make and institute Officers and Offices in the Church which Christ ordained not nor will not own but will say unto them Get ye behind me or depart ye cursed I know ye not by these Lordly Titles and Jurisdictions that you have exercised I ordained them not for will any man fearing God that is in his right wits think that Jesus Christ and his Apostles who had an immediate call from Christ to their office and were endowed with an infallible and unerring spirit that they did not know better then any Pope or Prelate councel or other what Officers and order was best for the Church but that men dare presume to reject and neglect Christs order and institutions and make orders and institutions of their own it is good to draw neer to God but it is dangerous to go from him and run out of his way that he hath prescribed for us to walk in it is said Rev. 2.1 That Christ holdeth the stars in his right hand by stars is meant the Pastors of the Church which while they walk in Gods way Christ holds them in his right hand to keep and direct them as it is said He shall keep thee in all thy wayes and he is a powerfull keeper and a faithful maintainer of all his faithful servants but those that walk out of Gods way have no promise of protection in such cursed crooked ways Thus having hitherto set down the manner of the great Antichrists appearance how he came to his Throne by the removing of the Heathen Emperours which was it that hindred until it was taken out of the way and also of the falling away of the Bishops before the councel and of the Bishops in the councel of Nice how both fell away from the institutions and example of Christ and his Apostles and the first primitive purity both as to the election of Bishops and other Church Officers and as to the election of membert to sit in councels all which rules is laid down in the Scripture for us to walk by which the Bishops and councel not only fell from but they made new institutions and canons of their own without and contrary to the Scripture which was both as Midwife and Nurse to bring forth and Nurse up Antichrist to his full strength c. And now I come to speak of the thing that Antichrist should do after he is come and the Apostle saith 2 Thes 2.4 That he should oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God How Antichrist exalteth himself above all Gods or that is Worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God Bellarmine to excuse the Pope that he should not be Antichrist saith from this Text That Antichrist shall not suffer any God either true or false nor any Idol to be worshipped but only himself but this cannot be here meant by this Text for the Text saith He shall sit in the Temple of God the Scriptures notes out Antichrist to be a false Prophet now a Prophet whether true or false must be a Prophet to some God and when he sits in the Temple of God let Bellarmine tell us whether this must be in the Temple of another God or in his own Temple if in anothers Temple then he must own a God above him if in his own Temple then the Apostle spake improperly for he should not have said He sits in the Temple of God as God but rather He sits in his own Temple as God and how should Antichrist be known by this sign when it is not known what manner of Temple he should have but we will take the words as they are in the Text and leave Bellarmines deceitful Glosse St. Hierom interpreteth Antichrists sacrilegious pride to be a kind of immoderate power over all Religion for thus he saith Autichrist shall war against the Saints and overcome them and shall be puffed up with so great pride as he shall attempt to change Gods Laws and Ceremonies subjecting all Religion to his own will In which he points out the Pope of Rome to the life to be the great Antichrist for that humane Authority the Councel of Nice gave him he hath improved that in the present Church of Rome and so far as the Popes power extends the Laws of God are almost abolished and new instituted Orders Officers and Discipline is established and almost all things is become new as is shewed in the former part of this book yea 150 new Religious orders and not one of them of Christs institution and many more things the like so that by the Testimony of St. Heirome the Pope of Rome must be the great Antichrist and man of sin and son of perdition that exalts and opposeth all that is called God that is Psal 82.6 all earthly Magistrates I said ye are gods but ye shall die like men c. and it is manifest that the Pope of Rome doth claim and excreise authority over all Emperours Kings and Princes who are earthly gods and over all authority Civil and Ecclesiastical and he hath promoâ—ed and established false worship and siteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God that is he sits both in his own person and by his power and authority in the Christian Congregations shewing himself that he is god that is an earthly god and the greatest of all earthly gods by his commanding power over other earthly gods and that Christian Assemblies where the Pope exerciseth his power is called the Temple of God see the Ephes 2.22 In whom you also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit and 1 Cor. 3.16 17. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and if any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy Look to thy self Pope and all Popelings forâ—ve have defiâ—ed the Temple and Church of God and him shall God destroy for the Temple of God is Holy which Temple are ye that is all true believers and 1 Cor. 6.19 What know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price Let the Pope and his Prelate then take heed how they defile these Temples that God hath bought with so dear a price that they defile them not with their humane institutions and ceremonies c. So that as it is said of the Pope of Rome in his extravigance that he is neither god nor man but a middle person between both so he sits in the Temple of God as god over all Emperours Kings and Princes c. He sits in the Christian Assemblies and Congregations which is the Temple and House of Gods there he sits claiming and exercising a power over them all as a God thus you see how lively the Holy Ghost in this Text hath Pictured out the Pope of Rome to be the great Antichrist and man of sin sitting
Hunnes so that in 132. years Rome was taken and ransackt five times and Odoaces that took it the fourth time reigned there fourteen years and if you look Socrates seventh Book ch 10. you shall see that this Alaricus that he speaks of his taking Rome the first time he ransackt and spoiled both Town and Country as he went at length he took the City of Rome and ransackt the City defaced and fired many Monuments and violently spoiled the Citizens executed many of the Emperor and if you look the 7th book of Evagrius Scholasticus chap. 7. you shall finde that Rome was taken by Gensericus being a Barbarian who set the City on fire carried away the spoil took away Eudoxia the Empress and her two daughters with him to Libia This was the very time of the beasts being wounded as it were unto death And about this time Heresie did more prevail than at any time before or since as above is shewed and that the Barbarians Goths Vandals and Hunnes who were Heathens had the upper hand how then should Atheism Heathenism and Idol-worship be fully destroyed in Rome and Christianity be victorious as he saith let the Christian Reader judge whether the Bishop be not mistaken or not though perhaps he will not own it for he is resolved before hand that no man shall convince him for he will be singular all other Authors are but Novices to him In the 10th page he saith That Bishop Mountague sets down Reasons which this Bishop complyes with why the Turks should rather be Antichrist than the Pope and his first Reason is the Turks apostacy from the Doctrin and Gospel of Christ I answer I dare not betray my Master Christ his truth and therefore must make bold to tell both the Bishops that their first Reason hath no reason in it for the Turk did never own Jesus Christ as he is truly Christ to be King Priest and Prophet to his Church the which â—hing the Turk did never own and therefore it cannot properly and truly be said that the Turk did fall and apostatize from the Doctrin and Gospel of Christ because he never did receive it nor own it as the Doctrin and Gospel of Christ as King Priest and Prophet but hath alwayes denyed it and been an Adversary unto it But the Pope and Church of Rome hath outwardly in words though they deny it in their Deeds as is proved beâ— fore yet in outward profession they own Christ as King Priest and Prophet but are apostatized from the doctrin and institutions oâ— Christ and therefore the Pope is the great Antichrist Page 14. He saith It is agreed of all sides not only by Bellarmin aâ—â— other Popish Writers but also the most learned Protestant Divineâ— That as Darnel grows among Wheat so Antichrist should arise out 〈◊〉 the truest and purest Church of Christ and if so and that he will haâ— the Pope to be Antichrist then the Church of Rome not only was 〈◊〉 must be confessed to be and continue stil the truest Church of Christ aâ— so Calvin and others are out of the true Church in separating from tâ— Church of Rome I answer That for the agreement of the Writers I shall nâ— say much but I find no Scripture that saith it neither doth 〈◊〉 prove it for as to Darnel growing among Wheat it no more relatâ— to Antichrist than to any other wicked mans being in the outward visible Church and suppose that Antiochus be a type of Antichrist as you say yet that proves nothing as to the place where he shall arise only it types out what he shall do when he is come But suppose I grant that Antichrist should aâ—ise out of the purest Church and so catch you in your own Snare it is easily proved that the Church of Rome was once the truest Gentil Church that was in the World and that when the Apostle writ his Epistle to the Romans as Rom. 1.8 I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your Faith is spoken of through the whole World which commendation is not given to any other Church in the World therefore by your own Argument Antichrist was to arise in the Church of Rome for it was the truest and purest Church but that it should so continue and be the truest Church at the time when Antichrist should appear is but yours and Bellarmin's c. fancy without Scripture or reason to ground upon For if the Church where Antichrist did arise had been the purest Church when he did arise Antichrist would then soon have been discovered and opposed and hissed at he could not have shrowded himself and his hypocritical waies but would have been discerned neither do you nor can you prove that the Church of Rome being once a true Church that it should so continue still and that we are Schismaticks for departing from it This is fine Prelatical Popish Doctrine without proof of Scripture but if you or Bellarmin or an Angel from Heaven saith the Apostle teach any other Doctrine than we have received in the Scripture let him be accursed Gal. 1.8 The seven Churches of Asia and many more besides them were true Churches but are not so now And so the Primitive Church of Rome the first hundred or two hundred years was a true Church but is not so now as is proved in the former part of this Book at large But besides these Reasons I will come a little nearer to you by Scripture proof that Antichrist should arise out of a Church which at that time of his rising should be a corrupted Apostatized Church 2 Thes 2.1 2 3 verses Consider whether the words of men or Scripture is fit to be believed I beseech you Brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him that ye be not shaken in mind nor troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter from us And I may adde nor by Bellarminâ—e nor Bishop Williams's Interpretations as if the day of Christ were at hand for that day shall not come except their come a falling away first and that man of sin which is Antichrist be revealed Here you see in this Text is plainly held forth that the Church where Antichrist should arise should be one that was a true Church but should fall away from the Truth and that Antichrist could not come untill first the Church where he should arise did fall away from the Truth and then Antichrist should be revealed that so in this apostatized Church he might the more covertly work his feats and not be discerned Now here is set before you Truth and Error chuse whether you will believe a poor man confirming what he writes by Scripture or believe Cardinal Bellarmin or a Bishops words without Scripture Page 15. he saith but I do not believe him That it is agreed of all sides and by all Interpreters old and new Papists and Protestants that the great Antichrist should come toward
unrighteousnesse Another story goes that St. Katherine Girded her selfe with an Iron chain so close that it cut her flesh and that she used to chastise her selfe three times a day with that chain an hour and an half at a time until the blood run from her shoulders to her feet those that can believe it If Christ were married why may not Priests marry See for this Hospinian Antonius Franc. Modeus are more credulous then I can be many strange stories are recorded of her as that Christ appeared and married himself to her with a Ring it may be that was the reason of using the Ring in marriage but if they believe their own doctrine that Christ took St. Katherine to Wife why doe they hinder the Priests c. from Wives will they not give them leave to follow Christs example in such a thing to as is so easie to follow him and that Christ opened her side and took out her old heart and put in a new one instead of the former if that be the way of giving a new heart then certainly all Papists hearts are old ones there 's not one of them new and that he cloathed her with a bloody coloured garment drawen out of his own side so that she never felt any cold afterward Some say this order began 1372. They also teach that he that dies in the habit of St. Frances shall not be overtaken with an untimely death and yet Fryer Barnwell hanged himself in an Apple tree hard by Dublin in St. Frances habit see Paul Harris book of Friers be sober and they teach that he that dies in the habit of a Capouchan he shall not be in Purgatory but till the fourth Saturday after his death and the Pope hath granted the Carmalites the priviledge The priviledge of Friers that they shall not be in Purgatory but till the Saturday after their Death it seems by this that Saturday is the day of Goal delivery and the Cardilians have priviledge granted them to draw a soul out of purgatary by saying five pater Nosters and five Ave Maries but if the Pope have this priviledge to give this power to others as he pretends he hath then why doth he not draw them all out of purgatory but suffer his servants and children to lie in a burning fire so many hundred years but this is another of their Jugling Deceitful tricks to get money for no money no pater Noster to fetch any out of purgatory and these are some of the great Antichrists hypocritical lies and damnable doctrines which they pretend that they are such spiritual men that they can do all this I have named and much more but the Apostle warns the Thessalonians that they be not removed from the truth nor troubled in mind by such spirits Secondly Nor by word nor by letter as from us by word I understand traditions the Apostle by the inspiration of the holy Ghost did foresee that Antichrist would intrude upon the Church his unwritten traditions and urge their observation of them and expect as due obedience to be given to them as to the written word of God and so it is at this day in all the Roman Churches the Popes Traditions is received and observed with as much if not more care and diligence as any precept of the word of God as for example the second Commandement forbids Idols and Image worship the Pope by his Traditions received from his predecessors commands Image Worship and Adoration and his command is obeyed and Gods neglected God requires that prayer should be made unto him only O or because thou that hearest prayer unto thee shall all flesh come Psal 65.2 Nay that they shall not saith the Pope they shall pray to the Virgan and St. Dominick and St. Frances c. The Apostle fore-seeing this warnes believers not to be troubled nor turned aside from the truth neither by deluding spirits nor by words of traditions saith he as from us for they will pretend that they received their tradition as from us therefore saith he ver 14. Irrethren stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught whether by word or our Epistle as if he should say Brethren what traditions you have received from us by word and what you have received in our Epistle that observe and do but go no further to any other traditions but what you received from us for if an Angel from Heaven shall teach you any other Gospel then what ye have received from us let him be accursed and this Anathama excludes all unwritten Traditions and all humane institutions and inventions of men in point of Gods Divine Worship but what we have precept or example for from Christ and his Apostles let the Pope and his prelates and all his followers brag as much as they will for their traditions and ceremonies let men observe the Scriptures that cannot deceive Isa 8.20 to the Law to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no truth nor no true light in them they either are blind and ignorant in the wayes of God or else they fight against their own light for we ought not to swerve from the written word Phil. 4.9 These things saith the Apostle which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you he doth not bid them follow what they should hear and see done by the Pope or any other that should come after him for he saith Act. 20.29 That he knew after his departure there would grievous Wolves enter in among them not sparing the flock and that from among themselves would men arise speaking perverse things which things we find true by woful experience and so again in the same Epistle 2 Thes 3.4 We have confidence The tryal of Traditions by Gospel rule saith the Apostle in the Lord touching you that you both do and will do the things which we command you and we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw your selves from every brother that walkes disorderly and not after the traditions which ye received from us see how careful and earnest the Apostle was least the Church should be drawen away with any other traditions then what you received saith he from us the the Apostles Traditions was sutable to the Gospel rule and institutions of Jesus Christ and we ought not to follow any Traditions of men that do not in all things sute with the Gospel-rule and institutions of Christ clearly deduced from the Scriptures for your selves know saith he how ye ought to follow us not the Pope nor his Prelates but to follow us as you have us for an ensample For we behaved not our selves disorderly among you nor eat any mans bread for nought but wrought with labour and travell night and day But the Pope with his new Traditions and new Orders of Fryers how many hundred
other Hereticks to work their feats so that soon after this councel had made that decree Heresies never came in to the Ghurch half so fast neither before nor since as at that time for the space of 30 years For Pope Liberus about the year 352 was an Arian and Pope Felix about 358 was also an Arian so that this falling away of the Bishops and councel was exceeding great and hath produced so many new inventions in Religion and so many ceremonies and that is another part of their falling from the examples of the Apostles Acts 15.28 Their care was to abolish ceremonies and lay no heavier burthen upon them but necessary things but the Pope and Prelates hath burthened the Church with unnecessary ceremonies and with above 150 Religious Orders that not one of them is of Divine institution to all which this Councel of Nice in that decree laid the foundation But this was not all that followed upon that new decree and bumane institution Bishops Authority cannot keep out Heresie for immediately followed a number of Heresies more which that decree made way for that every Bishop in his own Province might make what Lawes he pleased As first the Photiniuns about the year 323 Photinus was Bishop of Syrmium the Luciferians in 333 there was another sort of them called Homonymians the Jovinians in 335 the Aetians in 331. Aetius was a Deacon the same time the Eunomians whose Author was Bishop of Cyzicum the Audians in 338 and were after called Anthromorphets the Semarians the Author was Bishop of Cesaria in the year 330. the Meletians from Meletus a Theban Bishop a little before the Councel of Nice the Manichees of which came the Catharists and Macarii in 340 the Donatists from Donatus who because Cecilian was preferred to be Bishop of Carthage before him he turned Heretick so ambitious were they of honour and jurisdiction in 348 from him sprang the Parmetiaists and Montenses the Priscilliunists in 348. the Apollinarists in 350 the Antedico Marianits and the Heluidians 355 the Messalians in 341. whose Heresie was divided into several Sects as Martyrianies Inthuaste Euphemite Satanici the Metangismonits in 341. the Proclianits and Patricians in 387. the Collyridians and the Paterniani in 357. the Aerians in 340. the Abolenite 370. the Pilagians in 382. The Predestinati and Timotheans about the same time there was also the Enstathius who renewed the Heresie of Sabilecus and Paulus Somosatenus and the Ancyrogalatian the Patropassians the Nestorians and Eutichians Theodotians and many others here is 40 odd of which there was about 55 of these Heresies came rushing into the Church in Twenty years time after the Councel of Nice whereby the Church was almost as much distressed if not altogether as it was under the Heathen Persecutors The Judgement that befel the Church after the decree of Nice that however the Councel and others since may pretend that these new Officers and Offices invented by them of Pope and Lord Primate and Lord Metrapolitan and Lord Dioceasan c. together with their large Jurisdiction and Authority given them with preheminency of priority superiority was the way to keep out Heresie yet that God might let both them and us see how dangerous it is to leave his divine institutions and imbrace or devise novelties in any part of his Worship or Service though upon never so faire pretences how suddenly after did all these Heresies arise in the Church to let them see both their sinfulnesse and foolishnesse in forsaking the institutions and rules laid down in the Scriptures for us to walk by the forsaking whereof with what it produced which continues to this day may convince us both of the sin and shew us the punishment and it is not to be past over without taking notice of that the City of Nice where first this wicked decree was made it was the very first City that was given up into the hand of the Oramen Family which now we call Turks as a punishment upon the very place as we have ground to think This Nicen Councel Mr. Brightman saith did sit under the blowing of the second Trumpet the effect of which is that a great mountain burning with Fire was cast into the Sea and the third part of the Sea became blood c. by the Sea he understands the Doctrine of the Gospel in it's purity and by a third part becoming blood is meant the mingling of Prince-hood and Lord Primacy with the Doctrine of the Gospel and institutions of Christ and his Apostles which was done by this Councel as you have heard above that through the pride of Bishops striving for dignities they were embroiled in bloody wars and Persecutions Mingling Doctrines of men with the Gospel as then it came to passe and by Mountaines is meant in Scripture Princes and Peers and Great Men as Isa 2.12.14 The day of the Lord of host is upon all that are proud and haughty and upon all the high Mountains and upon the Halls that are lifted up and which may well be applyed to the pride of Popes and Prelates and by the 3d part of the creatures in the Sea dying if by the Sea we understand with Brightman the Doctrine of the Gospel then by the 3d part dying in the Sea we may understand the destruction of the multitude that have received the doctrine of that humane decree of Nice and mingled it with the pure doctrine of the Gospel and the doctrines of the Popes and Prelates and all the rabble of Monks and Fryers c. that mingle their inventions of doctrine and discipline ceremonies and the like with the institutions of the Gospel of which a third part died So insatiable they were of honour and to have preheminency that in the next age following that three most holy Popes who no doubt could not erre which was Zozimus Boniface and Celestine yet were all three convicted of Forgery for falcefying the Act of the Nicen Councel to exable their Principality though the Councel of Nice had given them more before then Christ had left them but what authority the Councel had given them they laboured to improve and did until they accomplisht their desire to have a universal power over all Churches and this made them the great Antichrist and man of sin other wise he could not have been Antichrist for it was foretold of him that he should exalt himself above all that was called Gods that is above all Magistrates and Officers who are called God Psal 82.6 I said ye are Gods c. Therefore the Councel of Carthage writ to Celestine and admonished him not to commit such a sin as to bring in the Smoke and and Swelling pride of the world of Antichrist they might have said into the Church of Christ and thus in time their impudence grew up to its height you may see from hence how dangerous it is to bring innovations into the Church of Christ to mingle mens institutions with Gods institutions to
Idolatry nor Infidelity nor blasphemy but the highest degree of man-slaughter or the unjust murthering of an innocent Person Page 80. and page 82. he saith it is worse than Adams sin and page 87. he further saith this sin is a judicial condemning of an innocent Person or Persons their superiors as Christ was unto death and that by a representative of a whole Kingdom I Answer first to the latter part how or by what Scripture or what authority can be produced for proof of what he saith page 80. and 82. and 87 for his bare word is not sufficient ground for any man to pin their faith upon without either Scripture or reason to confirm it but such fancies or fictions as these you may remember that in his 65. page he calls them new delivered truths and therefore saith we should recide from former errors or opinions though never so generally embraced by former Authors for he is the only man for to find out a new Antichrist and to clear the old Antichrist from that stain and polution if any man will believe him But secondly how can any man of any indifferent knowledge believe any thing that he writes who doth so often as you have heard contradict himself and the Scriptures also and so again here in this place where he saith the Apostle gives us to understand in that 2 Thes 2. that Antichrist shall commit one singular peculiar sin that should only and properly be the sin of Antichrist and none else whereas neither that text nor any other in the whole Scriptures doth speak of any singular or peculiar sin that makes him to be Antichrist but the Scriptures speak of many sins in many several places that should declare him to be the great Antichrist as is shewed in many places of this Book and even in this Text from whence he would gather his assertion His contradicrion of Scripture the Text speaks the absolute contrary as first that Antichrist shall exalt himself above all that is called God Secondly that he should sit in the Temple of God Thirdly that he should shew himself that he is God that is the highest God on earth above all other Gods either in Church or State Fourthly that his coming should be after the working of Satan with power and that is shewed above how he claims and exerciseth a power above all c. Fifthly that he should come with sigus Sixthly with lying Seventhly with working wonders with deceit and unrighteousness Eightly that he should forsake the truth and not receive it in love besides several sins spoken of 1 Tim. 4. and 1 John 2. and all along in the Revelations and elsewhere of many sins that Antichrist should be known by and this man rejects all and will have him known by one singular peculiar sin which no Text in all the Scripture nor no Author that ever did write did particularly point him out by for if that had been the peculiar sin to know him by then should they have been Antichrist that crucified Christ the Apostle would not after have writ of another Antichrist and which the same sin should make him Antichrist which never can the like be committed with such a height of rebellion against God and with such a rage reaching up to Heaven by any other rebellion or murther neither by Parliament nor Phocas or any else And as our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was put to death by a Roman Power and Authority I think we may upon better grounds than you bring argue that it may imply thus much that Antichrist should have his rise seat and residence in that very place from whence the power and authority came that crucified our Lord Jesus Christ and though there be no Text of Scripture to prove this except perhaps it might be proved by consequence comparing Scripture with Scripture yet I will not be curious to search into it but leave it to the judgment of others however if I mistake not it it seems to carry more force in it than all the new fangle stories you tell us of Page 95. he draws a conclusion from the writings of Tremellius and Beza that Antichrist shall exalt himself above the Bishops and indeed in this I grant that he saith very true for the Pope of Rome hath so exalted himself by his universal Priest-hood as head of the Church and Christs Vicar and Peters Successor that he claims an authority over all the Bishops in the World and doth exercise that authority in many Kingdoms more than any one doth besides and therefore by the Bishops own argument the Pope of Rome is the great Antichrist and man of sin c. for the Pope saith it standeth upon necessity to salvation that every humane creature be subject unto him and therefore requisite and necessary for men that will be saved to know the dignity of his See and excellency of his Dominion for his Priest-hood was prefigured in Aaron and other Bishops under him was prefigured by the Sons of Aaron to be under him thus he exalts himself above the Bishops as is said before Page 99. he saith that the denying Jesus to be the Christ is the proper note and undeniable mark of the great Antichrist who is the head of all other inferiour Antichrists as 1 John 2.22 Who is a lyer but he that denyeth that Jesus is Christ the same is Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Son I answer I shall not trouble the Reader to relate what the Bishop saith from this Text to the purpose he aims at but I shall as I have done by other Texts and Arguments shew you how undeniable this Text rightly applyed doth prove the Pope to be Antichrist first he is said in this Text to be a lyar and so in the Text before named 2 Thes 2.9 that is a crafty deceiver of the People by granting pardons and indulgences and many other priviledges which are so well known I need not repeat them and which are all as so many lies for there is no truth in them nor no Scripture to prove that he hath any such power or authority but that by his lies he causeth the People to believe him and he is a lyar also in professing outwardly in words what he denieth in his practice as might be made appear in many several things and as appears in the former part of this Book he is a lyar that denies Jefus to be Christ Jesus signifies a Saviour thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sine and Christ fignifies anointed that is to be King Priest and Prophet to his Church a King to rule and govern his Church to appoint Laws and Officers and Ordinances in the Church a Priest to offer Sacrifice for the sins of the People and that he did especially when he offered himself Heb. 9.13 If the blood of Bulls and Goats and the ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh
how much more shall the blood of Jesus Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God cleanse your consciences from dead works to serve the living God 3ly He is a Prophet to teach instruct his Church every man would be content to have him for their Jesus to save them from their sins but few are willing to have him for their Christ that is to be their King Priest and Prophet to rule and govern c. And first the Pope denies Christ his Kingly office in his Church to rule and govern it by his own instituted Ordinances and Officers c. for the Pope hath in his Church one hundred and fifty several Orders of Church-Officers and religious Orders which not one of them is of Christ nor his Apostles institution which in the former part is nominated by their names Secondly the Pope denies Christ his Kingly office in challenging an universal Power and Authority over all Churches which Power and Authority belongs only unto Christ The Pope denying Christ his Kingly office and not to any man upon earth Thirdly in making his Laws and Decrees equal or rather above the Decrees and institutions of Christ for the Popes Laws are observed as forbiding marriage and commanding to abstain from meats and many other the like and Christs Laws are rejected that doth allow of these things which the Pope prohibits and forbideth many things as invocation of Saints worshiping of Images Adultery and Fornication and many the like which the Pope alloweth thus Gods Law is neglected and the Popes observed Fourthly the Pope denies Christs Kingly office in his instituted Ordinances by establishing his own humane inventions of Masses Crosses Crucifixes Prayer upon beads and in an unknown tongue Pilgrimages Conjuration or exorcism and the like and seting up a religion composed of above forty heresies as is named and shewed before And fifthly in denying and bloting out the second Commandment that forbids the worship of false Gods or of the true God in a false way and giving the worship and honour that is due to God to the Virgin Mary to Saints and Images all which is a denying of Christ his Kingly rule and Government and which makes the Pope of Rome to be the great Antichrist here spoken of in this Text as well as in others before named Secondly The Pope of Rome denies Christ the exercise of his Priestly office for first whereas it is said Heb. 9.25 26. that Christ is entred into Heaven to appear in the presence of God for us not that he should offer himself often for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world and Chap. 10.14 for with one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified but this the Pope denies in his practice The Pope denies Christ in his Priestly office that Christs once offering himself is satisfactory to take away sin and therefore he is offered again by the Papists every day and sometimes in many thousand places in one day in their Idolatrous Masses from which practice of theirs I shall propound one question viz. where or what Text of Scripture can they or any man bring to prove that either the Pope or any of his shaveling Priests Jesuites or Friers are commanded to offer Jesus Christ an unbloudy propitiatory Sacrifice for the quick and the dead or in what part of Scripture are the massing Priests called Sacrificers in the New Testament and authorized to sacrifice Jesus Christ or did ever the Apostles offer Jesus Christ a Sacrifice for the quick and dead if these things cannot be proved by Scripture to be of Christs institutions then it cannot be denyed but the Pope doth deny Christ both of his Kingly and Priestly offices and so he is the great Antichrist and man of sin that was prophecyed of to come into the world Secondly the Pope and all Papists deny Christ his Priestly office in offering up their prayers to God in any other name or by any other intercessor or mediator but Jesus Christ only John 16.23 verily verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you and 1 John 5.14 this is the assurance that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us but we have no assurance in any text of Scripture to be heard in the name of the Virgin Mary nor any other Saint nor no Scripture to prove that to ask in their name or to make them mediators or she Mediatrix as they call the Virgin no Scripture proves it to be according to his will and therefore have no promise to be heard with acceptance for there is no other Mediator between God and man but the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 so that by these Scriptures it is clear that the Pope doth reject and deny Jesus Christ in his Priestly office and not only so but the Pope is guilty of the sins of many hundred thousands more whom he doth make to deny Christ in his Kingly and Priestly offices and leads them without repentance to destruction with himself Thirdly the Pope of Rome denies Jesus to be Christ in denying Christ the exercise of his Prophetical office to teach and instruct his Church for whereas all the Service and worship that is given and done to God ought in every thing to be performed both as to the matter and the manner of performance according to the word of God and the example of Christ and his Apostles and their institutions both for Ordinances Officers and Offices the Pope of Rome and Church of Rome doth not so far as I know perform any one part of Gods worship and service in any one Ordinance Pope deâ—â— Christ 〈◊〉 Prophetiâ—â— office nor with any one Church Officer rightly elected to his Office according to Jesus Christ and his Apostles examples and institutions in their preaching they come the nearest but both their Sermons are stuffed with many foolish fictions and fables so that a man may justly say they do not preach but prate for no man preacheth but he that preacheth Christ and their Preachers even those that are esteemed the best and greatest Schollars are not of divine institution no more than Anabaptists and lay Preachers their Eucharist their Baptism their Prayers their Masses name what you will there is so much of human invention mixed with it that bring it to the touch-stone of the word of God and divine institution and it will upon tryal prove so full of drosse that it will not hold out weight in the Bâ—â—lance of the Sanctuary therefore the Pope of Rome is Antichrist Did ever Christ or his Apostles institute any one of 150 neligious Orders they have in their Church or did they eestablish a Religion and force men with fire and sword to the observation of it and that composed of above forty Heresies did they ever in Baptism use Crism Spittle Oyl Salt or
holy or conjured Water to scare the Divel did they ever use such Vestments with Crosses in Banners Tapers Altars c. after Christs ascention did they hold black and green white and red colours more sacred than others did they observe canonical hours pray for the dead go processions keep 86 holy daies in a year besides the Sabaths did they ever use relicks of Saints c. Pictures Images Crucifixces Crosses Agnus Dei or such like did they say Masses to deliver souls out of Purgatory or teach that there was a Purgatory or that men might merrit salvation by their works and not only so but do works of super-errogation to be by the Pope converted into payment for others and the like did they ever teach that the Cordilians should draw a soul out of Purgatory for saying five Pater nosters and five Ave Maries with more the like did the Apostles ever worship the Crosse or teach others to worship it with the same worship that God is worshipped with as Thomas and other Popish Doctors teach or did they ever pray in any Language that themselves did not understand or pray upon a string of Beads or did they ever teach abstinence from marriage or meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving or did they forbid marriage and allow Whores and Sodomy as the Popes have done dare any man say that these are the Ordinances and Institutions of Jesus Christ and his Apostles are they not more like the Doctrines of Devils and those that teach and practice them the Slaves and Vassals of the Devil to do his drudgery If these things cannot by Scripture be proved to be the Ordinances of God instituted by Jesus Christ and his Apostles then it cannot be denyed but the Pope who is the Author â—he Papists who are the practisers of these things they do â—ll reject and deny Jesus to be Christ in all his three Offices â—f King Priest and Prophet and will not suffer him to rule â—â—m as their King nor to be their alone and only Mediator 〈◊〉 Intercessor between God and man as their Priest nor â—o be their Prophet to teach them the Laws and Ordinances 〈◊〉 Church nor the Officers and Offices in his Church c. I therefore the Pope as chief Author of these things doth deny Jesus to be Christ and upon that account cannot be denyed to be the great and abominable Antichrist that was prophecied should come into the world for this is the plainest Text in all the Scriptures to prove who is the great Antichrist 1 John 2.22 namely he that denies Jesus to be Christ that is to be anointed King Priest and Prophet and to confess that in words and deny it in deeds is no more than the Devil doth for he will confess it in words and how it is proved that the Pope denies it in deeds you have heard how he is the great Lyer professing Christ in words to be King Priest and Prophet and denying it in deeds who is a lyer but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ he is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son for in denying the Son he denieth the Father also for that follows in the next vetse whosoever denieth the Son the same hath not the Father therefore the Pope denieth both he is the great Antichrist c. These as you have heard are some of the Doctrines and of their practice whereby Antichrist the Pope doth in a most high and contemptuous manner rejects and denie Jesus to be the Christ and will not allow of those Ordinances and Officers of the Church which Christ hath taught us in the New Testament and instituted for the Churches use Antichrist sound out who he is but Antichrist the Pope hath framed a new form of worship with new Ordinances and Officers teaching for Doctrines his own precepts and inventions so that now we have found out the great abominable Antichrist that doth in the highest and most contemptible manner of any one in the world reject and deny Jesus to be the Christ annointed of the Father King Priest and Prophet to his Church and therefore we may conclude that the Pope of Rome is the great lyar and the Antichrist In the 7. page of his second Book he saith that the 1260 daies spoken of Revel 11.3 they are to be understood of so many years which in the 8. page he saith that the 1260 years began at the year 382. and ended in the year 1642. during which time he saith the Orthodox Bishops in all the Christian Kingdoms of Spain France Germany England Sâ—â—land Ireland and others had full power and free liberty 〈◊〉 preach the Doctrine of faith and they were not only prâ—â—cted from wrongs and violence of their opposers but 〈◊〉 were also assisted to reduce all transgressors to repeutar And in the 27. page he saith that Ecclesiastical Histories do undoubtedly declare that from the Reign of Teodosius for 1260 years until the year 1642. the Churches of God had rest and was freed from any bloudy persecution for any profession of the true faith and the right service of God and the two Witnesses of Christ the Kings as chief and the Bishops and Preachers in their Cloisters and Monasteries as in in a Wilderness secluded from all Worldly affairs had free liberty through the protection and assistance of nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers to publish the mysteries of our Christian Religion and the truth of the two Testaments and Doctrine of Faith c. I answer first by comparing together what the Bishop saith in these two places we must examine what he means by Orthodox Bishops whether Protestant Bishops or the Papist Bishops which he saith in all Christian Kingdoms of France Spain c. had free liberty to preach the Doctrine of Faith and were protected from the violence of their opposers The Bishop hath now confessed himself a Papist certainly he means the Popish Bishops for who else could they be for 1260 years which was he saith from the year 382. unto the year 1642. that could or had liberty freely without persecution to preach the Doctrine of true Faith in that 1260 years but Papists and be protected from all violence of opposers for he saith further in the 27. page that these Orthodox Bishops were one of Christs Witnesses which he describes to be Bishops and Preachers in their Cloisters and Monasteries which must be understood of Bishops Priests Friers and Jesuites for these live in Cloisters and Monasteries and not our Protestant Bishops and Preachers and these Orthodox Bishops and Preachers in their Cloisters and Monasteries were saith he secluded from the world and protected in our Christian Religion where by our Christian Religion it must be supposed he means his own Religion together with those that are of the same opinion with him and that is the Bishops in Cloisters and Monasteries who are Papists so that now at last he hath openly declared himself 〈◊〉 be
Antichrists Doctrine is described to be a dying Doctrine a falling from the faith a Hypocriticall and Divilish Doctrine carried on with deceite and fraud The Popes â—ivellish doâ—rine of forâ—idding Marâ—â—age all which doth â—minently appear in the Pope of Rome for who is there in all the world besides the Pope and his Clergy that teacheth this Divilish Dâ—ctrine to forbid Marriage to those whose age and temper may require a help meet for them but the Pope who is that Man of sin and Antichrist of Rome which the Apostle here charges to be the Doctor that teacheth this Divilish Doctrine of forbidding Marriage which is a holy Ordinance of God instituted in Paradise and allowed in all Nations and to all persons whose age and temper doth require it as 1 Cor. 7.2 to avoid fornication let every man have his own wife c. and it was so until this Imposter and seducing spirit the Pope prohibited it unto the Clergy and this is one way of his exalting himself not only above earthly Gods as Magistrates but above the God of Heaven for what God allows this Antichrist the Pope disallows and that for bad and wicked ends As first To bring a Revenue into his Treasury by allowing Brothel Houses or Stewes which paies him yearly no small Rent for in Pope Paul the first his time which was 976 years since that Pope had upon Record in his Register the number of five and forty thousand Whores in the stewes that paid him Rent for liberty to play the Whore as Mr. Beard saith in his book of the Delusions of Antichrist and there his Clergy c. to whom he denies Marriage have liberty to go for their recreation and because the Pope allows them it is not accounted any sin And Secondly by this means he hath all the Clergy at his beck to send when he will and where he will to act their Father the Devils part by their Hypocritical lies to seduce the Nations and Kingdomes of this world for they would not be so willing to rainge abroad in such swarmes in every Kingdome if as other men they had wives and children to provide for at home Peter Marter Chap. 16. saith How are the stews punished at Rome Whores in Rome attended like Ladies by Cardinals instead of punishment they dwell in the fairest houses they are carried with honour through the City as if they were Ladies they are mounted on ambling palfries they are arraid with Chains of Gold attended with persons disguised and sometimes with Cardinals and especially in the night season in the Citie of Rome the Stews or Courtezans pass through the streets or ride on Mules like honest Matrons or Ladies in the midst of the day Noblemen Cardinals and Priests attend upon them we never saw such corruption but only in this City this infoâ—mâ—tion was presented unto Pope Paul the Third saith Bishop Jewel against Harding also Luit Prandus in his sixth book Chap. 6 saith the Popes Palace at Lateran sometime the harbour of holy Saints is now become a stew of Whores Amphilocheus that wrought the life of Thomas Becket reports a woman called Emphrosyna that dwelt 36 years in a Monkes apparel among the Monks likewise Marina a woman lived many years in an Abby as a Monk in Monks apparel and this is the cause of the Popes divilish doctrine in forbidding marriage and herein lies another part of his deceit and hypocrisie in making them believe that he can pardon them and perswades them that it is lesse sin for a Clergy man to have a Whore which the Law of God forbids then to have a Wife which the law of God allows and all because they could not be so fit to send for his purpose abroad Now Bishop Williams did ever the Presbyterians or Independants or Long-parliament fulfil this Prophesie in teaching this Doctrine of Divels to forbid marriage which is one mark or Character of the great Antichrist and not the least mark and let the Readers Judge by this mark whether they or the Pope be most like Antichrist now this doctrine of Divils forbidding of Marriage and which is the doctrine and practise of the Church of Rome only and no other Church that I have read of and which occasious so much uncleanness and ungodliness and that with toleration and allowance who can doubt that the Popes who are the Authors of this diviâ—ish doctrine successively one after another but he is the great Antichrist that was prophesied that he should come into the world and that man of sin and son of perdition and who exalts himself above God in this particular doctrine in forbidding of Marriage to those whom Gods allows to marry Forbidding marriage the doctrine of devils and which doctrine the holy Ghost in the word of truth tells us is the doctrine of Divels that is of Popes succeeding one another and teaching that doctrine and that they that teach it are apostatized and fallen from the true faith and are hypocritical liars and seducers of Millions of souls and all to establish himself in his cursed Throne those that think the Pope not to be Antichrist I desire them to rouse up their spirits and rub the scales from their eyes and observe how lively here and else where as shall be shewed how the Apostle hath drawn Antichristes Picture in every point and limb so just like the Pope that all men that reads may say this is he That marriage instituted of God in innocency honoured by Christs presence at Canaan in Galile the seed plot of the Church the allowed remedy against incontinency and lust and which the the Apostle commands as honourable in all men Heb. 13.4 and yet forbidden by the Pope the Scarlot Strumpit of Rome to all the whole Clergy Wherein besides the divilishness of the Doctrine denying men subject to sinful lust the lawful remedy which God allows them and so cast men upon a necessity of sinning they teach this Hypocritical lie with a seared Conscience for with what Conscience saith Mr. Anderson can they make marriage a Sacrament in Lay-men and sacriledge in the Clergy with what Conscience permit Stews and forbid marriage with what Conscience confess fornication to be a sinne against the Law of God and Priests marriage onely against the Law of the Church and yet make Priests marriage a fouler sin then for a Priest to commit fornication or incesse is not this to make the transgression of the Popes laws a greater sin then the transgression of Gods laws with what Conscience to forbid lawful marriage to some and yet by dispensation to allow unlawful marriage in others who but Antichrist doth such things therefore the Pope that doth them must be the great Antichrist and man of sin for the Long-parliament nor Presbyterians nor Independents c. never did those things to forbid marriage and the like which the Apostle layes down as a Character or mark to know Antichrist by and we have reason to believe the
Scriptures before Bishop Williams A second Mark or Character the Apostle layes down to know Antichrist by is that as he forbids marriage So secondly He commands abstinence from meats which God hath created to be received with thanks-giving c. which words declare thus much unto us that neither Marriage nor Meats nor any other Creature nor Ordinance of God is to be refused upon any tye of Conscience provided they be received with thanks-giving of them that believe and know the truth with such other requisite conditions as becometh Christians in 1 Cor. 10 25. the holy Apostle bids us Whatsoever is sold in the Shambles that eat asking no question for Conscience sake c. and Titus 1.15 To the pure all things are pure so that to forbear the use out of a tye of Conscience or a Superstious Opinion as being unlawful at such or such a time it is against Christian libert either to charge the use of them with sin or to place holiness in abstaining from the use of them It is the Doctrine you see the Apostle tells of that Antichrist should teach and this is the Pope of Rome's doctrine for he saith it is a sinne deserving death to eat of meats prohibited by the Church they teach that fasting consists only in abstinance from meats and not from drink I have seen them that upon one of their Superstitious fasting dayes they would eat no meat but they would eat plentifully of Fruit Raisons of the Sun and Figs and the like and drink largely of Wine Ale and Beer and such kind of Fasting with them is esteemed satisfactory for sin and meritorious of eternal Life and this is another Hypocritical mark or Charracter of Antichrist for such Hypocritical lyes as these passeth currant among them for sound doctrine from their holy Father the Pope so seared is his Conscience as with a hot Iron for with what Conscience doth the Pope allow an ordinary Priest to absolve for Murther Adultery Fornication or perjury but the great and hainous sinne of eating flesh upon a Friday or Ember-days is left to the censure of a plenepotentiary as being beyond the power of an ordinary Priest to grant absolution for as being a greater sin because it is against the Law of the Church then Murther or Adultery c. is which are sins against the Law of God or with what Conscience can the Pope make the tasting of the coursest flesh A Popish Lent Fast a breach of Lent-fast and surfeiting upon the delicatest Fish to be no breach of Lent-fast and with what conscience can he forbid the use of such and such meats for the taming of the flesh when he allows the use of those things which are more nourishing of the flesh and more provoking to fleshly lusts as strong Wines and such like with what conscience can he enjoyne fasting for penance and then presently release that penance for a penny the Glosse upon the Canon saith That he who gives a penny to redeem his penance fast though he give mony for a spirituall thing yet he doth not commit Simony because the contract is made with God that is the excuse though the contract be made with the Priest and the Money come to the Priests pocket well did the holy Ghost say that Antichrist should teach lies with a seared Conscience for if the Pope and Cardinals Prelates and Priests c. if all their consciences were not seared they would not use such pretences to varnish over their Hypocritical lies and errours to damn so many thousand souls and thus you see what marks and characters the holy Ghost hath laid down to know the great Antichrist and man of sin by which things the Parliament nor Presbyterians c. were never guilty of The next Text I shall handle that shews us who this great Antichrist is we have in the 2 Thes 2. to the 12. verse where first the Apostle earnestly beseecheth the Thessalonians Church not to be shaken in mind nor troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us saith he as if the day of Christ were at hand here we have in this verse such a plain demonstration of Antichrist in his cheating deluding cousoning practises as we can scarce find the like What is meant by spirit word and letter for by spirit word and letter I conceive the Apostle means all false ways that Antichrist shall make use of to deceive as false Teachers signs lying Miracles Inthusiasts such as pretend to have the spirit to work miracles as your Priests that pretend to cast out Divels 2 Cor. 11.13 which transform themselves as the Apostles of Christ as all the Popes houlings which pretend to imitate the Apostles of which I have hinted in the former part of this book there is no lesse then 150 several Orders or Degrees of them and all pretending to holinesse both in Doctrine and Discipline and yet not one of them of Divine institution but are all popish and Antichristian humane inventions and institutions of men and this is one main argument that the Pope is the great Antichrist that he sets up so many Orderers Officers and Offices in the Church of Christ against Christ in as much that Christ did never institute nor ordain them and to bind mens consciences to submit to them and other of his humane institution and that under such penalties as is shewed above that he makes the breach of his own Laws which he calls the Laws of the Church a greater crime then the breach of the Law of God who then can deny the Pope that thus acts to be the great Antichrist and all these several Orders to be the limbs and members of Antichrist and Seducers who in their several places make it their whole business to keep people in obedience to this Antichrist their great Lord and Master by their lies and lying doctrines and lying wonders exalting and extolling the reliques of Saints and Martyrs and the instituters of their Orders the holinesse and sanctity of their habits and the like which things are more preached and praised and cryed up among them then Christ Jesus is preached or cried up And to gain credit to their delusions they report what miraculous things have been done by the vertue of St. Austins Lethern Girdle for curing diseases and easing of pains c. Satans delusion to deceive And indeed it is possible that God may suffer Satan by weak means to do some such cures which the Devil may by permission be the Author and cause of the disease himself and by his withdrawing his operation and working the disease or paine may cease and all this to make good what the Apostle in this Chapter foretold should come to passe that because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved therefore God shall send them strong delusions to believe lies that all they may be damned which believe not the truth but have pleasure in