Timoth. 2. 9. Greg. 29. moral cap. 2. are not any reall markes by incision or inustion but the profession of his faith with obedience to him with the acceptance of some religious Ceremonies or godly Sacraments taken for that purpose so likewise shall the markes of the Beast Christs markes misticall and spirituall so the marks of Antichrist and Antichristian State for contraries are of the same kinde bee some sacrilegious ceremonies or sacraments Againe agreeing to truth because such markes being required as necessary for allowed commerce in the Antichristian State most meete that they should be answerably taken like to other markes of humane societie and communication Agreeing to truth because they being taken as markes of a continued religious or rather superstitious worship by repetition The markes of the Beast to be reiterated of superstitious acts whereby faith and obedience to Antichrist is acknowledged most meet that they should bee such as may be often reiterated For we may not thinke that Antichrist a most ambitious and arrogant Lord will bee contented with an once and a one subiection signified by a marke once violently imprinted no no this will not serue his turne for howsoeuer the hearts of his followers may stand affected to him yet hee will assuredly require very frequent acts and rites of profession and obedience to bee made vnto him what neede then of such a horse-like impression that cannot bee reiterated Further most agreeing to truth for it being most certaine and let the Aduersaries deny this if they can that the adoration of the Beast and of the Image of the Beast and the taking of the Beasts marke in hand or vpon forehead shall bee some superstitious seruices and idolatrous worships yeelded to the Beasts State yea the primest of his seruices Why then shall not the same bee performed by some flagitious acts or sakerments of subiection vnto the Beasts State Lastly most agreeing to the truth for if the name of the An vnauoydable reason proofe Beast and the number of the name of the Beast bee not by reall characters to bee written in the hands or vpon the foreheads of Antichrists followers as it is most manifest and our Aduersaries deny not but only mystically to be taken for that they shall bee either called after his name or after the number of his name for example â—ither Papists after the name Papa a name which Gregory the seuenth decreed should be peculiar to the Popes alone or else Latines or Romanes after the number Dictat Greg. 7. apud Barâ— ann 1175. of his name Latines after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Romans after Hebr. Romijt Why then shall not likewise the markes of the Beast bee mystically interpreted of some superstitious rites or ceremonies taken in hand or forehead whereby subiection is professed vnto the Beast as to a sacred Maiestie vpon earth Thus by Gods gracious assistance it resteth proued what the Beast is to weet a flagitious state of Gouernment set vp against that of Christ though pretended to bee the very same with that of Christ himselfe as hereafter wee shall proue more fully It resteth also proued what the Image of this Beast is A scelerate and idolatrous representation of the same either by a like subordinate state vnto it or else by some other similtudinary meanes as is aboue expressed and lastly it resteth proued what the taking of the beasts marke in the hand or forehead is to weet An impious acknowledgement and adoration of the Antichristian State by some superstitious rite sakerment or ceremony taken in hand or forehead and yet the greatest difficultie and obscurity remaines behind which now comes to bee cleared and opened by vs to weet vpon what forme of Gouernment now vpon earth may we fasten so grieuous an imputation Is this wicked State and forme of Gouernment yet come or are we to looke for it O thou innocent Lion who hast the key of Dauid who openest The Authors prayer and no man shutteth vnseale vnto vs the secret of this thy sacred mysterie For the cleering of this great difficulty wee must suppose First supposition these things First that this Antichristian State typed by the Beast and the Image of the Beast together with the adoration thereof and the flagitious subiection yeelded thereunto typed by the taking of the marke of The state of the Beast can be no meere politick Ciuil State or Empire the beast and of the name or the number of the name of the beast in hand or on forehead cannot iustly bee applied to any ciuil forme of Gouernment in regard of any ciuill subiection yeelded thereunto No no it is most certaine that all such ciuill States are the Ordinances of God and that all ciuill subiection out of conscience yeelded to such powers is expresly required by God yea so stricktly that whosoeuer shall deny the same Rom. 13. they shall thereby purchase to themselues condemnation Secondly I suppose that the Antichristian State heere 2. Suppos The State of the Beast a pâ—etended sacred State condemned is a State pretending to bee diuinely Sacred as Christs one Rod and Scepter so powerfull that it shall presume to change lawes and times so arrogantly sacred that it shall vndertake to institute other rites and ceremonies then those Christ hath appointed for the abolishing of sin and for sanctifying of the Soule A State challenging Matt. 24. 6. Apoc. 13. 15. to bee acknowledged by a religious supernaturall faith and by diuine worship to bee honoured and this so strictly in the very name of Christ that whosoeuer shall refuse to doe the same must be destroyed Hereout I thirdly suppose that the Antichristian State 3. Suppos typed shall in all arrogancie presume to exercise her power The State of the Beast shall exact supernaturall faith and obedience and is a pretended State ouer the consciences of men 4. Suppos ouer the soules consciences of men requiring from them a diuine faith in the profession of her power exacting from them an absolute obedience out of conscience to her Authoritie to admit of all her Rites all her Lawes euen as the very Rites and Lawes of God himselfe In the fourth place I suppose that the Antichristian State shall not onely pretend a spirituall power typed by The State of the Beast a Mâ—narchy vpâ—n diuine pâ—â—tence the hornes of a Lamb but also an vniuersall direct or indirect temporall power For he shall speake like the Dragon and consequently shal with infinite afflictions vexe those who adhering to the doctrines of the Preachers typed by Apoc. 14. 9. 10. the three Angels are onely and solely for the Faith of Iesus against his superstitious rites are onely and solely for obedience to the Commandements of God against his humane traditions are onely and solely for the worshipping of God against the adoration and worship of any creatures against all his enforced Thelo-threskies and wil-worships On the
IF wee compare Scripture with Scripture the best rule and surest way for interpretation then agreeing to the interpretation of all the Ancients wee shall find that as in Daniel by the foure beasts arising from out of the Sea were signified the foure Monarchies of the world the Assirian Persian Grecian and the Roman so likewise here by the beast arising out of the Sea with such a varietie of hornes heads and diadems wee are to vnderstand some Prime or Principall State or Empire hauing either successiuely or ioyntly different formes of Gouernment to be presignified and fore-shewed Bell. de Antich cap. 5. 15. which is so apparent a truth that the Pontifician Rabbies themselues yea Bellarmine their Hercules acknowledgeth it for very probable that the Apocalipticall beast with so many heads hornes and diadems doth signifie the Roman State with their seuerall formes of Gouernment yea and that by one of the heads is signified the most wicked and execrable State of Antichrist himselfe Thus haue wee found what is typed by the beast if then we will resolue the Hypothesis and supposition it is thus If any one worship the beast that is if any one worship and acknowledge the State of Antichrist c. But What the Image of the Beast is what is the Image of this Beast which is likewise forbid vnder most fearefull punishment to bee worshipped and adored The Image of any thing must bee a speciall resemblance of that wherof it is an Image If perfect and naturall it must Two sorts of Images haue a likenesse not only representatiue but also in nature and being of existence so the naturall sonne is a perfect image of his father like in representation and like in being and existence If the image bee imperfect then though it bee different from the thing whereof it is an image in nature and being as the image of a man drawne by the Painter on a Tablet yet in forme and vertue of representing it must haue a representatiue forme of likenesse as the same The Image of the Beast may be taken in a double sense image drawen by the Painter hath Now then the image of that State or forme of Gouernment which is signified by the beast may either bee a perfect image thereof like in representing and like in existence and being to weet a State representing that State one wicked forme of Gouernment representing another or else it may be an imperfect image in some likenesse either by expression of the penne of the Writer or the pencill of the Painter representing the same Sarisburg in policrat l. 5. c. 16. fol. 169. For example wee may take the formes of gouernment of Papall Legates and Nuncios sent forth to vse Sarisburiensis his words from the presence of Satan for the dissipation and destruction of the Church Wee may I say take them for perfect images because of like nature and also representing the absolute sacred Monarchy of their Holy Fathers the The State-Legatine an Image of the State-Papall Popes a State Legatine representing a State Papall but for inperfect Images wee may either take that which is done by the adulatorious pens of the Canonists describing the absolute state or sacred Numen of their Lord God the Pope or A threefold Image of the State-Papall that which by the Popes themselues is expressed in their Bulls Constitutions Clementines Decretalls or Extrauagants or finally that which the Painter Statuary or Gold-Smith performes in painting caruing or casting of the Popes sacred Tiare or Triple-crowne by which sacred Tiare or triple Crowne is represented vnto vs a liuely image of the Papall The Papall Tiare or triple crowne an Image of the Papall State State both in heauen aboue below on earth and vnderneath euen in hell it selfe In heauen by the top-crowne thereof for it being most certaine that no man can enter into heauen except absolued from his sinnes so likewise in the Papall state it is as assured that none can be absolued from their sinnes but by authoritie deriued from the Pope yea and in cases papal and reserued either the Pope himselfe in person or his chiefe Penitentiary must absolue and so vnlock heauen gates or else there can bee no entrance thereinto By his second crowne is signified that his power vpon earth vnto which it is necessary vnder the forfeit of saluation so defineth Pope Boniface that euery humane Creature be subiect nay Bonif. vnam Sanctam de maioritate it is not enough for euery one in particular and ipso facto in very deede to bee subiect to such his power but euery one out of necessitie of saluation must further beleeue that all others euen euery humane Creature is subiect thereunto O presumption it is not enough for a man in himselfe to bee ipso facto by very deed subiect to the Pope to giue vnto him his Soule and Conscience in faith and obedience but hee must further professe and beleeue with a diuine faith all the body of Christianitie to bee subiect vnto him Loe how Supereminent his Monarchie is vpon earth exalting himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ouer all that which is called God or which is called Augustum sacred Now his power ouer Hell for Purgatory is in the suburbs of Hell signified by the third and last of his triple-crownes is so sacred and so absolute that hee can fasten vpon base creatures Graines and Meddalls such a sauing power and efficacie that whosoeuer shall vse the same with such conditions as by his fatherhood are prescribed hee shall thereby deliuer soules more or fewer out of the flames of their imagined purgatory Loe how Pape a word of wonder comes from Papa the worlds wonder Thus haue we expressed what is meant by the Beast and What is the Beasts marke by the image of the Beast now come wee to declare what is the Beasts marke what the taking thereof whether in hand or on forehead I should trifle the time contemne all learned Antiquitie fall into a laberinth of contrarieties impossibilities and absurdities if I should but onely dreame of a corporall marke to bee ingrauen by incision or to be burnt by inustion as the fashion of men is to do with their cattell Praemonit pag. 111. in the hands or vpon the foreheads of Antichrists followers no no the marke must bee metaphoricall as his Maiestie most excellently by some rite of profession it must bee mysticall by some rite of subiection the marke on the forehead some sacrilegious ceremonie whereby the authoritie of that Blasphemous The marks of the Beast not reall by incision or inustion diuers reasons for the same State is professed the marke in the handes some like impious ceremonie or thing accepted of in the hand whereby subiection and obedience to that wicked State is performed And this without all doubt is most agreeing to truth to truth I say for as the markes of Christ his flocke 2.
contrary he shall inrich with wealth and treasury increase in glory and honor all those who shall fall downe adore and worship him and his State These most true suppositions which with an infinitie of testimonies and reasons might be confirmed being The Papall State the State of the Beast carefully preobserued I doe in the feare of God and out of the confidence of a good conscience constantly lay this imputation vpon the present state and gouernment of the Pope of Rome affirmimg his State and Gouernment to be that flagitious State which is here typed forth by the Beast and by the Image of the Beast And so hereby Articles agreed on by the Synod of Bishops and the Conuocation I demonstrate how true that is which wee haue and in the defence whereof I haue partly meditated this argument in our Articles of the Church of England That the Bishop of Rome hath no iurisdiction in the Realme of England Pag. 68. For if his State bee Antichristian and of the Beast as his Maiestie also most truely in his Premonions to Christian Princes then it will follow vnuoidably that all his challenge for iurisdiction within the Realme of England is arrogancie and presumption This my imputation I will not endeauour to proue by enumetating an infinitie of their blasphemous superstitions and lawes against the Maiestie of God the glory of his Sonne and the honour of his Tabernacle the true vniuersall Catholike Church of Christ but I will onely doe it Gods holy Spiiit enabling mee by certaine generall demonstrations drawne from the consideration of the very proper conditions of the Antichristian State it selfe partly laid downe in my former suppositions but most fully in the Booke of God whereunto for breuitie sake I will only point my religious Audience First then I argue thus The State of the Beast must Fâ—rst reason bee a State vpon earth pretending to bee for Christ a Matt. 24. 6. comming in the name of Christ and bearing pretensedly the verie b Apoc. 13. 11. 2. Thessal 2. A vanity in Bellarmine affirming that Antichrist shall deny Christ hornes of the Lamb though in truth it shall speake like the Dragon Againe this State must bee not a proclamed impudencie of Iniquitie but it must bee a mystery of Iniquity a pretensed semblance of Christian Sanctitie A State so full of subtiltie and pretending the name of Christ euen to the doing of miracles and such miracles Matth. 24. 2. Thess 2. Hiâ—â—r orat in Auxâ—nt Hiero. Epist â—1 q. ad algas Oecâ—men Theophil in 2. Thess 2 Chrisost ibid alij See Remes Annotat in 2. Thes 2. annotat 5. that the very Elect shall bee in danger to be seduced It must also be a State ruling and sitting in the Temple of God that is in the visible Churches of God so certaine of the Fathers pretending therein in Gods stead to haue power ouer the verie soules and consciences of the faithfull yea and therein to haue in Gods stead a power dispensatiue ouer all the Lawes of God ouer all powers ordained by God ouer all that is sacred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all Maiestie whatsoeuer And are not these and euery of these conditions most properly appliable to the present Papall Roman State onely and solely to the Papall State It alone pretends to wâ—are the Lambs hornes and to bee an absolute Vice-gerencie for Christ It alone requires that her Authoritie The Papall State pretinded to be Christs own state and power bee beleeued vnder necessitie of saluation with supernaturall faith Shee alone pretends to sit that is to rule in the temple of God that is the whole visible Châ—rch of God to rule I say the same with a rod of Iron and Direction Shee alone works in so powerfull and subtill a manner pretending Christs power miracles done in his name that thereby shee drawing to her band a whole multitude of Inhabitants of the earth hazards the soules of the very elect so that they are in danger to be seduced Thus our first proofe and yet here I must not omit to note that though the Papall State pretends the Lambs hornes that is to be Christs absolute and sole Vice-gerent yet notwithstanding it speakes like the Dragon How speakes like the Dragon For that it persecutes with Sword Fire and Fagot as the Dragon did all those who cleaue only to the Lambe for their saluation hoping only Reuel 13. 11. vpon the Lambes merites for their direction both in faith and manners resting onely on the Lambes Word The Roman Fathers like the old Emperours Instruments of the Dragon And are not these the very things for which the Dragon persecuted the first Christians in the Roman Emperours and doth hee not now persecute vs for the very same in the Roman Fathers Pope-Emperours It is the testimony of Iesus Iesus onely Iesus solely which the Dragon persecuted by the old Emperours and it is the same testimony of Iesus which the Dragon persecuteth in these Roman Fathers The Roman Emperours would not haue Iesus alone to be honoured against their Idoll-Gods And these Holy Fathers will not haue Iesus alone to bee acknowledged beleeued to saluation without their Godlings nor to bee onely heard for direction without their Traditions Because we will acknowledge nothing nor will beleeue no other necessary for saluation but Iesus onely Iesus This is that very testimony against which the Dragon now speaketh in the Roman Fathers and persecuteth in vs with the extremitie of Fire Sword and Faggot My second reason I frame thus The state Antichristian Second Reason wil require to be adored of all the Inhabitants of Earth not with ciuill and humane adoration onely but with a Apoc. 13. 15. 16 supernaturall adoration with a soule-Reuerence due to it as to an earthly God But this the Papall State most exactly Adoration giuen to the Papall State as to an Numen and Diuinity vpoÌ„ earth doth require and as yet no other State euer required the same neither can or shall any other with fire and faggot more rigorously require the same then the Papall State now doth require it It followeth then that the Papall State is that very State which is here typed by the Beast That the Papall State requireth such a soule-adoration and supernaturall obedience as due to an earthly Deitie it is more then most manifest For who hath not obserued that in a religious subiection to the Pope and in a Soule-vnion with the Pope consisteth the very life and Wherein consisteth the life of the Papacy essence of the Papall State Here hence it is that it is reputed a high point of the Maiesty of that State yea it is reputed as a partiall meanes to saluation that the Pope receiueth adorations and kissings of his feet from all the faithfull An act of Religion to kisse the Popes feet of the world and in their faith ought to receiue at lest in preparation