the Earth have committed Fornication that is spiritual Whoredom and Adultery with HER And the Inhabiters of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of HER Fornication Rev. 17.1 2. by receiving those Idolatrous Doctrines and by Practising those Imaginary Superstitions which the Church of Rome Teacheth and practiceth in the Worship of God (g) Matth. 15.7 8 9. Rev. 13.4 8. Idem in Apoc. 18. Meretricem Babylonicam Ecclesiam nempè Romanam Scortationibus ad immundiâ Antichristi Romani Sanguinolentorum scil atque Belluinorum Pontificum quorum plerique Magi Venefici Athei Adulteri non Apostolici sed Apotactici Apostatici quales ipse Genebrardus lib. 4. Chronol fatetur Superstitionum Cultuum novorum inventores In vain do they worship God saith Christ teaching for Doctrines the Commandements of Men to wit those Notoriously known Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome the Mother of Harlots namely (h) Doun de Antichristo lib. 1. cap. 7. Dementatos mente captos esse not at Apostolus Apoc. 18.23 19.2 17.2 4. qui cum ista Meretrice scortantur ejusque scortationibus Idololatriis imbuuntur fascinantur Their worshipping of Images viz. of Christ and of the Virgin Mary their Invocation Adoration and Prayers to dead Saints And their irrational and sensless Doctrine of Transubstantiation Sacrifice and Adoration of the Host that is their Breaden God which say they is by Consecration changed into the very Body and Blood of Christ which the Papists adore kneel unto and worship as their God and Saviour But besides the Idolatry and Superstition of this part of their Will-worship let it be considered by the judicious and rational Papists and Protestants First how irrational that Doctrine and Practice of the Church of Rome is to wit of Transubstantiation Admit the Sacrament of the Lords Supper be Administred in the roman-catholick-Roman-Catholick-Church in a 100. 500 Places as indeed it is at the same Time And the Bread be by virtue of each Priest's Consecration changed into the Real Body of Christ then Christ hath 100. 500 Real Bodies at one Time which is absurd and irrational Secondly how sensless their Doctrine of Transubstantiation is The Church of Rome teacheth and the Papists senselesly are to believe That the Bread after Consecration is the very Body of Christ And yet they that Eat that Bread see it is Bread after the Consecration yea they taste and know it is Bread still whilest they are eating of it And thus they delude their Senses by a fond and false Belief Thirdly how damnable their Doctrine and Practice of this part of their false worship of God is viz. Transubstantiation The Doctrine is Damnable For the Church of Rome teacheth her Children the Papists to believe in to fall down unto and to worship a breaden-God which their Priests have made an Idol with Solemn and Sacred Adoration And the Practice is also damnable For the Papists eating that Bread with a firm Belief that it is not Bread but the Body of Christ do eat that Bread and drink that Cup unworthily and so eat and drink their own damnation 1 Cor. 11.29 Secondly It appears that the Church of Rome is the great Whore Because She is become the Mother of Harlots (k) Prid. de mille annis Apoc Lect. 13. Roma est Sodoma spiritualiter quia similis Sodomae quâ re similis foeditate Sodomiticarum libidinum in urbe magnâ horribiliter grassantium unde Mater Scortationum Apoc. 17.5 vocata c. Vide jam magnam urbem Papatus Quid est nisi scortationum spiritualium corporalium foedissima Officina Petrarcha queritur Ep. 20. Romae stupra raptus incestus adulteria jam Pontificialis lasciviae ludi sunt quod cecinit Mantuanus Ipudor in villas si non patiantur easdem Et villae vomicas Roma est jam tota Lupanar Roma vale vidi satis est vidisse revertar Cum Leno Meretrix Scurra Cinaedus ero Sic Marulus in Epitaph Ita Janus Pannonius Etiam Johannes Sapidus the Lupan * of Stews and of all Abominations Rev. 17.1 5. The Church of Rome calls her self the Catholick Church and She teacheth her Children the Papists to believe that She is the Mother of all National-Churches and whosoever do not acknowledg Her to be the holy catholick-Catholick-Church and submit not to Her Canons Constitutions Doctrines Discipline and Worship are Hereticks All the National-Churches of Germany France Spain and Italy c. are her Harlots false Churches and Idolatrous Worshippers of Images Crosses Crucifixes c. as before-said The Church at Rome was a true Church in the Apostles Time whose Faith was famous throughout the whole World Rom. 1.7 8. But afterwards that Church departed from the Faith Apostatized both in Doctrine and in Discipline yea and also in Manners (l) J. W. de ult Romae exitio pag. 62. ait Joannes 13. omni Flagitiorum generi scil Stupris Adulteriis Incestis aliisque sceleribus ab ipsâ Adolescentia incumbens Stephenam Concubinam Patris sui duas sorores vitiavit Nicholaus quidam de Bibrach Erphordiensis non obscure innuit se à Martino 2. velut Ganymedem ad turpiora quaedam expetitum And so became a false Church and a Synagogue of Satan and She is now become the great Whore and Mother of Harlots She hath left her first Husband Christ Jesus the Lord and hath taken another Head and Husband the POPE of Rome She hath departed from her first Faith which was grounded upon the Doctrines of Jesus Christ and his Apostles and now she doth believe the Doctrines of her holy Father the Pope And She is faln from her first Purity in Discipline and Manners into all manner of Licenciousness and abominable Wickedness and so is become the Mother of Harlots and of all the Abominations which are in all false Churches that are her Daughters whereby the Church of Rome is plainly manifested to be the great WHORE Thirdly It appears That the Church of Rome is the great Whore by her barbarous and bloody Persecutions and Murders added to her Whoredomes Revel 18.24 For in HER was found the Blood of Prophets and of Saints and all that were slain upon the Earth And I saw the Woman the great Whore and Mother of Harlots drunken with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus Rev. 17.1 5 6. Particularly of the Waldenses Albigenses and other (m) Abregè Chronol c. par le Sieur de Mezeray Paris 1567. Tom. 3. p. 1082. 1086. ad Annum 1572. Vergerius who was well acquainted with the Romish bloody Inquisition tells us that 150000. Protestants suffered Death in less then 30. years The King of France in his Letters to the Pope boasteth that in the year 1572. in the Massacre of Paris and elsewhere (n) Thuanus Hist l. 53. ad annum 1572. p. 837. Edit 1620. Fam. Strada de bello Belgico l.
solùm in Spiritualibus quoque Imperatore Rege major est Papa sed etiam in temporalibus over Emperours and Kings of the Roman-Kingdom And HE IS the EIGHT with Respect of his Hierarchical or Pontifical-Power (o) Oriohou in Chymer 10 l. 97 Quanto creatura Deo tanto Impeperatoria Majestas est Papae inferior The Pope is the seventh Head in Nature and Kind and an Eight also in Degree and Power Hen. Bish of Meath of Antichrist pag. 11. or Principality which was also there before under former Roman-Governments For as to matters of Religion the Romans had of old Instituted by Numa Pompilius their Pontifices or under-Priests and over them a Chief Priest called Pontifex Maximus which lower Priests were exempted from civil Jurisdiction and only Ordered and Governed by him who was their Pontifex Maximus HE himself not being accountable to any (p) Dionys Halicarnass Ant. Rom. 12. Godwin's Antiq. lib. 2. Sect. 2. cap. 15. And therefore the Pope is said to be of the SEVEN with Respect of his Imperial and Pontifical Power unto which HE hath Advanced himself in his Dominion and Titles above all Principalities and Powers on Earth no Kings nor Emperours being excepted or exempted (q) Triplex imperium habet Papa in terra in coelo ubi Chirstus nullum habit in Purgatorio in cujus signum Tiara Papalis triplici coronâ ornata est Caeremon l. 1. Sect. 5 c. 9. Sect. 7. f. 78. Hab. 3.4 and Zech. 1.18.21 And so in his exalted Power of Imperial and Pontificial Horns the Pope of Rome became the BEAST of the Eighth Head Rev. 17.11 Who did Rise out of the Earth having two Horus like a Lamb Rev. 13.11 Horns do signifie Power in the Prophesies of the Holy Scripture of Truth as in Dan. 8.20 21 22 23 24. (r) Purgatorium est peculium Papae saith Angelus Parisiensis Antoninus part 3. tit 22. cap. 5. Sect. 6. 7. Bal. in vita Leonis 10. c. Patres concil Lateran Sess 10. in Orat. Steph. Patracensis So that the two Horns of that Beast the Pope of Rome signifie his two fold Power Political and Ecclesiastical or Imperial and Pontifical twisted and united together in his Seventh and Eighth Headship For even HE is the Eight and is of the Seven Rev. 17.11 This Number of the BEAST viz. the Seventh and Eighth can agree with none of the Roman Heads but Popes only The third Particular or Part of the Angels Description of the Roman-Papal-BEAST of the Seventh and Eighth Head is by his RISE and RUINE Rev. 17.8 11. The BEAST shall ascend out of the Bottomless Pit and go into Perdition ver 11. And goeth into Perdition I shall here shew briefly first his Rise then his Ruine Whereby it will more plainly appear That the Pope of Rome is the BEAST First as to the Rise of the Beast of the Seventh and Eight Head viz. the Pope of Rome we find in the Roman Histories That Constantine the Great changed the Seat of the Emperour from Rome to Constantinople thereby leaving the City of Rome as it were vacant After his Death the Roman-Empire was divided and the Roman-Eagle having two great Wings spread her self into the Eastern and Western Empires At last about anno 475. the Western Empire quite expired in Augustulus (s) Ambrose Cyrill Theophylact upon 2 Thes 2.6 7. When the Roman Empire shall be taken out of the Way then shall Antichrist Come For the Empire having been invaded by the Goths and Vandals and other barbarous Nations by whom also Rome it self was taken and possessed about fifty years The Pope or Bishop of Rome himself being also expelled out the City of Rome Chrysostome 2 Thes 2.6 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and put to seek for a Time another Place of abode About the year 607. Boniface III. (t) Prideaux Introduction of Histories Interval 7. Sect. pag. 89. then Bishop of Rome obtained from Phocas then Emperour of the East That not the Patriarch of Constanstinople but the Bishop of Rome should be Vniversal Bishop And now was the Title of Pope appropriated to the Bishop of Rome which was before communicated to other Patriarchs and Bishops also indifferently After this Pope Gregory VII contended with the Emperour Henry the Fourth whom he excommunicated and deposed and gave the Imperial Crown to Rodulphus (u) Petra dedit Petro Petrus DIADEMA Rodulpho Bellarm de Concil lib. 2. cap. 17. 2 Thes 2.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Numen with this verse The Pope of Rome being now Risen above all Bishops Patriarchs and Emperours HE advanced himself above all general Councils which Rise was fully attained by Pope Leo X. as Bellarmin boasteth The Pope of Rome having ascended thus high HE was Ambitious to Rise yet Higher That so he might appear to be That Man of Sin and Son of Perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above every one called God or divine Power So that HE as God might sit in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God And to that End the Pope of Rome confirmed those erroneous Doctrines and Positions of the Church of Rome and caused them to be Concluded and Decreed for Doctrines and Articles of Faith in the general Councils of Constance Lateran and of Trent Christophorus Mercellus speaking to Pope Julius II. in the Council of Lateran said (w) Tu es alter Deus in Terra Extra Joh. 22. de verb. signif cap. cum interp lib. cerem 1. Sect. 1. fol. 16. Eberhardus Epist Salisburgensis Impress Lugd. Anno. 1555. Edit nov Ant. Papae Greg. 13. Credere Dominum Deum nostrum Papam non sic potuisse Statuere prout Statuit haereticum Censeatur Thou art another God upon Earth And in the Gloss on the Canon Law HE is called Our Lord God the Pope by the Popes allowance as also divine Adoration (x) Those words All that is called God and worshipped 2 Thes 2.4 are not to be interpreted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Kings c. nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Prelates and Priests but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Objects of divine worship So the Athenian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 17.23 were their Idols and Modes of Devotion and divine Worship So Dan. 11.36.37.40 The Pope of Rome the BEAST of the Seventh and Eighth Head having ascended out of the deep Abyss or Bottomless Pit and Risen at last unto this Hight of Impiety He having overcome the Saints of God Rev. 13.7 and killed the two Prophetical Witnesses of Christ Rev. 11.7 must go into Perdition Rev. 17.8 11. and goeth into Perdition which implies his gradual Ruine step by step As HE did rise gradually to the hight of his Grandeur so HE must fall by degrees into Perdition 2 Thes 2.8 Whom the Lord shall Consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and shall destroy with the
Brightness of his Coming So that this BEAST the Pope of Rome shall be first Consumed and afterwards Destroyed as is foretold Dan. 7.11 12 13. Now to be consumed is to decay to wax weak and by some Sickness or Distempers to waste pine and wear away and at last to dye even so shall the BEAST that Man of SIN the Son of Perdition the Pope of Rome Who hath been Consuming many years by the Spirit of Christs mouth viz. The powerful and spiritual Preaching of the Gospel of free Grace by the Prophetical witnesses of Christ his godly and faithful Ministers Bellarmin's Confession is a full Confirmation of the Popes Consumption his words in English are these The Roman See hath by little and little decayed c. (x) Bellarm. de Rom. Ponâ—if lib. 3. cap. 21. Scrip. 1577. And it hath much more decayed and been consumed since that Time by the Preaching of the Gospel through the powerful operation of the holy Spirit (y) Mr. Rich. Bernar's Key of Knowledge part 4. pag. 126 127 128 129. Since 1558. saith he the Pope hath nothing Increased upon us But we by Gods power have prevailed against him Have not the Papists had ill Success in all their Attempts against us And in spite of their Policy Trecheries and Treasons we stand and they fall and so must they now saith he continually for by an Oath of God it is confirmed unto us Chap. 10. 5 6. That there should be Time no longer Read pag. 127 128. 129. The utter downfal and Destruction of the Roman Beast the Pope is also Prophesied Rev. 14.8 Babylon is fallen is fallen that great City which is Rome as hath been fully proved Also Rev. 18.2 8 10 19 21. Therefore shall her Plagues come in one Day and she shall be utterly burnt with Fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Alas alas that great City Babylon that is Rome-papal that mighty City for in one Hour is thy Judgment come and ver 19. Alas alas that great City Rome for in one hour she is made desolate And Rev. 19.19 20 And the BEAST that is the Pope of Rome was taken and with him the false Prophet These both were cast alive into the Lake burning with Brimstone Then shall Rome-Papal be found no more at all Rev. 18.21 and Then shall the Beast who is the Pope of Rome be tormented day and night for ever and ever Rev. 20.10 Proposition III. That the Church of Rome is the great WHORE THE Church of God under the Law was Resembled by the Prophet (a)  unto a comely and delicate Woman And the Church of Christ under the Gospel was Revealed to the Apostle (b) Rev. 12.1 by the Similitude of a Woman clothed with the Sun having a Crown of twelve Stars on her Head Such was the Church at Jerusalem and the Churches in Judea in the Days of the Apostles And such was the Church at Rome whose Faith was Famous throughout the whole World (c) Rom. 1.7.8 and such also were the Churches in Asia those golden Candlesticks whilst Jesus Christ walked in the midst of them and their shining Lights Like Stars the Able Ministers of the new-Testament called Angels whom the Lord Jesus Christ held in his right-hand (d) Rev. 1.20 and 2.1 But when the Church of Rome departed from the Faith as was foretold by the Apostle (e) 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. and Apostatised both in Doctrine and Manners and fell away as was also foretold by the same Apostle (f) 2 Thess 2.1 2 3 4-12 then she became a false Church whom Jesus Christ shewed unto his Servant John in a Vision and Revelation like a Woman that is an Harlot and the Mother of Harlots and calls her the great WHORE (g) Rev. 17.1 5. whose Name is Mystery Babylon the great c. which is Papal-Rome as hath been clearly and fully Proved And I shall now prove and plainly Demonstrate this third Proposition That the Church of Rome is the great Whore That Church which is the Mother of Harlots a by Maintaining Commanding and Practising spiritual Adulteries Whoredoms and Fornications is the great Whore But the Church of Rome is the Mother of Harlots which maintaineth commandeth and practiseth spiritual Adulteries Whoredoms and Fornications Therefore the Church of Rome is the great Whore The spiritual Adultery whoredom and fornication of Judah and Jerusalem which God did so much complain of by his Prophets was their Idolatry and Image-worship Ezek. 4.11 37. with their Idols have they committed Adultery So God complained of Nineveh by his Prophet Nahum 3.4 5. Because of the Whoredoms of the well-favoured Harlot the Mistress of Witchcraft that Selleth Nations through her Whoredoms and Families through her Witchcrafts I will shew the Nations thy Nakedness and the Kingdoms thy shame And so did Christ shew the spiritual Adultery and Idolatry of Papal-Rome under the Similitude of a Woman whose Name is Mysterie Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth God's great Prohibition against this sinful Abomination of spiritual Whoredom of making and worshipping Images in the second Commandement Exod. 20.4 5. And the grievous Judgments which God denounced against and inflicted upon the worshippers of Idols yea against them false Prophets and any other persons that shall entice and perswade any to go after other Gods and serve them Deut. 13.1 2 3 5 6 9 10 13 14 15. sheweth us the sinfulness of this Sin of Idolatry And how greatly God is provoked unto Jealousie by it 1 Cor. 10.20 21 22. and Rev. 3.20 21 22. and Rev. 18.1 2 3 4 5 8. So that Idolatry and false Worship is spiritual Whoredom Now let us examine the second Proposition to wit Whether the Church of Rome be guilty of this great Sin of spiritual Whoredom Adultery and Fornication called Idolatry and be indeed the Mother of Harlots The Ancients do with one Consent assert that Idolatry is an Attributing of divine Honour unto the Creature which is only due unto God And Thomas Aquinas (a) Aquin. in Epist ad Ephes c. 5. Lect. 3. Quando bonor soli Deo debitus exhibetur Creaturae Concil Trident Sess 9. out of all the Fathers and Ancient Writers concludes so That is Idolatry saith he when the Honour that is only due to God is given to the Creature The Church of Rome doth attribute that divine Honour to the Creature which is only due to God For she doth attribute trust and Confidence in their Prayers to Saints deceased yea to their feigned Saints as plainly appears in the publick Service-Books Rosaries Breviaries Psalters and Catechisms of the Church of Rome (b) Catechis Roman Osorius tom 3. Concion p. 681. Bellarm. de Sanctor beat lib. 1. cap. 10. The Papists praying to Saint John say Hail ô holy Apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ I intreat thee that thou wouldest deliver me thy unworthy Servant from all Adversity and
receive my Soul at the Hour of Death and wouldst bring me to life everlasting To Saint George they pray thus He save us from our Sins that we may rest with the Blessed in Heaven To Saint Erasmus ô Erasmus Grant that by thy Merits and Prayers we may overcome all the snares of our Enemies and be freed from eternal Death (c) Possevin bibl select pag. 295. Boz de sig Eccles Tom. 2. pag. 200. To Francis the Fryer they pray thus O Francis singular crucified-Saint be thou to us the way of Life make satisfaction for us alway shew to Christ the marks of thy wounds (d) Exut Franciscum tunica laceroque cucullo Qui Franciscus erat jam tibi Christus erit Francisci exuviis si qua licet indue Christum Jam Franciscus erit qui modo Christus erat This Fryer Francis they make equal to Christ as those Blasphemous Verses of two shameless Jesuites Turselline and Bencius do plainly declare And to the Image Veronica they pray thus Haile holy Face imprinted on a Clout (e) Chemnit exam Concil Trident. de Imagin Purge us from all Sin within and without c. Thus also the Papists by the Commandements of Men viz. Popes Jesuites Priests yea and general Councils and the Church of Rome do worship Images Pictures Crosses Crucifixes and Reliques which they say are to be worshipped after the same Manner as Images are (f) Vasq de adoratione lib. 3. dis 3. cap. 2. Reliquiae eodem modo atque Imagines sunt adorandae Conci Trident. Decret de Reliq Sanct. It 's written of Dunstan the Abbot of Glastenbury that he blessed the right Thumb of Editha the Abbesse of Wilton which being found uncorrupted after all her Body was turned to dust and ashes in her Grave became a Relique (g) Guliel Malmsbur lib. 2. de Pontif. Vincent li. 25. cap. 33. How many things about our Saviour are turned into Reliques viz. the Manger his linnen Cloth his Cradle his Shirt the Table on which Christ eat his last Supper the Cup wherein he gave his Blood to be drunk are Reliques to be seen at this Day as the Papists and other Pilgrims and Travellers report in several places and Churches in Rome Spain Ravenna Pisa at Andegavum c. The Church of Rome is guilty of gross Idolatry and spiritual Adultery in Adoring and worshipping the Host for at the Priest's Elevation of the Host the Papists breaden God they all fall down upon their Knees and worship it with very great Devotion and whosoever refuseth so to do is counted an Heretick (h) Bellarm. de Sacrament Euchar l. a. cap. 29. Coster Enchir. de Euchar. Rubric in Missal Rom. And yet some Priests have poisoned the Host intending to add Murder yea wilful and Sacrilegious Murder thereby to their gross Idolatry as the Monk Bernhardine who poisoned the Host to the intent that he might poison the Emperour Henry of Lucenburgh as he also did at the Instigation of Robert King of Sicily Baronius (l) Cuspinian Nauclerus Egnat Baron Spondan An. Eccles an 1055. Volateran Hoveden Math. Paris c. tells us of a Priest that either did or would have poisoned Pope Victor 2d at the Sacrament And William Arch-bishop of York was poisoned at the Mass by his own Chaplins by that which they put into the Chalice What can be more Heathenish and palpable Idolatry than to worship the Bread consecrated by a Priest which is maintained commanded and Practised by the Church of Rome by all her Priests and Papists Another branch of the Spiritual Whoredom and Adultery of the great Whore the Church of Rome is the Adoration and worshipping the Cross it Self on which Christ suffered say they also the Image of the Cross and the Sign of the Cross (m) Vasques de Adorat l. 3. cap. 2. Bellarm. de Imagin lib. 3. c. 27 28 29. Aquin. Sum. part 3. art 4. Vasques the Jesuit affirmeth that this is the Doctrine of the roman-Roman-Church and so doth Bellarmine and Thomas Aquinas and many other great Doctors of the Church of Rome It is testified (n) Chrys à Visitat de virb Domini tom 4. Lib. 6. c. 7. that a famous Papist and a Professor of Divinity who dedicated his Book to Pope Clement 8th saith thus We worship the Cross with the same Worship wherewith we adore Christ himself c. Again Whereas we Asserted That the Church of Rome is the Mother of Harlots for a full proof thereof let it be considered First That the Church of Rome owns her self to be the Catholick and mother-Mother-Church of all those Churches in Italy Spain France Germany c. whether National or Parochial that receive believe and practice her damnable Doctrines and Idolatrous worship which are false Churches and Harlots with whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication and the Inhabiters of the Earth have been made drunk with the wine of her Fornication and therefore the Church of Rome Mystical-Babylon as before proved is called the Mother of Harlots Rev. 17.2 5. And Abominations of the Earth Secondly That the Church of Rome hath begotten born and nourished all those National and Parochial Churches before-mentioned which are called the Cities of the Nations Rev. 16.19 which National Churches are Harlots as Nineveh was called Nahum 3.4 because of the multitude of their spiritual Whoredoms and abominable Idolatries whereby it appears that the Church of Rome is the Mother of Harlots for She hath infused her false Doctrines worships and all her Idolatries into those Churches Thirdly That the Church of Rome as the Mother of Harlots imposeth her false Doctrines Idolatrous Worships and damnable Practices upon all those and other National Churches whom She calleth her Daughters owning her Authority over them as being their Mother And First It doth appear that the Church of Rome is the great WHORE by her spiritual Whoredoms and Fornications Rev. 17.4 And the Woman had a golden-CVP in her hand full of Abominations and filthiness of her Fornication All kinds of Idolatry Image-worship and Superstitions in the Service of God is spiritual Whoredom (f) Prid. de Antichristo Lect. 11. Non in Babilona solum sed in Sodomam Roma degeneravit ut non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 modo Meretricum sed ut habet liber Complutensis Regius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hoc est Catamitarum Ganimedum Mater habeatur Sic Heptades de Antichristo pag. 99. 129-131 Doun Diatr de Antichristo l. 1. c. 7. Etiam M. Antonius de Dom. Archiep. Spalat de Rep. Eccles lib. 4. cap. 3. n. 26 -29 ac Hieron adver Jovin lib. 2 c. Marlor in Apoc. 18.24 in Apoc. 13. p. 37. 64 65. And such are those Images and Idols those Crosses and Crucifixes those Pictures and painted forms or Representations of our Saviour Christ of the Virgin Mary and of Saints deceased whom the Papists set up fall down before and worship The Kings of
7. p. 373. Edit Romae 1648. 70000 Hereticks were slain in few days that is 70000 Protestants were then and there murdered by the Papists And can we forget or omit to mention the late bloody Butcheries of Protestants by the Barbarous cruel Irish-Papists Anno 1641. when 100000. were murthered And if the bloody Invasion Anno 1588. and the Horrid Gun-powder Treason Novvember 5th 1605. And the bloody traiterous design of Popish Recusants as the King calls it (o) In his Majesties Declaration for banishing all Papists Ten miles from London Octob. 30. 1678. Even that damnable and Hellish-Plot as the Parliament voted it contrived and carried on by Popish Recusants for Assassinating and Murdering the King and for Subverting the Government and rooting out and destroying the Protestant Religion (p) The Votes of the Commons read to the Lords and by them also approved at a Conference 1st Nov. 1678. had taken Effect many more Protestants in England had been ere this Day murdered and massacred by the blood-thirsty-Papists And these barbarous bloody and damnable Persecutions and Practices of the Papists are grounded on the very Doctrine Religion and Faith of the Church of Rome which is not to be found in any other party of the whole Christian world so called besides Whereby it is evident to those that have understanding That the Church of Rome is the great bloody Whore viz. that purple and scarlet Coloured Whore the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth Revel 17.1 4 5. Proposition IV. That the Roman-Priests are the false Prophet BY the Roman-Priests I mean and intend the Pope the Cardinals the Jesuits and all those Priests that do receive Orders of Priest-hood from the Church of Rome and ackowledge HER to be the Catholick Church believe Her Doctrines obey her Canons and Teach Her damnable Heresies That the Roman-Priests are the false Prophet doth plainly appear by the false Doctrines of the Church of Rome which they believe and teach I call them the Doctrines of the Church of Rome which are approved by the publick Authority of that Church by their established Laws their Popes Bulls Decretals and Constitutions or the Canons of their Provincial National or general Councils All which are approved and confirmed in their Trent Council (a) Con. Trident. Sess 25. de Reformatione cap. 20. Praecepit Sancta Synodus Sacros Canones Concilia generalia omnia nec non alias Apostolicas Sanctiones in favorem Ecclesiast icarum Personarum Libertatis Ecclesiasticae contra ejus Violatores editos quae Omnia presenti Decreto innovat exactè ab omnibus observari debere And all their Secular Clergy and all who have Cure of Souls c. are sworn to approve to profess and teach the same And to Anathematize Reject and Curse all contrary opinions and Doctrines (b) Vide Bullam Pii 4. Super formâ Juramenti Professionis fidei in calce Sess 25. Concilii Trident. datam Romae Id. Nov. 1564. de Reformatione cap. 12. I shall at present instance in three known Doctrines of the Church of Rome 1. The Doctrine of the Popes Supremacy over all Princes Kings and Emperours of the Earth This pernicious Doctrine of the Church of Rome is taught by the Roman-Priests (c) Blasius Bagnus de S. Romanae Ecclesiae dignitatibus Tract 7. pag. 83 84.85 Blasius Bagnus a Prior general tells us That the Popes Empire is over all the World and that HE is the only Vicar of God who hath Supreme Power and Rule over all Kings and Princes of the Earth (d) Sic. Simanca Enchir. Judicum Tit. 67. §. 12. p. 349. Antwerp Anno 1573. Jacobus Simanca a Roman-Bishop whose Book is Printed cum publico Privilegio and Commended by the Censor librorum the learned Ben. Arias Montanus who saith That he had read it And that it contained nothing offensive to the Catholick Faith Hereticks saith Simanca are actually deprived of all Dominion and Jurisdiction and their Subjects freed from their Obedience and this comprehends Kings and other Lords And Emanuel Sa a famous Jesuite affirmes (e) Eman. Sa Aphor. Confess Verbo Clericus pag. 41. Col. 1599. That if a Clergyman Rebel against his King it is no Treason because saith he Clergy-Men are not the Kings Subjects These false Prophets have taught and maintained this false Doctrine 2. The Doctrine of Justification by works which are say they meritorious and satisfactory I need not spend Time and wast Paper in proving that the Church of Rome and all her Clergy own and teach this Doctrine (f) Conc. Coloniens pag. 140. 141. Becan Ibid. Concil Trident. Sess 6. cap. 6. Bellarm. lib. 1. de just cap. 13. de Purgot lib. 1. cap. 14. Rhem. Annot. 2 Tim. 4.8 Heb. 6.10 Greg. de Valen. tom 3. disp 7. q. 2. de Indulgent Bellarm. lib. 4. cap. 16. de Justif lib. 5. cap. 16 17. Andradius orthod Explic. Concil Trident. lib. 6. therefore I will briefly prove that it is false Doctrine whereby it will appear that the Roman-Priests are false Teachers Deceivers and the false Prophet The Apostle Paul gives it in holy writ as the Conclusion of all Christs Apostles Rom. 3.28 Therefore we conclude saith he that a man is justified by Faith without the Deeds of the Law And Gal. 2.16 Knowing that a Man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the Faith of Jesus Christ For by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified It may be objected that the Apostle James saith expresly That by works a man is Justified and not by Faith only Jam. 2.24 and Instanceth in Abraham ver 21. Was not Abraham our Father justified by works I Answer That a mans Person is justified by Faith before God and works justifie his Faith before Men And this seems to be the Mind of both those Apostles For St. Paul saith expresly Rom. 4.2 If Abraham were justified by works he hath whereof to glory but not before God And St. James speaks of shewing our Faith by our works before Men vers 18. I will shew thee my Faith by my Works And so Peter Martyr and other of the Ancients used to Distinguish Faith saith he justifies our Persons and good Works justifie our Faith 3. The Doctrine of the false worship of God which consists of many particular Parts that the Church of Rome Practiseth and the Roman Priests teach all which are asserted confirmed and established by the Laws Canons and general Councils of the Church of Rome And the Romish Clergy by teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men touching the Worship of God (g) Joan. Bal. in vitâ Innocent 3d. saith that Innocent 3d. Commanded that the Words of the Canon of the Masse should be held equal to the words of the Gospel Card. Cusanus entitleth his Book De Authoritate Ecclesiae Concilii supra contra Scripturam Henricus Doctor magister suori palatii Roma ad Legatos
Bohemicos sub Felice Papâ pag 1447. saith The Pope may Change the holy Gospel and may give to the Gospel according to the place and time another Sense Michael Medina Gratian Abb. Panorm Felinus and all the Roman Priests assert and Teach The Pope may dispence against jus divinum and against the New Testament and thereby deceiving and seducing them are become the false Prophet like Thyatira's Jezabel Rev. 2.20 which called her self a Prophetess viz. The false Prophets in that Church who taught and seduced the people of God to commit Fornication so the Roman Priests do teach them that worship the Beast and his Image to worship Saints deceased yea to worship Idols Crosses Crucifixes and Images which the Church of Rome hath set up and Commanded to be Adored and Worshiped especially their breaden God and Sacrilegious Host teaching the People and Seducing them to Believe That the self same Body of our Lord Jesus Christ who was once in the fulness of Time and but once made of a Woman Gal. 4.4 by the Power of God is every Sacrament Day made of a Wafer by the power of a Romish Priest By all which and by several other false Doctrines it is plain and evident to those that have understanding in the holy Scriptures of Truth That the Roman-Priests are the false Prophet meant and intended by Christ Rev. 13 14. and 16.13 and 19 20. As for their Doctrines of Purgatory Pennances Pardons and many other false Doctrines taught by the Roman-Priests I pass by as not worth mentioning Having thus far unvailed Mystical-Babylon that is Rome-papal I shall now proceed to Call the People of God to come out of Babylon fand to forsake Papal Rome to Renounce the Church o Rome as the great Whore and Mother of Harlots to Deny the Popes Imperial and Pontifical Supremacy as the Beast with his two horns like a Lamb and not to hear nor hearken unto the Roman-Priest that false Prophet which teach the false Doctriness of the Church of Rome and Seduce the Servants of God And this Call I give the People of God especially in England in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ A Call to all the People of God to come out of Babylon REvel 18.4 And I heard another voice from Heaven saying Come out of HER my People That ye be not Partakers of her Sins And that ye receive not of her Plagues This Call is the Call of God our Saviour unto all his People in Mystical Babylon Papal-Rome to come out of HER. Come out of her my People which Call of Christ was given by an audible voice And I heard another voice from Heaven saying c. And this Call from Heaven is urged and enforced upon the People of God by two Cogent Arguments or Reasons 1. That ye be not partakers of HER Sins 2. That ye receive not of her Plagues Two things in this Call need Explanation 1. What this voice was 2. What it is to come out of HER To both these I shall speak briefly and then proceed to speak more largely of this Call First This voice hath Heaven's Authority It was from Heaven to wit the voice of Christ in the Ministry of the Gospel ordinarily and by the powerful Efficacy of the holy Spirit also 1 Thes 1.5 For our Gospel came not unto you in Word only but also in Power and in the holy Spirit and in much assurance So had the voice of the Angels of God by whom Christ then Spake unto his Servant John Rev. 14.6 13. with a loud voice ver 7. which St. John heard from Heaven ver 13. And so have the voice of the faithful Ministers of God by whom Christ also now speaks unto his People Luke 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me c. to wit Heavens Authority Secondly To come out of HER is to Seperate themselves from the Church of Rome which is now become a false Church called the great Whore and Mother of Harlots 2 Cor. 6.14 18. ver 17. Wherefore Come out from among them and be ye Seperate saith the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ would have his People to be Seperated under the Gospel from the unbelieving Jews and their false worship which Christ calleth vain worship Matth. 15.8.9 And St. Paul did Seperate the Disciples from the Jewish Synagogue of unbelievers Acts 19.8 9. And also from Idolatrous Gentiles that worship Images as the Church of Rome doth and from their Idol-Temples Churches and Chappels For the Gentile Papists and Church of Rome their Pope Cardinals Jesuits and all the Roman-Priests do tread under foot the holy City Rev. 11.2 Jerusalem viz. the Church and People of God 2 Cor. 6.16 17. What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols For ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said Levit. 20.24.26 and 26.12 I will dwell among them and walk among them And I will be their God and they shall be my People wherefore Come out from among them and be ye seperated saith the Lord and touch not the unclean Thing c. The Papists Images Crosses Crucifixes their Consecrated Wafers holy Waters and Saints Pictures the Image of the Virgin-Mary and of our Saviour upon the Cross unto which Images the Papish Priests and people fall down and worship yea their Ave Maria and prayers to Saints deceased all their holy Bells Beads Prayer-Books and Candles c. are all as an unclean thing and ought to be seperated from and not touched by the People of God whom Christ calls upon with a loud voice to come out from among them These two particulars explained the Argument which Christ urgeth to inforce this his Call unto his People followeth That ye be not Partakers of HER Sins and that ye receive not of HER Plagues As if Christ had said I do by the voice of my faithful Ministers Call and Command you my People to Come out of Mystical Babylon papal-Papal-Rome and to Separate your selves from the Church of Rome which is fallen is fallen from her Apostolical Purity in Doctrine Worship and Discipline or Ecclesiastical Government and is become an Harlot a false Church the great Whore the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth The Synagogue of Satan the Habitation of Devils the Hold of every foul Spirit and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird. But if you my People as if Christ had said will not obey my voice nor hear my Call If you will not come out from the Church of Rome and seperate your selves from the Papists and leave going to and worshiping in their Popish Temples Churches Chappels and private Cloysters Nunneries Priories Religious Houses Meeting-places and holy Roods of Auricular Confession c. then in the first Place you will be Partakers of their Sins that is you will become guilty of their Will-worship and spiritual Fornication Rev. 17.2 of their Idolatries Adulteries Thefts Murders c. Rev. 9.20 21. And of their Impenitency added unto their Iniquities And in the
next Place you shall receive of her Plagues Death and Mourning and Famine c. Rev. 18.8 And these shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured out without Mixture into the Cup of his Indignation Rev. 14.9 10 11 12. The Motives and Incouragements I shall propound to the People of God to Come out of Mystical Babylon and to Seperate from the Church of Rome are these 1. You cannot come to Sion until you come out of Babylon Isa 35.10 And the Ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting joy upon their heads 2. You cannot worship God in Spirit and Truth unless you first seperate your selves from false Worship and Worshipers John 4.22 23 24. Ye worship ye know not what The true worshipers shall worship the Father in Spirit and Truth 3. You cannot enjoy Communion with God whilst you hold a Communion with Idols and Image-worshipers 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16 17. What Communion hath Light with Darkness And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols Wherefore Come out from among them and be ye Seperate saith the Lord. Consider whilst you continue in Babylon the Church of Rome you are under the Guidance of the Pope and Roman-Priests who are so far from being infallible Guides as they pretend that they are erroneous false and blind Leaders of the blind into Perdition The Roman-Priests are those false Teachers Seducers Deceivers which were foretold by the Apostles of Christ 2 Pet. 2.1 2. and 2 John 7. and 2 Tim. 3.13 and 1 Tim. 4.1 and 1 John 2.26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that Seduce you Therefore look to your selves saith the Apostle 2 John 8. vers Beloved saith he (a) 1 Epist of Joh. 4.1 2. c. Believe not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they be of God for many false Prophets are gone out into the World You may do well to Consider also what Diversities and Divisions in Principles Opinions and Practices in Religion there are at this Time in the World especially among Teachers false Teachers who privately bring in Damnable Heresies And many follow their pernicious ways 2 Pet. 2.1.23 By Reason of whom the WAY of TRVTH is evil spoken of Now God hath in great Mercy unto the Souls of his People out of the exceeding Riches of his free Grace and marvelous loving Kindness towards them That they might not be led away with the Errors of the Wicked appointed them a threefold Guide which God hath plainly declared in the holy Scripture of Truth to direct lead and guide his People in the WAY of TRUTH until they come to Heaven namely 1. His holy Spirit 2. His written Word and 3. his faithful Ministers First God hath given his holy Spirit unto his People Gal. 4.6 To lead them Rom. 8.14 and guide them into all the Truth John 16.13 and to Teach them all things John 14.26 and 1 John 2.20 27. And least his People should be deceived deluded or seduced by Satan's transforming himself into an Angel of Light or by false Apostles deceitful workers who are his Ministers transforming themselves into the Ministers of Christ 2 Cor. 11.13 14 15. God hath Secondly given his People a Sure Word his written Word to Guide them Psalm 43.3 2 Pet. 1.14 Unto which they do well if they take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place c. And thus God Councelled and Cautioned his People of old by his Prophet Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony If they speak not according to that Word it is because there is no Light in them And the Apostle testifies 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. That all Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine and for Instruction in Righteousness c. And thirdly God hath also given his people able Ministers of the New-Testament not of the letter only but of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.5 6. and Ephes 4.11 12 13. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the work of the Ministry c. Heb. 13 7 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. And God Set them in his Church 1 Cor. 12.4 28. to be Guides unto his people b Heb. 13.7 17. Remember your Guides ver 7. Obey your Guides ver 17. And submit your selves for they watch for your Souls as they that must give account Will any godly wise Man or Woman judge in themselves that it is safe for them to forsake and refuse this threefold Sure Guide of the Spirit Word and Ministery of Christ Math. 24.4 5 11.23 24 25.21 Act. 20.29 30. 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. 2 Tim. 4.3 4. 2 Pet. 2.1.2 3. 1 Joh. 4.1 2 3. which God hath ordained and to give up the conduct of their Souls unto the Church of Rome to be guided by her Laws Canons Councels Popes Cardinals Jesuites and the rest of the Roman-Clergy who are blind Guides and Anti-Christian Ministers and so to hazard their own eternal Salvation which false Teachers and their false and damnable Errours Doctrines and Practices our blessed Saviour and his holy Apostles have forewarned us of in the Scripture of Truth 2. A Call to the Kings of the Earth to hate the Whore to make her Desolate and to burn her with Fire MY Warrant to give this Call to the Kings of the Earth is that Prophecy Rev. 17.16 And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the BEAST these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and shall burn her with Fire The ten Horns are those ten Kings which had formerly agreed and given their Kingdom Power and Strength unto the Beast Rev. 17.12 13 17. until the Words of God shall be fulfilled These ten horns are the Europaean Kings of Italy Spain Germany France England c. who have formerly submitted themselves and their Kingdoms unto the BEAST the Popes of Rome and to the Church of Rome that great Whore and Mother of Harlots As was here fore Prophesyed and as all Historians have testified But it is the Revealed Will of God recorded in the Scripture of Truth That the ten Horns shall hate the Whore c. And upon this Scripture Ground I take this humble boldness to give this CALL unto the Kings of the Europaean World to hate the Whore c. And the Reasons which I shall humbly Propose to them are these viz. 1. Because it is the Revealed Will of God that they should so do in this very Scripture Rev. 17.16 and They shall do so 2. Because the great Whore the Church of Rome hath given her golden Cup full of Abomination and filthiness of her Fornication into the Hands of the Kings of the Earth and caused them to drink and they and the Inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of HER Fornication Rev. 17.1.2 4. 3. Because SHE the Church of Rome hath Raigned over the Kings of the Earth Rev. 17.18 Deposing Emperours and Kings putting down one and setting up another at the Pope's Pleasure who is HER Head Lord and Law-giver as hath been proved pag. 3.10 11. of this Treatise and appears (a) Century 8. Pope Zachary deposed Childerick King of France Gregory the 7th deposed Henry the fourth Cent. 11. Pope Sylvester the third Excommunicated Henry the fifth Cent. 12. Pope Innocent the 4th deposed the Emperour Frederick 2d Century 13. Pope Gregory the 2d deposed the Emperour Leo Isaurus because he was against Images Baron Annal ad annum 730. Num. 5. and ad annum 593 Num. 86. and Tom. 8. ad An. Christi 593. Num. 86. Non modo deponi sed etiam excommunicari in aeterno examine damnari Decrevit Damnatio Excommunicatio Hen. 8. by Pope Paul the 3d. Elizabethae by Pope Pius the 5th The Title fixed to the Pope's Bulls 4. Because SHE hath shed the blood of the Prophets Saints and Martyrs of Jesus Rev. 16 6 7. and 17.6 and 18.24 Therefore Reward her even as she Rewarded you and double to her double according to her Work Rev. 18.1 2 3 5 6 7 8 20 21-24 And of all the Nations in Europe no Kings or Kingdoms have more just Cause to hate and to be Avenged on Mysterie Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots that great WHORE the Church of Rome and her Head the Pope that BEAST and the Roman-Priests the false Prophet than this our Nation King and Kingdom If his Royal Majestie and his great Council Assembled in Parliament seriously consider all the Papists former Plots and Conspiracies against the Kings and Kingnom of England but most especially this late bloody traiterous design of Popish Recusants even this damnable and Hellish Plot (b) The Votes of the House of Commons approved by the Lords in a Conference Novemb. 1. 1678. contrived and still carrying on by them to Assassinate the King to subvert the Government and to Root out the Protestant Religion and all the Protestants in England All which I most humbly submit to the Wisdom of the King's Majestie and his great Council when Assembled in Parliament for whom I daily pray FINIS