booke it selfe to be shewed to the Church and the name to the booke 3. The most true immediate rightfull owner by the gift of his Father Christ Iesus who sent shewed it to his servants 4. The end wherefore it was given to be shewed 5. The persons to whom it must be shewed his servants 6. A touch of the subject Things which must shortly come to passe 7. The meanes Instruments imployed by our Saviour in this service of Revelation an Angell and an Apostle euen that Apostle who before had ben tried and found faithfull in bearing witnes of the word of God and of Christ Iesus and of all things that he saw his servant Iohn the same who by the H. Ghost was authorised aboue all others to intitle himself Ioh. 21 24. 19 35. A witnes of the things which he saw and therefore of credit aboue all exception and that aswell in his Gospell and Epistles 1 Ioh. 1 1. as in this Revelation Now upon these seven grounds touched in the entrance I propose this Question How this booke can be reputed darke and obscure which God himself hath intitled a Revelation Ephes 5. Eâ—ai 5. or Manifestation Light maketh all things manifest sayth the Apostle And doth the spirit of Trueth call darknes light or light darknes 2. God the Author is light and in him is no darknes 1 Ioh. 1. He maketh light to shine out of darknes 2 Cor. 4. not darknes to come of light 2 The. 2 10. unlesse it be to the children of darknes that loue not the light Also our Saviour Christ is the true light that lighteneth everie one yea the Brightnes of Light He is the Trueth Ioh. 1. Hebr. 1. protesteth of himself in these words whatsoever I have heard of my father I have made known unto you How then can it be said Ioh. 15. that he hath not made this also known which God gaue him to be shewed 3. Our Saviour Christ the true and rightfull owner 1 Cor. 12. as in his mysticall body is one with his Church Ephes 5. and we are all members of that bodie how then can that be said to be concealed from the bodie that is revealed to the head 4. The same inference will follow upon all the other four points aboue noted as upon the 4 Seeing God gaue it to be shewed upon the 5 Ps 119 125 seeing it is directed to be shewed to his servants who must labour to know their Masters will Vpon the 6 Luke 12. seeing it concerneth things that must shortly come to passe and therefore inconvenient to be hid and kept secret And upon the 7 seeing it was committed to two most faithfull ministers of purpose to be signified to the church and thereupon most godly men haue laboured from time to time to search it out and expound it why should we despair to speake of it as the Heathen man doth in Minutius that neither it is given to us to know it nor permitted to search it nor lawfull to require it And not raither say as it is there by the Christian Oratour replyed that to us whose faces God hath lifted up to Heaven and whom he hath indued with speach and reason whereby to know and speake of him yea more to whom he hath directed it to be shewed It is not lawfull to reject this heavenly brightnes which not onely offreth but intrudeth itself into our eyes and senses The obscuritie of this Booke is not to terrifie us from it Aug. de civ dâ—i l 20 17 but to exercise our mindes in it sayth the learned Father Let this therefore suffice coÌ„cerning the obscuritie that it is not invincible but we ought to search it out 2. Let us now therefore Christo Duce for a second Problem inquire of the meanes whereby we may attain to the understanding of this booke For it cannot be denied but there are in it manie mysteries which it is not giuen to all men to understand but it is giuen to some of whom our Saviour sayth vobis datum est it is giuen to you Marc. 4. and for them he hath ordeyned meanes I demand then what are the meanes And whether are not those the best mâ—â—â—es which God himselfe and our Lord Iesus Christ hath shewed us in the Scriptures Aug. de civ dei li. 10 23. Phocyll Nazianz. Aut. nin in sum p. 4.1.4 Prov. 8 13. Wisd 1. viz. 1. True and serious repentance which is as it were the true purgation of the soule so much inquired for by Philosophers and onely revealed to Christians to make us fit to behold heavenly mysâ—â—ies For wisdome sayth he entreth not into a malicious minde nor dwelleth in a sinfull bodie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Constant obedience and care to serue and please God according to our knowledge If any will do his will he shall know the doctrine And if ye continue in my words ye shall know the trueth Naz. Ioh. 7 17. 8 31. Rev. 5 4. 10 9. 3. Earnest prayer and invocation of God in Christ Iesus which our Apostle used and thereby obteyned to see the opening of this booke and to haue it delivered unto him according to the manifold promises of our Saviour Aske ye shall receiue Mat. 7. seeke and ye shall finde knock and it shall be opened For whosoever asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Whereupon Aske saith venerable Beda by prayer seeke by reading and hearing and knock by doing and practise 4. Diligent reading and meditation upon this booke often recommended unto us by this our Apostle in the Text. Blessed is he that readeth Rev. 1 3. and heareth and keepeth the words of the prophcie of this booke 5 Diligent reading and perusing other bookes and prophesies of the Holy Scripture and conferring one with the other a speciall means to understand the sense and meaning of Propheticall words and Phrases much used in this booke Dan. 9 2. by which means also Daniel confesseth that he understood the end of the Captivitie And some learned men do make no doubt but the literall sence of everie place of Scripture taken with the consent of other places and repugnant to none is the true meaning of the H. Ghost Consent being the most certain badge and cognisance of truth For in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall everie word be confirmed 6. Methodicall proceeding by the rule of learning à notioribus ad minus nota from things once cleared to that which is more obscure and difficult or to use the Apostles Phrase from milke to strong meat Hebr. 5. We must not be alwaies children in understanding and stick in the rudiments or principles nor call that into question which is once made clear And here by the way I would craue a litle leave to aske a question or two concerning the writings of the Fathers
Prophet as they loue their own prejudicate opinion not because it is truer but because it is their own For otherwise they would in like manner and measure loue and approue the true sentence of another as I also loue that which they say when they speak truth not because it is their sentence but because it is truth Therefore to returne to our purpose whichsoever of these two interpretations we take or if we take a third more unlikely then eyther considering whereof we speak namely of the continuance of the power of the Ethnike Roman Monarchie that these 42 moneths making 1260 dayes are to be taken for so many yeares from the incarnation of our Lord it must needs be that they are long since expired and consequently that the power and time of that first beast and Monarchie is long since ended For to take them literally for three yeeres and an half as that godly Father from whom I do not willingly dissent doth in another place limit the continuance of Antichrist upon the words a time two times and a half To take them I say literally that is for three yeeres and an half I thinke to all that haue eyther read or heard of their actions will seem to favour of much mistaking I might say of much ignorance but that reverence to that good Father who had not then the help and light which we now haue makes me forbeare other mens affected and obstinate and wilfull blindnes in this point which deserveth the whipping post But of this more hereafter Let us come therefore to the sixth note which is of his Blasphemie against God and his Church But of this I neede not speak any more having said so much alreadie The seuenth is of his warres against the Saints whereof also I need speak but little seeing the said ten horrible persecutions and many others stirred up by the Roman Emperors against the godly christians of the primitiue church are notorious and known to all men and never the like to be found in any kingdome or nation whatsoever no not under the Turkes But I proceed this Beast or Empire had power over all nations As to giue instance but in one we may read of Dioclesian that within a verie short time he obteyned mightie and great victories in all parts of the world then known namely in Africk over Egypt in Asia over Persia in Europe over France and Brittanie Vpon all which premises I conclude with this Problem Whether these things can be applyed to any person kingdome state or monarchie besides Rome And whether any other can be the Antichrist according to these prophecies but onely he that is the seauenth Head king or Commander of the Roman state And thus we see the place of Antichrist and the state or bodie politique which he must haue Let us now come a little nearer to consider of his names III. The Names No men est per quod quidque noscitur The name of everie thing is that whereby it is known or as it were not a men it is that whereby everie thing is noted or distinguished The authoritie to giue names belongeth primarily to God as Gen. 1 Gen 1. Secondarily to princes and superiours as Adam Gen. 2. Gen. 2 19. Thirdly to the people by consent as Ioh. 13 13. Ioh. 13.13 The conditions required in the imposition of names to make them answerable to the definition and notation aforesaid are veritie congruitie certaintie Vide Platon in Cratyl Thus being imposed and approved they are not to be changed For they are notes of our notions notions of things limits of distinctions and dignities signes of truth and measures of certaintie which being violated or neglected all knowledg turneth to error and confusion all justice to injurie all vertue to villanie as Cato in Salust well noteth In Con. Cat. I am pridem nos vera rerum vocabula amissimus And Seneca complayning of the wickednes of times Prosperum faelix scelus virtus vocatur And hereby may we see the force of the Apostles argument Heb. 1. Hebr. 1 4. and the ignorance and presumption of Heretikes Schismatikes who dare take to themselues new names and leaue the common name of Christians giuen by oracle from God most certainly approved by God Now if in names giuen by men Acts 11 26. certaintie ought to be observed shall we think that the Spirit of God giveth uncertaine names or will call darknes light or light darknes Esa 5. Questionlesse he doth not giue idle or uncertain names Hebr. 4 12. but in this as in all things els useth words liuely and significant And herein is to be noted a difference betweene the names giuen by God the names instituted by men For men giue names a posteriori because things are so and men conceiue them to be so therefore they call them so But the names giuen by God are a priori because God the Almightie maker of all things hath ordeyned that they shall be so therefore he calleth them so and because he calleth them so therefore they must be so Let us see therefore what names are giuen to this great enemie of Christ and his Church and how these names are used and applied in the Scripture And first of the name Antichrist This name as all men though but meanely learned in the Greeke tongue do know is a word composed of the preposition Anti and the word Christ Anti is used in Greeke sometimes to signifie an adversarie sometime a Deputie or Vicar as many learned men haue heretofore observed and proved That it signifieth an adversarie is confessed by all that it signifieth a deputie substitute or vicar appeareth by the word Anthupatos which is expounded by some Proconsull Act. 19 38. 18 12. by others Deputie Now the names of Christ So AntiStrategos signifieth either a lieutenant or the adverse capteyns which in Hebrue is Messiah and in English signifieth anointed is diversly taken in the holy Scripture First properly personally and Individually for our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ who is God blessed for evermore Secondly Aug. de civ dei l. 17 c. 4. appellatiuely for all that haue a similitude with him by their unction as Kings Priests and Prophets in which sence it is used in the Psalme Psal 105 15 Touch not mine annointed and doe my Prophets no harme and David of king Saul sayth The Lord keep me from doing that unto my master 1 Sam. 24 the Lords annointed to lay mine hand upon him for he is the annointed of the Lord. Thirdly the name of Christ is used mystically for the mysticall bodie of our Saviour Christ 1 Cor. 6. which is his church In which sence the Apostle speaketh Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ 1 Cor. 11. And again Christ is the head of everie man for as the bodie is one 1 Cor. 12. and hath many members and all members
kings and subjects prelates and generall Councels with their lands and goods bodies and soules are giuen to the Pope and that without appeale revocation or question whether he goe to heauen or hell Iudge then Christian Reader whether this Heresie be not greater then that of Arius Pelagius Montanus Ebion Cerinthus Simon Magus or any other Who although they raysed damnable Heresies yet never claimed such prerogatiues Yet you will say that these Heresies mainteyned by the Pope do not denye Christ Iesus as it is sayd of Antichrist that he denyeth both the Father and the Sonne Well if thou be not satisfied by that which I haue sayd before consider what other Heresies are mainteyned by the Pope and how great they be First in the Creede when we beleeue in one God 1 Tim. 6. 1 Ioh. 4. the Father almightie who is a spirit invisible whom no man hath seene at any time nor can see for he dwelleth in light inaccessible is it a small Heresie to maintaine that that most glorious and invisible spirit may be represented to us by the picture of an old man painted upon a wall or graved in stone or wood Is this to be found in the expresse and literall sence of any the Rules aforesaid When we beleeue in one Lord Iesus Christ who was borne of the virgin Marie as a naturall man though not onely man crucified dead and buried as a true man and ascended up into heauen is it a small addition or Heresie to say that this naturall and carnall body now conteyned in heauen is in so manie thousand millions of consecrated Hostes upon earth carnally flesh bloud and bones Must we now haue so many millions of Lords and the Virgin Marie so manie millions of naturall sonnes borne of her bodie And our Saviour must haue so manie millions of bodies that suffered upon the crosse died and was buried for us c. Yea but Hoc est corpus meum and God is Almightie and can doe what he will and so we must beleeue It is true he hath said this is my bodie but did he ever say This is my carnall bodie or naturall Bodie or this is changed or shall be changed into my naturall bodie Is there one word to that effect produced by Bellarmine out of the Scripture or out of any the rules aforesaid He sayth This is my bodie So it is said also that we are members of his bodie Ephes 5. of his bones and of his flesh And the head of everie man is Christ. 1 Cor. 11. Must we beleeue then that we are members of his naturall bodie If not then it appeareth Aug. Sent. 340 341. de doctr christiana lib. 3. 1 Cor. 15. that Christ hath another bodie which is called mysticall or mixt namely his Church There is also a spirituall bodie as well as a naturall sayth the Apostle And may we not say that he hath a representatiue or Sacramentall bodie 1 Cor. 11 39. upon the words of the same Apostle concerning the Sacraments 1 Cor. 10 17 Now if there be so manie kindes of bodies attributed to our Lord where is that knowne and certain rule of Fayth whereby we are bound to beleeue that the words of the Sacrament are meant of his naturall bodie Of which of his bodies is it said that it ascended into heauen Of which is it said that the heauens must conteyne him untill the time of restauration Of which is it said that the flesh profiteth nothing Of which I say of his bodies are these things said if not of his naturall We must beleeue that God is Almightie and can do all things but will he haue us beleeue things contrarie or contradictorie Esa 40 26. We must beleeue God hath ordered all things in number and measure Wisd 11 17 For this is the difference betweene the Creator and the Creature Ioh 28 25. And will he haue us to beleeue that a naturall bodie created Prov. 8 29. should be contained in heauen and yet dispersed in earth carnall in substance and yet invisible and imperceptible finite in measure yet infinite in places one in number and yet innumerable Do they that affirme such a Transubstantiation confesse the sonne to be truly man of the substance of his mother as the Creede speaketh or doe they agree with Eutiches Gods word is true 1 Ioh. 1 1. but would he haue it without witnesses He would haue our eyes eares and hands to be witnesses of the true incarnation of our Saviour Marc. 5 19 30. Luc. 17 17 Act. 1 22 10 41 He would haue manie witnesses to his miracles twelue at least to his Resurrection and in ore duorum aut trium c. In the mouth of two or three witnesses everie word shall stand And would he haue us to understand the words of the Sacrament in absence which hath no witnesses nor any evident place to proue it Looke into Bellarmine and shew but one peece word or place of Scripture that he bringeth to proue it Christ worketh miracles but will he haue us to beleeue a miracle where neither our senses can perceiue it nor he nor any of his Apostles doth say it still I appeale to the Rule of Fayth which must be certaine and knowne as Bellarmine confesseth And if this sense that they will haue of the words of our Saviour cannot be knowne or certain by any of the Rules of fayth then saith Bellarmine it is no rule and then I aske whether this be not a great and wicked addition which they haue made in this point for which so many godly Christians haue been so cruelly martired by them Let us passe to another pointe where we beleeue that our Lord Iesus Christ shall come to judge both quick and dead that to him the Father hath giuen all judgment Ioh. 5 22. as to him that is verie God of verie God Athan. in Symb. Is it a small matter or addition to say that there is an other summus Iâ—dex whom that eternall Iudge hath made as they would haue it his Vicar generall Soveraign Iudge over all the world Bellarmine both of fayth and manners and that can make lawes to binde the Consciences of all men Dispence with Gods Lawes giue Indulgences for sinnes and cannot erre Doth he who mainteyneth such things confesse the Sonne of God to be the onely Iudge or doth he deny his Divinitie with Arius To deny in fact is more then in word in saying he hath neede of a Vicar For God is everie where if Christ also be everie where then to what purpose serveth a Vicar generall Mat. 2 31. And where is this point certainly and litterally to be found in any the Rules aforesaid in such sort as may stand consonant with other parts of the same Rules If not then whether doth he that affirmeth such things confesse the Father and the Sonne Christum negat qui non omnia quae Christi sunt
SACRAE HEPTADES OR SEAVEN PROBLEMS concerning ANTICHRIST 1. Of his Place 2. Of his State 3. Of his Names 4. Of his Rising 5. Of his Raigne 6. Of his words and actions 7. Of his times Necessarie to be read and knowne of all men who professe Christ Iesus and hope to be saved by no other Name By G. S. Mal. 4 5 6. Behold I will send you Elias the Prophet before the comming of the great and dreadfull day of the Lord. And he shall turne the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers least I come and smite the earth with a curse 2 Thes 2 3 4. Let no man deceiue you by any meanes for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sinne be revealed the sonne of perdition Who opposeth and exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God that is worshiped so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himselfe that he is God Printed in the yeare M.D C. XXV To all Kings Princes and Potentates especially to King Charles Defendor of the Fayth and to the King and Queene of Bohemia professing the Fayth and therefore persecuted Also to all other Christians whether Reformed or Romish AMongst all those controversies which like cloudes overcast the Church of Christ at this present so that many stumble at noone day as at night and but a few are truely resolved of their owne aright walking with God according to knowledge there is none more necessarie to be generally understood then that of Antichrist both because this Egiptian darknesse which is in the land of Goshen proceeds from his inchantments to hold Pharoh still in the hardnesse of heart and also because the externall splendor and glorie of his seate supported with the countenance of Magicall science bellish unitie carnall succession corrupt custome ragged antiquitie Idolatrous universalitie Counterfeit miracles hypocriticall sanctitie stupenduous amplitude blinde devotion formidable tyrannie Catholique power and worldly felicitie as Salomons throne was with lyons cunningly carved doe much dazle vulgar judgments 1 Kings 10 19 20. and amaze the sillie Lambes of Christ But if this Magitian were fully discovered to be but an Impostor and onely to bumbast his reputation with lyes forgeries and usurpations like a spirituall Quack-salver then the more that Princes and people had doted upon him and deified him the more they would hate him Rev. 17 16 17. as those Kings shall who out of godly indignation hate strip eate the flesh of the whore and burne her with fire This the learned Limbs of Antichrist understand verie well and therefore eyther terrifie all men from looking into the booke of God where Antichrist is described at least from looking into the Revelation where he is set out to the life or else as the Scribes and Pharises did with their corrupt glosses and Comments made upon the Prophets darken the comming of Christ and denye him being come putting off the time of their Messias hitherto deferring and dallying as the Turkes doe with their Mahomet yea fayning his person to be humaine onely and his Office temporall thereby to hold the Iewes still in spirituall Captivitie by causing them to deny the Sonne of God their Saviour so doe these waue the comming of Antichrist and with their corrupt glosses and misapplications turne the truth of God into a lye causing the world to embrace the Sonne of perdition by telling them of an Antichrist that must be a singular person and not a succession as if we designed such a succession This they would proue by the names giuen him in the singular number 2 Thes 2 3. As also by the article â— or ille being demonstratiue particles But Gramarians say that not onely proper names and words that signifie individuall things but names that signifie a multitude or succession nownes appellatiue collectiue and successiue are both in Greeke and Latin expressed in the singular number and joyned with that demonstratiue particle As hic populus ille rex in aggregation succession or collection 1 Pet. 2 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philosopher say that â—num one may be taken not onely singulatim but congregatim and summatim And that a thing may be idem numero not onely as the sunne but as a heape of corne a flock of sheepe a river whose parts it may be may increase or diminish and be in continuall motion and alteration some going away and others comming in place and yet continue one and the same singular heape flock river to which both the singular number and demonstratiue particle are joyned Divinitie sayth that Antichrist is not onely opposed to Christ the Head who is one but to Christians the bodie the members who are a succession of kings priests annointed or a royall priesthood 1 Pet. 2 9. And for the use of a demonstratiue particle or the singular number or name they referr us to 1 Pet. 2 17. Dan. 2 38. Thou O King art this head of gould Thou thy predecessors thou and thy successors though per excellentiam thou aboue all before or after So 1 Pet. 5 8. ho Antidicos not one adversarie or one divell onely but all Rev. 13 2. and 2 Thes 2 7. with divers other places Thus neither Grammer Philosophie nor Divinitie will teach me what these new Roman Pithagorians wou'd force me to beleeue But ipse dixit is sufficient in the schole of Antichrist to silence not onely his schollers but Grammer rules the Logicall rules of reason the Scripture yea Christ himself But he that will not heare Christ Christ will not heare him though he crie Lord Lord never so loud as did not admitte and containe singulars a Iewe and perhaps of the Tribe of Dan the sonne of a Divell or of an Incubus of a virgin or of a Whore or of some bodie that he shall raigne three yeares and an halfe sitte in the Temple of God in Ierusalem kill Enoch and Elias with much other strange legionarie stuffe concerning Antichrist his person office Raigne warre and overthrow And least men should examine and so finde their falsehood they obtrude these opinions aforehand upon the Church to be beleeved as Articles of Fayth by all their members viz. That the Church is for the Head or principall part Romish and so particular for the bodie Catholique That the Pope is the Head of the Church and so as Head of the Church Judge of the Scripture and the onely true expounder of it having that infallible and universall spirit which directs the whole in all truth That his seate is the Rock immoueable to which in all stormes the shipwrackt soule should resort for safeguard That Salvation is no where else to be found And that his Decrees are to be believed and obeyed not to be questioned or examined in the least Loe thus he hath made sure not to be discovered except out of good nature he will confesse
but Adam and Evah learned it of the old serpent and having therewith lost Paradise left it then with the wide world to boote as a Legacie for all their posteritie I would faine therefore finde that simple Christian Policie which lookes directly forward to the price of the high calling Phi. 3 13 14 and contents it selfe with that respect which followes the worke Rom. 2 29. whose praise is of God and not of men If the worldes wages comes with it I shall take it as the faithfull performance of his gracious promise who hath wild us first to seeke the kingdome of God Matth. 6.32 and his righteousnes and all needfull things for this life shall be added unto us This is my resolution and I am resolved besides that he who upon those earthly respects before mentioned or any the like humane grounds and motiues opposeth this booke or the like doeth therein sufficiently declare himselfe to be Antichristian and shall neede no further eviction or confutation then the evidence of his owne actions Kings and Princes therefore must cast an eye upon such and they shall soone see all their Councell is to uphold their owne earthly commaunds for personall respects a watchword sufficient for him that is wise to beware of such for they are wolues in sheeps cloathing And now to conclude how much are we to magnifie the Lord for our King Nobles Cleargie and Commons mette together lately in the high Court of Parliament and there so well according for matter of Religion that the Subiect no sooner shewed his grievance with complaint but the Soveraigne applied the remedie with compassion Such a Head shewes it selfe sensible of the suffering of the feete and such members will never forget as they haue protested thankfulnesse to such a Head Thus they are happie in knowing each other So that the king having any attempt against Antichrist neede not doubt the bodie And the people fearing the incroachments of Antichrist neede not doubt to acquaint the Head with their feares How happie a thing is it to heare that ecclesiasticall corruptions had no backs in eyther house nor no sonne of Belial there to pleade for Baal It is the bellie and not the conscience that speakes in such cases Whether they be greater frieÌ„ds to schollers and learning who provide for a few covetous and ambitious persons or they that provide for the generall number of carefull and conâ—cionable persons blinde men may see and judge what portion had Fulke Fox Whitaker Reynolds Perkins with many others in the Church Or were not these men learned Or who was more learned painfull and profitable to the Church of Christ then these He that thinkes me an enimie to the Bishops for this is deceived Nay rather I wish that where there is but one Bishop now there were twentie so farre am I from schisme or from being Antiepiscopall and howsoever of old such penny-wise Fathers haue been applauded as the onely pillars of the Church and friends forsooth to schollers yet now the world knowes better that as a man cannot fill his mouth and speake both at one time so they who are most greedie and unsatiable in seeking after offices haue least leasure and desire to performe the Dueties of them And that both the Parliament that desired and his Majestie who graunted and the Cleargie who never opposed the reimployment of silenced Ministers who were not turbulent did well understand For these men will be contented with litle and yet withall will labour to giue much contentment in the workes of their vocation so that if they may haue free and peaceable passage we shall see Superstition and Idolatrie haue a greater blowe in a few yeares by their labours then in manie yeares before by the unfruitfull unprofitable warre stird up against them as betwixt Fathers and their children which gaue way to the contrarie humour to increase And were some of these men well provided for and protected in Ireland I doubt not to say we should soone see the happie effect thereof and that an Armie of Priests would do more perhaps then an armie of secular souldiers and so settle that kingdome in obedience to Christ that we should not fear any invasion or inward motion by Antichrist or his instruments in those parts He that doubts this may looke into Scotland a place sixtâ—e yeares since as obstinately averse from the fayth as Ireland is now where in a few yeares Poperie was wholly rooted up and scarce a man to be found that would professe himselfe to be a Papist till these late dayes when the unhappie division betwixt the Cleargie gaue them oportunitie and incouragement to increase and multiplie It is our charge to conquer the Irish soules to Christ as well as the Irish lands and bodies to our selues and I am perswaded God hath not prospered our worke for our parte because we haue had no greater care to compasse his parte If they were Christs they would be ours too in spite of Rome and Spaine but being Antichrists in affection their able bodies are imployed as instruments against us in all places and their Countrie used now by Spaine as Scotland of old by France to divert and distract our warlike attempts and to hold us busied at home Their conversion would haue beene the glorie of our church government shewing that our Cleargie did not seeke themselues but Christ as now it is our shame that whilest the Romish Cleargie haue conquered many Countries for Antichrist in the East and West Indies we should neglect a neighbour countrie long in our possession suffering them still to liue in spirituall captivitie under the hands of ignorance Idolatrie darknesse and death But now we haue better hope seeing the reconcilement of the Fathers to their brethren and doubt not but that will be effected there which hath been performed in England and Scotland heretofore by the conscionable plaine painfull and powerfull preaching of the Gospell whilest men are not distracted nor their hearts alienated from each other by domestick controversies For these Church quarrels about Ceremonies besides the distraction do by the scandall hinder the progresse of Religion causing the enemie to insult in their unitie against our truth because they see us divided and in our divisions pursuing each other more bitterly for those things which we professe to be circumstanciall and indifferent then we doe them in fundamentall controversies And so they say truely we shew little charitie and therefore can haue no true fayth The Lord therefore joyne the hearts of our King Peeres Clergie and Commons in one to finish this good worke which they haue begun to the overthrow of Antichrist and blesse this worke to his full discoverie that Kings Princes Priests and People may learne to leaue him And so craving pardon for that capitall crime of plaine-speaking which I haue herein used I ende with the Authors owne Epistle or Preface to the Reader Quod à suis olim Lectoribus petiit
Doth not the holy Ghost teach us to speak much more truely Marke well the Prophecie of Ezec. 7. where he speaketh of the worst of the heathen coÌ„sider by the circumstances whether it can be understood of any but the Romans when it representeth that Empire unto us under the name of Iâ—on mixt with dyrt as the Emperor Tiberius was called Lutum sanguine maceratum dyrt mixt with bloud unles you will therefore call it golden because in filthines and Idolatrie it was like the old Babylon which was figured by the head of Gold or because it is the seat of the golden Harlot But of this else-where In the mean space I demand again where was the zeale of their Bishops to reforme or correct these enormities euen of the Christians where were their decrees or decretals to restrain them where was the courage of the Priests or Clergie to reprehend or censure them was there none amongst them all but that Tertullian of Carthage and Salvianus of Massilia must rise up to speak of it Videbat hoc universa urbs patiebatur videbant Iudices acquiescebant sayth he So here was Babylon and yet I confesse there was Sion also But Sion dwelling in Babylon Whereof the Prophet Zacharie after the returne from the first captivitie seemeth to speak saying Zach. 2. Deliver thy self o Sion Rev. 18. that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon And our Evangelist repeateth Come out of her my people shewing that the prophecie of Esay and Ieremie concerning her destruction are not yet fulfilled I demand then upon all these premisses whether any place can be found in the world qualified for to be the seat of Antichrist according to these Prophesies besides the Septimontane Rome and that Christian the mountain of holynes and yet Sodome the Temple of God and yet Egypt Sion and yet Babylon which euen in her best Christianitie retained the Barbarous crueltie the abhominable filthines and horrible idolatrie of Egypt Sodom and Babylon in their publike sights and shewes Theaters solemnities ceremonies common practise And no sooner did they suppresse those old Pagan Idolatries but they fell to this new Idolatrie of worshiping of Images which they still practise defend together with their ever accustomed filthines crueltie whereupon I must propose this Problem whether by any possibilitie or imagination of man these things can be applied to any other place but Rome II. Of the state of Antichrist THE next thing after the place which offereth it self to our senses and consideration seemeth to be the subject or bodie without which no Accident can consist and therefore used in the definition of Accidents especially Relatiues which cannot be without their Correlatiues as a father cannot be so called but in respect of his sonne nor a Monarch or king but in respect of his monarchie kingdome or state Politike subject unto him And this also must be proportionable as we said before of Relatiues For as great things must haue great places so a great and mightie Monarch must haue a great state under him And as by the greatnes of the place we may measure the body so by the greatnes of the state subject to any Prince we judge of the greatnes power of the Prince himself We haue seene alreadie a great place appointed for Antichrist Let us now see the greatnes of the state and bodie politike that must be subject unto him and support him And this also hath not been neglected in the H. Scriptures but is set forth and described in divers places especially three as the best Interpreters do obserue which also do concurre and haue good correspondence with the prophecies concerning his place aboue specified First in the seuenth chap. of the prophet Daniel Secondly the 13 ch of the Rev. And thirdly the 17 ch of the Rev. which places agree in some things and differ in others and that agreement and those differences together with the reasons thereof deserue to be narrowly sifted First in Daniell we finde a great and terrible Beast with ten hornes and amongst the rest a litle horne rising up c. In the 13 of the Rev. we fynd two beasts one rising è mari out of the Sea as all the beasts in Daniel with tenne hornes c. the other rising e Terra In the 17 chap. of the Rev. we fynde a great beast with ten hornes and a whore sitting on his back Let us first consider of the description of this great beast rising out of the sea in the 13 ch of the Rev. where he seemeth to be most fully set forth positiuely and after comparatiuely Here therefore the great beast rising out of the sea is described first in his existence or parts Secondly in his power actions For his existence and parts it is first said to be a beast rising out of the sea Secondly having seauen heads Thirdly ten hornes crowned Fourthly upon his heads were names of blasphemie Fiftly his bodie like a Leopard Sixtly his feet like a beare And seuenthly his mouth like a Lion For his power and actions it is said 1 that the dragon gaue him his power and his throne and great authoritie 2 That one of his heads was wounded as it were to death but his deadly wound was cured 3 All the world wondered after the beast and worshiped the Dragon which gaue power to the beast and worshiped the beast saying Who is like to the beast Who is able to make warre with him 4 There was giuen him a mouth to speak great things and blasphemies 5 Power was given to him to doe and continue two and fortie months 6 He opened his mouth in blasphemie against God to blaspheame his name and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in heauen 7 And it was giuen to him to make warre with the saints and to overcome them and power was giuen him over all kindreds tongues and nations And all that dwell upon earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Book of Life and Loe here a strange and mightie beast Now what is meant by the name of a beast rising out of the sea the prophet Daniell telleth us For he saith plainly Dan. 7 23. that it signifyeth a kingdome rising upon the earth And the fourth Beast saith he is the fourth kingdome Which seemeth to be the same that is here spoken of The prophet Ezechiel useth the same phrase Ezce 19 17. saying Wherefore laye thy mother as a Lyonesse among the Lyons c. And againe the great Eagle c. Now if this be a kingdome which is spoken of by our Euangelist of necessitie it must be some verie great and mightie kingdome for so it appeareth by all parts of the description especially where it is said that all the world woâ—shipeth it And in the question that is asked Who is able to warre with him paralel to that question asked in another place What cittie is like to this great cittie As
of one bodie so is Christ for by one spirit we are all baptised into one bodie c. And this that divine Apostle himself learned of the words of our Saviour Christ from heauen Saul Saul Act. 9. why persecutest thou me Now according to these different acceptions of these two words let us consider of the word Antichrist and to whom it may be applied And first for the name of Vicarship The Pontifex max. of Rome who is the seauenth head or king of the Roman state and confesseth and professeth himself to be head Governour of Rome he also confesseth and professeth himself to be the Vicar of Christ and of God and in this sense the name agreeth unto him and so his advocates and followers affirme him to be But as the word Antichrist signifieth an enimie to Christ it is by them all stoutly denied that the Pope is that Antichrist Let us come therefore to the touch that is the text where Antichrist is named and thereby learne how the word is to be understood The first place where it is expresly named is in this our Apostle S. Iohn Who is a lyer sayth he but he that denyeth that Iesus is the Christ 1 Iohn 2 22 The same is the Antichrist And againe 1 Iohn 4. Everie spirit that confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God 2 Iohn 7. but this is the spirit of the Antichrist These be all the places where I can finde the verie name used in the New Testament It may percase seeme strange to finde it in the old and yet there it is to be found and that in a most excellent prophecie though not the same in letters yet the same in sence and signification Psal 2. The kings of the earth set themselues sayth the Prophet and the princes assembled against the Lord and against his Anoynted This Psalme if we marke it well conteyneth in brief words the summe and effect of all the Prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation concerning the enemies of the Church and namely Antichrist and that appeareth in seauen particulars First the rage and furie of the enemies 2 their joyning together against God and Christ and their intention to shake off the yoke of Christ Iesus 3 the providence of God for his church sitting in heauen as in a watch-tower watching over his enemies laughing them to scorne 4 the meanes which God useth to defend them by setting Christ to raigne in his church 5 the anoynting of our Saviour in his eternall generation and arming him with regall and soveraigne power to suppresse all his enemies 6 a loving and serious advise to all Princes and Rulers of the earth to beware to whom they cleaue and adhere either to Christ or to his enimies And lastly an assured promise of happines to all those that trust in him Behold then an excellent Prophecie and the same is touched againe in the 89 Psalme and other places Psal 89 51. But to our purpose Psal 2 2. The word in this Psalme is Al-Meshico against his Anoynted wherein Messhiah as it is commonly known signifieth Annointed or Christ And the preposition Al or Gnal in Hebrue is taken as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke not onely for adversus but for juxta or secundum and sometimes super In the second signification that is juxta or secundum it is accepted by the Pope neither is it denyed by him or his followers in the third signification which is super if we take the name of Christ either for his mysticall bodie for therein he affirmeth himself to be aboue the Church to be head thereof of if we take the name Christ for all that are anoynted namely kings prophets and priests he affirmeth himself to be superiour and aboue them also which is a speciall note of Antichrist as S. Paul sayth He shall exalt himself aboue all that is called God or that is worshiped Neither do I finde 2 Thes 2. that ever any Emperor Prince Prelate or Potentate but onely the Pope tooke upon him the names either of Vicarius Dei or Christi Generalis or Caput ecclesiae catholicae or to be super ecclesiam catholicam not the Emperors of Rome not the Turke nor any other But the onely thing that they stand upon is as I said before that he is not adversarius Christi personally and therefore not Antichrist But how can this be For Christ is in heauen and Antichrist for all his malice power cannot touch him there Let us therefore examine the places of Scripture aforesaid where the name of Antichrist is used and we shall easily perceiue that the name of Christ cannot neither ought to be taken for his person For Christ cannot be found personally present upon earth but either spiritually according to his graces or sacramentally in the Sacrament or appellatiuely as the name is communicated to others or mystically as to the Church So therefore must the name of Antichrist be taken for an enimie to the graces Sacraments or ministers of Christ and that not individually in one person but spiritually in his works or appellatiuely in succession For otherwise it can not expresse the true intention or effect of the thing for the Emphasis or principall force of the sentence in all the places aforesaid resteth upon the word Christ that is Anointed as in the first place He that denyeth our Saviour is the Anointed he is Antichrist 1 Ioh. 2 so in the second and third places 1 Ioh. 4 He that denyeth that the Anointed Saviour is come into the world is Antichrist So in the Psalme The kings and princes set themselues against the Lords Anointed Now the ointment wherewith our Saviour was anointed was the fulnes of the graces of the H. Ghost as the scripture testifieth 1 that he was full of grace Iohn 1. Hebr. 1. 2 that he was full of truth 3 that by himself he purged our sinnes 4 that he is made to us wisedome 1 Cor. 1. 5 Iustification 6 sanctification And 7 redemption such like Now he that denieth these graces in our Saviour and fighteth against those that ascribe these graces unto him he or none must be the Antichrist for other warres against Christ who sitteth in heauen at the right hand of God cannot be made Who then are those that send us to other Mediators and Intercessors namely to the virgin Marie the Apostles and Saints to speak and pray for us if it be the Pope his followers then I aske them why or for what reason they will haue us so to do if they do acknowledg our Saviour to be full of grace why do they send us to others if our sinnes make us unworthie to goe to him that calleth us to himself how many we go to the virgin Marie or the H. Apostles who do not call us Is he not as full of grace that calleth us as they that call us not Is he not
locis ecclesiae and yet confesseth that Antichrist must continue to the end Let the whole place be considered Howsoever it be it can not be said that this question was so well ventilated in those times as it hath been of late Then for answer I demand what or how much the question will be altered if the Pope be acknowledged to be Antichrist though he be not proved to be that Antichrist what difference will it make in the end Must not all true Christians beware avoide detest everie Antichrist But to the point It is coÌ„monly known in Grammer schooles that this particle Ho in Greeke is not alwayes used significantly nor in a significant use is it alwaies taken to signifie a particular and individuall person nor yet in particulars is it alwaies used to note Eminence or singularitie Sometimes and that verie frequent it is used indefinitely many times it is joyned with a name of multitude or with a name of succession He that hath any knowledge in the Tongues may easily obserue that Ho in Greeke is not so Emphaticall as Ha in Hebrew or the in English which yet is sometimes emphaticall and sometimes not For in the same chapter where it is said Ho Antichristos in the same it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Ioh. 2. he that sayth he is in light and hateth his brother is in darknes And again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The lust of the flesh the pride of life c. and the verie last word of that Epistle is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Keepe your selues from Idols So in other places it is joyned with names indefinite as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in another place with the name of Christ Ephes 5. to signifie his mysticall body consisting of a multitude successiue under one head immortall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sayth he so is Christ Hebr. 9. Abbat in demonst And in another place it is joyned expressely with a name of personall succession 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is ever translated thé High-Priest once a yeare entred into the holy place there spoken of 1 Pet. 2 17. So in another place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Honour the King Will any man say it was meant onely of one king And again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Highpriest Hebr. 13 11 And the use of Ho in these places wherein it cannot be meant of one singular Priest or King is so like and paralell to the use of it in the name of Ho Antichristos that I see not what difference can be made betweene them Yet if any will not take this for a sufficient answer let him well consider how he can answer the problems following by which I thinke it will appeare that the Pope is not onely an Antichrist but euen that Antichrist whereof the Scripture speaketh Forasmuch as the Prophecies can be verified of none but of him and that not of one alone but of the whole succession And therefore to proceede to the Names I desire the Reader to examine whether any of the six names that I shall now produce do not fully agree to the Pope and to all the Popes that haue bèen in Rome since the time of Pope Constantine and if these names do agree I must demand How it can be denied but that they and everie one of them is Ho Antichristos that Antichrist The second name therefore is Pontifex maximus or summus the Higest or Great Priest This name I am sure they will not deny to their Pope and likewise I am sure that they will deny it to any other unlesse it be to our Saviour Christ To our Lord it belongeth of right if any other take it upon himself it must be by usurpation and such an usurper of the right and title of our Saviour Christ must be Antichrist It was never given to any by God but to our Saviour Christ Melâ—hisedeck is called a Priest of the High God Hebr. 6 20. and 8 1. Aaron is called an High Priest our Saviour Christ the High Priest and the great Sheepheard of our soules Ecce Pontif. sum qui non eget alieno ex piarisauguine Aug. medit and such like titles but the title of the Highest or Greatest belongeth to none but peculiarly to our Saviour Christ I aske then first whether the Pope of Rome do not declare himself an enimie to Christ in that he doth exalt himself aboue all that is called God or that is worshiped in taking a name upon him higher and greater then was ever giuen to the sonnes of men not to Aaron the holy not to Phinehas the zealous not to Iehojada the worthie not to Iehoshua the noble not to Simeon the glorious not to Iohn the fore-runner nor to Melchisedek the royall and singular everie one in his time the type of our great and eternall High Priest farre aboue them all whose consecration is eternall whose Priesthood is eternall Hebr. 7 16 24. 6 8. 9 10. whose entrie into the Holy place is eternall whose oblation is eternall whose sacrifice is eternall whose mediation is eternall and whose presence in his Church is eternall Againe the Apostle proveth the excellencie and divinitie of our Saviour farre aboue all Angels because he hath received a more excellent name Doth not the same argument proue that the Pope in taking an equall name maketh himself equall in dignitie therefore never durst any of the faythfull Martyrs or Bishops of the primitiue Church take upon him this name of Summus or Maximus Pontifex never any of the Holy Patriarks or Prophets never any of the divine Euangelists never any of the most blessed Apostles for they all knew it belong onely to that great High Priest whose Priesthood is for ever And how darest thou O miserable mortall man take upon thee a name so divine as to be called the Highest or Greatest Priest whilst he is living to whom it so inseparably belongeth Why dost thou not also directly call thy selfe Christ as well as the Highest Priest which is equivalent I demand againe whether in taking this name thou dost not proclaim that thou dost deny that our Lord Christ Iesus is now the Highest or Greatest Priest and so professe thy self to be his enimie and claime to be aboue him seeing it must be confessed that if the Pope be greatest then Christ is not the greatest For two may be great but of two each of them cannot be greatest no more then two can be infinite or two principall But say they Christ is in heauen Head of the Triumphant Church Panorm the pope is onely head of the church militant upon earth O blaspheamerâ— is not Christ Iesus truly God in earth as present by his power Enter praesenter Deus est ubique potenter Ps 139 Sed familiarius in electis pergratiam to rule the church militant as in heauen How then darest thou sitting onely at Rome proclaim thy self Head of the universall
Emperor in Constantine the Pope This Rising is described by seauen adjuncts 1 His kinde or Existence Revel 13. another beast 2. The place from whence he came comming out of the earth 3 Having two hornes like a lambe 4 He spake like the Dragon 5 His actions seauen fold as shall be shewed hereafter 6 His Marke 7 And lastly his Name Whereas he is called another beast and yet not resembled to any Beast working in the presence of the first seauen things are again to be observed 1 The time of his rising 2 That this which is here described must be an Empire or monarchie which is signified by the name of a Beast as all the former were and as the Angell in Daniel hath taught us to interpret 3 It must consist not of one particular man but of a Succession For so all the former did or else it should not haue the name of a Beast without distinction as it hath and as they had 4 It is not like any of the rest For if it were like in any part it would be so expressed as it is said that the first was like a Lyon the second like a beare the third a Leopard the fourth in severall parts like everie one of them but this like none of them 5 It is not onely unlike to them but it is of no certaine forme And herein our Apostle in the description of this last Beast observeth the same caution Dan. 7. that was before by the Prophet Daniell in the Description of the fourth beast saying it was unlike any of the former and yet not expressing whereunto it was like So indeed was the Roman Empire in its Rising for that after the kings who were as the nursing Fathers of that state were expelled it held for a long time no certain form of government So it seemeth our Propheticall Apostle intendeth that the kingdome of Antichrist in his Rising must be of an uncertaine forme 6 It must arise in the presence of the first beast And this agreeth with the words of S. Paul 2 Thes 2. who sayth not that he which withholdeth must be abolished destroyed determined or ended but that he must be removed or set out of the way in some other place So this Beast or Monarchie must arise after the Roman Monarchie not ended for sayth Daniel that fourth Beast or Monarchie must continue till the judgment be set but removed out of the way from Rome the place appointed for Antichrist 7 It must still be a Beast that is a Monarchie of Idolatrie as all the rest were Now let us see how and to whom these Prophecies may be applied wherein we must so goe forward that we do not forget that which went before By the former Problems I suppose it hath appeared that the place of Antichrist must be the Great cittie Rome and that in time of Christianitie that the State subject unto him must be the state of Rome and that he must be Summui Pontifex one of the seauen Heads of that state In this part of his description we may see not onely a further point revealed unto us which is the time and manner of his Rising but a further confirmation of those former points And first for the time a most materiall circumstance to be considered I demand Whether it be not here sufficiently and plainly expressed in the Text that this second beast must arise while the former is yet in being and that not altogether but in tract of time seeing it is sayd that he doth all that the first could do in the presence of the first or before his face and causeth the first Beast to be worshipped And seeing it is confessed that the place of the first Beast was Rome it must follow that the place of the second must be Rome and seeing the second must worke before the face of the first and cause the first to be worshipped it followeth evidently that both these Beasts that is to say the first Beast departing and the second arising must be at one time in Rome This therefore confirmeth that which hath been sayd before concerning his place And this being compared with the words of the Apostle to the Thess 2 Thes 2. that Antichrist must be destroyed by the brightnes of our Lords comming is a strong proof of his times viz. that he must arise before the Emperor be quite departed out of Rome must continue to the end of the world which cleerly overthroweth the opinions of all Demiseptennians and Ho Antichristians For if he began then to work and must be in Rome in the presence of the first Beast that is of the Old Empire must continue till the comming againe of our Lord How can it be imagined that he should be but one man or that he should continue but three yeares a halfe or that he is not yet come or such like dreames c. Or let any man shew me with consent of Scriptures who besides the old Roman Empire can be meant by the first Beast who besides Antichrist can be meant by the second For to say that these two beasts are to be taken for one thing is verie absurd and contrarie to the Text which calleth the second Beast another To say that by the first is meant Antichrist can hardly stand with the Text for then what is meant by the second If you say his bodie or Clergie how can that be admitted when it is sayd first that it is another therefore no part of the same Also it riseth from another place viz. the Earth whereas the first rose from the sea Also it doth all those things which the first Beast could do before his face But that is verie absurd to say that the Body doth as much as the Head or the Clergie as the chief Prelate By the same or like reasons are refelled the opinions of those that take the first beast for the Divell For how can that stand with the Text that the Dragon gaue him his Throne and great power c. So the opinion of those that take Antichrist or the first beast pro caetu impiorum for the multitude of the wicked may be refelled by the Text. For then why should it be distinguished into two severall Beasts the one rising after the other and why should there be so many severall attributes applied unto it Therefore not intending to stand long upon the refutation of other mens opinions but following the counsell of the excellent learned Scholler of S. Paul Dion Ar. to finde out that which may be most agreeable to the Text of the Scripture and the Truth of Historie I aske whether this Prophecie of the rising of Antichrist in this second Beast were not fully performed in the Roman Bishops who succeeded Silvester from the yeare of our Lord 313. untill the time of Constantine the Pope in anno 707 Was not the old Empire continued in Rome for the most part of that time Were there not in
ut quaelibet esse solet Yet I cannot chuse but thinke there were some Infants there that were neither lyers nor druckards actually but ubi maior pars ibi tota So the severall kinds of consent expressed by their owne confessors Consulo praecipio consentio provoco laudo Non retego culpam non punio non reprehendo Participo defendo meum in caput ista redundant Salvianus will tell them Etsi commune omnibus non faciebat actus Cic. 1 off faciebat tamen assensus Cicero will say Qui non defendit nec obsistit si potest injuriae tam est in vitio quam si parentes aut patriam aut socios deserat Their owne Decree will teach them Quid est immundum tangere nisi peccatis consentire Quid est exire inde nisi facere quod pertinet ad correctionem If they will avoide this charge let them shew how they haue corrected punished reprehended or disliked these things If not then must we needs say that all are guiltie Gen. 3 17. 6 12. And as the earth it selfe is sayd to be corrupted and cursed Psa 107 34 when the Inhabitants haue corrupted themselues with sinnes Esa 24 4. so and much more all states professions and degrees of men To this S. Augustine will adde that as our Saviour Christ hath his mysticall bodie which is his church so the Divell hath his bodie or his Synagogue comprehending all the wicked qui sunt eius quodammodo corpus sayth he And so all the Reprobates are one in the divell as all the elect are one in Christ And as he that is joyned with an Harlot maketh himselfe one bodie with her by the sentence of the Apostle so he that joyneth himselfe with Antichrist the great whoore especially in the head becometh one with him euen that Lawlesseman that childe of perdition What then shall we say to these things Places and Times Persons and Actions Names and things Prophesies and Events do all concurre in the revelation of this man of wickednes consisting wholly of most horrible and enormous sinnes by act and consent in particular and in generall in singular persons and in their whole bodie politike order succession Such sinnes so many and so great that the Divell himselfe can no way match or parallell For if one divell should do homage or sacrifice to another or commit or giue a licence to commit Treason Incest or murther yet that could not be any way so great a sinne as when a Christian baptised in the name of Christ and for whom our Saviour Christ the onely sonne of God hath shed his most precious bloud committeth such an offence or giveth such a Licence And by the same rule of proportion if these haynous Idolatries Treasons Murthers Adulteries and other sinnes which haue beene committed by the Popes and their Licences and dispensations were done or licenced committed or permitted by any other then a Christian one that taketh upon him to be the head of all Christians and over all Christian Bishops yea and such an Head as cannot erre certainely these sinnes in any other could not be judged so great offensiue or in intollerable As it is in the ancient Lawes truly defined Re persona loca tempore atrociores injuriae indicantur And so the Prophets everie where aggravate the sinnes and offences of the people of God by the greatnesse of the benefits which they had received and our Saviour Christ teacheth us that he to whom much is committed of him much shall be required And he that knoweth his masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with manie stripes It followeth therefore inevitably that these sinnes in the pope are farre greater then if any Christian Iew Turke or Heathen did the like And now seeing we haue observed Antichrist in all these mayne and principall circumstances of his Place and State his Name and Rising his Raigne and Actions his Times and Manners what is more to be expected but his Consumption and Destruction two times which the Holy Prophets and divine Apostle expresse in one verse saying that the Lord shall consume him with the breath of his mouth Dan 7 26. and destroye or abolish him with the brightnes of his comming Eâ—a 11 4. Whereof I will speake breefly 2 Thes 2. partly because others haue sayd sufficient but chiefly because of the times to come we must not presume too farre either to judge or to inquire First therefore in his Consumption two things are to be considered the Times and the Manner The times are two fold past and to come For the time past it seemeth to haue beene ever since the said yeare aboue mentioned 1405 being the time that Daniel blessed For if we account those 1335 years noted by Daniel from the destruction of the Temple Dan. 12. which is Daniels aera and was about the yeare of our Lord 70 adde that 70 to the numbers 1335 and it falleth out fully in the year of our Lord 1405 as I shewed before which was within four yeares of the Councell of Pisa the first generall Councell that declared the Pope to be an Heretike shortly after which the Noble Zisca Procopius Magnus and other worthie Bohemians began to breake downe the Popish Idolatrie and ever since the Romish Antichrist hath decayed more and more as everie one that is acquainted with the stories of Christendome may easily perceiue So that we may well say that the consumption hath now continued about 220 years For the time to come I would desire all godly Christians to consider of these particulars First whether we may not expect that the tenne Kings shall ioyne together to spoyle the whore Rev. 17 and burne her with fire Secondly What account or answer Christian Kings can make to their great Lord and Master for continuing in their warres against their brethren and neglecting that warre whereunto God himself hath called them Thirdly whether upon the destruction of the Whoore we may not hope for the conversion of the Iewes in a more gratious manner then yet we see And there by the way must be observed the word which the Holy Ghost useth Dan. 12 11. Abhomination of desolation whereupon I aske Whether it may not be understood of Antichrist to signifie that so long as the Antichristian abhominations shall continue in the Church so long the Church must continue desolate of one of her principall parts namely the ancient people of the Iewes which must make the other maine wall to be ioyned with that of the Gentiles in one principall and fundamentall corner stone Christ Iesus which is not to be expected as long as the abhominable Antichristian Idolatrie raigneth in the Church Fourthly What we may thinke of those froggs in our Apostle Rev. 16. who they be that must gather the kings of the earth to the battail Wherein is to be observed that the Frogge hath his name of his voice which the Latins call