and kingdome of Antichrist And further we haue shewed heretofore that the whole body of Apostates and heretiques professing the name of Christ is Antichrist and after a more speciall maner the head of this body Apostasie And therfore it followeth that all of this Apostasie professing the name of Christ belong to this body and kingdome of Antichrist And whereas hee saith that this Apostasie is onelie a disposition so the kingdome of Antichrist c. I answere that all the degrees of this Apostasie going before the reuelation of Antichrist were a disposition not to the being but to the reuealing of Antichrist For in the Apostasie Antichrist was as Iohn plainely sheweth neither could he be reuealed vnlesse first he were Wherupon Theodoret saith Defectionem appellat Antichristi praesentiam he calleth Apostasie the presence or comming of Antichrist But is it not very likely thinke you that there hath bene a disposition or preparation already of more then 1500. yeares in most parts of the world for the raigne of one man three yeres and an halfe 19. Fiftly and lastly although we should grant saith he that a generall Apostasie from the faith hauing now continued many yeares is the kingdome of Antichrist yet it would not follow that therefore the Pope is Antichrist For it is not yet decided who haue made this defection they or we And iâ—… were more easie to proouâ—… that they haue made this defection for they haue reuolted from that Church and religion whereof their forefathers were which we haue not done c. In the foure former answers Bellarmine turned backe vpon vs hoping therby to repell the force of our argument but those being spent in this he turneth his backe vpon vs betaketh himselfe to his feete and leauing the defence of the question in hand runneth to his chiefe hold For whereas we proue that Antichrist is not one man contrary to their assertion by this argument among others because that generall Apostacie of the visible Church continuing for many ages whereof Antichrist is the head cannot be the worke of one man or of a few yeares Bellarmine answereth thus in effect that although your argument be very good to prooue that Antichrist is not one man yet notwithstanding here of it followeth not that the Pope is Antichrist Why neuer any of vs vsed this argument Antichrist is not one man therefore the Pope is Antichrist But in this assertion of ours we answere your chiefe demonstration whereby you would prooue that the Pope is not Antichrist and where in especially you please your selues reasoning as hath beene hard after this manner Antichrist is but one man therefore the Pope is not Antichrist And after you haue prooued this by many worshipfull demonstrations and stoutly denied our contrary arguments now in the end you make this cowardes bragge Although this should be granted which you say to prooue that Antichrist is not one man yet it doth not follow that the Pope is Antichrist 20. But let vs pursue the Iesuite in his flight Although this should be granted saith he c. Yet it followeth not that therfore the Pope is Antichrist For the question yet is who hath made this Apostasie we or you Well then let vs ioyne in this issue If the Apostasie be on our side let vs be thought to belong to Antichrist if this Apostasie be in the Church of Rome whereof the Pope is head then let it be acknowledged that the Pope is the head of this Apostasie and consequently Antichrist But you saith the Iesuite haue reuoltd from the Church and religion of your forefathers that is from the Church of Rome and Latin religion And therefore when you read vnlesse there come areuolt c. it is a wonder that you doe not apply that prophesie to your selues The Apostasie whereof the Apostle speaketh is not a separation from the Church of Rome that now is nor a forsaking of Romish or Popish religion but a reuolting from God a departure from the true faith and religion of Christ vnto Antichristianisme and idolatry We in forsaking the Church of Rome haue come out of Babylon Apoc. 18. 4. according to Gods commaundement and in reuolting from the Pope haue returned to God and therefore this Apostasie toucheth not vs. But you say I to the Papists haue reuolted from the true faith and religion of Christ vnto Antichristianisme and Idolatry as besides the infinite particulars wherein your Apostasie doeth consist may briefely appeare by these notes First the Apostle speaking of the same Apostasie in another place hath these words The spirit speaketh plaincly that in the latter times some shall make an Apostasie from the faith attending to erroneous spirits and doctrines of 1. Tim. 4. 1. diuels speaking lyes in hypocrisie and hauing their owne conscience seared Now who these are that make this Apostasie the Apostle further describeth by specifying two of those doctrines of diuels as certaine notes whereby to know them Forbidding to marry and commaunding to abstainâ—… from meates which God hath created to be receiued with thankesgiuing c. But as I haue shewed heretofore these notes touch not vs and properly agree to the Papists therefore Lib. 1. Chap. 4. 3. this Apostasie is among them Secondlie this Apostasie is among those who are fallen from the true religion and worship of God into idolatry and superstition For the Apostaticall Church is the Idolatrous Church signified by the whore of Babylon the mother of fornications But the Church of Roome is strangelie addicted to idolatry and superstition and for the same deserueth to be called the whore of Babylon where as we through the mercie of God are free from idolatry and therefore the Apostásie is with them and not with vs. For the Apostasie is of them that are made drunke with the cuppe of the whore of Babylous fornications as the Papists are and wee are not who haue come out of Babylon Thirdlie the Apostasie is of those that receiue the name and marke of the beast as the Papists doe and not of those that refuse it as wee doe The fourth note or touchstone as it were to trie who haue made this Apostasie iâ—… the word of God For that is the true faith and the true religion which is contayned and prescribed in the written word of God Now our desire is that the Scriptures may be acknowledged the onelie rule of faith and manners vnto the Scriptures we appeale in all controuersies and desire to be iudged by them vnto the reading of the Scriptúres we exhort our people that they may be further edified and confirmed in that trueth which we doe teach and prosesse The Papists contrarywise not daring to stand to the Scriptures slie to their vnwritten verities traditions decretals doctrines and authorities of men both besides and against the Scriptures and in a word that the prophecie of the Apostle foretelling this Apostasie might be verified in them they haue asserted their hearing from the
A TREATISE CONCERNING ANTICHRIST DIVIDED INTO TWO BOOKES THE FORMER PROVING THAT THE POPE IS ANTICHRIST THE LATTER MAINTAIning the same assertion against all the obiections of Robert Bellarmine Iesuit and Cardinall of the Church of Rome By GEORGE DOVVNAME Doctor of Diuinitie and lately reader of the Diuinity Lecture in Paules Apoc. 18 4. 6. Come out of Babylon my people that you be not partakers with her in her sinnes and that you receiue not of her plagues c. Render vnto her as she hath rewarded you and repay her double according to her workes AT LONDON Imprinted for Cuthbert Burbie 1603. TO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTIE MOST CHRISTIAN AND WORTHY KING IAMES by the grace of God King of England Scotland Fraunce and Ireland defender of the faith c. All prosperitie and true happinesse in this life and eternall felicitie in the life to come THE blessed dispensation of Gods most gracious prouidence towards this land for which his holy name is alwayes to be praised in his church in bringing your Highnesse vnto this kingdome in the beginning of this seuenteenth century after Christ seemeth to presage that the happy reformation of the church restitution of the Gospell consumption of Antichrist decay of Babilon happily begun in the last centenary shall in this age or century receiue a notable confirmation and increase if not a perfect consummation For howsoeuer whiles the darkenesse of Popery ouer spred the Christian world not onely the inhabitants of the earth were made drunke with the goulden cup of the whore of Babylons Apoc. 17. 2 18. 3. fornications but the Kings also and Princes of the earth hauing drunke of the same cup committed spirituall whoredome Apo. 17. 13 with her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 power to support 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when as it 〈◊〉 God 〈◊〉 enlighten the world with the bright beames of his glorious Gospell then Antichrist began to consume and Babylon to decay the Preachers discouering Antichrist the people comming Apoc. 1â—… 1. 14. 6. 3. out of Babylon and the Princes which before had assisted Antichrist setting themselues against him This great worke of God in the full consumption of Antichrist and confusion of Babylon the Ministers of God that is to say Princes and Preachers are Rom. 13. 4. to accomplish and bring to passe The Preachers by preaching the euerlasting Gospell at the sound whereof Babylon falleth as once Apoc. 14. 6. 7. 8. the walles of Iericho at the noise of the Trumpets sounded by the Priests and by the ministerie whereof as it were the spirit of the Ioh. 6. Lords mouth Antichrist falleth into a consumption as Dagon 2. Thes. 2. 8 once did fall before the Arke Th Princes partly by their godly example going out and in before the people in the sincere profession 2. Sam. 5. of the truth and detestation of popery partly by their authoritie prouiding faithfull Ministers countenancing their Ministerie oppugning Antichrist in his religion and in his members bereauing the whore of Babylon the Popes concubine of her meanes Apo. 17. 16 and lastly sacking her and consuming her with fire For which cause as I thought it my duety being called to read a Lecture in diuinitie when I perceiued the Papists within these few yeares I know not vpon what other hopes then of raising their fortunes out of the ruines of this whole Island growne more insolent then in former times to make the best opposition I could against them and to that end handled this maine controuersie concerning Antichrist whervpon all Popery dependeth both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proouing the affirmatiue viz. that the Pope is Antichrist and also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 disproouing the negatiue against the obiections of Bellarmine the Goliath of the Papists so being now at the instance of many well disposed persons to publish this treatise I haue thought good to dedicate the same to your Maiestie as the chiefe patron and defender of the faith and Gospell of Christ vpon earth against Antichrist and his adherents For hereby not onely your royall courage may be stirred vp and your godly resolution in oppugning Antichrist according to the prophecies of the scripture foretelling the dutie of Christian Princes in this behalfe more and more confirmed but also it may most euidently appeare to all men that vpon most iust and weighty considerations you and your people renounce all communion with the Pope and church of Rome and by all good meanes doe set our selues against them For if the Pope be Antichrist which is prooued in this Booke consequently the church of Rome the whore of Babylon and synagogue of Antichrist the papists who call themselues Catholicks and vs Heretiques the limmes of Antichrist the religion and doctrine of popery the mysterie of iniquitie and meere Antichristianisme it followeth necessarily that Christian princes are not to tolerate either the religion of papists or their persons within their dominions The religion Deu. 13. 1. 5 of papistry being a Catholick Apostasie from God consisting not onely in respect of the worship of manifold superstion and most grosse idolatrie but also in respect of the doctrine of many hundred Antichristian errours and doctrines of diuels The persons of Catholick-papists being Catholick heretiques and reuolters froÌ„ God members of Antichrist palpable idolatours many of them especially the Seminarie priests and Iesuites perswaders of others to idolatry and apostasie from God Not to speake of the treason against Christian Princes which is enclosed in the bowels of popery and bosomes of papists For they teach that all Christian Princes who acknowledge not the Pope for their supreame head and Lord as no true Christians doe are Schismaticks at the least and consequently that the Pope hath authoritie to depose them and to absolue their subiects from their allegiance and that the Pope when he proceedeth to the sentence of excommunication and deposition of them as he did against your sister of blessed memorie Queene Elizabeth and doth so oft as he dareth against others he doth not erre in his definitiue sentence And therefore whatsoeuer they pretend to the contrarie it is certaine that they being the marked slaues of Antichrist wholy deuoted to his will are also willing and ready when meanes and opportunitie faile not to put in execution his Antichristian censures and diuellish designements In consideration whereof Christian Princes and people are not onely bound to come out of Babylon and to renounce Apoc. 18. 4. all communion with the Pope and Church of Rome but also they are to rewarde the where of Babylon as she hath rewarded vs Apoc. 18. 6. yea to repay her double and not onely to hate her but also to make her desolate and naked to eate her flesh and consume Apo. 17. 16. her with fire And hereof Christian Princes are to be assured that as those which ioyne with the Pope in persecuting the faithfull doe fight vnder the banner of Antichrist the beast
this interpretatioÌ„ is signified by Apostasie doth not signifie one man but the whole body and company of those that doe reuolt that is the whole body and kingdome of Antichrist which we haue prooued to be the Apostaticall Church of Rome And so Augustine whom Bellarmine alledgeth in the very same place which he citeth reading in the concrete nisi venerit refuga primum vnlesse the Apostate first come and expounding what is meant by De ciuit Dei lib. 20. cap. 19. the temple not the temple at Ierusalem but rather the Church of God because the Apostle would not call the temple of the diuell the temple of God propoundeth the opinion of some which hee doth not mislike Vnde nonnulli non ipsum principem c. Whereupon some vnderstand in this place not the Prince himselfe but his whole body as it were that is the company of men pertaining vnto him together with their Prince to be Antichrist and they thinke that it might more rightly be said in Latine as it is in the Greeke that he sitteth non in templo dei sed in templum dei not in the Temple of God but as the Temple of God as though he were the Temple of God which is the Church Which as hath beene shewed notably sitteth the Pope and Church of Rome And here we are by the way to note whereas Bellarmine saith that Antichrist shall be such a notable Apostate as that he may be called the Apostasie it selfe that seeing none can be an Apostate which hath not beene a Christian by this assertion therefore of Bellarmine Antichrist shall not be a Iew but a backslyding and reuolted Christian 16. Secondly he saith by Apostasie we may vnderstand a reuolt from the Romane Empire as many of the Latin fathers doe expound To omit the dissension of the fathers which prooueth that their exposition can be no good rule of interpreting the Scriptures we doe confesse that before the manifest reuelation of Antichrist there was to go noâ—… onely a defection from the faith but also a reuolt from the Romane Empire But as the reuolting from earthly kingdomes is neuer in the Scriptures termed Apostasie so is it not here signified but as the word elsewhere is vsed and by the most and best writers here is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 expounded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth a falling away from God a defection or departure from the true faith as heretofore I haue shewed Augustme saith quem refugam vocat vtique a domino Deo whom he calleth a Lib. 20. cap. 19. §. 2. runnagate namely from the Lord God Neither can it be denied but that this Apostasie is that which afterward the Apostle calleth the mystery of iniquity which was working in and by the heretiques of those times whom also Bellarmine calleth the forerunners of Antichrist because they peruerted the faith and therefore the defection caused by Antichrist is an Apostasie from the faith according to the prophesies of the Apostle that in these latter times diuers should make an Apostasie 1. Tim. 4. 1. 2. Tim. 4. 4. from the faith and should turne away their hearing from the truth and shal be turned vnto fables 17. Thirdly although we should grant saith he that by Apostasie is to be vnderstood a defection or reuolt from the true faith and religion of Christ yet it is not necessary that it should be an Apostasie of many yeares For it may be that the Apostle speaketh of one great Apostasie which shal be onely in that most short time of Antichrists raigne that is of three yeares and a halfe But this bare ghesse of Bellarmine ought not to be of so great waight with vs as the plaine speech of the Apostle compared with the euent And therefore it is but vaine to tell vs what might be seeing we haue seene the contrary to be which the Apostle foretold should be For as the Apostle tolde vs that there should be an Apostasie so he saith that the mysterie of iniquity whereby many were seduced did worke already euen in his time and insinuateth that it should worke vntill the full reuelation of Antichrist And the euent hath shewed how by degrees this Apostasie hath bin wrought euen from the primitiue Church vntill it came to that height wherein it continued vntill Antichrist began to be acknowledged And surely as this generall Apostasie could not grow at once but by degrees so can it not be abolished at once but by degrees and therefore was not like to be an Apostasie of three yeares and an halfe onely Neither is it credible that by one man the greatest part not onely of Christians but also of the Iewes should be seduced in three yeares and an halfe seeing Christ in the like space of time could not as he was a man and minister of the circumcision conuert many of the Iewes notwithstanding that his doctrine was more effectuall and his miracles more admirable then those of Antichrist can be yea the Apostlès some other of the disciples who for so long time scarce went out of Iewry were able to preuaile but with a few of the Iewes in coparison of those which reiected their doctrine And shall wee thinke that Antichrist who as the Papists hold shal be but one man shall in three yeers an halfe seduce the remnant of the Iewes and al the visible Church of God dispersed into so many parts of the world And wheras he alledgeth Augustine as a fauourer of this ghesse therein he abuseth the authority of that learned father to seduce the ignoraÌ„t who onely deliuereth the Iudgement of others concerning the mysterie of iniquity that to this effect That the mystery of iniquity worketh in De ciuit Dei lib. 20. cap. 19. euill men in the Church and counterseit Christians when as they reuolt from the truth and that vnto this mystery belongeth the reuolting of those of whom S. Iohn speaketh They went out from vs but 1. Ioh. 2. 19 were not of vs c. And that this mystery should stil worke that is that vnsound men in the Church should more and more reuolt vntill they make a sufficient number for Antichrist But there is neuer a word of this defection caused either by one man or in so short a time but rather the contrary as hath beene shewed 18. Fourthly he answereth that although it should be granted that this Apostasie is of many ages which he saith cannot well be denied seeing th'apostle saith it began to worke in his time yet it is not necessary that it should appertaine to one body vnder one head neither that it appertaineth to the kingdome of Antichrist but rather is a disposition thereunto happening in diuers dominions vpon undry occasions c. But this fourth answer is ouerthrowne by the first wherein this Apostasie was made so proper to Antichrist as that by it Bellarmine thought we might most fitly vnderstand Antichrist himselfe or rather as we shewed the whole body
2. Tim. 4. 4. trueth and are conuertd vnto fables They cannot abide to heare that the Scripture should be the onely rule of faith and maners they cannot endure to see any of their people to read the Scriptures and therefore desire to keepe it from them in an vnknowne language The foundation of their trueth is the authoritie of their Church and in the Church of their Pope who they say cannot erre But if the Pope teach doctrines of Diuels and speake lyes in hypocrise as the Apostle hath prophesied especially of them then is there in that Church little soundnesse of trueth that is built vpon so vnsound a soundation Thus therefore I reason The head of the generall Apostasie is Antichrist The Pope is the head of the generall or catholicke Apostasiei therefore he is Antichrist 21. To the three former arguments a fourth may be added The seuen heades of that beast which signifieth the Romane state are not so many persons but so many heades or states of gouernement wherby the common wealth of the Romanes hath beene at diuerse times gouerned the sixt head was the state of emperours the seuenth Antichrist as the Papists confesse the eight which also is one of the seauen the state of Emperours renewed Whereby it euidently appeareth Rhem. in Apoc. 17. Bellarmi not onely that Antichrist is not one man but also that the Pope who is the seuenth head is Antichrist CHAP. 3. Concerning the time of Antichrist his comming 1. TO withdraw our minds from beholding Antichrist in the See of Rome and to make vs looke for the expected Messias of the Iewes that neuer shall come the Papistes labour by might and maine to perswade vs that Antichrist is not yet come For euen as the learned of the Iewes when Christ was among them contrary to their one perswasion for worldly respects refused the true Messias and made the people expect another which neuer shall be So the learned among the Papists hauing Antichrist among them for worldly respects cannot endure that he should bee acknowledged but teach the people that he is not yet come and describe vnto them such an Antichrist as themselues may well know shall neuer come as by the grace of God shall appeare in the particulars Now as touching the time of Antichristes comming Bellarmine first reciteth diuers false and erronious opinions as heo calleth them and afterwarde setteth downe sixe solemne demonstrations to prooue that he is not yet come In the former he spendeth a goodlong chapter reckoning vp diuers opinions both of the fathers in former ages and also of hetetiques as â—…he calleth them in latter times mingling the trueth with errours that the credit of both might be alike As touching the fathers because he taketh it for granted which is the question that Antichrist is not to come before the end of the world which we deny according to the Scriptures 1. Ioh. 2. 18 2. Iohn 7. 2. Thes. 2. 7 he would make their opinion concerning the approching of Antichrist which they heid according to the Prophesies of the Scripture compared with the euent of no better credit then their conceit of Christs approching vnto judgement grounded not so much vpon the Scriptures as vpon their owne conjecture For to omit their conjectures concerning Christs comming consuted by experience what can Bellarmine answer to the sound argument either of S. Ierome or Gregorie concerning the comming of Antichrist confirmed by experience alledged by Bellarmine himselfe Ierome applying the Prophesie of Paul Epist. ad Geront de Monogamia 2. Thes. 2. 6. 7. 8. that Antichrist should appeare when he that hindereth meaning the Romane Emperour was taken out of the way to his time wherein not onely the imperiall seat had beene remooued from Rome which was the first degree of taking out of the way that which hindered but also Rome it selfe in distresse being taken of the Gothes and the Empire in decay Quitenebat saith he de medio fit non intelligimus Anticbristum appropinquare He which did holde is taken out of the way and do we not vnderstand that Antichrist dooth approch And likewise Gregory Omnia quae praedicta sunt fiunt Rex superbia propè est All things which were foretold doe come to passe the King Lib. 4. epi. 38. of pride is at hand Which arguments alledged also by vs Bellarmine because he could not answer he thought to discredit by reckoning them among erronious conceits 2. But let vs come to his heretiques Who although they all agree in this that Antichrist is come and that it is the Pope yet saith Bellarmine they are deuided into sixe opinions The first opinion viz. of the Samosatenians in Hungarie and Transyluania is not worth the mentioning being of such heretiques as deny the Trinity and also the diuinity of Christ with whom though we haue as little to doe as the Papists sauing that some of our men haue soundly confuted their heresies whiles the Papists held their peace yet he numbreth our opinion with theirs as Christ was numbred among the wicked that by this mixture of truth with falshood he might discredit the truth As for the rest it is easie to shew that all Protestants almost that haue written in this argument and namely those whom Bellarmine alledgeth doe agree in the substance concerning the comming of Antichrist And that there is no such difference among them as Bellarmine would beare vs in hand For concerning this matter this is the receiued opinion of our Churches When with Iohn in his Epistles we speake of Antichrist meaning the whole bodie of Heretiques and Antichrists we hold with Iohn that euen in the Apostles times Antichrist had as it were set his foote in the Church and that from that time the mysterie of iniquitie that is Antichristianisme did more and more worke vntill the head of this body the man of sinne was reuealed Which with Paul we hold to haue beene done after that which hindered was remooued out of the way But when we speake of the head of this body who 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is called the Antichrist figured by the second beast Apoc. 13. of whom also the Apostle intreateth 2. Thes. 2. the constant opinion of the learned is this that of the reuealing or manifest appearing of Antichrist there were two principall degrees The first about the yeare 607. when Boniface the third obtained the supremacie ouer the vniuersall See lib. 1. cap. 3. Church The second after the yeare 1000. when he claimed and vsurped both swords that is a soueraigne and vniuersall authoritie not onely ecclesiasticall ouer the Clergie but also temporall ouer Kings and Emperours Vnto which second soueraigntie they had long aspired but neuer attained vntill the time of Gregorie the seauenth We holde then that Antichrist was come and shewed himselfe in Boniface the third and that after this his birth as it were he grewe by degrees vntill he came to his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
when 4 we proued that Antichrist is not any one man alone but a whole state and succession of men we proued this by consequence that his raigne was not to continue only three yeers and a halfe And againe Antichrist according to the conceit of the Papists is to 5 raigne before the preaching of the two witnesses and as Bellarmine faith is to continue one moneth after their death Seeing then the two witnesses preach 1260. dayes which as Bellarmine also saith make three yeers a halfe precisely how can the terme of Antichrists raigne be three yeeres and a halfe precisely Lastly 6 the Scriptures plainely testifie that the Antichrist which is to be destroied at the second comming of Christ was come euen in the Apostles time although he was not reuealed by exercising openly a soueraigne vniuersal dominioÌ„ vntill that which hindred that is the Roman Empire was taken out of the way But after the Empire was once dissolued in the West and the Emperor of the East had lost his right in Italy and Rome that is when that which hindred was taken out of the way then according to the prophecie 2. Thes. 2. 8. was Antichrist reuealed succeeding the Emperor in the gouernment of Rome and claiming an vniuersall authority first spirituall ouer the whole Church in the yeere 607. after temporal ouer the whole world aduancing himselfe aboue all that is called God all which we haue heretofore proued to haue bin done in the Papacie aboue three yeeres and a halfe agoe yea aboue so many hundred yeers agoe so that we shall not need to expect another Antichrist who is to raigne three yeers and a half And thus you haue heard not only Bellarmines allegations answered but also his assertion confuted 5 Now let vs see what Bellarmine can reply either against our assertion in general or against the expositioÌ„s of some protestants in particular For wheras we generally affirme notwithstanding his allegations aforesaid that Antichrist hath already ruled in the Church almost a thousand yeers Bellarmine besides the slender coniectures of diuers of the fathers grouÌ„ded on such prophecies of Scriptures as they could not vnderstand which are his first argument he produceth six other reasons no lesse easie to be answered His second argument is because the scriptures say that the time of the diuels loosing and Antichrists raigning is breuissimum very short or most short But how can that be true if Antichrist shall raigne a thousand yeeres or more For that which he speaketh of 1260. yeeres is the priuate opinion of some of which shall be touched afterwards I answer that the Scriptures no where say that Antichrists raigne or that the time Apo. 17. 10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apo. 12. 12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apo. 20 vers 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the diuell loosed is Breuissimum that is most short but onely that it is short or small which we doe acknowledge Let vs then weigh his argumeÌ„t which may be resolued into two syllogismes the former A thousand yeeres or more is not a short time Antichrists raigne is a short time therfore Antichrists raigne is not a thousand yeers or more First to the proposition I answer that a thousand yeers vnto the Lord who speaketh in the Scriptures is a short time The Apostle Peter expresly saith that a thousand yeers with the Lord 2. Pet. 3. 8. are but as one day Yea and the whole time from the ascension of Christ vntil his comming to iudgement is often noted in the Scriptures to be a short time and in one place it is called the last houre And likewise aboue 1500. yeers agoe it was promised 1. Ioh. 2. 18 that the prophecies concerning the destruction of Antichrist the second comming of Christ end of the world should within a short time be fulfilled To the assumptioÌ„ I answer that although the time of Antichrists tyranny seeme to belong to them that Apoc. 1. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ap. 22. 10. 12. 20. Heb. 10. 37 are exercised therby yet it is but short in comparisoÌ„ of that time which they shall raigne with Christ and is so called Apoc. 17. 10. But yet nothing so short as Bellarmine imagineth This therefore he proueth in the second Syllogisme The time of Sathan loosed is very short the terme of Antichrists raigne is the time of Sathan loosed therefore the terme of Antichrists raigne is very short The proposition he proueth by two places in the Apocalypse which affirme his time to be short but yet nothing so short as the Papists imagine for in the former place Chap. 12. 12. he is said to haue but a short time before he persecuted the Church of Christ among the Iewes which was aboue 1500. yeeres agoe And in the latter place Chap. 20. 3. it is said that he should be let loose for a smal time but this smal time beginneth at the expiration of the thousand yeeres wherein he had beene bound and continueth vntill the time that he shal be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone in the end of the world Now the thousand yeeres were expired many hundred yeeres agoe as hath beene shewed But although the time of Antichrists raigne be called short yet is it not so short as the time of Sathan loosed and therefore the assumption is false For howsoeuer the thousand yeares expire in the time of Antichrists raigne yet we are not to beginne the raigne of Antichrist with the loosing of Sathan For within the thousand yeares of Sathans imprisonment Antichrist not onely Apoc. 20. 4. was but also persecuted those that refused his marke and yet we are not to confound the time of his persecution much lesse of his hotest persecutioÌ„ with the time of his continuance Now the time of the diuel loosed as the Papists teach is the time of Antichrists most greeuous persecution which was a coÌ„sequent of mens refusing his marke that a fruite of his discouerie acknowledgement but he was not acknowledged vntill he came to his full grouth whereunto he attained not at the first And it is to be thought that the heate of his persecutioÌ„ wil be slaked before his end himselfe being consumed and wasted by the spirit of Christs 2. Thes. 2. 8. mouth his See impouerished if not ouerthrowne by the kings of the earth which before the end of the world shall not onely hate the whore of BabyloÌ„ the Popes coÌ„cubine but also shal make her Apo. 17. 1â—… desolate naked shal eate her flesh her they shal burne with fire 6. Thirdly he argueth from Math. 24. 21. mistaken by some of the fathers that vnlesse those daies meaning of Antichrists persecution should be shortned and consequently the persecution very short no flesh could be saued but how can it be very short if it shall continue a thousand yeares I answere first that the tribulation there
signification of a curse And I adde that they might with as good reason alledge that Antichrist shal be of the Tribe of Beniamin of whom it is said verse 27. that he shal rauin as a Wolfe Ieremy vndoubtedly speaketh not of Antichrist nor yet as Bellarmine saith of the Tribe of Dan but of Nabuchadonosor who was to come by the coast or countrey called Dan to destroy Ierusalem as Ierome rightly expoundeth Why Dan is omitted in Apoc. 7. it is not wel knowne saith Bellarmine especially seeing Ephraim also which was one of the greatest Tribes is left out But here Bellarmine doth praeuaricari and by trifling betray the truth For it is not true that Ephraim is left out for seeing Manasses is mentioned Verse 6. wee must needes by the Tribe of Ioseph mentioned Verse 8. vnderstand the Tribe of Ephraim Neuer thelesse this may truly be said that there are other causes of this omission then that which is alledged concerning Antichrist For else we may say as well that Antichrist should come of the Tribe of Simeon because he is not mentioned in the blessing of Moyses Deut. 33. The truth is that where the holy Ghost numbreth the 12. Tribes and mentioneth Leui which for the most part is not As Apoc. 17. reckned among the 12. Tribes because it was scattered among them all some one of the other Tribes is left out otherwise where 12. are named 13. should be reckned The mentioning therfore of Leui is the cause why some one of the rest is not expressed but either comprehended vnder an other that is mentioned as Simeon vnder Iuda Deut. 33. Ephraim Manasses being two seuerall great Tribes vnder Ioseph Deut. 27. 12. Ezec 48. 32. are altogether omitted as Dan. Apo. 7. Now Dan seemeth to be omitted rather then any other because that was the first Tribe which fel from God vnto Idolatry for the same cause as some thinke the genealogie of that Tribe is omitted in the first booke of the Chronicles 3 These opinions therfore though countenanced with the authoritie of the Fathers Bellarmine dareth not deliuer as matters of truth because they cānot be proued out of the scriptures The which in truth is the cause why we reiect all the fancies of the Papists concerning Antichrist wherin they differ from vs because that although many of thē were also the opiniōs of the auncient writers who could but ghesse at the meaning of prophecies not then fulfilled yet they cannot be proued out of the word of God wherein Antichrist is sufficiently described This libertie therefore which Bellarmine lawfully taketh vnto himself in reiecting the testimonies of the Fathers in this point not warranted by the scriptures must in equitie also be graunted vnto vs. For vpō the same principle or ground which Bellarmine here setteth downe we reason against the Popish conceits after this maner Those opinions concerning Antichrist which cannot be proued out of the scriptures are not to be held as certaine truthes or beleeued as matters of faith although they haue the testimony of the Fathers But all the Popish cōceits cōcerning Antichrist are such as cannot be proued out of the scriptures therefore none of the Popish conceits concerning Antichrist are to be receiued for certaine truthes though diuers of them haue the testimony of the Fathers 4 Now let vs heare in the third place what those things are which Bellarmine would haue vs to take vpon his word for certaine and sound in this point There be two things saith hee most certaine one that Antichrist shall come for the Iewes especially and shal be receiued of them for their Messias The other that he shall be borne of the Nation of the Iewes and shall be circumcised and shall at the least for a time obserue the Sabbath On which two points the propositiō of the syllogisme before rehearsed doth consist the which Bellarmine thought to set out as true by setting by §. 1 it other opinions more absurd then it is But although there be degrees of falsehood in all these opinions yet all of them are false as being grounded vpon this false supposition that Antichrist 1 is but one singular man And secondly by the same reason that moued Bellarmine to reiect the former opinions may 2 these also be reiected namely because they cannot be proued out of the scriptures but contrariwise may be disproued thereby For Antichrist shall sit in the Temple of God that is shall raigne in the church of Christ and shall be an Apostate 3 and the head of the Apostasie as Bellarmine confesseth and therfore not the head of the Iewes who cannot be said to make an Apostasie before they be called but of back-sliding Christians Againe Antichrist is one of the seuen heads of the beast mentioned Apoc. 17. that is of the Romaine state hauing his 4 seate in Babylon that is in Rome in the gouernment whereof hee succeedeth the Emperour who whiles hee ruled in Rome hindered the reuelation of Antichrist as it hath beene shewed heretofore out of Apoc. 17. 13. 2. Thess. 2. All which do sufficiently proue that Antichrist was not to be a Iew either by nation or religion but a Latine or Romaine which name with the marke therof he causeth all sorts of men to take vpon thē And lastly for as much as the Papists themselues hold the calling of the Iewes it would be knowne whether they shall reuolt after their calling from Christ to Antichrist or whether they shall be called after the destruction of Antichrist or during the time of Antichrists raigne which shal be as they say the terme of three yeares a halfe precisely or 1260. daies But themselues denie that the Iewes shall reuolt after their calling or that they shal be called in the time of Antichrists raigne that they shal be called after the destruction of Antichrist which shall not be before the ende of the world it is absurd 5 But let vs see how he proueth these things which he saith are most certaine sure from whence he draweth his most euident demonstration First that Antichrist shall be receiued of the Iewes for their Messias he proueth by testimonies of scripture by authoritie of Fathers and by reason Out of the scripture he produceth two testimonies the former Ioh. 5. 43. which place I haue heretofore freed frō the corruptiōs of the papists shewing that our Sauiour Christ doth not speake absolutely Another shal come but cōditionally If an other shal com therfore doth not foretel what they were afterwards to do but telleth them what in respect of their present dispositiō they were readie to do if an other should come in his owne name vnto them not sent of God 2. Neither doth he speake definitely of Antichrist but indefinitly of any false teacher 3. he speaketh of those Iews to whō he speaketh who could not be the receiuers of Antichrist vnlesse he were come aboue 1500. yeares agoe 6 His second