those warres I will therefore speake judicio contemplativo not practico Sayrus Clavis Regia lib. 12. cap. 3. num 26. proceed to the Position and passe by the objections against the Persons It is I say absolutely unlawfull for subjects in the cause of Religion to take up armes against their Prince nay without their Prince bee the Warre offensive yea but defensive Suscipiendi belli authoritas penes Principem saith Saint Augustine August contra Faust lib. 22. cap. 75. it is the Prerogative of Princes to move Warre no subjects may usurpe upon it Nay though the persons be Religious and the cause Religion yet is it Rebellion or Treason to take up Armes against or without the Prince Damhouderius in prax Crimin cap. 82. Foure things say the Lawyers are required to make a warre just and warrantable justa causa recta intentio personarum idonietas authoritas Principum sine qua est laesa majestas there must say they concurre a just cause a right intention fit persons and the Princes authority without which the warre is high Treason Warre made by a subject is unjust though the cause be just for the justnesse of the cause cannot give lawfull power A just cause good intention power and jurisdiction must concurre to make such publike actions warrantable Warre we see without the Prince is unlawfull though for Religion but against the Prince though for Religion it is farre more unlawfull Take Saint Augustines judgement for the ancient Christians ye see said he to Marcellinus the Powers of this world August Epist 5. ad Marcel which once did persecute Christians in behalfe of their Images they are now conquered non a Repugnantibus sed à morientibus Christianis not by the Warres but by the patience and deaths of Christians Take Master Bezaes judgement Bezalibro Confess sidei cap. 5. sect 45. for the later Christians Quod autem ad Privatos Homines attinet concerning Subjects saith he â—â—juriam pati nostrum est it is their dutie to suffer neque ullum aliud remedium proponitur privatis hominibus tyranno subiectis praeter vitae emendationem preces laâ—rimas and though they bee subiects to a Tyrant they have no other remedy but amending their lives and commending their cause to God And the judgement of all Christians is recorded in that primitive perpetuated proverbe Arma Christianorum sunt preces lachryâ—â—e Prayers and teares are the onely weapons of Christians Their practice also hath made good their proverbe Valentius decreed to banish Eusebius from Samosata Theodoret. lib. 4. cap. 14. the people tooke up Armes Eusebius appeased the people opposed not the Prince but submitted himselfe to banishment Valentiniane sent Calligonus his Chamberlaine to terrisie Saint Ambrose from his opinions by menacies of death and torments That holy man returned no resistance but this reply Deus permittat tibi ut impleas quod minaris Indeed saith he God may please to permit you to put in execution what you threaten Ego patiar quod est Episcopi tu sacies quod Spadonis I wil discharge the duty of a Bishop doe you the Office of an Eunuch It was the famous onset which the armed Christians gave to their Emperour though a Pagan Caesar oramus non pugnamus Sir our tongues beseech thee our hands shall not touch thee In generall From the passion Hist Papatus cap. 9. of Christ to the persecution of Dioclesian the poore Christians were savagely persecuted with intolerable innumerable incredible tortures 20000 put to death at once and whole nations extirpated yet it was never knowne that though they were of equall number and force ever they armed themselves against the Emperour any otherwise than with Patience To shut up all in the example of him who should be all in all Christ himselfe commanded Peter to put up his sword it is no proper weapon to defend his quarrell And in truth those that maintaine Warres warrantable in such cases of Religion they plucke the flower from the Garland or rather the Garland from the Head of the Church There will be no Martyrdome if private men may make resistance against persecutors The occasions of warre are either Proper or Accidentall the proper occasion is that which maketh men take up armes of it selfe without any other reason adioyned the accidentall is the occasion which concurreth but not of necessity Thus it is not lawfull for one Prince which is a Protestant to invade another who is a Papist as he dissereth in Religion but as hee is a Truce-breaker Incroacher or a Disturber of the Publike Peace c. Thus Constantine warred against Lucinius Danâ—us de Antichrist c. 29. his Colleague not because he was an Infidell but because he persecuted the Christians contrarie to their capitulations one Article of their league betwixt them being this to permit the Christians to live in Peace I say therefore I do not approve the shedding of Christian blood in the cause of Religion But this I adde if the Pope shall proceed to maintaine them who maintaine these Traiterous positions such as Bellarmine Baronius Becanus Suarez c. That the Pope hath power either directly or indirectly to take away the subiects Crownes or Lives of any Princes I say then these Princes may iustly take armes to defend themselves and to invade their adversaries Yea more as Hanibal invaded Rome but the Romanes setched him home by aâ—saulting his Charthage So when it is apparent that Rome sendeth forth advice and agents to raise Rebellions or Invasions against Protestant Princes then may Protestant Princes justly raise forces to raze that Citie which is the shop of Treason and to ruine Rome it selfe This wee may conjecture to be the foretelling of that prophecie of Grosthead Matth. Paris in Henr. 3. nec liberabitur Ecclesia ab Aegyptica servitute nisi in ore gladij cruentandi the Church said that Bishop of Lincolne shall not bee free from that Aegyptian slaverie but by effusion of blood And this we may conceive to bee the fulfilling of Saint Iohns prophecy Revel 18. 6 8. Rome shall be burned even by those Princes in whose territories the Pope hath kindled many combustions Mornâ—us myst Progres 65. Hence Lewis the twelfth King of France caused to bee disputed in a Synode at Tours Num liceret Papae absque causa Principi bellum inferre whether it were lawfull for the Pope on no cause to make warre on any Prince and when it was answered negatively that it was not lawfull Hee propounded a second question Num non tali Principi pro sua desensione fas sit eum invadere whether it were not lawfull for such a Prince thereupon to invade the Pope their suffrages did returne the conclusion That it was lawfull Hence also the same King commanded these words to bee stamped on his coine PerdaÌ„ Babylonem I will destroy Babylon Without these limitations the Sword which we must use against the
Tostatus and Thomas put the Quaere if the Queene of the Sarazens with her whole kingdome would be baptized and become Christians conditionally that some Monke may bee given her for an Husband What should bee done in this case They answer negatively That a Monke might not marry no not such a Queene licet multae animae sunt manifestò periturae although many soules should undoubtedly perish by that refusall Now what may we conceive to bee the cause of this so severe an inhibition I conjecture it to be twofold the commodity and the glory of the Church of Rome Nondum erat ecclesia dotata saith Gerson the Treasurie of their Church would bee at a low ebbe if this channell were diverted Hist Trent lib. 7. pag. 680. And Pius 4. anno 1563 blamed the legates for permitting the question to be disputed because the affections of maried priests would fall from the Church to their Country I remember a fearfull saying of Arnobius Frequentius Arnob. lib. 8. pag. 771. in Aedituorum sacerdotum aut Monachorum cellulis quam in ipsis Lupanaribus flagrans libido defungitur I will not translate his sentence nor relate my owne sentence but I will conclude The Pope is homo peccati the man of sinne for he hath law to command it To close up all with one or two memorable additions Gravius peccat si uxorem ducit quam si domi Concubinam â—â—vâ—at Costerus Coster Ench. cap. 15. Prop. 9 saith it is a more grievous crime for a Priest to marry than for him to keepe an Whore in his house And it is a ruled case of conscience Tolet Instit sacerd lib. 4. c. 21. amongst those Catholikes That a woman though she hath oftentimes lyen with other men yet she may say and sweare to her husband that she is no adulteresse with this reservation I never did commit adultery Tibi ut revelem with an intent to tell him But to put all whores and Taxa Camera cap. 13. whoremongers out of all feare they have pitched a publike price upon this Sinne. Their Taxa telleth us that a Priest might keepe a Concubine paying ten shillings and six pence and a Lay man may doe the same at the same rate If a man defloure a virgin it shall cost him Cap. 14. Cap. 15. nine shillings and seven shillings six pence must be payed by him that defileth his kinswoman Sarishariensis in Epâ—st ad Coloss 4. 5. pag. 356. Caus z. Quest 7. in Gloss I will shut up all with that quotation of our learned Bishop out of their Canonists Pro simplici fornicatione hodie nemo deponitur Now none is deposed for simple fornication Now would I see him who will not see the Sunne can any deny this conclusion The Pope is the cause of whoredome The consequence whereof will hardly be waved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Pope is The Man of sinne The third and last sin wherewith I charge the Church of Rome that it is the cause thereof is Treason Treason Did ever Englishman think that any impudent haÌ„d shold throw back this durt into our owne faces yet is there a popish pamphlet to prove the popish Church to be Hierusalem or the mother of peace and our Church to bee Babel or the Teacher and practiser of sedition Iust like Athalia who was the Arch-traitresse her selfe 2 King 11. 1. yet shee was the first and fiercest to cry treason treason against others 2 King 11. 14. But whether it be our Church or the Church of Rome which is the shop where all treason is hammered let this discourse testifie The whole Series of the Popes for many centuries might well be called by the sirname of Vrbanus the third Turbani that is the troublers of all Christendome But I will not inlarge my discourse too farre pondere non numero I will produce a few testimonies but to the purpose and I wil end only with one authority and with one example which shall satisfie any indifferent person who doth impartially desire satisfaction Aquine is an old Artist in this and goeth Aqum 2. â—â— qâ—â—st 12. Art 2. plainly to worke Principe propter Apostasiam excommunicato ipso facto subditi ejus solvuntur à juramento fidelitatis that is if any Prince be excommunicated for Apostasie or falling from Religion ipso facto by that very act his subjects are absolved from their oath of allegeance Bellarmine driveth the same naile a little further BellaÌ„r de Pont. R. lib. 5. cap. 7. sect Eâ—go â—â—ia Si Princeps aliquis ex ove aut ariete fit lupus id est ex Christiano haereticus potest Pastor Ecclesiae cum arcere per excommunicationem simul jubere populo ne eum sequatur ac proinde privare eum dominio in subditos That is If any Prince of a Sheepe shall become a Wolfe that is of a Christian an Hereticke the Pastor of the Church the Pope may expell him by excommunication and withall he may command the people to follow their Prince no more and finallie he may deprive him from ruling over his Bellar. de Pont. Rom lib. 5. ca. 7. sect Quod si subjects And hee addeth a reason why this hath not beene frequently done Quia deerant vires the Pope wanted power to put it in execution And this certainly was the cause of composing that laborious but lying libell Monarchomachia whereby the wilie author would perswade credulous persons Hierusalem Hierusalem that the Papists are the most peaceable people in our whole land but desunt vires they want power There is the cause of their quietnesse and for ever may it continue unto them Thus have I the most and most learned of the Church of Rome avouching my accusation For Thomas is the leader to all the Thomists and few of the Iesuits will sticke to follow their Cardinall Bellarmine Nay not onely the Thomists and Iesuits but if they will subscribe to the Pope all the Papists must grant the cause though the title peradventure Treason is declined by them About the yeare 1253 Pope Innocent the Math. Paris pag. 844. fourth said of King Henry the third Nonne est Rex Angliae noster vasallus is not the King of England our subject ut plus dicam mancipium nay more is he not our slave Pope Monarchomach part 2. tit 3. pag. 372. Pius 5. indeavoured the deed but God be blessed deerant vires and ever may they armed our Northerne Papists to Rebellion against our famous Queene Elizabeth as it is confessed by impudence it selfe the Babylonish author Apologia Regis Iacobi pag. 77. of their Babel Pope Sixtus the 5. uttered in the Conclave a panegyricall Oration in the praise of that traiterous Monke who murthered Henry 3. King of France And finally Pope Vrbane 8. Maij 30. 1626. dated a Bull to Bulla Vrban 8. 1626. England to exhort all English Romish Catholikes to refuse the oath of Allegiance that
is in effect to bee Traitors Wherefore then should we be dainty to give the title which is so meritoriously atchieved Homo peccati The Pope is the man of sinne But all these instances fall short of that instar omnium of that one authority with which I promised to conclude and have reserved it to bee the complement of the whole cause Suarez ex cujus ore locutos omnes conspirasse affirmare audeam all the hearts of all the Papists speake out of his mouth saith Alphonsus a Castello Branco in his censure of his Apologie Now let us heare his and their united language Suarez Apolog. lib. 6. cap 4. First therefore in his 6 booke and 4. chapter of his Apology he proveth this proposition Papa potest Reges deponere ac occidere that is The Pope hath power to depose and to kill Kings But with five cautions 1. Se inconsulto Suarez Apolog. lib 6. cap. 4. num 17. nemo contra regem suum insurgat None may dare to rebell against his King Se incoÌ„sulto unlesse the Pope be acquainted with it 2. Ab Suarez Apolog. lib. 6. cap. 4. num 18. illis tantum potuit expelli interfici quibus ipse id commiserit None may expell nor kill their King but onely those to whom the Pope himselfe doth commit this designe 3. What pâ—rticular Suarez Ibib. person may principally performe this feat Successor his next Heire to the Crowne si sit Catholicus if he be of the Romish Religion 4. Illo negligentiâ— what if the successour doth Suarez Apolog. Ibid. make some scruple to executo the Popes pious injunction and to touch the Lords anointed Then communitas regni all the Commons may take up â—rmes Dummodo sit Catholica provided Suarez Apolog. lib. 6. cap. 4. num 19. they be Papists Finally if all â—aile Alter Rex a Forraigne Prince may invade his kingdome alwayes provided si Pontifex potestatem ei tribuaâ— invadendi â—egâ—â—m that the Pope permitteth â—â—is â—â—â—â—sioâ— So 〈◊〉 there must be no deposing nor killing of Kings but with the knowledge approbation instruction of the Pope himselfe Therefore the Pope himselfe is the root of all Treason And in this point also he is Ille homopeccati The man of sinne Disciples have not beene wanting to this Doctrine Even tlle author of the Monarchomachia himselfe I doubt not but is an excellent proficient in this Schoole though hee pretendeth that he never learned this lesson In his Monarch part 1. tit 6 pag. 272. first part and sixt title these words fall from him Who in his Realme is to judge him who in his Realme Indeed the Pope is not in the Kings Realme If he would speake out in plain English wee should find that hee that hath Hierusalem Hierusalem so much in his mouth that he hath Babel Babel as much in his heart and that with Suarez hee holdeth the Pope to bee Iudge unto the King But to winde up all in one example never to bee paralleld the Powder Treason occasioned by the Tort. Torti pag. 86. popish Religion Attempted by popish Catholikes incouraged by popish Doctors as Faux himselfe freely confessed Nay to speake in the phrase of Suarez They did not they durst not attempt it se inconsulto without the knowledge of the Pope nisi catholici unlesse they had beene Romish Catholikes et quibus ipse commiserit they had never undertaken it haâ— not the Pope himselfe given them commission 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Pope is The man of sinne But let us heare Babel plead for Rome Monarchomachia maketh this excuse That Monarchâ—m part 1. tit 1. pag. 14. Horrible project of the Gunpowder Treason was attempted by a few private Hot-spurres which in justice is rather to bee buried with the offendors then to be objected and imputed to innocent men who generally with great sorrow abhorre the Memory thereof I will answer in Monarchomâ—â— part 1. tit 1. pag. 52. his owne words touching that objection that the papists and this Author himselfe doe they doe say that the Gunpowder Treason was an horrible project and they doe say that they abhorre the memory thereof with great sorrow and this man doth preach obedience and hath printed a pamphlet which he termeth Hierusalem to that purpose But this is onely a fallacy to avoid the scandall for now they see that those Traitors did not stand nor maintaine their quarrell now they leave them in the Bryars cry out against their project pretend that they abhorre that very Memorie of them Nay would God they did so much in truth For this and all their cunning pamphlets cannot coape the lips of all their Catholikes but some of them at some time will shew their teeth As M. More censured in the Starre-Chamber anno 1623. Article 15. said That it was pitty that he who undertooke the blowing up of the Parliament that he was not hanged presently not because he did attempt it but because hee did not effect it Now that our King and Kingdome our Peeres and People our Church and Common-wealth that our Nation and very Name of England should have beene buried in one graue torne in peeces with one blast of Gunpowder And yet by no meanes se inconsulto without the approbation of the Pope This may iustly cause us to say Ecce homo peccati The Pope is the man of sinne In the year 1554 Queen Mary ordained that Trent Hist lib. 5. 385. that prayer instituted by King Henry the eight To deliver the kingdome from the Sedition Conspiracy and Tyranny of the Pope should bee razed out of the Communion Booke I thinke we may take up some such forme of prayer again and pray From Ignorance Whoredome and Treason From the killing of our King and confusion of our Common-wealth From the Man of sinne and that Pope of Rome Good Lord deliuer us SERMON V. 2 THESS 2. 3 4. The Sonne of perdition Antichrist the sonne of perdition Antichrist Iudas and the Pope paralleld Popish persecutions surpasse those of the Emperours Of the Inquisition I Have discussed the first point in this Description the time a falling away Which being taken three wayes every way it is punctally fitted to the Pope either politically for a falling from the Empire by rebellion or Ecclesiastically for a falling from the Church in Religion or Figuratively the falling away being put for the faller away the cause thereof all which are proper to the Popish Apostasie I am entred into the second point the three titles of Antichrist In the first I have observed foure particulars the Subject Antichrist is termed a man to shew that hee prevaileth in the Church by humane meanes Perswasion not improper to the Pope Secondly the Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Man not one man but many a succession peculiar to them which lay such claime to succession the Popedome Thirdly the Adjunct the man of sinne that is a most sinfull wretch
his heart is girded with a threefold gable of untamed obstinatenesse who will be negligent where S. Paul doth urge us to be diligent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Remember ye not saith my Text that when I was yet with you I told you these things But to frame my conclusions from their owne conceâ—sions Sanders rendreth five causes Sanders de Antichristâ—dem 2. of Antichrist the Efficient a just God that thereby he might maâ—e knowne the malice of Satan the power of Christ and the patience of the Church The next or subordinate efficient the subtle malitious devill who maketh Antichrist his instrument to seduce miserable men The Materiall is Antichrist himselfe a meere man The Forme is the powerfull working impâ—etie of Satan And the End of Antichrists comming is that they may bee punished who will not receâ—ve the truth All which causes are contained in this chapter The Efficient in the eleventh verse God shall send them strong delusion The Suboâ—dinate in the ninth Hee commeth after the workâ—ng of Satan The Matter in the third verse hee is termed The man of sinne The Forme in the seventh Antichrâ—stianâ—sme is called the Mystery of iniquity And the End is set downe in the end of the Prophesie in the twelfth verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Antichrist shall come that they all might be damned which beleeve not the truth As therfore we love God or hate the Devill as we hope for salvatâ—on or feare our damnation so are we bound to search this necessary point this point of Antichrist Finally let a Dutch Papist concurre in this concluâ—â—on with this English Papist Multa Lessius de Antichâ—isto praesat apud Damelem Paulum in Apocalypsi Iohannis de Antichristo habeantur valde sit necessaria eorum notitia Ecclesiae ut sideles possint tempestive moneri ne ab illo circumveniantur That is there are many things written by Daniel Paul and in the Revelation concerning Antichrist the knowledge whereof is very necessary for the Church whereby the faithfull may in time be admonished lest they should be intrapped by that sonne of perdition Wee therefore are lesse beholden to that learned Protestant whosoever which shall inhibite any faithfull man members of the Church from labouring to know Antichrist than wee are to the popish Iesuite Lessius who acknowledgeth that knowledge to bee very necessarie for them But it may bee objected This point is difficult and therefore it may not be searched into And it may be answered This point is difficult and therefore excellent and therefore it must be searched into Moreover the Holy Ghost did deliver this excellent matter in a difficult manner for three reasons for those who follow Christ for those who follow Antichrist and for those who follow neither Christ nor Antichrist First for those who did follow neither lest the Heathen and Romanes should have beene exasperated if they had beene informed that a Viper should have proceeded out of the Church to devoure the Dragon of their Empire Occumenius in 2 Thess 2. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Occumenius That is S. Paul uttered this prophesie thus obscurely that he might not provoke the Romans unto unnecessary enmity And it is the opinion of many of the learned that many of those heavy persecutions were commenced and continued by the Romanes against the Christians because from this prophesie they had apprehended an inkling that the Church of Rome should teeme him that should subvert the Empire of Rome The same obscurity is used because of those which follow or favour Antichrist that by an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a just recompence of reward God might harden them judicially who had hardned themselves habitually This mystery of Antichrist is spoken to them in Parables that seeing they may see and not perceive and hearing they may heare and not understand Mark 4. 11 12. And finally this prophesie is penned in these darke and difficult termes for their sakes who doe truly follow Christ that true Christians might be hereby excited unto industry and invocation to reade constantly that they may know and to pray continually that they may eschew that Man of sinne and Sonne of perdition Let my heart therefore exhort you in the words of our Saviour Iohn 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for certainly these doe testifie of Christ yea and of Antichrist also Doe that noble act of those noble Bereans Acts 17. 11. Search the Scriptures daily whether these things be so I desire not to obtrude any thing upon facility or credulity but ponder every point I distrust not my ability to satisfie the hearer or to justifie the speaker in any reasonable manner or measure In the phrase of the Apostle 1 Thess 5. 21. I dare appeale to the judgment of any indifferent auditours Prove all things Hold fast that which is best Heare me Reade others Examine all I say confidently Prove all things and God grant you may hold fast that which is best The digression being dispatched in the first verse I proceed to the progression in the next to wit How the person of Antichrist was hindred to be knowne in S. Pauls time A point worthy to be commended to our consideration for on this ground doth Bellarmine build his second Bell. de P. R. lib. 3. c. 3. Demonstration The Pope saith he cannot be the Antichrist Quia impedimendum nondum sublatum est because that which hindred is not yet removed out of the way And withall Bellarmine Steuartius in 2 Thess 2. 5. following the Greeke and Latine Fathers saith that the Apostle doth here speake De Romani imperij eversione of the eversion of the Romane Empire Whereof he made mention to the Thessalonians plainly when he was present with them but being absent from them he durst not write it for feare that this prophesie might be published to the notice of the Romanes whose hatred he knew thereby hee should incurre Moreover those Fathers and Bellarmine conceived the sense of this sentence to be this Ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed that is The flourishing estate of the Romane Empire did hinder the comming of Antichrist Answerable to which exposition is the tradition of Tertullian Optatus and Lactantius Pererius in Dan. li. 14. p. 677 that it was a prime prayer in the Primitive Church Pro conservatione Romani Imperij that God would preserve the Romane Empire the Christians saith Pererius perswading themselves That Antichrist could not come so long as that did flourish The probable cause whereof is assigned by Chrysostome by way of precedents that as the Babylonian Monarchy was subverted by the Persians the Persian by the Macedonians and the Macedonian by the Romanes so in the conclusion the Romanes themselves should have their Scepter wrestled out of their Herculean fists by the Herculean labour of Antichrist And the event saith Amen to all this It seemeth that the Romane Empire by their tyranny and
Martyrologist concerning Pope Iulius the Marshall who cast the Keyes into Tyber and laid his hand on the Sword The succession of Popes for many yeares have made use of both to erect their Monarchy The Keyes 3 waies they have made their Picke-lockes to enter at the Posterne of the Church and as many waies they have used the Sword to cut down all opposition which shall interrupt 〈◊〉 Entrance and usurpation To which I will adde two more and then their projects are eight in number Excommunication Indulgence or dissimulation and Appellation are the acts of the keyes in regard of all which it seemeth Saint Peters keyes have hanged at the Popes girdle The Sword also they have permitted establishing and raising the Papacy by warres into which they suffered Christendome to fall Sometimes the Sword they submitted and secretly sowed discord in Christendome out of which they have sucked no small advantage And many times the Sword they have immitted and sheathed in the sides of their Soveraignes and other Princes whom they assaulted by the hand of Treason and open Rebellion To which adde their corrupting of Bookes and abusing of Favours received from Princes and Prelates as precedents of their right and we have the intire number of all the old Popish Mysteries I meane to instance in at this season First Excommunications of Princes especially have beene very advantageous for the advancing of the Papacy The first that I finde who made use of it in this kinde was Pope Platina Onuphâ—ius in vita Constantini Constantine who did excommunicate the Greeke Emperour Philippicus under the pretence of the heresie they termed Iconomachy or opposing Image worship which produced so fatall an effect that Arthemius incouraged thereby rebelled and deposed the Emperour anno 716. And then this audacity became afterwards hereditary many Popes excommunicating many Emperours and many other Princes Sigonius lib. 3. de Reg. Ital. By this meanes Gregory the second raised Ravenna and Venice in rebellion against Leo and expelled the Greeke Emperor out of the Italian territories By this Gregory the seventh caused those tragicall commotions against that noble Germane Emperour Henry the third Bar t. 9. an 726. Artic. 34. Pless Myster Opposit 40. which ended not but with his life I need not travell farre for examples our owne Princes Iohn Henry c. are the wofull patternes of this wicked subtlety Nor was the feare of those Princes in those dayes causelesse for probably the Popes excommunications caused three notable consequents First the Clergy would either withdraw themselves out of the Country or with-hold the execution of their Calling Hence the people yea and Peeres also would murmure yea and mutinie also that they were deprived of the exercise of their Devotions And finally their neighbouring Princes from this pretence had a faire cloke for their ambition and colour for their invasion Princes therefore in those dayes were compelled to keepe correspondence with the Popes for dread of their excommunications Secondly the hiding away of the keyes did sometime helpe them to keepe the stollen goods of the Primacy Thus Phocas having murthered Pless Myst Progress 22. his Master Mauritius being disallowed and deserving to be excommunicated by Cyriacus Patriarch of Constantinople the holy connivence of honest Boniface the third salved all and well was he rewarded for it For it he atchieved his glorious title of Vniversall Bishop Bastlius also having murthered Michael his Master who had assumed him into the societie of the Empire Photius the Patriark of Constantinople rejected the traiterous parricide from the Lords Table but hee was instantly Anastasius in Adriano 2. Baronius anno 869. Articulo 81 82. countenanced by Pope Adriane the second And verily he also had his reward for his sake Basilius called the eighth Vniversall Councill into which every man was inhibited entrance by his Imperiall authority unlesse hee did first subscribe to the point of the Popes Primacie 3. The third is neere of kinne to this second particular Vice or the vicious discord of the Clergie hath beene the cause of Appellation a prerogative so highly esteemed by them So the improbity of Apiarius and the Heresie of Caelestius a condemned Pelagian disordered Antonie Bishop of Fussala who was deprived by his comprovincialls in Africa and damned Eutiches himselfe all these ranne to the Church of Rome for refuge and found it a Sanctuary Zozimus Boniface Caelestine Dr. Sharp Papae speculum pag. 273. Pless Myst Oppos 10. 11. and Leo did not reject them but the last onely excepted they did accept incourage and defend those Appellants These are three wayes therefore the Pope hath used the Keyes whereby he hath entred into the Temple of God and there now Hee sitteth as God shewing himselfe that hee is God 4. Tam Marte quam Mercurio the Popes have not beene so cunning with the Keyes but they have beene as couragious with the Sword Full politikely did this prudent generation permit Princes to bleed under the Sword of their over-potent Adversaries that so they might be constrained to cast themselves into the armes of the Bishop of Rome for succour The Greeke Emperours were in a manner confined to the East either by the invasion of the Sarasins or by domesticall insurrections which did cause them not onely to use connivence to but to seeke and sue for correspondence with the Popes in the West Hence Iustinian the first did professe such Novel lib. 8. cap. de Sum. Trinitate Baron tom 7. Anno 533. Artic 31. c. Pless Myster Progress 26. Pless Myster Progress 27. solemne honour to the See Apostolike and to the holinesse of Pope Iohn the second And Iustinian the second communicated his owne majesticall honour to the entertainment of Pope Constantine that by his assistance and countenance hee might recover his Throne and revenge himselfe on his Rebells In the West he permitted Aistulphus King of Lumbardy to expell the Greeke Emperour out of Italie and afterwards excited Pipine to drive AISTVLPHVS out of Lumbardie not omitting his owne commoditie that part of his conquest should bee rendered to Saint Peter for his Patrimonie Sigonius de regno Ital. lib. 5. Platina in Sergio Pipine thus gratifying the Pope Steven 2 was rewarded in his off-spring by Pope Sergius the second who nourished the Papacy by nourishing discord betwixt Charles Lewis and Lotharius brethren till that the French were expelled out of Italy and the Empire translated to the Germanes And how the Germane Emperours have beene wearied with warres in the Holy Land and worried with warres in Christendome it is superfluous to relate The effect is this by them they are reduced to the meere shadow and bare name of the Romane Empire but the Romane Pope thereby hath substantially advanced his Primacy 5. If they cannot prevaile permittendo by permitting the sword to devoure such as being in peace might oppose them then submittendo did their subtlety assay secretly to send a sword
among such Princes their agents blowing up the coales of contention which at length might flame out into an open combustion A cloud of witnesses might dissolve it selfe into a testimony of this truth but I have an instar omnium at the mouth of onely one witness it shall uncontroulably be established These are the very words of a great Pope to the great Turke of Pius the second to Mahomet As our Predecessours STEVEN ADRIAN Epist Pij 2 ad Princip Turc pag. 9. and LEO did call in PIPIN and CHARLES to their ayde against the King of the Longobards HAISTVLPHVS and DESIDERIVS and being delivered from their tyrannie they transferred the Empire from the Grecians unto these their Champions So may we in the necessity of the Church make use of your assistance vicem reddere and returne a retribution Even the translation of the Christian Empire to the Turke if his Turkish sword would make good the Popish quarrells An excellent motive to make the Turke turne Christian but more excellent to make Christians take heed of the Popes subtletie 6. Rather than their sword shall faile them Pless Myst Opposit 28. Pless Myst Opposit 40. they will sharpen it at the shop of Rebellion Gregory the fourth conspired with the Sons against the Father the Emperour Lewis Gregory the seventh instigated the Germanes to an insurrection against Henry the third the Emperour and invested Ralph the Duke of Burgundy with the interest to his Empire Paschal the second Pless Myst progress 42. Pless myst progress 51. excited Henry the sonne to rebell against Henrie the Father Gregory the ninth did infuse the same poison into the heart of Prince Henrie that hee unnaturally rebelled against his noble Father Fredericke the second All which wolvish attempts had this one Foxe-like scope that the Italian Cities by these meanes becomming free States and obtaining a new forme of government divide imperia would be lesse able to oppose the Popish affected Monarchy than if they had remained under the Emperour intire in an united subjection Seventhly to make these mysteries yet more mysticall they have Sepia-like overspred these acts with an inky darknesse forging and purging the ancient Authors that they make those old Writers to speake those things now they are dead which they abhorred when they were alive Their additions to Cyprian and Augustine Goulartius and Erasmus have declared their subtractions from other old authors their own Indices expurgatorij have sufficiently acknowledged And how they have extinguished all the writings of the Waldenses is more than notorious But their Triarij their principall corrupters are three learned men famous in their generations in three sorts of learning Gratiane who compiled all the old Canons in one body of the Decrees Peter Lumbard his brother indeed brethren in the Mystery of Iniquity who brought the Fathers sayings into his foure bookes of Sentences And Baronius who spent thirty yeares Casaub Epist Dedic Exercit. ad Baron imployment to comprise all the Ancient Historians in his Tomes All their indeavours meeting in this Center to advance the Papacy Gratiane making the Law Lumbard Divinity and Baronius History to speake what was sit for the corruption of that doctrine and ambition of those Doctors But what is the effect Notwithstanding their cunning conveyance the carefull eye of an impartiall Reader may discerne the foot-steps of Antichrist and Antichristian errours even in their writings And their labour preventeth mine it proveth my conclusion The mystery of iniquity is a working even in their writings 8. Finally the favours of Princes and Prelates hath the Pope framed to bee a rare furtherance for his Prelacy and Principality registring their voluntary actions of love and courtesie as precedents of their necessary observance and duty Thus Honoratus Bishop of Marseille and Possessor a Bishop of Africa sent Gennad de Script Eccles cap. 100. their Bookes peradventure to intreat their judgements to the Bishop of Rome the one to Gelasius and the other to Hormisda Hence Baron 1. 6. 490. Artic. 43 45 46 Bar. â— 7. an 520. Artic. 12 13 14. Duorenus de Benefic lib. 1. c. 2. Bell. de Imag. lib. 2 c. 13. init Suarez Apol. li. 4. c. 31. nu 13 â—ess de Antichr part 2 pag. 267. Bellarm. de P. R. lib. 1. cap. 8. L. Volumus C. de Epist Cler. Hist Papatus cap. 4. Pâ—ess Myster progress 64. â— Baronius constraineth a conclusion therefore the approbation or suppressing of Bookes belong to the Pope The Ancients held the judgment of the Church of Rome in high esteeme and to it even their Councills had recourse as to the most solide advisers concerning their Canons and Constitutions But the Pope hath forced this their arbitrary reverence into a rule of necessary obedience that now there is no Councill above the Pope and can bee no Councill without the Pope Charles the great granted that the Clergie should be judged by their Bishops in all causes on which pretence the Pope hath arrogated power to determine all causes concerning all persons even against the Emperours themselves who gave them these priviledges at the first To give you a taste of many in this one example The King of France Charles the 8 having forcibly entred Rome yet comming into the Vaticane on his knees he kissed the foot of Pope Alexander the sixt and on another day he held the Bason and Ewre whilest his Holinesse did wash All which that humble Pope caused to be painted in a Gallery of S. Angelo as a pattern of Princes dutie which this heroick Conquerour did out of his redundant courtesie And thus have I discovered their Quaerere the History and the Mystery of their attaining their Papall greatnesse Thus much concerning their Mysticall Art in attaining now they are no lesse artificiall in retaining their greatnesse and in inlarging it in our times For which purpose they use both baits and hookes and both by way of undermining and countermining the poore Protestants First they undermine us Machiavil saith Mach. Hist Florent lib. 2. the old Florentines had a Bell called Martinella which was rung continually for a whole month together before their Army took the field that the Enemy might prepare for defence We must dreame of no such faire warre from our Adversaries the Papists will follow Machiavils policie not his History Therefore like the Beleaguerers of strong Forts they use secret Engines to blow up when suspect nothing but are secure as upon sound ground They undermine us admirably they have Engines and baits answerable to every Sexe and Condition Women especially devout women they worke wonderfully on and by for the spreading of Poperie They doe not onely creepe into houses and captive sillie Women as Saint Paul foresaw and foretold long agoe 2 Tim. 3. 6. But moreover they stirre up honourable women to persecute professours and to expell them out of their coast as the Iewes did at Antioch Acts 15. 50. Nay they surpasse
Religion to ravish all mens affections and to fit every humour As if Epicurus had beene the pretended successour of Saint Peter or Saint Peters pretended successour had been Epicurus aut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This was the practise of Epicurus Lactantius lib. 3. cap. 17. Vt adse multitudinem contrahat oppositis singulis quibusque moribus loquitur Desidiosum vel at literas discere avarum populari largitione liberat qui claritati studet huic praecipiâ—ur reges colere fugienti turbam solitudo laudatur qui nimium parcus est discit aqua polenta vitam posse tolerare qui uxoremodit huic enumerantur bona Caelibatus c. Translate it into English and an ordinary English person would take it to be the Popes ordinary practise That he may draw the multitude unto him he hath positions for every humour of every person If he be a Dullard he giveth him an Indulgence for ignorance as the mother of devotion If Covetous he exempts him from popular taxations the exemption of the Clergy If hee hunt after preferment Kings Courts shall imploy him if hee cannot indure the troubles of the world a solitary life of the Hermites is extolled if he be frugall fasting and such austeritie is assigned him and if he dislike his wife the singular benefits of a single life are preached unto him and a Monastery prepared for him To honor my conclusion I will conclude with the words of him who Relation of the Religion in the West sect 13. is the Honor of Travellers Whatsoever either wealth can sway with the Lovers or voluntarie poverty with the despisers of the world what Honor with the ambitious or obedience with the humble what great imployments with the stirring spirits or perpetuall quiet with the restive bodies what content pleasant natures can take in pastimes and jollities what contrariwise the austere minds in discipline and rigour what love either chastity can raise in the pure or voluptuousnesse in the dissolute what allurements are in knowledge to draw the Contemplative or in action of State to possesse the practicke disposition c. In a word whatsoever any humor can fancy they have some object to feed it And this I call the maine engine to undermine Christian Religion it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the very Mystery of Iniquitie This is their Mystery in undermining their pojects are no lesse in Counterming Five things I observe wherby the protestaÌ„ts have prevailed against the Papists Preaching to men schooling of children catechizing the ignorant writing of Martyrs and calling for Councills In all which they doe now proprijs pennis percellere as Iulian spake they would beat us at our own weapons if plaine Truth did not shield us 1 In our primitive Reformation the industrie of our Preachers and dexterity of our preaching did ravish the multitude who had been so long buried in Egyptian darknesse The politike Papists perceiving the effect used the same meanes and now have provided plenty of excellent Preachers which they send forth especially on solemne times to publike places In Lent and in Cities their pulpits be furnished with men using such diligence in their labours eloquence in their speech making such shew of Reverence towards God of zeale towards their Hearers and of loue to the Truth that they seeme to want nothing but a good cause But that such brave abilities should patronize such grosse idolatry Popery this is the secret which in my text is termed The mystery of iniquity In the meane time let our Coate contend with their cunning in countermining us Let us Preachers strive to equall their labours in our painfull and laborious preaching A second point whereby the Protestants prevailed was their schooling of Children especially in the principles of religion whereby they did sow the seed betime Bend those twigges whiles they were yong and quo semel imbuta recens servabit odorem testa diu season them with that love of the truth in their youth which old age could never extinguish The Papists have undertaken us in this also especially the Iesuites Wheresoever they come instantly they open free Schooles which they discharge so industriously that presently they procure a confluence of all children Whom under the pretence of teaching the Arts they artificially instruct them in the principles of Popery infusing withall such a prejudice against our part as maketh them incapable of converting by Protestants and implacable of conversing with Protestants Yea it is said that some Protestants have sent their children to the Iesuites Schooles because of their dexteritie in teaching Where it is to bee feared that they will traine them up like Ianizaries to returne to the confusion of their owne Parents and Countrey This is a Master-peece in their popish policie a great Mystery Here would I exhort our Schoole-masters like our English with the French in the reign of Henry 5 to meet their Counterminers and combate with them in the Mine and to contend with them in the instructing of their Schollers in knowledge both humane and divine whereby they may abate if not defeat this Iesuiticall mysterie of iniquitie to robbe us of our Children and God of his servants A third instrument to inlarge the reformed Religion hath beene catechising whereby the ignorant hath taken heart and ability to defend their owne and to oppose the Popish Religion Herein also the Iesuits are said to equall and outstrippe the Protestants having solemne Catechizing in their Churches on Sundayes and Holydayes To which purpose their Trent Catechisme is published by Pope Pius 5 yet wee must take notice that this serious and solide catechising they exercise principally if not solely where they dwell among or confine upon the Protestants In places and ages distant from them their Catechising is a mystery muffling the miserable ignorant people in another manne About Granata and other Gonsalvius de Inquis praefat Provinces of Spaine where the Spanish Inquisition reigned they taught the simple people their Ave Maria Pater Noster their Credo with salve Regina in Latine But the five Commandements of the Church which they say are necessary to salvation i. the hearing of Masse on Sundayes and Holydayes the going to shrift and Confession the receiving of the Holy Bread the due observing of Fasts and the true paying of Tithes are accurately taught them in the Mother tongue Here againe my tongue speaketh what my heart thinketh for us Ministers I wish that either our Consciences would incite us or authority injoyne us to be more carefull and painfull in Catechising the onely meanes to throw downe their Mine on our Counterminers Heads and to make the meanest capacity able to discerne their Popish Sophistrie A fourth meanes to propagate the Protestants cause at least to procure compassion was composing of Martyrologies the stories of poore persecuted people put to death for the Reformed Religion Whereby they published unto the world the innocence and patience of
If the Pope sweareth to his servants Friends yea Cardinals yet they cannot depend on that Oath They have a custome in the Vacancy to compose capitulations and all the Cardinalls to sweare to the performance of them whosoever shall be assumed to be Pope but so soone as he is elected hee denyeth it and saith hee is at libertie by gaining the Papacie a patterne whereof is proposed in that Trent Hist lib. 5. pamphlet termed The new man And it was likewise practised by Pope Paul 5 anno 1550 who complained of those that said hee could make but foure Cardinals because hee had so sworne in the conclave saying that this was to bind the Popes authority which is absolute that it is an Article of faith that the Pope cannot be bound â—cce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 much lesse can hee binde himselfe And to say otherwise is a manifest Heresie And if any should hereafter say the like he would take order that the Inquisition Hist Turke Knowles 297. should proceed The other anno 1445. Vladislaus King of Hungary having sworne a Peace with Amurah the Turke he was perswaded and assoiled by Iulian Legate for the Pope Vpon this breach was the great battle of Varna where the Turkes being at the point to loose the Day Amurah dismayed with the slaughter of his souldiers plucked the Articles of the League out of his Bosome and said thus Behold thou Christ this is the league which thy Christians have made with me and violated Now if thou be a God shew thy power on thy perjured people who deny thee to bee God by their Deeds Instantly the Christians were routed and so that unhappy King by the breaking of his Oath at one time lost his faith his life a noble Army and the Honour of the Christian Religion The Pope therefore the Author of this and the practiserâ— of like Oath-breaking I thinke I may call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a lawlesse faithlesse body To adde one example more will bee Avent lib. 6. neither impertinent nor superfluous In anno 1111 an accord was made betwixt Paschall the second and Henry the second for the irrevocable confirmation whereof they received the Sacramenu The Pope saith Aventine administred it to the Emperour in these words Sir This is our Lord God borne of the Virgin Mary and crucified for us Take this pledge of my true love and of our unfained reconciliation Sigonius saith he said more breaking the Host Sigonius lib. 10. he said as this part is divided from that life-giving body so let him be divided from the Kingdome of Christ our Lord qui pactum hoc violare tent averit which of us soever shall goe about to breake this Covenant Which was most holily retracted by his Holinesse himselfe The very next yeare the Emperor returning into Germany in considence of this reconciliation anno 1112 he called a Councill at the Laterane to revoke this solemne sacred sacramentall obliligation and devoted the Emperour to his former excommunications Neither doe the Popes onely doe the same but they have pleasure in them that doe them yea and profit too to the great advancement establishment of their temporall greatnesse they make men to sweare to the Pope though thereby they forsweare themselves to others These are the Sacrar Cerem lib 1. Sect. 7. cap. 2. formall words of that solemne oath which every Captaine doth make to the Pope and before the Pope at the Masse meekely kneeling on his knees I. N. By divine promission elected Captaine doe heartily promise promitto spondeo polliceor ac juro protest and sweare that from henceforth I will be reverent and obedient to the holy Apostolike Church and to you my Lord the Pope etiamsi alias obligatus sum although I be otherwise obliged which must bee understood of obligations of this nature of oathes which must be broken to others that this may be kept with the Pope And thus I breake off this point of the Popes oath-breaking perfidie perjurie The next Nationall Law is that of subjection which in every nation the King doth expect and exact from his subiects and all men acknowledge and discharge it Onely the Pope doth plead an exception from this rule and exemption from this Law First for his person Papa est ab omni iurisdictione exemptus saith Suarez Suarez Apol. lib 4. ca. 4. This were enough if enough could satisfie pride and ambition This the Pope will have and more also it is their owne Decree That although the Pope draw millions of men to Hell Catervatim Distinct 4. Can. 9. qu. 3. by heapes yet is he to be iudged by no man Nay so farre is he from obeying Nationall lawes that nationall lawes are reversed by him In this kinde the Lawes of three Nations were assayed and two were retracted by the Pope in one yere 1605. The Republike of Luca published an Edict that none of their subiects The quarrels of Paul 5 with Venice lib. 1. should have any commerce with any of the Reformed Religion because diverse of their Citizens had lately turned Protestants This Edict although it was for the service of the Pope and Popish Church yet was it revoked by Paul 5. onely because it was published without his Pontificall authority The Republike of Genoa by publike authority published certaine Edicts to prohibite certaine private Conuenticles which they sound to tend to the ruine of their The quarrels of Pope Paul 5 with Venice â— lib. 1. Common wealth The foresaid Pope Paul 5 instantly expressely injoyned them to revoke those Edicts otherwise he threatned theÌ„ with Censures Finally the State of Venice imprisoned and intended to proceed further against a Venetian Abbot of Nervose who had poisoned many men of whom one was his own Father desiled many womeÌ„ of whom one was his own sister exercised a most unjust and cruell Tyranny on his neighbours and practised in sorcerie and other magicall operations This Paul the Pope sent out a Prohibition although the Venetian Embassadours made remonstrance unto him that the just title and possession which the State had to judge Ecclesiasticall persons in causes criminall were founded on the naturall power of a soveraigne Prince and on Custome never interrupted by the space of a Thousand yeares and approved by the Breves of the Popes themselves Yet the Pope commanded the deliverance of that person and the abolishing of that Law But here his Holinesse did command and goe without That stout State would not Porrigere pulvinar Diabolo but made the Pope sit besides the Cushion in that contestation although hee assayed them by armes both spirituall and temporall both by Excommunication and invasion Notwithstanding the popish Doctors did write that that Republike did rebell against the Popes right The quarrels of Paul â— with Venice lib. 4. who might give Lawes to all Princes and annull those which were made by them Surely heate of contentioÌ„ caused theÌ„ to forget that there
quam non expugnaverit Hee never did besiege City but he caried it Thirdly Nullam Gentem adijt quam non calcaverit he never invaded Country but he conquered it So great a Captaine was Alexaâ—â—er the great but behold a greater than that great Alexander is here No power place nor people can protect Antichrist against Christ but the Lord hath discovered his heresie and in the fulnesse of time will root out the very memory of Antichrist And for his Throne also Iericho did fall Babylon is falne and Rome may fall For the Lord will consume the Man of sinne even besore his comming To acknowledge mine owne frailties When lately my meditations looked upon the Pope as men use to looke according to the outward appearance I confesse his greatnesse did astonish me When I considered his owne Temporall Dominions that obeyed him power no way contemptible his Creatures that depend on him people indeed innumerable Princes that support him Potentates invincible his riches and revenues a masse of money incomparable and his private friends in every publike wealth who walke like Gyges unsuspected and invisible and how all these are knit together with rare magnanimity and unanimity to prosequute their purposes On the other side when I considered the declining Church of our dismall times the losse of â—ohemia and of the Palatinate the despaire of Hungary distresse of Denmarke and danger of all Germany the poverty of France and jeopardy of the Netherlands the unsoundnesse of some Calvinists and unkindnesse of many Lutherans and which concerneth us nearer the divisions and subdivisions in our owne countrey such factions and fractions so many disloyall Papists so many discontented Professors and so few so very few true Protestants who truly love both verity and unity who impartially love both the Common wealth and the Church of England This meditation made mee almost to cry out with Elishahs servant Alas what shall wee 2 King 6. 15. doe behold an hoste compasseth our Church both horses and chariots And it brought mee almost to the same point with the man of Benjamin 1 Sam. 4. 12. 15. To runne with earth on my head to rend my garments and report The Israelites will slye before the Philistines there will be a great slaughter of the people And certainly the Arke of the Lord will be taken But my spirits were recalled by remembring who was our Captaine even Christ even the Lord the Lord of Hosts and therefore a great Captaine It is reported of Alexander the great that Iust hist l. 12. great Captaine that he infused such courage into his Souldiers ut illo praesente nullius hostium arma vel incrmes timuerint that in his presence they would decline no armed enemy although they themselves had beene unarmed So Christ let the comparison bee made with all reverence his presence will incourage every childe to become a man every man a souldier and every souldier a champion a Worthy like Eleazer the sonne of Dodo to fight Gods battels 2 Sam. 23. 10. as hee did Davids battells till our hand cleave to the sword Or like those other Worthies Vers 16. in the same Chapter to breake through the host of the Philistines in Gods cause though wee dye for it The whole difference is this They come against us with Fire and Sword and Power and Potentates and Powder and Poison and Invasion and Armes But we to withstand Antichrist and all his Armies we have nothing wee have nothing but onely the Lord. Oh! exurgat Deus dissipentur inimici Let the Lord arise and his enemies be confounded Let the Lord fight for us and the Agents of Antichrist be converted But if they will not let the brightnesse of the Lord consume them even like the dust before the windâ— the Angell of the Lord scattering them In a word The Lord is on our side Therefore the Lord give us courage that we do not feare what Antichrist can doe unto us SERMON XVI 2 THESS 2. 9 10. With signes and lying wonders Of lying Miracles Of Popish Miracles to prove Pilgrimages Prayers for the Dead Purgatory Invocation of Saints Adoration of Images Adoration of the Hoste the Primacy The miracle Revel 13. 13. explained Whether Papists doe any Miracles Whether Miracles should perswade unto Popery OF the five points which at the first I purposed and proposed to bee handled concerning Antichrist having accomplished three I addresse my discourse to the fourth How Antichrist is described revealed and to bee destroyed you have heard Heare now how he is confirmed Confirmed he hath beene is and shall be by two meanes the Principall and Instrumentall In the meanes principall ponder wee two points the person Satan and his potency with all power The meanes instrumentall is also twosold Miracles his comming shall bee with signes and lying wonders and Oracles with all deceiveablenesse of unrighteousnesse I foretold you in the seventh verse discoursing of that Mystery of iniquity that my meditations did flow in such abundance that I was constrained to divide that great streame into lesser chanels Part therefore of that plentifull theame I reserved unto this verse yea unto one part of this verse nay unto one branch of that part the Miracles containe a great mystery of Popery that it is supported and propagated by Miracles by signes and lying wonders The first instrument I must speake of at this time of which the Apostle doth speake in these words and with signes and lying wonders This is a grant and ground of the Papists themselves in this point of Antichrist that he shall be confirmed by miracles This is Suarez Suarez Apolog. lib. 5. cap. 17. nu 12. Bell. de P. Rom. lib 3. c. 15. Less de Antich dem 19. Sanders de Antich dem 19 20 21 23. his argument this also is Bellarmine his argument Apodicticall Lessius maketh this a demonstration yea Sanders draweth foure Demonstrations from this property I will propose with the consent of the Papists To come with signes and lying wonders is the property of Antichrist I assume and will make it good But the Pope doth come with signes lying woÌ„ders Therfore the Pope hath one property of Antichrist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whose comming shall be with signes and lying wonders Whose comming that is after he is revealed As it is in the 7 verse When the hinderer is taken out of the way Then as it followeth verse 8. shall that wicked one bee revealed and then saith my text shall his comming be confirmed with signes and lying wonders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a signe doth properly signifie a thing which is done praeter communem consuetudinem contrary to the common use and manner of actions It is termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when it hapneth praeter naturaÌ„ contrary to the course of Nature but usually they signifie the same thing according to the observation of Hervetus Gratian. Herv in â—lâ—m Alex. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In this
which they did beleeve sor their pride did withhold them So in the Church of Rome doubtlesse there are many who seare the Pope to be Antichrist and know themselves to be erroneous but the pride of themselves and praise of others withhold them to confesse it As S. Iohn speaketh 5. 44. They receive honour of one another and therefore they receive not the truth and reforme not their errour In Italy their Cardinalls Churchmen equall to Princes they could not subsist if the Pope or his pompe should fall and therefore they must uphold him In France if the Clergie should turne they should turne admirable immunities and dignities to undoubted poverty peradventure necessity and therefore they will never reforme but nourish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 implacable hatred against the Protestants Some even Protestants can tell how an argument will sway with men which is drawne ab utili from praise profit and promotion And therefore it is no paradoxe to conclude Many learned Papists are obstinate in their errours for pride doth detaine them Fourthly the Iudgement of God is the cause that so many learned men are so ignorant that they doe not or will not know Antichrist though plainely discovered to the whole world Thus Deut. 29. 4. the Israelites fell from God though miracles were ever before their eyes the reason is there rendred The Lord gave them not eyes to see nor an heart to conceive Againe as it is in Isa 44. 16 17. that Idolaters should be so grossely gracelesse as to take a blocke to burne one piece and to adore another is it not a wonder but that we are there told by God himselfe that God himselfe did shut their eyes that they could not see and their hearts that they could not understand At the comming of Christ his own City Ierusalem did reject their Messias they bragd of Doth not Christ give the cause it was hid from their eyes Luk. 19. 42 In like manner at the comming of Antichrist the most glorious part of the Church of Christ doth serve the enemy of Christ the reason whereof is evident out of the verse following this Text God doth send them strong delusions Thus their Study Pride Prejudice and the just Iudgement of God I conceive to be the soure great causes that so many great learned men are the slaves of that great Antichrist These are the meanes that according to the working of Satan in all power he so admirably prevaileth upon them But that he may never in like manner prevaile upon any of us the Lord of heaven prevent for Iesus Christ his sake There remaineth the principall the person supporting Antichrist The mystery of Iniquity is vpheld by the working of Satan 1 Tim. 4. 1. the working of Satan is called the doctrine of devills and that doctrine of Devills is there named vers 5. to be forbidding of meats and mariage But the Church of Rome doth forbid meats and mariage Therefore the Church of Rome doth teach the doctrine of devills Therefore the Church of Rome is supported by the working of Satan Therefore the Church of Rome is the Church of Antichrist I will exercise them a little to untwine these plaine connexions Here appeareth the erroâ—â— to say no more of our Reconcilers of those who undertake to reconcile the Protestants to the Papists That worke is a Chimaera in their intention and will be abortive in the execution When there can bee no atonement betwixt God and Satan Christ and Belial the Christians and Antichristians In a word when truth may bee reconciled unto falshood which is supported by all power after the working of Satan then will I imagine that there may be atchieved a reconciliation betwixt the Church of Rome and the Church Reformed Till then I must susspect all pretence of reconciliation to bee an errour in them if not a trap for us Psal 120. 6. The best that I ever heard or read any speaking Relat. of the Religion in the West sect 48. to this point is that learned Gentleman who proposeth his project of Vnion by the distribution of Vnity Whether poore Christendome may hope for Vnity of Verity or Vnity of Charity or Vnity of Perswasion or Vnity of Authority or Vnity of Necessity Yet nunquam magis dubit at am de finibus quà m quum legebam Ciceronem de sinibus his discourse hath confirmed me more that Reconciliation is impossible For he himselfe confesseth that it is a thing to be wished not to bee effected To which I adde that sentence of our divine Seneca Sooner may God create a new Rome than reforme Dr. Hall No Peace with Rome sect 22. the old Grant that which all the world is never able to prove Suppose the Pope be not Antichrist Notwithstanding we must suppose reconciliation unto Popery to be impossible First these Reconcilers have beene alwayes fruitlesse in their indeavours and sometime fatall unto Christendome As the learned insist in the Trent Hist lib. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Zeno the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Heraclius the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Constance and the Interim of Charles the fift all which did not reunite but rend the division wider And what effect produced the laborious treatise of that learned Papist set on worke by two severall Emperours Ferdinand and Maximilian to compose the Quarrells of the Church Onely of Cassander hee became Cassandra although hee spake as a Prophet yet no body would beleeve him Hereupon politike Pope Paul the third did laugh at Charles the fift who attempted a reconciliation betwixt the Papists and the Protestants anno 1548. and it standeth with great reason For the most cautelous phrases of the most câ—riâ— us Reconcilers when they come to the scanning will bee ambiguous Superficially considered they may receive good sense but seriously sifted they containe the old errours And the effect was as the Pope presaged the Emperor indevoring to reconcile two contrary opinions he made them both agree to impugne his and each more obstinately to defend his own Then consider the parties and Reconciliation will appeare on our side to be improbable on their side impossible God knoweth some of our side are intractable and obstinate enough For mine owne part I professe I love peace next to truth and for the injoying thereof I would submit my selfe to any thing that doth not evidently infringe a good conscience I could bee contented First that the Pope should injoy those Temporall dominions which the skill of his Ancestours hath left unto him Secondly with our King with God I would be content to acknowledge him the Patriark of the West and Prime Bishop of the World so that he keepe him within the compasse of his owne Dioces Thirdly that in deepe disputes of Election Freewill Reall not Carnall Presence and such like Vnusquisquis abundet sensu suo that every man might enjoy the freedome of his owne judgement without any bitter invections or uncharitable censuring Fourthly I could
this opiniō of merits is like the pale Horse Rev. 6. 8. Death sits on it and Hell followeth with it It is a damnable assertion without peradventure Cardinall Bellarmine was once a Ringleader in this path for a long time and a tedious labour throughout his large Treatise of Iustification Bell. de Iustific l. 5. c. 7. But at the end of his journey he espied Tutissimū a safer way to tread in the very footsteps of poore Protestants reponere totam fiduciam in sola misericordia Dei that is to repose his whole trust in the onely mercy of God Now no opera as before no nor operatincta according to that trick of Campian for justifying faith betwixt mercy and merits is like the Infant betweene the two mothers 1 Reg. 3. if divided it must be destroyed Now I say even with Belarmine himselfe upon a more advised revising of this damned opinion no more opera nor tincta opera that is no workes neither by amplification nor yet by extenuation but to place our whole cōsidence in the sole mercy of God For indeed to hold salvation by workes in thesi by way of disputation that some men may be so saved I suppose that this may bee done and the defendants not damned But in hypothesi by way of application for a man to hold of himselfe that he hath doth or will merit his salvation This I dare define to bee a damnable assertion The conclusion therfore must be All Papists must either end their lives as Bellarmine did his bookes of Iustification renouncing this point of Popery Merits or else they shall meritoriously purchase this phrase of my Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They will be damned for such an arrogant assertion Moreover this third point is second to none in furthering the building of Babel Good workes have beene a good Net which have drawne many good quillets to the Court of Rome That donation called from Constantine the great but indeed given by Charles the great I suppose merits was the motive to that magnificent action Many a sick body for his soules health tooke from his Childs Portion to adde to Peters Patrimonie From the Pharises Talent to the Widowes mite all Oblations make the Center of their motion to be the Church because the Church doth teach them to be meritorious and that they may purchase heaven with gold and Silver A very Character of Antichrist The Antichristian Babylonians Revel 18. 13. are said to make merchandize of the soules of men And surely the soules of seduced men are bought and sold in the Church of Rome by this advantagious Doctrine but it will bring bitternesse in the end 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is a profitable but a damnable delusion A fourth instance is their miserable and damnable mangling of the Sacram nt compelling the people to Communicate by the Halfe. That I may not seeme to spie a Mote in the Eye of the Head of the Church I will discover this to be a Beame by a threefold consideration Consider the institution injunction and emphaticall imposition of the blessed Sacrament all the workes of our blessed Saviour First this Sacrament was instituted to bee received in both kindes Christ tooke bread and gave it and hee tooke the Cup and gave it to his Disciples Matth. 26. 26 and 27. Secondly the Church was injoyned to receive it in both kinds Let a man examine himselfe and so let him eat of that bread and drinke of that Cup 1 Cor. 11. 28. And thirdly Christ did single out the Cup as it were with a Propheticall Cave drinke ye all of this Matth. 26. 27. For the sirst although the Church hath great authoritie to alter the manner and Circumstances of Gods worship yet we cannot but acknowledge that it is the best way to walke if it be possible in the very footsteps of the first institution And all alteration must bee on good grounds and for good causes For the second if the circumstances of time and gesture were injoyned If Christ had ever said eat this sitting and in the evening then could wee not but yeeld to the Reformers that our kneeling and to the Anabaptists that our morning Communions were unlawfull and damnable But thirdly where God himselfe doth as it were point with his singer wee are bound especially direct our eye to that Object as here Drinke ye all Mee thinketh this Emphasis maketh this signe like the forbidden fruit Genesis 3. 3. Moriendo morieris it is death to touch it and none dare lay hands on it but by the Serpents instigation Howbeit notwithstanding this institution Concil Const Sess 13. injunction and Emphaticall imposition the Church of Rome doth institute injoyne and impose by two solemne decrees of two Vniversall councils the direct contrary Drinke ye all of this Concil Trident. Sess 21. cap 1. saith Christ drinke ye none of this saith the Pope This is a Superlative prerogative of man to oppose a non obstante to the Statute of GOD. Though God saith Drinke ye all of this yet Concil Trid. sub Pio. 4. Proam ad 5. Sess the Pope commandeth all his Church that they shall not beleeve credere that they may Drinke Surely this is slavery in the inferiours tyranny in the superiours damnable in both But in divers degrees The Peoples damnation is like Cains phrase Gen. 4. 15. sevenfold but the Prelates damnation is like Lamechs phrase Gen. 4. 24. it shall be seventy and seven fold but in both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is a damnable practise Neither is this onely an unchristian but also an Antichristian errour out of it Babell sucketh no small advantage How advanceth it the power of the Pope when we oppose obsignatis Tabulis and they answere obsignat is Tabulis Wee alleage Gods Commands that we may have the Cup and they alleage the Churches command that they may not have Cup in the Sacrament The people must thinke that this is a wonderfull Authority which can so trench into Gods injunction Againe that the Priests onely Concil Trid. Can. 2. Sess 5. those Priests who are Consicients as they call them must drinke of the blessed blood of our blessed Saviour Is not this a rare Honour and Prerogative to that Calling Finally there is a mystery in this iniquitie The Church of Rome to make up their full number against the day of Accounts acteth the skilfull Arithmetician As by substraction they take from the Decalogue leauing out the words of the second Commandement lest the plaine people should perceive their plaine Idolatry so by addition they supply to the Sacrament and give the people Wine but there is the mistery unconsecrated Wine in the Communion for feare that even sense should informe the people if they be not even senselesse that the Pope doth rob them of their fathers portion the cup in the Sacramēt Now to put a dead child into the bosome of the poore mother in stead of a living Infant this was but
not the love of the truth that they might be saved but for some Pompe and corporall respects delight in false doctrine and in Idolatry above measure Therefore Gods just judgement giveth them over to strong delusion that they become obstinate to beleeve what they defend untruth And to make and beleeve unmatchable Lyes The End of all is Punishment without end that they be damned This is the Description of Antichrist would God it were the Inscription of Antichrist Would God it were Inscribed written in all your hearts as it were in a Table of Brasse with a Pen of Steele Having passed through the points and the Paraphrase I now proceed to the parallell Concerning which let me once more premise unto you although all these points seeme not punctually to parallell each particular but that some of you may apprehend that I erre in the explication or application of some of thē Yet that so many peices in so large a Prophecie shall pitch at least probably upon one person the like application on my life no man living can frame to any other This it may be will stagger both the partiall Papist and some praejudicating Protestants who push at this position as a very paradoxe that The Pope is the Antichrist But excepting partiality and praejudice I suppose that indifferent men will conceive the Great Bishop to be described in the description of the Great Antichrist For the time take it politically for a falling from the Empire and the Pope fulfilleth it Indeed Asia fell from him to the Turks Europe to the Hunnes Africa to the Maurani but this was by Invasion But that the Emperour should be thrust out of Rome his Emperiall Seat from whence his Empire was stiled Romane by a subject This was the maine falling away and the Pope did performe it About the yeare of our Lord 606 Boniface the 3 obtained of Phocas the title of Vniversall Bishop About 800 Leo 3 conspired with Charles the Great the conditions That the one should strip the Emperour of the West and the other become Lord of Rome About 1070 Gregory the 7 added to the spirituall Monarchy the Temporall And at this day the Emperour taketh a kind of oath of Fealtie to the Pope The Pope therefore hath fallen from the Emperour by Rebellion Take the time Ecclesiastically and it will appeare yet more plainly if Saint Paul may define it What is the time a falling away saith Saint Paul in my Text. What manner of falling away It is a falling from faith saith the same St. Paul 1 Tim. 4. 1. Wherein shall be that falling from faith In forbidding meats and mariage saith the same Apostle in the same place Therefore The Pope hath acted this falling away from Religion Take the time figuratively and the Pope is Apostata Refuga the Head and Author of this Apostasie My Instances are but two In the old Testament he is the Head of falling away from Gods injunction in the second Commandement The Pope is Caput adorationis Imaginū saith Suarez the Head of Image-adoration And in the new hee commandeth a falling away Concil Trid. Sess 21. C. 1. from Christs owne institution of the Sacrament Licet Christus instituerit although Christ did institute the Supper to be received in both kindes yet the Pope doth command all Christians non credere not to beleeve that they may receive it so Thus the falling away falleth directly on the Pope Next the Titles of Antichrist fit the Pope as well as the Time doth He is The man of sin both a Practiser and a causer thereof Concerning their Practice they know nothing who know not enough I will not rake open that Dunghill That the Pope is the Cause of Sinne I oppose these three speciall instances 1 Hee is the cause of Ignorance by injoyning the Scriptures and prayers in the Latine Tongue 2 Of Whoredome by being the maintainer of it and maintained Cornel. Agrip. cap. 64. by it the Pope hath a Pension for permitting Stewes 3 Of Treason usurping Power to depose and kill Kings as it is at large disputed by Suarez Iustly therefore is the Pope termed Suarez Apolog. lib. 6. cap. 4. The man of Sinne. Their Holy Father is also the Sonne of perdition destroying others to be destroyed himselfe Destroying others spiritually by his agents compassing Sea and Land to make one proselyte and when hee is so made they make him the child of the Devill twofold more than hee was before Math. 23. 15. And that he destroyeth men corporally I need inquire no further than the Inquisition a wofull testimony Finally that in a righteous recompence of reward He and His shall be destroyed spiritually wee suspect it Ezech. 3. 10. the blood of the seduced will God require at their hands And corporally we expect it from Revel 18. 2. Babylon is fallen it is fallen saith the Oracle of God Moreover the Vicar of Christ is an adversary of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 opposing Christ both fundamentally and universally The very foundation of Christian Religion is this Eternall life is the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. opposed by the Pope who maketh Good workes meritorious and the cause of Salvation Vniversally Sixe hundred Popish errours are avouched by the Bishop of Derie I instance onely in six which directly oppose Christ 1. Christ saith Search the Scriptures Ioh. 5. 39. The Pope saith Search not the Scriptures 2. Christ saith Pray in a knowne Tongue 1 Cor. 14. The Pope saith Pray in Latine in a language you know not 3. Christ saith Call upon God onely The Pope saith Pray to the Saints 4. Christ saith Make no Image and bow not to it The Pope saith Make an Image and bow to it 5. Christ saith Let everie soule be subject to the Powers Rom. 13. 1. The Pope saith Let the Clergie be exempted 6. Christ saith Drinke yee all of this Math. 26. 27. The Pope saith Drinke ye none of this For the place that the Popes Seat is the prime See of Christendome They themselves take it for confessed that Rome is the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and we know it to be expressed to bee Babel it selfe even the Citie situated on the seven hills said an Angell from heaven Revel 17. 9. The properties also are proper to the Pope First he doth exalt himselfe above all that is called God or that is worshipped that is above Kings and Emperours For the Pope is superior unto all Princes directly and in Temporalls say some Papists but indirectly and in spiritualls say all Papists And that suffrage of the Electours Cerem lib. 1. sect 1. runneth in this phrase Ego investio te ut praesis urbi orbi I elect thee to be Prince of this Citie and of the whole world 2. The Pope doth rule the Church of Christ even as Christ Christ doth rule the Church as the head doth the bodie Ephe. 5. 23. The Pope doth as much he is Caput Ecclesiae