governement of the citie of Rome by Popes was not come to passe in the dayes of S. Iohn but came in afterward And for the better comfort of Gods people that should be molested disquieted and persecuted by this seventh head that is by the governement of Rome by Popes it is said that he shall continue but a short space For although the government of Rome by Popes be and hath continued divers hundreth yeares which may seeme to flesh and bloud and to a carnal and worldly understanding to be verie long yet in Gods reckoning and esteeme it is but short and of little continuance inasmuch as a thousand yeares with God are but as one day as S. Peter and the Psalmist doe both witnesse as also they are said to be but short in respect of Eternity which Gods children doe chiefly respect and in comparison whereof they set light by and little esteeme all worldly things As for the tenne Hornes they bee also expressely expounded in the Text it selfe to be tenne Kings which having formerly given the helpe and power of their Kingdome unto the Beast and in defence of the VVhore should afterward dislike abhorre and hate her make her desolate and naked and burne her with fire Who these tenne Kings be in particular the Event will best declare when this Prophesie in this point shall be actually accomplished In the meane time observe that this verie Beast vvith seven heads and ten hornes which S. Iohn saw in vision is now at this time in this chapter of Rev. 17. considerable as hee was the eight head and one of the seaven for so it is directly manifest by the verie wordes of the Text it selfe saying thus to S. Iohn The Beast that thou hast seene vvas and is not c. And the Beast that vvas and is not is the Eight and is one of the Seaven You see then that this Beast with seaven heades and ten hornes was now at this time much wasted in the number of his heads they all being spent gone and abolished except onelie this One vvhich is the Eâ—ght and one of the seaven for the VVhole Beast is here reckoned and expreslie affirmed to bee at this time onelie hee which was this Eight Head Let us then consider who is the eight Head of the Beast that is of the Romane State or State of the Citie of Rome The Text it selfe telleth us that it is one of the seaven And indeede it is one of the seaven and the verie seaventh For. Popes who be the seaventh Head wherby that Citie of Rome now is and of long time hath beene governed is also the eight because the Pope comprehendâ—â—â— in himselfe a double Princehood or Soveraignetie For he 〈◊〉 as Bellarmine and other Papists affirme of him Summus Princeps spiritualis and Summus Princeps temporalis a Soveraigne Spiritual Prinee and a Soveraigne Temporal Prince And the one namelie his temporal principalitie or Soveraignetie some of them say hee hath directlie from Christ and othersome of them as namelie Bellarmine and those that take part with him doe hold that he hath it not directly but indirectly and in ordine ad spiritualia as they speake that is so far forth as it is for the good of Soules and for the advancement of a Catholicke cause But whether directly or indirectly it is agreed by them all that he hath it And consequentlie Popes in respect of this their double Soveraignetie appeare to bee both the seaventh and eight head of the Beast By the power of which two Swords which hee hath gotten in the highest and supreamest degree it is that hee is the better able and verie sufficientlie furnished to bee as hee is also called the Beaâ—t that beareth up or supporteth that VVhore of Babylon Yea all those sixe heades of Rome namelie Kings Consuls Decemvirs Tribunes Dictators and â—mperors being gone and past for the Emperors also have ceased long since to have anie headship or Soveraigne rule there what remaineth but that the Popes who have succeeded the Emperors at Rome and bee the present Head of it bearing the Soveraignetie there bee and must needs bee the seaventh and therewithal the eight and last Head of the Beast All this while then I trust yee perceive that seeing Rome is here discribed onely as it was under the governement of him that is the eight Head therefore it cannot possiblie be intended of Heathen Rome for Rome whilst it was heathen was under the governement of the heathen Emperors and far remote from the times of the government of it by this eight Head Yea seeing Rome is here discovered and described as it was under the Popes who be the seventh and the eight and so the last head of that Citie It must needs be granted that not Heathen but Papal Rome is there clearelie and undoubtedlie intended And it is there further said to bee the Beast that vvas and is not and yet Is because whilst the Emperors were Heads of Rome the Imperial and supreame Authoritie vvas in the Emperors but afterward the Emperors ceased to be heads of Rome or to have anie Soveraignetie or Supreamacie there and then it vvas not in them But in conclusion the Popes became the Head of Rome exercising there the Soveraignetie then it vvas in them and so continueth and yet is So that in respect of the divers changes and mutations that it had it is said to be the Beast that vvas and Is not and yet Is. Fiftlie remember that it is confessed by the Adversaries themselves that by Babylon mentioned in the Revelation the Citie of Rome is understood Whereupon must further bee granted that it is that Babylon that is that Rome in whose forehead was a name written A Mystery c. which mysterie S. Paul calleth A Mysterie of Iniquity And it is so called because it should hardly bee discerned to be Iniquitie inasmuch as it should outwardly carrie such a goodlie face pretence and shew of pietie sanctitie and christianitie with it But the Heathen Citie of Rome had not this mystical hidden and covert Iniquitie in it but professed open enmitie and direct hostilitie against Christ and christianity and therefore also not the Heathen and Infidell Rome but the Papal or Popish Rome is and must needs bee there intended Sixtly the Babylon that is the Rome there spoken of is said to have Merchants that sould their wares and amongst the rest of their merchandizes and wares there is expresse mention made not onely of temporal commodities of the Bodies of men but of spiritual also namelie even of the Soules of men that they also are there to be boght sold. For there it a plain evident distinction in the text it selfe betweeen the Bodies Soules of men and therfore they must not be confounded or supposed all one Now then I pray tell mee did ever heathen Rome use this trade of merchandizing mens Soules or in what other Rome
it So likewise is Antichrist described under the name figure of a Beast as is also confessed even by the adversaries themselves and therefore neither can hee be supposed one singular and particular person but a State and Dominion wherein a succession of sundrie persons one after another is admitted For whereas Bellarmine answereth that in the Prophecie of Daniel sometimes by Beasts are signified whole States and Kingdomes and sometimes particular persons as in the eighth chapter he saith that by the Ramme is understood one particular King namely Darius the last King of the Persians hee is much deceived and the Text it selfe directly confuteth him affirming this Ramme to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reges not one particular King but the Kings of the Medes and Persians So likewise by the Goate in Daniel is not meant one singular person namely Alexander as Bellarmine againe mistaketh but the verie Kingdome or kingly state of Grecia and the great horne betweene his eyes is in the Text it selfe expounded to be the first King of that Empire or Kingdome of Grecia which was Alexander which horne being broken off foure other stand up in the stead of it So that by every Beast in Daniel you see that not any one particular person but an whole State Empire Kingdome or Dominion is signified and intended and consequently Antichrist being in the Revelation of S. Iohn described under the name of a Beast must needs likewise be supposed not one singular and particular person but an whole State Kingdome or Dominion which admitteth manie persons to rule and raigne in it one after another in succession A third argument to prove this is the exposition and acknowledgement of the Rhemists themselves for touching the seven heads of the Beast that is of the Latin or Romane State the sixt head thereof is as themselves doe shew not one singular and particular person but a State Kingdome or Empire namely the Romane Empire wherin were divers that ruled and raigned in succession one after another Now then if the sixt head of the Beast be not one singular and particular man which themselves declare and affirme but a State and succession of men why should they not grant Antichrist whom themselves also affirme to be the seventh head of the Beast to be likewise not one singular and particular person but a State and succession of persons for they are both called Heads alike and there is no reason of difference that can be shewed more for the one then for the other A fourth argument is out of Revelation the 20 where the Divell being bound for a thousand yeares S. Iohn saw in Vision the soules of them that vvere beheaded for the vvitnesse of Iesus and for the vvord of God and vvhich had not vvorshipped the Beast nor his Image nor had taken his marke upon their foreheads nor in their hands and they lived and raigned vvith Christ those thousand yeares But the rest of the dead lived not againe untill the Thousand yeares vvere finished This is the first Resurrection Blessed and holy is hee that hath part in the first resurrection for on such the second Death hath no power c. In which wordes you see mention made of a Thousand yeares expressely in which this Antichristian Beast was in Esse some all that while lying dead in their sinnes and Antichristian Errors and othersome rising from their sinnes and errors to newnesse of life and to true Christianitie which is there called the first resurrection and these are said to live and not to be dead and to raigne with Christ subduing and getting victorie over themselves and over this Antichristian Beast like Kings Conquerors during all that time When therefore there is expresse mention made of a Thousand yeres in which this Antichristian Beast had to do who doth not perceive that Antichrist cannot be one singular and particular man that shall raigne onely three yeares and an halfe but that hee is and must needs be a State and succession of persons that is thus directly discovered to have had a continuance in the world for at least a Thousand yeares A fift argument is this that S. Iohn saith thus It is the last time and as ye have heard that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Antichrist commeth even now there be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many Antichrists whereby vvee Know that it is the last time Where you may easily observe that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Antichrist is not one particular person but manie and that manie Antichrists be this Antichrist for so the Text it selfe declareth In like sort he speaketh in his second Epistle Many Deceivers be entred into this vvorld which confesse not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh This is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the deceiver and the Antichrist Where againe you see that not onely One but many Deceivers be this Deceiver and the Antichrist Whereunto adde also the opinion of diverse of the ancient Fathers as of Irenaeus Origen Chrysostome Hierome Ruffinus Primasius Augustine expounding that place of Matt. 24. which speaketh of manie false Christs and false Prophets that should arise and shew great signes and wonders so that if it were possible they should deceive the verie Elect as spoken of Antichrist for thereby also they give us to understand that Antichrist is to be conceived to be manie and not one singular person A sixt argument is taken from the Apostasie it selfe which S. Paul speaketh of which Apostasie whether you expound it of the revolt and departure of so manie multitudes of people from the right faith and religion of Christ or of a revolt from the Romane Empire by the Kings and Princes of the earth or from both it cannot be otherwise intended then the worke of manie ages Bellarmine saith that thereby wee may rectissimè most rightly understand Antichrist himselfe and he cyteth diverse ancient Fathers for the proofe of that opinion Now then if by the Apostasie Antichrist himselfe be most rightly understood as Bellarmine teacheth and that this Apostasie cannot in reason be otherwise supposed then the Worke of Manie ages as hee also sheweth especially considering that the Mysterie of that Iniquity or Apostasie began to vvorke even in S. Pauls daies how can Antichrist bee rightly conceived to be one singular man that shall raigne onely three yeares and an halfe and no longer Yea it is manifest that even in the false teachers and heretickes which were in the Apostles daies and which were helpers and workers in this Apostasie and Mysterie of Iniquitie Antichrist was for so hath S. Iohn before assured us Neither indeed could he afterward have beene revealed disclosed detected or discovered unlesse he had bin in Esse before in som secret hidden close covert sort For which cause Theodoret also saith that Defectionem appellat A ntichristi praesentiam S. Paul calleth The Apostasie or defection the presence of
Antichrist In that Apostasie then or Mysterie of Iniquitie which began to vvorke even in S. Pauls and S. Iohns time it is apparant that Antichrist was and consequently even then had his beginning And therefore whilest you suppose that Antichrist is not yet come and that all this while namely for the space of above 1600 yeares there hath beene but a preparation made for him and who when he commeth shall also continue but iust three yeares and an halfe doe yee not perceive the unlikelyhood and utter incredibilitie of these conceits Yea the premisses considered do you not perceive the manifest falsehood and evident untruth of them Why then should anie be anie longer deluded with them CHAP. III. Where the Pope is further shewed to be Antichrist out of the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation THere be two Beasts mentioned in this thirteenth chapter of the Revelation and what those two Beasts be must be enquired Wherein the knowledge of the one will give a great light for the understanding of the other First therefore by a Beast in this place according to the like phrase and manner of speech in Daniel is not anie singular or particular man but a State Kingdome or Dominion to be understood as I said before for so are the foure Beasts mentioned in Daniel expounded in the Text it selfe to be foure Kings and those Kings be againe expressely expounded to be Kingdomes in the 23 verse of the same chapter The next thing then to be enquired of is what Kingdome State or Dominion that is which is here meant by the Beast with seven heads and ten hornes The most certaine and undoubted exposition whereof wee must fetch as I shewed before from the seventeenth chapter of the Revelation where this Beast with seven Heads and ten Hornes is expounded declared for there the seven heads be expounded to be seven Hills or Mountaines whereupon Rome is seated They be further also there affirmed to bee seven Kings not ruling all at once but successively one after another as appeareth by the Text which saith that five of these were fallen one is and another is not yet come These seven Kings be those seven sorts of supreme or Princely governement wherewith Rome hath beene governed namely Kings Consuls Decemvirs Tribunes Dictators Emperors and Popes whereof five were fallen in the daies of S. Iohn namely Kings Consuls Decemvirs Tribunes Dictators One is that is the governement of Rome by Emperors which was then in Esse in the daies of S. Iohn And another is not yet come that is the governement of Rome by Popes for the governement of Rome by Popes was not then come to passe in the daies of S. Iohn but came in afterward Which governement by Popes is there said to be of a short continuance both for the comfort and encouragement of all Gods children against their fraudes and persecutions as also in respect of Gods account with whom a thousand yeares are but as one day as S. Peter saith and in respect also of eternitie and everlasting happinesse which Gods children doe chiefly regard and in comparison whereof they make little or no reckoning of the continuance of anie time in this world how long soever otherwise it seeme The ten Hornes be likewise there expounded to be ten Kings which at that time namely in the daies of S. Iohn had not received a Kingdome but should afterward receive absolute power as Kings Which ten Kings howsoever they had formerly given their helpe strength and power to the advancing maintenance and defence of the Whore of Babylon that is of Popish Rome yet should they afterward be alienated from her abhorre her and make her desolate and naked and consume her with fire And it is said to be the Beast that vvas and is not and yet is in respect of the diverse changes and mutations whereto that Citie of Rome hath beene subiect being in several times ruled by several heads and sundrie sorts of governors The description then of this Beast with the seven heads sheweth it to be the State of Rome or the Romane State which is there purtrayed and decyphered But because the Text it selfe saith that five of those were gone and past in the daies of S. Iohn so that there needed to be no further medling with them and that onely one was in Esse and being in that time namely the gouernement of Rome by Emperors and that another was to come which was the governement of that Citie of Rome by Popes it must therefore here be more specially and more strictly conceived and taken namely in respect of that one Head then present and of that other which was afterward to come The then present governement of the Citie of Rome all men know was by Emperors and the governement of it after the Emperors was by Popes So that the Beast there more specially intended is the Romane State considered in the two last Heads thereof viz. the Emperors and the Popes And therefore the Text saith that One of these Heads that is the sixt Head of it viz. the governement of Rome by Emperors was as it were wounded to death but his deadly vvound vvas healed and so healed as that all the Earth vvondred or was in admiration after the Beast That the Romane State governed by Emperors received a wound is apparant not onely by that which the Gothes Hunnes Vandals and others did unto it but especially by that which was done unto it afterward in the time of the Lombards So that at last the Romane Empire was as it were vvounded to death but yet afterward that deadly wound was healed againe namely in the Popes viz. when the Popes had gotten the Headship Imperial Maiestie and Monarchical and Soveraigne rule of that Citie and therein were set and stablished above all Emperors Kings Princes and people For then was the time when all the Earth had this Beast in so high admiration and then did they say VVho is like unto the Beast vvho is able to vvarre with him Yea of this Beast it was then further said That to him vvas given power over every kinred and tongue and nation and that all that dwelt upon the earth did vvorship him vvhose names vvere not vvritten in the booke of life of the Lambe c. Which speeches voices and admirations so great and so general and in that maner and sort produced doe not so well and fitly agree to Charlemaigne or to anie other whosoever as to the Pope of Rome as may appeare by further examination of it in the particulars For although the Beast here as it is taken specialius more specially comprehendeth the Romane State as it was governed both by Emperors and Popes successively one after another yet being taken as sometime it is specialissimè that is most specially and most restrictively it betokeneth the Romane State onely as it was at last translated and setled in the Popes First then
can he be the Head of Rome that is not the principal and soveraigne Ruler of it Yea no manner of likelyhood is there that the Emperor of Germanie should be this Beast seeing he hath not only no Headship or Soveraigne authoritie over Rome but sendeth also to Rome to tender his submission and obedience to him that beares the sway and principalitie there namely to the Pope to whom for that purpose he giveth an Oath of Homage Allegeance or fealtie thereby declaring himselfe to be in respect of the Pope but as an inferiour to a superiour or as a subiect to a soveraigne Lord. The old famous Romane Empire then and the ample Maiestie of it here appeareth to be now long sithence abolished Which thing even Machiavell himselfe also witnesseth in the first booke of his Florentine History dedicated to Pope Clement the seventh saying Imperio è tutto in terrâ the Empire is fallen flat upon the ground And so doth Lipsius also likewise testifie who spent a great part of his studie to attaine to an exact knowledge of the Romane State So also doth Augustinus Stenchus the Popes Library-keeper in his first booke of Constantines Donation pag. 3. For howsoever Charlemaigne and his successors were stiled Kings of Rome and for a while had led the Popes as their subiects yet this lasted not long but the Pope at last found a meanes for to free himselfe from being under their dominion that hee made the Emperors in the conclusion to be his vassals and at his command and to yeeld him the Soveraignetie And all this have the Popes done under pretence of being Christs Vicars and of the Keyes of the Kingdome of heaven and of S. Peters Chaire Which things have beene also noted by Guicciardine in the fourth booke of his Historie where after a long discourse of the rising and advancement of the Popes hee shutteth up all with these words The Popes saith he upon these foundations and by these meanes being exalted to an earthly dominion having by little and little neglected the salvation of soules and cast aside the remembrance of Divine instructions bending their mindes how to attaine to vvorldly greatnesse and using spiritual authoritie no further but as it vvas an Instrument to helpe forward the temporal did beginne to shew more like secular Princes then Bishops These words as not pleasing them have the Romish Expurgators razed cleane out of the last Editions of Guicciardine as likewise they have done manie more out of sundrie other Authors where they make against them But thus it appeareth that not the Heathen Romane Empire nor the Arrian nor the Germane but the Romane State as it is setled in the Popes of Rome the now Head and soveraigne Ruler of that Citie is the Beast there as it is most specially meant and intended And this is the Beast whereupon the vvhore of Babylon that is Popish Rome sitteth and whereby she is supported for as his Spiritual authoritie and pretence of the power of the Keyes helped to raise him to his Imperial greatnesse and Temporal Monarchie so this Temporal Monarchie ioined to his Spiritual doe both together make him a complete Beast for the bearing up and supporting of that Strumpet 2 Let us therefore now come to the other Beast mentioned in this thirteenth chapter of the Revelation see what it is and wherein it differeth from the former For a difference there must be betweene them in some respect because it is called another Beast In this verie chapter yee finde that one of the heads of the Beast namely that which was as it were vvounded to death and afterward had his Deadly vvound cured againe is expressely called a Beast by it selfe For upon the curing of this head that was before so deadly wounded it is said that All the earth vvondred after the Beast Againe it is said that the Inhabitants of the earth did vvorship the first Beast vvhose deadly vvound vvas healed And againe that they were willed to make an Image to the Beast vvhich had the vvound of a sword and did live By all which wee see that this Head of the Beast which was so vvounded and healed againe is called a Beast by it selfe and by name and expressely the verie first Beast Now the Head that was so vvounded is before shewed to be the sixt head of the Beast namely the governement of the Romane State by Emperors for you heare before that the Imperial State received a deadly wound in the time of the Lombards and that that deadly wound was afterward healed and cured againe in the Popes in whom the Maiestie and splendor of the Romane Empire was againe revived So that the first Beast is considerable in a double respect first as it was vvounded in the sixt head which were the Emperors and secondly as it was afterward healed againe in the seventh head which were the Popes for the Head vvounded and cured maketh the first Beast Now in the second Beast is shewed How and by vvhose meanes that recoverie and cure was wrought and performed In the first Beast then Antichrist that is the Pope of Rome is described as having both the Episcopal and Imperial Principalitie conioined together in his person which made him so great and mightie and so much to be admired at in the world and for which cause he is also said to be both the Seventh and the Eighth Head of the Beast but in the second Beast Antichrist is described in his Episcopal consideration only and as he is the false-Prophet For he which in this place is called the second Beast is as I said before in other places of the Revelation called the false-Prophet thereby declaring them namely the second Beast and the false-Prophet to be all one Yea even the Rhemists also themselves doe expound this second Beast to be a false-Prophet but they will have him to be a false-Prophet inferior to Antichrist But first he is not onely a false Prophet but by way of excellencie and eminencie above all others hee is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The false-Prophet Rev. 19.20 Rev. 20.10 Rev. 16.13 And secondly it appeareth that he is not Inferior to Antichrist but Equal with him for in the first Beast is Antichrist comprehended as even the Rhemists and other Papists also doe themselves affirme now it is evident by the Text it selfe that this second Beast that is this false-Prophet did all that the first Beast could doe or which is all one exercised all the power of the first Beast Rev. 13.12 and therefore as touching authoritie and power hee appeareth to be not inferior to him but equall with him If you say that the first Beast and the second Beast otherwise called the false-Prophet be mentioned sometimes as if they were two it is true But the reason of it is because this grand Antichrist is considered in a double respect namely in respect of his Temporal or Imperial Monarchy in
of being Pope and Bishop of Rome and not under anie name or title of being the Emperor For they hold as Antoninus writeth that Potestas Papae maior est omni alia potestate creata The power of the Pope is greater then all other created powers But to conclude what doth he else but exercise this Imperial Authoritie before his face whilest he domineereth over him that is now called Emperor of Rome and Germanie and maketh him his vassall and at his command Yea not only hath the Pope for his part thus disloyally and uniustly depressed and subiugated the Emperor exercising and that verie impudently all his authoritie before his face but hee did so worke and perswade with the inhabitants of the earth that they also were content at last to vvorship the first Beast vvhose deadly vvound vvas healed that is to honour and submit themselves to that Imperial State whereof himselfe after the overthrow of the Emperors became the Monarch For it was an Imperial Monarchie to be ioyned to his Episcopal which he so much desired and thirsted after 4 Wherefore to compasse and effect this which hee so much affected it is said that Hee did great vvonders so that hee made fire to come downe from heaven on the earth in the sight of men and deceived them that dwell on the earth by the signes which vvere permitted him to doe in the sight of the Beast saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an Image to the Beast vvhich had the vvound of a sword and did live And it vvas permitted to him to give a spirit unto the Image of the Beast so that the Image of the Beast should speake and also should cause that vvhosoever vvould not vvorship the Image of the Beast should be killed If you remember who this Beast is that had the deadly vvound by the sword namely that it was the Romane State wounded in the sixt head viz. in the Emperors you will the better perceive that the Image of that Beast is and must needs be some State or forme of government erected like unto that of the Imperial for what is an Image but a likenesse or resemblance of that whereof it is an Image Now then what is or can bee this Image of that Beast but the Popedome erected in lieu of that Empire at Rome This doth Augustinus Steuchus himselfe though a great Papist sufficiently declare in these words In Pontificatu etsi non illa veteris Imperij magnitudo species certè non longè dissimilis renata est Qua Gentes omnes ab ortu occasu band â—ecus Romanum Pontificem venerantur quam omnes Nationes Olim Imperatoribus obtemperabant In the Popedome saith he there arose if not the greatnesse of the ancient Empire yet verily a forme not much unlike to it VVherby all Nations from East and VVest doe in like manner VVorship the Pope of Rome as they did in times past obey the Emperor And therefore a little after the same Steuchus calleth the Popedome an Empire and a Maiestical Royaltie in expresse termes Blondus likewise comparing Rome restored under the Pope with Rome flourishing under the Emperors saith that Habet Roma in Regna Gentes Imperium Dictatorem nunc perpetuum non Caesaris sed Piscatoris Petri successorem Imperatoris praedicti id est Christi Vicarium Pontificem summum Principes Orbis adorant colunâ— c. Quid quòd maiora vel câ—rtè paria priscorum temporum Vectigalibus Europa pene omniâ— tribuâ— a Romam mittit Rome hath an Empire over Kingdomes and Nations The Princes of the VVorld doe now adore and vvorship the Pope of Rome being the perpetual Dictator and successor not of Caesar but of Peter the Fisherman and the Vicar of Christ c. Yea in a maner all Europe sendeth greater tribute to Rome or at least Equal to that of the old times And with this agreeth that also of Bellarmine where he saith Antichristum fore ultimum qui tenebit Romanum Imperium tamen sine nomine Romani Imperatoris that Antichrist shall be the last head of Rome vvho shall hold the Romane Empire but yet vvithout the name of the Romane Emperor For the name and title of being Pope of Rome and of Christs Vicar and Peters successor under which hee exerciseth all his authoritie both Imperial and Episcopal Spiritual Temporal is better pleasing and more beneficial to him then the name and title of Emperor Yea it is this spiritual power that animates and gives life and spirit as the Text speaketh unto the temporal and which maketh it to be of so great so glorious and so high esteeme for this opens the peoples hearts and purses unto him and brings in and heapes up abundance of wealth and treasure this causeth Kings to stoupe and bow unto him and his censures and thunderbolts of Excommunication to be so dreadfull causeth men to repaire from all quarters to Rome to partake of the spiritual liberalities of his Holinesse and yet hee is ever a gainer by that meanes notwithstanding all that his bountie and liberalitie Neither did this second Beast the false-Prophet Antichrist cause onely the Image of the Beast that is the Papal Empire to be thus made and erected nor did only put a life or spirit into it whereby it did speake that is give forth Edicts Lawes Sentences and Decrees but did further so speake as this Text sheweth that vvhosoever vvould not VVorship the Image of the Beast that is this Papal-Empire should be killed and put to death namely as an Heretick or schismatick or as a seditious person These things be so plaine and evident as that they need no further explication or proofe For to what other end tend all their cruell persecutions their bloudie Inquisitions their detestable Massacres their abominable Leagues Conspiracies and Warres against Protestant Kings Princes people but that none might live or breath if they might have their wills which would not worship and become obedient to it Yea not onely would they have them to be deprived of their lives but of houses also lands goods libertie whatsoever other solace of humane societie For thus did Pope Alexander the third decree in the Councel of Turon against such as would not subiect themselves to the Sea of Rome Ne ubi cogniti fuerint receptaculum quisquam eis in terra sua praebere aut praesidium impertiri praesumat sed nec in venditione emptione aliqua cum ijs communio habeatur ut solatio humanitatis amisso ab errore viae suae resipiscere compellantur Quisquis autem contra haec venire tentaverit tanquam particeps iniquitatis eorum anathemate feriatur Illi vero si deprehensi fuerint per Catholicos principes custodiae mancipati omnium â—onorum amissione mulctentur That after they be knowne no man presume to give them any receipt upon his land or harbour them neither in buying and
Beast for it is the number of a man that is such as a man by his understanding may possibly attaine unto and his number is 666. That which is here called the number of the Beast is in the verie next verse going before and elsewhere also called the number of the Name of the Beast Now although it might be an hard and difficult matter before the accomplishment of this Prophecie to finde out this number of the name of the Beast yet after the accomplishment of it it is not so hard a matter First therefore they be much deceived who take this to be the proper name of some one particular man or singular person for the Text it selfe sheweth it to be the name not of anie particular man but of a Beast that is of a State Kingdome or Dominion and declareth it also to be the name of the Beast that had seven heads that is of the Latine or Romane State The Beast then being now found out and knowne to be the Latine or Romane State it is so much the more easie to search and finde out whether the number of this Beasts name that is of the Latine or Romane State doe in the numeral letters thereof conteine iust 666. For if it conteine iust that number then for that cause also will this matter be so much the more apparant In what language then are wee to reckon it Most likely either in the Hebrew because the Revelation as some thinke was given in Hebrew to S. Iohn being an Hebrew borne or else in Greeke because the Revelation was written in Greeke and that also to the Greeke Churches and all the letters in both these languages be also numeral whereas the letters in the Latine tongue be not all numeral though some be If then you aske in Hebrew what Malcuth that is what Kingdome this is which is here spoken of A fit and congruous answer is made in the same Hebrew language that it is Romijth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth Romane denoting it thereby to be the Romane State or Romane Kingdome which word in Hebrew doth in the numeral letters thereof conteine the iust number of 666. If againe you aske in Greeke what Basileia that is what Kingdome it is it is likewise fitly and fully answered in Greek that it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latine Kingdome or the Latine State which name of the Beast so produced in Greeke doth also in the numeral letters thereof conteine the iust number of 666. Or if you will thinke it fit to reckon it in the Latine tongue which is the proper tongue of the Beast as possibly it is so to be reckoned for in the Latine tongue some letters be also numeral though all be not what name or title hath the Pope who hath gotten to himselfe this headship and soveraigne rule of Rome Is hee not usually called Vicarius Generalis Dei in terris Gods Vicar general upon Earth And doe not these words thus produced in Latine conteine in them in the numeral letters or characters the iust number of 666 It is cleere and apparant that they doe So that whether you consider the Latine or Romane State simply by it selfe or as it is long sithence translated or brought to the Pope of Rome the last head thereof you finde in all the three languages both of Latine Greeke and Hebrew which be counted the three learned languages of the world the number of the Beast fitly to agree yea these verie words Latinus status ad Papas allatus directly signifying the Latine State as it is now long since translated and brought unto the Popes conteineth in the numeral letters thereof the iust number of 666 which is therefore a thing not unworthie the noting and observing Irenaeus whose Maister was Polycarpus Disciple to S Iohn that received this Revelation saith that the number of the name of the Beast should conteine 666 according to the computation of the Greekes by the Letters that be in it He therefore reckoning other names as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in neither of which there is anie likelyhood that anie of them should be this name seeing none of these is the name of a Beast that is of a Kingdome or State setteth downe the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereof he writeth thus Sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nomen sexcentorum sexaginta sex numerum valde verisimile est quoniam verissimum Regnum hoc habet vocabulum Latini enim sunt qui nunc regnant But the vvord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lateinos conteyneth also the number of 666 and this is very likely saith he to be the name because the most true Kingdome hath this name for they be Latines vvhich now raigne Where you see even by Irenaeus his testimonie first that the Beast here mentioned signifieth a Kingdome or State secondly that his name conteyning the number of 666 must bee in Greeke and reckoned by the numeral letters of the name in that language And thirdly hee saith that it is verie likely to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All which verie fitly agreeth as is apparant to the Latine State not onely as it was ruled by Emperors but as it is sithence also ruled by Popes For in the Papacie also Latine is in chiefest request and preferred before all other languages All their Service is in Latine the people be taught to pray in Latine the Scriptures be not allowed of but according to their Latine translations and it is commonly and vulgarly called the Latine Religion c. What therefore Irenaeus in those ancient times affirmed to be verie probable and likely Wee living so manie hundred yeares after him and seeing the accomplishment of this Prophecie doe and must conclude it by the event to bee not onely probable and likely but necessarily true and undoubted That it is the Latine Kingdome or Romane State which is there intended and described As for that Bellarmine and some other Papists say that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may not be written with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but with a simple Iota it is too vaine a cavill for Irenaeus being a Grecian borne knew how to write Greeke I hope aswel as Bellarmine or anie other that taketh the exception Secondly even meane Scholers in that tongue doe know that it may be written both wayes and that it is no new or strange thing with them to write I long by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Atrides and Aristides be written in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So Nilus Epirus and Mithras be written in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 especially when N followeth I long it is the observation of Ioseph Scaliger himselfe in his Notes upon Eusebius Chronicle pag. 106 that the Grecians doe turne the I of the Latines into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This therefore appeareth to bee a verie frivolous and idle exception And as touching
that they further obiect that there bee manie names which make that number of 666. and thereupon would inferre that anie of those may be the name there spoken of aswell as Latine or Romane they talke likewise very idely and to no purpose for although there bee many names that conteine that number of 666 yet none of them conteyning that number can be the name there spoken of unlesse it bee the name first of a Beast that is of a State or Kingdome secondly unlesse it be the name of that verie Beast with seven heads there mentioned nor thirdly unlesse it bee such a name as agreeth with that Beast in every other respect and circumstance of which sort none is or can bee shewed to bee but onely that which is the Latine or Romane State Inasmuch then as the Pope of Rome counterfeiteth the Lambe but acteth the Dragon in verie deede and exerciseth all the power and authoritie of the first Beast that is of the Romane State and that before his face and seeing that the deadlie wound given to the Empire was cured and healed in him and that hee with his Clergie and holie men and holy women hath by their Miracles done in the sight and viewe of the Romane State together with his doctrine and other his devises so bewitched and inchanted the Inhabitants of the Earth that they have as verily beleeved the Popes Supremacie and his religion to be of God as if they had beene ratified and approoved from God himselfe by some miraculous sending of fire from heaven for the confirmation of them and hath also caused an Image of the Beast to be made namely the Papall State in lieu of the Imperial whereof himselfe is now the Head and Monarch hath moreover put such a spirit into this Image of the Beast so that it did speake and give forth such terrible Edicts Iudgments that whosoever did not obey it the decrees therof should be put to death and hath also caused and commanded all professors of Christianitie under his rule and dominion to receive the Marke of the Beast which in respect of Religion is manifestly Poperie and hath willed also and ordained that none within his Dominions professing the name of Christ should buy or sell or use the trade of Merchandizing unlesse hee have the marke of the Beast that is unlesse hee professe the religion of Poperie or have his name which is to bee a Romanist or Latine man that is a man of the Romane or Latine Religion professing subiection to him or have the number of his name that is unlesse hee so carrie and demeane himselfe as that hee bee numbred and reckoned amongst them as if he were a verie true Latine or true Romane indeed and seeing that the number of the name of the Beast conteyning 666. doth also fitly and fully agree to the Latine or Romane State yea seeing the Pope hath all the Markes whatsoever mentioned in the holy Scriptures to belong to Antichrist for no instance can be given to the contrarie I conclude that hee is and must needs be helde to bee the verie undoubted Grand Antichrist and that there is no other to bee expected CHAP. IIII. Shewing also the Pope to bee Antichrist and the Popish Church to be the Antichristian out of the 1. Tim. 4. Vers. 1 2 3 4 5. THE words of this Text bee these But the spirit speaketh evidently that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heede to spirits of error and doctrines of Divells which speake lyes in hypocrisie having their consciences seared with an hot Iron forbidding to marrie and commanding to abstaine from meates vvhich God hath created to bee received with thankesgiving of them which beleeve and know the truth for every Creature of God is good and nothing to bee refused if it be received vvith thankesgiving for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer Beside the former notes and markes of the Antichristian and Apostatical Church the Apostle here hath for our fuller and better satisfaction in that point notified also and set downe unto us two other marks and those not the worst but the most sensible nor the most wicked though wicked enough but the most easie to bee knowne that none might anie longer erre or goe astray therein The two markes whereby to discerne and know this Antichristian Church which hath made an Apostacie or departure from the right faith and whose teachers bee false teachers hee specifieth to bee these namely 1. Forbidding people to Marrie which by Gods law bee not prohibited 2. A commanding to abstaine from meates for religion sake which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving Which two notes or markes bee apparantly found in the Papacie For there namely in the Papacie are divers persons forbidden to marrie which by Gods law be not forbidden as namely their Bishops Deacons Priests Monkes Friers Nunnes c. And there also is a commanding to abstaine from some kinde of meates for religion sake as is sufficiently knowne and as shall afterward appeare and therefore in the Papacie it is that the Church is Apostatical and Antichristian But touching the point of Marriage the Rhemists and other Papists answer that S. Paul here speaketh onely of the Manichees Encratites Marcionites of the heretickes called Apostoloci Ebionitae and the like whose heresie about Marriage was say they that to marrie or to use the Act of Matrimonie is of Satan and that the distinction of Male and Female came of an ill God And thus would they have the old Heretickes onely to be branded and themselves noe way to bee touched herein But indeede if you well observe the words not so much those old heretickes as the later hereticks namely the Papists bee there noted and branded yea these chiefely and especially if not altogether For those old hereticks that attributed the institution of Matrimonie to Satan and the distinction of male and female and procreation of Children to the Divel did not speake lies or falshood in hypocrisie as these are here said to doe but in palpable and open blasphemie which might therefore easily bee discerned of Christians and avoided But the Papists that under pretence of holinesse religion puritie and chastitie forbid Marriage bee those that utter this their doctrine in hypocrisie and therefore bee such of whom the Apostle here speaketh and had the more neede to give the Church a forewarning that they might beware of them and bee the better armed against them But because they confesse the old Heretickes to be here condemned let them tell mee how much differeth in this point the Church of Rome from those old Heretickes the Manichees For even the Manichees permitted marriage to the Lay people which they called their hearers but in no wise to their Clergie which they called their Elects or chosen men as S. Augustine declareth Seeing then they are in the same heresie with them in this very point how can they
respect of his Episcopal or Spiritual And for this cause also the one is said to arise out of the Sea and the other out of the Earth Rev. 13.1.11 for in respect of his Episcopal supremacie and Pseudoprophetical demeanour hee arose from the Earth it receiving his original from below and from the Earth and not from Heaven and in respect of his Imperial dominion hee arose out of the Sea because the Ruines of the Empire by meanes whereof hee arose to that his Imperial Greatnesse were not otherwise wrought but by the wavering and disquiet turbulencies that were in the World in those daies So that howsoever it is called the first Beast and the second Beast in distinct considerations yet upon the matter they both make but one Antichrist And therefore in Rev. 17. is there mention made but of One Beast only which supported the Whore of Babylon Yea Fatentur omnes pertinere omnino ad Antichristum verba illa Iohannis c. All men confesse saith Bellarmine himselfe that those vvords of Iohn in Rev. 13.11 c. doe undoubtedly belong to Antichrist Now then let us examine and see if they be not all verified in the Pope and Papacy First it is said that this second Beast had two hornes like a Lamb but he spake like the Dragon Duo Cornua similia Agni scilicet Christi cuius duo Cornua sunt duo Testamenta He shal have two Hornes like to those of the Lambe that is like to those of Christ vvhose two Hornes be the two Testaments as Lyranus Primasius and Augustine also expound them Whereby appeareth that Antichrist shall outwardly pretend great sanctitie sinceritie humilitie and simplicitie and as if hee did all things by good authoritie and strength of the holy Scriptures the two Testaments the Old and the New and yet in verie deed his voice and speech that is his doctrines decrees lawes canons and constitutions should bewray and discover him to be but a Wolfe in Sheepes clothing and no lesse cruell and malignant against the true Church of God then the verie Dragon Doth not everie man perceive that these things doe rightly fit the Pope For who maketh a greater outward shew of sanctitie pietie and Christianitie then he and what doth he else but pretend the strength and authoritie of the two Testaments namely of the holy Scriptures for warrant and maintenance of the false doctrines errors heresies hee teacheth and holdeth Can anie man outwardly pretend greater humi litie then he when he entitleth himselfe Servus servorum Dei a servant of Gods servants and yet for all that he taketh upon him by his claimes and actions to be Rex Regum Dominus Dominantium the King of Kings and Lord of Lords So that howsoever hee pretendeth humilitie yet wee see hee is farre from it And howsoever hee pretendeth the authoritie of the holy Scriptures viz the two Testaments for the strengthning and confirmation of his religion doctrine and doings alledging them to be shadowed out and figured in the two Hornes of his Myter yet partly by reason of the unsound and false translations of those Scriptures which he defendeth and authorizeth against the truth of the Originals and partly whilest he perverteth and misinterpreteth the true Scriptures themselves and equalleth also his Traditions unto them and moreover dispenseth with them at his pleasure and preferreth his owne authoritie and the authoritie of his Church above them and so maketh them to speake in another sense and otherwise then ever they meant it is apparant that being thus used and abused they be at the most but like the two Hornes of the Lambe as this Text speaketh and be not the verie two hornes themselves that is they be not the pure incorrupt and undoubtedly true Scriptures themselves but corrupted differing from them Pope and Popery then appeareth to consist all in shewes semblances and likenesses of veritie sanctitie and pietie and have it not in verie deed and substance And therefore not without good cause did diverse Bishops make their complaint long sithence in their Epistle to Pope Nicholas recorded in Aventine saying in this sort unto him Thou bearest the person of a Bishop but thou playest the Tyrant under the habite and attyre of a Pastor vvee feele a VVolfe It is a lying Title that calleth thee Father thou in thy deeds shewest thy selfe to be another Iupiter being the servant of servants thou strivest to be the Lord of Lords c. But moreover doth not the Pope speake like the Dragon that is like the Divell for by the Dragon in the Revelation is the Divell understood when he saith that the Kingdomes of the world be his and that he hath power to dispose and give them to whomsoever hee will For did not the Divell speake the verie same to Christ in the Gospel Yea the Pope is as they write Totius orbis Dominus The Lord of the vvhole vvorld and hath Coelestis terrestris potestatis Monarchiam The Monarchy or soveraignetie both of the heavenly and earthly power and to him forsooth they apply that Prophecie Dominabitur à mari ad mare à flumine usque ad terminos orbis He shall rule from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the vvorld Yea they attribute that unto him which Iesus Christ spake of himselfe saying that All power is given unto him both in heaven and earth Matth. 28.18 Be not these most abominable blasphemous and divelish speeches being attributed to the Pope But yet further what doth hee else but speake like the Dragon that is like the Divell whilest he teacheth that doctrine of Divells mentioned in the Epistle to Timothy as shal afterward appeare and whilest he maintaineth a wrong worship of God a false faith and an Apostatical and Antichristian religion against the right most pure and onely true religion of Christ extant in the booke of God the holy and canonical Scriptures 3 Againe it is said that this second Beast did exercise all the power of the first Beast and that before him And who is so ignorant but hee knoweth that the Pope exerciseth all the power of the first Beast that is of the Latine or Romane State and that before him or before his face that is to say even at Rome and in the presence of the Romane State For hath not the Pope gotten that which was the seate of the Emperor namely Rome and made it his seate And is not the Emperor put downe from having anie Headship or Soveraigne Authoritie there Yea doth not the Pope there take upon him to exercise all the Imperial power authoritie tamen sine nomine Romani Imperatoris yet vvithout the name of the Emperor of Rome as Bellar. himself also saith that Antichrist must doe For this Imperial Authoritie aswell as his Ecclesiastical that is to say both his supremacies as before is shewed hee claimeth and holdeth under the name and title
cleere that there was then no citie in the world noted knowne by these seven hills or mountaines but Rome onely and therefore doth Virgil say of it Pulcherrima Roma Septem quae una sibi muro circumdedit arces That Rome onely hath seven hills vvithin her vvall For which cause also it is commonly termed Septicollis that is the seven hild City And Propertius also saith of it that it is Septem urbs alta Iugis toti quae praesidet orbi A City high vvith seven Hills that ruleth over all the world The names also of the seven hills are to this day knowne namely Palatinus Caelius Capitolinus otherwise called Ianiculus Aventinus Quirinalis Viminalis and Esquilinus Seeing then there was in that time of S. Iohn no citie in the world that was noted and knowne by the seven Hills and which also in those daies raigned over the Kings of the earth and had the Empire but Rome onely even by these two markes and demonstrations conioyned it is infalliby manifest that not anie other citie in the world but Rome onely is and must needs be the Woman and vvhore of Babylon there described And this is so cleere and evident that the Papists themselves confesse it to be Rome But then for an evasion Bellarmine some other Papists say that thereby onely Heathenish Rome and such as it was in the time of Infidelitie and before it embraced the Gospel and Religion of Christ is signified and intended but how untrue and vaine an evasion this is let all men iudge that have anie iudgement or indifferencie in them For first why is that woman that is the citie of Rome there called an Whore but to shew that shee was once an honest chaste and obedient spouse of Christ and that she afterward revolted and became an Whore and so fell from that obedience saith and true Religion which shee had formerly professed and embraced For is anie called an Whore but shee that was once an honest woman And doth not that word Whore import that shee was now at this time when shee thus became an Whore departed from that her former faith and fidelitie And indeed most true it is that the citie of Rome did once embrace the faith and religion of Christ and was an honest dutifull and true spouse unto him as S. Paul himselfe and other Ecclesiastical Histories doe witnesse But afterward in processe of time Ambition Pride Covetousnesse and Licentiousnesse growing in the Church and Churchâ—men and an Apostasie or departure from the right faith and religion being also foretold to come into the world for the neglect and contempt of the Gospel it came to passe that the once faithfull and Christian citie of Rome departed from that her former true faith and obedience and became an Harlot or Whore so that now and long sithence it may be said of Rome as God himselfe sometime spake of Hierusalem saying How is the faithfull City become an Harlot It being therefore manifest and a thing confessed even by the Papists themselves that by this Woman the citie of Rome is intended thereupon must needs be further granted that inasmuch as the Woman afterward became an Whore that is that Rome afterward became an Adulteresse against Christ her head and husband not the Heathen and Infidell citie of Rome but Rome after it had once received the Christian faith and religion and afterward fell from it to follow her owne false doctrine and religion is to be understood For how could the citie of Rome whilest it was Heathenish and before it ever embraced Christianitie be properly or rightly termed an Harlot or Whore that is a violater or breaker of anie faith formerly plighted by her unto Christ Iesus when as yet whilest shee was Heathen shee had plighted no such faith unto him The citie of Rome therefore which S. Iohn thus saw beforehand in vision to be such a one as should afterwards become an Whore and a great VVhore even the vvhore of Babylon as shee is entitled must needs be intended of Papal or Popish Rome for with the Heathen Rome that had never betrothed her selfe to Christ and consequently could for that time be no Whore or violater of her faith unto him it hath no fit or apt coherence and agreement Secondly as touching the Heathenish estate of Rome in that respect and for that purpose S. Iohn needed not anie Revelation at all for he knew it otherwise sufficiently even by his owne banishment into Pathmos and other daily experiments that Rome was then Heathenish and governed by Heathen Emperors and was by that meanes a great persecutor of the Saints and Martyrs of Iesus but that the same citie should be afterward governed by Popes and so fall into the spiritual whoredome of Poperie that hee could not foresee or foreknow or foretell without a Revelation and therefore hath he a Revelation given him of that matter And hereat the Text also saith that He vvondred and that with great marvaile This great vvondering of S. Iohn also Thirdly declareth what maner of Rome this was for even thereby likewise appeareth that not the Heathen citie of Rome at whose persecutions they being so frequent and common in those dayes he had no cause at all to wonder but the once true Christian citie of Rome which afterward revolted from that her true Christianitie to her Antichristian and persecuting courses whereat there was indeed iust cause to wonder is the thing there meant and intended Fourthly Rome governed by the Emperors is in that Chapter distinguished from Rome as it was afterward governed by the Popes yea Rome as it was governed by the seven heads or principal Rulers of it from the beginning of it to the end is there decyphered For this vvhore or vvhorish vvoman is not onely there said to sit upon a scarlet coloured beast with which kinde of colour the Romish Popes aswell as the Romane Emperors were and are delighted as appeareth in the Decret dist 96. but it is there further said that this beast that is this State or Dominion for so by the Beast is understood a State or Dominion as afterward is shewed which thus bare up and supported this woman the citie of Rome had seven Heads ten Hornes The seven Heads be in the Text it selfe expounded to be seven Hills or mountaines which are before named and mentioned And they be also there further said to be seven Kings that is seven sorts of principal or soveraigne Rulers whereby Rome hath beene governed namely by Kings Consuls Decemvirs Dictators Tribunes Militarie with consular Authoritie Emperors Popes Five of these were fallen saith the Text in the dayes of S. Iohn namely Kings Consuls Decemvirs Dictators Tribunes and one is saith hee that is the governement by Emperors For then in S. Iohns time was Rome governed by Emperors and one is yet to come saith the Text that is the governement by Popes For as yet the
people and not suffering them to goe out that they might serve him As also in the daies of Elias it was that fire came downe from heaven to consume and devoure certaine Captaines and their Companies of fifties that came to apprehend and disturb him And so againe at the praier of Elias heaven was shut so that it rained not on the earth for the space of three yeares and sixe moneths Wherefore here is a manifest allusion in some of these speeches unto the times of Moses and in othersome of them to the times of Elias signifying thereby that God will ever be the revenger of such as shall oppresse molest or wrong anie of these witnesses of his truth and religion Now as the famine or grievance for want of raine in those daies of the prophecying of Elias was verie great continuing three yeares and sixe moneths so the oppression or grievance of the Church in this place is answerably thereunto limited to 42 moneths as it is likewise in Rev. 13.5 Which 42 months conteine the verie same time of three yeares and sixe moneths mentioned in Elias time and be likewise all one with the 1260 daies mentioned in this Chapter of Rev. 11.3 and Rev. 12.6 reckoning thirtie daies to everie moneth according to the Grecian manner as is fittest this Revelation being written in Greeke and directed to the Greeke Churches But now although these 42 moneths otherwise called 1260 daies being thus reckoned doe arithmetically conteine iust three yeares and an halfe yet being as they are here spoken by way of allusion whether it be to those three yeres six moneths in Elias time or to the three yeares and sixe moneths employed about the siege and taking of Ierusalem by Vespasian and Titus or to the three yeares and an halfe of Christ his preaching in the flesh they are not to be taken literally to conteine during all the times of the Church her persecutions iust three yeares and an halfe and neither more nor lesse for her persecutions everie one knoweth were of much longer continuance then three yeares and an halfe But as I said before they import unto us by that allusion that there is a certaine set time appointed of God how long those grievances and persecutions of the Church should continue albeit we for our parts know it not till the event hath declared it Although then by the Gentiles in this Text of Rev. 11. the false and Antichristian Church be understood as by Iewes likewise mentioned in the Revelation the true Church of Christ is intended yet the 42 moneths and 1260 daies being to bee expounded not literally but mystically allegorically and by way of allusion can make no proofe at all for your purpose Yea Arethas saith that those Dayes and Times so reckoned in the Revelation be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Brevitatis Declarativum to declare brevitie or the shortnesse of the time of the persecution of the Church by Antichrist And indeed so it seemeth to be expounded in the Revelation it selfe where speaking of this Antichrist being the seventh head of the Beast it is said that he shall continue but a short time So that the one place in this Revelation serveth well to expound the other And it is thus reckoned by daies and times and moneths that is by a short time for the comfort of Gods people against those persecutions of Antichrist and that they should not thinke it long as I said before how long soever otherwise it might seeme to worldly-minded men And even Hentenius also though a Papist reiecteth this conceit of yours that Antichrist should raigne but iust three yeares and an halfe alledging this for a reason that it is impossible that in so short a time as three yeares and an halfe Antichrist should obtaine so manie Kingdomes and Provinces as it is said hee shall conquer and subdue 10 But to make this yet more manifest unto you that yee may certainlie know the length and continuance of the time of Antichrist and not be led by uncertaine coniectures imaginations or conceipts of men you must resort to the sacred and canonical Scriptures for your direction and assurance in this point as likewise in all other For which purpose you must consider Antichrist in his beginning and in his proceeding increase and growth untill he came at length to his highest step and then being at the highest you must consider him againe in his declination and consumption untill his final destruction and utter abolishing That Antichrist even 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had his beginning in the Apostles time S. Iohn is a manifest witnesse And so also witnesseth S. Paul saying expressely that the Mysterie of that his Iniquitie already vvrought even then in his daies And withall he sheweth that more or lesse he should continue and not be utterly abolished untill the bright glorious comming of Christ to Iudgement Now then seeing that Antichrist began in the Apostles times albeit neither â—hen nor long after hee came to his full growth and highest step of pride and seeing also that after he came by degrees and by little and little to the superlative degree he is not utterly to be abolished untill the comming of Christ to Iudgement although in the meane space he be alreadie much consumed and is yet more and more to be consumed what one man shall or can be named that ever lived so long a time as this Antichrist who beginning in the Apostles daies is to have continuance notwithstanding his consumption to the end of the world Can anie reasonable man imagine that anie of that long continuance should be but one singular and particular person Yea must not everie well-advised man hereupon needs conceive that Antichrist must be not one singular and particular man but manie and a succession of men that is thus to have continuance for the space of so manie hundreth yeares in the world Another argument and proofe thereof is this That which in the Prophecies of the Scripture is described under the name and figure of a Beast is not one singular person but an whole State or succession As for example the foure Beasts mentioned in Dan. 7. whereof one was as a Lyon the second like a Beare the third like a Leopard the fourth was unlike to the former and had ten horns None of these foure Beasts betoken anie singular or particular man but everie one of them betokeneth a State or Dominion wherein there was a succession of men For the Beast that was like unto a Lyon signified the Empire or Kingdome of the Assyrians and Babylonians the Beast like unto the Beare signifieth the Empire or Kingdome of the Medes and Persians the Beast likened to a Leopard signifieth the Empire or Dominion of the Greekes and Macedonians and by the fourth Beast with ten hornes is the Kingdome of the Seleucidae and Lagidae understood as some suppose or of the Romane Empire as some others understand
selling let any communion be had vvith them that loosing the solace of humanitie they may be compelled to returne from the error of their vvay And vvhosoever shall doe the contrary let him as being a partaker of their iniquitie be sentenced to be Anathema and they if they be taken by Catholike Princes let them be committed to prison and loose all their goods In the Councell of Lateran likewise assembled against the Albigenses whom they call Cathari and Patâ—rini it was said thus Eos defensores eorum râ—ceptores Anathemati decernimus subiacere Et sub Anathemate prohibemus ne quis eos in domibus vel in terra sua tenere vel fovere vel negotiationem cum ijs exercere praesumat VVee decree Them and their defenders and receivers to bee under the sentence of Anathema And under the same curse VVee forbid that no man presume to keepe or harbour them in their houses or upon their land or to negotiate vvith them In like sort did Pope Martin the fift in his Bull of condemnation against Iohn Husse and Hierome of Prage annexed to the Acts of the Councell of Constance straightly charge and command that such as they were which would not be obedient to the Sea of Rome nor hold communion with that Church should not be permitted Domicilia tenere larem fovere contractus inire negotiationes mercantias quaslibet exercere aut humanitatis solatia cum Christi fidelibus habere to have any house or home to make any contracts or to use any trade or trafficke or to enioy any solace or comforts of humanitie vvith the faithfull of Christ. And as if all this were too little Pope Boniface the eight did further say and decree that it was de necessitate salutis subesse Romano pontifici of the necessitie of salvation for everie man to be subiect to the Pope of Rome Thus you see that this Image of the Beast that is the Emperor-like State and governement of Rome by the Popes was able to speak for her owne exaltation and advancement amongst the Inhabitants of the earth and what manner of speeches they were and how terible dammageable and in conclusion deadlie to all that would not worship it and become obedient thereunto But no onely by words speeches sayings perswasions doctrines and decrees but by miracles signes or wonders also was this Image of the beast to bee erected For the Text saith that this second Beast the false-prophet Antichrist did great Wonders so that he made fire come downe from heaven on the earth in the sight of men and deceived them that dwell on the earth by the signes which were permitted him to doe in the sight of the Beast saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make the Image of the Beast c. So that the drift of all these Miracles was but to make the Image of the Beast And this agreeth with that of S. Paul where hee saith that the comming of Antichrist shall bee by the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying vvonders and with that also of the False-prophet mentioned in this Revelation of S. Iohn that hee did Miracles Which False-prophet cannot be understood of Mahomet the False-prophet amongst the Turkes and Sarazens for hee did no miracles but prevailed with his religion an other way and especiallie by force of Armes and dint of Sword Yea Mahomet openlie protested saying Non sum miraculis aut indicijs ad vos missis I am not sent unto you vvith miracles or signes And so also doth Dionysius Carthusianus testifie that Mahometes asserebat Deum sibi dixisse quod non permisit eum Miracula facere Mahomet affirmed that God said unto him that hee permitted him not to doe miracles But againe the Myracles which this false Prophet mentioned in the Revelation did hee did them before the Beast and in his â—ight and presence Rev. 13.14 Rev. 19.20 that is at Rome and in the view of the Romane State and not amongst Turkes or Sarazens The false Prophet then here mentioned in this Revelation which did these Miracles appeareth to bee such a false Prophet as is among Christians to delude and deceive them and not any such as is amongst the Turkes or other Infidels of the World Now amongst the rest of the miracles which this second Beast that is this false Prophet amongst Christians viz. Antichrist was to doe this is speciallie mentioned that hee made fire come downe from heaven on the earth in the sight of men Bellarmine and some other Papists would have this to bee understood litterally of materiall fire And yet if they will needes have it so to bee taken it will advantage them nothing For in the Papacie they have made fire come downe from heaven on the earth as even their owne writings doe declare As for example in their Legend for the feast of Corpus Christi to confirme their error of Transubstantiation and the adoration of their consecrated Bread in the Sacrament they report that a Priest carrying the Host to a Sicke man lost it by the way and being perplexed for so great a losse there appeared a Pillar of fire shining like the Sunne from heaven to the earth pointing to the verie place where the Bodie of Christ lay attended with a companie of devout Beastsâ— which falling downe upon their knees adored it Yea Bellarmine alledgeth no lesse then seven miracles for confirmation of this error Likewise to confirme another error of theirs concerning the worship of Saints they alledge sundrie miracles and amongst the rest they fetch fire from heaven for that purpose For of Thomas they say that a burning light descended fower times and kindled the Tapers in honour of that Saint In the Legend of Iacinth and Eugenne they also fetch fire from heaven to consume Melance the false accuser of Eugenne Againe in the Legend of Edward the Martyr there is a Piller of fire brought from heaven to the earth to shew the place of his buriall In the Legend of S. George they also fetch fire from heaven to burne Dacianus who had be headed him In the Legend likewise of S. Barbara they fetch fire from heaven wherewith her Father that persecuted her was consumed In the Legend of S. Martyn they to make him like to the Apostles doe say that the holy Ghost descended upon him in the forme of Fire as it did upon the Apostles But to leave all other errors of Poperie which want no Miracles amongst them to confirme them and to come to this verie point in hand touching this Image of the Beast that is touching the Papall Empire or Emperor-like State erected in the Popes at Rome upon the subversion of the Emperors Was not Pope Hildebrand otherwise called Pope Gregorie the seventh the first that is most famous or rather most infamous for resisting and weakening the Emperor of his time by rebelling and making Warre against him Doth
not Aventinus write directly thus of him Hildebrandus qui Gregorius septimus primus Imperium pontificium condidit quod successores per qurdringentos quinquaginta continenter annos invito mundo invitis Imperatoribus adeo duxere ut inferos superos in servitutem redigerint atque sub iugum miserint Pope Hildebrand who vvas also called Gregorie the seventh is the first that founded the Papall Empire which his successors for fovver hundreth and fiftie yeares together have so managed in despite of th VVorld and in despite of the Emperors that they have brought inferiours and superiors into subiection and under the yoake The like speaketh Eberard Hildebrandus ante annos centum atque septuaginta primus specie regligionis ANTICHRISTI Imperii fundamenta iecit Hec Bellum nefandum primus auspicatus est quod per successores hucusque continuatur Pope Hildebrand saith hee an hundred and seaventie yeares past was the first vvho under pretence of religion laid the foundation of the Empires of Antichrist Hee first began this wicked vvarre vvhich by his successors is hitherto continued And even Onuphrius also a great favorer and maintainer of the Papal authoritie saith Huic vni c. To this man onely viz. to Pope Hildebrand all the Latine Churches but especially the Church of Rome ought to attribute it that shee is free and pulled out of the hand of the Emperors that shee is enriched with so much riches and vvealth and temporal Dominion that shee is ruler over Kings Emperors and all Christian Princes from vvhom lastlie it is that I may comprehend all in one vvord that this most great excellent state floweth that Rome is the Ladie or Mistres of all the Christian vvorld vvhereas before as a base handmaide shee vvas kept under not onely by the Emperors but by anie Prince ayded by the Romane Emperor From him it is that the right of that greatest and in a manner infinite and in all ages terrible and venerable povver of the pope of Rome hath issued For although formerlie the Popes of Rome vvere respected as heads of the Christian religion and Vicars of Christ and the Successors of Peter yet did not their Authoritie stretch anie further but to defend or maintaine opinions of faith Yea they vvere subiect to Emperors al things vvere done at their becke by them vvere the Popes made neither durst the Pope of Rome iudge or determine anie thing of them Of all the Popes of Rome it is Gregorie the seaventh that is the FIRST vvho having the assistance of the Normans strengthened by the helpe of the Countesse Matildes a VVoman verie potent in Italy and inflamed through the discord and civill warre of the Germane Princes was bould beyond the manner of his predecessors and contemning the Authoritie and power of the Emperor after that hee had obtained the Popedome I doe not say onely to excommunicate but also to deprive the Emperor himselfe of his Kingdome and Empyre A thing before those times unheard of For those Fables which are reported and carried about concerning Arcadius Anastasius and Leo Iconomachus I regard not VVhereupon Oth◠Frisingensis a VVriter of those times saith also thus I read and I read againe the gests of the Romane Kings and Popes and no where doe I finde anie of them before this Emperor Henrie to bee excommunicate by a Pope of Rome or by him deprived of his Kingdome So farre Onuphrius Gotfridus Viterbiensis likewise testifieth that this Emperor Henrie the fourth was the first that was deprived of his Empire by the Pope Trithemius also witnesseth the same saying Ipse primus est inter omnes Imperatores per Papam depositus Hee is the first amongst all the Emperors that was deposed by a Pope By these Writers and Historiographers it then appeareth that although before the times of Hildebrand the Popes of Rome had an Episcopal or Ecclesiastical supremacie or Headship over all other Bishops which also began not till about the yeare 606. in the time of Boniface the third yet a temporal supremacy or Imperial Monarchy over Emperors Kings Princes they never fully compassed effected until the daies of this Pope Hildebrād which was above a 1000. yeares after Christ. And thus you see the original of both the Supremacies of the Pope But what were there anie Miracles signes or wonders done at this time when the Imperial Monarchy wherein the Image of the Beast chiefly consisteth was thus sought to be brought in and setled in the Pope especially was there anie Miracle or Wonder by fire then to be seene It is manifest there were For thus Aventinus writeth Falsi tum Prophetae falsi Apostoli falsi Sacerdotes emersere qui simulata religione populum deceperunt magna signa atque prodigia ediderunt c. False Prophets false Apostles false Priests did Then arise vvho under pretence of Religion deceived the people and did great signes and VVonders c. And amongst other Miracles they alledge this for one that a certaine Bishop whilest hee was preaching against Pope Hildebrand fulmine tactum esse vvas smitten vvith lightning What is this but fire from heaven Yea Pope Hildebrand himselfe being a Magitian and Necromancer would no doubt not faile to doe such miracles and wonders as by divelish device and helpe he could for the bringing of his designes and purposes to passe And amongst the rest of his Wonders Cardinal Benno saith that VVhen hee listed hee vvould shake his sleeves and fire like sparkles did flye out ijs Miraculis oculos simplicium volunt signo sanctitatis ludificabat and vvith those Miracles saith he as it vvere vvith a signe of sanctity did he delude the eyes of the simple Paulus Bernriedensis also rehearseth divers Miracles or Wonders of Pope Hildebrand done by fire and therefore often resembleth him to Elias in whose time fire came down from heaven So that if these words in the Revelation of fire comming downe from heaven on the earth were to be taken literally you see how they may be verified in the Papacie inasmuch as in the Papacie they have made fire come down from heaven on the Earth in the sight of men that is as they made men to beleeve and thinke for so also doth Arethas expound those words But indeed those words in the Revelation be rather mystically and allegorically to be taken for S. Hierome saith Apocalypsim tot habere sacramenta quot verba that the Revelation hath as many mysteries in it as vvords and againe he saith totum esse spiritualiter intelligendum that the whole booke is spiritually to be understood They seeme therefore to be words alluding to the times of Elias and signifying that as in his daies God miraculously sent fire from heaven thereby to certifie the people of the true God and of the truth of his religion so would Antichrist by the miracles done in his Church worke so powerfully and effectually
in the mindes of his followers as that they should beleeve his Supremacie and Religion to be as undoubtedly true and right as if the same had beene approved and ratified by fire sent downe from God out of heaven for that purpose And they may allude to the times of Elias in another sense also signifying that as in his daies fire came downe from heaven to consume certaine Captaines vvith their fifties which came to molest and disquiet him so if anie molest interrupt or disturb the Pope in anie point touching his Supremacie and the Religion thereunto belonging that he can likewise cause a Divine revenge like fire from heaven to fall upon them which hee would perswade them they shall not escape Thus by words and deedes perswasions and threats fraude and force by doctrines decrees and constitutions by rewards and punishments by false miracles and by all the wayes hee could devise hath the Pope endevoured to erect unto himselfe a Throne upon earth and to have a Monarchie not only Episcopal Ecclesiastical for that would not content him though it were too much but Civil and Imperial also that so in Him as being the Head and supreme governor of Rome in lieu of the Emperors the Image of the Beast might appeare Yea to make himselfe yet more like to the Emperor he hath also taken the Emperors habite which was of Skarlet together with shooes of Skarlet which were proper to the Emperors And as the Emperor had a Senate clad in Skarlet so hath the Pope also a Senate of Cardinalls clad in cloth of the verie same colour Inasmuch then as the Pope and his Cardinals which make the State whereby Rome is ruled and governed be thus all of them clad in Skarlet you therein not onely see the Image of the Beast but therewithall the verie skarlet coloured Beast which was so long agone prophecyed of and foretold that the VVhore of Babylon should sit upon for a Prophecie is of things to come and not of things present and so is it accordingly expressely said of that prophecie in the Revelation of S. Iohn that it was to shew him things future and which afterward should be done Rev. 4.1 and not things present and in esse at that time 5 In the three last verses of the chapter it is further said that this second Beast caused all both small and great rich and poore free and bond to receive a marke in their right hand or in their foreheads and that no man might buy or sell but hee that had the marke or the name of the Beast or the number of his Name Here is vvisedome let him that hath understanding count the number of the Beast for it is the number of a man and his number is 666. In which words you see that this second Beast was to cause men to receive a marke in their right hand or in their forehead and there he sheweth what marke this is namely that it is the marke of the Beast whose deadly wound was healed viz. in the Pope in whom the ancient Imperial dignitie was restored and revived at Rome So that the marke of the Beast here that is of the Latine or Romane State as it was and is in the hands of the Popes and managed and ruled by them in respect of Religion is and must needs be Poperie or which commeth all to one reckoning subiection and obedience to the Pope and to his decrees and determinations And this marke hee causeth all to receive in their right hands or in their foreheads that is either by the manner of their actions life and conversation to shew it or by their open and outward profession to declare it For so doth S. Augustine Primasius Lyranus Haymo Richardus de S. Victore and the ordinarie Glosse likewise expounds those words Yea none saith the Text might buy or sell save he that had the marke or the name of the Beast or the number of his name that is none was to trade or to be a Merchant of the Popes Pardons Indulgences or such like Romish Merchandizes unlesse hee either professed subiection to the Pope and Popish Religion or unlesse hee had the name of a Romanist or were at least reckoned or numbred amongst them as if he were a verie true Romanist indeed Yea even concerning temporal Merchandizes also did Pope Martin the fift in his Bull annexed to the Councell of Constance and divers other Popes also as before appeareth give straight charge and commandement that none which will not acknowledge subiection to the Pope and his Religion should buy or sell or make my contracts or exercise any trafficke or merchandize or have any comforts of humane societie vvith faithfull Christians Although therefore Bellarmine obiecteth that there be manie within the dominion of the Pope which not professing the Popes Religion doe neverthelesse buy and sell as namely the Iewes thereunto is answered first that Antichrist the Pope is properly the King and Head not of Vnchristian but of Antichristian people and therefore is to exercise that his Papal and Antichristian Authoritie onely amongst that kinde of people and not over Iewes and such like Infidels which make no profession at all of Christ or Christianitie Now as touching such as professe the name of Christ it is before shewed that hee suffereth none of them where he hath to doe by his good will to buy or sell or to exercise anie trade of merchandizing yea or to enioy the comforts of humane societie unlesse he live in subiection to him and hold communion with his Church But secondly Iewes that live within the dominion of the Pope be not within the compasse of such Merchants as be here specially intended viz. to buy and sell the Popes Pardons Indulgences and such like Antichristian wares wherein the chiefe merchandizing of Papal Rome consisteth and whereat this Text principally aimeth For not Iewes but pretended Christians and those of the forwarder sort of their Religion be the men used to bee imploied in this kinde of trafficke What have Iewes to doe with this kinde of Romish ware or to deale with such merchandize in the Church of Rome concerning the soules of men whereunto they be altogether strangers and which Church together with the orders and religion thereof they utterly disclaime and disavow And yet thirdly even the Iewes themselves that trafficke and trade temporal commodities and merchandizes doe it by Letters Patents Rescripts Warrant or Licence from the Pope of Rome or his lawes for otherwise they could not doe it and so upon the matter have they also the name of the Beast to allow and authorize them therein And therefore even the verie Iewes themselves which doe not otherwise trade trafficke and merchandize worldly commodities but by the Popes authoritie permission or allowance within his Dominions doe no way confute but rather confirme this point 6 Here is vvisedome saith the Text let him that hath understanding count the number of the
respect of his officeâ— though not directly yet indirectly and by way of Consequent and in such manner and forme as becommeth Antichristianisme is before shewed in divers particulars Obiect 5 Antichrist is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 2. Thes. 2. The man of sinne the Sonne of perdition and the lawlesse person This Greeke article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth shew him to bee some one singular man or particular person onely and no moe Ans. You are much deceived in so concluding or thinking by reason of the Greeke Article For although it bee true that the Greeke Article there hath his Emphasis or force to point at some certaine thing yet this certaine thing may be aswell a certain kinde of men as namely of Popes going in succesioÌ„ one after another as one singular or particular person Neither doth Epiphanius haeresi 9 quae est samaritanoruÌ„ teach otherwise concerning this Greeke article then other learned men doe For thus he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Vbi enim adiungitur articulus ad unum aliquod definituÌ„ clarissimuÌ„ omnino quaedam Emphasis propter articulum sine verò articulo sumendum est vocabulum indefinitè de re aliqua vulgari Quemadmodum si dixerimus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nomen quidem expressimus sed non perspicuè monstravimus definitum aliquem Regem enim dicimus Persarum Thedorum Elamitarum Sin verò cum appositione arâ—iculi dixerimus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 extra dubium quid significetur subindicatur enim per articulum ipse Rex quaesitus vel de quo sermo fuit vel qui notus est vel qui dominatur in Regione aliqua c. So that it is true that Epiphanius will by the Greeke Article added have some certaine or definite thing to bee noted or pointed out and so say wee also but what that certaine or definite thing is before appeareth Learned men doe wonder that so learned a man as Bellarmine is should so farre bee mistaken in so plaine a matter For doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Ioh. 10.10 12.13 because of the Greeke Article added denote onely one particular man and no more that is to say but onelie one in all the world to bee a Theese or an hireling or when Christ saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. in Mat. 12.35 doth hee meane that onely some one good mâ—n out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and that onely one evill man out of the evill treasure of his heart bringeth forth evill things or doth hee not rather meane in a generalitie or communitie every or anie good man whosoever or anie evill man whosoever in that case Againe when it is said in Luk. 4.4 that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 liveth not by bread onely but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God It is not meant of one Individuum or singular person onelie but in a generalitie or communitie of anie or every one that hee liveth by that meanes So againe S. Paul would that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the man of God should be perfect instructed to every good work 2. Tim. 3 17 he doth not meane because of the Greeke article added that only one man of God but in a generality or community that everie or anie man of God whosoever should bee so perfect and so well instructed Againe when it is said that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the high Priest alone went once everie yeare into the second Tabernacle it is meant not of one particular high Priest onely but of the whole order of high Priests And so by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hinderer and that which hindered Antichrist from appearing in his height is not meant because of the addition of the Greeke article that onelie one Emperour but the whole succession of the Emperors of Rome even the State of the Romane Emperors which was then florishing was the hinderer of that his revealing or appearing and so also doe the ancient fathers themselves expound it as is before declared Neither is this anie unwonted or unusual speech For wee speake so commonly and say that the Emperor goeth before Kings meaning thereby not one particular Emperor onely but the whole State and succession of Emperors And when wee say likewise The King goeth before all Dukes and Earles it is not meant onely of this King or that King but generallie of all Kings of the verie State and succession of Kings So also when our Adversaries themselves doe say The Pope is head of the Church they meane not this Pope or that Pope onely in Individuo but generally the whole Order State and succession of Popes And therfore when the grand Antichrist that is the Pope of Rome is thus called The man of sinne c. Thereby likewise is and may verie well bee intended not one singular man onely or this Pope or that Pope in Individuo but generally the whole State Ranke Order of the Popes succeeding one another Obiect 6. Antichrist shall call himselfe in expresse termes god ostendens se 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod sit Deus shewing himself that he is God as it is in the Greeke Ans. But your latin translation which you hold for the only Authentical which agreeth in sense with our translation is Ostendens se tanquam sit Deus shewing himself as though he were God Howbeit beause you urge the Greeke Text which we ever allow We therunto answer first with Aecumenius that Non ait Dicens sed ostendens hoc est operibus signis ac miraculis nitens ostendere quod sit Deus The Apostles words concerning Antichrist be not as you suppose That hee shall say that hee is God but shewing that is by his workes signes and miracles endeavouring to shew that hee is god And secondly wee answer that the Pope is in expresse termes called god well alloweth of that title and thereby proveth that hee cannot bee iudged by men in the Canon Satis the 96 Distinct. Againe the Glosse of the Extravagant Cum inter hath these words To thinke that our Lord God the Pope the author of the foresaid Decretal of this had no power to decree as he hath decreed would bee iudged an heresie Here likewise you see that they call him Our Lord God the Pope in expresse termes In Italy also upon the gate of Tolentum is this inscription To Paul the third the most high and mighâ—ie God upon earth In the Councell of Lateran and 9 Session in the yeare 1514 one of the Secretaries of the Popes chamber speakes thus to Leo the 10 The lookes of your Divine Maiestie with the beame-darting splendor of which my weake eyes are dimmed Stapleton in the Preface of his Booke of the Principles
by this Beast cannot be intended the Romane Heathen Empire although that was also a verie great persecutor of the Saints and peole of God because the Romane Heathen Empire was in Esse and being as everie one knoweth in S. Iohns time and at the time of this Revelation given and so was not this Beast there most specially taken and intended For it is said of this Beast that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ascensura est it should afterward arise Secondly this Beast there most specially spoken of and intended to take away all maner of doubt in the case is expressely notified and affirmed in the verie Text it selfe to be the Eight head of the Beast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Is octavus est s. Rex and therefore is he farre remote from the time of those old Heathen persecuting Emperors Thirdly consider that this Beast is said to come ex abysso out of the bottomlesse pit and therefore it is the same Beast that is likewise mentioned to come out of the same bottomlesse pit in Rev. 11.7 which persecuted the two witnesses there spoken of and put them to death after the blowing of the Trumpet by the sixt Angell This circumstance of time wherein this Beast was and persecuted the two witnesses being after the blowing of the Trumpet by the sixt Angell even so neere toward the end of the world for under the blowing of the seventh Angell the world is to end Rev. 10. and 7. Rev. 11.15 c. doth also declare that it cannot be intended the Romane Heathen Empire which was before the blowing of the sixt Angell and is so long since ended and expired For the Emperors ceased to be Heathens and became Christians about 300 yeares after Christ in the daies of Constantine the first Christian Emperor Fourthly consider that the second Beast under which Antichrist in respect of his false doctrine counterfeit holinesse miracles and other his spiritual actions is more specially described is all one with him which is often otherwise called in the same Revelation the false-Prophet and remember withall that both the first Beast and this second Beast otherwise called the false-Prophet lived together and were both destroyed together So that the first Beast appeareth to be such a one as is to have a continuance in the world untill the destruction of the second Beast which is the false-Prophet Antichrist and therefore hee cannot possibly be intended the old Roman Heathen Empire no nor yet the hereticall Arian Empire for neither of these were of that long continuance yea they both be long since ended and determined and yet is not Antichrist that false-Prophet destroied Fiftly here observe that this chapter of Rev. 13. and the things therein conteined concerning the Beast be brought in and mentioned after that the seventh Angell had blowne his Trumpet during the continuance of whose blowing the Church of Christ is mightily to prevaile and to be reformed and the Gospell of the kingdome of Christ to flourish and get the upper hand against all adversaries to the conversion at length both of Iewes and Gentiles unto Christ and his religion Wherewithall you may perceive what is the chiefe drift and scope of the whole Booke of the Revelation as touching things future in the Church namely that it is to discover these two things first the estate of the Church as it grew by degrees deformed and corrupted comprised in the blowings of the Trumpets by the first five Angels and untill the sixt Angell also had begun to blow his Trumpet and secondly the estate of the Church as it grew againe by degrees reformed and restored to her first and most ancient puritie Which happie reformation and cleansing of the Church after so long a deformitie and corruptions growne in it did not begin nor was to begin as this Prophecie sheweth untill after the time that the sixt Angel had begun to blow his Trumpet for then and not untill then was the book of the holy scriptures everlasting Gospel opened the truth of Gods religion therin conteined preached Once againe in the world to discover detect the before-hidden fraudes false doctrines and impieties of Antichrist Whereupon followed a measuring of Gods Temple and of the right worshippers therein and some VVitnesses also of Gods truth and religion which did openly shew themselves and were put to death for profession and defence of the same truth After which and after the blowing of the Trumpet by the seventh Angell the reformation and restoring of the Church formerly begun is prosecuted and further augmented and much more and mightily enlarged and to be enlarged Insomuch that the Church of Christ is after this blowing of the Trumpet by the seventh Angell verie splendently described and that shee brought forth masculine and strong children unto God of whom shee travailed in birth untill Christ were formed in them such as neither fraude nor furie of the great red Dragon the Divell could daunt dismay or discourage of which sort were the Albigenses in whose times were verie famous and splendent Churches of valiant and couragious Christians that tooke part with Michael and fought against the Dragon and his Angels in the warres of those times Yea notwithstanding all that those great malignant adversaries of the Church namely the Dragon the Beast and the false-Prophet did or could devise to doe yet for all that did the Church of Christ continue still and encrease and with the Lamb Christ Iesus were there seene standing upon mount Sion 144000 which took part with him and would not remove their station nor be withdrawne from him And after this againe is there record and mention made of these increasing and couragious Christians that still got the victorie over the Beast and his Image and his marke and the number of his name and that sung the song of Moses with much praise and thankesgiving unto God therefore And in the rest of the Chapters following namely in the 16 17 18 19 of the Revelation not onely the true Church is shewed to prosper and prevaile but to the enemies and adversaries thereof be threatned and doe befall the Viols of Gods wrath calamities miseries and destruction in their appointed times But thus it appeareth which was my purpose to shew that the Beast here mentioned as it is most specially and most restrictively taken cannot be meant of the old Romane Heathen Empire nor yet of the hereticall Arrian Empire because both these kind of Empires ceased and were ended long before this time of the blowing of the Trumpet by the seventh Angell Now let us see whether the Germane Empire can be here intended and it is verie manifest also that it cannot for although the Emperor of Germanie be called King of the Romanes and hath the title of Emperor yet hath he not Rome the seate of the old Romane Empire neither hath hee anie Principalitie Headship or Soveraignetie there How then