of Preists marriages though by generall consent it had beene reiected in the Councell of Nice and was not receiued in the West of 600. yeares after doe his Successors what they could After him came Innocent Innocent Epist 2. ad Victric anno 401. He in his 2. Epistle to Victricius B. of Roanâ— published this generall decree That the greater causes after that they had beene censured by the Bishop should be referred to the See of Rome as the Synod saith he hath ordained and the laudable vse and custome of the Church requireth He and his Successors Zozimus Boniface and Celestine would haue men thinke that the councell of Nice had soe ordained which that councell did not as the 6. councell of Carthago proued against them aboute the yeare 420. and soe did the generall councels of Constantinople and Chacedon It was indeede the councell of Sardica aboute the yeare 350. that gaue this power to Iulius but that canon neuer put in practise by him was reuoked in expresse termes in the councell of ConstaÌ„tinople can 3. which councell had now beene approued by Damasus therefore they would not name it to be a canon of Sardica but pretend it to be a canon of Nice Which forgerie many perceiued not and therefore gaue him power to doe But if any man will yet obiect and say It seemes he had not yet this power because the councels of Constantinople the 6. councell of Carthage and the councell of Chalcedon opposed it I answer here as before Antechrist was to be opposed by some in all ages and so hath the Pope and euen of late in the Councels of Constance and Basile but yet he had power as the Beast was to haue it by his owne arogant vsurpation the flaterie of his followers and that I thinke aboute the yeare 380. in the time of Damasus or soone after and not before and so as I saide his time may expire aboute the yeare 1640. or within few yeares after that is if his terme of doeing began not till the time of Siricius Others perhaps will say he had it much sooner Here I must tell the Papists that it is to noe purpose for them to bringe for a ground of appeales or the antiqâ—â—â—â—â— of them the acts of any perticular Heretike Schismatike or Superstitious Doter before the Nicene Councell because the mysterie did worke in the Apostâ—es time and if it were graunted that Marâ—ian and Valentinia Hereticks had recourse to the Bishop of Rome as Basiâ—des and 〈◊〉 had who were deposed for sacrificing to idols and likewise diuers Scismatiks of Afrike in the time of Cyprian yet this proues not that they might appeale or he receiue for if the Pope had had any such right then would not Cyprian haue complained of them for appealing nor of him for receiuing neither would the Councell of Nice haue limited his power and giuen as much to Alexandria But howsoeuer the question is here of power that was giuen to the Beast after his rising which could not be before the Nicene Councell because he that hindred was not then taken out of the way the Emperour not fully departed to Constantinâ—ple Neither could the burning mountaine signified vnder the second trumpet Reu. 8.8 be cast into the sea before the Nicene Councell which will appeare to be the sea as they abused it to rise out of it But indeede this burning mountaine was either cast into the sea in the time of the Councell when the Pope by his deputies might ambitiously craue of the Emperour or of the Councell that his might be the first see and haue some preeminence in power or else as I rather thinke soâ—ne after before the fall of Constantius into Arianisme signified vnder the third trumpet Reu. 8.10 when the Pope alleaged the Nicene Councell for his authority as Iulius did and thenceforth the beast might indeede begin to rise and doe yet I thinke he had not this power to doe before the time of Damasus nor longe before the yeare 380. or perhaps not till the time of Syricius aboute the yeare 386. or soone after For though wee finde in Socrates and Sosomene that before that Iulius tooke vpon him by absolute authority * Socrat. lib. 2 c. 11. Edit lat Sozom. lib. 3. c. 7. to restore sundrie Bishops of the Easterne Churches deposed for diuers causes by theire Synods because saith he the care of all Churches belonged to him by reason of his see therefore he wrote to the Bishops of the East telling them that they had donne verrie ill to determin and conclude any thinge against those Bishops without his priuitie yet as Socrates and Sosom shew they tooke his reproofes in scorne and calling a Synod at Antioch by common aduise consent retourne his imputations backe vpon himselfe with all bitternesse telling him that he was no more to controll theÌ„ if they thought fit to depriue any man in theire Churches than they intermedled at what time Nouatus was cast out of the Church of Rome Sosomene addeth That theire answer was full of scoffes and threats c. Thus as yet they gaue him noe power to doe And it seemeth that this answer wrought vpon him for in his next letter he coÌ„plained only that they called him not to theire Synod whereas before he pretended that they might not call a Councell without his authority he doth not alleadge for himselfe that either by virtue of his succession to S. Peter or of the Nicene Councell they ought to appeale to Rome his words are only theese The Fathers of Nice ordained and that not without the counsell of God that the acts of one Councell should be examined in another whereby appeares noe greater power giuen to the B. of Rome ouer Alexandria than to the B. of Alexandria ouer Rome As for the greiuance whereof he complaineth it is only this that contrary to the custome they had not written first of all vnto him concerning the differences amongst theÌ„ to haue his aduice for composing of them as beeing Bishop of the first see as also that many Synods had beene held in the East concerning points of faith and doctrine without giueing him notice thereof contrary to the Rule and canon of the Church wherein is coÌ„tained that none might impose any law vpon the Churches without the aduice of the Bishop of Rome This canon gaue him indeede that he should either be called and haue a voice in euery Councell that imposed lawes or at least that his aduise consent should be asked if he should be farre away as fell out at the generall Councell of Constantinople where Damasus was neither in Person nor by his deputies and in noe other sense did Iulius now alleadge it he complaineth not that they assembled without his leaue but that they neither called him nor vsed his aduise he doth not say that this giues him that he should be as a head or Soueraigne to confirme or abrogate at his pleasure much lesse that
they were liuely types of Antichrist and his instruments and of his secret freinds that are false brethren in other Churches and States Now therefore if any man thinke that Papists are more sincere in theire pretences to ProtestaÌ„ts let him remember what doctrine the Councell of Constance left them fidem Haereticis non seruandam yea let him reade Nauar. in Manual cap. 12. num 18. cap. 21. Sam. Aphor. tit de testibus and then tell me whether they thinke it lawfull to equiuocate and delude Hereticks with subtelties at least for the Catholick cause and how longe they are to be trusted I would he would iudge whome it most concerneth and espetially seeing God hath seemed to haue lately warned vs of such dangers I doe not meane so much by signes prodegies as by that which they haue donne to our brethren in other Kingdoms and prouinces Howsoeuer wee know that the Pope and his thinke and affirme * Symancha instit cathol cap. 45. num 13. Allan against the execution of Iustice c. 5. that warre vndertaken for the cause of religion is without controuersie lawdable and good x Thuan. hist lib. 42. ad ann 1585. lib. 62. and lib. 63. ad ann 1577. Symanch instit Cathol cap. 45. num 15. Platin in vita Greg 7. that peace is not te be made nor kept with Hereticks yea they say that the Pope hath right Imperia regna principatus quicquid habere mortales possunt auferre dare and that to whome he will as he saith and blasphemously he for this thinge abuseth that place Ier. 5.10 as Hadrian in an Epistle to the Archbishops of Treueire Mentz and Colen whence had the Emperour the Empire but from vs Behold the Empire is in our power to giue is to whome wee will For therefore are wee of God set ouer nations and Kingdoms to destroie to plucke vp to build and to plant What he and his beeing of the same body and opinion haue donne in theese times and daily goe aboute there is no neede to tell the matter it selfe declareth and that in many countries Such is theire industrie who as wee may well thinke will by theire tounges subtelties gifts hands and feete doe all things that they can for theire religion brethreÌ„ whome also wee know without commandement from God to endeauour with all possible labour night and day to venture theire verrie liues to proffit the Pope Church of Rome and to roote out the ProtestaÌ„ts although in all theese things they to theire euerlasting damnation profoundlie take the marke of the Beast in theire forheads and in theire hands And shall not wee then be content to goe forth for Christ and vnder Christ to doe as much as they while wee may both benefit the Church of Christ and secure our selues the voice saith of the whore sitting on many waters y Reu. 18. reward her as she hath rewarded you Behold then what they doe indeauour and then if thou beest a sincere Christian thou wilt say shall they doe theese things vnpunished theese things are all donne vndertaken not only out of coueteousnes or in a desire of rule but also for the Pope and Church of Romes sake yea for the Clergies sake and indeede by theire vncessant instigations but when the cause why they doe theese things shall be taken away theese will cease peace will ensue and Christ shall raigne alone in spirituall matters Wee knovv also that all things vvhich the Pope and his doe against vs for religion sake are verrie much against Christ as the Scriptures declare Wee may know also if vvee vvill how greate authority Christ hath giuen vnto his espetiallie vnto Kings and States to take from Rome and the Beast theire vvealth and not only to eate her flesh but also the flesh of her freinds Reuel 19.17 and that verrie iustly because many of our Brethren haue beene by them led captiue and slaine for as the Lord vvould haue the deedes of Ameleck remembred and recompensed Exod. 17.14 and 1. Sam. 15. so he saith concerning theese men Reu. 13.9.10 If any man haue an eare let him heare He that leadeth into captiuitie shall goe into captiuitie He that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword And therefore though they haue no auctoritie to take from the follovvers of Christ yet they vvhich are Christs ought to doe his commandements against those his enemies and vvhether theese things can be donne vvithout losse to any saue Rome only as also vvhether they that haue power should feare to doe his commandements and what it is to haue communion vvith so greate enemies the props of the Whore and Antichrist as 2. Corinth 6.14 Deuter. 7. vvhat it is to stand afarre off and not to fight vnder Christs Standart let any true Christian iudge seeing as a greate Prelate saide in a like case a Epise Winton Tortura Tort. in Epis Dedica This cause is of that kinde wherein when a man gathereth not with Christ he scatereth with Christs aduersarie where vnlesse one deliuer the faith neither shall he deliuer his Soule Also Now when the common cause is brought into danger let noe man be a spectatour but euerie one an actour and where the cause of all men is handled there with all power and labour with all studdie and indeauour to skirmish stoutly for it And herein in what low state soeuer a man be yet let him be a Christian. The cause of religion is in danger and if they that professe the same religion helpe not what religion the while is there in them The name Religion commeth of a word that signifieth to binde and it is a spirituall bond whereby the men of each profession are bound one vnto another and knit fast together in faith and loue as one body In the true religion they are knit together vnder Christ and are both bound vnto him theire head and also vnto one another as true members of the same body Is any member then of Christs body in danger and will not all the rest helpe He that will not helpe is he a member doth he not cut himselfe off from the body if he stand like a newter when Iabesh Gilead was in danger and the enemie sought b 1. Sam. 11.2.7 to lay it for a reproch vpon all Israell the feare of the Lord fell on the people and they came out as one man as one body euery man shewed himselfe a true member there vvas true Religion As therefore Christ counted himselfe touched vvhen his members vvere touched Act. 9.4 so ought it to be amonge the members of his body vvho vvhen one is in danger should all make it theire ovvne case and helpe vvhat they can c Iam. 1.27 Pure religion and vndefiled before God is this to helpe the distressed in theire affliction True Protestants are novv the Isâ—aell of God the diuers Nations are but as the seuerall tribes they should be all knit
on hard conditions bringe the protestant cause into a much worse state this beeing brought aboute thē appeares what was indeede the drift of theire designes They that are lukewarme and seeke theire owne not that which is Christs theese are willing to conniue they will not contradict the former but serue the times what euer they be others haue a desire to speake but there is no place for them amonge Princes others haue both place and will but they are affraide to such a one the holy Ghost saith n Hest 4.14 If thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time then shall there enlargement and deliuerance arise to the people of God from another place but thou and they Fathers howse shall be destroied How greate is the coldnes but why doe wee wonder when as it seemeth in the time of greatest danger the coldnesse should be so greate that the Angell standing in the Sunne should haue neede to crie with a loude voice as if men feared whether they might for Christs cause hurt his enemies peraduenture not allowing the cause of Religion to be a sufficient cause of warre although the aduersaries neither haue beene nor are so scrupulous and God hath saide of the Whore serue her as she hath serued you peraduenture pretending also that if this vvere granted the aduersaries vvould also openly say the same things for themselues the Diuell the Pope Papists vvill desire and indeauour that vvee may alvvayes be of that minde that in the meane time they who are otherwise affected may preuaile ouer vs all but in the meane while theese men who professe themselues Protestants are vnwilling to see that warre vndertaken as matters stand at this day both with our brethren with the faith it selfe yea with our selues also might rather be called defensiue * S. Francis Bacon Lo. Verulam his Consideratiōs Touching a warre with Spaine and preuentiue then offensiue the zeale and Iesuited Spirits of the aduersaries giueing all protestant Princes States soe iust cause of feare and preuenting care Neuerthelesse when our seeming protestāts to maske palliate theire owne trecherie in religion or at least to couer theire owne lukewarmenes and cowardise call this warre ignominious and the perswasion thereunto a Iesuiticall doctrine they doe not or will not see that this is to condemne those noble Kings and theire acts who shall make the whore desolate and naked and burne her with fire Is not that a warre vndertaken for religion sake and for Christs cause Let them therefore remember that there is greate difference betweene those who are of the true religion and those who only affirme or thinke themselues to be such betweene those who know that they shall fight against the enemies of Christ and those who only pretend or imagin this thinge betweene those vvho are moued to vvarre for the Popes and Church of Romes sake and those vvho are moued thereto for Christs and theire owne safeties sake betweene those who receiue the marke of the Beast haue his name for it seemes in theire meaning theire Armies are called Catholick Armies and themselues Catholicks that is vniuersals of theire ruler the Pope who is called the Catholick or Vniuersall Bishop Isa 63.19 in many things Christ beareth no rule ouer them therefore they are not called by his name at least not rightly yea betweene them that murther the Seruants of Christ and those who beare the marke of the liueing God follow and obey him by rooting out his enemies to the glorie of God and the libertie of the Church lastly betweene them who are hereto allured by the Beast and false Prophet and gathered together by the spirits of Deuils working myracles and those who are commanded of God concerning the whore sitting on many waters Reward her as she hath rewarded you double vnto her double c. And if this be as Deut. 7. yet Christ who is theire leader doth p Reu. 19.11.14 in righteousnes iudge and make warre they are no better to him then cananites and his Seruants follow him vpon white horses clothed in fine linnen white and cleane The blood therefore of theese his enemies doth not defile them Neither can any ouercome him who ouercommeth the Kings because he is q chap. 17. the Lord of Lords and Kinge of Kings and they that are with him are called chosen and faithfull There is therefore no danger or cause why theese Seruants of Christ should feare to fight least they should be vanquished in warre seeing vnto them the Lord hath r Reu. 16.10 chap. 17.14 chap. 18.10 chap. 19.18 assured victorie and to theire aduersaries destruction He that hath promised this thinge is theire Leader and ſ vers 11. he is called Faithfull and true He will surely do it Wee haue his word for this thinge And t 2. Tim. 2.13 if wee beleeue not yet he abideth faithfull he can not denie himselfe Those greate Searchers therefore that weigh the power of the aduersaries by the strength of theire humane forces and polecies wherein indeede they seeme to exceede vs are like the tenne that searched Canaan who dishartened the people with a relation of the enemies strength so farre are they from Calebs faith and courage who saw as much and yet saide u Num. 13.28 let vs goe vp at once and posesse it For though as Moses often saide they were seauen nations greater and mightier then Israel yet he knew that God had assured destruction to them and victorie to his people Such men therefore may doe well to remēber what Christ saith w Reu. 21.8 the fearefull and vnbeleeuing shall haue theire part in the lake They consider not that God doth commonly for his greater glorie ouercome the greatest enemies by a power weaker in all humane reason then themselues x Ioel 3.10 Beate therefore youre plow shares into swords youre pruning hookes into speares let the weake say I am stronge as the Prophet willeth and let no man withhold them from this warre fearing lest they should be defiled with blood or thinking the issue will be doubtfull and that therefore it would be better to perswade to peace which yet when he most would he shall hardly longe obtaine from them that are gouerned by the Pope Howsoeuer as Polibius saith * Polib Hist lib. 4. p. 300 If peace be iust and honest it is a worthy possession and most proffitable but if it be dishonourable and base it is of all things most shamefull pernitious Now if wee consider how the case hath stood and yet doth with our brethren the followers of Truth yea and with the Truth it selfe wee will then graunt what one proueth B. Hall Contemp on Dauid and Achish viz. that the true Servants of God are in theire places when they are in opposition to his enemies Profession of hostility becomes them better then leauges of amity And indeede while Protestants seeke or take peace of the Souldiers of
Antichrist they both make them thinke it is feare of theire strength and also so puffe them vp with conceite thereof that as time serues they will be the more desirous of warre and all occasions thereof Yea it causeth that while such a peace lasteth they will not cease to encroach demaund and obtaine either by flatteries or threats till they may by peace get more to themselues and theire religion then they could haue donne by warre Nor is it likely that such will longer hold it then theire aduantage increaseth therein Neither is it alwaies sufficient before God to say wee desire peace espetiallie where it is quarrell enough against thē that they haue the marke of the Beast are the Souldiers of Antichrist and members of the greate whore whose destruction is commanded For as a famous Diuine saith B. Hall Contemp on the Gibeonites He that calls himselfe the God of peace proclaims himselfe the God of hosts and not to fight where he hath commanded is to breake the peace with God whiles wee nourish it with men And who euer got by angring him to please others or by loosing his fauour to get the momentarie and vncertaine freindship of others vncertaine I call it because God that hath iniurie thereby may therefore suffer it to be turned into deceite hatred and greater damage That which men doe vniustly to preuent an euill though it seeme greate polecie is by Gods iust iudgement often turned into a cause that bringes the same euill vpon them as appeareth Gen. 11.4 Isa 30.1.2.3 Ioh. 11.48 I know that in many places causes times that place may verrie well be alleadged If it be possible as much as in you lieth Rom. 12.8 liue peaceably with all men But when God would that the whore should be burned and that the seauen Angels haue begunne to powre out theire vials full of the wrath of God yea when theese things are alreadie in theire progresse who is there who if he be a true Protestant and Seruant of Christ will say that this or the like place is congruently alleadged betweene free Princes of so contrarie Religions to hearken is at that time better then sacrifice and Christ to be heard Mat. 16.24.25.26 Ioh. 12. If any man serue me Ioh. 12.25.26 let him follow me and where I am there shall also my Seruant be If in warre then with him if in peace then with him When diuers Kingdomes forsooke the Beast and whore to follow the Word it was saide The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. Reu. 11. Since that time Christ and they that follow him haue continually skirmished against Antichrist and his followers and should continue so doeing till Rome and Antichrist should be destroyed as is shewed Reuel 14. chap. 15. chap. 16. c. And will Princes and States then that are his Leiftenants suffer the Beast and his to recouer or spoile any of theese Kingdoms either by force or fraude surely if they doe those Princes will condemne them who with all theire might defend and extend the dominion of Antichrist and so will they also who at the Popes becke led greate Armies to recouer Palestina and that though God in Scripture require no such thinge but rather shewes that it shall lie vnder the curse till the restauration of the Iewes Reu. 11.15 whereas he saith the contrarie of theese Kingdoms And yet the Iesuits Preists and other Papists goe aboute with the firebrands of errour and sedition that like Sampsons foxes they may at least spoile theese vines garnaries which are Gods and not as his foxes did the enemies Now they that are in authority may know if they will that Christ our d Can. 8.11 Salomon had a vineard he let it out vnto keepers and that therefore they should thinke of that e chap. 2.15 Take vs the foxes the litle foxes that spoile the vines Espetially seeing theire cunning Preists are such as the wonderworking dreamer and false Prophet of whome God saith f Deut. 13.8.9 and chap. 17.7 Thou shalt not consent vnto him nor hearken vnto him neither shall thine eye pitie him neither shalt thou conceale him But thou shalt surely kill him g Num. 25.16 Vexe the Madianites and smite them for they trouble you with theire wiles h Gal. 5.12 I would they were cut off that trouble you For theese indeede are the riuers and fountaines through which the waters of errour which come from the Romish Sea are conueied into euery corner of the Land to the destruction of Soules Theese fountaines and riuers are also as it were the dougs by which that Sea is nourished as they by it And indeede theese are they that venture to conuey floods of those waters of errour and treason into those Lands where Poperie is thrust out hopeing thereby to bringe people backe from the obedience of theire Princes and indeede of Christ himselfe vnto the obedience of the Pope theire Maister For which they haue beene iustly punished with death as is signified Reu. 16. The third Angel powred out his viall vpon the riuers and fountaines of waters and they became blood Which viall was indeede powred out aboute the yeare 1581. when in England it was ordained by publick authoritie that all they that should indeauour by any meanes to draw the mindes of the subiects from theire obedience toward theire lawfull and naturall Prince to the Pope or for that purpose should draw them to theire religion should be put to death as traitors the good example of which Edict was in some measure followed against the Iesuits in other Kingdoms And questionlesse this is that which is signified by that viall For indeede herein the Lord gaue them blood to drinke because they that brought theese waters of Rome brought them with the danger of theire liues and therefore they were not only turned to blood to those that sent them nor only to blood in themselues beeing apprehended but also if they escaped a while to conuey them they were also turned into blood to those that receiued them as Dauid saide of the water of Bethlehem which the three mightie men fetched him through the host of the Philistines 2. Sam. 23.17 is not this the blood of the men that went in Ieopardie of theire liues Thus the righteous God gaue the Preists and Iesuits blood to drinke who as wee know haue caused many good Christians to be killed by the Inquisition and by animating Popish Princes to make warre against Protestants This is that therefore vvhich the Angell of the waters saith there Thou art righteous ô LORD which art and wast and shall be because thou hast iudged thus for they haue shed the blood of Saints and Prophets and thou hast giuen them blood to drinke for they are worthy If Gods Word say they be worthy vvhat Christian vvill pleade for them that such lavves should not be executed on them Will they doe
379. he writeth an Epistle to the Bishops of the East wherein he intimates vnto them the condemnatory sentence pronounced against Apollinaris and his Disciple Timotheus which Epistle is indited with the swelling pride of a loftic minde breathing soueraignty and preheminence aboue all other Churches as if the Roman Church were that only Apostolike chaire whereunto all other Churches ought homage and reuerence Basil Epist 20. ad Euseb Samosat Soe that S. Basil Bishop of Cesarea complaines of the pride of the West because they cared only for theire owne preheminence but not for the state of theire persecuted Brethren in the East vnder the Arrian Emperour Valens Yea he saith that he purposed oft times to haue written to the cheife of them that is to Damasus that he should not count the * Splendor superbiae splendour of pride true dignity and honour Aboute the yeare 380. a generall Councell was assembled at Constantinople Whence the Fathers of the Councell wrote vnto Damasus as to a Brother and ranke him with other Bishops of the West then assembled in Rome as theire Letters shew Theod. lib. 5. c. 9. vvhich are recited by Theodoret To our Brothers and Colleagues Damasus Ambrose Britto Valerian and other holy Bishops assembled in the greate City of Rome c. He then vvith other Bishops of the West in a Synod at Rome beeing desired as Brethren to approue the Councell of Constantinople did it and Baronius vvould perswade vs that he confirmed it as a Superiour and made it of force And indeede though Damasus durst not openly professe so much yet it seemes he was willing to take theire Letters in that sense and that it should after be thought so for he resaluteth them as Sonnes and saith that indeede they had yelded all due reuerence to the See Apostolike as if he saide desiring to haue youre acts ordered or confirmed and made good by it Which howsoeuer it was neuer so intented by the Councell yet it gaue the Popes power to doe as they were disposed then and euer after to take it and make vse of it For therevpon Innocent also vsed the same sleight when the Mileuitan Councell Anno 402. and another of Carthage Anno 413. had * See Plesses Myst Iniqui Progr 9. without consulting with him ordered matters and then in like manner acquainted him with theire acts and desired that he would adde his authority he ansvvers that they had had due regard of the Apostolicke honour I say of him which had the care and charge of all other Churches thus he assumed a power ouer Councels so power to doe as a head But some man will say it seemes that as yet he had not this power because the Popes of these times were opposed and the power ouer Councels was not yet conferred on him I ansvver Antichrist was to be opposed by some in all ages and so hath the Pope beene by perticular men and in many Councels and euen of late in the Councels of Constance and Basil which declared that a Councell was aboue the Pope yet he tooke it before and had it as the Beast vvas to haue it by his ovvne ambitious vsurpation and the flatterie of his follovvers But as far as I can finde not before the time of Damasus aboute the yeare 380. And then indeede he had also begunne to take it vpon him in the case of appeales espetially in that Epistle vvhich he vvrote to Stephanus Archbishop of Mauritania Poâ—â— Council vvherein he pretendeth that all the greater sort of causes ought to be referred to his hearing and that they could not be descided but by his authority as also that the prouision of Bishops belonged to him vvherein also he qualifieth the Church of Rome vvith the title of the Pirmament of all Bishops and top of all other Churches emboldened noe doubt therevnto by Letters sent before that time vnto him from the saide Stephanies vvho complained that certaine Bishops had beene deposed in in Afrike adding that this vvas donne though they all knew well enough That Censures of Bishops all other causes of moment ought to be reserued to the audience of the Bishop of Rome whom he termeth the Father of Fathers and thereby giueth him power to doe himselfe beeing of that broode of Schismatiks of whome S. Cyprian complained in his dayes that beeing censured would presently crosse the Seas to Rome And indeede it is the more likely that there had beene such pride or vsurpation in Damasus and flaterie in his followers I. Because the Councell of Constantinople did not only limit euery Patriarch Theod. lib. 5. cap. 9. and gaue equall priuileidges to Constantinople but euen declared that there was an auncient law and decision of the Nicene Councell that the Bishops of euery Prouince with those which dwelt neere vnto them should ordaine theire owne Ministers Concil Const Can. 5. 7. Can. Graec. 3. diuiding the prouinces for the auoidance of confusion And ordaining that if in any prouince a matter of difference hapened to arise it should be decided by the Synod of the same prouince II. Because Syricius aboute the yeare 386. emboldened as it seemes by the power which Damasus had taken the flateries of such as followed him feared not to say to Himerius B. of Aragon Siricius Epi. 1. ad Himer That it is not lawfull for any Preist of the Lord to be ignorant of the decrees and statutes of the Sea Apostolike and therefore requesteth him to make knowne such ordinances decrees as he should send vnto him not only to those of his owne Diocesse but also to those of Carthagena Andalusia Portugall Galeace and others that is in effect to all the Prouinces of Spaine which could not saith he but be glorious vnto him who was a Preist of so longe continuance Purposing to vse the ambitious humour of this Prelate to extend his authority law and traditions through Spaine And in his 4. Epistle to the Bishops of Afrike That without the priuitie of the Sea Apostolike that is to say of the Primate none might presume to ordaine a Bishop All which makes it most cleare that he had the power to doe which the Beast was to haue in the beginning of his raigne His ambition was so apparaÌ„t and men in those times so prone to flatter him with titles that in remedy thereof the third Councell of Carthage anno 397. Siricius then sitting Pope decreed That the Bishop of the first See should not be called the Prince or Cheife of Priests or high Priest or by any other such name but only the Bishop of the first See As for the name of vniuersall Bishop that the Bishop of Rome it selfe should not be called by that name Which shewes that theese titles had beene giuen him by some flatterers in those dayes or why else should the Councell make this Canon this Siricius to shew the Beast was risen had power to doe stablished the forbiddance
came now to make him vnderstand what should befall the Iewes chap. 11.2 and to tell him the truth of the visions would so sodainly and at once make such a large step as is from the time of Antiochus Epiphanes to Antichrist or the Turke and that without telling Daniel that now he would shew him another Kinge and Kingdom which seeing he did not here as he had donne concerning all the former * See vers 2.3.4.5.6.7.10 Kings and Kingdoms both here and also chap. 8.20 it is plaine that he speakes of the same Kinge and Kingdom and so indeede whereas he had spoken before of the Kings of the North and South vers 6.7 c. viz. Syria and Egypt in theire seuerall successions and came at last to Antiochus Epiphanes Kinge of the North and his acts both against the Kinge of the South and also against the Iewes he there without intermission or variation continueth speaking of them vnder the same titles vers 40. which is an infallible argument that he continueth speaking of the same Kinge Kingdoms and times III. The sequell of the Storie answereth to the Prophesie for Antiochus did all this as * See D. Willet on Daniel many haue proued out of the Maccabes and other Histories Neither let any man thinke that Antichrist can not be destroied till Christ come to iudgement and that therefore it will be in vaine to beare armes against him and his Supporters in theese times For if it could be so that he should stand till then yet noe man can be sure that the day is farre off or at hand But it is manifest by the Scriptures that those words of Saint Paul 2. Thes 2. Whome the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightnes of his comming Reu. 19.14.15.17 c. vers 20.21 chap. 2.16 must needes be meant of that comming when the armies follow him Reuel 19. For then Antichrist is destroyed and then also Christ fighteth with the Spirit or sword of his mouth So he saide of Pergamos and the false Teachers in her Repent or else I will come vnto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth Isa 59.19.20 Rom. 11.26 And so the deliuerer shall come to Sion as Isaiah shewes It is most manifest therefore I say that Saint Paul meaneth such a bright comming against Antichrist both with the Word and with the swords of Princes and that he shall be wholly destroyed as also that after his destruction the Nations Gog and Magog shall fight with the Saints Reu. 20.9 and that before the day of iudgement For the day of iudgement shall come as a theife in the night and noe man can know before when it shall be Reu. 19.17 but when the Angell standing in the Sunne hath called many to the certaine destruction of Antichrist and his Supporters euen to eate the flesh of Kings and the flesh of Captaines c. and at the same time Antichrist hath also called many to fight in his defence Antichrist is taken and destroyed but if the World should then haue an ende then all who are called to this Battaile at least all that come against him might know the day of iudgement for they are called to the certaine destruction of him and his to cate the flesh of Kings c. but the whole World can not haue so sure and vissible a signe of the ending of the World seeing the Scriptures are contrarie herevnto and shew that after this another battaile is fought with Gog and Magog and therefore the World can not then ende The like might also be saide when afterwards the Nations Gog Magog are gathered together in battaile against the Saints Reu. 20.7 if the world were to ende with that battaile the Saints that meete there might know it before But this they doe not know therefore the world is not to ende at that time Yet how soone after that it shall ende God only knoweth It seemes that as the Isralites soone forgate his wonders in Egypt so will those that suruiue theese two battailes and then they beeing in security the day will take them or theire posteritie as a theife in the night Soe that theese obiections doe not hinder but that all theese things may shortly be fulfilled espetially Romes Ruin Gen. 6.3 Wee must not thinke that Gods Spirit will alwaies striue with that Church noe more then he did with the old world to whome he gaue 120. yeares time of repentance when once the longe suffering of God waited while the Arke was preparing in the dayes of Noah 1. Pet. 3. a preacher of righteousnes and so indeede God hath now giuē Rome well neere the like time since the preaching of Luther an 1517. wherein God by him and others would haue cured Babel but she would not Therefore when his longe suffering hath a like time waited and they repent not to giue him glorie her Ruin must needes approach and follow And indeede the warres and other troubles that are already begun amonge many nations shew that theese things are at hand and namely that ere longe Rome the greatest cause of them shall be destroied The blood of the Saints shed in theese warres cries to heauen for speedie vengeance on Pope Turke but espetially and first of all on Rome as the cause of all For she deuided the Empire into East west and so made way for the Turke to enter by that diuision and was therein the cause of all the slaughters which since haue beene made by Turkes vpon Christians It would aske to much time to reckō vp all the warres that she hath caused and the blood that she hath otherwise shed in former times To say nothing of the execrable practises of the bloodie inquisition if wee only looke on the warres of Christendom in theese times wee may finde that she hath beene the increaser if not the prouoker and so beginner of them all Call to minde vvhat her instruments the Iesuits and Preists made the Emperour doe against the Bohemians to make them reuolt and soe to breede all those vvarres there in the Palatinate to the cruell martyrdom of many thousands of Protestants all still by the animation encouragemēt of the Pope and Romish Clergie See what troubles and slaughters they haue raised in Garmanie France and the Low countries and how easie will it be to finde her guiltie of all the blood that hath of late beene shed in all theese places and that therefore she is like to be as dangerous to all that suruiue if to preuent it she be not the sooner destroyed as it is written Reu. 17.6 The Woman was drunken with the blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Iesus * chap. 18.24 In her was found the blood of the Saints and of all that were slaine vpon earth And indeede they are still so fierce in persuite of
blood and haue so greate hope of bringing all Nations to the obedience of theire Pope and Church that there is noe probabilitie that they will euer giue ouer till she be destroyed And he that will may see that God hath therefore permitted her to goe on in this wickenes to the ende that all true Protestants all true Christians might be thereby moued in Christian pitie and for the saueing of Christian blood which otherwise she will not cease to shed to combine theire forces to remoue her props to weaken her greatest Supporters the howse of Austria the French and the Polonian and then to pull her downe for her sinnes haue reached vp to Heauen and God hath remembred her wickednes Christ against whome they fight as he also against them hath as it were by all theese things saide to them that seeke peace with or for Papists as Iehu to each messenger 2. King 9.18 What hast thou to doe with peace turne thee behinde me and concerning Rome as he concerning Iezabel Who is on my side who Yea God hath as it were by all theese things proclaimed warrs and shewed that he will haue warres till she be destroyed and who then is able so to resist his will as without her Ruin to worke peace For the Kings must destroy her and the warrs mencioned Reu. 17.16 and chap. 19. can not be preuented And therefore though the Protestants in all countries doe now seeme to be in more danger then Rome and Antichrist yet it is marueilous to see how God hath begunne to prepare fit all things to this worke First by suffering the Papists to prouoke Protestant Princes and States to it by theire warres victories and practises Secondly by taking away or at least binding and weakening the greatest impedinent and danger and indeede by weakening or halfe pulling away her props The greatest impediment and danger that hath euer beene suspected is that if Protestants and Papists should fight one against another the Turke would take that for an opportunitie to breake in vpon them endanger all Christendom But by the ill successe which was lately giuē him in Poland his warres with the Persians and others the lazines and indisposition of his Ianizaries the sinewes of his warre theire insolencie and stubbornes who will now doe but what they list the murder of Osmond by them the vnapt or rather foolish humours of Mustepha that hath beene twise deposed and the childishnes of him that now raigneth God hath as it were takē all the cause of that feare away and while of late he hath suffered them to doe nothing against Christendō worth the mentioning he hath conuinced those preachers and others in England and elswhere of notorious flaterie trecherie who while the Palatinate and other protestant bulwarks were in danger to get preferment by pleasing the late Duke his Mother and some others hindred supplies and timely aide by crying out against theese warres of Protestant against Papist and saying it would bring in the Turke to get all Which hath beene the cause of greate losses to Protestants for in the meane while the howse of Austria and the French Kinge preuailed Besides if the worst should come viz. that the Turke should attempt it he can only endanger the Popish Princes that lie next him and so keepe them buisied that they should not be able to rescue Rome neither is it likely that he could easely ouercome them For Poland alone hath of late beene hard enough for him and the Turke indeede is not so dangerous to our Religion as the Papist who doth daily striue more by eagre warres and practises to subdue vs then the Turke doth Besides the Turke suffers Christians to enioy theire religion in his dominions with lesse persecution the Papists in theire dominions put all Protestants to death or greate damages God hath also in some respects pulled aside and weakened the mightiest props of Rome and Antichrist as first the Emperour who notwithstanding all his Victories and strength is in that respect of supporting Rome much weakened because he is in so much danger of the Turkes and of his owne discontented Subiects Nobels Husbandmen and others that he can not come to helpe her for feare they should in the meane while ioyne against him with the much iniured Princes of Germanie he beeing also farre off from Rome The like may be saide of Poland and in some sort of France also Italie is diuided amonge many Princes most of them of small force and euer at discord Venice the strongest of them hath longe beene at variance with the Pope The greate whore then hath but one greate prop one greate supporter namely the Kinge of Spaine whose state as many haue * Sr. Fran. Bacon lo. Verulam his considerations touching a marre with Spanie proued is nothing secure but stands on sliperie and disunited grounds against whome all Protestant Princes haue cause to fight as against one that seekes a Monarchie to be vniuersall Kinge yea to support the papacie to bring all to his the Popish subiectiō * Isa 30.3.4 But he that helpeth he that is holpen shall both fall when God shall come downe to fight for Sion And therefore when he shall please to weaken or remoue this Prop from supporting that See the way lies open to Rome and her finall ouerthrow The vnited States haue dōne nobly against him espetially of late in the Indies and if others would as sincerely striue and indeanour to doe as much it might soone be effected at least if the Iesuited freinds of Rome and Spanie that lurke in protestant States were once discouered and expelled All which things considered I can not enough vvonder at the coldnes of this age vvherein there are many some also of greate auctority strength vvho knovv the Beast and see his Ministers vvorking together and tiranizing and yet are not moued to further this vvorke by the best meanes vvith Constancie courage perseuerance Are not those things fulfilled Mat. 24.12 Phil. 2.21 Because iniquitie shall abound the loue of many shall waxe cold All seeke theire owne and no man that which is Christs that so he alone might raigne in spirituall matters seeing nothing indeede but the destruction of Rome can vvorke this or giue peace and felicitie to the Church as all mē may see vvho either looke diligently into the Scriptures or into the practises of the enemies and how Princes are animated by Romish Spirits yet I confesse that this can not easely be donne till the Kings of Spanie and France her cheifest props and champions be first vveakened and put in feare of her torment vvhich indeede vvill make them stand a far off and soe is a part of the vvorke But vvhen she is destroied a greate multitude crie Reu. 19.6 Alleluia For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth And will they then be slack in giueing theire moneyes weapons labours counsailes or consents to this worke The Papists are not
together vnder one head viz. vnder Christ and that to fight against Antichrist vvho now raigneth Is any member then in danger and vvill not all the rest helpe he that can helpe and will not is he a member Ioshua doth greately praise the Reubenites and the Gadites and the halfe tribe of Manasseh when he saith to them d Iosh 22.1.3 Ye haue not left youre Brethren theese many dayes vnto this day but haue kept the charge of the commandement of the Lord youre God There are many who call themselues Protestants and yet how few that truly desire this praise by protesting sincerely against the Beast and his members who beare his marke and fight stoutely for him and for one another Psal 2. The Kings of the earth band themselues and the rulers take counsell together against the Lord and against his Anointed Doe those who professe themselues Seruants of Christ doe as much for Christ and for one another as yet they haue not Christ saith luk 16.8 The children of this world are in theire generation wiser then the children of light I would to God they were not also more zealous and bold for theire Maister Doe wee not see what mischeife the freinds of Antichrist daily put in practise against the Seruants of Christ and how the Pope approues of theese deedes And how longe they who haue the marke of the Beast are gouerned by the Pope and led by the Iesuits are to be trusted in any thinge that they preteÌ„d I hartely wish that they would iudge whome it most of all concerneth In the meane time wee must pray as Psal 74. Haue respect vnto the couenant Psal 74.20 for the darke places of the earth are full of the habitations of crueltie And as Isa 63. 15. to chap. 65. Our aduersary the Deuill who allwayes goes aboute like a roaring Lion seeking whome he may deuoure without all doubt labours so much the more when he knowes that he hath but a litle time for the Beast and Whore and Dragon He will labour to haue his Agents in all Courts and Kingdoms that they may by all the pretexts proiects and deuises that may be inuented make some fight openly and others worke secretly for the Beast and Whore but espetially that they may vnder colour of wisdom keepe such as are best able from aiding theire brethren or fighting against the Whore and her props that so noe man of power may seeke to fulfill Gods will in aiding the Church or ruinating the Kingdom of the Beast but rather forsake the Spouse of Christ and leaue her members in danger of the aduersaries that so Papists may by degrees recouer or destroy all To this ende he will labour vvhat he can to get aduantage out of all dispositions and affections as of old out of the disposition and affection of Ahasuerus a Kinge benigne munificent credulous voide of suspition greately loueing trusting his Seruants The deuill therefore labours that Haman might be in grace because he knew that no man would contradict him that should be most in fauour with the Kinge but rather that euerie one would be readie to flatter him in all things whatsoeuer he goes aboute and that therefore he might make the Kinge beleeue that his best subiects the Iewes were the Kings greatest enemies and that to this ende that whereas at that time God was aboute to do some good for his people the Iewes then in captiuity he might by this Haman wholly destroy the Iewes and so not only frustrate Gods benignitie and the restauration of true religion but also by this meanes wholly destroy the Kinge by causeing that for his iniustice and crueltie God might be his enemie Neuerthelesse Haman vsed a pretext saying Esther 8.3 It is not for the Kings proffit or honour to suffer them as if he should say they are against the Kings prerogatiue for he saith theire lawes are diuers from all people neither keepe they the Kings lawes so others pretend Ezra 4.12 Dan. 3. chap. 6.13 yea Haman pretends that the slaughter would be verrie proffitable to the Kinge whereas on the contrarie chap. 7.4 if they had beene sold for bondmeÌ„ bond-women the enemie could not counteruaile the Kings damage so good Subiects were they and proffitable to the Kinge neuerthelesse by this meanes he had preuailed with the Kinge if God had not turned it so powerfull was the man whome the Kinge did to much loue and that the Deuill knew well enough and that therfore he vvas an instrument the fitter for such a worke although indeede his life was most dangerous his death most proffitable to the Kinge according to that Pro. 25.5 Take away the wicked from before the Kinge and his throne shall be established as if he should say otherwise it stands in danger As Rehoboam found 1. King â—â— vvho vvas led by the counsell of the vvicked younge men to speake roughly to the people The Deuill knew vvel enough that the strength of the King did vnder God most of all coÌ„sist in the loue of the people vvho vvhen they loue and are loued vvill giue theire substance and liues for him the Deuill therefore sought to alienate the heart of the Kinge from the people and thereby the heart of the people from the Kinge that so the Kingdom diuided in it selfe might not stand but might lie open to diuision and thereby to the Gentiles and so that by that meanes the true Religion might also be quite put out And wee may be sure that he hath now so laboured still will to doe the like against religion in Protestant Kingdoms States So also when God was aboute to reedifie the Citie Temple Ezra 4. Nehem. 2. chap. 4. and chap. 6. the Diuell raised vp scorners and slanderers against the builders that they might hinder the worke And when Ioshua was aboute a good worke l Zach. 3.1 Satan stood at his right hand to hinder him So when God vvas m Iud. 13.5 aboute to deliuer Israel by Sampson the Deuill and the Philistins raised vp a Delilah to hinder him And his industrie is indeede alwayes so greate that vvho can looke for better froÌ„ him in theese times Howsoeuer wee see what Antichrist doth daily practise against Christ theÌ„ that are his how also he keepes the people in blindnesse and hinders the true preaching obedieÌ„ce of Gods Word therein Christs raigne yea how the cause of the Gospel doth euery where seeme to go backwards the cause of Rome to waxe lustie yet few are moued to seeke a right remedie They who are outwardly ProtestaÌ„ts inwardly Papists they desire to rectifie all things vnder pretext of greate zeale wisdom they still seeke such an excelent remedy as shall in shew promise greate redresse yet shall indeede come to no ende but spend in vaine time treasure and labour giue the Papists opportuintie of enlarging theire bounds make protestants be glad of peace