ordained Romans 13.12 standing in his place and so to be subjected to according to their degrees in Government whether to the King as supream or unto Governours under him 1 Pet. 2.13 14 and from this subjection are none exempted let every soul be subject c. The Apostles were not exempted nor is the Pope This God Commands yet see in this The Pope exalting himself above all called Gods even Emperors as vassals to him causing them to hold his Stirrup and Kiss his feet Celestine 3. crowned the Emperor Hen 3. with his toe Popes also setting their feet on the necks of Emperors as did Pope Adrian 4. and Alexander 3. Also disposiing crowns and deposing and advancing at pleasure which by Aventinus is said of the Popes from Gregory 7th to his time Hildebrand who is Gregory 7th first founded the Papal Empire which his successors for 450 years carryed on notwithstanding the oppositions of the world and Emperors resisting so as high and low were brought under and subjected to their yoke According to their will they cast down from heaven to hell and exalt from hell to Heaven again And what in this they practise they avow as due and proper to them and to them alone of which therefore I need say no more In the Pope therefore and in him alone and in none other is this sign of Antichrist found that he exalteth himself above all called Gods III. It followeth His sitting in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God Tu es alter Deus in terra Thou art another God upon earth was the speech of Christophorus Marcellus in the very Council of Lateran to Pope Julius 2. the Pope himself being present Concil Lateran Sess. 4. And in the Gloss on the Canon Law he is called our Lord God the Pope And whereas the word God so said of the Pope was by some thought too much and in some Editions omitted we find the censure of the Gloss by Pope Pius 5 and the Gloss of the Canon Law revised by Cardinals and learned men deputed for it by Pope Gregory 13. in both the word God before omitted to have been restored and put in again and that by the Popes allowance now it being what was our Lord God the Pope Nor can it be otherwise intended but that the Pope should be so esteemed while they stick not to ascribe to him Attributes proper to God as Omnipotence and Infiniteness The Pope say they may do whatsoever God doth nor can it be known what the Pope can do for the power of the Pope is infinite and what is infinite is not known and what the Pope doth is reputed as done of God for what the Pope doth he doth as God not as man Which the Popes Omnipotence is by them averred by Scripture all Power in Heaven and Earth is given me which was said by Christ of himself Mat. 28.8 and that is said of the Pope also that Power of Christ being challenged by the Pope his Vicar nor that as to Heaven and earth only but beside their Purgatory even to Hell also so as his power seems to extend so far as to deliver from Hell whence is no redemption and to forbid and command when they please and whom they think fit to be kept from thence Nolumus We declare it our pleasure that the Punishment of Hell be not inflicted on such as are signed by the cross those imployed by the Pope on his business And as Omnipotence and Infiniteness Gods attributes are attributed to the Pope so is Adoration also which God challengeth as proper to him self onely I am the Lord that is my Name and my Glory will I not give to another neither my praise to graven Images God speaking of his Worship Is. 42.8 He only is to be served or worshipped Math. 4.10 but to the Pope are Religious adorations given in a most solemn manner while the new elected Pope is placed on an Altar and there seated in his Chair with his Crown and in his Pontificalibus adored by all present Cardinals Ambassadours of Princes and all of all degrees descending from their places and with prostrations worshipping him And is not this a sitting in the Temple of God as God shewing himself that he is God IV Further a mark and sign of that wicked one is that his coming and Acting is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that Perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a Lye 2. Thess. 2.9 10 11. This say some shews Antichrist to be a Conjurer and Compactor with the devil and such saith they was Simon Magus and he Antichrist But such we knew were Popes also as to mention no more Sylvester 2. Benedictor 9th Gregory 7. which I pass at present Neither insist I on those wonders by these acted whether seeming real by Satans working with them or for them or that they be lying wonders whether feigned or imposed as true or lying serving for confirming lyes and untrue doctrines of men nor speak I of those ridiculous fables with which their Legends of Saints are stuffed such as may be wondred how learned and prudent men should give credit to them if they do And if they do it must be surely from Gods giving them over Judicially to believe a lye they not receiving the love of the truth so is the Text The seat of the beast on which the Angel poured out his vial and his Kingdom is full of darkness Rev. 16.10 But I look on this here rather as a sign and mark of Antichrist by which he should act and be known in the World his Antichristian Church boasting of wonders making miracles a sign of the true Church and upbraiding us with our want they say of Miracles To which we say 1 That for the first introducing of truth miracles might be necessary but that truth being once received such miracles were after unnecessary such were in the first planting of the Gospel done by Christ and his Apostles which we challenge as ours But that truth then delivered to the saints being received and believed what now need we more or any renewed miracles For miracles and wonders as tongues c. are for unbelievers not for them that believe 1. Cor. 14.22 and it shews a novelty in those Popish Doctrines that need fresh confirmations and shewes them unbelievers that seek such But in this is a proper mark of that Antichristian Church that and no other sort of professors or People in the world but Rome only and the Pope adhereing so to miracles V. But to proceed Another mark of this man of Sin by which he is known is that he opposeth himself that is to Christ therefore called Antichrist Obj. But how can that be said of the Pope he being
gracious Majesties continual care of his People they were thus considered and that by your Lordships procurement and management God multiply his blessings on you in your Person and in your Excellent Lady and Noble Progeny and make us happy in the continuance of your prosperous Government generally desired which are the prayers of My LORD Your Excellencies Most devoted Servant HEN. MIDENSIS THE EPISTLE TO THE READER THat between the first and second coming of Christ the Church being settled and propagated by the Apostles and their Successors there should arise a certain person notoriously wicked an adversary to Christ and a cruel persecutor of the Church whom the Scripture 1 John 2. and 4. calls Antichrist is by Scripture and Apostolical Tradition among Catholicks most certain and not to be doubted Say the Romanists And whereas the Apostles speak of a Mystery of iniquity even then in those very times working 2 Thes. 2.7 and that many Antichrists were then in the world 2 John v. 7. and that there was one other not-yet-come but in his time to be revealed 2 Thessal 2.5 1 John 2.18 These together give us to understand Antichrist considered in his several Ages and gradual appearings for Rome was not built in a day The knowledge of which Gradual Comming of Antichrist leads us to the better understanding him as to his Person and Appearing Herein therefore consider 1. The Preparations to Antichrists Comming 2. His after-appearing in the world 1. The Preparations to his Comming or his being conceived and but yet an Embrio in the womb 's may be those first times when that iniquity did work but in a Mystery that is not yet so openly as after and Antichrist not himself yet appearing but by others his forerunners called Antichrists and from their number many Antichrists and from their chief called also the Spirit of Antichrist who was to come John 2.7 This period of time may be extended to the first 600 years of the Church of which although the first 300 be acknowledged the purer yet do the later 300 and the whole 600 pass generally under the name of pure compared with the following In which 600 years it is granted that many Errours did creep into the Church For while the husband men slept or were less vigilant the enemy sowed Tares among the Wheat both growing together as our Lord had forwarned Matth. 13.24 to 31. yet is it notwithstanding confidently averred that within those 600 years there was not one in the whole world might be properly called a Papist saith our most learned after Primate Usher For as the Title of Pope was not yet appropriated by and to the Bishops of Rome nor the name Papist from them derived to their followers so those Errours before stolen in and crept into the Church were not then received nor passed for Truths some of them being taken notice of were opposed both in the Eastern and Western Churches particularly in France Germany and even in our own Britain also And long after were those erroneous Doctrines of Popery no other among the learned of that side than Points disputable pro and con which were after in the Council of Trent and some others before determined as de fide to be thenceforth no more questionable This was not to be expected within those first 600 years of the Church when was wanting an Universal Bishop and Pope by whose power a Council might be ordered to adopt those growing Errours for Truths which after followed For at the end of that sixth Century and in the entring on the seventh in the year 607. we then begin to hear of Antichrists appearing in the world But 1. In Infancy 2. After in full age growth and strength 1. Antichrists Infant age is what next followeth and may be stated in the year 607 Boniface 3. who by favour of Phocas the Emperor obtained and assumed the title of Universal Bishop or Pope which had been ambitiously sought after by John Patriarch of Constantinople as what he thought was belonging to the chief seat of the Empire Constantinople which his so invading that proud title was by Gregory the great Bishop of Rome declared a sign of Antichrist's being then at hand that whosoever assumed that title was Antichrist or a forerunner of Antichrist not dreaming how near that by him so spoken was to himself For while he was eyeing another person and place this was soon after found in his own See of Rome and there in his very next successor but one Boniface 3. he Arrogating that high name of Universal Bishop not content with Primacy without Supremacy not satisfied with being first among the five Patriarchs but to be above them also and they subjected to him and his rule so he to be over all Bishops and the Church throughout the whole World subjected to him as chief And here see how near the Pope's two so contrary Titles came in and began almost together that of Servus Servorum Dei by Gregory and Universal Bishop by Boniface his successor That also Antichrist had scarcely begun to shew himself in this Western part of the World at Rome as now in Boniface when near upon that time Mahomet the false Prophet began to appear in the East both to the bane of the Church the famous Churches in the East suppressed by the one and those in the West corrupted by the other 2. Yet was this but Antichrist's infancy we have yet to see him in his full growth of strength and stature under following Popes especially in Gregoy 7th before called Hildebrand who inlarged the Papal power above all spiritual and temporal not only Bishops but even Emperours also being brought under him As to the time of Gregory the 7ths Papacy which was about a thousand years from the destruction of Jerusalem and Temple by the Romans In which time of the destruction of Jerusalem was that Fulness of Christ's Kingdom and its coming in power That is the Gospel preached to other Nations and Jerusalem trodden down of the Gentiles Luke 21.24 Thereby also were the Temple Jewish service worship and sacrifices taken out of the way which for a time were hindrances to the course of the Gospel In this Christ's Kingdom of the Gospel so come there was to be also a binding up of Satan for a thousand years after so as the Devil should be restrained not in that time to seduce the world so freely and so generally as before Rev. 20.1 2 3. after which thousand years Satan was to be again at liberty for mischief which loosing of Satan was the period of Antichrists being also at liberty he coming with the working of Satan 2 Thes. 2.9 Satan and Antichrist working by and for each other Which thousand years were then compleated in the Papacy of Gregory the 7th mentioned And it may be observed in this what is also found in other great Prophecies that about the time of their fulfilling mens minds have been then stirred up as by
be tormented c. Rev. 14.9 11. let such consider their State seriously and seasonably And now to conclude with a word to our selves that as we are to bless God for calling us out of that Sate of evil so to be confirmed in the truth and not to fall back whatever the Temptation be good or evil saving life or loosing it and that we desire the Lords grace in that for help and support All which I shall shut up in the words of the Apostle next after my Text v. 13 14 15 16 17. We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and beliefe of the truth whereunto he hath called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ Therefore brethren stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught whether by word or by our Epistle Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father who hath loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through Grace comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work Amen FINIS These Books are lately Printed for and published by Nathaniel Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or the Causes Wayes and means of understanding the mind of God as revealed in his Word with assurance therein And a declaration of the perspicuity of the Scriptures with the External means of the Interpretation thereof by Dr. John Owen D. D. The Church of Rome no safe Guide or Reasons to prove that no Rational man who takes due Care of his own Eternal Salvation can give himself up unto the Conduct of the Church in matters of Religion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or a Declaration of the Glorious Mystery of the person of Christ God and Man With the Infinite Wisdom Love and Power of God in his Contrivance and Constitution on thereof as also of the Grounds and Reasons of his Incarnation the Nature of his Ministry in heaven the present state of the Church above thereon and the Use of his person in Religion with an account and vindication of the Honour Worship Faith Love and Obedience due unto him in and from the Church (a) Guil. Estius Tom. 4. in l. 4. dist 47. sect 6. (b) Jac. Usherâ— Christ. Eccles sucâ—es c. 1 p. 18. (c) Id. c. 2. (d) Rich. Victor in Apocal. â— 6. c. 7. (d) Avent Annal. Boiorum l. 7. c. 47. Bin. conc gen par 2. p. 438. (c) Baron Annal. Tâ—m 12. a. 1170. Sect. 9. (f) Roger Hoveden Annal. Ricar 1. p. 388. (b) S. Hier. in Mat. 24. (c) S. Aug in 2 Thes. 2.7 de civit dei 1.20 c. 19. (d) Aug. triumph de potestate Ecc. q. 3. Art 7. (e) Grot. de Antichrist (f) Annal a. 45. (g) De Rom. Pont. l. 3. c. 13. l. 2. c. 2. (h) 6. Ep. 28. (i) Dionys Halicarnass an t Ro. 12. God-win's Rom. Antiq l. 2. sect 2. c. 15. (m) Avent Annal l. 7. (n) Ibid l. 5. o Tho. Stapleton t. 2. (p) Avent annal Boyor l. 5. p. 447. (q) Extra Joh. 22. deverb signif cap. cum â—â—ter (r) Antonin p. 3. t. cap. 22.5 §. 6. (s) Decius in cap. Can. de constit n 16. (t) Bulla Cle. 6. (v) Lib. cerem 1. §. 1. fol. 16. x Piatro Suav Polon Histo. Tr. p. 24. y Also Pius V. Cùm essem Religiosus sperabam benè de salute animae meae Cardinalis factus extimui nunc Pontifex creatus penè despero Concil e Legist com in Num. 11.11