Doth not the holy Ghost teach us to speak much more truely Marke well the Prophecie of Ezec. 7. where he speaketh of the worst of the heathen coÌ„sider by the circumstances whether it can be understood of any but the Romans when it representeth that Empire unto us under the name of Iâ—on mixt with dyrt as the Emperor Tiberius was called Lutum sanguine maceratum dyrt mixt with bloud unles you will therefore call it golden because in filthines and Idolatrie it was like the old Babylon which was figured by the head of Gold or because it is the seat of the golden Harlot But of this else-where In the mean space I demand again where was the zeale of their Bishops to reforme or correct these enormities euen of the Christians where were their decrees or decretals to restrain them where was the courage of the Priests or Clergie to reprehend or censure them was there none amongst them all but that Tertullian of Carthage and Salvianus of Massilia must rise up to speak of it Videbat hoc universa urbs patiebatur videbant Iudices acquiescebant sayth he So here was Babylon and yet I confesse there was Sion also But Sion dwelling in Babylon Whereof the Prophet Zacharie after the returne from the first captivitie seemeth to speak saying Zach. 2. Deliver thy self o Sion Rev. 18. that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon And our Evangelist repeateth Come out of her my people shewing that the prophecie of Esay and Ieremie concerning her destruction are not yet fulfilled I demand then upon all these premisses whether any place can be found in the world qualified for to be the seat of Antichrist according to these Prophesies besides the Septimontane Rome and that Christian the mountain of holynes and yet Sodome the Temple of God and yet Egypt Sion and yet Babylon which euen in her best Christianitie retained the Barbarous crueltie the abhominable filthines and horrible idolatrie of Egypt Sodom and Babylon in their publike sights and shewes Theaters solemnities ceremonies common practise And no sooner did they suppresse those old Pagan Idolatries but they fell to this new Idolatrie of worshiping of Images which they still practise defend together with their ever accustomed filthines crueltie whereupon I must propose this Problem whether by any possibilitie or imagination of man these things can be applied to any other place but Rome II. Of the state of Antichrist THE next thing after the place which offereth it self to our senses and consideration seemeth to be the subject or bodie without which no Accident can consist and therefore used in the definition of Accidents especially Relatiues which cannot be without their Correlatiues as a father cannot be so called but in respect of his sonne nor a Monarch or king but in respect of his monarchie kingdome or state Politike subject unto him And this also must be proportionable as we said before of Relatiues For as great things must haue great places so a great and mightie Monarch must haue a great state under him And as by the greatnes of the place we may measure the body so by the greatnes of the state subject to any Prince we judge of the greatnes power of the Prince himself We haue seene alreadie a great place appointed for Antichrist Let us now see the greatnes of the state and bodie politike that must be subject unto him and support him And this also hath not been neglected in the H. Scriptures but is set forth and described in divers places especially three as the best Interpreters do obserue which also do concurre and haue good correspondence with the prophecies concerning his place aboue specified First in the seuenth chap. of the prophet Daniel Secondly the 13 ch of the Rev. And thirdly the 17 ch of the Rev. which places agree in some things and differ in others and that agreement and those differences together with the reasons thereof deserue to be narrowly sifted First in Daniell we finde a great and terrible Beast with ten hornes and amongst the rest a litle horne rising up c. In the 13 of the Rev. we fynd two beasts one rising è mari out of the Sea as all the beasts in Daniel with tenne hornes c. the other rising e Terra In the 17 chap. of the Rev. we fynde a great beast with ten hornes and a whore sitting on his back Let us first consider of the description of this great beast rising out of the sea in the 13 ch of the Rev. where he seemeth to be most fully set forth positiuely and after comparatiuely Here therefore the great beast rising out of the sea is described first in his existence or parts Secondly in his power actions For his existence and parts it is first said to be a beast rising out of the sea Secondly having seauen heads Thirdly ten hornes crowned Fourthly upon his heads were names of blasphemie Fiftly his bodie like a Leopard Sixtly his feet like a beare And seuenthly his mouth like a Lion For his power and actions it is said 1 that the dragon gaue him his power and his throne and great authoritie 2 That one of his heads was wounded as it were to death but his deadly wound was cured 3 All the world wondered after the beast and worshiped the Dragon which gaue power to the beast and worshiped the beast saying Who is like to the beast Who is able to make warre with him 4 There was giuen him a mouth to speak great things and blasphemies 5 Power was given to him to doe and continue two and fortie months 6 He opened his mouth in blasphemie against God to blaspheame his name and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in heauen 7 And it was giuen to him to make warre with the saints and to overcome them and power was giuen him over all kindreds tongues and nations And all that dwell upon earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Book of Life and Loe here a strange and mightie beast Now what is meant by the name of a beast rising out of the sea the prophet Daniell telleth us For he saith plainly Dan. 7 23. that it signifyeth a kingdome rising upon the earth And the fourth Beast saith he is the fourth kingdome Which seemeth to be the same that is here spoken of The prophet Ezechiel useth the same phrase Ezce 19 17. saying Wherefore laye thy mother as a Lyonesse among the Lyons c. And againe the great Eagle c. Now if this be a kingdome which is spoken of by our Euangelist of necessitie it must be some verie great and mightie kingdome for so it appeareth by all parts of the description especially where it is said that all the world woâ—shipeth it And in the question that is asked Who is able to warre with him paralel to that question asked in another place What cittie is like to this great cittie As
this quarrell that he onely is our High Priest our Mediator our Iustification and Salvation This was our course then and this must be the course of all that will prevaile against Antichrist all Antichristian forces namely prayer to God and unitie amongst themselues But to returne to my purpose this may suffice to shew how this Sixtus not onely in name conteyning in it the sound of those three mysticall letters but in his actions represented Antichrist What shall we say of Pope Paul the fifth was not his picture made with the inscription of Paulo Vo. Vicedeo comprehending in numerall letters the same number of 666. Neither yet will I affirme that eyther he or Sixtus or Calixtus or Gregorie the seuenth or Boniface the third or the eight or any other of them was individually Antichrist any more then the rest of that order No nor yet Pope Ioane whose historie though they by all meanes labour to suppresse yet they cannot blot out their bookes that haue written of her being at least six and twentie all learned and all Catholikes amongst which Martinus Polonus Archbishop of Consentia and the Popes owne Penitentiarie Marianus Scotus monke of Fulda Platina and Theodoricus the Popes Secretaries Antoninus Archbishop of Florence Baptista Mantuanus and Cornelius Agrippa Nanclerus the Cardinall and Trithemius the Abbat were men I think as well thought of for learning fidelitie in their times as any of these our new masters Bellarmine Baronius Onuphrius or Florimondus who labour to rase out of ancient moniments and Records that which the christian world for fiue hundred yeares or more most undoubtedly beleeved Yet neither she nor any of the rest do I affirme to haue been individually and exclusiuely Antichrist but one of that mysticall bodie and succession which is called by our Apostle Antichrist as I proved before that the article Ho in Greek is used applied aswell to a succession or multitude as to a singular person But why may not we thinke that in this succession the All seeing spirit of God in his secret providence and divine administration the better to awake and stirre up his church and children to beware of this great and yet deceitfull enimie would haue the marks and signes of Antichrist to appeare some of them more evidently in some of them and some in others as the name of Pontifex Max. in Boniface the third the person of a whore in Pope Ioane their filthie adulterie Sodomie and incest in Sergius Iohn the 11. and 12. Boniface the eight and Alexander the number of his name in those before named It may be also demanded who were the types of Antichrist before the comming of our Saviour For types are a kinde of notation And so it may seeme that the wisedome of God hath ordered the course of times that in so great varieties nothing should be new Eccles â— but that former times should be figures of the future I dare not say but more may be found yet I think in the Scriptures principally seauen are to be noted 1 Cain 2 Cam. 3 Esau 4 Egypt 5 Amalek 6 Antiochus 7 Babylon which haue some things in common some things proper and peculiar They were all persecutors for the most part murderers and parricides and that without cause as the Prophet David speaketh They hated me without a cause And therefore they were all cursed of God Yea some of them so detested that the people of God were charged to make no peace with them as for instance Canaan the Issue of Cham and Amalek God executed his heavie wrath upon them all In particular 1 1. Gen. 4. Cain persecuted Christ in semine 2 2. Gen. 9. C ham in radice 3 3. Gen. 27. Esau in stirpe 4 4. Exod. 1. Egyptus in Germine 5 5. Exod. 17. Amalek in frutice 6 6. Dan. Antiochus in propagine 7 7. Ier. 50. Babylon in capite Cain persecuted Christ in the seed C ham in the roote Esau in the stock Egypt in the bud Amalek in the shrubbe Antiochus in the spread and Babylon in the Toppe or head Cain is noted for murdering his onely brother C ham for scorning his godly Father Esau for his profanenes Egypt for bloudinesse Amalek for malice Antiochus for Tyrannie and Babylon for blasphemie How these things may be applied to Rome is not hard to be understood by them who are conversant in their stories Let me here make but one instance that Romulus the first king being the first head of that Seauen-headed beast was a murderer of his brother like to Cain Brutus the first Consull put to death his owne Sonnes and his Brothers Appius the Decemvir by his beastly and outragious lust forced the father to commit a Paricide upon his chaste daughter Virginia The Tribunes Dictators and Caesars the fourth fifth and sixth Heads what were they all but ambitious turbulent spirits incendiaries raisers of most bloudie intestine warres wherein manie innocent quiet citizens were wickedly murdered And of the Pontifex Max. the seauenth head I haue sayd somewhat before and more I shall haue occasion to say hereafter Let this suffice for the Names of Antichrist from all which I demand Whether they do not fully agree to the popes and everie one of them since the time of Constantine that was Pontifex Max. about the yeare of our Lord 707 And whether they can be so fitly and so many wayes applied to any other Prince person or state And whether we may looke for any other in time to come to whom they may be more truly and fitly applied IIII. The Rising of Antichrist THose who think that a great and mightie monarch king or Commander of the cittie of Rome able to subdue other kings and to raise up a greater and more terrible persecution against Christians then any of the old Emperors of Rome should rise up like a mushrump in a night and continue so short a time as three yeares and an halfe seeme to take litle consideration of the manner of Gods proceedings and administration who as he hath appointed a time and season for all things so he limiteth times and seasons proportionable for the effecting of such things A woman cannot conceiue and beare in a moneth or a day An Elephant must haue at least two yeares and some say ten Quando when is a Relatiue as well as ubi where everie thing existent must haue his due proportion as well of the one as of the other Let us now then come to the rising of this fifth Beast or monarchie of Idolatrie and see how that is described in this divine Revelation and whether that description also do not most aptly and properly sute the Popes from the time that the impediment of the Roman Empire began to be removed by Constantine the Emperor untill the Pope attained to his Antichristian name in Boniface the third to be called Pontifex Maximus and his superlatiue power to resist the
and therefore here ought the Catalogue of Popes to beginne and not as they doe with S. Peter or Silvester For it appeareth manifestly by Gregorie that none of the former Bishops of Rome had the title of Vniversall giuen to him I aske therefore whether here were not an evident beginning of the Revelation of Antichrist The Emperour was removed out of Rome the making of the Consuls was discontinued the tenne Kings began to receiue their kingdomes The Pope tooke upon him to rule in Rome and was Summus or Maximus Pontifex onely the Exarches remayned at Ravenna with little power I aske then Who was now revealed to be the seaventh Head or Governour of the Roman State but this Vniversalis and Summus Pontifex Let us see then how by degrees this Antichrist was dayly more more revealed Platina Fasc Temp. About the yeare 608 the Pope obteyned of Phocas the Pantheon or Temple of all Divels and consecrated the same to the honour of the Virgin Marie and all Saints So sayth the Carthusian Vbi impij colebant Daemones ibi Christiani colunt omnes Sanctos sic ars deluditur arte About the same time the Pope gathered a Synod at Rome for the confirmation of his primacie About the yeare 618 Boniface the fifth succeeded who ordeyned that churches should be Sanctuaries for theeues and murderers About the same time began the great Apostacie and departure of the Greeke Church from the Roman of the East Church from the west the Greeke church not yeelding to the Roman supremacie and the Easterne churches receiuing the damnable doctrine of Mahomet so the prophesies by litle and little began to be fulfilled The Empire it self was now almost wholly removed the Kings were risen that after gaue their power to the Pope The Apostasie was come the pope was called Summus Pontifex one of the seauen dignities which had long before been of greatest power and authoritie in Rome and which the Heathen Emperors had used and so the seauenth Head of the Roman state began to appear Three things yet lacked One to haue their supremacie fully confirmed and acknowledged by the Emperor which yet was questioned as well by the Exarches as by the Emperors for in the yeare 647 Pope Martin one of the best of them that succeeded Gregorie was taken by Theodorus the Exarch Pantal. anno 650. and sent prisoner to Constantinople and from thence banished into Pontus A second thing was after such confirmation obtained to shake of all subjection and all signes of subjection to the Emperor And a third to make this an Empire of Idolatrie and as it were the Image of the old Idolatrie used by the Pagans All three followed shortly after For about the yeare 663 the Emperor Constans comming to Rome confirmed their priviledges and prerogatiues and about the year 684 Benet the Pope obtained of the Emperor that whosoever should be chosen by the Cleargie Plaâ—iâ— Rensu people and Armie of Rome to be Pope he should be Pope without any further confirmation of the Exarch or Emperor Marke he nameth the Cleargie People and Armie of Rome claiming thereby as well the Temporall as the spirituall state which before he had not Then came the yeare 700 which was but 666 Rev. 12 5 6 after the ascention of our Lord which is properly S. Iohns aera Ioh. 16 19 20. and so foretold by Christ that the sorrows of the Church should beginne when the Bridegrome was taken away Luke 5 35. Therefore about the same time as Bellarmine collecteth Pantal. anno 700. namely in the yeare 699 Aripertus the usurping Tirant gaue to the Pope the Cottian Alps where now Genua standeth and soone after that is to say in the yeare 707 the Emperor Iustinian the second falleth downe before Pope Constantine and kisseth his feete Platin. Naâ—cl Bibliand Rensuer thereby acknowledging him to be the absolute Head of Rome And about the yeare 712 the Pope now in fulnesse of power commandeth of his owne authoritie Images to be worshiped and when the Emperor Philip resisted the Pope pronounced him excommunicate and likewise when the Emperor Leo and Constantine after him in a zeale of godlynes and detestation of Idolatrie commanded Images to be defaced the Pope On up in Plat. Paul Diac. Sigiber Rens Polidor Paul anno 710 725. not secretly or under hand but palam in os openly and to their faces resisted them sayth Onuphrius and forbadde all Italy to pay them Tributes discharging the Italians from their oathes and alleagiance and so in the ende deprived the Grecian Emperours of all the Empire of the west And soone after that is to say about the yeare of our Lord 755. the Pope by colour of the guift of King Pipin usurped the Exarchate of Ravenna with a great part of Italie I aske therefore what accomplishment of the Prophecie concerning the Revelation of Antichrist may we looke for or can we expect if it be not here fully accomplished Whether was there not here in the open sight of the world another Head of the Roman cittie and state Whether was not the Impediment of the Empire now fully and wholly removed And whether had not the second Beast now giuen life sufficient to the Image of the first Beast or Idolatrous Monarchie Neyther was this by Tumult but with an orderly proceeding For the Pope gathering an Armie of Priests as S. Gregorie calleth it namely a counsell of a thousand Fathers or rather Step-fathers at Rome decreed that Images should be worshiped Blund Palâ— Sigiber Anton Biblian Reus Here therefore both Chronologers and Divines Hermanus coÌ„tract Paul Diac. Biblian Avent Lyra in 2 Thes Staputens Fasc Temp with great concent do end the supputation of the Roman Empire And with great reason for now they saw the Summus Pontifex was set upon the back of the Roman State Romanorum Imperium sayth the Author circa haec tempora ubique in orbe terrarum caepit deficere irrecuperabiliter And a little after Et sic jam omnes quatuor Monarchiae defecerunt non restat alia nisi Antichristi The Roman Empire began to faile about this time without recoverie And so all the four Monarchies are decayed and none other remaineth but that of Antichrist The Romans sayth Baron about this time tooke a solemne oath to be obedient in all points In anno 726 and to all purposes to the Pope And here sayth he was an end of those Dukes and Governours which the Emperors were wonte to seeme to command in Rome and the places thereabouts So also sayth Sigonius that Rome vide Sigon li. 4. de regno Italiae and the Dukedomes of Rome the Exarchate of Ravenna the Duchies of Perusia Tuscia and Campania were giuen to the Pope and Mornay out of Zonaras and Cedrenus setteth downe particularly Pless in myst progress 27. what Townes and Territories fell to the Pope upon this revolt Also Onuphrius telleth us in
pater doctissimus id te oratum volo pie Lector ut sicubi me errasse animadvertes me corrigas siteipsum mecum redeas ubi pariter cerius es pergas mecum ubi pariter haesitas ores mecum ut sic Christianae unitatis pietatis leges inviolatas teneamus THE SVMME OF THE FOLLOWING Discourse conteyning Seuen Problems concerning Antichrist everie one resolved into seuen Questions necessarie in these times to be considered I. Probleme Concerning the Place of Antichrist whether it be Rome Christian 1. Whether Rome be that great cittie described in the 17. ch Apoc. 2. Whether it be the great cittie where the beast shall make warre against the witnesses of God which cittie is spiritually called Sodome and Egipt c. Apoc. 11. 3. Whether Rome be Babylon the great which is mentioned Apoc. 14. 4. Whether it be the great cittie spoken of Apoc. 18. 5. Whether it may be understood to be the place called Armageddon Apoc. 16. 6. Whether it be the place noted by the Apostle to be the Temple of God 2 Thess 2. 7. Whether it be the mountain of holynes between the seas Dan. 11 Summa If these prophecies do all concurre in Rome Christian and cannot be understood of any other place then is Rome Christian the seate of Antichrist II. Probleme Of the State or bodie Politike of Antichrist whether it be the state or dominion of Rome 1. Of the prophecies of Daniel concerning the fourth Beast and the Prophecies in the Revelation how they differ and how they may be reconciled 2. Whether the fourth Beast in Daniel do signifie the Roman state under Consuls Decemvirs c. or what else 3. Whether the first Beast rising out of the Sea Apoc. 13. do signifie the Roman state under Caesars or what else 4. Whether the Beast in the 17 of the Apoc. doe signifie the Roman state under Antichrist or what else 5. Whether the little Horne in Daniel do signifie Antichrist or what else 6. Whether the second Beast in the 13 of the Apoc. do signifie Antichrist 7. Whether the woman in the 17 Apoc. do signifie Antichrist Summa If these prophecies do concurr and be all fulfilled in the Roman state and the Governours thereof and cannot be fulfilled in any other then is that the state of Antichrist III. Probleme Of the Names of Antichrist 1. Whether the name of Pontifex Maximus do agree to Antichrist 2. Whether the name of Servue servorum do agree to Antichrist 3. Whether the name of that Antichrist may be giuen to the Pope to all the succession of Popes since the yeare of our L. 700. 4. Whether the name of Anomos .i. the Lawlesse or the man of sinne may be applied to that succession 5. Whether the name of the Sonne of Perdition may be giuen to that succession 6. Whether the name Abaddon may be giuen to that succession 7. Of the numerall names of 666. and how they are applied to the Pope Summa If these names and prophecies do all concurre in the Popes and their succession can be truly verified of none other then is the Pope collective as it is sayd Nomen successionis That Antichrist IIII. Problem Of the Rising of Antichrist 1. How the Monarchie of Antichrist must beginne to rise whether all at once or by degrees in tract of time 2. When it must beginne whether it must not beginne before the power of the Emperor be fully removed out of Rome 3. When the power of the Emperor began to be removed how long it was in removing 4. Whether it may stand with the scripture to say that Antich must be a singular person or whether he must be a monarch successiue 5. By what means the Popes did rise to their height of power supremacie whether it was not by sedition and schisme 6. Whether they did not contend and warr against the holy Bishops and Saints of God to get their supremacie 7. Whether they did obtein their dominions and supremacie by rebellion and perjurie Summa If all the prophecies concerning the Rising of Antich be fulfilled in the Pope successive cānot be fulfilled in any other then is the Pope successive Antich none else can be V. Probl. Of the Raigne of Antichrist 1. Whether the Great Whoore described Apoc. 17. doe signifie the state of the Antichrist regnant 2. Whether al parts of that description may be applyed to the popes successiue since the yeare of our Lord 700. 3. Whether the Beast that was and is not and yet is Apoc. 17. doe signifie the Pontifex Max. that is the Pope of Rome 4. whether any Iew Turke or other person whatsoever hath been supported by so many Nations Peoples and tongues as the Pope hath been during his supremacie since the said yeare 5. whether it be possible or likely that any Iew Turke or other person whatsoever should obteyne such greate and inestimable riches as the Popes haue gotten in that time 6. whether any Iew Turke or Pagan ever had or claymed such absolute and supereminent power to depriue and depose kings and princes by their sentences to absolue their subjects from their alledgeance to dispence with oathes as the Popes haue done whether it be possible that any Iew Turke or Pagan can obteine such power 7. whether ever any Turk or Iew pretended or claymed such absolute supremacie authoritie that if he lead multitudes of soules caetervatim into hell yet he was not to be reproved nor called to account for it as the Popes haue arrogated and whether it be probable that any shall be able to attain to such power hereafter Summa If all the prophecies concerning the Raigne of Antich be fulfilled in the Pope and cannot be otherwise then he is Antich VI. Probl. Of the words and actions of Antichrist 1. Whether any Iew or Turke or other whatsoever haue so much in so high degree blaspheamed God and our Lord Christ Iesus as the Pope and his Church haue done since the said year 700 namely in affirming that the old and new Testament haue their authoritie from the Popes decree and such like c. 2. whether any haue caused or procured so many rebellions Treasons and murders to be committed as they haue done and whether it be possible for any in time to come to doe the like 3. whether any haue changed lawes so much as the Pope hath done by his decrees decretals pardons dispensations Faculties Indulgences c. and whether any Iew Turke or Infidell ever tooke upon him such authoritie to dispense with sinnes before hand and to giue indulgence for sinnes to be committed as the Popes haue done more then God himselfe 4. whether any haue changed times so much as the Popes haue done whether it be possible for any in time to come to make such changes viz. by feasts fasts Lents and Iubilees decretals dispensations and Calenders 5. whether any Iew Turke or Infidell hath erected or maintained such open and
dead sitting on his Throne of majesty chap. 20. VII The seventh and last Problem therefore must needs be concerning the Enemies of the Church whether we may not understand that of them also in this booke there be named Seven viz. 1 The Divel that old Serpent the great Red Dragon with seven heads and ten horns Rev. 2 10. 12 9. and seven crowns upon his heads 2 False Apostles Hypocrites Rev. 2 2. 3 Nicholaitans Hereticks chap. 2 15. 4 The followers of Iezabel and Balaam chap. 2 20. Licentious and Idolatrous Teachers 5 The first beast rising out of the Sea chap. 13. The old heathenish Roman Empire 6 The second Beast rising out of the Earth which seemeth peculiarly to signifie Antichrist unto us chap. 13. the proper and principall subject of this our Investigation 7 Gog and Magog heathenish and open Persecutors joyned with secret and intestine enemies whereof wee have not here to speake These things seeme to me not altogether improper nor inconvenient yet seeing I am no Prophet nor the sonne of a Prophet I dare not determine of them but leave them to Theologians to consider And with favorable permission going forwards to search and find out this great enemie of the Church of God I demaund whether he be not fully described unto us in this book of the Revelation and other parts of Holy Scriptures by seven notable and notorious Attributes 1 His place 2 His state or body politick which must be subject vnto him and support him 3 His Names 4 His Rising 5 His Raigning 6 His words and actions 7 His Times Of which Christ Iesus assisting I meane to speak in order J. Of the place of Antichrist BY the rules of methode we ar taught to proceed à notioribus ad minus nota froÌ„ things better known to infer proue things not so well known of things knowen they say those are best knowen which are visible or sensible and that the outward visible sensible adjuncts accidents do very much conduce to finde out and discover the nature and essence of everie thing Euen our divine Euangelist Prophet being taught by the spirit of God seemeth to approue of these observations where he beginneth his Epistle with this protestation That which was from the beginning 1 Iohn 1. which we haue heard which we haue seene with these our eyes c. making the senses a sufficient proofe of the humanitie conjoyned with eternitie This is the cause wherfore I thought best to begin my enquirie at the Place of Antichrist For what is more cleare and evident then that everie thing which hath an existence must haue a place he that seeketh for a thing out of his proper place or element as they now speak doth as if he should seeke for a fish in the fire or a swallow in the Sea The learned Grecian Aristotle the riches of whose learning I see no cause but it may be brought into the Holy citie according to the Prophecies referreth place to the Predicament ubi which importeth a Relation defineth it verie acutely I thinke truly to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which I know not how well but thus I think it may be rendred The unmoueable and nearest confine of that which compasseth any thing about He calleth it unmoueable because in all motions it is not the place that removeth from the thing nor with the thing but the thing it self is removed from one place to another It must be nearest indeed contiguous for els it can not be the place of one thing but may contein another it must compasse it about for if it do but touch it in part it is to be called adjacent or contiguous but not a place The most learned Roman maketh place one of his four principia Varro August And the learned also of later age number it among those things which necessarily concurre to the constitution of things Existent Cajcâ—an By all agreed to be a Relatiue which therefore must haue a Correlatiue Everie place is so called in respect of the bodie placed in it Everie Continent in respect of the thing conteyned everie Principle in respect of the thing proceeding from it as a Father cannot be so called without a sonne nor a master without a servant nor a cause without his effect Herehence are derived those rules and observations of the learned Posito corpore necesse esâ— poni locum posito loco locatum poni necesse est That Places must haue a due proportion of quantitie and magnitude great things must haue greate places for else they could not be compassed or comprehended in them Litle things litle places for els there would be vacuum Things of long continuance must haue places of equall duration and places of long continuance are not appropriated to things that must soone perish or passe away Also Places must haue a due temperament of qualitie agreeable to the things placed and the things placed to the places for else the one would destroy the other and contraries can no more be and continue in one place then in one subject These Observations being discovered unto us by the ordinarie light of nature it hath pleased the God of nature whose majestie is terrible his wisdome incomprehensible and his waies past finding out who numbereth the droppes of the Sea and the sand of the shore who calleth the starres by their names and filleth heaven and earth to descend into the narrow and poore capacitie of humane intelligence and by these outward visible sensible things to teach us who is a Teacher like to him to finde out things most obscure and difficult Let us see therefore what place of what capacitie quantitie and quality the great Governour and Disposer of all things hath appointed for Antichrist And first I demand whether it be not plainly described to be Rome and that Christian upon the consideration of these seven places of Scripture that follow The first in the seventeenth chapter of the Revel where it is set forth to be 1. That great citie Revel 17. 2 which was set upon seven hills 3. which had seven heads or governours 4. And ruled over the kings of the earth 5 which in a mysterie is called Babylon And 6. Most aboundant in riches glory 7 Yet most filthy in all fornication and uncleannes Let us examine these words every one by it self It is first a great Citie A city is by some considered as it consisteth of howses and buildings neare joyning together so Ninivie Tyrus the old Gen. 10. Babylon and others in the Scripture are called great citties So Tully calleth Pergamus and Smirna cities pro Flacco li. 1 de bell li. and Caesar also calleth Rome Civitatem taking that for a principall cause of his Parricidial warrs ut Trib. plebis ex civitate expulsos restitueret that he might restore the Tribunes of the people that were driven out
his Blasphemie against God Vpon which 7. considerations I demaund whether we may not safely coÌ„clude with S. Hierom S. Augustine and the other excellent expositors above cited that this Kingdom perspicuè manifestly doth belong to the Romans which is also here proved by these seven Attributes 1. His rising out of the sea of great commotions in the world like others 2. A politick state or kingdom like the others 3. More powerfull then any other for none overcame the whole earth like the Romans none had power over all kinreds tongues and nations like to them 4. None so cruell and bloudy 5. None had so many great Kings at command 6. None raised so great persecutions against the saincts and true Church of God 7. None have beene so blasphemous against God as they whereof hereafter These Attributes therefore seeme to be applyed to the Roman Empire as one body Now let us see the singularityes wherein every one of these three prophesies differeth from the other and consider whether they also do not properly belong to Rome The singularities in Daniel are such as being well considered seeme to declare unto us that it was the intention of the Holy Ghost not onely to represent unto us the Roman Empire and therein Antichrist afarre of But to shew us also a Type of Antichristian impiety in Antiochus that was then to come neare at hand both being enemies to the Church it could not be but that one should be like the other in somewhat And in the Roman Empire also to note that State wherein it stood before the Caesars and therefore tempereth his words somtimes more significantly to expresse the truth sometimes more properly to shadow the Type A thing not unusuall in sacred prophecies Aug. de civ dei lib 17. For so David speaking of our Saviour in his owne person I have sworn once by my Holynes that I will not faile David Psal 89. his seed shall indure for ever c. which properly belongeth to Christ yet addeth these words more proper to himself Thou hast broken the Covenaunt of thy Servant Let Theologians coÌ„sider the pâ—aces where David prâ—yâ—th God to confound oâ— destroy his enemies thou hast broken down all his wals c. So God in pronouncing his judgment upon the Serpent useth these words most significantly to foreshew that our Saviour should overcom the Divel The Seed of the woman shall breake the Serpents head yet these words in the same place upon thy belly shalt thou goe and dust shalt thou eate seeme more proper to the materiall serpent So it seemes in this prophesy Daniel though he speak principally of the fourth great kingdom more powerfull than any of the rest which was the Roman yet he inter-laceth somewhat concerning Antiochus the Type being though not a Roman yet an enemie of the saincts but more applyable to Antichrist the great enemie as may appeare by these seven particulars or singularities 1. In that he doth not resemble this fourth kingdom to any beast as he did the first to a Lyon The second to a Beare The third to a Leopard but of this he doth not shew of what certaine form or shape it was but onely that it was unlike to the foâ—mer most strong terrible whereupon I ask how this can possibly be applyed to Antiochus who had but a peece of Alexanders Empire and whether it do not lively expresse unto us the Roman state before it was setled in the Caesars when it had gott the Monarchie of the world as Polyb affirmeth yet had no certain form of government but was sometimes ruled by Consuls sometimes by Dictators sometimes by the Senate somtimes by the People sometimes by the Opimates Patritii sometimes by the turbulent Tribunes and seditious multitude But in the time of S. Iohn this Empire was grown to a certain though a monsterous form under the Caesars therefore we see it by him more certainly described The second singularitie in Daniel is that it is sayd to haue ten hornes which are not here said to be crowned as they in the Revelations And this much more properly signifieth the kings subject to the Roman state who made kings their ministers and servants then to the Selucidan Princes which were absolute kings crowned acknowledging no Superiour But in the Revelation these things signifyed by the name of hornes are said to haue crownes by certaine notes distinguished from the other Whereof hereafter The third singularitie in Daniel is that among these kings there arose another unlike the first And this seemeth to prefigure Antichrist whose kingdome is indeed most unlike to any of the other kings can not be applied to Antiochus The fourth note in Daniel is that before this litle Horne or king three other kings were plucked away which by some Interpreters is very hardly drawen to Antiochus but if we consider the Roman Antichrist it will appear to be easily applied and truly fulfilled For it is manifest that the Romans draue first the Grecian Empires secondly the French and thirdly the Germans out of Rome and Italy as shall be shewed hereafter So those three kings were plucked away to make roome for this little horne As for the Exarch of Ravenna which was but the Emperors Vice-Roy I cannot afford him the qualitie or title of a king and for the Lombards they never setled their state in Rome The fifth singularitie in Daniel is that this king coming up last spake presumptuous words and blasphemies And this I call a singularitie in Daniel For although blasphemie is attributed to this beast by S. Iohn also yet here it is sayd onely to be in his words but by S. Iohn in his names Now this was fulfilled in Antiochus much more it is in Antichrist as it is noted in the Revelation The sixt singularitie is that this little horne shall destroy the saints and faithfull servants of God and this was partly done by Antiochus but much more prophecied and performed by Antichrist of whom it is said Rev. 13. that he shall make warre with the Saints and overcome them The seuenth is that this little horne shall thinke to change times and lawes things which God hath specially reserved to himself Litle of this doe we read to be done by Antiochus and indeed in such things what could one man doe Lawes can verie hardly be changed in a short time but to alter times in a short time is impossible But this is verified fully in the Roman Antichrist as shal be shewed hereafter Probl. 6. Having therefore thus observed the singularities of the prophet Daniell in describing the Roman beast especially before the Caesars Let us now see the singularities observed by our Apostle describing it in the 13 chap. under the Caesars and in the 17 under Antichrist First in this 13 ch this Empire is represented under a certain form like a Leopard which Daniel doth not say 2 It hath seauen heads expounded to
Kings Consuls Dictators Decemvirs and Tribunes One was then in being namely the Caesars and this not obscure Rev. 17. But who that one was that was to come and to continue but a short space and how the beast is called the eight yet one of the seauen seemeth somewhat intricate and difficult to explain But I demand here what is the word in the text I am not ignorant that this differeth from some others whom I reverence but Sit liber judex Another is not yet come What other Not another Head but another King or Caesar For it is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so the beast is called not the eight head but Ogdoos the eight king This in my opinion directeth us to Constantine the Christian Emperor as to him that continued but a short time He that will apply this to the eccles state of the B B. under the GreciaÌ„ Caesars must consider how it can be proved that those B B. had regall power and if they had then how their power can be distinguished froÌ„ their successors For he altereth the forme of the Empire reducing it from Heathenish to Christian and translated the sea of the Empire from Rome to Constantinople and therefore may well be called an other but another Caesar not another Head For he continued Caesar still But God would not suffer that godly Christian Emperor long to continue Head of the Antichristian beast and therefore moved him to remoue his Emperiall seat that the Impediment might be removed according to the Prophecy 2 Thes 2. Then to the second question who is the beast that is the eight king and yet the seauenth head one of the seauen who else can it be but those that immediately succeeded the Caesars in the government of Rome And who were they but the Pontifices maximi dist 96. as both by their lawes and histories appeareth For sayth the decree Constantine gaue to Silvester who then was Summus Pontifex his pallace of Lateran and his Imperiall ornaments with power and principallitie c. I know it is objected that this is under the title of Palea And much adoe there hath ben about it to little purpose For looke in another part of the decree Caus 12. q. 1. and there it is registred for authenticall that Constantine left to Silvester imperialem sedem his Imperiall sea If it be objected that the donation of Constantine is held by many to be forged that is nothing to the purpose Angelus Râ—ccha de Bibliot vat bringeth divers authors to proue that Coâ—st cessit Pontisici For it is not here said that he gaue it but that he left it neither is it here in question what Constantine truly gaue but what the Bishop of Rome truly had Now their Histories do plentifully testifie that whether by the gift or cession of Constantine or by what other means See Probl. 4. pretence or colour soever it was their power after the departure of Constantine grew dayly more and more absolute untill they had by little and little wrought the Emperors not onely out of Rome but out of all Italie and in the end brought them under their feet Platina seemeth to affirme the donation saying that he gaue to Silvester his Diadem and for his sake built the pallace of Lateran Howsoever if we belieue their owne Authors there is no Empire now to be found in Rome in epi. ad Thes vide Tho. Aquin. Lyr. in 2 Thes 2. al. as Stapulensis confesseth Vbi nunc est Romana Monarchia ubi qui in ea mundum regat habemus But of the Pope or Pont. Max. it is no lesse evident that he now hath and for these many hundred yeares hath had SuÌ„ Pon. Dictator perpetuus queÌ„ principes orbâ—s adoraâ—t And again TotuÌ„ orbeÌ„ terraruÌ„ Ro the absolute government of that great cittie and the state Territorie and Tribunes thereto belonging as witnesseth Blondus Which whosoever hath after the removing of the Empire must be confessed to be Antichrist in beeing the seauenth head of Rome curia sibi subjectum habet Blondus in Roma instaurata Vbi plura Vid. Adrian 4. apud Aventiâ— Tho. Aquin. c. I referre me to thine owne judgment Christian Reader whether hereby all the difficulties of the Text be not cleerly discussed First where it sayth The beast which was and is not is the eight and is of the seauen And againe The beast which was is not and yet is Whether these words can be understood but of this Roman Pontifex For the Pon. Max. was instituted by Numa Pompilius the second king of Rome to be the cheef Iudge decider of all matters concerning Religion this continued still in Rome in great honor Livy lib. 1. untill the time of Iulius Caesar distinct from the Dictator but he tooke that as an high dignitie upon himself And so did Augustus and other Emperors And amongst the rest Sueton. it is thus reported of Titus Pontificatum max. ideo se professus accipere ut puras servaret manus fidem praestitit nec author posthaec cuiusquam necis nec conscius Whereby we may see that the law of that supreame Pontificate was that they might not be Iudges of capitall crimes nor sentence any man to death But I haue not yet found it written of Domitian in whose time our Euangelist receiued this Revelation that he tooke upon him this Pontificall dignitie And it seemeth he did not For else why doth not Sueton. speak of it as well in him as in others and he is not onely noted by the Christians for a bloudy Persecutor but for a cruell Tyrant amongst the Heathen From which if he had taken upon him the high Pontificate if nothing els yet this their owne law the shame of the world I thinke would somewhat haue restrained him I doe not read it I say Therefore I thinke he was not Pon. Max. And so the words of our Prophet are exactly fulfilled that the Beast the Pont. was formerly in Rome instituted by Numa exercised by Nasica Scipio Iulius Augustus Titus and many others and it is not in Domitian and yet is though not in him de facto yet in the state of Rome in potentia when they list to set it up And it is the eight king of that state reckoning Constantine the Christian to be the seauenth yet it is but the seauenth head and of the seauen because Constantine had no distinct forme of Regall authoritie from the other Caesars and therefore could not be reckoned to be another head from the Caesars And this Pont. Max. who in the time of the Consuls and Pagan Cesars was but like a little horne growing in time of the Christian Emperours like a Beast of power ascending now sitteth like a queen upon the back of the Roman state commanding And it shall ascend sayth the Angell out of the bottomlesse pit It
Prophet as they loue their own prejudicate opinion not because it is truer but because it is their own For otherwise they would in like manner and measure loue and approue the true sentence of another as I also loue that which they say when they speak truth not because it is their sentence but because it is truth Therefore to returne to our purpose whichsoever of these two interpretations we take or if we take a third more unlikely then eyther considering whereof we speak namely of the continuance of the power of the Ethnike Roman Monarchie that these 42 moneths making 1260 dayes are to be taken for so many yeares from the incarnation of our Lord it must needs be that they are long since expired and consequently that the power and time of that first beast and Monarchie is long since ended For to take them literally for three yeeres and an half as that godly Father from whom I do not willingly dissent doth in another place limit the continuance of Antichrist upon the words a time two times and a half To take them I say literally that is for three yeeres and an half I thinke to all that haue eyther read or heard of their actions will seem to favour of much mistaking I might say of much ignorance but that reverence to that good Father who had not then the help and light which we now haue makes me forbeare other mens affected and obstinate and wilfull blindnes in this point which deserveth the whipping post But of this more hereafter Let us come therefore to the sixth note which is of his Blasphemie against God and his Church But of this I neede not speak any more having said so much alreadie The seuenth is of his warres against the Saints whereof also I need speak but little seeing the said ten horrible persecutions and many others stirred up by the Roman Emperors against the godly christians of the primitiue church are notorious and known to all men and never the like to be found in any kingdome or nation whatsoever no not under the Turkes But I proceed this Beast or Empire had power over all nations As to giue instance but in one we may read of Dioclesian that within a verie short time he obteyned mightie and great victories in all parts of the world then known namely in Africk over Egypt in Asia over Persia in Europe over France and Brittanie Vpon all which premises I conclude with this Problem Whether these things can be applyed to any person kingdome state or monarchie besides Rome And whether any other can be the Antichrist according to these prophecies but onely he that is the seauenth Head king or Commander of the Roman state And thus we see the place of Antichrist and the state or bodie politique which he must haue Let us now come a little nearer to consider of his names III. The Names No men est per quod quidque noscitur The name of everie thing is that whereby it is known or as it were not a men it is that whereby everie thing is noted or distinguished The authoritie to giue names belongeth primarily to God as Gen. 1 Gen 1. Secondarily to princes and superiours as Adam Gen. 2. Gen. 2 19. Thirdly to the people by consent as Ioh. 13 13. Ioh. 13.13 The conditions required in the imposition of names to make them answerable to the definition and notation aforesaid are veritie congruitie certaintie Vide Platon in Cratyl Thus being imposed and approved they are not to be changed For they are notes of our notions notions of things limits of distinctions and dignities signes of truth and measures of certaintie which being violated or neglected all knowledg turneth to error and confusion all justice to injurie all vertue to villanie as Cato in Salust well noteth In Con. Cat. I am pridem nos vera rerum vocabula amissimus And Seneca complayning of the wickednes of times Prosperum faelix scelus virtus vocatur And hereby may we see the force of the Apostles argument Heb. 1. Hebr. 1 4. and the ignorance and presumption of Heretikes Schismatikes who dare take to themselues new names and leaue the common name of Christians giuen by oracle from God most certainly approved by God Now if in names giuen by men Acts 11 26. certaintie ought to be observed shall we think that the Spirit of God giveth uncertaine names or will call darknes light or light darknes Esa 5. Questionlesse he doth not giue idle or uncertain names Hebr. 4 12. but in this as in all things els useth words liuely and significant And herein is to be noted a difference betweene the names giuen by God the names instituted by men For men giue names a posteriori because things are so and men conceiue them to be so therefore they call them so But the names giuen by God are a priori because God the Almightie maker of all things hath ordeyned that they shall be so therefore he calleth them so and because he calleth them so therefore they must be so Let us see therefore what names are giuen to this great enemie of Christ and his Church and how these names are used and applied in the Scripture And first of the name Antichrist This name as all men though but meanely learned in the Greeke tongue do know is a word composed of the preposition Anti and the word Christ Anti is used in Greeke sometimes to signifie an adversarie sometime a Deputie or Vicar as many learned men haue heretofore observed and proved That it signifieth an adversarie is confessed by all that it signifieth a deputie substitute or vicar appeareth by the word Anthupatos which is expounded by some Proconsull Act. 19 38. 18 12. by others Deputie Now the names of Christ So AntiStrategos signifieth either a lieutenant or the adverse capteyns which in Hebrue is Messiah and in English signifieth anointed is diversly taken in the holy Scripture First properly personally and Individually for our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ who is God blessed for evermore Secondly Aug. de civ dei l. 17 c. 4. appellatiuely for all that haue a similitude with him by their unction as Kings Priests and Prophets in which sence it is used in the Psalme Psal 105 15 Touch not mine annointed and doe my Prophets no harme and David of king Saul sayth The Lord keep me from doing that unto my master 1 Sam. 24 the Lords annointed to lay mine hand upon him for he is the annointed of the Lord. Thirdly the name of Christ is used mystically for the mysticall bodie of our Saviour Christ 1 Cor. 6. which is his church In which sence the Apostle speaketh Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ 1 Cor. 11. And again Christ is the head of everie man for as the bodie is one 1 Cor. 12. and hath many members and all members
Emperor in Constantine the Pope This Rising is described by seauen adjuncts 1 His kinde or Existence Revel 13. another beast 2. The place from whence he came comming out of the earth 3 Having two hornes like a lambe 4 He spake like the Dragon 5 His actions seauen fold as shall be shewed hereafter 6 His Marke 7 And lastly his Name Whereas he is called another beast and yet not resembled to any Beast working in the presence of the first seauen things are again to be observed 1 The time of his rising 2 That this which is here described must be an Empire or monarchie which is signified by the name of a Beast as all the former were and as the Angell in Daniel hath taught us to interpret 3 It must consist not of one particular man but of a Succession For so all the former did or else it should not haue the name of a Beast without distinction as it hath and as they had 4 It is not like any of the rest For if it were like in any part it would be so expressed as it is said that the first was like a Lyon the second like a beare the third a Leopard the fourth in severall parts like everie one of them but this like none of them 5 It is not onely unlike to them but it is of no certaine forme And herein our Apostle in the description of this last Beast observeth the same caution Dan. 7. that was before by the Prophet Daniell in the Description of the fourth beast saying it was unlike any of the former and yet not expressing whereunto it was like So indeed was the Roman Empire in its Rising for that after the kings who were as the nursing Fathers of that state were expelled it held for a long time no certain form of government So it seemeth our Propheticall Apostle intendeth that the kingdome of Antichrist in his Rising must be of an uncertaine forme 6 It must arise in the presence of the first beast And this agreeth with the words of S. Paul 2 Thes 2. who sayth not that he which withholdeth must be abolished destroyed determined or ended but that he must be removed or set out of the way in some other place So this Beast or Monarchie must arise after the Roman Monarchie not ended for sayth Daniel that fourth Beast or Monarchie must continue till the judgment be set but removed out of the way from Rome the place appointed for Antichrist 7 It must still be a Beast that is a Monarchie of Idolatrie as all the rest were Now let us see how and to whom these Prophecies may be applied wherein we must so goe forward that we do not forget that which went before By the former Problems I suppose it hath appeared that the place of Antichrist must be the Great cittie Rome and that in time of Christianitie that the State subject unto him must be the state of Rome and that he must be Summui Pontifex one of the seauen Heads of that state In this part of his description we may see not onely a further point revealed unto us which is the time and manner of his Rising but a further confirmation of those former points And first for the time a most materiall circumstance to be considered I demand Whether it be not here sufficiently and plainly expressed in the Text that this second beast must arise while the former is yet in being and that not altogether but in tract of time seeing it is sayd that he doth all that the first could do in the presence of the first or before his face and causeth the first Beast to be worshipped And seeing it is confessed that the place of the first Beast was Rome it must follow that the place of the second must be Rome and seeing the second must worke before the face of the first and cause the first to be worshipped it followeth evidently that both these Beasts that is to say the first Beast departing and the second arising must be at one time in Rome This therefore confirmeth that which hath been sayd before concerning his place And this being compared with the words of the Apostle to the Thess 2 Thes 2. that Antichrist must be destroyed by the brightnes of our Lords comming is a strong proof of his times viz. that he must arise before the Emperor be quite departed out of Rome must continue to the end of the world which cleerly overthroweth the opinions of all Demiseptennians and Ho Antichristians For if he began then to work and must be in Rome in the presence of the first Beast that is of the Old Empire must continue till the comming againe of our Lord How can it be imagined that he should be but one man or that he should continue but three yeares a halfe or that he is not yet come or such like dreames c. Or let any man shew me with consent of Scriptures who besides the old Roman Empire can be meant by the first Beast who besides Antichrist can be meant by the second For to say that these two beasts are to be taken for one thing is verie absurd and contrarie to the Text which calleth the second Beast another To say that by the first is meant Antichrist can hardly stand with the Text for then what is meant by the second If you say his bodie or Clergie how can that be admitted when it is sayd first that it is another therefore no part of the same Also it riseth from another place viz. the Earth whereas the first rose from the sea Also it doth all those things which the first Beast could do before his face But that is verie absurd to say that the Body doth as much as the Head or the Clergie as the chief Prelate By the same or like reasons are refelled the opinions of those that take the first beast for the Divell For how can that stand with the Text that the Dragon gaue him his Throne and great power c. So the opinion of those that take Antichrist or the first beast pro caetu impiorum for the multitude of the wicked may be refelled by the Text. For then why should it be distinguished into two severall Beasts the one rising after the other and why should there be so many severall attributes applied unto it Therefore not intending to stand long upon the refutation of other mens opinions but following the counsell of the excellent learned Scholler of S. Paul Dion Ar. to finde out that which may be most agreeable to the Text of the Scripture and the Truth of Historie I aske whether this Prophecie of the rising of Antichrist in this second Beast were not fully performed in the Roman Bishops who succeeded Silvester from the yeare of our Lord 313. untill the time of Constantine the Pope in anno 707 Was not the old Empire continued in Rome for the most part of that time Were there not in
Idolaters as in the Succession of so many ages she hath susteyned And if she cannot answer but as the wombe of a woman that it is altogether impossible to bring forth so many at once as she doth in tract of time then will I aske againe Whether any of the Popes be free of this and whether they be not all of them as one man guiltie of these great sinnes by act approbation consent and imitation and consequently fit to be represented under one person and called one Man And if this be so then will I demand as Salvianus doth of the consciences of all men that haue any sence or feeling of Truth Whether this be not that great Whore here described then whom never any no not the Divel himself if he ruled the Earth but three yeares and an half or for one mans life onely could practise or cause more fornication or Idolatrie to be committed And so much of the first note the Great Whore The second is that she sitteth upon manie waters Which the Angell expoundeth to signifie Peoples and Multitudes Nations and Tongues Here first I obserue the word of sitting which is used not onely here but by the Apostle 2 Thes 2. And it is a word â—â—metimes applied to Kings sometimes to Bishops Kings are said to sit on their Thrones Bishops in their Chayres or Churches Both are applied to Antichrist For in the 2 Thes 3. it is sayd He sitteth in the Temple or Church of God and here upon manie Nations The one place sheweth he must be a Bishop the other a King can this be applied to any but the Pope Now that the Pope and Church of Rome for these nine hundred yeares haue been supported by many Peoples nations and Tongues I will desire to haue none other witnesses then their owne chief Authors and Advocates who make their greatest brags of their Vniversalitie Bellarm. Staplâ—ron â—lendus c. how the power of their Pontif. extendeth it self not onely to Europe but to all euen the farthest remote parts of the world America and India which the Turke nor any other Potentate couâ—d never yet attaine unto And if this be evident and undeniable let us againe peruse over the Questions â—boue proposed Whether this may be affirmed of any Iewe or Turke And whether it be possible that the power of any Iew or Turke or any one man whatsoever should within the space of three yeeres and an half or of one mans life so far prevail or procure to haue so many Peoples Multitudes Nations and Tongues subject unto it as the Multitudes Nations and Tongues which haue served the Popes for these nine hundred yeares do amount unto Or to giue a nearer instance so many at once as within that time haue come to Rome to their Iubiles solemnities The third note of this Antichristian Harlot is that the Kings of the Earth haue committed fornication with her and the Inhabitants of the Earth haue been made druncken with the wine of her fornication And what king was there in Europe for these nine hundred yeares which did not committ or permit fornication both corporall and spirituall with the Church of Rome Which of them did not worship the same Images and use or permit the same uncleanes And I demand againe whether this can be verified of any Iew Turke or other person whatsoever past present or to come The fourth note is her exceeding great riches pompe and gorgeousnes Let me instance but in one or two particulars Majora vel certe paria c. sayth Blondus All Europe sendeth to Rome greater or surely no lesse Tributes In Roma inst urata then were payed to the Ancient Roman Emperors Pope Iohn left at his death in treasure ducentos quinquaginta Tonellos Ducatorum Bibâ—iand ex Palmerio ad ann 1334. sayth another Omnes Reges mundi non possent tantum de Thesauro reddere infra unum annum quantum fuit de Papali Palatio asportatum de Palatiis trium Cardinalium Marchionis sayth another speaking of Pope Boniface the eight R. Avesb and three Cardinals and the Marquis his nephew I demand then Whether Prince or Potentate State or person haue had the like testimonie of Riches and whether it be credible that any in three yeares an half or one mans life time should attaine to the like The fifth note She hath a name written in her forehead A Mysterie Babylon the Great Mother of Harlots and abhominations of the earth First it is called Great I demand Whether ever this title were so much giuen to any cittie besides Rome The old Babylon was never so many times called great And I thinke none will make question of any other And Whether the Bishop of Rome the Church of Rome and the cittie of Rome haue not everie one of them had a speciall title of Greatnes I referre me to the consciences of the Romans themselues to their Decrees and Canons who giue to their Bishop the Title of Pontifex Max. or Summus so Lipsius that hath written a Booke De magnitudine urbis Romae and to that other who writ a Booke De magnitudine Romanae Ecclesiae So their Church is great their cittie is great and their Bishop is greatest of all Of the name of Babylon I haue spoken sufficiently before And for the other title of Mother of Harlots or Sodomites as Scaliger and others reade and abhominations of the earth I demand of all that know Rome eyther by travelling in those countries and eye witnesse or by reading and hearesay Whether there be in any place of the world being of no greater extent so many Harlots and Sodomites and so publikely mainteyned and allowed as in Rome and the Popes Iurisdiction and where his power is acknowledged and whether any other Prince or Prelate Church or State Turke or Iew haue giuen or made such and so many faculties and dispensations pardons and Lawes for such things Let the notable booke of the Taxa and the cases reserved to Papall dispensation be perused And here is to be noted the Name that the Holy Ghost giveth to her calling her The Mother of Harlots or Sodomites and fornications which is singularly Emphaticall For it cannot be denied but there are many Harlots and Fornicators in other places neyther can it be denied but other Empires and kingdoms are called Whores as Inda and Israel by Ezekiel Ninive by Nahum Babylon by Ieremie But no other place is called the mother of Harlots or Sodomites This of all the rest seemeth to be Proprium quarto modo A propertie inseparable which agreeth to the Popes omni soli semper to them onely and everie of them ever since the Councels of Hispal and Toledo aboue mentioned For noÌ„ne but the Popes haue forbidden Mariage nor made Lawes that the Cloysters and Convents of Nunnes should be subject to monkes and Fryers and that it should be lawfull for Priests to haue Concubines No other Prince State or
Whether any Prince Potentate State or person ever did the like in the changes of times as these Popes haue done and whether any can do the like especially that shall continue but three yeares and a halfe or one mans life time Again haue not the Popes and everie one of them changed lawes by establishing a New law which they call the Canon Law Haue they not added to their Decrees Decretals Extravagants Clementines and do they not still publish new Bulles Faculties and Dispensations with speciall words of Non obstante I hope no man will put me to proue any of these things unlesse it be some that will make a question whether that rule of Law be to be held which sayth that Notoria non sunt probanda or make a doubt whether the Popes Bulles Faculties Dispensations and other publike Instruments be Notoria Anton. sum part 3. t. 22. Sum. Angel tit Papa Againe do they not teach and mainteyne that the Pope may make New Religions change the ordinances of Generall Councels and dispence with all Lawes both of the Temporall State and of the Church yea with all the Laws of the second Table and with some of the first As when God in his Law sayth It is not lawfull for thee to haue thy Brothers wife Doth not the Pope say It is lawfull by my dispensation When God sayth Thou shalt not kill doth not the Pope say thou mayst kill euen thy Prince when I haue declared him to be an Heretike Is not this to change lawes 〈…〉 and haue not all the Popes for these many hundred yeares now last past with one consent and voice all making one Man of sinne or Lawlesse one arrogated this power and practised it Haue they not all maynteyned and approved the Actions of their Predecessors in doing such things And do they not still maintaine and practise the same So that I need not to say with Salvianus Etsi hoc commune omnibus non faciebat actus faciebat tamen assensus For which of them hath not done it And what else hath been the cause of so many millions of sinnes committed in the Christian world for these many hundred yeares but the Bulles Indulgences Pardons absolutions faculties and dispensations of the Pope together with the perswasion that men had of their Holines Infallibilitie and power to grant such things and that by such Bulles Indulgences Pardons and Dispensations their sinnes were forgiuen Now let any man shew me Whether ever any Prince Potentate State or man haue done the like or whether it be possible for any in time to come to doe so much in this kinde as the Popes haue done namely to make so many Lawes to break and change so many Lawes and to grant so many Bulles faculties and dispensations especially within the compasse of three yeares and an half or one mans life time Concerning their Adulteries which is the fifth I haue sayd sufficiently before onely this one question may be added viz. Where shall we finde Antichrist and Babylon the Great Whore and mother of Whoredomes but in that church and state whose chief Bishop publikely alloweth them because he hath a greate part of his Revennues from them which as some in former times haue accounted hath been to the value of fortie thousand ducats yearly Concerning their Idolatries also I haue spoken before and shall say more hereafter There resteth but the last note which S. Paul giveth 2 Thes 2. and is principally to be observed because the Fathers do agree that it is without doubt spoken of Antichrist viz. That he sitteth in the Temple of God as God boasting that he is God and exalteth himself aboue all that is called God or that is worshiped and yet working with all deceiuablenes of unrighteousnes If any man yet remain doubtfull whether the Pope be that Antichrist let him answer me upon these words Who ever was comparable to the Pope in these things Aug. de civ dei li. 20. Who ever besides him hath sitten in the outward visible Church or Temple of God as chief Bishop head or Governour thereof or upon the Church as commanding ruling and raigning over it or as the Temple of God with such a singular opinion of sanctitie and infallabilitie for all these wayes doth the Father interpret that word as the Popes haue done And whether it is credible that any shall do the like in time to come Whether is there or was there ever any Prince Potentate or person Christian or Iew Turke or Pagan so adored as he hath been and that in the verie Temple and Charch of God and that by the chief Bishops Archbishops Cardinals Patriarks and Primates of the Church Whether can they giue any greater Adoration to God himself outwardly if he were corporally present Or do they giue any greater to the Sacrament in which they affirme the bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ to be really present Again Whether hath any Prince Potentate or person Christian or Iew Turke or Pagan invented or practised such a powerfull meanes to depriue or depose Emperors Kings and Princes as the Popes haue done by their Excommunications Suspensions Interdictions and Decrees Did ever any so practise to discharge Subjects of their Alleageance and oathes to giue kingdomes away to others to crowne and uncrowne Emperors with his foote to treade upon them and yet still reteyne such an opinion of Holynes See more in the Collect. of M. Fox in the end of his first Tome and haue a Cleargie singing to him in the meane while Super Aspidem Basiliscum c. Did ever any do the like and was obeyed in such things and thought to do it lawfully and rightfully And hath he not in these things more then ever any other exalted himself as God aboue all kings and Princes which are called Gods and worshiped See much more of this in M. Downhams Treatise of Antichr l. 1. cap. 5. Yea doth he not exalt himself aboue our Lord Iesus Christ as much as man may doe when he affirmeth that not onely he himself but everie one of his Masse-priests and Friers is able to make the verie carnall bodie of our Saviour which must be worshipped as God Doth he not cause the Sacrament to be caried before him by a Pedarie or Footepriest when he himself is mounted up in a Throne of Majestie and caried upon mens shoulders Doth he not exalt himself aboue our Lord when he weareth the Crucifix which he likewise commandeth to be worshiped as God upon his shoes and pantofles Possevin◠which euen the Rude Moscovite when he heard of it utterly abhorred and detested Doth he not exalt himself aboue God when he taketh upon him to alter the Articles of Fayth and adde to those which were anciently made and declared in the times of the Apostles or soone after by the consent of the Primitiue Church For what is that they haue declared so imperiously subesse Romano Pontisici Extra Com. de
France Spain In this order they are named Consil Basil Sess 1. consisting of fiue great and worthie Nations three severall times in three great and generall Councels and in everie one of them notwithstanding all the power of the Popes a thing not a little to be wondred at it was decreed that the generall Councell was and ought to be aboue the Pope and that whosoever denyed that Trueth was an Heretike Anathema And thereupon in the Councell of Pisa being first of the three the two popes then standing in schisme were both declared to be Heretikes and unworthie and compelled to abdicate and another was made pope namely Alexander the fifth And to this councell there came learned men out of this our Countrie of England as well as out of other nations and were entertayned by that famous and excellent learned Chancelour of Paris Gerson who declared the consent of the Church of France with the English church in that matter Shortly after this the Papall Church had againe three popes together and so became Triceps like to Cerberus and so the great cittie sayth Luther was divided into three parts according to the prophecie Apoc. 16. Soone after that therefore was assembled the second great councell of the said fiue Nations at Constance And therein it was againe with great consent namely of 900 Bishops and learned men fully concluded and decreed against the Popes Law that the Councell is aboue the Pope and hath authoritie immediately from Christ unto which all of whatsoever state or dignitie etiamsi Papalis albeit the Papall is bound to obey And yet in the same councell the pope shewed himself in his Antichristian pride riding to Church on horseback the Emperor of the one side and one of the Princes Electors on the other side leading his horse yet in the same Councell the godly Bohemians Iohannos Hus and Hieronimus Pragensis openly protested against the Pope saying that if he did not follow Christ in his life he was not Christs Vicar for which other like sentences they were condemned and burned contrarie to the publike fayth and safe conduct of the Emperor and to the eternall condemnation of all Popish faith and fidelitie And yet in the same Councell God himself overruled their voices and caused them to decree against the Popes canon law as aforesaid Thirdly within the same compasse of yeares there followed another great Councell at Basil of the same fiue Nations Sess 38. Fasc tem 88 Carleton of Iurisd pa. 276. Wherein after much contention and disputation it was decreed again contrarie to the Popes comon law and his great Proctor Panormitane that the Councell is aboue the Pope and that the Pope hath not power to dissolue prorogue or transfer it to another time or place And whosoever denyed that veritie should be judged an Heretike Yet against all these Councels the popes and all their Successors ever since haue and to this day doe oppose themselues in mainteining their Antichristian power Articulos solvit synodumque facit geveraâ—em elation and authoritie affirming That the Pope onely may make a generall Councell and cannons and that to him a man may appeale from the generall councell and that the Councell can determine nothing without the Pope and so that he is aboue all generall councels still continuing also in their abhominable Idolatrie filthines and wicked practises And so all the Popes since that Councell of Basil stand openly declared Hereticks by the consent of all the Christian Churches of Europe in three great Councels Clemangis But to crosse these the Pope gathered another councell at Rome wherein after a solemne Masse of Veni Creator Spiritus If thâ— be denyed let them shew forth but one act or decâ—ee of that Councâ—ll there appeared a hideous and dreadfull owle and the Councell shortly after without any thing done dissolved Neyther hath the Antichristian Sect any thing to object against the Decrees of those three former Councels See the historie of this câ—uÌ„sell set forth by Pet. Scave judge whether it were any thing else but a saction unlesse it be a Conventicle and conspiracie of their owne faction at Trent where the fiue Nations did not meete What then shall we say to these things Were not these extraordinarie great actions or are not these actions sutable to the Prophecies or may we ever expect the like againe Whether then may we not here safely rest and fixe the eyes of our attention and contemplation upon this notable periode so manie times pointed out and defined by God himself and accompanied with so great and notable events as happened within this one Centure of yeares or litle more namely from the time of Boniface the eight till the Councell of Basill In the beginning we see the Pope like a God proclaiming a Iubile and thereby changing times and lawes renewing a Iewish Ceremonie and thereby denying that Christ is come in the flesh clayming the absolute Lordship and command of all the world as well in temporall as in spirituall things excommunicating great and vertuous Princes for small faults and yet he himself weltring and wallowing in Egyptian filthines and incest with his owne Neeces Then great schismes in the church his Successor mounted on horseback the Emperor Prince Elector leading his Palfrey by the bridle with many such like notes of more pride and elation then was ever read or heard of to be used by any mortall man whatsoever And in the end the Pope notwithstanding all his pride and Luciferian exaltation by three great and generall Councels gathered out of all Christendome declared to be an Heretike which in respect of the greatnes of his Sea his followers his long continuance and other circumstances must needs be understood the greatest Heretike of all that ever were or can be and so by undeniable consequence declared to be Antichrist Not so will some Babylonian peradventure say It is not any of those circumstances nor all of them can make him the greatest Heretike no more then Arius in his time was therefore accounted the greatest Heretike because the whole world as it is sayd became an Arian but because he denied one of the greatest points of our fayth namely the equalitie of God the Sonne with his Father and therefore was called Christomachus Be it so yet I thinke no man will deny but caeteris paribus the circumstances aforesaid will both augment and aggravate the Heresie But let us consider first the greatnes and extent of that point which the said three generall Councels condemned for Heresie secondly what other Heresies and how manie and great the Pope doth maintaine and if either that point so condemned be great yea verie great or that he mainteyneth more or greater then any other then will I leaue it to thine owne Conscience Christian reader to judge and determine whether the Pope be the greatest Heretike that ever was or not And because it is not my meaning either to build
ut quaelibet esse solet Yet I cannot chuse but thinke there were some Infants there that were neither lyers nor druckards actually but ubi maior pars ibi tota So the severall kinds of consent expressed by their owne confessors Consulo praecipio consentio provoco laudo Non retego culpam non punio non reprehendo Participo defendo meum in caput ista redundant Salvianus will tell them Etsi commune omnibus non faciebat actus Cic. 1 off faciebat tamen assensus Cicero will say Qui non defendit nec obsistit si potest injuriae tam est in vitio quam si parentes aut patriam aut socios deserat Their owne Decree will teach them Quid est immundum tangere nisi peccatis consentire Quid est exire inde nisi facere quod pertinet ad correctionem If they will avoide this charge let them shew how they haue corrected punished reprehended or disliked these things If not then must we needs say that all are guiltie Gen. 3 17. 6 12. And as the earth it selfe is sayd to be corrupted and cursed Psa 107 34 when the Inhabitants haue corrupted themselues with sinnes Esa 24 4. so and much more all states professions and degrees of men To this S. Augustine will adde that as our Saviour Christ hath his mysticall bodie which is his church so the Divell hath his bodie or his Synagogue comprehending all the wicked qui sunt eius quodammodo corpus sayth he And so all the Reprobates are one in the divell as all the elect are one in Christ And as he that is joyned with an Harlot maketh himselfe one bodie with her by the sentence of the Apostle so he that joyneth himselfe with Antichrist the great whoore especially in the head becometh one with him euen that Lawlesseman that childe of perdition What then shall we say to these things Places and Times Persons and Actions Names and things Prophesies and Events do all concurre in the revelation of this man of wickednes consisting wholly of most horrible and enormous sinnes by act and consent in particular and in generall in singular persons and in their whole bodie politike order succession Such sinnes so many and so great that the Divell himselfe can no way match or parallell For if one divell should do homage or sacrifice to another or commit or giue a licence to commit Treason Incest or murther yet that could not be any way so great a sinne as when a Christian baptised in the name of Christ and for whom our Saviour Christ the onely sonne of God hath shed his most precious bloud committeth such an offence or giveth such a Licence And by the same rule of proportion if these haynous Idolatries Treasons Murthers Adulteries and other sinnes which haue beene committed by the Popes and their Licences and dispensations were done or licenced committed or permitted by any other then a Christian one that taketh upon him to be the head of all Christians and over all Christian Bishops yea and such an Head as cannot erre certainely these sinnes in any other could not be judged so great offensiue or in intollerable As it is in the ancient Lawes truly defined Re persona loca tempore atrociores injuriae indicantur And so the Prophets everie where aggravate the sinnes and offences of the people of God by the greatnesse of the benefits which they had received and our Saviour Christ teacheth us that he to whom much is committed of him much shall be required And he that knoweth his masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with manie stripes It followeth therefore inevitably that these sinnes in the pope are farre greater then if any Christian Iew Turke or Heathen did the like And now seeing we haue observed Antichrist in all these mayne and principall circumstances of his Place and State his Name and Rising his Raigne and Actions his Times and Manners what is more to be expected but his Consumption and Destruction two times which the Holy Prophets and divine Apostle expresse in one verse saying that the Lord shall consume him with the breath of his mouth Dan 7 26. and destroye or abolish him with the brightnes of his comming Eâ—a 11 4. Whereof I will speake breefly 2 Thes 2. partly because others haue sayd sufficient but chiefly because of the times to come we must not presume too farre either to judge or to inquire First therefore in his Consumption two things are to be considered the Times and the Manner The times are two fold past and to come For the time past it seemeth to haue beene ever since the said yeare aboue mentioned 1405 being the time that Daniel blessed For if we account those 1335 years noted by Daniel from the destruction of the Temple Dan. 12. which is Daniels aera and was about the yeare of our Lord 70 adde that 70 to the numbers 1335 and it falleth out fully in the year of our Lord 1405 as I shewed before which was within four yeares of the Councell of Pisa the first generall Councell that declared the Pope to be an Heretike shortly after which the Noble Zisca Procopius Magnus and other worthie Bohemians began to breake downe the Popish Idolatrie and ever since the Romish Antichrist hath decayed more and more as everie one that is acquainted with the stories of Christendome may easily perceiue So that we may well say that the consumption hath now continued about 220 years For the time to come I would desire all godly Christians to consider of these particulars First whether we may not expect that the tenne Kings shall ioyne together to spoyle the whore Rev. 17 and burne her with fire Secondly What account or answer Christian Kings can make to their great Lord and Master for continuing in their warres against their brethren and neglecting that warre whereunto God himself hath called them Thirdly whether upon the destruction of the Whoore we may not hope for the conversion of the Iewes in a more gratious manner then yet we see And there by the way must be observed the word which the Holy Ghost useth Dan. 12 11. Abhomination of desolation whereupon I aske Whether it may not be understood of Antichrist to signifie that so long as the Antichristian abhominations shall continue in the Church so long the Church must continue desolate of one of her principall parts namely the ancient people of the Iewes which must make the other maine wall to be ioyned with that of the Gentiles in one principall and fundamentall corner stone Christ Iesus which is not to be expected as long as the abhominable Antichristian Idolatrie raigneth in the Church Fourthly What we may thinke of those froggs in our Apostle Rev. 16. who they be that must gather the kings of the earth to the battail Wherein is to be observed that the Frogge hath his name of his voice which the Latins call