IF wee compare Scripture with Scripture the best rule and surest way for interpretation then agreeing to the interpretation of all the Ancients wee shall find that as in Daniel by the foure beasts arising from out of the Sea were signified the foure Monarchies of the world the Assirian Persian Grecian and the Roman so likewise here by the beast arising out of the Sea with such a varietie of hornes heads and diadems wee are to vnderstand some Prime or Principall State or Empire hauing either successiuely or ioyntly different formes of Gouernment to be presignified and fore-shewed Bell. de Antich cap. 5. 15. which is so apparent a truth that the Pontifician Rabbies themselues yea Bellarmine their Hercules acknowledgeth it for very probable that the Apocalipticall beast with so many heads hornes and diadems doth signifie the Roman State with their seuerall formes of Gouernment yea and that by one of the heads is signified the most wicked and execrable State of Antichrist himselfe Thus haue wee found what is typed by the beast if then we will resolue the Hypothesis and supposition it is thus If any one worship the beast that is if any one worship and acknowledge the State of Antichrist c. But What the Image of the Beast is what is the Image of this Beast which is likewise forbid vnder most fearefull punishment to bee worshipped and adored The Image of any thing must bee a speciall resemblance of that wherof it is an Image If perfect and naturall it must Two sorts of Images haue a likenesse not only representatiue but also in nature and being of existence so the naturall sonne is a perfect image of his father like in representation and like in being and existence If the image bee imperfect then though it bee different from the thing whereof it is an image in nature and being as the image of a man drawne by the Painter on a Tablet yet in forme and vertue of representing it must haue a representatiue forme of likenesse as the same The Image of the Beast may be taken in a double sense image drawen by the Painter hath Now then the image of that State or forme of Gouernment which is signified by the beast may either bee a perfect image thereof like in representing and like in existence and being to weet a State representing that State one wicked forme of Gouernment representing another or else it may be an imperfect image in some likenesse either by expression of the penne of the Writer or the pencill of the Painter representing the same Sarisburg in policrat l. 5. c. 16. fol. 169. For example wee may take the formes of gouernment of Papall Legates and Nuncios sent forth to vse Sarisburiensis his words from the presence of Satan for the dissipation and destruction of the Church Wee may I say take them for perfect images because of like nature and also representing the absolute sacred Monarchy of their Holy Fathers the The State-Legatine an Image of the State-Papall Popes a State Legatine representing a State Papall but for inperfect Images wee may either take that which is done by the adulatorious pens of the Canonists describing the absolute state or sacred Numen of their Lord God the Pope or A threefold Image of the State-Papall that which by the Popes themselues is expressed in their Bulls Constitutions Clementines Decretalls or Extrauagants or finally that which the Painter Statuary or Gold-Smith performes in painting caruing or casting of the Popes sacred Tiare or Triple-crowne by which sacred Tiare or triple Crowne is represented vnto vs a liuely image of the Papall The Papall Tiare or triple crowne an Image of the Papall State State both in heauen aboue below on earth and vnderneath euen in hell it selfe In heauen by the top-crowne thereof for it being most certaine that no man can enter into heauen except absolued from his sinnes so likewise in the Papall state it is as assured that none can be absolued from their sinnes but by authoritie deriued from the Pope yea and in cases papal and reserued either the Pope himselfe in person or his chiefe Penitentiary must absolue and so vnlock heauen gates or else there can bee no entrance thereinto By his second crowne is signified that his power vpon earth vnto which it is necessary vnder the forfeit of saluation so defineth Pope Boniface that euery humane Creature be subiect nay Bonif. vnam Sanctam de maioritate it is not enough for euery one in particular and ipso facto in very deede to bee subiect to such his power but euery one out of necessitie of saluation must further beleeue that all others euen euery humane Creature is subiect thereunto O presumption it is not enough for a man in himselfe to bee ipso facto by very deed subiect to the Pope to giue vnto him his Soule and Conscience in faith and obedience but hee must further professe and beleeue with a diuine faith all the body of Christianitie to bee subiect vnto him Loe how Supereminent his Monarchie is vpon earth exalting himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ouer all that which is called God or which is called Augustum sacred Now his power ouer Hell for Purgatory is in the suburbs of Hell signified by the third and last of his triple-crownes is so sacred and so absolute that hee can fasten vpon base creatures Graines and Meddalls such a sauing power and efficacie that whosoeuer shall vse the same with such conditions as by his fatherhood are prescribed hee shall thereby deliuer soules more or fewer out of the flames of their imagined purgatory Loe how Pape a word of wonder comes from Papa the worlds wonder Thus haue we expressed what is meant by the Beast and What is the Beasts marke by the image of the Beast now come wee to declare what is the Beasts marke what the taking thereof whether in hand or on forehead I should trifle the time contemne all learned Antiquitie fall into a laberinth of contrarieties impossibilities and absurdities if I should but onely dreame of a corporall marke to bee ingrauen by incision or to be burnt by inustion as the fashion of men is to do with their cattell Praemonit pag. 111. in the hands or vpon the foreheads of Antichrists followers no no the marke must bee metaphoricall as his Maiestie most excellently by some rite of profession it must bee mysticall by some rite of subiection the marke on the forehead some sacrilegious ceremonie whereby the authoritie of that Blasphemous The marks of the Beast not reall by incision or inustion diuers reasons for the same State is professed the marke in the handes some like impious ceremonie or thing accepted of in the hand whereby subiection and obedience to that wicked State is performed And this without all doubt is most agreeing to truth to truth I say for as the markes of Christ his flocke 2.
Doctrine of the first Angell feare God giue him glory and worship him alone neither can it be denied but that they are frequent in their inuectiues against Rome Popish as against Babilon and withall that they doe detest and diswade all manner of communion with the Pope and with the Church of Rome neither can it be denied that vpon such their preachings effects answâ—â—â—able to their pretences haue followed falls and defections of diuerse States Kingdomes from the Pope yet for that they mistake their marke in inueighing against our Holy Father the Pope Christs Vicar insteed of Antichrist barking against the Church of Rome which is the most chast Spouse of Christ as against the Beasts throane and seate here hence it is that we deseruedly account them as fore-runners of Antichrist but not any rank or order of Godly Preachers fore-signified by these three Angells so Bristow so Harding Answere so Saunders so Bellarmine so the whole army of Papall Rabbies O the vanity of this subterfuge who shall teach vs what is the beast and where is the throane and seate of the beast if not those very men who by the Spirit of God haue beene fore-signed for that function and in whom euery iot of the Prophesy is accomplished O the idlenesse of this euasion doth the spirit of God fore-expresse no other properties and tokens of those Preachers which were to inueigh against Antichrist and his seate then such as the very forerunners of Antichrist should to the full performe practise O the impiety of this pretence to affirme that the fore-runners of Antichrist shall builde their preachings vpon these foundations Feare God giue him glory and worship him alone Acts 4. 11. and vpon this there is no name giuen vs vnder heauen for saluation but the name of Iesus and of the Lambe If we had no other The calumnious and irreligious reasoning of our Aduersaries proofes to conuince the Pope to be an Antichrist yet this would abundantly suffice for that they account the Doctours and Pastours of the Reformed Churches to bee fore-runners of Antichrist in regard they contend to bound all true religious worship within that principle Feare God giue him glory and worship him alone and for that they summe Acts 4. 12. vp all happines of Faith within that Apostolicall decree there is no name giuen vs vnder heauen by which we must be saued but the name of Iesus Iesus that Lambe which solely and alonely taketh away the sinnes of the world Iohn 1. Thus haue wee by a breefe examination of the inscription our first generall part made a doore of entrance for the laying opeÌ„ of those great mysteries and difficulties which lie hid and couered in our second part the Hypothesis and supposition which the Spirit of God inabling wee shall now indeauour to lay open and declare If any one worship the Beast and his Image and receiue Second Generall part the Hypothesis or Supposition his marke in his hand or forehead the same c. HErein consists the greatest I may say all difficulty of our Text not in respect of the persons against whom the Supposition is made for the Hypothesis being vniuersall and indefinit If any it includes all excludes none All Emperours Kings Princes States Nobles Gentles Peoples Young or Old Rich or Poore all If any one worship the Beast and the Image of the Beast or receiue his marke in hand or on forehead they shall surely drinke of the wine of Gods wrath neither is their any difficulty to declare the sense of the word worship 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If any one shall worship or adore the Beast or the image of the Beast for who is so ignorant as not to obserue The worship here condemned is a diuine religious worship not a ciuill reuerence that the adoration and worship here spoken of condemned is not a ciuill worship or politicke adoration giuen to any ciuill Authority or Maiesty no no it is a religious and diuine both externe and interne worship giuen to the State and See of the Beast and this vpon the acknowledgement of a diuine and Godlike kinde of Dignity and Maiesty residing in the Beast or in the Supreame head of that State which is typed by the Beast as hereafter wee shall more fully Wherein consists the difficulty of this text declare wherein then consists all the difficulty surely in declaring what is meant by the Beast what by the image of the Beast what by the taking of the Beasts marke either in hand or Bellar de Rom. pont lib. 3. Cap. 11. 15. Viegaâ— et Ribera in Apocalip ChristophorsoÌ„ treat of Antichrist against Downam part 2. Chapt. 8. alij on forehead O thou Lyon of Iuda thou that openest and no hand shutteth reueale this mistery vnto vs. Here we first obserue by the way and I desire your attention the feuer-trepidation and ignorance of certaine prime Ignatian other Pontifician Rabbies who fearing the true mysticall sense of this place doe again stall antiquitie and their owne tenents hold themselues to the very letter of the prophecie affirming that the followers of Antichrist shall be compelled to adore and worship a true reall beast and a true reall Image of a Beast wee must interprete them of a Beast hauing so many heads and hornes with Diadems theron as is described by the Prophet and also that they shall be Ier. 13. enforced like Fâ—lons by reall inustion or like the Priests A most impertinent subterfuge of our Aduersaries of Baal by cruell incision to receiue a reall marke of the Beast in their hands or on their foreheads Which their subterfuge while I deliuer doe yee smile at their follies or frowne at their impudencies or bewaile their obstinacies Perhaps you will rather admire what may be the reason why they flie to so doting an interpretation which if they doe then bee pleased to take the reason thereof to be this Many Doctors and Pastors of the reformed Churches so also his Praemonit pag. 111. most Excellent Maiestie in his Premonition to Christian Princes doe verily obiect against the Pope and his that by the adoration of the Beast and the Image of the Beast and by the taking of the Beasts marke in the hand or on the forehead is most liuely in a true mysticall sense typed forth No man kissing the Popes feet omits him adoration both going and comming when he kisses he is well nigh prostrate to the ground The forme and Ground of all Papall faith the Papall Antichristian State with the answerable practises thereof of their adoring the Popes Person with Diuine and religious adoration of their Soule-subiection to him in the vorie tye and band of supernaturall faith and sacred obedience to his damnable lawes and forged traditions so that as in a true sense it may bee an Article of Faith yea the forme and ground of all their faith in that Church Wee beleeue our
holy Father the Pope so it may bee likewise a new principle of religious worship with them Wee adore and worship our Holy Father the Pope and as for their taking of diuers superstitious markes of communion vnder him in their hands and foreheads what more manifest as wee shall anon most fully declare Now the Pontificians to auoid this grieuous imputation sticking so close to their sides knowing for certaine that not any of their Popes euer as yet erected any such reall Beast or reall Image of Beast as is described by Saint Iohn to bee adored and worshipped hauing so many heads and Why Popish Rabbies dreame of a reall Beast to be set vp by Antichrist for adoration hornes in proportion like a Leopard hauing the feete of a Beare and the mouth of a Lion Againe they knowing for certaine that their Popes as yet neuer compelled their followers to receiue any rcall markes by inustion or incision in their hands or vpon their foreheads Here hence it is that they are so strongly addicted to the litterall interpretation of this prophecie of a reall Beast of a reall Image and of the reall adoring and worshipping of the same together with the receiuing of reall markes of the Beast by incision or by inustion in their hands or on their foreheads But O the vanity of this so doting an interpretation How verified against Psal 49. 13. them is that of the Prophet Man being in honour hath not vnderstood hee hath beene compared with the beasts and been made like vnto them For against this their vanitie many contrarieties impossibilities and absurdities doe concurre Contrarieties against Their vaine interpretation against all Antiquitie against their owne Tenents the ioynt interpretation of all the Auntients who all of them none excepted doe interprete the Beast either for the whole multitude of the wicked or for the wicked State and Empire of Antichrist himselfe Contrariety against their owne doctrine they all generally affirming that Antichrist shall suppresse all manner of Idolatry what likelihood then that hee shall set vp so absurd and mishapen a beast or image of the beast for idolatrous adoration and worship Contrarietie against their owne doctrine diuers of them teaching that the Beast typeth Contrarieties against the same forth and signifieth by one of his heads the very State and Empire of Antichrist himselfe yea Bellarmine frequent Bellar. de Rom. Pont. lib. 3. c. 5. in his ouersight and contradictions affirmeth as much Againe how many impossibilities doe present themselues against this their interpretation of such a reall beast reall markes reall inustions and incisions Impossibilitie for how Bell. lib. 3. de Rom. Pont. c. 8. possible that within the space of three yeeres and a halfe the full time of the Beasts reigne in the opinion of all Pontificians that the whole earth the Inhabitants of the whole earth should be brought personally and presentially to adore and worship such a Beast what shall the faire Beast bee carried vp and downe from Countrey to Countrey like their Holy Father vpon mens shoulders or like their Siluer-shrines vpon mens backes or like their God of bread by their handes in Siluer-turretts or shall it Dagonlike bee reared and set vp for a Pilgrimage-stocke in some Wood or Groue or in some Chappell as at Loretto Mount-serratâ— Sichem or shall this adoration onely bee done by some Puppet-images in the bosomes of the Beasts sworne deuouts like those of Diana or like those their bosome-Godlings worne by diuers of their deuouts in their bosomes prettie small Images of their Images adored and worshipped at Loretto Mountserrato Sichem Impossibilities against the same and elsewhere Answere O yee our Aduersaries and Aduersaries of Gods truth how this adoration of such a reall Beast or Image of the Beast shall be performed by the Inhabitants of the earth Againe impossibilities for how shall such a Beast except it be a liuing Gereon-like monster fight his battailes What weapons shall hee vse for the ouercomming of Gods Saints In what manner and forme of gouernment shall hee rule and gouerne the whole earth how shall hee speake or what language shall it vse how shall one of the Beasts heads be cut off Apoc. 13. so that the Beast shall thereupon dye and yet bee reuiued againe Let our Aduersaries remoue these impossibilities with many such like or else let them cease to dreame any longer after so doting a conceit of a reall Beast or Image of a beast to bee set vp by Antichrist to bee worshipped and adored Besides contraricties and impossibilities how absurd also Absurdities against the same is this their Paradoxe how absurd to thinke that wily Antichrist should reare vp such a beast to bee adored How absurd that the whole world should bee drawne to the adoration of such a beast How absured to dreame that the reall Ribera apud Viâ—gaâ— Vitgas in cap. 13. apoc sect 7. marke or image of a Dragon so Ribera the Iesuite or that the picture of Antichrists owne person so Viegas the Iesuite should by reall inustion impression or incission be burnt or cut into the very hands and fore-heads of the followers of Antichrist 3. Yee who pretend to bee followers and admirers of venerable Antiquitie yea your Tridentine Fathers command you not to interpret the Scriptures against the vnanimous consent of the Ancients tell vs who or how many of the Antient Fathers euer dreamed of this your conceite of such reall beasts markes inustions or incisions True it is somefew but those not very antient as Primasius and Ansbertus haue affirmed that the marke of the Beast shall bee composed of Apud Viogam in Apoc. 13. three Greeke letters P T X which ioyned and framed into one forme and figure doe compendiously represent the name of Christ But this their conceit by no meanes pleaseth our Aduersaries for thereout it may be inferred that in the opinion of the Ancients Antichrists mystery of iniquity shall be a pretensed mistery vnder the very name of Christ A very Vice-gerency in the stead and place of Christ the very thing which the Pope arrogantly assumes to himselfe that which his flatterers doe attribute vnto him that for which all the world admires after him Thus haue wee laid open and refuted the interpretation of our Aduersaries wee come now to declare the true sense of these words I pray againe O thou God who art the reuealer Our prayer of all secrets reueale this thy truth vnto vs First of the Beast and of the Image of the Beast in abstracto what they are afterwards in concreto and by way of application where Gerson tract contra heresin dei communione sub vtra specie to 1. p. 522. Ambros ser 8. in Psal 118. Dan. 7. What the Beast is that a very State wicked Empire is thereby signified they are who they are If any one adore the Beast and the Image of the Beast c.
of mind from all the Inhabitants of the Earth Loe how that of the Prophet is accomplished That Apoc. 13 4. the whole earth admired after the Beast This reason I confirme with the words of Odoard Guilliand Bishop of Casâ—nâ—â— Odoard Guilliâ—dus de Ciuili moral Facult lib. 14 cap. 3. a Citie of Flaminia in Italy This man in a certaine booke of his dedicated to Clement the eighth doth excellently describe vnto vs the Diuinitie and Godhead of their Holy Fathers the Popes A Papa saith hee tanquam à Capite in vniuersum Ecclesiae corpus hoc est in omnem Christianan rempublicam spiritus influunt celestium gratiarum sensum fructumque praestantes efficacem motum ad sempiternam beatidinem merito igitur Sanctissimus Beatissimus appellatur ab omnibus religionem Christianam profitentibus quasi quidam Deus adoratur colitur From the Pope as from the head there doth flow into the whole body of the Church that is into the whole Christian common-wealth certaine spirits of heauenly graces which doe yeeld both sense and fruit and efficacious The Pope to be adored as a cerâ—aine God motion to euerlasting happinesse worthily therefore is hee called most Holy and most Blessed and of all those who professe Christian Religion hee is to bee adored and worshipped as a certaine God Thus hee and such is the blasphemous note and tune of diuers of them flat opposite to that confession of the Saints in the Reuelations Saluation commeth from our God that sitteth vpon the Throne and from the Lamb. And shall Apoc 7. 10. wee desire more to lay open the blasphemous presumption of that State or shall wee dare to affirme that such Admirers Reuel 13. 3. after the Beast that sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if hee were God are in the 2. Thess 2. 4. state of saluation if they bee wilfully obstinate and reluctant against the truth sufficiently proposed vnto them In the third place I reason thus The Antichristian Third Reason state is that very Gouernment against which in the very height of her pride and presumptions certaine zealous and Godly Preachers foresignified by the three Angels Reuel 14. 6 7 8 9 10 11. flying through the middest of Heauen and hauing the euerlasting The preaching of the three Angells accomplished against the Papall State Gospel were to oppose themselues by preaching the feare and worship of God alone and keeping of his commandements and consequently were to beat downe all manner of Idolatry and Wilworship reared vp against the same were againe in the second place to sound out the ruine and desolation of that State and consequently were to check the insolent confidence of her followers and Admirers glorying in her euer infallibility and indefectibilitie And lastly were in the third place to dehort from all manner of communion with that state and agreeingly were to teach all true Christians to detest the marks and characters of that State And is not this the very selfe-Gospel The Papall State persecuteth the Preachers typed by the three Angels of Reformation which the Pastours and Doctours of the Reformed Churches doe now sound out against the Papall State yea and according to the prediction of the Prophets to the begun ruine of the Papall State This reason Apoc. 14. 2. may bee confirmed if with all wee consider that euen as it is foretold in the Reuelation the same Chapter The Antichristian State would conceiue so great rage against the said Preachers typed by the three Angells for such their preaching and doctrines that thereupon it would raise Reue. 14. 12 13 or cause to bee raised against them most fearefull persecutions persecutions so great and so manifold that the Spirit of God though it meet to prearme his chosen against the same with these and such like comfortable instructions Here is the faith and patience of Saints here are those who keepe the commandements of God and the faith of Iesus Blessed are those who dye in the Lord who dye for the Lord From henceforth saith the Spirit they shall rest from their labors Reuel 2. 29. Thus there In which most comfortable instructions doth not the Spirit of God manifestly premonish and prearme vs of these times against the Pope Heare all yee that haue eares to heare what the Spirit of God saith to the Churches The Pastors of the Reformed churches suffered from the Pope according as by Gods Spirit it hath bin foretold For is not this the very thing which is now and hath formerly beene acted in the world Doe not the Pastors and Doctors of the Reformed Churches and other faithfull suffer for this very cause for that they sound out publikely the doctrines of the three Angells the Euerlasting Gospell of the feare of God alone of the ruine and fall of Babylon of the State of the Beast and against the taking of the markes and characters of the Beast in hand or on forehead and from whom or by whose meanes do they suffer for such things but from the Papall state What Inquiries are made after them What hideous Inquisitions are reared for them What Crosse-warres haue beene proclaimed against them Aske our Fathers of old in France Italy Germany Spaine England Denmarke Scotland Burgandy and where not Our Aduersaries the Pontificians cannot deny this it being the very desire of their Fathers and of their owne soules Let it then rest proued that the principle prophecie against the State of the Beast being accomplished in the Papall State that the Papall State is the very State of the Beast And so I adioyne a fourth reason thus That is the Antichristian State typed by the Beast and Fourth Reason the Image thereof or typed by the seuen and eight August 20. de Ciuit c. 19. Hier. ad Algas quest 11. in Dan ad GerontiaÌ„ de monogamia Tertul. de resurrect carnis Cir. catech 15. Chrys Ambros Theophil Oecume Primasi in 2. Thesâ— 2. The Papall State hath done out of the way tho Roman Empire See glos in Canon si Imperatori Radeuic de gestis Friderici Sidon l. 11. de regno Italiâ— heads thereof which was in the very gouernment of Rome it selfe to succeed the Roman temporall Empire So diuers of the Ancient Fathers Austen Hierom Lactantius Tertullian with others haue affirmed vnto which Antichristian State also ten Kings a number certaine for an vncertaine springing out of the ruines of the Roman Empire were for a time to giue their powers for the honouring and supporting of her and yet afterwards forsaking her would bend their forces against her God putting the same into their hearts to make her desolate and consume her with fire And is not this the very Papall State it selfe succeeding in the Gouernment and Empire ouer Rome the Roman Temporall Empire For in Rome who knowes not that it is reputed no lesse crime then le-so-Sanctitie
to affirme the Emperours that are now to haue ought to doe therin independently from the Pope or that they haue any Emperiall Soueraignty ouer Rome no no in the faith of the Pope and his Imperator Presens the present Emperour is but Homo ligius Papae A liege deuout seruant to the Pope Againe to too apparent it is that those Kings and Kingdoms into which the temporal Roman Empire vpon her ruine was diuided did the Dragon putting the same into their hearts yeeld and submit their powers and crownes vnto the Papall State for the support of the same And is it not most manifest that the said Kings and Kingdomes God putting the same into their hearts haue alreadie begun to hate the Papall State to make it desolate to consume it with the fire of the zeale of Gods glory and truth God grant they continue the same vnto the end but should any States or Kingdomes which haue begun in the spirit decline to the flesh yet shall they neuer bee able to make frustrate and void Gods infallible and ineuitable decree of the vtter ruine and fall of the Autichristian State euen as of a milstone cast into the bottomlesse Sea whereof there remaineth Apoc. 17. neither token nor memory And so I adde a fifth proofe The Antichristian State is that State which was to haue Fifth Reason her Sea and to reside in mysticall Babylon mysticall Babylon that Great Citie which is situated vpon seuen Hills that Reu. 17. 9. 4 18 c. Citie which in S. Iohns time had rule and command ouer the Kings of the Earth that Citie which was to be a whore The Antichristian Throne in Rome and Apostata from her first faith by superadding many doctrines of deuills and errors of wicked spirits and yet 1. Tim. 4. was insolently to glory of her euer-in errabilitie and that shee should see no widow-hood that Citie which was to Reuel 17. 2. make drunke with the cup of her abominations pretending to bee the sole mother of Christianitie all the Kings and Ibid. 4. Kingdomes of the Earth that Citie which was to be ruddy with the bloud of Saints those Saints which were to suffer for the testimony of Iesus I interpret for the sole faith of Iesus as the onely meanes of saluation That Citie which Ibid. 5. was to haue the name Mystery written in her forehead full of mysteries professing mysteries making mysteries That Citie which was with honour riches and glory to inrich and make glorious all her Louers and Admirers the Inhabitants of the Earth And are not all these things most punctually accomplished in the Papall State I need not to repeat nor to make any particular application but I say againe and againe are not all these things with all other such like fore prophecied by the Spirit of God against the Antichristian State fulfilled and accomplished in the Papall State which hath its residence in Rome its Throne and See in Rome c. Some of our Aduersaries that so wee may answere an A vaine obiection obiection by the way doe against this reason pretend a very idle euasion they acknowledge that Rome shall bee the Seat of the Antichristian State and of the Beast but Rome Ethnike say they not Rome Christian Rome as it was before the daies of Constantine but not Rome as it is now in these our times O the vanitie of this answere Rome The Answere Ethnike as it was before the time of Constantine is to be the Throne of the Antichristian State and Seat of the Beast and yet in their owne opinions Antichrist is not to come vntill a verie short time before the consummation of the world and then also his reigne in their opinions is to be onely of three yeeres and a halfe continuance O that these wise Sages would informe vs how this their Inerrable and Infallible Papall See so they glory shall become Ethnike and Heathenish By what precursour of Antichrist shall it bee so made Heathenish for the entertaining of the Great Antichrist shall Antichrist himselfe make it Heathenish and Ethnike shall he reare vp the adoration of many Gods the proper character and badge of Heathenisme that they cannot say for they professe vainely that Antichrist shall suppresse all manner of Idolatry hee cannot then be in their iudgements the Author of Heanish Idolatry vaine then and most vaine is their pretended reason Againe like vaine is their answere when they pretend A second euasion that the Beast which shall sit at Rome is not the same with that Beast which arises out of the Sea hauing seuen heads Apoc. 13. and ten hornes For doe they not all confesse that both Answere Beasts doe type vnto vs Antichrist yea the Great Antichrist which Antichrist in all their iudgements shall bee so indiuidually one onely man that herehence they think they haue an inuincible buckler of defence against vs that their Popes are not Antichrist nor the Beast for that they are not one only man but many yea very many a whole Generatinn of men how then can they auoid but that it is one and the same Antichrist which is typed by both the Beasts for if Antichrist typed by both be indiuidually one then of necessitie one and the same State is typed and signified by both the Beasts And if Antichrist typed by the one Beast sit at Rome hee cannot also sit at Babylon vnlesse it bee by turnes or that the faire Beast bee diuided into two parts the one to haue his Throne at Rome the other to haue his seat at Babylon Let it then thus rest proued that the present Papall state is the very Antichristian state typed by the Beast This imputation which is so grieuous and heauie howsoeuer Diuers learned Authors of the Papists Church haue reputed the Papall State Antichristian and of the Beast it may to some as halt betwixt God and Baal for many such medleys these times haue seeme iniurious yet is it not much more then that which some ingenious professours of diuers points of Poperie haue prophetically and couertly heretofore deliuered to the euerlasting confusion of that State Bernard was not farre from the sight hereof for to him in part Gods spirit had reuealâ—d this truth when as in respect of the infinite abuses of the Papall state hee cries out that the Churches of his times Bernard l. 4. de considerat were rather folds for deuills then for sheep and in his sermon vpon the conuersion of S. Paul hee complaineth that Ser. 1. in Conuers S. Pauli the whole Church of Christianity so I interpret seemed to haue conspired against God yea so conspired that in regard In Psal qui habitat Psal 91. thereof hee is bold thus to pronounce elsewhere It remaineth saith hee that the Man of Sin and Sonne of Perdition bee reuealed not onely the day but the very noone-deuill which is not onely transformed into an Angell of