or full growth in Gregorie the seauenth in whose time and in all ages since the Pope hath been by some acknowledged to be that Antichrist 3. Now as touching his comming or birth which is the chiefe matter in question all agree Illyricus and the other writers 2. of the Centuries as Bellarmine coÌ„fesseth hold that about the yeare 606. Antichrist was borne when Phocas granted to the Bishop of Rome that he should be called the head of the whole Church Of the same judgement is Chytraeus For although he 3. confesse that the smoake of false doctrine ascending out of the In Apoc. 9 bottomlesse pitte began sooner to obscure and darken the truth yet he saith that in the yeare 607 Boniface the third was by Phocas ordained the Angell of the bottomlesse pit meaning thereby Antichrist when he receiued from him the title of oecumenicall Bishop Luther perceiuing that the Papacie consisteth of 4. the two swords teacheth that there is a two-fold comming of De supput annorum Mundi Antichrist the first with the spirituall sworde after the yeare 600. when Phocas gaue him the Antichristian title the latter with the temporall sworde after the yeare 1000. Bullinger doth not say as Bellarmine falsely chargeth him that Antichrist first 5. appeared Anno 763. for he aboue all others most plainely and In Apoc. 13. distinctlie hath deliuered that truth which we doe hold Pontisex Romanus saith he initium quidem dominij jecit sub Phocá sub regibus Francorum fundauit regnum ampliauit autem sub Henricis et Fridericis confirmauit demum sub sequentibus aliquot regibus regnat nostro seculo ac praecedentibus aliquot The Pope of Rome laide the beginning of his dominion vnder Phocas vnder the French Kings he founded his kingdome vnder the Henries and Fredericks he enlarged it vnder some other Kings which followed he confirmed it bereigneth in our and some former ages Musculus whom he nameth in the sixt place dooth not say that Antichrist 6. came about the yeare 1200 but by the tyrannie of the Popes and vsurped dominion ouer the Church by their shamelesse symony by their excessiue riote and diuellish pride by their abominable lusts and vncleannesse he concludeth that the Church of Rome is Babylon and the seat of Antichtist and addeth that Bernard was of the same minde Who seemeth to haue signified that Antichrist was then come and that onely it remained that the man of sinne should be reuealed that is acknowledged and detected as Musculus vnderstandeth him which discouerie of Antichrist saith he hath followed in our age And thus you see a notable consent of all our writers whom he alledgeth in the maine point concerning the time of the comming of Antichrist 4. Now let vs see what he objecteth against this receiued truth Concerning the time of his comming with the spirituall sword he objecteth that Phocas did not giue the title of vniuersall to the Pope but called him the head of the Churches as Iustinian before him had done and also the councell of Chalcedon And therefore no reason why the comming of Antichrist should be placed in the time of Phocas As touching the title good authours affirme that he receiued from Phocas both the title of the head of the Church and also of vniuersall or oecumenicall Bishop And no doubt he sought for and by suite obtained that which Iohn of Constantinople had before claimed Neither is there any great difference betwixt these two titles as they are now giuen to the Pope saue that to be the head of the vniuersall Church is the more Antichristian stile And although titles of honour and preheminence were sometimes giuen to the Church of Rome as the chiefe or head of the Churches the mystery of iniquitie working before the reuelation thereof in the Papacie yet before this graunt of Phocas which was obtained with much adoe and contention the Church of Rome had the preheminence and superioritie ouer all other Churches excepting that of Constantinople not in respect of authoritie and jurisdiction which after this graunt it more and more practised but in respect of order and dignitie And that for this cause especially because Rome whereof he was Bishop was the chiefe citie as it is specified in the councell of Chalcedon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in the councell of Constantinople 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And for the same cause was the Patriarch of Constantinople sometimes * Concil Chalced. matched with him sometimes ‖ Tempore Maâ—…itii preferred aboue him because Constantinople which they called new Rome was become the imperiall seate Yea and the Bishops of Rauenna because their city was the chiefe in the exarchate of Rauenna whereunto Rome was for a time subject stroue with the Bishop of Rome in the time of the exarches for superioritie Seeing therefore that now the Pope of Rome had with great contention and ambition obtained the supremacie and soueraigntie ouer the vniuersall church and now intituled himselfe the head of the vniuersall Church a title peculiar vnto Christ the head I say not onely in respect of excellencie and dignitie as a chiefe member of the Church as he had beene in former times by some acknowledged because he was the Bishop of the chiefe citie but also in respect of authoritie and Iurisdiction as beeing the prince and supreme gouernour of the Church vniuersall we doe therefore worthily call this soueraigne dominion challenged ouer the vniuersall Church the first reuelation or open comming of Antichrist 5. Concerning the comming of Antichrist with the temporall sworde after the yeare 1000. he obiecteth that from the 700. yeare the Pope had receiued teÌ„porall dominion that about the yeare 715. he excommunicated the Greeke Emperour c. But Bellarmine knoweth well enough that we speake not so much of the Popes temporall dominion ouer those parts which they call the patrimonie of Saint Peter but of that which they call and challenge to themselues Utriusque potestatis temporalis spiritualis Monarchiam The Monarchie of both powers temporall and spirituall I answer therefore that the Pope indeed had a temporall dominion before but not generall and that he had long endeuoured to get the superioritie ouer the Emperours but neuer so fully attained vnto it as in the times of Gregorie the seauenth and afterwards For Gregorie the seauenth as Auentinus saith Primus imperium pontificium condidit c. First founded the Papall Annal. Bâ—…cm lib. 5. Empire which his successours saith he reckoning vnto his owne times for these 450. yeares in spight of the world and maugre the Emperours haue so held that they haue brought all in heauen and hell into subjection From this time forwarde the Emperour is nothing but a bare title without substance c. And thus haue I answered whatsoeuer is in his third Chapter pertinent to the matter in hand omitting as my maner is his other wranglings as being either altogether impertinent or meerely
against Christ the Lambe so they in oppugning the Pope and Church of Apo. 19. 19 Rome doe fight the battailes of Christ against Antichrist And consequently are to promise to themselues vndoubted victorie they fighting vnder the banner of the Lambe who shall be sure to ouercome seeing he is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings Apo. 17. 14. and those also that are with him though esteemed of Antichrist Qui monet vt facias quod iam facis ipse monendo Laudat â—…atu comprobat acta suâ—… and his adherents as Schismaticks and Heretiques yet are they called elect and faithfull Encourage therefore your selfe most Christian King as we doubt not but you doe to maintaine for euer the truth of Christ against the falshood of Antichrist And doubt you not both of happy successe and victorie in this life and of an immortall crowne of glory in the life to come The God of all mercy and power who in his vnspeakeable bountie towards vs hath placed your Highnesse ouer vs in peace make both you and vs truely thankfull to his maiestie for this inestimable benefit and establish your Highnesse and your Royall posteritie in the throne of this Kingdome to the glory of his great name aduancement of his Kingdome propagation of the Gospell confusion of Popery consolation of all true Christians and your owne euerlasting comfort Amen Your Maiesties most humble and dutifull subiect GEORGE DOVVNAME Faults escaped in the Printing are thus to be corrected In the first Booke Pag. 7 lin vlt. read the Apoc. Pag. 1â—… l. 9 Apocal. 13 In margine li. 6. ad Mareclâ—… P. 14 l. 4. atq 〈◊〉 l. 9. vvhich vvith l. â—…0 vvhich vvord l. 12. superst â—…ous p. 15. l. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 17. l 18. Pannonia P. 21. marg l. 3. Algasiam P. 24 l. 1 for as marg lin vlt hist. â—…otor p. 28. l vlt P 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 29. l. 10. vvould p. 31 l. 3. as 〈◊〉 l. 25. hinder d then pag. 35 l 9. donation l. 16. Exarch p. 36. l. 23. Luttpâ—…dus p. 40 marg l. 16. â—…aleu p. â—…2 l. 16. Seleucidae p. 47. l. 22. blot out the one vvhiles p. 50. marg l. 6. Mat. 4. 9 p 59. marg l. 2. Lubb p. 69. l. a fine 5. Cookes vvith p. 70 l. 9. Monstrance in marg l. a fine 4. arcu pag. 71. ad lin 2. in marg scribe 〈◊〉 can sub sinem extravag loan 22. Tat. 14. 〈◊〉 significatione C. cuÌ„ inter p. 74. marg l. 16. Electi potest p. 77 l. 6. ipsissimum p. 78. l. 7. eight p. 80 marg l. 7. Naâ—…r p. 83 l. 16. blot out 〈◊〉 in marg l. vlt. refer subtiliss ad lin a f. 7 p. 86. l. 7. Tecetius p. 90. l penult Donation p. â—…1 l. a. f. 8. first and second p. 92. l. vlt. Lando p. 94 l 2 vnto l. a. f. 5. 4. Benedict p. 100. l. a. f. 10. Impleuâ—…ris p. 104. marg l. vlt. Non nos p. 106. l. 6. vve are p. 110. l 23. Babylons p. 123. l. 5. This l. a. f. 11. receiued p. 128. l. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 129. l. 19. other names p. â—…38 l. 18. There In the second Booke Pag 6. l. 13. that he is p. 10. l penult another p. 11. l. 11. prefixed p. 13. l. 27. the King is supreme p. 16. l. a f. 4. reuealed as p. 20. l. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 21. l. a f. 5 prefixed p. 25. l. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l 11. beast p 27. marg l 3. for § 2. read lib. 1. cap. 4. § 2 p. 28. l. 21. he seeth p. 30. l. 6. reuolted p. 32 l. 19. ovvne p. 37. marg l 5 Annal Boior p. 41. l. 14. vvomen vvith child p. 46. l. 8. come sor p. 48. set chap. 16. against line 12 p. 60. l. 1. of the 13 I marg l. penult can p 70. l. 11. Neuerthe esse p. 72 l. a. f. 13. time vnto p. 73. l. a f. 5. adornc pag. 77 l. 10. seemeth p. 80 l. 1. blot out of p. 82 l. 24. men l. 26. out p. 85 l. 24 in marg dele 3. p. 89. l. a f. 8. lizen sse p. 97 l. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 20 Diclâ—… l. 23. Luthers l. 24. Lulter p. 98 l. 15 be come p. 102. l. 18. pronounce p. 106 l. a f. 14. saith he p 109 l. 3. vvere p. 110 l a f. 4. bload shed p. 114 l. 21. or altogether p. 124 l. 19. spiritually p. 125 l. 18 Apoc. 17. 16. p. 133 l. 7. desolatours p. 135 l. 1. Monarches p. 137 l. 2. a meere sable p. 139 l. 15 141 l. 11. 12 depraue p. 144 l. 13. aequè ac p. 151 l. a f. 5. and therefore p. 152. l. 17. 18. glorifie p. 156. l. 21 blot out ad l. 23. d scribe p. 157 l. 14. of Babylons p. 161. l. a f. 4. first of p. 162. l. 6. 7. Omnes p. 163. l. penult fiue p. 168. l. 7. 22. Lagidae p. 169. l. 1. vidâ—…atur l. 3 to Porphyry l. 7. Daniel The p. 175. l. 5. the land Tzebi l. 6. eight horne p. 181. l. 1. 〈◊〉 Casleu p. 188. Marg. l. 3. vid. Tremell The first Booke prouing that the Pope is Antichrist The first Chapter propounding the state of the controuersie and the grounds of our proofes 1. WHeras the holy Ghost 2. Thess. 2. Thess. 2. 8. 2. 8. hath foreshewed that Christ our Sauiour shall consume Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth that is by the ministerie of his worde which Esay 11. 4. is called the rodde or Esay 11. 4. scepter of his mouth the spirite of his lips it caÌ„not therfore be denied but that it is the dutie of all faithfull ministers who are as it were the mouth of christ vnto his people to set themselues against Antichrist that by their ministery his kingdome may be weakned and the kingdome of Christ Iesus more and more aduaunced For which cause I tooke vpon me in my publicke readings not long since to intreat of this maine controuersie betwixt vs and the church of Rome concerning Antichrist But because my speech could prosite onely those that heard me I haue for diuerse causes thought good by writing to make the benefit of my labours coÌ„mon First that by this means the Papists which be tractable may be reclaimed Secondly that those which bee obstinate among them may bee confounded Thirdly that Protestants and professours of the trueth which be found resolute may be more more coÌ„firmed lastly especially that those which be weake wauering may be stayed and preserued from falling into that fearfull iudgement which as the Lord hath threatned 2. Thess. 2. against vnsound professours in these latter times so hath it within these few years fallen vpon very many who hauing by the great mercy of God beene deliuered out of the more then Egyptian bondage of Antichrist and
Act. 17. 53. 23. 10. hinder and was to be taken away and in what sence it hindered not and was to remaine For the better vnderstanding whereof we are to distinguish betwixt the old Empire and 1. Cor. 5. 2. 2 Coâ—… 6. 17. the new The old Empire as it hindered the dominion of Antichrist was to be taken out of the way that it might bee no more an hinderance thereunto The new Empire in the west erected by the Pope hindreth not the dominion of Antichrist but rather supporteth him and therefore together with Antichrist was to remaine Neither doth the Apostle speake of the new Empire but of the old as shall appeare by these reasons 3 First the Apostle speaketh of the Empire which hindered 1. or held then of that only for so he saith only he which now letteth wil let vntill he be taken out of the way And Hierome expoundeth those words and now what hindreth you know after Ad Algas quaest 11. this maner quae causa sit vt Antichrist us in praesentiaruÌ„ non veniat optimè nostis You know very well what the cause is that Antichrist cometh not now But the old Empire hindered them and not the new And therefore the Apostle speaketh of the taking away of the old Empire not of the new Again when he saith 2. the Empire hindred he meaneth the imperial authority dominioÌ„ that at Rome not the title or name therof in Germany For it is not the name or title of an Emperour in Germany that can hinder the dominion of Antichrist at Rome much lesse at IerusaleÌ„ where the Papists say his seat shall be Thirdly 3. Antichrist appeared shewed himselfe and in that sence was reuealed before the erection of the new Empire For the new Empire is the image of the former beast which Antichrist the 2. beast Ap. 13. causeth to be made And wheras Antichrist is as the Papists also coÌ„sesse the 7. head of the beast which hath heads the Empire renewed which is the beast that was and is not though it be is the 8. in order though in name it is one of the 7. and in that sence is to bee referred to the sixt head namely the Emperours Fourthly the whore of Babylon that 4. is the Antichristian state was to sitte vpon the beast which afterwards was to ascend that is the Empire renewed Therfore with Antichrist there was to remaine an imperial state though much abased vnder him Fiftly the Empire renewed is the 5. beast whereon the whore of Babylon sitteth And therefore is Ioan de turrecrem lib. 2. c. 114. so farre from hindring Antichrist that it supporteth him as the beast doth the rider And to that end in deed was this Empire erected in the west that it might support the church of Rome For when as the church of Rome was oppressed by the king Adrian 4. in epistol ad archiep German apud Auenlin lib. 4. of the Lombards it sought aide of the Emperours of Constantinople and when they would not defend the church the Pope translated the Empire to the French king and from him vpon the same occasion to the Germaines and that to this end vt Dist. 96. c. si imperator in glossa Rex Teutonicorum foret imperator patronus sedis Apostolicae that the king of the Almaines might be Emperour and patrone of the See Apostolicke And for the same cause the Emperour 6. is called of them procurator siue defensor Romanae Ecclesiae the proctor or defender of the church of Rome Sixtly the Papists themselues doe hould that the Empire which now is shall continue vnto the end of the world For they say that in the second of Daniel as many others also haue said is described a succession of the chiefe kingdomes or Monarchies of the earth which should continue vntill the end of the world the last whereof is the Romane Empire Seauenthly the destruction of the Romane Empire which the fathers say shall go before the reuelation of Antichrist is the dissolution and diuision thereof among ten kings which in deede long since happened to the old Empire but cannot happen to the new vnlesse we can imagine that ten mightie kings shall arise out of the bare name and title of an Emperour diuided among them When as the Papists therefore teach vs not to expect Antichrist vntill the Empire that now is either be diuided into ten kingdomes they are ridiculous or vtterly abolished which they say shall continue to the end they are absurd and in both impious making as it may seeme a scorne of the prophecyes concerning Antichrist which they make to imply impossibilities and contradictions 4. By this which hath bene said it plainely appeareth that howsoeuer the old Empire in the west which hindered the dominion of Antichrist was to be takeÌ„ out of the way before Antichrist should be reuealed yet notwithstanding euen with vnder Antichrist there was to be an imperiall state in name title which is the beast whereon the whore of Babylon sitteth therfore is so far froÌ„ hindering Antichrist as that it supporteth him Let vs then coÌ„sider how the Empire which hindred the reuelatioÌ„ of Antichrist was takeÌ„ out of the way how afterwards Antichrist was reuealed Of the taking away of the Emperour as also of the reuelation of Antichrist there are two degrees The Romane Emperour was first takeÌ„ out of the way when the imperiaâ—… seat was by Constantine the great translated from Rome to Bizantium or Constantinople and that to this end as they haue set downe in the forged donation of Constantine that he might leaue rowme to the Pope Because forsooth where the princehood of priests and head of Christian religion Dist. 69. c. Constantinus de electione c. fundament in sexto was by the heauenly Emperour placed there it is not iuste that the earthly Emperour should haue power Secondly after the death of Constantine the great and of Flauius Valerius ConstaÌ„tinus his son the Romane Empire being diuided into 2. partes the Easterne the Westerne and by diuisioÌ„ being weakened the Westerne was ouerthrowne in the yeare of our Lord 475. Rome it selfe taken by the Gothes So that neither in Rome any Romane afterwards had his seate of authority vntill the Pope tooke vpon him the souerainty neither in the West was there any Romane Emperour vntill Charles the great that is to say from the yeare 475. vnto the end of the yeare 800. In the meane time Italy was gouerned first by the Gothes and afterwards a great part thereof by the Lombards And howsoeuer the Emperours of the East had recouered Rome and some part of Italy which because they gouerned by exarches hauing their seat in Rauenna was called the exarchat of Rauenna the Lombards enioying the rest yet before the renewing of the Empire in the West the Emperour of the East had lost all Italy and Rome and
that by the Popes means For when as Leo the third called Isaurus Emperour of Greece had held a coūcel at Constantinople of 330. Bishops wherein was decreed that all images within the Empire should be destroied burnt and afterwards put the same decree in executiō the Popes of Rome first Gregory the 2. and after Gregory the 3. excōmunicate him forbidtributes to be paid him out of Italy and Rome absolue his subiects from their allegiance vnto him and hauing stirred vp not onely the Italians but Lombards also against him the exarch of Rauenna is slaine and the Emperour depriued of all his dominion reuenewes in Italy and Rome So that howsoeuer the Empire in the East stood all this while yet according to the prophecie of th'apostle he which hindred the reuelation of Antichrist that is to say the Emperour of Rome was taken out of the way First by remouing to Cōstantinople frō Rome where Antichrist could not vsurpe that dominion and soueraintie whiles the Emperour had his seate there which afterwards he did Secondly because the Empire of the west which properly was the Empire of Rome was dissolued the Emperour of the East lost his title interest in Italy and Rome 5. Of the reuelation of Antichrist there be also two degrees The first of his raigning and shewing himselfe in his colours the secōd of his acknowledgemēt Of his raigning there be 2. degrees also The first whē he challēged supreame authority ouer the vniuersal church of Christ. Which he did when he vsurped the title of vniuersal or oecumenicall Bishop or head of the vniuersall Church which was done as we said about the yeare 607. About which time besides other prodigious sights Anno. 607. there appeared a terrible comet thē we hold that Antichrist to wit the head of the Antichristiā body was borne True it is that the seeds of Antichristianisme were sowē before his time euen frō th'apostles time the mystery of iniquity that is Antichristianisme was working although more couertly preparation was made towards the birth of the great Antichrist partly by heresies some declinatiōs in the church of Rome in religion from the purity of the primitiue church partly by the ambition of diuers of the Bishops of Rome who aduauncing themselues as Socrates saith beyond the limit of priesthood into forraine dominion contended to haue the primacy aboue Lib. 7. c. 11. all other churches and that is the chiefe scope of many of their Epistles decretall and to the same end forged a Canon of the councel of Nice when their ambition was curbed by other generall councels And lastly by the indulgence of deuout Emperours and Princes who haue by great deuotions and priuiledges aduaunced that church Notwithstanding wee hold that Antichrist was not reuealed vntill he shewed himselfe by vsurping an vniuersall dominion ouer the church of God 6. But notwithstanding this great title authority Antichrist was yet but in his nonage and vnder the gouernmēt not only of the Emperor but also for a time of the Emperors Lieftenant in Italy the Eparch of Rauenna by whom the election of the Pope made by the Clergie and people of Rome was of necessitie to bee ratified and confimed vntill Benedict Anno. 684. the 2 obtained this priuiledge frō the Emperour Constantine 4. called Pogonatus that the electiō of the Pope by the clergy and people of Rome should be good without the confirmatiō of the Emperour Vpō which priuiledge obteined the Pope began to care litle for the Emperour holding himselfe hencefoorth to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rather as th'apostle speaketh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Thess. 2. 8. without law subiect to the iudgemēt of no mā as they professe in diuers of their canons Not lōg after they began to aduāce thēselues both against aboue the Emperour Constātine the 1. suffereth the Emperour Iustmian to kisse his feet about the yeare of our Lord 710. Within three yeares after the same Anno. 710. Constantine setteth himselfe against the Emperour Philippicus Bardanes in defense of images as did his two successours Gregory the 2. and third against Leo Isaurus in the same quarel In whose three times that wee may know Rome to be the mother of spirituall fornications were helde three Councels at Rome wherein worshipping of images is approued and the oppugners there of excōmunicated And we must note that about this time saith the Author of the booke called Fasciculus temporum the Popes began aboue their woont to oppose themselues euen in temporall matters against the Emperours because of their vnsoundnesse in the faith for so he calleth their oppugning of images and to translate the Empire from nation to nation as time required As for Gregory the 2. he was the first which anouched himself supcriour to the Emperour who Anno. 723. also excommunicated Leo the 3. because he sought to abolish the idolatry of his time which they call worshipping of images But his successour Gregory the 3. not onely excommunicated the said Emperour for the same cause but also forbad any tributes or duties to be paide vnto him out of Italy Rome absolued his subiects frō their allegiance vnto him Wherupō Rome being then a Duchy with diuers other cities in Italy reuolting from the Emperour sware obediēce to the Pope Who Anno. 727. by the defection of the Italians and helpe of the Lombards dispossesseth the Emperour of all his reuenues in Italy consequently as the popish author of the booke called Fasciculus temporum saith totum regnum occidentis ab eo abstulit Hee tooke from him the whole kingdome of the West But when as the Lombards held the exarchat of Rauonna which the Pope intended to himself sought to rule ouer all Italy as the Gothes had done not exempting Rome or those other cities which had reuolted to the Pope first Gregory the 3. when Rome was besieged by Luitprendus vsed the friendship of Carolus Martellus Anno. 732. to free him from the siege Whereupon the Pope remoueth the tuition of the Church of Rome from the Emperour of Greece vnto Carolus Martellus the great Master of Fraunce to his sonne Pipinus after him Whom that the Pope might bind vnto him and finde a sufficient defence against his enimies hee namely Zacharias hauing as themselues testifie Caus. 15 quaest 6. c. alius deposed Childerick the King of Fraunce from his kingdome and absolued his subiectes from their allegiaunce because Anno. 750. forsooth he was too simple to rule maketh him namely Pipin King of Fraunce Who afterwards when his helpe was intreated by the Pope Steuen the third against Aistulphus the king of Lombards enforced the said King to yeeld vp the Anno. 754. exarchat of Rauenna and Pentapolis which hee gaue to the Pope This donation his sonne Charles the great confirmed and enlarged with a plentifull addition reseruing notwithstanding to himself the royalties of those
possessions when he had at the intreaty of Adrian the Pope ouerthrown the kingdome Anno. 773. of the Lombards in Italie For which cause as also for that hee assisted the Pope Leo the third against the insurrections of the people of Rome punished his aduersaries and caused the people of Rome to sweare alleagiance to the Pope The Pope namely Leo the third crowned him Emperour of Rome translating Anno. 800. that title from the Emperour of the East to him and in him renewing the Empire of the west which had beene voide since the time of Augustulus And as he made him Emperour so to him was committed by Adrian and Leo the confirmation of those which were elected to the Papacy Which yoke as the Popes following oft strugled against so at the last they shooke it off And whereas in former times the Pope was subiect to the Emperour being elected was confirmed by him Adrian 3. an 883. afterwards it came to passe that as the Empire was renewed in Charlemaigne and after reuiued in Otto the great and that to this end that it might support the Papacy so the Pope namely Anno. 960. Iohn the 12 aliâs 13. causeth the Emperour to sweare vnto him to that end taketh order for the election of the Emperour Gregory 5. appointing 7 electors reseruing the coronatioÌ„ of the Emperor Anno. 995. and confirmation of the election vnto himselfe and at the length subiecteth the Emperour vnto him as his vassall challenging both swords and vsurping an vniuersal dominion and soueraignty ouer all the christian world not onely ouer ecclesiasticall persons as Bishops and Priests but also ciuil as princes Kings Emperours whome he esteemeth as his vassals and maketh them kisse his feete as we shall shew more fully when we come to speake of his Antichristian pride Vnto this Monarchy C. Fundamenta de elect in sexto as they call it not onely of spirituall but also of temporall power they long aspired but neuer fully attained vntill the time of Gregory the seauenth in whom Antichrist was Anno. 1073. come to his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or full growth wherein hee flourished vntill our Sauiour Christ the king of kings and Lord of Lords began to waste and consume him with the breath of his mouth This is that which Auentine saith Hildebrand who also is called Lib. 5. annal Boior Gregory the seauenth first established the Pontificall Empire which his successours for the space of 450. yeares that is to Auentine and also Luthers time so held in spite of the world and maugre the Emperours that they haue brought all both in heauen hel into boÌ„dage c. at their pleasure they cast men headlong from heauen to hel and again from hel aduance to heauen The Emperour from henceforth is nothing but a bare title without body or shew 7 But no sooner was Antichrist come to his full growth wherby he plainly reuealed discouerd himself but straightwaies he began to be acknowledged which is the 2. part of his reuelation wherof also there are degrees For first hee was acknowledged particularly dy diuerse learned godly men in the time of Gregory the 7. and in euery age since vntil the time of Luther As for example the Bishops of Germany affirme Gregory the 7. to be Antichrist AntichristuÌ„ esse praedicaÌ„t Vnder the name title of Christ say they he coÌ„triueth the businesse of Antichrist he sitteth in Babylon in the temple of God he extolleth AueÌ„tin annal Boior lib. 5. himselfe aboue all that is worshipped as if he were a God he boasteth that he caÌ„not erre And afterward Auentin either in his owne name or in the persoÌ„ of Sigeberius speaking of the times Lib. 5. annal Boior of Gregory the 7 All men almost saith he that were good open-hearted iust ingenuous and single hearted haue left in writing that the Empire of Antichrist did then begin because they saw those things which our Sauiour Christ so many yeares before had prophecied vnto vs to happen in that time The Bishop of Florence in the time of Paschalis the second preached that Antichrist was come meaning the Pope Anno. 1119. Catalog test Anno. 1120. Catalog test Magde centur 12. Honorius Augustudonensis applieth the prophecies in the Apocalypse concerning Antichrist to the Pope and church of Rome Dialog de lib. arb praedest Bernard in his time acknowledgeth a general apostasie and complaineth of the state of the church as Antichristian Anno. 1140. Serm. 33. in Cant. in conuers Pauli serm 1. Ioannes Sarisburiensis taught that the pope is Antichrist and the city of Rome the whore of Babylon About the same time Petrus Blesensis wrote that Rome is that very Babylon whereof Iohn speaketh in the Apocalypse Anno. 1157. Polan in Dan. Anno. 1158. Gerhardus and Dulcinus Nauarrensis preach that the Pope is Antichrist and that the cleargy and prelates of Rome were the very whore of Babylon prefigured in the Apocalypse Ex I Fox In the time of Alexander the third the Waldenses teach that Anno. 1170. Ex I. Fox catal test Roger Houeden in Ricardi 1. Bal. centur 3. c. 35. in appeÌ„d Anno. 1189. Catalog test the Pope is Antichrist and Rome Babylon Ioachim the abbot beeing demaunded of Richard the first king of England now going towards the holie land concerning Antichrist aunswered thus Antichrist is alreadie borne in the citie of Rome and is aduaunced in the See Apostolicke And in certaine Germane verses also published at Francofurt he affirmeth that the Pope and his priests are Antichrists Eberhardus archiepiscopus Iuuacensis Hyldebrand saith he about an hundred and 70. yeares ago did first vnder the shewe Anno. 1241. Auentin annal Boior lib. 7. of religion lay the foundation of Antichrists kingdome And straightwaies after those priests of Babylon saith he couet to reigne alone they cannot endure an aequall Neither will they ceasse vntill they haue troden all vnder their feet and do sit te in the temple of God and be extolled about all that is worshipped Their hunger afterwealth and thirst for honour is insatiable c. he that is the seruant of seruants desireth to bee the Lord of Lords as if he were a God And againe hee wasteth and spotleth he deceiueth and killeth I meane that man of perdition whome they call Antichrist in whose forehead a name of blasphemie is written I am God I cannot erre he sitteth in the temple of God he ruleth farre and wide Robert Grosthead the worthie Bishoppe of Lincolne on his deathbed complaining of the Pope and bewailing the losse of Anno. 1253. Mat. Paris in Henr. 3. soules which happened through the auarice of the Popes court with sighs he said Christ came into the world to gaine soules therefore if any feare not to destroy soules is not he worthily to be called Antichrist Guilieâ—…s de sancto amore a master of Paris and chiefe ruler
to obey their princes if he shal excommunicate a lawfull prince or suborne a wicked traytour to murder his soueraigne then disobedience to parents periurie and rebellion in subiectes murthering of sacred Princes is not onelie a warrantable but also a meritorious acte For as you haue hearde Papa ex iniustitia potest facere iustitiam The Pope of sinne can make righteousnesse And that the Pope may thus dispense with the word of God his canonistes and diuines doe diuersely dispute One saith a Michael Medina Christian paraenes lib. 7. c. 17. Gratian. part 1. pag. 76. Potestas in diuinas leges ordinariè in Romano pontifice residet Power ouer the lawes of God remaineth ordinarily in the pope of Rome Others say Papa potest dispensare contra ius diuinum b 16. q. 1. de decimiâ—… in â—…loss Dist. 34. c. Lector 15 q. 6. authoritatem Priuilegium contra ius diuinum concedi potest The Pope may dispense or grant a priuiledge against the law of God c Abb. Panorm extr de d 〈◊〉 cap. sin that is as another saith hee may dispense against the law of God in particular but not in generall Papa potest dispensare contra Apostolum the Pope may dispense against the Apostle d Felin de constitut cap statuta canonum The Pope may dispense against the new testament vpon a greate cause e The Pope may dispense against the Epistles of Paule And to put this matter out of doubt which is so doubtfullie handled by some popish writers this question in summa angelica is determined and decided out of diuerse authors approued in the church of Dictione Papa Rome That as in the precepts of the second table the Pope cannot dispense vniuersally for that were not to dispense with them but wholly to abrogate the lawes themselues but in particular cases vbi ratio legis desicit where the reason of the lawe faileth so hec may dispense with all the precepts of the old and new testament But how shall wee know where the reason of the lawe faileth This may partly be knowne by those examples in the scripture where God himselfe dispensed with his lawes But where there is no example of Gods dispeÌ„sation in the like case then it appertaineth to the Pope alone to declare when and in what particular case the reason of the lawe faileth And I sirmelie beleeue saith the authour of that booke that if any man crauing a dispensation in any case against the lawe of God interpose not importunitie of reward or suite but simplie put himselfe into the hands of the Pope by declaring his case that God will not sufter his vicar to erre in dispensing So that whereas the lawes and commandements of God are to bee vnderstoode with this exception onely Nisi Deus ipse aliter voluerit vnlesse God himselfe otherwise appoint because hee alone may dispense with his owne lawes notwithstanding by the popish diuinitie they are to bee vnderstood with this exception vnlesse the Pope otherwise appoint that is wee are bound to keepe euery commaundement of God vnlesse the Pope interpose his authoritie betwixt God and vs as the tribunes of the comunalty among the Romanes were wont to intercede against other magistrates and exempt vs from the obedience thereof 12 And as the Pope may dispense with all the lawes of God so in the last place hee may and doth take away some and abrogate others Papa potest tollere ius diuinum ex Felinus de maior obed cap. sin parte non in totum the Pope may take away the law of God in part but not in whole Thus hee taketh away the second commaundement out of the decalogue because with it his Idolalatrie cannot stand and to make vp the full number of ten he diuideth the last commandement into two against all reason and authority of antiquitie But that commandement concerning images and diuerse others the Pope also abrogateth by his countermaunds God forbiddeth vs either to worshippe or to serue any but himselfe Mat. 4. 10. 1. Sam. 7. 3. Ex. 20. 3. The Pope commaundeth vs to worshippe Angells and Saints yea and the reliques of Saints God forbiddeth the making and worshipping of images the Pope commaundeth the contrary God condemneth stewes the Pope alloweth them yea Six 4. Concilâ—…trid sess 5. one of them built a famous stewes God condemneth concupiscence as a sinne the Pope alloweth it for no sinne God commaundeth all the faithfull to drinâ—… of the cup in the Lords supper the Pope forbiddeth the same God commaundeth euery soule to be subiect to the higher powers the Pope exempteth his cleargie a iugo seculari from the secular yoke God commaundeth all to mary who haue not the gift of continencie the Pope forbiddeth all his cleargie though neuer so incontinent to mary Besides it is euident that the Popes lawes in the church of Rome are in greater estimation theÌ„ the lawes of God the obedience of them beeing more straightly vrged and the disobedience thereof more seuerely punished then of Gods lawes As for example it is more safe for a man in the church of Rome to bee a meere Atheist a worshipper of no God then not to bee a worshipper of their God of bread though otherwise a good Christian better for a priest to bee a So domit then to mary better to bee a drunkard and whoremonger then to eat slesh in Lent better with the begging friers Anno. 1254. Matth. Paris 1254. to set foorth a new gospell which they called the gospell of the holy ghost and the eternall gospell wherein they taught that Christ is not God and that his gospell is not the true gospell Naâ—…r t. 2. 3â—…6 and no more to be compared with their gospell then the Bal. in lib. de vitis pontif in append 〈◊〉 Fox nutshell is to be compared with the kernel then for that learned man Guilielmus des Amore to write against them and their gospell for him the Pope disgraded and deposed from al his dignities when he would not suffer them to be disgraced him he sent into exile when hee retained them in his high fauour Yet because he had rather be Antichrist then seeme so he caused the friers Gospel when it was complained of to be burnt yet secretly that his Friers might not be disgraced nor scandalized Better for priuate men to reade any bookes of ribaldry or any villany whatsoeuer then to read any parte of the scriptures in their owne tongue To these many other particulars might be added wherin the Pope aduanceth his owne lawes aboue the commaundements of God and his owne authority aboue the authority of the Scriptures Let vs therefore humbly conclude according to the popish humilitie that as the Pope is aboue the Church so the Church is aboue the scriptures Humiliter confitemur saith a Papist ecclesiae authoritatem Ioan. Maria verractus apud Iuellum esse supra Euangelium We humbly coÌ„fesse that the authority
supreame iudge in all causes Antonin sum part 3. tit 22. cap. 5. §. 17. and controuersies that to him lieth appeale from all iudges whatsoeuer and that immediately By which chanels haue flowed abundance of riches into the sea of the Popes treasurie And fitly is it compared to the 11 Theodoric Niem tract 6. c. 37. sea whereunto all riuers flow and yet doth not ouerflowe It is lawfull saith one of their owne lawyers to appeale from any to the Pope immediatelie which saith he they haue prouided that they might drawe controuersies Petr. Ferrariens inform sent indesin §. sed ad queÌ„cunque vnto their court and so might satisfie their owne auarice which notwithstanding they shall neuer doe noting that it is vnsatiable And heereunto appertaineth that acclamation of one of their owne chronographers for hauing shewed that searcely there was any spirituall promotion which was not Abbas vrsperg pag. 321. become litigious the cause brought to Rome but not with empty hand Reioyce saith he our mother Rome for the floud-gates of the treasures in the earth are opened that vnto thee may flowe riuers and heapes of money in great abundance Reioyce oâ—…er the iniquity of the sonnes of men because in recompence of so great ouills there is a price or roward giuen vnto thee Be glad for thy helper discord which hath burst out of the bottomlesse pilte of hell that vnto thee many rewards of mony might be gathered in heapes Thou hast that which thon alwayes thirsted after sing a song for by the wickednesse of men and not by thy religion thou hast vanquished the world Vnto thee doth not the deuotion of men or pure conscience drawe them but the committing of manifold crimes and the decision of controuersies procured by mony Furthermore with fained words they haue taught that there is a pâ—…gatory wherein the soules of many of the elect are tormented for a time that out of this purgatory the soules may be deliuered by the prayers of the liuing especially by the satisfactorie prayers of those whome they call religious by masses and trentalls of masses by the works of supererogation and merites of others applied vnto them By this conceipt which was the foundation of religious houses the Popes cleargie had gotten the chiefest possessions of all Europe into their hands Monasteryes saith one of their owne writers were founded in times past for deuotion Petr. Ferrariensâ—…in form libell quo agâ—…tur ex substit §. ex suo corpore though now adayes for rapine and couetousnesse insomuch that they haue at this day destroyed the world and brought to nothing the state of the Empire and of all lay men Wherefore all such places as are or shall be made may worthilie bee called â—…ettes framed to catch lay mens goodes In this small land of ours the reuenewes of the irreligious houses which were dissolued did arise according to the olde rents which are scarce the tenth part of the true valewe to the summe of a hundred thirtie foure thousand six hundered and three pounds two shillings fourepence halfepennie Neither are the Popes owne reuenewes arising from these grounds to be omitted For purgatory forsooth is his peculier and the merites of Saints and works of supererogation which are the treasure of the church are in his disposition So that by his applying thereof to whom â—…ee pleaseth hee can either shorten their time in purgatorie or wholy set them at libertie by his indulgences and pardons accordingly as hee is paide for the same And yet there are many more deuises and sained words whereby the Pope maketh merchandise of men for the enriching of himselfe and his clergie As by his iubileyes and canonizing of Saints by his promising of remission of sinnes and eternall life to those that will fight his battailes or execute his wicked designes by his doctrines of merites and works of supererogation of inuocation of Saints of adoration of images and reliques of pilgrimages and in a word by all the doctrines almost of Poperie I meane those which bee peculier to the Pope and church of Rome which are fayned words douised in diuellish pollicie to mainetaine their vnsatiable lust ambition and couetousnesse By all this which hath beene saide it plainelie appeareth that the Pope most worthilie deserueth to bee called the man of sinne especiallie if you consider that in respect of diuerse of the aforesaide sinnes hee is such a sinner as Ieroboam was who caused all Israell to sinne For hee is not onelie an apostate but also the heade of the catholike apostasie not onelie an hereticke but the false prophet and brocher of popish heresyes not onelie an idolatour and adulterer but also the cause and authour of these abominations in all the Christian world making all sorts of men drunke with the wine of his fornications 12 It remaineth therfore that we should consider whether the other two titles of Antichrist do belong to the Pope namely that he is the sonne of perdition and the outlaw or lawlesse person As touching the former there is no questioÌ„ to be made but that if he be the man of sin as hath been proued hee is also the child of perdition in that sence that Iudas is so called Iohn 17. 12. And that hee deserueth most iustlie to bee called the outlawe or lawlesse person it is most euident Not onelie because hee is a transgressour of the lawe for seeing euerie sinne is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A transgression of the law therefore hee that is the man of sinne must needs be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the outlawe but also because he professeth himselfe to be the sonne of Beliall that is to say a man without yoke who taketh himselfe to be bound to no law but chalengeth authority to break al lawes or at least to dispense with them For first as touching the lawes authority of men Papa solutus est omni lege humana that is the Pope is not bound to any humane lawe Legi non Casus Papales apud Hostiensem c. Innocent 3. extr de concess praebend c. pro. posuit Bald. in c. caâ—… super de causi proprict possess subiacet vlli he is subiect to no law And according to the fulnes of power he may as himselfe professeth de iure supraius dispensare dispense with the law aboue lawe yea hee may doe all things supraius contraius extraius aboue lawe against lawe and without lawe And therefore of all others most worthilie called the outlawe And as for humane authority he is to iudge all but to be iudged of none Nec totus Clerâ—…s nec totus mundus potest Papam iudicare aut deponere Not the Petr. de palude de potestate Papae art 4. whole cleargie nor the whole world may iudge the Pope or depose him Neither doth he indeede subiect himselfe to the lawe of God For hee not onely taketh vpon him to dispense with the word and law of God as you
Apoc. 13. 13. 14. of Antichrist that he should do great wonders whereby he should deceiue them that dwell on the earth Hereby therfore it is euident that false prophets and Antichrists many times haue power to worke great signes and wonders not onelie in shewe and appearāce but in deed and in truth Whereby they indeauouring to deceiue all and to make them belieue lies are permitted both in the iustice of God to seduce the wicked in his mercy to try the faithfull And therefore signes wonders as they haue not alwayes bin signes tokens of true teachers professors of the truth but onely then when they haue Miracles are diuine testimonies whereby the Lord doth beare witnesse to his truth Heb. 2. 4. bin wrought for the cōfirmation of the truth So in these later times the same being wrought for confirmation of vntruthes are vndoubted signes of the synagogue of Antichrist 4 Let vs then consider whether such signes and wonders be wrought in the church of Rome It is recorded of Gregory the 7. who was the first of the Popes which was openly acknowledged to be Antichrist that as he was a notable sorcerer so he wrought many signes and wonders among the rest he vsed to shake fire out of his sleeues And of his votaryes after he had forbidden mariage in the clergy Auentinus writeth that vpon that occasion many false prophets did as it were cast mists and by Annal. Boior lib. 4. fables and miracles did turne away the people of Christ from the truth And againe False prophets did then arise false Apostles false priests who by counterfeite religion deceiued the people lib. 5. wrought great signes and wonders and began to sit in the temple of God and to bee aduanced aboue all that is worshipped And while they endeuour to establish their owne power and dominion they haue extinguished Christian charity simplicity And since those times the church of Rome hath much boasted of her manifold miracles which haue beene partly deuised and partly wrought for the confirmation of such Antichristian doctrines idolatrous superstitions as cannot be cōfirmed by the scriptures as namely the absurd doctrine of transubstantiation and adoration of the breaden God the heathenish doctrine of purgatory and superstitious prayer for the dead the idolatrous inuocation and worshipping of Saints the more then heathenish adoration of images rotten reliques the Antichristian aduancing of the Pope aboue all that is called God or worshipped and such like doctrines of diuels lyes of Antichrist for the confirmation whereof the miracles of the Apostaticall church of Rome haue bin inuented But how many miracles soeuer they produce for the countenancing of such vntruthes they are so many arguments to proue their church Antichristian their Pope Antichrist Because as Antichrist and his followers were in these latter times to abound with signes wōders but alwayes such as serue to lead mē into error so neither Turks nor Iewes nor any other churches of Christians but only the Pope and church of Rome do vaunt of miracles and yet all their miracles are such as serue to deceiue men to make them beleeue vntruthes And therefore although they were in respect of their substāce neither counterfeit nor fabulous as in deed the most of the miracles in the church of Rome are yet were they to be esteemd as notes signes of false prophets Antichrists because their end is to seduce mē confirme lyes 5 Secondly they are called lying signes in respect of the substance being as Augustine speaketh vel figmenta mendacium De vnitat eccl 16. hominū vel portenta fallaciū spirituū either fictions of lying men or wonders of deceipt full spirits And such are the miracles whereby the aforesaide points of Poperie are warranted and confirmed And of them there are three degrees For many of them were such fabulous fictions ridiculous fables incredible lyes whereof their legends and festiualls are full as none would euer beleeue were they not intoxicated made drunk with the whore of Bylons cuppe of fornications and also giuen ouer of God to beleeue lyes And these loud lyes and more then poeticall fictions were in such request in the church of Rome that the records of them I meane their legends festiualls and such like fabulous treatises were both publickly and priuately read in the vulgar tongue whē as the holy scriptures were kept frō the people in an vnknown lāguage The 1. degree then is of such miracles as neuer were indeed nor yet in apparānce but in the opiniō only of men besotted giuen ouer to beleue incredible vntruths The 2. is of such as were phātastical in apparāce only as being crafty cōueiāces of deceitful men or iugling tricks of legerdemaine As for example the nodding or mouing the smiling or frowning the sweating or speaking of images the apparitiōs of souls deceased the manifold cures supposed to be wrought by saints departed or their images such like For of these two sorts there be innumerable wonders recorded in their legends and festiualls liues of Saints which are either altogether fabulous as beeing reports of things which neuer were not so much as in apparāce◅or if any such things haue bene done in the sight of men they haue bin either praestigiatory conueyances of wicked men or mere illusions of the diuell The third degree is of such as were lying miracles in respect of the forme as Bellarmine speaketh although true in respect of the matter For howsoeuer they were things truely done yet they surpassed not the whole strength of nature whereas true miracles are supernaturall neither can bee wrought by any naturall causes whether knowne or vnknown but onely by the omnipotent power of God And such lying signes are the principall miracles of the Apostaticall church of Rome Neither is the Pope and al his adherents able to produce any one true miracle wrought by the finger of God for the confirmation of those doctrines which are peculier to that church that is to speake more plainelie for the proofe of any point of popery But all their miracles as they are lying signes and wonders in respect of their ende so also in regard of their substance being either merely fabulous and therfore such things as neuer were not so much as in shewe and apparaunce or merely phantasticall that is such things as were in shewe onely and not in truth or merely natural and therefore but counterfeite miracles effected by the power of the diuell 6 Some of their owne writers confesse that sometimes there is great deceiuing of the people in fained miracles by the Nicol. Lyran. in Daniel 14. priests and their adherents for temporall gaine And another saith in the sacrament appeareth flesh sometimes by the conueyance of men sometimes by the operation of the diuell I once did Alexander de Hales see an image of Saint Nicolas as it was said when it with many others
which the holy Ghost in the scriptures hath foretold concerning the miracles of Antichrist do not agree to the Pope church of Rome For concerning the miracles of Antichrist the scriptures saith he mention three things 1. that Antichrist shall worke many miracles 2. what maner of miracles they shall be 3. there are recorded examples Of al which points I haue intreated heretofore prouing from Bellarmine his owne grounds that the Pope is Antichrist And first that many signes and wonders should be wrought by Antichrist his adherents which Lib. 1. cap. 7. they call miracles the scriptures testifie the euent hath proued and we do confesse And secondly that all these signes wonders howsoeuer he and his followers do boast of them and in respect thereof contemne the true professors yet are as the Apostle saith lying signes and wonders both in respect of the ende which is to seduce and to confirme lies in respect of the substance which is counterfeit For wheras Bellarmine addeth that they are also called lying signes in respect of the efficient and author of them which is the father of lyes according to whose power Antichrist was to come who as some of the Fathers affirme was to be a notable Magician or sorcerer This seemeth to be somewhat far fetched vnlesse we will take the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be masculine as none doth Notwithstanding because the Apostle ascribeth the working of these miracles to the power of Sathan we will trace him in his owne steppes not doubting to apply this note also to the Pope and church of Rome seeing it cannot be doubted but that as very many not onely of their Cleargy but euen of their Popes haue bene notable Magicians and sorcerers so also very many of the miracles in the church of Rome haue bin the operatiōs or illusiōs of the diuell As for their Cleargy who knoweth not but that there haue bin fewe learned men among thē who haue not bene knowne or at the least suspected to be coniurers and skilfull as some call it of the blacke Art But as touching the Popes because it may seeme incredible that any known Magician or sorcerer should be aduanced to the Apostolike See as they call it therefore it may be thought that the sorcery witchcraft of the most of thē who indeed were sorcerers was hidden vnknown Notwithstanding euē in their owne writers there are recorded as knowne Magicians sorcerers aboue 20. Popes diuers wherofgaue themselues wholy to the diuell that in thē the prophesie of the Apostle might be fulfilled viz. that they might come to the Papacie by the helpe of the diuell or as the Apostle speaketh 2. Thess. 2. 9. that their comming might be according to the efficacie of Satan And as this hapned often so especially about those times wherein Antichrist in the Papacie was in a maner come to his full growth that is to say in Syluestex 2. Gregory 7. and all the Popes betwixt them who were a sort of infamous sorcerers And therefore if any miracles haue bin wrought by such Popes as Saunders braggeth of many signes wonders wrought by Gregory 7. we need not doubt but that as themselues were Magicians Demonsir 20. and sorcerers so their signes and wonders were wrought by the power of the diuell 2 And thus Bellarmine through all the causes sheweth the miracles of Antichrist to be lying signes and wonders But to what ende I beseech you serueth all this discourse Will Bellarmine conclude from hence that the Pope is not Antichrist either because there are no miracles in the church of Rome which was the first point or because those miracles which they haue be not lying signes and wonders which was the second If this were his ende why then doth hee not from this proposition as it were his groundworke assume and conclude after this manner By Antichrist and his adherents many signes and wonders shall be wrought which they call miracles as the scripture testifieth By the Pope and his adherents many signes and wonders haue not bin wrought which they call miracles therfore the Pope is not Antichrist But Bellarmine durst not reason thus seeing the Papists bragge of nothing more then of their signes and wonders which they call miracles And therefore from this ground I haue heretofore inferred the contrary For if it be a peculiar note of Antichrist and his adherents in these latter times to worke many signes and wonders which they call miracles then can it not be auoyded but that the Pope of Rome is Antichrist and the church of Rome the Synagogue of Antichrist seeing they alone do bragge of miracles See the first booke chap. 7. § 1. 2. Secondly why doth hee not reason thus By Antichrist and his followers lying signes and wonders shal be wrought But by the Pope and church of Rome there haue bene no lying signes and wonders wrought therefore the Pope is not Antichrist Indeed this would Bellarmine haue the simple reader gather from his words and that is the drift of all that discourse But this he could not assume and conclude because his owne conscience doth tell him that which all the worlde knowes that their church is full of lying signes and wonders which they call miracles Therefore from Bellarmines owne ground I reason thus If it be a peculiar note of Antichrist and his Synagogue in these latter times to work many lying signes and wonders then it must be confessed that the Pope is Antichrist and the church of Rome the Synagogue of Antichrist because among them are many lying signes and wonders but the first is testified in the scriptures and therfore the latter cannot be denied seeing I haue proued that the church of Rome is full of lying signes and wonders which notwithstanding they call miracles See the first Booke Chap. 7. § 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 3 It is plaine therefore that of those three things which Bellarmine obserueth out of the scriptures concerning the miracles of Antichrist the two first doo fitly serue to proue the Pope Antichrist Neither will the three examples of Antichrist his miracles which Bellarmine setteth downe in the third place disproue the same For of these three examples to wit First that Antichrist or at least his Ministers shall make fire to come downe from heauen in the sight of men Secondly that he shall put life into the Image of the beast and cause it to speake Thirdly that he shall faigne himselfe to die and to rise againe The two first which indeed belong to Antichrist doe fitly agree to the Pope as hath bene shewed in the first booke chap. 7. from the 8. § to the ende of the chapter The third belongeth not to Antichrist From whence notwithstanding Bellarmine argueth thus The third miracle of Antichrist saith he is that he shall faigne himself to die to rise againe for which miracle especially the whole world almost shall admire him But neuer did any Pope faigne