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
of grace that Christ instituted 4. The Pope opposeth Christ in the main ends of his coming into the world Christ came to take away sin to finish transgression and to bring in everlasting righteousness by once sacrificing himself to the Father Dan. 9.24 Heb. 10.10 11 12 13 14. But the Pope will have Christ offered for sin in every Mass as truly as he was upon the Cross and that it is as satisfactory and meritorious he will have the merits of Saints our own penance and purgatory oster death to satisfy for and take away sin whereby the satisfaction of Christ is rendered as still unfulfilled and the pardon of sin unprocured as it was before his coming into the world Christ came to give a greater measure of his spirit to the Church that his people might have more freedom of access to God Eph. 3.12 more boldness with him Heb. 10.19 20. and more abundant grace to enable them to pray to and serve God Rom. 8.25 John 10.10 for having removed the shadows and sacrifices of the Law and clearly exhibited himself and his redemption they were now to come with greater confidence and freedom through his name to the Father John 16.23 24. but the Pope disappointeth all this by hiding from the people the plain doctrine of salvation by teaching them that they must not come to him immediately but by the mediation of his Mother and all the Saints and that these must be ingaged by many prayers Temples and offerings to interceed with Christ for them whereby the service of the Gospel is made as uncomfortable and as chargable as that of the Law and the people are kept in as much ignorance as ever the Jews were and in as much bondage to their Priests and more without whose Masses and absolutions they cannot be forgiven yea by their doctrines and uncertainty of Salvation penances satisfactions and purgatory and the necessity of Christ's being often sacrificed for them their consciences are brought into a far greater bondage than ever the Jews were in Again Christ by his death resurrection and ascension hath obtained all power conquered the Devil opened a clear way into heaven for his servants Heb. 2.14 Philip. 2.9 10. Heb. 6.19 20 29. But the Papists keep the people in as great bondage by fear of the Devil as ever the Heathens were in except there be a Cross in the way they are in danger to meet him at every turning in every Church-yard Market c. yea every time they go out of doors unless they cross themselves or be sprinkled with holy water if it were not for crosses the devil would get into their meat their drink their books their beds and into their pockets also And as for Christs entering into Heaven it is little comfort to them seeing they must hope to go thither but after some thousands of years spent in the pains of Purgatory 5. Christ abolished the Tyranny and bondage his people were in both to Heathen Monarchs and the Jewish Polity Christ appeared in the latter end of the fourth Monarchy to set up his Kingdom that his people might be subject to him and no longer to the lusts and wills of lawless Tyrants as they had successively been oppressed and devoured both by Babylonians Persians Greeks and Romans and he promised that Kings should be their nursing fathers and Queens nursing mothers being subject as well as they to the laws of Christ But the Pope interposeth and usurpeth all the domination and prerogatives and exerciseth all the Tyranny of the Roman Emperours causing all people to submit to Rome with as great slavery as ever Rev. 13. v. 15 16 c. and maketh laws as absolutely by his own will as ever the Heathens did Christ also dissolved the Jewish Polity that his people should no longer be bound to one temple City or Land for any part of their worship as the Jews were to Canaan and Jerusalem or to any Common wealth of People but that in all places they might lift up pure hands to him and have his presence with them whereever two or three should be gathered in his name for the intents or purposes of his worship Matth. 18.19 20. But the Pope will have Rome to be the mother of all the Churches thither all the world must come to keep their Jubilees every five and twenty years thither they must bring their controversies and hard cases and many sins cannot be forgiven without coming to him as the high Priest all Churches depend upon him yea are one body whereof he is the Head and must receive their laws their Priests their benedictions all from him and his power so that they are in greater bondage than the Jews were by how much they are dispersed abroad in the world and are more numerous A third character of this Apostasie is insolent pride v. 4. This man of sin and adversary of Christ exalteth himself above all that is worshipped or called God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or as Calvin in loc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is lifted up above all that is called God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or that is any way sacred We read of some Heathen Princes as Romulus Alexander c. that would be accounted the sons of God and be worshipped but their own people detested their pride and yet they acknowledged a supreme God above them Caligula would be thought equal with Jupiter their chief God but these were impious insolencies never established by laws or approved by the people much less defended and practised by succeeding generations but this Popes arrogate to themselves through many ages successively this their whole Clergy defend and their whole people practise yea it is the very soul and life of the Popedom to be honoured and obeyed above all that is called God 1. Magistrates are called Gods being Gods Vicegerents Psalm 82.6 But the Pope exalteth himself above all these challenging the dominion of the whole world to be given to him and he disposeth of it to whom he pleaseth He calleth Emperours and Kings his servants and vassals He sets them up and pulls them down at his pleasure Paul the 4. taxed Queen Elizabeth with insolency for presuming to take the Crown without his leave The Roman Ceremonial appointeth that when the Pope rideth abroad the Emperour or chief King that is present or their Embassadors in their absence should hold his Stirrup and accordingly some Emperors have done it and have been checked for holding the wrong Stirrup and if the Pope be disposed to be carried in his Chair the Emperour Kings and their Embassadors are to put their shoulders to it 2. He exalteth himself above all the Ministry Lanis the general of the Jesuites maintained in a set Lecture at the Council of Trent that the sole power of the Church was committed to Peter and that the other Apostles Evangelists c. received their Power from him In like manner the Pope as Peters successour hath the sole power of the universal
Church and all Bishops Priests c. receive their power from him So that all are but his Deputies his servants the disposal of all Bishopricks and benefices if he please throughout the world belongs to him The power of Excommunication and absolution of making and altering all Ecclesiastical laws and injunctions resides in him and to him all appeals must be made 3. The Pope challengeth power over the Devils They have their book of exorcismes the office of exorcists their many mysteries certain prayers forms of words Holy water consecrated circles c. by which they pretend to cast out to raise to lay and bind the Devil as they please 4. They pretend also that the Holy Angels and glorified Saints are at their Command Pope Clement 6. the first author of their Jubilees in his Bull wherein he promised great priviledges to all that would come to Rome adds this viz. that if any of these holy Pilgrims should chance to die by the way in their journey he commandeth the holy Angels immediately to transport their souls to heaven The Keys of heaven are one of the Ensigns of the Popes dignity he can unsaint those that are gone to heaven he can release out of Purgatory as soon or detain there as long as he pleaseth Yea Pope Gregory the 1. they say by his prayers brought the soul of Trajanus the Emperour out of Hell 500. Years after he was dead They interpret the 8. Psalm v. 4. c. of the Pope viz. he is that son of man that is crowned with glory and dignity that hath dominion over all the works of God that hath all things put under his feet all Sheep and Oxen i. e. all Christians all the Beasts of the field i. e. all the Infidels the Fowls of heaven i e. the Angels and Saints above and the fish of the Sea i. e. the souls in Purgatory 5. The Pope exalteth himself above Christ he challengeth the sole government of the Church on earth to belong to him to make and abrogate Laws and to guide it infallibly so that Christ now hath nothing to do with the Church militant he can and daily doth interpret and dispense with the Laws of Christ and hath authority above his word When the Pope goes out of Town the host his breaden God is carried on Horse-back amongst his Sumpters and other furnitures a day before-hand as one of his utensils and in the Church the Pope sitteth above the Altar and above the Host and giveth it but a small nod as he passeth by when the people give ten times more reverence to him than they do to the Host even according to their own ceremonies 6. He exalteth himself above God He taketh more care to have his own Laws observed than Gods commands and punisheth the violation of them more severely than sins against God To speak against the Pope the virgin Mary or any of their Saints to work on their Holy-days to eat flesh on a fast-day especially in Lent are greater offences and harder to be forgiven than any sins against God Yea it is the design of the Papacy to exalt themselves whatever comes of the honour of God A man may be of any religion or no religion may live as he please so he own the Popes power and hold the Communion of that Church and this is all their unity they so much brag of Papa potest omnia quae Deus potest say their Canonists The Pope can do all that God can do yea and more as they add potest facere justum ex injusto he can make evil good vice to be vertue yea every Popish Priest they say can make his God and maker out of a piece of bread A Frier in a Sermon before the Spanish Governour at Milan magnifying the Priests power said a Priest could do more than God For God could only make creatures but every Priest could make the infinite God the maker of all which God could not do and yet saith the Authour this passed without controul The Apostle amplifieth this pride in the next words he exalteth himself so as he sitteth as God in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God i. e. he ruleth in the Church of God and challengeth honour from the Church as if he were God The Papists would hence infer that Antichrist or this man of sin shall be a Leader of the Jews sitting and being worshipped in their Temple at Jerusalem to be rebuilt by him but that Temple shall never be rebuilt when the Jews attempted it in Julians time they were hindred by fire breaking out of the earth and descending from heaven and the Jews themselves shall all be converted to Christ The Temple of God here is his Church in which the Man of sin must sit who must therefore be an apostate Christian only not the Turk neither alone as some Papists would have it nor in conjunction with the Poipe as some Protestants think Piscator in Loc. he never was a Christian nor sitteth in the Church nor endeavoureth to alter or corrupt the worship of it nor assumeth divine prerogatives to himself nor was known to the world for many ages after this was written neither his religion name or Nation whereas this mystery of iniquity was working in the Apostles days and by him discovered and pointed at to the Church But that the Pope doth sit in the Church as if he were God is manifest It is not amiss to observe the word here used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he sitteth in the Temple of God is the term the Popes use Kings are said to reign Popes to sit so many years and Rome it self is Sedes Apostolica the Apostolical See or Seat 1. The Pope challengeth an absolute universal power over the whole world When John the Bishop of Constantinople usurped the title of universal Bishop Pope Gregory the 1. called him the King of pride the forerunner of Antichrist yet he challenged that title only over the Church and meant it only of a primacy of order to be the first and chief Bishop but Boniface the 3. ten years after obtained to be head and universal Bishop and his successours have ever since used it exercising an absolute jurisdiction both in Civil and Ecclesiastical matters The Pope challengeth the disposal of all Kingdoms if there be any question about succession or any controversie among Princes he interposeth and pretendeth to decide all as having the absolute power of disposing and ordering all things and in the Church the sole authority belongs to him of binding and loosing of appointing Bishops and Ministers and degrading them of conferring all imployments receiving all appeals not only in reserved cases but in all ordinary cases when he pleases or the parties please to remove the case to Rome This is a power beyond a mortal man a charge that no creature can perform to inspect and order the affairs of the whole world both of this life and that which is to come 2. He
and serve him that thereby they also may be advanced and domineer in their places by this means also they are made unnatural resolute and cruel to prosecute the Popes designs like the Turks Janizaries being kept from those relations which sweeten mens tempers and excite natural affection also having no wives and children to provide for they may more desperately ventuere their lives and their estates for the service of their Church Their Friars make a shew of great devotion renouncing the world begging alms of the people going in mean habit bare-footed some of them yet they get all they can from the people for Masses and prayers their Abbots many are Lords live splendidly in England they had above a third part of the land and that the best as was made appear to King Henry 8th but these wholly are at the Popes devotion of these he can raise Armies from them he can exact vast sums of money he can make strong parties in any Nation against their Prince he can turn people which way he pleases In a word his unmarried Clergy and Regulars make him a Monarch they are his Populus virorum intirely at his devotion having no posterity nor personal concerns to care for For if his Clergy had wives and children they must love them provide for them dispose of them in marriage and so be neighbourly oblige the people please their Princes and Governours contract affinities and so they would be concerned in the safety peace prosperity of the Nations and places they live in and would not be at the Popes beck on at his call upon all occasions Thus we see the whole design of Popery issueth in this That men should take their religion from the Pope and his Clergy that so they may rule as sole Lords both in spirituals and temporals We are next to enquire what it was that letted or hindred Antichrists appearing for a time He that letteth will lett c. The Apostle saith this mystery of iniquity was working in his time therefore it could not be the religion of Mahomet which was not heard of till about the year of our Lord 622. Much less Heathenism or Judaism which were then the establisht religions of the world nor yet the general opposition of the body of the wicked against the godly which the Rhemists would have understood by mystical Babylon Rhem. on Rev. 17. for this is alwaies manifest the seed of the serpent doth always oppose the seed of the woman but the Apostle saw an aspiring spirit in the Bishops and Church of Rome which he knew would in time bring the whole Church under their yoak this was occasioned by Rome's being the Metropolis of the world and the seat of the Empire which as it drew all civil affairs and supreme Jurisdiction to that place so did it insensibly draw the admiration respect and causes of all Churches to the guides of that Church which the following Bishops challenged as their due and so gave occasion for the conception of the Man of sin Victor the 14 Bishop of Rome about the year 170. excommunicated all the Eastern Churches for not keeping Easter on the same day that he did Soon after him Cornelius and Stephen successively took upon them with great pride to determine causes belonging to the Churches of A. frick while Cyprian was Bishop of Carthage of which he complains in his Epistles to them Pope Sylvester by his Legats in the Council of Nice an 325. obtained power over all those regions called Suburbicariae which were subject to the Praefect of Rome and from that time the Bishops of Rome boldly challenged the primacie of all Churches and drew all causes and appeals to themselves though not without opposition from the Bishops in Augustines time The Council of Sardica having made a Canon that all doctrines should be tried by the Bishop of Rome meaning it only for that time when Rome was a bulwork against the Arians several Roman Bishops Celestine Boniface and Innocent the first thrust this Canon into the Council of Nice and pretended that by authority of that venerable Council the Tryal of all doctrines and causes was given to them and when the Bishops of Constantinople challenged a parity with the Bishops of Rome because that City was made new Rome and the Seat of the Empire in the East Pope Leo's Legates protested against it in the Council of Chalcedon Ann. 450. Thus the ambition of Rome discovered it self apace but it could not yet attain its end because somewhat still hindred and this was the Roman Empire which divers antient Fathers witness to have been the Apostles meaning by him that letteth saying that he did not expresly mention the Empire lest he should give offence by speaking of the fall of that Empire which they presumed should last for ever insomuch that Roma aeterna eternal Rome was always written upon the Statue of a woman that represented that City and Aeternitas Vestrûm your eternity was a presumptuous title of some of the Emperours they add that the Primitive Church used to pray for the continuance of the Roman Empire for this reason amongst others that the coming and persecutions of Antichrist might thereby he deferred and Hierome who lived to see the Empire decay apace and the City taken by Alarick the Goth said thereupon Qui detinet fit de medio non intelligimus Antichristum adesse He that letteth is taken out of the way and do we not understand that Antichrist must be at hand The Rhemists would fain avoid this interpretation though they make nonsense of the place In Locum but the Papists generally acknowledge the Empire to be that which letted the discovery of Antichrist and Bellarmine would prove that Antichrist is not yet come because there is still a Roman Emperour viz. the Emperour of Germany who hath the titles of Roman Caesar Augustus but he hath the empty title only and is the Popes Vassal receiving his Crown from him swearing fealty to him and is by him appointed Defensor Ecclesiae not to rule the Empire but defend the Church of Rome That the Empire of Rome is here intended is manifest by this because that held the supreme dominion and therefore the Bishops could not obtain it till the Empire was abolisht the Heathen Emperours oppressed and destroyed the whole Church and in particular the Bishops and Church of Rome who were nearest to them and the Christian Emperours not only kept the civil power in their own hands but also called and presided in Councils approved and confirmed the elections of all Bishops and those of Rome more especially and removed those Bishops whom they liked not at their pleasure till this jurisdiction was abrogated the Pope could not get into his hands the supremacie either in Ecclesiastical or civil matters The event also expounds the Text for by those degrees the Empire declined the Bishop of Rome ascended the throne as it followeth in the Text v. 8. Then
shall that wicked be revealed c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that wicked or lawless person when the restraint and laws of the Emperours were taken off then was the time for the lawless person to appear who professeth himself subject to no law but above all humane and divine The removing the imperial seat from Rome to Byzantium by Constantine the Great gave the first advantage to the aspiring minds of those Bishops for then the eyes of all were upon them instead of the Emperours then they disdained to come to Councils and set Ambassadours in their names two or three at a time in Princely manner then they cried up the dignity and primacy of Peter and of the Apostolick See and insinuated themselves into the affairs of all Churches again when Rome was sackt by the Goths and Vandals and the Emperours power decayed in Italy the Bishops of Rome assumed more authority to themselves and were ready to comply with barbarians and invaders against their natural and Christian Prince to increase their own power When Odoacer had taken Rome and made himself King of Italy Pope Gelasius joyned with him called a Council of seventy Bishops at Rome and presided in it in the presence of the usurper Ann. 570. After this when the Imperial race was almost extinguisht in the East by the impious Tyrant Phocas Boniface 3. readily joyns with him writes flattering letters to him and obtained of him the long desired title of universal Bishop Ann. 606. And now the Emperours are beholding to the Bishops of Rome to hold their dominion in Italy yet this was a Clog to them that their election must be approved by the Emperours when therefore they had prevailed with Constantine 4. to release them of this obligation and to grant that whom the Senate and people of Rome chose he should be received as Pope without asking the Emperours consent then they had perfectly shaken off the yoak and the following Popes Gregory the 2. and 3. excommunicated 2. Emperours Philippicus and Leo for opposing Image worship absolved their Subjects from their Oath of allegiance and raising war against them finally drove them out of Italy about the year 750. Yet the Lombards troubled the Pope till he called in Pipin who subdued them and his Son Charles the great who put an end to their Kingdom And now the Pope was Lord of Italy and giveth Charles the tile of Roman Emperour and after about 6 generations he tranferred it to the Germans And now the Pope had a new and his last difficulty these German Emperours challenged the confirmation of the Popes election and the investing of all Bishops within their dominons but the Pope was grown so strong that by plain force and continuall wars he at last compelled the Emperours to renounce all power over the Popes and Italy it self to resign the investiture of all Bishopricks to the Pope yea to have his own election confirmed by the Pope and to hold his Crown as his gift which was principally managed though not finished by Hilderbrand Pope Gregory 7. about the year 1077. And now the man of sin was revealed indeed and come to maturity and from his time divers learned men of every nation declared and proved the Pope to be Antichrist and ever since the Pope hath filled all the West with wars Massacres and the private murders of his inquisition to uphold the power he had so honestly gotten he hath also made attempts upon the Eastern Churches and he gained some power over them while the Latines reigned in Constantinople but that fell with them and the East hath been oppressed by the Turk as the West by the Pope though not altogether in so terrible a manner for he for money grants the Christians their Churches and exercise of their religion but the Pope will suffer none to live that will not submit to him It may justly be a wonder how it was possible the Bishops of Rome many of them mean and inferiour men and many most flagitious could possibly attain so great power and dignity It was a mystery saith the Apostle and it was done insensibly At first the Bishops of Rome were eminent for parts piety and sufferings as usually such men are preferred and imployed in great especially Metropolitical Cities this gained them great credit with all Churches and both Ministers and people had them in great veneration and desired their judgement and counsel in weighty cases then the Emperours newly become Christian thought they could not bestow honour and power enough upon the Church especially on the Imperial seat they granted them their Courts their Apparitors and attendance with leave to all Christians to bring their causes to their Courts this made them Pettie-Princes then they challenged the right of appeals from all Churches though opposed and shamefully foiled by the Churches of Africk they would receive any persons and causes into their patronage the more unjust the better for them for the criminal persons having no hope of redress in their own Churches wholly relied upon the Popes authority and he to increase his authority would do his utmost for them and this was the reason why the Popes of Rome who long maintained the true doctrinal worship at length set up image worship Transubstantiation and all the rest of their superstitions viz. because the promoters and defenders of these corruptions fled to the Popes authority to shelter themselves from the power and censure of the sounder part of the Church and the Pope still sided with the worst that thereby he might oppress those who would not acknowledge his universality and supremacy at last the Pope having by these means insinuated into the minds and affections of the worst but greater part he did by force establish his throne above all and by force he hath kept it moreover the sloth and ignorance of may in the ministry and the pride of others who sought to advance themselves by advancing the Pope did not a little contribute to his power also the confusions of the Empire by the invasions of the Barbarians much helpt it forwards for they overturned the government destroyed the more knowing people in themselves being both Pagans and void of all learning received Religion from the Pope and superstition together and suffered themselves to be inslaved by him under the pretence of obedience to Christ and is chief Apostle St. Peter and his successours and their poor Princes suffered their people to be deceived and were deceived themselves by these plausible arts insomuch that they gave up their power to that Roman beast and thought it good service to Christ when they could serve his pretended Vicar 't is reported that 30 Kings and Queens of England have left their Kingdoms and gone to Rome to see St Peters successor and to die there A fair warning to Princes and magistrates to maintain their own power and the dignity of their places and to all Ministers to look to their own charge and to the people to
wearied with their ill carriage And in the times of the Prophets there were usually false Prophets seducing the people 2 Pet. 2.1 Our Saviour foretold false Christs and false Prophets should arise soon after his days Mat. 24.24 And his Apostles that there should be false teachers in the Church privily bringing in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and that many should follow their pernicious ways 2 Pet. 2.1 2. The Primitive times as they were most happy in Zeal and affection in the sound and Orthodox professours so they were as unhappy in the manifold errors Sects divisions that did disturb them as any of these latter Ages Augustin hath given us a Catalogue of 80. Heresies that troubled the Church in those days August Lib. de Haer. ad Quod vult Deus and yet he saith he omitted many and named but the principal It appears by their Epistles that the Apostles had no sooner planted Churches but the weeds of errors and opinions did straight ways spring up amongst them and this chiefly by these three means here mentioned 1. By pretence of the spirit When God did afford his spirit in extraordinary gifts and revelations to his Prophets and Apostles there never wanted men who pretended to the same spirit and the like revelations for their own devices most of them wilfully feigning some artificially and some by diabolical means procuring revelations and Enthusiasms and some weakly mistaking their own fancies and strong perswasions for dictates and inspirations of the Holy Ghost 1 Joh. 4.1 2. Believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God for many false prophets are gone out into the world such as pretended to the spirit and that to the subversion of the greatest truths in the Gospel even to deny the person and coming of Jesus Christ as Simon Magus and his followers therefore he subjoyneth this mark v. 2 3. Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that confesseth that he is not come is not of God The same direction is given 1 Cor. 12.2 3. I give you to understand that no man speaking by the spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed Such it seems there were that preten ding to the spirit the Apostles had rejected and reviled Jesus Christ 2. By pretence of a word or oral tradition They that could not pretend the spirit speaking in themselves pretended the judgment and sayings of Christ and his Apostles when absent for their own opinions sometimes forging their sayings sometimes mistaking the meaning of them affixing their own sence to them Thus a tradition was received as coming from the mouth of Christ that the beloved Disciple should not die Joh. 21.22 23. and is yet believed in the Greek Church who shew a place near Ephesus where they say that Apostle when old commanded himself to be buried alive where by some estuation or bubling of the earth they conclude he still breatheth St. Paul was often troubled by the Judaizing Christians who would have kept up the ceremonial law pretending the authority and practice of Peter and other Apostles that lived among the Jews which he refuteth at large Gal. 2. And it appeareth by almost all Pauls Epistles that this tradition was importunately urged and scattered through all the Churches by that sort of men even when the Apostles and Church of Jerusalem had declared that they never commanded such doctrine to be preached Acts 25.24 3. Thirdly By the pretence of Scripture our Epistle in the text And this either by pretence of forged Scripture or false and forced interpretations of the true Canonical writings Of the former sort were the writings of the false Prophets among the Jews and those fabulous Legends of Tobit Judith Susannah c. which were never received by the Jewish Church And such were the many suppositious writings in the primitive times as the Gospel of Peter Andrew Thomas Nicodemus and almost of all the Apostles the Gospel and Epistle of Paul to the Laodiceans the Liturgie of James and the like mentioned by Eusebius and other writers Of the latter sort the Apostle speaketh 2 Pet. 3.15 16. That there were many unlearned and unstable Christians who did wrest some hard places in Pauls Epistles and the other Scriptures to their own destruction of this kind is this in the text as some suppose Cartwr in Locum that this opinion of Christs coming to judgment was rashly collected by some from those words in the former Epistle to the Thes ch 4. v. 15. We that are alive and remain unto the coming of our Lord shall not prevent those that are asleep hence they thought that the Apostle supposed that at least some of them who were then alive might live to the coming of Christ Though it seems that all these three means of pretended revelations traditions and Scriptures were used for this doctrine These arts have been all along used to disturb the Church and to pervert souls The Gnosticks Montanus and Manes pretended their inspired revelations Cont. Haer. De praeser and many others in latter ages Irenaeus and Tertullian tell us that many of the Hereticks of their days pretended traditions from one Apostle or other for their doctrine and practice as also others had their Apocryphal Scriptures or Canonical texts misapplied to maintain their errors The Papists make great use of all three of these pretences to establish their grossest errors The doctrine of the real presence of Christ in the bread of the worship of Saints and of religious Orders and Images is mainly built upon Revelations dreams and apparitions Lindanus ingenuously confessed that all those doctrines and practices wherein the Protestants do oppose them and dissent from them are to be proved by traditions of the Apostles not from the Scripture Their doctrines of Purgatory invocation of Angels equivocations and dissemblings are proved by the book of Tobit Judith Susan c. The Apostles Canons increased from 50 to 85 in the last age do them great services in the matters of their discipline and sometimes they wrest Scriptures for their purpose but they have been so baffled and shamed out of this since the Bible hath been common and studied by Protestants that they have forsaken this hold and the Jesuites think the poor secular Priests have betrayed their cause by undertaking to dispute for it out of the Scriptures These troubles by errors arise from the weakness of some who have more zeal than judgment and usually desire new things 2 Pet. 3.16 2 Tim. 4.3 People unlearned and unstable and that have itching ears from pride and conceit in others who that they may seem wiser than their brethren will be wise above or against what is written some teach perverse things to draw disciples after them some for secular interest There was no other reason why the Popes of Rome imbraced the worship of images transubstantiation and some such doctrines but because
the promoters of them did also promote their authority and strengthen their hands against the Godly and most serious part of the Church But the most usual causes of errors are ignorance of the Scriptures and of the principles of religion founded on them which in the primitive times had a great occasion given it by the prejudicate opinions that new Converts brought from Judaisme and Paganisme and from the new Testament not being fully written in a considerable time and the several books thereof not gathered into one volume in a long space after and chiefly corrupt affections Men will imbrace errors because they love not the truth Vse 1. This sheweth the necessity of adhering to the Scripture and of a standing Ministry If we stick not to the Scripture the pretence of the Spirit and Traditions will lead us into a wilderness where there is no end Heathens Mahometans Papists and all Enthusiasts will distract us by their several and contrary pretensions And if there be not a standing and learned Ministry Apocryphal Scriptures and false interpretations of Scripture will easily beguile the unskilful and hinder the edification of the more wise 2. The Papist's brags of infallibility of the Pope or Church and the necessity of it to the foundation of our faith is as foolish as it is untrue The Apostles and Apostolical men were infallible and yet this will not prevent errors and Heresies of the highest nature either in their own or in the next succeeding ages An infallible head or guide will not secure the Church from errors and divisions unless all the people be infallible likewise certainly able to discern the truth declared to them and perfectly free from all evil affections which may hinder their receiving and submitting to the truth 3. It is no Wonder to see errors and divisions in these last days of the Church sith they were in the first While men are subject to ignorance and evil affections there will be both errors and divisions and if we go to the Church of Rome to avoid all errors and Schisms because they boast of such Unity which was never promised nor long enjoyed by any Church we shall but do like Children that tear many little holes in a garment into one great one that comprehends them all and more and cannot be repaired Obs 2. It is certainly foretold that there should be an Apostasie in the Church The same Apostle almost in the same words foretels it 1 Tim. 4.1 The spirit speaks expresly that some shall depart from the faith The first Christians might be apt to expect the coming of Christ and their everlasting rest to be at hand from the love and joy they had conceived upon their first receiving the Gospel but they are here told that happy time is not so nigh There must come a departure of many from the faith first and many contests and persecutions should ensue thence and therefore they should arm themselves with patience to a conflict before they must expect the Crown When God made the world he made it wonderful great and large and stored it with almost infinite variety of creatures to set forth his own Majesty he hath also continued it some thousands of years with as great variety of providences in his governing of it to shew his manifold wisdom power mercy and justice and what will be the wonderful transactions of the world to come throughout eternity to set forth the glory of the â—ernal God no creature can conceive In like manner when our Lord came from Heaven to purchase a Church to serve him it was not quickly to expire but to conflict with the world and the Devil with enemies without and within through many changes and vicissitudes a considerable time and at last through faith and patience to inherit the promises It was long that the Church continued under the bondage of the Law and there were many changes and declinings of it at several times under the Judges and Kings of Judah but there was one great Apostasie of the Ten tribes under Jeroboam which ended in the ruin of that State and people Such a departure was there to be in the Christian Church signified here by the indeterminate word There shall come a departure or Apostasie for the falling off of a few particular persons was no strange thing but happened in every age Now such Apostasies are permitted 1. To punish the ingratitude of men for the Gospel Because they receive not the love of the truth because Christ and his Gospel are not welcome to the generality of men but any or no religion would content them as well if they might have outward peace and prosperity therefore Christ suffers them to be inticed with Errors and Heresies to their own destruction which at last bring publick calamities and ruin 2. To punish the Hypocrisie of others Some pretend great zeal and affection in the peace of the Church which is either meerly pretended for worldly interest or but a light and transient passion as in the stony ground who can never be perswaded to be zealous and rooted Christians Matth. 13.20 therefore when they have been tryed a convenient time opportunities of backsliding are sufferred to come to discover and shame them 3. To manifest and honour those that are sound 1 Cor. 11.18 19. There must be heresies among you that they which be approved may be made manifest among you When peace and truth meet together the sound and best Christians are unknown and for the most part less regarded than the Hypocrites that make more shew and noise Christ therefore suffers apostasies to come to discover and honour his sincere humble diligent and stedfast servants 4. Errors are also permitted to clear the trut more and make them that are sound more stedfast and strong The truths of the Gospel have in all ages been prejudiced by the zeal and good affection of some well minded as well as by the opposition of enemies because their affection over-run their judgment and their care to get a distinct knowledge of the principles of religion but the appearance of errours and corruptions makes them more careful to search the truth which hath been always more cleared and fortified by occasion of the oppositions against it and those who are upright have been put upon getting a clearer knowledge of the grounds of their faith worship and practices thereby 5. And in all this Christ manifesteth his distinguishing grace to some and his righteous judgments upon others Rom. 11.22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God on them which fell severity but towards thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness 6. Hereby all are stirred up to diligence and watchfulness When there shall come a falling away of many all are warn'd thereby to take care how they stand lest they also fall Rom. 11.20 Vse Be not therefore suprized at discouraged or tempted by the apostasies of others Though the Church be fair as the Moon she hath
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
mysteries than Gospel institutions Their chief worship devotion lyeth in building and adorning Temples for Masses not for preaching in buying Masses in decking of images with Gold Jewels in offering incense and wax Candles in pilgrimages and offerings to their Saints in vows of forced and usually feigned chastity of Hypocritical and lazy poverty and such like bodily exercises which profit little 1 Tim. 4.8 4. The Church of Christ owneth him only for her head King and Lord. God gave Christ to be head over all things to his Church which is his body Eph. 1.23 He hath all power in Heaven and earth committed to him to rule and order all things concerning his Church which is his own house Mat. 28.18 19 20. Whereupon he appointed Apostles to bring all nations to be his Disciples to consecrate and ingage them to him by Baptism and to teach them to observe all as he commanded Christ as mediator is the only head of the Church which is his body and all Christians members in particular of him receiving life strength and spirit from him and being governed by him But the Papists acknowledge and adhere to the Pope as the head of their Church which they say could not be one Church unless it be united to the Pope as their visible head Catec Rom. de Symb. Art 9. Q. 11. De eo i. e. Pontifice Romano fuit illa omnium Patrum ratio sententia consentiens hoc visibiel caput ad unitatem ecclesiae constituendam conservandam necessarium fuisse They say that Christ and the Pope make but one compleat Head of the Church That all which is said in the Canticles or elsewhere concerning Christ's relation to his Church may be truly applyed to the Pope That he hath all power in heaven and earth given to him Pope Boniface the 8. declared that it was absolutely necessary to Salvation for every man to be subject to the Pope of Rome Definimus decernimus declaramus esse de necessitate salutis omni humanae creaturae esse subditum Pontifici Romano accordingly they teach peccatum pagantiatis incurrit quisquis Pontifici non est obediens i. e. Whosoever is not obedient to the Pope doth thereby become an Heathen They ascribe to the Pope an universal headship not of order only but of power and jurisdiction he is the Rock the foundation of the Church he giveth authority to the Scriptures and without him authoritas Scripturarum plane nulla est saith one i. e. the Scriptures have no authority at all he can lay aside the Bible if he please or dispense with any of the commands of the old or new Testament saith their Canon Law and he daily doth dispense with oaths vows and obligations of all sorts both to God and man with unlawful marriages c. They say indeed in disputation that the Pope is a ministerial head the Deputy the Vicar of Christ but a Minister is only to execute the pleasure of his Lord a Deputy and Vicar is to see his Masters laws and commands observed not to enact laws of his own not to relax or abrogate any of his Masters laws which power the Pope both challengeth and exerciseth 5. Christ's Church professeth subjection to his law only Isa 33.22 The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King Christ is the only King of his Church and the power of making Laws is the chief prerogative of a King He gave his word to be the standing Law whereby his people should be ruled and guided and by which they must be judged at the last day John 12.48 But the Papists have another Law by which they are governed and the Pope is their law-giver who ruleth them The Scriptures they own indeed as the word of God but not as his whole mind and law and that no otherwise than as the Pope interpreteth and alloweth them They joyn with the Scriptures unwritten Traditions which the Council of Tent saith are of equal authority Traditiones non scriptas pari pietatis affectu reverentiâ suscipit veneratur Conc. Trid. Ses 4. Cat. Rom. Pref. Q. 12. The Canons of Councils viz. those that the Pope likes and confirms and the decretal Epistles of Popes they reckon equal with the Holy Scriptures Decretales epistolae meritò inter Scripturas canonicas recensentur The consciences of men they do subject to the determinations and commands of the Pope as to Jesus Christ so that the law of the Church of Rome is composed and made up of the Scriptures Traditions Canons and decretals of Popes over all which the Pope superintends as the supreme law-giver to confirm relax add or alter as he pleaseth according to the known Ruleof Cardinal Cusanus Lex currit cum praxi c. Whatsoever is the present allowed practice of the Church of Rome that must be taken for the infallible rule or law of Christ So that the will of the Pope is the supreme law of conscience to the Papist in this world 6. Christs Church acknowledgeth only his Sacraments Baptism and the Lords supper The Sacraments of the Gospel are badges of our professed Subjection to Christ and of our dependance on him for remission of sins for grace and eternal life and it is fit that Christ alone should appoint what should be the signs Seals and conveyances of his grace and the marks of subjection to him and the tokens of the Covenant betwixt him and his people Christ appointed his Disciples to enter into his Covenant by the sign and Seal of Baptism Matth. 28.19 to renew and confirm this Covenant from time to time by the use of his holy supper 1 Cor. 11.23 24. c. and he appointed no other but these and his people must institute and use no other as signs and Covenant seals betwixt him and them But the Papists have added five more which they own and maintain to be Sacraments besides many other significant ceremonies to which they attribute the use and effects of Sacraments these they make signs of Gods Covenant means to convey grace some of them as universally necessary as those that Christ appointed yea without which Christs Sacraments are not sufficient to Salvation viz. the Sacraments of Confirmation and Penance of the former they say a man cannot be a Christian till he be confirmed by the Bishop Baptism is not compleat without it De consecra dist 5. ch de jejun Nemo potest esse Christianus nisi ad Baptismum accesserit unctio episcopalis nisi confirmatione chrismatus Their penance consisteth of confession of sin to the Priest contrition for sin and the Priests absolution and they teach that sins cannot be forgiven unless they be particularly confessed to the Priest and he absolve them in the name of Christ upon their undergoing or promise to undergo some outward austerity or penance imposed on them by him These Sacraments are badges and means of their subjection to the Priest and to
them yet they must go through Purgatory hereby robbing them of the comfort of the Gospel and miserably enthralling their consciences to themselves and their Tradition By all this it is evident that the Papists have altered the nature and ends of Christian religion which was the doctrine and institution of Jesus Christ to exalt him as the only mediator of the Church by whom only we should come to God and have framed a new platform of a carnal worldly religion to exalt the Pope and his Clergy and to worship the creatures instead of the Creatour Let us add their doctrine of persecuting and destroying all Hereticks as they call them that is all that will not obey them The first Lateran Council Ann. Dom. 1215. decreeth Sub Innoc. 3. P. That if any Prince or Lord be a Heretick or favourer of Hereticks or will not destroy his own subjects being Hereticks he shall be deprived of his dominion and it be given to some other Catholick Prince Accordingly they gave away the Estates of divers Earls Ramund Earl of Tholouse the Earl of Besieres and others because the former favoured the other would not destroy the Albigenses their Subjects Vid. Hist Walden The Inquisition giveth orders not only to destroy Hereticks but also all such as favour them or habour them or give them any relief in their distress or conceal them or any of their goods Yea that those who do not discover and accuse their own relations or friends being Hereticks shall themselves be punished as Hereticks In Concil Constan Pope Martin the 5. decreed by a Bull That Hereticks should not be suffered to buy or sell or to injoy the benefit of humane society This Doctrine and their practice according to it makes them an Apostatical body or society maintaining it self in opposition to the pure Church of Christ and therefore to take part with them to joyn with or submit to their interest is to desert Christ and to side with or become a member of that great Apostasie Let us now take notice of the several characters or marks that the Apostle gives of this Apostasie which will further prove the Papists to be guilty of it The first is v. 3. That the Head of it is the man of sin the son of perdition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An Hebraism where the genitive of the substantive is put for the adjective and that by way of eminency The sinful or wicked man as he is afterward called v. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wicked or lawless man v. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the son of perdition this is exegetical of the former viz. such a wicked man as is ripe for and appointed to destruction By this is meant not a particular person but a state or government in the hands of one or more persons though perhaps some one of those governors may be intended in a special manner as more singularly wicked and active than others even as Nebuchadnezzer was said to be the head of Gold of the great image Dan. 2. i. e. in special manner though the whole series of the Assyrian and Babylonian Monarchs for 1300. years was represented thereby Thus the Devil is expressed singularly when the whole society of those wicked spirits is intended and no one particular meant And the four Monarchies are expressed by 4. Dan. 7. Beasts though they were possessed not only by many Kings but the last by the people of Rome for a long time consisting of the Senate and Plebeian The Papists would infer from these notes of particularity that Antichrist this man of sin must be but one particular person Vid. Whit. resp ad Sand. Q. 1. and therefore not the Popes who have been many But themselves grant what is here said v. 8. He that letteth will let till he be taken out of the way is meant of the Roman Empire which was in the hand of many successively though expressed as one man and it is common so to express States or Kingdoms when we speak of their constitutions prerogatives or Laws And when our Saviour Matth. 16.18 19. said to Simon Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and I will give thee the Keys of the Kingdom c. they will needs have it meant that this was granted to Peter and all his successours the Popes though none but Peters name is mentioned Why then may we not so understand the man of sin here The Apostles sense is there well come an apostasie of the Church a declining in and from religion which will encrease till the man of sin be revealed i.e. till these apostates shall frame themselves into a body and state of a most wicked government this is the Pope and his Clergy who successively govern and manage that Apostasie This will appear if we consider the wickedness of their Persons Doctrines and Practices 1. For their persons There was a series of Popes for about an hundred years in the 10. and 11. Centuries who were Magicians Murderers open Adulterers and destroyers of each other of whom Genebrard the Jesuite saith they were Apostatici potius quam Apostolici apostates rather than Apostolical men Gregory the 7. they report poysoned 6 Popes his Predecessours to obtain the Papacy and was himself a known Magician he threw the host his breaden God into the fire because it would not answer him in his Magical charms Many others of them have been professed Magicians some bold Atheists as Leo the 10. who said to Cardinal Bembus Behold what great riches we get by that fable of Christ Quantas opes nobis tulit ista fabula de Christo Most Adulterous Sodomites Simoniacks and some have lived in incest with their own Sisters and daughters insomuch that one of themselves gives this testimony Nemo hodie in Pentificibus Romanis virtutem aut pietatem requirit Invita Pauli tertii optimi putantur si vel mediocriter boni sint vel minus mali quam caeteri mortalium esse solent i. e. No man looks for virtue or godliness nowadays in the Popes they are accounted most excellent if they be but indifferently good or not quite so bad as other men The Cardinals and all their Clergy are like their head and father being allowed Sodomy fornication and adultery to keep them chast i. e. from marrying Where shall we find a man of sin if this be not him 2. Next consider we their wicked doctrines 1. That of absolute subjection to the Pope that whatsoever he commandeth must be done though never so wicked Bellarmine saith Etiamsi Papa erraret prohibendo virtutem praecipiendo vitium c. Though the Pope should forbid virtue and command vice he must be obeyed And their law saith si Papa totos populos secum in insernum traheret nemo potest ei dicere Domine cur ita facis i. e. Though the Pope should draw whole Nations into Hell with himself yet none may say to him why dost
challengeth an absolute power to make laws for the whole Church Whatsoever he appointeth though against Scripture and reason must be accounted good and be observed He must with authority interpret Scriptures and what he determineth must be received as the sense of them He declareth what is Heresie and Schism he judgeth all things and persons but must himself be judged of none Now this is a Divine power and God's prerogative that the reason and consciences of men should be subject to him We are to submit our reason to God because he cannot err and our conscience to him because he can command nothing but what is good yea things are good because he commands them therefore the Pope in usurping this power sits as God 3. He claims a power to dispense with Gods Laws to appoint new means whereby men should come to heaven He doth frequently dispense with marriages in all the forbidden degrees Concil Trid. Ses 24. Can. 3.4.6 and the Council of Trent curseth those that think the Church hath not power to forbid marriage in more degrees than the Scripture prescribes or to alter those there set down and to allow marriage in those cases as it shall see cause The Scripture saith marriage is honourable in all Heb. 13.3 but the Pope saith it is not only a disgrace but a damning sin for any of the Ministers of the Gospel to marry It is Gods law 1 Cor. 7.2 to avoid fornication every man should have his own Wife and every woman her own Husband but the Pope saith it is better for Priests to live in fornication than to marry yea and for all persons 't is meritorious of heaven to vow not to marry though they live in all uncleanness he dispenseth with Oaths and vows and nothing humane or divine is or can he obliging any further than he alloweth it he being the supreme judge and determiner of all things God alloweth us the use of all meats fit for food but the Pope forbiddeth the use of many yea annexeth merit and the promise of heaven to the forbearance of certain meats at certain times though they gorge and glut themselves with other sorts of dainties And here let us observe that the Apostle speaketh of an apostasie from the faith that should be in the latter times v. 1. and he giveth this as one character of this apostasie that these apostates should forbid marriage and the use of meats in an hypocritical pretence of godliness which doth so point out the Papists as if they had been named none but they teaching those doctrines especially that of forbidding marriage The Pope maketh it meritorious of pardon and great immunitys to wear the habits to certain Monks and Friers to be buried in a Monks cowle or in the gown of a Capuchin or Carmelite Frier but above all to the saying of so many Ave-maries or Pater Nosters in the 7. chief Churches of Rome which will procure some hundred thousand years pardon 4. He pretends to forgive sin The Jews could say Who can forgive sin but God only and he that taketh upon him to forgive sin Luke 5.21 maketh himself a God But with the Papists every Priest taketh upon him to forgive sin yea a man cannot be forgiven unless he be first absolved by the Priest much more doth the Pope claim a power to forgive all sin and that not declarative only to pronounce the promises of pardon to the penitent but authoritative also to give absolution and heaven to whom he pleaseth In his Jubilees he carrieth in his hand a golden hammer to break open Paradise for all the Pilgrims that come to Rome They do often publish and sell indulgences for all manner of sins it was one special thing that stirred up the spirit of Luther that Frier Teselius came into Germany with indulgencies from Leo the 10. publishing in all Markets and Fairs that he could grant pardon for all manner of sins even though a man had laid with the Virgin Mary The Pope can prevent mens going to Purgatory at all or shorten and lengthen their time there as he pleaseth though they teach Purgatory to be a place where men must satisfie for their sins Part. 3. tit 22. cap. 5.5.6 7. Antoninus maketh a grave Quere whether the Pope may empty Purgatory and release all the souls that be there and as gravely determineth that out of the fulness of his power he may without doubt do it though he thinketh it not expedient he should and so doth the Pope too for then the private Masses and prayers for the dead which are a great part of their service and by which the poor Priests get their livelyhood would cease 5. The Pope taketh to himself the name and titles of God and Christ Dominus Deus noster Papa our Lord God the Pope is the language of their Canon Law Paul the 5. caused a triumphal Arch to be set up at Tolentum under which he was to enter the City with this inscription Paulo quinto Vice deo to Paul the 5. the vice-God They say the Pope is the rock the foundation of the Church her head and husband Lord of Lords and King of Kings c. When some among themselves were offended at these blasphemous titles Bishop Beedle informs while he was in Italy about 70. years since there was a congregation appointed at Rome to redress these abuses Beed answer to Wodsw called congregatio de moderandis titulis but before they could do any thing to purpose the Pope forbid them to proceed because he said there were no titles given him but what dignitas praerogativa Sancti Petri c. the dignitys and prerogatives of Peter would well enough bear Thus this Roman State is the Beast in whose head are the names of Blasphemy Rev. 13.1 Hence it appears though the Pope call himself the servant of servants and the Vicar of Christ yet he doth indeed usurp the place of Christ and the honour and authority of God himself wherefore he is deservedly accounted the Antichrist in both senses of the word Hostis emulus Christi both the opposer of Christ and his competitour that contends with him for honour and usurps his place and dignity The Apostle saith that there were many Antichrists in the world in his time 1 John 2.18 and that the spirit of Antichrist was then entered into the world 1 John 4.3 and that these Antichrists were apostates from the Christian Church They went out from us chap. 2.19 but yet that there was one special Antichrist to come of which the Church was forewarned you have heard that Antichrist should come cap. 2.18 and surely there hath never been a more dangerous enemy of Christ than this apostate State of Rome The Heathens had but one way of opposing Christ viz. persecution which tended much to the honour of Christ and his grace by the sufferings of the faithful but these both destroy by persecution those that are most upright
and corrupt and poyson the rest by errour superstition Idolatry The Papists plead that Antichrist shall deny both God and Christ his person and incarnation 1 John 2.22 cap. 4.3 But this the Pope doth not yet the doth it in effect though not in words when he useth and exerciseth the names titles power and office both of the father and the Son and hath set himself against the pure doctrine worship and discipline of the Gospel The Papists cannot prove from this or any other place certainly that such an Antichrist as they describe is to be expected and we do prove all the properties of Antichrist to belong to the Pope even this of denying Christ to be come in the flesh in effect though not expresly and yet some of them have called the Gospel a fable and have been professed Atheists If Christ rule not his Church if the Pope be head with absolute power over it if Christ he daily made of a bit of bread and daily Sacrificed by the Priest to make attonement with the Father as they teach and practise this is in effect to say he is not come nor hath made satisfaction to God for the sins of his people However we need not contend whether the Pope be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Antichrist that what to come or some other Heretick may be intended we are sure Antichrist fits the Pope and we have little more of him than his name but that he is the man of sin the Son of perdition the author and maintainer of a general apostasie and that Rome is the Whore of Babylon is clear from this place and Rev. 17. and this is all the Protestants mean by the name of Antichrist V se From all this we inferr 1. That pretence of some Papists that they are of the Church but not of the Court of Rome i. e. for the Romish religion but not for the Popes supremacy is altogether vain The Pope as Pope claimeth the full power of Christ both over the Church and over the world and if they believe him to be infallible they must believe he hath this power also if he deceiveth them in this he may deceive them in matters of religion likewise But they that will refuse the Oaths of Allegiance and supremacy because those deny the Popes jurisdiction over our Kings and can consent to the deposing of their persons and the giving away their Kindoms to strangers are certainly for the Court as well as for the Church of Rome 2. That the Pope is not to be acknowledged or respected as a temporal Prince The power he hath is usurped on the pretence of being head of the Church which is a power Christ never gave a magistracy that God never instituted his titles and claims are blasphemous he rules as a God not as Gods vicegerent nor doth he use his power for the proper ends of government to maintain the true religion justice honesty or sobriety among men and to preserve the peace of the world but to subvert religion justice and all morality and to imbroil all nations for his own interest As a society of Bandites or Pirates is no common-wealth but they are to be reckoned hostis humani generis enemies of mankind so the Pope is to be reckoned hostis Ecclesia the professed irreconcileable enemy of Christ and it is some degree of defection to have any commerce with or any respect for that Antichristian State Ver. 5. The Apostle having spoke thus much of the man of sin calleth the Thess to remembrance of what he had said to them about this matter when present with them Remember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you these things Moses forewarned Israel of a great apostasie that would be among them even such as would threaten utter destruction did not God remember his Covenant and that even then there was such a leaven working a nongst them Our Saviour foretold his disciples that false Christs and false Prophets should arise and deceive many and the Apostles in all their Epistlesforetell that seducers and defections would come in the Church all which is done to prevent the security that men are prone to and that the Godly might both beware of and be less startled at such things when they should see them come to pass The Apostle adds v. 6. and now you know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time He had told the Thessalonians what would delay the power and revelation of this Man of sin for a time that he might not prevail till the appointed time and then he should discover himself for he should not get his power or shew his wickedness all at once or apparently till some letts be removed out of his way but should secretly insinuate and grow by degrees till he should come to his full strength Ver. 8. For the Mystery of iniquity doth already work only he who now letteth will lett untill he be taken out of the way Ver. 8. And then shall that wicked be revealed The Apostle saw that there was even in his days some beginnings of this Man of sin some tendency toward the great apostasie but it was secret and a mystery of iniquity this is another character of this apostasie viz. that it should be mysterious and under fair pretences Christ and the true doctrine of Salvation are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mystery of godliness 1 Tim. 1.16 and the apostasie from this faith is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a mystery of iniquity The great Whore Rev. 17.5 had a name written in her forehead Mystery Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth Though she should be both unclean and wicked her self and the author of it to all the earth yet it should be under fair pretences in a mystery Some travellers have observed amongst other antiquities at Rome Du Moul. Accom of proph Rev. 17. that there are shewn some ancient Miters of former Popes that have the word Mysterium in Golden characters upon the front of them as if she had been ambitious to have the prophecie verified of her self The Apostle also 1 Tim. 4.3 saith that the apostasie of the latter times should be brought about by men that talk lies in Hypocrisie forbidding to marry and to eat certain meats c. This plainly points out the Church of Rome The Heathens Jews and Turks are open and professed enemies of Christ but the Pope is a secret and mystical enemy that betrays Christ with a kiss and under the pretext of friendship Their pretences are such as these 1. That the Popes absolute power is for the honour of Christ that it was fit that he that is Lord of Lords and King of Kings should have a servant or Deputy on earth who should have Soveraign power over all persons and causes That his Church should not be subject to secular men and temporal Princes but to one who is Christ's immediate Vicar They say it is
be subject to their own pastours and to take heed of admiring and hearkning after others if this had been done the Pope had never got the Chair Hitherto the Apostle hath given the description of Antichrist and soretold his insolency and Tyranny over the Church to teach Christians what to expect and to arm themselves with patience and courarge Now to prevent desponding he foretels his destruction v. 8. Whom the Lord shall comsume with the spirit of his month and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming The destruction of this man of sin is as certain to be in due time as his coming was the Lord shall consume him c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as this wicked one is in special manner an enemy to Christ so Christ will set himself to destroy him will consume utterly destroy as Armies lay wast a Country that they invade the means by which he will do it is by the spirit of his month i. e. his word accompanied by his spirit and we may observe that no other means have been very successful either to hinder the growth or to hasten the ruine of the man of sin the Eastern Emperours with all their power opposed the Gregories and in the West the Othos Fredericks and Henries opposed the Popes in their time but all to their own destruction the people being bewitcht and Princes too by the inchantments of the Great Whore but when the appointed time was come a few inconsiderable men Luther and his fellows only by preaching the word in the space of about 40. years rent from the Pope half his Empire and weakned him in all the remaining parts also many in all Countries receiving the knowledge of the truth and both Princes and people that still adhere to him standing in much less fear of him and paying him much less homage and subjection than before Again since the first reformation though powerful Princes and many Nations have imbraced the Gospel and have made some attempts by power and arms to promote it and have had some very fair opportunities as when Hen. the 4 a Protestant was made King of France and conquered all his opposers and in the late German wars yet nothing considerable hath been done but as to particular persons there hath rather been a loss in this last age and a great indifferency hath grown upon the Protestant Churches The time when this ruine shall be consummated is here exprest by the brightness of his coming fo by the appearance of his presence as the man of sin was conceived born and grew up by degrees so he hath been and gradually shall be destroyed 1. Christ by his word and spirit preserved a select number in all times that opposed him and bore Testimony against him both by word and sufferings some Princes some learned many both of the Clergy and people protested against the encroachments and impositions of the Popes whilst they were contending for the universal Empire of the Church and when they had gained it and thought all sure about Ann. 1160. God raised the Waldenses and Albigenses to bear witness against them who spread themselves into France Italy Bohemia Austria England and could never be extinguisht till their doctrine swallowed up a great part of Popery as Moses's Rod did those of the Magicians Thus it was prophesied Rev. 14 1-6 v. that there should be one hundred forty four thousand under the Tyranny of the beast who kept themselves undefiled Virgins who followed the Lamb whithersoever he went and kept his Fathers name in their fore head not submitting to the mark of the beast 2. A As the fall of this man of sin draws nearer so the word hath greater success and turneth Nations and rulers to the acknowledgement of it God dispenseth his grace gradually according to the times he hath appointed from the flood for above one thousand years it was restrained mostly to the Jewish Nation then our Lord sent his Apostles to teach all Nations but it was several hundred years before the Nations became Christian though there were many Christians in them and no sooner had they received the Gospel but it began to be darkned by the invasion of Pagans Goths and Vandals by the fraud and violence of Mahomet and his followers and mostly by errors and superstitions in the Church it self which bred and brought forth the Pope and he at last scaled up the Bible and quite changed Christian religion into a new sort of Paganism then for about 350. years the truth was forced into corners but few received and owned it in comparison of the world that wondred after the beast since that time whole Nations have been enlightened 3. Christ will yet more enlighten by the preaching of his word till all Nations shall see the frauds and corruptions of Popery and abhor them there will come a time when the Kingdoms of this world shall be the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 Not only the godly but the generality of men also shall believe and acknowledge the cheats of the Pope the false doctrines and delusions of his Ministers and shall no more be enticed by them and they shall love the godly and willingly submit to the pure doctrine worship and discipline of the Gospel though they have been so unwilling to receive it hitherto 4. Christ will stir up the spirit of Princes to destroy Rome it self and that wicked Polity Rev. 17.16 The Kings of the earth shall hate the whore and burn her flesh with fire As the Kings for their own interest and private designs chiesly though under a pretence of devotion advanced the Pope till he was able to tread upon all their necks so some for their own interest and by reason of provocations from Rome shall in due time be incensed against her and utterly destroy her 5. And by this means the Tyranny insinuations and interests of the Pope and the Princes that joyned with him being removed and dissolved the Gospel shall have its free passage and the Church its full liberty Many learned men have interpreted this place of Christs destroying the man of sin by the brightness of his coming of Christs coming to the last judgement as if the Pope his Tyranny should continue at least in part till then and be utterly abolisht only by Christs personal coming to judgement but it is usual in scripture to express great changes in Church or State by the coming and appearance of the Lord particularly the destruction of the Jews for rejecting Christ is exprest by the Prophets Joel and Malachie in such phrases that have occasioned many to interpret them of the last judgement our Saviour also Math. 24 25. ch expresseth his judging of that Nation in like phrases and calls it his coming and commands his servants to watch and prepare for it likewise Rev. 6. the subduing of the heathen world to Christ by the Emperours receiving the Gospel and establishing
their Church declares it nor is any sense or meaning to be fixt upon as the certain sense of any Scripture but what they determine to be the meaning of the place Accordingly the Trent Council out of their great power have determined the vulgar Latin Translation of the Bible to be authentick and equal to the Greek and Hebrew originals Council of Trent Ses 4 though their own authors acknowledge it to be most false defective and in many things ridiculous Now then our faith is not ultimately resolved into the Scriptures we do not believe and obey because we know and are sure from Scripture that this is the mind of God but because the Pope or Church declare it to be the mind of God yea though the words of Scripture plainly condemn what they teach or though the Translation of a Scripture be contrary to the original which was indited by the spirit of God immediately yet if they say this is the meaning of the place and the true translation of it we must believe it The foundation then of all our faith and obedience is the determination of the Church or Pope Obj. But they are infallible they say Answ This they can never prove but if they were if I must believe meerly upon their Testimony and saying they are infallible my faith is still resolved into the witness of men their testimony concerning themselves is but a humane Testimony they do not cannot prove it by any divine infallible proof therefore my faith and obedience must ultimately pesolve into humane authority The Apostles were infallible yet had not they dominion over the faith of the Church 2 Cor. 12.24 to command what should be believed and practised but they proved by infallible and divine Testimony of miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost that what they taught came from God and so the belief of the people was built upon the Testimony of God to the Apostles doctrine 1. Cor. 2.4 5. the Apostle saith his preaching was in demonstration of the spirit and of power That their faith might not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God If their faith had been grounded upon the Apostles own Testimony of his self that he was infallible and upon his determination concerning any Scripture or doctrine out of his own wisdom though he had seemed to prove it strangely their faith had stood upon the authoty wisdom of man but therefore their faith was built on God because his spirit did powerfully demonstrate what the Apostle preacht to be from God therefore unless the Papists can prove their infallibility by miracles and demonstration of the spirit theirs is but a humane Testimony and so we know it is and a false one too and therefore it is an intolerable abuse to take the Church off from faith and obedience to Christ as the head commanding and ruling her and from the holy Spirit as inditing and confirming the holy Scriptures and to subject her to the authority and determinations of fallible and sometimes most wicked men To let pass that the Papists themselves not being agreed who is the infallible supreme judge whether the Pope Council or the whole Church no man of them hath any sure foundation for his Faith If they say the Scripture declares who is the supreme infallible Judge I answer that Judge must again tell us what is the meaning of that Scripture The Pope saith it means him the Council and Church say it means them here are three pretenders to supreme and infallible authority and to interpret the Scripture which soever a man adheres to it is two to one but he is mistaken however here is no way to determine who is the infallible Judge unless there be infallible marks and Testimonies of it given by God and then they are of the supreme authority and neither Pope Council nor Church themselves but such they can never produce Thus the whole matter is but an inconsistent juggle to bring the Church into subjection to the Pope 3. Because the Church of Rome takes away the Scriptures from the people yea and alloweth the Clergy themselves the use of the corrupt vulgar Translation of the Bible only Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God Rom. 10.14 How then shall the people get Faith or grow in it when they must not have the Scriptures to read themselves nor have them read to them by their teachers but in an unknown tongue and that Translation so corrupt also that if any of them should understand Latin they would yet have much difficulty to find the truth The Scriptures are Christs Law whereby he governs his Church and the peoples Magna Charta the Charter of all their priviledges and of all Gods promises spiritual and temporal to take this from them is to deprive them both of the rule of their obedience and of the foundation of all their faith and hope in God This is not to be endured upon any pretence whatsoever 4. Because they impose the celebration of Gods worship in an unknown tongue the Papists celebrate their prayers Sacraments and singing of Psalms all in Latin which as they know the people understand not so they would not have them understand it by this means the people are deprived of all true worship For worship is the reverence and affection of the soul to God either in ascribing honour to him or desiring of him and trusting in him for whatever we need This it is impossible man should give to God in and by those words and expressions which he understandeth not which for what he knows may blaspheme God or beg a curse instead of a blessing which as managed by illiterate Priests oftentimes are nonsense and signifie nothing and sometimes contrary to sound Doctrine yea may at all times for what the people know be directed to an Idol or a Devil instead of God For preaching of the word the Papists pretend but little to it And thus the Roman Church is a Church of Christ which acknowledgeth not him for her head and Governour nor his word for her rule and Law nor his worship for her practice but sabjecteth her self to a wicked man under the name of Christs Vicar taketh his will for her Law and his institutions for her worship without Question and without understanding This is an abuse Jot to be tolerated 5. The Idolary that the Papists impose on the Church the Apostle is express You cannot partake of the Table of the Lord and the Table of Devils the Cup of the Lord and the cup of Devils 1 Cor. wor-10 20 21. and these Devils he saith are shipped in Idols by Idolaters with whom therefore we must have no communion now the greatest part of the Papists worship consists in the worship and invocation of Saints Angels and the Virgin Mary and their waser-God which they practise upon the very same grounds on which the Heathens worshipt their Idols and therefore are Idolaters as well as the