sinne Rom. 6. 12. and between the warring after the flesh and walking in the flesh 2. Cor. 10. 3. Though sinne raigne not in the regenerate yet it is in the regenerate as the Apostle saith 1. Iohn 1. 8. if we say we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues and the truth is not in vs. 4. In that place 1. Cor. 15. 17. the Apostle meaneth that if Christ were not risen againe they could not haue remission of their sinnes for then our redemption had not beene perfited he speaketh not of evacuating of sinne that it should haue no more beeing in the faithfull but of the not imputing of sinne as the next words before shewe if Christ be not risen againe your faith is in vaine c. that is by faith ye could haue no remission of sinne But see more of this question how farre sinne remaineth in the regenerate Synops. Papis Centur. 3. quest 10. 10. Controv. That charitie is not more principall in the matter of iustification then faith v. 24. To bring in euerlasting righteousnesse Hence Pererius would prooue that charitie is the cheifest and preferred before faith in the worke of iustification because this iustice is euerlasting and therefore faith is not this iustice which remaineth not alwayes but charitie remaineth for euer and therefore the Apostle concludeth that the chiefest of these is loue Contra. 1. We doe not say that faith is the iustice it selfe whereby we are iustified but it apprehendeth instrumentally the iustice of Christ whereby we are iustified and therefore he concludeth not to the purpose 2. though faith remaine not yet the effect of faith which is our iustification abideth for euer no more shall the preaching of Gods word be necessarie in the next world yet it is called the immortail seede 1. Pet. 1. 13. because it is the seede whereby God begetteth vs who liueth for euer and in respect of the euerlasting fruite that commeth by the word it begetteth faith and faith bringeth euerlasting righteousnesse 3. charitie is euerlasting but it is not the euerlasting righteousnesse here spoken of which is the righteousnesse of Christ applyed by saith 4. And charirie is the chiefest not simply but in respect of the perpetuitie it is not preferred as more avayleable then faith to iustification wherefore it followeth not charitie is chiefer then faith because it endureth longer therefore euerie way it is the chiefest 11. Controv. That the Pope doth blasphemously vsurpe the title of Christ to be called most holy v. 24. To anoint the most holy Pererius here maketh this collection that not onely Christ is called holy but whatsoeuer belongeth vnto Christ as the Church is called holy the faithfull are called Saints that is holy And the Pope because he is Christs Vicar and representeth him in earth is called most holy yea sanctitas holines it selfe Contra. 1. True it is that the things which belong vnto Christ are holy by the participation of Christs holinesse as his spouse the Church and his members but they which are neither this spouse not members as the Pope is the head of the Antichristian Church haue no part in this holinesse 2. And though they are called holy yet the title of most holy and of holinesse it selfe cannot without blasphemie simply be giuen vnto any mortall and sinnefull man 3. Christ needeth no vniuersall Vicar in earth and it is impossible that to one man should be committed the dispensation of the whole Church 4. Euery prince is Gods Vicar and Vicegerent in his kingdome they are called Gods beeing in Gods stead and they are the Lords anointed and so holy But yet the title of most holy is peculiar vnto Christ his Vicar and representer may be holy but the person represented is onely most holy 12. Controv. Whether the Sacrament of the Altar be most holy The Romanists doe giue this title of most holy vnto the sacrament of the Altar as they call it as simply giuing it the preheminence of holinesse before all other things Contra. 1. If there were present indeede the verie bodie of Christ which is but their superstitious imagination then it would followe that it were most holy But that is their owne conceit without any ground for S. Peter saith that the heauens must containe Christ vntill the time that all things be restored Act. 3. 21. And Christs bodie beeing in heauen is not at the same time in the earth neither is in more then one place at once for otherwise the Angel had not reasoned well Matth. 28. 6. He is not here for he is risen 2. As it is a sacrament and so representeth the bodie and blood of Christ we confesse that the Eucharist is holy and to be reuerenced yet most holy it can not be said to be as hauing the preheminence before all other things The word of God is not inferiour to the Sacrament if not before it for that which sanctifieth is greater then that which is sanctified as our Sauiour reasoneth concerning the Altar and the offering Matth. 23. 19. but the Sacrament is sanctified by the word Eph. 5. 26. That he might sanctifie it by the washing of water through the word for all things are sanctified by the word of God and prayer 1. Tim. 4. 5. Augustine also to this effect saith Dicite mihi c. tell me which seemeth greater vnto you the word of God or the bodie of Christâ— respondere debetis quod non sit minus verbum Dei you must answer that the word of God is not inferiour Homil. 26. But if the Sacrament were simply most holy then it should be more holy then the word 3. Yet may the Sacrament in some respect be called most holy namely comparatiuely if it be set against other things which are prophane or not of like holines for like as in the Sanctuarie the most holy place where the Arke was had simply that name of most holy yet other things also comparatiuely were called most holy as the altar of burnt-offering Exod. 29. 37. and the perfume c. 30. 36. the altar was most holy in comparison of all other things in the outward Court and the perfume beeing set against all other perfumes So simply the most holy of all is the sweete smelling sacrifice of our blessed Sauiour vpon the crosse as Origen saith ipse est hostia sancta sanctorum he is the offering most holy of holies in Levit. 7 comparatiuely the Sacrament and other holy things may also be said to be most holy 4. But their Sacrament of the altar which they haue made an abominable idol giuing the highest adoration to a peece of bread which they make their impanate god hath no holines at all and therefore is farre from the title of most holy 13. Controv. That Christ is mediatour both as God and man In that the most holy is saide here to be anointed first the Arrians inferre that Christ is not God for God can not be anointed secondly the Romanists collect that Christ was our
of the truth of this speech but if it be not true why standeth it in the Canon after so often reuising and perusing of the Canons 2. They denie Christ to be our onely Priest in making other Mediators and intercessors beside him contrarie to the Apostle 1. Tim. 2. 5. There is one Mediatour of God and man the man Iesus Christ. 3. Neither doe they acknowledge Christ to be the onely king of his Church making the Pope his Vicar and head of the Church and they say that vnto the Pope is giuen all authoritie in heauen and earth lib. 1. Ceremoniar cur Roman Bellarmine answereth that the Pope no more denieth Christ to be king then a Viceroy in a countrey denieth the king of the land Ans. 1. The reason is not alike for a king can not be present in euery part of his kingdome and therefore committeth many things to his deputie which he can not doe himselfe but Christ is for euer present with his Church 2. the Viceroy taketh not vpon him to be the king and head as the Pope doth So then it is euident that the Pope in effect renounceth the God and religion of his fathers see further in the Appendix exercis 3. argum 1. 22. Controv. How the Romane Antichrist regardeth not the desire of women Though the Antichrist of Rome doth publikely pretend chastitie yet all fornication and vncleannes both naturall and vnnaturall is practised and suffered vnder that licentious gouernment And herein the Pope regardeth not the desires of women in that he is an enemie vnto lawfull marriage forbidding his Clergie to marrie which is made lawfull to all men 1. Cor. 7. 1. Hebr. 13. 4. And while marriage is restrained there is a way open to all other kind of vncleannes euen that filthie Sodomitrie which is against nature in commendation whereof a great Bishop of Italie did write publikely and that without any checke Papp This sinne some scoffingly haue called mutum peccatum a dumme sinne but they shall finde that it is peccatum clamans a crying sinne which called for fire and brimstone from heauen vpon the Sodomites Bulling But Bellarmine to cleare his great Master the Pope of this suspition also he alleadgeth that in the originall the words stand thus and he shall be in the desires of women though that in the Greeke translation it be read negatiuely he shall not c. And he giueth two coniectures why it should be read rather affirmatiuely then negatiuely both because Antiochus as Hierome writeth who is here historically meant was giuen vnto the desire and lust of women neither is it probable that Antichrist should command or commend single life but the Iewes rather doe expect that Antichrist shall suffer them to haue many wiues which they count a part of their terrene happines Contra. 1. That it is more agreeable to the originall to read here negatiuely he shall not haue respect to the desires of women then affirmatiuely is shewed before qu. 45. whether I referre the Reader 2. Though Antiochus were one way giuen vnto the desire of women in respect of his carnall lust yet an other way he was not in not regarding the request and desire of his wife for to spare Ierusalem as is shewed likewise before qu. 45. 3. It is most probable nay rather that Antichrist shall enioyne single life and restraine marriage because he shall maintaine the doctrine of deuills whereof this is one 4. And though the Iewes expect such carnall libertie when their Messiah commeth that is nothing to the purpose for such a Messiah as they expect shall neuer come But we know certenly that the Antichrist should come into the world and is indeede alreadie come 5. And that Antichrist shall outwardly seeme to maintaine single life it is the opinion of their owne writers exterius finget castitatem vt facilius decipiat he shall outwardly faine chastitie that he may the more easily deceiue Lyran. so also Pererius Intimis animi sensibus erit super omnes libidiâ—osus c. in his inward disposition he shall of all men be most licentious and lustfull though he shall outwardly dissemble chastitie 23. Controv. That Antichrist shallnot care indeede for any God nor haue any sense of religion That the Antichrist of Rome herein also was well resembled by Antiochus may be prooued first by particular induction that many of their Popes haue beene found in a manner to be very Atheists hauing â—o sense of religion Iohn the 12. whome Platina maketh Iohn the 13. nec Deum nec hominem prae oculis habuisse had neither God nor man before his eyes so testifieth Theodoric à Niem lib. 3. c. 9. Innocentius the 8. was seene for the most part to sleepe in the time of diuine seruice of Alexander the 6. saith Guicciardine that he had nullum religionis sensum no feeling of religion his holy-daies exercise was to see Plautus comedies plaied of Leo the 10. it is reported that he should thus say quantum nobis profuit fabula ista de Christo how much hath this fable or tale of Christ profited vs Secondly this may be shewed how the Pope doth magnifie himselfe against God by those blasphemous titles and prerogatiues which he suffreth to be giuen vnto him by his Canonists as Osiander doth exemplifie these the Pope is the vniuersall father of all the faithfull and of all the sheepe of Christ Ioannes de tur cremat the Pope hath the same consistorie with God and the same tribunall with Christ the Pope is a certaine diuine power representing a visible God in earth Gomesius All power is giuen vnto the Pope in heauen and earth from the Pope appeale is not to be made no not vnto God the Pope can make something of nothing the Pope can doe all that God doth Decius the Pope is God Felinus the Pope is greater then any other creature and his power extendeth it selfe to celestiall things terrestriall and infernall Antonin Florentin the Pope may change the forme of the Sacraments deliuered from the Apostles Archiadiacon the Pope is the foundation of faith as the canons speake God hath subiected all lawes to the Pope and no lawe can be imposed vpon his highnesse 〈◊〉 Gratian. the Pope may decree against the epistles of S. Paul Carolus Râ—â—nus God hath brought all things in subiection vnder the Popes feete Barbazia none is equall to the Pope but God August Beroius the Pope is the husband of the whole Church Ioan. de tur cremat These and such like blasphemies are vttered by the Popes claw-backes and â—e accepteth them for if he misliked them why doth he not prohibite them to vse such grosse and blaspemous seatteries By this it is euidently manifest that the Pope as here it is said of Antiochus seeketh onely to magnifie himselfe and in effect careth not for any God 24. Controv. How Antichrist shall bring in a strange God which his fathers neuer knewe v. 38. As Antiochus brought in his newe
is thereatned against him that he should haue none of his seede to succeede him and his bodie should be cast forth vnburied Ierem. 36. 30. 4. Doctr. That Angels haue not all knowledge v. 13. In that one of the Angels enquireth of Palmoni which is Christ how long this vision should endure therein it appeareth that Angels haue not the knowledge of all secrets for here they are instructed by Christ concerning the meaning of this vision Further that the knowledge of Angels is limited and that they encrease in knowledge and haue things reuealed vnto them which they knew not before is euident by that place of the Apostle Eph. 3. 10. That vnto Principalities and Powers in heauenly places might be knowne by the Church the manifold wisdome of God so also S. Peter saith 1. Pet. 1. 12. Which things the Angels desire to behold they still proceede in the beholding of the mysterie of our redemption 5. Doctr. Christ is the Lord and head of the Angels v. 13. In that the Angel enquireth of Palmoni the meaning of this vision which is Christ who afterward v. 16. appointeth the angel Gabriel to open the vision to Daniel it is hence inferred that Christ is superiour to the Angels that they receiue their directions from him and that they are his ministers sent abroad for the seruice of his Church So the Apostle faith Hebr. 1. 6. When he bringeth in his first begotten Sonne into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him and v. 14. Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for their sakes which shall be heires of saluation 5. Places of controversie 1. Controv. Prosperitie and externall felicitie is no perpetuall note of the Church v. 15. Antiochus is permitted for a time to tread downe the Sanctuarie and armie that is the Church militant vnder feete whereby it is euident that the Church is not alwaies discerned by outward prosperitie which Bellarmine maketh one of the notes and marks of the Church The people of God are more subiect to affliction and persecution in this world they are oftner pressed downe with aduersitie then lifted vp by prosperitie as our blessed Sauiour saith In the world ye shall haue affliction but in him we haue peace Ioh. 16. 33. See more hereof Synops. 2. controv qu. 3. note 15. 2. Controv. That the abomination of desolation spoken of v. 13. is not the abolishing of the sacrifice of the Masse The Romanists make this a marke of Antichrist that the daily sacrifice of the Maffe shall be abolished at his comming and therefore they charge Protestants to be forerunners of Antichrist because they haue banished out from among them the Masse Contra. 1. The new Testament acknowledgeth no other externall sacrifice but the sacrifice of atonement made by Christ of himselfe vpon the crosse the vertue and efficacie whereof beeing euerlasting it is not to be iterated or repeated as the Apostle saith Hebr. 9. 25. Not that he should offer himselfe often and v. 28. Christ was once offered to take away sinnes 2. The sacrifices now offered vp by Christians are spirituall Hebr. 13. 12. Let vs by him offer the sacrifice of praise alwaies vnto God And in this sense the Apostle saith He hath made vs Kings and Priests to God his father Revel 1. 6. 3. The Papists are they which haue abolished the true commemoration of Christs sacrifice in stead of the Eucharist hauing instituted a theatricall and pompous shew of the Masse Papp 3. Controv. The authoritie of the Scripture dependeth not vpon the testimonie of the Church v. 27. The vision of the euening and morning is true c. The Angel here giueth testimonie vnto the truth of this vision yet therefore dependeth it not vpon the Angels approbation but vpon the authoritie of Christ this then is but a weake argument of the Romanists the Church giueth testimonie to and of the Scriptures therefore the authoritie of Scripture dependeth of the Church Polan Indeede the consent and generall approbation of the Church may induce vs at the first and may make a way and as it were prepare vs but we beleeue the Scriptures for the truths sake therein contained beeing thereunto perswaded by the spirit of God See further of this question Synops. Centur. 1. err 5. 4. Controv. The description of Antiochus agreeth to the Pope and Antichrist Although historically this vision of the little horne were fulfilled in Antiochus yet for as much as he was a type of Antichrist all those properties doe fitly agree vnto him also shadowed forth in Antiochus and so Gregor in 40. c. Iob and Lyranus doe in diuers points make Antiochus a type of Antichrist though they doe not take the Romane Bishop to be he 1. Before Antiochus raged against the people of God there was a defection and falling away of many from the faith to Paganisme and this is touched v. 23. In the ende of their kingdome when their rebellions defections or falling away shall be perfited for so Iason and Menelaus with diuers other of the Iewes forsooke their religion and followed the Gentile customes 1. Macchab. 14. 15. So before Antichrist come there shall be a departure or apostasie 2. Thess. 2. 3. which shall be a falling away from the faith as Ireneus interpreteth lib. 5. advers haeres c. 21. so also Primasius Chrysostome Oecumen Lyran. vpon that place which we see is come to passe that the most part of Christian nations had forsaken the puritie of the Gospel 2. Antiochus was of an impudent face so Antichrist shall be ad omne malum inuerecundus vnshamefast to euery euill worke Lyran. which is fulfilled in the Pope who without all modestie and shamefastnes challengeth to be the Vicar of Christ the head of the Church Vniuersall Bishop and what not 3. His power was great but not by his owne strength Antiochus was assisted by the malicious practises of others as of Menelaus So the Pope hath encreased by the helpe of others Phocas that killed Mauritius the Emperour first graunted vnto Pope Boniface the 3. to be called head of the Church And of late times the French and Spanish kings haue waged battell for the Pope 4. v. 23. He shall vnderstand darke sentences whereby is vnderstood his craft and subtiltie so Antichrist as Lyranus noteth callidissimus erit auxilio Diaboli shall be most craftie by the helpe of the deuill And so the Pope hath bewitched the world with his intoxicate cuppe of fornications with deceitfull and subtile doctrines of inuocation of Saints prayer for the dead purgatorie indulgences and such like and he hath also deceiued the world with lying signes and wonders as S. Paul prophecieth 2. Thess. 2. 9. 5. Antiochus should destroy the mightie and the holy people So the Pope hath deposed kings and depriued them of their kingdomes he hath also more persecuted the people of God then euer did any of the Pagan Emperours 6. Antiochus is prophecied to waxe great
Antichrist shall in deede sit in the true Church of God for he shall be an enemie to the Church of Christ but he shall sit in the visible Church so reputed and he shall style and title himselfe by the Church As he taketh vpon him to be Head of the Church and to be Christs Vicar in earth Melancth Papp Fulke annotat 2. Thess. 2. v. 4. He sitteth also in the temple of mens consciences taking vpon him to haue power to forgiue sinnes and to make lawes to binde the conscience Bulling 4. Some that hold the Turke to be Antichrist may by the Temple vnderstand those places where sometime was the Church of God but the Apostle speaketh of the Temple that shall then be so reputed and taken at the time of Antichrists sitting therein 17. Controv. Of the prosperitie and outward successe of Antichrist As it is here said of Antiochus that he shall doe what him list and againe that he shall prosper so the Romane Antichrist hath both so taught that he is to doe what he list and he hath practised and prospered accordingly For the first Nicolaus the Pope thus writeth to Michael the Emperor à seculari potestate nec ligari posse nec solvi Pontificum c. that the chiefe Bishop can neither be loosed nor bound of the secular power and then he inferreth how that Constantine the Emperor called the Pope God and so concludeth nec posse Deum ab homme iudicari manifestum est it is manifest that God is not to be iudged of man c. And these are their positions in their Canons that the Pope is without law and that he is to be iudged of none and if all the world should determine any thing against the Pope yet the sentence rather of the Pope must stand and seeing he hath all fulnesse of power no man is to say vnto him why doe you so for his will standeth for reason distinct 19. 17. quaest 4. nemini And as this is their doctrine that the Pope may doe what he list and no man is to checke or controll him so he hath mightily prospered in his wicked proceedings as Antiochus did for Emperors Kings and Princes haue furthered his enterprises learned men haue and doe desend his errors All kingdomes almost in the Christian world Vniuersities schollers haue applauded him So many Monasteries in diuers countries with their Monks and Fryers depended of him This is the prosperitie and externall happie successe which the Romanists doe boast of and Bellarmine among the rest maketh it a speciall note to know the true Church by but as Antiochus prosperous successe against Christs Church was no signe of Gods fauour toward him no more is it in the kingdome of Antichrist But I will here stay a while a little further yet to sift and examine this point 18. Controv. That externall happines is not a sure note of the Church Bellarmine making externall felicitie a note of the Church giueth these instances of the good successe of the Romanists in their battells 1. In the time of Innocentius the 3. the Catholikes in France with an armie of 8000. conquered an 100. thousand of the Albigenses Aemil. lib. 6. hist. Francor 2. Anno 1531. the Helvetian Papists had fiue conflicts with the Helvetian Protestants and still had the better 3. Charles the 5. ann 1547. obtained a miraculous victorie against the Protestant Princes in Germanie 4. In France and the low countries the Papists haue had many victories not without miracle and the Protestants seldome had the better 1. Ans. These instances produced by Bellarmine are false as shall now appeare in the particular examination of them 1. Mathias Parisiens reporteth farre otherwise of that battell writing that Lewes the French king died in the siege of Avenion and that his sonne hauing the leading of a great armie against the Albigenses was ouercome ab exiguis copijs of a few small bands And this is like to be the truer report for it seemeth not probable that the persecuted Church of the Albigenses could set forth such an huge armie 2. The Popish Helvetians had not so many battells with the Protestants there was but one battell and a skirmish the Popish sort had the better hauing the aduantage of the higher ground neither was it such a great victorie for they were glad to aske peace and to compound the matter vpon equall conditions 3. It was no miracle for Charles the 5. to preuaile in that battell setting vpon Duke Fredericke on a sudden and some of his confederates hauing forsaken him neither did the Emperor long enioy that victorie for he was not long after by Mauritius who ayded him against Duke Frederike chased out of Germanie for the wrongs offered vnto Philip the Lantgraue and neuer after that returned he into Germanie againe 4. Of the successe of the battells in France and low Germanie they haue no cause to brag Henrie the 4. â—ow king of France and Navarre when he professed and maintained the Gospel was alwaies superiour in battell and how the warres haue prospered on the Protestants sides in the low countries no man is ignorant So that if the goodnes of the cause is to be esteemed by the good successe if they had no other arguments to defend themselues this might plead for them that God hath aboue these 30. yeares vpheld that small countrey miraculously against all the power of Spaine But they haue diuers reasons besides which may iustifie their warres against the king of Spaine 1. The breaking of their priuiledges by the Duke of Albanie 2. the vnreasonable exacting of tribute vpon things which were sold 3. the vniust execution of diuers both noble and others 4. the setting of garrisons of strangers in their cities 5. the building of castles and sconces 6. the constituting of Iudges of the Spanyards and not of their owne countrey 7. the generall restraining of their libertie Polan p. 1070. 8. beside the bringing in among them of a strange religion 2. Now that outward prosperitie is not a signe of Gods fauour or a marke whereby to discerne the Church it is euident by the example of Antiochus here who mightily prospered in his wicked attempts against the people of God So also Nebuchadnezzer preuailed against Ierusalem and destroied the very Temple All the tribes of Israel beeing assembled together against the children of Beniamin hauing the better cause yet were twice ouercome Iudg. 20. God then in suffering his Church to be for a time afflicted and oppressed doth not thereby testifie his fauour toward their oppressors but doth rather shew his wrath against his owne people for their sinnes which was the cause that Antiochus prospered whome the Lord vsed as his scourge as it is here saide till wrath be accomplished that is Gods wrath kindled against his people And the same is one of the reasons why the Lord shall suffer Antichrist to rage in the world whereof more shall be here inserted in the next
of this stone he forbeareth to giue any interpretion of it putting off the matter thus mihi hoc narrare non libuit cui propositum est non futura sed praeterita scribere c. Daniel also giueth an interpretation of the stone but it liked me not to declare it whose purpose is to write of things past not of things to come It seemeth he was loath to offend the Romanes of whom he had receiued so great grace and fauour which he should haue done if he had giuen his opinion that the Romane Empire should in the ende haue beene ruinated by his nation But how vnlike a thing this is that the Iewes should obtaine such a temporall dominion it is euident to all the world they beeing now a dispersed nation without either king or priest Church or commonwealth And our Blessed Sauiour hath assured vs that his kingdome is not of this world they then dreaming of such an outward kingdome doe therein shewe their infidelitie that they haue no part in the true Messiah who is blessed for euer 2. The heretikes called Chiliastes which hold that 6. thousand yeares expired from the creation of the world there shall be a resurrection of iust men who shall raigne with Christ a thousand yeares in the earth doe expound this place of that terrene kingdome But their hereticall fansie is confuted by the verie words of this text for the kingdome here spoken of shall stand for euer it shall not then onely continue for a 1000. yeares 3. Wherefore this Scripture euidently describeth the spirituall kingdome of Christ in this world ruling and gouerning the hearts of his seruants by his grace and propagating his truth and Gospell ouer all the world exercising his power vpon the enemies of his Church which kingdome shall be perfected in his euerlasting glorie of this eternall and euerduring kingdome the Prophet Isay saith the Encrease of his gouernement and peace shall haue no ende Quest. 54. Whether the stone cut out of the mountaine doe signifie Christ or his kingdome 1. The most doe vnderstand this of Christ himselfe who is signified by this stone of which opinion are of the ancient writers Iustinus Martyr dialog cum Tryphone Ireneus lib. 3. aduers. haeres cap. 28. Cyprian lib. 2. aduers. Iudaeos sect 17. and sometime Augustine enarrat in Psal. 98. and so interpreteth Lyranus and of the newe writers Bullinger by this stone would haue Christ vnderstood as Psal. 118. 22. the stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner and Isay 28. 16. Behold I will lay in Sion a stone a tried stone a precious corner stone a sure foundation to the same purpose Melancthon likewise Perorius beside these testimonies of Scripture sheweth how Christ this precious stone was prefigured by certaine typicall stones in the old Testament as by the stone Iacob pitched and annointed it with oyle and the rocke which Moses smote with the tod and water gushed out by the stone that bare vp Moses hands Ezod 17. and by that rocke where Moses was set when he saw the Lords backe parts Exod. 33. Further in these fower respects Christ is compared to a stone 1. for the continuance 2. for the strength he is the fundamentall stone 3. a rocke of refuge vnto them that beleeue 4. and a rocke of offence for the wicked to stumble at 2. Some doe by this stone vnderstand the kingdome and Church of Christ as Augustine in Psal. 42. and 44. so also Caluine comparat regnum Christi cum omnibus illis Monarchijs c. he compareth the kingdome of Christ with all those Monarchies c. so is the Church of God likened to a stone Zach. 12. 3. in that day I will make Ierusalem an heauie stone for all people all that lift it vp shall be torne c. 3. But these interpretations are not contrarie one to another they may well stand together for Christ is not here considered apart by himselfe but together with his Church he as the head and the other as his bodie So the Apostle sometime by Christ vnderstandeth the whole mysticall bodie consisting of Christ and his Church as 1. Cor. 12. 12. As the bodie is one and hath many members so is Christ so the Church is called the bodie and fulnesse of Christ. Ephe. 1. 23. Then in this place Christ is not vnderstood without his body the Church but both Christ and his kingdome which is the Church are ioyned together for ver 44. Daniel speaketh of a kingdome which God should set vp Polan Quest. 55. Whether this prophesie be fulfilled in the first or second comming of Christ. 1. Tertullian expoundeth it of Christs second comming lib. contra Iudaeos So also Theodoret beeing mooued with this reason because at the first comming of Christ all these kingdomes were not destroyed for the Romane Empire then flourished but at his second comming this prophesie shall be fulfilled but this argument is soone answered the kingdomes here spoken of were all dissolued at the comming of Christ in the flesh the Romane Empire is not comprehended in this vision as is before shewed at large quest 49. 2. Some thinke that this prophesie agreeth vnto the first comming of Christ inchoate aliquatenus in some sort and by way of beginning and that in the ende it should dash in peices the Romane Empire but it shall most fully and absolutely be accomplished at Christs second comming Pere Pap. 3. But it shall appeare by these arguments that this Scripture must onely be referred to the first comming of Christ and not at all to the second but onely by way of analogie and by a consequent 1. This kingdome shall be set vp in the times of these Kings but in the euerlasting kingdome of Christ in the next world there shall be neither any such kings nor any more time 2. This stone was but small at the beginning but afterward it grew into a mountaine but Christ when he commeth in his glorie shall then shew himselfe in his greatnes he shall not be as a small stone 3. And this stone became a great mountaine and filled the whole earth which sheweth that Christs kingdome here spoken of should increase by little and little but after his second comming it shall be at the full not still encreasing therefore the kingdome of Christ here in this world of necessitie must be here described 4. Yet by way of analogicall collection this prophesie may be applyed vnto Christs second comming when as Christ shall make a perfect conquest of all earthly kingdomes and powers and of all other aduersaries vnto his kingdome 5. Of this opinion that this prophesie concerneth the first comming of Christ are all they which expound this phrase of the cutting out of this stone without hands of the miraculous conception and birth of Christ of the virgine Marie as Lyran. gloss ordinar Vatab. Pin. with diuerse of the auncient fathers Caluin also though he refuse that
by words rather then swords the matter must be handled Among the Protestants none are put to death for religion but for their rebellion and sedition and practising against the state 8. Doctr. The ende of persecution is to trie and purge the faithfull v. 33. Some shall fall c. to trie and purge them and make them white There are two ends of persecution the one is that triall may be made of the constancie and faithfulnes of the seruants of God the other to purge out that drosse which is in them and to wash them white whereby we see that the most faithfull seruants of God haue their blemishes errors and imperfections and therefore had neede to be purged Calv. 5. Places of controversie Here follow certaine controversies concerning Antichrist 1. Controv. Of the birth and offspring of Antichrist Many of the auncient writers as they liuing many yeares before the manifestation of Antichrist in the world were deceiued in these particulars so also they were much out of the way in true vnderstanding of other points belonging to this mysterie of iniquitie 1. Hyppolitus thought that Antichrist should be a Deuill incarnate and be begotten by fornication phantastica carnis substantia organi vice vtetur and should vse a phantasticall bodie as his organe c. he thinketh that he should not haue a true bodie but onely in appearance 2. Damascen thinketh not that Antichrist should be a Deuill incarnate yet he saith that illum inhabitet Diabolus c. the deuill should dwell in him lib. 4. de fide orthodox c. 18. that the Deuill should possesse him both bodie and soule that in him and by him he should exercise and practise all his malice But these are mens fansies 1. S. Paul calleth him the man of sinne therefore a man he shall be and not a deuill in mans likenes 2. and his comming shall be by the operation of Sathan 2. Thess. 2. 9. not by the possession and habitation of Sathan Sathan may worke by those whome he possesseth not and he may possesse their bodies by whome he worketh not 3. An other opinion of some auncient writers is that Antichrist should be borne in Babylon as Gregorie would gather so much out of the 2. of Numbers where it is saide that Dan pitched his tents toward the North for Babylon Antichristi patria Aquilonaris est c. for Babylon the countrey of Antichrist is North to Iudea Gregor lib. 31. moral c. 10. But this is a very slender collection 1. there onely the situation of the seuerall tribes is described how they were placed in respect of the Tabernacle which marched in the middes among them and not onely the tribe of Dan but of Asher also and Nepthali did campe Northward 2. Babylon is not now standing but is come to perpetuall desolation according to the prophesie of Isai c. 13. 19. that Babylon should be as the destruction of God in Sodome and Gomorrha 4. But it is almost a generall opinion among the auncient writers that Antichrist should be borne of the tribe of Dan thus thought Ireneus Hyppolitus Hierome Augustine Prosper Ambrose Beda â—upertus with many others which they would prooue by these three places of Scripture as Gen. 49. 10. Dan shall be a serpent by the way biting the horse heeles Ierem. 8. 16. The neying of his horses is heard from Dan and because Apoc. 7. where 12. thousand are reckoned of euery tribe Dan is left out the reason whereof they say is this because Antichrist should come of Dan. Pererius subscribeth to this opinion and alloweth of these reasons But Bellarmine reiecteth this opinion as a fansie and very sufficiently answereth all the former places obiected for the first place is vnderstood of Sampson who was of the tribe of Dan the second of Nebuchadnezzers comming to destroy Ierusalem and so Hierome also expoundeth it and in the third place Dan is left out and so is Ephraim because Ioseph is named for the latter and Levi for Dan. Thus Bellarmin lib. 3. de Roman Pontif. cap. 12. Thus in this question one Iesuite or if you will Iudasite is opposite to an other 2. Controv. That Antichrist shall not be one particular man All these aforesaid which affirme that Antichrist shall be a Deuill incarnate shall be borne in Babylon and come of the tribe of Dan they likewise hold that he shall be one particular man And this generally is the opinion of the Romanists at this day so Pererius Pintus Bellarmine with the rest for if this could be prooued the Pope should be freed from the imputation of Antichrist But this opinion hath as small ground as the other and it may thus be refelled by Scripture 1. S. Paul saith that the mysterie of iniquitie beganne euen then alreadie to worke in his time 2. Thess. 2. 7. and S. Iohn also agreeth Of whome ye haue heard namely of Antichrist how that he should come and now alreadie he is in the world If Antichrist begunne to shew himselfe by his Antichristian doctrine euen in the Apostles time which is aboue 1500. yeares since then can he not be one singular or speciall man 2. S. Iohn againe saith 1. Ioh. 2. 18. Babes it is the last time and if ye haue heard that Antichrist shall come euen now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time out of this place two conclusions may be inferred the first is Antichrist was to come in the last times but Antichrist is now come therefore these are the last times If then Antichrist was come in his members and forerunners he could not be one man to haue so many forerunners and so long before The other conclusion is this that one Antichrist is many Antichrists which is thus prooued those are the last daies wherein the Antichrist shall come but in these last daies there are many Antichrists therefore many Antichrists are that one Antichrist 3. S. Paul saith further 2. Thess. 2. 3. There must come a departing first and that man of sinne must be disclosed from hence we may reason thus There shall be a generall departure from the faith when Antichrist commeth but a generall apostasie or departure from the faith can not be in one particular enemie therefore there shall not be one particular enemie to Christ when Antichrist commeth But whereas the Scripture speaketh of the Antichrist in the singular number the reason thereof is because the Antichrist shall be the head of that Antichristian bodie which shall set it selfe against the Church whereof Christ is the head which Antichristian headship shall not rest in the person of one particular man but shall adhere to a personall succession of particular men who shall be the captaines and ring-leaders vnto all Antichristianisme Antichrist then vpon the foresaid reasons shall rather be an Antichristian bodie politike as are the Popes and Bishops of Rome then any particular bodie See more of this question Synops. Centur. 1. err
it seemeth he should haue bought some dignitie which he missed of Latomus when he should haue made an oration at Bruxels against Luther before Charles the 5. and could not goe forward beeing sent out with hisses was so ashamed that he fell madde and vttered diuerse blasphemies in the Schooles and in the Readers chaire whence he was taken by Ruardus Tapperus and was carried to his bed and died in despaire saying he was damned Frier Cherubin which in the yeare 1598. challenged the ministers of Berne and Geneve to dispute with them after he had both in words and deeds bewrayed his madnesse was tied with chaines and had keepers appointed him 3. neither is it true that they striue for Gods glorie but for the Popes whom indeede they make their terrene god and therefore they cannot expect any reward from God he must reward them whose seruants they are 4. And these great reuennues which the Pope hath to bestowe he hath rather gotten by rapine and violence then by the pietie and deuotion of others As the Dukedome of Ferrara ann 1598. was by Pope Clement the 8. by force and violence taken from the right heire thereof ex Polan 27. Controv. Of Antichrists insatiable ambition crueltie and couetousnesse 1. As Antiochus vpon euery occasion was readie to inuade Aegypt and other countreys so the Pope vsurpeth vpon the nations and kingdomes of the world without any title but with pretenses and fogeries as by that forged donation of Constantine he challengeth to be Lord of the Occidentall Empire there is no king in all these West parts whom either the Pope hath not made in times past his vassall or at least will not say that he holdeth his kingdome of him and therefore ought to doe him homage Boniface the 8. decreed that it was of necessitie of saluation for euerie creature to be subiect to the Pope Extrav de maiorit obedient c. Vnam sanctam And in the same canon he glorieth that he is set ouer nations and kingdoms to plant and pull vp to build and destroy he challengeth vnto himselfe power in heauen and earth and dominion from sea to sea and from the flood to the endes of the world lib. 1. ceremon pontifical c. 7. 2. As Antiochus tooke euerie opportunitie to afflict the people of God but he spared the Edomites Ammonites Moabites that assisted him and hated the people of God as he did v. 41. So Antichrist ceaseth not to persecute the Church of Christ and by all meanes to oppresse it and to trample vpon it But such as are addicted to his superstitions and are affected toward him he spareth and fauoureth 3. As Antiochus hunted after nothing else but the spoile of Egypt the treasurers of gold and siluer and other precious things So the Romane Antichrist gapeth after the treasure and riches of the world raking vnto him whatsoeuer he can lay hold of he selleth mens sinnes and pardons for money releaseth the paines of purgatorie for money dispenseth almost with any thing for money he imposeth taxes tenths mulcts of money by way of penance As Henrie the second had a mulct set vpon him for the murder of Thomas Becket and it was enioyned him to goe a warfare at his great charge as a part of his penance Frederike the Emperour beeing excommunicate by Gregor the 9. bought his absolution for a 100. thousand ounces of gold as witnesse Onuphryus and Guicciardin Alexander the 6. appointed certaine rich Cardinalls to be poisoned that he might seaze vpon their riches Onuphryus in Alexand. 6. The Pope exacteth great summes of the Iewes dwelling at Rome of the harlots and vsurers Iohn the 22. lest when he was dead 25. millions of ducats of gold in the treasurie Boniface the 9. gathered out of one Prouince an 100. thousand Florence pieces by his indulgences in a very short time the Senate of Paris in their petition to Lewes the 11. alleadged that the Pope euery yeare had out of France 946. thousand markes Leo the 10. receiued a great summe of money by his pardons and indulgences out of Germanie and gaue them to his sister Magdalen a most famous strumpet Guicciard lib. 13. ex Polan Therefore Theodor. Ã Niem thus well resembled the Pope-Apostolike sea camera Apostolica mari assimilatur in quod intrant omnia flumina non exvndat the Apostolical chamber is likened to the Sea into the which all riuers doe runne and yet it neuer ouerfloweth so many thousand pounds are brought into it and it is neuer filled c. Vnion tract 6. c. 37. 28. Controv. Of the rage and furie of Antichrist v. 44. Like as Antiochus when he heard of the euill successe of his captaines how they were ouerthrowne and discomfited in Iudea went forth with a great rage thinking to destroy many so the Romane Antichrist hath fretted and fumed when he heard of any that were reuolted from his obedience As Leo the 10. and after him Adrian the 6. sent out their bulls against Martin Luther Zuinglius and other ministers that preached the Gospel in Germanie When king Henrie the 8. had abolished the Popes supremacie in England Paulus the 3. thus bestirred himselfe he depriued the king of his kingdome disinherited his children of the crowne released his nobles of their oath of alleagance gaue the possessions and lands of his subiects to be a pray to any that list to inuade them he interdicted them from the Church and Sacraments made voide all leagues confirmed with forraine kings and states After the same manner proceeded Pius the 5. against Queene Elizabeth depriuing her of her crowne releasing her subiects of their fealtie and excommunicating all her subiects that continued in her obedience the like also did Sixtus the 5. who also pursued Henrie king of Navarre now king of Fraunce and Henrie of Burbon Prince of Condie with the same weapons deposing them by his sentence from their honours and dignities freeing their subiects of their fealties and disinheriting them of their title to the crowne of Fraunce 29. Controv. How Antichrists palace is planted betweene the two Seas As Antiochus pitched his pauilion betweene the two Seas the dead Sea and Mediterranean Sea where Iudea was situate v. 45. So the Romane Antichrist hath his seate iust betweene two Seas the Sea called Tyrrhenum and Adriaticum and he sitteth in the Temple of God not either the Temple of Ierusalem which is long since destroyed and neuer shall be builded againe nor in any other materiall Temple but he sitteth in the Church of God taking vpon him to be the head of Christs Church but he with his faction are not the true Church of Christ though he sit in the Church as the vitious and corrupt humors are in the bodie but are no part of it Polan And the Popes palace may fitly be compared to a Tabernacle because his seate was remooued by Clement the 5. from Rome to Avenion in Fraunce where it continued 74. yeares Osiander