Constant for Primacie and Supremacie Gregorius Magnus anno 590 condemneth the title of Vniversall Bishop in the Patriarch of Constant yet if we beleeue Baron and some others was contented to hold the Supremacie and for that purpose wrote letters of great flatterie to Phocas the Murderer Sabinianus anno 604 did so much malice his Predecessor and advance Gregorie that he could hardly conteyne himself from burning his books Platina and after him Boniface the 3 4 5 and others all mainteyned their Supremacie the power of that Sea untill Constantine of whom we shall haue cause to speake hereafter Lo these were the Roman Prelates of those times whose Histories diligently collected and layd together Plessis are more at large to be seen in that excellent worke De Mysterio Iniquitatis Whereupon I demand Whether they do not fully answer the description made of this Beast rising out of the earth Out of earthly desires of Honour c. First here is another Beast or Monarchie unlike to any of the former and yet not of any certaine forme of Government alwayes ascending and striving to get supremacie sometimes by one meanes sometimes by another stirring up schismes and seditions patronising Heretikes contending with other Bishops yea with those heauenly Doctors and Lights of the world whom they could no way countervaile Athanasius Hilarius Augustin Aurelius and two hundred Bishops of Africa with him And yet pretending great humulitie and subjection to the Emperor as appeareth by the letters not onely of Vigilius to Anthinius and other principall Heretikes at the command of the Empresse but of Gregorie the Great also to Phocas the Murderer Yet by Schisme and faction seeking to get the place as oft as they could without their consent See more at large of these things in that Booke of Philip Marnay Where also you may reade what S. Hierom writeth of Rome in his time expressely calling it Babylon and the purple whore And telling them of their Riches covetousnes lewdnes and Lupercatia There are the Trophees of the Apostles and Martyrs there is the confession of Iesus Christ sayth he but there is also ambition and Tyrannie which keep men back from doing good Neyther he onely but Marcellinus I do not sayth he marvail considering the braverie of that cittie that men ambitious of that place set up their Rest for the purchasing of it For having once aspired thereunto they are sure to be inriched with the offrings of Ladies and Noblemen to be carried in their coaches sumptuously attyred and so magnificent in their feastes as passeth any kings table Many such testimonies collected are to be read in the discourse of that Learned Lord. But especially is to be observed what he hath diligently drawn out of Baronius where he sayth that Constantine in the 24 year of his raigne ordeyned that the Bishops of the Christian Law should from that time forward haue the same Priviledges which the Idolatrous Priests had in time past They had sayth he their Rex Sacrificulus and Pontifex Maximus And who can think that Constantine would long indure that they should exceed the Christians in Pompe and glorie So Baron their Cardinall and learned Annalist yeeldeth unto us freely confesseth a point of no small moment that this their Pontifex Maximus who now is in Rome succeedeth in priviledge Pompe and glorie to the Heathen Pont. Max. which was before in Rome Yet the same Baron sheweth also that Constantine first tooke the name of Pont. Max. to himself and giveth a reason for it namely that the Senate and people of Rome those that were yet of the Heathenish faction might not so easily be drawen to conspire against the Christian Emperors was it not a verie Christian policie think you And yet sayth he the Pope had the power of supreame judge in all causes So that this standeth most consonant with all Prophecies histories that these two Beasts were at one time both together in Rome and that the new Pont. Max. of Rome hath the power of the Pagan Pontif. But that his power appeared very slowly and that the Pontificall name in Temporall causes was for a long time verie base and obscure appeareth by the testimonie of the learned Guicciardin Guicc l. 4. and other Histories I demand therefore Whether we may not here see the manifest performance of this prophecie I Another Beast arising after the first in Rome and in the presence of the first 2 Arising by degrees out of the earth that is out of the earthly lusts and desires of riches luxurie Pompe and pride 1 Iohn 2. Iames 3. and also by earthly wisedome strife and envie 3 Having two hornes indeed that is a power temporall spirituall but short and weake and as Guicciardin sayth obscure and almost invisible as the Hornes of a lambe 4 Speaking like the Dragon that is contrarie to the Commandements of God Revel 13. as the Serpent did to our mother Eue but equivocally as Vigilius whom Baron himself calleth Antichrist did equivocate with Sylverius his Predecessor and Theodora the Empresse See the Historie in Platina And divers others of them did flatter equivocate with the Emperors The fifth consideration therefore is of his Actions The 6 of his works And the 7 of his Name But of his name I haue spoken before and of his marke I might referre the Reader to the writings of the Excellent Paraeus Napier Iunius upon the Apocalyps But I cannot omit the greate and learned Archbishop Antonin In summa where he sheweth that everie one that entreth into their Holy Orders receiveth a Character p. 3. t. 14. p. 4. t. 13. which he interpreteth to be principale instrumentum ordinis But in another place upon the place of the Apocalyps now in hand Apoc. 13. he expoundeth the Character of the Beast to be cultum Bestiae the worship of the Beast in his right hand that is sayth he in his spirituall works as fasting Almes prayer c. or in his forehead in outward appearance at the least and in outward conformitie We may also obserue that if we subscribe to the opinion of Irenaeus that the name of the beast is Latinus this is observed in all their prayers But considering well and comparing the opinion of Napier with Antonin both with the Text I cannot chuse but thinke the Character is expressed unto us in the superstitious use of the crosse which they make upon the forehead or otherwise with their right hands But for his Actions they are here somewhat largely set forth in this 13 chap. For first it is sayd that he exerciseth all the power of the first Beast before his face So did the Popes before the Emperors as I haue shewed before Secondly he causeth the earth and earthly minded men to worship the first beast So did the Popes to the Emperors while they were in power and continued Pontifices Max. Thirdly he doth great wonders making fire to
doubted or any other man neede to doubt of the trueth but as it should seeme being no profest Churchman he modestly disputes the point as a man that would learne himselfe and others by asking questions wisely and withall inquiring whether it can be imagined that any man can be more like Antichrist then the Pope is he concludes negatiuely that none can and plainely layes downe in everie Probleme the obstinate absurdities of such as looke for Antichrist and beleeue he shall come yet cannot now see him to be come because either he stands too neare them as a beame in their eyes and they are parte of him bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh or they expect him when he comes to be so qualified for publique observation as the Church of Rome hath cunningly and poetically described him But such an Antichrist they shall never see for the church of Rome did so paint him in policie not for the disclosing but for the concealing and clowding of his proper and personall appearance and diverting the eyes of all men from beholding the right object For my parte meeting with this Booke in a manuscript and seeing the profit it may bring to all I could doe no lesse then be a midwife for the edition of this since I am not able to be parent for procreation of the like And I haue taken the boldnes upon me to dedicate it to no lesse persons then to the Kings and Potentates of the Earth for it concernes them all especially aboue and more then others to reade and to understand this Controversie least they should be made drunke or kept drunke with the dregges of that abhominable cuppe of Inchantments wherewith diverse of their forefathers haue been intoxicated and slept to death and least they should under the appearance of Christianitse countenance and support Antichristianisme and so thinking to doe Christ good service persecute his poore members ignorantly Besides many of them haue suffred much from the hand of Antichrist and his members The Kings of France haue beene butchered by their instruments and the kingdome put in Combustion by their incendiaries of the Roman Catholique league or partie Our Queenes Father Henrie IIII. of renowmed memorie must not be forgotten his blood is yet too fresh upon their fingers to be hidden from her Majesties eyes except they force her weake sexe as they haue done manie of the masculine gender to winke by threatning to dippe their fingers as deepe in her bloud which the Lord forefend if she cast an eye towards her Fathers Funerall or so much as inquire whether or no he dyed by age or by some injurious and traiterous hand Our Kings haue beene and are still excommunicated cursed exposed to slaughter and deposition by them The King and Queene of Bohemia haue beene pursued from place to place and all Christendome imbroyled with bloodie warres for the upholding of Papall usurpation against regall Iurisdiction Other Princes haue formerly felt and may hereafter feele the strength of his Imperiall and Catholique Armes and therefore it concernes these also to knowe the man of sinne for their owne comfort that they may the better beare their Crosses considering from what head and hand they come and that they may with more courage and assurance looke up towards deliverance Luke 21 28. as Christ hath willed them who at the length will be too hard for Antichrist and giue a happie yssue to all their afflictions And as it concerns Princes especially so it concerns others also as much as their salvation may concerne them to know Christ their Saviour and Antichrist the chiefe enimie of their Saviour and of their Salvation from each other and therefore I haue dedicated it to all Christians But if any wonder why in the Title of the Dedication I use these words To all Christians Reformed and Romish as if I contradicted my selfe in calling the Romish professors Christians which in other places I terme Antichristians I answer that the Pope himselfe could not be the Antichrist except he were a Christian and tooke upon him also to be the chiefe Christian in externall profession A man may in diverse respects be a Christian and an Antichristian at once The Pope is baptized professeth the fayth in generall termes as Peter did and thus he is a Christian and one of S. Peters successors as all other Bishops are but as he chalengeth to be head of the Church universall Bishop of an infallible spirit Iudge of the Scripture c he is Antichrist that is Rev. 18. Rome as head of the church is Babylon such as so dwell in it mystically by adhering to it are in Babylō whether they be in Rome or no such as renounce this Babylonish doctrine of Romish supremacie suprelacie holding the true head which is Christ Iesus alone those are with out Babylon though they dwel in Rome for Christ in shew but against him in trueth So those of the church of Rome are Christians in outward profession but as they adhere to the Pope as to the Vicar of Christ and head of the Church they are Antichristians and such of them as belong to Gods election are called out of Babylon by the holy spirit and may come out from thence by renouncing the Babylonish doctrine of the Church of Rome though for their persons and dwellings they continue in the same place and cittie still And that these Romish Christians may be informed and all other Reformed Christians established in the trueth is the end which the Author proposed to himselfe in the collection and composition and I in the publication of this treatise All that I feare is that both this worke and my owne indeavour shall meete the greatest discouragements from some of those that should protect and countenance us who eyther from error of judgment deny the Pope to be Antichrist and yet separate from him at which I wonder or else out of humane wisedome and policie seeme still to be in doubt and will not be resolved as fearing a diminution of their worldly greatnesse and glorie if this truth should be generally acknowledged Because they suppose much of their authoritie would be found to be built upon the sandie foundation of Antichristian usurpations But shall we loose heauen for earth or looke so low as to bring temporall respects into the ballance with eternall Can there be no provision for upholding the honour and countenance of the Clergie from common contempt and for the incouraging and rewarding of learning but what Antichrist invents to uphold himselfe withall Then let me rather be still poore and despised with Christ and accounted ignorant with his Apostles then rich and respected learned with those of Rome Truth and simplicitie are the chiefe ornaments of Church-men and should be inseparable Their serpentine wisedome should not be used for this world for that naturall subtiltie which hath no mixture of doue-like simplicitie infused by grace Christ did not teach to his Apostles
booke it selfe to be shewed to the Church and the name to the booke 3. The most true immediate rightfull owner by the gift of his Father Christ Iesus who sent shewed it to his servants 4. The end wherefore it was given to be shewed 5. The persons to whom it must be shewed his servants 6. A touch of the subject Things which must shortly come to passe 7. The meanes Instruments imployed by our Saviour in this service of Revelation an Angell and an Apostle euen that Apostle who before had ben tried and found faithfull in bearing witnes of the word of God and of Christ Iesus and of all things that he saw his servant Iohn the same who by the H. Ghost was authorised aboue all others to intitle himself Ioh. 21 24. 19 35. A witnes of the things which he saw and therefore of credit aboue all exception and that aswell in his Gospell and Epistles 1 Ioh. 1 1. as in this Revelation Now upon these seven grounds touched in the entrance I propose this Question How this booke can be reputed darke and obscure which God himself hath intitled a Revelation Ephes 5. Eâ—ai 5. or Manifestation Light maketh all things manifest sayth the Apostle And doth the spirit of Trueth call darknes light or light darknes 2. God the Author is light and in him is no darknes 1 Ioh. 1. He maketh light to shine out of darknes 2 Cor. 4. not darknes to come of light 2 The. 2 10. unlesse it be to the children of darknes that loue not the light Also our Saviour Christ is the true light that lighteneth everie one yea the Brightnes of Light He is the Trueth Ioh. 1. Hebr. 1. protesteth of himself in these words whatsoever I have heard of my father I have made known unto you How then can it be said Ioh. 15. that he hath not made this also known which God gaue him to be shewed 3. Our Saviour Christ the true and rightfull owner 1 Cor. 12. as in his mysticall body is one with his Church Ephes 5. and we are all members of that bodie how then can that be said to be concealed from the bodie that is revealed to the head 4. The same inference will follow upon all the other four points aboue noted as upon the 4 Seeing God gaue it to be shewed upon the 5 Ps 119 125 seeing it is directed to be shewed to his servants who must labour to know their Masters will Vpon the 6 Luke 12. seeing it concerneth things that must shortly come to passe and therefore inconvenient to be hid and kept secret And upon the 7 seeing it was committed to two most faithfull ministers of purpose to be signified to the church and thereupon most godly men haue laboured from time to time to search it out and expound it why should we despair to speake of it as the Heathen man doth in Minutius that neither it is given to us to know it nor permitted to search it nor lawfull to require it And not raither say as it is there by the Christian Oratour replyed that to us whose faces God hath lifted up to Heaven and whom he hath indued with speach and reason whereby to know and speake of him yea more to whom he hath directed it to be shewed It is not lawfull to reject this heavenly brightnes which not onely offreth but intrudeth itself into our eyes and senses The obscuritie of this Booke is not to terrifie us from it Aug. de civ dâ—i l 20 17 but to exercise our mindes in it sayth the learned Father Let this therefore suffice coÌ„cerning the obscuritie that it is not invincible but we ought to search it out 2. Let us now therefore Christo Duce for a second Problem inquire of the meanes whereby we may attain to the understanding of this booke For it cannot be denied but there are in it manie mysteries which it is not giuen to all men to understand but it is giuen to some of whom our Saviour sayth vobis datum est it is giuen to you Marc. 4. and for them he hath ordeyned meanes I demand then what are the meanes And whether are not those the best mâ—â—â—es which God himselfe and our Lord Iesus Christ hath shewed us in the Scriptures Aug. de civ dei li. 10 23. Phocyll Nazianz. Aut. nin in sum p. 4.1.4 Prov. 8 13. Wisd 1. viz. 1. True and serious repentance which is as it were the true purgation of the soule so much inquired for by Philosophers and onely revealed to Christians to make us fit to behold heavenly mysâ—â—ies For wisdome sayth he entreth not into a malicious minde nor dwelleth in a sinfull bodie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Constant obedience and care to serue and please God according to our knowledge If any will do his will he shall know the doctrine And if ye continue in my words ye shall know the trueth Naz. Ioh. 7 17. 8 31. Rev. 5 4. 10 9. 3. Earnest prayer and invocation of God in Christ Iesus which our Apostle used and thereby obteyned to see the opening of this booke and to haue it delivered unto him according to the manifold promises of our Saviour Aske ye shall receiue Mat. 7. seeke and ye shall finde knock and it shall be opened For whosoever asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Whereupon Aske saith venerable Beda by prayer seeke by reading and hearing and knock by doing and practise 4. Diligent reading and meditation upon this booke often recommended unto us by this our Apostle in the Text. Blessed is he that readeth Rev. 1 3. and heareth and keepeth the words of the prophcie of this booke 5 Diligent reading and perusing other bookes and prophesies of the Holy Scripture and conferring one with the other a speciall means to understand the sense and meaning of Propheticall words and Phrases much used in this booke Dan. 9 2. by which means also Daniel confesseth that he understood the end of the Captivitie And some learned men do make no doubt but the literall sence of everie place of Scripture taken with the consent of other places and repugnant to none is the true meaning of the H. Ghost Consent being the most certain badge and cognisance of truth For in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall everie word be confirmed 6. Methodicall proceeding by the rule of learning à notioribus ad minus nota from things once cleared to that which is more obscure and difficult or to use the Apostles Phrase from milke to strong meat Hebr. 5. We must not be alwaies children in understanding and stick in the rudiments or principles nor call that into question which is once made clear And here by the way I would craue a litle leave to aske a question or two concerning the writings of the Fathers
the description also of this beast here is almost the same with that which is expressed in the 17 chap. of this Book I ask then what kingdome or Empire can be understood in this place Surely he that will say that this beast here and the beast in the 17 chap. do signifie any other kingdom beside Rome must produce some other great Empire to whom the seaven heads and the other attributes there given unto it may be applied aswell as to the Roman which no man yet could ever do Let us therefore see the description of this mightie Empire comparatiue and wherein it doth agree or differ from that which is described by the Prophet Daniel and by this our Euangelist in the 17 ch The fourth Beast saith the Prophet comming out of the sea was fearfull and terrible and verie strong It had great Iron teeth it devoured and brake in peeces and stamped the residue under his feet it was unlike the other beasts for it had ten horns there came up among them another little horne before whom three of the first hornes were plucked away and in this horne were eyes like a man and a mouth speaking presumptuous things And this fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdome and shall be unlike to all kingdomes and shall devour the whole earth and tread it downe and breake it in peeces and the teene hornes out of this kingdome are ten kings and another shall arise after them and he shall be unlike the first and shall subdue three kings And shall speak words against the Most High and think that he may change times and lawes and they shall be given into his hands untill a time times and half a time But the judgment shal sit and they shall take away his dominion to consume and destroy it unto the end This is Daniels description of the fourth Monarchie Let us heare again how the Euangelist describeth it in the 13 chap. I saw a beast rising out of the sea having seuen heads Rev. 13. and ten hornes so Daniell and upon his hornes ten crownes upon his heads the names of blasphemie And the Beast which I saw was like a Leopard and his feete were as the feete of a Bear his mouth as the mouth of a lyon and the dragon gaue him his throne and great authoritie and I saw one of his heads as wounded to death but the deadly wound was healed and all the world wondred and followed the beast and they worshiped the dragon which gaue power to the beast saying Who is like to the beast who is able to make warre with him so Daniell it shall devour the whole earth c. And there was giuen unto him a mouth that spake great things blasphemies power was giuen him to continue 42 months And he opened his mouth in blasphemie against God to blaspheme his name his Tabernacle and them that dwelt in heauen And it was giuen unto him to make warre with the Saints and to overcome them and power was giuen him over everie kindred tongue and nation Therefore all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the booke of life of the lambe which was slayn from the beginning of the world In the 17 chap. of the Revelation it is thus The woman sate upon a scarlet beast full of names of blasphemie Rev. 17. which had seuen heads and ten hornes so in the former prophecies And the beast which thou hast seene was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pitte and shall goe into perdition And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world when they behold the beast that was and is not and yet is Here is the minde that hath wisdome The seuen heads are seuen mountains they are also seuen kings fiue are fallen one is another is not yet come and when he cometh he must continue a short space And the beast that was and is not is the eight is of the seuen and shall go into destruction And the ten hornes which thou sawest are ten kings which yet haue not receaved a kingdome but shall receaue power as kings at one houre with the beast These shall haue one minde and shall giue their power athoritie to the beast These shall fight with the Lamb and the Lambe shall overcome them the ten hornes shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and shall burne her with fire They that be of indifferent Iudgment may see in that Prophecie of Daniell many things that cannot be applyed to Antiochus or to the kingdome of the Seleucidae Vide Brightmâ— in Dan. 11. As first the great power of this fourth kingdome which the Prophet setteth forth in more terrible dreadfull manner then any of the former But was the kingdome of the Seleucidae more terrible or more powerfull then the Assirian and Caldean the Median and Persian or the Grecian Monarchie was Antiochus any way comparable to Nabuchadnezzar Cyrus or Alexander Did he devour the whole earth Also this fourth kingdom shall think to make changes of times or lawes Dan. 7. c. did Antiochus so Besides by the words of Daniel it may seem that the fourth kingdom shall continue untill the finall judgment which cannot agree to the Seleucidans Letting therefore that opinion passe as a Iewish conceit approved by none of the ancient that I can finde Hieron in Daâ— but Porphyry some few of late that are too much addicted to the Rabbins I thinke there is litle doubt to be made but although some things may be applyed to Antiochus Hieron in Dan 2 4. Quartum regu perspic ue pertinet ad Rom. August Nich de Lyra. Antoninus Marsil Fic Sleidan Napier in Apoc. Abbat demonstr Antâ—chr Pâ—raeus Not. Geneven c yet this beast here signifieth the Roman Monarchie and the little horne signifieth Antichrist shadowed in some things by Antiochus And so I finde the opinion of the ancient and best interpreters Then to goe forward and see what points these two excellent and divine Prophets apply to the Roman Empire and wherein they agree or differ And truly to my understanding they seeme to agree in seuen points verie materiall 1. In the rising of this beast which both affirm to be out of the sea 2. In the name a Beast that is a Kingdom as the Angel expoundeth it not one King individuall although if he did say a King we may understand well enough the whole succession as where he saith Thou o King art that head of Gold 3. In the attribute which they give unto him Great strength and power unmatchable and unresistable 4. In his disposition most cruell and bloudy 5. In the instruments of his power Ten horns that is ten Kings 6. In his Warre against the saincts prevailing against them 7. In
this quarrell that he onely is our High Priest our Mediator our Iustification and Salvation This was our course then and this must be the course of all that will prevaile against Antichrist all Antichristian forces namely prayer to God and unitie amongst themselues But to returne to my purpose this may suffice to shew how this Sixtus not onely in name conteyning in it the sound of those three mysticall letters but in his actions represented Antichrist What shall we say of Pope Paul the fifth was not his picture made with the inscription of Paulo Vo. Vicedeo comprehending in numerall letters the same number of 666. Neither yet will I affirme that eyther he or Sixtus or Calixtus or Gregorie the seuenth or Boniface the third or the eight or any other of them was individually Antichrist any more then the rest of that order No nor yet Pope Ioane whose historie though they by all meanes labour to suppresse yet they cannot blot out their bookes that haue written of her being at least six and twentie all learned and all Catholikes amongst which Martinus Polonus Archbishop of Consentia and the Popes owne Penitentiarie Marianus Scotus monke of Fulda Platina and Theodoricus the Popes Secretaries Antoninus Archbishop of Florence Baptista Mantuanus and Cornelius Agrippa Nanclerus the Cardinall and Trithemius the Abbat were men I think as well thought of for learning fidelitie in their times as any of these our new masters Bellarmine Baronius Onuphrius or Florimondus who labour to rase out of ancient moniments and Records that which the christian world for fiue hundred yeares or more most undoubtedly beleeved Yet neither she nor any of the rest do I affirme to haue been individually and exclusiuely Antichrist but one of that mysticall bodie and succession which is called by our Apostle Antichrist as I proved before that the article Ho in Greek is used applied aswell to a succession or multitude as to a singular person But why may not we thinke that in this succession the All seeing spirit of God in his secret providence and divine administration the better to awake and stirre up his church and children to beware of this great and yet deceitfull enimie would haue the marks and signes of Antichrist to appeare some of them more evidently in some of them and some in others as the name of Pontifex Max. in Boniface the third the person of a whore in Pope Ioane their filthie adulterie Sodomie and incest in Sergius Iohn the 11. and 12. Boniface the eight and Alexander the number of his name in those before named It may be also demanded who were the types of Antichrist before the comming of our Saviour For types are a kinde of notation And so it may seeme that the wisedome of God hath ordered the course of times that in so great varieties nothing should be new Eccles â— but that former times should be figures of the future I dare not say but more may be found yet I think in the Scriptures principally seauen are to be noted 1 Cain 2 Cam. 3 Esau 4 Egypt 5 Amalek 6 Antiochus 7 Babylon which haue some things in common some things proper and peculiar They were all persecutors for the most part murderers and parricides and that without cause as the Prophet David speaketh They hated me without a cause And therefore they were all cursed of God Yea some of them so detested that the people of God were charged to make no peace with them as for instance Canaan the Issue of Cham and Amalek God executed his heavie wrath upon them all In particular 1 1. Gen. 4. Cain persecuted Christ in semine 2 2. Gen. 9. C ham in radice 3 3. Gen. 27. Esau in stirpe 4 4. Exod. 1. Egyptus in Germine 5 5. Exod. 17. Amalek in frutice 6 6. Dan. Antiochus in propagine 7 7. Ier. 50. Babylon in capite Cain persecuted Christ in the seed C ham in the roote Esau in the stock Egypt in the bud Amalek in the shrubbe Antiochus in the spread and Babylon in the Toppe or head Cain is noted for murdering his onely brother C ham for scorning his godly Father Esau for his profanenes Egypt for bloudinesse Amalek for malice Antiochus for Tyrannie and Babylon for blasphemie How these things may be applied to Rome is not hard to be understood by them who are conversant in their stories Let me here make but one instance that Romulus the first king being the first head of that Seauen-headed beast was a murderer of his brother like to Cain Brutus the first Consull put to death his owne Sonnes and his Brothers Appius the Decemvir by his beastly and outragious lust forced the father to commit a Paricide upon his chaste daughter Virginia The Tribunes Dictators and Caesars the fourth fifth and sixth Heads what were they all but ambitious turbulent spirits incendiaries raisers of most bloudie intestine warres wherein manie innocent quiet citizens were wickedly murdered And of the Pontifex Max. the seauenth head I haue sayd somewhat before and more I shall haue occasion to say hereafter Let this suffice for the Names of Antichrist from all which I demand Whether they do not fully agree to the popes and everie one of them since the time of Constantine that was Pontifex Max. about the yeare of our Lord 707 And whether they can be so fitly and so many wayes applied to any other Prince person or state And whether we may looke for any other in time to come to whom they may be more truly and fitly applied IIII. The Rising of Antichrist THose who think that a great and mightie monarch king or Commander of the cittie of Rome able to subdue other kings and to raise up a greater and more terrible persecution against Christians then any of the old Emperors of Rome should rise up like a mushrump in a night and continue so short a time as three yeares and an halfe seeme to take litle consideration of the manner of Gods proceedings and administration who as he hath appointed a time and season for all things so he limiteth times and seasons proportionable for the effecting of such things A woman cannot conceiue and beare in a moneth or a day An Elephant must haue at least two yeares and some say ten Quando when is a Relatiue as well as ubi where everie thing existent must haue his due proportion as well of the one as of the other Let us now then come to the rising of this fifth Beast or monarchie of Idolatrie and see how that is described in this divine Revelation and whether that description also do not most aptly and properly sute the Popes from the time that the impediment of the Roman Empire began to be removed by Constantine the Emperor untill the Pope attained to his Antichristian name in Boniface the third to be called Pontifex Maximus and his superlatiue power to resist the
Idolaters as in the Succession of so many ages she hath susteyned And if she cannot answer but as the wombe of a woman that it is altogether impossible to bring forth so many at once as she doth in tract of time then will I aske againe Whether any of the Popes be free of this and whether they be not all of them as one man guiltie of these great sinnes by act approbation consent and imitation and consequently fit to be represented under one person and called one Man And if this be so then will I demand as Salvianus doth of the consciences of all men that haue any sence or feeling of Truth Whether this be not that great Whore here described then whom never any no not the Divel himself if he ruled the Earth but three yeares and an half or for one mans life onely could practise or cause more fornication or Idolatrie to be committed And so much of the first note the Great Whore The second is that she sitteth upon manie waters Which the Angell expoundeth to signifie Peoples and Multitudes Nations and Tongues Here first I obserue the word of sitting which is used not onely here but by the Apostle 2 Thes 2. And it is a word â—â—metimes applied to Kings sometimes to Bishops Kings are said to sit on their Thrones Bishops in their Chayres or Churches Both are applied to Antichrist For in the 2 Thes 3. it is sayd He sitteth in the Temple or Church of God and here upon manie Nations The one place sheweth he must be a Bishop the other a King can this be applied to any but the Pope Now that the Pope and Church of Rome for these nine hundred yeares haue been supported by many Peoples nations and Tongues I will desire to haue none other witnesses then their owne chief Authors and Advocates who make their greatest brags of their Vniversalitie Bellarm. Staplâ—ron â—lendus c. how the power of their Pontif. extendeth it self not onely to Europe but to all euen the farthest remote parts of the world America and India which the Turke nor any other Potentate couâ—d never yet attaine unto And if this be evident and undeniable let us againe peruse over the Questions â—boue proposed Whether this may be affirmed of any Iewe or Turke And whether it be possible that the power of any Iew or Turke or any one man whatsoever should within the space of three yeeres and an half or of one mans life so far prevail or procure to haue so many Peoples Multitudes Nations and Tongues subject unto it as the Multitudes Nations and Tongues which haue served the Popes for these nine hundred yeares do amount unto Or to giue a nearer instance so many at once as within that time haue come to Rome to their Iubiles solemnities The third note of this Antichristian Harlot is that the Kings of the Earth haue committed fornication with her and the Inhabitants of the Earth haue been made druncken with the wine of her fornication And what king was there in Europe for these nine hundred yeares which did not committ or permit fornication both corporall and spirituall with the Church of Rome Which of them did not worship the same Images and use or permit the same uncleanes And I demand againe whether this can be verified of any Iew Turke or other person whatsoever past present or to come The fourth note is her exceeding great riches pompe and gorgeousnes Let me instance but in one or two particulars Majora vel certe paria c. sayth Blondus All Europe sendeth to Rome greater or surely no lesse Tributes In Roma inst urata then were payed to the Ancient Roman Emperors Pope Iohn left at his death in treasure ducentos quinquaginta Tonellos Ducatorum Bibâ—iand ex Palmerio ad ann 1334. sayth another Omnes Reges mundi non possent tantum de Thesauro reddere infra unum annum quantum fuit de Papali Palatio asportatum de Palatiis trium Cardinalium Marchionis sayth another speaking of Pope Boniface the eight R. Avesb and three Cardinals and the Marquis his nephew I demand then Whether Prince or Potentate State or person haue had the like testimonie of Riches and whether it be credible that any in three yeares an half or one mans life time should attaine to the like The fifth note She hath a name written in her forehead A Mysterie Babylon the Great Mother of Harlots and abhominations of the earth First it is called Great I demand Whether ever this title were so much giuen to any cittie besides Rome The old Babylon was never so many times called great And I thinke none will make question of any other And Whether the Bishop of Rome the Church of Rome and the cittie of Rome haue not everie one of them had a speciall title of Greatnes I referre me to the consciences of the Romans themselues to their Decrees and Canons who giue to their Bishop the Title of Pontifex Max. or Summus so Lipsius that hath written a Booke De magnitudine urbis Romae and to that other who writ a Booke De magnitudine Romanae Ecclesiae So their Church is great their cittie is great and their Bishop is greatest of all Of the name of Babylon I haue spoken sufficiently before And for the other title of Mother of Harlots or Sodomites as Scaliger and others reade and abhominations of the earth I demand of all that know Rome eyther by travelling in those countries and eye witnesse or by reading and hearesay Whether there be in any place of the world being of no greater extent so many Harlots and Sodomites and so publikely mainteyned and allowed as in Rome and the Popes Iurisdiction and where his power is acknowledged and whether any other Prince or Prelate Church or State Turke or Iew haue giuen or made such and so many faculties and dispensations pardons and Lawes for such things Let the notable booke of the Taxa and the cases reserved to Papall dispensation be perused And here is to be noted the Name that the Holy Ghost giveth to her calling her The Mother of Harlots or Sodomites and fornications which is singularly Emphaticall For it cannot be denied but there are many Harlots and Fornicators in other places neyther can it be denied but other Empires and kingdoms are called Whores as Inda and Israel by Ezekiel Ninive by Nahum Babylon by Ieremie But no other place is called the mother of Harlots or Sodomites This of all the rest seemeth to be Proprium quarto modo A propertie inseparable which agreeth to the Popes omni soli semper to them onely and everie of them ever since the Councels of Hispal and Toledo aboue mentioned For noÌ„ne but the Popes haue forbidden Mariage nor made Lawes that the Cloysters and Convents of Nunnes should be subject to monkes and Fryers and that it should be lawfull for Priests to haue Concubines No other Prince State or