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.
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
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
if we consider aduisedly of the matter For both of them came to passe before the kingdome of Antichrist wherof now we speake was setled established I meane both the ouerthrow of the Romane Empire the propagation of the Gospel ouer al the world This reconcilement of these two opinions and this exposition of mine is confirmed by a very plaine place of Daniel cap. 2.34 44 7.13 The words whereof are these cap. 2.34 verse 34 Thou didst behould it so till a stone was cut out of the mountaine without hands which smote the Image vpon his feete that were of yron and clay and brake them to peeces verse 44 And in the daies of those Kings shall that God of heauen set vp a kingdome which shall neuer bee destroyed and this people shall not bee giuen to an other people but it shall breake and destroy al these kingdomes and it shall stand for euer Cap. 7.13 I beheld in visions by night and loe one like the sonne of man came in the clowdes of heauen and that this one speach and assertion is sufficient to shewe that Austin was neuer the author of that booke seeing that in his time neither were the French Kings so famously knowne neither was the Empire sustained by the French-men which began long after in the dayes of the Emperour Valence Now out of all these things which haue bin spoken that is gathered and concluded which I haue affirmed namely that both the Gospell was first to be preached and the Romane Empire to be deminished before that the Kingdome of Antichrist could plainely be descryed or established And touching this ouerthrowe of the Romane Empire Paule hath indeede made some signification of it but some-what obscurely and that he seemeth to haue done in two respects first for that he spake vnto Christians and those that were not ignorant of this prophecie and of this peece of worke for they had heard the Apostles in their publike preachings in the Churches often handling that matter as it appeareth by their writings Secondly to the end that none should thereby take displeasure or that any daunger should thereby growe vnto the Church from the Romane Emperours for that some of the Christians should seeme to prognosticate and hartily wishe their destruction But although Paule had vtterly concealed this point yet it might sufficiently be vnderstoode out of Daniell the 2. and 7. that such a thing should come to passe Yet that place of Iohn 1. Iohn 2. seemeth to make against both this mine assertion and also this place of Paule wherein Iohn affirmeth that in his dayes Antichrist was alreadie come But vnto this place of Iohn an aunswere may be easily made namely that the foundations and ground-works of this kingdome and Apostacie were indeede long agoe framed by meanes of heresies and heretikes but yet the whole frame and building of the said state and kingdome was then at last reared aloft in stature and strength to the viewe and open sight of all men after that the kingdome of Christ began to be proclaimed and the Romane Empire to be reuersed That the time of the comming of Antichrist wherein he should seate and settle him-selfe in the Church was by the Spirit of God prescicely set downe to be 666. yeares from the time that this prophecie of Iohn was made knowne the which tearme of time did expire much about the raigne of Constantine Pogonatus the bearded an Emperour of Constantinople The twenteth Chapter BVt in this point concerning the time of the comming of Antichrist this question which conteineth indéede much more difficultie in it is moued whether the time within the compasse whereof the kingdome of Antichrist was to be erected be to be found in any place of Scripture certainly set downe and determined wherein it is verie certaine men are of diuers iudgements Some denie it flatly And therefore Austin lib. 18. De Ciuitate Dei Cap. 25. 53. saith that that time is altogether hidden and vnknowne and is verie earnest héerein that neither the moneth nor the yeare nor the time of his comming and of his kingdome can be learned But they that are of that opinion seeme to be deceiued and heerein they erre for that they vnskillfully and falsely do attribute those things vnto one man as I haue declared whom they take should be the only Antichrist which are to be vnderstoode of the whole state and bodie of Antichrist But that which the Scripture doth in plentifull manner deliuer touching the kingdome of Antichrist is to be taken of a whole bead-rowle of men and of a long succession of matters and times Some therefore are of another iudgement namely that the time is expressely set downe and determined wherein the said kingdome of Antichrist should begin and yet euen heerein also some dissent from others For some thinke that the yeare 1000. is the prefixed time some 500. others 400. after the birth of Christ but séeing that all these because for their assertions they ground vpon no certaine and direct place of the holie Scriptures but rest only vpon doubtfull coniectures of their owne framing we will take an other and that a more sure course grounding our selues except I be deceiued vpon a more firme foundation For if we marke well what the Spirit of God in the Reuelation hath deliuered we shall finde that the time wherein the state of this Apostacie was to be established is expressely set downe And that time in verie truth is not so much to be reckoned from the time of Christes passion or birth as from the time wherein this point of prophecie was reueiled vnto Iohn which falleth out in the yeare 666. as appeareth out of the Reuelation Cap. 13.18 although Irenaeus doth write Lib. 5. cap. 25. that this place of Scripture hath bin notably corrupted the words whereof are these verse 18 Heere is wisedome Let him that hath vnderstanding coumpt the number of the Beast for it is the number of a man and his number is sixe hundreth threescore and sixe I haue sayd alreadie * Chap. 7. that these words The number of a man are not to be vnderstoode of any magicall or misticall word which by the arithmeticall computation of the letters therein comprised would yeeld the iust number of 666. For this manner of noting out a time is altogether strange and vnknowne in the holy Scriptures And to be short it is more méete and agréeing with the brain-sicke Cabalists then proper to the Spirit of God In the which odde facultie although Irenaeus sometime tooke some painefull study yet he derided the same in Valentinian Lib. 2. cap. 40. Againe those that haue waded therein as did Irenaeus and others we sée how vncertayne they are in themselues and how repugnant the one to the other for looke how many heads there are among them so many seuerall iudgements shall we finde Now the cause why they all stumble especially vpon this stone is for that they do not attentiuely
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
in no case of Paule or of Iohn who was most beloued of Christ or of their successours affirming that they are the true and proper successours of Peter vnto whom alone this power doth appertaine Wherevpon it began that Peter was tearmed the Prince of Apostles and the Bishopps of Rome which boast themselues to be his successours make challenge of this priuiledge as tied so straight vnto this seate Citie of Rome as looke whosoeuer shall bee thereunto installed are without all controuersie indued with the like power But what saith Bernard vnto Eugenius Bishoppe of Rome touching this matter Epist 237. Surely in great disdaine he writeth thus A true successour of Paule will say with Paule not as being Lords ouer your faith but furtherers of your ioy And he that is an heire of Peter will giue eare vnto Peter speaking thus not as bearing rule ouer the Cleargie but as patternes vnto your flocke Who will perfourme this vnto me that I may see before I dye the Church of God as it was in olde time when the Apostles let downe their nets not to catch siluer or golde but to catch soules Whereby it sufficiently appeareth that he thought nothing lesse then that the Bishops of that Sea were to be reputed the true and lawfull successours of Peter or Paule These therefore were the beginnings proceedings degrees and supporters whereby the kingdome of Antichrist was strengthened and at Rome especially established That the authoritie and power of Antichrist was at no time receiued without the resistance and gain-saying of some good Bishops The 26. Chapter ANd yet this power and Empyre neither came to perfection at last neither was vsurped at first without the great grutching and resistance of manie For at all times yea after the Apostacie was once begun there were euer one or other either good men or Bishoppes which openly gain-sayd it and condemned it as wicked opposing also themselues agaynst it franklie and to their vtmost indeuour by whose meanes the Lord did sufficiently fore-warne his Church if it could bee wise to beware of this yoke of bondage And truely in the yeare 600. what time as yet it was in the swadling cloutes and beginnings all the Greeke Churches and especially that of Constantinople and which was dispersed ouer Dacia Illiricum or Slavonia stood stoutly and cried out agaynst that vsurped power Those Bishoppes which accused Symmachus Bishoppe of Rome before Theodoricus King of the Gothes among other crimes which they layd to his charge this was the principall for that he reputed himselfe as a lawles man without the checke or comptroulement of any that is not subiect to the censure of any man or Magistrate whatsoeuer as appeareth in Canon Nullus distinct 99. Dinoth an Abbot in Britaine that is in England did likewise lustely oppose himselfe agaynst the same Gildas in his treatise De castigatione Ecclesiastici ordinis of the correction of the Ecclesiasticall state teacheth that this pertaineth to all Bishops and not vnto any one where it is sayd Whatsoeurr thou shalt loose c. Agayne some of the chiefe and best learned Bishoppes of Germanie and Fraunce as appeareth out of the storie of Aventine in his Epistle to Anastasius resisted both the beginnings and goings forward of that kingdome For I will not speake of the Counsell of Carthage where when as the Romane Bishop would haue brought in this tyrannie he was openly by the whole assemblie accused and conuinced of forgerie The which treacherous tricke Marke Bishop of Ephesus obiected likewise publikelie agaynst him in the Counsell of Florence Anno 1439. Lastly Belisatius Captaine of the guard vnder Iustinian did of himselfe depose the Bishoppe of Rome being suspected of trayterous dealing agaynst the Citie In the yeare of our Lord 700. when as this throane of power and Apostacie was somewhat setled and that by the good liking and consent of a great many yet Paulus Bishoppe of Creta gain-sayd it and at no hand would graunt lisence vnto Iohn Bishop of the Citie Lampio to make an appeale vnto the Sea of Rome The Church of Ravenna admitted of no other head than her selfe neither would she although she were in Jtalie bee subiect vnto the Church of Rome as touching Maister Pope Nilus Archbishop of Thessalonica did likewise write a verie learned booke agaynst the primacie of the Pope And as yet Greece made open resistance agaynst this power and tyrannie of the Romane Bishop and alwaies disclaymed the same and that in such wise as when Iohn Palaeologe Emperour of Constantinople and Ioseph the Patriarch of that Citie and certaine other Bishoppes of Greece among whome Bessario was one had in the Florentine Counsell Anno Domini 1439. approued of this power of the Romane Bishoppe ouer all Churches they were for so doing reproued and excommunicated by the other Churches of Greece and the Easterne parts of the worlde Nay which is more the Pope himselfe doth yearely by couenant giue a peece of golde vnto as many Greeke Bishops as will vouchsafe in the celebrating of their Masses to call him chiefe Priest In the yeare of our Lord 1140. at what time Bernardus Abbas Clarevallensis liued Arnolde Brixianus an eloquent man and a Monke declaimed lustelie all his life time agaynst this Primacie and tyrannie of the Pope as Sigonius writeth lib. 11. de Regno Italico of whō also mention is made by Bernard himselfe in his 195. Epistle whome therefore Innocentius the second Bishop of Rome condemned for an Heretike when now all the worlde began to allowe of this Romish crueltie Therefore wee see that in all ages there were some which openly euen in the assemblies of Synods cryed out agaynst this vsurped power vntill at last as was fore-tould by the Spirit of God Antichrist and his doctrine preuailed and bare rule for so it pleased God to reuenge the contempt of his worde while in the meane time euery man held his peace and submitted himselfe thereunto in most miserable and slauish manner which continued to the wonderfull great hurt of all Christendome vntill such time as Iohn Wickliefe was raysed and stirred vp by God in England who opposed himselfe manfully agaynst it and was the first man that with great valour cut the very sinnewes of it a sunder After whom by the great goodnesse of GOD Iohn Husse and Ierom of Prage were giuen vs the verie two Oliue braunches spoken of Reuelation 11.4 After them succeeded Luther and after him Iohn Caluin and others valiant and couragious Souldiers armed with the Spirit of GOD who with great courage set themselues agaynst this doctrine and tyrannie the which for the most parte they haue by the grace of GOD shaken and brought to nought although notwithstanding it supporte it selfe as well as it maie with Figge-tree boughes Of the destruction and ouerthrowe of the kingdome of Antichrist which is to be brought to passe by the only breath of the Lords mouth and not by any power or strength of a fifth sixth or
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
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
the accomplishment where-of the Angell in the Reuel 10.7 telleth of no time that should succeed that is after the fullfilling of these things there is no time prefixt or set downe by the Spirit of God which we should looke for For after the voice of the seauenth Angell the mysteries or hidden things of God which are reueiled in the Prophets especially in this place of Daniell Cap. 11. vers 40. and so foorth to the ende of the Prophecie are to be finished And so do I vnderstand the words of Daniell At the end of time Cap. 11.40 as also Cap. 12.9 1. that in the last time and as you would say the last age of the world there should these two last Kingdomes spring vp which heere he describeth and pointeth out where-of the one should rise out of the South the other out of the East North. And these two shall as I said quite ouerthrowe what-so-euer shall remaine in the South and North-East of the fourth Monarchie that is of the Romane Empire the which they shall distresse by Sea and Land True it is Daniell speaketh of both these newe Kingdomes together ioyning them as it were in one word because he doth but only glaunce at and briefly shut vp a storie farre distant from his time and the same very obscure whereas notwithstanding they should be seuered asunder both in time and place whereof the one should arise first and the other after as appeareth out of the very text And that this my iudgement is true it appeareth hereby for that afterward these two kingdomes are compared together as distinct and diuers as namely being two whereof the one is sayd should ouerthrow the other to wit that of the North-east should vanquish the Southern the which also it selfe should in the end meete with his end and ruine Lastly wheras Dan. saith ver 45. Lehar tseuhi-Codesh In the glorious and holie mountaine he poynteth out a place namely Iudaea as Zech. 14.4 Therefore those two Seas within the which those two kingdomes should pitch their Palace Pauilion or Seat royall are set out by Daniel and are sayd to be not Westerne Seas such as are the French the Italian the Adriaticke or the Spanish Seas because they bend not towards Iudaea but they are more Easternly running along all that coast which lieth betweene the Syriacke or Aegaean and the red Sea For those two Seas do border out the vpper Countries and lie towards Iewrie as euery man may easilie perceiue by Cosmographie And to make short Asia and Syria are sayd to bee all that region wherein the Lord fore-telleth these two kingdoms should arise which shall bring to nought the remainders of the Romane Monarchie whereof the one should rise in the South towards the East and North-east For so do I referre indifferently vnto either of these kingdomes that which Daniell vttereth in the singular number Therefore those two shall ouerthrow the fourth Monarchie in those places where they shall pitch their tents and in that part of the world which is contayned betweene those two Seas namely that called Aegaeum or Syriacum and the red Sea or Elaniticum lying by South East and North. Now it was very behoofefull that the seate or soyle of these two kingdomes should bee set downe and withall that it should bee expressed of what Seas this Prophecie should be meant because that Rome it selfe is scituated betwéene two Seas which notwithstanding in this place of Daniell is in no case to bee vnderstood and many places there are in the world which are inclosed within two Seas as Greece Peloponnesus Pontus and Asia the lesse least therefore this speach should bee doubtfull and past finding out he hath described the whole coast of those Countries by the soyles that front the same and by the Seas that are adioyning And agayne the very knowledge of Geographie doth shewe in what coasts and places of the world this ouerthrowe should bee perfourmed by these two Kings or Kingdomes that should arise not assuredly in the West shall this ruine of the fourth Monarchie be brought to passe but in the South and North or rather North-east For as for the Romane Monarchie it had as I haue said two principall heads the one lying Easternly at Constantinople the other Westerne in Italie wherevpon the Emperours themselues did so deuide the iurisdiction among them that the one should bee Emperour and keepe his residence in the East the other in the West And so also doth the Scripture make the like deuision Zech. 14.8 That portion and head of the Romane Empyre that I called Easterne contained al whatsoeuer the Romane Monarchie had lying in the Southerne regions in the East among the Scithians or the Northerne people dwelling somewhat toward the East And that other Westerne or Italian Empyre possessed all the other Prouinces Now this Italian Empyre was ouerthrowne by the Gothes and Vandales as I haue shewed before and that long before the ouerthrowe of the Easterne almost sixe hundred yeares But as for the Easterne or Constantinopolitane Empyre which remained of the Romane Monarchie it was long after namelie about the ende of all things and in the latter and olde age of the world somewhat shaken by the Saracens and at last cleane shiuered by the Turkes And vndoubtedly in mine opinion these bee those two Kings here spoken of by Daniell Whereof the one came out of the South namely the Saracens the other from the North-east to wit the Turke And these two people or Nations the Saracens and Turkes did so spread and ouer-flowe vpon the face of the earth as Daniell speaketh vers 40. that they cleane trampled vnder-foote whatsoeuer remained of the fourth Monarchie either in the East North or South the whole Westerne part being by others long before ouer-runne In so much as in all Asia Syria Pontus Aegipt there doth not now so much as a print or the least marke appeare of the maiestie and power which the Romane Empyre once sustained And touching the ruine and ouerthrowe of this peece or part of the Romane Monarchie or rather of this that lay Easternlie than of the other occidentall Empire God would haue it fore-shewed by Daniell to the Iewes because the people that inhabited the Easternlie head of the sayd Romane Monarchie were better knowne to the Iewes then those of the West which dwell beyond the Syriacke Sea and so were remoued farre of neither had they as yet done any harme vnto the Jewes As for the ouerthrow of the Italian or occidentall Empire it is plainly reueiled in the Apoca. So that by comparing of both these together I meane of Daniell and the Reuelation we haue made knowne vnto vs whatsoeuer concetnes the decay either of the orientall and Constantinopolitane or the occidentall and Italian Empyre or whatsoeuer else is behoofefull for vs to know for our comfort touching the state of the world either in the East or West parts euen to the end thereof Now let this mine exposition be
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
actions both in-ward and out-ward so is that Vnrighteousnes where-by we are iniurious to God and our neighbour shrinking from the will of God either in points of doctrine or matters of life and conuersation The which to be practised and found rife in Poperie and the kingdome of Antichrist there is none that can make doubt except such as neuer sawe the shadow of it or tasted the least drop of her venome But such as haue learned but only the first rudiments of that state which too many haue done and afterward by the goodnesse of God are brought to see the true light of the Gospell shall assuredly perceiue more cleare then the sunne at noone day how all corruption both of sound doctrine and holy life taketh place among them yea and approued with commendation Therefore seeing the hainousnesse of this Vnrighteousnes was and is so great and that growne to such an height or degree it is no maruaile though this so greeuous a punishment ensued in the world that the reprobate faithlesse men which most wickedly contemned the truth of God either offred to them or acknowledged by them should fall into this so cruell a tyrannie of soules and consciences An aunswere vnto three certaine principall arguments of the Papists where-with they would iustifie themselues and approoue this sayd kingdome of Antichrist The 40. Chapter THis whole discourse of Antichrist out of S. Paule might now séeme to be fully finished but that there remaines an hard obiection of the Papists wherevnto I thinke good for a finall conclusion of this treatise briefely to oppose an aunswere This their obiection relieth vpon three seuerall arguments which they vrge verie sawcely in way of defence both of them-selues and of their said synagogue and doctrine 1. The first whereof respecteth and resteth vpon the multitude of those which both heere-tofore haue professed and as yet do hold the same Apostaticall that is Papisticall doctrine but herevnto the aunswere is easie For seeing that Paul hath very clearely deliuered this point namely that it should fall out that only the elect and children of God should perseuere and continue in the true doctrine and those in number be but few but as for such as despise the Gospell and are seduced by Satan they are almost infinite for the way is narrowe that leadeth to eternall life but broade is the pathe that tendeth to destruction as our Sauiour affirmeth there can not vndoubtedly be brought any proofe from the greater number troupe of men to assure vs of the true marks of the Church and to confirme vs in the certaintie of the truth of the doctrine we professe For by that reason were the Turks now rather to be reckoned the true Church of God then are the Papists for there are moe Turks Mahumetanes the Papists And againe in times past the Idolatours before the comming of Christ were to be coumpted the Church of God rather then the Iewes for the number of Idolatours were alwayes greater then was the number of the Iewes But Christ calleth his Church the true Church which is the only Church of God A small stocke Luk. 12.32 Chrisost Hom. 28. ad popul Antioch It is better saith he that there should be one that doth the will of the Lord then a thousand wicked Ye may see if ye will beloued that a great multitude of such as do not the will of the Lord is not a whit better then such as are not at all Thus much Chrisostome 2. The second argument is taken from the generall liking that hath bin of that erronious doctrine the which as they say hath bin approued by diuers men and sundry Synods But I aunswere with Paule that so it was to fall out that this Antichristian and Apostaticall doctrine should not only be allowed of by some men but also be willingly receiued into the verie Church in such sort as that men should securely and wonderfully repose them-selues in it and all because that then they tooke no due regard vnto the word of God Therefore this reason faileth as hauing in it a fallation setting that for a cause as also the former did which is none at all 3. Lastly the third argument which the Papists vse against vs is drawne from prescription long time where-in the sayd Apostacie hath bin entertained and as yet raigneth among men in great securitie Vnto this argument also I make aunswere out of Paule that it was so to come to passe that God should send such strong effectuall errour and that vpon iust occasion that men would giue eare credit vnto those lies not for a day but for a very long season Therefore this plea of long possession that errour maketh is so farre from ratifying the same that it maketh it more great grieuous in that it hath seduced the mâ—e and so long incroached The same answere Innocentius the third Bish of Rome did likewise make in a certaine Decretall Epistle of his for against pietie against good manners against the expresse word of God a custome being taken vp and doctrine admitted may at no hand preuaile by plea of prescription or long continuance of time Canon Consuetud dist 11. For such things as at first are not allowable cannot be iustified by continuance of time as the Lawyers them-selues are plaine in this point L. Quae ab initio D. de Regul Iur. Now if there be many other matters which by the very rules of the Papists themselues and their decrees cannot be ouerborne by neuer so long prescription of time such as are the rights duties belonging to the Kings treasurie or Exchequer and as appertaine to the common-wealth namely such things as haue bin left forsaken for feare of hostile inuasion againe such things as are compassed within certaine precincts and limits and lastly such as are the prerogatiues belonging vnto the Church of Rome it selfe Why may not the like priuiledge be awarded vnto the word of God who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and vnto his Church so as no prescription of time be it of neuer so long continuance may preiudice the Lord himselfe and that especially seeing that those whiche began first to take this aduauntage of time dealt not sincerely nor in plaine truth and simplicitie without which there can no prescription preuaile in the Church so then it followeth not that the doctrine of Popery is therefore true because it hath bin plausibly admitted for a great while together for Daniell and the Spirit of God haue fore-tolde it so should come to passe and therefore it could no otherwise fall out To conclude in the 2. Kings Cap. 17.41 the superstitions of the kingdome of Israel are condemned and such religion as Ieroboam had prescribed for the worshipping of God although it be affirmed to haue bin obserued from the Auncestours vnto the children and childrens children and so foorth And wheras men wonder how God should suffer his Church to erre so long time together
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
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
some c Note this and applie it to our time through out the booke some rubbadge and relliques of that old building I also haue endeuoured most worthie Prince according to my power to scatter and set packing into the pit of perpetual forgetfulnes those shreds and sheards that by the force of the mightie gunne of Gods holy word For such is the nature of this quarrell and controuersie that it requireth the helping hands of manie workmen the state whereof is such as by means of some darke places in the Scriptures it could not on a suddaine so throughlie bee seene into but daylie more and more be cleared and made plaine Againe there haue of late started vp new Proctours and Pettie-foggers to plead and prate in defence of this vsurped tyrannie I meane the Iesuites a kinde of Droanes among the Monkes the vilest dreggs of all poperie and as may be supposed the last brood that the hāmering head of Sathan hath to hatch who endeuour by might and maine to make vp the breaches which their kingdome hath sustained Subtle workmen they are who although they may seeme to counterfet the Syrens yet in truth they are but Iayes Magg-pies in life practises drawing nere to the fish d Mugill is a fish rauenous and swift Mugil the fowle e Larus a bird that maketh a great noyse hauing laid but a little Larus And being but yesterday skipped out of the Cock-boat arrogating to themselues the workes of other Monkes are by by with a mischeif mounted on Cock-horse Now although these vpstart Hucksters bring indeed nothing els but the stale arguments and as it were the foreworne and forelorne stuffe and baggage of the Papists saue onlie that they haue disguised painted and trickt it after the best fashion kepe a craking like Parrats as if they were come from the farthest Jndies yet among the rude people they are taken for marueilous men and such as haue brought straunge and that very precious marchaundise These fellowes taking themselues for the principall supporters of the Antichristian Kingdom they vaunt and bragge it out Iustelie as indeed they sweate sore poore soules in doing the best they can It is meete therfore that somewhat were said to thwart their wilful and obstinate frowardnes especiallie if we consider the times and dayes wherein we liue Now as for this my defence of the Kingdome of Christ against Antichrist himself and his whole f Which before he called the taile of Antichrist and the rubbadge of his building rabble to the end it may be gladly accepted and safelie passe through the hands of men I cannot see most gratious Prince to whom I might better or vppon more iust occasions dedicate the same then vnto your honour For from your verie cradle you haue bin so trained vp in godlie education by your woorthie Father Frederick Countie Palantine and Prince Electour a man of renowned or more then Heroicall minde and so indued by God himself with such a kindlike and vertuous disposition that you among manie maie iustlie be supposed to be borne and giuen by GOD himselfe vnto his Church for the ouerthrow of Antichrist what a profest enimy your selfe haue bin against the enimies of Christ according to the example of Dauid both the former course of your life doth sufficiently declare and the general speeche of all the Godlie in Fraunce wil witnes the same vnto al ages For Fraunce thankfullie acknowledgeth you and your famous father next vnto God to be her Patrons Reuengers and such as enfraunchised her into the libertie she enioyeth and therefore she that out of mine onlie mouth you may perceaue the minds of al the rest which are godlilie affected taketh this right heauilie that she is not able to commend and set out your excellencies deserts towards her in such sorte as is meet For what Oratour is able to frame any still so statelie but that it will seeme vnwoorthie your vertuous deseruings You being of such yong yeares as wherein fewe or none can tel what warr-fare meaneth did take vpon you twise for the name of Iesus Christ and for the defence of his Church against Antichrist and his mighty confederacy to leade an army with great difficulty and daunger into Fraunce you by the only brute and fame that went of you did twise terrifie the power hoast of the French-men whose dreadfull force is knowne felt in other nations You haue twise procured peace among Nations Cuntries and Houses for such as were exiles and the freedome of the Gospel to Churches distressed You to shut vp al in a word haue restored vnto vs our liues naie that which is dearer to vs then life it-self the light of the Gospell the which in deepe dispaire almost wee neuer looked for The which great benefit of vs al receiued from your Highnes to the end I might in some measure according to my hearts desire commend vnto posteritie and so leaue behind me some record of my thankfull minde for the same I haue thought good in all humble and dutifull manner to offer vnto your Excellencie this simple worke The which I entirlie befeech your said Highnes to take in good worth Farewell dated the first day of August in the yeare of this last age 1576. Your Highnes loyallie affected Lambert Danaeus ¶ A table of the Contents of this booke TWo points to be graunted for the better handling of the discourse ensuing touching Antichrist cap. 1. pag. 1. A double diuision of the disputation following the one generall the other more perticular cap. 2. pag. 3. The fore-telling of the comming of Antichrist was a famous prophecie and giuen out by manie cap. 3. pag. 4. Why it was requisite that the kingdome and state of Antichrist should be fore-tould cap. 4. pag. 5. That Anti. should not be one singular or perticular man but that by that name was signified a multitude of men and a long succession and further why Antichrist is called an Apostata or back-slider cap. 5. pag. 6. Why the kingdome and state of Antichrist is called by the spirit of God indefinitelie or without limitation an Apostasie cap. 6. pag. 10. Why Paule calleth Antichrist a man cap. 7. pag. 12. Why Antichrist is called the sonne of perdition Apollion the Beast a Woman and an Harlot cap. 8. pag. 16. Which Beast of those three that are mentioned in the Reuelation doth poynt vs out Antichrist cap. 9. pag. 23. How in what manner Anti. is said to fashion a new to reuiue and set on foote the Image of the former wounded Beast that is the Roman Empire seated in Italie and setled in Idolatrie cap. 10. pag. 34. Why Anti. is termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is aduersarie to Christ not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aduersarie to God where also comparison is made in some points betweene the Doctrine of Christ or the Gospell and the positions of poperie cap. 11. pag. 40. Why Antichrist is called
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
resembled by the name of a Beast in the singular number Whereby it appeareth that this place of the Apoc is to be referred vnto the whole manner and continuance of a certaine succession and not vnto any one man Lastly it is not to bee doubted but that by these wordes the man of sinne c. the prerogatiues and Potentates in this Apostacie are poynted out What the true and proper meaning is of this place of the Reuel Cap. 20. touching the number of 666. I will hereafter discusse when I come to talke of the time which the Spirit of God did set before the comming of Antichrist Now the purpose of Paule in setting of him out in this place with such ouglie and fearefull names was to the end that all men should the more readilie flie from him and that the godlie and faithfull ones should euen tremble to heare the very name of him VVhy Antichrist is called the sonne of perdition Apollion the Beast a Woman and an Harlot The eight Chapter BVt there are other termes giuen also vnto Antichrist in the Scripture which are likewise of vs to be obserued As first Paule calls him The child of perdition and the man of sinne that is a most wicked and lewd man according to the Hebrew speach euen as Iudas the betrayer of our Sauiour is called the lost child Iohn 17.12 And therefore he that should sit as chiefe in that Apostacie being described rather by his properties then by a proper name is called a most wicked and cursed kaitife And in this respect it skilleth not though all of vs euen the faithfull themselues are called the children of wrath sonnes of disobedience Ephes 2.3 5.16 For that is true in deed But here Paule speaketh of a certaine sect of miscreants more pernicious and damnable then all the rest of a more reprobate mind and despightfull agaynst the truth and therefore more detestable for impietie and mischief The which cankred crew he therefore termeth the man of sinne and reprobation And surely it is well noted of D. Gualter that Antichrist is called the sonne of destruction both in the actiue and passiue signification for that he both destroyeth others and is destroyed himselfe whereupon in an other place he is called Apollyon as namely Apoc. 9.12 because he is the author of all pestilent infection and destruction both of bodie and soule Therefore he is well termed by Paule The sonne of perdition whom the Spirit of God calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 destroyed or destroying And although he be in other places commonly called by others Antichrist as in the 1. of Iohn 4. yet it seemeth that Paule made choyse rather thus to describe him for two respects First because that manner of expressing him carieth with it a greater vehemencie and representeth more effectually his detestable wickednesse and blasphemie when he is sayd to bee a most vile and abhominable wretch Secondly because that by this meanes we are better directed in iudgement of what kinde of Antichrist to vnderstand this place For as Origen sayth vpon Math. Hom 30. the name of Antichrist is generall and pertaines to many but here one of them only is meant the worst the most mischeuous and horrible so that hereby he is poynted and paynted out who among all the other Antichristes should bee the captaine and chiefe Antichrist Furthermore the same Antichrist is also called a Beast and an Whore Reuelation 17. 18. And it maketh no matter though he bee tearmed there of Iohn by the name of a Beast and Harlot and here of Paule by the name of a Man For here in this place I take it that his kinde and nature is signified and there by the names of Beast and Harlot that his manners and disposition are layd open And therefore this estate or bodie of this Apostacie together with the head and principall member of the fame is in the Scripture especially compared vnto these three things To a Beast in respect of crueltie and blockish ignorance To a Woman in regard of couetousnesse haughtinesse and weaknes of minde To an Harlot for their dissolute manners and chiefly their Idolatrie which is the greatest kinde of whoredome that the Scripture speaketh of And touching the crueltie of this kingdome Lactantius lib. 7. telleth that it should bee exceeding great writing thus of Antichrist cap. 17. That shall bee a time sayth he wherein Iustice shall bee troden vnder foote and Innocencie contemned wherein the wicked shall cruelly pre a vpon the godlie all things shall bee confounded and turned vp-side downe agaynst law and nature And this saying of Lactantius agreeth fitly with that of the Reuel cap. 17.6 where Antichrist is sayd to bee that Harlot that is made dronken with the bloud of Martyrs and Saincts of God Whereby appeareth that Antichrist should as he doth alwaies raise bloudy persecutions against the faithful Chrisost Hom. 40. on Math. Affirmeth no lesse now touching this lesse now touching this matter of persecution when or by whome was it euer more practised then it hath bin and stil is by the Bishop of Rome and that whole retinew And let this suffice brieflie to be spoken of the crueltie of this generation Concerning the ignorance of it I finde it thus written in a booke intituled De Antichristo and attributed vnto Austin The kingdome of Antichrist shall be furnished with Magicians Witches Southsayers and Inchaunters which shall teach and perswade with all manner of impietie falsehood and detestable practises And where I pray may this be found more verified than among the Papistes and in the kingdome of Poperie And sure the Popish Clergie which is the mayne piller of this state and Apostacie being described by Peter in his 2. Epist cap. 2.12 15. is said there to be a kind of brutish Beastes which despise that they know not and which alwaies forsake the right way And experience it selfe hath shewed it that they are as great lubberly doles as euer liued in so much as their Monkes were accoumpted great Clerkes and principall Doctors among them and yet among themselues this Prouerbe began speaking of a Dunce As great a Moame as a Monke As for the couetousnes of that order and kinde of people I neede not speake much of it being the case is so cleare For Peter in the place before alleadged vers 14. They haue hearts exercised with couetousnes And in the 18. of the Reuel vers 3. They are called Merchaunts Bernard who bare as much fauour as might bee to his Eugenius and after vnto Innocentius the 2. yet treating of the Psalme which beginneth Who so dwelleth he speaketh on this manner of these Popish professours The dignities and promotions of the Church are sought after for filthie lucre sake and to keepe reuell route withal and for these roumes their reuenues they labour and contend in very shamelesse manner Agayne in his Sermon of the conuersion of Paule intreating direccly and plainly of the gouernment of the
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
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
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
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
marke the verie wordes of Iohn and yet the Spirit of God in that place speaketh verie simplie and plainely For after he had foretould the state of Antichrist in the sayd 13. Chapter and also described what manner of one he should be he also in plaine sort did set downe the time wherein all those things should be fulfilled namely the yeare 666. which he tearmeth the number of a man that is a plaine number and easie to be knowne not hard to be reckoned euen as in Esay Cap. 8.1 a writing that is plaine and easie is called the penne of a man and in such sort to be coumpted as men vsually in those dayes were accustomed to number And these yeares beginne not at the time of Christes birth but rather of his suffering and from the time of Iohn Therefore the Spirit of God telleth vs that in the supputation of these yeares we must vse the ordinarie and common kinde of reckoning then practised And the reason why the Spirit of God is so carefull about aduertising vs héereof is least when question is made of the comming of Antichrist we should thinke that those yeares were in such sort to be coumpted as in Daniell Cap. 9.25 where the yeares of Christes comming are reckoned by wéekes of yeares for we should be deceiued if we should take that course Truth it is that God would haue the time and comming as of Christ so of Antichrist expressely set downe vnto vs but yet both of them after a diuers manner of reckoning For the time of the comming of Christ was to be coumpted among the Iewes by wéekes of yeares but the time of the comming of Antichrist by a familiar popular and common kinde of numbring such as all men did ordinarily vse For that kinde of coumpting by weekes of yeares is intricate hard and not so familiarly knowne vnto euerie man but this manner of reckoning which is by adding of yeare vnto yeare is vsuall and truly verie playne and common God vsed the former when he dealt with the Iewes among whome the number of seauen was a solemne matter and religiously accoumpted of and who were alreadie accustomed to obserue and coumpt manie things by multiplication of seauen weekes as namely the yeares of Iubile But he vsed this latter beeing more common which is done by adding eache seuerall yeare as it followed in succession vnto that that went next before when he had to doe with the Gentiles among whome the Church was to be planted and with whome that solemnitie of seauens or weekes of yeares were neuer knowne nor practised but only this other common manner whereby they onely added euerie yeare as it followed vnto those that were past and went before Againe the Interpretours of Daniell Cap. 9. bring another reason why God in pointing and limiting out the time of the comming of Christ wherein the great comfort of the Iewes should consist vsed rather the number of seauens namely to the ende that he might compare the time of their exile and banishment which was by the space of seauentie yeares with the time of theyr comfort and his mercie towards them which should ensue which was seauen times seauentie yeares that is 490. which number of yeares those seauentie weekes prescribed by Daniell do amount vnto Then after this sort must we number the yeares coumpt the time of the Beasts comming because the Spirit of God him-selfe doth prescribe vnto vs the same manner whereby it falleth out that that time wherein the kingdome and state of Antichrist began publikely openly and that especially to be framed and set vp in the Church of God was in the yeare after Christ 666. Although withall I am not ignoraunt that after the tyme of Christ there were dyuers kyndes of supputation of yeares in the Church of God while some began to reckon at the conception of Christ others reckon at the gouernment of Alexander and some againe reckon from the first yeare of Dioclesians Empyre but verely I my selfe doe thinke that in this place those 666. yeares are to be reckoned both from the death of Christ and from the time that this prophecie was reueiled in and especially for the more easie and readie reckoning let vs beginne to reckon from the time of Christes suffering so in the 666. yeare after his Passion that blasphemous kingdome of Antichrist whereof the Spirit of God had fore-warned had openly and euerie-where seazed vpon the Church of God Most certaine it is that at that verie time and in that verie yeare the Papisticall and execrable Masse a verie defacing and blotting out of the death of Christ began euerie-where priuately in Churches to be celebrated in the Latin tongue as Bale writeth in the first of his Centuries Cap. 80. namely in the time of Vitalian Bishop of Rome Againe this number 666. limited for the reueiling of Antichrist may seeme to some to be so set by God for that it containeth about the third part of those two thousand yeares wherein some thinke the world shall stand and continue from the time of Christ vnto the ende of the world only there is a little ouer-plus of yeares in this multiplication ouer and aboue the iust number of 2000. and those are to be allowed to this ende and purpose that Antichrist might haue a time wherein he should raigne and after haue a fall But touching this which I haue affirmed of the numbring of 666. yeares how true it is let vs now more attentiuely consider For the issue of things and the accomplishment of the Prophecie it selfe ought to be accoumpted an omni-sufficient witnesse and proofe of mine assertion The which that it may the better appeare this I say and affirme that it is most certayne and out of all controuersie that the strongest bulwarke or rather ground-worke of the Antichristian kingdome began then publikely and in verie deede to be layde and to be reared vp in the midst of the Church when one onely man by the publike consent of Christians began to be called and acknowledged by the name of Byshop of Byshops or Vniuersall Byshop and this began and that by the authoritie and will of the Emperour himselfe about the yeare of our Lord sixe hundred and foure as is manifest out of Chronicles For Boniface the 3. Bishop of Rome was pronounced by the Emperour Phocas as I haue shewed before vniuersall Pope and Bishop of all the world and that with this prerogatiue that this priuiledge to him graunted should continue for euer to his successours being Bishops of Rome and there seated This was done by Phocas in the first yeare of his raigne which is reckoned by all Historiographers to bee the yeare of our Lord 603. Neither did Phocas deale thus liberally with the Romane Bishop for nothing For whereas the said Phocas had villanously murdered his predecessour Mauritius the Emperour by this so bountifull a bribe bestowed on the Romane Bishops who alwaies could do much in the Citie with the people of Rome he
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
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
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
ciuill are stirred vp and so most lawfull it is to persecute the Papistes with fire and sword Now by this that hath been spoken it plainly appeareth vnto all men that those warres of the Papistes which they call b Inquisitions Cruciadas being taken in hand only for the establishing of their religion are damnable and detestable The which Martin Luther did very worthelie obserue and publish That the kingdome of Antichrist shall at the last be quite taken away by the last comming of Christ The 30. Chapter BVt let vs returne vnto Paule and to the ouerthrow he reporteth of the Antichristian kingdome from whence my discourse hath somewhat digressed Paule therefore speaking of the rooting out of that vnhappie state addeth and with the brightnes of his comming that is the comming of Christ What these wordes should signifie diligent search hath been made For some thereby vnderstand the publishing of the Gospel because that then Christ doth notably appeare when his Gospell and doctrine is published In so much as in their opinion the comming of Christ is then sayd to be as often as his kingdome is made knowne and shineth by the preaching of the worde Some again take this appearing and comming of our Lord in such sence as Paule often speaketh namely for that last comming of Christ which is mentioned in the Creede and is meant by Paule 1. Thess 2.19 3.13 So that they vnderstand this place only of the last appearing of Christ and not of the preaching of the Gospell And truely this iudgement seemeth vnto me to be the truer For it is strengthened by an other like place of Paule Tit. 2.13 And agayne it is confirmed and made plaine by that addition and difference which Paule ioyneth to it For here mention is not made of euery comming of Christ vnto vs but only of that which is bright and glorious whereof the Scripture speaketh which shal be then when Christ shall appeare to bee iudge of quicke and dead and to shewe himselfe to bee the true King and Lord of all The which his comming is therefore called bright and glorious And The day of the Lord and his comming from heauen 1. Thess 1.10 1. Cor. 1.8 And lastly it is defended by the very euent of things which is a right expositour of this Prophecie For if we shall say that immediatly vpon the first glimmering and preaching of the Gospell the kingdome of Antichrist should bee ouerthrowne and cleane turned vp-side downe the Prophecie will be found false For it is now somewhat long since the Gospell hath been preached and yet notwithstanding wee see the sayd Antichristian kingdome not cleane taken away nay it standeth in strength and flourisheth vnto this day But if wee shall vnderstand these wordes of the last comming of Christ truely then this Prophecie shall appeare to be most true For then at least the power and tyrannie of Antichrist shall cease be whollie and vtterly abolished And herein Austin lib. 18. De Ciuitate Dei cap. 4. was of the same opinion with vs who saith That euen in the last iudgement Antichrist shal be put to confusion and that in the Lords owne presence And yet I do not doubt or thinke otherwise but that the more sincerely and aboundantly the word of God shall be preached much the sooner shall Antichrist bee diminished and brought from his state But here Paule speaketh of his ful and finall ouerthrow and not of a certaine shaking and weakening of him That the kingdome of Antichrist was to bee broken and brought vnder foote by parts and peece-meale and not at once or in a short time The 31. Chapter OVt of the former discourse these three things are to bee gathered by vs. The first that the kingdome of Antichrist is to bee cast downe by moments or by little and little and not at once and altogether or as they vse to say at a choppe For as the Empyre of Rome whereof this is a resemblaunce was defaced by peece-meale as I haue shewed and as is taught in Dan. 2.44 So also must the Image thereof bee brought lowe by a little at once And for this cause it is that the Lord will haue it so least if it should bee laied in the dust on a sodaine there would too great a feare and astonishment possesse the hearts of men whereby they could not bee able to take due regarde and consideration of so great a worke neither could they so well conceiue that the same was brought to passe by the hand of the Lord and by the power of his worde as now they do when things are wrought by leisure and when themselues do marke and perceiue by what meanes they are brought to passe Thus much for the first That there is no corruption of Christian religion prophecied of which should succeede this kingdome of Antichrist The 32. Chapter SEcondly this is to bee obserued that the kingdome of Antichrist shall stand and continue to the ende of the world although not in so good plight power and flourishing estate as sometimes it was and as yet is yet after a sort it shall holde vp the head For whereas Paule saieth that it shall bee shaken to shiuers at last at the glorious and last comming of Christ surely me thinketh wee may gather and that directly on the contrary parte that GOD hath giuen vnto Antichrist a time to raigne euen vnto that last time of the world Many there are indeede which prognosticate I knowe not of what other kinde of disease and state of religion which should bee in the world and of an other kinde of corruption in Christian religion which should insue but such an one as is diuerse from Poperie For they imagine that Poperie shall faile and that an other kinde of Apostacie or defection but of an other stampe shall succeede But I like not this For although it bee true that this tyrannous state is to bee pluckt downe by parts and as you would say by gobbets and by falling away of seuerall Prouinces yet shall there alway remaine in the worlde some fourme and print of the Papisticall state as it seemeth to me wee easilie may and ought to gather out of this place of Paule And this my censure is confirmed by a plaine proofe taken out of the Reuelation Cap. 19.20 21.10 For there after Iohn had prophecied of the Beast that was taken and cast into the lake of fire and agayne of the false Prophet that was slaine both which do plainlie represent the kingdome of Antichrist there is by and by vppon the same mention made of the last resurrection Wherefore there is neither speach of any Aungell nor of any pestilent annoyance that should bee looked for to remaine in the worlde after that the false Prophet was once slaine that is after the Antichristian kingdome was destroyed but only either life or death eternall that should ensue VVhether besides the fourth and Romane Monarchie there remaine any other a fift to be
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
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
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
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
Antichrist was not come to his height or perfection and partlie also for that the minds of men were so fore-stalled by preiudice of an other matter and so dazeled yea and blinded with the glorious shewe of the Sea of Rome that they could neuer bee perswaded that such mischief could possibly euer rise from thence And although in time by little and little those foresaid tokens began to appeare and shew themselues whereby that horrible Monster might be discerned and withall although that Sea it selfe began now in that behalfe to bee suspected by manie yet so great was the dreadfull power and authoritie of the Bishop of Rome that they who had espied the light of the truth durst not for their liues mutter or speake the least word For if they did they were by and by not onlie condemned in the next Synods as Scismaticks but also put to death by Magistrates as Heretieks more pestilent and haynous then any that euer liued And so by meanes of feare and terrour they held their tongues Notwithstanding in the time of our Auncestours namelie about the yeare 350. when Leo the first was Bishop of Rome one Hilarious Bishop of Vienna in Fraunce did openlie gaine-saie the tyrannie of the Roman Bishop which then began to aduaunce and enlarge it self After that about 400. yeares ago there arose one Arnold in Italie surnamed Brixianus who with strong arguments and vehement perswasions for he was a man accompted for his time both learned and eloquent handled plainelie and vrged pithilie this poynt and that verie commonlie publicklie and euen in the midst of the Cittie of Rome itself by which his labours and force of the truth he moued manie indeed but yet generallie he could not preuaile So great a coyle t' was alwaies found To plucke the Romish Sea to ground In so much as one Bernardus Clareuallensis a man who otherwise stoode not so greatlie affected to the tirannie of the Romaine Bishop yet by meanes that men in those dayes were generallie so bewitched with a reuerend opinion of the Maiestie of that Sea tooke vpon him to tosse and canuasse that censure of Arnolds although it were most true and iust And this auncient and receaued opinion touching the sacred authoritie of the Bishop of Rome continewed many generations and was neuer in the meane time controuled by anie saue onlie the Greeke Bishops and that but by a few of them And in truth therein the Grecians shewed themselues to bee of a more free iudgement and wiser disposition then were our men and the Bishop of the Latine Churches for they as appeareth by the writings of Nilus Bishop of Thessalonica an eloquent man earnestly auouched that Antichrist was not onelie come and seated in the Church of God but that the Bishop of Rome himself was the very partie and this they enforced with such pregnant and strong proofes as the best proctours that euer that Sea had were neuer able as yet to ouerthrow But as for the Westerne Bishops they indeed disagreed in this pointe but not vpon anie good ground or setled iudgement but only caried away by the preiudice of commō custome nay they being deceiued by the great subtilty of Satan who now begā to worke the misterie of iniquitie as Paule had fore-tould proceeded further and gaue their helping hand to the spreding abroad of that pestilent infectiō the suppression whereof it behooued each christian to haue endeuoured and very busie and pettish they were in helping and vpholding it and in putting Oyle as you would saie to the fire And so in processe of time the said Bishop of Rome became as big as a Monstrous Giant which had a hundred Armes Briareus as it is in the Prouerbe who before was as little as a foolish Leueret At first in verie deed vnder the raigne of the Henries and after of the Fredericks Emperours of Germanie the Kingdome of Antichrist receiued great strength and encroched vpon the consciences of men of all sortes For although euen from the daies of the Apostles themselues Sathan began to lay the foundation thereof yet by reason of the bright shining light of the Gospel which in those dayes was kept in all integritie in the Churche hee tooke repulse and so by meanes of the worke which GOD himself had as it were newly proclaimed and taken in hand he was inforced to be quiet to defer his busines vnto some other time Afterwards looke what he had long since begon and somewhat brought forward hee found the meanes to finish and bring to perfection vnder the Raigne of Constantinus b Bearded or which had a great beard Pogonatus an Emperour of Constantinople Now Sathan being by the meanes and industrie of Antichrist as it were his legate once set ouer the Christian Church as it were in a Chaire of Estate he nestled himself therein so sure that after it proued a thing almost inpossible by any power or pollicie to remoue him thence but euen as the strong armed man of whome Christ speaketh in Mathew looke how more vehemently he was assaulted by the valiant Souldiers of Christs Church Arnold Wickliffe Husse Jerom of Prage and some moe such like So did he as busilie oppose against them more wicked and vncleane spirits as a supplie of fresh Souldiers in way of reskew For the pompe power of Antichrist was maintained by such men as were of as lewd a disposition and of as brazen faces as euer liued and that not onlie long agoe but euen of late in our dayes as by Eckius Faber Cochley and such other prating Iackes of the like stampe by whose toyle-some trauailes mingled with cauills coggs and couzning trickes the cause was a while cherished and vpheald But God the father of all mercies in great compassion pitying the estate of the world vouchsafed in this old-age thereof to raise and send amongst vs the light of his glorious Gospel the power whereof is the onlie instrument to bring Antichrist vnderfoote Therefore he lightened the minds of our vnderstandings displayed the foggie Mists of Antichristian darknes and stirred vp his worthy seruaunts as valiaunt Champions to bruse and breake to quell and kil the power of Antichrist For in this quarraile wherein Antichrist was to be encountered manie haue dealt with verie prosperous successe As first and cheiflie M. Luther and after him for let me speake it without the offence of some hee was not the last of the Prophets Hen. Bullinger Ralfe Gualter all which were great and excellent men both for learning and godlines and who of set purpose wrote treatises against Antichrist as for Iohn Caluin Theod Beza Ierom Zanchus verie worthie Captaines and continual wrestlers with Antichrist I purpose to pretermit as also those more auntient fellowes Math. Parris Mich. Cesennate Io. de Poliaco Militzius of Bohem by whose learned writings the foundations of the Antichristian Kingdome haue bin shaken yea and shiuered Notwithstanding seeing that there still remaine in the mindes of
Diadem nor yet Carus Probus but many at that time layd holde on the Emperie Insomuch as none of these pettie-foggers may be coumpted Kings in the roule of those ten before spoken of but Dioclesian bare sway yeares .25 And concerning all these they were solemnely inuested but as for the others they touched the Sword and Scepter as it were with the tip of their fingers or only looked vpon it but they neuer could get the Crowne free to sit quietly on their cappes Now as by the succession of ten Kings this Beast flourished so in the Reuel cap. 17.16 it is sayd she should be persecuted and brought to nothing by ten kings And thus much of the ten kings there spoken of Touching the seauen heades there attributed vnto this Beast that is vnto this olde and Idolatrous Romane Empyre some will haue them to be the seauen men of Germany who succeeded in the Empyre after that the Pope had diuerted the Empire vnto the Germanes but before that translation of the Empyre while as yet it was Idolatrous and remained at Rome they were either the seauen dignities and preeminent offices of the Citie as first the Consul-ship secondly the Pretour-ship thirdly the Captaine of the Guard fourthly the chiefe Chamberlaine fiftly the Treasourour sixtly the Gentrie seauenthly and the Senate or else they were the seauen Prouinces whereby the Romane Empyre was especially sustayned whereof the first and principall was Italie it selfe second all Fraunce as farre as the Rhene and the Mountaine Pyrenaei thirdly all Spayne fourthly Germanie with Slauonia fiftly Macedonia wherunto Greece and Thrace is annexed sixtly Egipt with all Affrica although I am not ignorant that in it were diuers Prouinces and Lieutenauntries as appeareth by the knowledge of the Romish Iurisdiction but herein we are not to consider how they ordered and disposed matters for their securitie quicke dispatch of affayres but what the places were from whence their reuenues grewe and from whence they vsually fetched their newe supplie of Souldiers seauently Syria and Asia the lesse But as for that region part of Syria which coasts along the Riuer Euphrates and was indeed vnder the Romane obeysance it serued rather to waste their substance and consume their men then to be an helpe and supporter of the Romane Empyre in regard of the continuall warres that they had with the Arabians and Persians and therefore this Coast is not to be accompted among those seauen Prouinces before spoken of Now as touching these seauen heads of the first Beast that of Italie was the chiefe And as for this it was first ouerrunne and rent from the Empyre and so wounded by the Gothes that it might iustly haue seemed to haue been quite dasht and defaced for euer had not Antichrist afterward reuiued and restored it agayne but that by an other deuise and practise namely by the pretence and shewe of godlinesse and Christian religion Therefore the Beast in this place spoken of is the very Monarche and Empyre of Rome which as it is here so also is it in Daniell cap. 7.3 sayd to arise out of the Sea Furthermore whereas this sayd Empyre is there in Daniell termed by the name of Beast whereof in that place there is no fourme or fashion set downe for this being there the fourth should exceede the three former which Daniell sawe in fiercenes and sauadge crueltie so also in this place of the Reuel is she so monstrously set out as nothing can seeme more ouglie cruell horrible For she is described to haue 1. The feete of a Beare 2. The mouth of a Lion 3. And in al her other lineamēts like to a Leopard Well wee haue heard the one head of this Beastiall Empyre to haue been sore wounded namely that which was in Italie For all the Romane Emperiall dignitie which was contained within the border of Italie was for a while by the Gothes turned topsie-turuie but not long after it was there agayne reuiued by the industrie of an other Beast that is the Pope and Romane Antichrist as after in this treatise shall more fullie appeare Wherefore to drawe to an end by the third Beast Antichrist is prefigured which did put life into that other monstrous Beast so sore wounded in the head that is framed formed and set on foote the Image of that old Idolatrous Romane Empyre such as it was while it kept at Rome For this head and horne of the Empyre which I say was Idolatrous when once the Emperours themselues began to imbrace the Gospell and to plant themselues at Constantinople it was wounded euen to the death and in all likelihood dispatched for euer Yea euen such poore fragments as seemed to remaine of it did Odoacer Herulus afterwards quite deface Reuel 17.16 and so the Gothes possessed the same long after namely through-out the lineall discent of ten Kings orderly succéeding each other while in the meane time the princely Pallaice Emperiall seate Rome it-selfe lay flat in the dust And in truth we shall find the agreement great in all points if this third Beast which representeth Antichrist that other which representeth the Romane Empire shall be resembled compared together the which seeing it maketh much for the better clearing of this point I wil briefly touch their mutuall resemblances in manner as followeth The third Beast is sayde to haue 1 The hornes of the Lambe 2 But yet to speake like the Dragon So Antichrist that is the whole rablement of shauelings principally the Chiefetaine of the order 1 Pretendeth a mild disposition and the doctrine of Christ 2 But in very truth he speaketh like the Diuell impious blasphemous things against God Secondly touching the labour and practise of thē both they iumpe together for the third Beast 1 Blowes life into the dead carkasse of the wounded Beast which otherwise had perished for euer 2 Proclaimeth procureth that all mē should heare some mark of that former Beast either the name or number of her that is should publikely take vpon thē one profession or other of her orders Euen so Antichrist the Pope of Rome 1 Raised from death to life restored to the world the dead image of the Romane Empire so farforth as it was Idolatrous and seated at Rome 2 Carefully prouideth that euery man make publike shew by one mark office dignity or other of the idolatry which by the preaching of the Gospell was to a mans thinking quite ouerthrowne But the Beast is said to do this by the power and working of the Dragon and by the helpe and ministerie of a notable false Prophet Why this also fitteth very rightly with the Papisticall Hierarchie for that false Prophet is the Pope and the Dragon the Diuell himselfe So the Romish and Papisticall dominion is heald vp and bringeth things to passe by the power of Sathan which is giuen him from God as the euent hath proued It worketh also by the meanes and industrie of that great false Prophet