call'd Prophets v. 10. because they not only taught People to worship God according to his Rule so the Church in the Wilderness all along nourish'd with the sincere Milk of the Word Rev. 12.6,14 but also foretold the fall of Antichrist out of the Word 398. 2ly Their Number two which is the lowest number for one is but the Root of numbers to shew the paucity of them that witness to the Truth under Antichrists Reign and that is intimated in Rev. 11.1,2,3 where the inner Court is only reserved for the Holy People that keepeth the Truth when the outward Court a large spacious place is given up to Antichrist for the Witnesses should be as few as the Priests and Levites that worshipped in the Inner Court in comparison of Antichristian Idolaters that worshipped in the Outward Luk. 12.32 Rev. 1.6 Priests to God 399. And yet they should not be so few as to be below a full Confirmation of the Truth for two witnesses are sufficient to confirm any truth Deut. 17.6 Mat. 18.16 2 Cor. 13.1 God orders it so by his over-ruling Providence that his truth shall not be starved no not in the worst of times by want of Witnesses or a sufficient Confirmation or this number two is an Allusion to those 3 famous Pairs the first to Moses and Aaron the Churches Prophets in Egypt and the Wilderness 2ly to Elijah and Elisha Prophets to Israel under the Idolatry of Baal when the Church was not visible and only 7000. left that was hid in Corners 3ly to Zerubbabel and Joshua Prophets in Babylon and in Rebuilding the Temple 400. That there is such an Allusion in this Number to those 3 famous Couples it is probable because in the following description the turning of waters into blood and smiting the earth with Plagues often v. 5. hath relation to the first of them Moses and Aaron and shutting up heaven and destroying Men by fire v. 5 6. to Elijah and Elisha and the Olive-trees and Candlesticks to Joshua and Zerubbabel v. 4. Zech. 4.3,11,14 The 3d thing in the description of their Condition 't was sad and mournfull Sackcloth is the covering that is worn in bad times Amos 8.9,10 2 Kin. 6.30 they mourn in Sackcloth while Antichrist triumphs in his Silken Copes and costly Garments and all because Idolatry hath spread it self so fast and so far and because of the troubles of the true Church 401. 4ly Their Actions which they perform'd with that power which the Lord gave them were eminent Exploits and that of two sorts one against Antichrist and the other for the Church 1st against Antichrist they have power to do very great things which carrying such a fair correspondency with the 4 first Vials in Rev. 16. hath made a late learned Critick take those exploits of the Witnesses to be the powring forth of the 4 first Vials as 1. Plagues on the Earth v. 6. ch 11. as in the first Vial Rev. 16.2 2ly Water into blood v. 6. as in the 2d Vial ch 16.3 and in the 3d Vial v. 4. and 3ly A tormenting of Men with fire as in the 4th Vial chap. 11.15 with chap. 16.8 402. Which Interpretation though very ingenious yet seems it to me a little doubtfull not only because 1st the Order of the Vials is inverted by it as the plagues on the earth the first of the Vials is the last in this description of the exploits of the Witnesses and tormenting by fire the first of those Exploits is the last of the 4. Vials But 2ly it seems somewhere too narrow in leaving out that eminent action of shutting Heaven up from rain which none of the 4 first Vials correspond with And 3ly somewhere too wide in making one of those exploits to comprehend two distinct Vials to wit the 2d and 3d. to say nothing of the time of fixing them 403. The service 2ly which they do for the Church is 1st a power of Prophecying whereby they both instructed the Church in the knowledge of the Truth and comforted her by predicting the ruine of Rome which notwithstanding all her rage against the Church could not yet deprive her of the help of those Witnesses for God gave them power to Prophesie all Antichrists Reign 2ly to supply the Church with Oil sufficiently that is with Grace enough for this hard time of Persecution that they might not be like the foolish Virgins whose lamps went out for want of Oil. 404. The two Olive-trees and the two Candlesticks some reads The two Olive-trees with the two Candlesticks with for and justifying that Reading from that in 1 Sam. 14.18 where and is read with the Children of Israel because Candlesticks in Rev. 1. 20. is meant Churches and though the Churches were 7. then in Johns time yet Antichrist reduced them to two and yet those two should be supply'd with grace to hold out all the wills of God Acts 13.22 those two Sons of Oil the Witnesses are not branches but Trees to nourish their Graces in that evil day and to pour in Oil into their Lamps continually which was Aarons work Exod. 27.20 405. The fifth particular in the description of the Witnesses is their slaughter and death wherein consider 1st the time when 2ly the place where and 3ly the manner how 1. Of the time when the Holy Ghost tells us when they shall have finished their Testimony Rev. 11.7 when their Prophecying-work is done for if God had given them power to Prophesie longer as v. 3. they should have continued in their Prophecying work longer Maugre the malice of all their enemies God permits them to be slain because their Prophecying-work was done thus their Lord and Master could not be slain till his hour was come John 8.20 and in that hour of darkness he was put to death Luk. 22.53 406. Mr. Mede reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when they shall be about to finish their Testimony because the Greek Verb is not of the Praeter-perfect but of the Future Aorist Tense which is incertae significationis of an uncertain time making the time of this Slaughter to be when part of the Holy City or Christian World repent of their Idolatry casts off the yoke of Antichrist and reforms the Temple within themselves the Witnesses getting heart by all this begins to put off the Sackcloth and to lay aside their Mourning Prophecy which they have done ever since the Reformation then comes the Beast as it were ascending afresh into the Throne enraged with the success of their Mourning Prophecy he overcomes and kills them 407. Mr. Brightmans opinion was that the slaughter of the Witnesses were past and fulfilled in the Smalcaldian War in that great Overthrow of the Protestant Party by Charles the fift Anno 1547. and in condemning the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament which he makes the Witnesses about that time in the Councel of Trent which is now above an hundred and twenty Years ago other later Writers apply this Slaughter to those ruined Churches
Apostle to that Church doth sufficiently manifest but now if we compare the Doctrines of that Epistle with the Romish Doctrine now as it came out of the Trent-Councel there is nothing more true then to say as the Prophet Esa 1.21 how is the faithfull City become an harlot her silver is now become dross and her wine is mixed with water v. 22. Shee that once was Bethel is now Beth-aven she that was once Christian is now become Antichristian 61. It is not unnecessary to praemise here that when I speak of the Pope either in this or any of the other following Characters of him I do not speak of him personally as if but one in number a single person but collectively both as conjunct with the Clergy at one time and as varying by Succession for a long time together under the notion of Peters Successor whom the Romanists call the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Eminency giving the power of the Keys to him alone as iâ— Christ had given the Keys to Peter alone Maâ—… 16.19 and as if he alone were the Church that must be told in case of obstinate offences Mat. 18.18 62. In this sense the Pope and the Church of Rome are Synonimicall terms in this Discourse and the Apostacy of the Body and the Head are collectively the same Now to prove his Apostacy 1st shall be from persons and 2ly from things 1st from Persons Bishop Davenant in his begg'd Suffrage shews how the Church of Rome now is no more a true Church than an arrant whore is a true Wife to her Husband she hath forsaken Christ and followed false lovers 63. Bishop Bramhall uses this Argument that Church which hath chang'd the Apostolical Creed the Apostollical Government and Apostolical Succession cannot remain an Apostolical Orthodox or Catholick Church but the Church of Rome hath done all this Ergo and so by Consequence is Apostatiz'd Bishop Hall also demonstrates how she hath so degenerated from her self and from the Truth insomuch that now their can be no peace with her Our repugnances with her are irreconcileable though Franciscus de Clara alià s Damport that quirking Scot would reconcile us 64. A great cloud of Witnesses might be brought in to prove this Apostacy For many Champions of the Protestant Religion have irrefragably evidenc'd that Rome is not only revolted from Christ but also from her self under her primitive Pastor whose Writings could never be answered to this day but seeing they are but human Testimonies Tria in this place shall be omnia Suffrages that are Human non sunt Numeranda sed Ponderanda I shall therefore add some Divine Testimonies against which there can be no just Exception 65. The Apostle in his Epistle to that Church doth more then intimate that she might prove an Apostatizing Church Rom. 11.20 be not high-minded but fear We must not look upon that passage as an empty ring of a tinkling Cymbal but a Prophetical intimation of some possibility and probability of their future abjection and Apostacy But more plainly the same Apostle 1 Tim. 4.1,3 points his finger as it were at Rome so sutable are their Doctrines to those Doctrines of Devils there mentioned as our learned Mr. Mede on that subject clearly shows Mede's Aposta of later Times 66. The Doctrine of Daemons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mr. Mede understands to be the Papists deifying and worshipping of Saints and Angels their Bowing down to Images Breaden-Idols and Crosses like new Daemon-pillars their Adoring and Templing of Reliques all which make as lively an Image of the Gentiles Theology of Daemons as could be expressed Thus he taking the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be Genitivus Materiae not efficientis as noting the Subject-matter not the Efficient cause 67. But more particularly omitting Mr. Mede's Notion let us see how the Romish Church quasi digito demonstratur is pointed at by this Prediction in the 1st of those Doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4.3 to wit forbidding to marry the Scripture commendeth Marriage as Gods Ordinance and as an Holy and Undefiled state permitting it equally to all Men so they marry in the Lord yet the Romish Church forbids any in Holy Orders to marry and that by Laws and Canons which never either Manichee Marcion or Tatian did though they had low thoughts of it as other ancient Hereticks had they never made any Decrees against it 68. The 2d Doctrine is Prohibition of Meats which God hath appointed to be received with Thanksgiving This is also as express and notorious Doctrine of the Church of Rome which hath forbidden by Law that which God by Law Ordained God allows the free use of the Creature but Rome restrains it by certain Times Differences at her pleasure Rome forbids some at all times and all at some times to abstain from some kind of Meats far beyond the Montanists that never put such stress on their Fasting Days as Rome does 69. Anselm expounds this 1 Tim. 4. on this wise The Spirit of God doth manifestly in me and by me say that in the last Times that is saith he during the Reign of Antichrist or before some shall depart from the Faith as the same Apostle saith 2 Thess 2.5 there shall be a falling away first Thus this ancient Father applied those Doctrines of Devils to the Apostacy of Antichrist and Espancaeus upon this 1 Tim. 4. says in totidem Verbis that the Apostacy from the Faith there mentioned is the same with the Apostacy of the Man of Sin spoken of in 2 Thess 2.5 70. Thus it appears from Testimonies how Antichrist is an Apostate forsaking the Doctrine of the Gospel and not only Embracing but also Ordaining those Doctrines of Devils it may 2ly be made more manifest ex parte Rei and de Facto by comparing the Doctrines of Antichrist with the Doctrine of that famous Epistle of Paul to the Romans There 's not a word there of the Popes Supremacy of Invocation of Saints of Adoration of Images or of the Vertue of Reliques of Monkish Sanctity of Indulgences of Transubstantiation of Purgatory of the Mass or of Auricular Confession c. wherein the marrow and substance of the Romish Religion consists 71. These were not the Doctrines of that Church in the Apostles days but now she hath heaped up other Doctrines that do not only contradict the Apostle's Doctrine but such as destroys the very foundation of Christianity at least by consequence if not in positive terms as in their Doctrine of Justification by Inherent Righteousness which is contrary to Rom. 1.17 4.6 their Praying to Saints contrary to Rom. 10.13,14 and their Merit against Rom. 8.18 72. No other foundation can any man lay besides Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 Yet Rome hath laid other Foundations not holding the Head Christ Col. 2.18,19 they overthrow Christs Merits by setting up their own merits and Christs Mediation by making other Mediators and Christs Satisfaction in their Purgatory-sufferings so likewise
own Baronius tels us how Simon Magus made Images to walk by the power of the Devil and their Stories of Images weeping nodding and stretching forth the hand as with a blessing are all dough-Cakes baked in the same Oven the same Devil exercises his art of deceit both under the first Beast to uphold the Heathenish Idolatry and under the 2d Beast to maintain Antichristian Superstition 107. Henry Stephanus in his Apology for Herodotus tels us of some Answers that were given to such Superstitious Fools as pray'd to Images by some Juggling Priests that lay hid behind the Images Polidore Virgil a Papist says those Answers were made by Priests that crept into the hollow of the Image Thus Devils Incarnate by their own Confession makes their Images to speak to say nothing of their blessing-Image at Westchester moved by a Wire and a Priest behind it and other lying wonders 108. It is a good Rule when Miracles are wrought to be Patrons of Sin they come from Satan Such were those wonders that Simon Magus wrought not only to raise up an admiration of himself but also to bring men off from Holiness and from embracing the Gospel Origen tels Celsus that Antichrists Miracles were to bring men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the deceitfulness of Sin but Christs Miracles were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Salvation of Souls true Miracles oppose Satans Kingdom and are Mercies as well as Miracles 109. Satans wonders that he works whether mediately or immediately may amaze men but do not benefit them unless by way of Collusion as one Devil in the exorcist may cast out another out of one possessed which is done by the Devils consent and not by the power of any of their Exorcisms a Devil will willingly quit a demoniack for the hardening of mens hearts and for the further advancing of his own Kingdom Thus Austin de unitate Ecclesiae Cap. 16. calls the Miracles of his time either figmenta mendacium hominum or portenta fallacium Spirituum forgeries of lying men or prodigies of deceitful Devils 110. Chrysostom on the 23. Homily on John the 5th said thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou hast no need of Miracles for those are Signs to the unbelievers and Stella one of their own Religion speaks well of this point saying Miracles as Scaffolds are necessary in the building of an house but when the house is finished they are but impediments to the Passengers so now if Miracles were done it would argue a weakness in the confirmation of our Faith by the Miracles of Christ and the Apostles 111. Miracles now are rather hurtful then profitable and he that looks for wonders now is a wonder himself as Austin de civit dei lib. 22. Cap. 8. or saith qui credente mundo ipse non credit magnum est ipse prodigium he that seeks for wonders now when the Faith of the Gospel hath been preach'd to the World and confirmed by Miracles is himself the greatest wonder our Lord hath told us John 10.41 that Gods Ministers may teach Truth and yet work no Miracles and such may be the Devils Impostors that come with Signs and Wonders Deut. 13.1.2 Matth. 24.24 112. The wonders then which the Popish Church brags of are but fallacious and counterfeit wonders spoken of 2 Thess 2.9 and so are the very brand of Antichrist so that while they boast of them and make them a note of the Church they declare to all the World that their Church is the Antichristian Church were they true wonders wrought by a Divine power they would then be Gods Seals which are never set to confirm an untruth but their wonders contradict the Doctrine of Christ and so are the badge of Antichrist 113. Suppose the Jesuit Acosta should for gaining the poor Indians to this Popish Religion foretel them that for a Sign to them the Sun should be Ecclips'd at such a time This would be a wonder to them that are ignorant of the natural Causes thereof yet no true one in genere Miraculorum though in genere Rerum it fall out-so 'T is a lying wonder from the Jesuits because it is given out with a purpose to deceive Miracles are not a touchstone to try the truth of Doctrine by but we must try miracles by the word of God 114. I have been longer upon this Clause because the Church of Rome lays a great stress of her excellency above all Churches in her Miracles whereby they as it were graphically decipher themselves to be the Antichrist If any desire to see more of Antichrist's lying wonders let him read Osianders Epitome 7. Cent. fol. 260 261. 9 Cent. fol. 84. 120. 11th Cent. fol. 236. and Fullers Chur. Histor concerning Abbies and Monasteries pag. 332. 333. 115. The 8th part of the Induction is the threefold brand that God hath stigmatized him withall in his word The man of sin the son of perdition and the wicked one to show what a complex of many gross Impieties the Antichrist should be and how fitly this character corresponds with the Pope not only Dr. Prideaux in his Introduction Pareus Medull Histor Ecclesiast Osianders Epitome and all our Church Histories abundantly declare but also their own Historians make most shamefull descriptions of their Popes Lives 117. T is a good Rule Firmum est genus probationis quod etiam ab adversario sumitur ut Veritas etiam ab inimicis Veritatis probetur 'T is a strong proof when enemies of the Truth are constrained to bear witness of the Truth and Vives de instrumento probabilitatis saith thus Amici contra amicum Inimici pro Inimico invincibile Testimonium est which in plain English is thus explained the Testimony of a Papist against a Papist and of a Papist for a Protestant is without exception 117. Let us therefore take a brief account out of some Popish writers whose Testimonies are unquestionable and so make a compendious Landskip of a few Popes Lives to shew what men of sin yea rather monsters then men they were To begin with Sabinianus who succeeded Gregorius Magnus he who abominated the title of Universal Bishop as smelling too much of Antichrist this Pope their own Writers brands thus Sabinianus culpabili vitâ formidabili morte notatus est he lived wickedly and died miserably Fasciculus Temporum ad Ann. 614. 118. What a villainous prank did Stephanus the 6th whom many call Stephen the 7th play such as never was plaid before as Cardin Baronius Tom. 10. Annal. ad Ann. 897. Num. 2. expresses it with the Carcase of his Predecessor Formosus which he took out of the grave brought into judgement before a Councel of Bishops spoil'd it of his Papal Robes clad it with a Lay-mans garment indicted arraigned and condemn'd it cut off 3 fingers of it and cast it into Tyber Yea depriving all them of their Orders whom he had ordained reordaining them again Hoc prae sui immanitate omnibus incredibile videtur saith Baronius
Erroris tamen convincuntur qui ista de Formoso negant conficta putant the barbarousness of it makes it unlikely yet the truth is it is no fable 119. Another of their Popish writers Platina by name tells us of Boniface the 7th that he robbed Peters Church and fled for a time to Constantinople who afterward by Symony and murthering two Popes made himself Pope Of whom Baronius says inter famosos latrones potentissimos grassatores atque patriae proditores Syllas Catilinas annumerandus He outstrip'd the most notorious robbers and traitors to their Countrey that ever were yea Catiline and Sylla and at last died like a Beast This is a truth confirm'd by two witnesses of their own Platina in the life of Boniface the 7th and Baron Annal. Tom. 10. ad Ann. 985. Num. 1. 120. Their own Platina in the Lives of the Popes writes how Sylvester the 2d ambitione diabolica dominandi Cupiditate impulsus largitione primò quidem Archiepiscopatum Rhemensem inde Ravenatem adeptus pontificatum postremò majore conatu adjuvante diabolo consecutus est hac tamen lege ut post mortem totus illius esset cujus fraudibus tantam dignitatem adeptus erat in plain English he gave himself both body and soul to the devil that he might obtain the Popedom And this is confirm'd by many others of their own Writers as Cardin. Benno de vita Gest Hildebrandi Stella de vit Pontif. Caranza Summ. Concil Aeneas Sylvius Comment de Concil Basil lib. 1. says plainly Sylvester Diabolicâ fraude Pontificatum ascendisse The Devil made him Pope 121. And William of Malmesbury lib. 2. de gestis Regum Angl. cap. 10. fol. 36. affirms the same thing of this Sylvester saying he is verily perswaded Sylvester was such a Villain 〈◊〉 Historians relate him to be otherwise why saith he did this Butcherly fellow at his death tear his own flesh as he did had he not been guilty of some notorious Impieties Neither was Benedict the 9th much better whom their own Platina calls teterrimum monstrum who lived like a Beast in his life time and after his death appear'd partly like an Ass and partly like a Bear Caput cauda erant asinina ut reliquum corpus sicut Ursus saith Fasciculus Temporum ad Ann. 1304. 122. Such a notorious wretch also was Boniface the 8th who entred like a Fox reigned like a Lion and died like a Dog as his own Predecessor Pope Caelestine foretold of him To omit the stories which their own Baronius and Benno hath recorded how many Popes have been Magicians and given themselves to the Devil sacrificing to Devils in forests and mountains If those were not men of sin sons of perdition and wickedness where can any such be found 123. But above all those wicked ones there be yet three unnamed which in their own Chronicles were monsters of men as 1st Hildebrand call'd commonly Gregory the 7th that firebrand of Hell that set both Church and State on fire who hired a Varlot to tumble great stones down from the Battlements of the Church to destroy the Emperor Henry the 4th as he was in his Prayers Who poison'd 6 Popes to wit Clement the 2d Damasus the 2d Leo the 9th Benedict the 10th Nicholas the 2d Alexander the 2d in the space of 13 Years by the help of his familiar Brazutus that he might come to the Popedom Who also being angry with his breaden god for not answering how the good Emperor might be destroyed who had escaped his bloody hands in St. Maries Church in mount Aventine by the death of the Villain whom he employed this Pope throws his Sacrament into the fire 124. This man of sin ordinarily carried about him a conjuring Book as Cardinal Benno in vita Gregor 7 at large relates those things This is he that confessed at his death that the devil set him on work to provoke God to wrath against the world Florentinus Vigern in Chronic. pag. 641. Matth. Paris in Guil. Conquest Anno 1086. The 2d is John the 23. that denied the life to come and the resurrection of the body saying that men perish like the beast This made him die like a beast insomuch as he for his scandalous life was called by those that knew him the incarnate Devil Concil Constant Sess 11. Act. 6. penult 125. But the 3d is John the 12. who made Deacons in a stable and a Boy of ten years old a Bishop the Lateran his Palace a plain Stews who being at Dice invocated Jupiter Venus and other Gentile Daemons yea and drank a Carouse in honour of the Devil who at last was slain by the Devil himself while he was committing adultery Luitprandus Hist Rerum per Europam Gestarum lib. 6. cap. 7 8 10. Yea Bellarmine himself doth confess those Popes to be thus tainted as Stories describe them but that we have raked usque ad Naufeam in this stinking Dunghill I might tell you what our own Dr. Heylin in his Geography of Italy relates the 2d Edition pag. 181 182. to which I refer you 126. The 9th Paragraph of the Induction is that threefold Epithet Idolatrous Ambitious and Cruel all which be as palpable Adjuncts of the Pope as any of the former As first that he is Idolatrous therefore he is called pater omnium fornicatorum abominationum terrae How doth he adore Images not only giving 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to his Idols worshipping of his Breaden god and of his Crucifixes directing Prayer to it as to God or Christ himself As in their All Hail Oh Cross our only Hope increase Righteousness to the good and grant Pardon to the guilty is plainly manifest Thus is he as idolatrous as those in Jerem. 2.27 saying to a piece of wood thou art my Father and to a stone thou hast begotten me so Hab. 2.19 127. It appears also in his Lady's Psalter how he makes the Virgin Mary not only equal but sometimes superior to the Son of God as in those Mattens Shew thy self a Mother and by the right of Motherhood command the Redeemer how doth he call her the Queen of heaven the Mistris of Angels and such like stuff according to the Councel of Trent attributing to her Omnipotency both in heaven and earth Coster in Hymn Ave Maris stella and a Kingdom of mercy c. as Biel in Canon Missae lect 80. 128. As to his second Adjunct Ambitious enough hath been said of that before from Paragraph 89. to 97. and the 3d to wit Cruel is as palpable as any not only in his Murthering all that stands in his way to the Popedom as Hildebrand did ut suprà Paragr 123. and several others but also in Butchering so many innocent Lambs of Christ in all Ages and in all Nations where this Beast raged which would not bow the knee to his Baal witness the Massacres at Piedmont Germany Ireland England
the heat and burden of persecuting times and ever have been the Sacrifices for Slaughtering Tyrants and most likely shall be so when the Slaughter of the Witnesses comes at the end of Antichrists Reign 5. And those Witnesses are call'd two not so much upon the account of any Contradistinction of Orders but to express the paucity of them which were very few if compared with the Locusts out of the bottomless Pit which were Innumerable and yet not so few but they were sufficient to confirm the Truth and publickly to detect the Abominations of Antichrist and to denounce the wrath of God against him yea and the exercise of that power God gave them was so effectual that Fire is said to proceed out of their Mouths for devouring their Adversaries Revel 11.5 for the Lord did make his Words in their mouth to be Fire and the Popish People to be Wood and it devoured them Jer. 5.14 Thus their Ministry is said to torment those that dwell on the Earth Revel 11.10 or on Earthly principles 6. And if that Scripture in Revel 3.10 the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the World be Synonimical to the Slaughter of the Witnesses in the Street of the Great City as Dr. Arrowsmiths opinion is taking the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he Reads it or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not largely for totum terrarum orbem for the whole World but strictly for the Roman World that is for those Nations subject to the Roman Power for so is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taken in Luk. 2.1 If I say this in Revel 3.10 be exegetical to that in Revel 11.8 thence have we an hint that the Street may not be any particular Kingdom wherein those Prophets are to be slain but all the Kingdoms that either have been or shall be subject to the Romish Beast which accords with Graserus and Mr. Medes opinion of the Street but this for digression 7. It is very manifest that God hath had his Prophets or Ministers to witness to the truth in all Ages even from the very Apostles times and that the Faith of the Reformed Churches was maintained by the Antients ever since that time our Jewel against Harding doth abundantly prove ever for 600. Years Yet as there were divers other Heresies that pester'd the Church of Christ besides and before that grand heresie of Antichristianism prevailed So the testimony of those ancient Witnesses was principally against those Heresies precedent to Antichrist as Athanasius against Arrianism and Chrysostom against Pelagianism c. doth shew this 8. And though we find several of those ancient Witnesses to prophecy in Sackcloth especially those two forenamed who were for a long time in a mournfull suffering estate for their Testimony against those Heresies c. Yet may not we take them for those Sackcloth-prophecies in Rev. 11.3 because their Sackcloth was put on upon other accounts to wit for the Heresies aforesaid c. and not upon the account of this Romish Beast that was to tread down the holy City for Antichrist was not yet come to his throne in their day That Cockatrice egg was long in the shell before it was hatched and appeared a fiery flying Serpent it stole into the world sensim sine sensu unsensibly and at unawares 9. In the following Ages when the man of Sin began to prevail God raised up godly and learned Ministers who in every Century opposed the Romish Doctrines defending the sufficiency of the Scripture Communion in both kinds Justification by free Grace and disowning Invocation of Saints Worshipping of Angels Adoration of Images and Reliques yea and Praying for the Dead All which they opposed with many pregnant Reasons and openly testified against all the corruptions and usurpations of Antichrist 10. Inded Rainerius a grand Papist gives us ' an intimation of the Antiquity of a Sect which he saith hath now leavened almost all Lands having a great pretence of Holiness because they live righteously among men and believe all things truly concerning God only they hate and blaspheem the Church of Rome to which the multitude is very inclinable this Sect so pernicious to the Church of Rome hath been ever since Pope Sylvester he grants in the days of Constantine if not from the Apostles times From this hint it may be said that there hath been Witnesses against Rome such as the Pauperes de Lugduno were he he writes on ever since the 3d Century in Constantines time Rainer contra Haer. cap. 4. pag. 54. those were true Protestants 11. But though this be certain beyond controversie that the same Truths professed by the Protestant Churches have been defended by the Antients not only from Constantines time but also from the very Apostles Yet to find out Witnesses distinct witnesses and witnesses in Sackcloth mourning for the Abominations of Antichrist before Antichrist was revealed I think will prove very difficult and seeing God gives us a plain intimation that the flood of Arrianism must be swallowed up before the rise and revelation of the Antichristian Beast Rev. 12.16 13.1,11 I conceive the proper Witnesses against Antichristianism will hardly be found till the Arrian heresie expire and the Testimony against it be fulfilled we cannot make them contemporize 12. Now if Antichristianism could not be revealed while Arrianism was regnant in the World and if we dispair of proper Sackcloth-witnesses such as we now treat on before the Revelation of Antichrist then it may contribute no little light to us in this grand Inquest to search after the time when the Church left groaning under Arrianism for God doth not burden his Church with two such great evils as Arrianism and Antichristianism both at once the Epocha of the latter must be the expiration of the former 13. That the Arrian Heresie began in the 3d Century is obvious to all vulgar understandings for the suppressing of which Heresie the general Councel at Nice in Bithynia was called in the Year 325. after Christ but the venemous plants of that Heresie was so deeply rooted that they could not be plucked up thereby and so Arrianism spread like a Gangren ut suprà and infested the Church for some Centuries after and though those good Emperours Theodosius both elder and younger Arcadius Martian and Justinian improv'd their zeal and diligence against it yet could they not bring it to an utter extirpation or to a cessation of its Persecution 14. The Church of God was sadly persecuted by the Arrian Vandals till the good Emperor Justinian sent his brave General Belisarius against them and thereby freed the Christians from their Persecution subverting their Empire in Africk this was done according to Helvicus in the year of Christ 533. And yet in Asia the seeds of this Heresie could not be rooted up but the Eastern Churches were crumbled into Factions and wearisome Digladiations by it among themselves till Mahumetanism arose and swallowed up all before it This was about the 6. Century and much what
Receptus videatur qui posteriori seculo veluti maturus faetus est editus and in Century 6. Cap. 1. pag. 1. G. Antichristi Regnum quod quasi in alvum Ecclesiae superiori seculo receptum est hoc seculo vitam Incrementa accepit quasi ad maturitatem suam ad ipsum partus Tempus sub Phocâ imperatore est deductum Antichrist lay lurking in the Womb all the 5th Century and when he was fully ripen'd for the Birth he was brought into the World by Phocas in the 6th Century This is a clear proof from many Learned men 34. So likewise Osiander in his Epitome Histor Eccles Cent. 5th Pag. 1. says that then might be Antichrists Birth and Craddling as well as Conception Antichristianismus saith he hâc in Centuriâ conceptus and Pag. 179. haec fuere Antichristi Romani incunabula not yet made manifest and Cent. 6. Pag. 1. he saith In hâc Centuriâ Antichristus pedem in Ecclesiâ dei posuit fixit and Cent. 7. Epist 2d Pag. tunc Antichristus Rom. sedem suam plenariè in Ecclesiam dei collocavit quam ipsius Antecessores aliquoties inferre conabantur Antichrist fix'd his foot he took full possession of the Church of God in the 7th Century which his Predecessors did but endeavour to do 35. And Cent. 7. Pag. 1. he saith Antichristus adjuvante Phoca Ecclesias dei sub jugum suum misit Antichrist by the help of Phocas brought the Church of Christ under his Yoke for till Boniface the 3d. those words Volumus Jubemus which he calls vox Superba Antichristi was not heard of and the Bishop of Rome became not Antichrist donec Malefacius ille Bonifacius a Phoca Imperatore obtinuit c. till he obtain'd a full power of calling together and breaking up Synods of Confirming and Abolishing the Decrees of the Synod till then he did not Seat himself in the Church of God as Paul foretold it should come to pass 2 Thess 2. Osiand Epit. Cent. 7. Pag. 14. 15. 36. Illyricus also makes this Boniface the 3d. primum in Regno magnae bestiae Regem the first King in the Beasts Kingdom who had the mouth of a roaring Lyon and spake like a Dragon Revel 13.2.11 2ly He makes Pope Joan to begin the Kingdom of the great Whore and 3ly He makes Pope Sylvester the 2d to begin the Kingdom of the great Dragon because then began the Pope-Conjurers Necromancers Robbers Murderers c. then 4ly He makes Innocent the 4th to begin the Kingdom of the Locusts by whom the Fryar-Mendicants came and spread themselves all over the World and lastly The declining Kingdom of Antichrist he reckons from Julian the 2d who threw Peters Keys into Tyber as Unvaileable and took Pauls Sword which he said should prevail Illyr Catal. Test Ver. Pag. 650. 37. Illyricus likewise Relates a famous Story of Agestinus in this 6th Century that was expell'd the Colledge for his Witnessing against Popish fooleries to Eustasius for Redress of this grievance the Synod at Matiscon was summon'd by King Lotharius wherein Agestinus makes a particular Invective against the Superstitions of that day in Y. of Christ as Helvicus reckons 625. and could we have a faithful account of this Synod saith Illyr freed from the Monkish Writers some grave Witnesses against Antichrist would be found Illyr Pag. 676. Alsted also begins the Infancy of Antichrist at Innocent the 1st Year 404. his Childhood at Boniface the 3d. Year 606. his Youth at Leo the 3d. Year 800. his grown Age at Hildebrand Year 1075. and his old Age at Leo the 10th Year 1517. then rose Luther against Leo's Indulgences Alsted Chroonl Pag. 392. 394. 38. And in the 7th Century Bishop Usher demonstrates that at least the Church did live then though she had not sound health in giving her Testimony against Antichrist as many Bishops exploded Antichrists Images at Constantinople in Y. 754. and further shows how the Brittish German and Gallick Churches gave the like Testimony sighing out their proh dolor like mournfull Witnesses with the Oriental Churches against Image-worship Usher de Successione Ecclesiae pag. 33 34. 39. But in the 8th Century Gregory the fourth unlike to the first of that name forenamed appeared such a man of Sin in his proud Tyrannical Usurpations that Italy it self had several Sackcloth-witnesses against that Antichrist as Baronius confesses Ann. 863. Sect. 42. Inter quos fuit Basilius Zosimus Metrophanes cumque ipsis multi alii qui hujusmodi tyrannidem deplorabant ad Ecclesiarum defensionem multis cum lacrymis opem ab aliis implorabant Many Witnesses then deplored Antichrists Tyranny and implored the help of others against him Usher de continua Success pag. 39. 40. In this Century also Albertus Clemens complures alii à Bonifacio dissenserunt Histor Magdeburg Cent. 8. and vehemently opposed him Avent Annal. lib. 3. I name but few witnesses in those Cent. because it is not doubted of by any but by Enemies and they be too many to be quoted See Magde Cent. 7. pag. 277. 40. Then in the 9th Century Agobardus Rabanus Maurus Bertram yea and Scotus were all Orthodox about the Lords Supper and opposed the Popish Doctrine of the Real Presence with the Authority of Austin as well as of the Scripture Fox Martyrol 1st Vol. pag. 187. And he shews how Scotus also assented to the Graecian Church more than to the Roman See also Jus divinum Ministerii p. 54. Osian Epit. 9. Cent. pa. 44. li. 4. c. 1. Clark Martyr Engl. pa. 42. Dr. Humphry Regius Professor at Oxford tells this story of Scotus out of Crinitus in his Preface to Praxis Jesuitism pag. 22. that Scotus was supposed to be poyson'd by some of his own Popish Scholars for his Testimony against Popery in that Point And about the latter end of this Century Arnulphus Bishop of Aurelia speaks boldly in a Synod at Rhemes Quid hunc in sublimi solio residentem veste purpured aurea radiantem quid hunc inquam censetis Antichristus est and sadly mourns there quòd Religione profligatâ nomen Dei impunè humilietur Cultus divinus etiam à summis Sacerdotibus condemnatur who is this that sits on his Throne in Scarlet 't is Antichrist who by a loose Religion lays the Truth wast yet scapes scot-free Usher Ibid. pag. 44. 41. In the 10th Century though Bellarmin says Nullum seculum indoctius infoelicius Yet God had his Witnesses against Antichrist as appears by our own Aelfricks Homily in the Saxon Tongue appointed to be read at Easter to the People in Confutation of the Real Presence neither was this the Opinion of one Bishop to wit Aelfrick only but Wulfsine Bishop of Sherbourn and Wulfstane Bishop of York and divers other Learned Men in that time but especially Berengarius was a witness in Sackcloth against Transubstantiation an error that crept late into the Church and yet was the first that was most vigorously
opposed 42. In the 11th Century Bernard writes wo be to this Generation for the leaven of the Pharisees c. all pretend to be the Ministers of Christ and yet serve Antichrist for he is Antichrist which counterfits himself not only the Day but the Mid-day extolling himself above all that is called God this is as he calls him the meridian Devil c. And in another place he in Prayer mourns out those words Oh God thy near Friends in pretence come near to conspire against thee c. Alass alass oh Lord God these are the chief in Persecution that are chief in the Church and about their forbidding Marriage he saith it fills all Concubinariis incestuosis seminifluis mollibus masculorum concubitoribus omni denique Immundorum genere with filthy Fornicators effeminate incestuous Seed-shedders Sodomites all manner of uncleanness This is spoke like a Witness 43. Then in the 12th Cehtury more Light began to break forth and the Waldenses appear'd those famous Witnesses against Antichrist that communicated Light to many Nations Insomuch that in the 13. Cent. our own Grosthead Bishop of Lincoln Romanorum malleus daringly wrote to the Pope himself that he was Antichrist In the 14. Cent. appear'd Bradwardin Armachanus and that famous Sackcloth-Prophet John Wickcliffe In the 15 Cent. John Hus Jerom of Prague and then Luther c. So that in no Cent. did the Lord want witnesses to his Truth besides many others that mourn'd in secret places of the wilderness which are not found upon Record 44. Thus from the beginning of the 6t Century Witnesses in Sackcloth may be found against Antichrist revealed but not so clearly from the 4th Century which yet many hath followed from Innocent the first which not only Event but also this Argument seems to gainsay to wit though Innocent the first attempted Supremacy yet on a slender Foundation insomuch as his Successors Zosimus Boniface the first Caelestine the first and Sixtus the third bottom'd their claim of Supremacy upon a supposititious Canon of the Councel of Nice This fraud was detected by the African Bishops comparing it with the Authentick Copies Alsted Encuclop Histor pag. 2849. at large 45. Methinks to foot the accompt of Antichristianism from Leo the first seems far more probable than from Innocent the first because this Leo the first insisted upon no supposititious Canons for his Supremacy claimed but as Alsted saith Cunctis majoribus suis astutiùs egit he was more crafty than all his Predecessors pleading a Divine Right for his Primacy that Christ gave to Peter above all the Apostles so consequently to the Roman Bishop Peters Successor above all other Bishops This plea his Legats strenuously urg'd in the Counsel of Chalcedon in the Y. of Christ 450. as Helvicus accounts it or 440. as Prideaux being the 4. Oecumenical Councel to which if we add the term of Antichrist 1260. it will fall about 1700. or 1710. Y. after Christ 46. This seems a more probable Epocha not only because Event hath not yet confuted this as it hath done the other but 2ly because the highest claim for Supremacy to wit Jus divinum was then pretended 3ly the name Leo suits well with the Beast Antichrist who is said to have the mouth of a Lion and a mouth speaking great things Rev. 13.2,5 as if this Leo call'd Magnus were graphically pointed at in that description But 4ly t is observed that 3 great Dispensations about Antichrist fell out under 3 Leo's Beasts all this Leo the first laid the foundation Leo the third advanc'd the Kingdom of Antichrist by crowning Charles the Great And Leo the ninth or as some say the tenth weaken'd it and perhaps a 4th Leo may arise to destroy it about the Y. of Christ 1710. 47. But the most probable of all is the timing of Antichrist at 606. ut suprá For 1. Gregory the great said after Leo the great that Antichrist was but at Hand in his time 2ly Boniface the third then caught the Bird of Supremacy which his Predecessors only beat the Bush for 3ly Luther then timed Antichrist who was so much enlighten'd against him and many solid holy and learned Men since according to which Antichrists fall may be protracted till about the 18. Century Exitus acta probat Event will be the best proof 48. Thus through the help of Christ I am at length arriving out of this troublesom Sea wherein I could find so few way-marks to guide me in my search after so abstruse a point Those first Ages of Antichrist were very unhappy in the rarity of famous Writers or at least the Monuments of very few be come to our hand because the mystery of Iniquity more and more prevailed hence Illyricus saith Pontificiorum astu scripta omnia quae Primatum Romanum Superstitiones ejus seculi impugnabant suppressa sunt ex bibliothecis ablata flammis consecrata Illyr Cat. Test pa. 676. those Writings are few upon Record being either consumed with the teeth of Time or cancel'd by an Index expurgatorius 49. Yet this is a received Truth and subscrib'd by all That the Faith which Christ and his Apostles taught in the first Age had visible Professors and Witnesses in all ages for otherwise the gates of Hell would have prevail'd against it and Christ would not have been present with the Church to the end of the World Therefore that there were Witnesses in every Age can be doubted by none but to assign all the Witnesses in every Age to that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints from the primo Antichristi ortu hic labor hoc opus est and though Witnesses to the Truth be found to be few in comparison of the Enemies to the Truth yet by those few we may conjecture many more as in Ahabs time lay hid unregistred So that to say our Religion was not before Luther is a Popish slander seeing it is unanswerably proved that the Faith of our Religion is the same Faith which Christ and his Apostles taught in the primitive times 50. To conclude the precise point of time for Antichrists fall can hardly be demonstrated from Boniface the third neither because Phocas his grant to Boniface Palmerius makes to be in Y. of Christ 607. and Beda 612. Magdeburg Centur. 7. pag. 121. D. E. though most make it in the 606. This uncertain substratum compells me to leave the pointing out of this Punctilio of time to God only It shall be one day known to the Lord Zech. 14.7 Hu Jevadang Jehovah is an exclusive expression God only and not Man knows it t is neither night nor day with us When the Church hath no Prophet there being Chathimath Chazon a sealing up of Prophecy Dan. 12.6,9 to tell her how long then she goes to God and cries Oh God How long Ps 74.9,10 The Saints upon Eearth cry How long Ps 13.1,2 The Souls under the Altar cry How long Rev. 6.9,10 And Christ himself cries How long Zech. 1.12