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scripture_n	holy_a	tradition_n	unwritten_a	2,627	5	12.0852	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90952	An answer to Grifith Williams Lord Bishop of Ossorie his book, intituled, The great antichrist revealed, never yet discovered, and proved to be neither pope, nor Turk, nor any single person, nor any one monarch or tyrant in any polity.	Pressick, George.; Williams, Gryffith, 1589?-1672. Great antichrist revealed, never yet discovered, and proved to be neither pope, nor Turk, nor any single person, nor any one monarch or tyrant in any polity.	1660 (1660)	Wing P3294A; ESTC R182040	110,354	119

out of the bottomless pit● shall make war against Jesus Christs two witnesses and shall overcome them and kill them You have heard it proved who this King of the bottomless pit is who are the Locusts and Frogs who are his followers there he is called the King of the Locusts that comes out of the pit and Chap. 16.13 he is called the Dragon the Beast and the False prophet and here he is brought in under the name of the Beast comming out of the bottomless pit but this was not his first comming out for he was come out long before in his predecessors though in a more obscure and hidden manner and was not so easily discerned for about the year 352 358 Pope Liberius and Pope Felix were both fallen from the true faith and were Arians Boniface the third about the year 607 received the Key to open the pit Pope Honorius about the year 626 he was a Monothalite and in 684 Pope Benedict got to be called the Vicar of Christ but now this Antechrist an adversary walkes no longer covertly but comes out of the bottomless pit upon the open stage of the world to make warre that is openly to oppose Jesus Christ and his two witnesses that is all the faithfull pastors and professors of Gods truth in Religion that have in all ages opposed popery and other heresies and against all these the Pope he makes warre and fights as pope Honorius 2d about the year 1132. against Armulphus who was a witness to the truth in those daies as you may see in the beginning of this book and the year 1150 Gerhardus and Dulcimus Naverenses and 32 more with them were Martyrs for preaching against the pope as saith Iliricus and Robert Guisburne and how he warred against the Waldencians who began the year 1160 and about the year 1207. one hundred thousand of Albegenses were murthered by pope Innocent the 3d. About the year 792. Albinus an Englishman writ a book against Images and in the 8 Centry Iconoclaste did the same 9 Centry Claudius Bishop of Taurinum Godescalus and Photius in the 10 Cent Johanes Scotus and Bertramus a presbyter in the 11 Cent. Berengerius and Marcellus of Padua Peter de Bruce The Witnesses that were slain with hundreds more that the popes made warre against for their winessing for Christ against him and his Locust And pope Constantine about the year 712 caused Philippecus the Emperour to lose both his eyes and his Empire for opposing Images pope Gregory 2d excommunicated Leo the Emperour for opposing Images in 731 and in 757 pope Paul excommunicated the Emperour of Constantinople for opposing Images And whence could such fighters against the witnesses of Gods truth and such hereticall Idolatrous Image-worshippers come but from the divel out of the bottomless pit from whence this beast came the holy Scriptures also of the Old and New Testament are a witness for Christ and you shall see what war the popes have made against the Scripture and stobbed it to the very heart When that cursed Councel of Trent sate in the year 1546. in the third session April 8. there the fountain of the Greek and Hebrew copies of the Bible was refused and a corrupt Latine translation was established for authentical their unwritten traditions was placed in equal dignity with the holy Scriptures there was the power of an interpreting Scripture by Scripture taken away from Scripture and it was brought into Thraldome to the will and pleasure of men to make it like a nose of wax turning it what way they please by their glosses that they put upon it especially the Pope the holy books of Scripture was never so murth●red and dispitefully disgraced and that openly and by publick authority not from the foundation of the world or since any Scripture was written by any that did pretend outwardly to professe Christianity would ever or did ever any in the world attempt to act thus against Jesus Christ but the Pope who is the great Antichrist and Beast that came out of the bottomlesse pit thus to make war against the holy Scriptures that bears witness of Jesus Christ and also against other witnesses and kil'd them as many thousands have been by fire and sword and other Torters all which is so manifestly known that all the Devils in the bottomless pit and the Councel of Trent to help them cannot excuse and clear the Pope but that he is the Beast and great Antichrist and man of sin This Beast the Pope to prove himself to be the Beast that no man might doubt of it stirred up a War the same year that the Councel of Trent thus took away the life and power of the Scriptures against the Protestants in Germany and the year following the 22 of April 1547 the forces of the Protestants were put to the flight and John Frederick of Saxony himself and Ernestus Brunswick the Lantgraves son and not long after the Lantgrave himself were taken Captives and many other Nobles and divers Cities were grievously afflicted The Pope a murtherer of the witnesses of Jesus Theador Peza bewailed the misery of these times thus Whatsoever had been built up in so many years and with so great labours seemed to be overthrown as in a moment and they only were counted happy by the most whom timely death had delivered from these troubles Thus you see how the witnesses of Jesus Christ were killed and by whom namely by the procurement of the Pope who is here called the Beast that cometh out of the bottomless pit but he hath many assistants that perhaps do not think themselves such nor do not make the end and aim of their proceedings purposely as an assistance to the Beast yet occasionally it proves to be so for as in 2 Thes 2.8 If this Beast the great Antichrist must be consumed and wast away with the spirit of Gods mouth that is by the Ministry of Gods Word and if he must be abolished with the brightness of Gods coming that is in the purity of Gods Ordinances without the mixture of Romish or any other humane institutions as a means wherby the beasts humane institutions and ceremonies must be consumed and abolished Whether silencing of Ministers do not occasonally uphold Antichrist in his throne Then whether is not the silencing of ●odly Ministers very near of kin to the killing of the two witnesses and so occasionally if not intentionally assistant to the Beast of the bottomlesse pit for if Antichrist must be consumed by the spirit of God in the Ministry of his word then it behoves that all the faithful Preachers that preach against Antichrist be incouraged and not restrained from their office and ministry under pretence of outward conformity as touch not taste not handle not which all must perish in the useing after the commandements of men Collos 2.21 for the holy Apostle which I think knew as much of the mind of God as any Pope or Prelate now

saith holy Paul to Timothy If thou put the Brethren in the remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good Minister of Jesus Christ nourished up in the words of Faith and of good Doctrine whereunto thou hast attained But the Apostle doth not say as you do that if thou bring in a Form of Godlinesse or a Set-form of God's worship thou shalt be a good man or a good Minister of Jesus Christ that was far from the Apostles meaning he rather meant If thou put the Brethren in remembrance to shun a Form of Godlinesse and turn from them and all other wiles and deceits of Antichrist then thou shalt be a good Minister of Jesus Christ Page 23. he saith That as Christ and the whole multitude of Believers his Members make up one Christ so likewise the Congregation of the wicked the whole body of the Devil which are all the company of wicked Reprobates and ungodly men are as it were the Spouse of their Head and Husband the Devil and the Soul and Body of the Beast and Antichrist and page 26. he doth confidently avouch That the great Antichrist is a great pack or company collected and combined together by a Solemn League and Covenant to do such and such feats and facts c. I answer First That if all the whole Company and body of wicked Reprobates and ungodly men are the Spouse of the Devil their Head and Husband and so the Beast and Antichrist then he may if he please see his own mistake in applying it to a particular company of wicked ungodly men the long Parliament and Presbyterians c. for they were neither all nor the hundred thousand part of all the wicked Reprobates and ungodly men that were in the world which are as he saith the Spouse of the Devil and makes up the body of Antichrist whose seat and residence is not in any particular City in the world but he saith page 60. to be understood for the great and spacious confused City of the world and indeed he makes a confused businesse of it for if it be so then this pack or company of wicked Reprobates that is the Spouse of the Devil and the Antichrist The Bishop contradicts himself must contain all the wicked Reprobates of his spacious confused City of the whole world and therefore is improperly applyed to the long Parliament c. and what he saith in the 60th page is a flat and absolute contradiction to what he saith in the 26th page 2ly If the long Parliament and Assembly of Divines at Westminster c. had been all the body of Reprobates and ungodly men in the confused City of the world that there had been no more to be found in the world but they then sure he might have found many purer Churches in the world for Antichrist to have risen up in than the Church of England was which by his computation contains the whole company of Reprobates and wicked men for before this their Apostacy there was many wicked Reprobates in it Thus all men that reads may see what pure non-sence here is brought to prove the long Parliament and Presbyterians c. to be the great Antichrist and to excuse the Pope who is the Antichrist for his own Arguments makes directly against himself as to the businesse for which he intended them and yet he thinks no man can shew him his mistake 3ly Whereas you avouch That Antichrist is a company of men combin'd together in a Solemn League and Covenant to do such and such feats and facts of which feats and facts you say page 24. that this conglutinate Pack have one mind or will one course or end and one main scope and desire to destroy the Truth to overthrow the Church of Christ the right service of God and all Piety from the Earth as you say the Holy Ghost saith these wicked Senators have which are thus combin'd in a Solemn League c. I answer and first advise you herafter to take heed of fathering Lyes upon the Holy Ghost for I dare avouch you never read where ever the Holy Ghost said any such thing of any people at Westminster in a Solemn League and Covenant and you know how dangerous a thing it is to sin against the Holy Ghost and your base assertion in things of such concernment is not sufficient without Scripture-proof and where can you or any else that will take your part as you have too many shew us one text of Scripture that saith Antichrist shal be such a Pack c. and then cunningly propound the question Whether the Assembly at Westminster were not such a Combination and fulfilled all the Prophecies that prophecyed of Antichrist I take not upon me to defend the Covenant but demand of you or any else how it can be proved that those that took it were thereby conglutinate to have all one mind one will one course or end to destroy the Truth and overthrow the Church of Christ c. as you have affirmed And suppose it were so that an accursed Assembly combined together to do mischief were the great Antichrist for as you say truly page 25. A multitude of men in such a Case can do more mischief than one single Person yet so as one single Person may be the Head By right applying the Bishops words the Pope and Council of Trent is the great Antichrist c. Then where in all the world will such a cursed wicked pack of men be found as the Pope taking him for the Head as you say and the last Council of Trent for the Body to destroy the Truth as the Pope and that Council did who in the third Session of that Council April 8. 1546. rejected the Hebrew and Greek Copies of the Scriptures and established a corrupt Latin Translation to be Authentick These Sir are your own words in your 32. page if you had apply'd them right but you bring it in upon another account where also their unwritten Traditions were set in equal dignity with the Scriptures where they took away the power and authority of the Scriptures making them subject to the Popes will and pleasure to put what sence or interpretation upon the Scriptures he pleaseth and none else to be received but what he will allow of so that the Scriptures were never in this world by any so much disgraced and undervalued Here indeed was a pack of vile wicked persons combined together against the Lord and his anointed Jesus Christ and who had all one mind and one will and desire and end to destroy the Truth and Authority of the Scriptures which is the ground and pillar of Truth the like wickednesse against the truth and right worship and service of Jesus Christ was never known nor never acted by the long Parliament nor assembly of Divines nor no Assembly under Heavens that owned a God and Saviour never since Christ himself was upon earth in person If you apply it right this is the great

An Answer to GRIFITH WILLIAMS LORD BISHOP of OSSORIE His Book Intituled The great Antichrist revealed before this time never discovered And Proved to be neither Pope nor Turk nor any Single Person nor the succession of any one Monarch or Tyrant in any Polity But A Collected pack or multitude of Hypocritical Heretical Blasphemous and most Scandalous Wicked Men that have fulfilled all the Prophesies of the Scriptures which have fore-spoken of the coming of the great Antichrist and especially have united and combined themselves together by A Solemne League and Covenant to slay the two witnesses of God Moses and Aaron as Christ interpreteth them they have Moses and the Prophets Luke 16.29 that is the ●●●reme Magistrate of the Commonwealth and the chief Pastors and Governours of the Church of Christ And the Christian World is requested to Judge WHether the Assembly of Presbyterians consulting at Westminster together with the Independants Anabaptists and Lay-preachers be not the false Prophet and the mysticall soul of that great Antichrist And whether the prevalent faction of the Long parliament termed of late the Rump-parliament and their Adherents that killed the two witnesses of Jesus Christ Charles th● the First King of great Brittain and in him civilly all his Magestrates And William Laud Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and civilly all the suppressed Bishops and silenced Preachers of these three Kingdomes be not the grosse and visible body of Antichrist Answered by George Pressick of Dublin BUt before I come to answer his Arguments whereby he endeavours to prove what is above written in his Title Page I shall if the Lord will be pleased to inable me from several Texts of Scripture that points out Antichrist and without Wire-drawing of any Text shew you how we may know Antichrist who he is and were he is and when as near as can be gathered from the circumstances of time place and passages concerning him when he first appeared But before I proceed to that I must crave the Readers patience to take notice of some passages in his Title Page and in his Epistle as to his Title Page I answer First That if the Bishop could prove what he asserts viz. that Antichrist was never before this time discovered and if he had the art to perswade men to believe him in so doing he should do the Pope of Rome who will appeare to be Antichrist more service then all his Cardinals and Roman Clergy could ever do for him this Thousand years for so long he hath been suspected to be the Antichrist for I doubt not but I shall make it appear that he had his birth at the least fifteen hundred years agone Secondly Whereas he saith that the Assembly of Presbyterians at Westminster together with Independants Anabaptists and Lay-preachers and the Long parliament that they have fulfilled all the Prophesies of Scripture which have fore-spoken of the coming of Antichrist I answer That what he saith of these persons is as true and no truer then the next following words that he speaks of the above-named persons viz. That they United and Combined themselves together by A Solemn League and Covenant to slay the two Witnesses and Christ for I think that he will never be able to make that appear that there is any such Clause or Article in the Covenant as to bind them that took it to slay the two Witnesses of Jesus Christ or that that was the end and aim for which it was taken when it was taken but as to other things I am so far from excusing them that I do confesse that many of the Parliament and Anabaptists and Lay-preachers were both Hypocritical and Heretical and it is well known to most part of the Bishops in Ireland and to some in England that I did Write and Print three Books against Anabaptists and Lay-preachers even when they were in their greatest prosperitie that no Bishop that I knew but one did appear in publick against them for I was alwaies perswaded that the chief Ring-leaders of them were of an Antichristian brood either Jesuits or Friars and I wish the Church be free of them now In his Epistle to the Reader he saith That he hath long studied and long prayed to know the meaning of the Holy Ghost in those Scriptures that fore-told of the coming of Antichrist and that he might have the true understanding of them who Antichrist should be where he should rise what feats he should do how long he should continue by what means he should be subdued and destroyed he saith he now believes God hath granted his request and that he hath rightly explained these Scriptures I answer with the Apostle Gal. 4.18 It is good to be zealously affected alwaies in a good thing So if his zeal and study had been guided to a right object it had been well But the Prophet Jeremiah tells us that the heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked therefore it is dangerous least it mistake out of an over-valluing opinion of some worth in ones self or the prevalence of their prayers especially when a man hath conceived a prejudicate opinion either of persons or things and I think it will appear upon trial that he hath missed the mark in finding out who the Antichrist should be c. as we shall see hereafter and his faith whereby he said he believed that God had granted him rightly to explain these Scriptures I think he might do well once more to examine whether that faith were not a fiction except that part of his prayer where he prayed that if his endeavours in explaining these Scriptures might not be for Gods glory that it might be like the untimely birth of a Woman that perisheth before it see the Sun And so I hope it will perish and never gain credit with any man of understanding that needs it But some men are like Balaam they mind not what answer God returns to their prayers but first resolves with themselves to go on in such or such a designe and then all after go to God by prayer as though they would seek direction from him when they have resolved before hand thus and thus they will do like Johanan the son of Kareah and the rest of the Captains and people of Israel when they intreated the Prophet Jeremiah to pray to the Lord for them that the Lord would shew them the way wherein they should walk Jer. 42. and promised the Prophet they would do whatsoever the Lord should send unto them by the Prophet for to do and yet they were resolved before hand that what answer soever they received from the Lord into Egypt they would go and therefore the Prophet tells them ver 20. Surely ye dissembled in your hearts when you sent me unto the Lord your God saying pray for us unto the Lord our God and declare unto us even according unto all that the Lord our God shall say and we will doe it and I have this day declared it

Apostle tells us 2 Thes 2.7 That the mystery of iniquity did even then begin to work onely he which now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way I shall shew you what it was that did let and hinder his appearance and then return to our main businesse again Now that which did lett and hinder Antichrists appearance until it was taken out of the way was the Roman Heathen persecuting Emperours that did hinder for Antichrist could not settle himself where he was to have his Throne until they were removed and a Christian Emperour came in place under whom he might have shelter in his minority until he grew up to some strength which Christian Emperour was Constantine the great who besides his defending of Christians from persecution he left Rome holy to the Pope to raign and rule in and himself went to Bezantum which now is called Constantible and settled himself there We read in Revel 6. what fell out in the Churches upon the opening of the six seals I must give you a hint concerning them before I come to the businesse I intend Vpon the opening of the first seal St. John beheld a White Horse and he that sate on him had a Bow and a Crown was given unto him and he went out conquering and to conquer or that he might overcome by this Vision some think is meant the Ministry of the word of God preached by the true Worshippers in the primitive Church next after the Apostles and their Successors Psalm 45.3 4. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O thou most mighty with thy Glory and Majesty ride on prosperously because of truth and meeknesse and righteousnesse for Christ did conquer wonderfully while his Ordinances was kept pure without mixture of humane inventions and institutions and superstitious observations which it may be is the cause why the Ministry doth so little good and doth not work so effectually upon the Hearers as it did in former times And upon the opening of the second seal there appeared a Red Horse and he that sate thereon had power given him to take peace from the Earth and that they should kill one another by which is meant the cruel persecutions blood and war that followed the preaching of the Gospel which is to be understood of the Ten persecutions and I think also what hath happened in every Kingdome since where the Gospel hath prevailed Antichrist and his instruments hath raised war and persecution and sowed sedition and endeavoured to corrupt the Ordinances and to kill men in their souls if they cannot kill their bodies And upon the opening of the third seale there appeared a Black Horse and he that sate upon him had ballance in his hand by which is signified samine and scarcity of Food which for the most part doth follow wars for the contempt of the Gospel brings wars and wars brings famine and it is recorded that about the year 316 there was a grievous Famine c. Vpon the opening of the fourth seal there appeared a Pale Horse and his name that sat on him was death which signifies the Pestilence and other Contagious diseases whereby men are suddenly taken away by death And upon the opening of the fifth seal John in a Vision saw under the Altar the souls of them that were kiled for the word of God and for the testimony which they held erying How long Lord holy and true dost thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth but we must not imagine that these Marryrs have any real desire of revenge for Saints in Heaven are not affected with any such passion but it is rather to be understood that as Abels blood crved for Vengeance Gen. 4.10 So the●e Martyrs blood cries for Revenge But Mr. Brightman rather thinks this revenge to signifie their earnest desire of delivering the innocent party from their persecuters which the blood of these soules cries for and the answer that they receive is that they must rest for a little season until their brethren and fellow servants which should be killed as they were meaning under Antichrist were fulfilled for Antichrist was not far of And when he opened the sixth seal there was a great Earthquake and the Sun became black as sack cloth and the Moon became blood and the Stars of Heaven fell to the Earth c. by Earthquake in Scripture is oftentimes signified ●omotions troubles uproars in Commonwealths and alteration of State and Kingdoms as when the Psalmist speaks of the Children of Israel coming out of Egypt Psal 68.8 The Farth was moved the Heavens also dropped at thy presence O God and the Sun became black c. shews that the persecution signified thereby should be very cruel So the Prophet speaking of the destruction of Babylon Isaiah 13.10 The Starrs of Heaven and the Constellations thereof shall not give their light the Sun shall be darkned in his going forth and the Moon shall not cause her light to shine And Ezek. 32.7.8 I will cover the Heavens and make the Stars to be dark I will hide the Sun in a Cloud and the Moon shall not make her light to shine all the lights that shine in the Heavens will I make dark upon thee and will bring darknesse upon thy Land saith the Lord God Aretas reports out of the works of Andreas that many said this Earthquake was taken for the persecution until the coming of Antichrist and that thus the Scriptures are wont to speak of any notable change by the name of an Earthquake and he said truly only he mistook the time af Antichrist coming For Mr. Brightman saith by this Earthquake is to be understood that persecution which was more cruel then any that was before it which fell out in the raign of Diocleasian and Maximinian the last two persecuting Emperours about the year 300. and by the stars falling in this book of the Revelation is ment the Ministers and Pastors of the Church who are called stars for the shining light of the Gospel which they Minister while they preserve the doctrine of the Gospel pure from Heresie and the discipline from mingling it with the inventions of men are compared to stars and by the stars falling from Heaven is meant their falling from the sincerity of their profession to Heresie Superstition or Idolatry either in Doctrine in Discipline or Practise and many did fall about this time through the rage of these two parsecutors who endeavoured to rout out Christianity and the Scriptures by the Roots and published their Proclamations that the Books of Scriptures should be burned in the Market place we saw saith Eusebius with these very eyes the holy and divine Scriptures perish in the very Fire where they were thrown The Scriptures for it's glorious light may well be compared to the Sun and here you see how this Sun the Scriptures was darkned in this Earthquake and consumed with fire in this persecution a City in Phrygia wholy inhabited with Christians the

and other Herefies are gone but the effects of this falling away continues still O ye Christian Princes An admonition to Christian Princes into whose hands God hath put the Sword of Justice you see by what is said above that there is an absolute necessity of a Reformation according to the word of God and you bear not the Sword for nought O therefore set upon this good work of Reformation happy and blessed will he be both by God and Men that first begins an effectual Reformation God expects your endeavours in it for he works by means and you are the persons prophesied of that must do it Rev. 17.16 and who knows how near this prophesie is to be fulfilled For her Plagues shall come suddenly Rev. 18.8 and the holy Ghost shewes the reason why it shall so come to passe For strong is the Lord that judgeth her therefore whatsoever your hands finde to do do it with all your might for cursed is he that doth the work of the Lord negligently Try all things by the word of God so as nothing may be done against the word as it is in our 34 Article of the Church of England For it is not lawfull saith the 20 Article to ordain any thing that is contrary to the word of God written nor it hath neither strength nor authority saith the 21 Article unlesse it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture and the good Lord direct you according to that rule for then you will have the prayers and assistance of many Thousands whose hearts now are made sad because of these abominations But yet a word or two more to shew how great this Apostacy and falling away of the Bishops was before the councel of Nice Alexander Bishop of Alexandria wrote in an Epistle to his brethren and fellow Ministers through the Churches after this manner But in as much as Eusebius now Bishop of Nicomedea supposeth the whole state of the Church to be under his Jurisdiction by which you may see what contention and strife there was amongst them for superiority and preheminence and for that he is become the Patron and Ringleader of Apostacies I think it necessary c. The first Book of Socrates Chap. 3. And this was a little before the councel of Nice which falling away of the Bishops appears further by the Testimony of Constantine the Emperour for besides his Epistles I have already spoken of which shews that the Bishops contentions was the cause of calling the councel of Nice and the next day after the councel met the Emperour in the councel made an Oration and exhorted them to concord and agreement and to remove from their minds all private malice and grildge which they had one towards another for divers of them had accused one another and the day before had put up Libels to the Emperour against one another See Socrates first book Chap. 5. See also Chap. 22. At another councel at Tyrus where thus he writes Verily I know not what matters Assembly through Tumult and Troublesome stirre hath decreed Methinks the truth it selfe you have in a manner subverted The Apostacy of the Bishop a very great Apostacy by means of your Hurleburly and kindled heat of contention for you prosecute your private spite and hatred one towards another and seem to neglect the service of God and furtherance of truth and after he chargeth them that seeme to maintaine the holy Misteries of Christs Church that they do practise nothing else but that which breedeth discord and discention to be short that which tendeth to the utter overthrow and destruction of mankind by all which it doth manifestly appear that this Apostacy and falling of the Bishops and the councel was a very exceeding great falling away from the Apostles institutions and example and most like of any to be that very falling away that the Apostle spake of 2 Thes 2.3 With the which the great Antichrist and man of sin should be ushered in So that it is manifest all the evil and misery that hath befallen the Christian Churches ever since by the prevalency of the Pope the great Antichrist came in by the falling away of the Bishops What evil the Decree of Nice producued and by the falling away of the Councell for that decree of Lord Primats Metrapolytans and Lord Diocesans c. and giving them such large Jurisdiction and Authority over others their equals though they might pretend that these should sit as in so many watch towers to oversee the rest and to keep out Heresie and Schisme but how fair a pretence soever they or any else can devise to excuse their doings it may teach us how dangerous a thing it is to step aside out of Gods way for their decree being a humane instituion and a falling away from the institutions of the Apostles as you heard above the event that it produced was not only the bringing in of Antichrist but a multitude of Heresies more and the increasing of those Heresies that then was I think you may easily read the sin in the punishment as you shall hear anone for Eusebius Bishop of Necomedia and Theognis Bishop of Nice and Marris Bishop of Calcedone c. all Arian Bishops they also were enabled and authorized by this decree of this councel with such power and jurisdiction in their Provinces over inferiour Bishops c. that they compelled the other Bishops to side with them or else they cast them out that in short time this Heresie overspread a great part of the Christian World for they called Synods and councels in their own jurisdictions and condemned and excommunicated the Orthodox Bishops and Pastors the other party again condemned and excommunicated them so that these councels and Synods cursed and excommunicated one another as I have shewed in the former part of this book of above Twenty councels that cursed and excommunicated one the other And Athanasius who was a great stickler in the Nicen councel in making that decree he felt the effect of what it produced for he was five or six times banished into Exile and forced by Hereticks to fly for to save his life and thus persecution began again for many tumults and bickrings there was and great slaughter made and cruel Tortors and Torments devised and executed upon such as would not be of their side so that the persecutions is said by some to be as cruel as the former only it had changed the name for the former persecutions was by Heathens and this was by pretended Christians thus it appears in part what misery that decree and falling away from the Gospell institutions did bring forth for it furnished the Pope with authority to make him the Antichrist he took occasion from these broyls and discentions to hear and determine causes of both sides whereby he ever after clamed a Supremacy over all other Churches and at last attained it that decree also furnished and inabled Arians Masidonians Novisians and

the end of the World and at the last period of the last times as the Scripture he saith doth evidently testifie I answer that these Scriptures he means to prove it by is yet unwritten for I am sure he never read them for though he quote 1 Tim. 4.1 that Text makes directly against him and nothing for him For saith the Apostle Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits What is meant by latter times and Doctrines of Devils and those devilish Doctrines are said verse 3 to be the forbidding of Marriage and commanding to abstain from meats c. I am glad the Bishop doth confess this Text to be meant of Antichrist But because the Apostle speaks of the latter times must it therefore needs be understood as he saith of the last period of the last times or as he saith in the 30. pape of his 2d Book That Antichrist shall reign but three years and a half or much about that time and very shortly after must be the last Judgment But let us see what other Scriptures say that we may expound Scripture by Scripture Gen. 49. Jacob called his Sons together that he might shew them what should befall them in the last daies surely this is not meant three years and a half before the end of the World as he calls it the last period of the last times c. Verse 19. Gad a troop shall overcome him but he shall overcome at the last So Daniel 4.8 and 1 Peter 1.20 and so Matth. 26.60 By the last times in these Texts is understood the fulnesse of the time appointed and determined of God for the affecting and bringing to passe what God hath intended to have done and the time he hath appointed and so that Text before 1 Tim. 4.1 in the latter daies that is the daies before determin'd and appointed that Antichrist should forbid marriage and meats and it is now 980. years since marriage was forbidden in the Council of Constance ●nd Antichrist doth reign still this is a long three years and an half that is stretched out to more then three times three hundred years since Antichrist preached that Dectrine and yet the Bishop either cannot or will not see his mistake Page 16. he saith He cannot sufficiently wonder at M● Meade Marefius Tilenus the Synod of Gappe and other Divines aforesaid that they should imagin that God would be so regardlesse so unmindful and so severe though in Justice he might as to suffer the great Antichrist to reign and rage against his Saints so many hundred years as they prescribe that makes the Pope Antichrist I answer Who can sufficiently wonder that a man of such a place and dignity as a Bishop should be so far mistaken himself as in writing lesse than half one Leaf so grosly to contradict himself The Bishop contradicts himself c. For even now he said that it was agreed upon by all Papista and Protestants old and new that Antichrist should come towards the end of the World and now he confesseth that Mr. Mead Maresius and Tilenus and others afore-named which was above twenty are of contrary opinion and the Synod of Gappe to boot who can to use his own words sufficiently wonder at this so great a Doctor a finder out of a new Antichrist which the world never dreamed of but besides his slighting the Judgment of so many Authors before-named by himself together with the Magde●urgerses and Synod of Gappe who can sufficiently wonder that he should charge God to be regardlesse and unmindful of his Saints to suffer Antichrist so many hundred years to tyrannize over them as if Gods Actions were to be measured by his Reason he hath forgotten that God suffered all Nations except the Jewes and some few Proselites to walk in their own waies almost four thousand years For with him a thousand years is but as one day c. And as is said above the Beast that is the seventh Head When he cometh he must continue a short space Rev. 17.10 and yet this short space was 87. years before he received his wound and then was 132. years after before the wound was fully healed which was but a short space in comparison of the time that Antichrist hath reigned was ever the Church of God without enemies since the Creation that you should count it a greater wonder now then it was in former Ages but I let this passe Page 17. he tells us That the Apostle shewes but he neither doth nor can tell us where the Apostle shewed it nor to whom that God would raise up Reformers to root out Errors out of the Church and to prescribe a Form of Godliness these are his very words A Form of Godlinesse and then follow● or a Set-form of God's Worship whereby the Church should be guided in the true Faith and these Reformers he saith are stiled I Answer I do not read of a Form of Godlinesse in any place of Scripture but in 2 Tim. 3.5 in which Text the holy Apostle doth admonish us to turn from such as have no more than a Form of Godliness And in the four foregoing Verses what manner of persons they would be that would set up a Form of Godlinesse That perillous times should come A Form of Godliness for the Government of the Church of Christ that men should be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud cursed speakers disobedient to Parents unthankful unholy without natural affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of them that are good traytors heady high minded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God having a Form of Godlinesse but denying the power thereof from such turn away or because they are such therefore turn away from such Is such a brood as this Sir your Reformers to root out Heresie as you say and to settle a Form of Godlinesse whereby the Church of Christ should be guided a woful condition is that Church in who have such Reformers and such Guides The Apostle branches them into eighteen several ranks or qualities of which I dare say there was never a one of them that ever was a good Refomer of the Church of Christ but rather Deformers And as for that Text you bring which you say calls such Reformers good men as they were indeed say you But I know not who will believe it for under favour I must tell you it is falsly applyed for the Apostle there is foretelling what Antichrist should do when he came into the World viz. That he should depart from the true Faith and be a seducing spirit that he should be a lyer an hypocrite that his conscience should be seared or benumbed in the practice of wickednesse that he should teach the Doctrine of Devils as the forbiding of marriage and commanding to abstain from meats which may be received with thanksgiving of them that believe and know the Truth And

a Papist if they be Papists that live in Cloisters and Mo●●steris secluded as he saith from the world who did preach the true Faith and right Service of God and published our ●●●istian Religion in which word our Christian Religion includes himself for one of that Religion preached by the Cloisterers c. for the space of one thousand two hundred and fixty years free from any bloudy persecution for the profession of their faith which no Church in Europe was but the popish Church therefore seeing it is thus that we have now found him out what he is we need no longer wonder why he misapplyeth Scripture and forsaketh the opinion of all other Writers to find out a new Antichrist and to stickle so hard to excuse and defend the Pope And that it may clearly appear that he takes the Papist Church of Cloisterers c. to be the true Church and their Doctrine to be the Orthodox Doctrine and their Faith and Service of God to be the true Faith and right Service of God as in his 27. page so in the 7. page speaking of one of the Witnesses which he saith is these Orthodox Bishops and of the Witnesses prophecying in sackcloath 1260 years by his own interpretation he saith their prophecying in sackcloath doth signifie their conforming themselves unto the Doctrine that they preached not their mourning for the polution of the true Church which saith he during that time of 1260 years of their Prophecy was not poluted as Mr. Mead and others do suppose a strange interpretation differing from all men that ever I read or heard of that the true Church of Christ should be without any bloudy persecution and without any polution The Church saith the Bishop without trouble 1260 years for the space of 1260 years and yet the Witnesses of Christ to be all that time clothed in Sackcloath which is a mourning weed and did alwaies signifie that those that wore it were in a sad and low condition a deformed and mournful estate stripped of all their glory as those are that go in black mourn at Funerals whereas if the Bishop's interpretation of the glory and beauty of the Church had been true that it had been without trouble and without polution the Witnesses should rather have put on their glorious and beautiful garments and have rejoiced in the prosperity and glory and purity of the Church which he saith was without polution but the word of God tels us another story of the cause of the Witnesses wearing Sackcloath Revel 17.7 8 that the Beast that cometh out of the bottomless pit should make war against them and overcome them and kill them and their corps should lie in the street without burial c. and was this a time in which the Church was not poluted 〈◊〉 the Witnesses and faithful Worshippers persecuted wh● they must be slain and their bodies lie without burial I leave it to the godly-wise to judge how the Bishops interpretation can be true that is so contrary to the Scriptures And whereas he saith the true Church of God had rest and was freed from any bloudy persecution for the profession of the true Faith and right Service of God for 1260 years beginning the year 382 the quite contrary will appear to be most true for as ancient Histories do relate the Apostolical Protestant Religion Of the first planting the Gospel in England was settled in England in the later end of the reign of Tyberius the Emperor under whom Christ suffered Gildas saith that Joseph of Aramathea was sent by Phillip the Apostle into Brittain who here laid the foundatiou of Christian Religion Origin in his fourth homily on Ezechiel saith that the true Faith of Christ was in Brittain before Elutherius was Bishop of Rome which was about the year 180 after Christ Nicephorus in his second Book Chap. 40. saith that Simon Zelotes did also preach the Gospel in Britain by all which it doth appear that England received the Christian Faith long before Austin was sent hither by Gregory the great for he indeed sent him hither to settle Popery 600 years after Christ but not to settle the Gospel of Christ for that was settled before as doth appear in the beginning of this Book At a treaty between the Nobility of England and Hingist King of the Saxons about the year 460. where neither party was to have any weapons Hingist secretly ordered the matter his men had every one a long knife in his hose that upon the watchword given every man should kill him he talked with so that there was murthered that day upon the place of English Nobility some stories say 460 by the Saxons the King was taken prisoner for whose ransom London York Lincolne Winchester with other strong holds being granted the Saxons made havok of the English Nation destroyed the Citizens pulled down Churches killed the Pastors of the Churches burned the Books of holy Scriptures and all this and more to be done by Heathens upon Christians it seems is no bloudy persecution in Do●●or William's account the Church had free liberty c. saith he This persecution continued in Brittain for in the 〈◊〉 568 Ministers were driven out so that the Arch-Bishop London and York were both forced to fly into Wales but fore this there was eleven thousand Christian Virgins murthered there was about this time above two thousand Monks at the Abby of Bangor in Wales who were driven out of Brittain who all lived by the sweat of their brows and labour of their hands these men differed nothing from other ordinary men but only in strictness of life and were such as now are called Puritans or Round-heads for Augustine saith ●imative ●onks were such as now are called Puritans c. there was such as were called Monks that were but lay-men only led a more severe and strict kind of life than others in his Book De moribus Ecclesioe Chap. 13. also Hierom ad Heliodorum one thing saith he appertains to Monks another thing to them of the Clergy and in the 4. Canon of the Councel of Calcedon it is provided that Monks should not meddle with matters of the Church Sozomen saith in his 3. Book Chap. 16. speaking of Monks of that time which lived in Cities and had several Mansions and differed nothing from other men but that they were of a stricter life which since by their enemies have been called by other names as names of infamy as some in our time are called Puritans which if saith he taken in the right sense if they deserve it tends to their comfort and prayers Athanasius a man to be credited of all in his epistle de Dracontium saith that he knew both Monks and Bishops married men and had Children and such were the Protestant Monks of Bangor this is shewed more fully in the beginning of this Book About the year 833 the Danes invaded England spoiled Churches murthered Ministers with men women and children after a