of the bitings of fierie serpents And that when the Lord said to e Lib. 4. d. 19. Peter To thee will I giue the keyes of the kingdome of heauen the other Apostles had the same iudiciall power yea all the Church hath it in the Bishops and Ministers c. He f Gorich in M. gram articulis then held and taught many things which the papists afterwards did not hold as that charitie whereby we loue God and man is the holy Ghost because it is said God is charitie c. Such agreement there is among them Petrus Comester wrote the scholasticall historie and Gratian the Rhapsodist digested the decrees and presented his booke to be confirmed by the Pope All g Peucer 4. p. 363. c. deuised of purpose to magnifie the Church of Rome c. The third Thunder FRidericus a Crantz Met. 6.35 the Emperor holding an assemblie of the Princes and roaring as a Lyon caused them to sweare to ioyne with him in an expedition into Italy especially that he might tame Lombardy that rebelled which without question belonged to the Empire b Trith Hirs p. 182. And gat promise that if the Archbishop of Mogunce should die they should chuse no other without his consent c Crant M. 6. 1. For the Emperour thought to recouer the right of the Empire of inuesting Bishops which Henry the fourth and fifth did striue for In d Rob. Barus Italy he subdued many enemies valiantly and seuerely and deriding the insolencie of the Romanes by e Crant M. â— 35. his approach was so terrible to the Pope that the Pope fled But being reconciled by messengers the f Rob. Barnes Pope and Emperor meete the Emperor holding the Popes left stirrop as he lighted For which though it were the first stirrop that euer be held he being reproued mendeth that fault the next time The Pope requireth the kingdome of Apulia for the crowning of the Emperor which being deferred they goe to Rome and g Fris g. Fr. lib. 2. cap. 22. there the Emperor is crowned h Gobel at 6. cap. 60. At which time one saying that the Empire is aboue the Papacie was presented to the Pope and burned and his ashes cast out a Frith p. 183. Crant 6.35 Gobel at 6. cap. 60. At Rome the Emperor saw vpon a wall the picture of Innocent the second in his pontificals giuing Lotharius the Emperor that humbly kneeled before him the crowne of the Empire which much displeased the Emperor When he was gone the Pope wrote to him in a letter that he did not repent for the benefit which he had bestowed viz. the crowne which displeased the Emperor so as that he openly said he acknowledged not any benefit giuen him by the Pope his Empire he had of God and the Electors c. b Rob. Barnâ—c The Lombards rebell againe whom while the Emperor attempted to subdue the Italians by a great summe of mony induced the Pope to excommunicate the Emperor but before he could doe it he died c Peucer p. 440. Vrsp p. 2. Anno 1156. being strangled with a flie as he was drinking Alexander the third d Vrsp p. 290. was chosen by the greater part of the Cardinals but a while refused the seate Wherefore Victor a man very â—â—â—â—gious and approued good humble and curteous who had been chosen by nine Cardinals was inthronised But after Alexander tooke the place This was the cause of a great schisme for which the Emperor taking compassion of the people at Papia called both the elected Popes not to iudge their cause but to satisfie himselfe whom hee should acknowledge e Platina Alexander refused to come and excommunicated Victor and the Emperor who fauored him And finding many enemies at Rome went to France f Geneb p. 931. where the Kings of England and France waited before him as vshers on foote g Trith p. 192. At the request of the French King the Emperor holdeth a Councell for the vnitie of the Church But Alexander would neither come thither nor permit the French King to come h Pag. 193. 194. At this time were three very sharpe disputers Arnoldus Marsilius and Theodoricus which maintained that the prelates of their time were deceiuers of soules and snares of the diuel they were named Cathari but were of the opinion of Tanchelinus eight men and two women of that opinion were burned This doctrine spread in Boem Alsatia and Thuringia and continued long There were also of the same opinion called Cardenses of the place where they liued The Pope in France doth labour to vnite other stations against the Emperor He was frighted from his Masse with fearefull darkenes and thunder returneth into Italy and breedeth new troubles i Pag. 202. While the Emperor intended to pursue the Pope and his adherents rebels in Italy with words writing and armies k Rob. Barnes he is sollicited by his Confessor to diuert his forces against the Turkes where by the Popes treason sending to the Soldan the Emperors picture with letters the Emperor while he went to wash himselfe in a riuer is apprehended and carried to the Soldan The Emperor returning discouereth to the Princes and pursueth in Italy the Popes treason a Penc 4. p. 367 In Italy now by the reading of the ciuill law reuiued by Letharius and canon law c. digested by the followers of the Popes b Geneb p. 931. the people were diuided Some were called Gibellines and stoode for the Emperor other were Guelphes and tooke part with the Pope c Trith p. 192. They of Pisa and Brixia tooke their oth to the Emperor d Berg. 12.1 Volat. 22. c. Peuc 4. p. 442. c. The Pope for feare flieth in the habit of his Cooke to Venice Whom Otho the Emperors sonne pursued to sea where beeing ouer forward to fight he was taken by the Venetians beeing brought in triumph into the citie the Pope taketh a gold ring and casteth it into the sea to espouse the sea vnto him by a rite meerely heathen and did institute that his successors should yearely doe the same which custome is yet kept The Emperour partly wearie of warres and taking compassion of Italie so rent with dissention and of the East that was ouerrunne by Saladiâ—â— and of his sonne inclined to seeke reconciliation At Venice the Pope aâ— Saint Markes trode on the Emperours necke caused the Quire to sing super aspidem basiâ—scuÌ„ ambulabis as Iustinian the tyrant had done before at Constantinople When the Emperour answered Not to thee but to Peter the Pope replied both to me and Peter So was reconciliation made e Geneb p. 932 936. Alexander in whose time all the world of Christians was hurled together by the confusion of warre hauing subdued the Emperour holdeth a Councel In which hee condemneth the Waldenses Publicani Cathari Cardenses f Mat. Paris p. 132.
vniustly accused The second Trumpet When the second c cap. 8.8 Angel had sounded his trumpet there ariseth a persecution as if a great mountaine burning with fire were cast into the sea that is d Iere. 51.25 the monarchie of the world became enraged e Isaiah 17.12 against his subiects and a persecutor of the people of God inhabiting neere the sea coasts This was accomplished when as Constantine by the suggestion of his sister Licinius widow who was deluded by an Arian priest called a Councell at Tyrus a city standing in the sea against Athenasius that defended the faith of the Nicene Creede Him had the pretended Arian Conuerts accused to the Emperour of many crimes and here against him and Macarius were diuers matters obiected not pertaining to the Nicene Councell but of supposed murther sorcery c. purposing by those collaterall accusations and calumniations to destroy the professors of the truth and that together with them the truth it selfe might be abolished f Ann. 33â— This CouÌ„cell was assembled by the craftie seducements of the Arians g Eus v. c. 4. 43. and thither came certaine from Macedonia Panonia Mysia Persia Bithynia Thracia Cilicia Cappodocia Syria Mesopotamia Phaenicia Arabia Palestina Aegyptus Africa Thebais and nobles of the Emperours Court. In h Ruff 1. 11. Soc. 1. 21 22 23. Theod. 1. 25 27 29 30. this Councell was Athanasius c. falsly accused in hazzard by the furie of them which were assembled to bee torne in peeces he was there condemned without cause and by the Emperour was banished and Arius restored Yea the i Vâ—lat 23. f. 270. Emperour Constantine himselfe became an Arian and as soone as Constantine was dead Sapor k Ann. 342. Sec. 2. 12. king of Persia persecuted the Christians hee with martyrdome crowned aboue 150. Bishops besides those of the common people Presently Constantine the a Mass l. 11. Emperour fauouring the blast of Arius heresie vowed laboured violently to bring all the world to Arianisme To which purpose he held diuers Councels against them which maintained the doctrine of the godhead of Christ agreed vpon at the Nicene Councell Namely b Mass Soc. 2. 5. 22. 23. 26. 30. at Constantinople Antiochia Syrmia Nicomedia c Theod. 2. 14. 26. Sozo 4. 15. 18. Nicea Ariminum Millaine Seleucia and Constantinople He also enforced his commandement for Arianisme by bloodie persecutions imprisonments massacres treasons by diuers kinds of torments and crafty wiles yea the bodies of the slaine were not suffered to be put into their graues in some places By his meanes many Bishops bâ—came Arians as did d Theod 4. 37. Vlphilas the Bishop of the Gothes who infected that nation with that heresie But this persecution was mâ—st about e Ruff. 1. Soc. 2. 12. Soz. 6. 37. The third trâ—â—pet cap. 8. 10. 1â— Alexandria and the rest of the sea coastes in the East Againe the Dragon causeth his deputie to sound a third trumpet and to charge the Church afresh To this purpose A starre falleth from heauen that is some f Isai 14.12 principall person falleth from the profession of the Christian faith to heresie or infidelitie By this starre or person enraged is stirred vp persecution burning like a torch that is cruell and tormenting The effect whereof is that the waters are made wormewood whereby many doe die that is g Amos. 5.7 6 12. he did corrupt make abhorred all h Isai 41.17 18. the comforts of this life and by name the scriptures and holy writings making them vnsauerie This was accomplished i Ann. 365. in Iulian the Apostata For he k Genebr Socr. 3. 10 11. c. Theod. 3. 1. c. Soz 5. 3. 16. c. had bene a publike professor and teacher of the Christian faith but he became an Apostata Witch naming himselfe the Bishop of the Pagans Though his persecutions were cruell and bloodie yet was the mischiefe that came by his craft farre greater For he defiled the waters bread meate fruite herbs and whatsoeuer men should eate yea his money and statues with such filthy idolatrie that none could partake in them but seemed to commit idolatrie And as he corrupted their outward comforts so did he the knowledge with which meÌ„ should feede and refresh their mindes and soules He forbad the Christians to keepe any schooles to beare any armes to possesse any Ecclesiasticall goods He l Soc. 3. 19. also laboured to make the scriptures vile and ridiculous by imputing vnto them foolish precepts Namely that they m Carion taught voluntarie pouertie and basenesse in suffering wrongs without reuenge both which he said were preiudiciall to a well ordered common-wealth The godly and learned men of the time did answer him by writing * Carion but with more diligence than sound confutation He began in France and persecuted Eastward Yet once more he foundeth the a The fourth trumpet cap. 8.12 fourth trumpet chargeth the Church againe And now the third part of the Sunne was smitten and of the moone and of the starrs so that the third part of the day did not shine and likewise the night That is b Ier. 51.35 with Mat. 5.14 Ruffa 1. 9. Theod 4.13 the Bishops and Ministers and other principall persons who were called the Lights of the time were smitten with persecution For when the Gothes had gotten aide against their enemies of the Emperour Valens they became Arians in token of their thankfulnesse to Valens But afterwards they harried booties out of the Empire to the great molestation of the imperials Whereupon Valens resoluing c Ann. 368. to make warre vpon them thought good to fortifie himselfe against those infidels by receiuing the sacrament of baptisme By d Ruff. 25. 6. the entreaties and inticements of his wife he was baptised by an Arian and tooke a solemne oath to root out all that professed Christ any other way than the Arians did Wherefore he spoiled Antiochia Samosetenses Laodicea Edessa Alexandria Cappadocia and Constantinople of their Pastors that gaue them light sending them to prisons or to banishment e Socr. 4. 27. Sozo 6. 14. Theod. 4 12. 13. 16. 19. 22. 24. And in roomes of the Pastors he sent wolues into the assemblies of the sheepe of Christ He also sent soldiers with cudgels and clubs to beate the people away from the places of their meetings This persecution began at Constantinople and from thence was continued Southwards This f Soc. 4. 15. Ruff. 2. 9. Valens consulted with the Diuel to know his successor These persecutions were specially but in the East and by the Emperours that were but as third men in the Empire Iulian excepted who yet did onely afflict the East and therefore the mischiefe is said to light but vpon the third part g Theod. 5. 6. The East was onely pestered with the pestilence of Arius when as the West was
against the Pope o Trith p. 286. There was very great pestilence which destroyed many thousands after which followed a famine to liue was a misery and to die a very great horror p Reuel 11.6 These haue power to shut heauen in the dayes of their prophecie c. and to strike the earth with all manner of plagues Clement the sixth q Trith 288. preached the crosse against the Turkes Anno 1342. promising to them that put mony into the chestes set in Churches to that purpose not onely remission of sinnes but also licence to eate egges and milkemeates in forbidden times out of Lent Henricus the Archbishop of Mogunce neither payed mony nor regarded the pardons The a Par. Vrsp p. 355. Pope in fauour of the French King excommunicateth Ludouicus the Emperour He also b Trith 289. excommunicated Henricus the Archbishop of Mogunce for not appearing before him deposed him and placed Gertacus who gat not the possession till Henricus was dead Henricus despiseth the Pope and cleaueth to the Emperour The c Par. Vrs 355. 356. Emperour by letters blameth the French King for his trouble requireth him to procure his absolution a filthy forme of articles is conceiued which is interpreted to be deuised to the destruction of the Empire The pope cruelly declaimeth against the Emperor reuiueth the processe of Iohn the twentith two against him declareth him an heretike and schismatike because he said it is in the Emperor to depose and institute the pope c. and writeth to the Electors to chuse Carolus the fourth Here Queene mony ruled all Hereupon the Empire is diuided much trouble ariseth the fauorites of Ludouicus are buried in fields out of Church-yardes d Fox Marty p. 394. 39â— Georgius Ariminensis held papists worse then Pelagians Tanlerus preached against distinction of meates and inuocation of Saints Gerardus Rhidden wrote against the Friers e Sonet 106. 107. 108. Annota in 107. Petrarch calleth Rome proud Babylon and whore and the Pope the Soldan of Babylon The f Extr. Con. 5. de pen. ner Vnigeniti Pope reduced the Iubile to fiftie yeeres promising plenary remission and g Fox Marty commaundeth the Angels to cary the soules of such pilgrimes as died by the way presently to paradise like Mahomets Martyres c. h Mass 18. p. 248. Trith p. 291. Howbeit at this time for three yere together from India to Britany there was so feareful a pestilence that in diuers places were horrible desolations In Auinion the popes seate in a manner all died There was also the plague of bloudy flixes and such inflammations as consumed the flesh to the bones not onely of liuing bodies but dead carcasses for the earth is smitten with plagues in the dayes of their prophecie i Curio The Turkes winne the noble city of Prusia Anno 1352. Innocent the sixth a Trith 293. crowned Carolus the fourth who after many troubles with much b Par. Vrsp 360. c. bribery had brought the Empire to his owne hand The Pope at c Fox Marty Auinion put two Friers to death one of them held Rome to be the whore of Babylon In his time was published the ploughmans complaint against the Pope and his Clergie d Geneb pag. 1034. Bartholdus de Baruch a begging Frier was burned at Spires Before this Pope e Ipse in defen curat Richard Archbishop of Armach in Ireland perswaded learnedly and zealously against the Friers prouing that by the abuse of their priuiledges they were hurtfull to them who were confessed to the Curates Clergie Christian people and to the Friers themselues That they were the ouerthrow of all learning and artes the decay of students and by ingrossing into their libraries bred such a want of bookes that there was not a Bible nor any good diuinity bookes to be had for mony It seemeth in these times that the question was a Specul Mino. Tract 3. f. 135. b. whether the Popes dispensations could stablish the conscience against Scripture and law The Popes would haue it receiued for good that his power was aboue all but godly men thought otherwise of his superstition withstoode that doctrine as De Poliaco had done and this Armachanus now did b Trith 297. Par. Vrsp There was a great pestilence of which many thousands perished and strange earthquakes c. Vrbanus the fifth c Geneb 1017 confirmed the order of Bridget d Pantalcon Anno 1363. which was that Friers and Nunnes should dwell together vnder a roofe onely parted with a wall Thus e cap. 13.5.7 c. is the beast furnished with strong and seuere lawes to warre with the Saints and to ouercome them And here viz. Anno 1364. f Dan. 12.11 are finished those 1290. dayes that is yeeres which Daniel doth reckon from the time that the daily sacrifice was taken away by the Romans at the destruction of Ierusalem Ann. 74. during which time by the Gentiles Arians Gothes Turkes and Popes abhominable desolation was set vp CHAP. X. Of the first resurrection and the warres which followed hereupon with their successe MIserable are now the times by reason of the grosse ignorance and superstition which preuailed For by the tyrannie of the Popes all men were seduced or terrified from the study and profession of true godlinesse And the wickednes of the Friers by purloyning in a manner all good bookes which now were but manuscripts and teaching nothing but fables had made it generally suspected that Antichrist would take this opportunitie to obliterate the Scriptures and obtrude vnto the world any such forged diuinitie which might best serue to further his ambition In the time of this palpable darkenes worse then euer was any in Egypt when as the truth lay as dead and buried for euer the Lord in mercy doth raise it from death to life And this doth cause a Dan. 12.2 such as turne others vnto righteousnes to shine as the starres in the firmament The summe of that which followeth is that b cap. 11.7 when they the witnesses haue finished their testimony the beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit with his hornes the Kings maketh warre against them Of this warre we are to consider the enemies their manner of fight and the successe The enemies are the two witnesses a cap. 19.13 vnder their captaine yet in the wildernes in this chapter and in the blessed time separated from Antichrist in the next chapter and b 19. the beast with his Kings The captaine of these witnesses is mighty to enable them to finish their testimony That the witnesses may the better finish and perfect their testimony Saint Iohn doth say And c 11. I saw heauen open that is an expectation of all good men which belong to the kingdome of heauen what will be the end of those cruell lawes and bloudy executions That which befell was this An d
the Archbishop of Mogunce My Lord Archbishop we command you vpon your oath of fidelitie that you reforme your Clergie c. And if they will not be reformed that you command the fruits of their benefices to be taken from them and presented to our Exchequer and we will conuert it to more godly vses Ann. 1367. Gregorie the eleuenth c Geneb p. 1040. 1041. remooued the Popes court from Auinion to Rome Edward king of England laid a grieuous paine vpon those that thenceforth would receiue any benefices of the Bishop of Rome shee is fallen Carolus the French king coÌ„manded â—he Bible to be faithfully traÌ„slated into the French tongue d Fox Mart. p. 415. 416. 417 Militzius sometimes a Canon vrged by the holy Ghost to finde by the scriptures the comming of Antichrist was compelled by the holy Ghost to preach at Rome before the Inquisitor and said publikely that the same great Antichrist prophecied of in the Scripture was already come He conuerted many from their vngodly life and held a congregation Catharina Senensis spake of the reformation of the Church Mathew Paris noteth the Pope to be Antichrist Henricus de Iota Henricus de Hassia who writeth out of a prophecie of Hildegrade that the diuell spake of the Priests of this time daintie bankets and feastes wherein is all voluptuousnesse doe I finde among these men c. Hee saith further that they clime with Lucifer til with him they fall deeper and deeper This Pope very violently persecuted such as were against him as namely Militzius Wickleife c. But e 425. Wickleife continued and interpreted the articles obiected against him and finished his testimonie Vrbanus the sixt Ann. 1378. a Gobel aet 6. cap. 27. in his time were great seditions in all places and there began a most grieuous schisme amongst the Popes as Rupe scissa prophecied For there were then two Popes the other was called Clemens the seauenth and this schisme lasted almost 40. yeare b Fasc Temp. f. 86. From Vrbane the sixth to Martine the fifth I know not who was Pope c Gobel at 6. c. 76.81 This Pope was very rigorous he tormented Cardinals to death buried them in a stable by Carolus the bastard he strangled in prison Ioan the Queene of Sicilia Against the Antipope hee was very violent d Fox Mart. p. 441. For hee proclaimed to all that would fight for him against any of his enemies as large pardons as were granted to them that fight against the Turke And whereas e Caran A. 33. p dist 50. clericus Nicolaus the first maketh the Clergy that fighteth irregular he contrarily f Gob. 6. cap. 70. proclaimed that the Clergie of all sortes that should kill or maime any of the Popes enemies should both bee free from irregularitie and inioy the same priuiledges which are granted to them that warre vpon the infidels g Peucer 5. f. 157. Neither was Clement the Antipope of a more gentle disposition for he spared not the Embassadors of Emperours and Princes which were sent vnto him to perswade him to concord for some he killed in prison and others hee tormented to death vpon the racke h Fox Mart. p. 440. 567. 4â—0 446. Wickleife escapeth the hands of his persecutors his books suddainly spread abroad by such which came from Boemia with the Queene of England c. i 416. 417. Mountzigger Rector of the Vniuersitie of Vlme taught against reall presence but was resisted by the monks and friers Nilus Archbishop of Thessalonica chargeth the Pope to be the only cause of the schisme betweene the East and West Churches 36. were burned at Bringa for the opinions of the Waldenses k Geneb 1044. Hus spreadeth Wickleife opinions in Boem This Pope maketh more superstitious feasts vz. the feast of the visitation and reduceth the Iubile to 33. yeares The Iesuites begin The Turke entred Greece and made Constantinople subiect to tribute Anno 1389. Bonifacius the ninth l Gob. aet 6. cap. 84. 85. 86. 87. of an incredible thirst of money monstrous in his deuises to get it He graunted reuersed antedated c. diuers of his graces for money He increased the fees of Archbishops for their Pall c. aboue tenne folde some paide 80,000 florens for it and hee that would giue most had what he would Hee dispensed for money against the Apostles and Euangelists For money he made Iubiles to be held not onely in great cities but also in base places a Geneb p. 1048 The king of England bounded the Popes authoritie at the Ocean sea so that no English man vnder paine of perpetuall imprisonment should deale with the Pope to excommunicate any in England Against this Pope sate Benedict the thirteenth vnto whom b Vincent prog part 1. 2. Saint Vincentius submitted his booke and doctrine of his prognostication of Antichrist and of the ende of the world In which booke though there be many things fabulous and false after the manner of all the Friers in their prophecies yet there be also some things worth the marking as of the ruine of the popish Prelates of Antichrist mixt which must be a Pope of the abhominable life of the Friers and the falshood of Francis prophecie of his order c. In c Fox Mart. p. 446. c. 456. 457. c. the time of this Pope Boniface were many constant confessors of the truth as Swinderbie who was persecuted for beeing earnest against the wicked liues of Friers and Priests of his time refused the popish iudgement appealed to the kings iustice because the Pope was Antichrist And Water Brute who most excellently interpreteth the mysticall numbers in Daniel and prooueth the Pope to bee Antichrist The d Fasc Temp. opinions of Wickleife in England Hus and Ierom of Prage in Boemia doe spread amongst many The heresie of the Adamites sprung vp in Boem but was presently suppressed by the Hussites e Geneb 1048. The Greeke tongue which had exiled seauen hundred yeares is brought into Italie by Chrysoleras c. f Buchol Anno 1399. Yea all good artes and tongues began to spring and to be husbanded and to growe fresh againe whereas for 700. yeares all learning was troden vnder foot and defiled with horrible barbarousnesse c. And here beginneth a happie age of all skilfull learning in Italie which farre and wide did spread abroad the glistering light thereof into other kingdomes A g Mass 8. Pp. 253. 254. Priest came from the Alpes to whom were gathered 70,000 they sharpely reprehended vice c. The Pope apprehended and tormented him Some said that there was no euill found in him others thought that he sought to be Pope that whom the Pope commanded to be burned should not bee said to be burned without cause From h Peâ—e 5. f. 157. c. 168. this time to the Councell of Constance continued the schisme
amongst the Popes there beeing sometimes three at once and euery one raging against the other with cursings c. to the great griefe perplexitie and destruction of Christian men a See Fox Martyr It was also a time of great persecution of the Gospel whose professors were many learned godly and constant b Peuc 5. f. 155. c. In the yeare 1400. was proclaimed a Iubile to bee held at Rome Against which Hus did teach that the true Iubile was in preaching of Iesus Christ that the Pope and Cardinals bee not the Church the institution of Christ is to bee kept there ought not to bee any worshipping of Saints the Popes decrees are not to be admitted c. At this time was an extreame famine in Italie c Epit. Blond And thus the first resurrection appeareth CHAP XI The warres begunne at the first resurrection are continued c. And the resurrection is more manifest NOw is come that blessed time which the Prophet d Dan. 12.12 Daniel spoke of namely 1335. daies that is yeres after the destruction of Ierusalem which was in the yeare of Christ 74. At which time is a more cleare demonstration of the first resurrection For here also doe ende those e cap. 12.6 1260. daies that is yeares to be reckoned from the tenth yeare of Antonius Pius which was in the yeare of Christ 149. when the woman the Church fled into the wildernesse after shee had brought forth many contagious professors as a man childe During which time shee remained confusedly amongst the wicked as in a wildernesse full of Dragons and Ostriches But now f Dan. 12.2 many that were as sleeping and dead in the dust doe rise vp to euerlasting life and their cause doth come abroad by the reuiuing of the Gospel Here therefore is continued the first resurrection and the warre betweene the word of God and the hostes in heauen that followed him against the beast and the kings of the earth And here is that blessed time in which the witnesses doe separate themselues from the kingdome of Antichrist The meanes by which they separate themselues from Antichrist the beast is said to be that those of the spirit of Saint Iohn g cap. 18 4. heard a voyce from heauen to wit from the Church of God in the persons of his witnesses who had learned the doctrine of saluation of the God of heauen out of his word and also had spread it abroade in the world The doctrine is a commaundement from God the same which was giuen to the a Isai 48.20 Ier. 51.6 Zach. 2.6 Isralites that were in the captiuitie of Babylon Goe b cap. 18.4 out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues For now the people of God doe see that she that tooke vpon her to forgiue others their sinnes is not able herselfe to escape the damnation of hel nor those other plagues which euery man foresaw would light vpon her for her owne sinnes The cause why men should flie from her is for c cap. 18.5 that the heapes of her sinnes doe reach vp to heauen being infinit and prodigious euen fighting against the God of heauen and ascending like the sins of Sodom and Egypt As also because that God hath remembred her iniquities to take vengeance of them as he did of Sodom and Egypt For these two witnesses are Gods d Gen. 18.21 19.5 Exod. 2.7 messengers to make experience whether the sins of Antichrist be as it is reported and henceforth principally detect her sinnes and reproue them The plagues are first proclaimed and then required to be executed And this Proclamation is made as by the third e cap. 14.9 c. Angel which followed them that before first reuiued the preaching of the eternall Gospel and threatned the fall of Babylon He mightily bringeth in the doctrine of vengeance to be inflicted vpon Antichrist as if he said with a loud voyce If any man worship the beast of hereticall monarches and his image the papacie and receiue his marke in his forehead or in his hand following those superstitions henceforth the same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God yea of the pure wine which is powred into the cup of his wrath and he shall be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe And the smoke of their torment shall ascend euermore and they shall haue no rest night or day that worship the beast and his image and whosoeuer receiueth the print of his name Here f 12. cap. 13.10 are the fruites of the patients of the Saints and here ar they that keepe the commaundements of God and the faith of Iesus the executioners of the fiercenes of the wrath of almighty God That which is required to be executed is that the Saints who hitherto haue been persecuted should take the sworde in hand and â—ap 18.6 reward her to wit popish Babylon as she hath rewarded them and giue her double according to her workes in the cup that she hath filled fill her the double For now beginneth the execution of that which is promised a cap. 13.10 If any leade into captiuitie he shall goe into captiuitie If any man kill with the sword he must be killed by a sword She must also be tormented for her pleasures and pride b cap. 18.7 For she saith in her heart I sit being a Queene of all other Churches and shall see no mourning the ship of Peter in which I sit may be tossed but it shall not sinke As these things are threatned so c 8. shall in due time her plagues come in one day together death sorrow and famine and she shall be burnt with fire for that God which condemneth her is a strong God During the time of which executions if any died in the cause against Antichrist they are Martyrs as it is said of all men in the Church of God d cap. 14.13 Then I heard a voyce from heauen saying vnto me write the dead that die in the Lord are henceforth fully blessed euen so saith the spirit whose testimonie is true and no lie for they rest from their labours neuer feeling the terror of the second death or purgatory by the execration of Antichrist And their workes follow them to receiue a crowne at the throne of God This testimonie beeing thus finished and continually preached by the two witnesses and of many beleeued c cap. 11.7 The beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit maketh warre against them and ouercommeth them for a while The beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit is as hath been shewed before the politike body of poperie consisting of the Pope and his Clergie assisted with those tenne kingdomes and principalities which did arise after the wounding of the Empire to death All which grew to be an vnited body by the doctrine of
of the comming of Theodosius the true Christian Prince Albeit the rest of the Arians presumed and reported Theodosius to be defeated whence the Papists haue learned to spread presumptuous lying newes Howbeit at last euen for feare they giue glorie to the God of heauen These e Fox in hunc locum things do most aptly agree vnto the times of the preaching and martyrdome of Iohn Hus and Ierom of Prage c. before and at the Councell of Constance and to the effects that followed thereupon The complement Alexander the fifth a Fox Mart. p. 531. 567. was chosen Pope to take away the schisme In his time the Boemians Anno 1409. by the preaching of Iohn Hus c encreased much in the knowledge of the Gospel for before this time by the spreading of Wickliefes bookes they began to tast and sauour of it b Peuce 5. f. 156. 157. The summe of his preaching was a reprehension of the fornication couetousnes and pride of the Priests c and against the magicke consecrations of the oyle water c. He prooued his assertions by the word of God the holy scriptures vnto which alone he would reduce all doctrine Hereupon grew contentions in the Vniuersitie of Prage And when those which did striue for the Pope were not able to resist the founde testimonies of the scripture alleadged by Hus they left the Vniuersitie c Fox Mart. 532 When the Pope heard of these preachings and disputations he sent his bull vnto the Archbishop requiring him to looke that no such things were maintained and cited Iohn Hus to appeare before him Iohn Hus answereth the Bull to be contrary to the doings and examples of Christ and his Apostles and to restreine or fight against the free course of the word of God Wherefore he appealeth from this mandate to the same Pope better aduised But as hee was prosecuting of his appeale the Pope died there died also the Archbishop c d cap. 11.5 by the fire that proceeded out of the mouth of Christs witnesses c. Iohn the twentieth three e Gobel aet 6. cap. 90.94 a diuell incarnate Anno 1410. and a most profound inuentor of all sorts of infamous wickednes most rigorous He receiued of the harlots of one citie viz Bâ—nenia 300. florens euery moneth for tribute of their whoredome c. The King of Sicilia brake into Rome which the Pope not forseeing with many Curtizans was spoyled Vnto f Fox Mart. p. 567. this Pope or rather beast was Hus accused for an heretike because he seemed rather willing to preach the Gospell then the bishops traditions The Pope committeth the matter to the Cardinall of Columna who monished Hus to appeare at Rome Wenceslaus King of Romanes and Boem at the suite of his wife the whole nobilitie citie and Vniuersitie of Prage sent Ambassadors to Rome crauing the Pope to remit the citation of Hus and to determine his cause in Boem Hus also sent proctors to Rome to purge him because he would auoid that dangerous iourney The Cardinall at Rome notwithstanding the Kings petition excoÌ„municateth Hus and emprisoneth some of his proctors so that the rest returne without doing any thing Howbeit Hus notwithstanding his excommunication goeth on in preaching and appealed from the Pope to Christ. Yea a Fox Mart. 569. when the Popes bull came to Prage proclaiming full remission of sinnes to all such as would fight on his side for the Pope had warre with the king of Naples Hus and his followers manifestly spake against the Bull three lay men were beheaded for speaking against these pardons whom Hus and such Priests as fauoured him interred sumptuouslie saying These be the Saints which for the Testament of God did giue their bodies At b Peuce 5. f. 168. this time were three Popes at once euery one fighting against the other with condemnations and execrations But as c Socr. 5. 22. the Arians did not striue for religion but by reason of their ouermuch desire of honour with which their mindes were wholy possessed did fight among themselues for the primacie whereupon many of the Clergie hating the contention sprung of the desire of vaine glory departed from them to the antient faith so these did not striue for the glorie of the sonne of God or for the mending of such corruptions as were in manners and doctrine but for the principalitie Wherefore many departed from them When the Emperor Sigismund did see that these euils would be more duly reformed by a Councel than by armes hee hauing runne ouer Italy Spaine France and England with incredible speede and wonderfull patience in great labours by consent of the kings caused the Counsell of Constance to bee d 1414. deceÌ„ 3. assembled which was frequented with the presence or Legates of the Princes of all the Christian world as also thither came from Bizantium and Trapezuntium a concourse of most diuerse e cap. 11.9 people and kindreds and tongues and gentiles a Geneb p. 1059 so that there were numbred of strangers of all sorts 60,500 After b Gobel 6. c. 94 the Councell assembled the whole affaires of the Councell were committed to the determination of foure Prelates chosen out of foure Nations which much displeased the Pope and his Cardinals In this Councell they proposed to reforme the Church in the head and members c Peut 5. f. 175. Wherefore Petrus de Aliaco very grauely admonished the Councell of the most corrupt conditions of the Popes the court of Rome and of al degrees of the Romane Church for the citie is Sodom He also admonished the Councell of the many superstitions and of the tyrannie then vsed for this citie is also Aegypt d Specul Minor Tract 3. f. 167. c. There were also proposed diuerse complaints against the friers for their Sodomiticall filthie life and for their pride and crueltie who were like ruffians and cutters to kill them that admonished them of their faults e Exod. 2.11.13.14 worse then the Aegyptian that wronged the Israelite or the Israelite that reproched Moses or the Sodomites that railed on Lâ—t The like was done by other that desired reformation In this Councell f Mass 18. p. 255. Gobel 6.94 the Pope g Fox Mart. p. 604. in epist Huss whom the Preachers were wonte to call the God of the earth was conuicted of more than fortie grieuous crimes for which hee was deposed Vnto h Fox in hunc locum Mar. 1575. c. this Councell came Iohn Hus vnder the safe conduct of the Emperour and there continued vnder the warrantie of the Popes promise and thither was Hierom of Prage cited Those two were shut vp in most horrible and filthie prisons farre worse then sackcloth When Hus came to the Councell he desired leaue to answere the obiections brought against him But whereas Christ was not only permitted but also required to answere for himselfe before Pilate