and Mâ—gog of which I purpose not to speâ—kâ— in thâ— treatise FINIS TO AS MANY AS CALL THEMSELVES CATHOLIKES AND FOLLOW THE Church of Rome and yet doe desire to know and embrace the truth WE see and lament that the multitude of those which doe beare the name of Christians is distracted into many different and contrary opinions yeâ—â—is there none of the factions which pretendeth not that he hath the onely right way Against this multiplicity ariseth the word of God which doth constantly affirme that Ephes 4 4.5.6 there is but one God one faith c. So that though 1. Cor. 9.24 many runne at the price yet but one obtaineth it The great Question is among vs all which side hath the true God and true faith and who shall get the price In this contention none are so feruent as they who call themselues Catholikes and follow the Church of Rome and they who are called Protestants and haue departed from the Church of Rome In so great opposition it is certaine both parties are not right Wherefore you that follow Rome yet loue the truth consider with me a little how we may be satisfied which of vs is out of the way and thinke no scorne to turne into the right path when we haue found it As for the rest whom Antichrist hath deluded to stoppe their eares like deafe Adders against good counsaile and to open their mouthes to blasphemie so that they crie all is but lyes before they heare or reade a letter as God hath prouided no sacrifice for their wilfull sinne so I leaue them to him that â— Cor. 5.13 iudgeth them that are without It is confessed of vs all that our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ had the truth and that he sent his Apostles abroad to preach the same which they did in their sermone and deliuered in their writings Now it remaineth to be required whether the Doctrine by them taught and recorded in the scriptures be the onely eternal and immutable truth or no Or that the Church may in time deuise more to bee added thereto other differing from it or some contrary vnto it of like authoritie and reuerence As for the Protestants they bind themselues to the written Word as a sufficient Canon to walke by acknowledging it to be Reuel 19.16 the King of Kings and Lord of Lords The Church of Rome will not be so straighted nor so subiect but wil assume she goeth right when she walketh by her Traditions which change with the times as appeareth by their seueral and opposite decrees and institutions So that she thinketh her selfe neuer out whatsoeuer she doth in abolishing the former and in deuising and inioyning such new articles as the godly in the primitiue Church neuer knew nor their fathers before them vnto which also she holdeth all men are to be subiect on paine of damnation For the decision of this great question because it is obiected to the parties themselues that they doe not pursue their arguments with that patience as is required at the hands of Christians let vs commit the moderation to such as we all agree were both truly Christians which was the Act. first name that the Disciples were called by and truelie Catholikes which was the next title they tooke Namely Athanasius and his fellowes who though they spake in another case yet it appeareth by the waight of their arguments they would speake of our Question were they at our Conference in the same sort as they did at Ariâ—â—â—â— Let vs see to which of our parties their censure were most proper if the names of the persons which they speake of were changed into the persons of our Question Their speech is recorded by Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 29. When Vrsacius and Valent had read a confession of the faith dissenting from the Nicâ—â—â— Creede as the Papists doe from the faith and doctrine of the word of God published in the raigne of Constantius Flauius and Eusebius being Consuls as that of the Papists is instituted by diuers Popes the Catholikes that disliked it rose vp and said as we also say to the Papists We came not together with you because we were destitute of faith for wee keepe that wholy which wee receiued from the beginning but that if any did attempt any new thing of that matter we might resist him AThanasius who especially disliked this innouation wrote vnto his friends almost in these words which with changing but the names of the persons whom hee nameth and are put in the margent to the Papists will be thus What I pray you was wanting in the Catholike Church vnto the doctrine of godlines that now they should enquire of the faith and should by name prefix the Consuls Popes and Councels Which were in this present time before the words which forsooth they haue set downe of the faith For the Vrsatius Valens Germanius Popish writers haue done that which was neuer done nor heard among christians For where they wrote the things which they thought were to be beleeued they haue written Consuls the Popes Councels and places moneth and lastly the day that it might be manifest to all wise men that their faith had no beginning before the beginning of the raigne of Constantius such Popes and Councels yea that which is more all of them hauing regard vnto their owne heresie haue committed their owne sentences to writing Moreouer when they pretend to write of the doctrine of the Lord they haue named another for their Lord namely Constantius the Pope For he hath opened vnto them a window vnto all their impiety And when as they did denie the word of the Sonne of God to be eternall for so farre were these enemies of Christ cast into wickednesse they haue named the Emperor decrees of the Popes to be eternall But perchance they catch an occasion to name the Consuls Popes and Councels by the example of the holy Prophets who do set downe the time in which they liued But if they shall dare to affirme so they shall exceedingly bewray their folly For albeit there be mention of the times in the prophecies of holy men as in Esaiah and Hosea which were in the daies of Ozias and Ioatham Achaz and Ezechias as in the prophecie of Ieremie who liued in the dayes of Iesias as in the prophecies of Ezechiel and Daniel who flourished when Cyrus and Darius did raigne and lastly as in other Prophets which prophecied in other times yet doe none of them lay any first foundation of pietie and holy religion For it was before their times and alwaies and before the framing of the world which God by Christ hath prepared for vs. And as for the times in which their faith began they did not designe for before those times themselues were faithfull but those were the times of the promise pronounced by them And the promise doth especially concerne the incarnation of our Sauiour That which was annexed thereunto did clearely demonstrate those things which should befall
did write CHAP. II. The second period containing a second battaile in heauen betweene the man Childe of the woman and the Dragon WHen the troubles of the Church were ouer which were in hand when Saint Iohn did write the Lord did a cap. 4.2 Psal 156.1 76.2 erect his throne openly in heauen by a manifest gouernment of his Church in the world So that now the truth of that Tabernacle is amongst the Christians whereof the Iewes in the wildernesse b Heb. 9.8.9 had the type and figure for the present time c Heb. 8.2 euen that true Tabernacle which God hath pitcht and not man Then the Christian Churches haue Mount d cap. 14.1 Sion the e Heb. 12.22 1. Cor. 3.17 Temple and in it f cap. 7.15 Heb. 4.16 the throne of grace or mercies-seate and hereupon g cap. 4.4 the Lord sitting hauing h Psal 93.1 put on glorious apparell Here i Psal 122.5 also are the thrones of the house of Dauid euen the thrones of iudgement k Heb. 12.23 for the first begotten whose names are written in heauen l cap. 4.5 Ioh. 16.13 Here also are the seuen Lamps the holy Ghost which enlightneth euery one that commeth into the world to leade them in all trueth The m cap. 4.6 1. King 7.23 Ephes 5.26 Tit. 3.5 Matth. 3.11 Sea pure as crystall the true lauer of regeneration by which men are baptized vnto repentance The n cap. 4.6.7.8 Ezech. 10 2. Psal 99. glorious Cherubins betweene whom the Lord sitteth and raigneth This throne is compassed with innumerable o cap. 5.11 Heb. 12.22 1. King 6.29 Gen. 3.24 Angels who now defend the godly and speake peace to them hauing palmes in their hands which heretofore had flaming swords to keepe them from the tree of life Here is also the p cap. 6.9 Leuit. 4.34 altar of burnt offering on which the Saints are slaine and their blood powred at the foote of the altar q ca. 8.3 9.13 Psal 141.2 The golden altar with his odours and hornes Salomans r 1. King 7.15 cap. 3.12 pillers c. The onely difference is that wee haue the trueth without shadowes and therefore our Tabernacle hath neither vaile nor couering nor boardes to inclose it but standeth erected openly in the world vnder heauen Hereupon the ſ cap. 12.7.3 Dragon the diuel beginneth new warres in heauen and in earth There was a great battaile in heauen that is in those places of the world where the Gospell of the t Matth. 13.19.24 kingdomè of heauen was publikely professed Of this battaile we are to consider the enemies their manner of fight and the successe The enemies in this battaile u cap. 12.7 are Michael and his Angels which fight against the Dragon and his Angels By Michael is ment the * cap. 14.1 Dan. 12.1 lambe Iesus Christ fighting by the man childe which the woman brought foorth that is the godly learned and valiant Christians which sprung vp of the doctrine of the Apostles when the Church had peace after the first troubles The first seale The a cap. 6.1 manner of the fight is so wonderfull that one of the Cherubines doth call as with the voyce of thunder to all men to come and see both him and his furniture to this warre Wherefore first Saint Iohn doth b cap. 6.2 behold and loe a white horse c Psal 68.13.14 white for honour and a horse for d Zach. 1.10 speede He e cap. 6.2 that sat on him had a bow with f Psal 45.5 sharpe arrowes to pearce the hearts of men by the preaching of the Gospel and spreading of it by word and writing For the learned men of that time did labour g Euseb 4. 14. 18. 20. 21. 26. 28. 5. 9. c. by preaching and wrote diuers treatises some of instruction in the points of religion others of confutation both of the gentiles and heretikes h cap. 6.2 Psalme A crowne is giuen vnto him to reigne in the world For when i Euseb 8. 1. as by the graunt of Adrian the royall commandement of Antoninus Pius the crowne was set vpon the head of Christ the Gospel spread abroad very speedily and with much glory getting honour and estimation amongst all men as well Greekes as Barbarians The Christians gouerned in principall offices amongst the nations They with their families most familiarly did triumph of the profession of their faith euen in the palaces of Princes Bishops were in most high estimation and price amongst all men Very populous were the assemblies of the professors and euery day the places for their congregations were made more large all things prospered and increased in a word they were happie dayes And being thus furnished k cap. 6.2 he rideth forth conquering that he might ouercome l Euseb 5. 19. For the doctrine of saluation did subdue the mindes of all sorts of men vnto m Ibm. the holy religion of one the God of all Now these things were intolerable to the diuel by nature enemie to euery good thing and enuious thereat n cap. 12.7 And the Dragon by the Romane Empire as yet heathen and his Angels both Princes or Proconsuls with the people and heretikes c. did warre against him that sat vpon the horse The Emperors like the bloudie Dragon the diuel did often times moue very extreame persecutions o Geneb p. 508. p 519. Euseb l. 4. Carion For after Marcus Aurelius the philosopher monsters held the Empire to Constantines time This Marcus with his colleague Verus moued persecution After them Seuerus and Aurelius opposed themselues against Christ commaunding that none should become a Christian vnder a grieuous paine Maximinus persecuted the Doctors Bishops and other chiefe professors Decius was a most cruell firebrand Valerius a bloody persecutor Aurelianus a grieuous aduersary Dioclesian in the East and Maxentius in the West stirred vp most barbarous persecutions against the Church which sincerely professed Christ a Euseb 4. 15. 5. 1. For after innumerable torments and kindes of death they would not suffer the godly to be buried but after their bodies had laine for euery body to gaze vpon some were eaten with dogges some burned and their ashes cast into riuers c. There sprung vp also innumerable heretickes b as false b Euseb 4. 21. 27. 5. 15. 13. c. Christs false Prophets false Apostles whom the enemie of the Church of God hating good and louing euill omitting no meanes or opportunitie to lie in waite to hurt man raised vp These not onely deuided the vnitie of the Church with peruerse doctrines against God his Christ and all godinesse but also were violent and double diligent to bring the godly into persecution and to execute torments vp on them Among these was c Euseb 4. 37. 5. 2. Tatianus a violent enemie of
14.3 the throne and before the foure beastes before the Elders that is in the Church before God the father the sonne and the holy Ghost before the glorious Cherubins and before the faithfull and holy gouernors of the Church This doth signifie the good and most Christian Councels which were held before the Lord and his Angels by the authority of godly and religious Princes and by the assistance of the faithfull Bishops and Ministers of the word For g Caranza vnder Theodosius was held a Councel against the Nestorians And also the Carthaginian Mileuitan and Aurasican Councels were held against the Pelagians The Affrican h Melan. 3. Epist Aug. Councel wrote vnto Innocentius the Bishop of Rome and exhorted him that he would also disallow the errors sprung vp at Rome and would not suffer them to spread any further Vnder Martianus was held a Councell at Chalcedonia against the Eutychians i Geneb p. 64â— In the yeare of Christ 552. was held a Councell at Constantinople against certaine heretickes and to confirme the foure generall Councels A heauenly harmonie of holy harpers The song which those Fathers and Councels did sing is somewhat darke to be vnderstood For no man a cap. 14.3 could learne the song but the 144,000 which were bought froÌ„ the earth to wit those faithfull witnesses which are not earthly minded For as it is said of some of Augustines latter bookes that he hath sometimes vnproper b Melan. 3. de Eccl post Vol. 3. speeches but if they be wel fauourably iudged of they containe the very truth so may it be said of the rest because the iniquitie of the time enforced them to speake with as little offence to the impietie of men as possibly might be c. The flight of the woman in these troublesome times was by flying to carrie her selfe cleane out of the c cap. 12.14 sight of the Serpent For the countries now d Geneb p. 5â—â— made newely kingdomes were conuerted afterwards e Sabel In Affrica in the time of Gensericus the Church was cleane extinguished the Bishops which maintained the trueth beeing fledde and banished for euer and so by other tyrants in other places From hence the Church is fledde from the presence of the Serpent and is mingled for a time times and halfe a time that is 1260. yeares there beeing many godly men amongst the diuellish tyrants and hereticks which they doe not see not know of yet there is the Church The successe is diuers in the Church and Empire and also concerning these strangers By this inundation of these barbarous f cap. 13.3 nations that one head of the beast was as wounded to death by the sword that is the Romane Empire in the West was cleane ouerthrowne rent and torne g Geneb p. 609 Germanie Dacia Sarmatia Spaine Britaine and France doe altogether fall away from the Empire to the vtter h Melan. 3. ruine of the Empire The office also of i Sabel E. 8. l. 1 Consuls ceased in Rome in the yeare 560. k Geneb p. 641. In the space of 142. or rather 150 yeares l 642. Rome the tamer of mankinde and castle of all nations did sustaine many casualties by the iudgement of God that it might seriously slide to the hands of the Church whose head as some thinke it ought to be and to that vse should be built againe from the foundation For after that Rome was spoiled by Alaricus armie in the age of Augustine and Hierome anon it was wasted by the Vandals within 44. yeares After that 22. yeares by Odoacer and his Heruli Againe after 14. yeares by Theodoricus and his Ostrogothes Furthermore after 50. yeares it was taken by Belifarius At last it came into extreame miserie by Totilas the reliques of the Gothes after 12. yeares And a Hist an t ex Egna p. 426. the maiestie of the Romane name * cum p. 468. ex Paul Diaco 6. qu. Buchol Ann. 476. by the flight of Augustulus the last of the Caesars of the * Vid hist anti ex Paulo Diac. p. 468. Romane nation renowned for the seruice of the gods did fall and was cleane ouerthrowne that as shee was wont to triumph ouer the whole world so now there is no nation so fierce and barbarous which doth not repaie the iniurie done to them or their auncestrie For in Augustulus b Carion f. 143. the Empire of the Augusti in Italie perished and ended They lost their c Sab. E. 8. l. 5. language at Rome The Romane ciuill lawes were as exiles d Geneb p. 914 from hence for the space of 600. yeares c. But the earth helpe the woman and the earth e cap. 12.16 opened her mouth and swallowed vp the flood which the Dragon had cast out of his mouth that is the countries into which these strangers made incursion swallowed them vs. For these strangers did content themselues to be mixed with the naturall inhabitants f Saâ—el â—n â— l. 5. of the countries into which they came The Gothes which remained in Italie degenerating into the name of Italians in Spaine into Spaniards leauing onely in diuers places some places of their names which keepe their memory And of them arose certaine kingdomes bearing the names of the places where they were for the most part The successe that these strangers found was first that their power was limited For * cap. 9.5 â— their power was to hurt fiue months that is an hundred and fiftie yeare For a moneth g Erasm Remâ— in tab Prâ—t according to the account of the Hebrewes Aegyptians and Astronomers containeth 30. daies and so fiue moneths amount to 150. daies which counting a h Ezech. 4.6 day for a yeare after the maner of the scripture commeth to 150. yeare For from the time that Rhadagasus first entred which was in i Carion the yeare 405. vnto the k Sabel death of Teias the last of these strangers that afflicted the Empire which was l Geneb p. 643 in the yeare 555. is precisely 150. yeare And though the people did still continue yet the kingdome name power and Empire of the Gothes were rooted out of Italie And so in other places this number of 150. yeares is in a manner a fatall limit to such as make incursions into the countries of others Secondly they that for 150. yeare could be brought vnder no mans power were in the ende afterwards made the subiects of Antichrist m Strab. 7. And as before they came they were subiect vnto their Priest which liued in an inaccessible cell as an angel of the bottomlesse pit who did euer set them to make incursion vpon their neighbours as Abaddon or Apollyon a destroyer so n cap. 9.11 now they had a King set ouer them which is that Angel of the bottomlesse pit whose o Dan. 7. name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in
Prophets of Kings c. * cap. 19.20 And for these such like causes he is called The false prophet that prophesieth lies c. But he is like vnto the first monstrous beast in this that he doth k cap. 13.12 exercise the power of the first beast before him taking vpon him as an Emperor in the time presence of the Emperour labouring to be as absolute ouer the Clergie as the Emperour is ouer the temporaltie exempting his Clergie from ciuill iurisdiction * 2. Thess 5.2 Yea exalting himselfe aboue all Yea he proposeth to himselfe to be Monarch of all and therefore what euer be his pretext hee in his priuate drift causeth the l cap. 13.12 earth and them that dwell therein to worshippe the first beast whose deadly wound was healed that is to worshippe an Ecclesiasticall Monarch which he laboureth to establish in the roome of the former ciuill Monarchie which was ouerthrowen in the West by the former incursions of strangers and onely healed by the Popes The a cap. 13.13.14 meanes which he vseth to further these ambitions are great wonders and deceiptfull in the fight of men and of the beast that is seeming miracles to the Prince and people howeuer there may be a better and truer construction made of them to be deceipts These his miracles therefore are b cap. 18.23 called inchauntments wherewith all nations are deceiued c 2. Thes 2.9.10 And this is that of which S. Paul speaketh when he saith of the aduersarie of Christ Whose comming is by the effectuall working of Sathan with all power and signes of lying wonders and in all d Aug. Ciu. Dei 20. 19. deceiuablenes of vnrighteousnes Which are wonders either so seeming when they be but impostures or else if true they be the workes of the diuell to gaine credit to the great enemie of the Gospel Particularly for instance it is said that he e cap. 13.13 caused fire to come downe from heauen on the earth in the sight of men that is he seemeth to men to cause God f Isa 9.5 37 36. to send downe vengeance from heauen vpon men that doe not respect him applying all the calamities that befall them that loue him not to be iudgements of God to reuenge the contempt offered to this beast The Popes were famous far g Chro. Chr. miracles when they had once gotten purple The opposition of the Saints is something though very small contenting themselues that h cap. 14.3 they were bought from the earth hauing nothing to doe with the ambition of this beast that onely minded how to possesse the earth wincking at much corruption when they saw it About i Fasc Tem. f. 47 b. Frising Chro. 4. cap. 3. the possessions of the Church which the Prelates at this time began to haue there was often a great contention among the Doctors Some said it was iust and profitable that the Church should abound in temporalties and haue earthly honours others thought not But the Bishops of Rome accepted of these honours And they of that Church doe thinke that k Geneb p. 552 553. it much concerned God in some place to haue a visible Ecclesiasticall Monarchie which by diuine authoritie by causing fire to come downe from heauen vpon men might restraine terrifie smite with lightning and bring into obedience tyrants hereticks schismaticks c. Wherefore the Bishops of Rome which was the chiefe citie in the world endeauoured to attaine vnto that dignitie and to inrich the Church by all meanes possible These things will appeare more particularly in the stories of the Popes wherof doe follow some briefe collections The complement Siluester I. * Ann 315. admirable for l Fasc Temp. f 47 a. miracles or great wonders For he is reported to a Pet. de Nat. haue clensed Constantine of a leprosie But b Volat. 23. f. 270. the booke of that miracle is Apocrypha manifestly dissenting from the Doctors and altogether to be reiected as a c 2. Thes 2.9 cap. 13.14 lying signe He is said to haue reuiued a dead d Pet de Nat. Ball to binde a Dragon that killed men with his breath a false miracle e Gesn l. 5. For Dragons doe not hurt with their breath hereby he laboured to gaine reputation to his profession He forbad f Caranz f. 4â— 37. a. Subdeacons to marrie heare the voice of the Dragon Hee deuised the Chrisme with which the Bishops should signe them that were baptized to confirme them against the perswasion of Heretickes The manner is this g Poly. inuent 5. 3. the Bishop maketh the signe of the crosse in the forehead of the partie to be confirmed and saith I signe thee with the character or token of the crosse and confirme thee with the chrisme of saluation i Berg. 9. He commanded that no laie man should presume to cal a Clergie man into a ciuill court nor that any Clergie man should sue before a secular Iudge and decreed that k Caranz f. 46. a. neither Emperour nor Kings nor all the Clergie may iudge the Pope exercising the power of the first beast euen before him c. Marcus appointed l Berg. 9. that no Clergie man might by any meanes be drawne vnto secular businesse Ann. 334. Hee built two Churches in Rome Constantine enriched him with many gifts The beast doth rise out of the earth Iulius reprehended the m Anno 341. Chr. Chro. Arians especially that they called a Councel at Antiochia without the authoritie of the Pope of Rome when as without his authority he said it neither ought nor could be He decreed that whosoeuer suspected his iudge might appeale to the seat of Rome the Pope Liberius was o Poâ—â—â—r banished for standing against the Arians Ann. 35â— in the meane while by his Counsell the Clergie of Rome ordained Felix Pope This Felix proceeded seuerely against the Arians Wherefore Constantius the Emperor reconciled Liberius for he seemed more easie to the Arians Liberius then being ouercome with the griefe of exile and glad that he was Pope againe assented and fell into heresie and subscribed p Massaus 11. thereto But Felix and the q Fasc Temp. s 48. b. Catholikes hauing admonished him and finding him to bee contumacious cast him out of the Church as an heretike wherefore Liberius cast Felix out of the Papacie held the Churches violently and by strength so that there was a great persecution of the faithfull and the Clergie and priests that fauored Felix were slaine in the Churches and Liberius forbad it not a Vol. 22. And Felix himselfe was slaine as defending the truth This Felix was b Geneb p. 574. also reported guiltie of heresie But such is the force of the Apostolicall chaire saith Genebrard that it would rather make a martyr than heare an heretike Here wanteth some helpe to reconcile these popish Chronologers
vtter court which also the scripture calleth The temple in which Antichrist doth raigne The speech is taken from the Temple which i 1. King 6.1 c. king Salomon built which was deuided into three parts First the holy and holiest places called by excellencie The temple contained the Arke the Altar of incense the lampes and tables of shew bread all which were couered Secondly there was the open place in which was placed the lauer or sea and the altar of burnt offerings The third part was called the k 2. Chro. 4.9 Courts and was deuided into l 2. Chr. 6.13 Ezech. 44.19 the inner court which was for the Priests and the vtter court where the King and Priests and Prophets and people did assemble for the seruice of God for instruction m Psal 122.4.5 Deut. 17.8 and for iudgement in doubtfull causes ciuil and diuine The doctrine figured n cap. 11.2 in the Temple and altar which are continued in the profession of the Gospel are to be measured and esteemed holy and good though by Antichrist shut vp and blasphemed But that which was represented by the vtter Court namely the publike assemblies for that which is called the seruice of God their courts of iurisdiction as farre as concerneth the causes of the Lord the Angell commandeth S. Iohn to cast out and all holy men to count them common and vncleane The reason whereof is that a Joseph anti lib 12. c. 6. 1. Macc. 1. as the temple of the Iews was deliuered into the hāds of Antiochus Epiphanes so by the temeritie and ignorance of Princes the courts are giuen to such as for their manner of rites are but b cap. 11.2 the Gentiles in effect though in appearance like the c Soc. 1. 17. Maniches they seeme Christians The manner of their behauiour here is not to rule with the key of knowledge d Dan. 8. but to deuoure break in peeces stamp and tread the residue of the holy city vnder foot as Abaddō the son of perdition And although the Papacie from hence forth corrupteth all assemblies with the tyrannies and superstitions of the Gentiles and abhominations of condemned heretickes yet doth e 2. Thess 2.4 August de ciu lib. 20. cap. 19. this Man of Sinne here exalt himselfe as if himselfe were the temple of God and take to himselfe whatsoeuer was figured by the temple of Salomon and his kingly pallace Howbeit in these courts shall bee euer found two witnesses raised vp by the Lord euen a competent number to stablish a truth who shall prophesie by teaching and cōmination cloathed in sacke-cloath poore humble f 2. Macc. 2.7.14 and sorrowfull to see the abhominations and blasphemies in the Church by the Gentiles c. Among such therefore is now the Church to bee sought for These by their g cap. 11.4 c. 10. testimonie must vexe the inhabitants of the earth both by bringing the graces of the spirit of God vpon good men and therefore are said to be two Oliue trees and also to giue holy light vnto them to direct them to the Lord and therefore are called two golden candlesticks standing before the God of the earth and by bringing heauie affliction vpon such as will iniurie them in their prophecie For their word shall be as fire out of their mouthes to deuoure their aduersaries And beeing equall in the power of their ministrie with Elias shall be able to shut the heauens that it raine not in the daies of their prophesie and beeing like vnto Moses in Egypt haue power to smite the earth with all manner of plagues as oft as they will so that the earth is plagued because the witnesses of Christ are despised and persecuted Yea those two witnesses called also 144 000. of those which haue the testimonie of Iesus Christ and keep the commandements of God oppose themselues in the open courts of the temple called now the visible Monarchie of the Church against the beast by h cap. 14.4.6.8.9.15.18 innocencie preaching iudgements praier The manner of the womans sitting vpon this scarlet coloured beast is to tread the holy citie vnder foote Yea shee excelleth her selfe in cruelty For while shee was borne vp by heathen Emperours shee was furious and bloodie and therein as terrible and odious as a red Dragon But now shee cloatheth her selfe with blood as with a cap. 17.4.6 purple and scarlet thinking it her honour for the seruice of God to kill the godly And herein shee is so vnsatiable that shee is drunken with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus that in admirable manner For shee doth not content her selfe to kill those that stand against her but also condemneth their memorie b cap. 11.7.9 not suffering them to be put in monuments And though these things to such as are of the spirit of S. Iohn doe euer appeare yet outwardly shee seemeth first to make plentifull prouision for this kind of warre and then she ioyneth battell with the Lambe c cap. 11.7.9 and those that follow him And these things doth this beast accomplish with his wonted lying signes and miracles with false prophesie and other impostures For the more effectuall executing of the d cap. 12.17 wrath of the Dragon which affection hee putteth on in all his oppositions the beast prouideth himselfe with the e cap. 13.3 c. wonderfull fauour and dependance of the whole earth which is called by the name of Christian as also studieth out a most secure discipline The world is said f cap. 13.3 to wonder greatly admiring the beast the Papacie by whose meanes the wounded head of Rome recouered life in the Hierarchie And also they followed the beast which was like the Pantheresse For as when g Gerard. dial creas 114. the Panther which is a beautifull and gentle beast amongst other wilde and rauenous beasts doth wake and come out of his denne and roare other beasts which heare his voice doe gather themselues togither and follow the sweetnesse of his odour which commeth forth of his mouth so also when this Papacie who is beautifull as an harlot and gentle as Absolom amongst men doth speake though it bee like the Dragon all men doe gather themselues together and followe the words of his mouth which seeme pleasant to those which are deluded For from this time those which before were called h cap. 9.3.11 Locust-scorpions haue set ouer them a king the Popes the angel of the bottomlesse pit For those kingdomes which rose of the inundation of the Barbarians one after another began to giue respect to the Bishops of Rome i cap. 17.17.2 Thess 2.11 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his decree and to bee of one consent and to giue their kingdomes vnto the beast vntill the wordes of God be fulfilled and then to hate her The fauour that this beast found
of Christian iustice the true administration thereof according to the word of God first S. Iohn doth say g cap. 20.4 And I saw thrones for iudgement and they that were fit sate vpon them administring iustice in iudgement according to the truth and not according to appearance or partialitie contrarie to Antichrist h cap. 13.2 to whom the dragon gaue his power and his throne and great authoritie that after the i 1. Pet. 5.8 example of the diuell hee by his inquisitors c. might goe about seeking whom he might deuoure Before these thrones the principal question that is handled is the cause of such godly men called by the scripture phrase soules a Act. 7.14 cap. 20.4 that were as capitally punished as if they were beheaded not for treason but for the witnesse of Iesus and for the word of God as also because that following the word of God they did not worship the beast the ciuill tyrannie nor his image the Hierarchie of Rome neither had taken his marke of superstition which causes the iniquitie of the times held equall to treason if not worse The sentence that was giuen at these iudgement seats of this cause was first that they which haue suffered as the Martyrs of Christ and for the word of God and because they would not worship the beast nor his image nor take the superstitious marke of Antichrist shall liue in the persons of such as hereafter shall professe the same things For the cause shall be adiudged to deserue life and not death and therefore shall be defended from the tyrannie of Antichrist by such as truely administer iustice Yea such also shall raigne with Christ as worthy that office honour and soueraigntie which is fitting a true Christian man The second member of the iudgement is b cap. 20.5 that the rest of the dead men which haue died in the defence of the tyrannie of the Antichristian Popes shall not liue againe in the Church but shall bee iustly reputed to be in hell for their sinnes of treason c. whereas such as professe the cause of the Martyrs c cap. 20.6 are blessed and holy hauing their part in the first resurrection of the Gospel from the darkenes in which it was buried by Antichrist for on such the second death hath no power howsoeuer Antichrist doe threaten no lesse than purgatorie and hell to such Yea they shall bee as the holy people of God who are called a d Exod. 19.6 1. Pet. 2.9 royall Priesthood For they shall be kings and Priests vnto God and of Christ and shall raigne with him Hereupon the e cap. 18.9 c. 15. Princes and Merchants and Ship-men namely the officers of the popish gaine shall lament and howle but yet shall prouide for their safetie standing farre off from the danger But f 20. c. the Saints shall reioyce and triumph for the destruction of Antichrist that is cast into hel like a milstone into the sea The g cap. 19.21 remnant also shall be slaine with the sword of him that sate vpon the horse namely the Turkes shall be conuicted by the power of the scriptures when Antichrist is cast to hell and then shall be fulfilled that which is written The h Dan. 8.14 7.27 sanctuaries shall be clensed and againe And the kingdome and dominion and greatnesse of the kingdome vnder the whole heauen shall be giuen to the holy people of the most high whose kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome and all powers shall serue and obey him The continuance of this period from the reuiuing of the Gospel to the next enemies is 1000. yeare so long shall the Gospel come abroad get the victory and flourish in his due season and so long shall men condemne the crueltie of Antichrist And these 1000. yeares are to beginne where the a Dan. 12.11 1290. yeres spoken of by Daniel doe ende namely in the yeare of Christ 1364. whence we are to reckon the first resurrection The Complement b Geneb p. 1034. 1035. Buchelcerus Iohn Wickleife Anno 1364. who was a Professor of diuinitie in Oxford wrote many things against the receiued opinions of his time He c Fox Mart. 42◠b. seeing the true doctrine of Christs Gospel to be adulterate and defiled determined with himselfe to helpe d 423. a. He affirmed the simple and plaine truth to appeare and consist in the scriptures and that all humane traditions what euer they be must be referred thereunto Thus commeth the word of God abroad e Geneb p. 1034. He wrote more than 200. volumes against the times f 1038. Many wrot against him and g Fox Mart. 422. 423. the Bishops c. did him much trouble like beasts depriuing him of his benefices But he found some quiet by the meanes of certaine principall Noble men that fauoured him In the time of this Wickleife Ann. h 411. 412. 413 in signis 7. 1364. on the fourth sonday in Aduènt Nicolaus Orem preached at Rome before the Pope and his Cardinals that the tribulation i cap. 18.3.23 and fall of the Church was at hand for her excessiue wickednesse hauing gotten the face of an harlot that cannot blush For that her Marchants which sell both Church and Sacraments were the great men of the earth exceeding all Princes of the earth For pride tyrannie for despising correction and hating them that tell the truth euen the professors of the Gospell and that therefore the people were in commotions and many thinke to doe sacrifice to God if they may robbe and spoile certaine fatte Priests c. for the fowles are called to eate the flesh of kings c. k 415. Bridget whose order Pope Vrbane confirmeth calleth the Pope and his Clergie more abhominable than the Iewes that crucified Christ more cruell than Iudas more vniust than Pilate worse than Lucifer himselfe The Sea of Rome shee prophecieth shall bee throwne downe into the deepe like a milstone l cap 18.21 Ier. 51 63. and shall be found no more m Fasc Temp. f 85. Iohannes de rupe scissa a Minorite foretold many things shortly to come of two Antichrists Which came to passe when there were two Popes at once Of the desolation of lands and general treading vnder feete of the Clergie and reducing the whole world to the faith of Christ a Fox Mart. p. 414. The king of England tooke the offices of the Lord Chancelour Lord Treasurer and of the Priuie seale from the vngodly and vnrighteous Clergie and gaue them to the Lords temporall shee is fallen shee is fallen Carolus b Par. Vrsp p. 362. the fourth the Emperour in an assembly of many of the Princes of the Empire answered the Popes Legate my Lord Legate the Pope hath sent you into Germanie where you scrape together much money for her marchants are waxed rich but you reforme nothing in the Clergie Then hee said to