above the Easterne Churches commended the same to the patronage of the Emperour Constance But the Easterne Bishops wrote unto Iulius not to support Athanasius Iulius replyed that all might have recourse to Rome for succour as to the Superiour This they utterly disclaimed by divers Epistles to that purpose Notwithstanding Gratiane the Monke out of those selfe-same Epistles composed those Hist Papatus cap. 4. Canons whereby hee laboureth to prove the Popes Superiority Foure hundred yeares after Christ godly men to prevent tedious Law-suits chose Bishops their Arbitrators to compose such Controversies as arose amongst them Which arbitrary courses the Emperours Arcadius and Hist Papatus cap. 4. Honorius did not onely approve but moreover they authorised the arbitraments of those Bishops definitively to conclude all controversies first in causes of Religion afterwards in Civill Causes also ex consensu with the consent of both parties Hist Papatus cap. 4. In processe of time Iustinian assigned the Bishops to judge causes as Commissioners to the Emperour So long did the Emperours give leave till the Bishops did take leave to judge and by those priviledges to wrest the authority of Iurisdiction from the prerogative of the Imperiall Majesty Anno 413 Apiarius a disordered Priest of D. Sharp Dogmaticus Antich pag. 273. Africa being deprived by Vrbane his Bishop appealed unto Sozimus Bishop of Rome who sent three Legates to require the right of appellation from those African Bishops that hee might decide the controversie To which purpose his Legates alledged a Canon of Nice which those Bishops avouched to be forged because they had a Copie of that Councill For a full satisfaction they sent to Cyrill Bishop of Alexandria and to Atticús Bishop of Constantinople to conferre with their copies of that Councill but it was onely a copy of the Romish Bishops countenance such a Canon could not be found extant in neither Whereupon the Councill of Carthage consisting of 207 Bishops and S. Augustine one of them did condemne Apiarius and rejected the authority of the Bishop of Rome Neverthelesse Romish parasites have coined a strange fiction that certaine Canons of that Nicene Councill were burned by the Arrians Anno 450 Leo did persist in the promoting Leo â— in Anni ver die Assampâ— Serm. 2. of that Primacy to which purpose hee did strongly insist on that Tu es Petrus Thou art Peter Matth. 16. 18. Petrus saith he Petra dicitur dum fundamentum pronunciatur Peter is called the Rocke to shew that he is the foundation Whence he frameth a conclusion for his owne purpose and person stiling himselfe Papam Ecclesiae Catholicae The Bishop of the Leo epist 12. ad Theodos whole Church omnium Episcoporum Primatem the chiefe of all the Bishops Anno 533 the Emperour honoured Iohn Baronius the second with a solemne Embassage and by it with an obsequious protestation that he travelled Omnes Sacerdotes universi Orientis tractus subjicere unire SaÌ„ctitati vestrae To cause the union and compasse the submission of all the Clergy of the whole Easterne Country to the Bishop of Romes Holinesse But about 606 Pope Boniface the third Dounam Derens de Antichristo lib. 2. c. 8 sect 5. so now I must stile the Bishops of Rome by that name for this Boniface the third was the first to whom the name Pope was appropriated I say this Boniface in that yeare upon the murther of Mauritius apprehended an occasion to insinuate Pless Myst Progress 21. Aimoinus lib. 4. cap. 61. himselfe in the favour of bloudy Phocas who gratified him with the title of Vniversall Bishop About 740 Pope Zacharies judgment being demaÌ„ded whether best deserved the kingdom of France either he who had the Name only or hee who day and night spent himselfe in the service of the Commonwealth the Popes definitive sentence being pronounced for the latter as the better worthy of the Scepter Hence did France take occasion to depose their King translating the Crowne from Chilpericus unto Pipine And hence Rome did take occasion to claime power to dispose of that kingdome as this very example is alledged to that purpose by Suarez Apol. lib. 3. cap. 23. nu 15. Suarez in his Apology Towards the eight hundreth yeare Steven the third and Adrian the first joyned with Carolus magnus to expell the Graecian Emperour out of his Latine Dominions which being Pless Myst Progress 27. effected and so one good turne requiring another Charles being made Emperour of the West by the Pope the Pope received from Charles the Confirmation if not the donation of the City and Seigniory of Rome Thus far these Popes proceeded to some purpose Notwithstanding still the Pope was Histor Papatus cap. 4. subject to the Emperour till he beganne to incroach by a meere accident Anno 817 Paschal being constrained by the people to be Pope sent Legates to the Emperour to excuse that election The Emperour Ludovicus Pius being according to his name a sweet natured courteous Gentleman did easily admit of satisfaction yet with a check to the Clergy and to the people for their audacious act adding a caveat that they should no more dare to incroach upon his Royaltie Howbeit the clawbacke Library-keeper inserted this clause Ludovicus Pius did remit the power of electing the Pope unto Paschal the first Since which time the Popes have proceeded by more generall jugglings As namely by proposing preferments promotions and brave incouragements attractive Loadstones to invite the prime learned of the whole world unto Rome Keeping publike Registers of all the Benefactors unto Peters Patrimonie praying for the soules of such charitable persons being deceased One while trumpetting out the charity of the Popes another time sowing discord betwixt Princes that they might fish in troubled waters These made some pretty additions to their greatnesse till about 1080 Gregory the seventh so advanced himselfe against the Emperour that his successours have advanced themselves above the Emperour The Emperours at this day acknowledging themselves confirmed by the Pope and tendering a kinde of fealty to the Pope as the Sacrar Cerem l. b. 1. sect 5. c. 7. forme of their Oath is authentically extant written by Marcellus Archbishop of Corcira to Leo the tenth And thus Giges-like hath the Pope invisibly advanced himselfe into the Throne of his Master Having heard the History or Matter That the Church of Rome is made a Monarchy heare we next the Mystery Manner or the Meanes whereby this miracle was effected Which was so politikely prosequuted by such secret plots and super-subtle projects that their cunning cariage and cleanly conveyance of their purpose doth merit the title of my Text to be termed the Mystery of Iniquity The meanes which these politicians used as they were invisible so were they innumerable also I will reduce them to eight heads onely It is a memorable fact mentioned by our Fox Mart. tâ—m 1 1505. pag. 860.
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
sin By both hee fulfilleth that in the first to the Romans and the last He doth not onely do things worthy of Death but hath pleasure in them which doe them But who is this Man this Paterne and Patron of all impiety the Rhemists call it Blaspemy we verity We say The Pope is The Man of Sinne both by Acting it in Himselfe and by effecting it in others Anno 1562. the Archbishop Trent Hist lib 7. pag. 588. of Granada and all the Spanish Bishops desired reformation in the Trent Councill saying that the Fountaine of all abuses was the Court of Rome which is not onely corrupt it selfe but the cause of Deformation in all the Churches This truth is also confirmed by that false proselyte Radix omnium malorum Spalâ—â—â—â—â—â—s de Rep. lib. 4 c. 11. nu 11. est Romana Curia the Court of Rome is the cause of all evill For the first the personall sinnes of the Popes I passe that Onely because Suarez saith Suarez Apol. lib 5 cap. 17. nu 5. Christoph de Antichristo against Doctor Dounam Trisâ—gion lib. 3. cap. 39. that there were aliqui improbi not many and Christopherson in his catalogue doth not mention any evill persons amongst all the Popes I must therefore give a tast of other mens observations The learned author of the Trisagion saith that there sate in the See of Rome fourteene Popes which were Adulterous nine Simoniaks twelve Tyrants three and twenty Sorcerers and ten Traitors To which I must Toâ—â— Torâ—i pag 219. adde what our Bishop hath delivered out of their Platina Monstra Portenta more then twenty Monsters of Mankind which sate and more than thirty Schismes were hatched in the Chaire of Rome And for the space of one hundred fourescore yeeres for the succession of Fifty Popes hee could reckon Vix unum Pontificis nomine dignum hardly one worthy to be called a Pope and that you may not Hâ—m 2. lib. Whits 2. part sol 219 c. judge this to be a private judgmeÌ„t or mine to be a rash judgement reade the judgement of the Church of England fully to this point in the Homily for Whitsontide But I will remove my finger froÌ„ this sore which I had not touched had not their bragging Tongue coÌ„strained my Hand a little to discouer it Next to come to the life of the cause That the Pope is the cause of sinne it will be confessed if we consider onely this one thing There is a booke called Taxa Cancellariae Apostolicae where in print the Absolutions from sinne and dispensations for sinne are set at a certaine Rate Can any imagine a fitter introduction and a more imboldning incouragement for any sinfull man to commit any sinfull action This is much which I say but much more is said by one of their owne and best authors Claudius Espencaeus Liber palam ac publicè hic Cl. Espâ—â—â— in Tit. cap. 1. Digres 1. impressus hodie ut olim venalis Taxa Camerae seu Cancellariae Apostolicae inscriptus in quo plus scelerum discas licet quam in omnibus omnium vitiorum summistis ac summarijs et plurimis quidem licentia omnibus autem Absolutio empturientibus proposita That is There is a booke publikely to be sold the Taxa Camerae whereby a man may learne more wickednesse than ever was comprised in all the summists and summaries of Vices which ever were set forth and wherein some may buy leave and all pardon for any sinne The same author proceedeth in the same place and point that that booke doth dispence with Adulterers Murtherers and Sorcerers Adulteros In cantatrices Homicides yea they absolve Parricidas Incestos contra naturam cum Brutis those that kill their Fathers defile their Mothers or that are so farre past grace that they commit that foule crime against nature By name for Perjurie Cap. 4. a villaine which hath falsly and willingly forsworne himselfe shall be absolved and the price of his Absolution is printed sixe grosses Cap. 3. or nine shillings and the same price is pitched for that child of the devill who out of a diabolicall lust shall defile a woman in the holy house of God in the very Church it selfe Thus also under Alexander the sixt the Cardinall Waldenses lib. 2. cap. 3. pag. 48. of St. Xist sent into Dauphine two bulls one by which he gave absolution for Simonie Theft Murther Vsury Adultery Detension of Benefices Destruction of goods Ecclesiasticall Perjurie yea Apostasie and Heresie All which may bee established by the Bellaâ— de Pont. Rom. lib. 4 ca. 5. sect Quod. judgement of learned Bellarmine for saith he Si Papa praecipiat vitia prohiberet virtutes tenetur Ecclesia credere vitia esse bona virtutes malas nisi velit contra conscientiam peccare That is If the Pope should command vices and interdict vertues every person who would not offend against his conscience must beleeue that the vices are good and the vertues are bad And that none may surmise me to wrong Bellarmine or to wring his words beyond his meaning behold a like egge of the same bird Bellar. de Pont. Rom. lib. 4. ca. 2. sect Dein de Catholici omnes convenient pontificem aliquid statuentem sive errare possit sive non esse ab omnibus fidelibus obedienter audiendum that is all Catholikes doe accord in this that the Pope whether he may erre or no is yet to be heard with all obedience And Bellarmine doth but Blanch Bell. Recogn de Sum. Pontif. pag. 507. the Aethiop when as he would seeme to retract this paradoxe saying that hee did speake de dubijs actibus and in the last citation he hath in re dubia For the Powder Traitors propounding Abbati Antilog cap. 9. it as rem dubiam to murther a King and ruine a Kingdome at one blow from these principles if the Pope had returned the affirmative they must have obeyed him yea have beleeved that that vicious act had beene a vertue Tolet. Instr lib. 4 cap. 3. sect 7. nay as another Cardinall speaketh in another case they might have thought that bloody barbarous villany meritorious Let any patron of the Pope under heaven name any man or succession of men on the earth who have given the like incitements incouragements and commandements unto sinne And I will recant and confesse that I have done his Holinesse and the holy series of his predecessours much wrong saying that The pope is the man of sinne But principally the Pope is the cause of three sinnes hee is the cause of Ignorance of Whoredome and Treason Now if I can prove that the Pope is the cause of these 3 sins I have cause enough to conclude The pope is the man of sinne For the first If the Councill of Tolet hath defined Concil Tol. 4. cap. 24. right that Ignorantia est mater omnium errorum Ignorance is 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
2 Thess 2. 7. saith the same English Author on the same place as an House is long a squaring and preparing in private but at length it is joyned and reared in publike The sense of the text the mystery of iniquity doth already worke is this There is a Diabolicall stratagem under the show of Religion secretly and cunningly to undermine and overthrow Christs true Religion which hath beene working even from the Apostles time to our time That Poperie is this mystery this is the point which by Gods assistance I undertake to make plaine at this season That your understandings and memories may follow my discourse the more easily I will chalke out the way by which I meane to lead your attention First I will shew you their quaerere and then how they did parta tueri the meanes of their gaining and of their retaining the Papall greatnesse Which two stratagems are two great mysteries In their retaining it which for our time involveth the inlarging of the Papacy also they use one mystery to inveagle men and another to intangle men they have their baits to catch them and their hookes to hold them Both which they practise by a secret undermining and by a subtle countermining of their opposites Each of those exploits is like the woman Revel 17. 5. the word Mystery is written in the very forehead thereof For the first how Saint Peter poore Peter rich indeed in spiritualls but poore in temporalls so poore that he was imprisoned by a Romane Magistrate Act. 12. 3. Crucified by a Romane Emperour and certainly the basest Romane subject would have spit in his face and trod on his necke if hee should have dared to have lift up his finger against the Romane Empire Eusebius lib. â—â— 25. Moreover that the Bishops of Rome his successors did succeed and exceed him in povertie they had more ordinary frailties but farre fewer extraordinarie abilities than Peter the whole succession was so poore that they were persecuted aboue 300 yeeres and so persecuted above 200 yeares that they met in cryptis in caves corners conventicles and had not so much as one Church for their religion Calixtus about the yeere 222. did build the first Church Platina in Calixto Discours des temps depuis les Apotres anno 222. for publike Christianity Now according to the parable propounded to the triumphant Tyrant how the Naile which was in the bottome of the Wheele should sensim sine sensu by a motion insensible and incomprehensible climbe to the top and bring the loftie Naile to the Counterpoint How the Romane Church which was vnder foot should rise up and bring down the loftie Lordly Lording Romane Empire to be her underling and the whole Church of Christ together with it This is a wonder and this is the secret and the Mysterie which Saint Paul saith did worke even in his time For the framing of this plot which they have so admirably effected at this day it is generally said that the Heresies which were sowne in the Apostles times were the seed thereof And indeed so they are in generall but I suppose that the more particular prosecuting of their plot was by the publishing of those two doctrines of Devills mentioned Read the 19 Sermon 1 Tim. 4. 3. forbidding of meates and mariage which we see at this day to be the two pillars of Popery in truth the Iachin and Boaz the very strength and establishing of the Romane Monarchie 1 Reg. 7. 21. Notwithstanding I conceive the maine engine for this stratagem to bee another point the point of the Primacie which was an hammering in the Apostles times Not onely that of Diotrephes who loved preheminence in the Church as Saint Iohn taxeth him in his third Epistle Nor that of the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1. 12. where some were for Paul and some for Peter there called Cephas But principally the Primacy attempted by the Church of Rome Rom. 11. 10. Be not high minded and in the 22 verse otherwise thou shalt be cut off For this instruction against Pride though it bee generall to the Gentiles yet is it more speciall to the Romanes And Saint Paul in the same place seemeth to me to Prophecie in two fashions first by way of instruction telling what they should then eschew secondly by way of prediction foretelling what afterwards would be their ruine Now let us briefly ponder how this project of Primacy hath beene prosequuted to this present age Wee see that the seeds of ambition were sowne in S. Pauls time But the power and persecution of the Romane Empire cut downe the blades thereof that their aspiring was fruitlesse for many centuries But at length the harvest of their pride became ripe and they have reaped their Primacy or rather supremacy by these degrees and devices The first which I finde to appeare in promoting Hist Popatus cap. 4. Euseb lib. 5. cap. 22 23 24. the Romane Primacy was Victor Bishop of Rome about the yeare 194 who ordained that Easter should be celebrated by all on the Lords day but therein he was instantly opposed by Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus and by Narcissus Bishop of Hierusalem and others Victor notwithstanding confirmed his decree by a Councill held at Rome anno 196 yet so Bardus Pavin in Chronico anno 196. Histor Papatus cap. 4. as that it was received onely within the Romane Diocesse About 240 yeares after Christ Fabius Bishop of Rome called a Councill at Rome and condemned Novatiane herein hee did somewhat goe beyond the bounds of his Bishopricke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 4. 15. Novatus and Novatiane being both Africans but the piety of the Bishops and the persecution of the Emperours of that age cut off all jealousie suspition or scruple that any Primacy was affected And the godly Christians were glad that Schisme might be composed by any men or meanes Two hundred and fifty yeares after Christ Steven Bishop of Rome incroched a little more Pless Myster progress 2. and more plainly upon Spaine where Basilides Bishop of Asturia and Martial of Melida being deposed because they had sacrificed to Idolls for feare of persecution Steven writ to the Churches of Spaine peremptorily for their restitution Three hundred and fourteene yeares after our Saviour Silvester obtained from the Emperour Constantine to build Churches and many other priviledges Whence his Successors plead also the donation of Constantine that hee gave unto the Pope Rome and a great part of Italy under the name of S. Peters patrimony Although Iohannes Diaconus in the Charter of D. Collins in Eudam part 3. cap. 46. Otho the third is discovered to have beene the father of that memorable fiction Anno 336 Athanasius being condemned by a Baronius anno 34â— sect 5 6. Councill of the Arrians at Antiochia sought for succour from Iulius then Bishop of Rome who intertaining a good cause under the pretence to advance the authority of the Church of Rome
A PLAINE EXPOSITION VPON THE FIRST part of the second Chapter of Saint Paul his second Epistle to the THESSALONIANS Wherein it is plainly proved that The Pope is The Antichrist Being Lectures in Saint Pauls by IOHN SQVIRE Priest and Vicar of Saint LEONARDS Shordich Sometime Fellow of IESVS Colledge in CAMBRIDGE August Epist 89. Hilario Melius exponant ist a meliores Nam ego paratior smu discere quam docere Psalm 115. 10. Attamen ipse credidi propter quod locutus sum LONDON Printed for Philip Waterhouse and are to be sold at his Shop at the signe of St. Pauls Head in Canon street neare London Stone 1630. TO THE RIGHT Honourable EDVVARD Viscount CONVVAY Lord President of his Majesties Honorable privie Counsell My most honored Lord. MY LORD THese Lectures I laboured principally to satisfie mine own conscience in this great point But understanding that some conscionable persons have received some small satisfaction by hearing them I print them And presume to present theÌ„ to your Honor to read them or some of them at your Lordships leasure That I may publish to the world how I am assured of your Honors sincere affection to the Church of England as it standeth now in opposition to the Church of Rome VVhich that it may be daily confirmed and increased in your Honour and in the rest of our Honorable English Nobilitie shall be the daily and sincere prayer of Your most unworthy yet most humble Chaplaine IOHN SQVIRE To the READER CHristian Reader Let me commend these briefes to thy Christian Charitie For this Booke If my small judgement and the eyes of many of my judicious friends have not failed me it may have some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some slips no grosse Errours For the Quotations though some may seeme perhaps to have bin alleaged judicio errante yet animo reluctante not one I may misunderstand some but I mis report not one Author by a voluntary falsification For the Author he is a thorough conformable member Minister of the Church of England And for the Scope it is for the information and salvation of thy soule and his owne soule Take the Treatise and give prayers for Thy fellow-member in Christ Iesus IOHN SQVIRE To the Papists or popishly affected I Beseech you by our Christ performe this Christian duty whereto my Practice doth invite you by a Precedent Read my Treatise As I doe and will the learnedst Authors on your side If your impartiall judgement censure it as Erronâ—ous reject it refute it But if my arguments be strong love not the name of the Church more than you doe the Truth of the Church Magna est veritas Christ grant that his Truth may prevaile on either partie Yours in the Truth IOHN SQVIRE The Contents of this Treatise SERMON 1. OBstinacy an error dangerous to salvation 6 Ministers should win their people by lenity 8 Of the Resurrection 10 Blessings bind us to be constant in Religion 14 Of Vnion 7 15 SERMON 2. The comming of Christ may not be defined 18 The authoritie of the Fathers 21 The errours of the understanding terrours to the Conscience 22 Six meanes to avoid errour 26 Three Fountaines of Errour 28 Of Enthysiasme 29 Of the use and abuse of eloquence 31 Of false quotations and corrupting Authors 32 The meanes of seducing to Popery 34 SERMON 3. The point of Antichrist may be handled 38 The name of Antichrist 43 The Fathers not the best Expositers in this point 46 The Apostasie 47 Whether the Church was ever extinguished 55 When was the Apostasie 57 Communion in both kinds 60 The Primacie 60 Image worship 61 Deposing Kings 62 The Pope above a Councill 62 Priests mariage 63 Apostates to Poperie 63 Latine Service 65 SERMON 4. Antichrist not one man 68 The man of Sinne. 76 The Pope the cause of Ignorance 83 The Pope the cause of Whoredome 85 The Pope the cause of Treason 90 The Powder Treason 94 SERMON 5. Antichrist the sonne of Perdition 97 Antichrist and Iudas parallell'd 99 Antichrist Iudas and the Pope parallell'd 101 The Pope may erre 105 Popish Persecutions passe those of the Emperours 106 Of the Inquisition 121 Rome Destroyed 135 Whether all Papists be damned 136 Popish threatnings to draw men to Popery 137 SERMON 6. Antichrist not an open Adversarie 140 The Pope doth oppose Christ 145 Fundamentally 147 Vniversally 149 Six plaine propositions where Christ is plainly opposed by the Pope 153 The Pope the worst Adversary that ever the Church had 154 SERMON 7. 〈◊〉 Temple 159 Antichrists seat 159 Not thâ—â—â—teriall Temple 159 Rome the seat of Antichrist 167 Whether Rome be a true Church 168 A Parallel betwixt Rome and Babylon 185 SERMON 8. Antichrist shall not exalt himselfe above the true God 197 The Pope doth 200 And above all that is worshipped 202 The Popes Ambition 204 The Pope doth exalt himselfe above Kings 207 Above the Emperour 216 Papists are Traitors 226 SERMON 9. Antichrist shall not sit corporally in the Temple 288 The Pope usurpeth the same power with Christ 232 The same titles 233 That he is above Councills 238 That he can make a Creed 240 The Pope is not the head of the Church 234 The King is the Head of the Church of England 235 The Pope countermands all the Commandements 244 SERMON 10. Antichrist shall not call himselfe the true God 257 The Pope doth shew himselfe to be God 259 The Pope doth shew himselfe to be God plainly 268 SERMON 11. What hindred the Revelation of Antichrist 289 The Ro Empire not to be abolished 294 It is removed ibid. Of Travellers and travelling to Rome 301 SERMON 12. The time of the Revelation of Antichrist 305 Where our Church was before Luther 326 Affected ignorance of Antichrist 328 SERMON 13. The Mystery of Iniquitie 335 Popish mysteries to advance the papacie 343 Popish mysteries to advance poperie 360 Baits to catch papâ—sts 369 Hookes to hold papâ—sts 373 SERMON 14. The Pope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the lawlesse person 381 In regard of Scriptures 391 Of the Creed 395 Of humane Lawes 396 Of Oaths 397 Of nationall Lawes 402 The Exemption of the Clergie 404 Of Childrens obedience 408 Of Mariages 409 Of his owne Constitutions 411 SERMON 15. The destruction of Antichrist 414 The beginning of the Reformation 416 Poperie may returne into England 417 Poperie may not be put downe by force of Armes 418 The finall destruction of the Pope uncertaine 428 Popery shall not be extinguished till the last day 432 The destruction of Rome 434 SERMON 16. Of lying miracles 440 Of Popish miracles 343 The miracle Rev. 13. 13. explained 465 Whether Papists doe any miracles 467 Whether miracles should perswade unto Poperie 470 SERMON 17. Of the Antiquity of the Church of Rome 478 Vniversalitie 478 Vnitie 478 Infallibilitie 478 Of disputations with Papists 487 The care of the Popish Church for Controversie Writers 488 Of Popish perswasions 491 Devotions
this place signifie a multitude the Church malignant as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the woman in another Rev. 12. 6. doth signifie a multitude the Church militant Next every Schoole-boy can tell that the article doth not alwayes signifie one particular person Againe it seemeth there is no such signification thereof in this place for the old translation so authenticall with them absolutely omitteth it And in Scripture the article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used foure wayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Elegance Demonstration Difference and Eminence First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Elegance as Luke 4. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Man shall not live by bread alone Matt. 4. 4. the same sentence is rendred without the article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Demonstration pointing at some particular person as Iohn 1. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Behold the Lambe of God Thirdly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Difference to distinguish the whole kinde as Marke 2. 27. The Sabbath was made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for man Fourthly it is used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Eminence and emphasie to signifie a thing that is noble and notable in that kind as 2 Tim. 3. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The man of God meaning not any man but the Minister yet not one particular person but the whole calling So here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth not all impious men but emphatically the Principall Antichrist yet Him not one particular person but a whole vocation Notwithstanding yeeld them this conclusion neverthelesse from hence they can conclude nothing against ours or for their owne cause Though Antichrist be one man yet may the Pope be Antichrist For supposing a personall yea a Trienniall Antichrist and the persecutors and Heretikes to have beene Harbingers to prepare his way Notwithstanding the See of Rome may be the Seat of Antichrist and the succession of Popes may be the Series of those persons out of whom one Monster may arise who shal succeed and exceed all his predecessours in breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord in making havocke of the Church and in being drunke with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus This seemeth to be the conjecture of learned Zanchius and to the same Zanâ—h miscâ—l lib. 3. p. 25 de fine sac 85. discept cum Marbachio 474. Mr. Mountagues Appeale part 2 cap. 5. pag. â—19 conjecture seemeth our no lesse learned Countriman to incline in these words It may bee probable that one notorious singular mischievous Antichrist may arise towards the finall consummation of the world who in fraudulent colluding malicious craftinesse in impious execrable and transcendent wickednesse through hereticall impostures and lying miracles shall goe beyond all other that ever lived in the world Surely if the Generall of the Iesuites should once come to be Pope I would vehemently suspect him to bee the party designed For out of what nest that accursed bird should rather come abroad than out of that Seraphicall Society I cannot guesse But indeed that Antichrist should be one particular person it is improbable and plainly impossible which I will make appeare by six arguments In the sixt seventh verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which with-holdeth he which letteth that is the Empire and the Emperor by their owne doctrine doth signifie not one man but a successioÌ„ if the article doth not restraine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the person hindering no more can it restraine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the person hindered vnto the singular number In this verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Antichrist is termed a man to bee Reuealed but in the seuenth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was working euen then though in a Mysterie and the same man is said to be destroyed at the comming of Christ in the eight verse Antichrist therefore was in Saint Pauls time to be revealed in the after times and to be destroyed in the last times All which cannot concurre in one particular man This also may be confirmed from the drift of the Apostles discourse in this place Which was to foretell the most notable Apostasie and most importing the waste of the Church which could not bee in the age onely of one man Farre fitter therefore it had been to haue foretold the Heresie of Arius which indured many yeares and extended to many places Miratur orbis se factum Arianum Hieron Dial. ad Lucif Saint Hierom saith the whole world was infected with Arianisme To this Sunne-shine of Saint Paul St. Iohn may adde one Candle Reu. 18. 7. Sedeo Regina 1 sit a Queene and shall see no sorrow which are the words of one not newly sprung up by an usurped authority but of one established in a long and rooted tyrannie But to lay the axe to the root of the tree Matth. 16. 18. wee read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Christ will build his Church upon a rocke Now according to their Popish exposition if the Papists must expound the article to signisie the singular number and by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The rocke to vnderstand Peter alone and not the whole succession of Popes then sarewell to the Romish Supremacy and infallibilitie And I thinke the Romanists had as liefe yeeld the Pope to bee Antichrist as not to be the supreme head of the Church and not to be the infallible iudge of Controuersies Finally Bellarmine himselfe delivereth these Bell. de P. R. lib. 3 c. 1â— five things Antichrist must 1 vsurpe the kingdome of the Iewes 2 vanquish Egypt Libia and Ethiopia 3 conquer seuen other kingdomes 4 subdue the whole world 5 raise an universall persecution Now how Antichrist shall ever be able to poste over these expeditions on the wings of a whirle-wind in the reigne of one man especially in the space of three yeares and a halse as the Papists fancie I appeale to the conscience of any indifferent person Protestant or Papist and they will conclude with me Antichrist cannot be one singular man Neither can any justly oppose that argument from the opposition Christ is one man therefore Antichrist shall be one man For Christ the Head of the Church liveth for ever himselfe and therefore is one person But Antichrist the Head of Babel is mortall and continuing to the end of the world must therfore be perpetuated by successioÌ„ we haue instances in this kind The High Priest was the Type of Christ The High Priest that Type of Christ was not one Person but the succession The Pope is called the Vicar of Christ not one Person but the succession Quoad officium Papatus omnes Papae qui fuerunt aut erunt non sunt nisi Vnus Papa All the Popes which over were or shall be in regard of the Function of the Papacy are
mother of all Errours It will exercise the wit and learning of his best friends to quite him from being the cause of much sinne who is the cause of that which is the cause of all errour That the pope is the cause of Ignorance it is plaine because he commandeth his to heare in Latine and to pray in Latine plebis est admiraâ—â— divina secreta non Bonaventura in Luc. 1. 21. persâ—rutarâ— the common people must admire not inquire after divine secrets saith Bonaventure Math. Peresius speaketh farre more Matth Peres de Trad. pag. 44. boldly and broadly his doome is that it was the Devills invention to permit the Lay people to read the Bible But acute Richard of Ments hooketh all in handsomely by a pretty Trent Hist lib. 2. pag. 158. distinction that the doctrines of faith were now so cleered that wee ought no more to learne them out of the Scripture and therefore the scripture was read heretofore in the Church for the instruction of the people whereas now it is read in the Church onely to pray and ought to serve every one to that end onely and not to studie Finally hee doth forbid the Lay people to read the scriptures unlesse they obtaine speciall License from the Bishop or Inquisitor to do it as appeareth by the fourth rule of Prohibited bookes which is at the end of the Tridentine Councill And the granting of those Licenses is now againe taken away by Clement the 8. as may be seene by his Index of prohibited bookes printed at Paris by Laurentius Sonius And Decretal de Haeriticis ca. Quincunq in 6. for a lay Papist to dispute of the scripture is to incurre Excommunication The Popes injunction to pray in Latine hath made many of the lay people such ignorant people that they become like Melitides the naturall foole who could not define whether his Father or Mother did bring him forth So they cannot tel whether God their Lord or the Virgin their Lady should be the object of their Prayers Yea a great Divine in the Vniversity Rex Iacobus med in Orat. Dom. pag. 132. of Saint Andrewes in Scotland taught it publikely that the Lords Prayer might be said to the V. Mary which monster could never have beene teemed into this world if the Latine language had not beene the Midwife A tricke of an Apostate the Pope wanteth no precedent Iulian interdicted the meanes of knowledge to the poore Christians I involve therefore two conclusions in one short sentence The Pope is an Apostate and The man of sinne The second point is Whoredome I say The man of sinne is the cause of that sinne and the Pope is the maintainer of Fornication and maintained by Fornication Cornelius Agrippa shall Corn. Agripp de vanitate cap. 64. be one witnesse that the Whores of Rome every weeke payd a Iulius that is sixe pence each to the Pope who shal be seconded by one of our owne Countrymen The stewes are in Wats Quodlib 2. Artic. 4. Rome cum approbatione as lawfully as any Citizen of Rome saith Watson But indeed I have a cloud of witnesses for this truth To keepe a Concubine is permitted â—â—gâ—bâ—s by the lawes Duarenus de Beneficijs lib. 8. cap. 6. Lopez de ratione reg lib. 2. pâ— 58 of Rome â—aith Duarenus that learned Lawyer Stewes are to be tolerated saith Lopez ad detinendum libidinis ardorem to limit the fury of lust Strumpâ—ts inhabit Rome sciâ—â—â—â— patiente Navâ—â— manuali cap. 17. Papa the Pope knowing and suffering such inhabitants Meretriâ—â—s non sunt dignae laâ—ueis legum Whores are not worth to be corrected by the Lawes said â—â—valdus Iacobus de Graffijs propoundeth the question Quare Ecclesia permittit Lupanaria why doth the Church permit stewes and assoileth it tolerat minus malum praesens ut evitet majus futurum that is their Church doth permit the lesse evill to avert a greater Nay the same author goeth yet farther beyond our credence if a papist did not report it Lex cogit the Law doth compell publicas meretricâ—s ad fornicandum cum quocunque juxta tamen mercedem If he bring mony the law doth compell their Whores to commit Whoredome with any man Finally it is the report of a learned Convert Sheldens Mot. Law 3. pa. 151. that there are Permissive and Tolerative lawes for these stewes and strumpets in some papisticall Countreys in the City of Rome there is publike toleration and Papall permission and protection of Queanes The Pope hath Toll from them the Cardinalls and Courtiers cannot bee without them Pius the 5. once banished them but hee drave away so many Citizens and Courtiers with them that hee was contented to permit their returne Very consonant to the name Courtizane the fairest title of a Whore which arose from the Court of Rome because such were entertained day and night These women sufficiently prove that the Pope is the Man of sinne But to furnish this point with proofes to the full I adde the Church of Rome hath made a Law to constraine some to uncleannesse And therfore it may meritoriously be termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the cause of sinne If a Prince command that a whole City must wade through a deepe foord though some be of sufficient stature to wade through if the rest perish shall wee not impute it to the Prince his command that they bee drowned If a state inact a statute that all in a Countie shall beare two hundred weight 20. miles in one day Althogh a few strong men discharge it if many women and children sinke and dye under the burden may we not conclude that that Law did kill them Even so censure a Decree of the Church of Rome That all the Clergy must vow a single life Though some may have that Blessed gift of Continence yet many too many cannot but be uncleane unchast at least incontinent I inferre then Their law doth constraine them All have not that gift Math. 19. 11. Mariage is the remedy to them that have it not 1 Cor. 7. 2. Therefore those that have neither the gift nor the remedie must fall into that foule sinne of uncleannesse and their Law doth constraine them This law of such a sinfull shamefull consequence Siricius attempted about the yeare 380 but it was effected by Gregorâ—e 7. 1074. which is now so strongly supported Trent Hist lib. 6 pag. 527. that though Augustine Pavugarner petitioning to the Councill of Trent did avouch the Clergie of Bavaria infamous for lust few of them not being Concubinaries yet could he not beg permission for them to marrie indeed to be honest A strange inversion It is better to marry then to burne saith St. Paul 1 Cor. 7. 9. it is better to burne then to marrie saith the Coster Enchir. cap 17. prop. 9. Tâ—stat in 1 Sam. 17. quâ—st 45. Thom. 2. 2 aequ 88. Art 11. Popes holinesse But it is a stranger position
not directly but by consequent onely In respect whereof we condemne it as Erroneous although for holding the foundation we doe and must hold them Christians To the judgement of these sound Divines subscribe many other at this day famous in our generation And I find this their opinion opposed by very few Reverend Authors and for preserving of their reverence I will suppresse their Names proceeding to the remnant of my arguments The first and foundation of all my arguments is the argument drawne from the foundation The Church of Rome doth hold the true foundation of Christianity it is therefore a true Christian Church As a man is in the shippe although tempests have torne away the Tacklings Pyrats have shot the maine Mast over-boord and they themselves have blowne up the Decke and nothing be remaining but the Carine the bulke and very Carkasse of the ship and that also upon the point of sinking Now the foundation of Christianity is twofold fundamentum quo fundamentum quod the foundation whereby a Christian doth know his salvation and the foundation whereby hee doth obtaine it Fundamentum quo the fundamentall Writings which doe declare the salvation of of Christians are the Scriptures in them wee have eternall life and they testifie of Christ Ioh. 5. 39. Fundamentum quod the fundamentall meanes and cause which hath purchased and doth give it is Christ Christ is the Saviour of the world Ioh. 4. 42. and other foundation can no man lay 1 Cor. 3. 11. Both which foundations are held by the Church of Rome The holy Scriptures they have and acknowledge yea even in the Originall And Christ they confesse to be the onely Saviour of the world ioyning nothing with Christ in the worke of Redemption but onely in the Application thereof Which although it be too much yet it is not enough to raze the Foundation Till then that the Papists doe reject the Scriptures or rather till they reject Christ wee must not exclude them from the Christian Church because they yet do hold the Foundation of Christianity I will recompence the length of this first argument with the brevity of foure following Foure wayes in two words will I plainly prove that The Church of Rome is a true Church From the Professors Pastors Patterne and Propertie of a true Church Their children wee doe baptise and their men baptised wee doe not rebaptise I suppose we should make a question of the one and no question of the other if they were absolutely out of the Church Let the Protestants grant that the Papists have true baptisme and the Papists will eaâ—ily and truly inferre that then They are a true Church The Papists have True Pastours This is acknowledged Whitak Contr. 4. qu 5. c. 3. Mason de Ordin minist ca. 12 by our Doctors approved by our Practise wee doe admit Proselyte Priests and did in the beginning of Queene Elizabeths reigne desire Consecration of our Bishops from theirs and Luther himselfe was a Popish Priest All these remaine so without Iteration But there are no true Pastours out of the true Church Therefore we granting them the one we must yeeld them also the other Suppose thirdly that a Pagan should pursue a Papist unto death eo nomine only because he is a Christian Can wee deny such a man the glory of Martyrdome yet this honour to be a Martyr wee all know to bee proper to the Church If therefore the Papists have true Martyrs they are also a true Church And for Examples wee may be sufficiently furnished out of the Scriptures Israel when the people did worship the calfe Exod. 32. 1. when they did burne incense to the brazen serpent 2 King 18. 4. when they bowed to Baal 1 King 19. 18. when they burned incense to other Gods 2 Kings 22. 17. yea when the Prophets did condemne them as the seed of a whore Esa 57. 3. as wicked wretched miscreants who had forsaken God Ier. 13 11. and were of him forsaken Isaiah 60. 15. Even then retaining the Law of God and the holy seale of his covenant they continued to be his visible Church As Hookers Politic lib. 3. sect 1. profound Hooker speaketh acutely God had his Church amongst them not onely because he had there thousands which did never bow their knees to Baal but whose knees were bowed to Baal even they also were the visible Church of God 1 King 18. 21. The Corinthians denyed the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 19. The Galathians admitted Circumcision Gal. 5. 2. Thyatira suffered Iezabel Rev. 2. 20. Laodicea was luke-warme Rev. 3. 16. Philadelphia had but a little strength Rev. 3. 8. and Sardi was quite dead Rev. 3. 1. yet were all these Churches Nay it is the Temple of God though the Throne of Antichrist be pearched therein 2 Thes 2. 4. Wee cannot say more of Rome than what is here said of these that it is an Adulterous Idolatrous feâ—ble Lukewarme dead generation of temporizing Antichristian miscreants Nor can we say lesse of Rome than the holy Scripture doth here speake of these Notwithstanding all this because they retaine the Law of God and the seale of the covenant because they retaine the Scripture and the Sacraments Therefore The Church of Rome is a true Church of God The Restrictions and Objections are of neere affinity unà ergo fidelià I will handle them joyntly But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this assertion doth place mee as a souldier betwixt two armies ready to give the onset Our friends force me out of their ranks fearing me to be a Neuter or rather a favourer of the Enemie The Enemie advanceth himselfe to turne my weapons upon our side Some Protestants say I yeeld the enemy too much and that which is too false also Is it possible say they that the selfe same man should belong both to the Synagogue of Satan and to the Church of Iesus Christ That Rome should bee both Babel and the church Sub Ajacis clypeo I will sheild Hooker Polit. lib. 3. sect 1. my selfe under the arme of that old souldier of Iesus Christ who like an old souldier was never sufficiently rewarded for his service to our true English and truely Militant Church It is not possible that they should belong unto that church which is the mysticall body of Christ because that body consisteth of none but true Israelits true sonnes of Abraham true Saints and servants of God Howbeit of the visible body and Church of Iesus Christ these may be and oftentimes are in regard of the maine parts of their outward Profession who in regard of their inward disposition of mind yea of externall conversation yea of some parts of their very profession are most worthily hatefull in the sight of God himselfe and in the eyes of the sounder part of the visible Church most execrable To his words let mee adde one They thinke that my assertion doth put weapons into the hands of our Adversaries but I know that their contradiction doth plucke
the strongest weapon out of the hands of our owne side For it must follow inevitably If Rome be no church then is the Pope no Antichrist Because the text doth teach us that Antichrist must sit in the Temple of God The Papists advance on the other side as if they apprehended some great advantage by this assertion as if by yeelding them to be a true Church we must submit our selves to bee schismatickes Bellarmine speaketh plainly if Bell. de Poâ—â— Rom. lib. 3. ca. 13. the Protestants coÌ„fesse that our church is a true church then must they yeeld their church to be schismaticall because they have separated from us But I Smith more rhetorically At Rich. Smitâ—â—us de authoâ—e Protestanticâ— Religionis lib. 1. cap. 2. sect 8. â— incredibileâ—â— hominum impietatem ut qui se Christianos profitentur audeant repudiare eam ecclesiam quam fatentur esse adhuc in soedere Dei And againe Atque â— prodigiosam caecitateÌ„ ut non videant quod dum fatentur Romanam Ecclesiam esse ecclesiam Dei sponsam Christi fatentur suam esse synagogam Antichristi scortuÌ„ satanae That is O incredible wickednesse that those who professe themselves to bee Christians will forsake them whom they confesse to bee the Church of Christ O incomparable blindnesse that they see not that by granting the Roman church to be the church of God and the spouse of Christ they yeeld themselves the reformed church to be the synagogue of Antichrist and strumpet of satan And the whole Army of the Papists swarme after their Leaders in this pursuite presuming that we must either fly or yeeld if we give them this ground that the church of Rome is a true Church and thence are they ready to cry Victoria At ne sit Encomium ante victoriam let not Bell. de dâ— Eccles milit cap. 4. sect Resp variâ—â— him boast who putteth on his armour as hee may who doth put it off To Bellarmine I shape an answer in his owne syllables wee affirme the Romane to be a true church not simpliciter but secundum quid not absolutely but in some respect in which respect wee doe separate from it and not simply Simple therefore is their reason thence to inferre therefore our separation is schismaticall To D. Smith and all the rest we say we doe grant them all those glorious titles but as so many testimonies to witnesse their gracelesse wickednesse so to abuse them We grant the Romane to be a true Church to be the Church of Christ to be the spouse of Christ and to be of the body of Christ We grant it to hold the foundation of faith and to have the scriptures sacraments c. And what of all this Reatus impij est nomen pium saith one out of Salvianus godly Names doe not justifie godlesse Hooker in Hab. 1. 4. nu 7. men We are but upbraided when we are honoured with names and Titles when our lives and manners are not sutable Iudas was an Apostle and a Traitour too but the more wretched Traitour because an Apostle And so the Pope is saith he The Vicar of Christ and an Enemie but the more dangerous and devillish Enemie because the Vicar of Christ In particular Wee grant that Rome is a true Church but in regard of the verity of the Essence not of the Doctrine thereof this is corrupt and full of pollutions Wee grant it to be the Church of God so much also wee grant to the Iacobites Muscovites Arians and Nestorians Yet I suppose that none dare hazard themselves to live in these congregations who have any care of their safety soules health or eternall salvation We grant Rome to be the spouse of Christ but quoad externam Professionem not quoad internam fidem in respect of their outward profession not of their inward affections no nor of their actions neither We grant that they are of the Body of Christ his body visible noâ— mysticall And so may a Legion of Devils also incarnated bee if they will professe the name of Christ and be admitted by the baptisme of Christ We grant they hold the Foundation but is there nothing dangerous nor damnable but onely to overthrow the Foundation of Christianity Have they noâ— besides dangerous and damnable Errours Heresies and Idolatries Moreover they Answer to Fisheâ—â— Relation of tâ—â— 3. 〈…〉 â—8 have Errours which doe weaken the Foundation saith the learned Author of that laboured appendix They have Errours fundamentall reductivè by a reducement if they which imbrace them doe pertinaciously adhere unto them and have sufficient meanes to be better Deane White Ibid. pag. 71. informed Saith the Champion of our Church And sinally their errors as that of Iustification Hooker in Hab. 1. 4. doe overthrow the very foundation by consequent saith impartiall Hooker Lastly they have the Scriptures and Sacraments lawfull Ministers and a lawfull Ministry c. actually in themselves and effectually unto others but not so to themselves Notum est Cives malae civitatis administrare quosdam actus bonae civitatis it is manifest that the Burgers of Babylon doe administer some functions of Hierusalem and with effect too They can hew out an Arke for others though themselves be drowned in the Deluge And for all this is it not lawfull to separate from Rome Wee accompted our common Citizens frantick because they reviled and railed at such as fled from the infection Certainly the Papists are possessed with a more spirituall phrensie and infection At â— incredibilem impietatem Atque ô prodigiosum caecitatem O incredible wickednesse and incomparable blindnesse that those who see the Scriptures should be so seduced by strong delusion to beleeve a Lye That those who say they are the Church of God and spouse of Christ should be indeed the Synagogue of Antichrist and the strumpet of Satan I conclude and let any Papist brag or any others upbraid what they can collect out of this conclusion The Church of Rome is a true Church And the Pope of Rome is that false Antichrist who doth erect his seat therein by most foule usurpation He shall sit in the Temple saith my Text. I have done this Digression this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which it may bee some will condemne as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as an overlong and impertinent Parenthesis But I conceive it very needfull if it were onely for this to imply an Item to our owne Zelotes that transported with a strong affection and weake judgement they doe not thrust the Papists further from Christ when as Christ knoweth they are too farre off from him already I returne to the remnant of my Text yee have heard the explication what this Temple is even the very Church of Christ Now shall yee heare the Application Where this Temple is We use plaine words in a plaine cause the Church of Rome is the seat of Antichrist Now the Church of Rome hath two parts commonly called
a vessell of mans blood Satia inquit te sanguine quem sitisti cujusque semper insatiabilis fuâ—stâ— Cyrus was insatiable in his appetite to blood Wee may suppose the same of that whole bloody generation of the old Babylon Neither is the New Babylon free from that dropsie She is drunke with the blood of Saints Revel 17. 6. and if we looke on Calabria Languedoc Provence Bohemia Hungary and Spaine where the Protestants have beene persecuted and whence they have beene extirpated our eyes without the interposition of any Red Glasse or other artificiall medium would apprehend those Countries to bee like the Aegyptian Rivers Exod. 7. 21. all blood If we review the Resolutions of the Spanish and English and the Executions of the French the Armada Powder plot and miserable Massacres But of all if the Inquisition which is now like the sonne of Croesus tongue-tyed would utter Aâ—â— Gâ—llius lib. 5. cap 9. how many Lambes have had their throats cut in that secret shambles We should see so much that it would compell us to speake as much to Rome as Zipporah did to Moses Exod. 4. 25. Surely a bloody citie art thou unto us and therein also like old Babylon But what need we contend for arguments when our adversaries grant the conclusion That Rome is Babylon and so consequently the seat of Antichrist it is plainly confessed by many of the most learned Papists This is the Suarez Apol. lib. 5. 6. 7. nu 8. assertion of Victorinus Andreas Ribera Viegas also Bellarmine de Sum. Pontif. lib. 3. ca. 13. Sanders de Vis Monarchia lib. 8. cap. 8. and many others Roma à Iohanne saepius vâ—catur Babylon saith Lessius Si aeutem saith Suarez If Lessius de Ant-Dem 12. Suarez Apol. lib. 5. c. 7. nu 8. Malvenda de Antich lib. 4. c. 4 by Babylon we understand any particular Citie it can be no other than Rome Nay saith Malvenda since S. Iohn Revel 17. 18. doth call Babylon the Great Citie which reigneth over the Kings of the earth this saith he is as plaine as if one should veluti digitâ— Romanam Vrbem demonstrare with his very finger point at the citie of Rome Thus farre then we concurre that Rome in the Revelation is meant by Babylon and that Rome or Babylon is the seat of Antichrist But they qualifie this grant with a distinction Suarez Apolog. lib. 5. 6. 7. nu 8. It may be say they Rome is Babylon and shall be the seat of Antichrist but this must be understood de Roma ethnica non religiosa of Rome under the Pagans and not of Rome under the Pope A childish evasion not worthie a consutation It must bee Rome Christian as it appeareth from a double departure The first of Babylon from the Church Revel 17. 1. Babylon is called an Whore which doth presuppose Apostasie and an Apostasie is peculiar unto Christians no way pertaining unto Pagans The second departure is of the Church from Babylon Rev. 18. 4. Exite Come out of her my people Now wee know that many of Gods people did remaine in old Rome who would have made some scruple to reside in Babylon Againe S. Paul saith that the Temple of God is the seat of Antichrist But Rome Heathen is not the Temple of God Therefore Rome Heathen is not Babylon or the seat of Antichrist Let us try this distinction a little further and we shall discover it to be meere drosse Thus we object Rome is Babylon or the seat of Antichrist They grant it but distinguish betwixt Rome Heathen and Christian As if they should say Indeed Rome is the seat of Antichrist but Rome as it was or shall be under the Pagans and not as it is under the Pope So we dispute of the Place and they distinguish of the Time whereby they yeeld the Cause that in regard of the Place Rome is the Seat of Antichrist But for the Time that is another property which I will handle in another place For this it is sufficient that Rome is the place of Antichrist Since therefore Rome doth stand on seven hills since it did reigne over the Kings of the earth since it is aptly resembled to old Babylon and since it doth usurpe the Temple of God claiming it selfe to be the Principall yea the whole Church of Christ I conclude Rome is Babylon the City the Court and Seat of Antichrist And is Rome Babylon Now me thinkes I heare that voice from heaven Revel â—8 4. Come out of her my people that yee be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receive not of her plagues Babylon will bring sinne to your soules plagues to your bodies perdition unto both Let us therefore come out of Babylon let us therefore keâ—pe out of Babylon Saint Iohn did runne out of the bath from Cerynthus for feare hee should have beene buried in it And Lot was haled out of Sodome for feare he should have beene burned with it But Babel is worse than Cerynthus his bath worse than Sodome we shall be burned we shall be buried in destruction if once we be bewitched with that Babylonish sorcery Popery Yea the seat of Babell is like the Furnace of Babell it will destroy those who come but neare it And Popery is like a Whirle-poole it will swallow those who come but within the brinke thereof Let us therefore Come out of Babylon and keepe us farre from the deceits of Poperie I say not Trade not with them Eate not with them Companie not with them I say not this yet Modicum non nocet Si non sumatur A little Acquaintance with Popish People will doe little harme if wee entertaine no acquaintance with any Papists at all This I say Beware of Babylon and her papisticall instruments Keepe your Children from them keepe your Servants from them keepe your Persons from them But above all keepe your Hearts and Affections from them Now the God of Hierusalem keepe you from the Man of Babylon â— that he may never prevaile upon your Persons upon your Friends upon your Children upon your Servants nor upon any thing which appertaineth unto you Amen SERMON VIII 2 THESS 2. 3 4. Who exalteth himselfe above all that is called God or that is worshipped Antichrist shall not exalt himselfe above the true God The Pope doth and above all that is worshipped The Popes Ambition The Pope exalteth himselfe above Kings Above the Emperours Papists are Traitors THis branch of this verse containeth the first property of Antichrist concerning the exposition wherof there is a great breach betwixt us and the Papists 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est Bellarm. Apolog cap. 9. extollit se Antichristus supra omnem Deum qui dicitur Deus sive per essentiam sive per participationem sive falsum sive verum saith Bellarmine That is Antichrist shall exalt himselfe above all that is called God either by Essence or by Participation be he a true or a false god
promoting the Papacy when he laid claime to the double power both Ecclesiasticall and Temporall In insinuation whereof at his solemne Iubilie one day hee appeared unto the people in his Pontisicalibus or Popelike apparell but the next attired like the Emperour And finally more solemnly and arrogantly Extra Tit de majoritate minor obedientia C. unam Sanct. Ecclesiaâ—â— subesse Romano Pontifici omni humanae creaturae declaramus dicimus desinimus pronunciamus omnino esse de necessitate salutis he pronounceth it as his definitive sentence that No creature can be saved who is not subject to the Clementin unica de jurament Pope Anno 1325 Iohn 22 or 23 did not desire that the light which he added to the Popish blasphemous usurpations should bee put under a bushell when hee made his additions to the Decretalls and in his Extravagants or Constitutions wherein he claimeth authority superior to the Emperour and little inferiour unto God All these particular Popes have proclaimed themselves to be Antichrist and all the Papists in their generall popish Councill of Constance cry Concil Const Sess 13. Amen Etiamsi Christus instituerit administraverit sub utraque specie Sacramentum Although Christ did institute and administer the supper of the Lord in Bread and Wine Nonobstante Notwithstanding Pro lege habenda sit The Church of Rome doth command it as a Law that no Lay man shall receive it but in one kind onely Thus about the fourteene hundredth yeare of the Lord did the Man of sinne who sate in the Temple exalt himselfe to the top of the Temple Afterwards Pius the second and other active Popes did adde as it were certaine scaffolds to raise their Monarchy a little higher Especially that Pius plotted how to Epist Pij 2. ad Princ. Turcarum anno 1532. bring the Turkes also under the Popes authoritie To which purpose he presented their Emperour Mahomet with a large laboured learned letter but the barbarous Prince was not capable of such a transcendent mystery of Christianity His predecessor Eugenius the fourth attempted a little lesse and atchieved a little more when anno 1438 at the Florentine Pless Myst progress 62. Concil Florent Sess ult Synode he enforced Ioseph Patriarch of Constantinople to kisse his feet and enticed Palaeolagus the Emperour with some few Greeke Bishops to acknowledge the Pope to be the Head of the universall Church The deniall whereof Pope Pius made the maine cause of the irreconciliable Epist Pij 2. ad Princ. Turcar. Hist Papatus cap. 7. schisme betweene the Graecian and the Romane Churches The memoriall whereof I conjecture to bee the cause of that triumphant posture which the Popes to this day usurpe in their Chappell setting their feet on the brasse picture of the Constantinopolitane Patriarch But in the 1500 yeare and time of Leo the tenth the Papacy was mounted up to the pinacle of the Temple Then was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the uttermost of their growth and highest pitch of all the Papall exaltation as may appeare by these particulars Then it was disputed in his Schooles An Papa possit abrogare quod scriptis Apostolicis traditum Erasmus in 1 Tim. 1. sit Whether the Pope could abrogate what was decreed by the Apostles An posset statuere quod pugnet cum doctrina Evangelica Whether the Pope can command what is contrary to the Gospell An possit novum articulum sidei condere Whether he can make a new article of faith whether hee had equall power with or a greater than Peter Whether he can command the Angells to dissolve Purgatorie and whether he were a pure man or participated of two Natures like Christ Then was it preached before him Psal 72. 11. Concil Lateran Sess 9. Omnes Reges terrae adorabunt cum inservient ei all Kings shall fall downe before him all Nations shall doe him service And that hee was Leo detribu Iudae the Lyon of the tribe of Iuda Concil â—ater Sess â— Saciar Cer. lib. 1 sect 1. c. â— Lib. 1 sect 1. c. 4 Lib. 1 sect 2. c. 3. Lib. 1. sect 3. c. 3. Lib. 1. sect 5 c. 1. â— Lib 1. sect 6. c. 3. Lib. 1. sect 7. c. 6 Then was that Synopsis of Blasphemies dedicated to him the Booke of Ceremonies wherein he is termed the Prince of all Christians the governour Vrbis Orbis of the whole world that de facto the Emperour must hold his stirrup and Kings carry him on their shoulders that Emperours and Kings must wait at his Table that the Emperor must sweare fealty unto him that Emperours and Kings must kisse his feet that hee can give a full indulgence for all mens sinnes that Dominabitur à mari usque ad mare à slumine usque ad terminos orbis that is His dominion shall be from one sea to another and from the floud unto the worlds end which was spoken of Christ Psal 72. 8. and that Omnis potestas mihi data est All power is given to me on earth and in heaven which was spoken by Christ Mat. 28. 18. and so it proceedeth in like senselesse endlesse Blasphemies Then was it concluded for him by a Councill that of Lateran Papam esse Ecclesia Whitaker contr Bell. Contr. 4. Quaest 5. generali Concilio majorem That the Pope is greater than a Generall Councill or than the whole Church And that we may collect out of the abundance of what hearts these mouths did speake Then it was said of him that it should Pless Myst Progress 65. Pless Myst Opposit 68. be said by him that the Gospell of Christ was a Fable nullum esse Deum secredidisse and that he did beleeve that there was no God Let now any incredulous English Protestant who doth deride it as an incredible paradoxe to affirme that the Pope is Antichrist let any such imagine how their imaginary Antichrist can say and doe more Antichristianly than this man And then will I revoke this assertion which I yet apprehend to be an incontroulable truth The Pope is Antichrist but personally Leo decimus was Decumanus Antichristus In the yeare 1500 hee attained to the pitch of Antichristianity above all other Since that time the Papacy hath beene somewhat eclipsed in the lustre thereof yet so as Antichrist appeareth through his actions to this day as the Sunne doth through a thinne Trent Hist lib. 2. pag. 260. cloud at noone day An hundred yeares since the prerogative of Antichrist was nobly established when their last and great Councill of Trent was transacted with these two cautions Proponentibus Legatis salva semper authoritate Ecclesiae Apostolicae that nothing might be propounded but by the Popes Legates and nothing concluded against the Popes authority Whereby that great Councill was made but an engine to fortifie their Papall greatnesse Much about that time the Pope imitating the magnificence of his Father who would have
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
Iustin Hist l. 36. which Galene never dreamed of mentioned by Saint Paul 1 Corinth 7 9 and experienced by Saint Hierome in his Epistle to Eustochium It is better to marry then to burne said Saint Paul and Saint Hierome saith that hee knew some who could not drive out the Devill by Hieron ad Eust fasting and prayer Pallebant ora jejuniis mens desiderijs aestuabant in frigido corpore Their countenances were wanne with Fasting and yet their thoughts burne through Concupiscence in a cold body The Disease then is Burning and the medicine marrying Now for one infected with that Disease to vow not to marry is as if a sick man should sweare to take no Physicke which it may bee in some would bee censured for Phrenensie at the least for folly Next the Lording Superiours who shall inforce this restraint by Law doe put a sunder those whom God hath joyned together Matth. 19. 6. which is the act of Antichrist through the working of Satan here called Doctrina Daemoniorum the doctrine of the Devils The meanes are thus Mysticall the motives no lesse marvellous powerfully perswasive unto single life There are two Pillars of the Papasie both built on this one ground the greatnesse and richnesse thereof are the issue of this inhibition of their Clergy to marry It was Timons apophthegme duo esse maloruÌ„ elementa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the concupiscence of Greatnesse and Richnesse were the two Elements causes or principles of wickednesse I am sure that Forbidding of Priests marriage is the element and aliment of these and these of the Papacy 1. Hundreds and thousands yea hundred thousands of people throughout Christendome are incorporated into the Pope their Father because the Pope forbiddeth them to have Wives and Children Children are Pignora Pledges both Domesticall of love betwixt the Husband and the Wife and also Politicall of Loyalty from the Subject to their Soveraigne This bond inhibition of marriage hath Cancelled And therefore so many so many thousands in every Kingdome acknowledge themselves obliged to none but to the Pope And which is yet more marvellous miraculous whereas all other Parents multiply by marriage their Art as it were in despight of Nature hath begotten many Children to the Father of Rome by inhibition of marriage And the Effect thereof want of Legitimate Children maketh them the more firme to the Pope and the more fierce against his enemies As Hellanicus attempted that famous conspiracy against Aristotimus Iustin hist l. 26. Prince of Epyrus Quia Senex liberis orbus ut qui nec aetatis nec pignor is respectu timeret Because he was old and had no Children so that neither respect of his Life nor of the pledges of his posterity could daunt him Thus inhibiting of Marriage ingendreth a multitude of Subiects and Servants to the Pope This is his Greatnesse one Pâ—ller of the Papacy 2. Their Riches also are increased as in all Mysteries by an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an inversion of ordinary actions Ordinarily the Parents are made Tenants for life that the Children may be assured of their Inheritance Here by an extraordinary skill the Children are made Tenants for Life that the Father may be assured of the Inheritance That the Riches of Rome may not be alienated the Romish Clergie are forbidden Mariage which may be a Cause thereof They know by experience that every Nephew to the Pope and other some such Anomalons and Anonimals have gleaned something from the See of Rome Therefore the Naturall Children of so many Popish Church-men would carry away Sheaves from that Church which now is like the rich mans Barne Luke 12. 18. It is not great enough to receive their goods But this they have prudently prevented by their Prohibition of Priests Marriage Some other pettie pretty quillets accrue to the Papacie by their Papall nuptiall Inhibitions even to the Laity also Concerning them therefore there are invented and pretended infinite obstacles of affinity and consanguinite of kindred Legall and Spirituall of times and seasons Lent and Ember c. All which rubs must be removed out of the way by the hand of the Popes Indulgence out of which their Indulgent Father sucketh no small advantage Thus the Forbidding of marriage is set on worke by Mammon and Belial for their Riches and Greatnesse Great cause therefore have I to call it Operatio Satanae Doctrina Daemoniorum The working of Sathan and the Doctrine of Devils Concerning their Fasting they have the same Meanes and Motives for that also For Fasting say they wee have Moses Elias Iohn and Iesus himselfe our Captaines and so long as we are Militant all Christians must fight under their Banner trained up in the Schoole of that Discipline It is true the Practice of Fasting wee acknowledge from these precedents but the inforcing thereof came not from their examples Saint Paul after them Rom. 13. 4. saith Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth And Saint Aug. Ep. 86. Casulano Augustine after him doth urge and alleage the same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christian mutual moderation the same sentence in the same words though in another language Qui manducat non manducantem non spernet qui non manducat maÌ„ducantem ne judicet That impious imperious interdiction came not from our Captaine but from our Adversary It is Doctrina Daemoniorum the Doctrine of Devils Moved to this notwithstanding is the Church of Rome both by their gaine and Glory All Flesh and such like being inhibited some people will prevaricate either of infirmity or curiositie then Confession or Absolution must succeed Whereby I conceive their Church-Coffers will not be much the emptier But their Glory is much inlarged by this pretence of Fasting Iejuniorum sudoribus laus importuna ungit Cyp. de Christi Iejunio pungit said Saint Cyprian in a sense sutable to this phrase that Papists vaunt their Fasting as a grace to them and disgrace to the Protestants Vrbicus Ventricolas tanquam magnus Iejunator Aug. Epist 86. Câ—sulaâ—o accusat Thus Saint Augustine spake of him and wee of them their emptie stomacks preach us to be Belly-Gods And they make it a Royard Poâ—â—il in dic 〈◊〉 threefold branch of their mortification Quod peccamus in Deum per Orationem quod in Proximum per Eleemosynam quod in Nos ipsos per jejunium emendetur That is what offence we commit against God we must correct by Prayer if we wrong Man we must revoke it by Almes and if we stray from our owne temperance or Innocence we must recall our soules by fasting Let them practise perswade and preach such a fasting we will commend it and them also But their Supposition and Imposition that they suppose this fasting as meritorious in the sight of God and impose it as necessary on the Conscience of
mine own I propose this method Observe here two things two workes the first of the Creator obduration God shall send them The second of the Creature obsirmation strong delusion In the last I will shew two points the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. That men are deluded 2. By what men are deluded The latter of these must involve the co-operation of the Agents and of the Patients the Activity of the Deluders and the Passibility Capacity or rather receptivitie and proclivity of the deluded Of these ordine retrogrado of the last first To which I will preface Precedents of some who have beene deluded in the same nature though not in the same Measure And as a Preface to that Preface I will premise the signification of the phrase what is meant by these words a strong delusion Strong delusion in the originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The phrase is like it selfe very Energeticall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Deceit or Cousenage and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is one who doth professe an Art of cousening men etiam spectantibus although they looke on them saith Eustathius upon Homer Let then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 passe for a Iugler and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Iugling But Antichristianisme is not onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sleight light Legerdemaine it is moreover 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an actuall and effectuall imposture Againe it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Genetive used in stead of the Adjective is very significative as Vir dolorum a man of griefe that is a most grieved man So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the strength of delusion that is a most strong delusion Yea it addeth to the strength of delusion that the word strength is reiterated in the ninth verse is mentioned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the strength of Satan in this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the strength of delusion So that what strength of delusion can be either hatched by Satan or acted by man this shall be al imploied to plead for Antichrist Excellently expressed by Occumenius on this text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oecumen in 2 â—hâ—s 2. 11. that is Saint Paul doth call Antichristianisme the strength of delusion that is a strong delusion and potent to deceive A delusion to make men desperately obstinate according to the Greeke proverbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 You shall not perswade them although you doe perswade them And according to Iob 21. 14. Recede a nobis viam scientiarum tuarum nolumus Depart from us for we will not the knowledge of thy wayes In a word men shall be so perswaded by Antichrist that all the world shall never perswade them from Antichrist that they will remaine confident Obstinate and immoveable in their errous This is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their strong delusion These are strong delusions of Antichristians that they may not seem strange delusioÌ„s to Christians impossible incredible I might alleage many precedents to avouch them Take a taste of a few onely Amongst the Hebrews in the old testament 2 Chron. 30. 5. a Decree was made and proclaimed from Dan to Bersheba that the people of Israel should repaire to the Passeover Here was the command of their King that they should doe what they themselves knew to be the CommaÌ„dement of their God And although they professed themselves to be the Church of God yet being become Obstinate neither their King nor their God could perswade them Verse 10. As the Posts passed through Ephraim Manasses Zebulun the people laughed them to scorne and mocked them In the new Testament all the Oracles and Miracles which Christ spake and did could not perswade the Iewes to receive their owne Messias whom they looked for Matth. 27. 42. they said Let him come downe from the Crosse and we will beleeve him but their hearts knew that their tongues even then lyed For Matth. 28. 15. they themselves knew that he did more then come downe from the Crosse Hee came up from the Grave and yet they lay buryed in their obstinatenesse and gave money to disgrace him and to damne themselves This I thinke was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as I take it a strong delusion Amongst the Graecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignatius ep 5. that is They are possessed with ignorance because of their affected madnesse saith Ignatius And Clemens complaineth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem Alex. Protrept that ignorance and obstinatenesse had transformed some into stones so hard were they against the impression of the Truth Amongst the Latines Saint Ambrose accuseth some perverse Ambr. in 4. ad Ephes people who were wont Mala quae noverint defendere ne viderentur cedere to defend points which they knew to bee false lest they should appeare to be put to the worst Cyprian telleth Cypr. ad Demet. Sect. 1. damned Demetrianus to his teeth Facilius est turbidi maris concitos fluctus clamoribus retundere quam tuam rabiem tractatibus coercere that it was easier to hallow to the tempestuous Sea than to appease his siercenesse with writing bookes Lactantius hath the like Si solem quidem in manibus gestemus sidem non commodabunt Lactant. lib. 7. cap. 1. ei doctrinae in wee could carry the Sunne in our hands yet would they not vouchsase credence to the apparent Truth To proceed further amongst the Africans Saint Augustine administreth a pregnant example Aug. ep 162. The Donatists did accuse Caecilianus unto the Emperor Constantine The Emperour assigned Meltiades Bishop of Rome and some other Bishops to the disquisition of that cause by whoÌ„ Caecilianus was acquitted The Donatists appealed again from them to the Emperor were again condemned at Orleance by a Commission appointed by the Emperour Notwithstanding they appealed to the Emperour the third time who hearing their cause in his owne person and with singular diligence concluded Caecilianus to be most innocent condemned his adversaries for most perverse people For all this the Donatists persisted in their Schisme Nay he relateth yet a stranger obstinatnesse Aug. Epist 50. Bonif. then this Divers of the Donatists were so strongly deluded that they did kill themselves because they would not bee constrained to goe to Church Among the Iewes in the reigne of Theodosius Pappus Hist pag. 58. the Emperour there was an Imposter in Crete who perswaded them that hee was Moses sent thither to lead them into their Countrey through the Sea Whereupon hee brought the multitude vnto a Rock commanding them to cast themselves into the Sea with a generall warrantize against all danger and drowning Leape some did and drowned they were only the Marriners then there-by repressed the madnesse of the maine multitude But the Imposter conveyed himselfe out of the company And finally for the Mahometans at this day they terme themselves Ishlami that is men of one Mind Living in their Idolatrie as the Disciples did in the place of Prayer Act 2. 1.
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all in one minde impossible to bee reclaimed All these make good this phrase of my Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were besotted with a strong delusion I have alreadie inverted my Methode I must moreover alter it againe that I may proceed in order as the points offer themselves naturallie to bee considered The next point is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That the Papists are the Deluded which indeed is a probable conjecture if not a plaine Demonstration that they are the limmes of Antichrist Bestiae character intelligi potest obstinata malitia Aquine saith that by the marke of the Beast wee may understand Obstinate malice Aquin. Su. 3. qu. 63. Art 3 ad 3. But none under heaven are more Obstinate for their side nor more malitious against their gainesayers that the Papists And Aquine saith this is the marke of the Beast let the Papists mark this This also doth S. Paul prophecie of the Papists in the 8 verse Marke saith our blessed Bishop Iewell marke S. Paul saith Antichrist Iewell in 2 Thes 2. 12. shall be Consumed not Converted From whence wee may conceive what hope there is of Reconciliation and Reformation from Rome which is the censure not of that Bishop alone but of all the Church of England The errour of Poperie Homilie of good works part 1 was so spred abroad that not onely the unlearned people but also the Priests and teachers partlie by glory and Covetousnes were corrupted and partlie by Blindnesse deceived with the same abominations that as Ahab having but one Elias but one Teacher to perswade him to the Truth of God but 450. false prophets to perswade him unto Baal So of the Papists both Priest and people are strongly deluded with Idolatrie This is the judgement of Our Church concerning their Church Wee may say of all Papists of our English Papists especiallie in them is fulfilled that fearefull prophecie Reuel 17. 6. They are made Drunke with the Golden cup of the whore of Babylon Idolatrie is spirituall whoredome And it is a Catholike grant that Rome is the Head of Image Adoration Concedimus Catholicae Suarez Apolog lib. 5. cap 18 num 20. doctrinae de Cultu Adoratione Imaginum Ecclesiam Romanā caput esse saith Suarez Whence wee inferre Therefore it is the Fountaine of Spirituall whoredome Againe the Pope doth not Sext. Decret lib 3. tit 23. de Jmmunitate Ecclesiae onelie terme himselfe the Head Caput but sponsum ecclesiae the Husband of the Church Which thing alone is a sufficient cause to cal Rome meretricem Babylonicam the whore of Babylon because the Romanists do teach that there is another Husband of their Church besides Christ the Pope By which inchanting Circe the ordinarie Papists are so bewitched that they take themselves to bee the Best of men the onely Catholikes when as indeed they are verie Homer Odys lib. 10. Beasts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made Drunk with palpable Idolatrie But so drunk and so stronglie deluded that wee may ignatius Epist 5 speake to the Romist that phrase of the greek father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lactantius may Lactantius lib. 7. cap 1. translate that of Ignatius into Latine ij sunt homines qui contra veritatem clausis oculis quoquo modo latrant these are the men who shut their eyes and then open their mouths in any manner to bark against the Truth Should wee in the yearning bleeding bowells of Christian compassion by Sermons Bookes or Arguments indeavour to draw them from Idolatrie Wee know our intertainement 2 Chron. 30. 10. They will laugh us to scorne mock the messengers of God and despise his words and misuse his Prophets Now this as I take it I may terme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a strong delusion But that you may not suspect that I delude you by faining this Popish delusion when as they haue no such stupide obstinatnesse I will both referre the reader to the large and laboured treatise of Dr. Beard on this point And also render him present satisfaction by a present briefe catalogue of their owne Confessions Dr Beard of Antichrist part 3. Lessius de Antich part 1. Dem. 11. From Boniface to Vitaliane for the space of three score yeers the Church of Rome was wofully perplexed with a perpetuated misery by Plagues Famines Inundations Earthquakes and the Invasion of the Persians wherein fourescore and ten thousand Christians were slaine at one time by Seditions in the East the Heresie of the Monothelites and the Captiuitie and banishment of St. Martine the sacrilegious robbing of the Church Treasurie which had beene manie yeeres a gathering Finally in the time of Vitaliane Rome it selfe was Ransacked and the greeke Emperour tooke away all the Ornaments thereof Where note that the Beginning of the miserie of the Church of Rome was about the beginning of that arrogant usurpation of that title of Oecumenicall Bishop Well how was that Boniface moved with this Bonerges This Thundering Preaching by those Destroying miseries which smote them as thick and swift as Lightning prevailed not with the Pope to lay aside the pontificall title of Vniversall Bishop But to shew of whom St. Iohn did prophecie Rev. 9. 20. The Pope by these plagues repented not yet But from Pride they proceeded to superstition Boniface beganne with the Vniversall title and Vitaliane added unto it the Vniversall Latine Service And all these Plagues which went betweene for 60 yeeres of Fire Famine Blood c. could preach neither Penitence for the first nor Prevention for the later But still they persisted in their pride and superstition This I suppose is somewhat semblable to the phrase in my text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Strong Delusiō The particular profession of particular Philip. Nicolaus de Antich c. 15. papists is yet more pregnant thus writeth Luther of his Popish Devotion before hee was Converted The Authoritie of the Pope sayd hee was so potent with me that I thought it a crime demeriting Damnation vel in minimo dissentire ab illo to differ from him euen in the least thing And that conceit carryed me so farre that I esteemed Iohn Husse to bee so cursed an Heretike vt vel de eo cogitare sceleratum ducerem that I held it to bee a sinne but to thinke of him And in defence of the Popes authoritie I my selfe would haue carryed fire and faggots to have burned that heretike and therein I did perswade my selfe me summum praestare obsequium Deo that I shold have done God singular seruice His passion might bee built on that Catholike position Nullus homo potest se asserere in veritate christianum aut esse Turrecre lib. 3. c. 30. in statu salutis qui subesse renuit Romano Pontifici that is no man can affirme that hee is a true christian or that hee is in the state of saluation if he refuse to bee subject to the Pope of Rome Neither is
delusion on the Christian Romanes who extinguish the light of grace Such as goe out of the way with the candle in their hand demerite to have the Candle put out and themselves to wander in unextricable darkenesse Since the Romanes Malvenda de Antich lib. 4. c. 4. doe bragge of themselves that Rome is the Arke to preserve Gods Oracles that in Rome the Gospell of Christ hath beene sealed with the blood of two Apostles seven and twenty Bishops and of three hundred thousand holy Martyrs Now that these Children of such fathers shall so degenerate and these Successours of such Predecessours shall so apostate that they transgresse the Commandements of God to observe the traditions of men that they advance the honor of their Church above their love to the Truth Is it not now Gods just judgment to cast them into the Armes of Antichrist and for this cause to send them strong delusion In a word you have the absolute accomplishment of this Prophecy Consider what the Church of Rome hath beene what it is and what Rom. 11. 33. it shall bee O altitudo Lord how unsearchable are thy judgments thy wayes past finding out To end but I must not end thus These judgements on them are for another end to cause Gods mercies unto us These things happened 1 Cor. 10. 11. to them for ensamples to admonish us upon whom the ends of world are come Wherefore Let our Church which standeth take heed that it doe not fall If the glorious Church of Rome did fall what may bee the fate of the Church of England which in old time was but an obscure part of that Body whereof the Romane Church was the most illustrious member Let us therefore consider and decline the cause of their obstinate Apostacy They did not love the Truth I would I could wipe away this blot from the face of our English people I feare I may pronounce that saying of Saint Augustine Aug. ep 121. concerning Africa Tanquam servus sciens voluntatem Domini sui non faciens multis vapulet The Church of England know their Masters Will but doe it not And therefore we deserve to bee beaten with many stripes and the Pope to gather the Rod. God may justly send on us strong delusion To which I may adde what Saint Augustine addeth in the same Epistle Attendunt quanta celeritate Evangelium praedicatur sed non attendunt quantá perversitate contemnitur that is we rejoyce because there is such plentifull preaching of the Word but wee doe not lament to behold the common contempt of the Word Require you an instance I neither flatter nor slander Clero Anglicano c. it is Campians scornefull exprobration The people of England saith hee love preaching but not their Preachers Gladly would I apprehend an Apology but the Truth must be confessed In England we have many Colossians the Word doth dwell plentiously amongst them Colos 3. 16. But very few Galatians who will give their eyes for their Pastors or that which they may spare somewhat better then their eyes And the ground of our reformed unkindnesse is the selfe-same of the Romish blindnesse custome Let not your Charity be offended at my Verity I suppose there be few Parishes through EnglaÌ„d but the Preacher if he be their Pastour and comformable then though his paines be never so great and his gaines never so small yet they thinke the phrase of Laban Genes 29. 26. will justifie their actions and Conscience in the sight of God and man Non est nostro loco consuetudinis it is our custome and it may not be broken Yet passe not your censure as if I did winch because I am galled as if a personall dislike did put mee into this passionate declamation No I thanke my God and my Parish too my Parish doth give me supplies for my labour in a poore Vicaridge But beloved this ought not to be done in Israel If men doe love the Treasure they cannot despise the Vessell although it bee earthen though their Pastours have their Personall infirmities And certainly this judgement of men shall not escape the judgements of GOD though they have custome to pleade for them I will not say with Saint Augustine Dabis impio Militi quod non dabis Sacerdoti that you take from your Preachers to treasure for souldiers I say not so the Bodie of Christendome hath bled enough already The Lord prevent future effusion for IESVS CHRIST his sake But I may tell you out of my Text Ideo mittet Deus operationem erroris for this cause God may send you strong delusion Those that will not bee perswaded by their English Preachers they may bee perverted by Popish Priests by strong delusions because indeed they doe not love the Truth It is the end of the Terme and may bee the end and Terme of our lives If I were like old Isaac Genes 27. 28. at my last end and to make my last Will and had but one Blessing to bequeath you my Beloved it should bee this blessing a blessed reciprocall affection betwixt the Pastors and people My heart could spend her last spirits in such a perswasion to leave this legacy of Love And blessed were I if I should so dye in the Lord For I should rest from my labour and that worke would follow me If it bee possible let the people and Pastours bee like Ionathan and David let them love one another as their owne soules If not so yet let them be like Abraham and Lot Let no strife bee amongst them for the Canaanites are in the Land the Papists will rejoyce and increase by our unkindnesse To stop their mouthes and to save our owne soules Let the Preachers feed the soules of the people and let the people feed the bodies of their Preachers both cheerefullie without grudging But I am a man not God I can speake to the eare not incline the heart that I must leave to the Lord. Only the Lord preserve us from a wicked custome and from all strong delusions SERMON XXIIII 2 THESS 2. 11. That they should beleeve a lye Popery supported by lyes The Primacy the Crosse â—opish lyes against the persons of Protestants Against Calvin Beza Luther B. King Q. Elizabeth Popish lyes against the profess on of Protestants Concerning the Sacraments our Government Preachers the Scriptures our Obedience to our King to our God Popish lyes concerning their Persecutions in England No Papist put to death for his Religion English Lawes against Papists THe verse containeth the passiue propertie or the punishment internall of those that imbrace Antichrist Wherein I have absolved two things I have shewed you an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one thing notable that they should bee seduced by strong delusion another admirable that they should bee so deluded as to beleeve a lye The admirable delusion is the subject of this Sermon Wherein two other things offer themselves to our admiration
And Sanders saith that in England Elizabeth did exercise the function of Priest in Preaching and teaching Master Sanders was Mr Slanders and Sand. de Visib Mon l 6 c. 4. Bellarmine a Iesuite to outface us with such a Brazen Brow and shining lye A fairer probability of which foule imputation wee can fasten on the Church of Rome A lay Prince at Sacra Cere l. 2 Sect. 1. c. 7 8. a publike Masse doth exercise the proper function of a Priest and hath the precept and presence of the Pope to warrant him The Emperour Frederick 3. before Paul 2. 1468. at Rome in a Surplice Hood Pluviali and habit of a Bishop did read the Lesson and a Sermon Homiliam Shew the shadow of such a Clerkly action in our Queene or King either Now you must know that we can throw the same Dirt in the faces of our Adversaries not as they have done to us by the hands of Bolsecus Coclaeus Sanders and Campian notorious Apostates and Traitors But by the hands of Petrarke Platina Bellarmine and Baronius their owne and approved Authors Neverthelesse I refraine from this retribution My God and my King command mee not to returne evill for evill and to suffer not to offer Personall reproaches And indeed the Truth of our cause will bee little the Whiter by unmasking the Aethiopian countenance of their blacke conversation I therefore passe the slanderers onely concerning the slandered concerning them all concerning her especially I must conclude in the phrase of the Angel to the Devill Iud. 9. Increpet te Dominus these are hellish lies and the Lord of Heaven rebuke them These slanders are uncharitable but yet they seeme somewhat tolerable because they take not all excuse from us Nowithstandtng these premises impartiall people might extenuate our guilt and say Gens mala religio bona though our Persons be bad yet our Profession is good But this have their Pamphlets painted out in such colours that if they said true wee had no colour but to confesse our Church the most execrable that ever professed CHRIST or ever prophaned Christianity by their profession What can bee said of those who have neither Sacrament nor Government neither Preachers nor Scriptures neither obedience to man nor obedience to God What can be said of such but that they bee Rebels Atheists and Pagans the shame and scumme of Christendome And such the Papists trumpet us Protestants to bee Their bookes are fraught with these forged Calumnies 1. As a Preface to these Malvenda proclaimeth Malv l. 2. c. 6. it that Multitudes of us turne to bee Turkes every day Would God wee had no more turned Papists than turne Turkes and then let them lye on to their satiety But for our Sacraments Nullum nullum non duo non vnum Christe Sancte O Christ the Protestants Camp Rat. 8. have no Sacraments not two not one not one Sacrament have they cryeth clamoureth Campian Furthermore their impudent imputations force faith on the prejudicate and credulous that we doe not only Heathenishly and prophanely reject the Sacraments in our owne Church but that wee damnably and diabolically prophane them in their Church where by force of Armes wee can make any intrusion The reformed in France say the Romish in Flanders in a furious impiety trampled Frar p. 56. the most holy body of Christ under their feet threw it into the water cast it into the fire and slabbed it with their weapons The Protestants in other Frar p. 58. places say other Papists like Hellish Harpies did disburthen their filthy paunches into the water consecrated for the holy Sacrament of Baptisme turned the sacred Fonts into nasty Close-stooles Pius 2. ep Morbisano I will answere these Papists in the phrase wherein a Pope did answere the Turke Corruptionem imprimis sacrarum literarum obijcitis hoc ei probandum fuerat qui sactum asserit nobis satis erit negare factuÌ„ That is You deeply declaim against our impioas rejection barbarous prophanation and beastly pollution of the blessed Sacraments The Papists who report it should prove it it is enough for the Protestants to deny it and to detest such desperate caluâ—nies 2. Secondly because they are like the Todestoole all head therefore they would perswade the world that we are like the Acephali no head an absolute Anarchie without any government That the Church of England is like the Common-wealth of Israel Iudges the last that there is no King amongst us but everie man doth that which seemeth right in his owne eyes Amongst the Protestants every private person is guided by his private spirit thus are we Less de Antich part 2. Deâ—â— â— charged by the Iesuite Lessius Conciliorum quidem authoritatem non admittitis and for the Councils ye admit not of their authoritie saith Eudaemon They presume that they are Eud. de Ant l. 1. sect 10. taught without the Ministery of the Church that dutifull considerate subject durst tell his Dut. Consid Cons 3. c. 1. Soveraigne so much in his dutifull considerations Lately one with a Gagge cryeth out with Gagge of the Gospell preface open mouth that wee preferre the private interpretation of a Cobler before Saint Chrysostome of a Baker before Saint Basil and of a Tinker before Tertullian Nay they charge us so to detest the Government of the Church that in detestation thereof wee hate the Governours of it both alive and dead Hence say they â—rar â—r Levan 1565. did the French Protestants at Lyons rake open the graves of those Saints and holy Bishops Irenaeus Pictavius and Hilary and after a scornefull abuse they burned their bodies to ashes 3. Our Preachers say they ordinarily are Eud. dâ— Antich l. 3. Stel. in Luk. c. 9. ordinary Cerdones and Sartores Tradesmen Handecrafts-men Coblers Taylors c. which they seeme to translate out of Harding Your Ministers Hard. â—ons Ap. 2â—9 bee Tinkers and â—apsters Fidlers and Pipers And another of our owne Countreymen Dut. Consid Cons 2â—1 doth imply that we have no at least use no Preachers He is so inspired that if you beleeve him he needeth no direction no further instruction Finally that they may rase the very foundation of our Church downe with it downe with it even to the ground with virulent lying tongues they have set their violent hands to the Pillars thereof reporting it for Champ. in Praef. Disâ—ns Sacrobosâ— de Invest Eccl. Christi c. 4. a Catholike certainty of our Primitive reformed Bishops that Iuell Sands Scory Horne Grindall c. were made Bishops or Consecrated in a Taverne by name at the signe of the Nags Head in Cheapside Where is the crediblenesse Kellison Repl. to Dr Sutcliff p. 31. of the cause or credit of the Authors Can malice imagine them so foolish to bee Consecrated in priuate when by publick allowance they had an Archbishop Parker of Canterburie of 25. â—â— 8. c. 20. their owne