bless God for pitcheth his Expectation upon this Y. 1656. though tacitly and implicitly for in his Synchronismes he making the first Trumpet and the Popes 1260 Days to begin together and in his Comment pag. 71. he makes the beginning of the first Trumpet to be in the Y. 395. after Christ so as if the Reign of Antichrist began at that time with the first Trumpet 'T is clear enough Mr. Mede inclin'd mostly to 1655. or 1656. for the Expiration of Antichrists kingdom 295. There is another ground that made this Year of 1656. a year of great Expectation because it was the year of Noah's Flood in the old World unto which Christ compares his Coming Matth. 24.37,38 as if there would be so many years to the first beginning of the new World to come since Christ as was of the old World before the Flood till the days of Noah to wit 1656. years The Kingdom of Christ is called by the name of the World to come Heb. 2.5 because it shall bring with it new Heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness 1 Pet. 3.13 296. There be other learned Interpreters that fix the beginning of this 1260. Y. upon other times some upon the Y. 383. after Christ because then the Councel of Constantinople acknowledged the Primacy of the Roman Bishop wherein the Beast received much power others on 401. Y. after Christ for then Pope Innocent drew all Appeals to Rome and about that time the Mystery of Iniquity was reveal'd 297. the former Hypothesis of these two last brings down Antichrists fall to 1643. Y. after Christ and the latter of them to 1661. but because Chronologers vary in their Computations to wit when Innocent the first who began the usurpation of Authority and Jurisdiction over all Churches and first set out that notorious Falsification of the Canons of Nice as pretending that those Canons gave the Roman Bishop this Power was created Pope Some say in the Y. 404. this makes Antichrists Period in the Y. 1664. 298. But other Chronologers makes his Creating Pope in the Y. 406. as Sympson the Scotch Abbreviator of the History of the Church pitches the beginning of the Popes Usurpation in this Y. 406. who yet had no Eye at all upon that great Year of Expectation 1666. in so pitching it but because at that time according to his Calculations he found that this Nocent Innocent the first was created Pope as appears in his English History of the Church 2d Book 5. Century and pag 323. 299. Mr. Burroughs and many other holy Men hath begun their Computation of Antichrists Term at this Innocent the first partly for the reason abovesaid and partly because this Pope 1st took upon him power over Princes for he excommunicated the Eastern Emperor Arcadius who yet was out of his Jurisdiction for banishing Chrysostome which none of his Predecessors the Popes ever attempted to do a Copy of his Excommunication is extant in Baronius and in his time also the Emperor Honorius exempted his Clergy from all Secular Powers so made them a distinct Body for the Pope as their Head a lively representation of the Apocalyptick Beast CHAP. XI 300. TThere be yet two Opinions behind which are indeed Heterogeneal to all those before mentioned the first is of that our Godly Martyrologist Mr. Fox which he saith was after long Study and Prayer cast suddenly into his mind by Divine Inspiration to wit that those 42. Months must be referr'd to the Churches Persecution under the Roman Emperors Reckoning from John Baptist that was slain by Herod the Tetrarch untill Peace was given to the Church by Constantine 301. He takes those 42. Months for Weeks of Years by which Reckoning they make 249. Years to which if we add the 30. Years of Christ when he was Baptized by John it amounts to 324. Years after Christ in which Year he saith Constantine the great embraced the Christian Religion To this singular Opinion of this holy Man I shall speak to by and by and yet without deriding it as the Popish Writers do when I come to lay down my own Opinion such as it is on this Subject 302. The 2d Opinion is Dr. Beards one who hath writ a very Learned Treatise of Antichrist whose notions in this point differs from all others of the Interpreters aforesaid about this Apocalyptick Number saying that it concerns not Antichrists Reign but only the durance of the first Beast which was the Roman Empire and he gives 2. Reasons for this his Opinion First 't is said Rev. 13.5 that power was given to the Beast 42. Months or 1260. Years this he says agrees with the Event for from the first foundation of Rome to its Ruine by Theoderick the Goth passed just so many Years 1260. 303. His Second Reason why this Number holds out the length of the Civil Empire of Rome persecuting the primitive Church and not the Pontifical or Antichristian is because he saith it is not the manner of Holy Scripture to premonstrate any certain Periods of those Intestine Troubles which are rais'd up in the Church by false Christians but only by such as arise from Foreign Enemies that professedly oppose the Truth As we see saith he in the Persecution of the Antient Church under the Egyptians and Babylonians and Antiochus 304. Those Persecutions are defined in a certain Number of Years by the Prophets but not that which was executed by their own Idolatrous Kings as Jeroboam Manasseh and the rest of those Ungodly Kings of Israel so saith he those Numbers in the Apocalypse are not to be referr'd to Antichrist who was to be a Domestick Foe this is answer'd in Par. 347. but to the Bloody Cruelty of those Heathen Tyrants the Roman Emperors who saith he are the Gentiles that treads under foot the Holy City 4.2 Months Revel 11.2 yea he further affirms that this 42. Months in Revel 11.2 and that in Revel 13.5 are all one in effect and cannot be well understood but of the Heathen Emperors 305. To this Opinion also I shall say something as well as to the other of Mr. Foxes when I give my own conceptions of the point and that in the first place though they be last named because they hold so little consonancy with my own Opinion and as I Judge with the Truth and herein my method shall be first to declare Negatively what is not the mind of the Holy Ghost among those various Interpretations and then Positively what according to the best Scripture-light God gives me is the true sence 306. I come now to cast in my own mite such as it is not without trembling and astonishment and that on a 3 fold Consideration 1. The abstruse difficulty and mysteriousness of this Subject which may well be Reckon'd among Peters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 3.16 things hard to be understood t is such a profound mystery as Angels can but peep into it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 1.12 and such an one
Apostle to that Church doth sufficiently manifest but now if we compare the Doctrines of that Epistle with the Romish Doctrine now as it came out of the Trent-Councel there is nothing more true then to say as the Prophet Esa 1.21 how is the faithfull City become an harlot her silver is now become dross and her wine is mixed with water v. 22. Shee that once was Bethel is now Beth-aven she that was once Christian is now become Antichristian 61. It is not unnecessary to praemise here that when I speak of the Pope either in this or any of the other following Characters of him I do not speak of him personally as if but one in number a single person but collectively both as conjunct with the Clergy at one time and as varying by Succession for a long time together under the notion of Peters Successor whom the Romanists call the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of Eminency giving the power of the Keys to him alone as iâ— Christ had given the Keys to Peter alone Maâ—… 16.19 and as if he alone were the Church that must be told in case of obstinate offences Mat. 18.18 62. In this sense the Pope and the Church of Rome are Synonimicall terms in this Discourse and the Apostacy of the Body and the Head are collectively the same Now to prove his Apostacy 1st shall be from persons and 2ly from things 1st from Persons Bishop Davenant in his begg'd Suffrage shews how the Church of Rome now is no more a true Church than an arrant whore is a true Wife to her Husband she hath forsaken Christ and followed false lovers 63. Bishop Bramhall uses this Argument that Church which hath chang'd the Apostolical Creed the Apostollical Government and Apostolical Succession cannot remain an Apostolical Orthodox or Catholick Church but the Church of Rome hath done all this Ergo and so by Consequence is Apostatiz'd Bishop Hall also demonstrates how she hath so degenerated from her self and from the Truth insomuch that now their can be no peace with her Our repugnances with her are irreconcileable though Franciscus de Clara alià s Damport that quirking Scot would reconcile us 64. A great cloud of Witnesses might be brought in to prove this Apostacy For many Champions of the Protestant Religion have irrefragably evidenc'd that Rome is not only revolted from Christ but also from her self under her primitive Pastor whose Writings could never be answered to this day but seeing they are but human Testimonies Tria in this place shall be omnia Suffrages that are Human non sunt Numeranda sed Ponderanda I shall therefore add some Divine Testimonies against which there can be no just Exception 65. The Apostle in his Epistle to that Church doth more then intimate that she might prove an Apostatizing Church Rom. 11.20 be not high-minded but fear We must not look upon that passage as an empty ring of a tinkling Cymbal but a Prophetical intimation of some possibility and probability of their future abjection and Apostacy But more plainly the same Apostle 1 Tim. 4.1,3 points his finger as it were at Rome so sutable are their Doctrines to those Doctrines of Devils there mentioned as our learned Mr. Mede on that subject clearly shows Mede's Aposta of later Times 66. The Doctrine of Daemons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mr. Mede understands to be the Papists deifying and worshipping of Saints and Angels their Bowing down to Images Breaden-Idols and Crosses like new Daemon-pillars their Adoring and Templing of Reliques all which make as lively an Image of the Gentiles Theology of Daemons as could be expressed Thus he taking the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be Genitivus Materiae not efficientis as noting the Subject-matter not the Efficient cause 67. But more particularly omitting Mr. Mede's Notion let us see how the Romish Church quasi digito demonstratur is pointed at by this Prediction in the 1st of those Doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4.3 to wit forbidding to marry the Scripture commendeth Marriage as Gods Ordinance and as an Holy and Undefiled state permitting it equally to all Men so they marry in the Lord yet the Romish Church forbids any in Holy Orders to marry and that by Laws and Canons which never either Manichee Marcion or Tatian did though they had low thoughts of it as other ancient Hereticks had they never made any Decrees against it 68. The 2d Doctrine is Prohibition of Meats which God hath appointed to be received with Thanksgiving This is also as express and notorious Doctrine of the Church of Rome which hath forbidden by Law that which God by Law Ordained God allows the free use of the Creature but Rome restrains it by certain Times Differences at her pleasure Rome forbids some at all times and all at some times to abstain from some kind of Meats far beyond the Montanists that never put such stress on their Fasting Days as Rome does 69. Anselm expounds this 1 Tim. 4. on this wise The Spirit of God doth manifestly in me and by me say that in the last Times that is saith he during the Reign of Antichrist or before some shall depart from the Faith as the same Apostle saith 2 Thess 2.5 there shall be a falling away first Thus this ancient Father applied those Doctrines of Devils to the Apostacy of Antichrist and Espancaeus upon this 1 Tim. 4. says in totidem Verbis that the Apostacy from the Faith there mentioned is the same with the Apostacy of the Man of Sin spoken of in 2 Thess 2.5 70. Thus it appears from Testimonies how Antichrist is an Apostate forsaking the Doctrine of the Gospel and not only Embracing but also Ordaining those Doctrines of Devils it may 2ly be made more manifest ex parte Rei and de Facto by comparing the Doctrines of Antichrist with the Doctrine of that famous Epistle of Paul to the Romans There 's not a word there of the Popes Supremacy of Invocation of Saints of Adoration of Images or of the Vertue of Reliques of Monkish Sanctity of Indulgences of Transubstantiation of Purgatory of the Mass or of Auricular Confession c. wherein the marrow and substance of the Romish Religion consists 71. These were not the Doctrines of that Church in the Apostles days but now she hath heaped up other Doctrines that do not only contradict the Apostle's Doctrine but such as destroys the very foundation of Christianity at least by consequence if not in positive terms as in their Doctrine of Justification by Inherent Righteousness which is contrary to Rom. 1.17 4.6 their Praying to Saints contrary to Rom. 10.13,14 and their Merit against Rom. 8.18 72. No other foundation can any man lay besides Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 Yet Rome hath laid other Foundations not holding the Head Christ Col. 2.18,19 they overthrow Christs Merits by setting up their own merits and Christs Mediation by making other Mediators and Christs Satisfaction in their Purgatory-sufferings so likewise
the All-sufficiancy of Christs Sacrifice by Reiterating their Mass as a Sacrifice Rome also overthrows the very Humanity of Christ which is locally circumscribed in Heaven by their making it wholly present in a 1000 places on Earth at once in their Transubstantiation 73. Besides Rome denies the Sufficiency of the Scriptures which are a Foundation Doctrinal as Christ is the Foundation personal and forbidding their Laity to read them they do as much as say the word of God is not Necessary to Salvation neither Necessitate medii nor Necessitate praecepti So their Worshipping of Saints of Angels of Crucifixes of Reliques of Images and of very Wafers are no better then real Underminings of the sacred Foundation Thus it appears they do not only destroy that great Fundamental truth of Justification by Christ in ascribing it to Works but also in overthrowing both Christ and Scripture 74. Many more evidences may be added as their making a New Rule of Faith to wit Tradition a new guide or head of Faith to wit the Pope prescribing Prayers in an Unknown Tongue attributing the effect of the Sacraments and all Services to the External work the Popes Canonizing of Saints his Forgiving of sins in a Magisterial manner his creating new Articles of Faith and making himself as Infallible as God By all which 't is made as clear as the Sun that the Pope is this grand Apostate both from Christ and the Apostolical Church at Rome 75. I have insisted the longer upon the first part of the Induction because in the Definition of Antichrist that clause stands as the Genus thereof the other following are as the Differentiae which I shall with much more Brevity run over Now come we to the 2d part or clause in the Induction which is pretending friendship but intending opposition that the Pope is a Christian none denies it though a Degenerate one his Title shews it Christs Vicar-General upon Earth thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Substitution and Vice-gerence so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Viceroy is most fitly also accommodated to the Pope as he is Christs Vice-gerent 76. But like a Pirate at sea he hangs out false Colours to deceive unwary Souls For though he would look like the Lamb yet speaks he like the Dragon and pushes the true Lamb with his horns Rev. 13.11 and though he be said to sit in the Temple of God in his external profession of Christianity which once did flourish in the Roman Church in Primitive times yet hath he introduced the Doctrines of Devils into Gods Temple and hath made war with Christ and with his Saints that would not embrace them hence the Pope is truly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies not for as above but against Christ 77. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Apostle uses 2 Thess 2.4 signifying an Opposer or Adversary is truly applied to the Pope though he be not an open Enemy for he must speak lyes in hypocrisie 1 Tim. 4.2 he must bring in privily damnable Heresies 2 Pet. 2.1 he must be a false prophet Rev. 16.13 he must come in sheeps clothing Matth. 7.14 in a word he must be a mystery of iniquity 2 Thess 2.7 and 't is wisdom yea wisdom peculiar to Saints to discern him Rev. 13.18 All this makes the Pope a more dangerous enemy Ps 55.12,13 78. That the Pope is an Opposer of Christ and an enemy to him appears in his opposition to all the 3 Offices of Christ 1. his Prophetical office the Pope overthrows in his undervaluing Christs word as Unnecessary as before yea and as obscure capable of many interpretatione as if it were a Nose of Wax and in equalling yea preferring his own Traditions before it Lastly in assuming a power to make what Scriptures he pleaseth Canonical or Apocryphal 2ly his Sacerdotal office in his urging the merits of Saints and Expiation of Venial sins by mens sufferings c. as before 3ly his Regal in assuming an unlimited Power to himself of making Canons in the Church as the Bishop of Bishops the Head of the Church titles of blasphemy in any save in Christ Jesus only 79. The 3d clause of the Induction is stirred up by the efficacy of Satan the Pope is such an one not only as under godly pretences of friendship to Christ he hath transformed himself like Satan into an Angel of light into an Apostle of Christ 2 Cor. 11.13,14 and making himself to look like the Lamb though more of the Dragon then of the lamb be found in him Thus his sworn Swordmen the Jesuits do ambitiously affect the title of being of the Society of Jesus though indeed they be the worst sort of Enemies against Jesus in the World warring against his Image where ever they find it Presbyteri à socio geritis qui nomen Iesu Dispeream si vos Jesus amare potest but also in more open Satanical practises 80. That Satan hath been the chief Architector of the Pope's kingdom as well as of his Doctrines call'd therefore the Doctrines of Devils appears ex abundanti out of their own Chronologers as well as out of ours Benno Uspergensis one of their Cardinals writes what kind of Popes Satan set up after Silvester the 2d and Platina the Popes own Secretary and keeper of the Vatican Library Matthew Parisiensis and others make them Limbs of the Devil 81. To dig in this dunghill of Satanical Popes would be both endless and unpleasant to relate the stories out of Platina their own creature who wrote by the commandment of Sixtus the 4th or out of Benno Uspergensis in his Paralipom their Cardinal neither of which could write out of prejudice against them I omit and shall only add one passage out of Mathew Paris the last of the fornamed Hist Angl. in Guil. Conquest Y. 1072. pa. 10. he reports how Satanas omne contubernium Inferorum c. that is the devil and all his hellish Crue wrote letters gratulatory to the Pope and his Clergy for sending more souls to hell then ever went before 82. To let pass Bernardus Damianus Gulielmus de sancto Victore Nicolaus Gallicus Narbonensis Savanarola the Florentine Arnolphus Clemanges with many more mentioned in Illyrici Catologo Testium Veritatis all which notwithstanding the darkness of the time they lived in espied the efficacy of Satan raising up the Pope besides Petrarch Mantuan of later time to say nothing of Wickliff Husse Jerome of Prague c. or our own later Chronologers as Alsted Pareus and our Countriman Dr. Prideaux c. which show how many Popes gave themselves to the devil for obtaining of the Popedom by his help 83. Popish Chronologers as well as Protestant confess that some of the Popes were Necromancers in express league with the devil and such as sacrificed to him as if the devil were their God Some did not only study and practise it themselves but also taught it to
call'd Prophets v. 10. because they not only taught People to worship God according to his Rule so the Church in the Wilderness all along nourish'd with the sincere Milk of the Word Rev. 12.6,14 but also foretold the fall of Antichrist out of the Word 398. 2ly Their Number two which is the lowest number for one is but the Root of numbers to shew the paucity of them that witness to the Truth under Antichrists Reign and that is intimated in Rev. 11.1,2,3 where the inner Court is only reserved for the Holy People that keepeth the Truth when the outward Court a large spacious place is given up to Antichrist for the Witnesses should be as few as the Priests and Levites that worshipped in the Inner Court in comparison of Antichristian Idolaters that worshipped in the Outward Luk. 12.32 Rev. 1.6 Priests to God 399. And yet they should not be so few as to be below a full Confirmation of the Truth for two witnesses are sufficient to confirm any truth Deut. 17.6 Mat. 18.16 2 Cor. 13.1 God orders it so by his over-ruling Providence that his truth shall not be starved no not in the worst of times by want of Witnesses or a sufficient Confirmation or this number two is an Allusion to those 3 famous Pairs the first to Moses and Aaron the Churches Prophets in Egypt and the Wilderness 2ly to Elijah and Elisha Prophets to Israel under the Idolatry of Baal when the Church was not visible and only 7000. left that was hid in Corners 3ly to Zerubbabel and Joshua Prophets in Babylon and in Rebuilding the Temple 400. That there is such an Allusion in this Number to those 3 famous Couples it is probable because in the following description the turning of waters into blood and smiting the earth with Plagues often v. 5. hath relation to the first of them Moses and Aaron and shutting up heaven and destroying Men by fire v. 5 6. to Elijah and Elisha and the Olive-trees and Candlesticks to Joshua and Zerubbabel v. 4. Zech. 4.3,11,14 The 3d thing in the description of their Condition 't was sad and mournfull Sackcloth is the covering that is worn in bad times Amos 8.9,10 2 Kin. 6.30 they mourn in Sackcloth while Antichrist triumphs in his Silken Copes and costly Garments and all because Idolatry hath spread it self so fast and so far and because of the troubles of the true Church 401. 4ly Their Actions which they perform'd with that power which the Lord gave them were eminent Exploits and that of two sorts one against Antichrist and the other for the Church 1st against Antichrist they have power to do very great things which carrying such a fair correspondency with the 4 first Vials in Rev. 16. hath made a late learned Critick take those exploits of the Witnesses to be the powring forth of the 4 first Vials as 1. Plagues on the Earth v. 6. ch 11. as in the first Vial Rev. 16.2 2ly Water into blood v. 6. as in the 2d Vial ch 16.3 and in the 3d Vial v. 4. and 3ly A tormenting of Men with fire as in the 4th Vial chap. 11.15 with chap. 16.8 402. Which Interpretation though very ingenious yet seems it to me a little doubtfull not only because 1st the Order of the Vials is inverted by it as the plagues on the earth the first of the Vials is the last in this description of the exploits of the Witnesses and tormenting by fire the first of those Exploits is the last of the 4. Vials But 2ly it seems somewhere too narrow in leaving out that eminent action of shutting Heaven up from rain which none of the 4 first Vials correspond with And 3ly somewhere too wide in making one of those exploits to comprehend two distinct Vials to wit the 2d and 3d. to say nothing of the time of fixing them 403. The service 2ly which they do for the Church is 1st a power of Prophecying whereby they both instructed the Church in the knowledge of the Truth and comforted her by predicting the ruine of Rome which notwithstanding all her rage against the Church could not yet deprive her of the help of those Witnesses for God gave them power to Prophesie all Antichrists Reign 2ly to supply the Church with Oil sufficiently that is with Grace enough for this hard time of Persecution that they might not be like the foolish Virgins whose lamps went out for want of Oil. 404. The two Olive-trees and the two Candlesticks some reads The two Olive-trees with the two Candlesticks with for and justifying that Reading from that in 1 Sam. 14.18 where and is read with the Children of Israel because Candlesticks in Rev. 1. 20. is meant Churches and though the Churches were 7. then in Johns time yet Antichrist reduced them to two and yet those two should be supply'd with grace to hold out all the wills of God Acts 13.22 those two Sons of Oil the Witnesses are not branches but Trees to nourish their Graces in that evil day and to pour in Oil into their Lamps continually which was Aarons work Exod. 27.20 405. The fifth particular in the description of the Witnesses is their slaughter and death wherein consider 1st the time when 2ly the place where and 3ly the manner how 1. Of the time when the Holy Ghost tells us when they shall have finished their Testimony Rev. 11.7 when their Prophecying-work is done for if God had given them power to Prophesie longer as v. 3. they should have continued in their Prophecying work longer Maugre the malice of all their enemies God permits them to be slain because their Prophecying-work was done thus their Lord and Master could not be slain till his hour was come John 8.20 and in that hour of darkness he was put to death Luk. 22.53 406. Mr. Mede reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when they shall be about to finish their Testimony because the Greek Verb is not of the Praeter-perfect but of the Future Aorist Tense which is incertae significationis of an uncertain time making the time of this Slaughter to be when part of the Holy City or Christian World repent of their Idolatry casts off the yoke of Antichrist and reforms the Temple within themselves the Witnesses getting heart by all this begins to put off the Sackcloth and to lay aside their Mourning Prophecy which they have done ever since the Reformation then comes the Beast as it were ascending afresh into the Throne enraged with the success of their Mourning Prophecy he overcomes and kills them 407. Mr. Brightmans opinion was that the slaughter of the Witnesses were past and fulfilled in the Smalcaldian War in that great Overthrow of the Protestant Party by Charles the fift Anno 1547. and in condemning the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament which he makes the Witnesses about that time in the Councel of Trent which is now above an hundred and twenty Years ago other later Writers apply this Slaughter to those ruined Churches