a bare and ragged cloak then in rich Ornaments and Apparel wherefore saith he I pray you my Lord Bishops do not so much contemne your Inferiours for the first that dyed for Christ and opened the way of Martyrdome was no Bishop but a Levite but if we repeat the example of old Councels we shall find that the inferiours were always present with the Bishops in Councels and what is more comely saith he for us to follow then the doctrines and customes of the Apostles as it is said Acts 15. It seemed good to the holy Ghost and to us that is the Apostles and Elders with the Church and the word it seemed good signifieth in this place not only consultation but decision and determination whereby it appears that others besides Apostles or Bishops had determinating voyces in Councels and in another place saith that is Acts the 6. which is spoken to above saith he when the Apostles would intreat of any weighty matter Lay-men a Ministers ought to in Counce with Bish they durst not determine by themselves but the twelve called together the multitude And seeing all things were written for our learning it seem the Apostles would give us example that in such weighty matters we should admit our inferiours as Athanasius in the Councell of Nice who then was but a Priest yet he did manfully withstand the Arrians Also in the Councel of Calcedon which was counted one of the four principall Councels there was present four hundred Priests and we have most evident testimony for inferiours in Councels for the chiefe and principal of all the divines St. Augustine saith upon these words where Christ saith to Peter I will give thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven he saith by these words judiciall power was given not only to Peter but also to the other Apostles and also to the whole Church Bishops and Priests If therefore Priests have a judicial power in the Church what should let but that they also may have determinate voyces in the Councels and Synods and saith he if Abbots who were not instituted by Christ have their determinate voices in Councels as they alwaies have why should not Priests have the same mark here the Councel confesseth that Abbots are not of Christs institution see for this the Acts and monuments of the Primitive Church page 624. Thus you see what the practise of the Apostles was and their admiting of Ministers and Lay-men that were godly and lawfully elected into their councels and which was also practised in ancient councels though since this councel of Nice I do not read that Lay-men have been admitted though hear in this councel of Basill God stirred up this man to contend for the truth but the occasion of this dispute in the councel of Basill was not about Lay-men but the Bishops would have had Priests and Deacons and all excluded from having a determining Vote but onely Bishops and I think they have had it so ever since both in Councels and Synods except it were some of their own creatures that would say as they say but as to the due election of members to be in the councels according to the Apostolical institution that hath been altogether neglected this 1300 years since the councel of Nice through the pride and presumption of Bishops and the prevalence of Antichrist then brought forth by that councel which practise you see is contrary to the Apostles institution and example and is also contrary even to reason and to the practise of Kingdoms in civil affairs as Parliaments that give and make Laws for the Government of the Kingdome in civil affairs they are elected and chosen by the countrey so that what Lawes they make as to the Government of the outward man they are bound to stand to and obey for it is their own act they elected and intrusted them to make such Laws as should be for their wealth and safety And can any man be so bruitish as to think that believers who are the misticall body of Jesus Christ and who alone are the Church in Scripture sense can any man think that Christ would have them excluded from medling with the affairs of the Church which particularly belongs unto them and which Church they are is there not as much reason that they should have their Vote in electing them that are to sit in councels or Synods to make Laws to bind their conscience as to have a vote in electing those in Parliament that make Laws to bind the outward man and are not these examples and practises of the Apostles and first primitive Church in these three several points spoken to above as sure and safe rules to walk by as can be shewed for any other assembly or meetings to make Laws by c. For can it be thought that Jesus Christ would appoint for such a work Necromancers Witches Conjurers Sorcerers Astronomors Simoniacks Sodomites abusers of themselves with mankind incesteous persons and covetous Idolaters Lyers Swearers Judge if these be sit to make Laws for the Church of Christ Sabboth-breakers Murtherers Per jured persons full of Wrath and Strife Mallice and Envy Sedition and Heresie Adulterers Fornicators Drunkards abounding in all the works of the flesh as a great part both of Popes and Prelates have been and are that these and such like should give Lawes to his Church and Spouse that their acts and determinations should be reputed and taken for the acts and determinations of the Church who are not as I have proved in the former part of this Book so much as true members of any particular rightly constituted Church of Jesus Christ in Scripture sence themselves and who never had a right call to their office nor to sit in councel nor Synod according to the Scripture order as is shewed above they came not in at the door but at the window like thieves and robbers that these should make Laws for Christs Spouse to bind their consciences to Superstitious and Idolatrous Observations and will-worship contrary and against the written word of God and by their magnificent outward power and authority to compel men to obedience against their conscience and restraine them from worshipping God according to his own institutions Beloved such wayes and doings as these are not of God consider it in time and lay it to heart for the Lord is a God of Judgement by him actions are weighed and thus all these things said together and justly weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary it will appear that this Apostacy and falling away of the Bishops before the councel of Nice and of the Bishops in the councel of Nice to be the greatest Apostacy and falling away from the institutions and example of Jesus Christ and his Apostles and of the longest continuance that ever was in the world this 1660 years for it is of 1300 years continuance and the greatest evil and mischief it hath produced to the Churches of Jesus Christ for the Arian Herefie is gone
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
Apostle tells us 2 Thes 2.7 That the mystery of iniquity did even then begin to work onely he which now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way I shall shew you what it was that did let and hinder his appearance and then return to our main businesse again Now that which did lett and hinder Antichrists appearance until it was taken out of the way was the Roman Heathen persecuting Emperours that did hinder for Antichrist could not settle himself where he was to have his Throne until they were removed and a Christian Emperour came in place under whom he might have shelter in his minority until he grew up to some strength which Christian Emperour was Constantine the great who besides his defending of Christians from persecution he left Rome holy to the Pope to raign and rule in and himself went to Bezantum which now is called Constantible and settled himself there We read in Revel 6. what fell out in the Churches upon the opening of the six seals I must give you a hint concerning them before I come to the businesse I intend Vpon the opening of the first seal St. John beheld a White Horse and he that sate on him had a Bow and a Crown was given unto him and he went out conquering and to conquer or that he might overcome by this Vision some think is meant the Ministry of the word of God preached by the true Worshippers in the primitive Church next after the Apostles and their Successors Psalm 45.3 4. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O thou most mighty with thy Glory and Majesty ride on prosperously because of truth and meeknesse and righteousnesse for Christ did conquer wonderfully while his Ordinances was kept pure without mixture of humane inventions and institutions and superstitious observations which it may be is the cause why the Ministry doth so little good and doth not work so effectually upon the Hearers as it did in former times And upon the opening of the second seal there appeared a Red Horse and he that sate thereon had power given him to take peace from the Earth and that they should kill one another by which is meant the cruel persecutions blood and war that followed the preaching of the Gospel which is to be understood of the Ten persecutions and I think also what hath happened in every Kingdome since where the Gospel hath prevailed Antichrist and his instruments hath raised war and persecution and sowed sedition and endeavoured to corrupt the Ordinances and to kill men in their souls if they cannot kill their bodies And upon the opening of the third seale there appeared a Black Horse and he that sate upon him had ballance in his hand by which is signified samine and scarcity of Food which for the most part doth follow wars for the contempt of the Gospel brings wars and wars brings famine and it is recorded that about the year 316 there was a grievous Famine c. Vpon the opening of the fourth seal there appeared a Pale Horse and his name that sat on him was death which signifies the Pestilence and other Contagious diseases whereby men are suddenly taken away by death And upon the opening of the fifth seal John in a Vision saw under the Altar the souls of them that were kiled for the word of God and for the testimony which they held erying How long Lord holy and true dost thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth but we must not imagine that these Marryrs have any real desire of revenge for Saints in Heaven are not affected with any such passion but it is rather to be understood that as Abels blood crved for Vengeance Gen. 4.10 So theâ—e Martyrs blood cries for Revenge But Mr. Brightman rather thinks this revenge to signifie their earnest desire of delivering the innocent party from their persecuters which the blood of these soules cries for and the answer that they receive is that they must rest for a little season until their brethren and fellow servants which should be killed as they were meaning under Antichrist were fulfilled for Antichrist was not far of And when he opened the sixth seal there was a great Earthquake and the Sun became black as sack cloth and the Moon became blood and the Stars of Heaven fell to the Earth c. by Earthquake in Scripture is oftentimes signified â—omotions troubles uproars in Commonwealths and alteration of State and Kingdoms as when the Psalmist speaks of the Children of Israel coming out of Egypt Psal 68.8 The Farth was moved the Heavens also dropped at thy presence O God and the Sun became black c. shews that the persecution signified thereby should be very cruel So the Prophet speaking of the destruction of Babylon Isaiah 13.10 The Starrs of Heaven and the Constellations thereof shall not give their light the Sun shall be darkned in his going forth and the Moon shall not cause her light to shine And Ezek. 32.7.8 I will cover the Heavens and make the Stars to be dark I will hide the Sun in a Cloud and the Moon shall not make her light to shine all the lights that shine in the Heavens will I make dark upon thee and will bring darknesse upon thy Land saith the Lord God Aretas reports out of the works of Andreas that many said this Earthquake was taken for the persecution until the coming of Antichrist and that thus the Scriptures are wont to speak of any notable change by the name of an Earthquake and he said truly only he mistook the time af Antichrist coming For Mr. Brightman saith by this Earthquake is to be understood that persecution which was more cruel then any that was before it which fell out in the raign of Diocleasian and Maximinian the last two persecuting Emperours about the year 300. and by the stars falling in this book of the Revelation is ment the Ministers and Pastors of the Church who are called stars for the shining light of the Gospel which they Minister while they preserve the doctrine of the Gospel pure from Heresie and the discipline from mingling it with the inventions of men are compared to stars and by the stars falling from Heaven is meant their falling from the sincerity of their profession to Heresie Superstition or Idolatry either in Doctrine in Discipline or Practise and many did fall about this time through the rage of these two parsecutors who endeavoured to rout out Christianity and the Scriptures by the Roots and published their Proclamations that the Books of Scriptures should be burned in the Market place we saw saith Eusebius with these very eyes the holy and divine Scriptures perish in the very Fire where they were thrown The Scriptures for it's glorious light may well be compared to the Sun and here you see how this Sun the Scriptures was darkned in this Earthquake and consumed with fire in this persecution a City in Phrygia wholy inhabited with Christians the
unto you but you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your God nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you the reason was because Gods answer did not sute with their former Resolutions therefore they told the Prophet he spake falsly the Lord had not sent unto him to say unto them go not into Egypt and thus it was with many men as to the answer of their prayers when they are intended before that such a thing they will do and then they go to prayer to seek direction from God and it may be for once God answers by some notion in prayer contrary to their intended purpose as he did Balaam the first time but they will not take this for an answer because it suits not with their mind but have a hankering the other way and will yet go again as Balaam did and seek for divinations and trie conclusions again and again as Balaam did and then oftentimes they are encouraged to go on in their own way to their own hurt and thus it fares oftentimes with men and women seeking of Wives or Husbands First They resolve what they will doe and then they will pray to God for direction and ask friends advise when they are resolved for what they will doe let God and Friends advise and do what they will I know some hath smarted for so doing this is a point ought well to be regarded by all men in every weighty undertaking Again he saith in his Epistle to the Reader That if the Presbyterian can give him satisfaction that he is mistaken he will willingly recant and be sorry for his error but withal he saith he assures himself that the Beast with all his power and the false Prophet with all his skill shall not be able to do it that is to give him satisfaction that he is mistaken I answer that in these very expressions of his is proved the truth of what I have writ above that many men first resolve what they will doe and then they will by prayer seek direction from God and from friends so here the Bishop promises that if the Presbyterian can give him satisfaction that he is mistaken he will recant but he is resolved and assured before hand that they shall not give him satisfaction with all their power and skill And it cannot be expected that the beast or false prophet will ever shew the Bishop his mistake for in so doing Antechrist the Pope who is the beast or false prophet should act against himself to the ruine of his own kingdom nay the beast will rather stroke his head and hug him as we use to say as the Divel hug'd the Witch for the good service he hath done him in taking so much pains to excuse him that we should not think him to be the Antichrist and when he dies he will cannonize him with Thomas Becket for another English or Welsh Saint But to deal engeniously and truly with you though I confess I have heard some of every sort preach yet was I never united and joyned in Church-fellowship neither with Presbyterian Independent Anabaptist or Lay-preacher as yet and therefore being I am none of them I will endeavour in the strength and by the assistance I hope of the Spirit of God to shew you your mistake and if you be so wedded to your own opinion that you will not be satisfied yet it may perhaps satisfie some others and then my labour will not be lost therefore I am resolved to put it to the triall yet it cannot be expected that I should answer every particular whimsey and cavill that is in his book for there is much Greek and Latine in it and I was never so great a Scholler as to understand either Greek or Latine and therefore I must intreat the Christian Reader to bear with my weakness if I doe miscall some words or not spell them right and endeavour to pick out the sense Neither will I answer all nor half of what he hath writ in English but so much as I think may give satisfaction to the impartial Reader to judge whether the Bishop or I be most mistaken And as I said above we will in the first place see what the Scriptures say as to this business to shew who is Antichrist c. It is said in the 1 John 2.18 as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come Marks to know Antichrist by even now there are many Antichrists that is all that walk contrary to Christs instituted Ordinances or his Commandements and Precepts in their practice and conversations these act against Christ and so are Antichrists But these are not the Antichrists here spoken of that should come though he speaks of many inferiour Antichrists that was then but it may be demanded where or from whom did they hear of the great Antichrist that was to come and what other answer can be given but that they heard of him in the Scriptures the word of truth where he is spoken of under other names which is given him as so many marks and characters to know him by and if you can finde any man that fits in such a Throne where one succeeds another in the same Throne and government acting the same things we may undoubtedly conclude that this is he as what is said Revel 17. of his seat upon seven hills or mountains interpreted by the Angels of the Ten Kings that should give their power and authority to the Beast c. of him that reigns in the great City that raigns over Kings of the earth and that exalts himself above all Magistrates which are called Gods as 2 Thes 2. and that is called the man or that man of sin the Mitre of iniquity he whose coming is after the working of Satan and with all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse and teacheth the Doctrine of Divels with many other like Characters to know him by c. I will begin with this last Text I named 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. Now the spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Divels speaking lies in Hypocrisie having their Conscience seared as with a hot Iron forbidding to Marry and commanding to abstaine from Meat c. Some shall depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits by seducing spirits I understand the Ministers of the Gospel that fell from the truth to Errour and Heresie and Mr. Brightman saith That about the time of Constantine the great there was many Pastors of the Church that fell from the truth at which very time Antichrist had his birth or first appearance as shall appear by and by for this Text and 2 Thes doth so discribe him that he that runs may read that this is he First He is said to be a seducing spirit and teaches the Doctrine of Divels forbidding Marriage that he shall work with all deceivablenesse of unrighteteousnesse in them that perish c And thus
souldiers compassed it about and burnt it to Ashes and the Men Women and Children that were in it and besides the demolishing of Churches and burning the Scriptures and Slaughter and other Tortures of Christians there came forth another Prolamation to attath the Governours and Pastors of Churches and compell them to sacrifice to Idols here many held out manfully and suffered Martyrdome others with terrour were like blocks and became feeble and out of heart at the first onset saith Eusebius in his Eighth Book Chap. the Third so that the whole Church was covered over with blacknesse that it did scarce appeare any where And now follows the last act of this Tragedy in the 15 and 16 verses of this 6 Chapter of the Revelations And the Kings of the Earth and the great Men and rich Men and the chiefe Captains and the mighty Men and every bond Man and every free Man hide themselves in Dens and the rocks of the Mountains and said unto the Mountains and Rocks fall on us and hide us from the Face of him that sits upon the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is coming and who shall be able to stand And here we have reason to stand admiring at the wonderful grace and mercy of God who by his spirit in his servant John 1. hath so punctually set down these passages throughout the whole Revelation whereby we may find out the great Antichrist the man of sin and when he first appeared in the world for all these passages relate to Antichrists appearance as Aretus said though he missed of the time for observe here in the fight of these calamities how Jesus Christ the Lamb that sits upon his Throne put forth his divine power from Heaven and suddenly alayes these Tempests that these persecuting Emperours and Nobles should flie at his appearance for what other thing could it be that forced these two Tyrant Emperours Diocleasian and Maximinian when they both were at the top of honour and so raging mad with desire to root out Christianity that they both should so suddenly and voluntarily put themselves out of their Empires and betake themselves to a private life Eusebius in his 8 Book Chap. 14. and Ignatius to the same purpose saith that it is a marvellous matter and to this time the like unknown that both these Emperours should give up their Empires and return to a private life being not opprest with old age nor difficulty and greatness of matters but some impute it to Frensie and Nicephorus saith it was rage and madnesse because they saw they took pains in vain to root out Christianity but they mistook the matter for we may learn from these Texts that the true and real cause was only this that the Lamb that sits upon his Throne and who is the deliverer of his Church did smite them with inward terrour wounding them with the sting of conscience for their wickednesse and with fear of Gods vengeance that they were ready to cry to the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb and as he is a Lamb to his Church so he is a Lyon the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah who when he begins to reckon with his Enemies he will teare them in pieces and rent the Gall from the Liver and accordingly the Lamb shewed himselfe a Lyon in this respect and smote the chiefest of these persecuting Emperours Maximinius as Eusebius saith in his 8 Book and Chap. 17. That a plague from above light on him The dreadful Judgement of God upon the persecutors First taking root in his flesh and after proceeded even unto his soul for there arose in the secret parts of his body an impostume or running sore afterwards in the lower parts of his privities a botch corrupt boyle with a fistula whence issued corrupt matter eating up the inward bowels and an unspeakable company of Lice swarmed out with such a stinck that the Physicians were not able to abide it nor able to help with any Physick therefore they were cruelly executed and the Tyrant in this loathsome condition died Dioclesian in like manner pined away with diseases and Maximinian hanged himself and you must think though Histories mention it not that these three Emperours did not feel the stroke of Gods hand alone but as the Text saith The chief Captains so also the great Men and rich Men and bond-men and free were all driven to their wits end with this stroke that they were ready to cry to the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb for some write that besides the pining diseases that Dioclesian had to hid himselfe from the Lambs wrath he drank poyson and Gelerius ran into the bottom of the River Tyber to hid himself Thus these Heathen persecuting Emperours which hindred the great Antichrists coming to his Throne 2 Thes 2.7 being as the Apostle saith taken out of the way Constantine the great a Christian Emperour came in their place about the year of Christ 306. this Emperour put an end to the Heathen persecution That which hindred was removed he sent out his edicts to encourage the Christian Assemblies and to build the Churches the former Tyrants had caused to be demolished but after a while now the Churches having rest the Bishops were set on Fire by spiteful contentions among themselves striving for dignities and preheminence and also about several points of the Christian faith it is conceived by some that what is said Rev. 8.3 Of the Angell with the golden Viol that offered odors with the prayers of the Saints upon the Golden Altar which was before the Throne that this is meant of such as were souâ—d in the Faith that their prayers was to this effect that it would please God who had so wonderfully appeared for his Church and people in removing the persecuting Emperours that he would not suffer the truth which now for a short time had triumphed to be clouded againe by the pride and contention of the Bishops c. but that some way might be found out to establish the truth and that those that did outwardly professe themselves to be of the houshold of Faith and yet made such dissention in the Church that some way might be found out to stay such strife and controversies and indeed Constantine the Emperour used his endeavour to calm and quiet these contentions for besides the Epistle I mentioned before that he wrote to the Bishop of Rome that Cecilianus Bishop of Carthage and the ten Bishops that were against him and ten Bishops more that he should chuse of his side c. should meet before the Bishop of Rome about that controversie he also write another Epistle to Christus Bishop of Syracusa where he intimates to him that he had commanded divers Bishops out of sundry Provinces to meet at the City of Orleance where he requires him also to
be that such things as was in difference might be ended he also writ another Epistle to Alexander Bishop of Alexandrea about contentions that arose in that Church But notwithstanding the Emperours godly endeavours these contentions ceased not but rather increased whereupon he called the Councel of Nice in which Council after they had determined the businesse about the Co-essentiall nature of the second person in the Trinity and made the confession of Faith against the Arian Heresie They addresse themselves to make Canons whereby the Ecclesiasticall Discipline should be governed where the Bishop of Rome was made Primate and Metrapolitan of the first See and that the Bishop of Alexandria should have power over all the Churches of Egypt or Libea and Pentapolis because the Bishop of Rome had the like priviledge and so the Church of Antioch and others every one had their honour and dignity appointed them and what other Bishops and Churches should be under their Jurisdiction c. Now Josealil to the Reader whether here began not all the misery where they thought to end it so great difference there is between the ways of God and the ways of men for here at this time was the very first birth of Antichrist the Bishop and Pope of Rome the Primate and Metrapolitan of the first See this was his beginning for the Bishops before the council by their contentions and the Bishops in the council both falling away and departing from the sincerity of the Gospel and from the institutions of Christ and his Apostles and making new officers and orders in the Church with new titles of Primacy and Metrapolitans and Diocesans with a number more that depend upon them as is shewed in the former part of his book one hundred and fifty by name Here was the birth of Anrichrist of severall Titles and Religious Orders now in the Church of Rome and not one of them of Jesus Christ nor his Apostles institution but all of humans invention without any president precept or example or any Text in the New Testament to ground them upon the original and chief Titles of all was devised and decreed in this council for making the Pope of Rome Primate and Metrapolitan of the first fear from this Title and Jurisdiction then given him he took occasion thereby from that very time to advance himself and to claim authority over all other Churches and as I said above Antichrist had his conception long before for Rome being the chief City of the Empire and above all other Cities so the Bishop of Rome thought to be above all other Bishops and the Apostle tells us 2 Thes 2.7 That the mystery of iniquity did even then begin to work in his time Antichrist had this conception then and he grew biger and biger in the womb of the Church until this Council sate and then this Council was as the Midwise to his birth to bring him forth and so by the power he received by that decree he was nursed up and grew stronger and stronger until the year 606 and then he came to the full strength of a man or rather a Beast for so the Scriptures terms him Rev. 17. And the man of sin 3 Thes 2.4 For then he obtained the Title of universal Bishop and after in the year 684. he obtained to be called Christs Vicar so that now he was armed with Titles and Authority to make him the complear Antichrist to act against Jesus Christ so as never none before him nor since did nor could do for none had the like Authority Power and Preheminence as this Council of Nice gave unto him and that by their falling away and departing from the Apostolical institutions and Gospel puriey so that from the time of this Council every age grew more corrupt then the former as shall appear in several particulars For first Whereas in the first Primitive Church according to the appostolical institutions Bishops or Pastors and other Officicers of the Churches they were elected and chosen by the believing Church or Churches to whom they were to officiate for we see the Apostles themselves even when they were altogether in Council had more authority then ever any man or council had since yet durst not they as Arelatenses said in the council of Basill they durst not nor would not take the power that belonged to the believing Church from them no not to appoint inferiour officers of the Church much lesse Bishops or Pastors as you may see Acts the 6.2 c. The Twelve called the multitude of the Disciples unto them and said look ye out seven men among you of honest report full of the Holy Ghost and Wisdome whom we may appoint over this businesse and the saying pleased the whole multitude and they chose Steven a man full of faith and of the holy Ghost and Philip c. The salling away from Gospel institutions whom they set before the Apostles and when they had prayed they laid their hands on them and the word of God increased and the number of the Disciples multiplied that is they multiplyed while they walked in Gods way in divine institutions but this way the Bishops before and also the council of Nice were fallen away from and then and ever since Bishops or Pastors and other Officers of the Churches are not elected and chosen by the believing Disciples of the Churches but are chosen by Money and Friendship as Pope _____ before mentioned sould for Money three hundred of the best Benefices in England at once unto the Romans to place their Friends and Children in Thus you see what the falling away of these Bishops and council from the Apostolical institutions brought to passe together with their new devised Titles and Jurisdictions given to Bishops c. Secondly As the Bishops and after the council were fallen away from the Apostical institution as to the election of Inferiour Officers of the Church so also they were fallen away from the order of electing of Bishops or Pastors of the Church you shall see this in Acts the first when they were to chuse one in Judas place Acts 1.15 In those dayes Peter stood up in the middest of the disciples and said the number of the names were about an hundred and twenty men and brethren this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled which the holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas which was guide to them that took Jesus c. wherefore of these men that have accompanied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out amongst us beginning from the Baptisme of John unto the same day that he was taken up from us must one be ordained to be a witnesse with us of his resurrection and they appointed two that is I conceive 120 of the Church as they did the Deacons Act. 6. The Church elected and appointed two Josephs called Barsabas who was surnamed Justas and Matthias and they prayed that is the Apostles and the
120 and said Thou Lord which knowest the hearts of all men shew whether of these two thou hast chosen that he may take part with this Ministry and Apostleship and they gave forth their Lots and the Lot fell upon Matthias and he was numbred with the Eleven Apostles mind this beloved Christian Friends for thus it appears by these two places that by the Apostolical institutions Bishops ought first to be elected by the believing Churches to whom they are to officiate and to elect two or more and bring before other Bishops who have been elected in like manner and then after prayer and supplication to God their Lots to be given out Election and Lots would end all strife that God who knows the hearts of all men may make his choice which he in his wisdome knows is most fit for that office for the Lot is cast into the Lap but the whole disposing thereof is from the Lord Prov. 16.33 And also the Holy Ghost saith Prov. 18.18 The Lot causeth contention to cease and parteth between the mighty if this order were observed our contentions would cease if Bishops and other Church Officers were elected and chosen according to the Apostles institutions then every man would think himself bound in conscience to own and obey them which perhaps do now think otherwise because the Gospel order is not observed for since the falling away of the Bishops before the council of Nice and the falling away of the council of Nice from the Apostolical institutions and first primitive purity and their making and giving of new Orders and Officers in the Church with new Titles and Jurisdictions which was never of Christs institution nor never heard of nor known in the first primitive Church and which is the very falling away the Apostle speaks of 2 Thes 2 3. which was to make way for the great Antichrist whereby he was not only brought forth to the birth but hath been nursed up until he came to his full growth and so hath continued this 1300 years and hath been the occasion of all the slaughter blood and burnings vexation and martyrdome that hath befallen the Christian Churches to this daâ— by falling away from the Apostles institutions and setting up Bishops and others for Money and favour of Friends and those to whom they should officiate that ought to elect and chuse them to their offices and after been confirmed by the Supreme Magistrate they are rejected and cast off and Gods ways and institutions rejected and neglected and mens humane inventions and institutions is followed and practised and this hath been and is the cause of difference And thirdly they fall away from the Apostolical institution of electing members to sit in council for though it belong to the Supreme Magistrate to call a council or Sâ—nod and to order the time and place for their meeting and sitting ye I have not found in all that I have read in my life that either this council of Nice or any other council or Synod since that the members that sate were elected and chosen according to the Gospel order and institution so that it seems the falling away of the Bishops by their pride and covetousnesse mallice and envy contention and strife which occasioned the calling of this councell together with the falling away of the councel by their acting and decreeing so contrary to the Apostles institutions as is said above and also the members sitting in Councel not being elected to sit according to the Apostles example in the like case and the practise of the first primitive Church who can deny but this was the greatest falling away that ever hath been since the Apostles days unto this day considering as we shall hear after the things that followed after and doth still continue occasioned by this their falling away And that the Members of this Councel nor of any other Councel or Synod since as farre as I can learne was not elected nor chosen according to the institutions and example of the Apostles and first Primitive Churches it will appear very plain from Acts 15. that the believing Church as is shewed above by the Apostles order had their votes in electing and chusing First Of Bishops Acts 1. Secondly Of Inferiour Church-officers Acts 6. Thirdly Of Members to sit in Councel as here Acts 15. The Apostle Paul and Barnabas who I dare say had as much Authority and more and more lawfully called to their Authority then any Pope and Prelate in the world Members of Synod ought to be elected yet durst not they when the difference fell out in the Church of Anteoch about which they had no small disputation go to the Councel about that question without a lawful call until they were lawfully elected and chosen by the believers the Church of Antioch as ver 3. They determined that is the Church determined to send Paul and Barnabas and certain other of the brethren to go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders Mark here the Elders sate in Councel with the Apostles about this question which was such another question as was disputed in the Councel of Nice but neither Paul nor Barnabas nor the other members of the Church would offer to go until they were elected and appointed by the Church to go and when they came to Jerusalem they were received of the Church and of the Apostles and Elders where you see the Apostles and Elders are not here called the Church as some do vainly think that the Apostles and Elders are the Church they indeed are members of the Church but not the Church it self for here the Church is spoken of distinctly from the Apostles and Elders they were received of the Church that is of the Congregation or body of believers and of the Apostles and Elders and thus our Nineteenth Article of the Church of England discribes the visible Church of Christ to be a Congregation of faithful men c. But I have discoursed more largely of this in the former part of this book and therefore will say no more here And it cannot be doubted but these brethren of the Church of Antioch though Laymen that were elected by the Church of Antioch to go with Paul and Barnabas to the councel at Jerusalem but they were permitted to sit in councel with the Apostles and Elders that as well as to acquaint the councel with the state of the Church that had elected and sent them so also that their vote and conscience might go along in the determination and according to this Arelatenses disputing against Lodovicus and Paenormetan in the Council of Basill saith that the dignity of Fathers is not to be respected in the Council but onely reason nor any thing more to be looked after then Truth neither saith he will I prefer a lye of a Bishop though he be never so great before the Truth of a poor Priest neither ought a Bishop to disdaine if a man be unlearned for wisdome dwelleth oftner under
and other Herefies are gone but the effects of this falling away continues still O ye Christian Princes An admonition to Christian Princes into whose hands God hath put the Sword of Justice you see by what is said above that there is an absolute necessity of a Reformation according to the word of God and you bear not the Sword for nought O therefore set upon this good work of Reformation happy and blessed will he be both by God and Men that first begins an effectual Reformation God expects your endeavours in it for he works by means and you are the persons prophesied of that must do it Rev. 17.16 and who knows how near this prophesie is to be fulfilled For her Plagues shall come suddenly Rev. 18.8 and the holy Ghost shewes the reason why it shall so come to passe For strong is the Lord that judgeth her therefore whatsoever your hands finde to do do it with all your might for cursed is he that doth the work of the Lord negligently Try all things by the word of God so as nothing may be done against the word as it is in our 34 Article of the Church of England For it is not lawfull saith the 20 Article to ordain any thing that is contrary to the word of God written nor it hath neither strength nor authority saith the 21 Article unlesse it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture and the good Lord direct you according to that rule for then you will have the prayers and assistance of many Thousands whose hearts now are made sad because of these abominations But yet a word or two more to shew how great this Apostacy and falling away of the Bishops was before the councel of Nice Alexander Bishop of Alexandria wrote in an Epistle to his brethren and fellow Ministers through the Churches after this manner But in as much as Eusebius now Bishop of Nicomedea supposeth the whole state of the Church to be under his Jurisdiction by which you may see what contention and strife there was amongst them for superiority and preheminence and for that he is become the Patron and Ringleader of Apostacies I think it necessary c. The first Book of Socrates Chap. 3. And this was a little before the councel of Nice which falling away of the Bishops appears further by the Testimony of Constantine the Emperour for besides his Epistles I have already spoken of which shews that the Bishops contentions was the cause of calling the councel of Nice and the next day after the councel met the Emperour in the councel made an Oration and exhorted them to concord and agreement and to remove from their minds all private malice and grildge which they had one towards another for divers of them had accused one another and the day before had put up Libels to the Emperour against one another See Socrates first book Chap. 5. See also Chap. 22. At another councel at Tyrus where thus he writes Verily I know not what matters Assembly through Tumult and Troublesome stirre hath decreed Methinks the truth it selfe you have in a manner subverted The Apostacy of the Bishop a very great Apostacy by means of your Hurleburly and kindled heat of contention for you prosecute your private spite and hatred one towards another and seem to neglect the service of God and furtherance of truth and after he chargeth them that seeme to maintaine the holy Misteries of Christs Church that they do practise nothing else but that which breedeth discord and discention to be short that which tendeth to the utter overthrow and destruction of mankind by all which it doth manifestly appear that this Apostacy and falling of the Bishops and the councel was a very exceeding great falling away from the Apostles institutions and example and most like of any to be that very falling away that the Apostle spake of 2 Thes 2.3 With the which the great Antichrist and man of sin should be ushered in So that it is manifest all the evil and misery that hath befallen the Christian Churches ever since by the prevalency of the Pope the great Antichrist came in by the falling away of the Bishops What evil the Decree of Nice producued and by the falling away of the Councell for that decree of Lord Primats Metrapolytans and Lord Diocesans c. and giving them such large Jurisdiction and Authority over others their equals though they might pretend that these should sit as in so many watch towers to oversee the rest and to keep out Heresie and Schisme but how fair a pretence soever they or any else can devise to excuse their doings it may teach us how dangerous a thing it is to step aside out of Gods way for their decree being a humane instituion and a falling away from the institutions of the Apostles as you heard above the event that it produced was not only the bringing in of Antichrist but a multitude of Heresies more and the increasing of those Heresies that then was I think you may easily read the sin in the punishment as you shall hear anone for Eusebius Bishop of Necomedia and Theognis Bishop of Nice and Marris Bishop of Calcedone c. all Arian Bishops they also were enabled and authorized by this decree of this councel with such power and jurisdiction in their Provinces over inferiour Bishops c. that they compelled the other Bishops to side with them or else they cast them out that in short time this Heresie overspread a great part of the Christian World for they called Synods and councels in their own jurisdictions and condemned and excommunicated the Orthodox Bishops and Pastors the other party again condemned and excommunicated them so that these councels and Synods cursed and excommunicated one another as I have shewed in the former part of this book of above Twenty councels that cursed and excommunicated one the other And Athanasius who was a great stickler in the Nicen councel in making that decree he felt the effect of what it produced for he was five or six times banished into Exile and forced by Hereticks to fly for to save his life and thus persecution began again for many tumults and bickrings there was and great slaughter made and cruel Tortors and Torments devised and executed upon such as would not be of their side so that the persecutions is said by some to be as cruel as the former only it had changed the name for the former persecutions was by Heathens and this was by pretended Christians thus it appears in part what misery that decree and falling away from the Gospell institutions did bring forth for it furnished the Pope with authority to make him the Antichrist he took occasion from these broyls and discentions to hear and determine causes of both sides whereby he ever after clamed a Supremacy over all other Churches and at last attained it that decree also furnished and inabled Arians Masidonians Novisians and
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
and to furnish him with such authority as the falling away of the Bishops and the councel of Nice hath furnished him withal for the Arian falling away was palpable and known to the world therefore men were more shie of it neither would it serve Antichrists turne to shelter himself under it for Antichrist was to be one that should pretend to truth but by deceit now this falling away of the Bishops and the councel fitted them to the life for they as he pretended to the truth and as grosse as their actings and falling away was comparing it with the Gospel institutions as above from which they fell yet few hath discerned it if they have they have been so over-powred that they durst not mutter against it and the acts of that councel hath been cryed up as lawful acts of a lawful councel whereas you see by these four Scriptures above mentioned neither was the councel lawful nor their act lawful and so undiscernably it was the bringer forth of Antichrist that man of sin and son of perdition which hath been 1300 years in the world and yet was so covertly brought forth that men will not yet believe he is come The next Text I shall treat of for the discovery of the great Antichrist is Rev. 9. For I shall but give a hint at some of the chief ver 1. And the fifth Angel blew the Trumpet and I saw a Star fall from Heaven unto the Earth and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit and he opened the pit and there arose a smoke out of the pit as the smoke of a great furnice and the Sun and the Air was darkned by the smoke of the pit and out of the smoke came forth Locusts upon the Earth and to them was given power as the Scorpions of the Earth have power and in the 11 ver it is said That they have a King over them which is the Angel of the bottomlesse pit whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in the Greek Apollyon which Expositors say doe both signifie destroying By a Star falling from Heaven to Earth is meant some eminent person in the Church falling from heavenly things to earthly things which some think is meant of some Master of an Heresie but Joachimus Abbas thinks it to be some Clergy-man and both is true and may easily be found in one man namely the Pope of Rome the great Antichrist for he is both a Clergy-man and a Master of Heresie yea and of more Heresies then ever one man was Master of For as I have proved in the first part the present Religion of the Church of Rome is composed of above forty several Heresies and this Star falling from Heaven to earth cannot so fitly be compared to any man upon the earth as to the Pope for this Trumpet is thought to blow about the year 607. at which time Pope Boneface the Third obtained of Phocas the Traytor and Murthering Emperour who murthered his master granted the Pope to be called universal Bishop to get the Popes favour to help to uphold him in his usurped Throne of Murther and he again as a requiral confers upon the Pope this usurped and Heretical Title of universal Bishop over all other Churches other preceding Popes had been striving long to obtain that dignity of universal Bishop but could not obtain it till now also John Bishop of Constantinople sought for it upon which account Gregory the great did write in his Fourth book Epistle the 34. By this pride saith he what thing else is signified but that Antichrist is at hand and again in the same book saith he The King of pride meaning Anâ—â—christ is near coming to us and which is not lawful to be spoken there is an Army of Priests ready to fight his battels that is these Locust here spoken of that when the Pope the fallen Star opened the bottomlesse pit the Locusts came out of the smoke of the pit which is these Priests Gregory saith should fight Antichrists battels for when the Poâ—e received this Title of Universal Bishop he also received the Key of the bottomless pit to let out these Locusts for now his authority and jurisdiction was inlarged I hope Gregory being a Pope himself and in a manner prophesied of this but about three or 4 years before it came to passe methinks Bishop Williams and others might give some credit to it seeing it did come to passe so soon after and should not thus fight against the truth as he doth c. The Key was given to the Pope after this manner the Emperour by his Edict decreed that the Pope of Rome should have full power to call and dismiss Synods to confirm or abolish whatsoever was decreed in the Synods at his pleasure and that the City of Rome should be the head-sâ—ring from whence all Ecclesiastical government and orders should issue and how forth whereas before that Constantinople was so accounted because there the Emperour had his feat unto whom those prerogatives did formerly belong as Pompon letus saith in the history of Phocas Antichrist hath the Keys of Hell not of Heaven and what was there then that this Key could not open after he had received this power there was other Popes that fell before this as lesser Stars we may count them because their fall was not so great Antichrist was but then in his groth but now he was grown up to his full Stature This Pope was the great Star to whom the Key of the bottomlesse pit was given for now he was furnished with compleat Authority every way to do all the works that belonged to Antichrist to do he brags indeed that he hath the Keys of the Kingdome of Heaven but you see the Holy Ghost tells us that he hath the Keyes of the bottomlesse pit of Hell and calls him the King of the Locusts which come out from thence and so he is for all the rabble of the popish Clergy are at his command for when the order of Jesuits which doth exceed the rest for Learning c. were confirmed it was ordained that they should be at the Popes command to undertake any service that he should require of them in any Kingdome and that readily and willingly without puting him to any charge or asking a question or reason of the thing commanded this shews his Kingly power over these Locusts for as Solomon saith Who may say unto the King what doest thou thus you see how lively the Holy Ghost hath set forth the Pope by what his practise now is to be the King of the bottomless pit see for proof of this Christianus Franken Colloq Surius and Hospinian This King of pride Antichrist the Pope he opens the bottomlesse pit and there arose the smoke of the pit Mr. Brightman saith by this smoke is meant the over-spreading of Heresie both in Doctrine and Superstition in Worship and we may well take the words in that sense for as a great smoke doth darken the
Sun and the Air so corruption in Doctrine and Superstitious Idolatrous worship doth darken and Eclips the heavenly light of Gods truth and there was never in the world such a great over-spreading Heresie as popery is as is proved before that the present Church of Rome is both Heretical Blasphemous and Idolatrous there was some smoke and darkness before the Councel of Nice The Pope of Rome the greatest Hererick in the world among the Bishops and in the Councel of Nice an Heresie in falling away from the institutions and example of Christ and his Apostles but now the smoke and darknesse grew both thicker and spread further by reason of this universal Title and Jursdiction obtained by Phocas the Traytor and Murtherer it was unlikely to be any profit to the Church of Christ that was brought forth by such an instrument indeed the Councel of Nice laid the foundation hereof but the Popes were never able to accomplish what they desired and aimed at until now and from this time the smoke and darknesse grew Thicker and Thicker for this Popes next Successor Pope Boneface the 4th The Temple called Pantheon Dedicated to all the Heathen Gods this abominable stye of wickednesse this Pope converted to the honour of all Saints and ordained a yearly Feast to be kept to it and to exercise the same impiety as the Heathens had done but under another name but no more command or precept in the word of God for the one then for the other and therefore no more pleasing to God and as the Heathen had their Idoll Gods to pray unto so these had their Idol Saints to pray unto to whose honour the Idol Temple was appointed c. Then come in the shaving of Crouns the Chanting in Quires the forbidding of Priests marriage the Lattine Masse and Kissing of the Pax and soon after the varnishing of Images with a number more the like whereby the smoke and darknesse increased more and more the next Successour to this Pope Theodotus and decreed that parents who had been witnesses together to any Children in Baptisme should not live any longer together in marriage but must be separated and the Woman have her Dowry againe and a year after have liberty to Marry another this was a strange kind of incesse by means of a spiritual Kindred being witnesses together in Baptisme which the Pope found out that God had no knowledge of when he made Lawes concerning incesse and unlawful Marriages Levit. 18. Boneface the 5th which was the next Pope that succeeded after him added to these That men are delivered by Christ from Originall sin which is the Doctrine of some of the Anabaptists he added moreover That the Law doth require no more of a man then what he is able to perform by his own strength or at least by the help of Gods grace And the next that succeeded was Pope Honorius who was censured by the third Counsel of Constantinople to be a Monothelite that is to ascribe onely one will and one nature unto Christ Thus you see after the receiving of the Key of the bottomlesse pit what a smoke came out under these five popes after one an another and so continued whereby the darknesse did so increase that the light of the Sun of the Gospel is almost quite obliterated and put out to be short it came to this at lasts to bring every mans neck under this yoak that every soul that meant to be saved ought to professe the form of the Romish Traditions and to acknowledge the decrees of the Pope were to be received and believed as if they had been confirmed by a divine voice c. And there came out of the smoke Locusts upon the earth and what are these but all the whole crue or spawne of Religious orders in the Church of Rome of which I have named in the former part of this book one hundred and fifty orders and all of humane invention and institution for the brood must be like the dam for after men attributed their salvation to their own meritorious works and new devised ways of will-worship there was daily new Religions and new Religious orders and ways of worship invented all men desire salvation and when once they were perswaded by their Leaders that it was in their own power in observing such things as they could easily perform there could be no Superstition devised from which they would hold back their hands so that one man is not more commonly begotten of another then these orders of locusts were increased and multiplyed and one order divided into several branches out of this smoke to such members that one general of the Minorites promised the Pope towards the leavying of an Army against the Turks thirty thousand tall Warriers out of the family of Franciscans what an infinite number was there then of all the rabble of other orders These kind of Vermin are called Rev. 16.13 Three unclean spirits like Froggs coming out of the mouth of the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet they are the spirits of Divels working miracles and which go unto the Kings of the earth to gather them to battel c. The Dragon that is the Devil by which was understood the Heathen Emperours for their rage and madnesse against the Church of Christ for they acted the Devils part and when the Devil saw that he must be cast our that Diocleasian and Maximinian must be gone the Devil made sure to provide himself of a successor sending the Beast the Pope into his seat before for Dioclesian lived at Nicomedia and Maximinian at Mediolanum when they gave over their Empires leaving Rome empty for the Beast to domineer and play rekes in for saith the Text Rev 13.2 The Dragon gave him that is the Beast with Seven Heads and Ten Horns The Pope proved to be the dragon beast and false Prophet the Dragon gave him his power and his Throne and great Authority and when Constantine came in to be Emperor and see the seat taken up by the Pope Constantine got him away to Byzantum now called Constantinople and there made himself a place so that Antichrist the Pope of Rome is in this sense called the Dragon the dragon gave him his power and throne and authority from whence we learn by whose power and authority it is that the Pope of Rome acts by namely the Devil the Dragon and the Beast and the false Prophet is one and the same Antichrist as he hath a double power both spiritual and temporal he is the Beast in respect of his civil power and the false Prophet in respect of his ecclesiastical power out of whose mouth these unclean spirits like Frogs are said to come forth these three unclean spirits do signifie all the Popes Clergy especially the three orders of Dominicans Franciscans and Jesuits from whom the greatest part of their other orders doe proceed They are compared to Frogs because as Frogs delight in miery filthy places of dung
of Popes who doth exercise both Civil and Ecclesiastical power and jurisdiction and so is the eighth and yet one of the seven because of his double authority the Angel speaking of these seven Heads that five were fallen before John writ and one is which was the government of the Heathen Emperors that was the fixth he doth not say and the seventh is not yet come for that might have implyed that the seventh should have been a Civil Head only as the other six were but he saith and the other or another is not yet come implying that he should be another of a divers nature differing from all the former Kings for they only were Civil Governors but this seventh should be of a mixt kinde he should be both a Civil and an Ecclesiastical Governor in respect of which Ecclesiastical Government he is said to be the eighth and one of the seven as the Ecclesiastical and Civil Governments are both included in one person therefore the Christian Emperors cannot be understood to be the seventh head because their Government is only Civil therefore cannot properly be said to be the eighth and one of the seven neither had they their seat at Rome the seven hilled City where the former six Governed from all these Prophecies that I have touched upon and opened in a slender manner yet as well as I can I think it will evidently appear to the impartial Reader that the succession of Popes is the Beast and great Antichrist and Man of sin and Son of perdition that exalts himself above all that is called God c. and is the great Antichrist that was to come into the world much more might be said but I hasten to another business The ANSWER to part of Bishop Williams his Book called The great Antichrist revealed before this time never discovered By GEORGE PRESSICK IN the 6 first pages of his Book he endeavours to possess the Reader that the persecution in these late daies of the Long Parliament c. did exceed in cruelty the persecutions in King Henry the eighth and Queen Maries daies I answer and do confess that in reference to his Majesty both King Charles the first and King Charles the scond it did exceed the former for King Henry and Queen Mary were not persecuted but they were the chief causers of the persecutions but what he saith to the persecution of any others I think moderate men that are not oversway'd with prejudicate opinions they will say that the persecutions that was in these late daies was much inferiour to that in King Henry the eighth and Queen Mary's daies when the Bishop of Canterburie Bishop Ridley Bishop Hooper Bishop Latimer and Bishop Farrar of Saint Davids all five Bishops were burned to ashes also long time after their death the bones of Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius were taken out of their Graves and burnt and the body of Peter Martyrs Wife taken out of her grave and baryed in a dunghil by Cardinal Poules order the year One thousand five hundred fifty seven bloudy Bonner himself in three years condemned three hundred Christians to the fire what was there then in all parts of the Kingdom it would amount to some thousands did ever any man before you except he were a Papist say as you affirm in your fourth page that these Bishops and other Martyrs in King Henry and Queen Mary's daies were used after a far better manner and were more justly proceeded against and more fairly handled and less cruelly dealt with than others were by the Long Parliament c. these it is true plundered and cast out of part of their estates but the others suffered flames of fire and their whole estates confiscate c. mistake me not I come not in the least to excuse them for it is granted they were too cruel but my aim is if you will not be made sensible of your own mistakes yet to endeavour to make others sensible of it because I would not have all nor any thing that you have written in excuse of the Pope the great enemy of God and of his Church to be believed for if you had not excused the Pope I had held my peace and should not have troubled my self nor others In the seventh and eight pages he saith that the prevalent faction of the Long Parliament did move him to settle his thoughts to search the Scriptures that foretold of the coming of the great Antichrist and to pray most earnestly night and day for the help of Gods grace and Spirit to guide him in the true understanding thereof and by reading the best Authors to help him in the same I answer I will not say much of what force his prayers might be but the Tree is known by the fruit and when men obtain the thing prayed for or somthing equivolent to it they have ground of comfort that their prayers are heard but as I said in the beginning som men are like Iohanan c. 42. of Ier. that resolv beforehand that thus and thus they will do and then they go and pray though they intend not to alter their Resolution for though he prayed to understand the meaning of such Texts by reaping the best Authors yet in his 24th page he says Mr. Mead Doctor Hamond the Magdeburgenses Calvin Beza and in another place the Author of the Revelation unrevealed and saith he found many good and probable arguments produced by them and Luther Iuneus Chytreus Tilenus Mouresius Powel Whitaker Tomson Brightman Downham and many others whom he saith do unanimously affirm Rev. 17.5 that Text mysterie that great Babilon the mother of Whoredom and Abomination of the earth is the same with 1 Pet. 5.13 the Church that is at Babylon and is interpreted-by the Ancient Fathers to signifie Rome as Papius Eusebius Tertullius Adversus Iudeus S. Hierom Augustin and divers others of late Writers Here you see the names of above twenty Authors and saith them and divers others besides that he hath read and finds many probable arguments from them all and prays that by reading of Authors he may be helped in his work yet observe the fruit of his Prayer for he saith he must crave leave to dissent from them and all others as he saith in the 43d page of the second part of his book and that you may know what his Opinion is and wherein he dissents from all men I will set down his own words in that place When saith he by the Wars of Alaricus The Bishops dissent from all other Authors and in what in the year 410. and of Attalas in 451 and Gensericus in 455. Heathenism and Idol-worship was fully destroyed in Rome and Christianity became victorious I desire the Reader to consider what truth can there be in what he here saith that Heathenism and Idol-worship was fully destroyed in Rome and Christianitie was victorious at this time when Rome was in the hands of bar barous Heathen Idolaters as the Goths Vandals and
Antichrist that changes Laws yea even the Law and Word of God utterly abolish the second commandement and making another Commandement into two assuming to himself an universal authority over all Churches as head thereof as if the whole state of the Church did hang so upon the Pope that if there were no Pope there were no Church or that if the Pope were not the Pope the Church were not the Church Page 27. He demands if they be rightly applyed Whether all Notes Acts Arguments and Testimonies of Scripture that are set down as marks of Antichrist are not all to be found in the long Parliament and Presbyterians c. And it is answered That they are not for the long Parliament and Presbyterians c. did never forbid Marriage nor 2ly they never commanded abstinence from Meat 3ly they did not exalt themselves above all that are called Gods as the Pope doth though they exalted themselves here yet not above other Emperors and Kings 4ly they did not delude with lying Miracles Signes and Wonders 5ly the key of the bottomlesse pit was not given to them to let out the Locusts 6ly they did not deny Jesus to be Christ in his three Offices of King Priest and Prophet 7ly they had not their seat and residing in the City built upon seven Hills or Mountains which reigneth over the Kings of the earth 8ly they could not properly be said to be the Beast that was and is not and yet is 9ly they were not the seventh head which John spake of saying five are fallen one is and the other is not yet come 10ly they are not the Beast that had the wound of a Sword and did live 11ly nor the Beast with seven Heads and ten Horns 12ly they did not shed the bloud of all the Saints and Martyrs as Revel 18.24 though I must needs say they shed too much but all these and many more are applycable to the Pope and cannot properly be applyed unto them That which the Apostle in the 2 Thes 2 calls a falling away or apostacy he perverts the Text and calls it a Rebellion and because he would excuse the Pope from being Antichrist where the Apostle speaks of an Apostacy before Antichrist should be revealed in his 34th page he saith We find no rebellion in the Church of Rome against their Governors but saith he the Leaders of the Church deâ—ive the Church and so her Apostacy is the more excusable and less abominable to God Observe here how he contradicts the truth and himself both for page 31. he speaks of the Heresies that was in the Church of Rome and he names the Nicolaitans the Ebionites Cerinthians Montanists Valentinians Arians Nestorians Eutyehians Pelagians Manicheans and Donatists and many others whom he saith rebelled against their Governors and here he saith there was no rebellion in the Church of Rome and I have in the former part of this book shewed that there was twenty times two Popes at once one rebelling against another and many times the pople rebelled and deposed one Pope and set up another Thus you see he shames not to write any thing so he might defend and excuse the Pope not to be Antichrist Besides take notice he saith The Leaders of the Church deceive the Church therefore their Apostacy is the more excusable I beseech you whether is the greater Apostacy of the Leaders of the people that should know the truth and teach others for them to apostatize and draw multitudes after them and for most part sin against the light of their own Consciences or for ignorant common people to apostatize and sin through ignorance is not the apostacy of the Governors of the Church the greater and doth the more mischief and leads the more astray and yet this Bishop saith the apostacy of the Governors of the Church is more excusable and lesse abominable in the sight of God It seems he thinks that God seeth as he seeth I will not say that this What less than Blasphemy and some other things we have spoken of are blasphemy against God and his Truth but I refer it to wise men to judge There is little more of account to take notice of until the 58th page where in a sort he contradicts himself in what was said last viz. that Governors apostacy are more excusable than others and here he tels us That the Church of Rome compelleth all men to submit unto her more with the Sword of the Magistrate than with Aarons Rod witnesse their cruelties to the poor Indians their massacres in France their inquisition in Spain and their unmerciful persecution in England in King Henry the 8th and Queen Marys dayes and the Gunpowder-treason and then he tels of the cruelty of the Arians against the Orthodox was more than barbarous they infected and afflicted the Church most grievously being armed with several weapons and he tels us that Novatus exceeded all the rest for he would neither give his Father bread when he was ready to starve nor bury his corps when he was dead he spurned his own Wife out of doors being with child and killed the child in her belly these are the Bishops own words but he saith above that 〈◊〉 prove it for as to 〈◊〉 growing 〈…〉 Apostacies are more excusable because they were guides of the Church Page 59. he saith The most learned of the Jesuits do confesse the Assirian Babylon to be the type and figure of the Italian Rome and is so understood by the Apostle 1 Pet. 5.13 The Church that is 〈◊〉 Babylon salute you I Answer If in this Text as is granted by Babylon Italian Rome is understood then we must in all those places in the Revelation where Babylon is spoken of understand Rome which if it be granted as the Bishop doth grant it here and saith that the most learned of the Jesuits do grant it then must Babylon which is Rome be the Seat and Throne of Antichrist which Rev. 1â— 5 is called mistery great Babylon the mother of whoredom and abomination of the earth And Chap. 18.2 It is fallen it is fallen Babylon that great City the habitation of Devils and the hold of all foul spirits and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird for all Nations have drunk of the Wine of the wrath of her Fornication c. this notes out her utter ruine and destruction And this is Rome as Rev. 16.19 And that great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the Cup of the fierceness of his wrath Yet neverthelesse he hath said above that by Babylon is meant Rome so self willed and self-conceited is our Bishop that he flies off again page 61. and saith that what is said Rev. 17.18 cannot be understood of Rome without trope or figure for that it is said that in Babylon was found the blood of the Prophets and Saints and all that were slain upon Earth which cannot saith he be referred to any one City in the World but only
and dissembling sanctity to be well thought of by all men Secondly Smoothnesse of Language and fair speeches to gain love and favour Thirdly Wit and Eloquence to perswade men to aid and assist him Fourthly Large promises and great gifts to win them unto him Fifthly Signs and wonders all pretended to be done from God to draw men to a good belief of all his actions and if all these cannot serve the turn to make men become his Adherents and Assistants then Sixthly Terrors and Tortures shall do the deed Whence it is demanded if this six-fold Art was not most exquisite in the Presbyterians and the prevalent Faction of the Long Parliament And the Question is Answered and proved that these six Arts as you call them are more exquisitly to be found in Antichrist the Pope of Rome then they are to be found in these you name or any others in the World besides First Antichrists faigned and dissembling sanctity appears in making above fourscore holy daies in a year besides Sabbath daies which are kept and observed with no less reverence and devotion than the Lords day and also his faigned dissembling holy water Crosses Crucifixes Agnus Dei beads baptising of Bels consecrating of Altars Garments the corporal body of Christ the Chalice the Linnen to cover the Altar the Eucharistical the Sensor Incense the Chests or Coffers wherein the Saints bones are kept Crosses Images Easter Tapers Fonts First-fruits salt Church-yards all these things are consecrated and these are but a part of Antichrists faigned dissembling sanctity Secondly His smoothness of language and fair speeches appears in that he calls himself Christs Vicar and Peters Successor a Father to the Church and the people are his Children and bears his name Papists from the name Pope he tells them that he is the servant of all Christs servants which if he were so indeed as they believe him to be this were sufficient to make him to be as well thought on by all men as he is by all his followers Thirdly His wit and Eloquence to perswade men to aid him appears in his insinuating himself into the affections of Emperors and Kings and Clergy c. calling them his most honourable and obedient Sons as Pope Julius to the Synod of Constantinople salntes them thus In that your charity my most honourable Sons doth yield due reverence to the Apostolical Chair therein ye get unto your selves much reverence for although it belong unto us especially to sit at the Helm which we have taken upon us to govern in that holy Church where the holy Apostle sate as Doctor yet we acknowledge our selves unworthy of so great honour Theodor. Book 5. and 9. I think he shewed his wit and eloquence here to get aid and assistance to set him a step higher and also in the benediction and priviledges which he grants to his obedient Sons Fourthly His large promises and great gifts appears in that he promises the pardon of sins and the Kingdom of Heaven and such promises are of great force with those that believe that he hath power to do it for to win men unto him for he not only pardons what is past but if they please him well he will pardon sins for a great while to come and establish Emperors and Kings in their Kingdoms and if they displease him he can soon turn them out whether they belong to Church or State and set up others in their stead therefore it is no wonder if his promises and gifts gain men unto him and seek all waies and means to please him Fifthly His signs and wonders pretended to be done from God appears in this that whatsoever is done to confirm an errour may be said to be a fraudulent sign or miracle as to confirm their â—ransubstantiation it hath been said the Priest hath so â—â—nningly ordered the matter that after consecration the wafer being pricked with a bodkin a drop of bloud hath appeared but we will set down the famous miracles of Pope Sylvester one is that by sacred Baptism he cured Constantine of a leprosie but this is a Romish lying fable to encrease the Popes authority for he was not baptised by Sylvester but by Eusebius at Nioâ—medea as Socratis 1. book chap. 26. His second miracle that he raised up a great Bull that was killed by Zambres a Jewish Sorcerer his third that he bound a Dragon after a miraculous manner saith Mr. Brightman in his confutation of Bellermin these are some of Antichrists signs and wonders I have spoken of many of them before and therefore shall passe it over here for Antichrists Church of Rome is known to exceed all the world for signs and wonders Sixthly If all these will not serve his turn then terrours and torments must do it and that appears first by his thundring excommunications as Pope Hildebrand said in an Epistle to the Germans that Henry the fourth was striken with a Thunderbolt when he was excomunicated by Hildebrand that which once was said of Nebuchadnezzer may not be unfitly applyed to Antichrist the Pope for his power was once extended so far that all Nations feared before him for whom he would he set up and whom he would he pulled down and Gentius King of Iliricum would not submit to this Tyrant until he was taken Prisoner to Rome with his Wife and Children did not Pope Alexander cause Henry the second to go barefoot with bleeding feet to Thomas Beckets Tomb at Canterbury for displeasing this Tyrant and did not Pope Innocent the third because King John would not submit to him at last so terrifie him that he made him kneell down to Pandolphus his Legat and kiss his foot and also to kiss Steven Langton Bishop of Canterbury his foot and Pope Innocent the second took th Dukedom of Sicily from the Emperor and made Roger King thereof and Pope Alexander made Fredrick the Emperor to fall flat upon the ground while the Pope trode upon his neck one might multiply examples of this nature to prove that what the Pope cannot do by other means to make men adhere unto him that he compels them by terrors and torments for to do it so that if these be infallible signs of the great Antichrist as Bishop Williams produceth them for that end but then it cannot be denyed that the Popes of Rome are the great Antichrist for they have exceeded all the Christian world in the exquisite practice of these six signs of the Antichrist which cannot so properly be applicable to the Long Parliament and Presbyterians c. nor to any one else in the world as to the Pope of Rome Page the 79. he saith the Apostle in calling Antichrist the Man of sin and not the Man of sins 2 Thes 2.3 gives us to understand and his meaning is that Antichrist should commit some singular and peculiar sin that should only and properly be the sin of the Antichrist and of none else and which he saith is not the sin against the Holy-Ghost nor
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
a Papist if they be Papists that live in Cloisters and Moâ—â—steris secluded as he saith from the world who did preach the true Faith and right Service of God and published our â—â—â—istian Religion in which word our Christian Religion includes himself for one of that Religion preached by the Cloisterers c. for the space of one thousand two hundred and fixty years free from any bloudy persecution for the profession of their faith which no Church in Europe was but the popish Church therefore seeing it is thus that we have now found him out what he is we need no longer wonder why he misapplyeth Scripture and forsaketh the opinion of all other Writers to find out a new Antichrist and to stickle so hard to excuse and defend the Pope And that it may clearly appear that he takes the Papist Church of Cloisterers c. to be the true Church and their Doctrine to be the Orthodox Doctrine and their Faith and Service of God to be the true Faith and right Service of God as in his 27. page so in the 7. page speaking of one of the Witnesses which he saith is these Orthodox Bishops and of the Witnesses prophecying in sackcloath 1260 years by his own interpretation he saith their prophecying in sackcloath doth signifie their conforming themselves unto the Doctrine that they preached not their mourning for the polution of the true Church which saith he during that time of 1260 years of their Prophecy was not poluted as Mr. Mead and others do suppose a strange interpretation differing from all men that ever I read or heard of that the true Church of Christ should be without any bloudy persecution and without any polution The Church saith the Bishop without trouble 1260 years for the space of 1260 years and yet the Witnesses of Christ to be all that time clothed in Sackcloath which is a mourning weed and did alwaies signifie that those that wore it were in a sad and low condition a deformed and mournful estate stripped of all their glory as those are that go in black mourn at Funerals whereas if the Bishop's interpretation of the glory and beauty of the Church had been true that it had been without trouble and without polution the Witnesses should rather have put on their glorious and beautiful garments and have rejoiced in the prosperity and glory and purity of the Church which he saith was without polution but the word of God tels us another story of the cause of the Witnesses wearing Sackcloath Revel 17.7 8 that the Beast that cometh out of the bottomless pit should make war against them and overcome them and kill them and their corps should lie in the street without burial c. and was this a time in which the Church was not poluted 〈◊〉 the Witnesses and faithful Worshippers persecuted whâ— they must be slain and their bodies lie without burial I leave it to the godly-wise to judge how the Bishops interpretation can be true that is so contrary to the Scriptures And whereas he saith the true Church of God had rest and was freed from any bloudy persecution for the profession of the true Faith and right Service of God for 1260 years beginning the year 382 the quite contrary will appear to be most true for as ancient Histories do relate the Apostolical Protestant Religion Of the first planting the Gospel in England was settled in England in the later end of the reign of Tyberius the Emperor under whom Christ suffered Gildas saith that Joseph of Aramathea was sent by Phillip the Apostle into Brittain who here laid the foundatiou of Christian Religion Origin in his fourth homily on Ezechiel saith that the true Faith of Christ was in Brittain before Elutherius was Bishop of Rome which was about the year 180 after Christ Nicephorus in his second Book Chap. 40. saith that Simon Zelotes did also preach the Gospel in Britain by all which it doth appear that England received the Christian Faith long before Austin was sent hither by Gregory the great for he indeed sent him hither to settle Popery 600 years after Christ but not to settle the Gospel of Christ for that was settled before as doth appear in the beginning of this Book At a treaty between the Nobility of England and Hingist King of the Saxons about the year 460. where neither party was to have any weapons Hingist secretly ordered the matter his men had every one a long knife in his hose that upon the watchword given every man should kill him he talked with so that there was murthered that day upon the place of English Nobility some stories say 460 by the Saxons the King was taken prisoner for whose ransom London York Lincolne Winchester with other strong holds being granted the Saxons made havok of the English Nation destroyed the Citizens pulled down Churches killed the Pastors of the Churches burned the Books of holy Scriptures and all this and more to be done by Heathens upon Christians it seems is no bloudy persecution in Doâ—â—or William's account the Church had free liberty c. saith he This persecution continued in Brittain for in the 〈◊〉 568 Ministers were driven out so that the Arch-Bishop London and York were both forced to fly into Wales but fore this there was eleven thousand Christian Virgins murthered there was about this time above two thousand Monks at the Abby of Bangor in Wales who were driven out of Brittain who all lived by the sweat of their brows and labour of their hands these men differed nothing from other ordinary men but only in strictness of life and were such as now are called Puritans or Round-heads for Augustine saith â—imative â—onks were such as now are called Puritans c. there was such as were called Monks that were but lay-men only led a more severe and strict kind of life than others in his Book De moribus Ecclesioe Chap. 13. also Hierom ad Heliodorum one thing saith he appertains to Monks another thing to them of the Clergy and in the 4. Canon of the Councel of Calcedon it is provided that Monks should not meddle with matters of the Church Sozomen saith in his 3. Book Chap. 16. speaking of Monks of that time which lived in Cities and had several Mansions and differed nothing from other men but that they were of a stricter life which since by their enemies have been called by other names as names of infamy as some in our time are called Puritans which if saith he taken in the right sense if they deserve it tends to their comfort and prayers Athanasius a man to be credited of all in his epistle de Dracontium saith that he knew both Monks and Bishops married men and had Children and such were the Protestant Monks of Bangor this is shewed more fully in the beginning of this Book About the year 833 the Danes invaded England spoiled Churches murthered Ministers with men women and children after a