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
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
and holy Iude and from out of Daniel more there are very few Prophecies in the Scriptures of God or in the approued predictions of any of the seruants of God concerning Antichrist and his Gouernment which may not most probably if not euidently bee settled vpon the Papall State either the head or members thereof but that which hath beene deliuered may suffice for the euidencie of this truth especially with How Neutralizers betray Gods truth sincere professours those I meane which are not Neutralizers if any such heare mee this day Neutralizers I say or Interim-ists such as dare secretly mutter and mussitate Rome and the Reformed Churches agree in the substance of Religion that there is no fundamentall difference betwixt them and vs and againe that they teach no Heresies so that they altogether with vs make vp but one mysticall body of Christ O the vanitie of these men against the Spirit of God thus to dreame of the vniting of Sion and Babylon of Egypt and Hierusalem of Christ and Antichrist of light and darknesse of God and Beliall The 2. Thess 2. Spirit of God hath foretold that Christ shall in the brightnes of his comming by the Spirit of his mouth that is by the preaching of the Gospel in the dayes of reformation when that of the Reuelation shall bee accomplished Oportet te iterum c. Thou must againe prophecie to Nations Peoples Apoc. 10. 11. Tongues and many Kings the Spirit of God hath I say foretold that Antichrist shall bee dissipated and ruinated by No vnion betwixt the State of the Beast and true Christianity the brightnesse of his comming and the Spirit of his mouth and yet these men dare dreame of Christian vnion and brotherly consociation betwixt those whom the Spirit of God doth thus disunite and dissociate here by a perfect hate diuiding each from other and in the world to come by casting the Beast and his Admirers into the lake of euer burning fire and brimstone and by taking vp to the supper and ioyes of the Lamb those who haue here happily followed the Lamb in all things and haue also suffered for the testimonie of Iesus the Lamb. Now come we to declare how the Papall State compelleth all her followers to take certaine impious markes in their hands and likewise on their foreheads without which they may not bee allowed to buy or sell in that State If any one receiue the marke of the Beast either in his hand or in his forehead FOr declaration of this point according to my vse and that I may the better bee vnderstood I suppose these 1. Suppos things First that which I haue already euinced by the euidencie of Reason and the ioynt-consent of Antiquitie The marke and character of the Beast not to be taken for any beast-like marke by inustion or by incision that these markes and Characters of the Beast are not to bee taken for any corporall signes made either by the inustion of some hot-iron or by the incision of some sharpe instrument in the hands or vpon the foreheads of Antichrists followers no no the same is to bee vnderstood of some flagitious mysticall ceremonies taken in the hands or on the foreheads whereby the Takers are marked for deuoted Seruants of the Beast Secondly I suppose that no 2. Suppos State or Gouernment Antichristian or Hereticall Arrian Nestorian Pelagian or of any other forme whatsoeuer since the dayes of Christ did euer cause and compell their followers to take any speciall markes specializing their heresies or infidelities reall or ceremoniall in their hands or on their foreheads thereby to professe a Soule-allegiance to the whole forme of their sect and superstition saue onely the Papall State Thirdly I suppose that whereas it is said that those 3. Suppos who would not receiue such markes of the Beast should Without the Beasts marke no commerce haue no power either to buy or to sell in the Antichristian State that the same must bee vnderstood of a totall exclusion from all manner of communion and societie in that wicked State where that State doth preuaile and is not limited nor abridged by the moderation of any Temporall power Fourthly I suppose that this totall exclusion from all 4. Suppos No buying nor selling in the Papall State without taking of markes manner of buying and selling is so punctually compleated in the Papall State yea in all Popish Kingdomes where the Inquisition is on foot against all those who receiue not certaine markes of profession and obedience from that State that nothing can bee more assured or more manifest These things supposed how manifest is it that all Professours of the Papall State doe receiue in their hands or on their foreheads some ceremonious marke of obedience and profession which if they contemne to doe they are reputed in that state as Of-casts not to be admitted to All in the Papall State receiue marks any manner of commerce and communion Are they not all or ought they not all at least in purpose of mind to be anointed and marked on their foreheads with oyle consecrated I should say execrated by Papall Charmes wherby the same is become so sacred that the very presence Markes in the forehead and efficacie of the holy Ghost is said and by them is beleeued to bee therein so sacred that the hands of those who are anointed therewith on their foreheads may not presume to touch the said oyle or their owne bare foreheads so anointed so sacred that the foreheads of the anointed Foreheads marked must be bound with linnen fillets after the same inunction are for certaine dayes to be couered with linnen bands fastned thereunto that by such meanes the sacred oyle may be defended from the iniury of wind dust and weather and may by such continuance make better impression and pierce into the forehead such is the vanitie of these fooleries and impieties so sacred that the Popish Bishop anointing the forehead calls it and professes it to be Chrisma salutis The very crisme Their manner forme of marking of saluation I signe thee saith the Bishop with the signe of the Crosse and I confirme thee with the crisme of saluation in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost And may wee not here iustly exclaime against such sacriledgies A iust innection against marking vsed in Papacy thus to call a vile creature the very Crisme of saluation O blasphemy against the God of heauen not Christ alone by his bloud but the Beast by his charmed Chrisme doth and can giue saluation O presumptuous men who without any command or institution from God dare thus sacrilegiously presume to annexe the thrice sacred name of the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost and this in a sacramentall manner for remission of sins The marks of the Papacie worthy to be execrated to a vile and meane creature Who that hath eares
now shew it selfe to be Church-Recusants dreaming after we cannot tel what what though there be such shadowes of vaine hopes The words of God must be accomplished and ere it be long hypocrites in all States Churches being to their shame discouered The man of sinne and sonne of perdition will bee brought to vtter ruine and Change of Religion royally impossible perdition Come Lord Iesus come quickly I said in the third place that such a change was Royally impossible For how possible that our Religious Dauid should not bee Semper Idem alwayes the same How possible but hee who hath gone in and out before vs in this holy warre Yea more Cecinit classicum hath sounded out his most Christian learned Alarum wherein the Papall State is most liuely and Praemonit reg learnedly declared to be the State of the Beast and wherin there is more learning and Diuinitie then can iustly be refuted by all Papall Rabbins I adde or by any of their dissembling Fauourites How possible I say that he who hath so happily begunne in the spirit should end in the flesh Shall any of vs dare to be so irreuerent against Maiesty so Christian a Maiesty as once to thinke that he will doe ought against the knowledge of his own conscience a sin against the Holy Ghost or that he will suffer that truth to bee imprisoned impugned which his Royall Pen hath so learnedly and Christianly defended and maintained Far be all such surmises from the hearts and tongues of all dutifull Subiects who also euer will as they ought interpret Arcana Regni Secrets of State in the best sense But if we will not perswade our selues that such a change is Royally impossible in regard we haue a Religious Learned Resolued Prince in all points of Christianitie yet let vs be perswaded that such an alteration is Royally impossible in respect we haue an Intelligent and a Politick wise Prince for who cannot but know that with such a change he must put on lugum exactoris The very yoke of the Exactour and that he and his Successors must of Absolute Monarchs Soueraigne Commanders become blind deuouts to Papall Breefs and liege Seruants also to the Soueraigne Lord of all Lords the Pope For in Papistry it is an Axiome that the Nation and Kingdome which shall not serue the Pope shall must and ought to perish Let vs then rest resolued that such a change is altogether both vnlikely and impossible Let vs cast off such feares rather take heed that our Aduersaries do not thinke that we haue conceiued any such feare for vpon such conceptions they will begin new stratagems and will think the day to be halfe theirs if they once apprehend that we are afraid of their preuailing I sum vp this my discourse and aduise thus let euery soule here present feare lest through demerits of our sins we may be drawne from the stedfastnes of our profession let vs also in deuor by force of truth and firmnesse of perswasions to draw the Papist from the Idolls of his Heresies Superstitions and Impieties Vlisses his followers stopt their A necessary caueat eares so to escape the charmes of Circes Vlisses himselfe his eares being vnstopped binds himself fast to the Mast of the Ship that so hee might escape her veneficious charmes Yee that are but weake in zeale or not fully instructed stop your eare against Romes Charmers charme they neuer so gloriously but yee who are better instructed and who dare to heare their disputes their conferences their arguments tye your soules inuiolably to the Mast of Christ his Ship his sacred Word with the cords A true rule of Catholicisme Vincent Litiuensis contra Hereses of the rule of Faith which rule is no other then that forme of doctrine which is Catholike that Quae semper quae vbique quae ab omnibus credita fuit That doctrine which alwayes which in all places and of all persons hath beene beleeued Vnder this Mast only Gods sacred Word Catholikely not Popishly interpreted shall yee bee safe and secure against all the nouell vanities and vaine nouelties against all the impious blasphemies and blasphemous impieties against all the arrogant presumptions and presumptuous arrogancies of the Antichristian State of Rome Let vs then O Christian soules be resolute constant for the testimony of Iesus he who lookes backe hauing put his hand to the plough is not fit for the Kingdome of God neither is he fit for the religious chase zealous pursuit which is to be made after so execrable a Beast who may either looke backe by returning or withdrawing his first works like some Godlesse Dalmatian Apostata or who like some profane Helcesaean dissembling his Faith may shake hands in somewicked communion with the Beast or with these sworne champions of the Beast or finally who like some Godlesse Adiaphorizer may either say in his heart or speake with his mouth that any man so he professe Christ beleeue on Christ may bee saued in such his faith and profession be it Popish be it Muscouish be it Pelagian be it Donatian be it of any other falsly named forme of Faith whatsoeuer O Christ what times doest thou suffer when wee are thus enforced to speake against such an excesse of impietie and irreligiosity I conclude the God of Gods hath spoken Mercy and Iudgement belongs to him mercy from him for all those who shall sincerely serue and worship him iudgement against all those who shall worship the Beast or the Image of the Beast mercy for euer for all those who vnder the Lamb are called chosen and faithfull iudgement against all those Who shall receiue the mark of the Beast in their hands or on their foreheads mercy for all those Who may dye in the Lord for they shall rest from their labours which God of his infinit mercy grant to euery soule here present iudgement against all those who shall admire after the Beast for they shall drinke of the cup of Gods wrath and indignation From vs who worship the Lamb but abhorre the Beast who onely adore Gods Word but execrate the Beasts Traditions From vs who haue in hate all the markes and Characters of the Beast and who are signed with the Spirit of the holy Lamb in the day of our Redemption From vs I say to our God together with the Lamb that sitteth vpon the Throne and their euer blessed Spirit be rendred benediction Claritie power wisdome honour thanksgiuing vertue and obedience from this time forth for euermore Amen Laus Deo