vera Ecclesia unde cognoscet similitudinis confusione nisi tantummodo ex scripturis That is that wicked heresie which is Antichrists armie shall stand in the holy places of the Church pretending that they are the Church so as if any would know what is the true Church How or wherby shall hee know this in so great a confusion of likenes but allanerlie by the Scriptures From the former words then and explication of them wee reason thus He who sits in the Temple of GOD that is his Church as GOD His vice-gerent to wit or vicar of CHRIST and therefore usurpeth the first place and primacie therein and as Monarch thereof who shall claime dominion over the same Yea moreover who shall sit in the Church as if he himself were the church to wit virtuall as they call him and being onelie infallible he I say who doeth this is the grand Antichrist But the Pope doeth this Therefore hee is the grand Antichrist The Major is Scripture expounded by fathers and Romanists theÌ„selves The minor is cleare likewise by the Pops own claime Bellarmins doctrine of him LIB. 2. de pont Rom. cap. 12. and LIB 2. dâ— Ecclesia cap. 15.16 c. Therefore the Conclusion inevitablie followeth CHAP. VIII Antichrists Seat or his place in particular Revel. 17.9 and 18. proved to be Rome AS for Antichrists seat or place in particular It is described two wayes REVEL. 17. First by the name of mysticall Babylon verse 5. And thereafter by the name of That great Citie which in Iohn's dayes did raigne over the Kings of the Earth Now that Rome is signified by both these wee are to prove consequentlie that Rome is the Seat of Antichrist First then that by misticall Babylon Rome is understood resembling the Assyrian Babylon in pryde Idolatrie and filthynes and especiallie in cruell persecution of the People of GOD Wee have not onelie the testimonies of Fathers as TERTULIAN IEROM AUGUSTIN AMBROSE BEDA and OECUMENIUS and especiallie IEROM writting to PAULINUS speaking thus of ROME When I was in Babylon sayeth hee and Lived an inhabitant of that Purple Whoore I desired to treat some what of the holy Ghost and to dedicate my worke to the Bishope of that Citie and behold the assemblie of the Pharisees There meaning the Roman Cleargie They cryed me down And as for the testimonies of the fore-named Fathers They ar to be found as followers TERTULLIAN adversus Iudaeos LIB. 3. contra Matrimonium AUGUSTIN de civitate DEI LIB. 18. c. 2. AMBROSE in 2 Thess 2. BEDA and OECUMENIUS in 1. Pet. cap. ult. out of which place by Peter's writing from Babylon which the Romanists themselves expound to be Rome they would prove that Peter was aâ—Rome for so Lyra and Cajetan expound that place as also Bellarmin and Baronius The Iesuit also Viega speaketh thus Omnia quae in his capitibus de Babylone commemorantur in Romam urbem aptissime quadrant That is all these things which are spoken of Babylon in these Chapters most fitlie agree to the City of Rome Etiam quae erit tempore Antichristi Even as it is to bee in the time of Antichrist The Iesuit Ribera likewise Arbitror ergo quod Andreas Episcopus Caesareae Arethas in hujus libri Commentariis nonnullos sensisse testantur Romam nomine Babylonis designari That is I believe therefore that which ANDREVV also Bishope of Caesarea and ARETHAS testifyeth that some others in their Comâ—mentaries upon this booke did â—old that by the name of Babylon Rome is understood and againe Huiâ— conveniunt aptissime omnia quae de Babylone dicuntur in hoc libro That is all things that are spoken of Babylon in this book most fitlie agreeth with Rome which he proveth thereafter by many Authorities and witnesses The onlie evasion that Romanists use is that by Babylon Rome is designed as it was Heathen in the dayes of NERO and other heathen Emperours or as it shall be in the end of the World under their fancied Antichrist yee to come wherby as ever they grant that Rome is the proper seat of Antichrist But to show their errour in the first to wit that it is not called Babylon as it was heathen and under the old Roman Heathen Emperours but under the Pops First Rome Heathen was under the sixt Head which was imperiall governement but Rome as it is described by Iohn and to be the Seate of Antichrist is under the last head which is papall governement 2. Rome Heathen under imperiall governement procured subjection of nations to her by force and martiall coaction but Rome as shee is described by Iohn to be the Seate of Antichrist and under papall governement procured subjection of natioâ—s to her by fraud and Whoorish allurements as v. 4. of craftie seduction 3. Rome as the seate of Antichrist is described coÌ„mitting spirituall fornication with the kings of the earth who are called v. 12. the hornes of the Beast to whome they giue their power as his secular arme to warre against the LAMB by persecuting the saints of GOD His Martyr's but when Rome was Heathen these kings were not at all for they were to rise a long time after Romes ceasing to be under the heatheÌ„ Emperours 4. Rome is described by Iohn as the Seate of Antichrist by way of prophecie not what she was then in Iohns dayes but what shee was after to be And 5. Rome is described by Iohn under her eight or last head which I haue proven the Pope to bee under whom she is to go to such utter ruine as never any more to be inhabited nor the light of a Candle to be seen in her Where it is evident that this never yet befell to Rome Heathen under the old imperiall governement Next where they would alleadge when the former evasion failieth them that it is Rome as it shall be in the end of the world under the fancied Antichrist yet to come 1. as hath bene said hereby they confesse that Rome is the proper Seate of Antichrist 2. If this were true then the Beast spoken of should haue more Heads then eight to wit a nynth after the Papall governement under which it is prophecied that it shall go to utter ruine and so not to have a nynth head at all 3. The Iesuit Ribera sayeth of Rome Si quando haec eadem fecerit quae Iohannis tempore faciebat iterum Babylon vocabitur That is if Rome shall do these same things which she did in Iohn's tym then she shall justlie be called againe Babylon as she was before and consequentlie come to that utter ruine foreprophecied of her Cap. 18.2 and 21. For it is manifest sayeth hee Quod peccata quae extremo tempore patrabit omnino similia futura iis quae fecit cum imperiuÌ„ tenebant Imperatores That is that the sinnes which she shall committ in the last times shall be altogether alike with the sins which she
Antichrist in whose fore-head the name of Blasphemie is written that is I am God and cannot erre he I say sits now in the Temple of GOD sayth he farre and wyde doeth raigne And tho hee calleth himselfe the servant of servants yet as if hee were GOD sayeth hee Hee will bee Lord of Lords Thus wee see how this apocalyptick Antichristian beast speaketh like the dragon of whose blasphemous dragon mouth we shal speak more herafter CHAP. VI How Antichrist is described by Iohn REVEL. 17.11.12 c. IN that place Antichrist is described by the Apostle to be the last head or soveraign goverment which should raigne or rule over that Great Citie Which in Iohn's dayes did raigne over the Kings of the earth by which City Rome is understood by the consent of all For so sayth Bellarmin Vrbs illa magna sedens super septem montes habens imperium super Reges terrae Roma est That is that great Citie that fits on seven hills and hath dominion over the Kings of the earth is Rome so likewise sayeth the Iesuit Ribera yea further Hoc in nullam urbeÌ„ aeque convenit ac in Romam That is this cannot agree to no other towne or citie sayeth hee as to Rome By this great Citie then so situate and discribed seing that it is granted that it is Rome Wee are to consider who is the the last head or soveraigne governement over the same under which it shall go to utter ruine As wee see REVEL. 18.19 is foreprophecyed of her and to showe this is the papacie IT is showne unto us 1. By the origine and rysing thereof to wit that this head or soveraigne governement over that citie should arise by the decay and fall of the old RomaÌ„ empyre and at the same time also when by the same decay other Kings should arise to Monarchik Dignitie with her which verse 12. is called at one houre as 1. Iohn 2.18 the last houre is taken for the last time Neyther is it to bee understood that at one precise period of time the papacy over Rome and the rising of other Kings should bee whose kingdoms before were tributarie provinces onelie to the old Roman Empyre but as Iohn's last houre includeth some ages so this some difference of time neither by ten Kings is a precise number of such to bee understood but a definite number put for an indefinite as we see usuall in scripture Gen. 31.7 Numb. 14 22. and as likewise BELLARMIN acknowledgeth Whence it is as sure that Antichrist is come and not to come as papists fancy and hath the soveraigne governement over Rome as it is visible to the whole World that there are Kings now in the severall kingdomes of Europe which before were tributarie provinces onelie to the old Roman now decayed Empire seing that at one time he was to rise to his soveragnitie over Rome with them 2. As it is showne unto us who shall be the last Head over Rome by the time of his rising to be so when even so it is showne unto us verse 8. Who he shall be by the place from which he ariseth or whence in these words The beast that thou sawest was and is not and speaking in the future shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit where first we must remember that by the beast in generall is understood in this prophecie the Roman Iurisdiction whereof the Apostle or rather the Angell maketh foâ—re estates 1. That hee was to wit before Iohn's dayes in the person of fyve kings that is severall sorts of governements as the Iesuit Ribera and others do expound And which fyve verse 10. are said to bee fallen which were Kings Consuls Decemuirs Tribuns and Dictators 2. Is not sayeth the Angell in Iohn's dayes to wit as before under any of the former governements 3. And yet is to wit under the imperiall governement which then stood and therefore in the present time is the sixt Head spoken of verse 10. Whereof the angell sayeth and one is And 4. Speaking in the future and of the last sort of governement over that citie hee sayeth and shall ascend out of the Bottomlesse pit c. Where hee setteth down three things concerning the papall governement 1. Whence it commeth 2. The generall subjection thereto and 3. The last totall ruine therof and of Rome over which the same is chieflie exercised First then hee sayeth that this beast or last Head shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit having reference heerein to that fallen starre spoken of Chap. 9. Who verse 11. is called the Angell of the bottomlesse pit agreed by all to be Antichrist and expounded by Romanists themselves as I haue shown Chapter 4. To bee some eminent Bishop who shal haue Monarchik soveragnity therfore is called the King that shal be over the Locusts there described which Beda calleth the disciples of Antichrist Lyra his priests over whom he is Prince and Pope Gregorie calleth The Armie or swarme of Priests which were prepared for the King of Pride who in his â—yme was neere at hand a thousand yeares ago as hee playnlie affirmeth 2. The generall subjection that shall bee to this last Head or sort of pâ—pall governement over Rome is set down in these words That they that dwell upon the earth shall wonder whose names are not written in the booke of life when they behold the beast Reference being had to that which is said Chap. 13.3 of the generall subjection to the old Roman empire That all the World wondered at the beast which generall subjection also is set down verse 13. Where it is said That the Kings who received power as Kings at one houre with the beast meaning the European kings and as verse 2. Who had committed spirituall Fornication with the Whoore being idolatrous and having one minde with her they should giue their power and strength unto the beast as his secular arme To make warre against the Lamb That is to persecute the professours of the Trueth of CHRIST but at last The Lamb should overcome them to wit by conversion or eversion And therefore 3. The last and totall ruine of Head and state under him is set down in these words that as Antichrist is called The sonne of perdition 2. Thess. 2.3 So Hee should go into perdition Having thus spoken of the beast as the eight and last Head of Rome The seventh being that of the Gothes which continued onelie 70 yeares and therefore is said verse 10. to continue but a short space The better yet to know him wee haue to consider the mysterie of the woman that is born up and supported by this beast that is by the papacie which is the Roman Clergie whom they call the Church or their Church-men First then this is a woman by which a Church is meaned as wee see Revel. 12 1. 2. Shee is a Whoorish woman that is heere spoken of like AHOLAH and AHOLIBAH
committed when the Emperours of old did raigne over her Now that she is guiltie of the same sins and in a greater measure Let these ensuing Romanists themselves declare 1. Their own famous Florentine Arch-deane and chanon Petrarch who lived in the 1300 year of CHRIST speaketh thus Ecce jam oculis vides jam manibus palpas qualis est Babylon illa novissima fervens aestuans obseena terribilis c. That is behold now thou seeth with thy eyes and feels with thy hands what a Citie this last spoken of Babylon is hote burning in lust filthie and terrible c. Wherein what ever impietie sayeth hee or most wicked manners everie where the whole World ever had or hath thou shall fynd all accumulated there in one masse of impietie and thereafter he sayeth Yea what other thing is done there by the enemys of CHRIST and Pharisees of our time to wit the Roman cleargie but like Iudas and the Roman Souldiers while they would seeme to worship Him they sell Him they crowne Him with thornes they spit on Him they mock Him they pierce Him and of new they crucifie Him and then concluds thus O Pudor O Dolor O Indigniâ—tas talium hodie ur dicitur est Româ— Tha is O shâ—me O griefe O disgrace for as hath beene said of such persons consisteth Rome at this day and more particularlie speaking of the Pope he sayeth Non Apostolicam sed predonis in morem videres neque signis virtutuÌ„ ac miraculis sed â—ignis castrorum miris instructum legionibus quasi in has terraâ—non PetruÌ„ sed HannibileÌ„ destiâ—asset That is where thou may see not an Apostolicke man or successour but one like a Robber nor one Famous for signs of vertue or miracles but for militarie Ensigns and Armies mightilie furnished as if he had not been appointed by CHRIST to be a Successour to Peter but rather against these landâ— to bee another Hanniball The next whom we produce is Platina the Pops owne Secretarie who in the lyf of Pope Marcellin speaketh thus of the Roman Cleargie Hi enim livore superbia inimicitiis odiis inter se certantes tyrannidem potius quam Sacerdotium sapere videbantur Christianâ— pietatis omnino obliti â—c divina mysteria potius prophanantes quaÌ„ celebrantes sed quid futurum nostra aetate aerbitramur quum vitia nostra eo crevere uâ— vix apud DEVM miserecordiae locum nobis reliquerint Thaâ— is For these men by envy pride inimitie and hatred striving amongst themselves did rather seeme to savour of tyrannie then of Priesthood being altogether forgetfull of Christian pietie and rather prophaning holie mysteries then celebrating them but what think you will be the estate of things in our age to come when our vices are grown to that hight that they have left scarce any place with GOD for mercy and forgivenes immediatlie thereafter he sayeth Quanta sit avaritia corâ—â— maximê qâ—ireruâ— potiuntur quanta libidâ— undique conquisita quanta ambitio pompa quanta superbia desidia quanta ignoratio tum sui ipsius tum doctrinae Christianae quanta pâ—rvareligio sâ—mulata potius quaÌ„ vera quum corrupti mores vel in prophanis hominibus quos seculares vocant detestandi non attineâ— dicere cum ipsi ita aperte palaÌ„ peccent aâ— sâ— inde laudem quaerereâ—â— That is How great is the avaâ—ice of Priests chieflie of those who are in highest place meaning the Pope What leacherie where ever it may bee exercised what ambition and pomp how greate pride idlenes how great ignorance both of themselves and of Christian doctrine how little religion and that rather Hypocriticall nor true what great corruption of manners that even in prophane persons whom they call secular men were detestable it belongeth not to speak when as they sinne so openlie and in publick as if by sinning so they were seeking praises to â—hemselves This made Nicolaus Clemangis in his book De corrupto Ecclesiae statis who was Arch-deane of Bajon in the year 1400. to send Rome to that prophecie of Ezekiell and in the two sisters AHOLAH and AHOLIâ—AH to reade her like guiltienes and judgement to come upon her and thereafter sayeth hee Fâ—c eorum vaticinia alio spectare quid de tua Prophetia Iohannis scilicet in Apocalipsi censes an non illam saltem aliquae ex parte pertinere putas Num pudorem ita cum sensu perdidisâ—i ut haec neges IllaÌ„ ergo iâ—tuerâ— lege damnationem magnae Meretricis super aqâ—as multas sedentis illicque tua facta praeclara contemplare tuos fururos casus That is but let it be that the Prophecies of the Prophets look another way what thinks thou of the prophecie of Iohn in the REVELATION that câ—ncerneth thy self Doeth thou not think that in some part at least it belongeth to thee Hath thou so farre lost shame all feeling that thou dare deny the same look therefore upon that prophecie and reade the damnation of the great whoor that sitteth upon many waters in her behold they fyne deeds and thy future fall Therefore also said Bernard more particularlie Bestia illa de Apocalypsi cui datum est os loqui blsphemias bellum gerere cum sanctis Petri cathedram oâ—cupat tanquam leo paratus ad praedam Epist. 125. That is that beast spoken of in the Revelation to whom a mouth is given to speak blasphemies and to make warrâ— against the saints doeth now occupie Peters chayâ—e as a lyon prepared for his prey By all which former famous testimonies of Romanists themselves Wee see that Rome under papacie is presentlie hath beene long ago that mysticall Babylon and great Whoore that siteth upoÌ„ many waters and who is that great City spoken of Revel. 17.18 And that shee is guiltie of no lesse sinnes but rather greater nor ever she was guiltie of in the time of the old Roman Emperours both in the Head and inferiour clergie which made him to be long ago to be declared and avowed to be Antichrist his clergie to be Ministers of Antichrist as Eberhardus Archbishope of Salisburg in a solemne imperiall dyat at Reinsburg anno 1246. publickly professed as in ENGLAND anno 1340. A worthie gentleman Gefrey Chaucer of woodstok Elme esquyre Embassadour oftimes from king Edward the third to forraigne Princes did plainlie expresse in his poeme of the plough-mans tale speaking first of the Pope himself thus CHRIST sent the poore to preach The royall rich Hee did not so Now dare no poore the people teach For Antichrist is all their foe And thereafter of his Clergie hee speaketh thus CHRITS Ministers clepen they beene And rule all in robberie But Antichrist they serven cleane Attyred in all tyrrannie So speaketh also Bernard of the Roman Clergie ser. 33. in CANTICA Omnes amici omnes inimici Ministri
the whole world Now beside the word of GOD against it and their own exposition of the words of consecretion in their cannon law declaring them to bee figuratiue according to their own principles they cannot certanlie know that TranssubstantiatioÌ„ is made by the priests consecration and consequentlie that the Hoste which they worship is any other thing but bread therfor that their act of adoration is Idolatrie seing the chaÌ„ge doth whollie depend upon the consecration and the consecration again dependeth upon the intention of the Priest which none can certanly know but himself Bellarmin himself saying thus Neque potest quis certê° esse certitudine fidei se percipere verum sacramentuÌ„ cum sacramentum sine intentione ministri non conficiatâ—r intentioneÌ„ alterius nemo videre possit That is Neither can any be sure by the certanty of faith that he receivth a true sacrameÌ„t seing the sacrament is not made without the intention of him who ministrats it no man can see the intention of another Whence it will follow that no Papist can be sure that he committeth not Idolatrie but admit that the Priests intention should be right at the time of consecration yet if either he that bapâ—ised him or the Bishope that gauâ— him order haue missed in their right intention then he is neither a Christian nor a Priest and consequentlie what he doeth is no consecration so that the bread remeaneth bread still and consequentlie the worshippers thereof are grosse Idolaters and all Papists are in no better case then the Samaritans were in of whom our Saviour said Yee worship yee know not what Where I cannot omitt that notable discourse of Catarinus Bishop of Mâ—nori in the Councell of Trent consonanâ— to this of mine If a Priest said hee having a charge of 4. or 5000. soules were an Athâ—â—st or infidell in heart but yet a formall Hypocrit and in absolving the penitent baptising of Children and consecrating the Eucharist had an intention not to do what the Church doth iâ— must be said that the Children are damned said hee the penitents not absolved and that all remainâ— without the fruit of the Communion hee added if any would say these cases were rare would to GOD it were so said hee and that in this corrupt age wee had no cause to doubt they were many But suppose they are very few or but one onelie let there be a knave priest sayth hee who faineth and hath not an intention to minister true baptisme to a Child who after being a man growne is created Bishope of a great citie and liveth many yeares in that Charge so that he hath ordained a great part of the Priests it must be said that hee not being baptised is not ordained nor they ordained who are promoted by him so that in that Citie there will be neither Eucharist and consequentlie an Idolatrous adoration of bread nor yet confession or absolution said hee because that cannot be without the Sacrament of order nor order without a true Bishope nor can he receive order who is not baptised Behold then said hee millions of nullities of Sacraments by the malice of one Minister and in one act onelie CHAP. XIV Of the Popes or Antichrists bloodie crueltie Revel. 17.6 OF Antichrist his Bloodie Crueltie Iohn speaking Revel. 17.6 Sayth thus And I saw the Woman drunk with the blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Iesus which to be true of the pope I will 1. instaÌ„ce their famous forecited Petrarch in the third Chapter of this Treatise in that Epistle of his wherin he deploreth the calamitie of the citie of Rome speaking of the Pope and his Cleargie there sayeth to his friend to whom hee writteth being then at Rome There thou seeth sayeth hee not onlie CHRISTS Adversarie meaning the Pope as Antichrist but which is more grievous to see under the Banner of Christian profession fighting against CHRIST and drunk with his Blood to wit by persecution of his Saints Bernard likewise in his first sermon of Pauls conversion cryeth out thus Heu heu Domine Deus quia ipsi sunt in persecutione tua primi qui videntur in Ecclesia tua primatum deligere gerere principatuÌ„ That is Alas alas LORD GOD that these are first in the persecution of Thee who are seene to loue the primacie in thy Church and to haue the chief place meaning the Pope and thereafter to cleare himself more particularlie and plainlie he sayeth Egressa est haec iniquitas à senioribus judicibus Vicariis tuis qui videntur regere populum tuum that is This iniquitie is come foorth from the eldest that are Iudges even these that pretend to be thy vicars and who seeme to governe thy people In-like-manner that charter Monk who is author of Fasciculus temporum hee cryeth out upon the 900. yeare of CHRIST saying O worst times that ever were sayeth hee wherein the godlie man doth perish and trueth is decayed amongst the sonnes of men and after rehearsall of other vices in the Roman sea hee sayeth O what persecution is now Alas what company what Assemblie yea what man may bee now secure Likewise Platina the Popes Secretarie in the life of Silvester the third showeth That in these tymes good men were opprest by the Popes who had entered in by pride and Simonie and which fashion sayth hee I wish our times had not observed and except GOD prevent it wee are to see worse An example whereof both he in the life of Pope Honorius the second setteth down as also the Abbot Tritemius in his Chronicle Platina telleth us thus That one Arnolphus Christianae religionis praedicator egregius that is a notable preacher of the Christian religion whom sayth he many of the Roman Nobilitie did follow as a true disciple of CHRIST and as a Prophet was killed by the Cleargie at Rome Quia acerbe nimium in eorum lasciviam libidinem inveheretur quia eorum pompam in comparandis divitiis nimium studium improbaret c. Hunc laudibus ad Coelum tollebant hinc odium hinc irae in perniciem bene sentientis usque ad necem excitatae That is because he vehementlie enveyed against their voluptuousnes lusts and because hee reproved their pride and their too great care to gather riches whoÌ„ the Roman Nobilitie extolleth therefore with praises to the very heavens but hence was the Cleargies hatred against him hence was their wrath stirred up against him who did rightlie think of these thinges sayth he even to the very murthering of him The like may be said of that famous Ierome of Sauanarola whom for the same cause thy burned in ashes as is said of him Periit ignivomis Saâ—anarola rogis Hence it is also that Michaell Cecaenas aboue 400 yeares ago Generall of the gray Friers or order of S. Francis in his book Contra tyrannidem Papae complayneth That there
were two Churches the one of the wicked which then flowrished over which the Pope doth raigne sayeth hee and the other of godlie and good men which the Pope sayeth he doth persecute which made likewise that forecited worshipfull Esquyre and famous Poët in his time Chaucer to speak thus of the Pope and his Cleargie Were CHRIST on the earth eftsoone These would damne Him to die All his hestes they haue foregone And sayes hiâ— Lawes beene Hâ—resie And against his commands they cry And damne all His to be hrend For it lyks not them such loseâ—grie GOD Almightie them amend Whence it is likewise that the forecited Arch bishope of SALISBURG Eberhardus in his oration before the imperiall meeting at Reinsburg anno 1246. Said of the Pope avowedlie Vnder the tytle of High Priest and chief Pastor sayeth hee except we be blind wee may see a most cruell devouring Wolffe And yet no marvell that they were so cruell against the faythfull witnesses of CHRIST in former times who opposed them as wee see foreprophecied Revel 11.7 When they were so cruell each one against another as Platina witnesseth in the life of Sergius the third who tooke the dead carkise of his Predecessour Formosus out of the graue and as he had beene alive beheaded him and thereafter did cast the trunck oâ— his body into Tyber whereupon sayeth Platina See how farre the Popes did degener from their Predecessours who being most holy men and giving themselves to prayer and preaching of Christian doctrine refused any such dignitie when it was offered but these sayth hee hunting after the Popdome by Simonie and ambition and having so attayned therto misregarding all worship of GOD Inimieitias non secus ac sevissimi quidam Tyranni inter se exercebant That is They did exercise hatred crueltie one against another amongst themselves no lesse than the most cruell Tyrants that ever were sayeth hee What bloodie warres likewise they stirred up thorow all Christendome that Noble Roman Vallâ— as the Abbot Tritemius calleth him telleth us in his treatise of Constantins counterfite donation in the end thereof saying Papa ipse bella pacatis populiâ— infert inter civitates principes bella discordias serit that is The Pope both warreth himself against peaceable people and soweth discord warres amongst cities and princes wherupon hee about the middle exclameth thus O Romani Pontifices â—xemplum facinorum omnium caeteris Pontificibus O improbissimi Scribae Pharisei qui sedeâ—is super cathedram Moysi opera Dathan Ahiron facitis That is O ye Bishops of Rome who are an example of all most wicked crymes to all other Bishops O most wicked Scribes and Pharisees who sitteth in Moyses chayre and yet doeth the works of Dathan and Abiron The instance of the trueth whereof may be seene in that Tragicall Historie betweene the Emperour Frederick the second and Gregorie the nynth set down trulie and impartially by Pandolphus an Italian Romanist concerning which sayeth that author When I consider with my self that CHRIST whose vicars the Roman Bâ—shops boasteth themselves to bee said to his disciples that they should follow Him and imitate his example as their Master and Teacher and commanded them further that they should not draw the sword but put it up in the sheath c. And when I compare the Bishops of Rome how neere they follow Him whose vicars they say they are considereth so many and great conspiracies treasons rebellions stirred up by them c. And when I meditate with my self the destruction of so many great and famous Cities the subversion of such Common-Wealthes the slaughter of so many men and effusion of so much ChristiaÌ„ blood c. I am perswaded with my self to think and believe that to bee true sayeth hee which Aeneas Sylvius writteth in his historie of Austria that there is no great and notable destruction no notorious speciall calamitie that hath hapned either to the Common-Wealth or to the Church of GOD whereof the Bishops of Rome haue not beene the authors And as for the Popes crueltie against the poore Waldenses the author of Fasciculus temporum a charter moâ—k telleth us in the life of Innocent the third that an hundreth thousand of them wer partlie sâ—ayne and partlie put to flight by the Earle of Montferrat the Popes Generall of whom their own Reynerus testifyth That they lived before men both piouslie and justlie and helieved all things rightlie concerning GOD and the articles of the Creed onelie that they hated and spake evill of the Church of Rome calling her the malignant Church and that whoore spoken of in the Revelation and which sort of people sayeth hee are thought to haue continued from the very Apostles times and were spread abroad in all places for as Yhuanus telleth us in the preface of the Historie of his time being overcome by armes they fled for refuge some into the countrey of Provence and to the Alpes bordering upon France and found in thesâ— places refuge for their lives doctrine a part also went into Calabria continued there long sayth â—e till the time of Pius the fourth a part passed also into Germanie and dwelt amongst the Bohemians some also went to Pole and Liue-land and others turning Westward sayeth hee found refuge in Britane A notable example of which bloodie crueltie against the remainder of these Waldenses Wee reade in the historie of the councell of Trent anno 1545. While that bloodie councell was sitting who inhabiting the Alpes of Provence were suddenlie and unexpectedlie persued by the President of the Parliament of Aix Who neyther having Weapons nor thought otherwise than by flight to defend theÌ„selves al such who could not flie but stood to their mercie without sparing old or young of what age or condition soever they slew above 4000. persoÌ„s who without making defence begged for mercie razed the Countreyes of Cabriers in Provence and Merindoll in the Countie of Viinoifin wherein they formerlie had their abode From which time of that bloodie crueltie against the Waldenses what also hath beene likewise used against Iohn Huss Ierom of Prague and these who after theÌ„ they called Hussits in BOHEMIA Lollards in ENGLAND The Historie of the councell of CONTSANCE and of the BOHEMIAN warres by the Emperour Sigismund and the popes Emissaries writen by Aeneas Sylviê° afterward Pope As also the annalls of ENGLAND can testifie and tho the exact number of them bee not set down who suffered death torments for the Trueth in severall places yet it is certane that in lesse than 300. yeares their number farre exceeded theÌ„ who suffered in the times of of the ten Heathen persecutions As Sanders the priest maketh mention in his book of the Churches visible Monarchie AND from the rysing of the Iesuits to the year 1580. which was little more to that time nor 30 yeares Baldwin de Aâ—christo
verses to cry out Heu sedes Apostolica orbis olim gloria Proh dolor efficeris officina Simonis Terunt incude mallei nummi sunt tarâ—arei This also made a Monk Bernard In his satyrs wherein hee poynteth out the Pope and his Simoniak cleargie to cry out likewise saying O mala saecula venditur infâ—la pontficalis Infula venditur non reprehenditur emptio talis Next for selling spirituall and ecclesiasticall Offices and other things First let their famous Bernard and Abbot of Clarevall speake who sayeth in his sixt sermon vpon the 91. psalme Ipsa quoque Ecclesiasticae dignitatis officia in turpem quaestum tenebrarum negotium transiere nec in his salus animarum sed luxus queritur divitiarum That is the very offices of ecclesiastick dignities are turned to filthie gaine the work of darkness neither in these is sought the salvation of soules but the aboundance of riches Whence it is that Baptista Mantuanus their carmelit Frier in his book De calamitatibus temporuÌ„ speaketh thus of Rome Templa sacerdotes altaria sacra coronae Ignes thura preces coeluÌ„ est venale deusque That is all things are sellable at Rome Churches and priesthoods altars and other sacred things shaven crowns purgatorie fire incense and prayers yea Heaven and God Himself is there to bee sold Agreeable heereunto speaketh Clenard in his Epistle being professor in Lovane and thereafter in Portugall saying Quisquis opes saeras nummo reperire prophano Querit eat Romam sacra sunt venaliâ— Romae Their famous Petrarch likewise in his Epistle whose tytle is Calamitatem Romae deplorat and which hath beene before cited speaketh thus Do they not sayeth hee buy sell and make merchandise of CHRIST Himself Whose Name night and day they extoll with praises cloatheth his Images with gold and silver Marsilius Patavinus Inlikemanner anno 1320. in the 24. Chapter of the second part of his book intituled Defensor pacis sayth thus These who haue visited the Church of Rome which I may more truely call a shop of traffique and an horrid den of theeves sayth he they shall see playnlie that it is become a receptacle of al villanies Merchants for all wares both spirituall and temporall a very haven for all Simoniaks So also speaketh that noble and learned Roman Laurentius Valla in his book De donatione Constantini saying of the Pope That hee was not onlie a devourer of the People and not onely destroyeth the CoÌ„monwealth which Verres nor Catelin nor any robber durst Sed rem Ecclesiasticam Spiritum sanâ—tum questui habet quod Simon illâ— Magus etiam detestaretur That is but also he expoundeth to gaine ecclesiasticall things yea the very Holie Ghost which Simon Magus himself would detest Inlikemanner Theodoricus Vricus of the order of the Augustin Monks in his first book De consolatione Ecclesiae dedicat to the Emperour Sigismond sayeth thus Heu Simon regnat per munera quoque reguntur Iudiciumque pium gaza nefanda vetat Curia papalis fovet omnia scandala mundi Delubra sacra facit perfidiaque forum Ordo sacer baptisma sacrum cum chrismate sancto Venduntur turpi conditione fori Which is Englished thus who now but SimoÌ„ raigns bribes al in all And wicked pelf just judgemeÌ„t doth forstall The popish court doth foster al disgrace And turns the church into a mercat place Chrism orders baptism all which holy aâ— Are basly sold as at a pedling fayre And if we will heare a Popes owne confessioÌ„ to wit Pius secundê° who before he was assumed to the Popedome was called Aeneas Sylvius in his fourth epistle to Iohn Peregall his procutor then ar Rome writteh thus There is nothing which the Court of Rome giveth without money sayth he for the very imposition of hands and gifts of the Holy Ghost are sold neither is the remission of sinnes bestowed upon any sayeth hee but upon such as give money for the same And Platina the Popes secretarie in the life of Boniface the ninth telleth us that the Popes plenarie indulgences were every where so ordinarlie sold that the authoritie of the keyes and Apostolick letters was altogether vilifyed And of late Claudius Espenceus a spanish Bishope setteth down in his Commentar upon the first of Titus second digression a list of the many Tricks and devyces of the court and chancerie of Rome by grosse Simonie to draw in money referring these who desire further information heerein to the book called Taxa cancellariae Apostolicae Taxa penitentiâ—ria printed at PARIS by Tousant Denis anno 1520. Wherein every sin or cryme whatsoever is rated for obtayning of remission thereof The like practise of Simonie and merchandise of spiritual things doth Lodovious vives regrait upon Augustins eighteenth book of the Citie of God and the 22 Chapter As likewise the worthie English Esquyre Gefrey Chaucer of Woodstock in his plowe-mans tale 400 yeares ago saying of the Popes Clergie They Christs people proudlie curse With broad book and braying bell To put pennies in their purse They will sell both Heaven and hell Whence it is that the Abbot of Vrsperg in his Chronicle and life of Philip the Emperour sayeth That the waterfloods of all the treasures of the earth did flowe to Rome to quench her vnsatiable thirst of money as her Chancerie penitentiarie courts sufficientlie can testifie Hence it was that in the raigne of Henrie the third of ENGLAND it was found beside large accidents that the Popes set rent in England was equall to the Kings to wit at that time 60000. merks as the Monk Mathew of WESTMINSTER in his Flores historiarum reporteth in the yeare 1245. Beside that hee exacted of all Residenters at their benefices the third thereof and from non-Residents the half of their yearelie rent and the goods of all who died untested Duarenus likewise a French Lawier and Romanist in his book Pro desensione libertatis Ecclesiae gallicanae witnesseth that in the time of Pius the third the Pope drew out of FRANCE in one yeare for dispensations pluralities of benefices and the like seven and twentie hundreth thousand crownes CHAP. XVI Of Antichrists or the Popes lawlesse and most wicked Life 2. Thess. 2.3 FOR which respect Anchrist is called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} That Man of sin by way of Eminencie or excesse therein and v. 8. That lawlesse and wicked one who as he professeth in his Cannon Law dist. 40 cap. 6. Si Papa c. Is to judge all but to be judged by none altho hee should not only go to Hell himself but also leade innumerable troups of People with him Whence it is that of Benedict the ninth Platina and Onuphrius reporteth after his death he appeared to sundrie in an horrid and monstrous shape telling hee had beene such a Pope and being asked how or why he did so appeare hee answered Quia in vita Exlex sine ratione