and serve him that thereby they also may be advanced and domineer in their places by this means also they are made unnatural resolute and cruel to prosecute the Popes designs like the Turks Janizaries being kept from those relations which sweeten mens tempers and excite natural affection also having no wives and children to provide for they may more desperately ventuere their lives and their estates for the service of their Church Their Friars make a shew of great devotion renouncing the world begging alms of the people going in mean habit bare-footed some of them yet they get all they can from the people for Masses and prayers their Abbots many are Lords live splendidly in England they had above a third part of the land and that the best as was made appear to King Henry 8th but these wholly are at the Popes devotion of these he can raise Armies from them he can exact vast sums of money he can make strong parties in any Nation against their Prince he can turn people which way he pleases In a word his unmarried Clergy and Regulars make him a Monarch they are his Populus virorum intirely at his devotion having no posterity nor personal concerns to care for For if his Clergy had wives and children they must love them provide for them dispose of them in marriage and so be neighbourly oblige the people please their Princes and Governours contract affinities and so they would be concerned in the safety peace prosperity of the Nations and places they live in and would not be at the Popes beck on at his call upon all occasions Thus we see the whole design of Popery issueth in this That men should take their religion from the Pope and his Clergy that so they may rule as sole Lords both in spirituals and temporals We are next to enquire what it was that letted or hindred Antichrists appearing for a time He that letteth will lett c. The Apostle saith this mystery of iniquity was working in his time therefore it could not be the religion of Mahomet which was not heard of till about the year of our Lord 622. Much less Heathenism or Judaism which were then the establisht religions of the world nor yet the general opposition of the body of the wicked against the godly which the Rhemists would have understood by mystical Babylon Rhem. on Rev. 17. for this is alwaies manifest the seed of the serpent doth always oppose the seed of the woman but the Apostle saw an aspiring spirit in the Bishops and Church of Rome which he knew would in time bring the whole Church under their yoak this was occasioned by Rome's being the Metropolis of the world and the seat of the Empire which as it drew all civil affairs and supreme Jurisdiction to that place so did it insensibly draw the admiration respect and causes of all Churches to the guides of that Church which the following Bishops challenged as their due and so gave occasion for the conception of the Man of sin Victor the 14 Bishop of Rome about the year 170. excommunicated all the Eastern Churches for not keeping Easter on the same day that he did Soon after him Cornelius and Stephen successively took upon them with great pride to determine causes belonging to the Churches of A. frick while Cyprian was Bishop of Carthage of which he complains in his Epistles to them Pope Sylvester by his Legats in the Council of Nice an 325. obtained power over all those regions called Suburbicariae which were subject to the Praefect of Rome and from that time the Bishops of Rome boldly challenged the primacie of all Churches and drew all causes and appeals to themselves though not without opposition from the Bishops in Augustines time The Council of Sardica having made a Canon that all doctrines should be tried by the Bishop of Rome meaning it only for that time when Rome was a bulwork against the Arians several Roman Bishops Celestine Boniface and Innocent the first thrust this Canon into the Council of Nice and pretended that by authority of that venerable Council the Tryal of all doctrines and causes was given to them and when the Bishops of Constantinople challenged a parity with the Bishops of Rome because that City was made new Rome and the Seat of the Empire in the East Pope Leo's Legates protested against it in the Council of Chalcedon Ann. 450. Thus the ambition of Rome discovered it self apace but it could not yet attain its end because somewhat still hindred and this was the Roman Empire which divers antient Fathers witness to have been the Apostles meaning by him that letteth saying that he did not expresly mention the Empire lest he should give offence by speaking of the fall of that Empire which they presumed should last for ever insomuch that Roma aeterna eternal Rome was always written upon the Statue of a woman that represented that City and Aeternitas Vestrûm your eternity was a presumptuous title of some of the Emperours they add that the Primitive Church used to pray for the continuance of the Roman Empire for this reason amongst others that the coming and persecutions of Antichrist might thereby he deferred and Hierome who lived to see the Empire decay apace and the City taken by Alarick the Goth said thereupon Qui detinet fit de medio non intelligimus Antichristum adesse He that letteth is taken out of the way and do we not understand that Antichrist must be at hand The Rhemists would fain avoid this interpretation though they make nonsense of the place In Locum but the Papists generally acknowledge the Empire to be that which letted the discovery of Antichrist and Bellarmine would prove that Antichrist is not yet come because there is still a Roman Emperour viz. the Emperour of Germany who hath the titles of Roman Caesar Augustus but he hath the empty title only and is the Popes Vassal receiving his Crown from him swearing fealty to him and is by him appointed Defensor Ecclesiae not to rule the Empire but defend the Church of Rome That the Empire of Rome is here intended is manifest by this because that held the supreme dominion and therefore the Bishops could not obtain it till the Empire was abolisht the Heathen Emperours oppressed and destroyed the whole Church and in particular the Bishops and Church of Rome who were nearest to them and the Christian Emperours not only kept the civil power in their own hands but also called and presided in Councils approved and confirmed the elections of all Bishops and those of Rome more especially and removed those Bishops whom they liked not at their pleasure till this jurisdiction was abrogated the Pope could not get into his hands the supremacie either in Ecclesiastical or civil matters The event also expounds the Text for by those degrees the Empire declined the Bishop of Rome ascended the throne as it followeth in the Text v. 8. Then
and corrupt and poyson the rest by errour superstition Idolatry The Papists plead that Antichrist shall deny both God and Christ his person and incarnation 1 John 2.22 cap. 4.3 But this the Pope doth not yet the doth it in effect though not in words when he useth and exerciseth the names titles power and office both of the father and the Son and hath set himself against the pure doctrine worship and discipline of the Gospel The Papists cannot prove from this or any other place certainly that such an Antichrist as they describe is to be expected and we do prove all the properties of Antichrist to belong to the Pope even this of denying Christ to be come in the flesh in effect though not expresly and yet some of them have called the Gospel a fable and have been professed Atheists If Christ rule not his Church if the Pope be head with absolute power over it if Christ he daily made of a bit of bread and daily Sacrificed by the Priest to make attonement with the Father as they teach and practise this is in effect to say he is not come nor hath made satisfaction to God for the sins of his people However we need not contend whether the Pope be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Antichrist that what to come or some other Heretick may be intended we are sure Antichrist fits the Pope and we have little more of him than his name but that he is the man of sin the Son of perdition the author and maintainer of a general apostasie and that Rome is the Whore of Babylon is clear from this place and Rev. 17. and this is all the Protestants mean by the name of Antichrist V se From all this we inferr 1. That pretence of some Papists that they are of the Church but not of the Court of Rome i. e. for the Romish religion but not for the Popes supremacy is altogether vain The Pope as Pope claimeth the full power of Christ both over the Church and over the world and if they believe him to be infallible they must believe he hath this power also if he deceiveth them in this he may deceive them in matters of religion likewise But they that will refuse the Oaths of Allegiance and supremacy because those deny the Popes jurisdiction over our Kings and can consent to the deposing of their persons and the giving away their Kindoms to strangers are certainly for the Court as well as for the Church of Rome 2. That the Pope is not to be acknowledged or respected as a temporal Prince The power he hath is usurped on the pretence of being head of the Church which is a power Christ never gave a magistracy that God never instituted his titles and claims are blasphemous he rules as a God not as Gods vicegerent nor doth he use his power for the proper ends of government to maintain the true religion justice honesty or sobriety among men and to preserve the peace of the world but to subvert religion justice and all morality and to imbroil all nations for his own interest As a society of Bandites or Pirates is no common-wealth but they are to be reckoned hostis humani generis enemies of mankind so the Pope is to be reckoned hostis Ecclesia the professed irreconcileable enemy of Christ and it is some degree of defection to have any commerce with or any respect for that Antichristian State Ver. 5. The Apostle having spoke thus much of the man of sin calleth the Thess to remembrance of what he had said to them about this matter when present with them Remember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you these things Moses forewarned Israel of a great apostasie that would be among them even such as would threaten utter destruction did not God remember his Covenant and that even then there was such a leaven working a nongst them Our Saviour foretold his disciples that false Christs and false Prophets should arise and deceive many and the Apostles in all their Epistlesforetell that seducers and defections would come in the Church all which is done to prevent the security that men are prone to and that the Godly might both beware of and be less startled at such things when they should see them come to pass The Apostle adds v. 6. and now you know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time He had told the Thessalonians what would delay the power and revelation of this Man of sin for a time that he might not prevail till the appointed time and then he should discover himself for he should not get his power or shew his wickedness all at once or apparently till some letts be removed out of his way but should secretly insinuate and grow by degrees till he should come to his full strength Ver. 8. For the Mystery of iniquity doth already work only he who now letteth will lett untill he be taken out of the way Ver. 8. And then shall that wicked be revealed The Apostle saw that there was even in his days some beginnings of this Man of sin some tendency toward the great apostasie but it was secret and a mystery of iniquity this is another character of this apostasie viz. that it should be mysterious and under fair pretences Christ and the true doctrine of Salvation are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mystery of godliness 1 Tim. 1.16 and the apostasie from this faith is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a mystery of iniquity The great Whore Rev. 17.5 had a name written in her forehead Mystery Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth Though she should be both unclean and wicked her self and the author of it to all the earth yet it should be under fair pretences in a mystery Some travellers have observed amongst other antiquities at Rome Du Moul. Accom of proph Rev. 17. that there are shewn some ancient Miters of former Popes that have the word Mysterium in Golden characters upon the front of them as if she had been ambitious to have the prophecie verified of her self The Apostle also 1 Tim. 4.3 saith that the apostasie of the latter times should be brought about by men that talk lies in Hypocrisie forbidding to marry and to eat certain meats c. This plainly points out the Church of Rome The Heathens Jews and Turks are open and professed enemies of Christ but the Pope is a secret and mystical enemy that betrays Christ with a kiss and under the pretext of friendship Their pretences are such as these 1. That the Popes absolute power is for the honour of Christ that it was fit that he that is Lord of Lords and King of Kings should have a servant or Deputy on earth who should have Soveraign power over all persons and causes That his Church should not be subject to secular men and temporal Princes but to one who is Christ's immediate Vicar They say it is
not fit the Ministers of Christ should be under the power of men of this world or that they should judge of Ecclesiastical causes or dispose of Ecclesiastical imployments but that all should be managed by a spiritual Court and spiritual person 2. They pretend the benefit of the Church It is necessary they say that as the Church is one body on earth though dispersed in all quarters so it should have one visible Head who should be the fountain of Unity that he should have supreme and absolute power to judge all persons and to determine all cases to prevent divisions and to preserve Unity to maintain the doctrine and worship of the Gospel and to prevent or redress errors and corruptions and that things may be managed with safety it is necessary this Head should be infallible who may neither be subject to deceive or be deceived for what end shall there be of Questions and controversies in Religion or in Civil matters How shall Heresies Schisms Wars and Seditions be prevented if there be not a supreme infallible head and judge whose authority and decision may put an end to all strife and lead into all truth 3. They pretend great care of the peoples Salvation They take away the Scriptures from them for fear they should prophane them by using them in common discourse or fall into error and Heresies by mistaking the meaning of them or be puffed up with knowledge and so be disobedient to their teachers and run into Sects divisions therefore they give them Images Crucifixes c. which they call Lay-mens books to stir up their devotion without danger of making them heady or high-minded they allow them little preaching and celeberate all the worship of God in an unknown tongue that the people may not grow slight and prophane and that they may still admire what they understand not ignorance being the best mother of devotion and for the greater security and ease they teach them implicitely to believe what the Church believes and that being infallible they cannot believe amiss especially when they know not in particular what she believeth nor can call her faith into Question 4. They pretend great devotion and zeal to Gods worship spiritual knowledge pious affections spiritual worship such as teaching the word prayer and use of plain Sacraments as Christ appointed them they think are mean things instead of these they build Temples adorn Images adore the bread in the Eucharist offer incense Tapers and many gifts as more real devotion Conc. Trid. Ses 25. The Council of Trent commands that the Priests should carefully teach the people the right use of Images which are to mind them of their Saints their virtues and miracles and sufferings that they may be stirred up thereby to the imitation of them Their worship of the Virgin is devotion to her Son and their praying to Saints and Angels is honour to God whose servants they are and the Pomp and riches of the Pope and his Bishops is to preserve the Gospel in honour and religion from contempt 5. They pretend great mortification They have frequent fasts at least from flesh and some sorts of food to curb keep down the flesh has they pretend Their voluntary penance whippings pilgrimages to remote places confessing all their sins to a Priest and craving his absolution and all to shew their sorrow for sin and to break them off from it more surely than the plain Spiritual means of the word and prayer It is thought great self-denyal to forsake the world to live in wildernesses and Monasteries to vow single life and to refrain those comforts and imployments which God hath both allowed and commanded 6. They pretend great humility It is humility in them to be subject to their superiours especially the Pope against their own reason and conscience and to obey all the commands and ordinances of their Church without presuming to inquire into the reason of them or to prove them by Scripture They account it presumption to pretend to assurance of Salvation and great humility to live and dye in doubt but especially that the best of them must not pretend to go to Heaven but through long suffering the pains of Purgatory and the help of the prayers of the Church on earth and of the merits of the Church in Heaven 7. They pretend great care to have the Ministery pure and industrious therefore they allow them not to marry because said Pope Ciricius they that are in the flesh cannot please God and that being free from the cares of a family they may wholly attend upon their Ministry and lest the service of Parish Priests should not be sufficient they have multitudes of Monks and Friars to help them in private and whose prayers and private Masses are always going for the benefit of the Church Thus they have plausible pretences for all their doctrines and practices nevertheless it is a mystery of iniquity in every particular 1. The universal power the Pope claimeth is only to set up himself and his own institutions therefore he taketh upon him all the state and grandeur of the Roman Emperours even the proudest of them he gives away Kingdoms when Kings any way displease him though they be very religious towards God and when he can make any advantage He sets Christian Kings at war with each other and taketh the unjustest part so it be the strongest yea himself raiseth War and driveth Princes out of their dominions to increase the riches of the Church or to preferr his own Nephews and kindred This was notorious in Julius 2 and many of his predecessours he maketh the Emperours swear allegiance to him and the Bishops at their consecration use to swear to maintain Regalia sancti Petri the royalties of Saint Peter 2. The pretence of infallibility is only to gain authority to himself that he may command and do what he pleaseth in the world it is used only to draw people into seditions and massacres to patronize any unjust actions or claims when the Pope giveth away the right of a King or other person when he dissolveth Lawful marriages or giveth dispensations to contract unlawful Matrimony as betwixt Uncle and Niece in Philip 2. of Spain or betwixt Brother and brothers Wife as at this day in Portugal the former husband yet living and the like when he forgives all manner of sins when he maketh as his Canons give him leave just things unjust and sins to be duties then he maketh use of his pretended infallibility and never but it such cases for the Popes never do nor never will determine or end any controversie in religion for fear of losing one part of the contenders There is a great difference among themselves betwixt the Dominicans and Jesuites about the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary Philip the 2 and 3. of Spain did for many years together by their Embassadours earnestly sollicite the Popes to use their Infallibility and decide the controversie but they could never