Christian Emperour his changing the seat of the Empire which was Rome Anciently and removing to Constantinople thereby leaving the City of Rome as it were vacant 2. When by succeding Emperours the Roman Empire was divided and the Roman Eagle before under one head having after 2 heads and spred into Eastern and Western Empires and that also the seat of the Western Empire was other where than at Rome thereby was that place left to the Bishops of Rome in a yet farther degree than before 3. But yet more when ann 475. the Western Empire had quite expired and indeed in Augustulus as it began in Augustus the Empire having bin invaded by the Goths and other Barbarous Nations by whom also Rome it self was taken and possessed about 50 years the Pope himself being also expelled and put to seek for a time another habitation Hereby was the Western Empire determined and so continued 325 years This was the 2. head proposed the first removeing him that did let for makeing way for him that was to succeed III. It follows to shew the others succeeding accordingly and that gradually comeing on according to the steps of the former's receding 1. For on Constantines leaving Rome and makeing Constantinople the seat of his Empire thereby Sede vacante the. Bishop of Rome entered on the possession of the City of Rome the Romanists add by donation from Constantine with addition of other large Territories held in Fee and in Demeasn for ever This I pass it not being my work at present to examine it In this state things stood about 300 years Romes Goverment being in that time by its Bishops yet subjected to the Emperor by which they were kept within their bounds for Rome being but one of the 5 Patriarchs although chief among them was not yet above them 2. So continued it untill the Empire determined in Augustulus an 475. after which An. 607. Boniface 3. obtained from Phocas Emperor of the East that not the Patriarch of Constantinople who contended for being Chief but the Bishop of Rome should be universal Bishop This Gregory 1. Bishop of Rome had before condemned in John Patriarch of Constantinople and by his but attempting it concluded him or any so doing to be Antichrist or his forerunner and that Antichrist himself was not farr off And now was the Title of Pope appropriated to the Bishop of Rome which was before communicated to other Patriarchs and Bishops also indifferently And hitherto reached Romes Episcopal and Patriarchal Government of which it was said that it should continue a short space Rev. 7.10 which was about 300 years that being but short compared with what followed from Boniface 3. when the Title began to swell to its greatness they being thenceforth Vniversal Bishops and Popes above all 3. But after Boniface 3. Pope Leo. 3. an 800. made a farther Essay of his power in deposing the Lawful King of France and advancing Pipin his Subject to be King and after created Charlemaine Emperor both as Champions for the Church to Expell the Barbarians who had invaded Italy out of whose hands Rome was recovered and restored to the Pope with addition of other large Territories 4. But all this while the Popes power was in some things restrained by those Emperours of their own making who reserved to themselves the choosing and placeing of Bishops and the approbation even of the very Popes also In this Gregory 7th contended with Henry the 4th Emperour whom he Excommunicated and Deposed stirring up against him his subject Rodulphus naming him Emperour and giving the Crown with PETRA DEDIT PETRO PETRUS DIADEMA RODULPHO Of the troubles bloud and destruction to Germany in that I speak not onely that to this Gregory 7. is by Popish writers that glory given that he was Imperii Pontificii fundator others his Predecessors attempted the reaching at the temporal power but was not till now attained And after the Emperour Henry 5th coming to Rome to be Crowned by Pope Paschalis 2d the Pope would not consent to his Coronation he first did give over all Right of Election of Popes and of Investitures of Bishops by Staffe and Ring In which although that Pope failed then of his end yet was that after attained 5. And although In all this the Pope had gained the point of temporal sovereignty and the gaining also out of temporal hands into the Popes power the Investitures of Bishops by which he was in that kind absolute yet could not that satisfie while the Pope was over-topped by a General Council By which he had been oft threatned awed and sometimes deposed The removing this therefore was to be next attempted and was at length also by Pope Leo 1Oth compassed so far as the Popes Council at Lateran could do towards it of which Bellarmine thus Triumphantly The last Lateran Council under Leo 10. expresly and professedly teacheth that the Pope is above all Councils and reproveth a contrary decree in the Council of Basil citeing the words of the Council to which he adds To this nothing can be answered unless it be that this was no General Council or that it was not received by the Church or that this was not their decree de fide Belarm de concil l. 2 c. 17. 6. But one thing yet remained shewing as the Popes power so his being in that very Antichrist which is the confirming those Romish erroneus positions which had been long creeeping into the Church as Tares mixed with the Wheat and had long passed loose and undetermined being onely disputable controverted and oft opposed These were after in the Councils of Constance Lateran and of Trent concluded and decreed for Doctrines and Articles of Faith and an Additional Creed of 12 Articles of them composed which were by Pius 4th his Bull imposed to be subscribed or sworn unto In all see 1. The Removal of Romes 6th Head or Government that of Emperors 2. See also the introduceing and growing up of the 7th from its infancy to its full growth The Church of Rome being before but as others a Branch onely of the Catholick Church now it self passing for The Catholique Church and she the root out of which all other Churches derive and spring others on this depending and by that influenced so doth that Church now boast of her self of which the Apostle St. Paul in his Epistle to that Church had forwarned them Rom. 11.18 19 20. Boast not against the Branches but if thou boast thou bearest not the root but the root thee Thou wilt say the branches were broken off that I might be graffed in well because of Vnbelief they were broken off and thou standest by Faith be not high-minded but fear For if God spared not the natural branches take heed that he also spare not thee In which is the Apostles prophecy concerning that Church But before this be shut up one doubt is to be removed of the Empire being not yet taken out of the way which we now see in Being Res.
others sinful both in life and profession Therefore called spiritually Sodom Rev. 11.8 and as to Faith and Doctrine An Apostate and what is in that kind worse falling away v. 3. departing from the Faith 1 Tim. 4.1 denying the Lord that bought them and bringing in damnable Heresies 2 Pet. 2.1 and Doctrines of Devils forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats c. 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. we know who do so Of these Apostate Professors are those also of whom St. John speaketh who deny that Jesus is the Christ adding he is an Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Son whosoever denyeth the Son hath not the Father 1. John 2.22 23. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of Antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come and even now already is it in the world 1. John 4.3 Not that Antichrist or every Antichrist denyeth Christ come in the flesh Some did so nor do all hereticks speak the same thing but whosoever shall say that Christ is not come in the flesh is an Antichrist In all is to be observed 1. That all false doctrines and heresies whether against the doctrine and truth of Christ of which the Apostle S. Paul speaks 1. Tim. 4. or against Christ's person or Natures of whom St. John speaks both these are against Christ and such as so teach and believe are therefore because against Christ Antichrist so as every deceiver is an Antichrist 2 John v. 7. I Judg saith St. Hierom all chief hereticks to be Antichrist under the name of Christ teaching contrary to Christ. 2. Hereby we find that there are many Antichrists 1 John 2.18 and of those many that some were then in the Apostles dayes in the world 1. John 4.3 Apostates from the faith before professed They went from us but were not of us saith the Apostle 1. John 2.18 19. 3. Observe that among those many Antichrists there is one chief Antichrist see both in 1. John 2.18 little children it is the last time as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists In this we find those two sorts of Antichrists distinguished 1. In number Antichrists plurally And many Antichrists the other but Antichrist singly one among many 2. These two also are distinguished in time Of those many some already come and then in the World but that one Antichrist then not yet come yet expected 2 Thess. 2. the revealed in his time v. 7.8 3. see that one and chief Antichrist above the rest pointed at Emphatically by an Article which is in the Greek not expressed in our English 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or that Antichrist saith Grotius points at some one Antichrist among those many more noted And with like Emphasis is this man of sin in the Text expressed by that man of sin The Son of perdition v. 3. That wicked v. 8. and even him whose coming is after the working of Satan v. 9. 4. Observe that great Antichrist in S. John and this man of Sin in S. Paul to be intended of the same Person none can doubt but that St. Paul doth speak these things of Antichrist saith S. Augustine where and else where we find the same person under several names under diverse considerations so called Sodom and Egypt Rev. 11.8 the great whore Rev 17.1 Babylon v. 5. and here that man of sin 5 and by St. John Antichrist In which variety of names some one is at present to be principally used for avoiding confusion in which I shall choose that of Antichrist as being a word both Scriptural and Ecclesiastical frequently occurring in the Fathers and Ecclesiastical writers ancient and modern 5. Observe that man of Sin or Antichrist although singularly and Emphatically and as it were personally pointed at is not notwithstanding to be understood as terminated in any one individual person whatsoever but as those many Antichrists make up that wicked society of Apostate Hereticks of what kind soever so is this great Antichrist A chief of this great Apostacy but as one in succession though diverse in persons so it is said of the Pope and Papacy That as to the place and office of the Papacy ' all Popes from first to last are but as one Pope so when they say the Pope is head of the Church that is not intended of any one Pope alone but of any and all in that succession Thus of Antichrist as here considered in his person condition and quality A man of Sin one in profession and faith also in life and manners sinful exceedingly and how that is will appear after in particulars II. We have next to see this man of sin as to his place where he should appear and is to be expected sitting in the Temple of God Which words The Temple of God some appropriate to Jerusalem and the Temple there so understood properly saith Grotius in both Testaments It seems also to make for this what is instanced of Cajus one of the Roman Emperours who caused his Image or statue to be placed in the Temple at Jerusalem to be worshipped which agrees say some with the Text literally This man of sin sitting in the temple of God c. But this man of sin or Antichrist is intended of an Apostate Christian fallen away v. 3. such as was not Caius a Pagan and never otherwise therefore not he this Antichrist 2. Nor is Antichrist one individual person but a chief in succession heading an Antichristian State and Faction therefore not Caius nor Simon Magus or any other such whosoever which will after appear more fully 3. The Temple of God in the Text is interpreted the Christian Church by the Fathers St. Augustin Chrysostom Hierome Hilary Theophylact Theodoret and others also by Thomas Aquinas and others of the Schoolmen 4. Notwithstanding what is confidently averred by some that in both Testaments the Temple of God is intended of that Temple in Jerusalem the contrary appears and that the Christian Church is also in that pointed at in both Testaments So in Zech. 6.12 13. Behold the man whose name is the Branch meant of Christ Zech. 3.8 Isa. 14 1. Jer. 3 8.33.15 he shall grow out of his place and he shall build the Temple of the Lord even he shall build the Temple of the Lord and he shall bear the glory and shall sit and rule upon his throne In which is not intended the Temple of Jerusalem as if built by Christ whose destruction he declared those dayes also of its destruction being the time of the Lord 's coming to Judge that People and then setting up his Temple of the Christian Church where he would be worshipped in spirit and in truth not any longer in Types and Sacrifices as in Jerusalem John 4.20.21.23 And the Christian Gospel-Church taken as Catholique and of both Nations is called
the houshold of God built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an Holy Temple in the Lord in whom they are also builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit Ephes. 2.19 20 21.22 And as by the Temple so by Jerusalem also is the Gospel-Church of Jew and Gentile signified and that also as the Church is Militant and Triumphant Jerusalem which is above being mother of us all Gal. 4.25 26 27. In which it is to be observed that the state of the Christian Church is set forth in the Revelations by 2 Visions of 2 Women One the Holy Christian Church represented in a Woman cloathed with the sun and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of 12 starrs she travailing with Child shewing her numerous Issue who was before barren Isa. 54.1 she also and hers prosecuted and persecuted by the dragon but preserved Rev. 12.1 2 3.6.13 14 15 16 17. But the other woman signifying the Church Antichristian persecuting the true Professors and drunk with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus Rev. 17.1 2 4 5 6. Observe also that these 2 women or the Church under these 2 states and conditions are also represented by 2 Cities the great City Babylon and Jerusalem that City named Babylon Rev. 17.5 18. being for that Antichristian state but the other City Jerusalem Rev. 20. 21 22. for the Church of God the new Jerusalem and Temple no wonder then if by Jerusalem and the Temple the Christian Church be signified 5. And that Jerusalem and the Temple there could not be the place where that man of sin or Antichrist was to sit appears in that Babylon the city contrary to Jerusalem is declared Antichrist's seat Also that the description given to that City the seat of Antichrist no way suits with Jerusalem see for that Rev. 17.6 7 8 18. where by Babylon the Romanists we need go no further intend Rome and for that the Rhemists earnestly contend in their Annotations on 1 Pet. 5.13 The Church that is at Babylon saluteth you saith St. Peter which is their Scripture-proof for St. Peters being at Rome Also Cardinal Baronius speaking of the name Babylon in the Revelation Certissimum est c. it is most certain saith he that by the name Babylon the City Rome is signified and Cardinal Bellarmine by Babylons description agreeing to Rome concludes out of Turtullian Notissimum est c. saith he It is most evident and acknowledged that Rome is built on seven hills nor was there any other city which in the dayes of St. John had dominion or reigned over the Kings of the earth but Rome onely Rome saith he and no other city not Constantinople which although after styled Rome or new Rome being also seated on hills yet did not that then in St. Johns dayes reign over the Kings of the Earth And as to Jerusalem nothing of all that could be said of it neither that it was so situated on seven hills nor then reigning over the Kings of the earth Jerusalem being then with her children in Bondage Gal. 4.25 and that to the Romans and by the Romans soon after destroyed And if Rome be the City for that malignant state then must the Temple of God be understood to be there and Rome to be the place for Antichrist's sitting But it is objected how the Church of Rome should be then called the Temple of God where Antichrist sitteth Res. So was Jerusalem also once the Faithful City And even when at worst after their crucifying the Lord it was then called the Holy City Math. 27.53 having that name from what before it was So was Rome once famous over the World for its faith Rom. 1.8 and the Church there was the Temple of God And it was an honour to the Church of Rome that it held out longer than some other Churches and opposed the Heresies rising and prevailing in the Eastern Churches yet as those famous Churches of Asia fell from their Purity particular Churches may fail so did Rome it self after and that once faithful city became an Harlot Rev 17.5 as was said of Jerusalem and their silver was become dross and their wine mixt with water Isa. 1.21 22. once Pure now Mixt and Corrupt with Errors and they even Apostate from that Faith professed by their Forefathers yet from what once was and from what is yet there left of Good though mixed and corrupt that Church is called by the Apostle here The Temple of God and there Antichrist sitting The summe of all is that Babylon which is acknowledged to be Rome and the Temple of God there or the Church of Rome Apostate from the Faith formerly professed is the place where Antichrist is to be expected and found which was the 2d circumstance here considerable for Antichrist's discovery his place sitting in the Temple of God III. The Next is that of time when he should appear Little difference is between the Romanists and us as to the place but the question is of the time for as the Jewes speak of Christ yet to come so do they of Rome concerning Antichrist and that he is expected about the end of the World and at Rome when Rome shall turn Apostate but we Assert that Antichrist is already come and that long since and that he is even now in the World acting as is said of him which is to be now examined The time for Antichrist's appearing is thus in the text expressed v. 5 6 7 8. Remember ye not saith the Apostle That when I was yet with you I told you these things and now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time for the mystery of Iniquity doth work already onely he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way and then shall the wicked be revealed Unto this is to be added that in Rev. 17. both places joyned making up this whole matter For in Rev. 17. we read of a woman sitting on a beast with 7 heads that woman being that great City Rome and those 7 heads interpreted both 7 hills on which that city is seated And also 7 Governments called 7 Kings Kingly or supreme Of which 7 Governments of Rome it is said that 5 are fallen and one is and the other not yet come and that when he cometh he must continue a short space and that the beast that was and is not and yet is which is added v. 8. even he is the eighth and is of the seven and goeth into perdition v. 10.11 For opening both which Texts together 1. It is granted that Rome is that great City seated on seven hills and ruling over the Kings of the earth 2. That these seven heads or governments are Romes seven Governments also 3. Of those seven Governments of Rome it is said that
be tormented c. Rev. 14.9 11. let such consider their State seriously and seasonably And now to conclude with a word to our selves that as we are to bless God for calling us out of that Sate of evil so to be confirmed in the truth and not to fall back whatever the Temptation be good or evil saving life or loosing it and that we desire the Lords grace in that for help and support All which I shall shut up in the words of the Apostle next after my Text v. 13 14 15 16 17. We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and beliefe of the truth whereunto he hath called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ Therefore brethren stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught whether by word or by our Epistle Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father who hath loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through Grace comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work Amen FINIS These Books are lately Printed for and published by Nathaniel Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or the Causes Wayes and means of understanding the mind of God as revealed in his Word with assurance therein And a declaration of the perspicuity of the Scriptures with the External means of the Interpretation thereof by Dr. John Owen D. D. The Church of Rome no safe Guide or Reasons to prove that no Rational man who takes due Care of his own Eternal Salvation can give himself up unto the Conduct of the Church in matters of Religion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or a Declaration of the Glorious Mystery of the person of Christ God and Man With the Infinite Wisdom Love and Power of God in his Contrivance and Constitution on thereof as also of the Grounds and Reasons of his Incarnation the Nature of his Ministry in heaven the present state of the Church above thereon and the Use of his person in Religion with an account and vindication of the Honour Worship Faith Love and Obedience due unto him in and from the Church (a) Guil. Estius Tom. 4. in l. 4. dist 47. sect 6. (b) Jac. Usherâ— Christ. Eccles sucâ—es c. 1 p. 18. (c) Id. c. 2. (d) Rich. Victor in Apocal. â— 6. c. 7. (d) Avent Annal. Boiorum l. 7. c. 47. Bin. conc gen par 2. p. 438. (c) Baron Annal. Tâ—m 12. a. 1170. Sect. 9. (f) Roger Hoveden Annal. Ricar 1. p. 388. (b) S. Hier. in Mat. 24. (c) S. Aug in 2 Thes. 2.7 de civit dei 1.20 c. 19. (d) Aug. triumph de potestate Ecc. q. 3. Art 7. (e) Grot. de Antichrist (f) Annal a. 45. (g) De Rom. Pont. l. 3. c. 13. l. 2. c. 2. (h) 6. Ep. 28. (i) Dionys Halicarnass an t Ro. 12. God-win's Rom. Antiq l. 2. sect 2. c. 15. (m) Avent Annal l. 7. (n) Ibid l. 5. o Tho. Stapleton t. 2. (p) Avent annal Boyor l. 5. p. 447. (q) Extra Joh. 22. deverb signif cap. cum â—â—ter (r) Antonin p. 3. t. cap. 22.5 §. 6. (s) Decius in cap. Can. de constit n 16. (t) Bulla Cle. 6. (v) Lib. cerem 1. §. 1. fol. 16. x Piatro Suav Polon Histo. Tr. p. 24. y Also Pius V. Cùm essem Religiosus sperabam benè de salute animae meae Cardinalis factus extimui nunc Pontifex creatus penè despero Concil e Legist com in Num. 11.11