Downe with it downe with it to the ground Psal 137 Rase it vp rase it vp to the pauement and raise our own houses as high as the wals of Troy or rather if it might be as the tower of Babel seeing that we cannnt inioy them longer than an houre Galen maketh mention of a melancholy man which reading in poets how Atlas supported heauen with his shoulders receiued so deepe an impression of the same in his mind that he was in a bodily feare least Atlas should faint and let heauen fall vpon our heads And shall we which be Christians liue in such carnall security that when we see as it were with our eies and heare dayly with our eares that heauen cracketh haue so little feeling as to think heauē would stand for euer let vs rather with Noah enter into the arke let vs with Lot depart speedily out of Sodom that as Lot himself did which wēt forward not as his wife which looked backe and was turned into a pillar of salt let vs with Ezechias prepare our selues to die and bid the world adue Let vs as Christ willeth vs gird vp our loines haue our lamps lighted in our hands that we may be ready to meete the bride Let vs rather folow the example of sir Tho. More of whom it is said that being offered a petition by a woman as hee went to his execution aunswered Woman I am now going about the kings busines I haue no leysure to read petitions than of Richard the third in Bosworth field who being him selfe as a deadman prepared to execute the L. Standlies son his friends told him it was not then any time to do execution but high time to looke to himselfe I wish that the great Polititians and Wizards of this world who intend as much sacriledge as he did murther would begin to be as wise towards God as they are towards the world and at the last consider that it is nowe no time to cōmit sacriledge but it is high time for them to think on their owne saluation S. Peter putteth them in mind of two godly meditations far more fit for these times and most profitable for the health of their soules Frst saith he Seeing all those things 2. Pet. 3 must be dissolued what maner of persons ought you to be in holy conuersation and godlines looking for hastning to the comming of the day of God by the which the heauens being on fire must be dissolued and the elements shall melt with heat Secondly we must looke for a new heauen and a newe earth according to his promise wherein righteousnes doth dwel land seeing that wee looke for such things wee must bee diligent that we may bee found without spot or blamelesse Some what remaineth to be spoken of the second part which is of the cōming of Antichrist whose cōming the Apostle taketh for a most sure ground to prooue that it is the end of the world where hee saith Yee haue heard that Antichrist shal come euen now there are many Antichrists whereby wee knowe that it is the last houre In my discourse of the comming of Antichrist first because that name hath many significations I will by foure distinctions take away the ambiguitie of the word Secondly I will define what Antichrist is Thirdly I will descend to particulers to discouer vnto you that mā of sinne and to point out who is that Antichrist whom the Apostle meaneth in this place which shal be a sufficiēt proof against our countrimē of Rhemes that his cōming is not now to be expected but that he was 900. yeares since reueled to vs. Such as haue learned the rudiments of Grammer are not ignorant that this proposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth these things likenesse and equalitie in which sense no man can be Antichrist because no man can be like him or equal with him any one which is in the place steed of another according to which signification the pope falsly taketh vpon him that he is Antichrist which is Christs deputie or vicar generall ouer his Church contrarietie and so euery one is Antichrist which is an aduersarie vnto Christ of this Antichrist only the Apostle speaketh which maintaineth doctrine contrary to that which our sauiour Christ hath taught and therfore is an aduersarie vnto him And this Antichrist which is Christs aduersary is takē two maner of wayes in the scriptures as Saint Iohn hath distinguished in this place either generally for any aduersary of the truth or more especially for such an enemy as is capital notorious aboue the rest For where he saith Euen now there are many Antichrists he speaketh not of any one person or state or succession or kingdome aboue the rest but generally of all which oppose thēselues against any point of Christs doctrine But where he saith Ye haue heard that Antichrist shal come he speaketh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of one which is eminent and notoriously opposeth himselfe not in one point but in the chief questions of Christian religion Againe this famous and notorious Antichrist is either political or ecclesiastical for Apoc. 13 1 Iohn 4. Apoc. 13 Apoc. 17 the old empire of Rome vnder the heathēs which Iohn calleth a beast with seuē heads and ten hornes is the politicall Antichrist which flourished in the Apostles time of which he said he is now alreadie in the world but the ecclesiasticall Antichrist which is called by 3. names as the beast ascēding out of the earth with 2. horns the harlot sitting vpon the first beast and the beast that was is not is the eight is one of the seuen which 3. names signifie one thing that is the state of Popes raigning in the place of the Emperors for that is to sit vpon the beast with seuen heads and they are called a beast for their crueltie a woman for their Ezec 23 Hosea 2 2. Thes 2 pride an harlot for their idolatrie which is spirituall fornication And this Ecclesiasticall Antichrist is taken also two manner of waies by S. Paule either properly or figuratiuely properly for an whole bodie or kingdome or state which is opposite to Christ where he saith There must come a departure or a reuoltment first and the misterie of iniquitie doth alreadie worke In which words he speaketh of a generall Apostacie from sound religion For in Diuinitie contrary to the rules of Logick indefinite propositions in matter contingent are almost vniuersall not to bee vnderstoode of some few but either of all or else of the greatest part as for example Iniquitie shall abound Luke 18 Matt. 24 charitie shall waxe cold faith shal not be found vpon the earth not the iniquitie or faith or charity of a few is to be vnderstood but almost of all the inhabitants of the earth Againe with the whore haue committed fornication Apoc. 17 the inhabitants of the earth the proposition is indefinite yet generally to bee vnderstoode for so it
make the godly watchfull for so writeth Peter the ende of all things is at hand be ye 1. Pet. 4 therefore sober and watchfull in prayer to arm the afflicted with patience seeing they haue but a litle tribulation to endure so saith our Sauiour When you see these things begin Luc. 21. to come to passe then looke vp and lift vp your heads for your redemption draweth neer And rebuking the drowsinesse of Peter Iames and Iohn he draweth argument of reprehension from the breuitie of the time saying could ye not haue watched with mee one Mar. 14. houre Seeing it is but an houre we must not be heauie as the Apostles which slept nor loose as Sathan which the neerer he is to his iudgement the more he rageth nor enuious as the euill tenant which when his lease is almost expired maketh wast and hauock but patient like trauellers which are lesse wearie being almost at their iourneys end and vigilant as the faithfull seruant which when he is neere his freedom is more dutifull in his seruice because he hath but a short time to serue But for my better proceeding and your edifying in my two houres discourse of this one and last houre cōcerning the first part these four points in particular by Gods gracious assistance and your christian patience are to be discussed First of the weaknesse of their arguments which hold this conclusion that the worlde shall neuer haue an end Secondly their rashnesse is to bee discouered which make a shew of diuinitie but in deed set abroch their owne conceits and priuate phantasies and so vnaduisedly take vpon them to demonstrate when the world must haue an end Thirdly how far we may bee bold to determin hauing first with iudgement and sobrietie looked into the state of this question Fourthly after it shall be made euident that the kingdom of God is not now è longinquo but è propinquo not a far off but euen at our doores how we ought to behaue our selues in the meane time expecting the most blessed comming of our Sauiour Christ Concerning the first point two sortes of men denie that the world shal haue an end Philosophers and Atheists The Philosophers Phys l. 8. draw their proofes from naturall reason the Atheists from Diuinitie both are controlled by this place The Philosophers argue out of Aristotle that the worlde shall haue no ende because it had no beginning that it had no beginning because it was alwayes in motion that it was alwayes in motion because God in whom all other things haue their being and mouing euer moued it for nothing els could be moued by him if the world were not and if he did not alwais moue as nowe hee doth he is not constant and permanent in one estate but subiect to chaunge which is an absurditie and may not be graunted But because such curiositie doth not edifie and I am not to play the Philosopher in this place and faith is not agreeable to naturall reason I answere Aristotle the mirrour of humaine witte not by witte or humaine reason for that I can not but against him I oppose the doctrine of Saint Paule Where is the disputer 1. Cor. 1. hath not God made the wisdome of this worlde foolishnesse seeing the world by wisdome knew not God in the wisdome of God it pleased God through the foolishnesse of preaching to saue them that beleeue Christ saith that which is Iohn 3. flesh is fleshly Aristotle though the wisest among the Gentiles was a sensuall man and therefore vnderstood not the things which were of God I come to the Atheists which as Beza In anotat in Pet. 2. Pet. 8. writeth are in the courts of Princes Of thē saith Peter This first vnderstand that there shall come in the latter dayes mockers which shall will be after their owne lustes and say where is the promise of his comming for since the fathers slept ad things haue continued alike from the first creation In the which wordes they draw a weake argument from the long continuance of the worlde to prooue the perpetuitie of the same and conclude this enthymem The worlde hath euer continued alike from the first Creation therfore it shall alwaies so continue The Apostle maketh answere to the antecedent two maner of wayes First hee denieth it to be true by a notable instance for once saith he the world was destroied by a deluge of water therefore all things haue not continued alike from the first creation Secondly Gen. 7. besides that the long continuance of the worlde if it were graunted were no argument to proue the perpetuitie of the same he answereth by a distinctiō that this long continuance were long in respect of men only not of God so that these 5500 yeares which are commonly reckoned from the first creation vntill this age are but as fiue daies and an halfe in the sight of God a verie short time which saint Peter proueth by the authoritie of the Prophet Psal 90. who affirmeth that a thousand yeares are with God as short as one day euen as one day with God is as long as a thousand years with men Hauing answered the obiection of the Atheists the Apostle disputeth against thē by an argument à simili in this maner Euen as the old world meaning the earth which was of the water and by the water had her being and continuance by the word of God and by the same word of God and the same waters it perished so the new world meaning both heauen and earth are by the same word kept in store and reserued to fire Asmuch as if he had said before the floud the world continued long yet at length it was destroyed by the same thing of which it consisted which was the element of water so after the floud it hath continued longer yet it is the second time to be destroyed of the other element of which it consisteth which is fire When the floud had ceased the Lord gaue the rainbow for a token of his couenāt between Gen. 9. him and vs but in the rainbow are especially to bee obserued two things the figure there of and the colours whereby it is made visible vnto our eies the figure is like a semicircle cut off in the middle by our Horizon so that to our sight it seemeth to reach from the highest arch of heauen to the lowest foundation of the earth to signifie that for as much as man which dwelleth in the lowest earth offended him which fitteth in Psal 2. the highest heauen Gods mercie pierced the clouds and descended from the highest heauen to the lowest foundation of the earth vnto the sonnes of men But the colours where with it is beautified are principally two the one is a Sea-colour which betokeneth Water where with it was drowned the other fierie betokening the other Element wherunto the world vntil the day of iudgement is reserued The Philosophers and Atheists beeing gainsaid
7. Monarchies foure beasts This beast hath the shape of a Beare a Leopard and a Lion because it consisted of three other Empires of the Persians Macedonians and Babilonians before destroyed which by these three beasts were represented This beast had ten hornes and seuen heads the ten hornes are interpreted in the seuenteenth chapter to be ten kings or kingdomes into which the old Empire was to bee diuided after the decay thereof which afterward came to passe the number of ten which is certaine beeing vsed for an vncertaine number according to the maner of the Scriptures The seuen heads chapter seuenteene are interpreted to be seuen hils and seuen kings or orders of supreme Gouernours But Rome hath seuen heades whether you take them for hils or Kings The hils which it was builded vppon are these Capitolinus Palatinus Auentinus Celius Exquilinus Viminalis Quirinalis The orders of Gouernours by whom it was ruled at seuerall times by reason of alterations were Kings Consuls Dictators Decemuiri Triumuiri Emperours of the auncient Nobilitie of Rome and lastly Emperors of strange families Vpon those heads whether yee talke them for hils or Kings were the names of blasphemie for vpon the hils were builded Temples dedicated to Minerua Saturne and heathen gods and the Gouernors or Kings themselues were heathens and worshipped Idols of the Gentiles One of the seuen heads which was the race of the Emperours of the auncient Roman Nobilitie was wounded in the person of Nero which beeing the last of the Family of Iulius flue himselfe after whose death the whole estate of the Empire was in ieopardy by reason of disention among them that did affect the Empire But that deadly wound was healed againe by Vespasran which appeased all strife and himselfe sustained the burden of the Empyre Fiue of those kings saith the Angel are fallen one is the other is yet to come and when he commeth he must continue but a short space Those fiue which were fallen were Kings Consuls Dictators Triumuiri Decemuiri which order of Gouernours were abrogated before S. Iohns time the sixt which was of the Emperours of the auncient Nobilitie of Rome was then remayning when S. Iohn liued Domitian being Emperour the seuenth which was of the Emperors of straunge families was then to come and when it came it continued not long after the departure of Constantine into the East To which hee addeth The beast which was and is not is the eight and is one of the seuen and shall go into destruction By which eight hee meaneth the order of the Popes Of the beast meaning the whole Empire hee speaketh in this manner The beast which thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit meaning that the Empire was it was not In the time of Domitian it was because it stood it was in the power of the Roman Nobility but it was not in the same state in which it was before because from Iulius to Nero it was hereditary and tied vnto one familie but Nero the last of that family being dead it was deuolued to Emperours of an other stocke and kindred and it was to ascend out of the bottomles pit not in the former state vnder the Emperours but in another state vnder the Popes Lastly he sheweth the destruction of the political Antichrist saying If any leade away captiue he must be led into captiuitie if any kill he must be killed Wherefore nowe that hinderance is taken away which Paul speaketh of 2. Thess 2. the Emperors giue place to the popes and the Ecclesiasticall Antichrist is described in this maner I saw another beast with two hornes ascend out of the earth c. This beast with two hornes is all one with the purple harlot Apocal. 17. for both be token the state of the popedome the ecclesiasticall Antichrist This beast ascendeth out of the earth that is it commeth of base parentage hath two horns like like the lambe for Antichrist taketh vpon him to be Christes vicar speaketh like the dragon for he teacheth lies which proceed from the old dragon the deuill which was a liar from the beginning giues life to the image of the first beast for notwithstanding the ancient emperours are deceased the popes haue ordained new emperors in the west which keep the same name and title although being compared with them they be but images or rather shadows And the number of the name of this Antichrist is 666. which number both in Greeke and Hebrew doth agree with the bishops of Rome In the Hebrew name Romijth is the same number for Resh signifieth 200 Vau 6 Mem 40. double Iod 20. Tau 400 which being put together make the number of the beast 666. Likewise the Latine name Romanus written in Hebrue characters maketh the same numbers for Resh signifieth 200. as it did before Mem 40. Gnaiin 70. Nun 50. Vau 6. Schin 300 which make 666. Likewise in Greeke this name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which also is the name of the Bishops of Rome by adding to according to the maner of the Greeks in such names as are made Greeke as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Casarea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Nepthalim signifieth 30. α 1. τ 300. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 50. ο 70. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 200 which make 666. Lastly concerning the place where this Ecclesiasticall Antichrist doth reign that same beast with two horns Which is called the whore Apo. 17 which whore in the same place is interpreted to be a great Citie which reigneth ouer the Kings of the earth sitteth vpon the beast with seuen heads and ten hornes which representeth the Empire of Rome vnder the old Emperors wherein it is manifest that the Ecclesiastical Antichrist succeedeth the politicall and sitteth in the place of the Roman Emperors so that Antichrist further than Rome is not to be sought for Thus haue you heard how all the prophesies concerning the disclosing of Antichrist are fulfilled in the Bishops of Rome and that all those prophesies can not bee verified of any else it is most euident for as much as no other Bishops or secular Princes take vpon them to bee Christs Vicars generall ouer all the world which is to sit as God in the Temple of God No other States ascribe vnto themselues power aboue all powers in heauen and earth which is to exalt themselues aboue God No other States haue set vp Emperours in the West which is to giue life to the image of the beast Finally no States beare sway in a Citie builded vpon seuen hils which Citie reigneth ouer the Kings of the earth but they Therefore I may safely make this conclusion The succession of the Bishops of Rome which hath beene since Boniface the third and continued these nine hundred yeares is that Antichrist which Saint Iohn speaketh of in this place Wherefore seeing the comming of Antichrist is an argument of the latter end of the world and this great and notorious Antichrist hath beene reuealed vnto vs so long agoe what remaineth but that nowe wee lift vp our heads for our Redemption draweth neere and that we looke for a newe Heauen and a new Earth and the holy citie newe Ierusalem comming downe from God out of Heauen prepared as a beide trimmed for her husband Against which comming God grant we may be readie our nakednes being clothed with wedding garments our loynes girded our steps lightned with our Lamps in our hands for the Lambe Christ Iesus his sake to whom with the father and the holy Ghost be ascribed all honour power and glorie both now and euermore Amen FINIS
yeares were behind If they take the middle for that which is intermedium whatsoeuer is betweene the beginning and the ending as commonly it is taken then it was the middle immediatly after the creation and the middle shall continue vntill the last consummation and in that sense the middle is not yet past but if they take it strictly as in Geometrie it is defined Medium est id quod aequè distat ab extremis that which is of equal distance betweene the beginning and the ending if the middle were but then past when foure thousand yeares were expired it is a necessarie demonstration that there could bee no lesse than foure thousande yeares to come after Christes passion because there must bee as great distance of time from the middle to the ende as was from the beginning to the middle Fourthly all the signes and tokens which go any distance of time before the day of iudgement are alreadie come to passe that now no signe can bee looked for but onely those which must be shewed immediatelie vpon his comming to iudgement But besides that the accomplishment and fulfilling of al these prophesies cannot shew vnto vs how neare it is to the ende we denie that all these tokens and signes are come to passe for there is yet one prophesie to bee fulfilled which is the last and generall conuersion of the Iewes That they must bee conuerted Saint Paule proueth by eight reasons The first is from the end of their Rom. 11. reiection which is not that they should perish but seeing the conuersion of the Gentiles be prouoked to emulation The second à minori if their fall be riches to the world how much more shall their reconciliation be life to the dead The thirde from the condition of the Patriarch Abraham if the first fruits be holy so is the lumpe if the roote so are the branches The fourth from Gods omnipotency which is able to receiue them againe The fift à verisimili if God ingrafted the wilde oliue contrarie to nature howe much more shall the naturall branches be ingrafted into their naturall oliue The sixt from the authoritie of Esay and Ieremie which affirme the same The seuenth from a distinction concerning the Gospell they are enemies for our sake but touching the election beloued for their fathers sake The eightreason is ab analogia as the Gentiles were first reiected for vnbeliefe yet afterward receiued so the time shall come when the reiected Iewes shall beleeue and so be receyued againe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and all Israell shall bee saued But that they shall be turned or conuerted so generally being in number so many in places so dispersed in religion so backewarde in one moment or a short time I thinke no man of iudgement will suppose much lesse affirme Lastly Henoch and Elias were the seuenth from Adam Henoch in generation Elias in computation of liues But there is a proportion betweene them and the ages of the world for as the death of the body raigned ouer these sixe Adam Seth Enos Kenam Mahaleel Iared but the seuenth which was Henoch neuer died but was translated and likewise in computation of liues Adam liued vnto Methusalem Methusalem vnto Sem Sem vnto Iacob Iacob vnto Amram Amram vnto Ahia Ahia vnto Elias which being the seuenth died not but was taken vppe so death must reigne ouer the world sixe thousand yeares and then shall bee euerlasting life But to this and such like their presumptions and humaine coniectures because they vrge vs with the answere of the Angell vriel I will refute them with the answere of the same Angel in the same place Weigh me the weight of the fire measure the blast of the wind 2. Esd 4 or call againe the day that is past but if no man borne can doe that howe shall thy vessell be able to comprehende the wayes of the most highest The Papists not directly but by a necessarie cōsequent take vpon them to point at not onely the yeare but rather the day and houre of the last iudgement For Sanders in one of his demonstrations holdeth that Antichrist after hee is reueled must reigne but three yeares and sixe monethes and then be destroyed fortie and fiue dayes before the comming of Christ which if it were true Antichrist beeing once reuealed it were no cunning to define the day and houre of the appearance of our Sauiour Christ which is a secrete not reuealed to the Angels in heauen This doctrine refuteth it selfe therefore I let it passe and come to the third poynt which sheweth howe farre wee may be bolde to determine of the propmquitie and neernes of the appearance of our Sauiour Christ The Angell Vriel sayeth to Esdras If I shoulde aske thee howe deepe dwellinges 2. Esd 4 are in the middest of the Sea or how great Springes are in the beginning of the depth or the stretching out of the Heauen or which are the borders of Paradise peraduenture thou wouldest say to mee I neuer went downe to the deepe I neuer descended downe into Hell nor clymed vppe into Heauen but nowe I asked thee of fire and wind and of the day whereby thou hast passed and from whence thou canst not bee separated and yet thou canst giue me no aunswere of them Howe then shall thy vessell bee able to comprehend the wayes of the highest Why should foolish man which is made of the Gen. 3. basest mould enter into the secretes of his God who is wise in heart mightie in Iob. 9. strength who remoueth the earth out of her place causeth the pillars thereof to shake commaundeth the sunne and it riseth not closeth vp the starres as vnder a signet createth Arcturus Orion and Pleiades and the climates of the South spreadeth out the heauens walketh on the Iob. 11. height of the Sea whose perfection is higher than heauen deeper than hell longer than the earth broder than the Sea Our sauiour Christ saith Watch ye therefore because ye know not what houre your Maister will come And to Mat. 24. that ende may we not knowe because wee should alwayes watch We are taught by the Scriptures that God hath two bookes and both of them are written for vs to read and in those bookes are contained al things concerning this argument which are either conuenient for vs to knowe or lawfull for vs to search The one is the booke of grace which is the volume of the olde and newe Testament though euer lying open yet sealed vp to many wise learned and discreete men of the world because reading they vnderstand not for they read as did the Eunuch the prophesie of Esay but it is very easie to be vnderstoode of all beleeuers Acts 8. for whose saluation it was written by the holy Ghost which is the finger of gods Exod. 8. hand The other is the booke of nature that great frame and engine of the worlde alwayes lying open to the view of naturall men and
tokens of his wrath as he did vpon them which caused one to be stroken with a dart vpon earth and the other with an arrow from heauen yet there is an heauie iudgement reserued for them their damnation sleepeth not I beseech you pardon me though I refrain not to speak for I feare least being silent I should be guilty of their sins and incur the reprehension of the prophet Dauid When thou sawest a theefe thou Psal 50 didst run with him Salomon though a king not ashamed to bee a preacher sheweth vs that all things haue a time But one thing especially I note where he saith There is a time to gather stones and a time to cast stones away Eccle. 3 The time of gathering stones was a time of deuotion and it continued in England about 900. yeares and now that time is ended the time of casting away stones is gaped after to suppres that in one age which was not erected in many which time in vaine do they looke for as long as our most gracious lady and mistresse our dread soueraine Queene Elizabeth reigneth and most humbly I beseech God that if it be his most blessed will she may reigne ouer vs to the worlds end But when that time shall come it will be manifest to all the world that iniquity hath got the vpper hād that nothing can then be expected but fire and brimston to raine from heauen as it did vpon Sodom or else it wil be high time for vs to crie Etiā Gen. 19. Apoc. 22. veni Domine Iesu venicito Come Lord Iesus come quickly I know my sharp reprehension doth offend them which be guiltie but I consider that I am sent as a sheepe to hunt after wolues and I know the worst that rauening wolues can do they can but deuour I must do my maisters message and if you Matt. 10 Acts. 12. and 8 regard it not I shake the dust off my feet against you and your blood bee vpon your owne heads I am cleare I feare not man which hath power ouer the bodie only but God which is able to destroy both body and Matt. 10 soule in hell fire The crying sin of simonie reigneth euery where and patrōs of benefices chuse their ministers not as the gods chose their trees into their patronage for good qualities Iupiter the oke because it was good for building Neptune the pine because it serued to make ships Apollo the bay because it was greene Hercules the popple because it was streight and tall like himself notwithstāding all these trees were without fruit because the gods were honorably minded and would not Fructu honorē vendere sell promotions for commoditie but as the goddesse Minerua which chose the oliue tree because it was fat At the first the patronage of benefices was committed to Gentlemen vpon trust because great confidence was in them reposed but nowe they haue gotten it into their hands they do as it was said of pope Alexander Vendit Alexander claues altaria Christum Emerat ille prius vendere iure potest They accōpt the lords portion their own fee simple and inheritance they bought the patronage therfore they wil sell the presentation so that they which vpō especiall trust reposed in thē aboue other men were chosen patrōs defenders are become robbers spoilers of the church They cry out for a learned ministery wheras in deed they pick but quarels with vs intending nothing les thā a learned ministery for they wil willingly present none but such as are base ignorāt beggerly because such persons wil easily accept of benefices vpō vnlawful cōditiōs Many painful studēts do earnestly desire to enter into the lords haruest but they cānot be set a worke for they know no way but one to be set ouer a flocke which is in right the gift of the holy ghost but by the sorcery of St. Magus whose art magick is so common throughout the land that there be few patrons which are not bewitched with the same they haue forgot the text he that taketh counsell of a sorcerer shall die the death Leui. 20 The voice of Iudas to the high priests whē he sold Christ is cōmon in their mouthes Mat. 24 quid mihi dabitis ego tradā vobis What wil you giue I wil giue you the presentation but they remēber not the answer of Si. Peter to Si. Magus thy mony perish with thee Acts 8 which thinkest c. This corruptiō wil be the decay of al religiō Wherfore it is now high time that Moses assist his brother Aaron But haue ye not hard the fable of the hors the asse which were loded togither ready to go their iourny the asse being ouerladen made his mone to the horse that he would ease him but was neied at by the horse that caried the lighter burdē the Asse tired died by the way wherupō the husbandman laid the dead asses pack vpō the hors so that wheras before he bore but I. burdē he was constraind to cary 2 when his backe was broken hee could but lament his miserie The horse betokeneth the nobility because he is fit for warre and is generosum animal a noble beast The sily asse because he is simple fit by nature to beare heauy burdens beaten kicked spurned at by euery one doth represent the cleargie which are sore loaded with slanders and manifest wrongs being strooken on the right cheeke turne Mat. 5 the left being robbed of their cote giue also their cloke being cursed they blesse reuiled reuile not againe I need not tell you the morall of this fable for Verbum sapienti dictum sat est A word spoken to a wise man will suffice Ye haue heard how the sonne of man standeth knocking at your doores and that now it is not an houre to his comming to iudgement and come he will suddenly when he is not looked for What then Shall the foolish Mat. 25 virgins slumber in the darke while the bridegroom passeth by Shal Sampson snort in Dalilaes lap in the middest of the Philistins Iud. 16 Mat. 3 Luke 12 Shall the disciples suffer Christ to sleep while the ship is couered with waues shal the couetous man enlarge his barnes say to his soule take thy rest for many years whereas that night his soule shall be taken from him shall Loth build stately towers in Sodom being warned by the Angell to depart thence with speed because it shal be destroyed with brimstone from heauen why then doe we purchase lands as if wee would dwell alone and lay vp money as if we would liue alone vpon the earth why do we erect such loftie buildings the ground-worke whereof is laid of strife and discord the morter whereof is tempered with the tears of widowes the windowes beautified with the spoile of Orphanes the beams and supporters of the fal of good yeomē Why do we say with the Idumeās of gods house
and it was vnpossible to know him but by the euēts of things which now are but then were not come to passe Wherefore I admit no interpretation of scriptures concerning this prophesie but onely the euent which is the most faithful interpreter of all prophesies For I am sure there cannot be a more euident demōstration than this wee see it alreadie come to passe that all the prophecies concerning the reuelation of Antichrist are fulfilled in the Bishops of Rome and can al be verified of none else therfore the Bishops of Rome are Antichrist My antecedent I prooue in this manner All the prophecies wherein he is described are contained in the 2. Thes 2. and the Reuelation of S. Iohn As for Daniel though som of the learned haue allegorically applied his prophecies vnto antichrist which are properly ment of Antiochus I deny that he euer writ of antichrist at all As for S. Paul he prophesieth in this maner That day shall not come vnles there be a departure first that man of sin be disclosed euen the son of perdition which is an aduersary exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he doth sit as God in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God now ye know what with-holdeth that bee might be reuealed in his time for the mistery of iniquity doth already work only that which with-holdeth shal hinder still vntil it be taken away and then shall the wicked one be reuealed whom the Lord shall destroy with the breath of his mouth abolish with the brightnes of his comming euan him whose cōming is by the work of a Sathan with al power signes lying wonders In which words I obserue 4. things which disclose antichrist vnto vs his pride He exalteth himselfe aboue God a Esay 14 Lucifer did his seat He sitteth in the temple of God as if he were God the time when he shuld begin to reigne when that which with holdeth should be taken away which was the politicall Antichrist the Roman Emperors should depart frō Rome the maner how he should establish his kingdome by signes and delusions of Satan lying wonders But that the Bishops of Rome take vpon them to be gods and which is more take to themselues authoritie aboue God it appeareth by the Laterane Counsell holden vnder Leo the tenth wherein thus we reade In Papaest omnis potestas supra ownes potestates tam caeli quam terrae the popes power is aboue all powers both in heauen and earth That he sitteth in the Temple of God it cannot be denied because his seat is Rome The Rhemists can not prooue vnto vs that the materiall temple of Salomon is heere to be vnderstood for that temple is destroyed and that temple with the vse wherevnto it was ordained is vtterly abolished by the lawe of God so that if it were reedified it were no more the temple of God but a place of idolatry abomination and if any suspect that that temple may be builded againe let him call to remembrance how the Iewes once obtained leaue of Iulian the Apostata to reedifie it but God shewed manifest signes of his displeasure which caused the foūdation therof to be shakē a sunder with Ruff. li. 10 38. 39. earthquakes and that which was builded in the day to bee burnt vp with lighthing from heauen by night Wherefore the temple which is the seate of Antichrist is spiritually to be vnderstood as also by reason of the wordes which goe before where hee speaketh of an Apostacie and reuoltment from true religion which could not bee among the Iewes among whome true religion then was not and now is not professed so that Antichrist sitteth in the church and indeede hee hath chosen that Church for his seate which was then most famous for the profession of the Gospell as S. Paul himselfe gaue testimony when hee writ to the Romans that their faith was heard of Rom. 1 through the whole worlde And which is more than that he sitteth in the Church of God as if he were God intituling himselfe Christs vicar general ouer the earth which belongeth only to the holy Ghost which is God whome Christ did substitute in his roome at his departure from vs that hee might continue with vs during the time of his absence saying The Comforter which is the holy Ghost the father will send in my name Iohn 14 he shall teach you al trueth the Father shall giue you a Comforter which shal abide with you for euer As for the time of his reuelation hee was then to be reuealed when the hinderance was taken away which hinderance was the abode of the Emperours at Rome which the Apostle spared to expresse in writing for these two reasons first because he made it sufficiently knowen by word of mouth vnto the faithful secondly because it might haue bin dangerous to the church for the Emperours taking offence there at would haue persecuted the Christians as busi-bodies in matters of state But the hinderance was the Romane Emperors which were first to depart from Rome and giue place to the Popes because both Emperors and Popes could not reigne togither in one city And that hinderance was taken away long since when Constantine the great translated his imperiall seate to Constantinople and indowed the Popes with the citie of Rome and a great part of Italy lying about it The emperours then being farre off and by reason of continuall warres with Saracens and enimies in the East not able to maintaine their own right in the West the Popes incroched vpon them too farre and vsurped so much authoritie that they discarded them cleane in Italy and at their pleasure set vp other Emperours in the Weast but such as would take an oathe to be subiect to the Apostolike See of Rome and acknowledge the Popes to be vniuersall Bishops So the hinderance was taken away when Constantine remoued to Constantinople and Antichrist was manifestly disclosed not long after when Boniface the third obtained the title of vniuersal Bishop which was 900. yeares agoe for as Gregorie Lib. 4. epist 38. saith none but Antichrist would assume vnto him such a title As for the power of sathan and signes and wonders whereby his kingdome was established and the ignorant people deceiued I referre you vnto their owne legends of lies Al the prophecies of saint Iohn concerning the disclosing of Antichrist are comprehended in the 13. and 17. chapters of his Reuelation In his 13. chapter he describeth two Antichrists the one Politicall which flourished in his time the other Ecclesiasticall which was not then disclosed but now reigneth and beganne his dominion when the politicall Antichrist was taken away The politicall Antichrist he describeth in this maner By the figure Senecdoche taking Rome which was caput imperij the chiefe Citie for the whole Empire He calleth it a beast following the example of Daniel which called 4. Dan.