to be burned as Heretikes which refuse to worship these Images For what cause 〈◊〉 moved Sabinian to burne the bookes of Gregorie but because he had defaced Images howsoever Platina goeth about to blanch the matter What else did they object against the Emperors of Greece What else did they urge against the Valdenses and Wicklevites but that they refused to worship the Roman Pontifex and his images What else did they object to Cranmer Ridley Latimer Hooper Sanders Bradford and other godly men in Queene Maries time that I may speak of England not of other countries but that they refused to acknowledge the reall presence and so to worship the Sacrament other of their images I demand also whether the Turke or any other Idolater do command and compell men to worship images under such capitall and Tyrannous paynes Whether any Idolater do compell men to worship so many Images or set up so many to be worshipped And whether any do proceed so cruelly against those that refuse to worship their Images The Popes in their lawes declare them to be Heretikes and excommunicate which do not worship their images and consequently depriue them not onely of lands and goods but also of their liues yea if it be a Prince they absolue his subjects from obedience and alleagiance givin his subjects power libertie to kill their Natiue king and giue away his kingdome to another Did ever any Iew Turke Infidel or Pagan attempt to doe the like If they should is it credible or likely that they should be believed and obeyed as the Popes haue been Thus therefore their actions being so agreeable to the Rising of this second Beast I demande againe How these Prophecies can be otherwise performed by any Monarch Prince Potentate State or person whatsoever past present or to come And if not then Whether this be not that Antichrist or whether we may expect any other And so we come to the description of Antichrist mounted upon the Roman State and raigning in his glorie which is the fifth generall parte of his description V. The Raigne of Antichrist IT is not unworthie of our observation that the Holy Ghost in setting forth the kingdome of Antichrist useth no such forme of speech as when he speaketh of particular men but such as is commonly used applied in scripture to signifie greate kingdomes and Monarchies When he prophecieth of particular men for the most part he noteth them by some proper Adjunct As of Iohn Baptist Esay 40. A voyce cryeth in the wildernes prepare the way of the Lord. c. So of our Saviour Christ My Righteous servant shall justifie many and againe He was broken for our sinnes c. Sometimes by the name of some other man as Mal 4. Behold I send you the Prophet Elijah c. Sometimes he calleth them by their proper names as that He sayth to Cyrus my Sheepheard Esay 44. c. and I will call Eljakim and so he prophecieth of Iosiah and against Shallum Coniah The king of Babel and Tyrus Esay 22. Ier. 22. But when he speaketh of great kingdomes or Monarchies he figureth them sometimes under the names of Great Beasts as all the four Monarchies in Daniel sometimes under the names of women â—zech 23. as Ezechiel calleth the two kingdomes of Ierusalem and Samaria Two women Nahum calleth Niniveh Esay 47. the beautifull harlot Esayah and Ieremie resemble Babylon sometimes to a woman tender and delicate sometimes to a Queene Iu. 51. sometimes to an Harlot whose words and Phrases our Apostle delighteth much to use It is no marvell therefore that having here to speak of the state of two Great kingdomes namely the Kingdome or Church of Christ and the kingdome or Synagogue of Antichrist He describeth one of them as a Chaste and undefiled spouse prepared for her husband and the other as a sumptuous glorious luxurious proud and intising Harlot alluring kings princes and all sorts of people to come unto her Wherein although it be true that Contraries compared layd together do illustrate one the other yet I will not here prosecute that glorious and heauenly description of the true Church of our Lord Christ Iesus able to take up all my thoughts and meditations but strictly following my former course obserue seuen Attributes in the Description of the Antichristian state and power Revel 17. now mounted upon the back of the Roman state First it is called the Great Whore Secondly which sitteth upon many waters Thirdly with whom the kings of the earth haue committed fornication and the Inhabitants of the earth haue been made druncken with the wine of her fornication Fourthly most richly and gorgeously cloathed and adorned with purple and scarlet gold and pearles having a golden cup in her hand full of her fornications Fiftly shee hath a name written in her forehead a Mysterie Babylon The great Mother of Harlots abhominations of the earth Sixtly She is druncken with the bloud of the Saints and Martyrs of Christ Iesus And lastly to make all plaine who this is It is sayth our Prophet the Great Cittie that ruleth over the kings of the earth Of some parts of which Description I haue spoken before both in the first and second Problem For which cause I shall not neede to speak much here but onely of such things as haue not been touched before And to speake a word by the way of that which is most plain and evident which is last mentioned that it is called the Great cittie by which name we commonly understand the king Prince or Prelate thereof as in the Prophecies against Iuda Israell Babell Ninive we understand many times their Princes and principall men and in our common speech we call Prelates by the names of their Seas as Canterburie London Magunce Trever c. So here by the most proper Adjunct we understand Rome and by Rome her Prince Prelate or Governour It will be in vaine therefore to aske whether this be hee seeing the Holy Ghost sayth this is he But it will be I thinke worth our labour to consider how these qualities may be applied to the chief Pontifex of Rome and whether they may be applied to any other And if to them alone then whether to one more then to another or to the whole succession Let us therefore peruse them in order The first qualitie is The Great Whore Whoredome in Scripture as hath been sayd is understood sometimes literally for the corporall filthines sometimes mystically for the spirituall whoredome which is Idolatrie Now for this later it is evident not onely by the Testimonie of Salvianus aboue recited but of their own histories that the verie Heathen Idols continued undefaced in Rome and worshiped untill the time of Boniface the fourth who having obteyned the Pantheon of the Emperor Phocas did consecrate that Temple to the honour of the Virgin Marie and of all martyrs Platina Fasc Temp. ejectis prius
Majorit omni humanae creaturae declaramus definimus c. esse de necessitate salutis and therefore where the ancient Creed teacheth us to beleeue the Catholike Church they will now haue us to say the Catholike Roman Church Doth he not exalt himself aboue God when he dispenseth with the Lawes of God and with sinnes not onely with sinnes done but to be done which God himself never would doe For proofe whereof let the Bulles be reviewed which he hath granted as to Henry the eight to marrie his Brothers wife and such like Also the Bulles which he hath sent forth against Queene Elizabeth and King Iames the Kings of France and other princes exciting their Subjects to Treason murder and Rebellion Yea hath he not granted to private men faculties or pardons for sinnes to be done I am sure our Soveraine king Iames telleth us of two such pardons His Majesties Meditaetion upon the Lords prayer which he saw himself Did ever any Iew Turke Infidell or pagan take upon him to doe the like Or is ever any to be expected that may do more I demand also whether ever any other hath had or whether any other may be expected in time to come that may haue greater or the like power to deceiue men in unrighteousnes or to make them beleeue that it is lawfull for them to commit sinne and wickednes in such manner as the popes haue done by their pardons Faculties and such like marchandize And whether this hath not been a most effectuall and potent meanes to induce men into sinne and unrighteousnes And Whether it be possible for any other man to do the like in time to come especially in the Church of God and within so short a time as three yeares and a half or one mans life time as hath been done by the Popes in all these seauen points last before set downe And if it be altogether impossible let us at length abandon that and such like incredible and impossible opinions and not suffer our selues to be deluded any longer but ingenuously and freely confesse that this is he and that it is in vaine to looke for another And thus by the gracious merciful assistance of our Almightie Lord Christ Iesus I haue passed through these six parts of the description of Antichrist his Place his State his Names his Rising his Raigne and his Words and Actions everie one of them so sutable to the Roman Pontifex that I for my part thinke it impâ—ssible to apply them to any other And so I come to the seauenth and last part which is his Times VII Of the Times of Antichrist ONE of the greatest Arguments that the Popish Advocates do insist upon to proue that their Pope is not Antichrist is this of the Times wherein first they stifly mainteyne that Antichrist shall raigne but three yeares and an half whereas the Pope hath raigned say they many hundred yeares Marke here by the way they confesse that he raigneth in Rome Secondly they hold that Antichrist shall be but one man and shall not come untill shortly before the end of the world Thirdly that Enoch and Elias must come before or in his time All which conceits are without any warrant of the Holy Scriptures and haue been largely refuted by others especially by the excellent learned Robert Abbat late Bishop of Salesburie and for the two first I haue sayd before sufficiently Against the last I will propose but one question which shall be drawen out of the verie words of the Text. Apoc. 11. For in the 11 chapter of the Revelation where there is mention made of the two Prophets whom they will haue to be Enoch and Elias it is sayd that they shall be slayne by the Beast which commeth out of the bottomlesse pitt and not by the Beast which cometh out of the Earth Now in the 13 chapter we finde two Beasts the first ascending out of the Sea having feauen heads and ten hornes Which is by the best Interpreters judged to be the Old Roman Empier and the Temporall state thereof The second Beast ascendeth out of the Earth and that 〈◊〉 properly understood to be Antichrist as hath been sayd before And in the 17 chapter it appeareth Rev. 17. that the first Beast which hath the seuen Heads is that which is sayd to ascend out of the Bottomlesse pitt I aske then upon the Conference of these Texts together How it can stand with these Prophecies to say that these two Prophets must be Enoch and Elias shall be slayne by Antichrist when as they must be slayne by the Roman Empire and not by the second Beast nor by the Whore and the Roman Empire must be removed before Antichrist be revealed Iudicent Theologi But these and such like conceits of theirs being brought into the light and appied to the flames of those holy burning and shining Candles the Prophets and Apostles will easily dissolue and melt away like ice before the Sunne For whosoever applieth himself with any heede and diligence to reade and marke the Scriptures and compare them together may soone perceiue that the blessed spirit of Trueth who leadeth us into all Trueth verie often and verie largely speaketh of the Times of Antichrist describing them with seauen remarkeable Considerations whereof not one of them telleth us of Henoch and Elias or that Antichrist shall be but one man or indure but three yeares and an half c. But contrariwise representeth unto us long Periods and continuance of times As to the Purpose First that which we may call Praeparationes or Dispositiones Materiae which by the Apostle I thinke is called the working of the Mysterie of Iniquitie and began in the Apostles time 2 Thes 2. and must continue till the removing of the Roman Empire which was about three hundred yeares The second is the Removing of the Impediment and the Rising of Antichrist which in reason must follow for sublato impedimento emergit actio And this not at an Instant but at least in 300 or 400 yeares more For so long it was before the Empire was cleane removed out of Rome The third is his Revelation not upon a sodayne but by degrees in long time accompanying his Rising The fourth therefore is his Raigne more near to a Septingentan then to a Demi-Septennian The fifth is of the Signes of his times and the manners of men in those times not incident to a short time The sixth is of his decay and consumption not hastie and the seauenth of his finall end and utter destruction which must be by the second comming of our Lord Iesus Christ. So that the working of this mysterie and the progresse thereof must be from the time of the Apostles unto the end of the world And there is not one of these seauen Considerations but is expressely spoken of in the Scripture most of them verie often as shall appear by that which followeth Whereupon I aske Whether it would not seeme verie vaine
pater doctissimus id te oratum volo pie Lector ut sicubi me errasse animadvertes me corrigas siteipsum mecum redeas ubi pariter cerius es pergas mecum ubi pariter haesitas ores mecum ut sic Christianae unitatis pietatis leges inviolatas teneamus THE SVMME OF THE FOLLOWING Discourse conteyning Seuen Problems concerning Antichrist everie one resolved into seuen Questions necessarie in these times to be considered I. Probleme Concerning the Place of Antichrist whether it be Rome Christian 1. Whether Rome be that great cittie described in the 17. ch Apoc. 2. Whether it be the great cittie where the beast shall make warre against the witnesses of God which cittie is spiritually called Sodome and Egipt c. Apoc. 11. 3. Whether Rome be Babylon the great which is mentioned Apoc. 14. 4. Whether it be the great cittie spoken of Apoc. 18. 5. Whether it may be understood to be the place called Armageddon Apoc. 16. 6. Whether it be the place noted by the Apostle to be the Temple of God 2 Thess 2. 7. Whether it be the mountain of holynes between the seas Dan. 11 Summa If these prophecies do all concurre in Rome Christian and cannot be understood of any other place then is Rome Christian the seate of Antichrist II. Probleme Of the State or bodie Politike of Antichrist whether it be the state or dominion of Rome 1. Of the prophecies of Daniel concerning the fourth Beast and the Prophecies in the Revelation how they differ and how they may be reconciled 2. Whether the fourth Beast in Daniel do signifie the Roman state under Consuls Decemvirs c. or what else 3. Whether the first Beast rising out of the Sea Apoc. 13. do signifie the Roman state under Caesars or what else 4. Whether the Beast in the 17 of the Apoc. doe signifie the Roman state under Antichrist or what else 5. Whether the little Horne in Daniel do signifie Antichrist or what else 6. Whether the second Beast in the 13 of the Apoc. do signifie Antichrist 7. Whether the woman in the 17 Apoc. do signifie Antichrist Summa If these prophecies do concurr and be all fulfilled in the Roman state and the Governours thereof and cannot be fulfilled in any other then is that the state of Antichrist III. Probleme Of the Names of Antichrist 1. Whether the name of Pontifex Maximus do agree to Antichrist 2. Whether the name of Servue servorum do agree to Antichrist 3. Whether the name of that Antichrist may be giuen to the Pope to all the succession of Popes since the yeare of our L. 700. 4. Whether the name of Anomos .i. the Lawlesse or the man of sinne may be applied to that succession 5. Whether the name of the Sonne of Perdition may be giuen to that succession 6. Whether the name Abaddon may be giuen to that succession 7. Of the numerall names of 666. and how they are applied to the Pope Summa If these names and prophecies do all concurre in the Popes and their succession can be truly verified of none other then is the Pope collective as it is sayd Nomen successionis That Antichrist IIII. Problem Of the Rising of Antichrist 1. How the Monarchie of Antichrist must beginne to rise whether all at once or by degrees in tract of time 2. When it must beginne whether it must not beginne before the power of the Emperor be fully removed out of Rome 3. When the power of the Emperor began to be removed how long it was in removing 4. Whether it may stand with the scripture to say that Antich must be a singular person or whether he must be a monarch successiue 5. By what means the Popes did rise to their height of power supremacie whether it was not by sedition and schisme 6. Whether they did not contend and warr against the holy Bishops and Saints of God to get their supremacie 7. Whether they did obtein their dominions and supremacie by rebellion and perjurie Summa If all the prophecies concerning the Rising of Antich be fulfilled in the Pope successive cānot be fulfilled in any other then is the Pope successive Antich none else can be V. Probl. Of the Raigne of Antichrist 1. Whether the Great Whoore described Apoc. 17. doe signifie the state of the Antichrist regnant 2. Whether al parts of that description may be applyed to the popes successiue since the yeare of our Lord 700. 3. Whether the Beast that was and is not and yet is Apoc. 17. doe signifie the Pontifex Max. that is the Pope of Rome 4. whether any Iew Turke or other person whatsoever hath been supported by so many Nations Peoples and tongues as the Pope hath been during his supremacie since the said yeare 5. whether it be possible or likely that any Iew Turke or other person whatsoever should obteyne such greate and inestimable riches as the Popes haue gotten in that time 6. whether any Iew Turke or Pagan ever had or claymed such absolute and supereminent power to depriue and depose kings and princes by their sentences to absolue their subjects from their alledgeance to dispence with oathes as the Popes haue done whether it be possible that any Iew Turke or Pagan can obteine such power 7. whether ever any Turk or Iew pretended or claymed such absolute supremacie authoritie that if he lead multitudes of soules caetervatim into hell yet he was not to be reproved nor called to account for it as the Popes haue arrogated and whether it be probable that any shall be able to attain to such power hereafter Summa If all the prophecies concerning the Raigne of Antich be fulfilled in the Pope and cannot be otherwise then he is Antich VI. Probl. Of the words and actions of Antichrist 1. Whether any Iew or Turke or other whatsoever haue so much in so high degree blaspheamed God and our Lord Christ Iesus as the Pope and his Church haue done since the said year 700 namely in affirming that the old and new Testament haue their authoritie from the Popes decree and such like c. 2. whether any haue caused or procured so many rebellions Treasons and murders to be committed as they haue done and whether it be possible for any in time to come to doe the like 3. whether any haue changed lawes so much as the Pope hath done by his decrees decretals pardons dispensations Faculties Indulgences c. and whether any Iew Turke or Infidell ever tooke upon him such authoritie to dispense with sinnes before hand and to giue indulgence for sinnes to be committed as the Popes haue done more then God himselfe 4. whether any haue changed times so much as the Popes haue done whether it be possible for any in time to come to make such changes viz. by feasts fasts Lents and Iubilees decretals dispensations and Calenders 5. whether any Iew Turke or Infidell hath erected or maintained such open and
be seauen hils and seauen kings Cap. 17. 3 It hath his ten hornes crowned 4 Here is no mention of any little horne arising up after â—he rest nor of any of those things which Daniel speaketh of him but there is a second beast rising up after the first Consider now whether the little horne be not now become this second beast 5 It is said that upon his heads were names of blasphemie 6 One of his heads was wounded to death 7 His deadly wound was cured Let us come to the description of this beast in the 17 chap. which I mean but onely to touch leaving the further examination thereof to a place more convenient Probl. â— 1 In Daniel there was a â—ittle horn In the 13 of the Revelation a second Beast whereof in the 17 chap. there is little or no mention 2 In this chap there is a woman sitting upon the seuen-headed beast whereof in Daniel or in the 13 chap. there is nothing what is become of the horne or second beast if it be not this woman 3 In the 13 ch the beast is not said to be of any colour but in the seuenteenth of a skarlet or Crimson colour 4 Power is giuen to the beast over everie kindred tongue and nation in the 13 ch but in the 17 the woman is supported by peoples multitudes and nations 5 Here in the 13 ch the beast maketh war with the saints but there the woman is druncken with the bloud of the saints and Martyrs of Christ Iesus 6 Here the names of blasphemie are onely upon the heads of the beast but there the whole beast is full â—f 〈◊〉 â—f â—â—â—sphemie 7 Here all the world wondreth at the beast worshâ—pâ—th the dragon and the beast But there the kings of the earth â—â—mmit fornication with the woman and the Inhabitants â—f the earth are druncken with the wine of her fornication so both are drunke she with bloud and they with fornication and there is no more speach of worshâ—ping the beast Very notable and remarkable differences If I be not much deceaved whereof to speak shortly my opinion under correction I am persuaded to collect that the state of Rome in Daniel is signifyed by the fourth beast specially before the Caesars in the 13 of the Rev by the first beastè Mari under the Cesars and in the 17 by the skarlet coloured beast under the whore Antichrist in Daniel is the little horne in the 13 of the Apoc. the second beastè terra in the 17 the whore Which being well observed the reason of all the Concordances and differences between these prophecies will easily appear For the proofe whereof leâ— us cast our eye back again consider the severall parts of the description of this beast and therein see whether it do not fully agree to the Roman state in these severall times and whether it can be applyed to any other And first why it is called a beast amongst other things for which the Romanists of these dayes do calumniate the professors of true and sincere religion One is this that we say some places of scripture are to be taken figuratiuely This a late Iesuit objecteth against us calling it a shâ—ft but whether it be a shift or not it is none other then the ancient and best interpreters advise us to looke unto Aug. de doct Câ—râ—st lb 2 3. namely S. Augustin in his books de doctâ—ina Chrisitâ—na where he sheweth that not onely proper but translated words are used in the scripture and of some figures not onely the examples but the names are there to be found whereof one sayth he is allegoria Conâ—es l. 11. which is nothing els but a Metâ—phore continued Pauca sunt quae proprie lâ—quimur pâ—ura non proprie sayth he in another place whereupon learned divines Tb. Aquin. in 1 sentent both Hebrew and Christian haue alwayes confessed that there is not onely a litterall sence to be admitted in the exposition of the scripture but an Allegorâ—â—all and Anagâ—gicall 10. Picuâ— Miâ— in Apolog. so it be with consent of other places So our Saviour when his Apostles doubted what he meant by the leaven of the Pharâ—sees Mat. 16. and of the hypocrisie of the Pharisee And when his disciples murmured for that he sayd Except ye eat my flesh ye haue no life Luke 12. c. He answereth What if ye should see me ascend into heauen Ioh. 6. It is the spirit that giveth life the flâ—sh profiteth nothing So wheresoever any absurditie or as S. Augustin speaketh facinus or flâ—gitium wickednes or mischief will follow upon the proper exposition there it must be understood to be spoken figuratiuely for there is nothing taught in the scripture sayth he but the loue of God and our neighbour so here not onely by the consent of all interpreters but by the warrant of the spirit of God expounding it to Daniel by his Angel we are taught to understand that the name of a beast in propheticall scriptures Concurrentibus his quae requiruntur other places either concurring or not repugning doth signifie a kingdome going in succession from man to man and we haue no warrant to take it for one particular or individuall person or in any other sense then the Angel hath expounded it And this is no new or uncouth manner of speach to call great kingdomes by the names of great beasts as I haue touched before but why and for what reason or upon what ground they are so called is a consideration not unworthie to be searched out so far forth as the mercie and grace of our Lord Iesus Christ shall illuminate our understanding and direct our mindes wherein if I be somewhat long I hope the value of the matter may countervayl our pains Assist us therefore in this investigation â—â—es 4. O Lord who art ascended up on high and givest gifts unto men First then I demand whether we may not hold it for a certaine and infallible veritie that the later Prophets did converse and exercise themselues in reading and meditateing upon the law Deut 6 6. and the writings of the Prophets that were before them 〈◊〉 18 15. as all are commanded to doe by Moses exhorted by David â—â—l 1. and taught by the example of Daniel Secondly Dan. 9. I demand whether we may not beleeue that they did thereby obtaine an habit or grace of God to use the words and phrases of the former Prophets to make use of them by a kinde of progression As when the prophet David had recorded that excellent prophecie of our Saviour Christ I haue set my King upon Sion the Hill of my holynes Psal 2. Psal 69. He himself goeth forward saying An high hill is Gods hill in which it pleaseth him to dwell he will dwell in it for ever And in another place He will heare me from his holy hill The prophet Micah goeth yet farther Psal 50. saying
Kings Consuls Dictators Decemvirs and Tribunes One was then in being namely the Caesars and this not obscure Rev. 17. But who that one was that was to come and to continue but a short space and how the beast is called the eight yet one of the seauen seemeth somewhat intricate and difficult to explain But I demand here what is the word in the text I am not ignorant that this differeth from some others whom I reverence but Sit liber judex Another is not yet come What other Not another Head but another King or Caesar For it is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so the beast is called not the eight head but Ogdoos the eight king This in my opinion directeth us to Constantine the Christian Emperor as to him that continued but a short time He that will apply this to the eccles state of the B B. under the GreciaÌ„ Caesars must consider how it can be proved that those B B. had regall power and if they had then how their power can be distinguished froÌ„ their successors For he altereth the forme of the Empire reducing it from Heathenish to Christian and translated the sea of the Empire from Rome to Constantinople and therefore may well be called an other but another Caesar not another Head For he continued Caesar still But God would not suffer that godly Christian Emperor long to continue Head of the Antichristian beast and therefore moved him to remoue his Emperiall seat that the Impediment might be removed according to the Prophecy 2 Thes 2. Then to the second question who is the beast that is the eight king and yet the seauenth head one of the seauen who else can it be but those that immediately succeeded the Caesars in the government of Rome And who were they but the Pontifices maximi dist 96. as both by their lawes and histories appeareth For sayth the decree Constantine gaue to Silvester who then was Summus Pontifex his pallace of Lateran and his Imperiall ornaments with power and principallitie c. I know it is objected that this is under the title of Palea And much adoe there hath ben about it to little purpose For looke in another part of the decree Caus 12. q. 1. and there it is registred for authenticall that Constantine left to Silvester imperialem sedem his Imperiall sea If it be objected that the donation of Constantine is held by many to be forged that is nothing to the purpose Angelus Râ—ccha de Bibliot vat bringeth divers authors to proue that Coâ—st cessit Pontisici For it is not here said that he gaue it but that he left it neither is it here in question what Constantine truly gaue but what the Bishop of Rome truly had Now their Histories do plentifully testifie that whether by the gift or cession of Constantine or by what other means See Probl. 4. pretence or colour soever it was their power after the departure of Constantine grew dayly more and more absolute untill they had by little and little wrought the Emperors not onely out of Rome but out of all Italie and in the end brought them under their feet Platina seemeth to affirme the donation saying that he gaue to Silvester his Diadem and for his sake built the pallace of Lateran Howsoever if we belieue their owne Authors there is no Empire now to be found in Rome in epi. ad Thes vide Tho. Aquin. Lyr. in 2 Thes 2. al. as Stapulensis confesseth Vbi nunc est Romana Monarchia ubi qui in ea mundum regat habemus But of the Pope or Pont. Max. it is no lesse evident that he now hath and for these many hundred yeares hath had SuÌ„ Pon. Dictator perpetuus queÌ„ principes orbâ—s adoraâ—t And again TotuÌ„ orbeÌ„ terraruÌ„ Ro the absolute government of that great cittie and the state Territorie and Tribunes thereto belonging as witnesseth Blondus Which whosoever hath after the removing of the Empire must be confessed to be Antichrist in beeing the seauenth head of Rome curia sibi subjectum habet Blondus in Roma instaurata Vbi plura Vid. Adrian 4. apud Aventiâ— Tho. Aquin. c. I referre me to thine owne judgment Christian Reader whether hereby all the difficulties of the Text be not cleerly discussed First where it sayth The beast which was and is not is the eight and is of the seauen And againe The beast which was is not and yet is Whether these words can be understood but of this Roman Pontifex For the Pon. Max. was instituted by Numa Pompilius the second king of Rome to be the cheef Iudge decider of all matters concerning Religion this continued still in Rome in great honor Livy lib. 1. untill the time of Iulius Caesar distinct from the Dictator but he tooke that as an high dignitie upon himself And so did Augustus and other Emperors And amongst the rest Sueton. it is thus reported of Titus Pontificatum max. ideo se professus accipere ut puras servaret manus fidem praestitit nec author posthaec cuiusquam necis nec conscius Whereby we may see that the law of that supreame Pontificate was that they might not be Iudges of capitall crimes nor sentence any man to death But I haue not yet found it written of Domitian in whose time our Euangelist receiued this Revelation that he tooke upon him this Pontificall dignitie And it seemeth he did not For else why doth not Sueton. speak of it as well in him as in others and he is not onely noted by the Christians for a bloudy Persecutor but for a cruell Tyrant amongst the Heathen From which if he had taken upon him the high Pontificate if nothing els yet this their owne law the shame of the world I thinke would somewhat haue restrained him I doe not read it I say Therefore I thinke he was not Pon. Max. And so the words of our Prophet are exactly fulfilled that the Beast the Pont. was formerly in Rome instituted by Numa exercised by Nasica Scipio Iulius Augustus Titus and many others and it is not in Domitian and yet is though not in him de facto yet in the state of Rome in potentia when they list to set it up And it is the eight king of that state reckoning Constantine the Christian to be the seauenth yet it is but the seauenth head and of the seauen because Constantine had no distinct forme of Regall authoritie from the other Caesars and therefore could not be reckoned to be another head from the Caesars And this Pont. Max. who in the time of the Consuls and Pagan Cesars was but like a little horne growing in time of the Christian Emperours like a Beast of power ascending now sitteth like a queen upon the back of the Roman state commanding And it shall ascend sayth the Angell out of the bottomlesse pit It
of Europe which was subject heretofore to Rome gaue him authoritie and power to do what he lift in their kingdoms Was ever the like done to any Monark Prince Potentate or Man heretofore or may we expect or looke for the like to be done to any in time to come True it is we see not yet the Whore made naked and desolate nor burnt with fire Psal 31. the time is in Gods hands and he that beleeveth will not be too hastie Leaving therefore that which is to come Hab. 2 3. unto the disposition of the great disposer of times Let us goe as far as men may in the description of this mightie Empire to see what is fulfilled alreadie The next note or circumstance here observed is that upon his heads were the names of blasphemie but in the 17 ch it is said that the Beast is full of names of Blasphemie A difference not to be neglected For the understanding whereof it is necessarie for us to see how the word Blasphemie is taken in scripture and thereby we shall see how this also agreeth to Rome the Pontifical First I demand whether it be not blasphemie Vide Thom. 2 2. q. 13. when infinite power or infinite knowledge or other inseperable incommunicable properties of God Antonin sum par 2. t. 8 c. 7. are attributed unto men In which respect the Iewes hearing our Saviour say Sum. Angel t. blasphem Marc 14. Destroy this temple and I will raise it againe in three dayes accused him of Blasphemie as claiming infinite and divine power to himself whom they thought to be but a man Him they accused falsely but such in truth was the Blasphemie of Sennacharib and Rabsake Who are they among all Gods that haue delivered their Lands 2 Reg. 1◠that the Lord should deliver Ierusalem out of my hands So that of Holofernes Iudit 6. But the Blasphemie of Nebuchadnezzar king of the first Babel seemeth to goe a step farther Dan. 3. who not onely asked the same Question Who is the God that can deliver you from me But upon the wicked perswasion of his own power presumed to make an Image commanded it to be worshiped as a God And shall a man make Gods sayth the Prophet is not this a blasphemie beyond all blasphemies Ier. 16. in asmuch as he that saith he can make a God doth not onely make himself equall to God but greater better more powerfull and mightie as the efficient cause is alwaies better and more powerfull then the effect Now in this kinde of Blasphemie I demand who ever went beyond the Romans who not onely made many Gods and commanded them to be worshiped but onely such as were made by them or received by the publike authoritie of their common wealth or Senate by pretence of which Law they refused our Saviour Christ although recommended to the Senate by Tiberius Rival in Hist Iud. Eusebius Tertull. with a prerogatiue of his own voice as some report So then by the Lawes of the Romans they would haue such Gods as they made themselues would haue none other to be worshiped And whether this were not most horrible abhominable blasphemie I desire to be answered If it were let us see how it was used in the old time when Rome was Ethnick and how it hath ben used since In the Ethnike Rome none were made Gods but by the Senate as appeareth by the Law aforesaid and none were worshiped as Gods but publicè asciti such as were publikely accepted And the Senate made no Gods but their king Romulus the murtherer of his brother and the Caesars which were the heads of that fourth beast or Monarchie But now in the time of Christianitie all degrees are Canonised and worshiped by the Popes authoritie namely Munkes and Friers Nunnes and Priests as well as kings or princes popes or patriarkes So that now we may see the whole bodie of this Popish Empire full of names of blasphemy Again do they not hold affirm that everie priest and frier in celebrating the Masse doth make God and that a God to be worshiped as not onely the reall but the carnall body of our Lord and the verie same that was borne of the virgin Marie See more of their blaspemies in D. Willet of the 4 Pillets I ask whether this be not Blasphemie and whether these names of Blasphemy are not now spread over all the bodie of the beast If they be then whether this difference betweene the Beast in the 13 chap. and in the 17 of the Revelation be not herein most precisely and plainly fulfilled Having observed this difference let us returne againe to the description of this great beast representing the old Roman Empire It is said it hath the bodie of a Leopard the feet of a Beare and the mouth of a Lyon This hath been verie well expounded by the learned Napier and others to signifie that it hath all the Instruments of tyrannie of all the former Monarchies viz. the Leopard in swiftnes and eagernes of the Macedonians Polyb. lib. 3. For within three and fiftie yeares as Polib noteth from verie small beginnings it got the Monarchie of the world The Bearelike pawes of the Persians that is innumerable armies apt to march everie where to take hold of everie thing as the Beare doth with the pawes And the Lion-like mouth of the Babylonian not onely to devour men but to roare out blasphemies against God as by the instance aforesaid may appear Who is that God that can deliver you out of my hands said the Babylonian so the Assirian before him and so the Roman after him by reason whereof they did not onely reject our Saviour Christ as I said before but stirred up nine or ten horrible persecutions against Christians Onuph in Plat. in vit Silvest Vid. Aug. de civ dei l. 8 the first by Nero. 2 by Domitian 3 by Trajan 4 by Antoninus the 5 by Severus the 6 by Maximinus the 7 by Decius the 8 by Valerianus and the 9 by Dioclesian to which they adde the 10 by the Arrians which was also by the power of the Roman Empire No lesse cruelties haue they exercised since Rome was Pontifical but of these elswhere And thus haue we seene this beast in his essence parts Whereupon for a pause let us demaund againe the question whether these things can be verified of any other person Monarchie or state in the world but onely of the Roman And so let us proceed and consider of the same beast in his power and actions and see whether they also do not most aptly agree to the same state And here again we finde seuen things noted in this Beast 1 That the Dragon gaue to this beast Rev. 1. his power and his throne and great authoritie doth not Tully say the same in effect of Rome though in other words Omnis Deorum immortalium potestas aut translata est ad
vos aut communicata vobiscum Doth not Virgil say as much Divisum imperium cum Iove Caesar habet And again Iupiter in Caelis Caesar regit omnia terris 2 All the world worshiped the dragon and the beast Is there any man ignorant of the generall idolatrie worship that all the world offered aswell to the Divell as to the state of Rome in those times All the world wondred and followed after the beast saying who is able to warre with him Is not the same question moved by Livie Where he proposeth it as doubtfull If Alexander the great had come into Italie whether he could haue conquered it yea he concludeth it upon many reasons to be without doubt that he could not Polyb. also seemeth to affirm the same Againe was it not verified in the time of Dioclesian whose victories were so great that the Roman Empire was said to haue no bounds but where their soldiers could not march 4 There was given to him a mouth speaking great things blasphemies as that which was recorded of Augustus that he would haue himself be honoured in Temples by Priests Flamines Tacit. â—â—n 1. with all the Ornaments belonging to the Gods and although he seemed at the first to refuse it if we beleeue Sueton yet it appeareth he was afterward well enough content with it Suetoniâ—s as the same Sueton witnesseth that divers Provinces made temples altars and playes to his honour as they did to other of their Idols so Virgil. Hic illum vidi juvenem Melibaee quotannis Bissenos cui nostra dies altaria fumant Virgil. Argl. 1 And againe Illius aram Saepe tener nostris ab ovilibus imbuet agnus which was followed by his successors Petr. Crinit de honesta discip l. 17. Neque illud ignoratur more fuisse Rom. Imperatoribus suas quoque imagines in templis adorandas apponere quod a Tertulliano magnis convitiis accusatur Such also are the speeches which they were content to hear from others and to allow and reward them En huius nate auspiciis illa inclyta Roma Imperium terris animos aequavit olympo 5 Power was giuen him to do or to continue two and fortie moneths Which reckoning according to propheticall computations everie moneth for 30 dayes make 1260. This may be understood eyther of the continuance of the power of the Roman idolatrie from the beginning or of their persecutions of the Christians For the first reckon 1260 yeares from the first setling of the Roman state Livy lib. 1. after the death of Tatius the Sabin when Romulus alone held the government peaceablie and enlarged the cittie by taking in the Caelian and Quirinal hilles and established the divelish worship of Iupiter in the first temple that was made in Rome which was the 25 yeare of his raigne before which time it was in continuall wars and troubles reckon I say 1260 yeeres from that 25 yeer and we shall come to the yeer 1285 ab urbe condita which was the yeere from the nativitie of our Lord 533 the verie next yeer after which that is to say in the yeere 534 Ã Christo nato the Christian Emperor Iustinian the first perfected his learned and excellent bookes of the civill lawes In coâ— wherein beginning with a most christian and pious confession of his fayth and confidence in our Lord Saviour Christ Iesus he first purgeth and suppresseth all the ancient Idolatrous and superstitious lawes and then enacteth speciall lawes for the confirmation of the true Christian fayth as appeareth in the beginning of the Code And this was in the year of our Lord 534. as the best Chronologers do agree Marianus â—ibhander Helvins Onuphr Rensuer and in this booke reciting the former godly constitutions of Constantius Gratianus Arcadius and other christian Emperors for the shutting up of Idolatrous Temples and abolishing of divelish sacrifices and auguries he gaue such vigour and force thereunto by his authoritie and confirmation that shortly after the Roman Consuls which as Salvianus testifieth euen in Christian times were wont to be inaugured with heathenish and idolatrous rites utterly ceased and were left off and so may you see the 1260 yeares of the continuance of this Roman beast or Monarchie of idolatrie in Rome fulfilled to a day Although if any man think better to follow the computation of the Godly learned M. Fox I will not speak against it He maketh of this two fortie moneths the number of 294 yeres by taking everie moneth for a sabboth of yeares and so interpreteth this prophecie to signifie the continuance and determination of the great persecutions of the primitiue Church beginning the account of those yeares from the first persecution of our Saviour Christ under the Iewes and Herod unto the end of the last persecution under Licinius I will not I say speak against it For I must needs with open armes accept and imbrace the judgment of that Godly Father Who sayth de civ dei li. 11. that the obscuritie of the word of God is profitable in this respect that it bringeth forth often times in one word many sentences of truth and sheweth them to the light of our understanding whiles that one man apprehendeth it in one sence another in another so that alwayes sayth he that which is collected in one obscure place be confirmed eyther by the attestation of other manifest things or by other places not doubtfull for the same Author saith he in another place in the same words which we labour to understand peradventure did see de doctr chri lib. 3. and thinke upon this same other sentence and without all peradventure the spirit of God which used the Author for a pen-man did foresee that such a sence or sentence also should offer it self to the Readers understanding Yea and did provide prepare this sentence also to meet with his intelligence because this sentence also is true aswell as the other For out of whose mouth soever a truth doth proceed it is not to be ascribed to a mutable and mortall man that spake it but to the immutable and eternall God that gaue it Vide August in confes l. 12 and therefore here I will not be afraid most humblie to confesse my great darknes and ignorance in all divine knowledge unto thee O light of my soule and soule of my life But what hurt is it to me if I thinke the meaning of the Prophet is not as another man thinketh it to be so long as I make no other sence of his words then that which thou the light of all true speaking mindes hast approved to be true But if any be contentious then O life of the poore my God in whose light Aug. in conf there is no contradiction in whose goodnes there is no shadow of change raine downe meeknes into my hart that I may patiently beare with such as do not so much understand the sence of thy
Emperor in Constantine the Pope This Rising is described by seauen adjuncts 1 His kinde or Existence Revel 13. another beast 2. The place from whence he came comming out of the earth 3 Having two hornes like a lambe 4 He spake like the Dragon 5 His actions seauen fold as shall be shewed hereafter 6 His Marke 7 And lastly his Name Whereas he is called another beast and yet not resembled to any Beast working in the presence of the first seauen things are again to be observed 1 The time of his rising 2 That this which is here described must be an Empire or monarchie which is signified by the name of a Beast as all the former were and as the Angell in Daniel hath taught us to interpret 3 It must consist not of one particular man but of a Succession For so all the former did or else it should not haue the name of a Beast without distinction as it hath and as they had 4 It is not like any of the rest For if it were like in any part it would be so expressed as it is said that the first was like a Lyon the second like a beare the third a Leopard the fourth in severall parts like everie one of them but this like none of them 5 It is not onely unlike to them but it is of no certaine forme And herein our Apostle in the description of this last Beast observeth the same caution Dan. 7. that was before by the Prophet Daniell in the Description of the fourth beast saying it was unlike any of the former and yet not expressing whereunto it was like So indeed was the Roman Empire in its Rising for that after the kings who were as the nursing Fathers of that state were expelled it held for a long time no certain form of government So it seemeth our Propheticall Apostle intendeth that the kingdome of Antichrist in his Rising must be of an uncertaine forme 6 It must arise in the presence of the first beast And this agreeth with the words of S. Paul 2 Thes 2. who sayth not that he which withholdeth must be abolished destroyed determined or ended but that he must be removed or set out of the way in some other place So this Beast or Monarchie must arise after the Roman Monarchie not ended for sayth Daniel that fourth Beast or Monarchie must continue till the judgment be set but removed out of the way from Rome the place appointed for Antichrist 7 It must still be a Beast that is a Monarchie of Idolatrie as all the rest were Now let us see how and to whom these Prophecies may be applied wherein we must so goe forward that we do not forget that which went before By the former Problems I suppose it hath appeared that the place of Antichrist must be the Great cittie Rome and that in time of Christianitie that the State subject unto him must be the state of Rome and that he must be Summui Pontifex one of the seauen Heads of that state In this part of his description we may see not onely a further point revealed unto us which is the time and manner of his Rising but a further confirmation of those former points And first for the time a most materiall circumstance to be considered I demand Whether it be not here sufficiently and plainly expressed in the Text that this second beast must arise while the former is yet in being and that not altogether but in tract of time seeing it is sayd that he doth all that the first could do in the presence of the first or before his face and causeth the first Beast to be worshipped And seeing it is confessed that the place of the first Beast was Rome it must follow that the place of the second must be Rome and seeing the second must worke before the face of the first and cause the first to be worshipped it followeth evidently that both these Beasts that is to say the first Beast departing and the second arising must be at one time in Rome This therefore confirmeth that which hath been sayd before concerning his place And this being compared with the words of the Apostle to the Thess 2 Thes 2. that Antichrist must be destroyed by the brightnes of our Lords comming is a strong proof of his times viz. that he must arise before the Emperor be quite departed out of Rome must continue to the end of the world which cleerly overthroweth the opinions of all Demiseptennians and Ho Antichristians For if he began then to work and must be in Rome in the presence of the first Beast that is of the Old Empire must continue till the comming againe of our Lord How can it be imagined that he should be but one man or that he should continue but three yeares a halfe or that he is not yet come or such like dreames c. Or let any man shew me with consent of Scriptures who besides the old Roman Empire can be meant by the first Beast who besides Antichrist can be meant by the second For to say that these two beasts are to be taken for one thing is verie absurd and contrarie to the Text which calleth the second Beast another To say that by the first is meant Antichrist can hardly stand with the Text for then what is meant by the second If you say his bodie or Clergie how can that be admitted when it is sayd first that it is another therefore no part of the same Also it riseth from another place viz. the Earth whereas the first rose from the sea Also it doth all those things which the first Beast could do before his face But that is verie absurd to say that the Body doth as much as the Head or the Clergie as the chief Prelate By the same or like reasons are refelled the opinions of those that take the first beast for the Divell For how can that stand with the Text that the Dragon gaue him his Throne and great power c. So the opinion of those that take Antichrist or the first beast pro caetu impiorum for the multitude of the wicked may be refelled by the Text. For then why should it be distinguished into two severall Beasts the one rising after the other and why should there be so many severall attributes applied unto it Therefore not intending to stand long upon the refutation of other mens opinions but following the counsell of the excellent learned Scholler of S. Paul Dion Ar. to finde out that which may be most agreeable to the Text of the Scripture and the Truth of Historie I aske whether this Prophecie of the rising of Antichrist in this second Beast were not fully performed in the Roman Bishops who succeeded Silvester from the yeare of our Lord 313. untill the time of Constantine the Pope in anno 707 Was not the old Empire continued in Rome for the most part of that time Were there not in
Rome for the most part of that time namely untill the yeare of our Lord 540 Consuls which represented the Imperiall power and were elected and created with Heathenish and Idolatrous rites and Auguries See Helviens Rensuerus other chronologers as Salvianus aboue cited doth testifie Were not the Emperors themselues many times made Consuls of Rome in that time And yet were not the Idolatrous Stageplayes with Bestiall filthines still celebrated in Rome as the same reverend and Godly Author and not he alone but the irrefutable Doctor S. Augustin witnesseth De civ Dei lib. 1. ca. 23. See also Blondus That pestilent corruption sayth he did infect the soules of miserable men with so great deformitie that euen now the cittie of Rome being spoyled men possessed with that pestilence flying from thence to Carthage dayly play the mad men upon stages And this wrote he about the year of our Lord 413 fully an hundred yeeres after Silvester and after that the cittie of Rome was governed by Christian Bishops agreeable to that which I proved before out of Salvianus Besides did not the Emperor Constantine and his successors for an hundred yeeres after him reteyn the name of Pont Max. Pless ex Zosum Baron and use the Robes Ornaments So then here was the first Beast still continuing both in Idolatrie and Majestie Yet notwithstanding I thinke no Papist will deny but that the Bishops of Rome after Silvester had the Imperiall sea and exercised the same principalitie and did the same things which the Emperors or Consuls were wont to doe For so is their decree Dist. 96. And what else do they clayme or pretend by the Donation of Constantine which they so stoutly maintayn but that they had that power lawfully which they exercised apparantly And yet this was not in any certaine form of government or resolute manner but sometimes by schisme and faction and sometimes by flatteries obteyning the consent or connivence of the Emperors When they saw the Emperors able to please or displease then by and by they were their good Lords and Masters and they caused men to worship them But when they would get it by faction or otherwise the Emperor was but a Cypher in Augrim as appeareth by the Histories and records of that time Sometimes the Consuls governed sometimes the Exarches and sometimes the Roman Bishops were opposed by other great Bishops So the Rising of this second beast was not altogether at once but by degrees and this second Beast in his Rising was as hath been sayd of an uncertaine forme And this being so the other points will consequently be confessed For what can they deny Will they deny that this principally which the Bishops of Rome held after Silvester was a Monarchie or state governed by one onely at once which is the second point or thirdly will they denye that it went in succession Fourthly will they say that it was like to any of the former Beasts This being a state Ecclesiastick all the former Saecular Fiftly will they affirme that these Bishops had any setled and absolute forme of Soveranitie during the time aforesaid Will they deny that they were at Rome in the presence of the Consular and Imperiall Authoritie or that they caused men to adore the Emperors Seuenthly or lastly will they deny the Testimonies of S. Augustin and Salvianus that the Idolatrous Rites Superstitions Auguries Stage-playes were still exercised at Rome I will here set downe a short Catalogue of the Bishops of Rome of those times out of their owne Historians and let it be shewed in which of these things they will differ from me and whether it were not with great opposition contention and schisme that they got their supremacie Silvester who had the Imperiall Sea and Principalitie of Rome by donation as some of them affirm or Cession Platin. Onuph Baâ—â—â— c. as others Marcus about the yeare of our Lord 335 tooke upon him the Title of universall Bishop in Epist Iulius tooke upon him by absolute Authoritie He warreth against the saints to restore certaine Bishops of the Easterne Churches deposed by their owne Synods Liberius an Arrian Heretike Platin. Pautal c. excommunicated the godly Athanasius and therefore was excommunicated by the godly S. Hilary Faelix the second a Schismatike and perjured Onuph Contention and slayn by sedition of Liberius as some say Schisma 2. Damasus a Schismatik advanced by violence murder and that in the church in time of divine service Plessis ex Matcellin Platin. Pantal. c. where there were found in one day 137 bodies slayne Siricius about the yeare of our Lord 396 or as some say 383 Ambition Contention ambitiously claymed the superioritie over the bishops of Spaine and Afrik and contended with them for it Anastasius 1. anno Dni 398 continued but few yeers Innocentius 1. anno Dni 402 still urgeth and mainteyneth his superioritie and the Apostolike honor of his Sea for so they called it In his dayes Rome was spoyled by the Gotts and Vandales Zosimus anno 417 seeketh to draw all causes to Rome Contention A wisedome earthly sensuall divelish Iames 3. Bonifacius 1 anno 420 getteth the Papacie by contention with Eulatius in a Schisme which is accounted the third Schisme in that Church Caelestinus 1. anno Christi 423 contendeth with the bishops of Africa amongst whom was S. August and other godly men Xistus 3. anno 432 continueth his claym of supremacy Leo Magnus anno 440. magnifieth S. Peter c. In his dayes the Roman Empire was grievously spoiled by Attila the Hunn Idolatrie The cause whereof Salvianus imputeth to the continuance of their Heathenish Idolatries with other sinnes in Rome Hilarius anno 461 continueth c. Simplicius anno 467. This man greatly laboured to advance his supremacie Heresiâ— and for that purpose tooke upon him the Patronage of Eutiches the Heretike Faelix anno 483 continueth c. Gelasius anno 492. Heathen Idolatries still continue in Rome Anomos Pantal. yet this man Se successores a nemine in terris judicandos asserit he will be iudged by no man Anastasius 2. anno 469. An Heretike and Patron of the Eutichians Reprobatus Dist. 19. and Nestorians Schisma 4. Symmachus anno 498. advanced by faction sedition and murder Paul Diac. Sabel Hormisda anno 513. In his time Cassiodorus composed the schisme between the Pontif. Ioannes I. anno 523. Faelix 4. anno 526. Bonifacius 2. anno 530. created by Schisme and Sedition Schisma 5. Ioannes 2. anno 532. Agapetus anno 534. Sylverius anno 535. a Magician put down by schisme Schisma 6. Vigilius anno 537. A seditious Schismatike and Eutichian whom Baron also calleth Antichrist Pelagius 1. anno 555. Ioannes 3. anno 566. in policie to crosse the Constantinopolitan decreed that none should be called chief Bishop Benedictus 1. anno 576. Pelagius 2. contended with the Archbishop of