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
proper to the Pope alone and taken altogether not meeting in any other but in the Pope only Therefore on the whole who would not conclude the Popes being Antichrist the man of sin and son of Perdition II. By which last His being said to be a Son of perdition I am brought from Antichrists Rise to the last consideration here concerning him Antichrists down fall which follows on the other necessarily for if he be a man of sin he must be a son of perdition Of this his fall it is here said that the Lord shall consume him with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy him with the brightness of his comeing v. 8. that they all might be damned who believe not the truth v. 12. where is distruction 1. To him 2. and to his 1. To himself 1. His being consumed 2. Destroyed 1. That he consumed by the breath of the Lords mouth The breath of the Lords mouth is the preaching of the Gospel which is the word of God so Generally interpreted And to be consumed implyes a lingring wearing away and by degrees wasting and decaying not a violent and suddain destruction such as was Simon-Magus his down-fall said to have been on St. Peters breath or prayers against him Of this Consumption of the Papal power and greatness by the preaching of the word and Gospel in the world we have apparent evidence I shall give it as by Bellarmine expressed he by that waining in the Papacy arguing against the Popes being Antichrist Antichrists greatness and prevailings in the World being much spoken of whereas his fall and declining state is also described as si his greatness Bellarmines words are these Since that time when ye Protestants say the Pope began to be Antichrist the Papal Empire was so far from increasing that thenceforth it every day more and more declined And as you would have it Antichrist reigning the Roman See hath by little and little decayed it having lost almost all Africa a great part of Asia all Greece and even in our very days a great part of Germany Sweden Gothland Norwey and all Denmark A good part of England France Helvetia Poland Bohemia and part of Hungary are fallen away Bellarm de Rom Pontif. l. 3. c. 21. This way by Bellarmine written an 1577 as appears in the Preface to that work so as that decay in the Papal Empire was then within the space of 60 years accounting from the year 1517 the time of Luthers Preaching of which he speaks declaring the Pope to be Antichrist What then may be the consumption and decay there at this time being 150 years since 2. But that Consumption of this son of Perdition shall end also in destruction utter and irrecoverable whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming See this Rev. 17 where the ten horns of that scarlet coloured beast on which that woman Rome sitteth are expounded ten Kings which had not then received their Kingdom but were to receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast v. 12. These were states of the Western Empire which on the decay of the Empire did setup for themselves all with one mind giving their power and strength unto the beast and making war with the Lamb who shall overcome them v. 14 But those ten horns shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with Fire v. 16. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his Will and to agree and give their Kingdom unto the Beast till the word of God should be fulfilled v. 17. Which fall of Antichrist in several degrees is declared by several Angels in that imployed 1. An Angel preaching the everlasting Gospel Rev. 14.6 the beginning of Antichrists fall and gradual consumption 2. Another Angel declaring the downfall of that Antichristian state Rev. 14.8 3. An Angel forbidding the worshipping the beast or his image and receiving his mark in his forehead or in his hand denouncing judgments on such Rev. 14.9 10 11. 4. An Angel calling out of Babylon and to separate from her not to partake of her sins and plagues Rev. 18.4 6. 5. And another Angel giving a sign of irrecoverable destruction by casting as it were a milstone into the Sea saying Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all Rev. 18.21 Thus of Babylon Rome and Antichrist's fall as to it self considered II. See that also as to their Adherents in which our charitable thoughts of them have been by wrong measures mistaken to some disadvantage that which we say in that is 1. That there was a time when Antichristianism was a mystery not understood Antichrist not being yet so declared as after 2. And that after Antichrist was pointed at in the Church of Rome yet while erroneous doctrines there were but disputable not imposed as after in the Council of Trent to be de fide with an Anathema to such as thought of them otherwise and to such as did not understand the reach and depth of those evils and where the light of the Gospel is shut out as in some places and the knowledge of that denied and persecuted For these is our charity grounded to say well of them as of those of Thyatira who had not known the depths of Satan as they speak Rev 2.24 and those of Pergamus dwelling even where Satan's seat is yet saith our Lord thou hast held fast my name and hast not denied my Faith even in those dayes wherein Antipas my faithful Martyr was slain among them where Satan dwelleth v. 12. To be among Hereticks and not to believe Hereticks or not being led by them is St. Augustine's distinction in that case such ignorance may excuse But as to ignorance affected having Light and means of knowledge and when called on to come out of Babylon its ruine being declared and communion there declared perillous To such we say that their continuing so in that state is hazardous and full of danger Nor can such rely on ignorance it not in that case excusing For in this is condemnation where light is come and men love darkness rather than light John 3.19 and where the leaders of the People cause to err they that are led of them are destroyed Is. 9.16 and the blind by them so led both fall into the Ditch Math. 15.14 4. But as to those who are knowing and who defend and plead for Baal seducing and being seduced and so continuing the state of such is declared damnable that they all may be damned saith the Text who believe not the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness v. 12. and to such belongs that evil by the Angel declared if any man worship the beast and his image and receive his Mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the Wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his indignation and he shall
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