booke it selfe to be shewed to the Church and the name to the booke 3. The most true immediate rightfull owner by the gift of his Father Christ Iesus who sent shewed it to his servants 4. The end wherefore it was given to be shewed 5. The persons to whom it must be shewed his servants 6. A touch of the subject Things which must shortly come to passe 7. The meanes Instruments imployed by our Saviour in this service of Revelation an Angell and an Apostle euen that Apostle who before had ben tried and found faithfull in bearing witnes of the word of God and of Christ Iesus and of all things that he saw his servant Iohn the same who by the H. Ghost was authorised aboue all others to intitle himself Ioh. 21 24. 19 35. A witnes of the things which he saw and therefore of credit aboue all exception and that aswell in his Gospell and Epistles 1 Ioh. 1 1. as in this Revelation Now upon these seven grounds touched in the entrance I propose this Question How this booke can be reputed darke and obscure which God himself hath intitled a Revelation Ephes 5. Eâ—ai 5. or Manifestation Light maketh all things manifest sayth the Apostle And doth the spirit of Trueth call darknes light or light darknes 2. God the Author is light and in him is no darknes 1 Ioh. 1. He maketh light to shine out of darknes 2 Cor. 4. not darknes to come of light 2 The. 2 10. unlesse it be to the children of darknes that loue not the light Also our Saviour Christ is the true light that lighteneth everie one yea the Brightnes of Light He is the Trueth Ioh. 1. Hebr. 1. protesteth of himself in these words whatsoever I have heard of my father I have made known unto you How then can it be said Ioh. 15. that he hath not made this also known which God gaue him to be shewed 3. Our Saviour Christ the true and rightfull owner 1 Cor. 12. as in his mysticall body is one with his Church Ephes 5. and we are all members of that bodie how then can that be said to be concealed from the bodie that is revealed to the head 4. The same inference will follow upon all the other four points aboue noted as upon the 4 Seeing God gaue it to be shewed upon the 5 Ps 119 125 seeing it is directed to be shewed to his servants who must labour to know their Masters will Vpon the 6 Luke 12. seeing it concerneth things that must shortly come to passe and therefore inconvenient to be hid and kept secret And upon the 7 seeing it was committed to two most faithfull ministers of purpose to be signified to the church and thereupon most godly men haue laboured from time to time to search it out and expound it why should we despair to speake of it as the Heathen man doth in Minutius that neither it is given to us to know it nor permitted to search it nor lawfull to require it And not raither say as it is there by the Christian Oratour replyed that to us whose faces God hath lifted up to Heaven and whom he hath indued with speach and reason whereby to know and speake of him yea more to whom he hath directed it to be shewed It is not lawfull to reject this heavenly brightnes which not onely offreth but intrudeth itself into our eyes and senses The obscuritie of this Booke is not to terrifie us from it Aug. de civ dâ—i l 20 17 but to exercise our mindes in it sayth the learned Father Let this therefore suffice coÌ„cerning the obscuritie that it is not invincible but we ought to search it out 2. Let us now therefore Christo Duce for a second Problem inquire of the meanes whereby we may attain to the understanding of this booke For it cannot be denied but there are in it manie mysteries which it is not giuen to all men to understand but it is giuen to some of whom our Saviour sayth vobis datum est it is giuen to you Marc. 4. and for them he hath ordeyned meanes I demand then what are the meanes And whether are not those the best mâ—â—â—es which God himselfe and our Lord Iesus Christ hath shewed us in the Scriptures Aug. de civ dei li. 10 23. Phocyll Nazianz. Aut. nin in sum p. 4.1.4 Prov. 8 13. Wisd 1. viz. 1. True and serious repentance which is as it were the true purgation of the soule so much inquired for by Philosophers and onely revealed to Christians to make us fit to behold heavenly mysâ—â—ies For wisdome sayth he entreth not into a malicious minde nor dwelleth in a sinfull bodie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Constant obedience and care to serue and please God according to our knowledge If any will do his will he shall know the doctrine And if ye continue in my words ye shall know the trueth Naz. Ioh. 7 17. 8 31. Rev. 5 4. 10 9. 3. Earnest prayer and invocation of God in Christ Iesus which our Apostle used and thereby obteyned to see the opening of this booke and to haue it delivered unto him according to the manifold promises of our Saviour Aske ye shall receiue Mat. 7. seeke and ye shall finde knock and it shall be opened For whosoever asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Whereupon Aske saith venerable Beda by prayer seeke by reading and hearing and knock by doing and practise 4. Diligent reading and meditation upon this booke often recommended unto us by this our Apostle in the Text. Blessed is he that readeth Rev. 1 3. and heareth and keepeth the words of the prophcie of this booke 5 Diligent reading and perusing other bookes and prophesies of the Holy Scripture and conferring one with the other a speciall means to understand the sense and meaning of Propheticall words and Phrases much used in this booke Dan. 9 2. by which means also Daniel confesseth that he understood the end of the Captivitie And some learned men do make no doubt but the literall sence of everie place of Scripture taken with the consent of other places and repugnant to none is the true meaning of the H. Ghost Consent being the most certain badge and cognisance of truth For in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall everie word be confirmed 6. Methodicall proceeding by the rule of learning à notioribus ad minus nota from things once cleared to that which is more obscure and difficult or to use the Apostles Phrase from milke to strong meat Hebr. 5. We must not be alwaies children in understanding and stick in the rudiments or principles nor call that into question which is once made clear And here by the way I would craue a litle leave to aske a question or two concerning the writings of the Fathers
truth of Gods word revealed in this and other prophecies which we see are confirmed by the testimonies of Heathen men that never heard of them These certaine Typographies plain'y also refell the idle opinions of those that take Babylon or Antichrist for the whole multitude of the ungodly 2. The second note is that it is seated upon seven hilles what cittie was ever so famous or renowmed for seven hilles as Rome hath been Quae nunc de septem totum circumspicit orbem Montibus imperii Roma deumque locus saith Ovid. and Propert. septem urbs alta jugis And the names of these hilles are common in their histories Palatinus Caelius Tarpeius which is also called Capitolinus Aventinus Esquilinus Viminalis and Quirinalis 3. Thirdly what cittie was ever so noted for seven kinds of supream governours whereof every one had the power of a king summum imperium power of life and death from which there was no provocation or appeale All of them are expresly named both by Livy and Tacitus their principall Historians Kings Consuls Dictators Decemvirs Tribunes Caesars and Pontif. Max. 4. Fourthly what cittie did ever so powerfully rule command over the kings of the earth as this hath done All other Empires and Imperiall citties had their severall Emperors kings or princes and were subject to them and ruled by them as the Assirian Persian Grecian Tartarian Turkish Cathaian Abissine Empires the Sirian Egyptian Ethiopian Parthian Median Indian and Macedonian kingdomes and all their citties the great citties of Ninive Persepolis Ecbatana Constantinople Traperus Mexico Quinzay Memphis Ocmus all other citties that we read of even Babylon it self was ruled by kings and Emperors Dion Hal. onely Rome was called Terrae marisque domina Cic. pro prodomâ— Et illa populus est dominus regum victor atque Imperator omnium gentium sayth Tully Illa inclita Roma Imperium terris animos aequavit Olimpo saith Virgil. But what need I seek or cite forrein testimonies 1 Mach. 8 13 chap. 15. The book of Machabees giveth us ample proofes of the high and predominant power of Rome See also Brightm in Dan. c. 11. shewing how they commanded the great Kings of Egypt and Asia Ptolomee Demetrius Arsaces Attalus and others to abstain from warre against the Iewes and that command was obayed what City ever in the world did the like Fiftly for the mysticall name of Babilon See these authors cited by Riberain Apo. recited by Paraeus Aug de civit dei lib. 18. Roma velut altera Babylon Idem Occidentalis Babylon passim See M. Downam his treat of Antichrist lib. 1 ca 2. Psal 137. I think it needlesse to dispute to whom it belongeth seeing S. Augustin S. Ierom Tertul. Theophilact Orosius Oecumenius Eusebius and many others both old and new haue expresly applyed it to Rome and so cleared that point also and that upon great reasons First in regard of the greatnesse and largenes of dominion wherein Rome and Babylon excelled the other two Monarchies Secondly for continuance for these two continued longer and immediately upon the decay of Babylon Rome began to growe Velut prioris filia saith Augustine Thirdly for cruelty against the saincts for of Babylon the first the Prophets testifie sufficiently So Rome is by Tertullian called Babylon Quia sanctorum debellatrix Fourthly for promiscuous filthines beyond others Fiftly for Idolatry Lipsius in Epist. Sixtly for confusion morum aeris linguae saith Lipsius Seuenthly for power riches whereof I haue now to speak For her power riches and glory mentioned in the text I appeale to them that haue recorded that the wealth of all the world was in Rome and called it Mundi compendium in this Inventorie of riches glorie is to be cast also the account of their innumerable victories the greatnes of their Empire their prudence and policie in government their providence fortitude industry in war their learning and eloquence the justice temperance and other morall vertues which appeared in some of them the riches of their minds aswell as of their outward estate De doct chr l. 2. cir sineÌ„ wherein they excelled all the world and so doth S. Augustin call the excellent learning morality c. of the heathen Viri pati mulichria muâ—ieres pudicitiam in propatu'o habere Salust much more in Tacit. Annal. Sueton. in vita Virgil. in priap Ovid. Inv sat 6. Tibul. Catul. Propert. Mar. Hor. sâ—r l. 2 3 â— 1 sat 2. de civ l. 3. the gold and silver of Egipt And lastly for their fornication and beastlines I desire them to speake that haue read their best authours Salust Tacitus Sueton virgil Ovid Iuvenal and others Horace confesseth of himself Mille puellaâ—uÌ„ pueroâ—uÌ„ mille furores Caesar was called omnium virorum mulier et omnium mulierum vir And who hath not heard of the beastlines of Tiberius and Caligula Claudius and Nero in a word it is almost incredible and most abhominable what they write in this kinde either of themselves or one of another But if we take fornication in this place for the spirituall adulterie which is Idolatry They that read S. Augustine de Civ Dei Livy and others of their own authours doe know that besides their Majores deos and four hundred and four and twenty Temples amongst which was the Pantheon or Temple of all Devils as Tertullian well calleth it and the Temple of the city it self 1 ips â—x â—â—tit Imperij See more iâ— Chenuâ—i exam câ—nc Trident. de magin which they worshipped as a Goddesse besides all these and their Princes whom they deified after their death every house had Penates and Minores deos so that their Idols were innumerable Hereupon as some called Rome Epitomen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so some christians called it Epitomen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Chron. 28 23. Religione saith Tully truly who knew no religion but Idolatry omnes gentes nationesque superavimus And with this kinde of fornication they made all nations drunk for every one seeing them so prosperous and victorious would have their gods and worship them in hope like Achaz to prosper and overcome as they did Now therefore laying all these things together I ask whether they can be applyed to any other Place in the world but onely to Rome To this also may be added consuetudo loquendi interpres optima which amongst the auncient Iewes of the Sanhedrin was Buxterâ— ex cod Sauhedr by the name of the city to understand Rome as accounting none else worthy or fit to carry that name note also that the Holy ghost in the last verse of the 17 ch of the Apoc. addeth an article of emphasis and distinction to every word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Also Magister in princip glossae epistolae ad Romanos telleth us that cum dicitur Apostolus intelligitur Paulus cum dicitur urbs intelligitur Roma which
common notice may be the cause why our Prophet did so much ingeminate that article to shew that he spake of a city well inough knowen to be such viz. Great and Imperiall And if this be cleare and evident that by the name of the Great cittie and of Babylon in this Revelation Rome and onely Rome is meant this I hope will serue to illustrate other places As for example the second place Rev. 11. where it is said that the beast shall make warre against the two witnesses of God and shall overcome them and kill them And their dead bodies shall ly in the streets of the great City which spiritually is called Sodom and Egipt where also our Lord was crucified Although some doubt might be conceived of the names of Egypt and Sodom in this place and where our Lord was crucified yet the name of the Great cittie ought by the reasons authorities aforesaid to hold us fast to Rome For none else was then great nor worthie to be so called as I haue shewed before Let us see then how these names Sodome and Egypt may be applied to Rome and therein first what it is to be spiritually called There be many spirits mentioned in the scriptures but here I think that spirit is meant which is spoken of by our Lord in the Gospell Ioh. 14 17. 16 13. euen the spirit of truth which shall lead us into all truth and so to be spiritually called is to be truly so called according to their works effects and fruits as the spirit of truth teacheth us to call things Whether doth not the Prophet Ieremie explain this in altering the name of Pashur Ier. 20 3. whether doth not our Saviour explain it Matth. 7. when he sayth Ye shall know them by their fruits do men gather grapes of thornes or figs of thistles as if he should say men do not call that a thorne of which they gather grapes nor that a thistle of which they gather figges but that is called a vine and this a fig-tree For it is not an evill tree that bringeth forth good fruits nor a good tree that bringeth forth evill fruits Luc. 6 46. And why do ye call me Master and do not the things that I speak if I be a master where is my fear Mal. 1 6. sayth the Lord If a father where is my loue And who art thou Iohn 1. say the Pharises to Iohn Baptist The voice of him that cryeth in the wildernes Make straite the wayes of the Lord sayth S. Iohn Matth. 11. as if he should say I am the preacher of repentance against the coming of the Messiah Art thou he that should come saith he again go tell him saith our Saviour The deaf heare the blinde receaue sight the lame walk the leapers are cleansed c. if I do the works of the Messiah I am he and if ye were Abrahams children Iohn 8. ye would do the works of Abraham Whereupon I aske what is the meaning of all these places but to teach us to judge and speak of men by their works as we doe of trees by their fruits So then where we finde the works of Sodom and Egypt that must be called Sodom Egypt spiritually that is truly Esa 1 10. as the spirit of truth hath taught us to speak Ezech 16. and as the Prophets use to speak Now the workes of Sodom and Egypt were beastly filthines Gen. 19. 12 15. 39 13. and bloudie crueltie as we read in the scripture and besides Exod. 1.14 in Egypt also we finde infinite Idolatrie whereof there are sufficient testimonies in the scripture Num. 3 3. besides that which heathen men do write to the same purpose Ier. 43. namely Herodotus Iuvenal Diod. Sic. Anaxandrid and Plutarch Esa 30. And were not these the works of Rome in S. Iohns time Read their own Authors Tacitus Sueton Virgil. and he rest that I cited before concerning their horrible filthines and Idolatrie Read the Ecclesiastick Histories of their persecutions and their best Historians Tacitus Suetonius of their tyrannies crueltie Are they not still the works of Rome in these later times Read Petrach Mantuan Platina Blesensis Roma est jam tota lupanar sayth one It is notorious that almost all the Cardinals of Rome haue their Manfrones Cinaedos sayth another who by authorities and arguments drawn out of Iacobatius other authors of the Romanists without exception fully proveth that there is not now nor hath beene for many yeares past any true Pope nor lawfull Cardinall but that they are all Intruders Simoniakes Sodomites c. and so haue been of long time and therefore by the sentence of the Pope himself Dist. 23. in the Decree declared to be Antichrist The abhominable acts of Iulius the III that made his Ganymede a Cardinall created Iohannes Casa Archb. of Beneventum Legate à Latere who set forth a book in commendation of that crying sin are not yet forgotten and that booke also passed currant a long time amongst them without controule The bloudy actions of Aluisius Borgia Diazius Minerius Gardner Bonner the murdering Dominican in France and the Pouder-traitors in England and many others were not onely not disallowed by them but praised and commended yet Qui non vetat peccare cum pâ—ssit jubet saith the Pagan I desire to know whether any man ever saw read or heard of any nation Christian Iew or Turke Saracen or Savage wherein Sodomie hath been so publiquely practised allowed as in Rome Their Idols and images also are knowen to be innumerable whereof we shall speake more hereafter What shall we say then of the fourth note of this place where also our Lord was crucified In Ierusalem sayth the Babylonian but Ierusalem at the time of the writing of this Apocalyps was so far from being a great cittie that it was no cittie at all for it was utterly destroyed before by Titus And if it had been then a cittie yet was it far from being great or bearing rule over kings and although Ierusalem be some time called the holy cittie yet is it never called the great cittie Hierom. Hierusalem sanctior locus rupe tarpeìa c. See more in the Epistle of S. Hierom to Marcella inviting her to come to Bethleem and likewise in his Epistle written in the name of Paula and Eustochia to the same Marcella to the same purpose wherein he proveth that this name of the great cittie could not be giuen to Hierusalem c. but rather to Rome or to the world c. the chief cittie whereof is Rome Neyther yet are we directed to the name of Hierusalem but to that place wherein it is spiritually sayd that our Lord was crucified Ierusalem is not spoken of in the text neither indeed was our Lord crucified in Hierusalem but extra portas without the gates as the Apostle speaketh Hebr. 13 12. Let them
as easie to be intreated now in heauen as he was upon earth when he did not reject Marie Magdalen that had seauen divels the woman of Canaan whom he rebuked by the name of a dog nor the man possessed with a legion Secondly how do they acknowledg him to be full of truth when they say that his H. word doth not contain all truth but it must be pieced out with the traditions Canons and expositions of their Church 3. How do they acknowledg him to be our wisdome Scriptura seipsam exponit Chris Aug 2 Tim. 3. when they will not haue his word to be sufficient to interpret it self and to instruct us make us perfect in all good works but we must resort to the Church and receiue her judgment from the mouth of their Pope 4 How do they acknowledge our Saviour Christ by himself to haue purged all our sinnes when they say that we must satisfie by good works in our life and after our death we must go to Purgatorie 5 How do they acknowledg him to be our justification when they say that we are justified before God by our good works and not onely by faith in his death and passion although it be written if thou confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and belieue in thy heart Rom. 10. Hebr. 10. that God raysed him from the dead thou shalt be saved 6 How do they confesse him to be our sanctification or that by one sacrifice he hath consecrated for ever them that are sanctified when as they teach that there must be offered up dayly sacrifices for us in the Masse And lastly how do they accept him for their Redeemer which affirm that our poenarie works Concil Trid. ses 14. Bellarm. de paenitent l. 4. truly properly do satisfie God for the guilt of our punishment which after the fault forgiuen remaineth to be expiated But these points with many others which may be produced to proue that the Pope and his Church if not expresly yet by consequence which is equivalent doth deny the fulnes of all graces to be in our Saviour Christ I leaue to our learned Divines of whom some haue urged these things alreadie and others I doubt not will prosecute them more at large hereafter The summe of all this may be reduced to this Problem Whether any may more properly be called Antichrist or may be called an adversarie to Christ then he that thus denieth the graces of our Saviour Let us come to that which is not onely easie to our understanding but evident to our senses which may be seen with our eyes and felt with our hands For if we take the name of Christ here as he is in the sacrament who hath been a greater enimie to Christ theÌ„ the Popes one of them poysoning it another casting it into the fire all changing adding or diminishing it But take the name as it is communicated to Kings Priests and Prophets and so Antichrist to be an enimie to them I demand who hath in secret as Antichrist must be deceiueable been a greater enimie to all christian kings and Princes then the Popes sometimes incensing them to fight with Pagans and Saracens abroad as de did Godfry of Bulleyn many Princes with him in the meane space neglecting their Christian subjects at home our king Richard the first and the Emperor Frederike sometimes stirring up seditions and rebellions at home as he did against the Emperor Henry the IIII. Henry the IIII. king of France and Queen Elizabeth sometimes ministring occasions to make wars betwixt themselues as Pope Iohn did by crowning another Emperor while the first was living sometimes by giving away their kingdomes as Navarre and England sometimes leaving them destitute of succour and open to the universall professed enimie of all Christians the Turke as they did the Grecian Emperors sometimes setting secret Traitors to murder them and sometimes procuring open enimies to invade them ever excommunicating cursing and interdicting one or other of them Let the histories of late times be perused and see whether their ende and drift hath not been continually for these 900 yeeres and upwards to maintaine and advance their own power riches jurisdiction and preeminence by holding christian princes alwaies obnoxious to them and to make them obnoxious and to keepe them under awe by such meanes as aforesaid So likewise for Priests and Prophets is he not an adversarie to all that will not submit themselues unto him as namely to the Greek Church and all the bishops and learned pastors of the same to the godly Valdenses Albigenses Wicklevites and others Lastly if we take the name of Christ here for his mysticall body which is the Church this is also a speciall note of Antichrist For so it is plainly said that the woman was drunke with the bloud of Saints and Martyrs And who hath shed more bloud of godly men professing the word of Christ Iesus then the Popes haue done for these last nine hundred yeares I referre my self to the histories and Chronicles of those times See Abbâ—t demonst antich In that one warr which they caused Christian Princes to undertake for Ierusalem under Godfry of Bollen it is recorded that there were slayn two thousand millions of Christians In Merindall Cabriers and other places held by the poore Valdois they murdered all men women and sucking children In the Massacre of France Anno 1572 within eight daies were murdered a hundred thousand beside many other at other times in England and else where So that howsoever we take the name of Antichrist either as Vicar to Christ or as adversarie eyther denying his graces or suppressing his Liuetenants and ministers or persecuting his members I finde this name most agreeable to Rome and I demand Whether it can be so well applied unto any other But here will be demanded of me a question how this name Ho Antichristos that Antichrist as they expound the Greeke Article which they would perswade is to be understood of one man can be applied to a succession of men especially seeing some of the Fathers seeme to speake of him but as one man For the Fathers to clear that first it must be confessed that quaestionibus non dum motis Pâ—â—k in Prob. they spake sometimes impropriè incautius as Bellarm. confesseth or securius as S. August sometimes Rhetoricè as S. Ierom. sometimes populariter as others do affirm This question concerning Antichrist was not appointed for them but for us upon whom it must needs be confessed that the uttermost ends of the world are fallen neither did they much labour in it And yet we see not all of them runne in one straine Hilarie seemeth to speak more largely He that refuseth the judgment of the Scriptures Antichristus est Chrysoft in opere imperfecto doth not restraine himself to one man but we sayth he videmus abominationem desolationis jam stantem in loco sancto id est populum Antichristi in
and unseemly not onely for the majestie of divine Truth or dignitie of Apostolike writings but euen for the gravitie of a sober man to speake so often or make such incuications of things that should either come so late or continue so small a time Therefore to speak of the first consideration I â—ske whether it be not expressely directly intimated unto us by the Holy Apostle S. Paul where he sayth 2 Thes 2. the Mysterie of Iniquitie beginneth to worke alreadie And by S. Iohn 1 Iohn 2. Euen now there are manie Antichrists And againe 2 Iohn 7. now alreadie he is in the world And againe Manie deceivers are entred into the world which confesse not that Iesus Christ is come in the Flesh 2 Pet. 2. such a one is Antichrist And S. Peter and S. Iude with many words great diligence warne the Church of God Iude epist that there were then certaine men crept in which defiled the flâ—sh and despised government Is it possible that the Apostles should be so carefull to admonish and advertise the church that there were such beginnings and such workings of Antichrist in those times and yet that he should not come in 1600 yeares after or should continue so short a time I am not ignorant that it was the opinion of some learned and godly men from whom I do not willingly dissent But I know that God doth not reveal all things to one man nor all things at one time nor in one manner Iohn 3. Everie man hath his gift and measure Everie thing hath his time and season and everie time his temper and disposition Eccles 3. It was sayd of a verie learned and excellent Doctor of the Church Non videt omnia And he that is non unus è multis See Io. Pic. Mir. in apolo sed inter omnes prope singularis held some strange opinions Yea Moses and David erred in some things It may be also that the Fathers of the Primitiue Church having other great Controversies in hand gaue themselues but little to the studie of the Apocalyps that booke being then in question as it seemeth and not publikely received untill the Councell of Toledo which was about the yeare of our Lord 630 Vida concil Pantal. as if our Lord had provided it against that time Yet somethings they saw and where their opinions are consonant with the Scriptures they are verie much to be regarded Leaving therefore the ignorance of those godly Fathers in some points to sleepe with them in their graues and covering them with a vail of just excuse in that they saw not the successe of times and fulfilling of divers prophecies which haue since appeared and with a Robe of Honorable and Sacred Memorie for the gifts and graces of God which otherwise shined in them as Shem and Iaphet did the nakednes of their Father Let us follow with straight steppes the light of divine Trueth shining in the Scriptures whereunto the Fathers themselues do send us to guide us out of the mistie cloudes and perplexed Labyrinths of Humane Errors And let us see what the Apostles meant by the words aboue cited as where one of them sayth 2 Thes 2. The Mysterie of iniquitie worketh alreadie And againe His working is with all deceiuablenes c. And another Iohn 3. Euen now there are manie Antichrist c. and there are many deceivers gone out c. Did they meane this of Turks which were then scarce heard of in the world or of Iewes which did not then deceitfully but had long before openly and professedly shewed themselues to be the Enemies of Christ and all Christians Or of Heathenish Pagans that were also open persecutors or of any that should openly and professedly deny that Christ was come as now the Greate Patrons of the Romish cause would perswade us If so what needed they to tell us of a Mysterie Deceiveablenes Deceivers c. What Mysterie or deceit could there be in the direct and professed denying of Christ 1 Iohn 3. Or doth not S. Iohn teach us plainly that they meant it of perverted Hereticall Christians where he sayth They went out from us but they were not of us For if they had been of us they would haue continued with us They went out from the Church and they would haue continued with the Church Do not both these words signifie that they were sometimes of the Church and not Iewes Turkes or Pagans that were never of the Church So in the Epistle to the Elect Ladie where he sayth Such a one is a deceiver So S. Paul His comming is with all deceiueablenes These admonitions might seem verie impertinent if they had understood that Antichrist should haue been a Iew Turke Pagan or other professed enemie of Christ So in another place They professe that they know God but by works they deny him and are abhominable disobedient Titus 1. and to everie good worke reprâ—bate The like may be sayd of that fatherly and serious admonition and charge which the beloved Apostle giveth unto us 1 Iohn 4. that many false Prophets were gone out into the world and therefore that we should trye the Spirits What tryall neede we make of anie Turke Iew Pagan or professed enemie of Christ 2 Pet. 2. And the Apostle Peeter seemeth also to warne us of such men whom he calleth False Teachers which should privily bring in damnable Heresies denying the Lord that bought them c. He sayth Heresyes shall we say Iudaisme Turcisme Paganisme He sayth privily shall we say openly What manner of Interpretation is this to contradict the Text Surely the Ancient Fathers would not so interpret it Tertullian Qui pseudoprophetae sunt nisi falsi praedicationes De praescript qui pseudoapostoli nisi adulteri Euangelizatores qui Antichristi interim semper nisi Christi rebelles Ad Magnum Cyprian Indignandum dolendum est Christianos Antichristis assistere praevaricatores fidei atque proditores Ecclesiae intus in ipsa ecclesia contra ecclesiam stare August August Opera loquuntur verba requirimus Magis mendax est Antichristus qui ore profitetur Christum factis negat In Matth. Chrysostom Exercitus Antichristi sunt omnes Haereses praecipue ista Bern. quae obtinuit Ecclesiae locum Ministri Christi serviunt Antichristo Were these men ignorant of the Catholike veritie Or are not these ynough to proue that which Vincentius requireth Quod ubique semper ab omnibus creditum est Vincent Let us returne then to the Apostle S. Iude Iude epist. who exhorteth us earnestly to maintaine the faith against such as turne the grace of God into wantonnes and defile the flesh speaking ill of Magistrates denying the onely Lord God and our Lord Iesus Christ If we should aske upon these words who they be that deny God would not the Apostle himself answer us that they are the
holy inquisition to finde out that sweete sinne and to pardon it which might be most profitable to the Church as having command over the purse of the partie peccant Thus it grew in time to be rightly called the Sacrament of pennance indeede for if it had not contrition at the first yet it ever ended in repentance though ever a little too late and therefore to small purpose for the pennilesse penitent The Cleargie having by these artes and infinite others as Idolatrie is full of invention for he that can once make his Creator can make all other things ingrost almost all into their owne hands they made divisions of Kingdomes and cutte them out into Bishopricks as all Countries especially Germanie can well witnesse Where the Emperor was shackled with Ecclesiasticall Officers of the Sea of Rome as with fetters of gold till the necessitie of the papacie about the rising up of Luther forced the Pope to permit the house of Austria to grow a little too great to the lessening of Antichrists immediate authoritie In so much as now the Papacie is made a servant to the House of Austria under a Catholike title as the Papacie before made both that House and all others servants to increase and support the excessiue greatnesse of that Sea under the like Catholike title and pretence But this was then and is now a violent motion and therefore not perpetuall then permitted and practised to prevent the losse of all which was justly feared upon probable grounds and now to hold what that Sea still possesseth but feareth to loose and to regaine if it be possible what she hath lost alreadie Which if ever she could regaine by this meanes she could then be content to burne the rodde of her wrath or to weare it out in her worke with whipping others In the meane time she is content to make the Spanish kingdome the Catholique sword so that the Roman Church may still be the Catholique scabberd to that sword and draw it or sheath it at the Popes pleasure But I beleeue that as by these arts that Antichristian Sea hath ascended up to that superlatiue height wherein it now sitts so it shall loose all by the same or the like meanes For whensoever the world shall be so happie as to haue an understanding Emperour who knowes his owne and is able to discover and recover Antichristian usurpations that such a man taking Henry the VIII of England for a patterne shall and may easily doe that in Germanie and so consequently in other places which that Resolute King by the advice of the Lord Cromwell and the example of Cardinall Wolsey did in his owne dominions viz. That King intending to dissolue all Monasteries made a division of part to the Nobles and Commons from whence it first came and so mette no opposition The patterne was the Popes owne who made Church-men Princes and changed the title and name of those Lands which were often by them acquired and possessed by ill arts as if he could haue changed the nature thereof and made them what he called them spirituall The King therefore did but reduce things backe to their right and former order Here onely was the error of that worke that the King did not restore the Tenths to the constant maintenance of the ministerie which portion whether it now belong to the Church or no jure divino I intend not to dispute pro or con But I dare say Gods owne order hath manifested it to be both competent and convenient for that purpose beyond all old exceptions or new inventions and so proues it to agree with the law of nature if not to flow immediately from thence deserving therefore to liue after the honourable buriall of the ceremoniall Law as it breathed long before it Had these things been better ordered and some Bishopricks broken into lesser pieces so that they might haue been sitte for honorable burthens but not too greate for the portage of one person who laden with too much temporall honour and revenue as men overgrowne with flesh and fatte become unwealdie and dishonourable burthens themselues to the Church then the undertaking had been absolute For whether it be fitt that one who will not preach the Gospell should haue power to silence such as would that one should haue power to silence a whole Diocesse of learned ministers and a whole Diocesse of these should not haue power to open the mouth of one That one should haue double honour for the single worke Nay for his wilfull idlenes and obstinate hindering the conscionable worke of others and others no honour but conzumelie and scorne for doing the double worke diligently That one should haue the provender belonging to manie labouring oxen for lying in the manger and hindering the poore asses from meate whilest divers oxen that would tread out the corne want come to eate or corne to treade out or are muzzeled whilest they treade That one should rule a place manie miles from his person as if he had both an infallible and infinite spirit and manie should not be able to rule a pettie parish or to catechise a household without helpe whether this thing be according to the patterne of the Apostolicall Hierarchie are problemes which some thinke fitt to be published amongst those of Antichrist because it may be doubted that he who would doe thus would not perhaps startle at a Cardinals cappe or the triple Crowne it they were profered or could be compassed easily and therefore such a man is no fitte instrument to be used against Antichrist in the pulling downe of Babylon or to sit for Christ and rule Obiect upon the top of Sion Object But kinges and Princes governe by substitutes farre off Answ True But it shall not be so amongst you Ans Mat 20 26. Matth. 20 25 26. Take these words of Christ as a Precept to shewe Bishops what they should doe or as a prophesie to shew all men the estate of the true Church what it shall be it is all one And doubtlesse such Princes as shall hereafter reforme will learne to mend what is amisse by the sight of other mens errors and so whensoever God shall blesse Germanie with an able and religious Emperour and shall put it in his heart to reforme the Church it is but changing those greate Bishopricks of Mentz Tryers Collen Munster and the rest into absolute Principallities and making them Hereditarie where now they are Electiue and the worke is at an end they will joyne to uphold their owne interestes and soone exclude the Papacie and mince the Prelacie somewhat finer A speedie and certaine preparation for this is the discoverie of Antichrist and it is the duetie of all men therefore that can to doe their best according to their talents in this subject and amongst others this learned Author hath done much and deserues much in this respect of the Church The Course he takes by Problemes to handle this controversie is not as if he
doubted or any other man neede to doubt of the trueth but as it should seeme being no profest Churchman he modestly disputes the point as a man that would learne himselfe and others by asking questions wisely and withall inquiring whether it can be imagined that any man can be more like Antichrist then the Pope is he concludes negatiuely that none can and plainely layes downe in everie Probleme the obstinate absurdities of such as looke for Antichrist and beleeue he shall come yet cannot now see him to be come because either he stands too neare them as a beame in their eyes and they are parte of him bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh or they expect him when he comes to be so qualified for publique observation as the Church of Rome hath cunningly and poetically described him But such an Antichrist they shall never see for the church of Rome did so paint him in policie not for the disclosing but for the concealing and clowding of his proper and personall appearance and diverting the eyes of all men from beholding the right object For my parte meeting with this Booke in a manuscript and seeing the profit it may bring to all I could doe no lesse then be a midwife for the edition of this since I am not able to be parent for procreation of the like And I haue taken the boldnes upon me to dedicate it to no lesse persons then to the Kings and Potentates of the Earth for it concernes them all especially aboue and more then others to reade and to understand this Controversie least they should be made drunke or kept drunke with the dregges of that abhominable cuppe of Inchantments wherewith diverse of their forefathers haue been intoxicated and slept to death and least they should under the appearance of Christianitse countenance and support Antichristianisme and so thinking to doe Christ good service persecute his poore members ignorantly Besides many of them haue suffred much from the hand of Antichrist and his members The Kings of France haue beene butchered by their instruments and the kingdome put in Combustion by their incendiaries of the Roman Catholique league or partie Our Queenes Father Henrie IIII. of renowmed memorie must not be forgotten his blood is yet too fresh upon their fingers to be hidden from her Majesties eyes except they force her weake sexe as they haue done manie of the masculine gender to winke by threatning to dippe their fingers as deepe in her bloud which the Lord forefend if she cast an eye towards her Fathers Funerall or so much as inquire whether or no he dyed by age or by some injurious and traiterous hand Our Kings haue beene and are still excommunicated cursed exposed to slaughter and deposition by them The King and Queene of Bohemia haue beene pursued from place to place and all Christendome imbroyled with bloodie warres for the upholding of Papall usurpation against regall Iurisdiction Other Princes haue formerly felt and may hereafter feele the strength of his Imperiall and Catholique Armes and therefore it concernes these also to knowe the man of sinne for their owne comfort that they may the better beare their Crosses considering from what head and hand they come and that they may with more courage and assurance looke up towards deliverance Luke 21 28. as Christ hath willed them who at the length will be too hard for Antichrist and giue a happie yssue to all their afflictions And as it concerns Princes especially so it concerns others also as much as their salvation may concerne them to know Christ their Saviour and Antichrist the chiefe enimie of their Saviour and of their Salvation from each other and therefore I haue dedicated it to all Christians But if any wonder why in the Title of the Dedication I use these words To all Christians Reformed and Romish as if I contradicted my selfe in calling the Romish professors Christians which in other places I terme Antichristians I answer that the Pope himselfe could not be the Antichrist except he were a Christian and tooke upon him also to be the chiefe Christian in externall profession A man may in diverse respects be a Christian and an Antichristian at once The Pope is baptized professeth the fayth in generall termes as Peter did and thus he is a Christian and one of S. Peters successors as all other Bishops are but as he chalengeth to be head of the Church universall Bishop of an infallible spirit Iudge of the Scripture c he is Antichrist that is Rev. 18. Rome as head of the church is Babylon such as so dwell in it mystically by adhering to it are in Babylō whether they be in Rome or no such as renounce this Babylonish doctrine of Romish supremacie suprelacie holding the true head which is Christ Iesus alone those are with out Babylon though they dwel in Rome for Christ in shew but against him in trueth So those of the church of Rome are Christians in outward profession but as they adhere to the Pope as to the Vicar of Christ and head of the Church they are Antichristians and such of them as belong to Gods election are called out of Babylon by the holy spirit and may come out from thence by renouncing the Babylonish doctrine of the Church of Rome though for their persons and dwellings they continue in the same place and cittie still And that these Romish Christians may be informed and all other Reformed Christians established in the trueth is the end which the Author proposed to himselfe in the collection and composition and I in the publication of this treatise All that I feare is that both this worke and my owne indeavour shall meete the greatest discouragements from some of those that should protect and countenance us who eyther from error of judgment deny the Pope to be Antichrist and yet separate from him at which I wonder or else out of humane wisedome and policie seeme still to be in doubt and will not be resolved as fearing a diminution of their worldly greatnesse and glorie if this truth should be generally acknowledged Because they suppose much of their authoritie would be found to be built upon the sandie foundation of Antichristian usurpations But shall we loose heauen for earth or looke so low as to bring temporall respects into the ballance with eternall Can there be no provision for upholding the honour and countenance of the Clergie from common contempt and for the incouraging and rewarding of learning but what Antichrist invents to uphold himselfe withall Then let me rather be still poore and despised with Christ and accounted ignorant with his Apostles then rich and respected learned with those of Rome Truth and simplicitie are the chiefe ornaments of Church-men and should be inseparable Their serpentine wisedome should not be used for this world for that naturall subtiltie which hath no mixture of doue-like simplicitie infused by grace Christ did not teach to his Apostles