also many dark spots though clear as the Sun she hath her clouds and Eclipses Many will be carryed away with errour superstitions and carnal policies yea some of all sorts rulers as well as ruled learned as well as unlearned Those that have made great shew as well as the common sort be not troubled nor suspect the true doctrine and worship these things are foretold and therefore must be We are next to enquire what this departure is which is here foretold and who be guilty of it Some have understood it of the defection of the world from the Roman Empire following the conjecture of some one leader without consideration as Calvin observes And the Rhemists recede from it very unwillingly and under correction of their Superiours but the Apostles saith the day of Christ shallnot come except there come a departure first viz. a departure from Christ The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here used for departure or apostasie is appropriated to signify a defection in or from religion so the same Apostle useth it but with an explication 1 Tim. 4.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some shall depart from the faith Moreover the head of this Apostasie is to sit in the Temple the Church of God v. 4. and to bring it about by delusions and lying miracles seducing those that loved not the truth that they might be saved but had pleasure in unrighteousness v. 10 11 12. It must therefore be a departure from the truth and purity of the Christian religion It is agreed betwixt Papists and Protestants that it is the apostasie under Antichrist as the chief head and leader of it which is here foretold but the question is who is this Antichrist Where and when this apostasie may be found As the Jews did generally expect the coming of Christ yet knew him not believed him not when he was among them so the Papists believe and expect that Antichrist shall come and miserably spoil the Church but cannot or will not see and own him though he is and long hath been amongst them That Nero shall rise again and be the Antichrist as he was the first persecuting Emperour I not worth the refuting The Papists generally teach that Antichrist is yet to come and shall endure but three years and a half immediately before the end of the world that he shall be a Jew of the tribe of Dan rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple abolish the Christian worship and almost the name of Christ but all this without any colouor proof except that slender one that he shall sit in the temple of God v. 4. Some few are so ingenuous as to confess that Rome is Babylon Antichrists seat but then some say the Heathen persecuting Emperours in the first three hundred years of the Church were this Manof sin Some again considering that it is an apostasie of professing Christians here spoken of conjecture that some Pope of Rome at the end of the world shall deny Christ become an Infidel and cause himself to be worshipped as God this should be this man of sin But the Text plainly speaks of a defection of Christians which was secretly working in the Apostles days only some thing hindered its prevailing and full discovery vi 6 7 8. The mystery of iniquity doth already work and it was to be a mysterious defection not an open and totall apostasie from Christ it was to be brought in by signs miracles lying wonders and all ungodly deceits for the just condemnation of them that received not the love of the truth that they might be saved though they received the profession of it v. 9. to 12. And the man of sin the Head of this apostasie was to sit or rule in the Temple of God which is his Church 1 Cor. 3.16 Therefore this apostasie was to be not total from the name and profession of Christ ad of his Church but a defection in the Church an apostasie from the purity of the Doctrine worship Discipline and practice of the Gospel such as should have so many excuses and specious pretences for it that the delusion should be strong and such as those that do not heartily love the truth should not be able to discern Whence we collect this proposition Proposition That the Church of Rome is and for a long time hath been the seat of this man of sin the mother of this apostasie or That Popery is the grand Apostasie of the Church here foretold This I shall make good first by some general reasons and then by the particular criteria or marks laid down in the text By the Church of Rome we mean all those Nations and Churches which as so many members make up that great body which they call the Roman Catholick Church whereof the Pope is the Head and the Church of the City of Rome the principal part By Popery we understand that religion viz. Doctrines worship Discipline and Government which is peculiar to them and distinct from all other Christians especially from the Protestant Churches and whereby they are knit into one body and society and live in one Communion distinct from and opposite to the Reformed Churches Now that this Church is apostatized from Christ and this religion is a Doctrine and practice of apostasie may appear in the general by comparing the true state of the Church of Christ with the state and Doctrine of the Roman Church 1. First The true Church of Christ acknowledgeth and worshippeth one only God the creator of the world and father of our Lord Jesus Christ This is the foundation of religion that there is one only infinite Being the fountain and author of all things else and therefore that all worship fear trust and obedience is due to him alone 1 Cor. 8.5 Though there be that are called Gods whether in heaven or in earth as there are Gods many and Lords many But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in Him But the Papists do acknowledge and worship other Gods besides him even the Host or Bread in the Sacrament and the Virgin Mary The Heathens pretend to acknowledge but one supreme God but the Papists do acknowledge that which sense reason and scripture witness to be a bit of bread to be the supreme God their maker and Lord which they usually call the Host and that it is to be worshipped cultu Latriae Conc. Trid. Ses 13. Cap. 4 5. ibid. c. 6. with that worship that is due to God alone This they keep upon their Altar in a gilded Box in imitation of the Ark of old there they teach is the special presence of God as it was in the Holy of Holies This they worship and carry in triumph by this they swear viz. by the Mass and by the Pix and this is a peculiar note and badge of their communion by which they difference themselves from others and destroy all that do not acknowledge and worship this their God as far as their power
POPERY The Grand APOSTASIE Being the Substance of certain SERMONS Preached on 2 Thes 2. v. 1. to 12. On occasion of the discovery of the desperate Plot of the Papists against the King Kingdom and the Protestant Religion By John Troughton Minister of the Gospel To which is added a Sermon on Rev. 18.4 preached November 5. 1678. London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chapel 1680. THE PREFACE TO THE READER Good Reader IT was well observed by one That next to the knowledge of Christ and of the true way of salvation by him nothing is more necessary for a Christian than the knowledge of Antichrist for hereby he may be able to distinguish the true knowledge of Christ from the corruptions and mixture with which Antichrist hath adulterated and obscured the true Doctrine of the Gospel That the Pope with his Adherents is Antichrist hath been the general opinion of learned men for these last 600. Years ever since Gregory 7. not of Protestants only Hus Wicleff and the Waldenses but also of many that lived and dyed in the communion of the Roman Church And seeing our Papists generally confess Antichrist in St. Johns epistle to be the same with the man of sin in St. Paul and with the mystical Babylon in the Apoc. they do in effect yield that the Pope is Antichrist seeing all the marks of the two latter do undeniably agree to him For this cause I have waved the particular controversies betwixt us and the Papists which have been so largely and clearly managed by our Writers both formerly and of late as less necessary for this present time there being little of reason conscience or Scripture to urge any Protestant to embrace any particular error or corruption of the Papists endeavouring briefly and summarily to shew that the Church of Rome is as Wicleff long since called it the Synagogue of Satan mystical Babylon a state of Apostate Christians that have joyned themselves to the Pope as their Head against Christ his Gospel and pure Church that by this brief consideration of things Christians may be the more stirred up to detest and to oppose in their places that body of men which call themselves the only Catholick Church that they may be the more zealous for the truth as it is received in the Reformed Churches and that they may if called to it suffer with the greater comfort what cruelties and violence God may yet permit that Beast of Rome to exercise upon his Church I my self and many that heard this discourse have thought it might be seasonable and useful in these days to plain and private Christians for the learned have no need of it because through long peace and security the error and tyranny of the Papists have been much forgotten by the people and many that hate the name of Papists scarce know the grounds they stand on and are Antipapists by a kind of implicite faith If any find their judgements informed their consciences settled their zeal and courage excited by these endeavours in these shaking times I have mine end and may they and the Church of Christ long enjoy that benefit to the glory of God and their own comfort to the strengthening of their brethren and the shame of their implacable and restless adversaries Thine in the work of the Gospel J. T. 2 THES 2. v. 1. to 12. Now we beseech you Brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him v. 2. That you be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled neither by Spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand v. 3. Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition c. THese words begin a new discourse and contain an earnest obtestation to the Thessalonians not to be troubled at the Doctrine of some that the day of Christ viz. his second coming was at hand which though in appearance it tended to holiness and watchfulness to make men live in preparation for Christs coming yet seeing his coming was not nigh and many great things were to be transacted first both in the world and the Church this perswasion would take off Christians from their repective duties in the several places and times they should live in and would give great occasion to Atheistical mockers to think and say Christ would never come seeing his coming was so long delaied beyond expectation of his servants and consequently that all the Gospel was a fable and Religion vain which also was foretold 2 Pet. 3. v. 3 4. In the last days shall come Scoffers walking after their own lusts saying Where is the promise of his coming for since the Fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were The Apostle therefore beseecheth them by the coming of Christ and our gathering to him i. e. As sure as they did believe Christ would come and his Saints should be gathered to him so also to believe that his coming was not nigh but that great transactions and changes should come before that day Or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be well rendered I beseech you for the sake of the coming of our Lord and our gathering to him i. e. that you may not bring this Doctrine of Christs coming into Question when the world shall see you are mistaken in the time when you looked for it That you be not soon shaken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. That you be not unsetled or made to fluctuate in your minds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor be perplexed This is the obtestation Next the Apostle signifies the means how this perplexing Doctrine was introduced amongst them viz. By spirit by word or by pretence of his Epistle v. 2. Then renewing his obtestation v. 3. Let no man deceive you by any means 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by any pretence whatsoever he entereth upon the confutation of this opinion telling them that Christ would not come till there had been an Apostasie in the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is an Ellipsis wherein something for brevity sake is omitted For except there come an Apostasie first it is to be supplyed from the first v. The day of Christ shall not come Afterwards he describeth the manner and measure of this Apostasie to v. 12. Hence we may observe by way of introduction Obs 1. That the Church even in the best ages of it hath been infested with errours and disturbances The Church of old under Moses immediately after their deliverance out of Egypt and their receiving the Law from God by an audible voice did presently return to the Idolatry of Egypt in the worship of the Golden Calf Ex. 32.1 2. though they had obliged themselves to the Lord by Covenant a few days before chap. 24.3 6 7 c. And all his time he was
the Pope their head not to Christ The Lords supper is not sufficient to comfort a dying Christian but they add their Sacrament of extreme unction to strengthen them against the flames of Purgatory Thus they have more Sacraments and for other ends than Christ appointed 7. Christs Church is to be guided and governed only by the officers and Ministers of his own appointing and that according to his word Christ as the head and Saviour of his Church hath appointed that it shall be instructed and governed by his laws guided and ruled by his officers in the practice and execution of his laws and Commands what they shall be he hath appointed Eph. 4.11 12 to 16. viz. Apostles Prophets Evangelists to convert the world and raise his Church at first Pastors and Teachers to guide and instruct it to the end of the world and these he hath ordered to teach his people his Commands Matth. 28.20 to preach his word administer his Sacraments and to be examples to the flock of all humility and holiness not for filthy lucre but out of desire of their good 1 Pet. 5.1 to 4. But the Papists have quite altered the nature and use of the Ministry of the Church Council Triden Sess 23. ch 1 2 3. Can. 1 2. They have added five or six orders of Officers to those that Christ appointed only for pomp and superstition viz. Subdeacons Exorcists Readers Singers Acolothites and Porters Their Priests preach not the word but are chiefly ordained to offer the sacrifice of the Mass which also is most of their imployment The Pope the Head of their Church is an earthly Monarch above all Princes and Emperors living in all the state and pomp of the old Roman Emperours challenging the same honour observance and more than they did viz. the kissing of his feet except one or two most insolent Tyrants His Cardinals are Princes and the chief Cardinal Bishop taketh place of the Emperours Embassadour and the next takes place of all other Embassadours Their whole ministry almost consisteth in hearing confessions pardoning sins enjoyning penance preaching the authority of the Pope the Canons and Traditions of their own Church and in saying Masses and prayers for the absent and for the dead 8. The great design of the Gospel is that men being reconciled to God may live to him in all holiness and righteousness and this is the practice of the Church of Christ The Church is redeemed and purchased to be a peculiar people to Christ zealous of good works therefore is it called out of the world inspired with his spirit of grace and holiness taught by his holy law and subjected to his holy discipline the work of Christians is to be dying to the world mortifying their lust and growing in grace in hope of and preparation for Glory Titus 2.11 12 13 14. But the design of Popery by keeping the people ignorant of the word and Sacraments is to bring them into subjection to the Pope and his Clergy Their ordinances and worship tend not to purifie the conscience but under a vain shew of a carnal pompous service to cheat them of knowledge and spiritual edification and to enthral men to their Church and their own Institutions They teach that the bare use of the Sacraments conferreth grace though a man neither understand what he doth nor is serious in it and if perhaps he should be serious yet the efficacy of the Sacraments dependeth on the Priests intention so that if he be not serious or understandeth not what he doth the Communicant can have no benefit They tolerate all manner of wickedness Pope Nicholas teacheth it is better for their Clergy to live in secret fornication than to marry Satius est pluribus occultis implicari quam in conspectu mundi cum una ligari And the people may live how they please so they be obedient to the orders of the Church confess and receive Mass once a year this will blot out all sin and though a man should live in wickedness all his days yet if he but die in their communion with the Priests absolution which may be easily had he shall go to Purgatory but for a time and so to Heaven and money may procure Masses and prayers for him when dead that will hasten his deliverance thence also so that they that will not leave their sins while they live may buy their pardon and redemption from torment after they are dead how can there be a more effectual way to encourage men in sin 9. Self-denyal contempt of the world and bearing the Cross are the profession and badge of Christs Church Our Saviour declared that his Kingdom was not of this world and his Disciples must not expect nor fight for it here John 18.36 He hath promised them his spirit and comforts in a greater measure than formerly because they were to meet with much tribulation in this world John 16.33 and our Saviour hath given us this universal rule except a man deny himself and take up his cross and follow me he cannot be my Disciple Lub 14.27 Matth. 16.24 But the Papists make outward prosperity and grandeur a mark of the true Church and that the Pope and Bishops are Princes above all Princes and that instead of suffering any persecution they are to make War upon all Princes that displease them to destroy by open force of battle or sudden Massacres and private treacheries all they can reach that are not obedient to them or suspected not to be hearty or but to favour or be mild towards those they call Hereticks 10. Heaven is proposed as the certain reward of the servants of Christ The grace of God that brings Salvation teacheth us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godlily in this world looking for the glorious appearance of God our Saviour Tit. 2.11 12 13. In this life Christians are to fight strive and run but when this life ends their course is finished and there remains nothing but a Crown of life which the righteous judge shall give to all them that love his appearance 2 Tim. 4.6 7. But the Papists teach that all assurance of Salvation is presumption Concil Triden Ses 6. ch 12 13. Can. 15 16. the most we must expect is after many afflictions from Gods hand and voluntary severities upon our selves to satisfie for sin at last to go to Purgatory for a long time there to suffer the same torments that the damned do in Hell It is reported of Bellarmin that when some about him would have comforted him at his death with his great merits and that he should certainly go to heaven he answered It is not so easie a thing to get to heaven and that he could be content to suffer the pains of Purgatory many years if he could be sure to come to heaven at last Thus though they tell men they may merit Heaven and do works of supererogation viz. more than God requires of