out a fewe words out of his filthie mouth I beséech ye brethren what a madnes is it and what sacrilegious blasphemie against God Therefore they haue no God at all and much lesse haue they any Christ whome they haue dishonoured mangled and torne in pieces in such wonderfull sort We are taught in the Scriptures that Christ is a man but a man he can not be if he be infinit without circum-scription or limitation of place or person such a Christ as the Papists haue dreamed vpon they make Christ both man and God of that Mathematicall superficies which they vse in their Masse which is so subtile and thin that it conteineth in it no thicknesse at all I would heere knowe of them how in that little bodie or substance they distinguish or seuer the deity of Christ from his humane nature And what a kinde of bodie is that which is of no quantitie which can be perceiued by no sence which possesseth at once an infinite number of places and those farre distant thus therefore they destroy the person of Christ and as touching his office they are there-in more foulie and dangerously deceiued For what part at all do they héere-in leaue sound and entire vnto Christ If Christ be our Priest and if there be two partes of this Priesthoode the one that he should offer him-selfe for our only and perpetuall sacrifice the other to be our intercessour and make prayers for vs. How is it that the Papists do offer vp Christ euery day and how is it that they suborne an infinite number of Mediatours If Christ be our Prophet why will they not stand content with his doctrine to what ende do they require further humane lawes and traditions If he be our King what néede we an other Bishop to be our King which should rule ouer our consciences and the whole Church of Christ wherefore if he be Antichrist that denies Iesus to be Christ the annointed as Iohn hath taught vs it is euident that the Bishop of Rome is Antichrist who hath taken away the Kingdome Priesthood and Propheticall office of Christ I can not runne ouer each place of the doctrine of the Gospell that therein I might shewe how the Bishop is contradict vnto Christ in euerie point and these haue I lightly toucht in fewe words runne ouer because I am not now to handle common places but briefely to yeeld the reason of this my defence and assertion Wherefore to let passe other points to conclude this place I affirme that the whole doctrine of the Gospell that setteth out vnto vs the causes meanes of our saluation and which prescribeth either the outward or inward worship of God is by the Popes meanes depraued spoiled cleane ouerthrowne the which being so it followeth that the Bishop is rightlie called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an opponent or Aduersarie 3. And least any man should dreame that Antichrist should be an outward enemy such as Mahumet is Paule addeth that He should sit in the Temple of God that is in the midst of the Church therefore he should proue an houshold enemy not a forraigne foe and shall withstand Christ couertly not openly although notwithstanding he shall be a deadly enemy vnto Christ yet shall he pretend great faith religiō friendship familiar conuersation with Christ whereby we may see how much more dangerous an enemy he is So the Bish of Rome although he be repugnant vnto Christ in all things yet hath he placed seated himself in the midst of the temple and people of God For he holdeth that himselfe is the Vicar of Christ that his synagogue is the true Church of Christ that all his are the true Catholicks and crieth out that all such as separate themselues from him are Hereticks Thus doth he challendge to him-selfe the title and name of the Churche and detracteth it from all others and this is it whiche Paule meaneth in saying he shall sit in the midst of Gods Church Many shall come sayth Christ in my name saying I am Christ Now what is it to come in the name of Christ but to vsurpe the place or name of Christs Vicar And this hath not only bin perfourmed openly by the Pope but also it hath fallen out that besides him no other did euer attempt it 3. And doth not the Bishop openly boast him-self to be God reade Gratian distinct 21. He acknowledgeth the name he taketh it vpon him he coumpteth it properly to belong vnto him and reposeth him-selfe in it His clients clawe and worship him as a God they salute him by the name and make more accoumpt of his authoritie and precepts then those of God Heerein I faigne nothing I speake that that is euident and well knowne vnto all The Bishop of Rome giueth it out that he is an earthly God and vaunteth that he can do what-so-euer God can Sinne only except an impudent and blasphemous mouth hitherto all points do iompe and agree But we haue not yet runne ouer the description set downe by the Apostle if these things be not sufficient marke what followes Now saith Paule ye know what with-holdeth namely that he might be reueiled in his time Heerein he sheweth what it is that did stay or keepe backe the comming of Antichrist This same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which with-holdeth Tertullian Hierome and Chrysostome do vnderstand of the Romane Empire the which so long as it stoode in flourishing estate Antichrist could not rise to that power and preheminence and therefore that roome might be made for Antichrist it was requisite that the Emperour of Rome should giue place What this meaneth we shall easily vnderstand if we shall beare in mind that which Iohn fore-warneth in the Reuelation as we shall see anone namely that Rome was to become the head and Metropolitane Citie for the Antichristian kingdome Seeing therefore that Antichrist was to rule in Rome necessarie it was that the Emperour should leaue Rome emptie for him for it could not be possest by both of them together Now the issue euent of things hath shewed it selfe to be a most plaine and plentifull interpretour of this prophecie First Constantine translated the Empire from Italie and Rome into Greece vnto * Which is Constantinople Bizantium then the Greeke Emperours began by little and little to lose all their interest in Italie so that at last Rome the auncient seate of the Empire together with a great part of Italie began to fall into the Bishops hands But where-as some vnderstand this matter of the Preaching of the Gospell which the Apostle should signifie was first to be spread ouer the face of the whole earth I will not gaine-say but that both may be vnderstoode viz. that the Empire was to be moued out of Rome and the Gospell to be preached ouer all the world And touching the time where-in both these were perfourmed it agreeth fitte And where-as the Apostle writeth that the misterie of Iniquitie doth
indefinitelie or without limitation a false Prophet and Papa a Pope cap. 12. pag. 48. That Antichrist did herein especiallie vsurp the name of God when he caused him-selfe to bee called the vniuersall Bishop of the Christian Church cap. 13. pag. 50. That Anti. did wickedly arrogate to himself the power of God cap. 14. pag. 53 Of the place where Antichrist should sit where it is apparant that neither Mahumet himselfe nor his accomplisses bee the men whome the Scripture termeth Antichristes cap. 15. pag. 56. That Rome which is in Italie is repaired out of the dust ruines of the old ouerthrone Citie is the Seate or Chaire pointed at and painted out by God himself for Antichrist that should come cap. 16. pag. 58 In what respect the assemblies of the Papistes and of Antichrist are called the temple and Church of God wherein answer is made to many of their obiections cap. 17. pag. 67. Of the time of the comming of Anti. and first that it is plainly to be gathered out of the Scriptures that he was not to be reueiled before the Romane Empire should begin to totter and that the kingdome of Christ should by the preaching of the Gospel begin to growe increase cap. 18. pag. 73. Whether Antichrist could come and settle himfelf before the Emperiall regiment of French-men were ended cap. 19. pag. 78. That the time of the comming of Anti. wherein he should seat and settle himself in the Church was by the spirit of God prescicely set downe to be 666. yeres frō the time to this prophecie of Iohn was made known the which terme of time did expire much about the raigne of Constantine Pogonatus the bearded an Emperour of Cōstātinople cap. 20. pag. 80. That those thousand yeres after which it is said Satan should be loosed cannot appertaine to the time of the comming of Antichrist cap. 21. pag. 89. That the practises which were vsed to frame and set vp the kingdome of Antichrist were diuellish and deceiptfull cap. 22. pag. 90. That the Antichristian kingdome was to rise by little little not at a suddaine according to the fore-warning of the spirit of God cap. 23. pag. 93. That these three things were the chiefe and principall grounds of the kingdōe of popery First the diuers heresies that sprang vp in the church touching the natures office of Christ Secondlie the bitter bickerings that were among the Bishops and thirdlie the large bounties of Emperours and certaine other men who both were able and superstitiouslie bent which they bestowed on the Church of Rome cap. 24. pag. 97. By what other degrees and occasions the authoritie of the Romane Bishop and kingdome of Antichrist was either slilie drawne forward or stronglie established cap. 25. pag. 101. That the authoritie and power of Antichrist was at no time receiued without the resistaunce gaine-saying of some good Bishops cap. 26. pag. 104. Of the destruction and ouerthrowe of the kingdome of Antichrist which is to be brought to passe by the only breath of the Lordes mouth and not by any power or strength of a fift sixt or seauenth Monarchie to be raised or looked for cap. 27. pag. 107. What those ten Kings signifie which in the Reuelation are said should deuoure and consume with fire the harlot and her flesh cap. 28. pag. 111. Whether it be lawfull for Christians and such as professe the Gospell to wage war with the Papistes in purpose to ouerthrow the kingdome of Antichrist and to roote out his doctrine cap. 29. pag. 117. That the kingdome of Antichrist shall at the last be quite taken away by the last comming of Christ cap. 30. pag. 121. That the kingdome of Antichrist was to be broken and brought vnder foot by parts pece-meale not at once or in a short time cap. 31. pag. 123 That there is no corruption of Christian Relligion prophecied of which should succede this kingdome of Antichrist cap. 32. eadem Whether besides the fourth and Roman Monarchie there remaine any other a fifth to be erected Where a verie hard place of Daniell is expounded cap. 33. pag. 125. That the enlarging of the kingdome of Antichrist was in imitation of Christ to be performed by these two meanes especiallie namelie the publike preaching of a kinde of Doctrine and the vaunting shewe of diuers miracles cap. 34. pag. 137. Who be those three spirits whereof mention is made in the Reuelation and are said to be the chiefe ministers of the Antichristian kingdome cap. 35. pag. 140. Why the miracles that were wrought for the credit of the kingdome of Antichrist are termed by S. Paule Lying wonders cap. 36. pag. 144. That not euerie perticular man which heretofore liued or is yet aliue either did or doth approue of the kindgome of Antichriste no not when it had preuailed and gotten the vpper hand cap. 37. pag. 147. That only the reprobate and such as are forsaken of God haue and shall stiflie and obstinatelie stick to the kingdome of Antic cap. 38. pag. 148. What iust cause the Lord had to punish the world with this plague of blindenes that it should admit of this miserable state of the Antichristian kingdome and further wbat monstrous contempt of Gods word went before this Antichristianitie cap. 39. pag. 149. An aunsweare vnto three certaine principall arguments of the Papists wherewith they would iustifie them-selues and approoue this saide kingdome of Antichrist cap. 40. pag. 153. A proposition and position proouing the Pope to be Antichriste page 157. FINIS To the Reader THis I may protest gentle reader that touching the places of Scripture which I haue cited and interpreted out of Daniel and the Reuelation my purpose was to offer them to the censure of other and that I am not in mine opinion so resolut or perēptory that I wil not admit of other mens iudgments which iump not herewith Prouided alwaies that they containe nothing contrarie to the word of God or disagreing from the accomplishment or issue of things the which in my mind is the best interpretour of prophecies that can be Places of Scripture cited and by the way expounded in this treatise Daniell Chap. 2. verse 34. and 44. cap. 18. pag. 74. Chap. 7. verse 8. and 20. cap. 13. pag. 50. verse 13. cap. 18. pag. 74. Chap. 11. verse 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. cap. 33. pag. 125. 126. 2. Thess Chap. 2. v. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. through out this booke Reuelation Chap. 11. verse 7. cap. 9. pag. 23. Chap. 12. verse 3. cap. 9. pag. 23. verse 18. cap. 7. pag. 13. Chap. 13. verse 1. 2. 3. cap. 9. pag. 27. verse 11. cap. 9. pag. 23. verse 15. cap. 10. pag. 40. verse 18. cap. 20. pag. 88. Chap. 16. verse 13. 14. cap. 35. pag. 140. verse 16. cap. 19. pag. 65. Chap. 17. verse 9. cap. 16. pag. 59. verse 12. and 17. cap. 23. pag. 93. verse 16. cap. 28. pag. 111. Chap. 19. verse 20. cap. 9.
at some one time or other or else of the whole rabble of men in their successions which in that Apostacie should beare a swindge for many yeares whome Paule likeneth to a man and so tearmeth it in the singular nomber although in truth it be a troupe and crewe gathered and compact together of many men yea of all the nations kingdomes of the world In like manner as Paule 1. Cor. 4.1 by man in the singular nomber vnderstandeth many which kinde of speache is vsuall and familiar to such as follow the Hebrew phrase the which Paule in his writings doth greatly affect and imitate But withall this is diligently to be obserued which Damascen affirmeth namely that Antichrist should not be one of the Diuels that should take vpon him the flesh and substance of man euen as our Sauiour tooke vnto him our humane nature although notwithstanding such as should become Antichrists should be possessed with a diuelish disposition and caried in enmitie against God Truth it is the Papists will haue it vnderstoode of one singular and priuate man who one day should liue and kéepe a stirre and further that he should arise out of the tribe of Dan but in this their dotage they relie vpon no ground of Scripture and therefore they are vnméete in this point to be dealt withall Others there are and that learned men to that are of opinion that this is to be vnderstoode indéede of one man but such an one as among all the route of Apostates should be the most peruerse the chiefe and ring-leader of all the rest for say they there is one head of the godly and faithfull euen Christ Iesus And touching the name of this one principall arch-Apostata they thinke it is as well couertly insinuated in this place of Paule as also especially bewrayed in the 13. of the Reuelation vers 18. where the figures letters of the said name are said to make vp the nomber of 666. And to say the truth this opinion is generally receiued and seemeth to be somewhat likely Vnto these points I will addresse mine answere And first touching the first Although it be very true that there is one principall head of all the vnfaithfull yet he is not any perticular mortall man such as it appeareth Math. 24. that famous Antichrist should be but euen Sathan himselfe that old Serpent who also is called the Dragon And as for the second opinion me thinks it is weake and wauereth in it selfe in as much as that place of the Apocalypse cap. 13. vers 18. is wrongly interpreted of any certaine name title or calling of any one man the letters whereof should conteine the nomber of 666. For the Spirit of God in that place medleth not with the Arithmeticall signification of letters wherewith any word is framed but of the time and nomber of yeares wherein those things should be accomplished that are there spoken of For the Scripture neuer vseth to deale in such manner of Sorcers foolish mystery by letters which is but flat iuggling of the Cabalists and damned dotages of the Magicians but it vseth to speake very plainely when it fore-telleth of the comming of any as namely when it fore-sheweth the comming of Cyrus and Iosias and that an hundred yeares before they came indeede Therefore looke what men are any where by the Spirit of God spoken of they be mentioned vnder their plaine proper and peculiar names and not by such circumstance of words as Cyrus Iosias Iesus Christ c. as I said before And to the end we may the better see into the matter let vs examine the words of the text it selfe Reuel 13. vers 18. Heere is wisedome Let him that hath vnderstanding coumpt the nomber of the Beast for it is the nomber of a man and his nomber is sixe hundred threescore and sixe Now I would demaund of what tongue or language that word or name should be the letters whereof must be searched after whether it should be an Hebrew Gréeke or Latin word for as August affirmeth lib. 12. de Genesi ad literam these three languages were alwaies accoumpted principall among al men Truely they that first brought vp that interpretation whereof I speake as namely Irenaeus lib. 5. do euen folter in the matter and labour their wittes in deuising any one word whose letters would amount vnto the number of 666. And yet Eusebius lib. 5. histor cap. 8. followeth that which he saw Irenaeus to haue set downe before him I could my selfe deuise many such wordes but it would bee to no purpose For this name Claudius Ruber containes the like number that these do Italica Ecclesia Lateinos Teitan the which neuerthelesse Irenaeus thinketh should be the very names of this egregious Antichrist Agayne the ancient writers before the daies of Irenaeus fetching the matter out of the Greeke affirme that this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and these two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should be meant which should make vp the number 666. namely the letter λ to signifie 30. α 1. τ 300. ε 5. ι 10. υ 50. ν 70. ς 200. For these numbers being added together amount vnto 666. And that somme also is contained in the two other words according to the Greekish manner of supputation or numbring by letters ι 10. τ 300. α 1. λ 30. ι 10. κ 20. α 1. ε 5. μ 20. μ 20. λ 30. κ 8. σ 200. ◠10. α 1. Al which likewise being put together make 666. And no doubt but the truth of the thing bred and fostered this opinion in them Far in the Italian Church the head whereof the Citie of Rome alwaies was they sawe before their eyes that the very kingdome of Antichrist began then to be reiected and so by such beginnings as then appeared the Spirit of GOD guided those good men to fore-see and fore-shewe that there also in time it would grow to his height and perfection And as touching Jrenaeus himselfe he rather thought that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should bee the proper name of Antichrist Hereunto may bée added the Hebrew word Romuth which signifieth a Romain whereof the letter ר signifieth in their manner of numbering also 200. ו 6. ט 40. י 10. י 10. ת 400. But these are but quiddities and come not néere the true exposition of that place of the Apoc. which I alleadged the which that wee may attaine vnto wee must make recourse vnto the holie Scriptures and vnto such like places as this is as namely vnto that of Daniell cap. 7. where not only one perticular man but a whole and vniuersall state of a kingdome is set foorth vnder the name and shape of a Beast as here of a man So the kingdome and all the Kings of Persia are shadowed vnder the figure of one Beare of the Macedonians vnder the shape of a Leopard So also all such as should bée the principalles and hold the helme as you would say in that Apostacie are
their Habites in Monkerie and to make short an infinite companie of horrible blasphemies and wicked actions of theirs are borne and boasted out as sacred and holie because forsooth they are solemne and mysticall in their significations whereas notwithstanding in very trueth they contayne nothing else then meere coniurings agaynst God himselfe and plaine blasphemies agaynst the bloud of Christ Therefore the meanes whereby this kingdome and impietie is established is and euer was craftie couzoning and deceipt and that vnder the goodlie pretence of godlinesse and of holie mysteries intrapping by that meanes the simpler sorte who were not able to iudge of the matter by the rule of Gods word That the Antichristian kingdome was to rise by little and little and not at a suddaine according to the fore-warning of the Spirit of God The 23. Chapter NOw S. Paule hath with-all signified vnto vs by the word Worketh or is a working that the said kingdome and wofull state of Apostacie should rise by degrées as it were and not be brought to his fullnesse in a short time The which caution giuen out by him containeth in it an aduertisement that was verie méete and necessary euen for the Church that then was whereby they should the more warily perceiue and shunne the subtilties of Sathan Therefore this assertion of Paule teacheth vs thus much that this kingdome of Antichrist was to be raised vp a little at once and not to be perfected either in a moment or in a day or houre But yet the Schoole-men are of another opinion for they thinke that it should start vp and aduaunce the head on a suddaine But Paule affirmeth another thing namely that Sathan the craftie contriuer of it should closely and by sleights worke and set forward the same and at last after long protract of time and many circum-uentions spent should obtaine his purpose But before we open the same anie further or teach more at large the truth thereof I thinke méete first to aunswere an obiection which may séeme to be raised out of Reuel 17.12 17. the verses whereof are as followeth verse 12 And the tenne hornes which thou sawest are tenne Kings which yet haue not receiued a Kingdome but shall receiue power as Kings at one houre with the Beast verse 17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his pleasure and to do with one consent for to giue theyr kingdome vnto the Beast vntill the works of God be fullfilled For so is this place to be set together as that the 17. verse do immediatlie follow the 12. for that there is a mis-placing of verses and a renting asunder of the Chapter through the fault of the Printers which also hath happened in other places of the same booke as the learned Theodor Beza hath obserued and taught vpon the 15. verse of the 16. Chapter It séemeth therefore that this is meant héereby namely that the Beast should receiue her saide power of those tenne Kings for an houre which if it were true it would giue great strength vnto the opinion of the Schoole-men But mine aunswere héere-vnto is that this place of the Reuelation doth not properlie appertaine vnto that Beast which representeth Antichrist but rather vnto that which is a figure of the Romane Empire and that not as it was afterward when it was remoued vnto Constantinople but as it was while it remained in Italie For it is said that it should come to passe that before those tenne Kings should arise which should vtterlie ouerthrowe Rome and the dignitie of the Romane Empire there should tenne other appeare and that at one time or instant which should indeauour to raise againe in Italie the Empire of Rome and giue and restore vnto that first Beast her auncient Kingdome but should nothing preuaile Wherefore that place of the Apocalypse is directly to be vnderstoode of those who attempted to restore and set in place the said Empire not in the East and Constantinople but in Italie and in Rome it-selfe who also as the Spirit of God hath specified should be in number tenne but as yet when Iohn wrote were not begun or come at all and further should arise all much about one time or instaunt and contende for the re-establishing of the sayde Romish Empyre After whome tenne other should succeede who contrarywise should deuoure the sayde Empyre that is should vtterly and from the verie foundations turne vpside-downe and put out the same Therefore ouer-passing the opinions of other men and specially of those who thinke that those tenne Kings which should fauour the Beast were suche Emperous as liued before the dayes of the Emperour Domitian for theyr opinion swarueth cleane from the meaning of that place This I affirme that this place of the Reuelation which is read Chapter 17. verse 12. and 17. is to be vnderstoode of those tenne Emperours and Kings who raigned last of all in Italie after such time as the royall mansion of the Empire was transported vnto Constantinople at what tyme the Constantinople Emperours had mutch adoe so holde the possession of Italie which at last came to passe immediatly after the death and murther of Valentinian the third that valiant Emperour that was of the bloud-Royall about the yeare of our Lord 459. For it appeareth by Histories that incontinently after the sayde murther tenne Kings at once did start vp in a moment or verie short time who reached after the Empyre in Italie and laboured by might and mayne to recouer the decayed credite and countenance of the same Therefore they are the tenne Kings or Emperours which should receiue power for an houre And to the ende this my opinion and interpretation may appeare the more true I will now recite them in order as they were Therefore the first of these was 1. Maximus who was the verie murtherer of the sayde Valentinian and was him-selfe in the second moneth of his Empire slaine by Gensericus King of Gothes and cast into the Riuer Tibris 2. Avitus who in the first yeare of his Gouernment was deposed by Richimer a Gothe 3. Maiorianus beeing at that time made Emperour at Ravenna died before the third yeare of his Empyre was expired 4. Severus made Emperour likewise at Ravenna was poysoned within the tearme of thrée yeares after he came to the Crowne 5. 6. Anthemius Richimer a Gothe admitted to the administration of the Empire and participation of Affinitie by Anthemius he likewise was taken away within the time of foure yeares of his regiment 7. Olybrius sonne in lawe vnto Valentinian the third created Emperour who liued but seauen monethes 8. Glycerius made Emperour at Ravenna he also liued not one whole yeare but was slaine by Iulius Nepos 9. Iulius Nepos was foorth-with slaine by Orestes Maister of the Horsses 10. Augustulus sonne of Orestes after he had bin Emperour one yeare was deposed by Odoacer This man was the last of the Italian Emperours And after these other Kings began to rule in Italie which not once
thought vpon the reducing or restoring of the Italian Empire vnto her former dignitie but laboured their vtmost her vtter ouerthrowe for they were barbarous men such as were the Rugians and Gothes who began now openly to beare rule in Italie Now all these Kings of whome I haue spoken raigned almost but an houre that is a verie short time and space yea they raigned and died much about a time in as much as all of them came to the Crowne within little lesse then the compasse of tenne yeares and it may be that the Image thereof I meane the state of Poperie may héerein resemble her * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 platfourme and agrée iompe there-with in hauing her tenne last Popes verie short liu'd for a finall conclusion and ruinous confusion of that kingdome Therefore both the number of the Kings which is specified in the Scriptures and the verie short time of their gouernment confirmeth my interpretation and proueth it to be most true which I had rather follow then that exposition which Primasius giueth of this place vnderstanding by an houre any time whatsoeuer either short or long where-vnto the 8. Chapter verse 1. of the same Reuelation is repugnaunt That these three things were the chiefe and principall groundes of the kingdome of Poperie First the diuers haeresies that sproong vp in the Church touching the natures and office of Christ Secondly the bitter bickerings that were among the Bishops and thirdly the large bounties of Emperours and certaine other men who both were able and superstitiously bent which they bestowed on the Church of Rome The 24. Chapter WHich being so we are now to lay open by what steppes this seate and tyrannie of the Romane Empire stept vp to such a tipe and magnificence and how at last it attained his finall furniture and perfection of building in the place of * Geddon-Harma desolation that is where the sheards and asshes of ruinous Rome were to be found The first and originall ground-workes in laying and establishing the kingdome of Antichrist were three to weete the errours of Heretikes the contentions of Bishops and the superstitious deuotions and excessiue liberalities of Christian Princes for so that their foolish and immoderate largisse bestowed vpon the Church is rather to be tearmed then true deuotions for they were too-too ouer-lasshing and cockering fauourers towards the Church and chiefely the Church of Rome And touching these three causes which I called ground-works of the Antichristian kingdome it may easily be perceiued that they likewise were three mightie and effectuall steps or degrees whereby Antichrist by little and little reared him-selfe vnto that huge and tyrannous power which afterwards he attained And first touching errours in matters of faith and religion truth it is that the Romane Church yea all the Westerne Churches remained more pure and sound then the Easterne and those in Syria by two especiall meanes the one for that in the Weast there were continuall persecutions stirred vp by the Emperours of Rome the other for that the wits of the Westerne men were alwayes more grosse and dull whereby it came to passe that they of the Easterne Churches repayred often in matters of doubt vnto the Church of Rome and required their iudgement and helpe in condemning newsproong Heresies and so by this meanes the credit and estimation of the Bishop of Rome began more and more in wonderfull sort to increase and be highly reputed of in the Church of God for the many and diuers Heresies that then were did not only shake the Christian faith but made it as a matter greatly doubted of among many in the East especiallie where-by also they made readie way for that generall back-sliding which after insued And therefore those Heresies are called by Chrisostome Armies of Antichrist especially such as sprang last whereby bitter contention was raysed and heald repugnaunt to the word of God touching the natures of Christ and of their vnion or lincking together of the office of Christ and of the merits of our workes suche as those were which were stirred vp by Arrius Nestorius Eutyches and Pelagius which Heresies were both most detestable and most forceible to ouerthrowe the vprightnesse of mens iudgements And therefore by this meanes vpon a suddaine the superstition of Mahumetisme began in the East and by occasion of the continuall dissentions that were among the Christians touching such points of Doctrine it was admitted willinglie and preuailed greatlie For the Easterne Churches were now tainted turmoiled and foulie deformed with an infinite number of heresies for looke how many heresies there are about matters of faith and doctrine so many foule blots and blemishes there are in the Christian Churches And truely Chrysost vpon Math. Hom. 49. obserueth very wel that after such time as Theodosius the great had once graunted temples and places of publike assemblies euen vnto heretikes it came to passe that the Churches receiued great deformitie wonderfull increase of heresies Therfore the Churches of the East séeing they had lost all credit and reputation of Christian profession among their neighbours countreymen at home they intreated Symmachus then Bishop of Rome that he would by his censure cōdemne the heresies of Acatius seeing that as then the Easterne Bishops had no such power authoritie ouer their people so also they desired of Agapetus that he would depose Antimus Bish of Constantinople as an heretike And to make short all Ecclesiasticall histories are plentifull in such examples This therefore was the first meanes whereby the kingdome of Antich began to get footing The secōd meanes hereof was the continuall dissentions garboiles brawles wofull contentions of the Bishops among thēselues whereby not only thēselues became odious among men but euen the doctrine of Christ wherof they were the pillers begā to grow into vtter cōtempt These sturs were very cōmon in the Easterne Churches but not so vsuall in the West by meanes of the continuall persecutions that were there for idlenes long rest doth make mē more wanton dissolute whereby it came to passe that the Bishops that were thus molested were glad faine to flie vnto an other Bish of greater coūtenance wherby they might be eased kept frō wrongful dealings offered thē by other Bishops Now as for the Bish of Rome he no doubt by meanes of the famousnes of the City it selfe seemed the most principal who also was ready willing to yéeld his helping hand in the redresse of other Bishops their distressed estates for both Athanasius being put out of his Bishoppricke by the Arrians made his repaire to the B. of Rome as vnto a sure refuge after him Fabianus before him many other did the like as appeareth by histories infinite it were to reckon vp all exampls in this behalf in so much as in processe of time this repaire vnto the Romane Bishops in times of exigence procured him great authoritie among all nations in Christendome and that indéede so
erected where a verie hard place of Daniell is expounded The 33. Chapter THirdly and lastly that which out of the former discourse is to be gathered is this that héere-after there remaineth no other Monarchie to be erected in the world after time that of Rome and this Image thereof that is the Romane Antichrist is decayed and so we may sée that what-so-euer was to come and fall out from the first beginning of Monarchies vnto the ende of the world was made knowne before-hand vnto Daniell Cap. 11. Therefore vpon the ende and accomplishment of those things which are spoken of in that Chapter immediatly the last resurrection is not only mentioned but also the estate and condition thereof to the great comfort of the godly is described Cap. 12. And yet should not the faithfull in regard héereof be the more slack in assaulting the kingdome of Antichrist as though their labour should be frustrate and to no purpose Nay assuredly their indeauours shall take good successe and by little and little they shall cast downe that which God would not haue to fall at a moment or without one blow Therfore they that do either sincerely preach or faithfully embrace the Gospell do dayly grinde waste knap off and to be short they alwayes diminishe some-what of the Antichristian kingdome But against this our third and last collection that seemeth to be obiected which is in Daniell Cap. 11. vers 40. and those that follow which are these verse 40 And at the ende of time shall the King of the South push at him and the King of the North shall come against him like a whirle-winde with Chariots and with horse-men and with many Ships and he shall enter into the Countries and shall ouer-flowe and passe through verse 41 He shall enter also into the pleasant land and many countries shall be ouerthrowen but these shall escape out of his hands Edom and Moab and the chief of the children of Amon. verse 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also vppon the countries and the land of Aegipt shall not escape verse 43 But he shall haue power ouer the treasures of Gold and Siluer and ouer all precious things of Aegipt and of the Lybians and of the Black-Moores where hee shall passe verse 44 But the tidings out of the East and the North shall trouble him therefore hee shall go foorth with great wrath to destroy and roote out manie verse 45 And hee shall plant the tabernacles of his palace betweene the Seas in the glorious and holie mountaine yet hee shal come to his ende and none shal helpe him This place of Daniell if any other be is doubtles verie intricate and obscure Wherby it hath happened that the iudgements of expositours haue bin discrepant and diuers among them-selues For some expounde it so as that they refer it vnto Tigrenes and Mithridatis who made inuasion vpon the Romane Empire Some againe had rather refer it vnto Antiochus And againe some vnto Pompey the great and Iulius Caesar But there bee many thinges which will not admit of anie of these interpretations The latter writers refer it onlie to the Kinges of Asia and Aegipt who are spoken of in al that chapter The which iudgement and interpretation as I doe not surelie reiect so am I withall resolute in this that those two Empires are tipes and figures to the Churche of such thinges as shoulde befall euen after the comming of Christ Therefore this is mine opinion First that those two Kingdomes whereof Daniell speaketh in the last place are neither said should be Monarchies neither are they so called but onlie kingdomes the which two shall ouerturne al whatsoeuer shall bee left remaining of the Romane Empire in the South and East And of these two Kingdomes or Kings the one saith Daniell shall come out of the South the other from the North. And this Northerne fellowe shall strike the greater terrour into this said Monarchie Yet both these Kings or Kingdomes shall with shippes Chariots and Horsemen that is by sea and land assaulte the fourth Monarchie and the remnaunts thereof And againe either of these Kings shall successiuelie one after an other lay hould vpon Aegipt that is subdue the same and thereof possesse great treasures of Gould and Siluer Lastlie they shall possesse Lybia that is the Region of Cyren and Aethiopia which is Arabia These pointes therefore I take to be vttered by Daniell as indifferentlie touching and concerning both the said Kingdomes but not respecting the fourth Monarchie and Kingdome of the Romans Afterward in the 44 verse these two kingdomes are compared together and that of the South is saide should be disturbed by that of the North which lieth Easternlie So that the Southerne Kingdome should be in time the first and that of the North the latter And as for both of them they shoulde pitch their tents betweene two Seas and the holie hill that is towards Iudaea but in the ende they shall come to their ende and finall destruction and none shall yeald them succour These things are thus set downe in Daniell the which if we doe vnderstand as some do expound them of Pompey and Caesar they are then most obscure and darke and nothing agreeing with the course of thinges that haue happened But being vnderstood as I haue directed then are they most plaine and agréeing with the issue of things that are done And to begin withall these thinges can at no hand bee referred to the Romans because they were first made possessours of Lybia and Affricke before they set foote in the holie Lande that is Judaea for so doeth Daniell according to the manner of his time call that Region as also their Neighbours and people bordering vppon them by their peculiar names such as were well knowne in those dayes the Ammonites and Moabites although his prophecie tendeth vnto those times and those things which he fore-sheweth should then be accomplished when as neither Iudaea should be called the pleasant land nor the Ammonites and Moabites should be tearmed by those names which point we are to obserue least otherwise these titles do trouble vs and least we thinke that those things where-of Daniell speaketh were to be taken and then only to be fullfilled while both Iudaea had as yet the promises of God and the Moabites were knowne by that name or title He speaketh therefore of those Regions but in that manner and with such names as where-by in those dayes they were knowne to the Iewes to whome he writeth But yet the things which he fore-telleth were then to come to passe when as neither Iudaea was any more the place of Gods rest nor the house that contained the people of God the which at the last fell out and came to passe after the Gospell was once published and Christ had suffered death This mine opinion is heereby confirmed for that he speaketh of such things as should fall out in the latter daies that is in the last age of the world after
These therefore wasted by Sea and land with wonderfull successe the Easternely head of the said fourth Monarchie And these also pitched their tents and kept their chiefe Pallaice place of residence in that part of the world which is inclosed within these two Seas where-of I haue spoken about the hill Taurus and Syria of Damascus before the comming of the Tartarians and before they had surprized Constantinople For in that part at first the greatest part of the Turkish Empire was established Now there is none that maketh doubt that the Turks are risen of the Scithians that dwell in the East And these were more terrible to the Romanes then were the Sarracens as also Daniell describeth who also are reported should succéede and in time to come after the said Sarracens for the kingdome that is said should come out of the North-East is spoken of by Daniell in the second place And this prophecie agreeth with the storie of things done For the Turks did suppresse the Empire of the Sarracens at what time they were by Hormisda King of Persia stirred vp and allured out of their countries and afterward which also Dan. fore-tould should come to passe they were made fellow-partners of the Empire by Mahumet the Sarracen being Sowdan of Persia Sogdiana and Media because he was not able to match in power with Calipha the Saracen of Babylon Thus therefore the Sarracens being set by the saddle the Turks enioyed the Empire and raigned in Asia Syria full out the tearme of 192. yeares but afterwards being molested by the Tartarians and Assumbeans Kings of the Parthians their power was some-what appalled and almost brought to the last cast After that in the yeare of our Lord 1300. vnder the raigne of Romanus Diogenes Emperour of Constantinople the house of Ottoman restored the Turkish Empire to his former dignitie the recouerie where-of was the full and finall ouerthrowe of the Easterne and Constantinopolitane Empire So the boundes of the Turkish Empire are now become the very same which were the limits of the Orientall Empire of the Romanes but as for the Occidentall and Italian he shall neuer say his fingers on it because this portion of the fourth Monarchie seemeth in the Reuel Cap. 13.12.13 c. to be allotted vnto Antichrist And where as it is further added in Daniell vers 45. that none should become an helper either to the Sarracens or to the Turks experience hath proued it true for God did so raise vp and aduance these Kingdomes as that they were not holpen by the power or furniture of any other forraigne nation nay they were rather hated of all others but they vsed and rested vppon their owne only aide and prouision wherein the worke of God appeareth the greater by the swift and suddaine promotion of these Kingdomes And it is sayd of Ismaell Genesis 16.12 of whome no doubt the Saracens are descended His hand shall be against euerie man and euerie mans hand against him he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren To conclude where-as the last obiection is made out of the Reuelation 20.8 touching Gog and Magog whiche should conspire with the false Prophet I confesse I am as yet ignorant what Nation is thereby signified Certaine it is that Gog is a prowde people such as are all the enemies of Christ and of the Church and this manner of speach is taken out of Ezech. 38. 39. And as for Magog it appeareth he came of Iaphet Genes 10.2 That the enlarging of the kingdome of Antichrist was in imitation of Christ to be perfourmed by these two meanes especially namely the publike preaching of a kinde of doctrine and the vauliting shewe of diuers miracles The 34. Chapter NOw followeth the seauenth head of this discourse to wit by what signes and meanes Antichrist was to establish and hold his outragious power and tyrannie We haue alreadie taken viewe of the wayes where-by he attained the same It pleased the Spirit of God that these points should be seuerally handled to the ende that the godly should be the lesse offended when they sée them accomplished both because they are brought to passe by the will of God for the triall of the faithfull and againe their comming was fore-tolde to strike the greater terrour into the hearts of the wicked Now Paule telleth vs héere with what aides and supporters this kingdome was heald vp and strengthned the which he maketh to be of two sorts the one chiefe and principall as the working of Sathan and that mightie and effectuall the other inferiour as seruing to the other which he calleth Signes and wonders but with-all he addeth what manner of ones they should be namely Lying and againe to what ende they tended to wit to deceiue men and hold them in all wickednesse and errour All which points containe in them both singular comforts and profitable considerations forewarnings of those things which afterward insued And touching the matter of consolations assuredly they are most sweete and behoouefull séeing there can nothing more acceptable be reported then that all those things which are done against the doctrine of Christ and that to the great admiration of men in such sort as that they should tearme them Miracles and Wonders are notwithstanding nothing else but detestable practises of Sathan and false miracles And as for fore-warnings this place is also furnisht with such where-by men are enabled to perceiue how it commeth to passe that all the world is so easily drawne into that errour For where-as some do indeede obserue the same they wonder and are astonied marueiling how such a thing could so easily be brought to passe And in the end thus they resolue vpon the matter saying except the religion of Antichrist which indeede is nothing else but a flat blasphemie were the true doctrine of God it would neuer haue bin so easily receiued nor established vpon such a suddaine but the aunswere is easie God had fore-tolde that all these things should thus come to passe and that he would giue such power vnto Sathan the which prophecie and with-all iust iudgement of God could not but be accomplished Now why God would haue it so and that vpon verie iust cause the reason shall be after rendred And to the ende this mine assertion might be throughlie strengthned I haue to alleadge a place very like vnto this out of Math. 24.24 And againe another which is in Reuel 16.14 And lastly the example of the Magitians and Enchaunters which resisted the truth as Paule alleadgeth 2. Tim. 3.9 all which do make plaine by what meanes the enemies of the heauenly truth haue alwaies withstoode the same so that we are not now to thinke it strange if this verie practise be ascribed to the pollicie of Antichrist and Sathan who hath in hand to worke this whole mysterie of iniquitie and to the sleights which he vseth in mainteining this his kingdome against the doctrine of Christ and indéede reason it-selfe doth yeeld no lesse
poynted at and fore-shewed should take place in the Church For wee are not to imagine that the whole power of Antichrist is included in that Bishop only but that pontificall kingdome which is opposite and contrary vnto the kingdome of Christ is in truth to be tearmed Antichrist And seeing the Bishop of Rome is the head of this kingdome I call him Antichrist being but a part of the whole Wherein I whollie followe the manner and direction of the Scripture which when it speaketh of that Antichrist it mentioneth sometime a whole kingdome and bodie as it were as when Paule sayth Except there first come a defection or falling away and Now the mysterie of iniquitie worketh And sometime agayne it specifieth but some one being chiefe and principall in this kingdome of whom dependeth the whole bodie of this wickednesse as when he sayth Setting and aduauncing himselfe agaynst whatsoeuer is called God or is worshipped and bearing it out as if he were at God These two poynts cannot bee vnderstoode of the whole bodie but of the head the Bishop of Rome himselfe Thus then seeing it appeareth what I meane by the name of Antichrist let vs come to the matter and thing it selfe and examine what we finde in the Scripture concerning Antichrist whereby all men which are not alreadie infected with the dregges of Antichristianisme may acknowledge and confesse that the Romane Bishop is as I say this Antichrist And herein of purpose I will affect breuitie indeuouring to comprize many thinges in a fewe words and much matter in a small compasse All the auncient Fathers almost and many of the late writers and those very learned Diuines doe affirme that Daniell in his 11. Chapter about the ende did speake of Antichrist For the things that are there spoken by him are to be referred to Antiochus only figuratiuely but are properly and in truth to be vnderstood of Antichrist There are none of the Popes Proctours themselues to my knowledge that make doubt but that the Prophet in that place doth speake of Antichrist Which if it be so we may euen out of this place learne who and what manner of fellowe this Antichrist should be For in that treatise of Daniell we may behold not a sleight counterfeit but a liuely picture of the Bishoppe of Rome For first sayth the Prophet He shall doe what him list And indeede the Pope hath now these many yeares done euen what he pleased in many matters as well Ciuill as Ecclesiasticall For he takes vpon him to create translate and put downe Kings to discharge subiects from their oath of obedience and to haue the like authoritie ouer al Empires and Kingdomes to roote out pull downe bring to ruine and destroy agayne to build and plant them at his pleasure And this power he hath put in practise not only heretofore against many Kings and Keysers but of late he itched as ye knowe to exercize vpon our gracious Soueraigne And as for Ecclesiasticall matters he therein challenged to himselfe much more licentious libertie For therein al his sayings placards and degrees were to bee accompted as Oracles proceeding from the Spirit of God whatsoeuer liked him must be taken for Catholike and whatsoeuer displeased him was to bee reputed hereticall Though he should drawe with him infinite soules of men into hell yet it were impietie for any man to say What do you dist 40. Si Papa And it is an olde principle among Papistes which none of them dare denie that the bare Will of the Pope is reason ynough Further the Prophet sayth He shal exalt and magnifie himselfe aboue all that is God The which also Paule very flatly affirmeth of Antichrist Now how the Pope perfourmeth this I shall afterward shewe when I shall come to handle that place of Paule Thirdly the Prophet addeth And he shall prosper vntill by the wrath of God he bee brought to nought Who is ignorant how wonderfullie the kingdome of Poperie increased vntill such time as the Lord reueiled Antichrist vnto his people Fourthly it followeth neither shall he regard the God of his Fathers And sure the Romanistes haue deuised vs a newe God which is not the true God of the Christians They haue a counterfaict God and a straunge Christ a newe heauen and such a religion as our Fathers the Apostles neuer knewe but such an one as themselues could inuent and frame for their owne turnes the which I will after make manifest Fifthly the Prophet writeth He shall not care for the desires of women The Papistes although they bee not the least effeminate men that euer were yet they condemne mariage as vtterly vnlawfull among them in all their orders and professions in so much as they preferre abhominable Sodomitrie and filthie raging lust before honest and holie Matrimonie Sixtly He shall worship God with golde and siluer and precious stones Among the Catholikes the spirituall and true worship of God is cleane decayed and all their religion standeth in outwarde shewe and stately furniture of their Churches and Images and masking pompe in celebrating their Masses Lastly he addeth He shall increase his glorie and shall make his accomplisses to rule ouer many and shall deuide the land among them What riot what glorie what magnificence what power what riches and treasure can be greater thē that the Papists possessed Whatsoeuer was pleasant in al Christendome whatsoeuer was gainfull delightsome fatt and to be desired was whollie not long since in the Popes fauourers Wherefore I thinke assuredly that no man doubteth but that these things do so touch the Bishop of Rome that they do not agree so fitly with any other whosoeuer But seeing there be some that be not as yet resolued that Daniell in this place spake of Antichrist or if he did yet that he there spake but figuratiuely as vnder the person of an other let vs come to the newe Testament wherein this Antichristian monster is plainlie and clearely set out vnto vs. And yet I will not prosecute euery place but make instaunce onlie of such proofes as are most plaine and pregnant There was neuer any Christian that as yet made doubt that in the second Epistle to the Thess cap. 2. mention is made of Antichrist Wherefore let vs aduisedly consider and make search into that place and let vs compare the Bishop of Rome with that Antichrist of the Apostle who must needes bee the verie Antichrist that by his true and proper marks we may learne to acknowledge the very truth of the thing The Thessalonians had wronglie perswaded themselues that the comming of Christ and the end of the world drewe neere The Apostle endeuoureth to rid them of that errour and withall deliuereth doctrine most necessarie for all Christians The simple and plaine proposition whereof is this Antichrist shall come before the comming of Christ This Antichrist he diuerslie describeth that euery Church and Congregation might knowe what a manner of one he should bee Let vs seuerally consider of each
Church vnder the Bishop of Rome at last he flatly determineth of him in this sort He is the very Antichrist Agayne vpon the Canticles Sermon 33. that I prosecute not many places of this Authour touching this poynt he vseth the very same speach and assertion Further what shall wee thinke of that famous Epistle of the Church of Leodium agaynst Paschall the 2. which is extant in the 2. Tome of the Councels doth it not adde great testimonie and credit in this behalfe The words whereof are these Wee do vtterly dislike those Legates a Latere sent from the Pope that runne prolling about to scrape vp pence and fill their bagges as in the daies of Zosimus Celestine and Boniface the Counsells of Affricke approued For that we may iudge them by their fruites there insued by their meanes no amendment of manners but oppression of men and spoyle of Gods Church Touching the matter of Haughtinesse or Ambition where in al the world was it euer greater Surely Peter 2. Pet. 2. toucheth and tainteth this true of Clergie men with the note of extreame insolencie as men who set not a button by lawfull Magistrates And seeing the Man of Rome maketh open challenge that himselfe is set aboue all Kingdomes and Kings in the world as did Leo the 12. in a Bull and Preface beginning Concordat And Boniface the 8. vpon a day of Iubilie causing to be caried before him in the sight of the people a Key and a Sword what could bee more plainlie and fitly spoken then to compare both Antichrist himselfe his whole Hierarchie vnto the weake and impotent affection of a sielie woman All the world knowes and the thing it selfe shewes no lesse what often and bitter contentions and bickerings haue been raised about the getting of the triple Crowne And indeede Austin himselfe euen in his daies obserued no lesse as he reporteth in his 6. Booke agaynst Iulian cap. 4. yea very heathen men haue obserued recorded the same in writings as namely Ammianus Marcellinus of Pope Damasus Agayne Bernard vpon the Canticles Sermon 33. speaking of that stately State and of those that were preeminent in it There are arisen sayth he vaine men itching after renowne and glorie and faine they would become somebodie and procure themselues a name And lastly in his 4. Booke De Consideratione vnto Eugenius the Pope after he hath described and detested the pride and pompe of the Bishops of Rome at last hée shutteth vp the matter in these words Herein saith he thou shewest thy selfe to haue succeeded not Peter but Constantine Peter is he who neuer knew what belonged to such solemne shewing himselfe abroad in braueries of precious stones or silkes or golde or riding vpon a white palfray or being guarded with a troupe of tall fellowes or inuironed with a companie of ruffling seruing-men But to say the truth Bernard speaketh sparingly to compare the Bishop to Constantine he should rather haue named Dioclesian that cruell tyrant or Caligula both which by meanes of their precious and glorious attyre would needes bee accompted and reuerenced as Gods Agayne Hilarius contra Auxent speaking of the state of Antichrist These fellowes saith he do ambitiously affect the countenance and maiesticall port of the Secular power and so thinke to vphold the flourishing estate of the Church by a shewe of worldly pompe And lastly he saith They make great accompt of this to be greatly accompted of in the world All this he speaketh of Antichrist And I pray what was more vsuall or common to be seene in the Papacie than the practise hereof Or what was there euer more puft vp and insolent then that route of the Romish rabble Insomuch as the Bishop of Rome decreed and established it that his Cardinalls should take the vpper hand of Kings themselues which is euident to be seene in their Clementines And thus much of their Ambition As concerning their Idolatry the penne of euery writer is plentifull in shewing how outragious it should be in the kingdome of Antichrist Austin in his treatise De Antichristo He shall reuiue saith he the worshipping of Deuils he shall set vp and magnifie the wicked and shall violate and reiect the lawe of the Gospell And all these things saith he shall he do in the midst of the Church Whereupon it is that in many places of the Reuel as cap. 17. 18. The Kings of the earth are said to commit fornication with the Harlot which is to be referred vnto the matter of Idolatry But what and where was ther euer Idolatry so grosse and apparant as was and is in Poperie As concerning their riot and licentious behauiour there was no want of that to be found in that kingdome and that in the very bosome of the Church by occasion whereof it is said Reuel 18.9 that the kings and nations of the earth did not only commit whoredome but also liued with her in licentious wantonnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 drenched drowned in all manner of pleasures as Paule speaketh of wanton Widdowes 1. Tim. 5.11 This loosenesse of life is both common and commended among the very Bishops and Priests and other Prelates of the popish Cleargy the which also begā not of late to be espied but such as liued aboue 400. yeares ago as namely Bernard bewrayed and bewailed it often and that in vehement manner as in his 5. booke De considerat and vpon the Canticles Sermon 33. the which place because it expresseth as it were in colours the loose behauiours of the Romish Prelates I haue thought good to exemplifie it word for word They beare out themselues saith he in an honorable port with the goods of the Church whereunto notwithstanding themselues bring no credit or worship at all Hence commeth that whorish tricking that Stage-like attire that Prince-like pompe which daily we see in them Hence proceedes the golde that they vse in their bridles saddles and spurres in so much as their spurres are more glittering then their Alters Hence came their stately tables their varietie of dishes and quaffing cups hence issued their ionketing bankets their dronkennes and surfaicts hence followed their Viols Harpes and Shawmes hence flowed their Cellers and Pantries so stuffed with wines and viands of all sorts hence gat they their Lee-pots painting boxes and hence had they their pursses so wel lined with coine fye vpon it such men they will needes be and yet they are our great maisters in Israel as Deanes Archdeacons Bishops and Archbishops These works of theirs are little inferiour vnto that filthines which they commit in darknesse And lastly he addeth these words For he is the very Antichrist Let any that list peruse the whole place as also the said Fathers Epistle vnto Eugenius and againe set him reade the little booke of Nicholas de Clemengis wherein he complaineth of all the orders of the Papacie And lastly Peter de Vineis in his Epistles To conclude let him reade and obserue what Platina himselfe
Idolatours and their Decrees and Constitutions blasphemous against God But after time the said Emperours began to be Christians which began in Constantine the great for whereas some writers affirme of Phillip whome Decius slewe that he imbraced the Gospell certaine it is that he would be a Christian no otherwise but couertly and not by publike profession then I say first of all and by vpon the necke of it this same Romane Empire was translated from Italie and old Rome into Thrace and therein vnto Constantinople For that this should so come to passe the Spirit of God in the Apoc. had fore-shewed as after we shall declare But yet I graunt that Constantine had no regard vnto that Prophecie when he remoued at first from Rome to Bizantium and there setled his Emperiall Pallaice but he respected only a more commodious gouernment of those matters and kingdomes of his that lay Eastward which at that time were miserably disquieted by the Parthians and Persians For Constantinople did séeme to be so scituated whereas otherwise Cōstantine had once thought to haue setled else-where as that it was as you would say the nauell or midst vnto the whole Romane iurisdiction which as we knowe spread it selfe farre and neere and yet it could not possibly otherwise fall out because that so the Romane Empire might become double-headed and haue those two hornes which God before had reueiled So the prouidence of God guided this whole enterprise of Constantine and so fulfilled what him-selfe had decreed And touching this deuiding of the Romane Empire into these two heads and hornes it is warranted out of the Reuel 13.11 and Zech. 4.8 and this is the very true interpretation of that Prophecie where it is said that the Beast had two hornes And heere let this be obserued that heereafter I will coumpt call that the first Beast which in my former deuision and exposition I made the second and againe I will tearme that the second which before I called the third for that head of the first Beast which appeared to be hurt and wounded deadly was indeede one of the seauen before spoken of But that those seauen were in the end reduced vnto two only it appeareth heereby for that the second Beast which before we called the third and which conuayed vnto her selfe all the power that the former had is sayd to haue only two hornes Cap. 13. 11. And it may not seeme strange that in this second Beast I interpret otherwise of the signification of hornes then I did in the former For there by hornes were specified the persons of Kings as afterward shall appeare because it is added that those hornes had Diademes or Crownes on thē But as for the hornes of the second Beast they rather note a State then any persons because that these hornes are said to resemble the likenesse of the Lambe so that they signifie an estate or qualitie of a Kingdome To conclude this interpretation is to be held as a principall ground for the better vnderstanding of many places in the Reuelation whereinto we shall a great deale more easily see if we shall obserue this distinction or deuision of this Romane Empire into two imperiall heads Let vs therefore fall in hand with the exposition of the place of the Reuelation Cap. 13. 1. 2. 3. the words whereof are these verse 1 Then I sawe a Beast rising out of the Sea hauing seauen heads and ten hornes and vpon his hornes were ten Crownes and vpon his heads the name of blasphemie verse 2 And this Beast which I saw was like a Leopard and his feete like a Beares and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion and the Dragon gaue vnto him his power and his throne and great authoritie verse 3 And I sawe one of his heads as it were wounded to death but his deadly wound was healed And all the world wondred and followed the Beast The ten Kings that are spoken of in this place are to bee coumpted from that time wherein and from that Emperour vnder whom this Prophecie was written And that was Domitian the sonne of Vespasian In which accompt notwithstanding all they are not to be reckoned for Emperours and Kings who succeeded in the Empyre For as for some of them they were neuer approoued but refused both by the Senate and people of Rome Some agayne did skarse take a taste as it were of the pleasure and pompe of the Empyre they liued so short a time Therefore they only are to bee reckoned in this Catalogue of ten Kings who both entred with publike consent of al the orders and continued in the gouernment the space of some yeres And lastly whereas any two of them did raigne together there they both are to be accoumpted but for one King and the Kingdome to bee ascribed vnto him that was first in place Wherefore these be they which seeme to me to be the ten Kings and to be vnderstood by that place 1 Traian the Emperour who ruled by the consent of all the people yeares 20. 2 Aelius Adrianus liked and loued of all raigned 21. 3 Antonius Boionius borne at Nimmes in Fraunce surnamed Pius 23. 4 M. Antonius Philosophus together with his brother L. Verus 18. 5 Commodus the sonne of Philosophus ruled alone 13. 6 Septimus Seuerus Afer for Aelius Pertinax and Didius Iulianus did skarcely or rather not at all enter vpon the Empyre neither were they euer admitted as Emperours either by the Senate or Souldiers but this Seuerus raigned yeares 18. 7 Alexander Mammeus for as for Antonius Caracalla he was admitted vnto the gouernment by his Father Seuerus while he yet liued so that he was but a copartner and one that held out the course of his fathers kingdome And touching Heliogabalus he raigned but two yeares skarcely knowne in the meane time either to the Senate or to the Prouinces Agayne his gouernment is to be ascribed vnto the yeares of this Alexander who began his rule euen in the daies of Heliogabalus And lastly concerning Macrinus who was the next he was neuer accepted by any of the orders neither in the time of his short aduauncement did he euer see Rome so that in regard of his small continuance he is not to be accompted among the Emperours but this Alexander ruled yeares 13. 8 Galienus vnder whose time I comprehend the poore aduauncement of Valerian who is vnworthie once to bée named an Emperour sith he indured a miserable bondage vnder Sapor the King of the Persians And as for Julius Maximinus and the Gordians their Empyre was neuer quiet as also that of Phillippes who was neuer accoumpted of or any whit feared among the Prouinces And lastly concerning Decius and Vixius Gallus who insued they skarce bad the Kingdome Good-morrow but Galienus gouerned .15 9 Aurelianus a man much made of by all men a famous and stout Emperour although his gouernment lasted not long namely 5. 10 Dioclesian for touching Tacitus and Florianus they neuer sawe the
which is the Metropolitane Citie in Italie is the certaine seate appointed by God for Antichrist to sit in that for euery choise of a new Prince of this Apostacie euery one that hath interest in that election must of necessitie repaire to that place as it is expressely prouided for in the 6. of the Decretalls Lastly that Citie is the shop where all mischeuous counsells and pestilent practises against the Church of God are deuised which after are in most despitefull manner put in execution against the Saincts of God and to conclude she is the Princely pallaice of the papisticall kingdome and of Antichrist him-selfe and that so limited and appointed by the full and generall consent of all the route and rabbie of that traiterous generation For why are the Popes of Rome who retaine still their power and authoritie ouer their Antichristian Churches wheresoeuer they shall become more tied to be and settle at Rome then either at Bononie or Avenion or Viterbie or Paris or Venice the which notwithstanding are verie great and famous Cities and in respect of commodities requisite for the maintenance of our life and of great concourse in way of trafficke and marchaundice are to be preferred farre aboue Rome or all the soile and territorie belonging vnto Rome If heereunto it be said that the reason thereof is because the Pope is Bishop of Rome I aunswere that they who vse to giue dispensations to others that they may be non-residents and discontinue from their proper Bishopricks may become non-residents themselues if they will and as they tearme it despence with themselues in that point and so vse their owne libertie Againe when as the abode of this Romane Bishop was for the space of 70. whole yeares together continued at Avenion was not the Pope in all that while Bishop of Rome as well as now he is although he were not at Rome Stephen Bishop of Rome what time as he made so often iourneys to Pipin King of Fraunce when as he was so shrewdly molested by the Lombards that were deadly enemies vnto the Sea of Rome when I say he went so oft and staied so long in Fraunce I trust he ceased not in the meane time to be Bishop of Rome therefore that reason is of no force But in truth the verie reason why Rome rather then any other place in the world or then any other Citie how famous so euer as Alexandria Antioche Ierusalem Constantinople sometime were and as Venice Florence Bononie Paris Anwerpe Avenion London now are should be the fiâ—te and certaine seate of this kingdome of Poperie and of Antichrist is because the word and prophecie which the Spirit of God had giuen out vnto Iohn touching the place of Antichrist must néedes be fullfilled for the place of this so detestable a Sea was expressely limited and layed out namely to be in that precinct where that auncient famous and stately Rome sometime stoode Now this could not possibly come to passe before that oulde and noble Rome which was the place of the Idolatrous Empire was ouerthrowne For this place is called Geddon that is a rasing Harma of the high place And thus it could not be tearmed but after such time as that high Rome was sackt which was throughly performed by the Gothes before the chaire of Antichrist was in that place erected For the Bishops of Rome neuer challendged vnto them-selues the name of Vniuersall Bishop or tooke vpon them such power of Antichrist before that oulde Rome was quite defaced Indeede she was often before surprized and ransanckt but in the ende she was by the Gothes brought to vtter ruine when once the Romane Empire was translated thence vnto Constantinople For to let passe that she was once taken by the French-men because indeede that makes nothing for this purpose after this prophecie of Iohn she was surprised thrise and at last according to this decree of God layde flatte in the dust the firste whereof was perfourmed by the Gothes while Arcadius and Honorius were Emperours in the yeare of our Lord 414. but then she was not cleane ouer-turned the second was by the Vandalls Marcianus beeing Emperour Anno 449. but neither as yet was she destroyed the thirde and last was when Iustinian the first was Emperour vnder the conduct of Totitas King of the Gothes which was that finall ouerthrowe and vtter ruine of Rome whereof that place of the Reuelation is directly to be vnderstood for then indeede she was foulie handled then was she turned cleane topsie-turnie then were her walles beaten downe then was she so terriblie set on fire that the raging flambes thereof made hauocke for the space of fortie dayes together in so much as it consumed the whole Citie in the yeare 540. but somewhat before that time namely from the yeare 534. as Onuph lib. 3. Fast obserueth by meanes of the warres wherewith they were continually afflicted by the Gothes they had cleane left off their custome of creating yearely newe Consulls at Rome and in the Westerne partes namely vnder the Empyre of Iustinian the first and after the Consull-ship which was the last of Decius Theodorus Paulinus And after that in processe of time the Romane Bishop vnder the Empire of Phocas began to vsurpe and take vpon him that prowde stile to be tearmed the vniuersall Bishop of the whole world So we see that after the sayde ruine of Rome he sittes me with that stately title in that verie place where oulde Rome was about the yeare of our Lord 600. True it is that Constans the second Emperour of Constantinople Nephewe vnto Heraclius indeauoured his best to restore the Empyre and accustomed dignitie vnto Rome agayne and so likewise after him would other Emperours as the Italians Berengarius yea and some Popes them-selues as Sigonius reporteth but they could not for the secrete counsaile of God was against it so that meete it was and so it ought to be that she should remaine in raggs and heapes of rubbish that according to the Prophecie euen of Sybilla Rome might become a * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ruyne and she that was * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 renowned should afterward be drowned in so much as such as are not well acquaynted with the Citie might seeke for Rome beeing in the middest of her Againe if we regard the men and the manners of the Citizens and inhabitaunts of this new Rome repaired we shall finde that both they and their disposition are very fit and agréeing with the kingdome of Antichrist the which I had rather should be set out by S. Bernard who was a great mainteiner all the time of his life of the Romane dignitie then by me He therfore Lib. 4. de considerat ad Eugenium 3. Papam cap. 1. writeth thus of the Romanes They are the men saith he that haue the doing in all things that concerne the Popedome but what is more apparantly knowne to the world then the frowardnesse and insolencie of that nation a
propertie or else they agree but in part or in some respect This may be perceiued in the state of man-kinde For although all that beare the name of men are so called for that they are creatures indued with reason yet among them some there are who but in respect only may seeme iustly to be so called as namely fooles and monstrously misshapen creatures which rather resemble beasts then men But on the other side some there are who in full measure and absolute manner deserue to be so tearmed in regard of the perfect vse they haue of reason Againe it may be perceiued in the condition of an house for where-as to speake properly that is to be tearmed an house which consisteth of a roofe walles and foundation framed and compact together to with-stand the violence and annoyance of the weather yet some houses there are which performe not thus much in good and perfect sort as being faultie in the roofe or decayed in the walles and some againe there are that perfourme it fully Therefore the former are tearmed houses but in part which Logicians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in some respect and these latter simplie good as they speake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 absolute Now the cause why these things which be not so absolute and perfect are notwithstanding tearmed as the other are is this for that these imperfect things haue a kinde of nature and similitude in a sort aunswerable vnto the other perfect things whereof they beare the name For there are moe things in the world then seuerall names whereby to tearme them neither is euerie thing called with a proper or peculiar worde belonging to it whereby it commeth to passe that one and the selfe-same name is attributed vnto seuerall things and yet not altogether in the verie same sence Therefore this kinde of naming is not single or simple as the Schoole-men speake but double and doubtfull And euen so it falleth out in the word Church which is indifferently giuen both to the true and false Church For if we haue an eye to the true proper definition of a Church we shall find that it will agree only with the true Church the definition whereof may be this A companie of the faithfull which serue God sincerely and retaine among them the publike markes of their adoption which himselfe did institute as the sacred word the Sacraments and discipline whereby it falleth out that by these three notes as being her true and proper badges the true Church of God doth consist is marked out and seuered from the erronious and false Church to wit by the true worship of God which is framed as himselfe hath ordained in his holie word Ioh. 10.25 My sheepe heare my voyce by the sincere vse of the Sacraments which God himselfe appoynted and lastly by due discipline and correction of manners Looke therefore what societie and companie of men haue not these markes among them I meane none of them at all it cannot bee called the Church of God but if it haue but one of those notes then is it called a Church but only in some respect But looke what congregation retaineth moe of these markes the same may with better right be called a Church than that which hath fewer Now if we shall make search after these markes in the state of Poperie wee shall finde that the same may be called a Church but only in respect because it obserueth and retaineth but a very dead and darke print of the former notes namely the vse and marke of one Sacrament to wit Baptisme the which by the speciall prouidence of God remayned touching the substance of it vncorrupt euen in the darkest time of Poperie but touching the accidents or circumstances vsed in the administration of it it was altogether defiled corrupt and prophaned Therefore the kingdome of Poperie and of Antichrist is the Church of God but depending as it were by one poore marke and a sielie slender thread But as for the congregations of the Gospell they are rightly and simply tearmed the true Church of God which is by al these marks to be discerned by the world and resorted vnto by the faithfull The like difference was once betweene the kingdome of Judah and Israel in the last whereof was retained Circumcision onely least that the marke of their adoption by God should be cleane put out among them Agayne the same discrepance is to bee seene betweene that house which we vse for our daylie mansion where we haue our houshold and all things necessarie about vs and betweene an olde tottering Cottage wherein sometime wee dwelt but after left it and let it lye desolate for we vse to call them both our houses but to speake properly that only is to be accompted our house which presently we inhabite and not that which we haue in such sort giuen ouer But hereunto obiection is made in this sort if Poperie be the Church of God then is it the Spouse of Christ and if his Spouse then is there none other assemblies that may be taken for the Church of God For no man either may or can haue two wiues therefore it is meete ye should adioyne your selues vnto the congregations of the Papistes Whereunto I aunswere that there is but one Church namely that only which is the true Church of God which is to bee reputed for the Spouse of Christ as for the other assemblies they are to be compted but Harlots And as Austin speaketh lib. 1. contra Donat. cap. 10. Whatsoeuer the assemblies euen of the very Heretikes and Scismatikes haue among them agreeing with the word of God that the true Church of God acknowledgeth and challengeth as properly belonging vnto her for all other congregations are so farre foorth to bee approued as they do consent with the true Church and so much to be disproued as they disagree from the same Therefore the state of Poperie in as much as it swarueth from the true Church and is flat Papisme may as iustly be tearmed the Spouse of Christ as that woman that was maried long ago but afterwards put from her husband for adulterie by her committed may be called his wife who although she receiued long since the bill of Diuorcement that all dueties of mariage ceased betweene him her yet in regard of some Rings which it pleaseth her still to weare which were once pledges betweene thē of former mariage is tearmed sometime by the name of a wife Therefore we acknowledge that to be most true which is written Math. 24.28 Where the dead bodies are thither will the Eagles resort So euery man ought to adioyne himselfe to that congregation which is the Church of God But this I say that this must be vnderstood of the true not of the false Church And that that is the true Church of God wherein either al the former markes or at least the principall chiefe of thē are to be found apparant But looke in what assemblies the traditions
of men are vrged in stead of the pure worde of God in stead of his true worship méere Idolatrie is maintained in stead of the true Sacraments of Christ the deuises of men are foysted in all which we see openly practised in Poperie we vtterly denie that those companies are the Church of God or that they are the same societie whereunto Christ would or willed vs to resort Lastly whereas commonly we say that the promises of God do belong vnto the Church that also we hold is to be vnderstood only of the true Church at no hand either of the Papisticall or hereticall Synagogue Now out of this that hath been sayd it is easily to be gathered that those are not to be accompted Scismatikes that renounce Poperie because that in so doing they do not depart from the true Church of God from which whosoeuer starteth is iustly to be charged with making of a Scisme but rather they are to bee acknowledged for such as haue seuered themselues from that blasphemous Apostacie cursed crewe of Apostates that is from a disguised marke or vizar of the Church in which action of theirs they are as greatly to bee commended as those that with all speede rid themselues from filthie infectious places But if hereunto the Papists make replie as they are obstinate in maintaining their errors and say yea but ye were baptized in this Church of ours why therefore are ye not either re-baptized or els why do you not continue in and reuerence that Church wherein ye were baptized and whereunto at first ye gaue vp your names I aunswer it needeth not that we should be baptized agayne in as much as we haue once alreadie béen sprinkled with Christian baptisme the which Sacrament as I haue already shewed touching the substance material point of it was kept continued among the Papistes Therefore hauing alreadie receiued the Baptisme of Christ wee are not agayne to bee newe Christened Austin hath often aunswered to this effect to the Donatistes And yet notwithstanding wee neither might nor may for all this continue still in the Popish Church neither is it periurie or Apostacie from him to whom wee gaue vp our names if we abandon their societies For in our Baptisme the outward signes whereof we receiued at the hands of the Papistes themselues wee gaue not our names to the Pope but to Christ into whose name also wee were at that time incorporate being thence called Christians him we professed and acknowledged to be the guide of our faith and not men not the Pope nor any Bishoppe but we partly through the great vnfaithfulnesse and partly through the ignorance of our Pastorall teachers were and that a great while together caried from our Captaine Christ Iesus And so in the darke ignorance of our blind vnderstandings by them so besotted we followed the Pope in stead of our Sauiour But now hauing the eyes of our mindes lightened through Gods gracious goodnes we see and acknowledge our error And therefore with all our hearts in sincere affections wee vp-seeke with purpose euer after to sticke to our first and true Captaine to whome only wee gaue vp our names to witte Christ Iesus Austin in his 40. treatise vpon the Gospell of S. Iohn saith we are Gods coyne but being his monie we were caried stragling from his Treasourie and through our fault the print which he had stamped in vs was worne out At last he came and refourmed that which himselfe before had fourmed in vs. Now I pray call ye this treacherie for a man to vp-seeke his Generall and his Banner the which for a time through ignorance he had lost Or is this to be a Renegate If any man thinke this aunswer of ours not to bee so currant let him heare Austin in his sixt treatise vpon the Gospell of S. Iohn speaking thus vnto those that were baptized by the Donatists Hold thou saith he that which thou hast alreadie receiued it is not altered it is only acknowledged it is the stampe of my Lord and King it shall bee no poynt of sacrilege in me I do but refourme the stragler I do not temper with the stampe For such as Iohn had first baptized Christ did after admit vnto him And by baptisme we become their Disciples in whose name wee are baptized 1. Cor. 1.13 But if they further obiect and say that if wee denie the Papisme to bee the Church of God because it hath some corruptions and in regarde of some ill behauiours that are amongst them we shall in so doing fall into the error of the Donatists who would acknowledge no congregation to bee the lawfull Church of God which had in it any imperfection or blemish at all I aunswer that in the profession of Poperie wee do not respect the lewd demeanours and dispositions of men neither do we in consideration thereof denie it to bee the true Church of God but wee weigh the vnlawfulnes or pollution of the thing it selfe the doctrine they teach the nature of their Church and the very ground-worke whereupon it standeth and finding that it is not the same whereupon the true Church is established wee cannot yeeld that Poperie is the true Church of God Of the time of the comming of Antichrist And first that it is plainly to be gathered out of the Scriptures that he was not to bee reueiled before the Romane Empyre should begin to totter and that the kingdome of Christ should by the preaching of the Gospel begin to grow and increase The eightenth Chapter THe fourth poynt that is to bee considered in this discourse is touching the time of Antichrist which is a poynt worthie nay necessarie to bee knowne that so Antichrist might the better be descried and auoyded Now touching the time of his sayd comming such as haue written thereof are of diuers opinions For one Arabianus as Platina reporteth in the life of Victor affirmed and taught that euen then in the daies of the Emperour Severus Antichrist was risen And hereunto was he perswaded by the view of the corrupt manners of the Church by sight of an infinite number of heresies which thē were sprong vp But to make short Paule determineth fully of this matter when he saith that then Antichrist was to bee made knowne and manifest when that which hindred was once taken out of the way For ye know saith he what it is that with-holdeth his words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which now hindereth or with-houldeth Now great search hath been made what those wordes should signifie For some do take them in such sence as if thereby were meant the Romane Empyre and some as if nothing but the publishing of the Gospell were thereby to bée vnderstood which was first to bee spread ouer the face of the whole earth which opinions although they seeme to bee diuers repugnant the one to the other yet they may be well and that easily reconciled For wee shall finde either of them true
redeemed and so recouered the fauour of the people by the helpe and commendation of the sayd Bishop For before the people of Rome bare deadlie hatred agaynst this Phocas for the butcherlie murther so treacherously perfourmed by him vpon Mauritius and in regarde thereof they would none of him for their Emperour Therefore by the industrie of this Boniface Bishop in way of recompence of so liberall a largis Phocas was brought in fauour with the people of Rome who thereupon began in solemne sort to crie God saue the Emperour It may peraduenture be supposed also that Phocas was moued hereunto in regard of a constitution of Iustinian which is to be read lib. 2. Nouella 131. concerning the foure holie Counsells where the Emperour willeth the Bishop of Rome to sit first in the Synod and the Bishop of Constantinople after him in the second place Now touching this priuiledge graunted by Phocas it was afterward confirmed in a Synod assembled at Rome vnder the sayd Boniface the 3. Anno 607. as Sigisbertus affirmeth The which Synod consisted of three score and two Bishops thirtie Priests and thrée Deacons wherein there was full power graunted to the Bishop of Rome to ratifie and disanull the election of other Bishops After that in the Synod of Affricke which was neere about this time and was assembled vnder Constance the Emperour nephewe vnto Heraclius this title and inscription was made him Vnto Theodor Bishoppe of Rome aduaunced to the toppe of the holie Apostolike dignitie vnto the holie Father of Fathers to Theodor the Pope highest Prince of all Prelates the Synod of Affricke c. Thus then wee haue found out the foundations of this Antichristian Apostacie and periured state described here by Paule publikelie layd about the yeare of our Lord 604. but yet wee see that here wants of the former number of yeares for it is to bee sixe hundred sixtie and sixe How then Forsooth from that time forward the power of this kingdome and of this vniuersall Bishoppe that is of Antichrist began more and more to incroach in so much as now all matters appertayning to the Church of God began to bee directed at his appoyntment And to speake brieflie then began the increasing the partes and the whole constitution and frame of this Apostacie openly in the face of the Church to be laied out fashioned and strengthened euen as a little Infant which being within the mothers bellie receiueth there the knitting together and fashion of his members But as yet the foule puppie Antichrist was not fullie brought foorth For hitherto the power of this vniuersall Bishoppe was ouer-shadowed by the authoritie of the Empyre whereunto as yet he acknowledged himselfe subiect A proofe whereof may bee this that the election of the Bishoppes of Rome were yet now by the Emperours of Constantinople ratified and confirmed and the sayd Bishoppes were subiect to their censure and reformation yea and depriuation and that after the time that Phocas graunted them this priuiledge But at last after time the authoritie of the Romane Bishop began to increase in Italie and the Maiestie and power of the Romane Emperour who kept at Constantinople began to quaile daylie more and more or rather began now to bee euen at the last cast in Italie and lastly when at Rome the Romane Bishops became the Emperours Legates or Vicegerents or rather became caruers for themselues and began in their owne name and as of their owne authoritie to meddle in Church and Common wealth matters to dispose of publike and priuate affayres and by the consent of the people to rule the whole roast then at last they easilie intreated the Constantinopolitan Emperours to yeeld ouer vnto them and that by publike edict and vnder a faire Charter all that their interest and iurisdiction which they had ouer the Romane Bishops And further that they would will and commaund that whosoeuer hereafter were by the people and Clergie elected Bishops of Rome should forth-with without any confirmation therof had from the Emperour and without sending him a sacred Epistle as they tearmed it whereby they protested vnto him their loyaltie bee reputed for lawfull Bishoppes of Rome and bee by and by accompted to haue all lawe in their owne hands not subiect to the comptroulement or censure of any Whereby it came to passe that now the Romane Bishops needed not the confirmation of any no not the consent and approbation of the Romane Emperour himselfe who then kept at Constantinople but euen of their owne swindge as being now become their owne men tooke vpon them that authoritie power and dignitie So that from that time forward the sayd Bishops began to liue as men free from all iurisdiction of the Emperour that is without the checke or reach of any man or Magistrate whatsoeuer yea they began to bee compted like vnto GOD himselfe not to bee iudged or called into question by any mortall wight Canon nemini 17. quaest 3. and Canon Nemo quaest 3. Now this without doubt may seeme to bee the full height of the Antichristian kingdome and without all controuersie it is to bee so esteemed especially considering that it was erected came to light and obtayned so ample authoritie at such a time And this so great and ouer-spreading power of the Romane Bishop whereby he was exempted from all censure and iurisdiction of the Empyre was graunted first vnto him by Constantine Pogonatus the bearded an Emperour of Constantinople whose raigne is reckoned to be about the yere 666. or as some reckon 668. But yet Charles Sigonius lib. 2. of the kingdome of Italie had rather referre the graunt of this priuiledge vnto the yeare 684. Howsoeuer it be certaine it is that Benedict Bishop of Rome was the first that euer vsed the benefite of this ouer-lashing and licentious libertie And it is an easie matter for a Clearke or Scriuener to misse in the compt of a yeare or two which is to bee refourmed by making recourse to the Reuelation For it is well knowne to all men what great diuersitie is sometime found among the Historiographers about the supputation of yeares and times and that by reason that the Christian Church hath not alwaies obserued one and the same manner of reckoning Therefore in so great a somme as this it is like ynough that a few daies should either be added or detracted Whereby we see it now appeareth that the kingdome of Antichrist was framed and set vp the very same time and yeare that the spirit of God had fore-tould namely Anno Domini 666. And as for the kingdome of Mahumet it began about the yeare 623. vnder the Empyre of Heraclius and in the 30. yeare of his gouernment So that the kingdomes of Antichrist and Mahumet differ not much touching the time of their rising And as for this of Mahumet it increased so mightilie in a smal space namely within the compasse of 32. yeres that by meanes of his Gallies Nauie he sodainly brought vnder his
subiection the greatest part of Asia the great Phaenicia and part of Affricke in the time of Constance the sonne of Constantine the yonger nephew to Heraclius Anno Domini 655. So that wee see the former yeare and number of 666. mentioned in the Apocal. cannot appertaine to the kingdome of Mahumet And as for the kingdome of Antichrist it did neither so speedilie nor so easily spread it selfe abroad as did that of Mahumet That those thousand yeares after which it is said Sathan should be loosed cannot appertaine to the time of the comming of Antichrist The 21. Chapter YEt there is one thing more which as it may seeme may be obiected vnto that that hath been spoken And that is Reuelation 20.2 7. where it is written that after a thousand yeares Sathan should be let loose and should trouble the whole world and gather together Gog and Magog That is the Gentiles aliaunts and straungers from the Church of God to make warre agaynst her Some therefore suppose that by this place rather the time of the comming and kingdome of Antichrist is set downe and limited But how variable and diuers the interpretation and iudgements of the auncient writers haue been touching the sence and meaning of that place appeareth by Austin lib. 20. De Ciuitate Dei cap. 8. 9. lib. 21. cap. 22. Yet I will speake what I thinke and which after aduised consideration had of all things touching that place I suppose is to be determined thereof namely that those thousand yeares as is euident most manifestly euen by the euent do not a whit concerne or set out the time of the comming of Antichrist but rather that they are to bee reckoned and accompted after that the sayd number of yeares of 666. were once expired Whereby it commeth to passe that by succession in this sort of times we haue plainlie set downe vnto vs what shall fall out and bee perfourmed almost to the ende of the world For before the sayd thousand yeeres were to take place those things should be accomplished which were spoken of Cap. 16.12 namely that Euphrates should bee dried vp and a way opened for the Kings of the East to come and make inuasion vpon those Territories and Countries which were before subiect to the Romish iurisdiction Which surely is come to passe For vndoubtedly those Kings of the East which passed through Euphrates being dried vp that is which gaue them easie passage through the midst of her Channell and surprised the Segniories that belonged to the Romane Empyre were the Turkes Therefore it must needes bee that the Turkes Empyre should first bee raised before those thousand yeares could be fulfilled But if wee begin to coumpt those yeares from the time of Christes suffring then assuredly before the originall of the Turkes which is reckoned to be about the yeare after Christ one thousand two hundred those thousand yeares will bee fullie expired and so the Apocalips that is the prophecie of the Spirit of GOD shall seeme false The which but once to thinke is extreame impietie Wherefore I am still of the minde I was of and begin to reckon those 1000. yeares from the yeare sixe hundred sixtie sixe which two numbers being put together amount vnto one thousand sixe hundred sixtie sixe After which tearme of time those things are then to come to passe and bee fulfilled which the Spirit of GOD in the 19. of the Reuelation and the Chapters following hath laied open although withall I knowe it to bee wicked to appoynt or search after the verie time and moment of the latter iudgement Acts. 1.7 Neither haue I that drift or purpose in this mine assertion That the practises which were vsed to frame and set vp the kingdome of Antichrist were deuilish and deceiptfull The 22. Chapter THese poynts being thus made plaine wee are now to lay open the meanes and steppes whereby Antichrist was crept vp by little and little and whereby Sathan was to finish and bring to perfection this worke of his And although the same for the most part are alreadie touched in that that goes before yet Paule hath briefly expressed the same when in a worde he tearmeth all this mischieuous worke A mysterie For thereby he sheweth that so great a wickednesse should bee practised and perfourmed by Sathan couertly craftely closely and subtilely For by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A mysterie no excellencie is shewed of that deuilish and Apostaticall doctrine but only the craft and deceipt of the work-maister and author of this kingdome who is that olde Dragon and Serpent who also is called the Deuill Reuelation 20.2 and yet some take this word Mysterium in such sence as though Paule had therein of purpose affected to expresse the great Antithesis or contrarietie that is betweene the doctrine of Christ and of Antichrist That as the sacred Gospell of GOD is in very many places of the Scripture called in way of praise and commendation A mysterie So Antichrist should also tearme his pestilent and damnable doctrine by the very selfe-same name of A mysterie whereby it might seeme to carie the greater countenance of holinesse and maiestie amongst men and so bee the more plausiblie receiued And certaine it is Reuela 17.5 that the Beast which representeth Antichrist should put vpon his most wicked Superstitions the name of A mysterie And this maiestie and solemne title he pretendeth to adde credite vnto his false doctrine and also to the ende men should not make too narrow search into these matters and at last indeed espie them what they are And truelie this strong kinde of delusion was deriued vnto the Papistes as many things else were from the very Heathen themselues who cloaked their Ceremonies of Bacchus their abhominable Church-rites and execrable Church-robberies vnder the name as it were vnder a seemely vaile of A mysterie least such filthie pollutions should euen stincke before men So also the prophane Sacrifices of the Goddesse Ceres and likewise those bawdie solemnities vsed in the worshippe of Pryapus and those banquetting Iunkettes which therein were caried about and openly shewed as Eusebius reporteth in his Booke De praeparat Euangel were set out by the Pagans with the plausible title of a A mysterie As though they were no defiled thinges but mysticall hidden darke and in a worde verie venerable by meanes of their profound significations And trust me it was iust so in the time of Poperie The thing it selfe and long experience hath prooued it to bee most manifest and true For vnder what title and colour did they more commend and couer their Idolatries Superstitious Ceremonies yea and apparant blasphemies but only hereby in tearming them Mysteries Secrets vnderstood but of few and which were not to be published or made knowne So all the masking attire of their Bishops at their first consecration and after at their installing being alreadie consecrate So all the Stage-like furniture and implements at the celebration of their blasphemous Masse So
great as that the said Bishops did there-by easily take occasion to abuse it Where-vpon Bernard Lib. 1. 4. de considerat ad Eugenium complaineth greiuously that the Bishop of Rome bestirred him-selfe so as where-by he shewed that he had indéede all fullnesse of power but not of iustice when once it began to be iustified by Apostolike authoritie that monstrous men very prodigious beasts should be admitted vnto Bishopricks and high Ecclesiasticall preferments This therefore was the second degrée whereby the Antichristian kingdome was aduaunced The third last was the excessiue coying fauours that certaine Princes especially Emperours bare to that Sea for this third point was likewise a principall piller in that building for in those dayes not only all men of all sorts contended to their vtmost euen like mad men to lade those Bishops with immoderate wealth and possessions but euen Emperours them-selues heaped vpon them honours priuiledges and other dignities belonging to the maiestie of an Emperour or the office of a ciuill Magistrate in so much as they submitted vnto the censure and approbation of the Bishop of Rome both their owne Decrees and the Constitutions of the Synods Iustinian the Emperour sent Ambassadours vnto Iohn Bishop of Rome to procure his approbation of the booke of Ciuill Lawes which he had made and published as appeareth by the Epistle prefixed before the said Coade of Iustinian Yea some Emperours haue ouer submissie giuen it out thus that Their Lawes do not disdaine in waie of imitation to resemble the holie Canons as though forsooth the maiestie and aucthoritie of Emperiall Edicts were farre inferiour vnto that of the Popes Decrees and Canons And in truth where-as those Emperours did not so prouidently bestowe vppon those Bishops so great reuenewes what else did they bring to passe in the ende but only a dispersion of deadly poison in the Church the which some of the Popes owne claw-backs haue written was heard in the life of Silvester the firste distinctly vttered in the ayre what time so large reuenues were graunted to the Church of Rome by Constantine the great Ierom vpon Malachi writeth plainly that the Church after that it came to the protection of Christian Princes it increased in power and riches but decreased in vertue and godlinesse Lastly to what ende were there so many priuiledges graunted by them both to places and persons Ecclesiasticall especially to the Church of Rome whereby they were exempted from all power and iurisdiction euen of ordinary Magistrates so that they might be without checke of any hauing libertie to liue as licentiouslie as they list These were the vnhappie beginnings and procéedings of so great tyrannie whereby the kingdome of Antichrist and this generall Apostacie was founded increased and made strong And yet this so great power receiued also some furtherance euen by Iustinian the Emperour and somewhat before the time of Phocas by vertue of a lawe of his in Nouella authent 131. de quatuor sanctis concilijs By what other degrees and occasions the authoritie of the Romane Bishop and kingdome of Antichrist was either stilie drawne forward or strongly established The 25. Chapter BVt Sathan the craftie work-maister wrought not only by these engines and subtile practises in aduauncing the kingdome of Antichrist but applied also other deuises of his as if he were to set abroach all the policies he had and vtmost indeuour he could in weauing this webb For vnto these beginnings and proceedings were adioyned other causes and occasions as hang-bies which were neither small in themselues nor feeble in their force Namely first the fame and renowne of the Citie of Rome it selfe which was called the head of the world Secondly the decaied estate of the Empire and the emptie seate thereof being at that time translated vnto Constantinople Thirdly the bountifull benefites of certaine Bishoppes of Rome bestowed vpon all Jtalie in generall and more perticularly and specially vpon Rome it selfe as testimonies of their loue and pledges of their care which they had of their Citizens and sheepe For Leo the first Bishop of Rome went out and met Attilas who was making inuasion vpon Italie and turned him backe hauing pacified him with a very milde speach in so much as that furious Beast at whose verie name al men trembled being soothed vp without once touching any part of Jtalie returned into Pannonia Pelagius the first Bishop likewise of Rome did so asswage Totilas a most cruell tyraunt by humble suite and petition as that when he had alreadie surprized Rome and in great rage was deuising how to bring it to vtter ruine yet he obtayned thus much of this angrie and furious Totilas that euen Totilas himselfe should inhibite further fierings and slaughter to bee committed in Rome There are other great good turnes recorded of other Bishops of Rome employed either vpon all Italie as by sending or intertayning Ambassadours or els perticularlie vpon Rome it selfe which things worthelie procured to them and their successours great and speciall fauour not only at the hands of Jtalians and Romanes but also of strangers and men of forraigne Nations Whereby it came to passe that for remedie agaynst the iniuries offered of some officers and Lieutenants yea such as were without the precincts of Italie appeales were made vnto the Bishops of Rome So did Victor Bishoppe of Fausienna call for assistance at the hands of Gregorie the first Bishoppe of Rome agaynst the Iudges in Affricke which committed many things with wrong and violence So likewise he tooke into his protection Isidore Mustellus and Constantius agaynst the hard proceedings of their Bishops And in like sorte he yeelded his helping hand vnto Adrian Bishop of Thebes agaynst Larissaeus the Metropolitanes of Iustiniana epist 46. induct 11. So also did the saide Gregorie write verie sharply vnto Brunchilda the Queene of Fraunce for that she did wickedlie permit the Jewes within her Dominions to intertayne and keepe Christians as their bond-slaues And to conclude thence it came to passe that verie barbarous people and the Princes of Gotland although as yet they were aliaunts and straungers from the profession of Christianitie had the Bisshoppes of Rome in very great accoumpt and indeuoured to increase and set out their creditte and estimation to their vtmost For Atalaricus King of the Gothes caused by publike edict and proclamation that Boniface the fourth and Iohn Bishoppes of Rome should bee highly reuerenced and worshipped by the people and Senate of Rome And after him Theodoricus a King likewise of Goteland commaunded the same to bee perfourmed To make short that I might herein comprize and shut vp all things as neere as I can the principall piller of this authoritie and tyrannous power was founded vpon that famous saying of Christ so much tost and boasted of but mis-vnderstood Feede my sheepe Iohn 21.16.17 The which the Bishops of Rome contending with tooth and nayle will needes haue to bee vnderstoode of Peter and his successours only and
seauenth Monarchie to be raised or looked for The 27. Chapter THE sixt poynt that wee are in this treatise of Antichrist to consider of is directed altogether to the comfort of the Church for it handleth his ouerthrowe and destruction Now it is very requisite and necessarie that this same should bee added least that the godlie should faint and be discouraged while they should bee infourmed of the greatnesse and long continuance of this kingdome of Antichrist But now with ioyfull hearts they heare that it is to bee ouerthrowne and cleane taken away by the same Spirit of God that gaue them intelligence of the other Therefore if question bee made what shall become of this Apostacie and vnhappie kingdome of Antichrist Paule maketh aunswere that it shall be quite defaced And if it be demaunded how or with what weapons he likewise aunswereth By the Spirit of God his mouth Lastly if it bee further inquired when or at what time this shall bee perfourmed Paule likewise aunswereth thereunto saying At the glorious appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ Therefore this one head containeth these three distinct and seuerall braunches And doubtlesse touching the ouerthrowe of this most wicked kingdome of Antichrist at the last both reason it selfe perswadeth no lesse and the authoritie of holie Scriptures which are of reuerend and sacred estimation among vs doth conuince it With reason I say it standeth for that the kingdome of Christ and of Antichrist cannot stand together for they are things repugnant and cleane contrarie one to an other and seeing that GOD hath made promise that the kingdome of Christ should bee both free and last for euer it must needes bee that the kingdome of Antichrist which hindereth the same should bee taken away For otherwise it could neuer come to passe that Christ should freely beare rule ouer all And that a perpetuall and euerlasting kingdome is promised vnto Christ these places prooue Psalme 2.8 Daniell 7.14.27 2.44 Luke 1.33 Now this vniuersall defection whereof I haue spoken is reckoned among the chiefe and principall enemies of Christ and his kingdome which he at the last should subdue 1. Cor. 15.25 Wherefore it must needes bee that the same should be in the ende ouercome and trodden vnder feete And touching the sacred authoritie of holie Scriptures this is most plaine and euident that the most auncient Prophecies of the Lords Prophets haue beate vpon this poynt that the kingdome of Antichrist should bee ouerthrowne Dan. 7.27 Reuelation 19.20 And lastly vnder the type and figure of that renowned and famous Antiochus who is set out vnto vs to represent Antichrist the same matter is layd open vnto vs. Dan. 8.23.24 and in the verses following Therefore let vs comfort our selues and be of good hope and let vs stand stiffe in this our strife for the recouerie of Christes kingdome in as much as from the Lordes owne mouth wee are assured that at last the trueth of the Gospell shall preuaile Christ shall get the victorie and the kingdome of Antichrist bee cleane spoyled Trueth it is that it leaneth vpon many supporters and is maintayned with great force and it seemeth a matter of infinite labour difficultie and doubt to bring to ruine the Romane route But who can resist the will and decree of GOD Who can let that it bee not executed Séeing there are so many plaine prophecies of the ouerthrowe of this kingdome Therefore we are not only to conceiue hope that it shall so come to passe out of that generall rule set downe Esay 60.12 Euery nation and kingdome that will not serue me shall be destroyed but much more are we there-in to be strengthened out of this perticular prophecie of Paule set downe of purpose in this place But withall out of this verie place the doating dreame of the Manichies is confuted wherein they affirmed that that originall power which as check-mate is opposite in all things vnto the true God and to Christ should be of an euerlasting continuance In the second place we are to consider by what meanes this so mightie and large a kingdome of Antichrist shall at last be disanulled Paule aunswereth that it shall be done by the breath of the Lords mouth Therefore it must néedes come to passe that the same shall be brought to nought after an other sort then men thinke or then other kingdomes be ouerthrowne For by this manner of speach or circum-scription Paule setteth out the word of God ioyned with the true sence and power thereof And the reasons that may be yéelded of this so strange a iudgement may be diuers as first that séeing the kingdome of Antichrist which is a meere back-sliding from the Christian faith did at first arise and was afterward vp-heald by disguising and deprauing of the word of God so by the faithfull and sincere publishing of the same it should be brought to ruine Againe seeing that this state and condition of things is a kingdome of darknesse and ignorance it must needes fall by the light and knowledge of the word of God and by vertue of the truth thereof when once it begins to shine For as by the rising of the Sunne darknesse is dispelled and by the dawning of the day the night vanisheth so the bright beames of the Gospell breaking foorth the kingdome and doctrine of Antichrist must needes be descried and wholie destroyed Lastly Daniell 2.44 7.27 11.45 maketh no mention of any other kingdome which should be raised after the preaching of the Gospell For Daniell speaketh but of foure Monarchies after which is promised a kingdome of Saincts holy ones which should continue for euer and so hath he made knowne vnto vs what shall be the state of the world euen vnto the latter day but the Spirit of God mentioneth not any other Monarchie which should succéede and supplant Antichrist and his kingdome therefore it must needes be that this last euen the Monarchie of Christ should last for euer And touching the kingdome of Christ it consisteth and worketh mightely by the preaching of the word of God therefore by these weapons and by this meanes the kingdome of Antichrist is by Christ to be ouerthrowne And as heere the word of God is called the breath of the Lords mouth so in Esay 4.11 by the spirit of his lips is meant the word of God working effectually because the bare sound of the word without the spirit of God is simply and of it-selfe of no force therefore whatsoeuer good is wrought in vs by the preaching of the word is to be ascribed wholie vnto God alone Now the reason why there shall not follow a fift Monarchie after the fourth this in my opinion can not so iustly be alleadged which notwithstanding some make accoumpt of as of a very sound one namely because in this latter and languishing ould age of the world there can no such might and force of mankinde be raised vp as may be thought méete for the establishing of a Monarchy For vnto
subdued by him there was neuer any called an Italian Emperour 5. Theodoricus King of Gothes being sent for into Italie by Zeno the Emperour to assist him against Odoacer held him-selfe the Romane Empire in Italie by the space of fiftie yeares and to the ende he might make it knowne how little he estéemed Rome he kept his Emperiall residence at Ravenna This man was the fift 6. Athalaricus who succéeded his Father Theodoricus vnder Anastasius the Emperoure For nowe the Empire of the Gothes beganne by a continuall succession of their Kings to take rooting and footing in Italie And vnder the gouernment of this Athalaricus the Gothes continued their defacing of the dignity of the Romane Empire in Italie 7. Theodatus was the seauenth and he also was a Gotish King who succéeded Athalaricus in Italie 8. Vitiges the eight King likewise of Gotland after Theodatus who wasted and spoiled almost all Italie He besieged the Citie of Rome it-selfe which had shronke and reuolted from the subiection of the Gotish Kings vpon confidence of assistance from the Lieutenants and Emperours of Constantinople This man therefore as Sabellicus reporteth vtterly defaced and put out all the lawes customes priuiledges records of Antiquities of auncient families of the auncient Romanes which he found remaining in Italie He liued vnder the raigne of Iustine the first 9. Totilas King of Gothes succéeded Vitiges and this is the ninth of those 10. Kings He liued vnder Iustinian the first Emperour of Constātinople This man both besieged sacked and vtterly rased the Citie of Rome and to conclude euen as the Spirit of God had fore-shewed it should come to passe he burnt it with fire and this fire raunged raged by the space of 40. daies without ceasing in so much as the Citie being then so throughly consumed might iustly be iudged to be that Geddon-Harma the ruine of Rome spoken of in the Reuel that is the only shreads sheards vtter ouerthrow of that famous auncient Citie For after this vastation it remained only a ruinous desolate place And this befell in the yeare of our Lord 546. This scourge continued as is fore-shewed Reuel Cap. 13.5 by the space of 42. moneths that is three yeares and a halfe For when the third yeare was expired after this burning and vtter ouerthrow of Rome done by Totilas Belisarius chiefe Captaine vnder Iustinian began first to renewe the same gathering together such scraps and fragments thereof as were left and at last to enuiron with a wall the plot or soile where once the ould Rome stoode which is the verie same where-with euen at this day that part which they call ould Rome is beawtified 10. Teias who also was King of Gothes is the tenth who succéeded Totilas in the Kingdome and vexed or wasted Italie but a short time seeing that little or nothing was left of that auncient Citie neither was there scarce any print or marke left of the ould Romane Empire This man beeing taken prisoner by Belisarius was caried vnto Constantinople Now touching these matters if we begin to reckon the time from Alaricus they were atchieued within the compasse of about 132. yeares but if we begin as others will rather haue it at the time of Odoacer they were 60. yeares and some-what more in doing Which points being thus made plane we now perceiue and see that God would not haue the kingdome of Antichrist ouerthrowne with worldly or carnall weapons as the scripture speaketh but spirituall that he will not cōtend with him with an yron Sword but with the spirit or breath of his mouth Other earthlie and humane Monarches haue vsed earthlie and carnall weapons both to the raising of themselues and razing of others So did the Persians ouer-runne Assyria with weapon and bloudie warre And so againe did the Macedonians subdue the Persians by dint of Sworde And so likewise did the Romanes tame and bring vnder the Macedonians But the Lord who at first made and framed the whole world by vertue of his word who also sustaineth and ruleth the same by the power there-of and will also raigne in his Church by the Preaching of his worde and lastly who hath giuen vnto Christ a spirituall not an earthlie Kingdome will vse a spirituall sword the effectuall preaching of the Gospell for the foiling of his foes euen as it is in Zech. 4.6 and Esay 9.5 For the saying of Lactantius is right famous and most worthie of credite which he hath in his fifth Booke and ninetenth Chapter It standeth with good reason that thou shouldest maynteyne and defende thy religion with pacience or with death whereby keeping thy faith sound and vpright thou makest it acceptable vnto God and gaynest credit and authoritie vnto Religion And heere that maketh no iarre which is sayd Psal 2.9 that Christ should haue an yron Scepter whereby he should crush his enemies in peeces like a potters vessell For indeede that place attributeth vnto Christ such power and might as against which his most obstinate and mightie foes should neuer be able to resist but yet it doth not properlie or litterally mention the meane or instrument where-with the enemies of the Church shall be destroyed For that must rather be brought to passe by the word of God then with weapons for the weapons of Christians and of the Church of God are spirituall as Paule speaketh 2. Cor. 10.4 Reuel 19.15 and not carnall or worldly VVhether it be lawfull for Christians and such as professe the Gospell to wage warre with the Papistes in purpose to ouerthrow the kingdome of Antichrist and to roote out his doctrine The 29. Chapter YEt we are not hereupon to thinke as some haue done that the outward vse of weapons is by the Gospell vtterly condemned as Tertullian lib. De Idolatria Apologetico Lactan. lib. 5. cap. 22. cap. 19. make report Indeede the Marcionites were of that minde and euen at this day some Anabaptistes haue renewed the same error But if so be that the partie be such as may take warre in hand it is not so of it selfe vnlawfull And such a partie is the Magistrate as appeareth Rom. 13.4 Luke 3.14 But here we haue in hand to shewe the difference that should bee betweene Christes kingdome and the kingdomes of this world For as touching the kingdome of Christ as it is of it selfe spirituall so doth it vse spiritual weapons such as are the word of God the power of the Spirit and the light of the truth But as for politicke and earthly kingdomes in as much as they are to regard the commodities and haue consideration of things belonging to this life and are for that ende and purpose established they do maintaine and defend themselues by outward weapons by the Lords permission yea sometimes by his expresse will and commaundement And hence now ariseth and falleth into this poynt that famous and profitable question so often handled and inquired after Whether any man may at any time in defence of
compared with the euent or issue of things which is the best interpretour that can be of diuine Prophecies neither can the Spirit or true Prophet of God report an vntroath This is it therfore which I affirme which both is true and hath testimonie from stories that the Constantinopolitane or Easterly head and Empyre which remained of the fourth Monarchie was first impouerished by the Saracens in that part of the North which looketh towards the East but afterwards being made to stoope as more shrewdlie handled by them and brought to a low ebbe it was quite dasht and defaced by the Turkes We know by the Romane histories that there were deadlie and continuall warres betweene the Constantinopolitane Emperours and those of Parthia and after with the Persians who did succeede the Parthians For after the death of Alexander the great when as for a while the Parthians had liued vnder the obeysance of his successours namely the sonnes of King Saleucus they then began vnder the conduct of Arsaces by plucking their necke out of yoke to enfraunchize them selues into libertie and to reare vp a kingdome among them calling the Kings of the Parthians Arsacides after the name of their first Captaine These raigned vnto the time of Alexander sonne of Mammaeus Emperour of Rome and to the fourth yeare of his kingdome which was in the yeare after the birth of Christ 228. In which very yeare one Artaxerxes a Persian killed Artabanus King of the Parthians the last of the race of the Arsacides This man therefore snatching to himselfe the Empyre and kingdome of Parthia conueighed it vnto Persia And the posteritie of this Artaxerxes and Persian Empyre continued vnto the daies of Heraclius the first Emperour of Constantinople which was in the yere of Christ sixe hundred thirtie sixe and so lasted in the whole almost thrée hundred twentie nine yeares About this time now began the kingdome and Empyre of the Saracens For in the daies of Heraclius and Mahumetes raigned Syrochas the last Persian King saue one at whose hands Heraclius by composition recouered whatsoeuer his Auncestours had at any time before taken from the Empyre of Constantinople So these two kingdomes of the Parthians and of the Persians which mutually succeeded each other were terrible indeede for the time as appeareth by histories vnto the Romane Monarchie and to the Constantinopolitane Emperours but yet they neither sacked nor greatly shaked the Easterne or Constantinopolitane Empire nay the Emperours of Constantinople heald it out lustely with them at euen hand and stoutly made their part good against them But the first batterie that made the said Constantinopolitane Empire to stoupe was as I said in the East South and North perfourmed by the Sarracens who make the first of these two Kingdomes spoken of by Daniell which was to rise from the South and so spread it-selfe ouer the face of the earth in such sort as it should assaile the fourth Monarchie both by Sea and by land in Asia Syria and the North-East And in truth the Sarracens did so sore annoy the said Easterne Empire that it was neuer able afterwards to recouer it-selfe but began there-vpon by little and little to droupe and drop away for they with great expedition euen like lightning ouer-ranne Syria Cilicia Cappadocia and Mesopotamia all which prouinces they puld and possest from the Constantinopolitane Emperours where-in the verie words which Daniell vseth Cap. 11.40 speaking of the Kingdome of Sarracens are to be obserued This nation saith he shall come and shall ouerflowe and passe ouer and shall speedelie ouer-runne the countries of the East and South for so was it perfourmed by them after a verie strange and miraculous manner and with wonderfull expedition as the words of Daniell being ioined and set together do purport like vnto that speach of Iulius Caesar I approacht the place I viewed it well and got the field as if they did flie and were not stopt in their passage either by defenced Cities or deapth of Seas or force of men for within the compasse almost of threescore yeares the Sarracens became possessours of all the East as also of Aegipt Againe they ouer-ranne all Affricke and lastly tooke view of Spaine of whole Fraunce only the westerne people excepting only a part of Spain these Sarracens did rather assay then subdue thē but as for those of the East and South which pertained to the Constantinopolitane Empire by force and armes they made a plaine conquest of them and heald them in subiection as namely Aegipt and also Lybia which is Cyrene where-in for a great space they bare rule in so much as at that time the Sarracens hauing slaine Hormisda the last King of the Persians defaced vtterly the mightie Persian Empire They also made inuasion vpon Iudaea and that pleasant land which Daniell calleth the place of desire and grieuously afflicted the same for as then was Iudaea subiect vnto the christian Emperours to wit those of Constantinople In such sort as they heald the same in their possession a long time as they did Aegipt and enioyed the gold siluer and all the treasures that were to be desired of those nations by the space of 192. yeares and vnto the yeare of our Lord 1051. what time they were themselues vanquished by the Turks Nowe that the Sarracens are a Southerne people there is no man that is ignorant Thus therefore standeth that which Daniell affirmeth of the first kingdome which should ouerthrowe the Romane and fourth Monarchie and that in the East and South And this tempestuous stuxre happened in the world and came from the Southerne coast there-of where-as the Countries of the Agarens or Sarracens do lye Further this kingdome of the Sarracens pitched his tents betwéene those two Seas the Syriacke and the red Sea where of Daniell speaketh for they kept their princely pallaice and chiefe prouinces in that part of the world which is inclosed within these two Seas And where-as heere obiection is made that the Sarracens had two Emperiall places of abode the one at Babylon the other in Cairus which was Memphis a Citie of Aegipt it maketh no matter For the chiefe and principall regions of their Empire lay in that coast which is inclosed with those two Seas Againe their chiefe kingdome and longest regiment was in Syria and Arabia which by Daniell is called Aethiopia where is the Citie Meschita and the temple or sepulchre of that abhominable Mahumet But now we are to talke of the Turks to the end that this whole place of Daniell which no doubt is verie darke and obscure may be made manifest For these make that second Kingdome which was to rise out of the North-East and which vtterly brought to nought the fourth Monarchie in the East South and into the other regions which were enuironed with the foresaid Seas which also set foote into Aegipt opprest Iudaea and enioyed golde siluer and the pleasant things of the whole world by the space now almost of 300. yeares
For seeing that the kingdome of Antichrist is in truth a verie deprauation of the kingdome of Christ but yet an imitation of the same it must needes be that as the kingdom of Christ is vpheald by these two things especially to wit the doctrine of the truth and the power of Gods spirit as Paule witnesseth 1. Thess 1.5 So the kingdome of Antichrist hath to oppose other two things namely his errours against sound doctrine and his myracles or works of Sathan against the myracles and power of the holie Spirit that he might cast a myst before mens eyes and handle the matter so as he might be taken for Christ him-selfe For so at last doth he easily obtaine so much as that he is reputed for verie Christ when as he maketh open shewe of the verie works of Christ of his doctrine and myracles and like a wicked wretch treacherouslie counterfaict the same Therefore in stead of the truth Antichrist hath nothing else but lies wicked errour wherein he doth iniurie to God in stead of the power of Gods Spirit which worketh miracles he blurteth out his wonders For Christ sending his Apostles ioyned these two together Mark 16.15 c. And first where-as Paule saith that the comming of Antichrist should be by myracles the word Comming is to be referred not to his first appearing but to the whole strength furniture frame and maintenance of the said kingdome for these words his comming signifie thus much his establishment stay and ouer-spreading power shall be atchieued by the meanes and force of Sathan working miracles Which two points haue indeede lustely enlarged the state of Popery and with-all they do very liuely point and paint out the same vnto vs. For what is more common or vsuall among them then this vaunting of infinite myracles and what one thing do they more earnestlie vrge and seeke for at our hands Assuredly the Turkes and followers of Mahumet rose at first by hatching a new kind of wicked doctrine but as for myracles they neither boast that them-selues did euer perfourme them neither do they require such at the hands of others But as for the Papists they repose the top and toe the But and marke and assured ancker-hold in the matter of myracles and heare is it that they so crake of them with such open mouthes and cast them in our teeth so that Poperie can not be better described vnto vs nor more plainely desciphered for the verie kingdome of Antichrist then by this speache of Paule VVho be those three Spirits where-of mention is made in the Reuelation and are said to be the chiefe ministers of the Antichristian kingdome The 35. Chapter BY the former exposition it is easie to be knowne I meane so farre-forth as concerneth this place of the Apocalypse what those thrée Spirits do signifie which are sent by the false Prophet vnto all the Kings of the earth to plant and establish his kingdome And they are said to be like vnto Frogs but the place it-selfe is in the 16. Chapter verse 13.14 which are these verse 13 And I sawe three vncleane spirits like Frogs come out of the mouth of that Dragon and out of the mouth of that Beast and out of the mouth of that false Prophet verse 14 For they are the Spirits of Deuils working myracles to goe vnto the Kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battell of that great day of God Allmightie Some in expounding this place do thinke that this number of the three is put downe as set limited for that which is vncertaine infinit as it is spoken in Salomon A three-fold coard is not easily broken Therefore in their opinion these three spirits are euery spirit stirred vp sent abroad by Satan for the maintenance of this kingdome of lies such as infinite numbers of mē claw-backs of Antich haue bin both liuing as yet dead long since such as was Eckius others who defended the same with tooth naile and promoted it to the vtmost of their power But others séeme to come néerer to the true meaning of the place for they take regard of the nūber of 3. as indéed it is to be obserued but yet they do not fitly ynough restraine the same only to Diuines or Sorbonists to Monks and professours of the Decretalls For my part therefore hauing aduisedly weighed and considered of all things I take these three Spirits to distinguish three chiefe and principall degrees and conditions of men by whom as it were by Legates and choise instruments and especiall Patrones both Poperie it selfe and the whole kingdome of Antichrist was at first framed erected and enlarged and whereby euen to this day it is cherished and maintained For whereas Christ had for the publishing of his kingdome these three especiall degrees and orders of Ministers to wit Apostles Doctors or Euangelistes and Bishops So Antichrist hath on the other side his Cardinalls Schoole-men and Bishops The Cardinals of Antichrist wil néedes seeme to resemble and be answerable vnto the Apostles of Christ whose power is to stretch to euery corner and not to be limited within the precincts of any one Countrie And as touching Doctors and the first Euangelistes which at the beginning of preaching the Gospell were inseperable companions of the Apostles they are matched a Gods name with the Schoole-men as they are called that is the whole rabble of Sophisters and orbet of Doctors either such as professed and liued a seculare life or a regulare as themselues terme it that is a Monkish or Cloyster-life Lastly concerning Christian Bishops the Bishops of the Popes orders and of the Deuills making are in stead of them And vndoubtedly all those orders and degrees are the verie pillers of Poperie who are sent by the Pope or that false Prophet in diuers manners and vpon seuerall occasions vnto the Kings of the earth either as Messengers or as simple Legates or Legates a latere according to the qualities of the busines that this kingdome had to dispatch and all of them assemble themselues to warre against the godlie and Saincts in Geddon-harma that is in that place where olde Rome once stoode which place assuredly is the very shoppe wherein all treasons and practises agaynst God and his annoynted are forged Now this sentence and interpretation of mine is ratified by the circumstance of the time and by obseruation of the Similitude which Iohn hath vsed and which is especially to be obserued in these Prophecies by the very euent or issue of things which is an omnisufficient witnesse and expositour of this Prophecie So then these Spirits are sayd both to bee thrée and also to be distinct and diuers the one from the other although they be all set forward by one and the selfe-same author Sathan or rather his sonne that detestable false prophet that is the Pope And as for those Cardinalls Sophisters and Popish Prelates who can more iustly be sayd to be their
the midst of this defection although notwithstanding the number of them as I haue said was alwaies little themselues dwelling in deserts and being such as were vnknowne among other men for then was accomplished that which was prophecied of by Iohn namely that The Church of God should flye into the wildernesse Reuel 12.16 and there should lye hid for a season VVhat iust cause the Lord had to punish the world with this plague of blindnesse that it should admit of this miserable state of the Antichristian kingdome and further what monstrous contempt of Gods word went before this state of Antichrist The 39. Chapter FVrthermore why God would haue these wicked and rebellious wretches to slip and fall into that so grieuous an Apostacie Paule yeeldeth a reason and that a verie sufficient and iust one For although the Lord hath alwayes most vpright inducements for all his decrees and iudgements For all the wayes of the Lord are truth and iudgement Psal 25.10 and though it be not necessarie that we should be made priuie there-vnto yet to the end that The wisedome of God should be iustified by her children Matth. 11.19 and that they there-by might be the more strengthned it pleased the Spirit of God to yield a reason and cause of this so great and fearefull a iudgement of God vppon the whole world which afterward insued And this was it because the world through disobedience and vnbeliefe had deserued that heauie wrath and those grieuous punishments at the hands of God For was not this a verie foule and monstrous kind of ingratitude towards God that his sacred Gospell where-of they could not be ignorant but had already heard it before preached yea and had well perceiued the power and maiestie of it should notwithstanding be loathed by them and trampled vnder foote and that in stead there-of the deuises of men the errors of Heretikes impieties and superstitions of all sorts against the holy word of God him-selfe should publikely be brought in and with the great liking and approbaâ—ion of all sorts of men admitted into the Church defended yea and preferred before the truth of God it-selfe What impietie could be greater what iniurie I pray you more excessiue and hainous could there euer be offered by mortall men vnto the liuing God who is iealous of his glorie Therefore this punishment brought vpon the world and the Church is a right 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a most iust reuenge inflicted vpon the mockers of his name and word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deriders and scoffers men that are set downe in skorners chaire Whence it is that Paule calleth the same punishment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vers 12. a condemnation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he that these contemners might be damned and committed to torture Therefore this seueare proceeding is a iust punishment of extreame wickednesse blasphenne and vnthankefulnesse of men towards God For the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iudged doth in this place signifie not so much an examination which God maketh of the cause as a iudicial censure a verdict of condemnation and execution of punishment And herein assuredly the said Antich as well as the diuell himself was the executioner Againe we are with-all to take especiall obseruation of the vehemencie of the speache which the Spirit of God in Paule hath vsed to expresse these abhominable wretches for there-by it will the more appeare how excessiue the contempt was which they had of the Gospell and word of God the reuenge where-of is so horrible and indéede so great that it seemeth there could not possibly be inuented a greater To this purpose therefore appertaineth that which Paule addeth and that not idlie or to no purpose in these words 1. They receiued not then the Gospell was offered vnto them so that there-by their neglect and vnthankefulnesse appeareth so much the greater 2. The loue that is that sweete and comfortable doctrine so greatly to be desired which stirreth vp draweth to it and chéereth the hearts and consciences of men 3. Of the truth which is a thing of it-selfe worthy great price and estimation and to be preferred farre before the deuises of men what-so-euer The which truth Paule commending by the effect it hath saith By it men might be saued For that preaching of the Gospell is the instrument or meanes whereby they are brought vnto Christ in whome only our safetie doth consist Therefore the word Truth is in this place by way of preeminence set downe for the doctrine of the Gospell It was therefore a detestable and sauadge kind of vnkindnesse for men in that sort to set light by such great and precious giftes of God nay it was more then barbarous and beastlie carelesnesse and impietie which deserued this seueare punishment and sharpe reuenge Lastly Paule doth yet further amplifye this grieuous contempte of God although notwithstanding it is hainous inough of it-selfe least peraduenture it should seeme to vs a light matter or a small offence And he doth aggrauate the same both in regard of the manner how they embraced and of the height wherevnto like mad-men they aduaunced this their rebellious and blasphemous behauiour against God For he saith they did it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hauing pleasure in it with such a desire so willingly and in such greedie and earnest manner that therein they greatly pleased them-selues they liked and allowed of it they tooke great delight in it and wittingly and willingly made accoumpt of it as of a most pure and precious doctrine and lastly that they preferred it before the heauenly word of the Lord God him-selfe And assuredlie this is the highest step of madnesse that can be for men not only like sots to admit and approue of lies in stead of truth but to rest and repose them-selues there-in quietly contentedlie and in ioyfull sort yea with stretched-out armes to embrace the same to soothe and solace them-selues in it although in the meane time their consciences do there-in greatly grutch repine against it Lastly the same Paule addeth this as an vp-shot of this villanie and raging madnesse committed against God that the same matter which these men so greedely pursue and so entirely embrace is nothing else then meere Vnrighteousnes Where-in their condemnation was the greater and their punishment the more iust For it is most iust vpright that such as allow of and mainteine vnrighteousnes should be most seuearely punished Psal 94. And where-as he calleth this impietie simply Iniustice or Vnrighteousnes he thereby giueth vs to vnderstand that in this state of Antichrist which is the state of Popery God is not offended or his kingdome violated in one point or after one sort only but that all kinde of iniquitie being by them admitted is committed and done with great liking and allowance For as that is called righteousnesse where-by we yeeld vnto God and man that which is their due and shewe our selues conformable to the will of God in all our
the aunswere there-vnto is easie and readie that God neuer permitted his Church so long to be seduced but only suffered the wicked reprobate and such as fall from him to wander and goe astray and giue credit vnto lyes and that vpon desert of theirs and as I haue sayde most iustly on his behalfe For although Papistry was neuer the true Church of God yet in the kingdome of Popery and in the very midst of the Papists them-selues God did often wonderfully preserue his Church Now out of all this that hath bin spoken I hope not only that this place of Paule may be easily vnderstood but withall that this point is as clearely laid open out of the word of God as the noone day That the Pope who is not so rightly tearmed the Bishop as the butcher of Rome and his adherents are that kingdome of Antichrist which in diuers places of the Scripture is specified the which sith it is the drift and purpose of this treatise and labour of mine heere an ende concluding with this praier vnto God that he the Father of mercies would vouchsafe to giue to such as haue thus long beene blinded eyes whereby they might see the light of the Gospell reueiled and to such as do already see will whereby they may embrace the truth of the same in their hearts and minds and constantly make profession of the same in holie conuersation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen FINIS A Position propounded and defended at a Commencement in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge Anno Domini 1582. By a famous Scholler and worthie Writer in this our age The Bishop of Rome is that Antichrist of whose comming the Scripture hath fore-tould THE enterprise is great right Worshipfull and worthie and full of doubt and difficultie which I haue taken in hand to affirme maintaine and that in so solemne an assemblie of learned men as this is that the Bishop of Rome who professeth himself to be Christes Vicar in earth the successour of Peter the head of the Christian Church the chiefe of all Bishops the most Catholike of all Catholikes a kinde of Oracle of religion and a mortall God among men to auouch I say and hould that the same man is the very Antichrist an enemie to God a traytor to Christ an aduersarie to religion the ring-leader of heresies and a murderer of Gods Church But as ye are here present in bodies so bee present in attention and if heretofore by meanes of that commō error which generally hath preuailed ye could not peraduenture giue right censure of that wicked monster yet now at length laying aside coniectures thinke vprightly of the matter and whom the Scripture hath fore-tould time hath discouered and the Church hath many ages been burdened with acknowledge him for Antichrist spit in his face and curse him euen to the pit of hell For why should we not both iudge fréelie and speake plainlie in the case or why should wee at all doubt and stagger in a matter so manifest and of such moment If the Bishop of Rome be the Antichrist of whom we can make no other accompt except we will be wilfully deceiued why should wee either looke longer for an other or why should we not call this the very Antichrist I hope that after I haue done none of you will doubt but that that iollie Bishop which keepes such a coyle is the very and only Antichrist in such sort as who will not bee lost for euer ought vtterly to detest him and abandon his societie And herein I purpose to deale so as the right order of disputation requireth namely first in way of confirmation by authoritie of the Scriptures to warrant mine assertian and as for such arguments as may seeme to make agaynst me I will not meddle with them in mine Oration For now it is my part to make plaine and strengthen the cause and afterward to shake of the aduersaries obiections when I shall come to aunswering And first to begin withal I will take that vnto me as graunted which of necessitie must bee yeelded that Antichrist is in the Scriptures set out vnto vs by his true and infallible markes so that wee are neither to imagine of any other not spoken of in the Scriptures but that wee confidently affirme him to be Antichrist vnto whom all those things do so fitly agree which wee reade in the word of God concerning Antichrist For either it must needes bee so or else the Spirit of God hath not well described him vnto vs the which cannot be affirmed without blasphemie Therfore I wil set downe this as the ground of my iudgement and defence that the Scripture hath deliuered vnto vs whatsoeuer was meete for the Church to knowe touching Antichrist and that he without all controuersie is the true or rather the false Antichrist in whom those markes are to bee found whereby the Spirit of God would expresse Antichrist and set out as it were in his liuely and proper picture to the view of all men And as for those things which are set downe in the whole bodie of the Scriptures concerning Antichrist I vphold that euery one of them doth agree to the Bishop of Rome and that they all cannot be attributed vnto any other Now the name of Antichrist is in the Scriptures taken in two sortes generall and proper or perticular For as the name of Christ is sometime applied vnto all those who haue some resemblance of him in their being annoynted such as were the Prophets Kings and Priests in like sence whereof the Prophet speaketh Psalm 104. Touch not mine annoynted and sometime agayne is taken for the very Sonne of God made manifest in the flesh our redeemer and Sauiour Iesus Christ So also in the Scriptures the name of Antichrist is sometime taken for euery aduersarie of Christ as in the 1. Ioh. 2. There are many Antichristes come alreadie that is there begin to incroach many back-sliders which indeuour to corrupt the pure word of God and sometime agayne more properly for that chiefe Antichrist which mallapertly thwarteth Christ himselfe not only in one or two poynts but in the whole frame of religion and kingdome of Christ And euen in such sence did Iohn speak of Antichrist in that very place when he sayth Little children it is the last houre and as ye haue heard that Antichrist should come c. And of this kinde of Antichrist are those things to bee vnderstoode which Paule writeth in his 2. Epistle to the Thess cap. 2. I am not therfore to intreate of those pettie and paltrie Antichristes which are many in number and should sow the seed of the Apostacie and horrible Antichristianisme which was to insue but of that Captaine Antichrist which should in all poynts bee opposite to Christ and of whom the other were but fore-runners And whē I say that the Bishop of Rome is this great Antichrist my meaning is that he is the Captaine and head of that Apostacie which the Scripture
parte of this description set downe by the Apostle First he saieth Except there come first a back-sliding or falling away Now it is a falling from the faith that he meaneth for his purpose was not to speake of the chaunges of Empyres or ouerthrowes of Kingdomes and agayne the worde Apostacie doth signifie no lesse 1. Tim. 4.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is They shall shrinke from sound doctrine And further all the Fathers giue it out that the comming of Antichrist shall bee ioyned with a miserable ouerthrowe of religion and godlinesse And whereas the Apostle calleth it simplie an Apostacie which should ensue he thereby sheweth that it should bee a generall and not a perticular defection For he speaketh absolutely without limitation And this may also more manifestly appeare by comparison of other places Luk. 18.8 The sonne of man when he commeth shall he finde faith vpon earth This is that Apostacie and want of faith whereof Paule spake Math. 24.12 Iniquitie shall be increased the loue of many shall be colde And Iohn in the Reuelation foretelleth That the Kings of the earth should commit fornication with the Harlot And that the inhabitants of the earth should bee made dronken with the wine of her whoredome And that all Nations shall drinke of her cuppe And lastly the euent of things which is the best expositour of these matters doth prooue that I say to bee most true For partly by Mahumetisme and partly by Poperie faith hath been long since almost cleane put out in so much as well nigh there is no remnant left in the world of the true and auncient faith and sinceritie After this the Apostle beginneth to describe Antichrist by his proper markes And that that man of sinne bee disclosed euen the sonne of perdition which is an aduersarie In these words he setteth out Antichrist as it were one man who although he be not indeed any one single or perticular man yet is he by the Apostle described vnder the person of one both in regarde of that kingdome which he maketh opposite to Christes and is one and also in respect of that one and the self-same spirit of Sathan wherewith all the Antichristes in the world are caried As the kingdome of Antichrist is one so also is the kingdome of Antichrist one and for that cause as Daniell long before had laied open seuerall kingdomes which were continued a long time by lineall descent and succession of Kings and people vnder the names of a Leopard a Lion and a Beare so also would the Apostle set out Antichrist and the whole bodie of the Antichristian kingdome vnder the figure or resemblance of a most wicked man And seeing the Bishoply kingdome doth fight and contend with the kingdome of Christ and seeing that in the same the Bishop as a principall Monarche doth beare the sway wee rightly tearme the Pope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a kinde of prerogatiue Antichrist The Apostle faith that this man was to be reueiled that is should openly affect and possesse a kingdome and exercise his tyrannie the which it is certaine the Pope hath practised aboue nine hundred yeares euen euer since that time wherein he would needes be called the head of the Church and take vpon him the chiefe stroake in the Church And to the end we may euidently perceiue that the Bishop of Rome is that Antichrist as I affirme let vs prosecute the other parts of this propheticall description laied out by the Apostle He laies open Antichrist in the fourth verse following by three adiuncts or properties for first He shall oppose and exalt himselfe against al that is called God or that is worshipped Secondly He shall sit as God in the temple of God Thirdly He shall shewe himselfe that he is God These wordes containe much matter in them and offer great varietie of speach but I of necessitie must obserue a meane First therfore Antichrist was to become 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 opposite to Christ an aduersarie contrarie in such sort as he should aduaunce himselfe aboue Christ So that Antichrist should take vpon him not only ciuill reuerence but euen diuine worship Can any man hereof make doubt but that this doth most fitly agree with the Bishop of Rome For he will needes be greater then God himselfe and setteth himselfe full butt agaynst him And that he would needes be greater then God we shall easilie perceiue if we consider what power and authoritie either of them do challenge to themselues It belongeth only to God to prescribe lawes to binde our consciences who only hath the soueraigntie ouer our soules The Bishop of Rome will needes beare rule ouer mens consciences wherein he attributeth to himselfe a diuine interest yea inioyneth in more hard and seuere manner then he supposeth that God himselfe ought to do For who knoweth not that a man might with greater securitie transgresse the lawes of God than the Popes Constitutions and that he that should offend the sayd Bishop should in more seuere manner smart for it than he that should with notorious wickednesse offend the Lord. To bee stayned with fornications adulteries and vnspeakeable impieties required no great penaunce such sinnes could bee done awaie at a light and easie price but to haue tasted once either of Porke or Beefe vpon a Fryday that could neuer be wiped out but by the bloud of him that offended and yet the one stands forbidden by God himselfe and the other by none but by the Bishop They make it for the most part but a mockery or May-game to breake the lawes of God but to transgresse the Bishops is right mortall and deadly To hurt God by periurie and blasphemy they make it no great sinne but to offend the Bishop only by vnreuerent speach is a huge trespasse and worthy to be reuenged by most extreame torture There are a thousand such like wherein the Bishop establisheth his authority to be reputed as farre more authenticall and holie then the power of God Then what is it to aduance him-selfe aboue God if this be not shall we looke that Antichrist should plucke God out of heauen and climbe vp into his Celestiall seate and the sayd Bishop is also an aduersarie vnto Christ and that not in any one parcell only but simply and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the whole I will in few words make it plaine for neither is colde more repugnant vnto heate or blacke to white more contrary then is Popery to Christianitie and the Bishops profession vnto the doctrine of the Gospell For what a kinde of God do they make of him when they serue such an infinite number of Idols and fill the whole world with their Idolatrie for where euer either among the Graecians or Aegiptians or the ould Romanes were Images more common or more frenticke idoll-worship then was and as we knowe is in the Romish Church and that of a sorie slender crust a God can be made as soone as a Priest shall haue breathed
which I will enforce out of the words them-selues for Iohn describeth Rome both touching the ould state of the Empire and also touching the state there-of being after renewed and restored as it is euident in the 13. Chapter And as for the ruinous and decaied estate thereof it was the Pope only that restored it and which gaue life vnto that Image which was as it were starke dead therefore he mentioneth and meaneth both the states thereof Afterwards he in the 17. Chapter vers 8. speaketh plainely of the Beast which should arise out of the bottomlesse pit Now as for the ould Romane Empire it was in force while Iohn was yet aliue wherefore it is most certayne that Iohn spake of the Byshops kingdome that should after ensue And this is that seauen-headed Beast where-of he speaketh Thus therefore it is euident that those things whiche Iohn heere wrote are to be vnderstoode of the kingdome and monarch of the Bishop other-wise all thinges will be out of frame and disagree To what ende should I heape vp many things what neede I adioyne vnto these heauenly oracles being so manifest so certaine and so many in number the testimonies of men which are vncertaine and doubtfull therefore I heere ende gathering out of all that hath bin spoken this most manifest and strong conclusion The Conclusion with a repetition If he be Antichrist which opposeth him-selfe vnto Christ which lifteth vp him-selfe against all that is called God or is worshipped which hath brought an Apostacie or backsliding into the Church which sitteth in the Temple of God which boasteth him-selfe that he is God which when the Italian and Romane Empire was ouerthrowne vsurped vnto him-selfe a kingdome and tirannie which immediatly after the ascension of Christ began in his fore-runners which shall last to the end of the world which hath Sathan for his fellow-worker which braggeth of his signes and wonders counterfaiteth himselfe like vnto the Lambe and yet speaketh like vnto the Dragon which restoreth the Image of the first Beast which in euery respect is a right Latine which possesseth Rome the mysticall Babylon the Citie with seauen hilles which is clad in Purple which is an Harlot and which hath all the markes of Antichrist that are diligently and plainlie set downe in the Scriptures by the Spirit of God which of necessitie must needes be so except we thinke that Antichrist is ill set out by the holy Spirit then is the Romane Bishop and no other Antichrist But the antecedent or first is true therefore the consequent or that that followeth is also true Thus haue I hitherto handled my matter in way of propugnation or defence now will I also by the grace of Christ maintaine the same agaynst the oppugnation or battrie that the graue Doctors shall bring agaynst it FINIS Bernard a Monke of Cluniacke liued about 400. yeares agoe He wrote vnto Peter Abbot of that Monasterie three satyricall inuectiues in the two latter whereof he taketh vp roundly and that not vniustly the tyrannous behauiour of the Cleargie and Bishop of Rome Some of these verses I haue copied out as they stand extant in a Booke of his intituled A Catalogue of witnesses of the truth which I haue caused to be written out not so much for the elegancie of the stile or verse as for testifying the truth and to shewe what opinion men in those daies had of the Romane Antichrist LEX mala furibus his subeuntibus intrat abundè O mala secula venditur infula pontificalis Infula venditur haud reprehenditur emptio talis Vēditur annulus hinc lucra Romulus auget et vrget Est modò mortua Roma superflua quando resurget Roma superfluit arida corruit afflua plena Clamitat tacet eriget iacet dat egena Roma dat omnibus omnia dantibus omnia Romae Cum pretio quia iuris ibi via ius perit omne Roma nocens nocet atque viam docet ipsa nocendi Iura relinquere lucra requirere pallia vendi Saepe notarius est ibi carius emptus vt ille Quae cupis exaret sacra praeparet ipse sigilla Si tua nuntia praeuenit vncia surge sequaris Si datur vncia stat prope gratia pontificalis Sin procul haec valet haec tibi lex manet schola talis Diues es indiga pinguis es arida libera seruis Libera subderis aeréqae venderis ipsa proteruis Saepe reuenderis hinc reprehenderis ore Iugurthae Sylla vorax rapis cupis capis trahis ad te Roma ruens Rota foeda satis nota cauteriat te Gurges es altior arca voracior alta lacuna Infociabilis insatiabilis omnibus vna Quò bibis amplius hoc inhiantius huc date clamas Dic rogo sufficit at mihi deficit ipsa reclamas Si tibi det sua non repleat tua guttera Croesus Marca vel aureus amodò non Deus est tibi Iesus Mittis in extera tollere munera sola flagrantes Quem tua dirigit huc manus exigit ille tributum Nec bona secula sed bona fercula molléquefulcrum Suetus ab vbere non nisi currere vel peditare Celtica curribus exit equestribus arua meare Qui modò gressibus ibat ovantibus incomitatus Clerus equestria vix animalia pascit auena Serica pallia dat tibi Gallia Roma caprinum Errat tibi pedes ambulat hîc eques in resupinum Gens fluit obuia fit sibi gloria pulchra videri Ductus in atria pontificalia molle recumbit Pocula praecipit agmina suscipit oscula iungit Roma quid exequar imò quid eloquar aut tibi promam Vncia te rotat vncia te notat non esse Romam Tu populos tibi te rutilans sibi marca subegit Semper enim lucra progenies tua vult agit egit Haec sitis ebria stat tibi propria marte togáque Te cremat impiat vrit inebriat excruciátque Das sacra culmina das moderamina sacra probrosis Arida mitibus afflua ditibus ambitiosis Fas mihiscribere fas mihi dicere Roma fuisti Ecce relaberis atque resolueris ordine tristi Vrbs sine viribus sine patribus obruta marces Dardanias premit Ausonias emit aureus arces Fas mihi scribere fas mihi dicere Roma peristi Obruta moenibus obruta moribus occubuisti Vrbs ruis inclyta tam modò subdita quà m prius altta Quò prius altior hoc mihi pressior labefacta Clauda redis caput alta iacis apud omnipotentem The same in English AN ill custome when these theeues tooke place came in apace O wicked world a Bishops pall is sould A pall is sould and yet such sale is not comptrolde The Ring is sould thence the Pope doth heape hunt for gould Rome is now dead I meruaile when she wil again raise vp her head She ouer-flowes and yet she wants her plentie proueth scantie She cries in
vertue Shall possesse the earth and after we shall see it be made All golde and full of her auncient works These Verses of Petrarche haue beene thus turned into English Verse by Thomas Hovel 1. O Forge of false deceipt prison to ire Where goodnesse dieth and euils all are bread To those that liue thou art a hellish fire The ruine eke of many wretches dead A wonder strange though spared thou be yet If Christ in fine not tread thee vnder feete Thy ground was first on humble pouertie But now thy pride doth presse thy founders downe Thou shamelesse strompet seeking soueraigntie Where rests thy hope what in thy triple crowne In thine adulteries or base-borne ritches Begot in guile Vaine are all such Witches Since Constantine may now returne no more The mournefull world that sighes thy state to see Consume and cut thee quicke vnto the coare That all too long is forst to beare with thee Of Rome the fall heere Petrarche doth vnfolde As view they may that list the same behould 2. A flambe from heauen streame downe vpon thy head Thou wicked one that from the water cold And Acornes wilde that whilome was thy bread Art mightie made enritcht by others gold Since thy delight is setled all one ill Shame thee destroy and sorrow soone thee spill Thou nest in whome the treasons hatched are That through the world abroade are spread this houre Slaue to wine chambering and delicious fare Where lust doth trie the strength of all her power In closets thine young girles and aged Sires With Belzebub do daunce in foule desires He bellowes fire and looking-glasse doth beare Amidst them all but why I blush to tell Naked to windes and bare-foote late thou were No beds of downe vnto thy share befell Course cloathes did serue thy corps from cold to shrowde Scarce God thy Péere thou now art growne so prowde 3. Thou Babylon that build'st thy nest so high By couetous frawde thy sacke to brimme doest fill With Gods great wrath and vices out that flie Whose poysoning smelles a world of soules doth kill Gods to thy selfe thou makest not Ioue nor Pallas In Venus and Bacchus is all thy sollace In searching long what should of thee insue My selfe with toyle I feeble brought and lowe But at the length me séem'd a Soldan newe I sawe prepar'd to worke thine ouerthrowe That will erect * The Souldans pallace Baldocco seate for those Which though not when I would shall thee depose Thine Idols on the ground shall scattered lie Thy towers prowde to heau'n that enemies be And turrets all by fire downe shall flie Then shall iust Soules the friends of vertue see The goulden world anew begin to raigne And auncient works shew foorth them-selues againe FINIS A Table contayning the words and matters handled in this treatise A A Daulphus king of Gothes possessed Rome Pag 113 Alaricus surprised the same Pag. 112 Antichrist who it is and why he is called an Apostata 7.10 11.41 Why called that man of sinne and perdition Apollyon a Beast a Woman an Harlot 13.17.18 c. Why a false Prophet a Pope 37. Where he should sit 47. and when he should come 73. 74. c. Antichrist how he is sayd to restore the state of the ould Empire 34 Why he is called Antichristus and not Antitheos 40.41 c. Antichrist gathers together the dregs of all heresies Ibidem Antichrist corrupts not onelye one poynt of religion but all and euery poynt of Christian doctrine Ibidem Antichrist vsurps the name of God .49.50 c. challenges his power 53. 54 Why the congregations of Antichrist be called the Church of God 67 Why it was requisite to haue the state and kingdome of Antichrist fore-tolde 5. 6 That the kingdome of Antichrist shall last till the end of the world 123 That the kingdom of Antichrist shall be vtterly destroyed by the last comming of Christ Pag. 121. 122 Antichrist should sit at Rome Pag. 39 Antichrists kingdome whether it be to be beaten downe with force of armes 117. c. Antichrist is no one man 6. 7. 12. 13 The manner of planting his kingdome was diuelish 90. 91. That it rose not at a suddain but by degrees 92. c. That it was established by three speciall meanes 97. 98 That the ouerthrowe of the kingdome of Antich should proceed frō the only breath of Gods mouth 98. 120 That the enlargement there-of should be wrought by two meanes 137 That his authoritie was neuer generally admitted without the gayne-saying of many Pag. 104 That not all shall cleaue to it no not when it preuayleth most 148. c. Antichristian doctrine compared with the Gospell 40. 41. c. Places of the Apocalypse interpreted cōcerning Antichrist 8. 24. 21. of the three Beasts pag. 24. c. Apocalypse and Daniell compared together 25 Apparrell of the auncient Romanes was some-time of two sorts 39 Apollyon 16 Apostata what it meaneth pag. 10. 11 Apparrell of men and attire vsed long agoe at Rome 38 When the beginnings of Antichrists Apostacie began 86 Arsaces beeing Captayne the Parthians set them-selues in freedome and thence theyr Kings were called Arsacides pag. 132. The last of the Arsacides by by whome slayne Ibid. Artaxerxes a Persian hauyng slaine Artabanus translated the kingdome of the Parthians to the Persians 132 Athaliricus playde Rex in Italie pag. 114 A place of Augustine touching Antichrist 18. 21 B Belifarius deposed Silverius Byshop of Rome vpon suspition of treason 15 Bernard his iudgement of the Pope of Rome Antichrist pag. 19. 20. 44. 55. 64. 103. The three Beasts mentioned in the Reuelation 23. c. Vnder the name of a Beast a whole state of things is signified 15 The seconde Beast signifieth the idolatrous Empyre of Rome 23 The fyrst and third Beast signifie one thing 24 Why Antichrist is likened to a Beast 17 The number of the Beast 666. comprized in the word Lateinos 14 The third Beast and Antichrist cōpared together 31. 32. 33 The seauen heads and tenne hornes of the Beast 27 Byshops some-tyme called Popes 49 Contentions of Byshops one cause of establishing Antichrists kingdome 97. c. Byshop of Rome accused for saying he was not to be iudged of any 105 Bishop vniuersall who 50. 51 Bishop of Rome takes on him the name of God and challengeth to him-selfe his power comparing him-selfe to the Sunne and the Emperour to the Moone 54 All the auncient Bishops of Rome refused the blasphemous title of vniuersall Bishshop and who first vsurped the same 52. 53 Why God punished the world with blindnesse 150 Boniface the eight Pope his ambition 20 Bishop of Rome his ambition 20. 19. couetousnesse 20. Idolatry 21. riot 21. 22. C Caligula would haue him-selfe worshipped as a God 20 Cardinalls the Pope decreed that they should goe before Kings 20 Their institution 143 Church whether it can erre 11 The true Church is to be measured by the only worde of God 11 Which is
the true Churche of God 69 It can not be gathered which is the true Church by succession of persons 11 There is one Lorde and law-giuer for mens CoÌ„sciences 45 Constantine the great commanded the idolatrous Churches to be shut vp 75 Constantine translated the Empire froÌ„ Italy into Thrace 25 The counterfayted donation of Constantine 78 At the last comming of Christ the kingdome of Antichrist is to bee wholie destroyed 121 Christians whether they may make warre against the Papists 117. 118 A place of Chrisostome touching Antichrist 44 D An hard place of Daniell expounded 226 Dioclesian woulde needes bee worshipped as God 20 True doctrine to be tried only by the Word of God 11 Doctrin of the Papists what 24 Comparison betweene theyr doctrine and the Gospels 43. 44 Donatists their errour 73 E Emperors in number 10. mentioned in the Reuel 13. at what time and what Emperour they began 27 Emperours their large bounties on the Church of Rome was a third cause of strengthning Antichrist 97. c. Empire where it was chiefely to be seated 25 Empire idolatrous how reuiued by Antichrist 34. c. F False Prophet why Antichrist so called indefinitly 42 The fore-telling of Antichrist was a famous Prophecie 41 Forme of Romane gouernmeÌ„t what it was when the Reuelation was written 35 G Gensericus king of the Vandalles surprized Rome 113 Gothes destroyed it vtterly 63 Gregorie the great refused to be called vniuersall Bishop 52 H Antichrist compared to an Harlot 16 Heresies touching the nature and office of Christ were the first causes that gaue streÌ„gth to the kingdome of Anti. 97 Harma-geddon otherwise to be read Geddon-harma 60 Heads seauen which are attributed to the Romane Empire â—0 Hierome calles Rome Babylon 22 Hilarie his sentence touching Antichrist 20 Hymenaeus denied the resurrection of the flesh 43 J Image of the Beast renewed 34. 35 Idoll-temple shut vp by the coÌ„maundement of Constantine the great 75 Iohn Bishopp of Constantinople called vniuersall Bishop 52 Iohn Wickliffe opposed him against the Bish of Rome 106 Italica Ecclesia some thinke to bee signified by the number 666. 14 Irenaeus a place of his touching the number of the Beast 14 K Kings in number 10. mentioned Reuelat. 13. when and in whom they began 27 Kings 10. that should eate the flesh of the whore who they are 111. Kingdome of Antichrist to bee ouerthrowne by the breath of the Lords mouth 107. 115 Kingdome of Antichrist planted by deuillish deuises crept on by little and little 90 Kingdome of Antichrist stablished by 3. special meanes 97 Kingdomes the Pope takes vppon him to dispose 53. 54 L Lactantius a place of his touching the crueltie of Antic 18 Lactantius touching the Romane Empire 77 Lateinos containeth the number of 666. 14 Lawes imposed vpon mens coÌ„sciences by the Pope 54 Leo the 12. his ambition 20 Luke a place of his touching Antichrist 8 M Magistrates of Rome were of two sorts 36 Man of sinne the Pope 12 Masse when first it began 84 Mahumet sitteth not in the temple of God neither is properly Antichrist 43.57 The beginning of Mahumetisme 88 Mahuzim what it meaneth in Daniel 47 A place of Mathew touching Antichrist 8.13 Mauritius the Emperor would haue John of Constantinople called vniuersall Bishop 52 Myracles vsed to credite Antichrist 144. c. Monarchie none to succeede the Romane 125 A mysterie written in the forehead of the Harlot 47 N Name of God vsurped by the Pope 53 Nicholas of Clemingis wrote against the Papacie 22 The number of the Beast 666. expounded 14 Where other words are named that containe the like number 81 O Odoacer surprising Rome called himselfe King of Jtalie 114 P True Pastors are to bee measured by the word of God 12 Parthians hauing Arsaces for their Captaine infranchized themselues into libertie 132 The Empire of Parthians translated to the Persians 132 A place of Paule touching Antichrist 1 Pelagius Bishop of Rome by petition pacified the Tirant Totilas 102 Peter the Apostle prophecied of his owne death 4 A place of Peter touching the Popish Cleargie 18 Papa what it signifieth why Antichrist so called 48 In what sence the assemblies of the Papistes and of Antichrist are called the Church of God 67 The Papistes arguments for themselues the kingdome of Antichrist 153 Comparison betweene Poperie and the Gospell 40. c. The gouernment of Poperie what it is 35 Philetus an Heretike 43 Phocas an Emperour murderer of Mauritius 85. He caused the Pope to be called vniuersall Bishop 52 Priesthoode confounded with the kingdome at Rome 35 Promises of God belong only to the true Church of God 71 Peter Paule and Iohn had the guift of prophecie 4 Sonne of perdition 16 Power of God vsurped by the Pope 52 R Reuelation many places thereof expounded 8. 14. 21. 23 ResurrectioÌ„ of the flesh denied by Hymenaeus Philetus 43 Rhadagesius king of Gothes 102 Rome the seate of Antichrist 40 Rome how often surprised 62 At Rome no place for godlines 65 Rome poynted out to bee the seate of Antichrist 58. c. At Rome the kingdome ioyned with the Priesthood 35 Romane Magistrates of two sorts 36 Romane maners detestable 65 Forme of Romane gouernmeÌ„t what it was when Iohn wrot 35 Romane Empire when first it was translated from Italie to Constantinople 26 The two horns of the Romane Empire 25 S Saluation to be freely giuen vs of God the Papists deny 46 Sarazens their first beginning 131 Schoole-men denie Mahumet to be Antichrist 57 Schoole-men their opinion of Antichrist 93 Seruant of seruaÌ„ts Gregorie the great first called himselfe 54 Simon denied Christ to become in the flesh 43 The three spirits mentioned in the Reuelation as ministers of Antichrist what they be 140 Siluerius Bishop of Rome suspected of treason was deposed by Belisarius 105 Symachus Bishop of Rome accused for that he deemed himselfe not to bee iudged of anie 104 Sonne of perdition the Pope 16 T Teias king of Gothes wasted Italie 115 Teitan supposed by Irenaeus to be the name of Antichrist 15 Temple of God where Antichrist should sit what it is 56 How the congregations of Poperie can bee called the temple of God 67 Theodatus king of Gothes 114 Theodoricus king of Gothes surprised Rome 114 Totilas forbad the fiering of Rome 102 Totilas quite defaced Rome 114. 115 V Viguerus his conceipt touching Antichrist 58 Vitiges wasted Italie 114 W Weapons whether forbidden ChristiaÌ„s by the Gospel 117 Whether Antichrist bee to bee subdued by warre 117. 118 Wickliefe 106 Why Antichrist is compared to a woman 16 Worship of GOD what it was while Italie was Idolatrous 33 Y Yeares 666. expounded 80. 81 Yeares 1000. examined 89 FINIS
him-selfe and that in the midst of the Church of God Whereby it appeareth first that this defection whereof Paule héere speaketh is not to be vnderstoode of the secte of Mahumet or the Turkes because they neither sit in nor pretend the Church of God but verie directly of the state of Poperie This speach of Paule might séeme to agrée with that of Daniell Cap. 7.8 20. where mention is made of a little horne which arose among the ten other hornes and is said there to speake presumptuous things But in my iudgement their opinion is truer who referre that place of Daniell not to Antichrist but vnto the gouernment of the Romane Emperours and especially to Vespasian who in regard of his vnknowne pedigrew is there tearmed a little horne Therefore touching this which Paule speaketh heere that Antichrist the Prince of this Apostacie should vsurpe the name of God the question is whether it be to be vnderstoode of the verie name and title of God or onely of the power of God which he should wickedly arrogate to him-sefe Some therefore do not thinke that the very expresse name of God is héere meant but only that he should rush into the office and vsurpe and challenge to him-selfe the power and maiestie of the highest But vndoubtedly seeing that the thing it-selfe which is the complishment of this so renowned a prophecie doth proclaime it openly that the Bishop of Rome the highest Potentate in the state of Popery hath made intrusion vpon them both in taking vpon him as well the very name as the authoritie of the Lord God this place without all question is to be vnderstoode of both And touching the name of God the Romane Bishop hath not made squaimish but verie flatly and without any circumlocution hath both admitted of the name him-selfe and neuer refused it at the hands of others For is he not by them called a God in the earth doth he not suffer the very Emperours them-selues to kisse his feete nay with an impudent face he acknowledgeth him-selfe to be so called he admitteth plausibly of it and inwardly ioyeth at the stately title as appeareth Distinct 21. throughout the whole Treatise Further where-as not only he suffereth himselfe to be called the vniuersall Bishop of the whole Church but accoumpteth that title and honour of right to belong vnto him doth he not in effect vsurpe and take vpon him the name of God for who else is the vniuersall Bishop of the Church but God him-selfe and Christ Iesus who only and rightly is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the chiefe Sheepheard high Priest 1. Pet. 2.25 5.4 Hebr. 6.20 7.26 9.11 And what is it else I pray to be called Prince of Bishops and head of the Church then to be called a God as Cyprian in the Counsell of Carthage affirmeth The first and auncient Bishops yea of Rome it-selfe did so shunne and were so afraide of this blasphemous and abhominable title of vniuersall Bishop as being in their iudgements properly belonging to none but to Antichrist as that they in truth acknowledged openly affirmed and publikely proclaimed that he was the verie Antichrist of whome Paule speaketh in this place who soeuer would take vpon him to be so called so doth Gregorie the great giue it out Booke 7. Epist 3. to Eubolius Bishop of Alexandria and 80. to the same Bishop And againe Epist 78.79 reade also what is written in way of detestation of this proude title in the Canon of the first Session taken out of the third Counsell of Carthage and out of the Epistles of Pelagius Bishop of Rome in Ca. nullus Dist 99. Moreouer reade what the same Gregorie wrote to Mauritius Augustus Epist 194. 188. lib. 6. Item reade the Counsell of Carthage celebrated vnder Mauritius the Emperour who liued in the yeare of the Lord 595. died 604. At the first there arose an vnhappie contention betweene Iohn Bishop of Constantinople and Pelagius Bishop of Rome about this title Now Iohn being Bishop of Constantinople had Mauritius the Emperour of Constantinople on his side and so he began to be called the vniuersall Bishop and that at the instance and commaundement of Mauritius the Emperour who was so earnest in the cause that in anger he called Gregorie a foole for refusing to do so yea and procéeded so farre in displeasure against the Romanes as that he stirred vp those of Lombardie which then was a part of Italie to wage warre against them about that quarrell After Iohn succeed Cyriacus Bishop of Constantinople who also by the commaundement of the Emperour was called the vniuersall Bishop But then Pelagius Bishop of Rome began stoutly to oppose him-selfe against these two yea and that while Mauritius him-selfe as yet liued And after him Gregorie the great would none of that title but with-stoode it verie earnestly and when it was offered him he like a good and godly man refused it But Boniface the third being tickled with an itching humour after such stately preheminence and hauing opportunitie thereunto by meanes of the great fauour of Phocas who succeeded Mauritius in the Empire obtained that he who was Bishop of Rome rather then the Bishop of Constantinople should be called vniuersall Bishop Now the occasion of this their contention rose by meanes hereof for that the Bishops of Constantinople were woont publikely to consecrate the Emperours of Rome as Iohn installed the said Mauritius and also crowned Tyberius as Euagrius reporteth lib. 5. cap. 13. and Zonaras Tom. 3. Wherevpon they began to looke aloft and waxe insolent towards the Bishops of Rome as being more worthy then they On the other side the Romane Bishops relied much vpon the dignitie of old auntient Rome and looked thereby to haue themselues and their Sea respected And by this meanes that pestilent garboyle began in the Church In which quarrell the other Bishops did not sit still and play the lookers on but shewed them-selues partakers and in the ende after much contention the Romane Bishops preuailed through subtile practises but more by meanes of wicked treacherie In so much that on his side the prerogatiues of the Romane Sea were by the Emperour him-selfe proclaimed and the Bishop him-selfe blazed out with the title of Vniuersall Byshop the which to say the truth could not otherwise come to passe for that Antichrist must néedes haue bin seated at Rome and not at Constantinople as heereafter shall be declared And thus much touching the name of God vsurped by him That Antichrist did wickedly arrogate to himselfe the power of God The fourtenth Chapter AND concerning the power of God no doubt the sayd Romane Bishoppe takes that vpon him and aduaunceth himselfe aboue the diuine Maiestie For whereas the high power of God sheweth it selfe especially in these two poynts In the disposing of kingdomes Dan. 4.22 and in the frée gouernment of his Church that beastly fellowe hath incroached vpon both these And as
for the disposing and getting gift and graunt of kingdomes the Bishop of Rome doth openly lay claime vnto that as appeareth out of the 2. cap. Extrauag of Superioritie and Subiection although Gregorious Magnus did first call himselfe the Seruant of Seruants whereby he might teach his successours humilitie But as for them they kéepe indeede the outward name inscription but as for the royaltie that agréeth not with this poore title they take that vpon them with a mischiefe And touching the free disposing of matters in the administration of the Church like a wicked wretch he sayes it belongeth properly and only vnto him as appeareth Can. Cuncta 9. quaest 3. Can. si Papa dist 4. Can. neminis est de sedis Apostolicae iudicio iudicare 17. quaest 4. Therefore his owne Decrées do prooue this poynt to bée true For he appoynteth at his pleasure newe Sacraments and those that were instituted by Christ he doth repeale tosse turkisse and take away He prescribes lawes to binde mens consciences and as for such lawes as our Sauiour himselfe authorised he playes fast and loose with them as he listeth Can. sunt quidam 25. quaest Lastly like a brasen faced merchant he aduaunceth himselfe aboue a generall Councell Can. nunc autem dist 21. Now what is al this but flat and fayre to take vpon him the power of God He bringeth vnder his subiection all powers Principalities Kings and Magistrates Can. si Imperator dist 96. Yea the very Empyre it selfe then the which there is nothing in the whole world greater more sacred and magnificent together with the very Emperour himselfe whome with much ado he admitteth to come to the humble kissing of his feete in that that he likeneth himselfe to the Sunne and the Emperour to the Moone so that the foolish fellow makes himselfe to bee aboue all power making but a mocke of that of Peter 1. Pet. 2.13 The which cursed poynt of blasphemie of the Pope is to be found registred cap. 2. Extrauag de maioritate obedientia cap quinto seq Extr. de translat Episcop and left in record for remembrance of his impietie to all posteritie Lastly Helmodius reporteth in his historie of Saxonie that Alexander the 3. would in no case acknowledge Fredericke to bee lawfully admitted and all because the poore Emperour held the wrong stirrope while his holinesse should mount on horse-backe But among other authors it were good to reade in this behalfe Bernardus as well in his second booke to Eugenius Bishop of Rome where in conclusion he breaketh out into these words Thou hast more need quoth he to haue a Rake in thine hand than a Scepter to perfourme the office of a Prophet As also in his Epistles namely 230. where at last speaking of the tyrannie of the Bishop of Rome he maketh an exclamation in this sort At first indeed ye began to play the Lords but ouer the Clergie contrarie to the counsaile of Peter and within a while 1. Pet. 5.3 2. Cor. 1.24 contrarie to the aduise of Paule Peters fellow-Apostle you will haue dominion ouer the faith of all men But ye stay not there ye haue taken vpon you more namely to haue a peremptorie power in religion it selfe Now what remaineth whereon ye might further incroach except ye will go about to bring the very Aungels vnder your subiection c. What can a man say more then this whereby we might conceiue that any did take vpon him the power of God So that now no man can iustly make doubt but that the Romane Bishop is the head and chief-taine in the kingdome of Antichrist And that such as imbrace and maintaine his doctrine are to be reputed and reckoned in the number of Antichristes Of the place where Antichrist should sit where it is apparant that neither Mahumet himselfe nor his accomplisses be the men whom the Scripture tearmeth Antichristes The fiftenth Chapter WE are withall to consider of the place where Antichrist that is the Prince of this Apostacie and of all that generation should sit S. Paule hath endeuoured to determine the same but that seemeth to bée done by him somwhat obscurely when he saith he should sit in the Temple of God But yet great and carefull search had been made what those words of his should signifie Origen vpon Math. Hom. 29. by the Temple of God vnderstandeth the Scriptures and word of God Therefore sayth he there shall then be in the Church a false Scripture for in stead of the true word of God a false doctrine shall preuaile Truth it is Paule 1. Tim. 4.1.2 c. and 2. Tim. 3.1.2 c. 4.3 hath plainly auouched that in the latter times men should depart from the faith and should imbrace and spread abroad diuellish doctrine The which also the very worde of Apostacie which wee haue before out of Paule taught should happen vnder the kingdome of Antichrist doth sufficiently proue Agayne Austin lib. 23. De Ciuitate Dei cap. 19. interpreteth the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the Church of God and not In the Church of God as if it were written He shall sit for the Temple or in stead of the Church of God But as for this kinde of speach he might haue been well ynough acquainted with it out of 1. Cor. 6.19 and 1. Pet. 2.5 where wee see that the Temple of God is taken for the people and place where God is worshipped which by an other name is called the Church Therefore Antichrist shall sit in the Temple of God that is he shall exercise that his power among the very faithfull and children of God For this defection was to fall out euen in the midst of the Church it selfe In somuch as they that were the authors and maintayners of the sayd Apostacie should notwithstanding boast and vaunt themselues vnder the name and glorious shewe of the Church of God and to make short they only forsooth will needes bee tearmed and reputed for the true Church And that they only are the true Prelates and Bishops of the same Whereby especially appeareth that which I haue often insinuated namely that the Sectaries of Mahumet are not the men of whom Paule spake and prophecied in this place although the doctrine of Mahumet of Poperie began much about a time For Mahumet which was the last of the two began vnder Heraclius and the Papisticall tyrannie began somewhat before vnder the Emperour Phocas So that these two Kingdomes being so opposite repugnant to Christes differ not much aboue ten yeares touching the times of their seuerall beginnings But yet seeing the followers of Mahumet do openly renounce the name of Christes Church and will at no hand admit much lesse pretend that title or calling and seeing on the contrary side the Papistes do so greedelie affect holde and appropriate to themselues the stile of the Church the title of the Temple of God and the name of Catholikes there is none if he would bee accompted of