7. Monarchies foure beasts This beast hath the shape of a Beare a Leopard and a Lion because it consisted of three other Empires of the Persians Macedonians and Babilonians before destroyed which by these three beasts were represented This beast had ten hornes and seuen heads the ten hornes are interpreted in the seuenteenth chapter to be ten kings or kingdomes into which the old Empire was to bee diuided after the decay thereof which afterward came to passe the number of ten which is certaine beeing vsed for an vncertaine number according to the maner of the Scriptures The seuen heads chapter seuenteene are interpreted to be seuen hils and seuen kings or orders of supreme Gouernours But Rome hath seuen heades whether you take them for hils or Kings The hils which it was builded vppon are these Capitolinus Palatinus Auentinus Celius Exquilinus Viminalis Quirinalis The orders of Gouernours by whom it was ruled at seuerall times by reason of alterations were Kings Consuls Dictators Decemuiri Triumuiri Emperours of the auncient Nobilitie of Rome and lastly Emperors of strange families Vpon those heads whether yee talke them for hils or Kings were the names of blasphemie for vpon the hils were builded Temples dedicated to Minerua Saturne and heathen gods and the Gouernors or Kings themselues were heathens and worshipped Idols of the Gentiles One of the seuen heads which was the race of the Emperours of the auncient Roman Nobilitie was wounded in the person of Nero which beeing the last of the Family of Iulius flue himselfe after whose death the whole estate of the Empire was in ieopardy by reason of disention among them that did affect the Empire But that deadly wound was healed againe by Vespasran which appeased all strife and himselfe sustained the burden of the Empyre Fiue of those kings saith the Angel are fallen one is the other is yet to come and when he commeth he must continue but a short space Those fiue which were fallen were Kings Consuls Dictators Triumuiri Decemuiri which order of Gouernours were abrogated before S. Iohns time the sixt which was of the Emperours of the auncient Nobilitie of Rome was then remayning when S. Iohn liued Domitian being Emperour the seuenth which was of the Emperors of straunge families was then to come and when it came it continued not long after the departure of Constantine into the East To which hee addeth The beast which was and is not is the eight and is one of the seuen and shall go into destruction By which eight hee meaneth the order of the Popes Of the beast meaning the whole Empire hee speaketh in this manner The beast which thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit meaning that the Empire was it was not In the time of Domitian it was because it stood it was in the power of the Roman Nobility but it was not in the same state in which it was before because from Iulius to Nero it was hereditary and tied vnto one familie but Nero the last of that family being dead it was deuolued to Emperours of an other stocke and kindred and it was to ascend out of the bottomles pit not in the former state vnder the Emperours but in another state vnder the Popes Lastly he sheweth the destruction of the political Antichrist saying If any leade away captiue he must be led into captiuitie if any kill he must be killed Wherefore nowe that hinderance is taken away which Paul speaketh of 2. Thess 2. the Emperors giue place to the popes and the Ecclesiasticall Antichrist is described in this maner I saw another beast with two hornes ascend out of the earth c. This beast with two hornes is all one with the purple harlot Apocal. 17. for both be token the state of the popedome the ecclesiasticall Antichrist This beast ascendeth out of the earth that is it commeth of base parentage hath two horns like like the lambe for Antichrist taketh vpon him to be Christes vicar speaketh like the dragon for he teacheth lies which proceed from the old dragon the deuill which was a liar from the beginning giues life to the image of the first beast for notwithstanding the ancient emperours are deceased the popes haue ordained new emperors in the west which keep the same name and title although being compared with them they be but images or rather shadows And the number of the name of this Antichrist is 666. which number both in Greeke and Hebrew doth agree with the bishops of Rome In the Hebrew name Romijth is the same number for Resh signifieth 200 Vau 6 Mem 40. double Iod 20. Tau 400 which being put together make the number of the beast 666. Likewise the Latine name Romanus written in Hebrue characters maketh the same numbers for Resh signifieth 200. as it did before Mem 40. Gnaiin 70. Nun 50. Vau 6. Schin 300 which make 666. Likewise in Greeke this name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which also is the name of the Bishops of Rome by adding to according to the maner of the Greeks in such names as are made Greeke as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Casarea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Nepthalim signifieth 30. α 1. τ 300. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 50. ο 70. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 200 which make 666. Lastly concerning the place where this Ecclesiasticall Antichrist doth reign that same beast with two horns Which is called the whore Apo. 17 which whore in the same place is interpreted to be a great Citie which reigneth ouer the Kings of the earth sitteth vpon the beast with seuen heads and ten hornes which representeth the Empire of Rome vnder the old Emperors wherein it is manifest that the Ecclesiastical Antichrist succeedeth the politicall and sitteth in the place of the Roman Emperors so that Antichrist further than Rome is not to be sought for Thus haue you heard how all the prophesies concerning the disclosing of Antichrist are fulfilled in the Bishops of Rome and that all those prophesies can not bee verified of any else it is most euident for as much as no other Bishops or secular Princes take vpon them to bee Christs Vicars generall ouer all the world which is to sit as God in the Temple of God No other States ascribe vnto themselues power aboue all powers in heauen and earth which is to exalt themselues aboue God No other States haue set vp Emperours in the West which is to giue life to the image of the beast Finally no States beare sway in a Citie builded vpon seuen hils which Citie reigneth ouer the Kings of the earth but they Therefore I may safely make this conclusion The succession of the Bishops of Rome which hath beene since Boniface the third and continued these nine hundred yeares is that Antichrist which Saint Iohn speaketh of in this place Wherefore seeing the comming of Antichrist is an argument of the latter end of the world and this great and notorious Antichrist hath beene reuealed vnto vs so long agoe what remaineth but that nowe wee lift vp our heads for our Redemption draweth neere and that we looke for a newe Heauen and a new Earth and the holy citie newe Ierusalem comming downe from God out of Heauen prepared as a beide trimmed for her husband Against which comming God grant we may be readie our nakednes being clothed with wedding garments our loynes girded our steps lightned with our Lamps in our hands for the Lambe Christ Iesus his sake to whom with the father and the holy Ghost be ascribed all honour power and glorie both now and euermore Amen FINIS
Downe with it downe with it to the ground Psal 137 Rase it vp rase it vp to the pauement and raise our own houses as high as the wals of Troy or rather if it might be as the tower of Babel seeing that we cannnt inioy them longer than an houre Galen maketh mention of a melancholy man which reading in poets how Atlas supported heauen with his shoulders receiued so deepe an impression of the same in his mind that he was in a bodily feare least Atlas should faint and let heauen fall vpon our heads And shall we which be Christians liue in such carnall security that when we see as it were with our eies and heare dayly with our eares that heauen cracketh haue so little feeling as to think heauē would stand for euer let vs rather with Noah enter into the arke let vs with Lot depart speedily out of Sodom that as Lot himself did which wēt forward not as his wife which looked backe and was turned into a pillar of salt let vs with Ezechias prepare our selues to die and bid the world adue Let vs as Christ willeth vs gird vp our loines haue our lamps lighted in our hands that we may be ready to meete the bride Let vs rather folow the example of sir Tho. More of whom it is said that being offered a petition by a woman as hee went to his execution aunswered Woman I am now going about the kings busines I haue no leysure to read petitions than of Richard the third in Bosworth field who being him selfe as a deadman prepared to execute the L. Standlies son his friends told him it was not then any time to do execution but high time to looke to himselfe I wish that the great Polititians and Wizards of this world who intend as much sacriledge as he did murther would begin to be as wise towards God as they are towards the world and at the last consider that it is nowe no time to cōmit sacriledge but it is high time for them to think on their owne saluation S. Peter putteth them in mind of two godly meditations far more fit for these times and most profitable for the health of their soules Frst saith he Seeing all those things 2. Pet. 3 must be dissolued what maner of persons ought you to be in holy conuersation and godlines looking for hastning to the comming of the day of God by the which the heauens being on fire must be dissolued and the elements shall melt with heat Secondly we must looke for a new heauen and a newe earth according to his promise wherein righteousnes doth dwel land seeing that wee looke for such things wee must bee diligent that we may bee found without spot or blamelesse Some what remaineth to be spoken of the second part which is of the cōming of Antichrist whose cōming the Apostle taketh for a most sure ground to prooue that it is the end of the world where hee saith Yee haue heard that Antichrist shal come euen now there are many Antichrists whereby wee knowe that it is the last houre In my discourse of the comming of Antichrist first because that name hath many significations I will by foure distinctions take away the ambiguitie of the word Secondly I will define what Antichrist is Thirdly I will descend to particulers to discouer vnto you that mā of sinne and to point out who is that Antichrist whom the Apostle meaneth in this place which shal be a sufficiēt proof against our countrimē of Rhemes that his cōming is not now to be expected but that he was 900. yeares since reueled to vs. Such as haue learned the rudiments of Grammer are not ignorant that this proposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth these things likenesse and equalitie in which sense no man can be Antichrist because no man can be like him or equal with him any one which is in the place steed of another according to which signification the pope falsly taketh vpon him that he is Antichrist which is Christs deputie or vicar generall ouer his Church contrarietie and so euery one is Antichrist which is an aduersarie vnto Christ of this Antichrist only the Apostle speaketh which maintaineth doctrine contrary to that which our sauiour Christ hath taught and therfore is an aduersarie vnto him And this Antichrist which is Christs aduersary is takē two maner of wayes in the scriptures as Saint Iohn hath distinguished in this place either generally for any aduersary of the truth or more especially for such an enemy as is capital notorious aboue the rest For where he saith Euen now there are many Antichrists he speaketh not of any one person or state or succession or kingdome aboue the rest but generally of all which oppose thēselues against any point of Christs doctrine But where he saith Ye haue heard that Antichrist shal come he speaketh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of one which is eminent and notoriously opposeth himselfe not in one point but in the chief questions of Christian religion Againe this famous and notorious Antichrist is either political or ecclesiastical for Apoc. 13 1 Iohn 4. Apoc. 13 Apoc. 17 the old empire of Rome vnder the heathēs which Iohn calleth a beast with seuē heads and ten hornes is the politicall Antichrist which flourished in the Apostles time of which he said he is now alreadie in the world but the ecclesiasticall Antichrist which is called by 3. names as the beast ascēding out of the earth with 2. horns the harlot sitting vpon the first beast and the beast that was is not is the eight is one of the seuen which 3. names signifie one thing that is the state of Popes raigning in the place of the Emperors for that is to sit vpon the beast with seuen heads and they are called a beast for their crueltie a woman for their Ezec 23 Hosea 2 2. Thes 2 pride an harlot for their idolatrie which is spirituall fornication And this Ecclesiasticall Antichrist is taken also two manner of waies by S. Paule either properly or figuratiuely properly for an whole bodie or kingdome or state which is opposite to Christ where he saith There must come a departure or a reuoltment first and the misterie of iniquitie doth alreadie worke In which words he speaketh of a generall Apostacie from sound religion For in Diuinitie contrary to the rules of Logick indefinite propositions in matter contingent are almost vniuersall not to bee vnderstoode of some few but either of all or else of the greatest part as for example Iniquitie shall abound Luke 18 Matt. 24 charitie shall waxe cold faith shal not be found vpon the earth not the iniquitie or faith or charity of a few is to be vnderstood but almost of all the inhabitants of the earth Againe with the whore haue committed fornication Apoc. 17 the inhabitants of the earth the proposition is indefinite yet generally to bee vnderstoode for so it
make the godly watchfull for so writeth Peter the ende of all things is at hand be ye 1. Pet. 4 therefore sober and watchfull in prayer to arm the afflicted with patience seeing they haue but a litle tribulation to endure so saith our Sauiour When you see these things begin Luc. 21. to come to passe then looke vp and lift vp your heads for your redemption draweth neer And rebuking the drowsinesse of Peter Iames and Iohn he draweth argument of reprehension from the breuitie of the time saying could ye not haue watched with mee one Mar. 14. houre Seeing it is but an houre we must not be heauie as the Apostles which slept nor loose as Sathan which the neerer he is to his iudgement the more he rageth nor enuious as the euill tenant which when his lease is almost expired maketh wast and hauock but patient like trauellers which are lesse wearie being almost at their iourneys end and vigilant as the faithfull seruant which when he is neere his freedom is more dutifull in his seruice because he hath but a short time to serue But for my better proceeding and your edifying in my two houres discourse of this one and last houre cōcerning the first part these four points in particular by Gods gracious assistance and your christian patience are to be discussed First of the weaknesse of their arguments which hold this conclusion that the worlde shall neuer haue an end Secondly their rashnesse is to bee discouered which make a shew of diuinitie but in deed set abroch their owne conceits and priuate phantasies and so vnaduisedly take vpon them to demonstrate when the world must haue an end Thirdly how far we may bee bold to determin hauing first with iudgement and sobrietie looked into the state of this question Fourthly after it shall be made euident that the kingdom of God is not now è longinquo but è propinquo not a far off but euen at our doores how we ought to behaue our selues in the meane time expecting the most blessed comming of our Sauiour Christ Concerning the first point two sortes of men denie that the world shal haue an end Philosophers and Atheists The Philosophers Phys l. 8. draw their proofes from naturall reason the Atheists from Diuinitie both are controlled by this place The Philosophers argue out of Aristotle that the worlde shall haue no ende because it had no beginning that it had no beginning because it was alwayes in motion that it was alwayes in motion because God in whom all other things haue their being and mouing euer moued it for nothing els could be moued by him if the world were not and if he did not alwais moue as nowe hee doth he is not constant and permanent in one estate but subiect to chaunge which is an absurditie and may not be graunted But because such curiositie doth not edifie and I am not to play the Philosopher in this place and faith is not agreeable to naturall reason I answere Aristotle the mirrour of humaine witte not by witte or humaine reason for that I can not but against him I oppose the doctrine of Saint Paule Where is the disputer 1. Cor. 1. hath not God made the wisdome of this worlde foolishnesse seeing the world by wisdome knew not God in the wisdome of God it pleased God through the foolishnesse of preaching to saue them that beleeue Christ saith that which is Iohn 3. flesh is fleshly Aristotle though the wisest among the Gentiles was a sensuall man and therefore vnderstood not the things which were of God I come to the Atheists which as Beza In anotat in Pet. 2. Pet. 8. writeth are in the courts of Princes Of thē saith Peter This first vnderstand that there shall come in the latter dayes mockers which shall will be after their owne lustes and say where is the promise of his comming for since the fathers slept ad things haue continued alike from the first creation In the which wordes they draw a weake argument from the long continuance of the worlde to prooue the perpetuitie of the same and conclude this enthymem The worlde hath euer continued alike from the first Creation therfore it shall alwaies so continue The Apostle maketh answere to the antecedent two maner of wayes First hee denieth it to be true by a notable instance for once saith he the world was destroied by a deluge of water therefore all things haue not continued alike from the first creation Secondly Gen. 7. besides that the long continuance of the worlde if it were graunted were no argument to proue the perpetuitie of the same he answereth by a distinctiō that this long continuance were long in respect of men only not of God so that these 5500 yeares which are commonly reckoned from the first creation vntill this age are but as fiue daies and an halfe in the sight of God a verie short time which saint Peter proueth by the authoritie of the Prophet Psal 90. who affirmeth that a thousand yeares are with God as short as one day euen as one day with God is as long as a thousand years with men Hauing answered the obiection of the Atheists the Apostle disputeth against thē by an argument à simili in this maner Euen as the old world meaning the earth which was of the water and by the water had her being and continuance by the word of God and by the same word of God and the same waters it perished so the new world meaning both heauen and earth are by the same word kept in store and reserued to fire Asmuch as if he had said before the floud the world continued long yet at length it was destroyed by the same thing of which it consisted which was the element of water so after the floud it hath continued longer yet it is the second time to be destroyed of the other element of which it consisteth which is fire When the floud had ceased the Lord gaue the rainbow for a token of his couenāt between Gen. 9. him and vs but in the rainbow are especially to bee obserued two things the figure there of and the colours whereby it is made visible vnto our eies the figure is like a semicircle cut off in the middle by our Horizon so that to our sight it seemeth to reach from the highest arch of heauen to the lowest foundation of the earth to signifie that for as much as man which dwelleth in the lowest earth offended him which fitteth in Psal 2. the highest heauen Gods mercie pierced the clouds and descended from the highest heauen to the lowest foundation of the earth vnto the sonnes of men But the colours where with it is beautified are principally two the one is a Sea-colour which betokeneth Water where with it was drowned the other fierie betokening the other Element wherunto the world vntil the day of iudgement is reserued The Philosophers and Atheists beeing gainsaid
neuer shut vp because it is nothing else but epistola scripta ad humanum genus a long letter or a large epistle written not to the faithfull onely but to al mankind to all which bee illuminated by the light of nature not such a letter as is sealed vp with his priuie signet Multi vocati pauci Matt. 20 2. Tim. 2. electi many are called and few are chosen and solus deus nouit suos only God knoweth his but his letters patents wherein is written Domini est terra plenitudo eius the Psal 24 Psal 8 earth is the Lordes and all that therein is and Quid est homo quod memor es illius what is man that thou art so mindefull of him alwayes lying open that euery man may read and written in folio that standing a far off they may reade and in great capital letters that running they may reade And vpon more than we can finde written in these two bookes wee may not presume But as for the third booke which is called the booke of life and the booke sealed vp Phil. 4 Dan. 12 Exod. 32 Apoc. 22 Apoc. 5 with seuen seales which is the secrete will of God it is not reuealed to Angels much lesse to men in that booke are written gods secret counsels concerning the election of Iacob and reprobation of Esau the calling of the Gentiles and reiecting of the Iewes which go beyond the capacitie of man and finallie of this last and dreadfull iudgement the time whereof the Apostles desired to knowe but no directer aunswere was giuen them than this Of the day and houre Mat. 24 knoweth no man c And it is not for you to knowe the times and seasons which the Acts 1 Father hath appoynted in his owne power Daniel desired to knowe but it was saide Dan. 12 vnto him But thou O Daniel shut vp the wordes and seale vp the Booke till the ende of the time Nowe out of the booke of nature concerning this time though we cannot discipher vnto you the houre day moneth or yeare because it is not there reuealed yet in that booke we do read that it is very neare For nature beginneth generally to intermit her woonted course the mother Elements of the worlde whereof things in this lower world are made doe loose their qualities and naturall vigour which they had before the Starres and Planets of heauen waxe dimme and olde not so well able to preserue our earthly bodies the celestiall spheres bee almost wearie of their woonted motions and regular volubilitie the prince of the lights of Heauen which Psal 19 before came as a bridegroome trimmed out of his chamber dooth not looke vppon vs with so chearefull an aspect and that giant which before did runne his vnwearied race dooth as it were by a languishing faintnesse beginne to stand and rest himselfe the times and seasons of the yeare doc blend themselues with disordered and confused mixture the windes are in a readinesse to breath out their last gaspe our mother the earth defeated of that aboundance of heauenly influence which at the first shee had is out of heart waxeth barren and dead like the wombe of Sara the herbes and simples which are appointed Gen 11 Rom. 4 for medicines for mans bodie haue almost lost their operation and vertue and man himselfe whom all these things do serue is of lower stature lesse strength shorter life than at the first he was so that there is a generall decay of natures and in euerie leafe of that booke it is written that the frame of that heauenly arch erected ouer our heads must very shortly lose dissolue it selfe In the other booke which is the holy Bible are many prophesies concerning that last houre and all the signes and tokens which in these prophesies are foretold to go any distance of time before the day of iudgment are already come to passe onely one excepted which is the last and generall vocation of the Iewes which when and in how short space it shal be fulfilled the Lord onely in his wisdome knoweth But among all those tokens this is principally to be noted which Christ foretold As the dayes of Noah were so shal the comming of the son of mā be In the daies of Noah I note two things Matt. 24 Gen. 6. first great oppressiō in that there were giants vpon the earth secondly a general corruption of all flesh insomuch that God repented him that he had made man vpō the earth and he was sory in his heart And by that prophesie it is plaine that the sonne of man now standeth knocking at our doores because the like times to the daies of Noah are come againe Touching the first the giants are nowe more in number prouder in heart loftier in their lookes stouter in their gate and pace than they were in the dayes of Noah for almost euery rich man is a gyant in the place where he dwelleth The potters vessell said to the brazen caldron Tua mihi vicinitas non placet soror I will not come nigh thee for feare of a knocke neither dareth the poore man dwell by the rich for feare of a check It is not safe for the poore man to cōtend with the rich though his cause be good no more than it is for the earthen pitcher to iustle with the brazen cauldron swimming down the streame lest it be broken all to potsherds Better it is to lose his right with peace and quietnes Report is made of an Emperor which desired to marry his owne daughter he asked counsell of the lawyers whether the marriage were lawfull or not they aunswered that they knew no law in particular which alloweth a father to marry his daughter but neuerthelesse they had found out a law in generall which would permit the same because euery mighty mā might do what him listed I wish that all men to whō the sword of iustice is committed would remember the prophesie of the poet Chaucer When faith failes in in priests sawes And Lords hests are holden for lawes And robberie is holden purchase And lecherie is holden solace Then shall the lond of Albion Be brought to great confusion We reade of Nimrod which was a great hunter vpon the earth But I feare least in Gen. 10 our dayes in stead of that one we haue many Nimrods which hunt as the Lion did with foxes and asses which when they had taken their prey the Lion beeing able by force to take all to himselfe woulde seeme verie iust and take no more than by right was due vnto him and to impart the rest to his fellow hunters Wherefore because it is a rule Cuius est partitio eius non est electio The same may not bee both a diuider and a chooser he caused the Asse to diuide the spoyle The Asse like a simple animal as an Asse would doe diuided it verie iustly into three equall portions the Lion misliking the diuision tore the