committed when the Emperours of old did raigne over her Now that she is guiltie of the same sins and in a greater measure Let these ensuing Romanists themselves declare 1. Their own famous Florentine Arch-deane and chanon Petrarch who lived in the 1300 year of CHRIST speaketh thus Ecce jam oculis vides jam manibus palpas qualis est Babylon illa novissima fervens aestuans obseena terribilis c. That is behold now thou seeth with thy eyes and feels with thy hands what a Citie this last spoken of Babylon is hote burning in lust filthie and terrible c. Wherein what ever impietie sayeth hee or most wicked manners everie where the whole World ever had or hath thou shall fynd all accumulated there in one masse of impietie and thereafter he sayeth Yea what other thing is done there by the enemys of CHRIST and Pharisees of our time to wit the Roman cleargie but like Iudas and the Roman Souldiers while they would seeme to worship Him they sell Him they crowne Him with thornes they spit on Him they mock Him they pierce Him and of new they crucifie Him and then concluds thus O Pudor O Dolor O Indigniâ—tas talium hodie ur dicitur est Româ— Tha is O shâ—me O griefe O disgrace for as hath beene said of such persons consisteth Rome at this day and more particularlie speaking of the Pope he sayeth Non Apostolicam sed predonis in morem videres neque signis virtutuÌ„ ac miraculis sed â—ignis castrorum miris instructum legionibus quasi in has terraâ—non PetruÌ„ sed HannibileÌ„ destiâ—asset That is where thou may see not an Apostolicke man or successour but one like a Robber nor one Famous for signs of vertue or miracles but for militarie Ensigns and Armies mightilie furnished as if he had not been appointed by CHRIST to be a Successour to Peter but rather against these landâ— to bee another Hanniball The next whom we produce is Platina the Pops owne Secretarie who in the lyf of Pope Marcellin speaketh thus of the Roman Cleargie Hi enim livore superbia inimicitiis odiis inter se certantes tyrannidem potius quam Sacerdotium sapere videbantur Christianâ— pietatis omnino obliti â—c divina mysteria potius prophanantes quaÌ„ celebrantes sed quid futurum nostra aetate aerbitramur quum vitia nostra eo crevere uâ— vix apud DEVM miserecordiae locum nobis reliquerint Thaâ— is For these men by envy pride inimitie and hatred striving amongst themselves did rather seeme to savour of tyrannie then of Priesthood being altogether forgetfull of Christian pietie and rather prophaning holie mysteries then celebrating them but what think you will be the estate of things in our age to come when our vices are grown to that hight that they have left scarce any place with GOD for mercy and forgivenes immediatlie thereafter he sayeth Quanta sit avaritia corâ—â— maximê qâ—ireruâ— potiuntur quanta libidâ— undique conquisita quanta ambitio pompa quanta superbia desidia quanta ignoratio tum sui ipsius tum doctrinae Christianae quanta pâ—rvareligio sâ—mulata potius quaÌ„ vera quum corrupti mores vel in prophanis hominibus quos seculares vocant detestandi non attineâ— dicere cum ipsi ita aperte palaÌ„ peccent aâ— sâ— inde laudem quaerereâ—â— That is How great is the avaâ—ice of Priests chieflie of those who are in highest place meaning the Pope What leacherie where ever it may bee exercised what ambition and pomp how greate pride idlenes how great ignorance both of themselves and of Christian doctrine how little religion and that rather Hypocriticall nor true what great corruption of manners that even in prophane persons whom they call secular men were detestable it belongeth not to speak when as they sinne so openlie and in publick as if by sinning so they were seeking praises to â—hemselves This made Nicolaus Clemangis in his book De corrupto Ecclesiae statis who was Arch-deane of Bajon in the year 1400. to send Rome to that prophecie of Ezekiell and in the two sisters AHOLAH and AHOLIâ—AH to reade her like guiltienes and judgement to come upon her and thereafter sayeth hee Fâ—c eorum vaticinia alio spectare quid de tua Prophetia Iohannis scilicet in Apocalipsi censes an non illam saltem aliquae ex parte pertinere putas Num pudorem ita cum sensu perdidisâ—i ut haec neges IllaÌ„ ergo iâ—tuerâ— lege damnationem magnae Meretricis super aqâ—as multas sedentis illicque tua facta praeclara contemplare tuos fururos casus That is but let it be that the Prophecies of the Prophets look another way what thinks thou of the prophecie of Iohn in the REVELATION that câ—ncerneth thy self Doeth thou not think that in some part at least it belongeth to thee Hath thou so farre lost shame all feeling that thou dare deny the same look therefore upon that prophecie and reade the damnation of the great whoor that sitteth upon many waters in her behold they fyne deeds and thy future fall Therefore also said Bernard more particularlie Bestia illa de Apocalypsi cui datum est os loqui blsphemias bellum gerere cum sanctis Petri cathedram oâ—cupat tanquam leo paratus ad praedam Epist. 125. That is that beast spoken of in the Revelation to whom a mouth is given to speak blasphemies and to make warrâ— against the saints doeth now occupie Peters chayâ—e as a lyon prepared for his prey By all which former famous testimonies of Romanists themselves Wee see that Rome under papacie is presentlie hath beene long ago that mysticall Babylon and great Whoore that siteth upoÌ„ many waters and who is that great City spoken of Revel. 17.18 And that shee is guiltie of no lesse sinnes but rather greater nor ever she was guiltie of in the time of the old Roman Emperours both in the Head and inferiour clergie which made him to be long ago to be declared and avowed to be Antichrist his clergie to be Ministers of Antichrist as Eberhardus Archbishope of Salisburg in a solemne imperiall dyat at Reinsburg anno 1246. publickly professed as in ENGLAND anno 1340. A worthie gentleman Gefrey Chaucer of woodstok Elme esquyre Embassadour oftimes from king Edward the third to forraigne Princes did plainlie expresse in his poeme of the plough-mans tale speaking first of the Pope himself thus CHRIST sent the poore to preach The royall rich Hee did not so Now dare no poore the people teach For Antichrist is all their foe And thereafter of his Clergie hee speaketh thus CHRITS Ministers clepen they beene And rule all in robberie But Antichrist they serven cleane Attyred in all tyrrannie So speaketh also Bernard of the Roman Clergie ser. 33. in CANTICA Omnes amici omnes inimici Ministri
verses to cry out Heu sedes Apostolica orbis olim gloria Proh dolor efficeris officina Simonis Terunt incude mallei nummi sunt tarâ—arei This also made a Monk Bernard In his satyrs wherein hee poynteth out the Pope and his Simoniak cleargie to cry out likewise saying O mala saecula venditur infâ—la pontficalis Infula venditur non reprehenditur emptio talis Next for selling spirituall and ecclesiasticall Offices and other things First let their famous Bernard and Abbot of Clarevall speake who sayeth in his sixt sermon vpon the 91. psalme Ipsa quoque Ecclesiasticae dignitatis officia in turpem quaestum tenebrarum negotium transiere nec in his salus animarum sed luxus queritur divitiarum That is the very offices of ecclesiastick dignities are turned to filthie gaine the work of darkness neither in these is sought the salvation of soules but the aboundance of riches Whence it is that Baptista Mantuanus their carmelit Frier in his book De calamitatibus temporuÌ„ speaketh thus of Rome Templa sacerdotes altaria sacra coronae Ignes thura preces coeluÌ„ est venale deusque That is all things are sellable at Rome Churches and priesthoods altars and other sacred things shaven crowns purgatorie fire incense and prayers yea Heaven and God Himself is there to bee sold Agreeable heereunto speaketh Clenard in his Epistle being professor in Lovane and thereafter in Portugall saying Quisquis opes saeras nummo reperire prophano Querit eat Romam sacra sunt venaliâ— Romae Their famous Petrarch likewise in his Epistle whose tytle is Calamitatem Romae deplorat and which hath beene before cited speaketh thus Do they not sayeth hee buy sell and make merchandise of CHRIST Himself Whose Name night and day they extoll with praises cloatheth his Images with gold and silver Marsilius Patavinus Inlikemanner anno 1320. in the 24. Chapter of the second part of his book intituled Defensor pacis sayth thus These who haue visited the Church of Rome which I may more truely call a shop of traffique and an horrid den of theeves sayth he they shall see playnlie that it is become a receptacle of al villanies Merchants for all wares both spirituall and temporall a very haven for all Simoniaks So also speaketh that noble and learned Roman Laurentius Valla in his book De donatione Constantini saying of the Pope That hee was not onlie a devourer of the People and not onely destroyeth the CoÌ„monwealth which Verres nor Catelin nor any robber durst Sed rem Ecclesiasticam Spiritum sanâ—tum questui habet quod Simon illâ— Magus etiam detestaretur That is but also he expoundeth to gaine ecclesiasticall things yea the very Holie Ghost which Simon Magus himself would detest Inlikemanner Theodoricus Vricus of the order of the Augustin Monks in his first book De consolatione Ecclesiae dedicat to the Emperour Sigismond sayeth thus Heu Simon regnat per munera quoque reguntur Iudiciumque pium gaza nefanda vetat Curia papalis fovet omnia scandala mundi Delubra sacra facit perfidiaque forum Ordo sacer baptisma sacrum cum chrismate sancto Venduntur turpi conditione fori Which is Englished thus who now but SimoÌ„ raigns bribes al in all And wicked pelf just judgemeÌ„t doth forstall The popish court doth foster al disgrace And turns the church into a mercat place Chrism orders baptism all which holy aâ— Are basly sold as at a pedling fayre And if we will heare a Popes owne confessioÌ„ to wit Pius secundê° who before he was assumed to the Popedome was called Aeneas Sylvius in his fourth epistle to Iohn Peregall his procutor then ar Rome writteh thus There is nothing which the Court of Rome giveth without money sayth he for the very imposition of hands and gifts of the Holy Ghost are sold neither is the remission of sinnes bestowed upon any sayeth hee but upon such as give money for the same And Platina the Popes secretarie in the life of Boniface the ninth telleth us that the Popes plenarie indulgences were every where so ordinarlie sold that the authoritie of the keyes and Apostolick letters was altogether vilifyed And of late Claudius Espenceus a spanish Bishope setteth down in his Commentar upon the first of Titus second digression a list of the many Tricks and devyces of the court and chancerie of Rome by grosse Simonie to draw in money referring these who desire further information heerein to the book called Taxa cancellariae Apostolicae Taxa penitentiâ—ria printed at PARIS by Tousant Denis anno 1520. Wherein every sin or cryme whatsoever is rated for obtayning of remission thereof The like practise of Simonie and merchandise of spiritual things doth Lodovious vives regrait upon Augustins eighteenth book of the Citie of God and the 22 Chapter As likewise the worthie English Esquyre Gefrey Chaucer of Woodstock in his plowe-mans tale 400 yeares ago saying of the Popes Clergie They Christs people proudlie curse With broad book and braying bell To put pennies in their purse They will sell both Heaven and hell Whence it is that the Abbot of Vrsperg in his Chronicle and life of Philip the Emperour sayeth That the waterfloods of all the treasures of the earth did flowe to Rome to quench her vnsatiable thirst of money as her Chancerie penitentiarie courts sufficientlie can testifie Hence it was that in the raigne of Henrie the third of ENGLAND it was found beside large accidents that the Popes set rent in England was equall to the Kings to wit at that time 60000. merks as the Monk Mathew of WESTMINSTER in his Flores historiarum reporteth in the yeare 1245. Beside that hee exacted of all Residenters at their benefices the third thereof and from non-Residents the half of their yearelie rent and the goods of all who died untested Duarenus likewise a French Lawier and Romanist in his book Pro desensione libertatis Ecclesiae gallicanae witnesseth that in the time of Pius the third the Pope drew out of FRANCE in one yeare for dispensations pluralities of benefices and the like seven and twentie hundreth thousand crownes CHAP. XVI Of Antichrists or the Popes lawlesse and most wicked Life 2. Thess. 2.3 FOR which respect Anchrist is called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} That Man of sin by way of Eminencie or excesse therein and v. 8. That lawlesse and wicked one who as he professeth in his Cannon Law dist. 40 cap. 6. Si Papa c. Is to judge all but to be judged by none altho hee should not only go to Hell himself but also leade innumerable troups of People with him Whence it is that of Benedict the ninth Platina and Onuphrius reporteth after his death he appeared to sundrie in an horrid and monstrous shape telling hee had beene such a Pope and being asked how or why he did so appeare hee answered Quia in vita Exlex sine ratione
were two Churches the one of the wicked which then flowrished over which the Pope doth raigne sayeth hee and the other of godlie and good men which the Pope sayeth he doth persecute which made likewise that forecited worshipfull Esquyre and famous Poët in his time Chaucer to speak thus of the Pope and his Cleargie Were CHRIST on the earth eftsoone These would damne Him to die All his hestes they haue foregone And sayes hiâ— Lawes beene Hâ—resie And against his commands they cry And damne all His to be hrend For it lyks not them such loseâ—grie GOD Almightie them amend Whence it is likewise that the forecited Arch bishope of SALISBURG Eberhardus in his oration before the imperiall meeting at Reinsburg anno 1246. Said of the Pope avowedlie Vnder the tytle of High Priest and chief Pastor sayeth hee except we be blind wee may see a most cruell devouring Wolffe And yet no marvell that they were so cruell against the faythfull witnesses of CHRIST in former times who opposed them as wee see foreprophecied Revel 11.7 When they were so cruell each one against another as Platina witnesseth in the life of Sergius the third who tooke the dead carkise of his Predecessour Formosus out of the graue and as he had beene alive beheaded him and thereafter did cast the trunck oâ— his body into Tyber whereupon sayeth Platina See how farre the Popes did degener from their Predecessours who being most holy men and giving themselves to prayer and preaching of Christian doctrine refused any such dignitie when it was offered but these sayth hee hunting after the Popdome by Simonie and ambition and having so attayned therto misregarding all worship of GOD Inimieitias non secus ac sevissimi quidam Tyranni inter se exercebant That is They did exercise hatred crueltie one against another amongst themselves no lesse than the most cruell Tyrants that ever were sayeth hee What bloodie warres likewise they stirred up thorow all Christendome that Noble Roman Vallâ— as the Abbot Tritemius calleth him telleth us in his treatise of Constantins counterfite donation in the end thereof saying Papa ipse bella pacatis populiâ— infert inter civitates principes bella discordias serit that is The Pope both warreth himself against peaceable people and soweth discord warres amongst cities and princes wherupon hee about the middle exclameth thus O Romani Pontifices â—xemplum facinorum omnium caeteris Pontificibus O improbissimi Scribae Pharisei qui sedeâ—is super cathedram Moysi opera Dathan Ahiron facitis That is O ye Bishops of Rome who are an example of all most wicked crymes to all other Bishops O most wicked Scribes and Pharisees who sitteth in Moyses chayre and yet doeth the works of Dathan and Abiron The instance of the trueth whereof may be seene in that Tragicall Historie betweene the Emperour Frederick the second and Gregorie the nynth set down trulie and impartially by Pandolphus an Italian Romanist concerning which sayeth that author When I consider with my self that CHRIST whose vicars the Roman Bâ—shops boasteth themselves to bee said to his disciples that they should follow Him and imitate his example as their Master and Teacher and commanded them further that they should not draw the sword but put it up in the sheath c. And when I compare the Bishops of Rome how neere they follow Him whose vicars they say they are considereth so many and great conspiracies treasons rebellions stirred up by them c. And when I meditate with my self the destruction of so many great and famous Cities the subversion of such Common-Wealthes the slaughter of so many men and effusion of so much ChristiaÌ„ blood c. I am perswaded with my self to think and believe that to bee true sayeth hee which Aeneas Sylvius writteth in his historie of Austria that there is no great and notable destruction no notorious speciall calamitie that hath hapned either to the Common-Wealth or to the Church of GOD whereof the Bishops of Rome haue not beene the authors And as for the Popes crueltie against the poore Waldenses the author of Fasciculus temporum a charter moâ—k telleth us in the life of Innocent the third that an hundreth thousand of them wer partlie sâ—ayne and partlie put to flight by the Earle of Montferrat the Popes Generall of whom their own Reynerus testifyth That they lived before men both piouslie and justlie and helieved all things rightlie concerning GOD and the articles of the Creed onelie that they hated and spake evill of the Church of Rome calling her the malignant Church and that whoore spoken of in the Revelation and which sort of people sayeth hee are thought to haue continued from the very Apostles times and were spread abroad in all places for as Yhuanus telleth us in the preface of the Historie of his time being overcome by armes they fled for refuge some into the countrey of Provence and to the Alpes bordering upon France and found in thesâ— places refuge for their lives doctrine a part also went into Calabria continued there long sayth â—e till the time of Pius the fourth a part passed also into Germanie and dwelt amongst the Bohemians some also went to Pole and Liue-land and others turning Westward sayeth hee found refuge in Britane A notable example of which bloodie crueltie against the remainder of these Waldenses Wee reade in the historie of the councell of Trent anno 1545. While that bloodie councell was sitting who inhabiting the Alpes of Provence were suddenlie and unexpectedlie persued by the President of the Parliament of Aix Who neyther having Weapons nor thought otherwise than by flight to defend theÌ„selves al such who could not flie but stood to their mercie without sparing old or young of what age or condition soever they slew above 4000. persoÌ„s who without making defence begged for mercie razed the Countreyes of Cabriers in Provence and Merindoll in the Countie of Viinoifin wherein they formerlie had their abode From which time of that bloodie crueltie against the Waldenses what also hath beene likewise used against Iohn Huss Ierom of Prague and these who after theÌ„ they called Hussits in BOHEMIA Lollards in ENGLAND The Historie of the councell of CONTSANCE and of the BOHEMIAN warres by the Emperour Sigismund and the popes Emissaries writen by Aeneas Sylviê° afterward Pope As also the annalls of ENGLAND can testifie and tho the exact number of them bee not set down who suffered death torments for the Trueth in severall places yet it is certane that in lesse than 300. yeares their number farre exceeded theÌ„ who suffered in the times of of the ten Heathen persecutions As Sanders the priest maketh mention in his book of the Churches visible Monarchie AND from the rysing of the Iesuits to the year 1580. which was little more to that time nor 30 yeares Baldwin de Aâ—christo
counteth almost nyne houndreth thousand to haue beene put to death The Duke of Alva likewise used to glorie that in few yeares in the Low-countreys hee had cut off 36000. Hugenots as Iunius likewise and Tilenus testifie Paulus Vargerius also a Roman Bishope who best knew the same testifieth that in the inquisition in the space of 30. yeares 150000. were destroyed as Downam of the Antichrist showeth The Author likewise of the Historie of the Councell of Trent declareth that at Pope Paull the fourth his instigation and by the great perswasion of the Cardinall of Loraine for the French and of Granuell Bishope of Arras for the Spaniards in a very short time before the yeare 1558. 50000. were executed for religion by the hand of the Hangman in the Low-countreyes besids these huge multituds that suffered in France in the raigne of Henrie the second and his son Francis who succeeded aswell in his Fathers crueltie as in his kingdome and who having appoynted the Inquisitor Antonius Democares to discover them of the religion by the instigation of George Cardinall of Armignac destroyed in Paris Poytou Tholouse and Aix of PROVENCE and other places so great a number as could scarce be counted and for discoverie of such they caused the pict ure of the Virgine MARIE and of saints to bee placed in every corner of PARIS and throughout all FRANCE and men to stand by them with little boxes to ask almes for buying waxe candles to bee burnt before them and whosoever refused to give or bowed not to these images in passing by was taken for a Hugenot committed to prison what crueltie was used likewise by Philip the 2. in Spayne against Iohannes Pontius Count of Bayleno who with a preacher and many of the Colledge of S. Isidor wer burnt as Heretiks may be seen in the forenamed Historie of the Councell of Trent also against Constantius Pontius confessor to Charles the 5. and 13 NoblemeÌ„ and 28 of the prime Nobilitie of Valladolid who were burnt in his presence all done by thy Popes instigation As also that bloodie decree of Charles the 9. king of FRANCE in Iuly 1562. by the Parliament of Paris is not to be omitted wherby it was decreed that it should be lawfull to slay all the Hugenots which by publick order was read every sunday in every parish Church declaring them Rebells publick enemies infamous and all their posteritie and their goods confiscate Hist. of the Councell of Trent LIB. 7. p. 648. I omitt the particularizing of the bloodie warres of Germanie in the time of Charles the fift Emperour recorded by Sleidan The bloodie persecution likewise of queene Marie in ENGLAND which the book of Martyrs reporteth That never enough detestable massacre of Paris also wherein as Thuanus witnesseth were killed 30000 protestants and aboue The intended crueltie inlikemanner of that Spanish Armado anno 1588. The Gun-powder Treason of England likewise The bloodie warres and of long continuance in Germanie of late and the Rebellion also and cruell massacre of protestants in Ireland all stirred up by the Pope and plotted by his Conclave at Rome So that justlie it may be said as Revel. 18.24 That in Her was found the blood of the LORDS Prophets and of his Saints and of all that haue beene slayne upon the earth CHAP. XV Of Antichrists or the Popes spirituall Merchandise or Simonie Revel. 18.13 TO put a further Mark upon that Mysticall Babylon and Her Antichristian Head Revel. 18.13 It is showne with what Merchandise her Merchants should traffeque amongst which is recounted last as the most speciall to summe up all The Soules of men or practise of that horrible sin of Simonie in making merchandise of Spirituall things which concerneth mens soules and salvation And which the Pope doth both by buying and next by selling as wee shall showe by Romanists themselves First then to begine at buying spiritual offices and the highest of them the Popedome it self let that famous testimonie of Platinâ— the Popes owne Secretarie make the same manifest who in the life of Sylvester the third sayth thus That these who most exceeded in pride and brybrie attayned to that degree of dignitie all good men being born down rejected which custome saith he I wish our times had not keeped but this is but little and except GOD prevenâ— it we are see worse times sayth he to show it was an ordinar way of climbing up to the Popedom In the lyf of Benedict the 4. he sayth That the Popes of that age were rather Monsters than men a quibê° ambitione largitione Petri sedes occupata est potiê° quaÌ„ possessa that is by whoÌ„Peters most holy chayre was rather usurped than justlie possessed Wherupon in the life of another Pope Sergius the third he exclaimeth saying See then how farre these later Bishops of Rome haue degenerat from their predecessours who being most holie men contemned that honour when it was willinglie offered unto them being whollie given to prayer and preaching whereas these later sayth he neglecting divine worship and seeking and attayning to the Popedome by pride and Simonie haue exercised such inimitie amongst themselves like so many cruell tyrants c. The like he testifyeth in the life of Stevin the sixt as also Onuphrius Panvinius doeth the same in the life of Gregorie the sixth and others Glaber also a Monck about the yeare 1047. who dedicat his historie to Abbot Odilon speaking of Sylvester the Third sayeth thus Now the Pope of Rome the Nephew of his Predecessours Bennet and Iohn is a Child about ten yeares old Intercedente thesaurorum pecunia That is by the meanes of a treasure of moneyes sayth hee by which meanes likewise he telleth that the rest of the prelats in the Roman Church were advanced Quos auruÌ„ potius vel argentum exaltabit quaem merituÌ„ whereupon he concludeth saying Proâ— dolor de his evidentissime scriptura ait imo os ipsius DEI principes extiterunt non cognovi That is Alas for greife for of these the scripture yea GODS owne mouth speaketh most clearelie they became Rulers but not by me and I did noâ— know it that is acknowledge them This Sylvester the third Bennet the ninth and Gregorie the sixth Platina in the life of Gregorie the sixth calleth Triateterrima monstra that is three most wicked monsters and of that Sylvester sayeth Lyke a Thief and Robber he entered not by the doore but by the posterne Cardinall Baronius also calleth these three Tricipitem bestiam portis inferi emergentem That is That three headed beast or Cerberus that came from the gates of hell yet were in their times counted and called the heads of CHRISTS Church From this wicked practise of Simonie Petrus Damianus Bishope of Ostia took occasion to complayne that Peter who by a perpetuall curse damned Simonie before was uow forced to set up a shop of Simoniak trade and in these
golden rule which Iustine Martyr setteth down to know true and divine miracles and discerne them from others to wit by the doctrine which they confirme if it be that which is registrat in the Word of God to which they are seales As for that Revel. 13.13 Where it is said that the second beast whereby Antichrist is meaned doth great wonders so that he maketh fire come down from heaven upon the earth in the sight of men allusion thereby being made to that fact of Elias in destroying his enemyes by calling for fire from heaven to come downe upon earth in the sight of men 2. King 1.10.11 Their owne Lyra expoundeth this saying Hic accipitur ignis metaphorice sicut alia quae hic dicuntur That is fire is taken here metaphoricallie as other things also which are heere spoken And thereafter Inconspectu hominum id est secundum falsaâ— estimationem credentium sayeth he that is according to the false estimation of them who believed so Whereby may be denotate the Popes thunder-bolts of excomunication against such as opposed him and which according to the false estimation of them who believed it he hath power to throw downe to destruction both their soules and bodies as unto fire eternallie These things therefore being demonstrat concerning Antichrist First who he is for Person 2. Where hee is for Place 3. When he came for Time 4. What were his properties for Marks To wit 1. Exorbitant pryde under a pretext of humilitie 2. Grosse Idolatrie under colour of devotion and pietie 3. Bloodie crueltie palliated under the pretext of holie zeale and sanctitie 4. MerchaÌ„dize of spirituall things or simonie joyned with horrid tytles of blaesphemie 5. A Lawlesse life and in lecherie through fained holienesse and continencie And 6. Lyeing wonders by subtilitie abusing Christians simplicitie From all which former premisses in all the preceeding Chapters I repeate that argument Wherewith I beganne thus Unto whom the whole prophecyes of holie scripture describing that grand Antichrist and being joyntlie or collectivelie taken doth sole and onelie agree He is that grand Antichrist foretold in the scripture But unto the Pope the whole prophecyes of holie scripture describing that grand Antichrist being joyntlie and collectivelie taken doth sole only agree Therefore it followeth that hee is that grand Anâ—ichrist foretold in the scriptures And I defye any Priest or papist to find out any other to whom these prophecies or properties collectivelie taken as said is doth agree And speciallie by the testimonies of these that are of that persons profession as we haue brought the testimonies of Romanists to prove these of the Pope Whence it is that since the Pope came â—o that Meridian or {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} of his hight about the thousand yeare of God in the time of Gregorie the 7. as hath beene said and was fullie then seene to bee that man of sin spoken of 2. Thess. 2.4 The Lord hath stirred up from time to time in every Centurie since some witnesses to avow him to be that grand foretold Antichrist as in the yeare of God 1100. or thereby The Bishope of Florence in the time of Paschalis the second declareth clearlie that the Pope was that Antichrist The same likewise did one Dulcinus Navarensis preach as may be seene more ample in that book called Catalogus testium veritatis the Mageburg centuries Cent. 12. As likewise Ioachimus Abbas declareth the same being asked by Richard the first of England as witnesseth Roger Houeden in the life of Richard the first So likewise did Honorius Augustodunensis dialog de lib. Arb. predest And as their own forecited Aventin reporteth All good plaine Iust and ingenous persons sayeth he saw that then beganne the kingdome of Antichrist Avent annal Bojor lib. 5. c. 10. Inlikemanner anno 11200. one Walter Mapez Arch-deane of Oxford a famous man both for life and learning of whom Giraldus Cambrensis maketh mention in his book called Speculum Ecclesiae lib. 3. c. 1. and 14. Avowedlie maintained that the Pope was that Antichrist The same did Eberhardus Archbishope of Salisburg in a publick imperiall dyet at Reinsburg as Aventin recordeth in his 5. and 7. bookes of the Bavarian annals· As also Robert Grosthead called the worthy Bishopeof Lincolne as Mathew Paris reporteth in the life of Henrie the third Whose bones therefore were thereafter caused to be raised by Pope Innocent and cast out of the Church Likewise in the 1300 yeare of God Marsilius Patavinus in his book called Defensor pacis c 25. affirmeth that the Pope was that foretold Antichrist So likewise did that worthie gentleman famous Poet in his time Gefrey Chaucer in his plow-mans tale at large As also Michael Caesenas principall or pryor of the gray Friers with diverse others But most speciallie their famous Petrarch in that Epistle where hee deploreth the calamitie of the Towne of Rome cited abefore Inlikemanner in the yeare 1400. Iohn Wickleff in England whom thereafter followed Iohn Huss and Ierom of Prague in BOHEME avowedlie taught and did proue the Pope to be Antichrist Witnessing the same to their death Which then many houndreths yea thousands publicklie professed maintained with their blood Last of all in the yeare 1500. or little after beside Ierome Savanarola in Italie The Lord stirred up Luther in Germany Melancton and many more to discover declare the Pope to bee that man of sin and foreprophecied Antichrist which in all reformed Churches is now held for a most sure and true assertion upon the grounds an d reasons that alreadie hath beene declared So that it is no new doctrine braoched onelie since Luther's tyme as papists affirme that the Pope is Antichrist But grounded upon scripture and avowed by many who lived and dyed in the externall Communion of the Roman Church long before Luther CHAP. XVIII Of the finall destruction of Antichrist and ruine of the papall sea 2. Thess. 2.8 IT being alreadie showne concerning Antichrist who he is and where he is when he came whence he came and what are his marks also whereby hee may bee knowne followeth now at last that wee see what shall be his end or whether he goeth and this shall be according to his name given to him by Paull common with Iudas that is he is called the son of perdition accordingly to perdition he shal go And as he is called Abbadon Apolyon a Destroyer so shall destruction bee his later end The manner whereof the Apostle setteth downe 2. Thess. 2.8 That first that wicked man shall be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of his mouth and at last shall destroy him with the brightnesse of his comming Which Cardinall Cajetan so expoundeth By the breath of his mouth that is sayeth he by the spirituall vertue of the word of the Gospell piece and piece shal he turne away men from following of Antichrist and leade them to