before at large of Antichrist One succeeding another one by ordinary substitution succeeding another as the Papists i Bellar. lib. 4. de Eccles Militante cap. 8. themselues most gladly confesse when they vrge so often against vs the personall succession of their Popes in the same Chaire from Peter vnto this now liuing Paul the fifth And yet I cannot but by the way touch that which if I had leisure I could easily demonstrate as I haue done k In Clauigerâ— Ecclesiae §. 7. in another Worke first that their personall succession hath beene oftentimes interrupted either by an l Vid. Onuphrij Chroni ad finem Platinae interregnum and vacancie many moneths together or by their seuerall Schismes in their proud Antipopes secondly by that this personall succession if it could be prooued soundly yet is of no moment vnlesse they can shew succession in Doctrine as well as in person since by the plaine confession of their owne deare Doctor m Staplet lib. 4. demonst princip doctrinal cap. 20. Stapleton grounded vpon n Tom. 2. Concil aâ—ud mani pag. 149 â—n Epist Epist Aâ—gypti ad Anatolium intâ—â—pistolas illustrium virorlâ— very good Antiquities No Bishops name was set downe in their Dypticks that is as hee expoundeth it they were not mentioned in their Commemorations vntill they had receiued Synodycam the Epistle testimoniall of their Orthodoxe faith because he was not to bee accounted a Successour who held not the true faith of his Predecessor But yeeld wee vnto them this personall succession since it serueth well our purpose to prooue the Pope to bee that Antichrist if now to this materiall cause wee fit the forme of Antichrist before deliuered A Worke worâ—hy our labour and yet very easily to be accomplished § XXII For the qualities the seate and the time of the Papacie are the same with those of Antichrist In the formall cause by three 1. Qualities 2. Seate 3. Time His Qualities are two 1. Habites 2. Actes Habites are two 1. Heresie 2. Iniquitie The qualities be they either Habits or Acts. The Habits both of Heresie and of Iniquitie For the Pope is an Heretike seeing there is not one Article in the Creede which the Pope doth not denie not o Vid Canum lib. 6. lâ—cor commun cap. 8. Bellar. lib. 4. de Pontif. cap. 2. priuately as some priuate person but publikely in his Chaire as Bishop when either by his proper assertion or by his giuing priuiledge and approofe to the Blasphemies of his Minions and Disciples hee crosseth the truth in olden in these Articles as now to runne thorow them all in particular like as many other most Reuerend Diuines p Heming in Antichristimaâ— Beza cap. 7. Confess M. Perkins in his Aduertisement and M. D. Abbots now the Right Reuerend Bishop of Sarum in his third part against D. Bâ—shop of the Reformed Churches haue done before mee hee denieth this first Article I beleeue in God The first Article of the Creede infringed by the Pope the Father Almightie maker of Heauen and Earth by two speciall Doctrines the former impugning our beliefe in God only when hee gaue his allowance to that Decree q Concil Trid. sess 25. cap. 2. of the Councell of Trent wherein it is commanded that men should teach it to be good and profitable suppliantly to inuocate Saints For if wee call vpon them we must beleeue in them as the Apostle r Rom. 10.14 saith How shall they call on him in whom they haue not beleeued And if wee beleeue in them we make them as God seeing thereby as Å¿ Euseb Emissen homil 2. in orat dominicam Emissenus saith wee giue the honour of the Lord to the seruant both wickedly because hee t Esay 42.8 will not giue his glory to another and idlely in that the Saints departed haue not the knowledge of our wants in particular by the iudgement of Saint u August lib. de Cura pro mortuis cap. 15. Augustine alleaged in the x Gratian. caus 13. q. 2. can 29. Canon Law vnder these words Wee must needes confesse that the dead doe not know what is done here while it is in doing here And therefore we may say in y Psal 11.1.2 Dauids true Zeale against these wicked Teachers In the Lord put I my trust how say ye vnto my soule Flye as a Bird to the Mountaine answering our selues by a true faith as he did in another place saying z Psal 121.1.2 I lift mine eyes to the Hils from whence commeth my helpe My helpe commeth from the Lord which made Heauen and Earth Let not them presume then vpon the Mountaines saith a August in Psal 120. Saint AVGVSTINE because the Mountaines themselues doe not shine of themselues but from him of whom it is said b Iohn 1.9 This was the true Light that lighteneth euery man which commeth into the World The latter intending an impeachment of Gods Almightinesse in Creation whiles he maintaines his c Gab. Biel lect 4. in Canonâ—m Missae Fauourites plainly to auerre that the Priests doe make conficium â—he bodie of Christ A two-forked Blasphemy like the Serpents sting For first if they make Christs body Christs body was not before since to d Pererius in 1. c. Genes in verbo Creauit make a thing is to giue it a being which it had not before But Christs body was before euen e Aquia p. 3. q. 6. art 5. a perfit body in the very first instance of his Incarnation vnlesse they wil haue that body to bee a phantasticall body as said the f Vid Eâ—iâ—han August â—lastr de his haeresib Steph. Zeged tab De Chrâ—sti humanitate assertion Phantasmaticks Marcionites Cerdonians and Manichees Therefore the Priests cannot bee said to make Christs body For secondly then the Priest must haue a power infinite to giue a passage infinite vnto this his new creature seeing as the g Bonauent in 2. sent dist 1. Scotell â—n 2. sent distinct 1. q. 5. Schooles teach betweene non ens ens the space is infinite passible only to the Infinite God to whom the power and worke of Creation is so truely proper that as h Aquin. p. 1. q. 45. art 5. Aquinas out of the very depth of true Diuinitie said well it is impossible that to create can agree to any creature neither by it owne proper vertue nor by way of instrument or Ministerie as his Master i P Lombard l. 4. dist 5. § 3. Peter Lombard seemeth to affirme what he vpon better reason doth iustly deny The second Article is denied in respect The second Article and in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord is denied by the Pope two wayes first in respect of the person of Christ secondly 1. Of Christs Person 1. As Christ is God of his office of his person as hee is both God and Man For his God-head was
Scriptures and ancient Fathers in a large discourse worthy the perusing by all louers of true Faith 4. The Pope as Pope is a most wicked transgressour of euery Commandement in the Decalogue 5. Speciall records of the Popes vile acts and deedes against the whole Law of God gathered out of the Popes owne Historians Schoolemen Canonists Casuists and Ceremonials 6. The Pope imprinteth the Character of Antichrist vpon Princes and Priests and all other sorts of people 7. The Pope doth coozen the world by lying wonders 8. SANDERS BELLARMINE and other Papists answered touching the Miracles of Antichrist 9. The Popes crueltie against Gods Saints 10. Rome Antichristian the Popes place of Residence 11. The Pope and that Great Antichrist haue all one beginning growth continuance and ending 12. When Rome shall fall in all likelihood §. XXIII 1. The end why God so long doth suffer the Pope §. XXIIII 1. The forme of the Demonstration gathered from all beforesaid and proouing the Pope to be that Great Antichrist §. XXV 1. The first exception against the Demonstration fully answered 2. How is the Gospell preached throughout the world 3. How the Romane Empire is said to stand at this day §. XXVI 1. The second exception from the iudgement of some Protestants denying the Pope to be that Antichrist fully and truely satisfied 2. How we are to take the words of the ancient Fathers in this question of the Great Antichrist §. XXVII 1. The testimonies of the Fathers prouing the Pope to bee that Great Antichrist two wayes 2. First by way of Prophecie declaring two maine points First that Antichrist shall sit at Rome vpon the ruines of the Romane Empire so Tertullian Cyrill Hierosolym Chrysostome Theophylact and Rodolphus Fluuiacensis alleadged by Coccius Secondly that Rome is Babylon the proper seat of Antichrist and to bee destroyed before the end of the World so Tertullian Hierome and Lactantius 3. Secondly by way of open verdict and proclamation where the Pope is put vpon a Iurie of twelue good men and true whereof foure are 1. Kings and Emperours 2. Archbishops and Bishops 3. Abbots and Monks together with a supply of a Decem Tales if any of the former should be challenged 4. The sufficiencie of these testimonies warranted First by three specialties the Pride the Schismes and the filthy liues of Popes Secondly by the iudgement of the Popes owne Dearlings viz. BELLARMINE and BARONIVS §. XXVIII 1. The first vse of this doctrine is to bewaile the misery of our English Papists 2. The manner of their bondage to the See of Rome 3. The dealing of Iesuites and Seminarie Priests 4. The outragious Conspiracies against our most Gracious Soueraignes the Kings and Queenes of England 5. No Papist as a Papist is a true Christian 6. No Papist as a Papist is a good Subiect 7. The suspicious courses of Papists in taking the Oath of Alleagiance most plainely detected §. XXIX 1. The second vse of the doctrine is to reioyce heartily for our gracious deliuerance from Antichrist 2. The double meanes by which God deliuered this Monarchie of Great Brittaine from the tyrannie of Antichrist 3. The libertie wee enioy now vnder our most Gracious Soueraigne Lord King IAMES 4. The Popish obiections made to scandalize our Profession of the Reformed Religion fully satisfied by declaring three things First how Temporall commodities are deare or cheape Secondly Vpon what grounds our departure from them standeth Thirdly in what case our fore-fathers were liuing in and vnder Popery 5. An Exhortation to our Iudges for the strict execution of our Lawes and Statutes made against Iesuites Seminarie Priests and Popish Recusants The third part §. XXX 1. THe diuers acceptions of the word Antichrist 2. There must alwayes be Heretikes in the Church militant till the comming of Christ to Iudgement §. XXXI 1. The vse of the former doctrine is iustly to reproue the Separatist the Brownists whose grounds and reasons are fully examined and their wickednesse discouered §. XXXII 1. All Heresies haue a necessary dependance vpon that Great Antichrist 2. What Heresie is 3. The Hereticall forerunners of Antichrist 4. The reliques of Antichristian Heresies maintained by some priuate spirits in the bosome of the Reformed Churches §. XXXIII 1. The vse of this doctrine is threefold to direct First the Ministerie to fight by the Word against Antichrist and Heresies Secondly the Magistracie to cut off Heretikes by the Temporall Sword Thirdly the People of God not to murmure at the Execution of Iustice but rather First to prayse God for His Maiesties great zeale in defending Gods Truth against all Heretikes Secondly to pray God for the strengthning of His Maiesties heart and arme against them Thirdly to auoyd them and flee from them that be Enemies to our Christian peace 2. The conclusion of all in a briefe recapitulation with a short Prayer for the Comming of Christ. And now my deare Brethren take in good part my poore endeuours wholly bent and imployed for the good of his Elect in the Seruice of his Church wherein I labour as a weake and vnworthy Minister of Gods Word It may be some will require an Index Alphabeticall of the Contents But that Table should be framed by the Leaues and Page and I am farre from the Presse Only therefore marke the method and your memories will bee an Index sufficient for finding out any matter in this Booke contained Reade all before you for your better vnderstanding Trust mee not before you try mee in the pith of my proofes not taken vp at the second hand but sought and brought out of the Store-house it selfe of holy Wisdome to wit the Canonicall Scriptures the Ancient Fathers and other good Authours of humane Learning God open their eyes and touch their hearts that are otherwise minded God increase and strengthen our faith who are right minded that in the peace of Hierusalem our hearts may bee comforted with a full assurance of euerlasting happinesse in Iesus Christ AMEN From my Studie in Mountgomerie in Wales this sixth day of Ianuarie being the Feast of EPIPHANY Anno Dom. 1618. Your Brother in the Lord Christ Iesus Thomas Thompson ANTICHRIST ARRAIGNED THE TEXT IS 1. Iohn 2. 18. Babes it is the last time and as yee haue heard that Antichrist shall come euen now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time 19. They went out from vs but they were not of vs for if they had beene of vs they would haue continued with vs. But this commeth to passe that it might appeare that they are not all of vs. 20. But yee haue an oyntment from him that is holy and yee haue knowne all things IAMES and Iohn the sonnes of Zebedee most Honourable right Worshipfull and dearely beloued men fathers and brethren in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ are called by our Sauiour a Marke 3.17 Boanarges sonnes of thunder because of the powerfull voice of their preaching saith b Nazianz. 19. Gregorie
Nazianzene For Iames was lowd in Herods eares who slew him c Act. 12.2 for the Iewes sake and Iohn was powerfull as an high sounding thunder according to the d Aristot lib. 2. Meteor ca. 9. in illuÌ„ Vicomercatum Senec. lib. 2. Natural Quaest cap. 27. Naturalists their distinctioÌ„ of thunder in nube ex nube in the cloud and from the cloud In the blacke cloud of his flesh wherein whiles he liued he kept the Church pure by his effectuall Preaching from hereticall contagion if wee may well beleeue the report of Hegesippus as Eusebius e Euseb lib. 4. histor Ecclesiast cap. 8. hath recorded it From the bright cloud of his doctrine when after his death he now thundreth in his writings first concerning things past in that his Gospell which where other Euangelists speake most of Christs body f Caluin in proâ—m commentar in Joh. most especially deliuereth the historie of his soule and not of his soule onely to shew Christ truely man but of his God-head also to prooue him very God Secondly of things to come in his Booke of Reuelation g Danaeus in proleg in Minor prophetas ca. 10 which is the last prophecie of the new Testament to which h Reue. 22.10 whoso addeth God will adde vnto him the plagues written therein Thirdly of things present to wit Faith and Loue Faith of sound doctrine and Loue of good workes in these his three Epistles in the first of which called by all Diuines Catholica because it is not dedicated or directed to any one man Church or Countrie in particular for i Vid Posside in Indic Oper. D. Augustini it is not probable that he sent it to the Parthians of whom he maketh no mention at all these points of Doctrine are handled so promiscuously as that yet they are attempered and fitly framed to the strength and capacitie of euery true faithfull one be he olde yong or babish olde by experience who k Heb. 5.14 through long custome hath his wits exercised to discerne both good and euill Yong in his best strength that l Ephes 4.26 he might no way giue place to the deuill but resist m Iam. 4.7 him rather that he may flee from him Babish as n 1. Pet. 2.2 new borne desiring the sincere milke of the word to grow thereby For as in the o Plutarch in Lacon Institut Spartan festiuals all the people reioyced but euery man in a seuerall companie with a seueral tune as old men said they haue beene strong yong men sung that they are strong and children that they may bee strong so although the faithfull performance of these dueties belong vnto all true Christians alike yet Iohn in his heauenly wisedome directeth diuers dueties to diuers ages as louing experience to ancient Fathers liuely strength to flourishing young men and sauing knowledge to tender babes by which as old and yong men take heede of the world which is contrarie to the Father so these babes especially are carefull to beware of all wicked heretikes destroyers of faith § II. For this is the end The end and summe of all and purpose of these words onely to forewarne that as olde men with yong men flee these worldly euils pride couetousnesse and luxurie so must these babes looke with a circumspect eye vnto all false seducers in these dangerous times Because that you may now see at once the summe of all to be said out of these words now it is the last age of the world wherein according to the ancient prophecies of the comming of Antichrist there are now risen many forerunners of that great one who since they are reprobates are become Apostates that may bee discerned what they are by vs who are indued with the grace of Gods holy Spirit from Iesus Christ to know all things necessarie for our saluation in this behalfe The Diuision of the whole Text. § III. Hence therefore you see two things to be obserued out of this Scripture a temptation and an issue a danger and a deliuerance The danger is twofold first in respect of time Babes it is the last time Secondly in respect of wicked teachers liuing in that time who are here described certainely to come for an euident manifestation of this last time First by the greatnesse of the head and as yee heard that Antichrist shall come Secondly by the multitude of the members euen now are there many Antichrists by which we know it is the last time yet the deliuerance is greater then the danger p 1. Cor. 10.13 our faithfull God not suffering vs to be tempted aboue that which wee are able to beare but giuing the issue with the temptation that we may be able to beare it For our deliuerance is described procureable two maner of wayes First in respect of the seducers themselues who are noted to be knowne Secondly in respect of the faithfull indued with grace for to know them The marke of these Antichrists is their Apostasie disciphered out two wayes first by the cause and secondly by the end The cause is formall or as q Zaharell de medijs demonstr cap. 5. Keckerm lib. 1. system Logic. cap. 15. Logicians call it efficiens per emanationem to wit Reprobation necessarily concluding these men to bee Apostates in this demonstration a causa propter quam whose proposition is if they had beene of vs they would haue continued with vs. Assumption But they were not all of vs. Conclusion is and therefore they went out from vs. For secondly the end is that it might appeare that they were not all of vs. And therefore that by this marke we might know these Antichrists our God doth indue vs with the grace of his Spirit here liuely discribed first by this fountaine ye haue from that holy one secondly by the floud an vnction or an oyntment and thirdly from the Sea or rather from the end for which this floud floweth from this fountaine and know all things Euery word hath his weight and euery weight hath worth in the danger for a corrosiue in the deliuerance for a comfort in both for sound doctrine and true instruction which although I cannot but rudely deliuer being not accustomed to so honorable a Celebritie yet hartily in the Lord and most humbly I beseech you to heare me patiently since I will endeuour by the grace of GOD preuenting and assisting me in this present businesse to speake to the purpose and prooue what I speake concluding thus with Salomon r Prou. 8.33.34 heare instruction and be yee wise and refuse it not Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my Gates and giuing attendance at the postes of my doores For hee that findeth me findeth life and shall obtaine fauour of the Lord. And so now to the first danger in respect of the time ¶ The first part of the end of the WORLD § IIII. BAbes it is the
a man who can doe no more then a man can doe as the prouerb is k Vnus homo nullus homo Erasm sub tit Cedend multitudini One man no man and therefore although all the Heretikes in the world did make way for him yet must he haue more time to establish their blasphemies then the age of one man because l Tertul. lib. de praescrip cap. 2. there must be prescription and precedents vpon which he must build if he will preuaile any thing with settled Christians and how I pray you can one man prescribe Say m Gregor Canonist in notis ad Gratian. p. 2. causa 16. q. 15. § praescriptâ—alâ—ae c. they not that in publique causes prescription must be of forty yeeres together at the least yea an * Grat. 16 q. 3. quas actiones can Nemo Glâ—ss in c. ad audieâ— eod tit hundred in some cases against the Church How then can Antichrist in so short time as the age * Breuis est hom vita reg breuior Pontif. breuissima Petarch of a Pope goe through the world and draw so many to him Surely our Aduersaries are either wholy besotted not weighing the sundry courses of conueyances in such designes as these are of Antichrists or else if they finde them as it is not possible but they should being men so expert in worldly policies as most of them are then they plainely bewray themselues to be the men who follow the beast and the merchants who grow rich by this trade which they conceale for their owne best aduantage making Antichrist a Chimaera and not such as besides the Scriptures and these reasons euen the Orthodoxe Fathers describe him to be For besides those Fathers Thirdly from the Ancient Fathers who from Saint Pauls words calleth Antichrist the apostasie as o Qui omnes in 2. Thess 2. Chrysostome Theodoret Theophylact and Oecumenius by p Bellar. li. 3. de Pontif. cap. 2. Bellarmines owne confession I wil produce two of the chiefest directly declaring the succession of monsters in this throne of Antichrist to wit Irenaeus and Augustine For Irenaeus howsoeuer he setteth downe many things concerning Antichrist which at the first blush to an vnaccustomed Reader may seeme to be spoken of one only person yet so plainely deliuereth the succession in this kingdome that I maruaile with what face either q Sand. lib. 8. de Visib Monarch cap. 1. Sanders or r Feuard in Annot. in Jrenae lib. 5. cap. 25. Feuardentius can say that he maketh for them when although he setteth downe the tribe the names and yeeres of continuance as if it were spoken of one onely man speaking Å¿ Vid. Whitak in resp ad 1. Demonst Sanderi eyther after the manner of the Prophets in scripture or according to the common opinion of men in his interpretation yet he saith thus plainely t Irenae lib. 5. fol. 249. edit Paris A. Dom. 1567 Lateinos nomen sexcentorum sexaginta sex numerum valde verisimile est quoniam verissimum Feuardentius u Feuard in suâ— edit Coloniae 1596. most filthily and falsly hath turned this word into nouissimum regnum hoc habet vocabulum Latini enim sunt qui nunc regnant sed non in hoc nos gloriabimur The name Lateinos is most likely to haue this number six hundred sixtie and sixe because the truest kingdome hath this name for the Latines are they who now doe raigne but we will not boast in this Now is not here a liuely proofe to shew the succession since Antichrist is called Lateinos and Lateinos is called a kingdome If they say that it is but the kingdome of one man onely let them turnebackward and a little before x In edit Parisiensi fol. 244. Colon. li. 5. ca 25. this they shall find this historie of Antichrist that he shall be the vnrighteous iudge to whom y Luke 18.2 the poore widdow that is the earthly Ierusalem shal come for iustice to be reuenged of her enemie which he shall doe in the time of his kingdom for he shall translate his kingdom thither sit in Gods TeÌ„ple seducing those who worship him as if he were Christ himself For out of this history we may plainly gather that Irenaeus thought of Antichrist as of a company incorporated into a Kingdome first abroad in the world then settled at Hierusalem lastly vsing tyrannie some three yeeres and an halfe according as Daniel prophecied concerning the halfe weeke And yet if Irenaeus had not sayd thus much wee want not other testimony if we may beleeue S. Augustines report who z August lib. 20. de Ciuit. Dei cap. 19. speaking of Antichrists sitting in the Temple of God deliuereth first this common Exposition Nonnulli non ipsum principem sed vniuersum quodam modo corpus eius id est ad eum pertinentem hominum multitudinem simul cum ipso suo principe hoc loco intelligi Antichristum volunt Some will haue in this place to be vnderstood by Antichrist not the Prince himselfe but his whole body in a certaine manner that is the multitude of men belonging vnto him together with the Prince himselfe Secondly his owne iudgement of this exposition Rectiusque putant etiam Latinè dici sicut in Graeco est non in templo Dei sed in templum Dei sedeat tanquam sit ipse templum Dei quod est Ecclesia sicut dicimus sedet in amicum id est velut amicus vel si quid aliud isto locutionis genere dici solet And also they think better that it may be spoken in the Latine as it is in the Greeke he sitteth not in the Temple of God but for the Temple of God as if he were the Temple of God which is the Church as we say he sitteth for our friend that is as our friend or if any other thing else be accustomed to bee spoken in that kinde of speech For out of these words of Augustine so direct and plaine wee may obserue that the common sort of learned men in Augustines time or before did hold concerning Antichrist these two conclusions which Augustine himselfe alloweth of the first that Antichrist is a multitude consisting of head and members Prince and subiects The second that Antichrist should take vpon him the authority of the Church as if he onely were the Church So that now since Antichrist is a multitude and not one man and to bee esteemed by men for the Church which pleadeth still for succession The Popish opinion confuted and their reasons answered I maruaile vpon what ground our Aduersaries deliuer for authentique doctrine these three conclusions The first that Antichrist shall be one person onely The second that Antichrist shall bee a Iew by Nation The third that Antichrist shall be of the Tribe of DAN For they haue no ground at all out of the Scriptures to make them good For concerning the first Ob. Where they
cap. 11 Interim that the signes of a true Church are sound doctrine and the right vse of the Sacraments I am weary of wading thorow these puddles of pollution wherewith Pope and Papists doe pester the Church of Christ The tenth Article denied and therefore I will not speake of their denying the absolute and free remission of sinnes mentioned in the tenth article by their a Bellar. lib. 1. de Amiss grat lib. Arbitr cap. 1. 2. distinction of sinne into veniall and mortall and their tenent grounded thereupon b Idem lib. 1. de Purgator cap. 11. rat 2. that the punishment eternall of both is fully remitted in Christ but the temporall punishment for the veniall sinne is to be satisfied for by our selues either here or in Purgatorie whereas Scripture telleth vs that c Rom. 6.23 the wages of sinne is death and d Ephes 1.7 Hebr. 9.22 1. Iohn 1.7 that there is no remission of sinne but by Christ in his blood and that e Psal 49.7 Ephes â— 8 no man of vs can redeeme his owne soule and that f Eccles 9.4 Reuel 14 13. after this life there is no place either for repentance or remission and that g Luke 17.10 The eleuenth Article denied when we haue done all that we can doe we are but vnprofitable seruants neither will I trouble you with recounting the Atheisme of Iohn the 23. condemned and deposed by the Councell of Constance h Concil Constant sess 11. art penultimo sess 12. tom 3. Concil apud Binnium for denying the immortalitie of the soule and the resurrection of the dead specified in the eleuenth article because peraduenture i Canus lib. 6. loc Comm. cap. 8. ad 11. arg they will say that it was not è cathedra although k Bellar. lib. 4. de Pontifice Rom. cap. 5. he then was Pope certaine not vncertaine for else he needed not to haue been so solemnely depriued and another ordayned to be his true successor Lastly The twelfth Article misunderstood I wil not now touch at large that most presumptuous and sawcie doctrine deliuered in their l Aquinat appendix q. 96. art 1. 4. Schooles without all text of Scripture or witnesse of ancient Fathers de aureolis that is of a further crowne and reward then perfect and essentiall happinesse such as they assigne to Virgins Martyrs and the more learned For although m Danaeus Isagog Christ p. 4. lib. 6. cap. 8. Bucanus loc 36. quaest 14. we deny not the degrees of glory there proportioned by God according to the seuerall measures of grace as n Gregor in Psal 7 poenitent ss 142. Gregory well obserued God to giue rewards in heauen not per but secundum according to our workes done here vpon earth Yet can not we here know eyther to whom in particular the greatest degree of glory shall be giuen there or whether this litle crowne which they will haue to be added to the great one differ from essentiall happinesse since o 1. Cor. 2.9 eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither haue entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him Where p 2. Cor. 12.3 S. Paul professeth ignorance I will not search to know since secrets q Deut. 29.29 are Gods who concealeth the measure of future glory to further our endeuours vnto the highest degree thereof by faith hope and loue Many are their errors and mightie their bad opinions conceiued against the right vnderstanding of the Sacraments and the Lords Prayer all the grounds of the Catechisme which because other r Fr. Gomarus inresp ad F. Coster p. 1 M. Perkins Aduertisement M. D. Abbots in Bishop G. Powel godly and learned men haue fully discouered I will not relate hauing I hope layd open so plainely to the view of the world the Popes deniall of the Christian faith that no man can otherwise iudge of him then of an Å¿ Tit. 3.10 Heretike iustly to be cast off after so many admonitions seeing that as the t Grat. caus 24 q. 3. can 28. Canon law out of S. u August lib. de vti iâ—ate credendi cap. 1. Augustine defineth an Heretike so the Pope and Papists haue proued themselues to be An Heretique is he who for temporall profit and especially for glory and principalitie either forgeth first or followeth after false and new opinions and he who beleeueth such men is a man illuded by a certaine imagination of truth and godlinesse Yet is he not so hereticall Of the Popes Iniquitie against the ten Commandements as most villanously wicked and wickedly repugnant to all Gods Commaundements deliuered in the Decalogue as shall be demonstrated by many notorious and crying sinnes of seuerall Popes whereof some one way and some another way haue to make vp the monstrous body of sinfull Antichrist broken Gods Commaundements in word or in deede by doctrine or by life For now to make instance in euery particular against the first Commaundement Against the first Commandement as Antichrist was an Atheist and a coniurer so finde we in good histories that such were diuers Popes Atheists as he euen x Stella Balaeus Valera in vita Leonis 10. Leo decimus who said to Cardinall Petrus Bembus the great Scholler of his time citing a place out of the Gospell What profit this fable of Christ hath brought to vs and our company all the world knoweth Coniurers as y Benno Cardinalis de vit gestis Hildebran apud Gâ—wâ—art in Catalâ—go test Veritat tom â— lib. 13. pag. 383. Gregory the seuenth commonly called Hildebrand following the steps of eighteene together of his sweete predecessors euen to Syluester the second who z Platina in Syluestro z. gaue himselfe to the Deuill that hee might attaine to the greatest honours like as a Hieronym Marius in Eusebio C. Valera in Alexand. 6. Alexander the sixth did that hee might bee Pope I maruaile how these Beasts ouer whom the b Mat. 16.18 gates of Hell haue so farre preuailed could be Peters successours eyther in person or in doctrine since not onely Gods c Deut. 18.12 Law casteth out such hel-hounds from amongst Gods people but also their owne corrupted d Gratian. c. 26 q. 5. ca. 11.12.13 Canon law together with the rascall rabble of all their e Nauarrus Enchir. cap. 11. num 28. Tolet. lib. 4. Instruct cap. 14. Iacob à Graphijs p. 1. lib. 2 cap. 6. Azor tom 1. lib. 9. Instit cap. 13.14 c. Against the second Commandement 1. By Idolatry coozening Casuists denounce against such Monsters of the true blacke gard the great Excommunication as a sure seale of the second death reserued for such vile Non-repentants But see how he sinneth against the second Commandement by Idolatry and Superstition to shew himselfe truely Antichrist For if
as yet are subiect to this ambitious Antichrist and on their hands for working since neither Prince nor Priest must now adaies practise the seuerall duties of Magistracy or Ministery without an Oath of Fealtie first made vnto the Pope not Prince since he f Clement lib. 2. tiâ— 9. cap. 1. in princip is so coÌ„manded to secure his Kingdome from the Pope vnto him by the bond of an Oath the former whereof is diuersly set down but all to this purpose That the Emperour must bee subiect to the Bishop of Rome as it was taken Gratian â—ist 63. can 30. by Lewis the Sonne of Charles the Great vnto Paschalis the First by h Grat. dist 63 can 33. Otho the First to Iohn the twelfth by i Platina in Gregor 7. Henry the Fourth to Gregorie the Seuenth by k Lib. 1. Ceremon Rom. Eccle. sect 5. cap. 2. Fredericke the Third to Nicholas the Fifth by Charles the Fifth to Clement the Seuenth yea and by King Iohn m Math. Parisiens in Ioh. pag. 217. of England to Innocent the Fourth all this truly verifying the words of SALOMON l Coâ—nâ—l Agrippa in historia de Coronat Caroli 5 â—ononiae tom â— Oâ—er n Eccles 10.6 I haue seene seruants vpon Horses and Princes walking as seruants vpon the earth For this seruant of seruants is by this Oath promoted aboue his elder Brethren in Christendome Kings and Princes not Priest since his tonsure or shauing his Chrisme or anoynting giuen by the Pope and Popelings onely o Henriquez lib. 10. Moral theolog cap. 34. §. 2. in textu are ratified by an Oath of subiection vnto the Pope to bee taken in the Chapter-House before he enter the Possession of the Temporalities belonging to his Bishopricke or other like Benefice as p Idem ibidem in margine Gregory the Thirteenth of late set out the forme and whereof we find a Copie registred in the q I. Fox Martyrolog lib. 4 pa. 208. lib. 7. pag. 961. Acts and Monuments 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prayse iust dealing but yet bee thou set wholly vpon gaining r Sophocles in Aiac said one in the Poet whom the Pope fitly followeth in requiring these Oathes of Magistrates and Ministers vnder the colourable pretence of maintaining true Vnitie and Vniformity in Church and Common Weale but in truth as the euent sheweth for a readie occasion and sound cause vpon which hee may gather money both of Princes who before they were admitted vnto their places by this Oath as by a posterne gate or a window did solemnely promise some one speciall Temporalitie of Earldome c. for a thankefull Beneuolence to holy Church as Caelestine Å¿ Roger Houeden in Ioh. the Third peremptorily vrged it to Henry the sixth Emperour and of Priests who if they were Archbishops were to t Vid. lib. 1. Ceremon Rom. Eccles sect 10. cap. vlt. pay a great masse of monie for their Pall if Bishops according to the rate of their Liuing Abbots Priors Deanes or any way Beneficed men u Fox Martyr lib. 4. pag. 322. were to send their first Fruits of all their Liuings vnto the Pope who was not ashamed by his Legate Otho x Math. Paris in Henr. 3. p. 316 to require out of England besides this bridle of bondage in the mouthes of the Clergie from euery Cathedrall Church two Prebends one from the Bishop and another from the Chapter from euery Abbey and Couent two Portions yea y Idem pag. 677 and many times reseruing Benefices for Strangers amongst many other grieuances and heauie burdens by the Pope in times before layd vpon this flourishing Kingdome of England which the Pope in respect of the Peter-Pence Annales Pensions Prouisions and other gainefull Iniunctions brought from hence to Rome might well terme truely z Idem pag. 683 his Garden of Delights his Bottomlesse Poole out of which since many things abound there many things from many may well be extorted euen thereby verifying of his Court at Rome both what the Fox in the Poet said of the Lions Denne a Horat. Ep. 1. lib. 1. quia me vestigia terrent Omniate aduersum spectantia nulla retrorsum I feare to goe thither being affrighted by the footings of all other Beasts looking towardes but not returning backe from this Denne of Men worse then Lions yea euen of Deuils whose Court is b Scaliger de â—tâ—litate exercitat 52. like the Sea at Paria and the Iles of Maidegascar euer flowing in but neuer ebbing out and that of old when Rome was in her Ruffe as one well rimed with reason from a strange yet true Deriuation of the word Roma thus c Ioh. Monachi apud Gowlart in Catalog test Veritat â—om â— lib. 14 pag. 494. 2. Of coozenâ—ge in his miracles Roma manus rodit quod rodere non valet odit Dante 's exaudit non dantibus ostia claudit Now to couer this Couetousnesse hee flyeth to the Coozening course of Quacksaluers in the fraudulent vse of lying Miracles the glory d Bellar. lib. 4. de Eccles Militant cap. 14. whereof is made a marke of their Church in which euen now adayes e Vid. Binderi Scâ—olasticam theolog cap. 10. they must haue a Miracle done to make a good doctrine warrantable no other wayes as may appeare in that f Bellar. in locis de Purgatorio Sanct. Eucharist Iesuicall custome of proouing their Conclusions by the vncertaine report of lying Wonders For what truth can be authentike by Miracles without Scripture Miracles may bee done g Mat. 7.20 24.24 2. Thess 2.7 by the Deuill and his Ministers being true in the act through Gods permission though false in the end which is to deceiue And yet wee doubt of the truth of their Miracles seeing Lyra reporteth h Lyra in cap. 14. Dan. great deceiuing of the people to be wrought in the Church by lying Miracles done by Priests and their Adherentâ— for temporall gaine and i Canus lib. 11. loc Com. cap. 6. Canus their owne Champion censureth Beda his English Historie Gregories Dialogues Vincentius his Speculum Antoninus his Historicall and the Leaden not the Golden Legend for vncertain Records of many idle reports concerning Miracles done by some Saints which not onely wise men but euen common people dare not beleeue k Horat. de Arte poetic Pictoribus atque Poetis Quidlibet audendi semper fuit aequa potestas Painters and Poets and Popish pardoners haue all the like priuiledge to lye for an aduantage But loe what a blocke is here layd in our way Ob. Antichrist saith the l Bellar. lib. de Pontif. ca. 15. Sanders demons 25. Eudaemon lib. 3. contra D. Abbat pag. 244. Cardinall must doe these three miracles first cause fire come downe from heauen secondly make the Image of the beast to speake thirdly faine himselfe to dye and to rise againe But the Pope doth
is Saint Bernard the worthy Abbot of Clarae-vallis who feared not to write m Ber. Epi. 125. thus vnto one GERARDVS DE LORITORIO The Beast in the Reuelation to which is giuen a mouth speaking Blasphemies and making Warre with the Saints possesseth PETERS Chaire as a Lyon readie to the prey And thus hath the Iurie giuen their verdict against which The supply against exception by a Decem tales if the Prisoner at the barre make exception by disliking of any of them as too too partiall and so worthily to be challenged we haue a Decem tales others void of exception readie vpon the call to appeare The first as amongst the Princes Fredericke Barbarossa Emperour who writing to the Cardinalls said n Albert. CraÌ„tzius in Metropoli lib. 7. cap. 53. that the authority of the Romane See had loosed the reines of boldnesse and replying vnto Hadrian the fourth protesteth o Hen. Mutius l. 18. rerum Germanic ex Chronâ—co HirsaugieÌ„s The second that hee would prouide for the peace of the Church since he seeth that the detestable beast of pride hath crept vp into Peters chaire and Lewes the Twelfth king of Fraunce who in the heroicall spirit of his most illustrious Progenitor Philip the faire p Naucler tom 2. Generat 44. Platina in Bonisac 8. the famous suppressour of that Raging Tyrant Boniface the eight caused q E Chron. Gal. apud Pet. Molin de Monarchiâ temporali Pontific Rom. ca. 15. his coyne of Gold to be stamped on the inside with these words Perdam nomen Babylonis I will destroy the name of Babylon meaning Rome the seate of Pope Iulius the second his deadly enemie and lastly our most Puissant Princes and Kings of England r Vide in horvitis Chron. Anglicana praecipuè Mat. Paris Roger. Houeden Holinshed Stow l. Fox in Martyrologio King Iohn King Edward the third King Henrie the eight King Edward the sixth blessed Queene Elizabeth all of them to their power renouncing the Pope as the very Antichrist but especially our most Gracious Soueraigne King Iames concerning whose most Å¿ Apolog. cum praef Medita in Apocalyps 20 Diuine Discourses of this argument well knowne to all the world yea and carped at by t Bell. Parsons Suarez Coquaeus Schioppius c. Popelings but not corrected admired at but not answered we may most truely take vp that prouerbe u Prou. 31.29 The fourth c Many haue done vertuously but thou surmountest them all Secondly amongst the Bishops x Nilus Thessalonic li. 2. de primatu Papae Nilus of Thessalonica pulling downe the Popish Primacie and y Apud Auent lib. 7 p. 573. Probus Tullenses shewing the Popes Legats to be Antichrists seruants and Honorius z Hono. Angustod dial de praedest et l. arbitrio Augustodunensis auouching the seate of the beast to be in the Pope and Cardinalls yea and all a CoÌ„cil Turonensi sub Lodouico 12. the Bishops of Fraunce in the dayes of Lewes the twelfth and of England in the Raigne of Henrie b Vid. Fox Mart. sub Hen. 8 Edwar. 6. The eight c. the eight and Edward the sixth renouncing the Pope Lastly amongst the Monks Henrie c Petrus CluniaceÌ„s l. 1. Ep. 1. 2 the Scholler of Petrus de Bruis calling Rome Sodome and Babylon and d Rob. Gallus l. de vaticinijs apud Posseuinum to 2. Apparatus Robertus Gallus a Dominican describing the Pope for Antichrist vnder the figure of a Serpent and e Guido Carmelâ—t Bern. de Luzenburg in Catalog haeres Bell. in ChroÌ„ ad annum 1191. Petrus Iohannis Bitterensis a Franciscan in his Postills vpon the Reuelation prouing the Pope to be that Antichrist to conclude if all this thicke cloud of witnesses will not cast him we can produce whole Churches as f Catalog test verit lib. 3. at Leodium whole Synods as those g Ap. AueÌ„ l. 7. c of Rome vnder Otho Fredericke and Lewes Bauarus and a great many such Councels holdeÌ„ in h Sub Philippo Pulchro Lodouico 12. France yea whole peoples in Countreys who euer reiected the bondage of this Antichrist as in England those faithfull ones whome i Fox Martyrolog â—ub Rich. 2. Henrie 5. they wickedly nickenamed for Lollords in France k Reinerius de Waldensiâ—us the Waldenses in Italie the l Naueler tom 2. Gen. 44. Fratricellians in Bohemia m Iacob Misnensis de aduent Antichr apud Catalogum test Ver. lib. 1â— the Melitzians all before Iohn Wickleffs time yea and in the Mountaines of Rhetia aboue Sauoy the n Ioh. Nicho's his Recantation Mornaeus de Mysterio Iniquitatis pa. 730. An exception against these truely answered faithfull Inhabitants of Vallis and Telina who had from their first conuersion to Christ alwayes their owne true Pastors neuer subiect to the bondage of Babylon and Antichrist Rome and the Pope But me thinks I heare some Papists except against all these voyces as giuen by their enemies and by Heretikes condemned by the Catholique Church But to these men I cannot make a better reply then such as that of o Reg. 18.13 Elijah vnto wicked Ahab proudly demaunding Art thou he that troubleth Israel when he said I haue not troubled Israel but thou and thy Fathers house in that yee haue forsaken the Commandements of the Lord and thou hast followed Baalim For none of these were otherwaies their enemies but as true men are to theeues neither did the Catholike Church their Mother at any time condemne them for Heretikes who mainteined no doctrine contrary to Scripture neither followed other discipline then at that time was vsed Indeed the Pope and his adherents in hatred of that truth which God reuealed by them to the world did enterprise to condemne them and persecute them with Fire and Faggot sword and desolation onely to fulfill the Prophecies giuen out concerning the crueltie of the wicked Antichrist But yet their cause is neuer the worse since the great side doth many times ouersway the better neither is the credit of their verdict thereby any whit impaired in the iudgement of the wisest and most godly since time hath brought that truth to light which in that Darke world yet these faithfull saw clearely Three specialties enforcing good Men vnto this sharpe censure of the Pope to bee that Antichrist and the Pope hath proued their words to be true by three sundry specialties of most liuely proofe which enforced not onely the forenamed witnesses but euen the Popes owne deare dearlings and best friends to confesse that Antichrist was euen then come and amongst them The first The first specialtie was his pride in vsurping vpon the secular power by the deposing of Princes first p Vid. Bellar. cap. 1. in Barklae Reuerend D. Roffensem Episc in Bellar. lib. 1. cap. 2. attempted by Pope Hildebrand Gregorie the
last Resurrection termed perfectio vitae that being as Naturalistâ— b Aristot lib. 3. Physic cap. 6. speake Actus in potentiâ A perfection in motion to a further degree this Actus in actu or actus purus A perfection absolute wherein the motion endeth by attayning to it proper forme and settled rest we who are Christians militant heere on earth against the Flesh the World and the Deuill are onely perfect inchoatiuè as men beginning to goe in the way like c Gene. 17.1 Abraham commanded to walke before God and bee perfect that d Math. 5.48 we may be perfect as our Father which is in heauen is perfect vntill our perfection of life bee consummate in blessednesse eternall For as e August hom 34. ex 50. hoâ—â—l Augustine saith well Omnes imperfecti sumus ibi perficiemur vbi persecta sunt omnia Wee are all here vnperfect there shall we be perfected where all things are perfect because when f 1. Cor. 13.8 that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away Wherefore by this their proud assertion what else doe these phantasticall Brownists declare themselues to be but the viperous brood of the ancient Perfectists such as were the g Epiphan haer 52. Adamians h August contr Calestrum Caelestians i Cyprian Ep. 52 Nouatians and other k Hilar. in Epist ad August Catharits against whom the Orthodox Fathers of the Church assembled by the Imperiall authoritie in the Councell at Mileuis l Concil Mileâ—itan can â— pronounced the Anathema a deadly curse because by this their opinion of perfection absolute they plainely contradict and oppose themselues to the Apostle Saint Iohn auouching that m 1. Iohn 1.8 if we say we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues and there is no truth in vs. For marke they well and be they ashamed to heare what Great Constantine replied to Acesius a Nouatian Bishop much glorying in his owne personall together with his fellow-Schismatikes perfection Erige tibi scalam solus in coelum ascende Reare vp a Ladder for thy selfe and climbe vp into heauen alone for thereby heed did not commend him saith n Sozomen lib. 4. cap. 21. Sozomene but notifie to all men that they while they liue in this transitorie world should not imagine themselues to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 void of all sinne But as Salomon o Prou. 30.13 hath obserued the miserie of all times There is a Generation that are pure in their owne eyes and yet it is not washed from their filthinesse These idle heads cry out against our Church Corruptions Corruptions and yet they themselues p Psal 50.16 still hate to be reformed hauing a q 2. Tim. 3.5 shew of godlinesse but yet denying the power thereof as may appeare first by their blasphemous * Tho. White his discouerie of Brownists corruption tenent concerning the goodnesse of God and other attributes which they doe not hold to bee the same with the Nature of God quite against r Damascen lib. 1. Orthod fidei cap. 5. Aquin. part 1. summae q. 3. art 3. that axiome touching Gods Simplicitie Quicquid est in Deo Deus est Whatsoeuer is in God is God and secondly by their vilely confused anarchie wherein they liue euery man as a King in his owne conceit superciliously iudging other men in those things wherein themselues most offend as in Malice Pride Adulteries and Incests besides many petty Crimes winked at by their seuere Catonian Master Pastor and his Mechanicke Elders if we may beleeue the constant reports of their Å¿ George Iohnson and others returned from them owne Sectaries detecting both their weaknesse of iudgement and wickednesse of life to their owne true shame but to our good instruction who there-hence may perceiue that all is not gold which glistereth Amsterdam is not heauen and their sanctified Parlour no such sacred Cell as Brownists pretend being no better then t Math. 23.27 whited tombes and painted sepulchers faire without but within very filthy And therefore vpon the due and true consideration of all these mischiefes it much concerneth vs all to follow the aduice of the Preacher saying u Eccles 7.16 Be not righteous ouer-much neither make thy selfe â—uer-wise why shouldest thou destroy thy selfe It is good saith x Apud Lauateran locum PLINIE to till the ground well but to bestow vpon it more cost then needs may prooue great losse Extremities are dangerous y Ouid. 2. Met. Medio tutissimus ibis The meane is the safest for therfore in the Law of God are we so oftentimes forbidden z Deut. 5.32 to turne eyther to the right hand or to the left because the Deuill closely layeth for vs his net vpon both sides at the right hand lyeth Heresie at the left hand Iniquitie to entangle vs if wee wander at any times from faith or righteousnesse But a Prou. 15.25 the way of Life is aboue to the wise that hee may depart from hell beneath b Prosper Epigram 17. Hos inter laqueos currentem ad gaudia vitae Non capiet mundus cui via Christus erit That is The world shall not catch that man Who runnes amongst these wicked ginnes To ioyes of life if that his way In Christ his life he well beginnes § XXXII The latter doctrine proued Now concerning the latter probleme of Heresie that all these heresies whatsoeuer they be shall alwayes haue necessarie dependance vpon the Great Antichrist it is most certaine since first the entrance of Antichrist into the Church is by a mysterie of iniquitie which as the c 2. Thes 2.7 Apostle saith began then to worke euen then in his time by tyrants and seducers saith d Aquinas lect 2. in 2. Thes 2. THOMAS AQVINAS these by false doctrine making an highway thereunto in the iudgement of e Sedul Hibernicus in 2. Thes 2. Sedulius as those by outward persecutions shew themselues to be the types and figures of Antichrist Secondly the efficacie of the Great Antichrist is onely in heresie which Antichrist sucketh from the poysoning Dugges of whoorish Impostures as the f Diogen apud Erasm in Chiliad pag. 165. Aspis is said to draw * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 applicat Tertullian lib. 3. in Marcionem cap. 8. poyson from the Viper that in him may be fulfilled what was g Ezech. 16.15 said of Hierusalem Thou diddest trust in thine owne beautie and playedst the harlot because of thy renowne and powredst out thy fornications on euery one that passed by his it was Thirdly the first abolishing of Antichrist howsoeuer it be begun h 2. Thes 2.8 by the Spirit of Gods mouth through the Preaching of Gods word yet shall not bee fully and wholly perfected till Christ come to Iudgement and therefore as by the obseruation of their i Thyraeus cap. 52. de demoniacis Exorcists
their manner of life was the only speciall helpe and meanes for the speedier growth and rising of Antichrist who put downe their names but tooke to him their nature extinguished the Heretike but aduanced the Heresie so farre as it made any way for his best aduantage For marke him in his height from Bonifacius the Third for the space of nine hundred yeeres together vntill Leo the Tenth and see if vpon any * Legant Pontificij aut Mornaeum de Myster Iniquitatis aut Osiandri Centurias controuersie of faith arising in the Church and discussed in a Councell the Truth it selfe was not most commonly either adiudged for Heresie or filthily mingled with many idle matters belonging nothing thereunto Their Councels were most commonly but Conuenticles of Coozeners their 's Canons then enacted but as Lesbian rules appliable only to the Popes owne pleasure who not content with the ouer-worne Blasphemies of the ancient Heretikes hath stamped out a great deale of new matter falsly coyned from his owne brest and braine as if time would serue I could easily demonstrate by a bagfull of base Mettall wherewith their Canon Law their Missall their Breuiarie their Officium Mariae their Iesus Psalter their Manuell their Councell and Catechismes of Trent and Rome and other their Libels set out with x Iussu Pij Quinti Gregor 13. Popes priuiledge to the shame of Christianitie are wholly stuffed But why should we rake vp a stinking kennell we haue opened to the World enough before concerning his Heresie euen out of these Monuments y Ouid. 1. Fasto Octo pedis frustra quaeruntur brachia Cancri Praeceps occiduas ille subibit aquas said the Poet of the setting of Cancer vpon the third of Ianuarie being neere the beginning of the olde Romane yeere as wee may in like sort speake of this crabbed Antichrist who going backward through Apostasie setteth forward by his fall into hellish Damnation For the arch of his eleuation hath not beene so large aboue our Hemisphere these last hundred yeeres almost Gods Name therefore be praysed as it was in times before now it is shortned by his Cosmicall setting through the rising of the Sunne of Righteousnesse vpon this Westerne Reformed halfe-side of the Christian World in which yet this Antichrist hath left behind him some thicke and grosse mists of diuers deepe Errours as yet to bee tossed vp and tumbled out of our Skies by the neerer ascent of our bright Sunne to our Verticall I cannot denie what all the World knoweth heartily z Iudg. 5.16 grieuing at the Diuisions of Reuben I would a 1. Pet. 4.8 in charitie couer those spots wherewith some haue besmeared the face of their Assemblies in all other points so farre as I can finde by their seuerall b Vide Harmon Confess per Belgas Corpus Confess per Gasp Laurentiū Confessions right truely Orthodoxall But alas they are too openly discouered by c L. Osiander sil in 2. part Enchirid Controuersiarum Eckardis in suo Compendio controuersicum Calumianis some who take paines to put d Matth. 19.6 those asunder whom God would haue to ioyne e Ephes 4.2 together in vnitie against the Great Antichrist that daily getteth ground vpon our dissentions And therefore I must needs tell out what I finde in my poore iudgement to bee the base Relikes of Antichristian and Popish Opinions as yet maintained by some particular Teachers in some Reformed Churches onely to giue warning of a Snake in the grasse of a f Act. 28.3 Viper in the bundle of stickes which commeth sorth of the heate that is flyeth the tryall of the inlightning Spirit and fasteneth vpon PAVLS hand that is maketh seyzure vpon the doctrine which Saint Paul taught euen to puffe vp and kill those vpon whom it settleth if they doe not quickly shake it off into the fire in which vpon g 1. Cor. 3.13 tryall it will quickly burne The first Relike is that h Vid. Hatterum in explic lib. de Concordiâ art 7. 8. Consubstantiation together with his necessarie adherent Vbiquitie both wholly depending vpon that grosse i Iohn 6.52 Capernaite k Concil Lateran 4. sub innocent 3. cap. 1. Lateran l Concil Trid. sess 13. can 1. Popish conceit of the Reall presence of Christ in the Eucharist The second is that Monster m Vid. Hannium in cap. 6. Ioh. Hemingium de Vniuersali gratia Sueca Arminium c. of vniuersall Election Redemption and Vocation together with those their Consequents the vncertaintie of Saluation and deniall of Perseuerance vnto the Saints all flowing from that n Stobaeus lib. 2 Eclogarum cap. 7 Heathenish o August de haeres cap. 88 Pelagian p Concil Trident sess 6. can 5 Popish maintayning of Free-will to good in man corrupted The third and last but not the least to endanger the Church in regard of her Gouernment is that q Vid Bezam de Presbyter Excomminat explicat Ecclesiast Discipl per Trauers High and transcendent Consistorian authoritie of Pastor with Lay Elders aspiring to a Primacie aboue Kings and Princes vnder the plausible pretence of perfect Reformation but indeed with the proud mind of the Spartan r Plutarch in Agide Cleom. Ephori who to keepe one King in compasse reared vp aboue him fiue Thrones farre higher and of greater Soueraigntie as these ſ Bullinger Gwa ther haec scribunt apud D. Bancrofts discouerie cap. 35. deluded Disciplinarians in purposing to pull one downe set vp many Popes So cunningly can the Deuill play the Serpent t Plin. lib. 8. nat histor cap. 30. Amphisbena in going forward at both ends at once and so like u Aelian de histor animalium lib. 6. cap. 14. to the Hyena is wicked Heresie that whom it catcheth by the counterfeite voyce of a reasonable man it first doth infatuate and lull them asleepe by the soft touch of a sopiferous hand and smooth discourse but afterward deuoureth with a cruel tooth as the wise King said x Prou. 16.29 A violent man enticeth his Neighbour and leadeth him into the way that is not good and as the blessed y Ephes 4.14 Apostle noteth the trickes of Heretikes that by slight and cunning craftinesse they lye in waite to deceiue the simple Ob. But it may bee some will aske why such bad opinions and so vilely erroneous doctrines and practices are suffered or maintained amongst men liuing in Reformed Churches Sol. To whom I answere first that z Math. 18.7 offences must needs come howbeit woe to that man by whom they come secondly that the true Church of Christ is exercised by these faults which although some doe stiffely maintaine vpon their owne priuate motion to their owne destruction yet are cast out of the Church of Christ by her faithfull Pastors teaching and her godly Princes fighting for the Truth of
as he is a King As a man he serueth God by liuing faithfully but as a King he serueth him by ordaining with force conuenient Lawes commanding iust things and forbidding things contrarie and againe k August lib. 3. contr Cresâ—onium Grammaticum cap. 51. In this Kings as it is giuen them in charge from God serue God in this respect they are Kings if in their Kingdome they commaund good forbid euill not onely pertaining to humane societie but also belonging to diuine Religion Secondly of Isidore l Isidor Hispal lib. 3. de summo bono cap. 53. Hispalensis Princes of this world many times exercise the heights of godlinesse obtained within the Church that thereby they may strengthen Ecclesiasticall discipline and that what a Priest will not doe by speech of doctrine Autoritie may accomplish by terror of discipline And this I hold for caution sufficient in the right vnderstanding of the Regall title which is not giuen in flatterie but acknowledged in his right as next vnder Christ whose seruant he is that so notwithstanding this subordinate power of earthly Princes vnder Christ in the Church as it is visibly militant in this or that Kingdome Countrey of this world yet Christ may be all in all euen m Eccles 5.8 Of Consolation higher then those who are the highest So that thirdly from the fore-spoken-of doctrine we finde to our particular benefit vnspeakeable coÌ„solation because we depending vpon this Foundation this Teacher this Head this Master Christ Iesus shall neuer perish by a finall fall For we shall not fall finally being taught by him in his holy Word our n Psal 119.105 light and o Iohn 5.39 our life being ruled by him through his holy Spirit p 1. Iohn 3.9 his seed and our q Rom. 1.4 sanctifier his teaching his ruling stayeth vs in his Truth from damnable Errours r Iohn 17.17 his Word is that Truth Å¿ Iohn 16.13 his Spirit leadeth to it So that although we liue in this world as in a Labyrinth going euer on but neuer getting out by the blinding and winding wayes of wickednesse yet need we not feare the want of an issue since his Word as a threed will shew vs the way his Spirit our Comforter will strengthen our hearts to encounter the Minotaurus that killing his companion our trecherous flesh and discouering his path-way this wide and wild world we may put him to flight and say with the People returned out of captiuitie vnto his holy Church t Esay 26.1.2.3.4.5 We haue a strong Citie for u Psal 48.3 God is knowne in it saluation will God appoint for walles and bulwarks to cast out our enemies and to keepe vs in compasse Open yee the gates yee x Iohn 10.5 Porters of the Lords house who haue the key y Luke 11.52 of knowledge and whom he hath appointed to carry the z Esay 22.22 Reuel 3.7 key of Dauid for opening shutting for a Iohn 20.23 remitting and retaining sinne that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in through the b Reuel 22.14 gate into the Citie by grace to glory For thou Lord wilt keepe him in perfect peace whose minde is stayed on thee as on the rocke against which albeit c Matth. 7.25 all waues doe dash yet are they done away because he trusted in thee for the Lord neuer d Psal 37.40 faileth them that trust in him Therefore trust yee in the Lord for euer for in the Lord Iehouah who performes what he promiseth to be e Exod. 6.3 knowne by this Name is euerlasting strength As therefore we cannot finally fall so shall we not perish being set on that Foundation being holden of that Head For f 2. Tim. 2.19 the foundation of the Lord remaineth sure and hath this seale The Lord knoweth who are his Can we then be moued out of place by any storme being so well grounded Our vpper parts are safe too for our Head is g Phil. 3.20 aboue that we cannot be drowned in the middest of many waters being h Colos 2.19 knit vnto him by so many ioynts and bands If we be weake in our selues as we are all but flesh yet are we strong in him who first can so saue vs that i Iohn 10.27 none shall be able to take vs out of his hand who secondly will saue vs k Luk. 1.71.74 from the hand of all that hate vs that in peace we may serue him without feare who thirdly as he l Reuel 1.8 is Alpha by preuenting grace will also be Omega by his gift of perseuerance m Phil. 1.6 performing the good worke he hath begun in vs and bringing n Zâ—ch 4.7 Vid. Caluin ibid forth the head stone of his spirituall building in vs with shoutings of his gladsome o Luke 15.8 Angels for our conuersion crying Grace Grace vnto it For by p Ephes 1.8 grace we are saued and not of our selues his q 1. Cor. 15.10 grace is not in vaine in vs wee r Ephes 4 15. growing both so fast and so fully thereby into our head that we cannot be moued Å¿ Psal 30.7 God by his fauour hauing made our mountaine to stand so strong For first are our foes many Feare t 2. Reg. 6.16 not for they that be with vs are more then they that be with them u Rom. 8.31 God is on our side who can be against vs For secondly are our foes mightie Be of good comfort the Lyon x Gene. 49.9 couchant of the Tribe of Iuda who is our shield will y Matth. 4.11 put to flight the z 1. Pet. 5.8 rampant roaring Lyon of hell yea a Rom. 16.20 the God of peace shall bruise Satan vnder your feete shortly For thirdly haue our foes fought long against vs Be not discouraged their time is the shorter our glory is the neerer and therefore b Reuel 12.12 they rage He that saueth vs seeth them c Psal 59.9 and laugheth them to scorne for d Act. 9.5 kicking so foolishly against the pricks Our teares are put into his bottles our troubles are registred in his booke of remembrance that they may be in fresh suite against our enemies for our comfort and encouragement who shall finde in the end e Rom. 8.23.24 a glorious libertie by the full redemption of our bodies from trouble by death and from death by the comming of Christ vnto Iudgement For here we f Heb. 13.14 haue no continuing Citie but looke for one to come whereinto since in g Reuel 21. â—7 no wise shall enter any thing that defileth he h 1. Iohn 3. â— that hath this hope in him to enter therein and be like him shall purifie himselfe euen as he is pure For this is that conformitie vnto our Master in Christian perfection of which we are now briefely to speake of in
5.11 from sinners But such then are openly knowne for secret tares must x Math. 13.30 stand till haruest If some aske Why so Sol. I answere Because man may in partialitie plucke vp wheate for tares and let tares grow for wheate Therefore God who is neuer deceiued neither can be corrupted reserueth that iudgement vnto himselfe to be reuealed sometimes in this world by some notorious iudgement but certainely hereafter in the world to come as Gregorie Nyssen y Gregor Nyss lib. de Resurrect anima ad sor pag. 193. hath worthily expounded that point of the Parable Let them grow till the haruest saying The Husbandman letteth alone amongst vs some adulterous seedes not that they should alwayes preuaile against the more precious Corne but that the ground by its inward strength may wither and dry vp some of the branches and make others of them flourishing and fruitfull which if it be not done here then doth he reserue the discerning of the fruit of the field vnto the fire But be it so that the Church is here spotlesse the second point is most false that their Churches and Congregations or Conuenticles rather and Satanicall Synagogues are pure and perfect For to rake vp this Sinke a little and make knowne their filthynesse and abominations marke their doctrine They z Vid. L. Osian M. Barnard vbi supra denie the old Testament they hold it vnlawfull for any man to take an Oath before a Magistrate they forbidding the Baptisme of children allow rebaptizing and sebaptizing as SMITH baptized himselfe they hold Iustification by the works of Regeneration they hold all things to be common euen Wiues whom they diuorce without iust cause they deny Magistracie pretending libertie but practising licenciousnesse For looke into their liues a little Are they not phantasticall depending vpon Enthusiasmes Are they not schismaticall making rents without reason Are they not Coozeners deluding the simple Are they not proud deriding the godly Are they not debauched in all filthy Venerie Are they not disobedient to all good Order by confused Anarchie I neede not send you further to seeke how these men liue then to Amsterdam and the Low Countries where they a Esay 59.4 hatch Cockatrice egs and weaue Spiders webs b Vid Sleidan lib. 5. 10. Commentar Swenckfeldians were manifest in the rebellious rusticks of Germanie Anabaptists by those who were suppressed at Mounster and our English Brownists discouer themselues too farre by their manifold exorbitancies against God King Church Common-wealth and their owne fellowes if we may beleeue c Tho. White his discouerie of Brownists Master White and others who haue seene them and conuersed with them Therefore pleade they for perfection as much as they please we know that all is not Gold which glistereth we find that they are d Prou. 30.12 not cleane from their wickednesse but that they are the very broode of the auncient Montanists Manichees Nouatians Donatists and Priscillianists making shew without substance and as they began idlely so ending odiously by the iudgement of God who will not suffer them to raigne any long time that Truth may preuaile So that now deare brethren leauing these three kind of Perfectists vnto Gods iust correction let vs in the feare of God take direction the second vse of our doctrine hereby vnto spirituall growth and proceeding in pietie 2. For direction as wee are very often mooued thereunto first by S. Paul e Ephes 4.15 following the truth in loue grow vp vnto him in all things which is the head euen Christ Secondly by S. Peter f 2. Pet. 3.18 grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ For as Leo well g Leo Ser. 8. de Pass dom cap. 8. obserued Qui non proficit deficit qui nihil acquirit nonnihil perdit He that goeth not forward runneth backward and he that getteth nothing loseth some-what because his loue chilleth his hope halteth and faith faileth who runneth not forward to gaine the Crowne For no h Luke 9.62 man hauing put his hand to the plow and looking backe is fit for the kingdome of God since as Tertullian i Tertull. lib. de Idololatr cap. 12 iudged well sepelire patrem tardum fuit fidei to pretend for excuse against spirituall proceeding the buriall of our father is a slowing of faith that should be alwayes liuely And therefore as the old Romanes k Apud Plin. lib. 18. cap. 19. vsed to say Arator nisi incuruus praeuaricatur The plow-man vnlesse he lye hard vpon the Plow-stilt may make balks in goodland So may we say of a Christian that vnlesse he presse very hard towards the marke he l 1. Cor. 9.26 beareth but the aire he cannot attaine to what he seeketh since we m Luke 13.21 must striue against flesh and bloud to enter in at the strait gate It may be that many blocks are laid in our way some by aduersitie some by prosperitie But what saith holy Dauid The n Psal 92.12 righteous shall flourish like a Palme tree he shall grow like a Cedar in Libanon like a Palme tree in aduersitie and like a Cedar in prosperitie For as the o Gellius lib. 3. cap. 6. Palme groweth higher and spreadeth it selfe broader the greater the waight is which is laid vpon it so the truly godly the more they are pressed with afflictions for the Gospels sake the more they grow in the goodnesse thereof as Hilarie p Hilar. lib. 7. de Triuit said very well of the Church Hoc Ecclesiae proprium est vt tum vincat cum laeditur tum intelligatur cum arguitur tum obtineat cum descritur This is the propertie of the Church then to ouercome when it is hurt then to be vnderstood when it is reprooued then to obtaine when it is forsaken And as the Cedar q Plin. lib. 16. cap. 40. wheresoeuer it grow neuer feeleth the worme but alwayes is found so a good man wheresoeuer he liue yet carrieth a sound conscience without a gnawing worme no pleasure either pussing or pampering him vp who r Phil. 4.12 can want and abound taking euery thing for an help to set him forward vnto all perfection Are we men in nature Be not Dwarfes in Grace God my brethren hath in his goodnesse towards vs his children in Great BRITAINE giuen many many Motiues and meanes to this perfection but especially foure as first the Word preached neuer before so plentifully or so purely as it hath been of late yeers to our wonderfull comfort while we profit thereby as to their vtter ouerthrow and condemnation who bring not foorth fruites worthy of it For it is as desperate Physicke as euer Parâ—celsus gaue Å¿ 2. Cor. 2.16 either the sauour of life vnto life or else the sauour of death vnto death Secondly good examples of many great and good Worthies of Israel who going before prouoke