maximus Pontifex hath any wayes ben applied but either Melchisedek or Aaron or to our Saviour Christ nor any that hath taken it upon them by humain authoritie but onely the Idolatrous Pontifex Maximus that was in Rome of whom I haue spoken before And if the Pope cannot justifie his highest and greatest Pontificalitie by some title from one or other of the three first it will fall out inevitable that he is the true and undoubted successor of the last And that is most consonant and agreeable to the words of our prophecie that Antichrist should be one of the seauen heads of Rome and namely that head of whom S. Iohn sayth He was and is not and yet is as is before proved Probl 2. The same also may be proved by his name Papa whereof divers haue made divers derivations but for my part I thinke none more probable then to say it cometh from one of the titles used or usurped by the old Roman Emperors which upon their coines were wont to stampe Pa. Pa. for Pater Patriae and now the Roman Prelate as he succeedeth them in the name of Pont. Maximus so he taketh that title of Papa likewise to proue himself their undoubted Successor I will not therefore stand here further to confute their pretence and claime to be Vicarius Christi although I might say that it cannot stand with the celsitude of a Pontifex max. to be but a Vicar neither can a Vicar dispense with the lawes of his superiour nor will I answer to Tu es Petrus and such like which haue been so many times answered by our learned divines neither do I think my self bound to refute the immoderate titles giuen to the Pope by S. Barnard or other late Doctors a pointe of this weight is not to be carried away with swelling phrases of Rhetorick but by evident testimonies of undoubted truth Certain it is that he who said Tu es Petrus never sayd Tu eris Pontifex Maximus nor Tu eris meus vicarius Chrysost no nor super hunc Petrum aedificabo c. neither did he giue any keyes to him more then to the rest of the Apostles But if I may speak my opinion this name Pontifex max. is the verie name of blasphemie written in the forehead of that purple whore euen that Antichrist c. So much therefore be spoken of this name of Pontifex Max. which the Pope taketh to himself A third title is Servus servorum Dei This attribute the Pope also and he alone accepteth acknowledgeth and useth it But this title was never giuen to any but by the godly prophet and patriarch Noah to the cursed Canaan whose Father was the scorner of that godly patriarch and his posteritie the mortall enimies of our Saviour Christ in his Church of Israell and so a type
Constant for Primacie and Supremacie Gregorius Magnus anno 590 condemneth the title of Vniversall Bishop in the Patriarch of Constant yet if we beleeue Baron and some others was contented to hold the Supremacie and for that purpose wrote letters of great flatterie to Phocas the Murderer Sabinianus anno 604 did so much malice his Predecessor and advance Gregorie that he could hardly conteyne himself from burning his books Platina and after him Boniface the 3 4 5 and others all mainteyned their Supremacie the power of that Sea untill Constantine of whom we shall haue cause to speake hereafter Lo these were the Roman Prelates of those times whose Histories diligently collected and layd together Plessis are more at large to be seen in that excellent worke De Mysterio Iniquitatis Whereupon I demand Whether they do not fully answer the description made of this Beast rising out of the earth Out of earthly desires of Honour c. First here is another Beast or Monarchie unlike to any of the former and yet not of any certaine forme of Government alwayes ascending and striving to get supremacie sometimes by one meanes sometimes by another stirring up schismes and seditions patronising Heretikes contending with other Bishops yea with those heauenly Doctors and Lights of the world whom they could no way countervaile Athanasius Hilarius Augustin Aurelius and two hundred Bishops of Africa with him And yet pretending great humulitie and subjection to the Emperor as appeareth by the letters not onely of Vigilius to Anthinius and other principall Heretikes at the command of the Empresse but of Gregorie the Great also to Phocas the Murderer Yet by Schisme and faction seeking to get the place as oft as they could without their consent See more at large of these things in that Booke of Philip Marnay Where also you may reade what S. Hierom writeth of Rome in his time expressely calling it Babylon and the purple whore And telling them of their Riches covetousnes lewdnes and Lupercatia There are the Trophees of the Apostles and Martyrs there is the confession of Iesus Christ sayth he but there is also ambition and Tyrannie which keep men back from doing good Neyther he onely but Marcellinus I do not sayth he marvail considering the braverie of that cittie that men ambitious of that place set up their Rest for the purchasing of it For having once aspired thereunto they are sure to be inriched with the offrings of Ladies and Noblemen to be carried in their coaches sumptuously attyred and so magnificent in their feastes as passeth any kings table Many such testimonies collected are to be read in the discourse of that Learned Lord. But especially is to be observed what he hath diligently drawn out of Baronius where he sayth that Constantine in the 24 year of his raigne ordeyned that the Bishops of the Christian Law should from that time forward haue the same Priviledges which the Idolatrous Priests had in time past They had sayth he their Rex Sacrificulus and Pontifex Maximus And who can think that Constantine would long indure that they should exceed the Christians in Pompe and glorie So Baron their Cardinall and learned Annalist yeeldeth unto us freely confesseth a point of no small moment that this their Pontifex Maximus who now is in Rome succeedeth in priviledge Pompe and glorie to the Heathen Pont. Max. which was before in Rome Yet the same Baron sheweth also that Constantine first tooke the name of Pont. Max. to himself and giveth a reason for it namely that the Senate and people of Rome those that were yet of the Heathenish faction might not so easily be drawen to conspire against the Christian Emperors was it not a verie Christian policie think you And yet sayth he the Pope had the power of supreame judge in all causes So that this standeth most consonant with all Prophecies histories that these two Beasts were at one time both together in Rome and that the new Pont. Max. of Rome hath the power of the Pagan Pontif. But that his power appeared very slowly and that the Pontificall name in Temporall causes was for a long time verie base and obscure appeareth by the testimonie of the learned Guicciardin Guicc l. 4. and other Histories I demand therefore Whether we may not here see the manifest performance of this prophecie I Another Beast arising after the first in Rome and in the presence of the first 2 Arising by degrees out of the earth that is out of the earthly lusts and desires of riches luxurie Pompe and pride 1 Iohn 2. Iames 3. and also by earthly wisedome strife and envie 3 Having two hornes indeed that is a power temporall spirituall but short and weake and as Guicciardin sayth obscure and almost invisible as the Hornes of a lambe 4 Speaking like the Dragon that is contrarie to the Commandements of God Revel 13. as the Serpent did to our mother Eue but equivocally as Vigilius whom Baron himself calleth Antichrist did equivocate with Sylverius his Predecessor and Theodora the Empresse See the Historie in Platina And divers others of them did flatter equivocate with the Emperors The fifth consideration therefore is of his Actions The 6 of his works And the 7 of his Name But of his name I haue spoken before and of his marke I might referre the Reader to the writings of the Excellent Paraeus Napier Iunius upon the Apocalyps But I cannot omit the greate and learned Archbishop Antonin In summa where he sheweth that everie one that entreth into their Holy Orders receiveth a Character p. 3. t. 14. p. 4. t. 13. which he interpreteth to be principale instrumentum ordinis But in another place upon the place of the Apocalyps now in hand Apoc. 13. he expoundeth the Character of the Beast to be cultum Bestiae the worship of the Beast in his right hand that is sayth he in his spirituall works as fasting Almes prayer c. or in his forehead in outward appearance at the least and in outward conformitie We may also obserue that if we subscribe to the opinion of Irenaeus that the name of the beast is Latinus this is observed in all their prayers But considering well and comparing the opinion of Napier with Antonin both with the Text I cannot chuse but thinke the Character is expressed unto us in the superstitious use of the crosse which they make upon the forehead or otherwise with their right hands But for his Actions they are here somewhat largely set forth in this 13 chap. For first it is sayd that he exerciseth all the power of the first Beast before his face So did the Popes before the Emperors as I haue shewed before Secondly he causeth the earth and earthly minded men to worship the first beast So did the Popes to the Emperors while they were in power and continued Pontifices Max. Thirdly he doth great wonders making fire to
the Patriarch and for the present put them in a Monasterie but about a yeare after caused them all to be murthered and so Phocas four or fiue yeares together continueth still a murtherer adding to his paricide perjurie and to his perjurie parricide with extreame hatred against the good patriarch Cyriacus that would not approue of such hideous actions But the Roman Pontifex made good use hereof For thereupon and by slattering this Catholike Phocas he obteyned of him the title of Soveraigne Catholike or Vniversall Bishop which from that time to this they all maintaine A fourth noble action was their violent and open usurpations of the Territories and Lands belonging to the Emperours their lawfull Souverains which they gotte partly by the Lombards partly by the French another act of perfidious Treason and rebellion A fifth action was their favouring exciting and countenancing of Subjects to rebell against their lawfull princes and to depose them as they did the French against the Emperors of Greece Pipin against Childerick of France and Advaldus the Lombard against the king his Brother in law all to serue their owne turnes And this also the popes to this day do allow and maintaine still reaping the fruits and enjoying the Territories and lands which they got by these practises A sixth action is their horrible Idolatrie in the erecting and worshiping of Images which howsoever they labour to blanch excuse or defend with subtill or Sophistike distinctions which cannot be proved by the Scripture as they ought to be for Vbi Scriptura non distinguit neque nos distinguere debemus quia sensus nostri enarrationes sine Scripturis testibus non habent sidem yet both at the first beginning and ever since it was still judged to be open and manifest Idolatrie and that not onely by godly Christians vide Agrip. de van sci â— 57 Morton in Apol cath li. 1. cap. 46. lo Pic. Mir. in Apol. as at the first by the Churches of Graecia and Asia in the East and of France and Britaine in the West and by many godly men in particular but also by Turkes and Iewes which do utterly condemne it as it is used by the Papists for meer Idolatrie and unexcusable See the place Esai 41 21 22 23 24. such like and consider how it can be answered by their idle distinctions of Image Idolum latâ—ia donlia c to which we may adde the Canonising of Saints and making them to be publikely invocated in their solemne Leiturgies therein taking upon them another individuall propertie of God who onely maketh Saints and so committing manifold blasphemie joyned with Idolatrie of invocation And a seauenth or last notable action is the publike declaration and proclamation to the world that they hold themselues absolutely lawlesse and that if the Pope neglect his owne Salvation and others and thereby draw millions of soules into hell with him yet no man may judge of him no man may reprehend him These were the first and the generall actions of this seauenth Head of the Septimontan cittie And all of them are justified and mainteyned by the Popes and by all of them with one consent from their first perpetration and beginning unto this day All of them take the benefit all of them do allow and approue of these things magnifying these ther Predecessors justifying their succession from them and mainteyning their Decrees and Actions holding this for a Principle inviolable that they will not confesse themselues to erre in any thing as Thuanus hath observed Thuaâ— Whereupon I demand Whether they do not all of them thereby declare themselues to be that Sonne of Perdition that exalteth himself against and aboue all that is called God or that is worshiped And I demand whether such things haue been done in any other kingdome or nation under heauen and whether we may expect such things to be done by any Turke Iewe Pagan or any other person whatsoever in Rome the place determined in any time to come Now let us see and consider of the particular actors of this Antichristian person during the time of his Raigne which from the former Period must continue for 666 yeares more or thereabout and in everie one of them I desire thee Good Christian to consider which of them all is not Homo peccati sedens in Templo Dei that man of sinne that fitteth in the Temple of God and is worshiped and exalteth himself aboue all that is called God or is worshipped c. And also what may be thought of the whole succession taken together Anno Domini 707 Constantine the Pope would haue his foote to be kissed like another Dioclesian thereby making evident demonstration King of pride if not in words yet in deede that he claymed to be his successor Onuphr And it defence of Images he openly resisted Philippicus the Emperor of Greece But Iustin and Anastasius tyrants and Murderers submitted themselues unto him and approved his Decrees Idolatrie and rebellion This adoration rebellion and Idolatrie the Popes haue continued ever since Anno 720 or thereabouts Gregorie the second and third continued the same Idolatrie and rebellion and caused all Italie to withdraw their obedience from the Emperor Leo. and to deny their Tributes because he had commanded Images to be broken and burned and for the same cause also excommunicated him tooke to themselues the Cottian Alpes Cursing Princes by colour of guift from the Lombards Anno 749 Zacharie incourageth and assisteth Pipin to depose his master Childerick king of France and to take upon him the kingdome of France which was afterwards confirmed by the Popes that followed for which the sayd Pipin gaue to the popes the Exarchat of Ravenna which belonged to the Grecian Emperor Anno 756 Stephen who cofirmed the kingdome of France to Pipin this man would be caried upon mens shoulders which his successors haue continued ever since Anno 757 a notable Schisme wherein Constantine the second gott the papacie by mony and armes This Schisme is reckoned the ninth Anno 772 Adrian the first a valiant defender of Images and ldolatrie Changing He beganne to grant priviledges and dispensations In his time there was held a counsel at Rome wherein the pope with the consent of the Counsell First horn put downe clearly to cashier the Greek Emperors thrust them out of all made Charlemain prince of the Senate Dist 63 can Adrian papa RomaÌ„ c. this was Adrian the first giving unto him the power of investing the pope And as Mornay collecteth out of Sigonius and others the pope acknowledged to hold of him Ravenna and other pieces by fealtie and alleageance adoring him after the manner that was used to the ancient princes Yet no sooner was Charlemayn dead but they wrought upon the good nature of Lewis his sonne and about Anno 816 Stephen procured himself to be chosen and consecrated without consent of the French Emperor
come downe from heauen in the sight of men So the Popes in fulminating their Excommunications out of the Church which is commonly called Heauen in this Apocalyps Fourthly he deceiveth men with these wonders So the Popes for they are but ignes fatui Prov. 26. causeles curses and so forcelesse Fiftly He sayth to earthly men that they should make the image of the first beast So the Popes in setting up another Pontificate with like power to the first Sixtly it was permitted to him to giue a spirit to the image of the Beast that he should speake So do the Popes animate this image of the first Pontificate And seauenthly to cause that as many as would not worship the image of the Beast should be killed Regall power of life death And whether the Popes haue not exercised that power let all men judge What part or point then of this description is not fully accomplished in the actions of the Popes aboue named Is it not manifest that the popes did exercise all the power and authoritie of the old Idolatrous Pont. Max. in Rome before the Emperors face who for a while held that title of Pont. Max. If we should deny it doth not Baronius himself affirme it The power of the first Beast is sayd to haue been in making warre with the Saints and prevayling against them Rev. 13. and over everie kindred tongue and nation And did not the Popes most stifly contend both with other Christians and with the godly Bishops of the Graecian and Easterne churches for appeales Supremacie untill they had obteyned it Did not Iulius enter into contention with the Orientall Bishops and amongst them S. Athanasius and reprehend them for holding a Counsell without his leave to confute the Heresie of Arrius Did not Liberius excommunicate the same worthie Father and saint Athanasius which made the godly Father S. Hilarie so bitterly to cry out The Pope in his first rising excommunicated by S. Hillarie Anathema to thee O Liberius and all thy Companions Anathema againe and againe to thee thou false hearted double dealing Liberius Doth not S. Hierom complain of the senate of Pharisees saying that there was not so mean a scribe of that faction of Ignorance but did conspire against him which made him to forsake Rome and returne to Ierusalem Did not Celestinus seeke with force and armes to restore Antonius a Bishop of Africa deposed by the Bishops of that countrie amongst whom were those Excellent bishops Aurelius Alipius S. Augustine which caused that godly and learned Father verie earnestly to put him minde of the words of S. Peter that he should not domineer over his Bretheren And did not most of them contend with the Patriarchs of Constantinople for Supremacie What was all this but warring against the Saints And when did these Contentions cease but when the Pope had prevailed against gotten the Supremacie over all these Christian Nations And after he had subjugated all Bishops how they haue continually made warre against other godly Christians namely the Valdenses Albigenses Wicklevites Hussites Bohemians and others everie man may read in the Histories of these later times Now if these things be so How can these prophecies be otherwise fulfilled then they haue been in these Roman Bishops To whom else can they be applied how may we expect any in time to come that may accomplish these prophecies if they be not alreadie It is not amisse here a litle to stay our contemplation and as far forth as the Sunne of Righteousnes and most pure light of truth shall illumine our understanding to search out the cause why the same blessed and all seeing spirit to whom all times are present would not onely represent the four Monarchies or Great Beasts of Idolatrie by four severall mettals but also why it pleased him to make choise of those Mettals viz. Gold Silver Brasse Iron and none other saue with the last there is mixed earth or clay Although the Prophet Daniel hath already shewed the chief principall reason yet if we finde any other reason thereof which is agreeable to the truth and no way repugnant to that holy prophecie I hope it will not seem unworthie of our consideration That the Babylonians Persians Greekes and Romans were all Idolaters is confessed and therefore they were aptly joyned together in one Image But why is this Image made of these severall mettals Surely somewhat may be found if we search into it He that hath commanded us to seek hath promised that we shall finde Thou O King art that Head of Gold Dan. 2. sayth Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar thou and thy Successors kings of Babel Why for you in your Idolatrous services use Gold Herod l. 1. Not. Genev. in Esa 46. Dan. 3. Thou worshippest an image all of gold the table before him is all of gold the Altar is gold and thou makest a Statue of gold to be worshipped And we may well thinke the Prophet Esay had some respect to this in calling it the Golden Babel The Persian Monarchie is resembled to Silver Esay 14. Why They and all the rest of Asia worshiped Diana with silver shrines The Grecians are likened to Brasse Act. 19. Why They made Statues of Brasse Herod l. 9. and dedicated presents of Brasse as the Brasen Triped Natal Comes li. 7. which gaue occasion to that great civill sacred warre The Romans Idolatrie is represented by Iron Why They for the most part offred Iron Armours as Romulus offred his Opima spolia being the Armour which Livy l. 1. he being Generall tooke from the Generall of his Enemies Which examples the Romans did much emulate as Virgil witnesseth of Marcellus Tertiaque arma patri suspendit capta Quirino Aâ—neid 6. Yea so eagerly were his examples followed that Rome was filled with bloudie armours Plutarch in Marcell making a very horrid spectacle sayth Plutarch Yet they had many Images of Earth as Iuvenall maketh mention of Fictitis Iupiter Petr. Crinitus hon dis l. 14. Non dubium est Romanorum regum temporibus lignea simulachra fictilia in urbe fuisse sayth another Their Great goddesse Vesta or Cybete the mother of their Gods was nothing but the Earth or focus urbis the hearth of the citie sayth Tully Matremque Deorum tellurem sayth Virgill S. Augustin also sheweth that Iupiter was nothing but the world Proserpina and Ceres the Earth And Arnobius witnesseth that their Images many of them were of earth Jeâ—â—g 2. such as perhaps Virgil speaketh of in that verse Oscilla ex alta suspendunt mollia pinu And now I demand whether doth not the Summus Pont. which the Romans haue now set up with Pompe and glorie like to the former Pagan Pontifex maintaine and command such images also to be worshipped And whether are not many of their Images now in use made of Playster of Paris and such like stuffe And doth he not now command them