and serve him that thereby they also may be advanced and domineer in their places by this means also they are made unnatural resolute and cruel to prosecute the Popes designs like the Turks Janizaries being kept from those relations which sweeten mens tempers and excite natural affection also having no wives and children to provide for they may more desperately ventuere their lives and their estates for the service of their Church Their Friars make a shew of great devotion renouncing the world begging alms of the people going in mean habit bare-footed some of them yet they get all they can from the people for Masses and prayers their Abbots many are Lords live splendidly in England they had above a third part of the land and that the best as was made appear to King Henry 8th but these wholly are at the Popes devotion of these he can raise Armies from them he can exact vast sums of money he can make strong parties in any Nation against their Prince he can turn people which way he pleases In a word his unmarried Clergy and Regulars make him a Monarch they are his Populus virorum intirely at his devotion having no posterity nor personal concerns to care for For if his Clergy had wives and children they must love them provide for them dispose of them in marriage and so be neighbourly oblige the people please their Princes and Governours contract affinities and so they would be concerned in the safety peace prosperity of the Nations and places they live in and would not be at the Popes beck on at his call upon all occasions Thus we see the whole design of Popery issueth in this That men should take their religion from the Pope and his Clergy that so they may rule as sole Lords both in spirituals and temporals We are next to enquire what it was that letted or hindred Antichrists appearing for a time He that letteth will lett c. The Apostle saith this mystery of iniquity was working in his time therefore it could not be the religion of Mahomet which was not heard of till about the year of our Lord 622. Much less Heathenism or Judaism which were then the establisht religions of the world nor yet the general opposition of the body of the wicked against the godly which the Rhemists would have understood by mystical Babylon Rhem. on Rev. 17. for this is alwaies manifest the seed of the serpent doth always oppose the seed of the woman but the Apostle saw an aspiring spirit in the Bishops and Church of Rome which he knew would in time bring the whole Church under their yoak this was occasioned by Rome's being the Metropolis of the world and the seat of the Empire which as it drew all civil affairs and supreme Jurisdiction to that place so did it insensibly draw the admiration respect and causes of all Churches to the guides of that Church which the following Bishops challenged as their due and so gave occasion for the conception of the Man of sin Victor the 14 Bishop of Rome about the year 170. excommunicated all the Eastern Churches for not keeping Easter on the same day that he did Soon after him Cornelius and Stephen successively took upon them with great pride to determine causes belonging to the Churches of A. frick while Cyprian was Bishop of Carthage of which he complains in his Epistles to them Pope Sylvester by his Legats in the Council of Nice an 325. obtained power over all those regions called Suburbicariae which were subject to the Praefect of Rome and from that time the Bishops of Rome boldly challenged the primacie of all Churches and drew all causes and appeals to themselves though not without opposition from the Bishops in Augustines time The Council of Sardica having made a Canon that all doctrines should be tried by the Bishop of Rome meaning it only for that time when Rome was a bulwork against the Arians several Roman Bishops Celestine Boniface and Innocent the first thrust this Canon into the Council of Nice and pretended that by authority of that venerable Council the Tryal of all doctrines and causes was given to them and when the Bishops of Constantinople challenged a parity with the Bishops of Rome because that City was made new Rome and the Seat of the Empire in the East Pope Leo's Legates protested against it in the Council of Chalcedon Ann. 450. Thus the ambition of Rome discovered it self apace but it could not yet attain its end because somewhat still hindred and this was the Roman Empire which divers antient Fathers witness to have been the Apostles meaning by him that letteth saying that he did not expresly mention the Empire lest he should give offence by speaking of the fall of that Empire which they presumed should last for ever insomuch that Roma aeterna eternal Rome was always written upon the Statue of a woman that represented that City and Aeternitas Vestrûm your eternity was a presumptuous title of some of the Emperours they add that the Primitive Church used to pray for the continuance of the Roman Empire for this reason amongst others that the coming and persecutions of Antichrist might thereby he deferred and Hierome who lived to see the Empire decay apace and the City taken by Alarick the Goth said thereupon Qui detinet fit de medio non intelligimus Antichristum adesse He that letteth is taken out of the way and do we not understand that Antichrist must be at hand The Rhemists would fain avoid this interpretation though they make nonsense of the place In Locum but the Papists generally acknowledge the Empire to be that which letted the discovery of Antichrist and Bellarmine would prove that Antichrist is not yet come because there is still a Roman Emperour viz. the Emperour of Germany who hath the titles of Roman Caesar Augustus but he hath the empty title only and is the Popes Vassal receiving his Crown from him swearing fealty to him and is by him appointed Defensor Ecclesiae not to rule the Empire but defend the Church of Rome That the Empire of Rome is here intended is manifest by this because that held the supreme dominion and therefore the Bishops could not obtain it till the Empire was abolisht the Heathen Emperours oppressed and destroyed the whole Church and in particular the Bishops and Church of Rome who were nearest to them and the Christian Emperours not only kept the civil power in their own hands but also called and presided in Councils approved and confirmed the elections of all Bishops and those of Rome more especially and removed those Bishops whom they liked not at their pleasure till this jurisdiction was abrogated the Pope could not get into his hands the supremacie either in Ecclesiastical or civil matters The event also expounds the Text for by those degrees the Empire declined the Bishop of Rome ascended the throne as it followeth in the Text v. 8. Then
then when the incumbent died the Pope must be judge who shall have it of all these which shall certainly be he that will give most money Thus they make woful Merchandize with mens souls 4. Continual endeavours to stir up wars and imbroil Nations The Pope pretends to be Lord of Lords and King of Kings and therefore he disposeth of Kingdoms sets up and pulls down Princes as he pleases and this is a sufficient pretence for any unjust wars and invasions and wherever there are any differences among Princes and their Subjects he interposeth his authority usually taking the unjust part if like to prevail that they being beholding to him may requite him with some addition to his authority or revenue Pope Zacheriah gave France to Pipin an aspiring man deposing Childerick their lawful King as unfit to govern Leo the 4. gave the Empire of the Romans to Charles the great and another gave England to the French in King Johns time and sent them to Conquer it and of late the Pope gave the East Indies to the Portugal and the West to the Spaniard where they murdred the poor natives as wild beasts made to be destroyed These doctrines and practices are not taught and practised by a few only among them but they are the State policies by which they stand which they never disown never endeavour to reform it is the design of their government to be universal and to attain it by any means Hence we infer that to hold communion with this Church is to conspire against the Church of Christ against all that is sacred or moral Nor may we expect any reformation from them they will not they cannot be better their interest and government depends upon these methods and therefore this Man of sin is the son of perdition appointed to be destroyed not to be reformed let us not deceive our selves with vain hopes They are and must be the same when they have opportunity The second character of this Apostasie is laid down v. 4. Who opposeth himself viz. the man of sin the Head of this apostasie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an adversary or one that sets himsel against Christ The same title that is given to the Devil viz. Satan an enemy or adversary Now the Devil was an adversary not by denying the true God he believes and trembles James 2.19 nor by causing himself to be worshipped as the supreme God for the Idols which the Heathens worshipped they worshipped as Mediators and servants to the supreme God but under this pretence the Devil took to himself all the worship and service of the world and left God but an empty name of Creatour and supreme residing in heaven when he himself was the God of this world ordering all things after his own lusts this the Devil did so long as Heathenism prevailed by the several Governours and Princes of the world and when he was cast out of Heaven viz. his worship Idolatry and Heathenish superstition abolished by the fail of the Heathen Roman Empire Rev. 12. v. 7 8 9 10. and opposition to the name of Christ was taken away he cast about and after some time delivered his power to the second Beast who used the power and tyranny of the former Beast i. e. the Roman Empire opposing Christ and his worship setting up himself with all superstition and Idolatry but under fair pretences of Christs authority Rev. 13.11 12 c. This beast was like a Lamb but spake as the Dragon and used all the power of the former beast viz. the Heathen government Now that the Pope and his adherents do thus oppose Christ and not his name but his power and worship drawing all subjection to himself and leaving Christ but a bare and empty title he being as Stapleton calls him plain supremum in terris numen i. e. the most high and absolute God in earth It is manifest 1. The Pope will not suffer Christ to be King and law-maker in his Church Kingly power consisteth in making laws and ruling according to them this belongs to Christ and he gave his word to be the law of his Church and his Mininisters to execute and administer it according to his mind But the Pope challengeth the sole power and government of the Church on earth to belong to him the authority of the Scriptures to belong to him that he can add to them take from them or dispense with any thing there commanded that he only must interpret and give them their sense that his determinations is the rule of conscience for whatsoever he defineth or commandeth is to be believed and obeyed and so under the pretence of Christs Vicar he rules as Christ on earth 2. The Pope will not allow Christ to appoint the ordinances of his own worship It belongs to Christ as King to appoint how and by whom he will be worshipped but the Pope will not give him leave He appoints more orders of Officers than Christ did more Sacraments and alters those of his appointing the bread in the supper he maketh a God to be worshipped and yet a Sacrifice to be offered to God the cup he takes away from the people the Council of Trent most insolently telling us that though our Lord Christ instituted and gave his supper to his Apostles under both kinds of bread and wine yet that doth not oblige all the faithful to receive it under both kinds Concil Trid. Ses 21. ch 1. Etsi Christus dominus in ultima coena venerabile hoc Sacramentum in panis vini specicbus instituit Apostlis tradidit non tamen illa institutio traditio â—ò tendunt ut omnes Christi fideles statuto domini ad utramque speciem accipiendam astringantur He appoints Saints and Angels and especially Christs Mother to be worshipped and honoured yea the very Cross on which he was murdered pretending these to be more honour to Christ than the preaching or hearing his holy word Almost the whole body of the Papists worship is of the Popes own institution 3. The Pope will not suffer Christ to appoint the means of his own grace to Salvation Christ as the Saviour of his people as divine and Princely Saviour is to appoint and hath appointed by what means and in what duties he will bestow and increase his grace to eternal life but the Pope lays these aside at his pleasure viz. the reading and hearing the Scripture the use of the Sacraments and prayer in a tongue that can be understood by those that use it and appointeth more upon which the greatest stress of salvation is laid as confession of sin to Priest without out which there is no forgiveness to the living and private Masses both for the quick and dead anointing of Children to confirm them in grace and anointing the dying to strengthen and comfort them against the terror of death crosses and holy water to drive away the devil and so many of this kind that they have greatly obscured the means
and all means of intercourse and confidence in each other may be dissolved when the Pope or a Priest pleaseth If any Papist pretend to disown any of these doctrines I demand by what rule he doth it By the Scripture the Law of Nations or the Law of nature they all maintain the Pope is above these These are not a perfect rule neither apart nor together nor do reach all cases if they did there were no need of an infallible head to direct the Church nor any warrant for most of the worship and practices of the Church of Rome If then the Pope be above all and infallible then a Papist must believe that in this and that particular case that concerns him he may and must break his Oaths deny his promises murder lye or commit any such enormity when commanded or else he prefers his own judgement above the Popes and denies his principles Whence we may see that no trust is to be reposed in a Papist because they are not masters of their own reason and Conscience of their Oaths and promises but the Pope and their Confessours have the disposal of them all and make them do as they please and so long as their Church challengeth a power and jurisdiction over all the world and is always contending for it it is to be supposed their rulers will always put them upon those things that promote their own interest 10. Their doctrines that extenuate sin and make forgiveness very easiy are nothing else but doctrines of wickedness They extenuate sin by their doctrine of venial sins which they say are praeter non contra Legem not commanded by God nor forbidden of him and therefore scarce to be called sins Such they make all first thoughts and motions of the mind and affections to be when there is not a deliberate assent with them all wandering thoughts distractions in holy duties the stirrings of the most vile affections with some titillation or pleasing are all but natural actions and infirmities which do not deserve Hell or the wrath of God They make pardon of sin very easie Upon confession to the Priest he doth absolve upon some easie penance almost any sin and those reserved cases which the Priest cannot pardon are forgiven by the Pope for money There is a printed book called Taxa poenitentiariae Apostolicae wherein the prices are set down for all manner of sins and in the general all sins against God and his Law are more easily forgiven than those against the Popes law and Tradition What need men fear to commit sin that can be so easily remitted especially to them that have money They have also another device of transferring their sins upon their friends viz. a few friends agree together to take each others sins upon them so that he who dieth first leaveth his sins to be satisfied for by the Survivours and they again take others into their number and so can sin securely having Executors to pay their debts for them when they are dead The Sacrifice of the Mass offered for them by the Priest alone expiates all sin so that for 6 pence or 12 pence a Mass any sins may be taken away though they be not present or concerned about it or be committing wickedness the mean while Lastly Though a man live all his days in wickedness if he die in the communion of the Church of Rome and be absolved by a Priest which is rarely denyed to any he must go but to Purgatory and there satisfie for all his sins and at last be saved and if he leave any thing to the Church or his friends will buy Masses or prayers for him his time in Purgatory shall be shortened and his pains lessned 3. Thirdly Their Practice is as wicked as their doctrine not that only of particular persons which is incident to all societies but the allowed practice of the Church and that whereby their State is upheld To instance in a few 1. They persecute and by all means destroy all that submit not to them in every thing so that in Rome is found the blood of all the Saints and Martyrs that have been slain in all the earth being shed by her command About the year 750. the Popes Gregory 2. and 3. begun wars against the Emperors and their adherents in the defence of Image worship and afterward renewed them to obtain the right of investitures or bestowing of all Ecclesiastical preferments and to deprive the Emperours of their power of electing the Pope till they had brought the Emperours under their feet and compelled all the Clergy to put away their Wives Thus the Popes ruined all Christendom for about 400. years till they had got all the power into their hands and ever since they have shed blood in abundance to preserve what they had gotten They began with the Waldenses about the year 1160. of whom Tâ—uanus saith they had slain above two Millions and they have added many thousands more of late years of that poor people Afterward they destroyed many thousands in Bohemia in Germany both in the former and late wars Virgerius who was the Popes Nuncio tells us that in the space of 30. years at the first resormation their inquisition in several parts had secretly made away 150000 persons The Duke of Alva Governour of the Neatherlands in a few years is said to cut off 36000. The French Massacre Ann. 1572. in one Month treacherously and barbarously destroyed above 30000. In the late Irish rebellion Ann. 1641. they destroyed above 300000. of all ages and conditions and what they have done and attempted and do still attempt upon this Land is well known All these were authorized by the Popes and had their benediction and prayers for success besides the innumerable company of Martyrs which they have put to death by form of tryals in all countreys 2. Their toleration of all uncleanness besides what they allow in their Clergy privately They have publick Stews in all Cities of Italy and Spain and the Pope has a tribute from them for their Licences Pope Sixtus the 4. built at his own Charge a famous Stew in Rome both for men and women Paul the 3. had Catalogues found amongst his Papers after his death of 45000. Strumpets who payed him a monthly imposition 3. They are allowed Simony i. e. selling of all Ecclesiastical offices There is another book called Taxa cancalleriae apostolicae i. e. of the Popes Chamber wherein the prices of all benefices and promotions are set down no places of any value are disposed of without money A nameless Papist dedicated a book to King James wherein he acquaints him that all the Popes from Clement the 7. Called the new man to his time had got the Popedom by Simony and other indirect means This he was able to prove but he might truly have said so did all the rest for many ages before In England formerly benefices have been sold to two three or more sometimes to ten several persons and