this senteÌ„ce conteyned in the worde of God and in the holy articles of our faithe For we learne by bothe that our Lorde Iesus Christ is the only waye the only doore and gate of saluacion wherby we may entre in to the kingdome of heauen Furthermore they teache vs that Christ Iesus is the only head of his churche the only and chief priest the only sacrifice for the synnes of the worlde and the only mediatour and aduocate vnto God the father for maÌ„kinde so that as many as vouchesafe to beleue in him shall lyue for euermore and as many as will not receaue and acknowlage him to be their saueour shal be vtterly cast awaye Hereof we haue testimonies occurraunt in euery place of the scriptures For Christ our Lorde speaketh alowde saieth with plaine wordes I am the life the light and the truthe No maÌ„ cometh to the father but by me Io. 14. Also Io. 10. Verily I saye vnto you I am the dore of the shepe Al euen as many as came before me are theues and murtherers but the shepe hearde them not I am the dore by me if any man shall entre he shal be saued and go in and come out and shal fynde pasture And a litel after I am that good shepheard A good shepehearde geueth his life for his shepe To the same purpose are many other such like sayenges in other places as these Come to me all ye that labour and are heauy laden and I shall geue you rest Math. 11. If any man thirst let him com to me drinke He that beleueth in me as the scripture saithe ther shal flowe ryuers out of his bely of lyuing water Io. 7. Also This is the worke of God that you beleue in hym whom he hathe sent I am the bread of life He that cometh to me shal hongre no more and he that beleueth in me shall thirste no more Io. â— To the same effecte we must referre the wordes that we reade the apostles spake and wrote by the inspiracion of the same spirite Petre speaking of Christ before the priestes Act. 4. saithe This is the stone that was refused of you builders which is the chief of the corner and ther is saluacion in non other For ther is noÌ„ other name vnder heauen geueÌ„ vnto meÌ„ wherin we most be saued And the apostle Paule iudgeth hym self to knowe nothing but Iesus Christ eueÌ„ him that was crucified 1. cor 2 And in an other place God forbyd that I should reioyce but in the crosse of Iesu Christ Gala. 6. Also Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whom I am chief 1. Tim. 1. And agayne For Christ was not offred vp often but once for all to take awaye the synnes of many Hebr. 9 Ther is one God and one mediatour betwene God and men the man Iesus Christ 1. Timo. 2. c. And what doo all these places reporte els but that Iesus Christ alone is geuen vnto vs of God the father that we might be saued in hym setting all our hole fayth assuredly on him seyng by only fayth we haue free accesse vnto hym Hereof than this must nedes folowe that we must recken them vndoubtedly cast awaye from saluacion and as Iohan baptist sayeth vnder the wrathe of God that will not beleue in him Finally yf we will beleue in Christ Iesus we must of necessitie acknowlage hym to be the only saueour of the worlde after suche sorte as the scriptures purporte hym to be But that shalt thou neuer doo nor neuer shalt be hable to doo yf thou wilt folowe the bishop of Rome and receaue his faythe and doctrine For howe shalt thou acknowlage Christ to be the only heade of the churche yf thou say the bishop of Rome is the heade of the same also How shalt thou also confesse Iesus Christ truly to be the chief highe Priest of all the hole worlde yf thou wilt acknowlage the bishop of Rome also to be the head and vniuersall bishop or priest of all churches How shalt thou beleue Christ to be thy only righteousnesse and satisfaction yf thou seke to be saued by the ryghteousnesse of thyne owne workes merites How shalt thou be hable to beleue Christ to be the only sacrifice for the synnes of all the hole worlde and that he beyng offred vpon the aultare of the crosse made full satisfaction vnto his fathers righteousnesse yf thou wilt confesse that he in his owne naturall humane body is offred vp daily by dronkeÌ„ hooremoÌ„ging filthy varlettes I meane the greasy masse priestes for the synnes both of the quicke of the dead How shalt thou beleue that Christ Iesus is the only mediatour and aduocate of al men if thow praye and call vpon the sayntes departed coÌ„tinually to be mediatours for thee Finally with what faithe shalt thow acknowlage Christ to be the only waye of saluacioÌ„ and the doore of true blessednesse if thou stryue to goo to heauen by the merites of thyne owne workes that is to say by fasting shryuing masses staciones and by the protectioÌ„ and aide of popishe bulles and pardones or by broiling in the burnyng colle pitte of the popes purgatorie Doest thow not see that this gaire is cleane contrary repugnauÌ„t to that faithe which teacheth vs to sticke to Christ alone Therfore thow must of necessitie confesse that thow cannest not chose but be most farre of from beleuing faithfully in Christ if thow wilt folowe the doctrine of the B. of Rome and embrace the faithe that he setteth furthe And if thow be voide of faithfull beleuing in Christ doubtles the wrathe of God abideth vpon thee in that thow wilt not geue credence to the sonne of God So that in case thow goo on still in thy infidelitie once receaued and contynue still a membre of the popishe faith and of that popishe churche thow cannest loke for non other iudgement but to be cast with thy head Antichrist at the last daye in to vnqueÌ„ceable fire For here appeareth no maner of meane for vs but either we must be saued by him which only hathe saluacion in him felf or be excluded from him and be damned for euer more Therfore the papistical faithe and religion must not be reckoned a certain light ignoraunce and tryfling errour which thow maiest easily excuse nother must we beleue that any man in all the world can be saued in case he sticke stubbernly vnto it In this behalf most louing brethren in Christ our soules are in hasarde it is their cause that is in hande yea and so in hande that we may make them bounde slaues through our wilfull stubburnesse vnto eternall damnacion And therfore the mercifull and most gentill harted doctour of all the worlde Iesus Christ as he instructeth vs in al other thinges so he geueth vs faithfull warnyng in this behalf For in Matthewe he biddeth Matth. 7. vs beware diligently of these false ê“phetes that we should obserue them and note them in
with hādes which are similitudes exāples of true thynges but is entred into very heauen for to appeare now in the syght of God for vs not to offre hym selfe often as the hygh Priest entred into the holy place euery yeare with straunge blood for than must he haue often suffred synce the worlde begāne But now in th ende of the worlde hath he appeared once to put synne to flight by the offring vp of him selfe All those sayenges belong also to this purpose wich the apostles speake of Christ Iesus in this meanyng as these be Christ is of God made vnto vs wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption 1. Corin. 1. God forbidde that I shoulde reioyce but in the crosse of our Lorde Iesu Christ by whom the worlde is crucified to me and I to the worlde Gal. 6. Also Ther is one God and one mediatour betwene God and men the man Iesus Christ 1. Timo. 2. If any man synne we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the righteous And he it is that obteyneth mercie for our synnes not for our synnes only but also for the synnes of all the worlde 1. Ioh. 2. Ther is non other name geuē vnto men vnder the sunne wherin they maye be saued but only the name of Iesu Act. 4. To this same ende perteyneth the voice of God the heauenly father wherwith he sounded once and eftesones frome heauē sayeng This is my welbeloued sonne in whō I am pleased Math. 13. 17. chap. Hereunto must the sayeng be referred that the Lorde him self by his holy spirite speaketh in Esaye the prophet I the Lorde This is my name and I will not geue my glorie to any other But the glorie of Christ our Lorde is this that he alone with his raunsomyng blood hath set vs free frō the tirannye of synne deathe hell and sathan and is therfore the Lorde of vs all that is to wete whom he hathe redemed with his owne blood which was shead for vs and so ought to be acknowlaged of vs all Concerning this glory and honour he saithe and professeth that he will geue it to none elles Out of which wordes of Christ it shall appeare by euidēt and stedfast demonstration that he is Antichrist who is Antichrist who so euer gothe about to robbe our Lorde and saueour Christ of this glorie and honour and take it vpon him selfe Who so euer than taketh vpon him selfe to geue remissiō of synnes the benefites of the grace of God the giftes of saluacion the kyngdome of heauen is Antichrist Who so euer taketh vpon him selfe that honour of priesthode to saye that he sacrificeth for the synnes of the worlde is Antichrist Who so euer maketh him selfe an intercessour to God the father for the quicke and the dead by any other reason or maner than we are cōmaūded to pray mutually one for an other according to the trade of the scriptures is Antichrist Who so euer also declareth that these giftes of our saluaciō which we haue now rehearced either all together or singularly by them selues may be hade any wher elles than at our Lorde Iesus Christ only and teacheth men to seke them elles wher than at him alone which was offred for vs once for all now sitteth bodily in heauen he setteth out vnto vs a false Christ yea euen Antichrist and is of the nombre of those false prophetes whom Christ our Lord rekoneth vp here by name Wherupon this also shal euidently appeare vnto vs that Antichrist is not only one man by him selfe as we thought whan we wandred in the darknesse of popishe supersticion but that ther are many Antichristes as we shewed a litell before out of Iohn the apostle And yet ther is an head a certain chief ruler of this abominacion yea all these felowes haue a kingdome and a chief seate of their kingdome And he that occupieth it is that vndoubted very great chief Antichrist in whom the commō enemye of mankynde satā setteth furthe all his streynghtes all his might all his power and operacion yea and al his endeauours deceates fraudes subtilties and coūsailes to mennes vndoing and vtter destruction This mater we shall treate of in the thrid place so as we shall set furthe what is contayned in the scriptures hereof with the most playne demonstracion that we possiblie can But forasmuche as the holy sacred scripture in many places as we haue allready noted speaketh of this abominable busynesse of Antichrist it wolde be a worke of great labour and trouble and a worke that should bring in more darkenesse than light if we wolde studie to bring furth al the places of the prophetes apostles that are touching this mater Therfore out of al we wil chose only two which ypoūde vnto vs al this ado throughly al his misteries most plaīly painted out The furst is of Daniel whose writinges in this behalfe ought worthely to be hade in most highe credence and autoritie with vs inasmuche as we may see the same thinges rehearced of Christ our Lorde in this chaptre who also dothe moue vs to the diligēt reading and knowlage Math. 24 of it And that other shal be taken out of Paule the noble and excellēt apostle of Christ which also is called the electe vessell and instrument of Act. 9. God and being rapte in to the thrid heauen sawe secretes of the kingdome 2. Cor. 1◠of heauen wiche can not be expressed with tongue The prophet of God and desirous man Daniel being by diuine reuelaciō taught the ordre of the thinges that shoulde happen from his tyme to the last ende of the worlde and mynding to haue the same notified vnto them that shoulde com after him writeth on this sorte I sawe in my vision by Dan. 7. night and beholde the foure wyndes of the heauen stroue vpon the sea and foure great beastes came vp from the sea not one like an other The furst was like a Lyon and yet had he eagles winges I sawe that his winges were plucte from him and he taken awaye from the earthe that he stode vpon his fete as a man and that ther was geuen him a mannes hearte Beholde the seconde beast was like a Beare and stode vpon the one syde Among his tethe in his mouthe he had .iij. great long tethe it was saide vnto him Arise eate vp muche fleshe Thā I loked and behold ther was an other like vnto a Leoparde this had winges as a foule euē vpō the backe This beast hade foure heades ther was power geuen him After this I sawe in a vision by night beholde the fourthe beast was grymme and horrible and maruelous strong It hade great yron tethe it deuoured and destroyed and stamped the residue vnder his fete It was farre vnlike the other beastes that were before it for it hade ten hornes wherof I toke good hede And beholde ther cam vp among them an other litel horne before whom ther
Antichrist not only to knowe but also to folowe And furst he repeteth the same that he hade spoken before and biddeth vs beleue Beleue thē not them not that saye Christ is here or there that is to saye that goo about to shewe vs a false Christ or tel vs that the giftes of God which are geuen vs by non but by only Christ are to be hade elles where Now that we may vnderstande folowe this warnyng as we should doo it is necessary for vs to call to remembraunce that sayenges that are spoken in the Homilies before bothe of the true Christ I meane the only saueour of this worlde also of the false Christes He is the true Christ whom the autoritie of the holy scripture describeth to be very God and very mā the only saueour of the worlde the only priest the only sacrifice for the synnes of the worlde yea the only head of the churche and mennes intercessour in heauen As many thā as shewe this Christ any wher elles than in heauen as many as appoint other heades of the churche other redemers of the worlde other sacrifices for the synnes of the worlde and other aduocates intercessours and mediatours are comprehēded in these wordes of Christ and those be euen they whom it is not laufull for vs to beleue or to geue credence vnto And this is so openly done in the papacie of the pope him self and his membres that no man can say naye to it For furst they are not wont to shewe Christ our Lorde in heauen which was crucified for vs and died which rose again and ascended in to heauen according to the articles of the apostles Crede but to tell folkes that he is either conteyned in a prety litel white cake or in churches consecrated for that purpose which they are not afraide to dresse with these written wordes Hic Deum adora Here worship God Are not these they than that shewe Christ our Lorde in closettes or secret places as he hī self told before hāde As we will speake nothing how their vse is to teach vs a farre other Christ thā is purported in the holy scriptures for the scriptures beare recorde that he was only incarnate made very mā for our sakes But these men not contenting them selues with that feyne him also to be impanate or embreaded Yea and they ymagine him to be such a one that he may be called euery daye in to a piece of breade by the priestes enchauntementes as though he were a certain new Elicius Iupiter Furthermore if they purpose to speake of those thinges that Christ our Lorde hathe purchaced with the merite of his owne death as of remission of synnes the grace of God the father iustice right of adopcion and the possession of euerlasting blessednesse than their maner is with such open wickednesse shamelesnesse to shewe them elles where thā in Christ alone that they can not denie it though they wolde neuer so fayne The Apostle Paule sayeth that Christ is made of 1. Cor. 1. and. 2. God vnto vs wysedō righteousnes sanctificacion redempcion that he knewe nothing els but Iesus Christ euen him that was crucified And in an other place declaring the certaintie of his doctrine he sayeth Although we Gal 1. or an Angel from heauen shall preache vnto you any other gospel than that we haue preached vnto you cursed be he But we heare the popishe shauelinges greasye doctours preache a farre other maner of Gospell than the Apostles haue sent vnto vs in their writynges For they teache righteousnes to be in mennes owne workes merites They teache folkes to seke forgeuenesse of synnes at the handes of wicked and hooremonging yea most filthie rakehell masse priestes As for the grace and fauour of god they ascribe it against Goddes commaundement vnto ymages that they set vp and therfore they vse to name them gracious as Our lady of grace such other Tushe yf a mā wold recken vp al the hole dong hil of popishe religiō vnto these he shal see that they ascribe al that is necessary vnto saluation to externall toyes and trifles And wher the scriptures shewe vs one only patron mediatour euē Iesus Christ very God very man they haue deuised as many mediatours patrones and intercessours besides him as they beleue ther be sayntes soules in heauē Therfore wil we nyl we we must nedes saye that they be the same that the redemour vndenyable scholemaister of the worlde maketh mencion of in this place What must we doo now in this behalfe you mē and brethren Christ saithe Beleue them not Lo our saueour geueth a shorte symple playne commaundement which is a present medicine against all the obiectiones that man can deuise Thow shalt take them to be deceauours as many as goo about to bring in this maner of doctrine and therfore thow shalt not beleue their sayenges Here therfore lieth all the autoritie The B. of Rome of the bishoppes of Rome of fathers and of the counsailes in the Dust which they holde them most chiefly by For if they wolde obiecte the B. of Rome as though men must nedes beleue him bicause he is with to ambicious a name and title called the head of the churche yet ther is no cause why we should be afrayd of hys autoritie For here we do heare the true and supreme head of the church and our chief priest saye Beleue them not Nother is ther any cause why they Counsailes fathers should vaunt of the canones of counsailes and decrees of fathers For the autoritie of them is spoken against by this counsaile which is the holiest counsaill that maye be hade or deuised and the presidēt and head of this counsail is the only begoten sonne of God and the eternal truthe of God who hauing communicacion in the presence of his welbeloued apostles of the deceauours that should com in the later age of the worlde commaūdeth them not to beleue them Now let them hearken to the decrees of fathers let them beholde the Canones of counsailes and make thē selues subiectes vnto the ymaginacions of most shameles vile men which sermore by lyes thā by the truth and hade rather be dāned than saued For wherto doo we passe vpon them any more Wherto doo we wretches take hede to the autoritie of coūsailes Cā not the autoritie of Christ deserue credence at our handes onles it be approued by the consent of mē Nay let vs rather heare Christ him self him that Christ ordayned to be the doctour of the gentiles If an angel from heauen preache any gospel besides that we haue preached cursed be he And If they saye vnto you Lo here is Christ or ther is Christ beleue them not Who so euer therfore dare be so sawcye as to declare forgeuenesse of synnes righteousnesse the grace of God and saluacion any wher elles than in Iesus Christ alone and to shewe him any wher elles
than in heauen cursed be they and let them not be beleued how gaye felowes so euer they be how fynely so euer they cā tell their tale and of how high autoritie so euer they are But if sō be so wilfully stubburne and blinde that they will rather beleue them thā Christ our saueour geuing vs so faithfull monicion we must nedes let them alone to doo after their owne lust They shall fele like wretches one day to their owne great payne what a guyde it is that they haue folowed Secondarily the Lorde warneth Goo not furthe vs that we goo not out if they either teache a false Christ or shewe Christ any wher elles thā in heauē Which wordes although they may be expoūded to meane concerning the bodie that the Lorde forbiddeth all stacions and pilgrimages that are done for saluacion and religion yet they ought chiefly to be applied to our soule mynde so that the soule goo not out from Christ our Lorde and saueour nor seke saluation any wher elles but sattle it self in him wyth an assured and vndoubting faithe And herein verily are all thinges closed that make vnto our saluacion For like as a man may fynde the fauour of God the father the remission of synnes and saluacion in Christ alone euē so as many as go out frō Christ thīke scorne to beleue stedfastly in him can not chose but goo out quyte from life and saluacion Therfore it is very muche profitable for vs to knowe louing brethren in Christ after what sorte we may abide in the Lorde and tary with him still vnto the ende specially seing we heare him saye Not euery one that saithe Lorde Lorde shall Math. 7. entre into the kingdome of heauen but he that dothe the will of my father which is in heauē These same wordes teache men what becometh them to doo that are desirous to abide in Christ and entre wyth him in to the kingdome of heauen We must nedes doo God the the heauenly fathers wil Mary what that is we may knowe by the wordes of Christ him self and the Apostles And furst in dede the Lorde him self speaketh of the will of the father Io. 6. chap. and saithe This is the wil The will of God is that we beleue in his Sonne of him that sent me that al that see the sonne and beleue in him haue euerlasting life Therfore the will of God is good holsom vnto vs which hathe this appointed ende that we shall haue euerlasting saluacion but with this condicion that we should knowe the sōne and beleue in him whom he vouchedsafe to sende in to the worlde for our sakes Thā the furst point of Goddes wil requireth of vs a very a certain a perfite and an vnwauering faithe in Christ our Lorde saueour to cleaue fast vnto him withall and to seke in him alone for those thinges that are necessary to com to eternal saluacion And this faithe requireth a certain a perfite knowlage of Christ to thintent that least while we make boast of our faithe we carye in our hearte nothing but as it were a bare and a vayne fātastical opiniō but we must beleue faithfully and without al doubting those thinges that are set furthe vnto vs in the worde of euerlasting truthe by Christ our Lorde This worde describeth our saueour How the scriptures describe Christ vnto vs after this sorte Iesus Christ is the true and natural sonne of God the father of all one substaūce nature maiestie with the father frō euerlasting And at the tyme appointed he became mā for our sakes not by layēg awaye his godhead but by receauing of Māhead so that he which was God from euerlasting is now bothe very God very mā in one inseperable persone And forasmuche as he became man he suffred all thinges that a man may do synne only except For he was borne as man growed waxed strong in body streynght processe of age He was weary with trauailīg he rested he suffred bothe hongre thyrst he also wept for sorowe of hearte Yea he was afrayde of deathe of the paynes of deathe yet he abode them paciētly strongly for our sakes But before the tyme of his deathe approched his will was to haue his diuinitie knowen to men not only by miracles wonderous signes but also opening the wil of his father he gaue vs a certain and an absolute doctrine of saluacion and blessednesse He chosed disciples also that after he had instructed them with his spirite in the doctrine of the truthe he might at his ascēding in to heauē sende them furthe in to all the wyde worlde And whan he dyed he satisfyed his fathers righteousnesse by his deathe and offring him selfe for vs once for all he made a sufficient sacrifice for the clensyng of the synnes of the worlde For by his deathe he brake the olde serpentes head all to clattred his power and toke his streynght from hym and than by his glorious resurrection he ouercame deathe it self At last whan he went vp in to heauen he set heauē gates wyde open for vs again the which synne hade locked vs out of and wolde haue the fleshe which he toke of vs to be the earnest peny and pledge of our resurrection and saluacion in heauen And now he sitteth in heauen and is our only and supreme bishop which as he offred his body a sacrifice for our synnes euen so dothe he make intercessiō for vs continually before our heauēly father so as we as muche endaungered with synne as we are may safely approche to the throne of grace Such a maner Christ I saye and suche a maner saueour the oracles of the scripture purporte vnto vs and the will of God the father is that we stedfastly beleue him to be such a one and that we goo not about to seke any wher elles those thinges that are geuen vs in him Now the faythe that we talke of is not a certaine bare and a vayne fantastical opiniō that consisteth in bare wordes and in nothing elles but in the speche of the mouthe but it is a quicke lyuely strong power whiche beyng by the spirite of God graffed in mennes consciences conteyneth all the hole mater of saluacion and religiō For it is necessary for vs also to know God the father that we maye be truly and faythfully grounded in Iesus Christ Goddes owne sonne If we acknowlage him rightly to be suche a one as he is we shall feare him also and not that only but also we shall loue him aboue all other thinges beyng boūden to him with suche feare and loue as children owe to their natural parentes we shal willingly obeye him in al thinges Out of the spowte of the same foūtayne shall spring what so euer can be required also vnto externall religion For in this faythe we shall not heare the ymaginacions of our owne reason but haue respecte onlye vnto
so must al they nedes be false Christes that set out who is a false Christ them selues for redemers and saueours of men And than also they are false prophetes shewe a false Christ as many as teache men to seke saluacion and redempcion forgeuenesse of synnes the waye of lyfe the grace of God and the true eternall blessednesse any wher elles than at the fole and only sonne of God our redemer and saueour Iesus Christ Wherof it is in this place to be noted that this worde Christ is vsed for redemer saueour and reuenger so that the meanyng of our Lordes wordes is this Whan the destruction of the temple citie begynneth to drawe nere O brethren ther shall ryse many that shall boast them selues to be saueours of the people shall wythdrawe many of the people vnto their partes for asmuche as they also shal haue Apostles Prophetes of their owne that shall praise theÌ„ vnto the symple rude people And in like case ther shall not a fewe in the later tymes goo before my glorious commyng which shall boldely take vpon them to be that thing that none is but only I that is to saye they shall crepingly insinuate them selues in mennes consciences to be suche through false setting furthe and wicked arrogauncie as thoughe they hade in their handes the grace of saluacion redempcion forgeuenesse of synnes euerlasting life Beleue not these maner of men yea although they sende furthe preachers of their name and doctrine neueâ— so many to praise them most highly wyth wordes and studious diligence yea and though they do miracles and suche wonders as haue hitherto ben scarcely sene or knoweÌ„ of For they are deceauours most falselyeng seducers of the simple rude coÌ„mon people Beholde therfore I haue tolde you before and forewarned you Learne you this lesson at least waye to remembre my warninges and to beware and to escape so great a mischief Now thaÌ„ like as Christ faithfully admonished those that his were of these thinges euen so the mater it self beareth recorde that he was a true prophet the veritie of the dedes afterwarde proued hys sayeng true For if a man coÌ„sidre the destruccion of the citie and temple and the thinges that went before it he maye fynde that ther were many of this kynde of guydes and rulers connyngly sene in craftie deceates that is to wete a sorte of magical philosophers coÌ„nyng in deuillishe sciences other wicked knackehardye felowes amoÌ„g the nombre of whom a certain Egipcian is chiefly reckoned than Caphedon Theodas and others which like as through their false ê“mises allured the people that were of them selues to muche inclined to sedicioÌ„ eueÌ„ so were they Autors vnto many of most depe miseries and extreme sorowes Loke for these maters in Iosephus the 20 boke of antiquities the 11. 1â— and 14. chap. Furthermore in case False Christes in the primatiue churche we marke respectiuely the apostles tymes and the thinges that chauÌ„ced about the primatiue churche it shall euidently appeare that euen at that tyme also many rose which partly toke vpon them the office to geue the grace of God and the giftes of saluacion and partly which declared that they must be hade som wher elles thaÌ„ at our sole and only redemour Iesus Christ For to this meanyng the texte ought to be applied that we reade in Act. 8. the actes of Symon magus which was so sawcye as to name him selfe the mightie power of God To this sayeng also the swarmes of heretikes are to be accoÌ„pted which by by euen in the apostles tymes or sone after arose withdrewe meÌ„nes myndes from Christ Iesus miserably disquieted mennes consciences with their doctrine Herevnto shal worthily be referred the blaspemous helhouÌ„d the deuilles owne mynion that deceauour Mahomet Mahomet who as he is the autor of a new lawe hath with his abominable entreprise feined also a new kingdome of heaueÌ„s not hearde of before newe blessednesse newe waye of saluacion and a newe secte To be short vnto this purpose belong they that from the lippes forewarde as touchyng the title aduaunce the religion and faith of Christ and for al that they commonly set furthe remission of synnes the grace of God the father eternall lyfe and saluacion not in the only merite of our saueour Iesu Christ but trayne awaye mennes simple rude myndes to other purposes Of this sorte we saye that all the Popishe doctours are which in dede Teachers of Popery professe Christ wyth their mouthe but yet the maner of theÌ„ is to teache the folowers of their doctrine religion to put their trust partly in their owne workes and merites partly to trayne them vnto Saintes merites vnto Saintes intercession vnto Popes pardones vnto Saintes ymages and finally vnto many suche sortes of trifles and fantasies of maÌ„nes brayne or rather supersticion and also to seke comforte of mynde peace and quietnesse of coÌ„sciences in suche gaire For it shal appeare more clear than the daye lyght that euen these sortes of men are no lesse ment by Christes wordes than the other sortes are in case the thinges that are spoken of in this place be compared with their tradicions For they are not afrayde to declare not only that remission of synnes and saluacion of soules must be atteyned by som other meanes than at our saueour Christ but also to set furth eueÌ„ that same our Lorde him selfe in sondry places contrary to the autoritie of the scriptures and of the worde of God For as concerning Christ which was hanged on the crosse and dyed and after that whan he was raised vp agayne from deathe caried his very owne true bodye into the heauens in the sight of his disciples they teache contrary besydes the plaine articles of our catholyke faithe and besydes the truthe of the holy scriptures that he is conteyned without all doubte in the sacrameÌ„t of the aultare corporally also in the same substauÌ„ce as he was hanged on the crosse and offred vp him selfe for vs and that he lieth enclosed in the churches or boxes as they call them that are consecrate to that ende and so they shewe him in those same places to the sely rude people whom they haue wyth their tradiciones faÌ„tasies brought in to suche a madnesse that they forgette the faithful admonicion of this our Lorde Iesu Christ and put their confidence in these mennes tryfling toyes a great parte of meÌ„ folowing these deceauours goo about to seke the Lorde Christ the saueour of the worlde in breade in boxes in the aultare in other soÌ„dry sortes of places And how great and how farre out of square this errour of the world is it shal be declared in other places more plenteously God so willing And forasmuche than as we heare that the Lorde Christ him self in this place nameth false Christes And seing that mencion is made of suche maner of deceauours which by theyr false prophetes
and shal make him handsom to deuillishe seruices But as sone as he shall com through to Ierusalem his seate shal be set in the teÌ„ple of God and as many of the nombre of christianes and faithful people as he coulde not begyle with his lies and wylie deceates he shal torment with horrible kyndes of punishemeÌ„t suche as hathe not ben hearde of and than put them to deathe For they write that Salomons temple must be builded vp again by him so as he shall sytte in it and set furthe him selfe in the title of the true Messias and sonne of God And he shall also sende furthe his apostles in to al the world by wose ministerie and trauaile he shall drawe away vnto his syde furst the princes myndes and than the coÌ„mon people of whom som beyng corrupt with rewardes and desyre of rychesse som beyng frayde with threatnynges and feare of daungers and the reste beyng begyled wyth newe facions of miracles and with innumerable deceates shall applye vnto him But as many as will not beleue in his forged lyes he shall slea and destroy them with cruel paines among whom bothe Helias and Enoch the foreruÌ„ners of the last iudgemeÌ„t shal necessarily be put to death And at leinght whaÌ„ these tyraÌ„nous persecucions shal haue endured the space of two yeares an halfe the last day of the Lorde shall come vpon him and make an ende of miseries These I saye welbeloued brethreÌ„ in Christ are Satanes forged fables of Antichrist which that wicked craftes maister of lyes hath decked garnished euen with testimonies of scriptures to thinteÌ„t vndoubtedly that whaÌ„ we haue coÌ„ceaued a false ymaginacioÌ„ loke an other way he myght be hable in the meane tyme to stere vp the tyraÌ„ny of the right Antichrist with myghtie power to coÌ„firme it to mennes destruction vndoyng For thys same cause therfore his drift was to declare him to be among the infortunate people of Iewes and to sende abroade the ymaginacions of our wittes out to Babilon and than to make muche pryttle pratle of SalomoÌ„s teÌ„ple which after the vndeniable sentence of Christ our Lorde shall neuer be possible to be buylded vp agayne to the intent in the meane while he shoulde not once come in our remembrauÌ„ce that hath exalted his heade at Rome in the coÌ„gregacioÌ„ of the faythfull beyng with suche abominable saucy entreprise exalted euen against the Lorde hymselfe hathe infected the simple rude mennes myndes wyth most greuous errours We had nede therfore to be in this case so muche the more carefull and studiously diliget as it is coÌ„uenieÌ„t for vs to marke more narowly this worde Anrichrist and more diligently to boult out the meaning of it so as it maye most fully appeare vnto vs to what maner man that name ought to be imputed Antichristus is a Greke worde and being compounded of Anti which signifieth contrarietie and ouerthwartenesse and Christus wherof we haue spoken before betokeneth him that is contrarie against the Lorde Christ and chalengeth to him selfe by vniuste title and wicked arrogauncie the honour glorie and al offices elles whiche are due to none but to Christ our saueour Wherupon Paule respecting the mater rather than the name calleth him Antikeimenon bicause he sytteth in the temple of God and exalteth him selfe aboue all that is worshipped in the stede of God And by the same compounde figure also the Antichristian men call him Antipapam that is either vnlaufully chosen of others or beyng moued of hys owne folye obiecteth him self against the laufully chosen Pope and wrongfully vexeth or elles occupieth that seate of abominacion To be brief inasmuche as the name of Antichrist soundeth contrarie and against Christ it behoueth vs furst of al to know acknowlage our lorde saueour Christ with al those thinges that ê“prely beloÌ„g vnto him For therby we shal openly see who is the right Antichrist who ought to be rightely called Antichrist Now than as touching Christ Iesus the holy scriptures paynt and set him out vnto vs of such sorte as him that being from euerlasting verye God and of all one essence and substaunce with his heauenly father toke vpon him for our sakes at the tymes appointed the very fleshe and nature of man being like vnto ours in all thinges synne excepte to thinteÌ„t he might be our chief hygh bishop Whose office he hathe so accomplished that in offring him selfe on the altare of the crosse he made oblation vnto God the heauenly father with a perfite and a sufficient sacrifice for the synnes of al the worlde And whaÌ„ he hade fynished the busynesse of our redeÌ„pcioÌ„ on the altare of the crosse he was buried by his owne diuine power he raised vp froÌ„ deathe his body that is to wete the very manhead which he hade taken to thintent he might breake put quyte awaye the power of deathe which it hade ouer vs. Than after warde he caried his body in to the heauens that he might set open vnto vs again the gates of heaueÌ„ which the transgression of our furst parent and the synnes of vs all hade shutte vp before and that he might there appeare before God the father a faithful aduocate and mediatour for vs and might also be in stede of a pledge and a gage wherby our faithe shoulde be confirmed wherby also we beleue that our bodies shall through faithe haue possession in the very same kyngdome of heauens euerlasting blessednesse For which causes sake the holy scripture is accustomed to name the self same Christ our head our highe priest our kyng our saueour our redemour our mediatour and euen the one only waye of life and euerlasting saluacion which the scripture also dothe make good with most abundaunt testimonies as muche as we haue now spoken of For Paule the apostle writing to his Philippianes in the 2. Chap. saithe thus Christ Iesus whan he was in the shape of God that is to saye very God thought it no robberie to be equall with God neuertheles he made him self of no reputacion taking on him the shape of a seruaunt and became like vnto men and was founde in his apparail as a man that is to saye a very man made like vnto vs in all thinges synne except he humbled him self and became obedient vnto deathe euen the deathe of the crosse Again in his furst epistle to Timothee the. 1. Chap. Christ Iesus quam he came in to the worlde to saue synners of whom I am chief c. And in an other place Hebr. 9. he writeth on this wise As it is appointed vnto all men that they shall once dye and than cometh iudgement euen so was Christ once offred to take away the synnes of many vnto them that loke for him shall he appeare againe without synne vnto saluacion And a lytel before these wordes we reade that the same Apostle wrote on this maner For Christ is not entred into the holy places that are made
were three of the furst hornes plueked awaye c. And forasmuche as by this litle horne the mysterie of Antichrist is figured as it shal herafter be declared we must furst of all marke well the furst parte of the prophetes vision And hauing gottē an angel to interprete it to him he learned that by these foure beastes foure Kinges or Monarkes also foure Monarchies kingdomes are figured that is to saye euen the same that the heathē writours make reporte of in their bokes of histories surely they came out by the wynde of Goddes prouidence stering the great Oceane sea of all the worlde The furst is the kingdome of the Babilonianes or Assirianes vnder whose dominion and power Daniel was than in subiectiō And this kingdome is cōpared to the Lyon that had eagles wynges For like as the lyon is the noblest among the foure foted beastes as a king hathe power ouer the residue of beastes euen so the kingdom of Babilon or of the Assirianes excelled among all other kingdomes in streynght valeauntnesse nobilitie preeminence also in spedie incredible fortune of victories and successes it ranne through all the worlde rounde about as it hade ben a most swifte Eagle Neuertheles bicause the princes of it were prowde disdaynous hault beganne to haue God in contempt to muche folishely to chalenge all the glorie to their owne puissaunce the winges of it were pluete awaye whan the fortune of victories was taken from it it was set on his fete as men be in suche wise doubtles as the kynges therof being by Goddes iudgement throughlye tamed shoulde knowe them selues to be men bothe mortal fraile The seconde is the kingdome of the Persiās that was aduaūced to so highe power of their most victorious king Cyrus that it wāne the monarchie Empire of all the worlde This kingdome bicause it was exceading great houge beyond measure therfore very hard to be kept in subiectiō is compared to a Beare which is a mightie houge beast a folishe And it is said of him that he deuoured muche fleshe and that he helde in his tethe three great tethe For like as Cyrus extēded the limites of his Empire farre and wide euen so he occupied by and by at the begynnyng of his Empire three most large kingdomes that is to wete of the Persianes Medes Babilonianes The thrid kingdome is the kingdome of the Macedonians or Grekes the furst autor wherof we reade was Alexandre the great This kingdome the holy goost cōpareth to the Leoparde that hade foure winges and was harnessed wyth as many hornes Hereby is noted the wylie subtil and craftye natural witte of the people of the grekes which wrought their maters almost wyth subtilties wyles like the Leoparde which is an exceding wylie beast The wynges also betoken that notable peerles celeritie of Alexandre the great who wythin a fewe yeares space wyth his stering of warres went cleane ouer Asia and Aphrike and subdued them vnder his owne dominion But this leoparde is in sight armed wyth foure hornes forsomuche as after the deathe of Alexander the great the hole Empire was diuided of his owne mē whom he made gouernours in to foure kingdomes that is to wete the Egipcianes Sirianes Asianes and Macedonianes The fourthe kingdome is the kingdome of the Romaynes which for victorious streynght vnshrynking courage shameles audacitie power crueltie and most merciles tyrannye is cōpared to a newe and vnknowne beast that hathe no certayn name For it is manifest that the people of the Romaynes being most gredye of Empire and large autoritie occupied all the kingdomes of the worlde dilated the coastes of their empire farre and broade deuoured all regiones with their insaciable gredynesse brought all naciones and people in subiection gathered all the substaūce richesse of the hole world in to their owne citie and trode tare and stroyed all naciones vnder the cruell fete of their ambicion In these mennes empire and monarchie Daniel describeth all the mysterie of Antichrist in these wordes This beast hade tē hornes wherof I toke good hede And beholde ther growed out an other litle horne among them before whō three of the furst hornes were broken plucked awaye And behold ther were hornes in this horne lyke the eyes of a man a mouth speaking presumptuous thinges semed more stoute thā the other Which horne also whan I loked on made bataile with the saintes and preuailed against them vntil the olde aged came iudgement was geuen to the saintes on hye til the appointed time was come that the saintes shoulde haue the kyngdome Al these thinges I say Daniel was taught in vision concerning the mysteries of Antichrist and the interpretaciō of the same which he himself learned of the Angell and describeth here after in these wordes The fourth beast signifieth the fourth Kyngdome that shal be in the worlde which must diffre from al kingdomes and deuour all the earthe breake al to barste it And the ten hornes betoken that out of it ten Kynges shal ryse and after them ther shall ryse an other diffring frō the farther which shall oppresse throwe downe three kynges Be shall also talke of diuine maters but he shal trappe the holy saintes shal chalenge to him self to chaunge the state of tymes lawes which shal be deliuered vnto his autoritie whether it be a long space of tyme or a shorte Finally the iudgemēt is set they haue taken his dominion from him that he maye be vtterly wasted and destroyed But to the people of the holy saintes shal be delyuered the kingdome and dominion and largenesse of kyngdomes vnder al the heauē their kyngdome is an euerlasting kyngdome all high astates shal serue and obey him This verely is the interpretacion of the vision which was geuē to Daniel by the Angel teacheth by some certayn vnfallible markes that by this litell horne the great aduersarie of our saueour Christ euen Antichrist is represented For the Prophete sayeth that he shal moue batayl against the saintes that is to saye against the faythfulles whome Christ hath sanctified with his owne blood Besides this that he shal speake presumptuous thinges and that wyth suche an insolencie that he shall also entremeddle communicaciō of diuine maters And yet it sufficeth not him to haue spokē such thīges but he must also take vpon hym power to chaūge the state and cōdicions of tymes and of al maters of this worlde yea the lawe it selfe and the ordinaunces at his pleasure All which thinges can ryghtly be ascribed vnto none other but to that myghtie and famous aduersarie of Christ our Lorde Antichrist I meane But of this we shall more largely and more plainly speake in the treatise folowyng Nowe ther is that other place of this treatise behinde which I promymised to bringe furthe of the Apostle Paule which with more cleare wordes expoundeth the
their children nephues alliaunce and kinsfolkes ther should not of S. Petres most ample and most riche patrimonie scarce so muche as a cotage returne to their successours Wherfore seing these great and most notorious wickednesses wherwith they defile them selues are most notably knowne euen to the coÌ„moÌ„ people we nede not to be oner loÌ„g in speakig of their daily vsed naughtynesse For inasmuche as though they are the most shameles of al men yet they can not by any mouthe saye naye to this gayre what nede we to talke of their intemperauÌ„ce ruffionyng glâ—â—â—nie horekeping of their most waÌ„ton sayeÌ„ges doinges And if you lust let theÌ„ be witnesses that be the louingest fauourours of the see of Rome which haue ben not the seers of this gayre only but also a great parte theÌ„ selues And yet they shall neuer be hable either to clooke or to excuse this stynking synke of mischieues and this horrible hell of wicked doinges by any reasones that euer they can make Therfore this furst title that Paule geueth them is expounded or elles I am begyled playnly ynough and largely ynough agayne and therof also it is most manifest that the same title agreeth wyth no man in the worlde better than with the bishop of Rome forsomuche as out of his doctrine and example of lyuing all these abominacions which we haue made rehearsal of flowe as out of a most plenteously springing fouÌ„taine all which are contrarily repugnaunt against the veritie of faythe against the lawe of charitie against the innocencie of lyfe The seconde title that the Apostle Paule decketh Antichrist wythall is The sonne of perdicion that he nameth him The sonne of perdicion But this title we must nedes take twoo maner of wayes that is to saye both actiuely and passiuely so as furst he is in dede lost and daÌ„ned him selfe than he also loseth destroyeth al those that be his complices and folowers and maketh them bonde slaues to euerlasting death and damnacion But after what sorte this title also is aptely fitte for the bishop of Rome it maye be declared in fewe wordes For furst it is manifest by the autoritie of the gospelles doctrine that all they are lost and subiecte to eternall damnacion that nother beleue in Iesus Christ nor cleaue to his faythe doctrine For Christ is the waye the light the truthe And he is the onely Io. 14 10. dore by the which al we must entre in to his shepe folde that is to wete into the congregacion of saintes and who so euer seketh any other dore or coueteth to entre in any other waye he bewrayeth him selfe to be a thefe and a robber And thervpon we heare IohnÌ„ Baptist saye The father loueth the sonne and hath geuen him all thinges Io. 3. into his hande He that beleueth his sonne hath euerlasting lyfe and he that beleueth not the sonne shall not se lyfe but the wrath of God abydeth on him Nowe it is not possible that ther shoulde be any saluacion wher it is sure that the wrathe of God abydeth But for asmuche as the bishop of Rome beleueth not in the sonne of God nor hath not al his faythe truste set in Christ alone the only saueour of the worlde it must nedes be that the wrath of God abideth vpon him and that he is the lost and bonde slaue of daÌ„nacioÌ„ And the byshop of Romes hole lyfe doctrine argueth that he is most farre of from the faythe in Iesus Christ which beyng made maÌ„ for our sakes redemed vs all with his precious blood vpon the altare of the crosse brake the power and lordship of deathe through his deathe and by his glorious ascension in to heauen set open the gates of euerlasting blessednesse vnto vs wretched synners and now before God the father of heauen he appeareth our only patron and mediatour and maketh sure entraunce for vs vnto the throne of grace For if aman note the B. of Romes doctrine Obiter but euen lightly by the waye as you wold saye he teacheth not Christ to be the only waye of saluacioÌ„ but besides him he setteth out innumerable other wayes as so often repeted sacrifices of masses the hipocriticall exercice of false penaunce auricular confession the most sitte bayte of all treason conspiracie sedicion lechery and all wickednesse markettes of pardones the colde scalding fyre of purgatorie pikepurce prayeng to sayntes departed and infinite other For although he confesse Christ Iesus the saueour of the hole worlde in wordes and in mouthe and so glorieth in his name yet he denyeth him so often as he attributeth to an other whether it be saynt or worke and merite the offices that perteyne to none but Christ alone For by what reason shall we saye that he beleueth that our Lorde Iesus Christ beyng sacrificed once for all vpon the altare of the crosse offred a perpetuall sufficient sacrifice vnto God the father for our synnes whan he goeth about to offre hym dayly afreshe at the celebracion of the Masse How shall he beleue that he was deliuered and fully redemed from the filthynesse of his sinnes by Christes merite which goeth aboute to redeme him selfe wyth his owne merites of his owne workes How shall he also knowe Christ Iesus to be his onlye Mediatour Patrone intercessour whych hathe infinite other whether they be he sayntes or she sayntes instede of mediatours intercessours And yet it is certain that men are brought to that point by the B. of Romes doctrine that they folow both these many other thinges that are cleane coÌ„trari to Christ and his doctrine Therfore this is euidently manifest also that the Bis of Rome is most farre of mater in dede from the faythe in Christ although he vse to professe him with his mouthe bragge much of his name As for this mater the example of his life is not behinde also in bearing what faithe is playne recorde of For faithe is a certain lyuing and a continuall working power energie that sitteth not idle in mennes consciences and is not as many false christianes thinke a certain naked and vayne opinioÌ„ that is desritute of certain reasones but it is a good tree and nourished with perpetuall iuyce which beareth no euil nor rotten frute but is alwaies abundauntly full of good and acceptable frutes to God of innocencie and charitie But it is now proued allready by sufficient demonstracion that the bishoppes of Rome haue no charitie they haue also no innocencie of life and maners but they are most farre of bothe from the true faithe and true religion Wherupon this plainly foloweth also that they beare in no condicion that good tree of a syncere faithe in their heart but rather that euil and vnprofitable one at whose roote the are is allready set that it maye be cut of and ouerthrowne and cast in to the vnquencheable fire of hell Therfore who will hensfurthe acknowlage the bishop of Rome to be the
but it may be clooked by the popes Bulles and pardoned quyte remitted by the autoritie of his sea Than seing this gaire is commōly thus all the papistes must nedes confesse in despight of their noses that the B. of Rome is the chief autor of al hipocrisie and the most frutefull father of hipocrites and that he wyth all trusty diligence and studious endeauour dothe also accomplishe that other worke of Antichrist and therfore according to Danieles prophecie he is to be taken for the very right Antichrist him self Daneil describing the thrid worke manship of Antichrist saithe thus He shall not regarde the God of his fathers yea he shall not care for any tie and strong God that is he hathe deuised for him self suche a God by whose seruice and religion he is aduaunced with great abundaunce of richesse honour and glorie And to vnderstande this mater the more fully thus we must take it good brethren If we marke the B. of Rome he will professe with his mouthe the self same God whom we acknowlage in the articles of the apostles Credet howbeit playeng the hipocrite in this poynt as he dothe in all other maters he beleueth him not to be suche a God as he vseth to professe him to be For if a man marke his tradicions and strayne him a litell harder he shall see that he beleueth not that God the father hath a sonne which became man for our sakes and being offred vp once for all on the altare of the crosse for vs obteyned forgeuenesse of synnes righteousnesse and saluacion for mankynde But he ymagineth a farre other maner of God that is daily coniured by massemonging priestes enchauntementes to come downe in to breade or in to the forme of breade and the substaunce of bread being chaunged in to the very substaunce of Christes body to be offred euery daye by the priestes vpon the altare for the synnes of the quicke the dead In what poīt is this prety Cake God like vnto him whom we saye in our Crede rose again from the deade ascended in to heauen and ther sitteth on the right hande of God the father almightie vntil he come to iudge the quicke and the deade Doo we not see him plainly to be a new God cleane cōtrarie from the God of our fathers elders For these are plaine contraries to be incarnate and to com downe in to a cake of bread to be offred vp once for all on the aultare of the crosse many tymes vpon the popishe priestes aultares to be offred only once by hym self and euery daye a thousaunt tymes by other priestes to be ascended in to heauen and to lye locked in a golden Pixe to sytte on the fathers right hāde in the kingdome of heauen vnto the daye of iudgement and to com downe daily at the priestes coniuring in his bodily presence in to a piece of breade And yet this is euen that strong and mightie God by whose seruice and helpe Antichrist is promoted vnto most highe power and dignitie For after that the rude ignoraūt people were persuaded that Iesus Christ very God and very man was called out of heauē by the priestes wordes and that they handled him with their consecrated handes and offred him for mennes synnes anon they were in suche autoritie with all men that euery man hade them in most highe honour yea ther was none almost so euil aduised that thought not him worthye to be punyshed who so euer attempted any thing against them And this augmēted their dignitie and power also that whan they hade made this their God with their owne wordes they deliuered him to other also to be eatē howbeit not vnto euery body at auēture but vnto such only as were contented to shryue them before hande vnto them of all that they hade synned either by worde or dede For by this secrete Legier demayne of Confession that they haue deuysed they could knowe the botom of all mennes heartes they could learne out all mennes purposes they could boult out what al mē thought yea they could by those gostly fathers of their owne making knowe the most secrete intentes and pryuie coūsailes of kinges and princes For this was the othe of them all that they were boundē to the sea of Rome by that they should to the vttermost of their possible power withstande al mennes purposes and entreprises and by all possible meanes to lette those thinges which they knewe to be noysō to the B. of Rome and his sea By reason wherof assone as the B. of Rome beganne to haue any king or prince in suspicion that he bare but small good will to his popishe dignitie or power anon these gostly fathers wold grope him with crafty trickes hādle him so that ther were no remedie but he must nedes shryue hym poure into their bosoms not only all that he had done but also al his intentes purposes Thā whan they sawe any daūger like to rise or already in hāde against the sea of Rome they were bounden by their othe to open all the hole mater to their ordinary And the ordinarie must shewe it to his superiour and bidde him declare it to his bishop or to the archebishop by whose meanes it came at leynght to the pope him selfe And whan he once knewe the mater he could sone make shifte to turne vp syde downe al the attemptates that any prince hade intended against him And by this meanes brethren we see it come to passe by experience that ther is no king nor prince no nor yet emperour that coulde be founde either so prudent or so valeaunt a man in compassing of his maters that yf he were offended at the tyrannye of the bishoppes of Rome was hable yet either to suppresse it or to escape it no mary a great sorte of them haue ben conquested and oppressed by the driftes and craftie conueyaunces of the bishoppes of Rome For the God Mayzim hathe a myghtier power thā they are hable to abide whan so euer they dare once attempt any thyng against the tyrannye of Antichrist the bishop of Rome This can Emperour Henry the seuenth of that name among many Emperour Henry the 7. poisoned with the Sacrament other well testifie who whan he hade purposed to haue made the bishop of Rome not very pleasaunt tarieng in Italye was by poison ministred vnto him in the sacramēt of the aultare by a blacke frier of Senes quycklye ridde out of the worlde in the Castell of Bonecouent as they call it This we reade was done the yeare from Christes birth M. CCC XIII wel lyke as the B. of Rome hathe begoten vs this newe God out of the ymaginacion of his owne braine euen so hathe he ordayned newe maner of god seruice for him For he worshippeth not nor serueth him as the true lyuyng God ought to be serued and worshipped in spirite and truthe but as the prophete Daniel spake before-hāde with golde siluer precious
be hable to persiste manfully in the truthe that we haue receaued and finally to be saued in Christ To him be honour glorie and praise for ouer and euer Amen Thus endeth the fourthe Homilie The .v. Homilie In this .v. Homilie is described the ende and final destruction of Antichriste and what christen faithfull peoples duety is to doo in the rage of Antichristes tyrannye IN these other foure Homilies louing brethren in Christ I haue hitherto playnly declared those scriptures that serue to knowe the feate the springing vp the persone the workes and the weapones of Antichrist by which if they be compared with the seate starting vp persone workes and weapones of the bishop of Rome we must nedes confesse that what so euer is spoken of Antichrist by the prophet Daniel and the apostle S. Paule agreeth rightly with the B. of Rome in euery condicion And therfore this must of necessitie folowe that the B. of Rome which delyteth to be named the head of the churche Christes vicare the portour of heauen gate yea and holynesse it self is that vndoubted and mightie houge enemie of our saueour Christ that is to saye Antichrist the manne of synne the sonne of perdicion that highe abominacion whiche nestleth his seate in the tēple of God and exalteth him selfe aboue al that is named God in that he to muche sawcely taketh that vpon him selfe which belongeth to none but to the only grace and power of God Nowe remayneth the last mater which maketh mencion of the fal and destructiō of Antichrist which also is to be knowen by the places before rehearsed wherof we may sucke not only excellent good learnyng but also exceadyng muche comforte But the Apostle Paule speaking of the ende destruction of this vngracious The ende and destructiō of Antichrist wicked monstre sayeth The Lorde shal destroy him with the breathe of his mouthe shall despeche him with the brightnesse glorie of his cōming that is to saye at his bright glorious cōming Two thinges therfore the apostle wold haue vs to note cōcerning the destructiō of Antichrist Furst he sayeth that he must be destroyed and slayne with the breath of the Lordes mouth which saieng is takē out of Esay as I sayd a litel before For Esay speaking of Christ our Lorde of his workes reporteth the self same mater in the very same wordes And ther we must more depely marke the meanyng of that wordes Antichrist is destroyed with the breathe of the Lordes mouthe wherby we maye the more easely vnderstande that these are also fulfilled The breathe of the Lordes mouthe is that eternall almightie worde of God by the which it is manifest that al creatures were made at the beginnyng of the worlde are conserued euē vnto this daye And this worde the Apostle sayeth shal be the sweorde wherwith Antichrist must nedes be destroyed And in dede the same Apostle calleth the worde of God a swcorde writyng thus to the Hebrewes in the. 4. Chap. The worde of God is quicke and mightie in operacion sharper than any two edged sweorde and pearceth through euen vnto the diuiding asondre of the soule and the spirite and of the ioyntes and the marye and iudgeth the thoughtes and intentes of the hearte Surely they that haue their synnes opened reproued by this worde perceaue by experience that it is suche a maner of sweorde in dede Furthermore whan the same apostle armeth vs and trymmeth vs against our cōmon enemye he reacheth vs the sweorde of the spirite which is the worde of God wherwith Christ our saueour him self hathe taught vs to fight by his owne example For whā sathā that wicked temptour came to him being as he was very man in dede Christ dothe warde and stryke by all Satanes blowes with this one only sweorde holding out against euery assault of temptacion suche fitte textes of goddes worde as he might put him to flight and breake his weapones withall Wherfore seing we see the deuil him self ouercomen with Goddes worde long agoo we shall thinke that Paule hade good mater to saye teache vs that Antichrist the chosen instrument of the deuill shall also be ouercome and destroyed with the breathe of Goddes mouthe that is by the worde of God But the mysterie of this sentence we must more depely searche out Paule in the same place treating of Antichristes weapones and workes said that his power and working shal be deuillishe that being trymlye furnished in false wyles and lies he shall doo all that the prophetes reporte of him yea that he shall reigne like a king in mennes consciēces through the power of lies For ther wolde neuer a man in all the worlde receaue so haynous an abominacion that knewe perfitly what it were But forasmuche as he crepeth in to mennes consciences with wylie craftes and false sleightes he dissēbleth him self to be an other maner a felowe thā he is in dede Yea by the reason of false citing and expounding of places of the scriptures he knoweth the cast howe to couer his monstrous face Anone after they whome with his false doinges he hathe made tame fooles haue once receaued him he reigneth ruleth the rost in their cōsciences after suche sorte that they geue credence to him and doo what so euer he biddeth them and refuse what so euer he forbiddeth them yea they passe their tyme being all together addicte to hym Now seing all Antichristes tirannie and emperious kingdome hathe none other sure foundacion but only lyes and false craftes it must nedes haue a downefall also assone as the lyght of Goddes worde that is the lyght of eternall truthe shyneth into mennes consciences and reproueth craftye sleyghtes and lyes For it is not possible for men to geue credence to lyes any more which knowe them to be lyes but it maketh them rather to be abashed to be so shamefully deceaued and to beare a deadly hate vnto them that made thē to do amysse by their deceauyng Than therfore Antichrist hathe lost bothe his lyfe his royaltie through the sweorde of Goddes worde albeit he lyue yet still in bodye and reigne still in very many of his membres But that we maye perceaue this gayre more certainly we must note the mater it self that is how it dothe fittlye accorde to the condicion of the B. of Rome Whan the bishop of Rome began to be desirous to beare the bell he set out himself al his purposes for men to see not to be suche as they were in dede but painted florished ouer with sondry countrefait colours For at the furst that simple rude cōmō people must nedes be persuaded that Petre had the supremacie yea the principalitie among Christes Apostles at leynght was brought to Rome and there preached the Gospel and that he was the furst bishop of the church of Rome By this reason the supremacie of other churches myght be translated to the churche of Rome this