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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A69171	A treatise, touching Antichrist VVherein, the place, the time, the forme, the workmen, the vpholders, the proceeding, and lastly, the ruine and ouerthrow of the kingdome of Antichrist, is plainly laid open out of the word of God: where also manie darke, and hard places both of Daniell and the Reuelation are made manifest. By Lambert Danæus.; Tractatus de Antichristo. English	Daneau, Lambert, ca. 1530-1595?; Swan, John, d. 1617.	1589 (1589)	STC 6229; ESTC S111048	137,818	208

he among the Diuines The Ciuill law tearmeth that Souldier an Apostate which flieth from his Campe and with-draweth himselfe from the alleagiance that he oweth to his Captaine So doth Modestinus the Lawyer write in L. Desertores D. de re milita for hée termeth him a Runnagate and Apostate Souldier who hath béen straggling long from his tents although after he be brought back agayne But among the Diuines L. Apostatae C. de Apostatis Apostates are otherwise accompted namely such as betray and renounce their holie and Christian profession once made and receiued On the other side the Schoole-men and Papists do yet make an other reckoning of Apostates and describe them to bee such as breake the rule and leaue the order of religion the which with a vow they once tooke vpon them But doubtlesse in this place of Paule which we haue now in hand he neither talketh of Militarie discipline nor of Popish professions which as yet were not hatched Therefore the Apostacie or defection that he speaketh of here must needes bee vnderstood either of a departing from the Christian faith or from subiection vnder the Empyre of Rome And in deede some haue vnderstood it of the Romane Empyre as Lactantius lib. 7. cap. 15. August lib. 20. De ciuitate Dei cap. 19. Jerom ad Algas quaest 11. which opinion how true it is let vs consider To speake briefly in the poynt this is my iudgement that this place of Paule cannot bee meant only of the Empyre of Rome and that in many respects First Paule intreateth not in that place of earthly kingdomes or chaunge of Common wealthes but deliuereth doctrine touching Christian faith Agayne the issue of the matter which is the best expositour of this Prophecie that can be doth shewe no lesse For the kingdome of Antichrist was not so much a withdrawing of subiection from the Romane Empyre as a denying of obedience vnto the word of God Further Damascen lib. 4. cap. 27. de orthodoxa side maketh for me affirming that Antichrist should come after that the doctrine of the Gospell were once spread abroad Lastly all the auncient 〈◊〉 when once they affirme that Antichrist himselfe is alreadie come by and by for proofe thereof they make instance of the heresies which he maintaineth contrarie to sound doctrine not mentioning any sedition or insurrection of the subiects agaynst the sacred Maiestie of the Romane Empyre Therefore this Apostacie which is the ground and piller of the estate of Antichrist is a back-sliding or departure from the true doctrine of Christian faith VVhy the kingdome and state of Antichrist is by the Spirit of God indefinitely or without limitation called an Apostacie The sixt Chapter NOw whereas S. Paule tearmeth it by a generall worde Apostacie he giueth vs thereby to vnderstand that this departing should not fall out in one or two Churches only but in the whole bodie as it is called of the vniuersall and visible Church And therefore Paule speaketh without circumscription for such indefinite speaches are aunswerable in quantitie to vniuersals as the Logicians teache And this is confirmed and made plaine by that in the Reuelation where the whore is said to make drunke with her poisoned cup not only one Church or Prouince but all the Kings Nations inhabitants of the whole world And yet not euery perticular man and member of the Church of God shall become a back-slider for God will alwayes keepe some vnto himselfe euen in the midst of that generall defection as he did sixe thousand in the dayes of Eliah who were the true Church but an incorporation as you would say a conspiracie and the greater nomber of such as should challenge vnto themselues the name of the Church of God shall depart from the faith of Christ and shall betake them to a doctrine cleane contrarie thereunto and this to be done euery where openly by common consent and publike authoritie the which we see to be done in Turkie in Mahumetisme and in Popery From hence therefore we may gather two points worthy the knowledge and obseruation the first that that argument is not so strong and vnaunswerable to perswade the truth of any doctrine which is taken from long continuance and tradition of our Elders For whē once this generall defection shall haue set in foote how may a man then safely make this collection This doctrine is true and Apostolike because it is publikely receiued taught and allowed commonly in euery Congregation For Paule hath said that it should come to passe that a doctrine contrarie to that of the Gospell should be admitted yea and that with approbation into the very Churches in euery place publikely Indeede the auncient Writers were wont to vse this argument of succession and consent and before this defection it was both a forcible and sound kinde of proofe but now it 's nothing so The second is that a man can not rightly gather and conclude that the true Church and true doctrine is there to be found where there hath bin inuiolably kept and obserued a continuall and orderly succession of persons For seeing this defection was to take place and continue long in the very Church of God euen through many successions of persons and ages of men how may a man thence gather and conclude substantially that therefore the Church of God is to be found in the midst of these back-sliders because that there are to be seene a continuall succession of persons whereas those persons be the verie Apostates themselues Lastly from thence may be obserued that this is a false position in Poperie which notwithstanding the Schoole-men maintaine with tooth and naile namely that the Church can not erre nay it is certaine that it can and that not only one perticular Church or two but many plentiful Congregatiōs yea whole Counsailes and to make short the vniuersall Church it selfe whose fall the spirit of God fore-warned and the euent or issue thereof hath since verified Against all which offences this is the only and omnisufficient remedie to resort to the word of God whereby the true Church true Doctrine and true Pastours are to be discerned and seuered from the false and counterfaite and thus haue we hitherto considered why Antichrist is tearmed an Apostata For now my purpose was but briefely to prosecute this point intending afterwards to crosse this sea againe with more full sailes hauing hitherto only wayed anchor and launched foorth a little VVhy Paule calleth Antichrist a man The seauenth Chapter PAule proceedeth further and addeth and that man of sinne heere he speaketh directly and plainely of Antichrist as first of his name and then of his person or of his qualitie and doctrine Touching his name he tearmeth him The man of sinne and Sonne of perdition And héere againe that is called into question whereof I haue alreadie disputed namely where as Paule calleth Antichrist a man whether it be to be vnderstoode of any one priuate man that should liue in the world

indefinitelie or without limitation a false Prophet and Papa a Pope cap. 12. pag. 48. That Antichrist did herein especiallie vsurp the name of God when he caused him-selfe to bee called the vniuersall Bishop of the Christian Church cap. 13. pag. 50. That Anti. did wickedly arrogate to himself the power of God cap. 14. pag. 53 Of the place where Antichrist should sit where it is apparant that neither Mahumet himselfe nor his accomplisses bee the men whome the Scripture termeth Antichristes cap. 15. pag. 56. That Rome which is in Italie is repaired out of the dust ruines of the old ouerthrone Citie is the Seate or Chaire pointed at and painted out by God himself for Antichrist that should come cap. 16. pag. 58 In what respect the assemblies of the Papistes and of Antichrist are called the temple and Church of God wherein answer is made to many of their obiections cap. 17. pag. 67. Of the time of the comming of Anti. and first that it is plainly to be gathered out of the Scriptures that he was not to be reueiled before the Romane Empire should begin to totter and that the kingdome of Christ should by the preaching of the Gospel begin to growe increase cap. 18. pag. 73. Whether Antichrist could come and settle himfelf before the Emperiall regiment of French-men were ended cap. 19. pag. 78. That the time of the comming of Anti. wherein he should seat and settle himself in the Church was by the spirit of God prescicely set downe to be 666. yeres frō the time to this prophecie of Iohn was made known the which terme of time did expire much about the raigne of Constantine Pogonatus the bearded an Emperour of Cōstātinople cap. 20. pag. 80. That those thousand yeres after which it is said Satan should be loosed cannot appertaine to the time of the comming of Antichrist cap. 21. pag. 89. That the practises which were vsed to frame and set vp the kingdome of Antichrist were diuellish and deceiptfull cap. 22. pag. 90. That the Antichristian kingdome was to rise by little little not at a suddaine according to the fore-warning of the spirit of God cap. 23. pag. 93. That these three things were the chiefe and principall grounds of the kingdōe of popery First the diuers heresies that sprang vp in the church touching the natures office of Christ Secondlie the bitter bickerings that were among the Bishops and thirdlie the large bounties of Emperours and certaine other men who both were able and superstitiouslie bent which they bestowed on the Church of Rome cap. 24. pag. 97. By what other degrees and occasions the authoritie of the Romane Bishop and kingdome of Antichrist was either slilie drawne forward or stronglie established cap. 25. pag. 101. That the authoritie and power of Antichrist was at no time receiued without the resistaunce gaine-saying of some good Bishops cap. 26. pag. 104. Of the destruction and ouerthrowe of the kingdome of Antichrist which is to be brought to passe by the only breath of the Lordes mouth and not by any power or strength of a fift sixt or seauenth Monarchie to be raised or looked for cap. 27. pag. 107. What those ten Kings signifie which in the Reuelation are said should deuoure and consume with fire the harlot and her flesh cap. 28. pag. 111. Whether it be lawfull for Christians and such as professe the Gospell to wage war with the Papistes in purpose to ouerthrow the kingdome of Antichrist and to roote out his doctrine cap. 29. pag. 117. That the kingdome of Antichrist shall at the last be quite taken away by the last comming of Christ cap. 30. pag. 121. That the kingdome of Antichrist was to be broken and brought vnder foot by parts pece-meale not at once or in a short time cap. 31. pag. 123 That there is no corruption of Christian Relligion prophecied of which should succede this kingdome of Antichrist cap. 32. eadem Whether besides the fourth and Roman Monarchie there remaine any other a fifth to be erected Where a verie hard place of Daniell is expounded cap. 33. pag. 125. That the enlarging of the kingdome of Antichrist was in imitation of Christ to be performed by these two meanes especiallie namelie the publike preaching of a kinde of Doctrine and the vaunting shewe of diuers miracles cap. 34. pag. 137. Who be those three spirits whereof mention is made in the Reuelation and are said to be the chiefe ministers of the Antichristian kingdome cap. 35. pag. 140. Why the miracles that were wrought for the credit of the kingdome of Antichrist are termed by S. Paule Lying wonders cap. 36. pag. 144. That not euerie perticular man which heretofore liued or is yet aliue either did or doth approue of the kindgome of Antichriste no not when it had preuailed and gotten the vpper hand cap. 37. pag. 147. That only the reprobate and such as are forsaken of God haue and shall stiflie and obstinatelie stick to the kingdome of Antic cap. 38. pag. 148. What iust cause the Lord had to punish the world with this plague of blindenes that it should admit of this miserable state of the Antichristian kingdome and further wbat monstrous contempt of Gods word went before this Antichristianitie cap. 39. pag. 149. An aunsweare vnto three certaine principall arguments of the Papists wherewith they would iustifie them-selues and approoue this saide kingdome of Antichrist cap. 40. pag. 153. A proposition and position proouing the Pope to be Antichriste page 157. FINIS To the Reader THis I may protest gentle reader that touching the places of Scripture which I haue cited and interpreted out of Daniel and the Reuelation my purpose was to offer them to the censure of other and that I am not in mine opinion so resolut or perēptory that I wil not admit of other mens iudgments which iump not herewith Prouided alwaies that they containe nothing contrarie to the word of God or disagreing from the accomplishment or issue of things the which in my mind is the best interpretour of prophecies that can be Places of Scripture cited and by the way expounded in this treatise Daniell Chap. 2. verse 34. and 44. cap. 18. pag. 74. Chap. 7. verse 8. and 20. cap. 13. pag. 50. verse 13. cap. 18. pag. 74. Chap. 11. verse 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. cap. 33. pag. 125. 126. 2. Thess Chap. 2. v. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. through out this booke Reuelation Chap. 11. verse 7. cap. 9. pag. 23. Chap. 12. verse 3. cap. 9. pag. 23. verse 18. cap. 7. pag. 13. Chap. 13. verse 1. 2. 3. cap. 9. pag. 27. verse 11. cap. 9. pag. 23. verse 15. cap. 10. pag. 40. verse 18. cap. 20. pag. 88. Chap. 16. verse 13. 14. cap. 35. pag. 140. verse 16. cap. 19. pag. 65. Chap. 17. verse 9. cap. 16. pag. 59. verse 12. and 17. cap. 23. pag. 93. verse 16. cap. 28. pag. 111. Chap. 19. verse 20. cap. 9.

likewise became sacred free from all men without touch of Beast exempt from cōptroulement lastly one that sets in foote among the decrées and procéedings of other Bishops Touching the inferiour Magistrates of Rome they were the Senate or bench of Aldermen the Lieutenants of Prouinces and such others who had not in their power any Soueraign authoritie of the Empyre but only such Iurisdiction as by way of commission was giuen vnto them from the high Magistrate the Emperour And euen so in the kingdome of Poperie the Cardinalles stood in stead of a Senate or bench of Aldermen for Church matters For they and only they forsooth are sayd to make a Romane Consistorie Then the Archbishops and Bishops were as it were Lieutenaunts of seuerall Prouinces and lastly such other like hauing delegatorie power from the Pope but no supreme authoritie in themselues but fetch it from him whom alone they make the fountaine or wel-spring in whom they say all Ecclesiasticall power doth consist which from him floweth and is deriued vnto others And as for those others they do receiue it from him as riuers from the head in whom all fulnes doth consist Lastly who is so ignorant that seeth not that the distinct offices of Bishops and Metropolitanes touching both their places of residence and liberties of function were deuised in way of imitation of that Romane Empyre insomuch as the Metropolitanes Sea must needs be there where sometimes the Lieutenaunts of the whole Prouinces made their aboad For thus much Anacletus himselfe a Pope of Rome witnesseth in his second Epistle as also all those Canons do the like which are extant 9. quaest 3. in the Popes Decrees So it falleth out likewise in this respect that Antichrist and that Romane route hath set vp agayne the whole Image and resemblance of that Italish and Idolatrous Empyre Let vs talke of Lawes wherein I sayd the third essentiall poynt of politicall regiment consisted The Romane Lawes what kinde of ones they were vnder the Emperours for the descicion of priuate controuersies appeareth out of the Pandects compiled by Tribonian as also out of the Code of Justinian Theodosius and those bookes that are intituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In like sort the Papistical lawes such as were directed for the taking vp and ending of matters in debate were called Decretall Epistles in resemblance of the Emperiall rescripts being indeed nothing else but an imitation repetition poore fourbishing of the very Romane lawes practised vnder the olde Idolatrous Emperours which will appeare euident to as many as shall reade them and euen their owne Canonistes acknowledge no lesse for I will not further inlarge this matter by heaping vp further proofes in this behalfe Thus much therefore touching the essentiall poynts of the Romane pollicie the which in euery respect doth very trimly fit and agree with the regiment and administration practised in the kingdome of Antichrist and Poperie Now let vs take view of those parts which I tearmed accidentall for euen those also are reuiued and set on foote by the Papacie And those accidentarie poynts are especially three as is before specified whereof the first is the Latin tongue Touching which language the Romane Emperours caused it by decree to preuaile and beare rule in all matters iudiciarie insomuch as all sentences definitiue in causes iudiciall euen among such people and nations so farre as the Romish iurisdiction stretched as were vtterly ignorant in that tongue should be deliuered giuen out in the Latin tongue as is to bée seene in the L. praetor D. de re iudicat So likewise in the Papisticall and Antichristian gouernment this tongue only plaies Rex among them although notwithstanding the Greeke and Hebrew are farre to be preferred before it both in respect of worthinesse and for the commendation of antiquitie The second accidentall poynt is the attire of the bodie And as for the attire vsed at Rome it was in olde time of two sorts either common and vsually worne or else proper to certaine personages as Emperours Magistrates and such like The common and publike attire vsed of all was a Gowne and a Cap no Hat whereupon Virgill wrote thus The Romanes rulers of the world were clad in Gownes whereas the Grecians did vse a short Cloake for the attire of their bodies and Corkt shooes for their feete So in the Papacie a Gowne is their garment and a Cap the attire of the head and that as it were a peculiar and proper ornament for their Priests But in the Law of God the Leuites were enioined to weare Hats Exod. 28.40 So then nothing is more common in Popery then a Gowne or more comely and trimme in their opinions To conclude they made accoumpt of a Gowne to be an habite meete only for Worshipfull personages but as for a Cloake they coumpted it vnseemely base and a kind of discredit to weare it euen as on the other side it was sometime highly accoumpted of among the Pharisies as our Sauiour doth signifie Mark 12.38 The officers of Rome being at any time sent with commission into any Prouince went attired with a kinde of Coate-armour * Or an Herehaughts attire which was a garment like vnto a souldiers or trauailers Cloake short and ritchly beawtified by which ensigne as it were of honour Magistrates were discerned from those that were in their retinue or that serued in the Campe. Euen so vnto Metrapolitanes and Arch-bishops in the pride of Popery was alotted by lawe a roabe like vnto a Coape see Titull de vsu pallij in Decretalibus because they forsooth resemble the Lieutenants of seuerall Prouinces who as they had vnder thē many Shires inferiour officers so the Archbishops had vnder thē many Diocesses Bishops whome they call their Suffraganes Lastly other Magistrates of the said Romane Idolatrous Empire as namely the Senatours ware as an ensigne of honour a garment called Latus Clavus which was a roabe powthered with purple studds but as for the vesture called Dalmatica none but the Emperour might weare that So in the Popish prelacie such as beare office in the Church are more venerable persons then the rest haue their Stoales which is a garmēt as like vnto the Senatours Latus Clavus as may be but their Dalmatica as they also tearme it no Clearke of the Church must be so bold as weare it not the Deacons no nor the Bishops themselues without a speciall dispensation from the Bishop of Rome their great Emperour no more then any might weare Purpure the Emperours royall roabe or the Dalmatica saue only such as to whome the Emperour vouchsafed so much by expresse graunt as appeareth Can. communis Dist 23. There remaineth to speake of the place where the Emperours Court and Metropolitanes Chaire were planted That of the Emperours was in Italie and euen in Rome itselfe as beeing then vnlawfull for the Emperours while they remained Idolatrous to keepe the Emperiall Court else-where then in Rome So also

marke the verie wordes of Iohn and yet the Spirit of God in that place speaketh verie simplie and plainely For after he had foretould the state of Antichrist in the sayd 13. Chapter and also described what manner of one he should be he also in plaine sort did set downe the time wherein all those things should be fulfilled namely the yeare 666. which he tearmeth the number of a man that is a plaine number and easie to be knowne not hard to be reckoned euen as in Esay Cap. 8.1 a writing that is plaine and easie is called the penne of a man and in such sort to be coumpted as men vsually in those dayes were accustomed to number And these yeares beginne not at the time of Christes birth but rather of his suffering and from the time of Iohn Therefore the Spirit of God telleth vs that in the supputation of these yeares we must vse the ordinarie and common kinde of reckoning then practised And the reason why the Spirit of God is so carefull about aduertising vs héereof is least when question is made of the comming of Antichrist we should thinke that those yeares were in such sort to be coumpted as in Daniell Cap. 9.25 where the yeares of Christes comming are reckoned by wéekes of yeares for we should be deceiued if we should take that course Truth it is that God would haue the time and comming as of Christ so of Antichrist expressely set downe vnto vs but yet both of them after a diuers manner of reckoning For the time of the comming of Christ was to be coumpted among the Iewes by wéekes of yeares but the time of the comming of Antichrist by a familiar popular and common kinde of numbring such as all men did ordinarily vse For that kinde of coumpting by weekes of yeares is intricate hard and not so familiarly knowne vnto euerie man but this manner of reckoning which is by adding of yeare vnto yeare is vsuall and truly verie playne and common God vsed the former when he dealt with the Iewes among whome the number of seauen was a solemne matter and religiously accoumpted of and who were alreadie accustomed to obserue and coumpt manie things by multiplication of seauen weekes as namely the yeares of Iubile But he vsed this latter beeing more common which is done by adding eache seuerall yeare as it followed in succession vnto that that went next before when he had to doe with the Gentiles among whome the Church was to be planted and with whome that solemnitie of seauens or weekes of yeares were neuer knowne nor practised but only this other common manner whereby they onely added euerie yeare as it followed vnto those that were past and went before Againe the Interpretours of Daniell Cap. 9. bring another reason why God in pointing and limiting out the time of the comming of Christ wherein the great comfort of the Iewes should consist vsed rather the number of seauens namely to the ende that he might compare the time of their exile and banishment which was by the space of seauentie yeares with the time of theyr comfort and his mercie towards them which should ensue which was seauen times seauentie yeares that is 490. which number of yeares those seauentie weekes prescribed by Daniell do amount vnto Then after this sort must we number the yeares coumpt the time of the Beasts comming because the Spirit of God him-selfe doth prescribe vnto vs the same manner whereby it falleth out that that time wherein the kingdome and state of Antichrist began publikely openly and that especially to be framed and set vp in the Church of God was in the yeare after Christ 666. Although withall I am not ignoraunt that after the tyme of Christ there were dyuers kyndes of supputation of yeares in the Church of God while some began to reckon at the conception of Christ others reckon at the gouernment of Alexander and some againe reckon from the first yeare of Dioclesians Empyre but verely I my selfe doe thinke that in this place those 666. yeares are to be reckoned both from the death of Christ and from the time that this prophecie was reueiled in and especially for the more easie and readie reckoning let vs beginne to reckon from the time of Christes suffering so in the 666. yeare after his Passion that blasphemous kingdome of Antichrist whereof the Spirit of God had fore-warned had openly and euerie-where seazed vpon the Church of God Most certaine it is that at that verie time and in that verie yeare the Papisticall and execrable Masse a verie defacing and blotting out of the death of Christ began euerie-where priuately in Churches to be celebrated in the Latin tongue as Bale writeth in the first of his Centuries Cap. 80. namely in the time of Vitalian Bishop of Rome Againe this number 666. limited for the reueiling of Antichrist may seeme to some to be so set by God for that it containeth about the third part of those two thousand yeares wherein some thinke the world shall stand and continue from the time of Christ vnto the ende of the world only there is a little ouer-plus of yeares in this multiplication ouer and aboue the iust number of 2000. and those are to be allowed to this ende and purpose that Antichrist might haue a time wherein he should raigne and after haue a fall But touching this which I haue affirmed of the numbring of 666. yeares how true it is let vs now more attentiuely consider For the issue of things and the accomplishment of the Prophecie it selfe ought to be accoumpted an omni-sufficient witnesse and proofe of mine assertion The which that it may the better appeare this I say and affirme that it is most certayne and out of all controuersie that the strongest bulwarke or rather ground-worke of the Antichristian kingdome began then publikely and in verie deede to be layde and to be reared vp in the midst of the Church when one onely man by the publike consent of Christians began to be called and acknowledged by the name of Byshop of Byshops or Vniuersall Byshop and this began and that by the authoritie and will of the Emperour himselfe about the yeare of our Lord sixe hundred and foure as is manifest out of Chronicles For Boniface the 3. Bishop of Rome was pronounced by the Emperour Phocas as I haue shewed before vniuersall Pope and Bishop of all the world and that with this prerogatiue that this priuiledge to him graunted should continue for euer to his successours being Bishops of Rome and there seated This was done by Phocas in the first yeare of his raigne which is reckoned by all Historiographers to bee the yeare of our Lord 603. Neither did Phocas deale thus liberally with the Romane Bishop for nothing For whereas the said Phocas had villanously murdered his predecessour Mauritius the Emperour by this so bountifull a bribe bestowed on the Romane Bishops who alwaies could do much in the Citie with the people of Rome he

thought vpon the reducing or restoring of the Italian Empire vnto her former dignitie but laboured their vtmost her vtter ouerthrowe for they were barbarous men such as were the Rugians and Gothes who began now openly to beare rule in Italie Now all these Kings of whome I haue spoken raigned almost but an houre that is a verie short time and space yea they raigned and died much about a time in as much as all of them came to the Crowne within little lesse then the compasse of tenne yeares and it may be that the Image thereof I meane the state of Poperie may héerein resemble her * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 platfourme and agrée iompe there-with in hauing her tenne last Popes verie short liu'd for a finall conclusion and ruinous confusion of that kingdome Therefore both the number of the Kings which is specified in the Scriptures and the verie short time of their gouernment confirmeth my interpretation and proueth it to be most true which I had rather follow then that exposition which Primasius giueth of this place vnderstanding by an houre any time whatsoeuer either short or long where-vnto the 8. Chapter verse 1. of the same Reuelation is repugnaunt That these three things were the chiefe and principall groundes of the kingdome of Poperie First the diuers haeresies that sproong vp in the Church touching the natures and office of Christ Secondly the bitter bickerings that were among the Bishops and thirdly the large bounties of Emperours and certaine other men who both were able and superstitiously bent which they bestowed on the Church of Rome The 24. Chapter WHich being so we are now to lay open by what steppes this seate and tyrannie of the Romane Empire stept vp to such a tipe and magnificence and how at last it attained his finall furniture and perfection of building in the place of * Geddon-Harma desolation that is where the sheards and asshes of ruinous Rome were to be found The first and originall ground-workes in laying and establishing the kingdome of Antichrist were three to weete the errours of Heretikes the contentions of Bishops and the superstitious deuotions and excessiue liberalities of Christian Princes for so that their foolish and immoderate largisse bestowed vpon the Church is rather to be tearmed then true deuotions for they were too-too ouer-lasshing and cockering fauourers towards the Church and chiefely the Church of Rome And touching these three causes which I called ground-works of the Antichristian kingdome it may easily be perceiued that they likewise were three mightie and effectuall steps or degrees whereby Antichrist by little and little reared him-selfe vnto that huge and tyrannous power which afterwards he attained And first touching errours in matters of faith and religion truth it is that the Romane Church yea all the Westerne Churches remained more pure and sound then the Easterne and those in Syria by two especiall meanes the one for that in the Weast there were continuall persecutions stirred vp by the Emperours of Rome the other for that the wits of the Westerne men were alwayes more grosse and dull whereby it came to passe that they of the Easterne Churches repayred often in matters of doubt vnto the Church of Rome and required their iudgement and helpe in condemning newsproong Heresies and so by this meanes the credit and estimation of the Bishop of Rome began more and more in wonderfull sort to increase and be highly reputed of in the Church of God for the many and diuers Heresies that then were did not only shake the Christian faith but made it as a matter greatly doubted of among many in the East especiallie where-by also they made readie way for that generall back-sliding which after insued And therefore those Heresies are called by Chrisostome Armies of Antichrist especially such as sprang last whereby bitter contention was raysed and heald repugnaunt to the word of God touching the natures of Christ and of their vnion or lincking together of the office of Christ and of the merits of our workes suche as those were which were stirred vp by Arrius Nestorius Eutyches and Pelagius which Heresies were both most detestable and most forceible to ouerthrowe the vprightnesse of mens iudgements And therefore by this meanes vpon a suddaine the superstition of Mahumetisme began in the East and by occasion of the continuall dissentions that were among the Christians touching such points of Doctrine it was admitted willinglie and preuailed greatlie For the Easterne Churches were now tainted turmoiled and foulie deformed with an infinite number of heresies for looke how many heresies there are about matters of faith and doctrine so many foule blots and blemishes there are in the Christian Churches And truely Chrysost vpon Math. Hom. 49. obserueth very wel that after such time as Theodosius the great had once graunted temples and places of publike assemblies euen vnto heretikes it came to passe that the Churches receiued great deformitie wonderfull increase of heresies Therfore the Churches of the East séeing they had lost all credit and reputation of Christian profession among their neighbours countreymen at home they intreated Symmachus then Bishop of Rome that he would by his censure cōdemne the heresies of Acatius seeing that as then the Easterne Bishops had no such power authoritie ouer their people so also they desired of Agapetus that he would depose Antimus Bish of Constantinople as an heretike And to make short all Ecclesiasticall histories are plentifull in such examples This therefore was the first meanes whereby the kingdome of Antich began to get footing The secōd meanes hereof was the continuall dissentions garboiles brawles wofull contentions of the Bishops among thēselues whereby not only thēselues became odious among men but euen the doctrine of Christ wherof they were the pillers begā to grow into vtter cōtempt These sturs were very cōmon in the Easterne Churches but not so vsuall in the West by meanes of the continuall persecutions that were there for idlenes long rest doth make mē more wanton dissolute whereby it came to passe that the Bishops that were thus molested were glad faine to flie vnto an other Bish of greater coūtenance wherby they might be eased kept frō wrongful dealings offered thē by other Bishops Now as for the Bish of Rome he no doubt by meanes of the famousnes of the City it selfe seemed the most principal who also was ready willing to yéeld his helping hand in the redresse of other Bishops their distressed estates for both Athanasius being put out of his Bishoppricke by the Arrians made his repaire to the B. of Rome as vnto a sure refuge after him Fabianus before him many other did the like as appeareth by histories infinite it were to reckon vp all exampls in this behalf in so much as in processe of time this repaire vnto the Romane Bishops in times of exigence procured him great authoritie among all nations in Christendome and that indéede so