necessarie to saluation Cap. super gentes extra de consuet The Bishop of Rome is appointed by the Lorde aboue all nations and kingdomes Cap. si Imperatore dist 96. Gods will is that the powers secular should be subiect vnto the Church or the Priests Cap. nunquam eadem dist 96. It is a custome that princes shoulde submit their heads vnto the Bishops girdle and not iudge of their liues Cap. solita de maiorit obed God made two great lights in the firmamēt the greater light to rule the day the lesse light to rule the night both of thē great but the one greater Therefore hath God made two great lightes for the firmament of heauen that is the vniuersall Church to wit he hath appointed two high states or dignities which are these the authority of the Pope the power of the king But that which ruleth the day that is in matters spiritual is the greater that which gouerneth carnall affaires that is the lesse That it may appeare that looke what difference there is betwixt the sunne the moone so great oddes there is betwixt Popes Kings C. fundament de elect in 6. Papa nulli homini subest Finally the Emperour is bound to take an oath of alegiance obedience vnto the Pope the forme whereof is extant cap. 1. de jurejurando c. tibi domino dest 63. clement vnica de jurejurando And so it is said lib. 1. ceremoniarum Pontificialium cap. 7. The Pope in the night of the birth of our Lorde doeth hallowe the sword which he afterward giueth vnto some Prince in token of the infinite power which is giuen vnto the Pope according to that saying All power is giuen vnto me in heauen in earth that also He shal rule frō seato sea frō the riuer to the ende of the earth So it is also in the Glosse of the Canon law to wit that the Pope is al things aboue all thīgs that he is the lord of lords hath the right of the king of kīgs ouer his subiects that he may turn roūd into square that he is the cause of causes therfore no inquirie is to be made into his authoritie because there is no cause of the first cause that the whole world is the Popes diocesse that his authority extēdeth vnto things in heauen earth and vnder the earth that he may command the Angels that he hath so great power both in Purgatorie also in hell that hee can by his pardons deliuer as many soules as hee will which are in those places place them presently in heauen in the seats of them which be blessed as it is saide in the Bull of Clement the sixt that hee hath such power in heauen that hee may canonize whome hee will that is dead for a saint though all Byshops and Cardinals were against it And who can recken vp all his blasphemies To conclude Sixtus quintus to omit the rest doth at this day thus begin in one of his Bulles The authoritie graunted to blessed Peter and to all his successours by the infinite power of the everlasting King excelleth the power of all earthly kings and Princes Secondly for that he will be accounted the highest iudge who neither can erre in making decrees concerning faith or lawes concerning manners neither yet ought to be iudged of any And for that hee setteth vp himselfe aboue all euen the generall councels and ordaineth new sacraments and transformeth and altereth those which Christ did institute He imposeth new lawes vpon mens conscienees as for those which Christ made hee doeth ratifie and repeale at his pleasure as Cap. nunc autem dist 21. The chiefe seate that is the chayre of Rome is not indeede of any Can. si Papa dist 40. If the Pope should drawe by heapes innumerable people with him into hell no mortall man presumeth or taketh vpon him to reprehend his faults for that he is to iudge all men and himselfe to be iudged of none Can. cuncta seq 9. q. 3. Euery Church in the worlde knoweth that the holy Church of Rome hath authoritie to iudge of all persons no man may censure her iudgement Can. nemini 17. 4. It is permitted to no man to iudge of the Apostolicall seat or to retract that sentence because of the primacie of the Church of Rome cap. proposuit de concept praebend According to the largenes of our authority we may dispense with aboue law cap. significasti de elect elect potest Al councils both are called haue their strength by the authoritie of the Church of Rome the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome is manifestly excepted in their cōstitutiōs cap. regula dist 17. No council is or shal euer be established which shall not be cōfirmed supported by the Popes authority And so the Glosse saith again that the Popes pleasure is heauenly and for this cause he may chāge the nature of thigs by applying those things which are substantial in one thing vnto another That he hath allaws in the closet of his brest that he hath the same consistory which God hath and the same iudgement seat with Christ that he can make any thing of nothing and make that to be a sentence or iudgement which is none that in what so euer he pleaseth his will is to him in steade of reason and yet no man may say Why dost thou thus that he may dispense beyond law make iustice of iniustice by concealing and altering the laws that he can do all things sinne excepted whatsoeuer God himself cā do that he must be iudged of none that if he should throw downe heaps of soules into the hels yet none may demand of him Why doest thou it that he may dispense against both Apostle and Apostolicall Canon that he is aboue lawe that what soeuer is done of the Pope is to be supposed is done of God that he is all and aboue all that hee may doe all things aboue law contrarie to law and without lawe ad cap. quanto de translat Episcopi cap. proposuit de concess praeb and else where c. Thirdly for that he taketh and vsurpeth power authoritie to transferre kingdoms which is the onely worke of God as Clement vnica de jureiur ando in priu The Romane Emperours haue the approbation of the B. of Rome for the person which is to be preferred vnto the dignity of the Emperiall M ie as also the anointing cōsecratiō the crown of the Empire Clem. Past. de sent re iudic in fine The Pope hath superiority ouer the Empire whē the Empire is void succee deth the Emperour C. venerabilē de elect The right authoritie to choose a king to be Emperor appertaineth vnto the Bishop of Rome cap. 2. de sent re iudic in 6. The Pope may depose the Emperour Can. alius 15. quaest 6. Zacharie the Pope deposed the French king from
so should appeare in the Romane Empire it appeareth also by Daniel Paul as we haue touched heretofore as also by the 17. of the Reue. 3. where the purple whore who deceiueth the people is saide to sit vpon the beast with ten hornes For that beast with ten hornes signifieth the fourth Monarchie to wit that of Rome Dan. 7. As for his throne seat to wit that he shal sit in the city of Rome first Daniel witnesseth the same when as he placeth this seat betwixt 2. seas for Rome Italy are situated twixt 2. seas Adriaticū Tyrrhenū Secōdly Iohn whē he maketh mentiō of Babylō as Rev. 14. 8. 16. 19. 18. 2. By which places the anciēt doctors of the Church especially Ierome do vnderstand Rome as also by that place 1. Pet. 5. 13. further whē Iohn doth cal it the citie with 7. hils the queen of al as it is Rev. 17. 9. 18. For Rome was thē called by those names euen by profane writers Finally whē as he saith Rev. 17. 1. that the whore shal sit vpō many waters that is aboue much people many nations as him selfe in the 15. verse expoūdeth hīself in the great city which hath the rule ouer the kings of the earth Now that he should sit in the tēple of God that is in the Church it is taught vs 2. Th. 2. 4. for by this sittīg here is not mēt corporal bodily placing but a certain dominion and by temple is ment neither that of Ierusalem which long ago was ouerthrown rased which is neuer again to be repaired according to that prophecie in the 9. of Dan. 27. nor yet any other externall building but onely the Church which is the temple house of God 1. Tim. 3. 15. And therefore herby is signified that Antichrist should publikely vsurp the chiefe jurisdiction authority in the Church of God yet shuld he not professe any open flat denial of Christ but onely he should bring in extreame impietie vnder the pretence of the doctrine of Christ Further that he is to continue vntil the very last end day of the world it is taught 7. Dan. 26. 8. 25. 11. 45. 12. 1 2. Rev. 19. 21. 20. 10. In which places so soone as the end of Antichrist is rehearsed immediatly followeth mētion of the last resurrection and not a word of any other worldly kingdome Cōcerning the euēt or issue to wit that he should be reueled discouered in the last times of the world that his kingdō is to be battred thrown down by the preaching of the Gospell the Apostle witnesseth 2. Th. 2. 3. Iohn meaneth the same thing by the ruine fall of Babylō Reuel 14. 8. 16. 19. 18. 2. And to cōclude Iohn prophecied the same of him Reu. 14. where three Angels that is three Teachers are appointed to reueile Antichrist to whome are added other two in the 18 of the Reuelation as also in the 17. vers 16. 17. where he saieth The tenne hornes which thou sawest c. that is manie Princes and Estates of the Romane Empire shall reuolt from the whore and shall giue her kingdome vnto the beast For although at all times there shall alwaies be some who shall oppose themselues to Antichrist to his corruptions and idolatrie and speake against the same Reuel 10. 11. 11. 3. 12. 7. Yet here by is insinuated that in this last time of the worlde Antichrist was more fullie and clearelie to be reueiled by the great and singular goodnesse of God by men endued with the spirit of Elias and Enoch and that the doctrine of Christ should be brought to light and Antichrist grieuously tormented 36 Finally touching his destruction and ende that is that he should bee vtterly abolished by Christ himselfe at the last day at his glorious and royall appearance who is now indeede reueiled to be the Antichrist and be punished eternallie is taught vs 2. Thess 2. 8. and may be gathered out of the 7. chap. of Dan. 26. 8. 25. 11. 45. and 12. 1. and out of the Reuelat. chap. 19. 20 21. 20. 10. as we also spake a little before touching the continuance of the kingdome of Antichrist For although the kingdome of Antichrist shalbe shaken before the last day and comming of Christ and shall be pulled downe as it were by piecemeale by reason of thereuolting of Prouinces yet there shall alwaie remaine a state and forme thereof but euen this also shall be vtterly abolished in the last time of the worlde This is our definition of Antichrist and the declaration of the same definition out of the old new Testament But the Papistes define it after a farre other manner to wit that Antichrist is one singular particular man who shoulde arise of the Tribe of Dan and be circumcised who being accepted of the Iewes for the Messias should reigne and tyrannize at Ierusalem the space of three yeeres and sixe moneths and whome Christ should at the length kill in mount Oliuet whilest he entendeth to ascend vp into heauen Which definition of theirs will be more examined in our disputations That the Pope is Antichrist HItherto wee haue declared what Antichrist is now wee will shewe who he is and to whome this definition before set downe will best agree Therefore wee affirme that the Pope of Rome is that Antichrist thus we prooue it For to whomsoeuer the definition of Antichrist doeth agree it necessarily followeth that hee is Antichrist but this definition of Antichrist hath agreed fitly to the Pope of Rome euer since the death of Gregorie the great and the slaughter of the Emperour Mauritius 41. For the Pope of Rome euer since the death of Gregorie and Mauricius is the man who by continuall succession and set order hath bene president to a certaine bodie or state of men and hath giuen them his marke wherein the Monkes and Cleargie shauelings like vnto the crowned locustes haue their shauing as crownes vpon their heads that they might signifie thereby that they are kings and priestes and their routes dispersed and spread in all places of Christendome and those many waters vpon which the great whore the mother of the fornications of the earth seemeth both to sit and reigne Reuel 18. The Pope also professeth Christianitie saying that he is the follower and the Vicar of Christ as doe also his chiefe seruants at this day who giue themselues a newe name Iesuites hee also retaineth the Bible that is the scriptures written by the Prophets and Apostles and the Sacraments also instituted by Christ and yet hee is an aduersarie to Christ and to his doctrine 43 For though Christ alone be the heade of the Catholique or vniuersall Church beeing alwaies present to gouerne the same Ephes 1 21 22. 4. 15 5 23. Coloss 1. 8 Though he be
also the onely spouse of the Church 2. Cor. 11 2. Ephes 5. 29 Finally though hee bee also the onely prince the chiefe shephearde and the high priest vnto his Church 1. Pet. 2. 5. and chap. 5. 4. Heb. 6. 20. chap. 7. 26. chapt 9. 11. Alway liuing to make intercession for vs. Rom. 8. 34. Heb. 7. 25. Yet notwithstanding the Pope of Rome doeth arrogate this office and these properties vnto himselfe and vaunteth himselfe that hee is the chiefe head high priest and sacrificer and the Oecumenicall and generall Bishop Pastour and doctour of the whole Church here vpon earth For so saith Clement Pastoralis de Sentent re Iudic. A pastorall charge is enioyned to vs of God over all Nations of Christendome c. C. 1. extravag de empt vend We being governers of the vniuersall Church by the Lords appointment c. c. reg extravag de prebend Beeing called to the gouernment of the vniuersall Church by heauenlie ordinance C. 1 de treuga pace Being called to the gouernment of the vniuersall Church by the mercy of God so disposing it C. 3. de Elect. The holy Church of Rome which by the Lords appointment being as it were the mother and mistresse of all the faithfull which belong to Christ hath obtained of God superioritie ouer the rest distinct 22. Sacrosancta This Apostolicallchayre to wit Rome is appointed the head and principall and as it were the Hinge for as the doore is turned and gouerned vpon the hinge so all Churches are to bee ruled by the authoritie of this Cap. Vnam sanctam extravag de mator obed Therefore there is one bodie of one and the same onely Church one bead not two far that were monstrous to wit Christ and the vicar of Christ Peter and Peters successour Cap. fundament de elect 6. So likewise at this day the Pope in his bulles challengeth authoritie ouer all Churches of euerie people and nation So also doeth hee call the Church his spouse and bride C. quoniā de imminut in 6. saying after this manner Wee being loth to neglect the righteousnesse of our selues the Church our spouse In like maner also hee speaketh cap. inter corporalia c. licet in tantum de translat Episc Secondly the Pope hath violated and corrupted almost all the doctrine of Christ so that he is not onely an heretike but an Archheretique the ringleader and the Patriarke of heretikes for hee hath not onelie maintained one errour onely against the foundation but hath heaped vp manie one vpon the necke of another and defended them with might and maine as may bee plainely vnderstoode by this comparison and opposition of the doctrine of Christ and the Pope The scripture or rather Christ in the scripture teacheth that God is in vaine worshipped with the precepts of men Matth. 15. It condemneth voluntarie seruice Col. 2. 2 3. Further it declareth that al things necessary to saluation are committed to writing by the Apostles are to be sought for in theit writings 2. Tim. 3. 6. that he is Anathema that is accursed who teacheth or bringeth any other doctrine Gal. 18. But the Pope doeth vrge the traditions of men bringeth in a will-worship and letteth not to say that the scripture is obscure maimed and imperfect as it is in the counsell of Trident. Sess 4. 1. and else where The scripture teacheth that there is but one onely God who knoweth all things is almightie and the gouernour of the worlde and all thinges therein Deut. 6. 4. Mark 12. 29. 1. Kings 8. 39. 2. Cron. 6. 30. Esa 40. 13. Rom. 16. 27. 1. Tim. 6. 15. and in other places besides But the Pope making as it were a diuision of the diuine Maiestie doeth transferre the same vnto certaine petie gods and associates vnto him For looke how many he hath canonized for saintes so manie hath he erected to bee gods and lordes and rulers of the worlde Amongst which one is ouer the raine another is for faire weather one for diseases another for health finallie one for this cause another for that they hauing their taskes and offices assigned seuerally vnto them The scripture teacheth that God alone is to be called vpon Deut. 6. 13. Math. 4. 10. Act. 10. 25. 14. 11. Reuel 19. 10. 22. 9. But the Pope hee prayeth vnto the deade and teacheth that they are to be prayed vnto The Scripture teacheth that we should abhorte idols Exod. 20. 4. Deut. 4. 23. 1. Ioh. 5. 21. Reuel 18. 4. But the Pope doeth erect and set vp idols euery where to be worshipped The Scripture teacheth that now there is one onely high Priest and Sacrificer to wit Christ and that there is but one onely Oblation Heb. 6. 20. and 9. 26 28. and chap. 10. 12. But the Pope hath substituted an infinite number in stead of Christ who doe euerie day offer to God a reall and propitiatorie sacrifice to wit the bodie and bloode of Christ in the Masse The Scripture teacheth that there is one onely Mediatour and Intercessour betwixt God and man to wit the man Iesus Christ 1. Tim. 2. 5. 1. Ioh. 2. 1. Rom. 8. 34. Heb. 7. 24. and 9. 24. But the Pope hath suborned almost an infinite number of dead men to be mediatours intercessours and spokesmen and especially the Virgine Marie in stead of Christ as is in the Councill of Trident The Scripture teacheth that all power in heauen and earth is giuen and graunted vnto Christ and that he is exalted aboue all principalities and is appointed Lord of all things Math. 28. 18. Act. 2. 36. Ephes 1. 21. Further that he is the head of the militāt Church here vpon earth as was saide before Whereupon Gregorie the great saith That he is the forerunner of Antichrist who soeuer should challenge vnto him selfe the title of generall Bishop who that hee might leaue vnto his successours an example of humilitie was the first that called him selfe the seruant of the seruants of God And likewise the Councill of Carthage and Pelagius the Pope were of the mind dist 96. can Nullus But the Pope he placeth Christ who is now in heauen exalted vnto the right-hand of his Father not onely inferiour to his Father with the Arrians but also somewhat inferiour to his mother and willeth that shee should by her mortherly authoritie and priuiledge to commaund her Sonne c. And for him selfe hee standeth vpon it that he is the vniuersall Bishop here vpon earth and the head of the whole Church The Scripture teacheth that a man beeing deade in his sinnes is not able so much as to vnderstande any thing of him selfe that is hath no free-will in those matters that be spirituall and appertaine to saluation Ephes 2. 1. Colos 2. 13. Roman 8. 6. 1. Corinth 2. 14. 2. Corinth 3. 5. 2. Tim. 2. 15. 1. Ioh. 13. But the Pope he attributeth so
lawfull wife not to haue concubines 1. Tim. 3. 2. But the Pope forbiddeth mariage to his clergie Nuns bindeth them with an othe vnto perpetuall single life The scripture teacheth that the vse of all meates is now free Col. 2. 16. Rom. 14. 1. Tim. 4. 3. c. and that also there is flesh of fishes 1. Corinth 15. 39. But the Pope teacheth that the eating flesh vpon certaine daies is forbidden since the comming of Christ Dist 35. And that they doe not eate flesh who doe eate fish Further he doeth as did Montanus the heretique appoint lawes concerning certaine fasting daies and that without eyther prayer or repentance To conclude histories doe record that Pope Honorius fell into the heresie of the Monothelites 2. Tom. Con. 8. Syn. Constant act 17. that Gregorie the seuenth fell from the true faith Lib. 1 Alphonsi de Castro Minonta contra Heres in the Cronicle of Abbas Vrbergens that Pope Liberius was an Arrian And that Pope Anastasius fauoured the Nestorians and erred from the faith Lib. 1. Alphonsi de Castro Minonta contra Heres That Iohn the 22 helde and maintained that the soules were mortall and died with the bodies vntill the daie of the resurrection in Sermone quodam pascali Ioh. Gerson For which cause that Pope is called a deuill incarnate In Concil Constant Sess 7. Lastly that Marcellinus the Pope sacrificed vnto Idols C. nunc autem dist 21. Furthermore the Pope is the man who vaunteth vpon his twofolde supreme authoritie spirituall and temporall and of both his swords spirituall and temporall or materiall and doeth arrogate vnto himselfe both Iurisdictions As touching them both thus they are ioyntly proued by that which is said C. vnam sanctam extra vag de maior obed Wee are instructed by the worde of the Gospell that there be two swordes the one spirituall the other temporall in this power and authoritie of the Pope Againe therefore both the swords are in the power of the Church that is both the spirituall and the materiall sword c. Fundament de elect in 6. The Pope of Rome hath the Monarchie or sole gouernment of both the Iurisdictions spirituall and temporall Whereof wee haue a notable example in Boniface the 8. who in the first yere of his Iubile in the yere of our Lorde 1300 hauing vpon him both the Emperours robe and the Priestes attyre and shewing himselfe openly in the Church of Peter and Paul and hauing both a key and a sword hee cried as loude as he coulde Beholde here bee two swordes c. vnam sanct Extravag de maiorit obed as also in Iulius the second who was a better souldier then a Priest and of whom Mantuan writeth thus Ensepotens gemino cuius vestigia adorāt Caesar aurato vestiti muricereges which is in English He powrefull is by twofold sword to him all men doe stoupe Both Emperour and stately kings with all their glorious troupe Concerning his spirituall authoritie are these testimonies Clement in Pastoral desent re Iud. c. Primum extravag de empt vend and others of which we spake before for the temporall Iurisdictions these are witnesses sufficient as Cap. Constan dist 96. where the ensignes titles pallace citie prouince right and power of the Emperours are bestowed vpon the Pope of Rome that hee hath the rule of all the West partes Et cap. 1. in fine extravag de matorit obed Where it is said without doubt whosoeuer denieth that the temporall sword is in the power of Peter doeth giue small heede vnto the word of the Lord which saith Put vp thy sword into the sheath Hee also vaunteth of himselfe with signes and miracles as is well knowne both by the bookes and practise of the Papistes but they are lying deceitfull as the Apostle speaketh and are wrought to seduce and drawe men into errour and superstition and further they are either meere fables or else iuggling sleights Fables as those which are reported of Mary of Lauritane as they call her which a certaine Iesuite hath declared to bee false and feigned in a certaine booke set foorth at Lipsia after that hee had denounced Iesuitisme so also they which are recited in the bookes of the Franciscans Dominicans especially in the bookes which are of the conformities of the Franciscans Iuggling sleights as those which are wrought either by the delusion of Sathan or by the close and craftie conueyances of the Monkes as in the apparitions of soules which made report of purgatorie and desired that Masses might be said and celebrated for them and in the healing of diseases at the Chappels I or images of saintes and in coniurations For Sathan God in his iust iudgement so permitting it to be afflicted men with peculiar diseases and againe ceased to afflict them when they were making their vowes at the Chappels or images of saintes so that they were supposed to bee cured by the making of their vowes and deliuered by the helpe of the saintes And thus hee playing with the exorcistes doeth voluntarilie yeeld vnto them though he seeme to be cast out by force and hee ceaseth to torment a man who is bodily possessed that by this meanes these errours beeing confirmed he may instead of their bodies besiege win and possesse their soules He boasteth himselfe as God whilest that hee chalengeth vnto him selfe the name and authoritie and the workes which are proper vnto God Hee arrogateth to himselfe the name of God Cap. satisf dist 96. where he saieth It is euident enough that the Pope neither is as all neither can be either freed or bounde by any temporall authoritie who as it is verie manifest was caled God by the godly prince Constantine Sith that it is euident that God can not bee iudged of men Et cap. quanto seq extr de translat Episcopi For no man but God doeth separate them whome the Pope of Rome doeth separate not by humane but rather by diuine authoritie So likewise the Pope is God on earth according as Baldus hath it hee is a certaine diuine power and hath as it were the resemblance of a visible God and what he doeth he doeth it as God not as man according to Gomazius of which there is a more large discourse in the booke which is called Recusatio concilij Trident. published in the name of the protestant princes and states Anno 64. Furthermare he doeth chalenge the power and the workes of God as he will be both indeed and estimation as hee is also accounted of verie many not only the head of the whole Church as was before saide but also the head and lord of all kings and Monarches of the worlde Extravag de maiorit obed in the end Moreouer we declare to euerie humane creature that hee is subiect to the Pope of Rome this wee doe professe determine pronounce that it is altogether a matter
when after a watch word giuen the Eucharist was taken away hee would by his conspiratours haue killed the two brethren Iulianus and Laurentius Medices and did indeede slay the one and wound the other as Raphael Volateran recordeth in the 5 of his Geographie In Leo the tenth who is reported to haue answered vnto Peter Bembus when hee alledged a saying out of the Gospell What doest thou alledge or tell me of that fable Hee is also blasphemous in that he claimeth for his owne that which is Gods doeth speake against God namely when he saieth that he is God and of equall power with Christ the head and spouse of the Church the which we haue more fully opened before Further when he affirmeth that the Scripture is obscure and imperfect and doubtfull and that hee may interprete it as he listeth and may make new articles of faith and yet he neither erreth herein nor is to be controlled by any As also when he boasteth that he can graunt indulgences and pardons and remission of all sinnes to whom soeuer he will He is also ambitious and proud both in his wordes and deedes because hee beeing euen sicke of an vnsaciable thirst after honour and vnlawfull desire of lordlinesse doeth set vp himselfe aboue the Church aboue councils aboue all magistrates and accounteth all Emperours kings and princes which are in Europe to be but his vassals his tenauntes and almost his slaues and drudges hee treadeth them vnder his feete Of which pride and arrogancie of his we before brought testimonies euen out of the Canon lawe but nowe wee will bring others like vnto them out of the booke which is called Liber ceremoniarum Romanae curiae Where it is saide that all men of what honour or preheminence soeuer they be so soone as they come within the sight of the Pope ought to bowe their knees thrise obseruing equall distance of pace and to kisse his feete Further when the Pope doeth get vp on horse-backe the greatest prince of them which be present though he be a king or Emperour must hold the Popes stirrup then lead the horse by the bridle a little on the way But if that the Pope be not carried on horsebacke but on his chaire whether hee be king or Emperour that is present it skilleth not they must cary the seate it selfe with the Pope in it a while vpon their shoulders Againe that the prince of the city into which the Pope shall enter though he be a king shall leade the popes horse by the bridle or if the pope be caried in his chaire shall together with the chiefe of his Nobles carry the same a good way then when the pope commandeth him the king shall take his horse ride according vnto his place Further the Emperor must at the baket holde water for the pope to wash his hands And moreouer when the pope hath a feast the Emperor or els the king of the Romans must cary the first messe or seruice And to conclude the pope doth no reuerence at all to any mā only he raiseth vp himselfe when the Emperour kisseth him For examples these are chiefly to be noted first of the pope in generall who offreth his feet to be kissed of the Emperor kings princes Cardinals bishops the rest Then specially of pope Sylvester of whome it is reported that for the honour of S. Peter Pseudoconstantinus or that feigned Constātine helde his horse bridle in his hād when he tooke horse and plaid the gentleman vsher or sergeant before him Dist 96. Thirdly of pope Hadrian the fourth who was very angry with Fredericke the Emperour and did in reproch obiect vnto him that when as hee woulde haue helde his stirrup at his lighting downe from his horse he came and helde not the further stirrup as hee should but the other And that he also had set the Emperours name before the popes in certain letters which were sent vnto him Fourthly of Alexander the third who set one foote in the necke of Fredericke the Emperour when he was prostrate and suppliant at his feet in the Cathedrall Church of Venice that he might haue his excommunication released and commanding that the verse of Psalme should be song of his priests Thou shult walke vpon the Serpent and the Basiliske thou shalt tread vnder foote the Lyon and the Dragon Fiftly of Boniface the eight Anno 1300 who shewed himselfe at Rome in a great assembly of the people by reason of a Iubile then solemnized the first day of the solemnitie with all the ornaments of the Pope and the next day hee came foorth clad with the Emperours robe or coate armour and commaunded a drawne sword to be caried before him himselfe crying with a loud voice I am both Pope Emperor haue authoritie both in heauen earth within few dayes after did proudly reiect Albertus who was created Emp. by the electours of the Empire desired to be confirmed by him Affirming moreouer that no election could be authenticall which was made without his authority sith that he alone had the authoritie of both the swords which when Albertus Crautzius superintendent of the church of Hanburgh reciteth hee maketh this exclamation O Peter behold thy successour O Sauiour Christ behold thy Vicar beholde the pride of the feruant of thy seruants vnto what height he is now come He is also lawlesse because hee doeth what he listeth he abolisheth the lawes which Christ hath made maketh new at his owne pleasure and because he will be iudged of no man but aduanceth himselfe aboue lawe as wee shewed heretofore Whereof we haue example in the forbidding of the mariage of Priestes and certaine meats of the chalice in the Lords supper which is contrary vnto the reuealed will of God and of Christ our Lord. Further in dispensing with degrees contrarie to the lawe of God and nature as that Pope Martin the fift gaue dispensation that a man might take his owne sister to wife And that others haue dispensed that any man might mary two sisters his fathers sister or his mothers or any woman two brethren her vncle by her fathers side or by her mothers and that which some also of the schoolemen doe teach vpon the 4. sent dist 34. Caietan secunda secundae Thomae quaest 154 Art 9. to wit that the Pope may dispense with all degrees excepting the mariage of the father and the sonne with the daughter and the mother He is also a single man but yet a filthy fornicatour because that hee in forbidding mariage vnto his clergie the Nuns commandeth single life The authous defenders of the which law are these especially Siricius the pope C. plurimos dist 82. Greg. 7. Calixtus 6. Presbyteris dist 27. Leo. dist 32. per totū Innocentius c. proposuisti dist 82. c. Sacerdoticus seq dist 31. Leo the tenth other more But on the contrary hee permitteth concubines brothel houses
former beautie first in Germanie Switserland then in England Scotland France Flanders Denmarke other prouinces And though that vnluckie contention concerning the supper of the Lorde did straightwaie beginne amongst the preachers of the Gospell euen in the beginning thereof and continueth also vnto this day Satan endeauouring thereby to hinder and staie the cause of the gospell yet we are to thinke thus First that Sathan hath not now begun but hath practised long agoe to set at variance the holy seruants of God as Paul and Barnabas and againe the same Paul and Peter with others more secondlie that as concerning the foundation of the doctrine religion of Christ all things necessarie vnto saluation there hath alwaies bene and still is an agreement betwixt those men who are the restorers of this gospell which now beginneth to take life againe For hauing consuted merit and trust reposed in workes wherwith miserable men were bewitched in time of Poperie both parties agreed that our whole saluation consisteth in the merites of Christ onely the difference is in the supper of the Lorde concerning the corporall presence and the bodily eating and that the same is common vnto the godlie and the wicked as the one part defendeth and so not necessarie vnto saluation Thirdly it is no great maruell if in the beginning of reformation as it were in the dawning of the day all things were not at the first well considered for it can scarsely be declared what a deep gulfe of ignorance was in popery and what an horrible darkenesse by reason of errours And doubtlesse it was a verie great miracle wrought by God that those first doctours of the gospell could arise from thence in so litle and short space And although the Iesuites which are lately sprong vp indeauour to heale this wounde of Antichrist yet shall they neuer fullie cure the same Finally he shalbe destroied in the last daie of Christ when he returneth to iudgement and shalbe cast into the lake of fire and brimstone according vnto the prophecie before declared In the meane season we are patiently to beare that persecution wherwith he oppresseth vs and we must not for his tyranie leaue or forsake the profession of the truth Which things sith they are all true it followeth that the Pope since the death of Gregorie the great and the murther of Mauritius the Emperour is that Antichrist whome we haue before described out of the Prophecies of the Prophets and Apostles For whether they consider the doctrine or behold the maners and actions of the Pope they all agree vnto these prophecies and though heretofore there were controuersie touching primacie there were diuers errours and they not small concerning the doctrine yet afterwarde the desire of bearingsway did more breake forth Idolatrie and impietie was encreased and at the length Boniface the third obtained of Phocas the Emperour that whosoeuer should be the Bishop of auncient Rome should also bee esteemed as vniuersall Bishop that Rome shoulde be accounted the heade of all Churches and that this priuiledge might be traduced to their successours and within a while after others of them chalenged both the swords for themselues established this by decree that the Masse was a sacrifice propitiatorie for the liuing and the dead and to conclude they made Rome a sanctuarie for Idols Hitherto wee haue shewed who this great Antichrist is But as in the former question the Papistes doe differ from vs what Antichrist should be so likewise in this latter who Antichrist should be for as they doe define Antichrist otherwise then we so doe they vtterly denie that the Pope of Rome is that Antichrist For the Pope with his adherents now playing the part of Antichrist doeth feigne another Antichrist and teacheth that he is yet to come least he himselfe should bee thought to be the Antichrist indeed Of whose opinion and their reasons we will say more as occasion shall be offered for the manner of our positions will not now permit vs to speake of the same God the Father graunt for our Lorde Iesus Christes sake that men may learne to knowe and to abhorre that Antichrist the most dangerous enemie of Christ and the Church and may likewise learne more and more to loue and worship Christ FINIS Doctor Sohn publike professor of Diuinitie at Heidelberg The matter of this booke No vnion of the two religions The definitiō of Antichrist in generall There be two kinds of Antichristes 1 2 The names of Antichrist The types The description of Antichrist in speciall The declaration of the description A man A kingdome or state That is a proper and singular person as Leo Pius Iohn Gregorie Aduersarie to Christ Twofold authoritie Miracles A vaunt as God His Idolatry Hypocrisie Pride Blasphemie Licentiousnes Single life Abstinence Couetousnes Craft Crueltie His author The time of his appearāce His place His throne He sits in the Church His continuance The event or his reuelation His destruction The Papistes description of Antichrist The proofe that the Pope is Antichrist The proofe of the assumption by view in particular 1 Aman 2 Whoruleth a state 3 The Popes profession of Christianitie to which hee is indeede an aduersarie 1 He challengeth the offices of Christ 2. The Pope hath corrupted the doctrine of Christ as appeareth by the opposition of these particulars Voluntarie worship 2. One God 3. Invocation of God 4. Idols 5. One high Priest 6. One Mediatour 7. Christs power 8. Free-will 9. Satisfaction 10. Justification 11. Iustifying faith 12. Obseruation of the law 13. The kingdome of Christ 15. The two Sacraments 15. The vulgar tongue to be vsed in the Church 16. Who are to be baptized 17. the bread in the Lordes Supper 18. The lords supper is no sacrifice 19. Christs bodie 20. All ought to take eate and drinke 21 The bread and wine are to be distributed to all 22 Two places for the soules 23. Mariage honourable for all men 24. Meates are free Popes haue erred 4. The Pope hath two swordes Spirituall Temporall 5. The Popes miracles 6. The Pope as God He chalengeth Gods owne name 2. Gods power and authoritie Head of the Church 2 The Pope the highest Iudge 3. He disposeth kingdomes Examples He is an idolatour Breaden God His hypocrisy His blasphemie His ambitiō Examples of his ambition The Pope is lawlesse His abstinēce and riot He is covetous His craftines and false dealing His lying and contradictiōs The deede of gift for his Iurisdiction and authoritie Primatie Dignitie Succession The matters in which hee dealeth Mariage of Priestes Vse of the sacrament in both kinds Communication The Pope not to be iudged Promise breaking Of Pope Ioan Sedes testiculatrix His crueltie His appearance His time His place The discovery of the pope The destruction of the Pope The conclusion