A SERMON OF ANTICHRIST Preached at Christ-Church DUBLIN Novemb. 12. 1676. By the Right Reverend Father in God HENRY Lord Bishop of MEATH The Second Edition Revised and corrected by his own hand Reprinted at LONDON for Nathaniel Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultry 1679. Imprimatur Jan. 13. 1676. Ja. Armachanus March 4. 1679. H. London To His Excellency ARTHUR Earl of ESSEX Viscount Malden Baron Capel of Hadham Lord Lieutenant General and General Governour of His Majesties Kingdom of Ireland Lord Lieutenant of the County of Hartford and one of the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council of both Kingdoms Most Honourable How much Ireland happy in your Government is above all other Nations in Europe influenced by the power of Rome is to Your Excellency well known as to the world and by themselves also acknowledged and gloried in But unhappy is it in being thereby and by Romish Emissaries of malevolent and factious principles promoting other interesses carried on fatally to the disturbance of the peace of the Kingdom Of this we have had Memorials of former Ages some of them fresh and bleeding nor are we even now without jealousies of what may yet be were there opportunity for it This is not to be ascribed to the stars or clime or nature of the people who have had of old the character justly of a people peaceable harmless affable to strangers and in themselves and to all pious and good So was it while the Religion professed by their Forefathers was according to the primitive faith of purer times of the Church although not then without some soil And thus find we it even now in those of the Nation who are of reformed and purer principles But being in after times corrupted in Doctrine and Discipline and that the now Religion of the Irish is quite another thing from that of their forefathers of whom yet they boast themselves Children both as to faith and blood we now find the Change great as in Religion so in disposition and manners On which we collect that the grounds of our peace from those must not be Extirpation but Reformation by removing those their false Teachers who mis-inform and mis-lead the Nation and our withal instructing the people in the waies of peace and truth As to the latter I have observed no people more desirous than are these to hear and to be instructed nor any better being so educated In which I cannot but mention and recommend as a president to others the zeal of a pious and learned Prelate the present Archbishop of Cashel who has set himself on that work industriously by instructing the Irish in their own language and hath already gathered the comfortable fruits of his godly labours drawing in and retaining many of the Nation firm in the faith the number also of such encreasing The means for that in former times and in some of our own memories was the translating and Printing our English Lyturgy and the New Testament into the Irish tongue that testifying our care of their salvation and giving them thereby to understand in their own language the truth we profess and teach contrary to the mis-information of others concerning us And to this purpose that learned Prelate Doctor Bedell late Bishop of Kilmore happy in his Zeal and labours that way to that of the New Testament and Common-Prayer before translated and Printed in the Irish tongue did add the Translation into Irish of the Old Testament also with David's Psalms in meter This I have in my hands in the manuscript and wish it were for such a publick good printed and published In the mean time to give some stop if it might be to the Current of Popery I conceived in might be convenient and necessary that it be known and declared to this mis-lead people as to others who that is whom they so follow that he is that very Antichrist by whom they may be carried away by that deluge of Apostacy into perdition wherby these may by grace be brought to consider their waies This is that which is in the following Treasise intended and is I hope to some evidenced which appearing other points and erroneous Doctrines of Popery will fall depending on that the principal Of this in my late preaching it I had the honour of your Excellencies being then an hearer and being prevailed with after for publishing it I thought it fittest for your Lordships Patronage in whose hands is the Government of that people for whom this is particularly designed it was a confident presumption in him who under the letters I. S. it may be far from his name did offer to your Patronage an invective against that Church of which you are The Church of England your Mother as not being the Church of Christ nor any part of it which had its full confutation by a learned piece Doctor Andrew Sall I hope the contrary may find better acceptance from your Excellency this shewing that the Church of Rome of which J. S. shews himself to be is ANTICHRISTIAN and communion there to be unto some dangerous and damnable to others It is in this my Comfort which was St. Paul's speaking before King Agrippa that I speak to one who knoweth these things And from whom I am perswaded none of these things are hidden Acts 26.3.26 For your Excellency is not a favourer only of Learning but you your self also learned eminently and particularly versed in Church-Antiquities on which most of that here spoken is depending Which your affection to Learning appears in your large collection of Books with which that your rich and compleat Library in England is stored The same of which hath crossed the Seas hither as elsewhere abroad There may the learned find knowledge in variety beside what concerns Records both of England and Ireland such as are not otherwhere where unto which recourse may be had as to a VATICAN And as to Ireland considering the few years of your Government over us I dare confidently aver that none so as your Lordship knoweth so much of the Kingdom People Manners and several Interesses there and understands better the Measures for governing answerably and such a person so knowing this Kingdom requires In your Excellency shines the Heroick Vertue and Courage of that renowned Martyr for King and Country your illustrious Father and that well tempered with your own personal Affability taking with and obliging all yet to each with a becoming distance of state and place so as none to presume on more than just favour in Judgment Justice being to all and any without difference dispensed Tros Tyriusve tibi nullo discrimine habetur This is now testified in the present Connaght Court of Claymes under your Government the Irish in that Province having therein their help as had before the other parts of the Kingdom their distribution of Lands in former Courts of like nature In which those of Connaght having been post-poned they were given over as remediless until by his
instinct to enquire after that which was to be about that time expected So was it about the time of the 70 years captivity which when at hand Daniel is then more than before inquisitive and looking after it's accomplishing Dan. 9.23 So also when the fulness of time came for Christs coming into the world Gal. 4.4 how were men then more especially awakened for looking after any waiting in Jerusalem for the salvation of Israel Luke 2.25.38 so as when any eminent person appeared that might carry any likelyhood for it as Iohn B. he was sent unto solemnely to satisfy whether he were the Christ Joh. 1.19 20 so when the thousand years for Satans loosing and Antichrists consequently appearing were expired the expectations of some were then greater they earnestly enquiring whether Antichrist was yet come or when As to the letter saith Riohâ—rdus Victorinus these thousand years are already expired yet when Antichrist shall come and Satan be loosed we know not Which mens not knowing Antichrist when come and present and seen and by the time for his coming elapsed concluded as come In that we see but what was as to Christ himself For the time for his coming being fulfilled and he present in the world and seen and speaking dayly with them yet was not known Joh. 1.10 11. but still expected So was it as to Christ's Kingdom also he himself being interrogated when the Kingdom of God should come he answered that the Kingdom of God is within you that is among you that which they saw not was even then present and with them Luk. 17.20 21. meaning his Kingdom of the Gospel so were enquiries after Antichrists comings when he was already come yet not observed But although some were then so to seek as to Antichrist not knowing or seeing him when present and to be seen yet was it not so with all he being understood of others otherwise so as even to be pointed at and declared as to his place and person Particularly as to Gregory the 7th or Hildebrand of whom Eberardus in Aventinus thus speaketh Hildebrand one hundred and seventy years since was the first who under colour of Religion laid the foundation of Antichrists Empire Those Babylonian Priests would reign alone an equal they cannot endure they cease not to trample all under foot they sit in the Temple of God and are exalted above all that is worshiped he who stiles himself Servant of Servants is Lord of Lords as if he were God He frames to himself an Empire changing Laws he establisheth his own he corrupts robs spoils defrauds kills that man of perdition whom they are wont to call Antichrist in whose forehead that name of contumely is written I am God I cannot erre he sitteth in the Temple of God ruling all and every-where many say that Gregory is Antichrist Also in the Papacy of Paschalis 2. a. 1105. Fuentius Archbishop of Florence declared publickly that Antichrist was even then come and that he did sit openly in the Church pointing at the Pope at which the Pope was so nearly touched that in a Council at Florence of 340 Bishops silence in that was imposed on that Archbishop This is that Pope Paschal who contended with the Emperor Henry 5th for wresting from him that priviledge concerning Investiture of Bishops which the Emperors for 300 years had possessed as their right but the Pope finding himself over powered by the Emperor who was then with an Army in Italy he did withdraw that his challenge leaving the Emperor in possession of that priviledge as before And at a solemn Mass administring the holy Supper the Pope said my Lord the Emperor This body of our Lord born of the Virgin Mary and which suffered on the Cross as the holy Apostolick Church professeth I give in confirmation of this sincere accord between us breaking the Host keeping part for himself and giving the other part to the Emperor he added as this body of our Lord is divided so let him be divided from the Kingdom of Christ our Lord who shall attempt the violating this covenant between us to which Anathema so pronounced all said Amen Notwithstanding which the Emperor being returned to Germany that very Pope dissolved all in that done and called that priviledge which he so confirmed to the Emperour praevilegium not privilegium Sigebertus aliique apud Magdebur Cent. 12. c. 8. Baronius also thus mentioneth a. 1170. Alexander 3. and his Legates Letter to the Pope his Master Be pleased most holy Father to hear patiently what we say for my soul is in bitterness both your devoted Son the most Christian King of France and the whole Gallican Church are troubled at the scandals which in the daies of your Apostolat are given by the See Apostolick insomuch as our own say that there Satan is let loose to the destruction of the Church and that Christ is again crucified and a manifest Sacrilegious person discharged Also Joachimus Abbas a. 1190. saith that Antichrist is now born in the City of Rome and is advanced into the See Apostolick It were endless in this to run through the several ages before and until Luther God having then in those former times discovered Antichrist to some here and there but more plainly and more generally on the preaching of the Gospel in the Reformation on which followed that so general a departure as we see at this day from that Babylon as by that voice from Heaven Come out of her my people Rev. 18.4 Considering which clear evidence and light of this great and so important truth so generally diffused throughout the Christian Hemisphere which all may see that will see it is greatly to be wondred at to find notwithstanding at home some excelling in knowledge and learning to grope in this in midst of light as in darkness we having the general consent of Reformed Churches abroad Having also within our selves the concurring Judgment of famous Bishops and learned men among whom are our Whitegift Abbot Jewel Andrews Morton Davenant Bilson Hall Prideaux Fulke Reynolds Whitaker and our Judicious Hooker above many And in Ireland also had we our Usher Downham and Bedell not to mention others and the suffrage also of twelve Bishops together delivered by Bishop Downham desired in the name of the rest to declare their Judgments in it in his Sermon in Christ-Church Dublin on the 22d of April 1627. This was subscribed Nov. 20. 1626. by Ja. Armachanus Malcolm Casselen Anth. Midensis Ro. Dunensis Rich. Corke Cloyne and Rose Thomas Kilmore and Ardmagh Mich. Waterford and Lismore Tho. Fernes and Laughlin Geo. Derensis Andr. Aladensis Tho. Dromor Fra. Lymerick These are here named for their lasting honours besides whom are others of former times and of the present also not mentioned Add our English Book of Homilies approved and published by authority in which is sufficient to shew the Doctrine of the Church of England to the same purpose But what needs more than that Excellent
proper to the Pope alone and taken altogether not meeting in any other but in the Pope only Therefore on the whole who would not conclude the Popes being Antichrist the man of sin and son of Perdition II. By which last His being said to be a Son of perdition I am brought from Antichrists Rise to the last consideration here concerning him Antichrists down fall which follows on the other necessarily for if he be a man of sin he must be a son of perdition Of this his fall it is here said that the Lord shall consume him with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy him with the brightness of his comeing v. 8. that they all might be damned who believe not the truth v. 12. where is distruction 1. To him 2. and to his 1. To himself 1. His being consumed 2. Destroyed 1. That he consumed by the breath of the Lords mouth The breath of the Lords mouth is the preaching of the Gospel which is the word of God so Generally interpreted And to be consumed implyes a lingring wearing away and by degrees wasting and decaying not a violent and suddain destruction such as was Simon-Magus his down-fall said to have been on St. Peters breath or prayers against him Of this Consumption of the Papal power and greatness by the preaching of the word and Gospel in the world we have apparent evidence I shall give it as by Bellarmine expressed he by that waining in the Papacy arguing against the Popes being Antichrist Antichrists greatness and prevailings in the World being much spoken of whereas his fall and declining state is also described as si his greatness Bellarmines words are these Since that time when ye Protestants say the Pope began to be Antichrist the Papal Empire was so far from increasing that thenceforth it every day more and more declined And as you would have it Antichrist reigning the Roman See hath by little and little decayed it having lost almost all Africa a great part of Asia all Greece and even in our very days a great part of Germany Sweden Gothland Norwey and all Denmark A good part of England France Helvetia Poland Bohemia and part of Hungary are fallen away Bellarm de Rom Pontif. l. 3. c. 21. This way by Bellarmine written an 1577 as appears in the Preface to that work so as that decay in the Papal Empire was then within the space of 60 years accounting from the year 1517 the time of Luthers Preaching of which he speaks declaring the Pope to be Antichrist What then may be the consumption and decay there at this time being 150 years since 2. But that Consumption of this son of Perdition shall end also in destruction utter and irrecoverable whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming See this Rev. 17 where the ten horns of that scarlet coloured beast on which that woman Rome sitteth are expounded ten Kings which had not then received their Kingdom but were to receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast v. 12. These were states of the Western Empire which on the decay of the Empire did setup for themselves all with one mind giving their power and strength unto the beast and making war with the Lamb who shall overcome them v. 14 But those ten horns shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with Fire v. 16. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his Will and to agree and give their Kingdom unto the Beast till the word of God should be fulfilled v. 17. Which fall of Antichrist in several degrees is declared by several Angels in that imployed 1. An Angel preaching the everlasting Gospel Rev. 14.6 the beginning of Antichrists fall and gradual consumption 2. Another Angel declaring the downfall of that Antichristian state Rev. 14.8 3. An Angel forbidding the worshipping the beast or his image and receiving his mark in his forehead or in his hand denouncing judgments on such Rev. 14.9 10 11. 4. An Angel calling out of Babylon and to separate from her not to partake of her sins and plagues Rev. 18.4 6. 5. And another Angel giving a sign of irrecoverable destruction by casting as it were a milstone into the Sea saying Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all Rev. 18.21 Thus of Babylon Rome and Antichrist's fall as to it self considered II. See that also as to their Adherents in which our charitable thoughts of them have been by wrong measures mistaken to some disadvantage that which we say in that is 1. That there was a time when Antichristianism was a mystery not understood Antichrist not being yet so declared as after 2. And that after Antichrist was pointed at in the Church of Rome yet while erroneous doctrines there were but disputable not imposed as after in the Council of Trent to be de fide with an Anathema to such as thought of them otherwise and to such as did not understand the reach and depth of those evils and where the light of the Gospel is shut out as in some places and the knowledge of that denied and persecuted For these is our charity grounded to say well of them as of those of Thyatira who had not known the depths of Satan as they speak Rev 2.24 and those of Pergamus dwelling even where Satan's seat is yet saith our Lord thou hast held fast my name and hast not denied my Faith even in those dayes wherein Antipas my faithful Martyr was slain among them where Satan dwelleth v. 12. To be among Hereticks and not to believe Hereticks or not being led by them is St. Augustine's distinction in that case such ignorance may excuse But as to ignorance affected having Light and means of knowledge and when called on to come out of Babylon its ruine being declared and communion there declared perillous To such we say that their continuing so in that state is hazardous and full of danger Nor can such rely on ignorance it not in that case excusing For in this is condemnation where light is come and men love darkness rather than light John 3.19 and where the leaders of the People cause to err they that are led of them are destroyed Is. 9.16 and the blind by them so led both fall into the Ditch Math. 15.14 4. But as to those who are knowing and who defend and plead for Baal seducing and being seduced and so continuing the state of such is declared damnable that they all may be damned saith the Text who believe not the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness v. 12. and to such belongs that evil by the Angel declared if any man worship the beast and his image and receive his Mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the Wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his indignation and he shall