one Professour of the Romish Religion was put to death for hearing their Masse or refusing our Church c. Mine eares and eyes have impartially inquired after these men but Gyges is revived this glorious Army of Romish Martyrs doth march invisibly not one precedent can be produced That parallell of Popish and Protestant Persecutions Ab. in Eud. c. 6. proposed by the Lord Coke is plaine and to the purpose In the five yeares of Queen Maries raigne three hundred Protestants were put to death onely for religion But under Queene Elizabeth and shee raigned forty and foure yeares not fully thirty were put to death and some five who concealed them and all for Treason not one onely for religion Where we distinguish of the Popish religion The plaine Popish religion which consisteth in those cases controverted betwixt the Romish and Reformed Churches as concerning Purgatory Pilgrimages Prayer for or to the dead c. besides there is a Gregorian Popery or the Papacy rather brought in by Hildebrand and borne up by the Iesuites concerning the Popes power over Princes Never did any die for the former For the latter these thirty did dye and meritoriously being therin ipso facto notorious Traitors And whereas Eudaemon maketh the objection in his Apology that wee make their meere points of Religion to be Treason as to bee made a Roman Priest to reconcile or to bee reconciled to the Romish Church to bring into our land Agnus Dei's Holie Beads c. The learned Bishop of Sarisbury doth Abb. in Eud. c. 6. render a full satisfaction in his Apologie who answereth that these also call not their lives into question dummodo per se sunt if they goe no further But when under the pretence of them the people were incited to rebellion the Crowne and Kingdomes hazarded then such persons were arrested and Suffered for Treason Which is most apparent both because many of Queene Maries Priests lived without any danger of death under Queene Elizabeth also because Hart Bosgrave Horton and Rishton learned and through Papists injoyed their lives in as much as they medled not with those publike affaires But the others who preached that the Pope had authority above the Queene in her own Dominions that the Pope had Authoritie to depose her that the Pope could give authority to her Subjects to take up Armes against her that those Priests did perswade the Papists not to take the Oath of the allegiance herein they became actuall Traytors and were put to death for palpable treason But for meere religion and plaine popery never did any one papist dye in all the raigne of Queene Elizabeth no nor of King Iames nor of King Charles neither Where then is extant that glorious army of Popish English Martyrs Thinke not now that these are single reports and that Baronius and Suarez are singular in charging our Church with persecutions You shall finde an Army of Writers who chronicle this Army of Martyrs The foresaid Suarez hath a large disputation in two Chapters An vexatio quam in Anglia patiuntur Catholici sit Suar. Apol. l. 6. c. 10 11. vera Christianae religionis persecutio that is Whether the vexation which the Catholikes do suffer in England be a true persecution of Christian Religion Malvenda saying that the persecutions Malv de Ant. l. 8. c. 1. which the Papists do sustain under the Protestants but under the English especially exceed all that ever Christians did suffer in the world before breakes out O Christe stupeo patientiam tuam O Christ I am amazed at thy patience Baronius in his Martyrology hath this Prosopopoeia Baron Mart. 29. Dec. Festo sancti Thomae Cantuariensis to Papists in England persecuted and martyred amongst us O moriatur anima meamorte Iustorum siant novissima mea horum similia O let my soule dye the death of the righteous and let my end be like to theirs Hath not all Europe talked of our English persecutions quoth Watson In the yeare 1621. The Papists put up a Petition to the Parl. 1621. Petition unto the Parliament pleading against their persecution But above all their Propheticall Psalmist who surely lived about the Gunpowder Treason In the first Psalme of the seven sparkes of the soule thus devoutly doe they pray to God and slander man Persecution followeth us like thuÌ„dring lightning The seven Sparkes of the soule p. 16. Fire Haile and Brimstone More cruell are our foes than Vnicornes More outragious then swift Tygers As David sought to death by Saul as the Israelites in the bondage of Aegypt As innocent Susanna in the hands of her Accusers As Daniel in the Lyons Den Such is our case O Lord. Can any English man understand this English Psalme when did England seize on the Papists like Tigers and Vnicornes What this obscure Psalmist speaketh to our God ChristophersoÌ„ Christ in Down ep Dedic speaketh somewhat more plainly to our King in his treatise against Dr Dounam What insolences and vexations are they constrained to endure And to omit the generality and severity of this persecution from which neither frailty of Sexe nor Lawes of Matrimony nor Nobility of birth can exempt any How many things lye hid and unkowne which would astonish and amaze the world if they were open to the view thereof Againe in the page following How many have beene beaten and tormented even to death in private houses without publike triall some Prentises in London can give good testimonies thereof And in the Treatise it selfe hee shameth not Christopheron part 1. c. 7. The Picture of which is in Oxens Library to avouch that shamefull shamelesse lye That some Catholikes have beene baited by Dogs in Beares skins That wee may therefore heare them utter their persecutions in plaine English let us passe froÌ„ these generall accusations to their particular instances Heare their complaint in two languages from two Authors these two alone doe I quote in this cause and Sermon which are not their owne yet their witnesse will be sufficient the one being the most learned King and the other the most learned Bishop of the world thus writeth that Bishop In Tortura Torti p. 152. Oxens Librarie Legenda illa c. In your Legend of our English persecution which is so frequent among you you may read and see the Pictures of English Papists some in the skins of beasts and torne in pieces by Bandogs others having Basins closed to their Breasts within which are mice inforced to eate into their intrals and others tyed to Mangers to eate hay or to starve The King hath the like in his conclusion to Christian Kings The Wals saith hee of their Monasteries and Iesuâ—te Colledges are filled and their bookes farced with the painted lying histories of the innumerable torments which their Martyrs are put to in England viz. some torne with foure horses some sowne in Beares skinnes and then killed with Dogs nay women have not
in Saint Pauls time and to be Revealed in our time a strange worke of Antichrist called by a strange name the mystery of Iniquity All these I have absolved Now your attention will anticipate my Sermon and expect that having passed this point all the points proposed in this text that I should proceed to another In the ninth of Matthew and the twentieth verse there is mention made of a woman diseased twelve yeres who touched but the hemme of Christs garment and she was healed I have indeed perfected the body if you please the Garment of my discourse on this Text. But the last word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exlex that wicked one or Out-Law remaineth as it were the Hemme of this Garment I will but totch it and it may heale some who are diseased even twelve yeeres who have beene brought up in Popery I proceed therefore to open this point also in the feare of God and love to our seduced brethren to heale such as are infected with Popery But if they be either absent that they cannot be healed or obstinate that they will not be healed Yet I proceed notwithstanding that if they be incurable and will not be healed by us yet that we may be carefull not to be infected by them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That wicked one This last word of my text must be my text at this time indeed containing a point as materiall as any I have yet spoken of if I had time to studie it But I depend on a great God to inable my little strength in a little time to unfold his truth This word is the tertium where both sides meet both Papists and Protestants joyne issue in this point I suppose there is no Papist but will grant that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the Out-Law is The Antichrist And for mine owne part I doe professe the Pope not to bee Antichrist if I doe not prove him to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Out-Law in the highest degree that ever man was since the Creation First to preface an answer to an ordinarie objection The Papists ordinarily doe urge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That wicked one this article of this word as if it were an article of their Creed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That wicked one is say they the singular Number therefore Antichrist is a singular person This cause indeed this causlesse cavill I have already disputed and consuted Now I onely intreat you to looke back into the last verse where the same article is used in the same sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He who letteth themselves expound the Emperour not one person but the whole succession By the same Grammaticall law it is lawfull for us to expound 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That wicked one of the Pope yet not one person but the whole succession And why is Antichrist here called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That wicked one as if he were but one The reason is rightly rendered by Aretiusâ— because his governement Aretius in 2 Thes 2. 8. is Monarchicall because in one place to one purpose and by oâ—e State in a long succession their plots and projects have beene prosecuted and perfected to the rearing and supporting of their Antichristian Monarchy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it were one man and one mind This is a singular reason for which the holy Ghost doth here terme Antichrist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That wicked one in the singular number 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth Lex a Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exlex a lawlesse person a man consined within the compasse of no Law such a one was the Type Antiochus Dan. 11. 36. He shall doe according to his will But the Antitype Antichrist the Pope is such a one in the superlative degree The Popes lawlesse actions compared to those of Antiochus are like the Sunnes reflections they double the precedent But I must not relate them out of the popish writers of Controversies though even they also shall bee produced for witnesses who use to set a faire glosse on those soule extravagancies But I must alleadge the Canonists as our principall authors in this cause For these tell us plainly Who the Pope is and what he doth but the other cunningly dispute What manner of man the Pope should be and what manner of things hee ought to doe Yet Vis unita sortior I will unite both their testimonies that their evidence may be the plainer Thus they testifie Papa Berâ—ach in repert part 4 in Dict Papa Hâ—sti â—s Casuâ— Paâ—ales 9. q. â— Cuncâ—a Aug de Anâ—ona quaest 5 Artic. 3. Distinct 96. c. 7. satis Tâ—uâ—enter Bertachin in repeâ—t part 4. in Dict. Papa Tiber. Decâ—an vol. 1. Resp 20. nu 1. est solutus legibus saith Bertachine that is The Pope is loose from all Lawes Solutus est omni lege humana the Pope is loose from all humane Law saith Hostiensis Nec ullo jure ligari potest he cannot be bound by any Law saith Aug. de Ancona He is so exempted from the Lawes that non potest judicari their popish Lawes say the Pope can be judged by no Law Nay Cum sit solutus legibus non potest accusari he is so far from the limits of the Law that none may accuse him saith the said Bertachine yea but to dispute of the power or actions of the Pope est instar sacrilegij yea sacrilegium it is neere sacriledge nay Barow in L. Sacrileâ—ijs de crim Saâ—riâ— Hostiensis casus Papalis Isoâ—o Moscon de Majest milit Eccles part 1. lib. 1. Capistranus fâ—l 130. Extrav Ioh. 22. cap. Apollolâ—tus de Concil Praebend meere sacriledge if wee condescend to those Canonists Legi non subjacet ulli Hee is subject to no Law the common axiome of the Canonists which they prove from this Title hee is called Summus that is the Highest because saith Mosconius He is supra jus contra jus extra jus above Law against Law and without Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word in my text Capistranus concurreth with a little addition of some spice of blasphemy Apud Deum Papam sufficit pro ratione voluntas God and the Pope have their will for a Law And the Pope himselfe doth testifie of himselfe none can say to him Domine cur ita facis Sir why doe you this Which is seconded by another Pope Sixtus is said to have answered his accusers in this phrase in meo arbitrio est judicer an non judicer It is in my choice whether I will be judged or not And Bellarmine Bell. de P. Rom. lib. 2. cap. 26. proposeth this as his probleme to bee maintained Pontifex à nemine judicatur in his 26. chapter of the second booke of the Pope of Rome that the Pope of Rome can be judged of none And stating the question he saith that a King hath no Superiour in Temporalls but the Pope in regard of Temporalls and
will not permit this prerogative unto the Turke The Turke therefore is not the Antichrist Sixtly the tenth verse telleth vs Antichrist shall come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in omni seductione he shall be an admirable seducer I demand did any ever heare a subtle disputation or see any Pius 2. â—pist ad Morbisan learned Booke that the Turkes have made to maintaine and propagate their religion by fine force of argument or insinuating alluring perswasions No Seducer No Antichrist Compendiously hence I will draw sixe demonstrations that The Turke cannot be the Antichrist 1. Antichrist is an apostate and the Head of apostasie The Turke is no apostate nor the Head of apostasie 2. Antichrist doth sit in the Temple and Rule the Church The Turke doth not sit in the Temple and Rule the Church 3. Antichrist is a mysticall and secret adversary The Turke is not a mysticall and secret adversary 4. Antichrist is consumed by preaching of the Gospell The Turke is not consumed by preaching of the Gospell 5. Antichrist shall pretend Miracles The Turke shall pretend no Miracles 6. Antichrist is a Seducer The Turke is no Seducer From all these Sixe Syllogismes I will frame onely this one Conclusion Therefore The Turke is not the Antichrist Let me adde one word to our Protestants who pretend that the Turke is the Antichrist as it betideth Neuters they have thankes on neither side We cannot greatly praise them that divert our people from looking or listning after the true Antichrist by telling them it may be the Turke is Antichrist And the Papists conne them no thankes for the service which they indeed doe to the Pope But they disclaime their opinion as most senselesse and erroneous By name Bellarmine Suarez and Bell. de Pont. Rom. l. 3. c. 3. Suar. Ap. l. 5. c. 10. Malvenda li. 2. cap. 5. Malvenda And indeed almost all the Popish Writers on this point Whence I conceive it would be no disparagement either to the learning or judgeof any Protestant if hee would bee pleased to tread in the footsteps of Clictovaeus who when Clictovaeus in Damasc lib. 4. 26. he had eagerly disputed this cause yet he concludeth with this confession Many things are written by S. Paul to the Thessalonians 2 Epist 2. which cannot easilie be applyed to the Turke and which appeare not yet fulfilled and never to be fulfilled in him The Staffe is plucked away the next point must fall which indeed doth leane on this Some say that both the Turke and Pope concurre in opposing Christ and that both the Turke and Pope are Antichrist This is said to be the judgement of Melancton and Iohannes Draconitus on Daniel And this was propounded by a learned English Bishop 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as a probable position for his CoÌ„mencement disputation All reverence reserved to these learned authors I am yet to learne the likelihood of this assertion They say the Turkish State and Papacy both combine in one confederacy and combination that both these though opposite ad invicem in temporalibus may and doe make one conjoyned opposition unto Iesus Christ and his truth inspiritualibus And although that externally and in regard of civill Policie they differ and doe deadly hate each other and mainly oppose one against the other yet nihil impedit but they may conspire in opposing Christ his Gospel and his Kingdome differently Thus they say and I say on the same grounds wee may adde the Iewes to this Antichristian combination and so Antichrist shall be not onely a Cecrops but a Gerion but a Cerberus They say moreouer that these two respectu finis may be accounted one in opposition against God and Christ though the meanes of effecting it be many different and diverse Turcisinâ— may one way oppose Christ vi aperta by fiery force and Popery be ad oppositum another way fraude insidijs I say Those which have a Combination have a Consent The Turke and Pope have no Consent Therefore No Combination They have no consent Ratione medij because the Turke doth oppose Christ vi aperta and the Pope fraude insidijs Nor Ratione finis because the scope of the Turke is a Temporall of the Pope is an Ecclesiasticall Monarchie The Pope opposeth Kings that he may be an Oecumenicall Bishop the Turke opposeth Bishops all Christians that hee may bee an Oecumenicall King Finally the Turke doth oppose Christians not quà Christians but as they are Adversaries to the Turkish Empire But the Pope doth oppose Christians quâ— Christians onely because they deny him to bee the Head of the universall Church which we maintaine to be Christs royall Prerogative Finally so say they Saint Iohn remembreth a Beast with two Hornes Mahomet in the East and the Pope in the West both Hornes fiercely pushing against the Saints I answer that one beast should assault any thing with two Hornes is no wonder but that those Two Hornes in one Beast should assault one another is most wonderfull No lesse admirable is it that the Turke and Pope which perpetually fight betwixt themselves should be said notwithstanding to compose one beast and make up one body of Antichrist And if I should suppose that the Turke and Pope may concurre to oppose Christ as Herod and Pilate did heretofore I must suppose withall that as Herod and Pilate was the Turke and the Pope are friends otherwise they cannot concurre to coÌ„pose one Antichrist And if it be true which Christ doth teach Luke 11. 18. then if these two Hornes compose one Kingdome of Antichrist though Antichrist doe come in all power of Satan though he be established by Belzebub the Prince of the Devills yet if this Kingdome be divided it cannot stand In two words to adde onely three properties out of this text If the Turke and the Pope make one Antichrist Then as it is in the third verse they must have One Heart of Apostasie to fall froÌ„ the Church Then as it is in the 4 they must have one Head of Supremacy to bee Rulers of the Church And then as it is in the tenth verse they must have one Tongue of fallacie to be the Seducers of the Church But that ever Turcise and Papisme should be so incorporated into Antichristianisme I thinke few can beleeve it and fewer perswade it I rather conclude that those Two States are like the two Legges of Iron and Clay Dan. 4. 43. though they should bee mingled with the seed of men and by the wit of man yet shall they not cleave to one another It is impossible that those twaine should make one Antichrist Yea the difference among Divines who the man of sin should be may be a sufficient motive to me to persevere in my opinion and for any learned ProtestaÌ„t to retract this if he hold that both the Turke and Pope or that the Turke alone be Antichrist If either of us have learned either of those Rules either that of Saint Ambrose ad quamcumque
2 Thess 2. 7. saith the same English Author on the same place as an House is long a squaring and preparing in private but at length it is joyned and reared in publike The sense of the text the mystery of iniquity doth already worke is this There is a Diabolicall stratagem under the show of Religion secretly and cunningly to undermine and overthrow Christs true Religion which hath beene working even from the Apostles time to our time That Poperie is this mystery this is the point which by Gods assistance I undertake to make plaine at this season That your understandings and memories may follow my discourse the more easily I will chalke out the way by which I meane to lead your attention First I will shew you their quaerere and then how they did parta tueri the meanes of their gaining and of their retaining the Papall greatnesse Which two stratagems are two great mysteries In their retaining it which for our time involveth the inlarging of the Papacy also they use one mystery to inveagle men and another to intangle men they have their baits to catch them and their hookes to hold them Both which they practise by a secret undermining and by a subtle countermining of their opposites Each of those exploits is like the woman Revel 17. 5. the word Mystery is written in the very forehead thereof For the first how Saint Peter poore Peter rich indeed in spiritualls but poore in temporalls so poore that he was imprisoned by a Romane Magistrate Act. 12. 3. Crucified by a Romane Emperour and certainly the basest Romane subject would have spit in his face and trod on his necke if hee should have dared to have lift up his finger against the Romane Empire Eusebius lib. â—â— 25. Moreover that the Bishops of Rome his successors did succeed and exceed him in povertie they had more ordinary frailties but farre fewer extraordinarie abilities than Peter the whole succession was so poore that they were persecuted aboue 300 yeeres and so persecuted above 200 yeares that they met in cryptis in caves corners conventicles and had not so much as one Church for their religion Calixtus about the yeere 222. did build the first Church Platina in Calixto Discours des temps depuis les Apotres anno 222. for publike Christianity Now according to the parable propounded to the triumphant Tyrant how the Naile which was in the bottome of the Wheele should sensim sine sensu by a motion insensible and incomprehensible climbe to the top and bring the loftie Naile to the Counterpoint How the Romane Church which was vnder foot should rise up and bring down the loftie Lordly Lording Romane Empire to be her underling and the whole Church of Christ together with it This is a wonder and this is the secret and the Mysterie which Saint Paul saith did worke even in his time For the framing of this plot which they have so admirably effected at this day it is generally said that the Heresies which were sowne in the Apostles times were the seed thereof And indeed so they are in generall but I suppose that the more particular prosecuting of their plot was by the publishing of those two doctrines of Devills mentioned Read the 19 Sermon 1 Tim. 4. 3. forbidding of meates and mariage which we see at this day to be the two pillars of Popery in truth the Iachin and Boaz the very strength and establishing of the Romane Monarchie 1 Reg. 7. 21. Notwithstanding I conceive the maine engine for this stratagem to bee another point the point of the Primacie which was an hammering in the Apostles times Not onely that of Diotrephes who loved preheminence in the Church as Saint Iohn taxeth him in his third Epistle Nor that of the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1. 12. where some were for Paul and some for Peter there called Cephas But principally the Primacy attempted by the Church of Rome Rom. 11. 10. Be not high minded and in the 22 verse otherwise thou shalt be cut off For this instruction against Pride though it bee generall to the Gentiles yet is it more speciall to the Romanes And Saint Paul in the same place seemeth to me to Prophecie in two fashions first by way of instruction telling what they should then eschew secondly by way of prediction foretelling what afterwards would be their ruine Now let us briefly ponder how this project of Primacy hath beene prosequuted to this present age Wee see that the seeds of ambition were sowne in S. Pauls time But the power and persecution of the Romane Empire cut downe the blades thereof that their aspiring was fruitlesse for many centuries But at length the harvest of their pride became ripe and they have reaped their Primacy or rather supremacy by these degrees and devices The first which I finde to appeare in promoting Hist Popatus cap. 4. Euseb lib. 5. cap. 22 23 24. the Romane Primacy was Victor Bishop of Rome about the yeare 194 who ordained that Easter should be celebrated by all on the Lords day but therein he was instantly opposed by Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus and by Narcissus Bishop of Hierusalem and others Victor notwithstanding confirmed his decree by a Councill held at Rome anno 196 yet so Bardus Pavin in Chronico anno 196. Histor Papatus cap. 4. as that it was received onely within the Romane Diocesse About 240 yeares after Christ Fabius Bishop of Rome called a Councill at Rome and condemned Novatiane herein hee did somewhat goe beyond the bounds of his Bishopricke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 4. 15. Novatus and Novatiane being both Africans but the piety of the Bishops and the persecution of the Emperours of that age cut off all jealousie suspition or scruple that any Primacy was affected And the godly Christians were glad that Schisme might be composed by any men or meanes Two hundred and fifty yeares after Christ Steven Bishop of Rome incroched a little more Pless Myster progress 2. and more plainly upon Spaine where Basilides Bishop of Asturia and Martial of Melida being deposed because they had sacrificed to Idolls for feare of persecution Steven writ to the Churches of Spaine peremptorily for their restitution Three hundred and fourteene yeares after our Saviour Silvester obtained from the Emperour Constantine to build Churches and many other priviledges Whence his Successors plead also the donation of Constantine that hee gave unto the Pope Rome and a great part of Italy under the name of S. Peters patrimony Although Iohannes Diaconus in the Charter of D. Collins in Eudam part 3. cap. 46. Otho the third is discovered to have beene the father of that memorable fiction Anno 336 Athanasius being condemned by a Baronius anno 34â— sect 5 6. Councill of the Arrians at Antiochia sought for succour from Iulius then Bishop of Rome who intertaining a good cause under the pretence to advance the authority of the Church of Rome
above the Easterne Churches commended the same to the patronage of the Emperour Constance But the Easterne Bishops wrote unto Iulius not to support Athanasius Iulius replyed that all might have recourse to Rome for succour as to the Superiour This they utterly disclaimed by divers Epistles to that purpose Notwithstanding Gratiane the Monke out of those selfe-same Epistles composed those Hist Papatus cap. 4. Canons whereby hee laboureth to prove the Popes Superiority Foure hundred yeares after Christ godly men to prevent tedious Law-suits chose Bishops their Arbitrators to compose such Controversies as arose amongst them Which arbitrary courses the Emperours Arcadius and Hist Papatus cap. 4. Honorius did not onely approve but moreover they authorised the arbitraments of those Bishops definitively to conclude all controversies first in causes of Religion afterwards in Civill Causes also ex consensu with the consent of both parties Hist Papatus cap. 4. In processe of time Iustinian assigned the Bishops to judge causes as Commissioners to the Emperour So long did the Emperours give leave till the Bishops did take leave to judge and by those priviledges to wrest the authority of Iurisdiction from the prerogative of the Imperiall Majesty Anno 413 Apiarius a disordered Priest of D. Sharp Dogmaticus Antich pag. 273. Africa being deprived by Vrbane his Bishop appealed unto Sozimus Bishop of Rome who sent three Legates to require the right of appellation from those African Bishops that hee might decide the controversie To which purpose his Legates alledged a Canon of Nice which those Bishops avouched to be forged because they had a Copie of that Councill For a full satisfaction they sent to Cyrill Bishop of Alexandria and to Atticús Bishop of Constantinople to conferre with their copies of that Councill but it was onely a copy of the Romish Bishops countenance such a Canon could not be found extant in neither Whereupon the Councill of Carthage consisting of 207 Bishops and S. Augustine one of them did condemne Apiarius and rejected the authority of the Bishop of Rome Neverthelesse Romish parasites have coined a strange fiction that certaine Canons of that Nicene Councill were burned by the Arrians Anno 450 Leo did persist in the promoting Leo â— in Anni ver die Assampâ— Serm. 2. of that Primacy to which purpose hee did strongly insist on that Tu es Petrus Thou art Peter Matth. 16. 18. Petrus saith he Petra dicitur dum fundamentum pronunciatur Peter is called the Rocke to shew that he is the foundation Whence he frameth a conclusion for his owne purpose and person stiling himselfe Papam Ecclesiae Catholicae The Bishop of the Leo epist 12. ad Theodos whole Church omnium Episcoporum Primatem the chiefe of all the Bishops Anno 533 the Emperour honoured Iohn Baronius the second with a solemne Embassage and by it with an obsequious protestation that he travelled Omnes Sacerdotes universi Orientis tractus subjicere unire SaÌ„ctitati vestrae To cause the union and compasse the submission of all the Clergy of the whole Easterne Country to the Bishop of Romes Holinesse But about 606 Pope Boniface the third Dounam Derens de Antichristo lib. 2. c. 8 sect 5. so now I must stile the Bishops of Rome by that name for this Boniface the third was the first to whom the name Pope was appropriated I say this Boniface in that yeare upon the murther of Mauritius apprehended an occasion to insinuate Pless Myst Progress 21. Aimoinus lib. 4. cap. 61. himselfe in the favour of bloudy Phocas who gratified him with the title of Vniversall Bishop About 740 Pope Zacharies judgment being demaÌ„ded whether best deserved the kingdom of France either he who had the Name only or hee who day and night spent himselfe in the service of the Commonwealth the Popes definitive sentence being pronounced for the latter as the better worthy of the Scepter Hence did France take occasion to depose their King translating the Crowne from Chilpericus unto Pipine And hence Rome did take occasion to claime power to dispose of that kingdome as this very example is alledged to that purpose by Suarez Apol. lib. 3. cap. 23. nu 15. Suarez in his Apology Towards the eight hundreth yeare Steven the third and Adrian the first joyned with Carolus magnus to expell the Graecian Emperour out of his Latine Dominions which being Pless Myst Progress 27. effected and so one good turne requiring another Charles being made Emperour of the West by the Pope the Pope received from Charles the Confirmation if not the donation of the City and Seigniory of Rome Thus far these Popes proceeded to some purpose Notwithstanding still the Pope was Histor Papatus cap. 4. subject to the Emperour till he beganne to incroach by a meere accident Anno 817 Paschal being constrained by the people to be Pope sent Legates to the Emperour to excuse that election The Emperour Ludovicus Pius being according to his name a sweet natured courteous Gentleman did easily admit of satisfaction yet with a check to the Clergy and to the people for their audacious act adding a caveat that they should no more dare to incroach upon his Royaltie Howbeit the clawbacke Library-keeper inserted this clause Ludovicus Pius did remit the power of electing the Pope unto Paschal the first Since which time the Popes have proceeded by more generall jugglings As namely by proposing preferments promotions and brave incouragements attractive Loadstones to invite the prime learned of the whole world unto Rome Keeping publike Registers of all the Benefactors unto Peters Patrimonie praying for the soules of such charitable persons being deceased One while trumpetting out the charity of the Popes another time sowing discord betwixt Princes that they might fish in troubled waters These made some pretty additions to their greatnesse till about 1080 Gregory the seventh so advanced himselfe against the Emperour that his successours have advanced themselves above the Emperour The Emperours at this day acknowledging themselves confirmed by the Pope and tendering a kinde of fealty to the Pope as the Sacrar Cerem l. b. 1. sect 5. c. 7. forme of their Oath is authentically extant written by Marcellus Archbishop of Corcira to Leo the tenth And thus Giges-like hath the Pope invisibly advanced himselfe into the Throne of his Master Having heard the History or Matter That the Church of Rome is made a Monarchy heare we next the Mystery Manner or the Meanes whereby this miracle was effected Which was so politikely prosequuted by such secret plots and super-subtle projects that their cunning cariage and cleanly conveyance of their purpose doth merit the title of my Text to be termed the Mystery of Iniquity The meanes which these politicians used as they were invisible so were they innumerable also I will reduce them to eight heads onely It is a memorable fact mentioned by our Fox Mart. tâ—m 1 1505. pag. 860.