the Parisian French King or Charles our Kentish English Innocentius 3 Extra de Excessu Prâ—lat Soveraigne Nay it is the saying of the Pope Articulos solvit Synodumque facit generaleÌ„ thatis the Pope hath power to call a generall Councill and to disanul every particular Article Thus farre hee fareth for the opposing of the old Creed then for the composing of a new Though some affrighted with the absurd audacity of this assertion doe seeme to mince it yet the whole Church of Rome concur in the conclusion The Pope hath power Edendi novum Aquin. 22 â— â— artic 10. Symbolum saith Aquine to publish a new Creed Condendi to compose a Creed writeth Vigâ—erius Ordinandi novum Symbolum to ordaine or authorise a new Creed quoth Gabriel Biel. Finally what these and other Papists have avouched in words Pope Pius the fourth maketh good de facto in deed by whose authority the Trent Creed is published with Pij 4. Bulla annâ— 1564. twelve articles also as a parallell to the Apostles Creed and urged with as authenticall injunction First to beleeve the doctrine of traditions 2 The authority of the Church of Rome to expound the Scriptures 3 that there are seven Sacraments 4 all the points concerning originall sinne and justification as they are defined by the Councill of Trent 5 The Masse and that it is offered a propitiatory sacrifice for the living and the dead 6 Transubstantiation and that the Lords Supper is to be received but in one kind 7 Purgatory and prayer for the dead 8 Invocation or praying to the dead as also worshipping of Saints and their Relâ—ques 9 The adoration of Images 10 Indulgences 11 The Popes Supremacy namely that the Romane is the mother mistres mater magistra of all Churches and that the Pope is Peters successour and Christs Vicar and finally to beleeve all the definitions of all Oecumenicall Councills but especially of their last of that of Trent And that these are the Catholike faith extra quam nemo salvus esse potest which except a man do beleeve he cannot be saved The subscription running as peremptorily as if they were the very Dictates of the Apostles or of Christ himselfe Profiâ—â—or spondeo voveo juro that is I professe I doe beleeve promise vow and sweare that I will obey all these Articles of the Catholike faith This man therefore who contradicteth old Lawes maketh new Lawes and breaketh all lawe I thinke I may lawfully call him lawlesse and conclude him to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The very Antichrist Thus these lawes of God both of constraint and consent both Scripture and the Creed are infringed by this man of sinne without impediment with like facility doth this hornet break through those cobwebs humane lawes be they oecumenicall for all nations or oeconomicall for all families Those lawes of nations are of two sorts when faith is either contracted betwixt equals by an oath or exacted from inferiours by Allegiance Each way is no way to bind the Pope who is everie way boundlesse and lawlesse The law of oathes is so generall amongst nations as that all nations observe them as most sacred and inviolable in so much that Pagans would not infringe them Regulus would be rather tortured than perjured though he could have escaped by breach of oath It was Aristotles saying that he who did double in his oath for that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to sweare with a mentall addition Arist Rhetor. 18. ad Alex. hath neither feare of Gods vengeance nor shame of mans reproofe and Dionysius in Plutarch was condemned by all whose saying was that children were to be mocked with toyes and men with oathes Surely it shall be easier for those Pagans at that day then for some Christians Some Christians said Matchiavell make oaths Matchiav Hist Flor. lib. 3. obligations not equall to profit they use oaths not to observe them but rather to deceive those that put their trust in them And I take it that no one thing hath done such harme and brought such shame to Chriâ—â—â—â—dome as this particular Simancha teacheth very solemnely Simancha Inâ—â—it Cath. cap 4. art 14. edit Hiss Fides data haereticis non est servanda nec a privato nec a magistratibus quod exemplo Concilij Constantiensis probatur Nam Iohannes Huss Hieromus legitima slamma concremati sunt quamvis permissa illis securitas est Promises quoth he are not to bee kept with Heretikes neither by private men nor yet by publike Magistrates He proveth it by a precedent froÌ„ the Councill of Constance by whom Iohn Husse and Ierome of Prage were legally burned although from theÌ„ they had received a safe conduct Trâ—nt Hist lib. 1. And the same had beene practised on Luther also at the Diet of Wormes in the yeare 1521 had not the noble disposition of Charles 5 the Emperor and the plaine opposition of Lewis the noble Elector Palatine preserved him Finally Becanus doth avouch Perjury by a maxime juramentum non est vinculum iniquitatis that is an oath is no obligation of iniquity iniquitie he esteemeth it for a Papist to performe his promise to an Heretike or a Protestant although hee sealed it by swearing an oath which all sober men suppose to bee the surest and most solemne obligation of all others yet of all others the Popes themselves are the most remarkeble patternes and patrons of perjurie About the yeare 1080 Rodolphus duke of Saxony instigated by Pope Hildebrand or Gregory 7 to rebell against Henry 3 the Emperor joyned battell with him wherein having his soldâ—â—â—s cut in peeces and his hand Pless myster Opposit 40. cut off Loe said he to his friends and followers with this hand I plighted my troth to my Leige Lord Henry but the Popes authority importunity urged me to the breach of that oath and now in the same hand I have received my deaths wound and so be dyed On the two and twentieth of May 1526 Trent Hist lib. 1. there was a confederacy betwixt Pope Clemens 7 Francis 1 of France and the Princes of Relation of the Religion in the West Sect. 15. Italy against Charles 5 the Emperor under the name of the most Holy League wherein the King was absolved from his Oath taken in Trent Hist lib. 5. Spaine And some thinke the Pope had promised the King to dispence with that Oath before hee made it vpon the hope whereof hee also tooke it Anno 1556 Paulus 4 by Cardinall Caraffa perswaded Henry 2 of France to breake his league and oath made with Spaine though the Princes of the Blood and the Grandies of that Kingdome abhorred the infamie of oath-breaking yet he received absolution from the Pope and such an overthrow from the Spaniard at Saint Quintin that it made his whole Kingdome to tremble and totter Instances are infinite I will adde onely two one most remarkable the other most miserable The first
Protestants fiered and faggotted by the Papists with more than Pagan cruelty and inhumanitie Hereupon the Papists not to be behind Tortura Torti pag. 152. hand with them have printed and painted Legends and Legions of their Martyrs To wit that even here in England their men have been sowen in Beare skins and baited by Bandogs that their women have beene bared in their breasts for starven Mice to eate into their entralls And that the Romish Catholikes of both sexes have been haltered to eate hay with horses These are Lyes to us who know them but they make our Persons our Religion our Countrey a loathing and a detestation to those who know us not This then is a mischievous point in their mystery of iniquitie The last Countermining craft of our undermining Adversaries I meane to instance in is the Councill A Councill because it was so confidently called for by the Reformed Churches in Germany that gave great credit and countenance to their Cause It perswaded the people that certainly the Protestants were the Honest men that called for judgement and the Papists the Malefactors who trembled at the triall There by also the Duke of Saxony and the Lantsgrave of Hassia were confirmed the King of Bohemia and the Duke of Bavaria were staggered and the heat of Charles the Emperour much abated in persecuting the Protestants Yea the Popes themselves eight in number for 40 yeres together were as hardly haled to call and continue a Councill at Trent as ever old bitten Beare was dragged to a stake But when necessitie compelled them to appeare they so contrived the cariage of that Councill that whereas the world expected that by it the Pope would have been Reformed if not ruined it was inverted to the Confirmation and Exaltation of the Papacy For now the Pope who before dreaded a Councill as much as ever thiefe did a candle knowing by experience that hee can coine Decades of Italian Bishops and Centuries of Titular Bishops to extort the suffrages from all Christendome Now hee calleth for a Councill as for his Servant and Handmaid The wresting of this weapon out of our hand or rather the turning of it into our Bosome I esteeme the prime policie they ever put in practise to support the Papacie And thus have I discovered our Enemies in their Trenches how by undermining and Countermining they would ruine our Religion by their politike popish Mysterie of Iniquity Ye see the baite by which they attaine now will I shew you the Hooke by which they retaine the Papall magnificence I must obey the time and omit many particulars Concerning their undermining cunning to keepe their Greatness that is an Hooke ore trisulco with three teeth three wayes they hold it The Priests hold the people the Pope holdeth the Priests the politike Cardinalls hold the Pope 〈◊〉 and all of them hold together to hold up the Papacy Like the hooke with the three teeth 1 Sam. 2. 13. to be sure to hold whatsoever they touch for the High Priests 1. First the Priests hold the People by Auricular Confession I say not that Confession is the mint of Treason their Absolution injoyning a Resolution to undertake any thing against any man who is an Enemie to the Catholikes Nor doe I tell you it is a Discloser of State-secrets by it the Pope sitting at Rome as Elisha did at Dotham 2 Reg. 6. 12. he is informed of the verie words which the King speaketh in his Bed-chamber But by this the persons which confesse their secret sinnes are made Slaves to their Confessors For whatsoever they talke of that secret sacred Sacrament I doubt not but they will print that Sigillum Confessionis in the forehead of the Penitent and have trickes at least threats to publish his crime and shame if he dare to fall from them This is an hooke to hold thousands of their Proselytes this is no small mysterie of their popish Iniquity 2. And the Priests doe not hold the people so fast by auricular Confession but the Pope doth hold the Priests as fast by inhibiting to mary For the full streames of the Church Treasure would feele a shrewd Ebbe if they should runne out into those little branches Wives and Children And which is of more moment the dis-inheriting of the Children is a dis-heartning of the Parents to prove Traitours But where there are and can be no such Pledges of loyaltie to the Country the Church of Rome may possibly command some good Catholike to stake his life for to stabbe his King Thus single life doth hold in the Priests unto the Pope against their Prince against their lives yea against their soules This is another Hooke another rare mystery in their popish Iniquity 3. Yet this is most memorable that the Hooke is put into the nostrills of the Fisherman himselfe for the Pope is held by the Cardinall to hold up his Greatnesse I cannot imagine but some Popes have had some motions to regulate some heteroclite abuses in the Papacie But the politike Cardinalls whose pompe dependeth on his papall magnisicence to prevent any reformation forestall all information as the third Chapter of our New booke called the New man maketh it plaine that Cardinall Burghesius opened and concealed all the letters from Pope Paul 5 which should have informed him of any abuse in the Romane Church And thus abyssus abyssum invocat one instance doth occasion another to discover this mysterie of popish Iniquity To conclude with their mysteries in Countermining us In this also there are 8 things multa paucis which our Church doth approve and use These the Papists doe pervert to the ruine of our Church if Christ did not mightilie and mercifully support it 1. Obedience Is it not the perswasion of our lippes the meditation of our hearts and the Theame of our Sermons Cry we not out against refractary faction as against the Viper which will eate out the bowels of our Church Yet the strange practise of this in the Church of Rome they make their Engine to subvert the Church reformed The Iesuites leave the vowes of Poverty and Chastity unto other orders and bind themselves chiefly to the Vow of Obedience whereby they sweare to obey the Pope in omnibus per omnia caecâ obedientiâ that is to Moulins Accompl pag. 145. execute the command of their superiour without asking why This obedience prostrateth theÌ„ to practise any thing against any person Is not this a Mystery a dreadfull damned mystery of Iniquitie 2. The Scriptures Doth not every Christian Church yea every Christian man trumpet out that command of Christ Iohn 5. 39. Scrutamini Scripturas Search the Scriptures yet is not the very reading of them contrived to be a Lime-twigge of Popery They may read them but they must sweare unto the second article of their second Creed composed by the Councill of Trent coÌ„manded by Pope Pius 4 1564. Sacras Scripturas secundum sensum queÌ„ Ecclesia tenet recipâ—o that is I
A PLAINE EXPOSITION VPON THE FIRST part of the second Chapter of Saint Paul his second Epistle to the THESSALONIANS Wherein it is plainly proved that The Pope is The Antichrist Being Lectures in Saint Pauls by IOHN SQVIRE Priest and Vicar of Saint LEONARDS Shordich Sometime Fellow of IESVS Colledge in CAMBRIDGE August Epist 89. Hilario Melius exponant ist a meliores Nam ego paratior smu discere quam docere Psalm 115. 10. Attamen ipse credidi propter quod locutus sum LONDON Printed for Philip Waterhouse and are to be sold at his Shop at the signe of St. Pauls Head in Canon street neare London Stone 1630. TO THE RIGHT Honourable EDVVARD Viscount CONVVAY Lord President of his Majesties Honorable privie Counsell My most honored Lord. MY LORD THese Lectures I laboured principally to satisfie mine own conscience in this great point But understanding that some conscionable persons have received some small satisfaction by hearing them I print them And presume to present theÌ„ to your Honor to read them or some of them at your Lordships leasure That I may publish to the world how I am assured of your Honors sincere affection to the Church of England as it standeth now in opposition to the Church of Rome VVhich that it may be daily confirmed and increased in your Honour and in the rest of our Honorable English Nobilitie shall be the daily and sincere prayer of Your most unworthy yet most humble Chaplaine IOHN SQVIRE To the READER CHristian Reader Let me commend these briefes to thy Christian Charitie For this Booke If my small judgement and the eyes of many of my judicious friends have not failed me it may have some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some slips no grosse Errours For the Quotations though some may seeme perhaps to have bin alleaged judicio errante yet animo reluctante not one I may misunderstand some but I mis report not one Author by a voluntary falsification For the Author he is a thorough conformable member Minister of the Church of England And for the Scope it is for the information and salvation of thy soule and his owne soule Take the Treatise and give prayers for Thy fellow-member in Christ Iesus IOHN SQVIRE To the Papists or popishly affected I Beseech you by our Christ performe this Christian duty whereto my Practice doth invite you by a Precedent Read my Treatise As I doe and will the learnedst Authors on your side If your impartiall judgement censure it as Erronâ—ous reject it refute it But if my arguments be strong love not the name of the Church more than you doe the Truth of the Church Magna est veritas Christ grant that his Truth may prevaile on either partie Yours in the Truth IOHN SQVIRE The Contents of this Treatise SERMON 1. OBstinacy an error dangerous to salvation 6 Ministers should win their people by lenity 8 Of the Resurrection 10 Blessings bind us to be constant in Religion 14 Of Vnion 7 15 SERMON 2. The comming of Christ may not be defined 18 The authoritie of the Fathers 21 The errours of the understanding terrours to the Conscience 22 Six meanes to avoid errour 26 Three Fountaines of Errour 28 Of Enthysiasme 29 Of the use and abuse of eloquence 31 Of false quotations and corrupting Authors 32 The meanes of seducing to Popery 34 SERMON 3. The point of Antichrist may be handled 38 The name of Antichrist 43 The Fathers not the best Expositers in this point 46 The Apostasie 47 Whether the Church was ever extinguished 55 When was the Apostasie 57 Communion in both kinds 60 The Primacie 60 Image worship 61 Deposing Kings 62 The Pope above a Councill 62 Priests mariage 63 Apostates to Poperie 63 Latine Service 65 SERMON 4. Antichrist not one man 68 The man of Sinne. 76 The Pope the cause of Ignorance 83 The Pope the cause of Whoredome 85 The Pope the cause of Treason 90 The Powder Treason 94 SERMON 5. Antichrist the sonne of Perdition 97 Antichrist and Iudas parallell'd 99 Antichrist Iudas and the Pope parallell'd 101 The Pope may erre 105 Popish Persecutions passe those of the Emperours 106 Of the Inquisition 121 Rome Destroyed 135 Whether all Papists be damned 136 Popish threatnings to draw men to Popery 137 SERMON 6. Antichrist not an open Adversarie 140 The Pope doth oppose Christ 145 Fundamentally 147 Vniversally 149 Six plaine propositions where Christ is plainly opposed by the Pope 153 The Pope the worst Adversary that ever the Church had 154 SERMON 7. 〈◊〉 Temple 159 Antichrists seat 159 Not thâ—â—â—teriall Temple 159 Rome the seat of Antichrist 167 Whether Rome be a true Church 168 A Parallel betwixt Rome and Babylon 185 SERMON 8. Antichrist shall not exalt himselfe above the true God 197 The Pope doth 200 And above all that is worshipped 202 The Popes Ambition 204 The Pope doth exalt himselfe above Kings 207 Above the Emperour 216 Papists are Traitors 226 SERMON 9. Antichrist shall not sit corporally in the Temple 288 The Pope usurpeth the same power with Christ 232 The same titles 233 That he is above Councills 238 That he can make a Creed 240 The Pope is not the head of the Church 234 The King is the Head of the Church of England 235 The Pope countermands all the Commandements 244 SERMON 10. Antichrist shall not call himselfe the true God 257 The Pope doth shew himselfe to be God 259 The Pope doth shew himselfe to be God plainly 268 SERMON 11. What hindred the Revelation of Antichrist 289 The Ro Empire not to be abolished 294 It is removed ibid. Of Travellers and travelling to Rome 301 SERMON 12. The time of the Revelation of Antichrist 305 Where our Church was before Luther 326 Affected ignorance of Antichrist 328 SERMON 13. The Mystery of Iniquitie 335 Popish mysteries to advance the papacie 343 Popish mysteries to advance poperie 360 Baits to catch papâ—sts 369 Hookes to hold papâ—sts 373 SERMON 14. The Pope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the lawlesse person 381 In regard of Scriptures 391 Of the Creed 395 Of humane Lawes 396 Of Oaths 397 Of nationall Lawes 402 The Exemption of the Clergie 404 Of Childrens obedience 408 Of Mariages 409 Of his owne Constitutions 411 SERMON 15. The destruction of Antichrist 414 The beginning of the Reformation 416 Poperie may returne into England 417 Poperie may not be put downe by force of Armes 418 The finall destruction of the Pope uncertaine 428 Popery shall not be extinguished till the last day 432 The destruction of Rome 434 SERMON 16. Of lying miracles 440 Of Popish miracles 343 The miracle Rev. 13. 13. explained 465 Whether Papists doe any miracles 467 Whether miracles should perswade unto Poperie 470 SERMON 17. Of the Antiquity of the Church of Rome 478 Vniversalitie 478 Vnitie 478 Infallibilitie 478 Of disputations with Papists 487 The care of the Popish Church for Controversie Writers 488 Of Popish perswasions 491 Devotions
this place signifie a multitude the Church malignant as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the woman in another Rev. 12. 6. doth signifie a multitude the Church militant Next every Schoole-boy can tell that the article doth not alwayes signifie one particular person Againe it seemeth there is no such signification thereof in this place for the old translation so authenticall with them absolutely omitteth it And in Scripture the article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used foure wayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Elegance Demonstration Difference and Eminence First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Elegance as Luke 4. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Man shall not live by bread alone Matt. 4. 4. the same sentence is rendred without the article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Demonstration pointing at some particular person as Iohn 1. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Behold the Lambe of God Thirdly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Difference to distinguish the whole kinde as Marke 2. 27. The Sabbath was made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for man Fourthly it is used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Eminence and emphasie to signifie a thing that is noble and notable in that kind as 2 Tim. 3. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The man of God meaning not any man but the Minister yet not one particular person but the whole calling So here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth not all impious men but emphatically the Principall Antichrist yet Him not one particular person but a whole vocation Notwithstanding yeeld them this conclusion neverthelesse from hence they can conclude nothing against ours or for their owne cause Though Antichrist be one man yet may the Pope be Antichrist For supposing a personall yea a Trienniall Antichrist and the persecutors and Heretikes to have beene Harbingers to prepare his way Notwithstanding the See of Rome may be the Seat of Antichrist and the succession of Popes may be the Series of those persons out of whom one Monster may arise who shal succeed and exceed all his predecessours in breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord in making havocke of the Church and in being drunke with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus This seemeth to be the conjecture of learned Zanchius and to the same Zanâ—h miscâ—l lib. 3. p. 25 de fine sac 85. discept cum Marbachio 474. Mr. Mountagues Appeale part 2 cap. 5. pag. â—19 conjecture seemeth our no lesse learned Countriman to incline in these words It may bee probable that one notorious singular mischievous Antichrist may arise towards the finall consummation of the world who in fraudulent colluding malicious craftinesse in impious execrable and transcendent wickednesse through hereticall impostures and lying miracles shall goe beyond all other that ever lived in the world Surely if the Generall of the Iesuites should once come to be Pope I would vehemently suspect him to bee the party designed For out of what nest that accursed bird should rather come abroad than out of that Seraphicall Society I cannot guesse But indeed that Antichrist should be one particular person it is improbable and plainly impossible which I will make appeare by six arguments In the sixt seventh verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which with-holdeth he which letteth that is the Empire and the Emperor by their owne doctrine doth signifie not one man but a successioÌ„ if the article doth not restraine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the person hindering no more can it restraine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the person hindered vnto the singular number In this verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Antichrist is termed a man to bee Reuealed but in the seuenth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was working euen then though in a Mysterie and the same man is said to be destroyed at the comming of Christ in the eight verse Antichrist therefore was in Saint Pauls time to be revealed in the after times and to be destroyed in the last times All which cannot concurre in one particular man This also may be confirmed from the drift of the Apostles discourse in this place Which was to foretell the most notable Apostasie and most importing the waste of the Church which could not bee in the age onely of one man Farre fitter therefore it had been to haue foretold the Heresie of Arius which indured many yeares and extended to many places Miratur orbis se factum Arianum Hieron Dial. ad Lucif Saint Hierom saith the whole world was infected with Arianisme To this Sunne-shine of Saint Paul St. Iohn may adde one Candle Reu. 18. 7. Sedeo Regina 1 sit a Queene and shall see no sorrow which are the words of one not newly sprung up by an usurped authority but of one established in a long and rooted tyrannie But to lay the axe to the root of the tree Matth. 16. 18. wee read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Christ will build his Church upon a rocke Now according to their Popish exposition if the Papists must expound the article to signisie the singular number and by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The rocke to vnderstand Peter alone and not the whole succession of Popes then sarewell to the Romish Supremacy and infallibilitie And I thinke the Romanists had as liefe yeeld the Pope to bee Antichrist as not to be the supreme head of the Church and not to be the infallible iudge of Controuersies Finally Bellarmine himselfe delivereth these Bell. de P. R. lib. 3 c. 1â— five things Antichrist must 1 vsurpe the kingdome of the Iewes 2 vanquish Egypt Libia and Ethiopia 3 conquer seuen other kingdomes 4 subdue the whole world 5 raise an universall persecution Now how Antichrist shall ever be able to poste over these expeditions on the wings of a whirle-wind in the reigne of one man especially in the space of three yeares and a halse as the Papists fancie I appeale to the conscience of any indifferent person Protestant or Papist and they will conclude with me Antichrist cannot be one singular man Neither can any justly oppose that argument from the opposition Christ is one man therefore Antichrist shall be one man For Christ the Head of the Church liveth for ever himselfe and therefore is one person But Antichrist the Head of Babel is mortall and continuing to the end of the world must therfore be perpetuated by successioÌ„ we haue instances in this kind The High Priest was the Type of Christ The High Priest that Type of Christ was not one Person but the succession The Pope is called the Vicar of Christ not one Person but the succession Quoad officium Papatus omnes Papae qui fuerunt aut erunt non sunt nisi Vnus Papa All the Popes which over were or shall be in regard of the Function of the Papacy are
Receive the scriptures according to the sense which the Church giveth them They must take the Letter from God but the sense from the Pope though that sense be contrarie to the Letter yea to God too Is not this a slavery is not this a Mysterie of Iniquity 3. An Oath Doe not all Christians all men imbrace it as an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the uncontroulable umpire of Controversies and the vnsoluble Gordian knot of Contracts and Covenants yet we see it is a popish trappe to insnare poore Relation of the Religion in the West sect 16. Protestants Whence all Protestants feare iustly that the Pope will play fast and loose betwixt us and the Papists Romish Catholikes as father Parsons did with his owne punies Pretending to make peace betwixt the English Schollers and the Iesuites at Rome First hee sware the Schollers then he left the Iesuites unsworne Is it not a miserable advantage that in all Contracts the Protestants are fettered by an oath and that the Papists can be assoyled ad placitum That we dare trust a Turke rather than a Christian if he sweare to us Is not this treacherie perjurie a deepe point in the mysterie of Iniquity 4 Interdicting of hereticall bookes at least the Consining of them to the learned languages we approve and would God we did practise it also On this ground have they built the maine mystery of Popery In the Popish DominioÌ„s in Italy especially all Protestant Authors are interdicted yea Bellarmine Gregory de Valentia and their owne Authors are not permitted Nay in their ordinary Sermons not so much as a Text is read in their native language The very sound Relation of the Religion in the West sect 35. of the truth is kept from those miserable people whose poore soules are like to perish through this politike working of this mysterie of Popish Iniquity 5. But the nemo sâ—it of all mysteries I conceive to bee that engine of inhumanitie and shame of Christianitie that Pejerarium a secret Cyprian epist 22 Lactant. 5. 1. crueltie indeed the secret of crueltie surpassing the invention of Domitius and the execution of Domitian the Romish Inquisition The Institution thereof was commodious commendable conscionable to discover not to Torture it may be to expell not to kill the Maurani and the Mahometans which swarmed in the south part of Christendome But now the edge of that implement of destruction is turned upon the poore Protestants and there is not onely a cruelty but also a Mystery in the execution thereof I beleeve there shall bee few fires to burne the Protestants any more Publikely but the Inquisition shall catch them and examine them and affright them and torture them and kill them in secret where no eye but the eye of God can see them This is a secret and a mysterie of their cruell iniquitie 6. There are other projects lesse mischievous but as mysticall namely to disclaime those unchristian and unnaturall assertions of Aequivocation Sharp Epist Dedic and lying to men of Excommunication and killing of Kings we approve it exhort it and commend it Yet it is the suspicion of some men of judgement that some of those Papists whom we terme moderate secular Priests doe declaime against the Iesuits for these opinions that thereby they may insinuate themselves with more freedome and lesse suspicion into acquaintance and so worke men unto the Romish Religion This is a mystery worthy of our observation and of our caution too 7. Another thing wee all approve that children of Papists should be brought up by Protestants This I also wish though I dare not avouch the taking of them without the consent of their Parents But it is reported that some subtle Papists for some secret drift doe voluntarily put their children unto Protestant Tutors Here is a depth which my dulnesse cannot dive into I wonder at this mysterie yet I wish that it were an History That if our necessitie and necessary labours would give us leave that they would put their Children even to my selfe and to such as I am And then let them prove what their mysticall projects could produce when their children are under our Education 8. It is our common call and cry that the Papists should come to Church some of them doe it But so as that they haue occasioned a proverbe The Church Papists the worst Papists The more heavie Papist who goeth to Church as he sendeth his daughter to a Nunnery to save charges in the fulnesse of his devotion hee falleth fast a sleepe and dreameth not of one point in the whole sermon But the active spirit the learned Lay man it may be a Priest or a Iesuit Hee intertaineth his neighbour with talking to divert his owne Pew to disturbe the next pew and industriously to discontent the whole congregation Otherwise if the Preacher be but of slender gifts hee will heare him to deride him if he be learned to intrappe him And it is thought yea said that there are some of those Assyrians daily at these our Lectures as they did to the King of Israel 1 Reg. 20. 33. so these Papists Politicians Priests or Iesuites or all they observe diligently whether any thing doe fall from us and they catch at it But let them come and then Catch in Gods name While they come to Catch us by their Policy we may catch them by our Veritie This indeed were a Great mystery Thus according to the shortnesse of my time and smalnesse of my ability omitting many abreviating all I have showne you some mysteries of the politike Popish Religion You have heard the Papacy hath beene Hammering from Saint Pauls time to our time 1600 yeeres The shop of those Politicians hath beene at Rome from that forge the sparkes of their mysticall policies have flowne throughout the world They have cunningly apprentised our owne Countrymen our kinsmen yea our Wives and yoke-fellowes to worke in their mint and to spread the projects which they have coyned They tyrannize on the bodies of their foes by the Inquisition and they tyrannize on the soules of their friends of their owne children by Auricular Confession Their insinuating mysticall Agents creepe into our houses to inveagle our people into our Churches to intangle our Preachers What now Can we say lesse than my Text a mystery yea more Legion There are a thousand thousand sly subtleties and secret cruelties Now the mystery of the blessed Trinity Blesse us all from the mysterie of their cursed iniquity SERMON XIV 2 THESS 2. 7. That wicked one The Pope is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Lawlesse Person in regard of the Scriptures Creed Oathes Lawes humane Nationall Childrens Obedience Mariages And in regard of his owne Constitutions Exemption of the Clergy IN the two verses before my Text wee have heard Antichrist described here wee have heard him discovered Wherein I have unfolded three particulars How hee was hindered when revealed and what the thing was which was hindered
Spiritualls can bee judged by none in the world no nor by the world in a Councill whereby hee professeth that none in the world is absolutely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is without Law but the Pope Finally what the Canonâ—sts speake for slattery and the Writers of Controversies out of their judgement Gunther and Tiethgaudi Archbishops of Cullen and Morn Myst Iniqu Oppos 31. Trevers spake out of experience of and to Pope Nicholaus the first Quod tibi libet licet that is thou hast no law but thy lust All which doth but amplifie this title in my text that the Pope is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lawlesse like the Iudge Luk. 18. 2. that he feareth neither God nor man Though these bee plaine yet the plainest proofe of any mens positions is their owne practice let their tongues and pennes preach and publish what they will or can to the contrary To this purpose I say lawes are of two sorts divine and humane The first are given by God the second by Man The Law given by God is either a Law of constraint Primarie imposed the Scripture or a Law of Consent secondarie collected the Creed Againe the Humane Lawes also are twofold Oecumenicall and Oeconomicall Those are Publike for all Nations these private for all Families Now if I doe not make it appeare that the Practice of the Pope is lawlesse in all these particulars I will confesse that I doe him apparent wrong to call him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Out-law and The Antichrist The great law is the law of God that great law of God is that of coÌ„straint the Scriptures which shold constraine every coÌ„science to awfull obedience But the Pope hath practised the contrary to that authority was it ever credible that that law giveÌ„ w th such consternation w th thunders and lightnings and a thicke cloud and the voice of a trumpet so that all the people trembled Exodus 19. 16. confirmed with such a protestation that Heaven and earth should passe before one jot or one â—ittle should passe from the Law Matth. 5. 18. and sealed with such a Commination I testifie vnto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this booke if any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this booke And if any shall take away from the words of the booke of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the booke of life Revel 22 18. 19. So precious to the Iewes that they thought it their prerogative to keepe it Rom 3. 2. So highly esteemed by the Christians that they poured out their blood to professe it Heb. 11. Was it I say ever credible that this Sic dicit Dominus Thus saith the Lord should be changed into a Sic jubet servus servorum so commandeth the servant of servants That this Law of God should ever be vilâ—fied and nullified by a wretched man This is the Popes practice Is not the breach of Gods Law avouched by his dispensations and indulgences are not the bookes thereof checked by inhibitions and publike interdictions The Scripture indeed is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim. 3. 16. Gods streight rule to our crooked affections but the Pope doth bend it to his owne liking As their owne grosse phrase is he maketh it Lesbia Regula and Nasus Cereus a Leaden Hâ—â—â—us Pigâ—ius Rule and Nose of waxe which they may wrest and wring any wrong way according to their owne will and pleasure Or as Bellarmine Bellarm de P. Ro. lib. 3. c. 14. speaketh in a better phrase but to the same purpose the Pope doth Apostolorum praecepta positiva moderari ac mutare prout ecclesiae expedierit the Pope saith he doth moderate and change the positive praecepts of the Apostles as hee shall thinke it convenient for the commoditie of the Church But since that Bellarmines plaine mind Hist of Paul 5 and the Venetians lib. 4. pag. 198. is discovered by some of found judgement For anno 1606 he composed a little booke against the Treatises of Gerson wherein he aymed to exalt the authority of the Pope so farre as to make it equall to that of God That Law doth not constreine neither him nor his to keepe their bounds but he will be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lawlesse They make the Scripture in their owne base phrase mutum magistrum a dumbe Teacher to say nothing as their Trent phrase speaketh more mannerly secundum sensum quem ecclesia tenet to say nothing but according as the Church will understand it that is what the Pope prompteth In old time Demosthenes said that the Oracles of Apollo did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they were taught to speake nothing but what pleased Philips Greatnes We may say in our time but God be blessed not in our Countrey not in our Church at the least that the Oracles of the Scriptures doe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are taught to speake what doth please the Popes Holinesse To shut up this point with the wicked words of Hosius and with the witty words of Durandus ipsas scripturas facessere Iuell Apolog. pag. â—31 jubebimus wee will bid the Scriptures to bee packing said that blasphemous Papist But the Other speaketh in another veine male cum rebus humanis actum est ex quo Decretis alae accesserunâ— idest ex quo Decretales in ecclesia volare ausae sunt supra scripturas said that popish Canonists that is Christendome came into thraldome ever since the Law of the Lord hath beene troden downe by the Law of the Pope The last words of which sentence are too true if that Decree of Pope Steven 6 recorded by Gratian bee canonicall and categoricall Gratianus D 19 C Eniâ—â—â—râ— Quicquid Romana ecclesia statuit quicquid ordinat perpetno quidem irrefragabiliter observandum est Whatsoever the Church of Rome doth appoint whatsoever it doth ordainâ— it must be observed perpetually and without gainsaying Is not the Pope then that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that lawlesse man that man of sinne indeed that very Antichrist Next to this great Law the Law of Constraint the scriptures is the Law of Consent a great law too the Creed which being collected out of the Scriptures the whole Christian world hath submitted it self to the authority therof as to the touchstone of their assertioÌ„s Now the Pope doth not onely oppose the old but saith that he can also compose a new Creed In the old Creed hee directly thwartheth three Articles that of Christs remaining in Heaven till the judgment bringing him down daily to the Earth by that monstrous miracle of Transubstantiation That of the forgiuenesse of sinnes by his presumptuous doctrine of merits And finally the third Article of the Catholike Church by inserting the word Romane which overthroweth the sense of the Article and is contradictio in adjecto an absurd contradiction as if we should terme Lewis
the height of disobedience rebellion and to the height of rebellion perjurie Morn Myst Progres 41. persidie and parricide Mathilda was instrument to Pope Vrbane 2 whereby Conradus was incited to an insurrection against the Emperour Henry 3 anno 1091. And about Morn Myst Progres 42. 1100 the same Henry 3 had another sonne afterward Henry 4 instigated by Pope Pascal 2 who surprised him at a treatie permitted his Father to begge a Clerkeshâ—p in Saint Maries Church at Spire whereof himselfe had beene the Founder of the Bishop of Spire to whom he had beene Patron by whom he was most churlishly rejected Through the griefe whereof and of other occurrences the noble Emperour died And his sonne Henry 4 Paulus Deacon â—ib 4. cap. 38. though he kâ—lled him yet could not bury him but he lay without a grave for many yeeres together for so the Pope did injoyne it Concerning Mariage from marying they are inhibited if maried divorced such as are under the Popes Iurisdiction I will give one instance to affirme each and a third to avouch both Gregory 7 was infinitely incensed Sigonius lib. 9. de Reg. Italiae that Mathilda was wedded to Atestanus the Marquesse of Azan and the next yeare divorced her under pretence of neernesse of kindred whereas nothing was more common with him than to dispence with degrees of neerer affinitie Innocent 3 divorced Ralph Earle of Vermandois from his first wife that he might assume a second Petronilla the sister unto the Queene of France Of which lawlesse act Saint Bernard did complaine God saith he did Bernard Epist 216. ad Innocent joyne Ralph and his wife by the Ministerie of the Church Quo modo quos Ecclesia conjunxit Cumera disjunxit How could the Popes Chamber put a sunder those whom Gods Church hath joyned together Bernard might have satisfied his demand out of Saint Paul in this Text. The Pope did doe it because hee was and is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lawlesse and therefore not tyed to give an account of his actions Finally foure hundred yeares after that anno 1556 Pope Paul 4 sent a monitorie to Dame Ioan of Arragon wife of Ascanius Columna that she should Trent Hist lib. 8. not marry any of her daughters without his leave or if shee did the matrimony though consummated should be made void Some peradventure will here interpose a diminution that though the Pope bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet is he withall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though hee outleapeth the Lawes of God and man yet he will consine himselfe to his owne Constitutions to those conclusions which himselfe hath established either privately in his Conclave or publikely in the Councils Bee it so this is no hedge to his lawlesse out-leapes for in bâ—th these hee will leave a gappe for his free egresse The Councills are proponent ibus Legatis salva semper authoritate sedis Apostolicae with caution not to touch the hemme of his Primacie And for the Conclave it is a Quarrells of Paul â— with Veniâ—e lib. 1. thing without doubt quoth that judicious Author of that Venetian story in the Court of Rome that the Cardinalls voices are taken in Consistorie onely in appearance and by way of ceremony in as much as they are never informed of the affaires wherof they are to treat so that the Popes goe with assurance to propound in Consistorie whatsoever is to their humour grounded upon the custome which is amongst the Cardinalls to consent to al that is proposed which is openly derided in the Court of Rome changing the latine word by the figure of agnomination assentiri into assentari Howsoever were the Popes Conclave and Council-conclusions faire and farre from fraud when they are constituted yet are they but twine-threeds to their Prerogative they cannot binde it In that contention 1605 betwixt the Pope and Venice The Venetians The quarrels of Paul 5 with the Venetians pleaded for their action the Law of Nature Possession for a 1000 yeares and the Popes approbation by his owne Breves extant in their publike Archiues This threefold cord was easily broken and Paul the fift commanded the revoking of that Venetian Law although the Popes owne Breves did establish them Neither are their Councills any thing stronger Sigonius do Reg. lib. 6. Baron An. 897. Artic. 2. Pope Formosus was by Pope Steven in a Councill digged out of his grave condemned and censured about 900. After whom Pope Iohn 10 in another Councill at Ravenna did abrogate that act of his predecessour and that Councill which concurred in the countenancing and commanding that action Finally the Pope himselfe Paschal the second shall determine this question who said if Aventine Avent lib. 6. say true debere homines pro legibus habere quae dicat that men ought to esteeme The Popes words to bee their Lawes As much is here said by the Pope as I can say of the Pope although I give him that name which Saint Paul giveth to Antichrist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the lawlesse person From hence let understanding men conceive what manner of arguments the Papists can vse to perswade them to their parties Doe they dispute from the Scriptures Alas the Pope doth dispence with the Scripture and make his Decrees equall to the Scriptures Doe they plead an Article of Faith The Pope doth contradict the old Creed and hath made a new Creed May persons prevaile with thee their reverend and learned Priests the best of them if an absolute Papist is but the Popes creature and like Balaam Num. 22. 38. He hath power to speake nothing but what his God the Pope doth put in his mouth Doth thy child intreat thee or thy wife intice thee The Pope can cancell the bonds of Nature and of wedlocke His agents can make thy wise undutifull and thy childe unnaturall Or doe those awefull motives to an honest heart oathes move Alas alas if thou couldest see all the blood which the Pope hath caused to be shed by breaking of oathes the Thames would seeme to bee but a Channell compared to that Ocean In a word when thou canst trust a man who neither obeyeth the scripture nor keepeth an oath then beleeve the Pope and Popish â— ill then my Tongue shall tell you what my heart doth pray for you The Pope is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one who breaketh all Lawes Humane and Divine Therefore From that lawlesse awelesse faithlesse gracelesse Man of Sin Good Lord deliver us SERMON XV. 2 THESS 2. 8. Whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightnesse of his comming The Destruction of Antichrist The beginning of Reformation Poperie may return into England Popery may not be put downe by force of Armes The finall destruction of the Pope uncertaine Popery shall not be extinguished till the last day The destruction of Rome THis part of this verse containeth the third part of this Discourse
most gratious Possible it is that salvation may breake through the Inquisition it selfe I have read of many Protestants eveÌ„ in Civil And I have heard a Romish Convert confesse that his Conversion was wrought in Rome it selfe So farre will I bee from condemning all that live under the Authority of Rome that I will rather hope that that may bee true of the Romanes which Saint Paul wrote to the Romanes 11. 4. That God hath reserued to himselfe many thousands who did never bow their knees to Baal Though the maine Bulke bee Chaffe yet who dare take Petilians part to bee Ventilabrum arâ—ae Dominicae and say there is no Wheat amongst it As some Philosophers say of the extracting of Gold out of other meâ—â—â—s Difficultas non insert impossibilitatem so say I in this cause though it bee difficult yet is it noâ— impossible that Christ should have some servants vnder Antichrist and that some Papists may be saved even at this day in Spaine and Italy Concerning Popish errors wee must consider their kindes and degrees The kinds of them are of two sorts some are Capitall such as contradict the Articles or hinder the meanes of Faith as Adoration of Images Invocation of Saints Iustification by workes inhibition of the Scriptures c. Other Popish errours are lesse principall which of their owne nature doe not destroy any Article of faith nor absolutely hinder our salvation as Pilgrimages Penance Vowes c. Next the degrees of them are threefold some doe command those Popish errours as the Pope and popish Councils some doe teach them as the Fryers and Iesuites others doe onely follow and beleeve them Answerable to which is that distinction of St. Aug. Haeretici credentes haereticis there are erronious Auâ— de utilitate credendi cap. 1. seducers and erronious seâ—uced Now if my charity could frame a mathematicall abstraction that there were a credulous Romish Catholike led with the name of Catholike and with the shew of Antiquity who with an innoceÌ„t though ignorant devotion should follow the Pope as those two hundred did Absolon 2 Sam. 15. 11. in their simplicity I should not despaire of their salvation But to speake of Papists as I feare most Papists are at this time and in this land A Trent-Iesuited Papist a compleate Papist refusing hating persecuting the truth offered Such are certainly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those that perish I know not how to excuse them and the Scripture sheweth no meanes how to save them Now followeth the durus sermo I come to that vnpleasing conclusion concerning the salvation our English Papists For the time I have shewed that of the old Papists wee have great hope that a great number were saved For the place I have shewed also that wee have some small hope that some small number may bee saved even in Spaine and Italy But for our time and our place we have hardly any hope that hardly any English Papish can bee saved My reasons are two drawne from the two former heads from the time when and the place where they live 1. In old time though the Papists held horrible errours yet they professed them at large without any precise particular and personall submission and subscription But now by the Counsell of Trent they are imposed as Articles of faith and they subscribe that they beleeve them and sweare that they will maintaine them This I take it is the marke of Antichrist And I feare all English Papists are such Papists 2. In the next place consider the Place Here they live where the trueth is taught and not by Authoritie as in Italy but by their owne voluntary refusall they are debarred from the sound thereof All Papists are Antichrâ—stian This is too much and yet it may bee not enough to pronounce them damned But our English Papists are Antichristian according to the two Characters of DaÌ„nation in my Text. First as it is in the 10 verse they do not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they doe not receive the truth offered unto them they reject all instruction both publike by preaching and private by perswasion Secondly as it followeth in the twelfth verse they doe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 take delight to remaine in their ignorance and errours That I may conclude in the words of a Papist Haereticorum Steâ—art in 2 Thes 2. 10. qui obstinate nolunt veritatem inquirere ignoratio sit culpabâ—lis damnationi obnoxia quia sic affecta est ut si scire velâ—â—â— possent debentque that is the ignorance of Heretikes who doe obstinately refuse to seeke the trueth is culpable and damnable because it is of such a nature that if they would they might and ought to know the truth This is the best that I can say or hope of the best of our English Papists but of the most and worst I must say their estate is â—arre worse and of them my conclusion must bee more peremptory Our English Iesuited Papisis who are indeed almost all our English Papists these are the limmes of Antichrist in an high nature These hold the same haeresies with the former but farre more arrogantly and obstinately To use the words of one of their owne Iesuites Iungantur in unum dies cum nocte tenebrae Apologista c 3. pag. 119. Câ—saâ—b ad Front Duc pag 52. cum luce calidum cum frigido sanitas cum morbo vita cum morte erit tum spes aliqua posse in caput Iesuitae haeresin cadâ—re That is when it is possible for day and night light and darknesse cold and heat health and sicknesse life and death to bee united then will there be some hope that a Iesuite may be capable of heresie Can a greater unerring prerogative be assumed by an Apostle by an Angell yea by the trueth it selfe by Christ Iesus himselfe so arrogant and obstinate are the Iesuites in their hereticall assertions But here is not all to these damnable presumptuous Haeresies they adde as damned desperate positions of Moralitie As their breaking of faith with Haeretikes denying to sweare allegiance to their King avouching the Popes power to depose him absolving of Oathes and that devillish tricke of Equivocation paradoxes rasing the foundations and principles of Morality Christianity and Humanity And with these poysonous doctrines they infect their followers in all power through the working of sathan Watson Quod. 1. Art 7. To use the words of a Papist Some Romanists either of grosse ignorance or wilfull blinded affection haue said no lesse in effect then that though they knew they should bee damned for it yet would they for obedience sake doe whatsoever the Iesuites should command them This is limen inserni Their estate is damnable Hooker in Hab. pag. â—6 when as profound Hooker speaketh heresie is thus heretically maintained by men obstinately holding it against wholesome instruction Thus the truth doth extort froÌ„ me this peremptory conclusion I feare the estate of all English Papists But for a
therefore I conceive neither reason nor authority why any man should make a particular of that which Saint Paul doth propose as a generall The conclusion therfore is plain and true The Apostle doth here describe the adhaerents of Antichrist non a natione sed conditione ipsorum Doun part 2. Dem. 6. not from their Region but from their Religion Antichrist shall prevaile on such as receive not the love of the trueth Now whether these men be Iewes or Christians it skilleth not Having cut off this cavill I come to the naturall exposition The Object of Antichrists prevailing power is here foretold to bee men who will not receive the love of the trueth Of the Truth I may distinguish as the Greekes doe of the Word there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Veritas Christi Veritas Christus the truth written and the Trueth begotten the first Matth. 22. 16. thou teachest the way of GOD 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in trueth the second Iohn 14. 16. I am 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Truth Christ did the former Doctrinally and he was the latter Essentiallie The Text speaketh of both but of the first properly and primarily it being most convenient thereunto For the fallacy is a deceiveablenesse of unrighteousnesse that is false doctrine Therefore the Apostasie is from the true Doctrine or the trueth taught us in the Gospell By the truth then here we are to understaÌ„d the Gospell The Gospell is termed the trueth for three causes from the infallibility use and efficacy thereof First each syllable is true and shall come to passe Math. 5. 18. Secondly it maketh a man true and absolute in the knowledge and practise of Holinesse 2 Tim. 3. 16. Thirdly the Gospell is veritas magna praevalebit the Gospell is that trueth which above all things beareth away the victory The Gospell is a true sword to cut downe all errour and transgression Heb. 4. 12. Marke moreover it is the obseruation of our blessed Bishop Iewell marke hee doth not say Because they receive not the trueth but because they receive not the Love of the trueth therfore God sendeth theÌ„ strong delusions Of which sinne and punishment wee have an example and withall a wonderfull resemblance of the Roman Church in the persons of Hophnie and Phineas 1 Sam. 2. It is said in the twelfth verse They knew not the Lord. Now that they did know the Lord and his Will it is evident first from their Vocation in the thirteenth verse they were Priests and therefore their Lips did preserve knowledge Secondly from their Information both by the people in the sixteenth verse and also by their Father who verse 24 said Nay my sonnes for this is no good report that I heare The meaning then is they did not love the Lord which is all one as if they had not knowne him Adde to these three other remarkeable observations First their Sinne Whoredome verse 22. Secondly the cause of their continuing therin they made themselves fat with the offerings of the people verse 24. And the punishment which was twofold They would not hearken because the Lord would slay them in the same verse The parallell whereof wee may perceive in the Papacy punctually in all particulars The Church of Rome cannot be said not to know God it appeareth from their Vocation they have a Priesthood and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the holy Word Rom. 3. of God and learning labour and languages to peruse them Wee cannot say therefore They doe not know God but alas which is far worse They doe not love God To know him they have information sufficient from the Fathers most of their opinions have little some of their opions having no mention made of them in those ancient Writers from their owne fathers divers of the Bishops of Trent relenting but the Pope did controule them Finally they have had information from our Father I doubt not but God doth check the consciences of many of their learned that they see the trueth but doe not receive the love thereof Their sinne also is whoredome spirituall whoredome their See Babylon spirituall Babylon and the Mother of Fornication Their cause of continuing therein They make themselves fat with the offerings of the people they swimme in worldly wealth and honour The same Punishment they may feare shall feele Hophni Phineas did not hearken because the Lord would slay them And my Text telleth us that those who receive not the love of the trueth God will send theÌ„ strong delusion that they may be daÌ„ned Now that the Church of Rome doth not receive the love of the Gospell though they have the Gospell I thus demoÌ„strate it Because they use the Gospell either onely or principally for their owne turnes They have Gods Covenant in their mouths but hate to be reformed Quia superbi Ps 30. 16. 17. sunt nec noverunt Moysis sententiam sed amant suam non quia vera est sed quia sua est saith Saint Augustine They are surly and selfe-conceited and receive not the judgement of the Gospell but the judgement of the Church of Rome they love the Romish opinion not because it is the true opinioÌ„ but because it is the Romish opinion Those words of the men in Matth. 26. 73. St. Matth. to St. Peter may be aptly applyed to this purpose Certainly thou art one of them for thy speech bewrayeth thee Herein the Bishop of Rome is Saint Petâ—rs Successor Certainly they are those who use the Gospell to their owne turnes for their speech doth bewray them although they sweare and curse that they doe it not Thus they speake Docet spiritus sanctus omnes modo ordinato Suarez Apol. lib. 1. cap. 11. num 8. communem scilicet plebem per Doctores ipsos autem Doctores per Concilia maxime per Vicarium Christi The Holy Ghost saith Suarez doth teach all but in an ordinary maner to wit the common people by the Doctors and the Doctors themselves he doth teach by Councils but principally by the Vicar of Christ Pontifex potest Bell. de Pont. Rom. lib. 3. c. 14 moderari praecepta Apostolorum prout Ecclesiae expedicrit Bellarmine saith the Pope can moderate the Precepts of the Apostles as shall seeme expedient for the Church Scripturas recipio secundum sensum Ecclesiae it is the second Article of their second Creed established by their Councill of Trent that they receive the Scriptures indeed but as the Church shall expound them Their words are plaine enough containing a plaine injury against man and as plaine an indignitie against God First they and wee contend Who hath the trueth The Iudge Wee call for the Scriptures peradventure they will permit them But with this proviso Prout Ecclesiae expedierit prout Ecclesia exposuerit The Scripture shall be Iudge betwixt the Reformed and the Church of Rome But As the Church of Rome shall bee pleased to expound it Let any impartial man judge
a tricke of an Harlot 1 Rog. 3. And to give unconsecrated Wine according to their phrase dead Wine in stead of the living blood of Christ unto the people whether this be a chaste act of that Woman of Babel I leave this conclusion to their owne confideration A fift instance is inferiour to none of the 4 former but is damnable beyond comparison and short of excuse this is Idolatry or Image-worship Consider how cautelous God is to prevent it how copious to reprove it how hee doth comparatively condemne it and plainly damne it Abundans causa God aboundeth in admirable caveats concerning the worshipping of Images in the fourth chapter of Deuteronomy 1. He doth propound the duty or inhibition in an exact enumeration in the sixteenth seveÌ„teeth eighteenth nineteenth verses Make you no graven Image nor similitude of any figure nor likenesse of male nor female not the likenesse of any beast that is in earth nor of any winged foule that flyeth in the ayre nor the likenesse of any thing that creepeth on the ground nor the likenesse of any Fish that is in the waters beneath the earth nor shalt thou worship the Sunne or the Moone or the Starres or all the host of heaven 2. God doth confirme this interdiction of Idolatry by five strong arguments First in the fifteenth verse from reason for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day the Lord spake to you in Horeb out of the middest of the fire Secondly from an unreasonable absurditie in the nineteenth that thereby they worship or serve those Creatures which God had divided or made servants to the world Thirdly a beneficio in the twentith verse Because the Lord had brought them out of Egypt from the yron furnace to be unto him a people of Inheritance Fourthly a servitio because God had declared unto them his Covenant which hee commanded them to performe verse 13. And finally in the 12 15 23 and 24 verses à supplicio Take heed animabus vestris as Master Calvin translateth it to your soules for God spake unto you out of the Fire and God is a Fire Praedictum cave how cautelous was God to prevent Idolatry Next he interdicteth the same in the second Commandement which is as large as eight of the other put together so copious is GOD to reprove it Thirdly when Samuel would brand that iâ—pudent iniquitie which causeth that double rejection both Active and Passive which causeth men to reject the Lord and the Lord to reject men hee calleth it Idolatry 1 Sam. 15. 23. Idolatry therefore maketh men reprobates and causeth their damnation And when Saint Paul would aggravate that sinne which maketh the way to heaven as narrow as the eye of a Needle he calleth Covetousness simulacrorum servitus Idolatry Idolatry therefore doth wholy damme up the way to heaven indeed a damned sinne Finally David denounceth their doome Psalme 97. 7. Confounded bee all those that worship carved Images Where I conceive the curse of God and confusion to bee little lesse then Damnation A damnable offence is Idolatry And this spirituall Adultery is like Davids corporall Adultery 2 Sam. 12. 4. It giveth occasion to the enemy of the Lord to blaspheme Both Turkes and Iewes justly reproach our Christian Religion for the Religious Adoration of Images Since therefore it excludeth others from Heaven and casteth the Authors into Hell I may call idolatry a damnable errour They wave this imputation of idolatry by Costerus Euchâ—r distinguishing of idolum and imago an idol and an image and in the image materiale formale the matter and forme thereof And againe that non in eâ honorem sigunt sed per eam transferunt in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is They doe not worship the image representing but the Saint represented I say their sophisticall heads may be cast into hel with those subtle distinctions in their mouthes without a drop of water to coole that tongue which shall frie in Tophet for blaspheming by blanching such idolatrie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they shall bee damned let them elude that also by a distinction Advantagious is this also to the Popish Church Idolatry is the Nebuchadnezzar of Rome and it may speake his phrase Dan. 4. 30. Is not this great Babel which I have built by the might of my power Philo Iudaeus relateth in the Temple of Hierusalem to have beene Trabem ex auro solido a Beame of massie Gold Image-adoration is such a Beame a golden Principall in the Church of Rome Shake it and the whole building will totter The Lady of Loretto bringeth much Tribute to the Lord of Rome and infinite other images by reason of their Ornaments Oblations Processions c. are Tagi are infinite golden Rivers issuing out flowing full spring-tides of Treasures to the Sea of Rome But it is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 St Iames his Fountaine 3. 11. Sending forth at the same fountaine both sweet and bitter water Idolatry and Image-worship is a profitable but a damnable assertion I will leade you no further forward in these instances but intreat you to reflect your eye backward and compendiously to consider the premises If a man may bee sure that hee may goe to heaven without the Scriptures without prayers with halfe CHRISTS Sacrament with a piece of Christs merits and plaine idolatry Then let him repaire to Rome the Romane Church will direct him But if an understanding man may suspect that the inhibition of the Scriptures the obscuring of Prayers the mingling of mans merits the mangling of Christs Sacrament and the very image-adoration forbidden in the second Commandement If an understanding man may suspect that these things may bee dangerous to damnation then let mee advise you not to take your faith on trust but to examine the Roman Religion Know moreover that this fearfull terme of damnation wee mutually lay at one anothers doores but with this difference The Papists charge us with damnation principally because wee have forsaken their Church Non Trident. Catech. in Artic. 9. enim ut quisquis primum in fide peccarit Haereticus dicendus est sed qui Ecclesiae authoritate neglectâ impias opiniones pertinaci animo tuetur that is Every person is not presently to be termed an Heretike so soon as he shall erre in faith but he that shall obstinately maintaine his wicked errours neglecting the Authority of the Church Or else they charge us with damnation consequently because they say we erre in one Article of faith On no such partiality or Niceity doe wee pronounce damnation against them Not because they are against our Church but because they are against the Scriptures because their positions have formall contradictorie syllables to the Scriptures and their practice the realty of abominable Idolatry And herein I submit my selfe to the severe law of Severus Si aliquis Duaraenus de Decimis l 4 c. 1. quis praepositum accusaret manifestis rebus probaret aut capitis poenam subiret