unrighteousnesse Another story goes that St. Katherine Girded her selfe with an Iron chain so close that it cut her flesh and that she used to chastise her selfe three times a day with that chain an hour and an half at a time until the blood run from her shoulders to her feet those that can believe it If Christ were married why may not Priests marry See for this Hospinian Antonius Franc. Modeus are more credulous then I can be many strange stories are recorded of her as that Christ appeared and married himself to her with a Ring it may be that was the reason of using the Ring in marriage but if they believe their own doctrine that Christ took St. Katherine to Wife why doe they hinder the Priests c. from Wives will they not give them leave to follow Christs example in such a thing to as is so easie to follow him and that Christ opened her side and took out her old heart and put in a new one instead of the former if that be the way of giving a new heart then certainly all Papists hearts are old ones there 's not one of them new and that he cloathed her with a bloody coloured garment drawen out of his own side so that she never felt any cold afterward Some say this order began 1372. They also teach that he that dies in the habit of St. Frances shall not be overtaken with an untimely death and yet Fryer Barnwell hanged himself in an Apple tree hard by Dublin in St. Frances habit see Paul Harris book of Friers be sober and they teach that he that dies in the habit of a Capouchan he shall not be in Purgatory but till the fourth Saturday after his death and the Pope hath granted the Carmalites the priviledge The priviledge of Friers that they shall not be in Purgatory but till the Saturday after their Death it seems by this that Saturday is the day of Goal delivery and the Cardilians have priviledge granted them to draw a soul out of purgatary by saying five pater Nosters and five Ave Maries but if the Pope have this priviledge to give this power to others as he pretends he hath then why doth he not draw them all out of purgatory but suffer his servants and children to lie in a burning fire so many hundred years but this is another of their Jugling Deceitful tricks to get money for no money no pater Noster to fetch any out of purgatory and these are some of the great Antichrists hypocritical lies and damnable doctrines which they pretend that they are such spiritual men that they can do all this I have named and much more but the Apostle warns the Thessalonians that they be not removed from the truth nor troubled in mind by such spirits Secondly Nor by word nor by letter as from us by word I understand traditions the Apostle by the inspiration of the holy Ghost did foresee that Antichrist would intrude upon the Church his unwritten traditions and urge their observation of them and expect as due obedience to be given to them as to the written word of God and so it is at this day in all the Roman Churches the Popes Traditions is received and observed with as much if not more care and diligence as any precept of the word of God as for example the second Commandement forbids Idols and Image worship the Pope by his Traditions received from his predecessors commands Image Worship and Adoration and his command is obeyed and Gods neglected God requires that prayer should be made unto him only O or because thou that hearest prayer unto thee shall all flesh come Psal 65.2 Nay that they shall not saith the Pope they shall pray to the Virgan and St. Dominick and St. Frances c. The Apostle fore-seeing this warnes believers not to be troubled nor turned aside from the truth neither by deluding spirits nor by words of traditions saith he as from us for they will pretend that they received their tradition as from us therefore saith he ver 14. Irrethren stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught whether by word or our Epistle as if he should say Brethren what traditions you have received from us by word and what you have received in our Epistle that observe and do but go no further to any other traditions but what you received from us for if an Angel from Heaven shall teach you any other Gospel then what ye have received from us let him be accursed and this Anathama excludes all unwritten Traditions and all humane institutions and inventions of men in point of Gods Divine Worship but what we have precept or example for from Christ and his Apostles let the Pope and his prelates and all his followers brag as much as they will for their traditions and ceremonies let men observe the Scriptures that cannot deceive Isa 8.20 to the Law to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no truth nor no true light in them they either are blind and ignorant in the wayes of God or else they fight against their own light for we ought not to swerve from the written word Phil. 4.9 These things saith the Apostle which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you he doth not bid them follow what they should hear and see done by the Pope or any other that should come after him for he saith Act. 20.29 That he knew after his departure there would grievous Wolves enter in among them not sparing the flock and that from among themselves would men arise speaking perverse things which things we find true by woful experience and so again in the same Epistle 2 Thes 3.4 We have confidence The tryal of Traditions by Gospel rule saith the Apostle in the Lord touching you that you both do and will do the things which we command you and we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw your selves from every brother that walkes disorderly and not after the traditions which ye received from us see how careful and earnest the Apostle was least the Church should be drawen away with any other traditions then what you received saith he from us the the Apostles Traditions was sutable to the Gospel rule and institutions of Jesus Christ and we ought not to follow any Traditions of men that do not in all things sute with the Gospel-rule and institutions of Christ clearly deduced from the Scriptures for your selves know saith he how ye ought to follow us not the Pope nor his Prelates but to follow us as you have us for an ensample For we behaved not our selves disorderly among you nor eat any mans bread for nought but wrought with labour and travell night and day But the Pope with his new Traditions and new Orders of Fryers how many hundred
Hunnes so that in 132. years Rome was taken and ransackt five times and Odoaces that took it the fourth time reigned there fourteen years and if you look Socrates seventh Book ch 10. you shall see that this Alaricus that he speaks of his taking Rome the first time he ransackt and spoiled both Town and Country as he went at length he took the City of Rome and ransackt the City defaced and fired many Monuments and violently spoiled the Citizens executed many of the Emperor and if you look the 7th book of Evagrius Scholasticus chap. 7. you shall finde that Rome was taken by Gensericus being a Barbarian who set the City on fire carried away the spoil took away Eudoxia the Empress and her two daughters with him to Libia This was the very time of the beasts being wounded as it were unto death And about this time Heresie did more prevail than at any time before or since as above is shewed and that the Barbarians Goths Vandals and Hunnes who were Heathens had the upper hand how then should Atheism Heathenism and Idol-worship be fully destroyed in Rome and Christianity be victorious as he saith let the Christian Reader judge whether the Bishop be not mistaken or not though perhaps he will not own it for he is resolved before hand that no man shall convince him for he will be singular all other Authors are but Novices to him In the 10th page he saith That Bishop Mountague sets down Reasons which this Bishop complyes with why the Turks should rather be Antichrist than the Pope and his first Reason is the Turks apostacy from the Doctrin and Gospel of Christ I answer I dare not betray my Master Christ his truth and therefore must make bold to tell both the Bishops that their first Reason hath no reason in it for the Turk did never own Jesus Christ as he is truly Christ to be King Priest and Prophet to his Church the which â—hing the Turk did never own and therefore it cannot properly and truly be said that the Turk did fall and apostatize from the Doctrin and Gospel of Christ because he never did receive it nor own it as the Doctrin and Gospel of Christ as King Priest and Prophet but hath alwayes denyed it and been an Adversary unto it But the Pope and Church of Rome hath outwardly in words though they deny it in their Deeds as is proved beâ— fore yet in outward profession they own Christ as King Priest and Prophet but are apostatized from the doctrin and institutions oâ— Christ and therefore the Pope is the great Antichrist Page 14. He saith It is agreed of all sides not only by Bellarmin aâ—â— other Popish Writers but also the most learned Protestant Divineâ— That as Darnel grows among Wheat so Antichrist should arise out 〈◊〉 the truest and purest Church of Christ and if so and that he will haâ— the Pope to be Antichrist then the Church of Rome not only was 〈◊〉 must be confessed to be and continue stil the truest Church of Christ aâ— so Calvin and others are out of the true Church in separating from tâ— Church of Rome I answer That for the agreement of the Writers I shall nâ— say much but I find no Scripture that saith it neither doth 〈◊〉 prove it for as to Darnel growing among Wheat it no more relatâ— to Antichrist than to any other wicked mans being in the outward visible Church and suppose that Antiochus be a type of Antichrist as you say yet that proves nothing as to the place where he shall arise only it types out what he shall do when he is come But suppose I grant that Antichrist should aâ—ise out of the purest Church and so catch you in your own Snare it is easily proved that the Church of Rome was once the truest Gentil Church that was in the World and that when the Apostle writ his Epistle to the Romans as Rom. 1.8 I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your Faith is spoken of through the whole World which commendation is not given to any other Church in the World therefore by your own Argument Antichrist was to arise in the Church of Rome for it was the truest and purest Church but that it should so continue and be the truest Church at the time when Antichrist should appear is but yours and Bellarmin's c. fancy without Scripture or reason to ground upon For if the Church where Antichrist did arise had been the purest Church when he did arise Antichrist would then soon have been discovered and opposed and hissed at he could not have shrowded himself and his hypocritical waies but would have been discerned neither do you nor can you prove that the Church of Rome being once a true Church that it should so continue still and that we are Schismaticks for departing from it This is fine Prelatical Popish Doctrine without proof of Scripture but if you or Bellarmin or an Angel from Heaven saith the Apostle teach any other Doctrine than we have received in the Scripture let him be accursed Gal. 1.8 The seven Churches of Asia and many more besides them were true Churches but are not so now And so the Primitive Church of Rome the first hundred or two hundred years was a true Church but is not so now as is proved in the former part of this Book at large But besides these Reasons I will come a little nearer to you by Scripture proof that Antichrist should arise out of a Church which at that time of his rising should be a corrupted Apostatized Church 2 Thes 2.1 2 3 verses Consider whether the words of men or Scripture is fit to be believed I beseech you Brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him that ye be not shaken in mind nor troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter from us And I may adde nor by Bellarminâ—e nor Bishop Williams's Interpretations as if the day of Christ were at hand for that day shall not come except their come a falling away first and that man of sin which is Antichrist be revealed Here you see in this Text is plainly held forth that the Church where Antichrist should arise should be one that was a true Church but should fall away from the Truth and that Antichrist could not come untill first the Church where he should arise did fall away from the Truth and then Antichrist should be revealed that so in this apostatized Church he might the more covertly work his feats and not be discerned Now here is set before you Truth and Error chuse whether you will believe a poor man confirming what he writes by Scripture or believe Cardinal Bellarmin or a Bishops words without Scripture Page 15. he saith but I do not believe him That it is agreed of all sides and by all Interpreters old and new Papists and Protestants that the great Antichrist should come toward
saith holy Paul to Timothy If thou put the Brethren in the remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good Minister of Jesus Christ nourished up in the words of Faith and of good Doctrine whereunto thou hast attained But the Apostle doth not say as you do that if thou bring in a Form of Godlinesse or a Set-form of God's worship thou shalt be a good man or a good Minister of Jesus Christ that was far from the Apostles meaning he rather meant If thou put the Brethren in remembrance to shun a Form of Godlinesse and turn from them and all other wiles and deceits of Antichrist then thou shalt be a good Minister of Jesus Christ Page 23. he saith That as Christ and the whole multitude of Believers his Members make up one Christ so likewise the Congregation of the wicked the whole body of the Devil which are all the company of wicked Reprobates and ungodly men are as it were the Spouse of their Head and Husband the Devil and the Soul and Body of the Beast and Antichrist and page 26. he doth confidently avouch That the great Antichrist is a great pack or company collected and combined together by a Solemn League and Covenant to do such and such feats and facts c. I answer First That if all the whole Company and body of wicked Reprobates and ungodly men are the Spouse of the Devil their Head and Husband and so the Beast and Antichrist then he may if he please see his own mistake in applying it to a particular company of wicked ungodly men the long Parliament and Presbyterians c. for they were neither all nor the hundred thousand part of all the wicked Reprobates and ungodly men that were in the world which are as he saith the Spouse of the Devil and makes up the body of Antichrist whose seat and residence is not in any particular City in the world but he saith page 60. to be understood for the great and spacious confused City of the world and indeed he makes a confused businesse of it for if it be so then this pack or company of wicked Reprobates that is the Spouse of the Devil and the Antichrist The Bishop contradicts himself must contain all the wicked Reprobates of his spacious confused City of the whole world and therefore is improperly applyed to the long Parliament c. and what he saith in the 60th page is a flat and absolute contradiction to what he saith in the 26th page 2ly If the long Parliament and Assembly of Divines at Westminster c. had been all the body of Reprobates and ungodly men in the confused City of the world that there had been no more to be found in the world but they then sure he might have found many purer Churches in the world for Antichrist to have risen up in than the Church of England was which by his computation contains the whole company of Reprobates and wicked men for before this their Apostacy there was many wicked Reprobates in it Thus all men that reads may see what pure non-sence here is brought to prove the long Parliament and Presbyterians c. to be the great Antichrist and to excuse the Pope who is the Antichrist for his own Arguments makes directly against himself as to the businesse for which he intended them and yet he thinks no man can shew him his mistake 3ly Whereas you avouch That Antichrist is a company of men combin'd together in a Solemn League and Covenant to do such and such feats and facts of which feats and facts you say page 24. that this conglutinate Pack have one mind or will one course or end and one main scope and desire to destroy the Truth to overthrow the Church of Christ the right service of God and all Piety from the Earth as you say the Holy Ghost saith these wicked Senators have which are thus combin'd in a Solemn League c. I answer and first advise you herafter to take heed of fathering Lyes upon the Holy Ghost for I dare avouch you never read where ever the Holy Ghost said any such thing of any people at Westminster in a Solemn League and Covenant and you know how dangerous a thing it is to sin against the Holy Ghost and your base assertion in things of such concernment is not sufficient without Scripture-proof and where can you or any else that will take your part as you have too many shew us one text of Scripture that saith Antichrist shal be such a Pack c. and then cunningly propound the question Whether the Assembly at Westminster were not such a Combination and fulfilled all the Prophecies that prophecyed of Antichrist I take not upon me to defend the Covenant but demand of you or any else how it can be proved that those that took it were thereby conglutinate to have all one mind one will one course or end to destroy the Truth and overthrow the Church of Christ c. as you have affirmed And suppose it were so that an accursed Assembly combined together to do mischief were the great Antichrist for as you say truly page 25. A multitude of men in such a Case can do more mischief than one single Person yet so as one single Person may be the Head By right applying the Bishops words the Pope and Council of Trent is the great Antichrist c. Then where in all the world will such a cursed wicked pack of men be found as the Pope taking him for the Head as you say and the last Council of Trent for the Body to destroy the Truth as the Pope and that Council did who in the third Session of that Council April 8. 1546. rejected the Hebrew and Greek Copies of the Scriptures and established a corrupt Latin Translation to be Authentick These Sir are your own words in your 32. page if you had apply'd them right but you bring it in upon another account where also their unwritten Traditions were set in equal dignity with the Scriptures where they took away the power and authority of the Scriptures making them subject to the Popes will and pleasure to put what sence or interpretation upon the Scriptures he pleaseth and none else to be received but what he will allow of so that the Scriptures were never in this world by any so much disgraced and undervalued Here indeed was a pack of vile wicked persons combined together against the Lord and his anointed Jesus Christ and who had all one mind and one will and desire and end to destroy the Truth and Authority of the Scriptures which is the ground and pillar of Truth the like wickednesse against the truth and right worship and service of Jesus Christ was never known nor never acted by the long Parliament nor assembly of Divines nor no Assembly under Heavens that owned a God and Saviour never since Christ himself was upon earth in person If you apply it right this is the great
unto you but you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your God nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you the reason was because Gods answer did not sute with their former Resolutions therefore they told the Prophet he spake falsly the Lord had not sent unto him to say unto them go not into Egypt and thus it was with many men as to the answer of their prayers when they are intended before that such a thing they will do and then they go to prayer to seek direction from God and it may be for once God answers by some notion in prayer contrary to their intended purpose as he did Balaam the first time but they will not take this for an answer because it suits not with their mind but have a hankering the other way and will yet go again as Balaam did and seek for divinations and trie conclusions again and again as Balaam did and then oftentimes they are encouraged to go on in their own way to their own hurt and thus it fares oftentimes with men and women seeking of Wives or Husbands First They resolve what they will doe and then they will pray to God for direction and ask friends advise when they are resolved for what they will doe let God and Friends advise and do what they will I know some hath smarted for so doing this is a point ought well to be regarded by all men in every weighty undertaking Again he saith in his Epistle to the Reader That if the Presbyterian can give him satisfaction that he is mistaken he will willingly recant and be sorry for his error but withal he saith he assures himself that the Beast with all his power and the false Prophet with all his skill shall not be able to do it that is to give him satisfaction that he is mistaken I answer that in these very expressions of his is proved the truth of what I have writ above that many men first resolve what they will doe and then they will by prayer seek direction from God and from friends so here the Bishop promises that if the Presbyterian can give him satisfaction that he is mistaken he will recant but he is resolved and assured before hand that they shall not give him satisfaction with all their power and skill And it cannot be expected that the beast or false prophet will ever shew the Bishop his mistake for in so doing Antechrist the Pope who is the beast or false prophet should act against himself to the ruine of his own kingdom nay the beast will rather stroke his head and hug him as we use to say as the Divel hug'd the Witch for the good service he hath done him in taking so much pains to excuse him that we should not think him to be the Antichrist and when he dies he will cannonize him with Thomas Becket for another English or Welsh Saint But to deal engeniously and truly with you though I confess I have heard some of every sort preach yet was I never united and joyned in Church-fellowship neither with Presbyterian Independent Anabaptist or Lay-preacher as yet and therefore being I am none of them I will endeavour in the strength and by the assistance I hope of the Spirit of God to shew you your mistake and if you be so wedded to your own opinion that you will not be satisfied yet it may perhaps satisfie some others and then my labour will not be lost therefore I am resolved to put it to the triall yet it cannot be expected that I should answer every particular whimsey and cavill that is in his book for there is much Greek and Latine in it and I was never so great a Scholler as to understand either Greek or Latine and therefore I must intreat the Christian Reader to bear with my weakness if I doe miscall some words or not spell them right and endeavour to pick out the sense Neither will I answer all nor half of what he hath writ in English but so much as I think may give satisfaction to the impartial Reader to judge whether the Bishop or I be most mistaken And as I said above we will in the first place see what the Scriptures say as to this business to shew who is Antichrist c. It is said in the 1 John 2.18 as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come Marks to know Antichrist by even now there are many Antichrists that is all that walk contrary to Christs instituted Ordinances or his Commandements and Precepts in their practice and conversations these act against Christ and so are Antichrists But these are not the Antichrists here spoken of that should come though he speaks of many inferiour Antichrists that was then but it may be demanded where or from whom did they hear of the great Antichrist that was to come and what other answer can be given but that they heard of him in the Scriptures the word of truth where he is spoken of under other names which is given him as so many marks and characters to know him by and if you can finde any man that fits in such a Throne where one succeeds another in the same Throne and government acting the same things we may undoubtedly conclude that this is he as what is said Revel 17. of his seat upon seven hills or mountains interpreted by the Angels of the Ten Kings that should give their power and authority to the Beast c. of him that reigns in the great City that raigns over Kings of the earth and that exalts himself above all Magistrates which are called Gods as 2 Thes 2. and that is called the man or that man of sin the Mitre of iniquity he whose coming is after the working of Satan and with all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse and teacheth the Doctrine of Divels with many other like Characters to know him by c. I will begin with this last Text I named 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. Now the spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Divels speaking lies in Hypocrisie having their Conscience seared as with a hot Iron forbidding to Marry and commanding to abstaine from Meat c. Some shall depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits by seducing spirits I understand the Ministers of the Gospel that fell from the truth to Errour and Heresie and Mr. Brightman saith That about the time of Constantine the great there was many Pastors of the Church that fell from the truth at which very time Antichrist had his birth or first appearance as shall appear by and by for this Text and 2 Thes doth so discribe him that he that runs may read that this is he First He is said to be a seducing spirit and teaches the Doctrine of Divels forbidding Marriage that he shall work with all deceivablenesse of unrighteteousnesse in them that perish c And thus
thousand is there that work not at all but are busie bodies going a begging from house to house and do not walk according to the gospel rule nor example of the Apostles Alexander Rosse saith there was from the year 1211. to 1384. that is 169 years erected in Christendome 1500 Monasteries of the order of St Frances and page 304. he saith in the time of Sabellicus about the year 1494. there was reckoned 4143 Monasteries of Dominicans besides divers Cloisters of them in Arminia and Aethiopia and 150 Covents of Dominican Nuns what may be thought there was then of all the rest of their Orders that live in idlenesse contrary to Pauls command ver 10. that if any would not work neither should they eat and ver 14. if any man obey not our word by this Epistle note that man set a mark or brand upon him and have no company with him much more must we not submit to his Traditions but these devourers of the fruits of the earth and the labours of the poor observe the Popes Rules and Commands but not the Rules and Commands of Jesus Christ nor his Apostles and upon this account they are all against and therefore so many little Antichrists under their great Lord and Master the Pope who is the great Antichrist and man of sin and sonne of perdition for he I mean the succession of Popes have confirmed all these inferiour Antichrists in their several Orders and appointed them their work who will pay their wages they will know in time 2 Thes 2.2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind nor troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as that the day of Christ is at hand These words doe sound as if some false Teachers or Seducers did counterfeit letters and send from one to another in the Apostles name pretending as they had been his which did disquiet the peace of the Church for it seems by the Text as if the effect of these letters and teaching should be that the day of Christ was near at hand as Hemeneus and Philetus disturbed the peace of the Church of Ephesus teaching that the resurrection was past 2 Tim. 2.18 So here it should seem in this Church of Thessalonica was some counterfeit false Teachers that did counterfeit letters as from the Apostles as that the day of Christ was at hand against which the Apostle doth exhort them not to be shaken in mind nor troubled neither by spirit or false revelations nor by word of false teachers nor by letters from any counterfeits pretending as from us as if the day of Christ is at hand let no man saith he deceive you by these or any means for the day of Christ shall not come except there come a departing or falling away first and that man of sin be revealed even the son of perdidition what the meaning of these words is the day of the Lord being at hand I will not undertake to determine whether by it be meant the day of Judgement or the day of the Jews conversion which must be before the general Judgement and Christs revealing himself to his people in the unvailing of the misteries of the Gospel wherein as the Prophet saith Dan. 7.27 The Kingdome and Dominion and the greatnesse of the kingdome under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high And Isa 6.12 The Nation and Kingdome that will not serve the Lord shall perish and shall be utterly wasted which of these two is meant I will not possitively determine but I rather think the latter is meant but our main businesse now is in the next verse that That day shall not come except there come a departing or falling away first and that man of sin which is the great Antichrist be revealed by his falling away which must make way for Antichrists appearance I do conceive is meant both the Apostacy of many in the Church to Heresie and the Apostacy of the Church from the right manner of Government and Discipline which was instituted by Jesus Christ and his Apostles The Apostacy to prepare the way for Antichrist was double I take this Apostacy here to be meant of both these forthe first the greatest Heresie and that did the most hurt was the Arian Heresie which began about the year 290 and over spread a great part of the Christian world there was other Heresies at that time but this was the most destructive to the Christian Faith about the year 300 when the Churches began to have some rest from persecution and so from that time forward Bishops had some care of preaching but Mr. Brightman saith the doctrine was much defiled in many heads of it and Reliques began to be of great account in the Church and all kind of superstition increased and pride in Bishops Church dignities were increased and all things sought for that might make for outward pomp and glory in the world more then truth was sought for and Bishops began to be at variance one with another as appears by Constantines Epistle to Miltiades Bishop of Rome about the year 310 thus he writing Constantine the Emperour unto Miltiades Bishop of Rome and Marcus sendeth greeting in so much as many such Epistles are brought unto me from Alininus Livel of Africk in which it is said that Cicelianus Bishop of Carthage is reprehended in many things and this seemeth unto me very grievous c. That among Bishops there should be such disagreeing and variance it seemed good unto me that Cecilianus himself together with the Ten Bishops that seem to reprehend him and Ten other Bishops whom he thought expedient in the behalf of this Cause do saile into Rome that there in the presence of you all together c. By this it appears here was an Apostacy from the primitve purity even among the Bishops as well as by Hereticks and this dicension and difference increased daily more and more Bishops striving for preheminence and augmentation of their Revenues The beginning of the conception of Antichrist for honours and dignity power and command that the institutions of Christ and his Apostles their example and practise in Government and Discipline was laide aside and forgotten and new inventions brought into the Church and new Titles Jurisdiction and power granted to the Bishops by the Councel of Nice which was unknown and unheard of before in the primitive Church which Apostacy from the Apostolical Goverment and diception if I mistake not was a greater advantage to Antichrist and made more way for his appearance then all the Heresies did for this pride and contention and striving for preheminence and jurisdiction increased still until the calling together of the Councel of Nice at which very time Antichrist had his Birth and first bringing forth into the world for there he received his first authority of preheminence above other Bishops and Churches he was conceived long before and was growing in the womb of the Church for the
Apostle tells us 2 Thes 2.7 That the mystery of iniquity did even then begin to work onely he which now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way I shall shew you what it was that did let and hinder his appearance and then return to our main businesse again Now that which did lett and hinder Antichrists appearance until it was taken out of the way was the Roman Heathen persecuting Emperours that did hinder for Antichrist could not settle himself where he was to have his Throne until they were removed and a Christian Emperour came in place under whom he might have shelter in his minority until he grew up to some strength which Christian Emperour was Constantine the great who besides his defending of Christians from persecution he left Rome holy to the Pope to raign and rule in and himself went to Bezantum which now is called Constantible and settled himself there We read in Revel 6. what fell out in the Churches upon the opening of the six seals I must give you a hint concerning them before I come to the businesse I intend Vpon the opening of the first seal St. John beheld a White Horse and he that sate on him had a Bow and a Crown was given unto him and he went out conquering and to conquer or that he might overcome by this Vision some think is meant the Ministry of the word of God preached by the true Worshippers in the primitive Church next after the Apostles and their Successors Psalm 45.3 4. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O thou most mighty with thy Glory and Majesty ride on prosperously because of truth and meeknesse and righteousnesse for Christ did conquer wonderfully while his Ordinances was kept pure without mixture of humane inventions and institutions and superstitious observations which it may be is the cause why the Ministry doth so little good and doth not work so effectually upon the Hearers as it did in former times And upon the opening of the second seal there appeared a Red Horse and he that sate thereon had power given him to take peace from the Earth and that they should kill one another by which is meant the cruel persecutions blood and war that followed the preaching of the Gospel which is to be understood of the Ten persecutions and I think also what hath happened in every Kingdome since where the Gospel hath prevailed Antichrist and his instruments hath raised war and persecution and sowed sedition and endeavoured to corrupt the Ordinances and to kill men in their souls if they cannot kill their bodies And upon the opening of the third seale there appeared a Black Horse and he that sate upon him had ballance in his hand by which is signified samine and scarcity of Food which for the most part doth follow wars for the contempt of the Gospel brings wars and wars brings famine and it is recorded that about the year 316 there was a grievous Famine c. Vpon the opening of the fourth seal there appeared a Pale Horse and his name that sat on him was death which signifies the Pestilence and other Contagious diseases whereby men are suddenly taken away by death And upon the opening of the fifth seal John in a Vision saw under the Altar the souls of them that were kiled for the word of God and for the testimony which they held erying How long Lord holy and true dost thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth but we must not imagine that these Marryrs have any real desire of revenge for Saints in Heaven are not affected with any such passion but it is rather to be understood that as Abels blood crved for Vengeance Gen. 4.10 So theâ—e Martyrs blood cries for Revenge But Mr. Brightman rather thinks this revenge to signifie their earnest desire of delivering the innocent party from their persecuters which the blood of these soules cries for and the answer that they receive is that they must rest for a little season until their brethren and fellow servants which should be killed as they were meaning under Antichrist were fulfilled for Antichrist was not far of And when he opened the sixth seal there was a great Earthquake and the Sun became black as sack cloth and the Moon became blood and the Stars of Heaven fell to the Earth c. by Earthquake in Scripture is oftentimes signified â—omotions troubles uproars in Commonwealths and alteration of State and Kingdoms as when the Psalmist speaks of the Children of Israel coming out of Egypt Psal 68.8 The Farth was moved the Heavens also dropped at thy presence O God and the Sun became black c. shews that the persecution signified thereby should be very cruel So the Prophet speaking of the destruction of Babylon Isaiah 13.10 The Starrs of Heaven and the Constellations thereof shall not give their light the Sun shall be darkned in his going forth and the Moon shall not cause her light to shine And Ezek. 32.7.8 I will cover the Heavens and make the Stars to be dark I will hide the Sun in a Cloud and the Moon shall not make her light to shine all the lights that shine in the Heavens will I make dark upon thee and will bring darknesse upon thy Land saith the Lord God Aretas reports out of the works of Andreas that many said this Earthquake was taken for the persecution until the coming of Antichrist and that thus the Scriptures are wont to speak of any notable change by the name of an Earthquake and he said truly only he mistook the time af Antichrist coming For Mr. Brightman saith by this Earthquake is to be understood that persecution which was more cruel then any that was before it which fell out in the raign of Diocleasian and Maximinian the last two persecuting Emperours about the year 300. and by the stars falling in this book of the Revelation is ment the Ministers and Pastors of the Church who are called stars for the shining light of the Gospel which they Minister while they preserve the doctrine of the Gospel pure from Heresie and the discipline from mingling it with the inventions of men are compared to stars and by the stars falling from Heaven is meant their falling from the sincerity of their profession to Heresie Superstition or Idolatry either in Doctrine in Discipline or Practise and many did fall about this time through the rage of these two parsecutors who endeavoured to rout out Christianity and the Scriptures by the Roots and published their Proclamations that the Books of Scriptures should be burned in the Market place we saw saith Eusebius with these very eyes the holy and divine Scriptures perish in the very Fire where they were thrown The Scriptures for it's glorious light may well be compared to the Sun and here you see how this Sun the Scriptures was darkned in this Earthquake and consumed with fire in this persecution a City in Phrygia wholy inhabited with Christians the
souldiers compassed it about and burnt it to Ashes and the Men Women and Children that were in it and besides the demolishing of Churches and burning the Scriptures and Slaughter and other Tortures of Christians there came forth another Prolamation to attath the Governours and Pastors of Churches and compell them to sacrifice to Idols here many held out manfully and suffered Martyrdome others with terrour were like blocks and became feeble and out of heart at the first onset saith Eusebius in his Eighth Book Chap. the Third so that the whole Church was covered over with blacknesse that it did scarce appeare any where And now follows the last act of this Tragedy in the 15 and 16 verses of this 6 Chapter of the Revelations And the Kings of the Earth and the great Men and rich Men and the chiefe Captains and the mighty Men and every bond Man and every free Man hide themselves in Dens and the rocks of the Mountains and said unto the Mountains and Rocks fall on us and hide us from the Face of him that sits upon the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is coming and who shall be able to stand And here we have reason to stand admiring at the wonderful grace and mercy of God who by his spirit in his servant John 1. hath so punctually set down these passages throughout the whole Revelation whereby we may find out the great Antichrist the man of sin and when he first appeared in the world for all these passages relate to Antichrists appearance as Aretus said though he missed of the time for observe here in the fight of these calamities how Jesus Christ the Lamb that sits upon his Throne put forth his divine power from Heaven and suddenly alayes these Tempests that these persecuting Emperours and Nobles should flie at his appearance for what other thing could it be that forced these two Tyrant Emperours Diocleasian and Maximinian when they both were at the top of honour and so raging mad with desire to root out Christianity that they both should so suddenly and voluntarily put themselves out of their Empires and betake themselves to a private life Eusebius in his 8 Book Chap. 14. and Ignatius to the same purpose saith that it is a marvellous matter and to this time the like unknown that both these Emperours should give up their Empires and return to a private life being not opprest with old age nor difficulty and greatness of matters but some impute it to Frensie and Nicephorus saith it was rage and madnesse because they saw they took pains in vain to root out Christianity but they mistook the matter for we may learn from these Texts that the true and real cause was only this that the Lamb that sits upon his Throne and who is the deliverer of his Church did smite them with inward terrour wounding them with the sting of conscience for their wickednesse and with fear of Gods vengeance that they were ready to cry to the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb and as he is a Lamb to his Church so he is a Lyon the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah who when he begins to reckon with his Enemies he will teare them in pieces and rent the Gall from the Liver and accordingly the Lamb shewed himselfe a Lyon in this respect and smote the chiefest of these persecuting Emperours Maximinius as Eusebius saith in his 8 Book and Chap. 17. That a plague from above light on him The dreadful Judgement of God upon the persecutors First taking root in his flesh and after proceeded even unto his soul for there arose in the secret parts of his body an impostume or running sore afterwards in the lower parts of his privities a botch corrupt boyle with a fistula whence issued corrupt matter eating up the inward bowels and an unspeakable company of Lice swarmed out with such a stinck that the Physicians were not able to abide it nor able to help with any Physick therefore they were cruelly executed and the Tyrant in this loathsome condition died Dioclesian in like manner pined away with diseases and Maximinian hanged himself and you must think though Histories mention it not that these three Emperours did not feel the stroke of Gods hand alone but as the Text saith The chief Captains so also the great Men and rich Men and bond-men and free were all driven to their wits end with this stroke that they were ready to cry to the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb for some write that besides the pining diseases that Dioclesian had to hid himselfe from the Lambs wrath he drank poyson and Gelerius ran into the bottom of the River Tyber to hid himself Thus these Heathen persecuting Emperours which hindred the great Antichrists coming to his Throne 2 Thes 2.7 being as the Apostle saith taken out of the way Constantine the great a Christian Emperour came in their place about the year of Christ 306. this Emperour put an end to the Heathen persecution That which hindred was removed he sent out his edicts to encourage the Christian Assemblies and to build the Churches the former Tyrants had caused to be demolished but after a while now the Churches having rest the Bishops were set on Fire by spiteful contentions among themselves striving for dignities and preheminence and also about several points of the Christian faith it is conceived by some that what is said Rev. 8.3 Of the Angell with the golden Viol that offered odors with the prayers of the Saints upon the Golden Altar which was before the Throne that this is meant of such as were souâ—d in the Faith that their prayers was to this effect that it would please God who had so wonderfully appeared for his Church and people in removing the persecuting Emperours that he would not suffer the truth which now for a short time had triumphed to be clouded againe by the pride and contention of the Bishops c. but that some way might be found out to establish the truth and that those that did outwardly professe themselves to be of the houshold of Faith and yet made such dissention in the Church that some way might be found out to stay such strife and controversies and indeed Constantine the Emperour used his endeavour to calm and quiet these contentions for besides the Epistle I mentioned before that he wrote to the Bishop of Rome that Cecilianus Bishop of Carthage and the ten Bishops that were against him and ten Bishops more that he should chuse of his side c. should meet before the Bishop of Rome about that controversie he also write another Epistle to Christus Bishop of Syracusa where he intimates to him that he had commanded divers Bishops out of sundry Provinces to meet at the City of Orleance where he requires him also to
but upon this account the Holy-Ghost did foresee the Pope would cast off the Ordinances and institutions of Jesus Christ and would devise and institute new Ordinances Offices and Officers in the Church as I have named before a hundred and fifty new religious orders and not one of them of divine institution which are as so many names of blasphemy whereby Christs Institutions his Laws his Truths his Ordinances are rejected and blasphemed by their Idolatry and Superstition besides the blasphemies named before of the Embassador of Cicily who cryed to the Pope thou that takest away the sins of the world have mercy upon us and grant us thy peace and the Bishop of Modrusium in the Councel of Lateran calling the Pope the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah The Popes blasphemous names and their Saviour and the Bishop of Bepontum who called this Beast the light of the World all which blasphemous titles the Pope applyed to himself and many more the like so that he is full of these and such like names of blasphemy and as for his scarlet colour by it may be meant his abominable wickedness in sheding the bloud of the two Witnesses and other of the saints and servants of God of which monstrous murthers both the Whore and the Beast are guilty and also his Cardinals and Prelats they are said to be drunk with the bloud of the Saints Martyrs of Jesus Christ as if they had died their Robes in the bloud of Martyrs for they have all their scarlet Robes as badges of the scarlet coloured Beast that they may be known to whom they do belong each one resembling the children of Kings Judg. 8.18 nay Cardinals peark up above Kings Lord Metropolitans above Earls and Lord Diocesans above Barons and every one in their order above those that are in civil honour Bellermin in his third Book of the Pope Chap. 13. doth confess that by the Whore in this place is meant Rome but he would have it understood of heathenish Rome the first 300 years from Christ and not of Rome as Christians but that cannot be for then Antichrist came while heathenish Rome stood and in so saying they contradict themselves for they say that Antichrist shall not come till three years and an half before the last Judgment but this is most false For first how should Antichrist do all that is to be done by him in three years and a half Secondly Rome is not the Whore at any time but when the Beast hath his residence there for she is to sit on him and Antichrist could not be there while Rome was heathenish for then Antichrist had been come and gone long before but this is the Beast and Antichrist that now fits Pope in Rome I think it is sufficiently proved that this Beast is the Pope the great Antichrist whose seat and throne is the seven hilled City of Rome which is so clearly described and set out by several marks and characters in the Scriptures that he neither hath been nor never will be found in the world if not in Rome for these things cannot properly be applyed so universally to any câ—ner place in the world as to Rome nor to any other person so as to the Pope who by the true applications of all these prophecies is the great Antichrist and man of sin and Rome is not the Whore of Babylon at any other time before until Antichrist the Pope had his residence there It is he that teacheth the Doctrine of Divels forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from meats usurping authority over the consciences of men which is the greatest tyranny in the world laying impurity upon those things he sorbiddeth as marriage and meats which God allows of both and annexing an operative holiness and power both satisfactory and meritorious to the observation of the things he enjoineth though it be contrary to what the Law of God alloweth and this very thing if there were nothing else proves the Pope to be the great Antichrist for herein he is honoured and obeyed before Christ and above Christ The Popes trial proving him to be Antichrist for Christ's precepts and his word is rejected and the Popes words and orders his canons and institutions is observed and obeyed let the Bishop of Osserie and the Pope and all his Conclave deny it if they can that this very one thing makes him to be the great Antichrist and this thing cannot properly be applyed to any one else in the world besides him It is this Antichrist that took his beginning from the falling away of the Bishops by their pride and contention before the Councel of Nice and the fall of the Bishops in the Councel of Nice falling from the primitive institutions to human institutions this is he that came to his Throne upon the removal of the Heathen persecuting Emperors which hindred his revealing as 2 Thess 2.7 8. this is the great Antichrist who had his first birth and bringing forth about the year 328 in the Councel of Nice this is he that exalteth himself above all that is called God c. this is the Antichrist that intrudes his unwritten traditions upon the Churches of Christ with more vehemency than Canonical Scripture this is he that falcified the decrees of the Nicen Councel to establish his own principality over all other Churches this is the Antichrist that assumes to himself a divine power and is honoured with divine honour which he received from the Embassador of Cisily the Bishops of Modrusium and Bepontum c. this is he that hath a hundred and fifty religious orders in his Church and not one of them of Divine institution which also shews that he is before and above Christ for number of Officers and Offices in the Church and therefore he is the great Antichrist Let Papists if they can find these marks in any other besides the Pope this is he whose Religion is composed of above forty several Heresies this Popish Antichrist is the Star that fell from Heaven to Earth Revel 9.1 unto whom was given the Keys of the Bottomless-pit c. This is he that challengeth an universal power as head over all Churches as Christs Vicar this is he out of whose mouth came three unclean spirits like frogs which are the spirits of Devils working miracles he it is who is the Patron of all the legends of Lies and fained Miracles this Pope and Antichrist it is to whom the Dragon gave his Power his Throne and great Authority this is he who is the King of the bottomless Pit who hath the Locusts and Frogs at his command as his subjects this is he that made war with the Saints and killed the Witnesses of Jesus Christ and took away the life and authority of the Scriptures in the Councel of Trent This is he that for money hath tolerated forty five thousand Whores at once for himself and his Clergy at Rome and allows of Sodomy c. This is he who hath
his Seat in spiritual Sodom and Egypt c. This is the Pope and Antichrist who hath two horns like the Lamb but he speaks and acts like the Dragon the Devil this is he that compels all c. to worship the Beast and to make his Image and that no man must buy or sell preach nor pray that hath not his mark or his name or the number of his name this is the Beast with seven heads and ten horns who had the wound of a sword and did live this is the Antichrist which the Angel shewed St. John the condemnation of and which shall certainly come to pass in due time these things I think are cleared to the meanest capacity that we need not doubt who is the great Antichrist nor where he is c. At the 9. verse of this 17. chapter of the Revelations the Angel begins to expound and unfold this mystery here is the mind that hath wisdom the seven Heads are seven Mountains whereon the woman sitteth c. that is the seven hills or mountains whereupon the City of Rome is built for which it is samous through the world and is called of the Gretians the seven topped or seven crested City and that because of these hills Let the Papists if they can find us out any other City in the world built upon seven hills or mountains which hath had seven several Governments and no more nor less and the seventh Government to exercise an universal or at least to challenge an universal power over all Churches and Kingdoms to fullfil this prophecy find us out any such besides the City of Rome and then they do somthing but if they cannot do that all they do and all others that take their part do but labour in vain and fight against God and against the truth and without repentance will heap up damnation upon themselves and many more Papists have confessed that Rome is the Whore here spoken of but they cannot endure to hear that it should be the seat of Antichrist as if these two could be parted the one sits and is born the other carrieth there is as near a communication between them as between the head and the body as the Angel interpreteth it verse 7. I will shew thee the mystery of the woman and the Beast that beareth her having seven heads and ten horns so that if they will send away the Beast to any other City than Rome they must send away the Body without his head the seven hills are the heads and Mr. Brightman saith where the seven heads of the Beast remain fixed and stable there is the very seat of Antichrist but Rome is the City where the Heads of the Beast remain fixed therefore Rome is the seat of Antichrist Thus the Angels tels us the seven Heads are seven Hills or Mountains they are also seven Kings five are fallen one is and the other is not yet come and when he cometh he must continue a short space the seven King are not seven singular persons but the succession of seven several Governments that had been in Rome and that should be even from the time that Rome was built until the time that it shall be destroyed from whence we have a sufficient argument that not any one Pope but a succession of Popes is the Antichrist for as the first six Heads or Governments nor no one of them did rest in any one single person that when he died the next set up another Government for so instead of 7 there might have been sevenscore but every one of the six several kinds of Governments remained in the succession of several singular persons to make up one Government even so the seventh Head or Government which is of Popes doth not rest in any one single Pope to make up the Antichrist but in a succession of Popes from the first Councel of Nice even so long as there shall be a Pope in Rome the succession of Popes the seventh Head or Government makes up the great Antichrist and man of sin and son of perdition of the six Governments the first was Kings the second Consuls I named them all above of which the first five were fallen and was past and gone when John writ for so he saith five are fallen one is which was the succession of Emperors that Governed in John his time and the other is not yet come which proved to be the Government and succession of Popes which came in as soon as the heathen Emperors were taken out of the way 2 Thes 2.7 they were it that hindred Antichrists appearance untill they were taken out of the way and after the seventh Head or Government was come for his continuing a short space before he had the wound I have shewed you above that Antichrists birth was about the year 328 from the Councel of Nice the short space that he continued before he had the wound was 87 years for in the year 415. Alaricus took Rome and wasted it and it was taken five times as is shewed before so that from the receiving of his wound until the wound was healed was 132 years for in the year 547 his deadly wound was healed by the decree of Justinian the Emperor Verse 11. And the Beast which was and is not and yet is is even the eighth and one of those seven and goeth into destruction the Beast which was and is not c. Is the Pope who was in great prosperity and encreased wonderfully in glory and wealth from the Councel of Nice for the space of 87 years and then Rome was wasted by the Gothes Vandals and Hunns c. so that for the space of 132 years Rome was so destroyed that at one time for sorty daies there was not a man nor woman seen in it and this was the time in which it is said the Beast is not for he did not now at that time seem to be but was as Chap. 13. it is said he was as it were wounded unto death so as the friends of the Beast did wonder when they beheld the Beast that was and is not and yet is that is to behold the Beast that was in such great Majesty and glory and is not so now that is during the time of those calamities he is not so as before and yet is that is he was not altogether wounded to death it was but as it were unto death for he yet is though in a low condition to what he hath been The Beast that was and is not and yet is is even the eighth and one of the seven Antichrist the Beast here is spoken of under a double resemblance in one and the same person he is the seventh Head in respect of his civil power and he is the eighth in respect of his Ecclesiastical power because it is a power of it self and yet he is one of the seven because these two Powers are both joined and exercised in one person and both make up one Antichrist in the succession
Antichrist that changes Laws yea even the Law and Word of God utterly abolish the second commandement and making another Commandement into two assuming to himself an universal authority over all Churches as head thereof as if the whole state of the Church did hang so upon the Pope that if there were no Pope there were no Church or that if the Pope were not the Pope the Church were not the Church Page 27. He demands if they be rightly applyed Whether all Notes Acts Arguments and Testimonies of Scripture that are set down as marks of Antichrist are not all to be found in the long Parliament and Presbyterians c. And it is answered That they are not for the long Parliament and Presbyterians c. did never forbid Marriage nor 2ly they never commanded abstinence from Meat 3ly they did not exalt themselves above all that are called Gods as the Pope doth though they exalted themselves here yet not above other Emperors and Kings 4ly they did not delude with lying Miracles Signes and Wonders 5ly the key of the bottomlesse pit was not given to them to let out the Locusts 6ly they did not deny Jesus to be Christ in his three Offices of King Priest and Prophet 7ly they had not their seat and residing in the City built upon seven Hills or Mountains which reigneth over the Kings of the earth 8ly they could not properly be said to be the Beast that was and is not and yet is 9ly they were not the seventh head which John spake of saying five are fallen one is and the other is not yet come 10ly they are not the Beast that had the wound of a Sword and did live 11ly nor the Beast with seven Heads and ten Horns 12ly they did not shed the bloud of all the Saints and Martyrs as Revel 18.24 though I must needs say they shed too much but all these and many more are applycable to the Pope and cannot properly be applyed unto them That which the Apostle in the 2 Thes 2 calls a falling away or apostacy he perverts the Text and calls it a Rebellion and because he would excuse the Pope from being Antichrist where the Apostle speaks of an Apostacy before Antichrist should be revealed in his 34th page he saith We find no rebellion in the Church of Rome against their Governors but saith he the Leaders of the Church deâ—ive the Church and so her Apostacy is the more excusable and less abominable to God Observe here how he contradicts the truth and himself both for page 31. he speaks of the Heresies that was in the Church of Rome and he names the Nicolaitans the Ebionites Cerinthians Montanists Valentinians Arians Nestorians Eutyehians Pelagians Manicheans and Donatists and many others whom he saith rebelled against their Governors and here he saith there was no rebellion in the Church of Rome and I have in the former part of this book shewed that there was twenty times two Popes at once one rebelling against another and many times the pople rebelled and deposed one Pope and set up another Thus you see he shames not to write any thing so he might defend and excuse the Pope not to be Antichrist Besides take notice he saith The Leaders of the Church deceive the Church therefore their Apostacy is the more excusable I beseech you whether is the greater Apostacy of the Leaders of the people that should know the truth and teach others for them to apostatize and draw multitudes after them and for most part sin against the light of their own Consciences or for ignorant common people to apostatize and sin through ignorance is not the apostacy of the Governors of the Church the greater and doth the more mischief and leads the more astray and yet this Bishop saith the apostacy of the Governors of the Church is more excusable and lesse abominable in the sight of God It seems he thinks that God seeth as he seeth I will not say that this What less than Blasphemy and some other things we have spoken of are blasphemy against God and his Truth but I refer it to wise men to judge There is little more of account to take notice of until the 58th page where in a sort he contradicts himself in what was said last viz. that Governors apostacy are more excusable than others and here he tels us That the Church of Rome compelleth all men to submit unto her more with the Sword of the Magistrate than with Aarons Rod witnesse their cruelties to the poor Indians their massacres in France their inquisition in Spain and their unmerciful persecution in England in King Henry the 8th and Queen Marys dayes and the Gunpowder-treason and then he tels of the cruelty of the Arians against the Orthodox was more than barbarous they infected and afflicted the Church most grievously being armed with several weapons and he tels us that Novatus exceeded all the rest for he would neither give his Father bread when he was ready to starve nor bury his corps when he was dead he spurned his own Wife out of doors being with child and killed the child in her belly these are the Bishops own words but he saith above that 〈◊〉 prove it for as to 〈◊〉 growing 〈…〉 Apostacies are more excusable because they were guides of the Church Page 59. he saith The most learned of the Jesuits do confesse the Assirian Babylon to be the type and figure of the Italian Rome and is so understood by the Apostle 1 Pet. 5.13 The Church that is 〈◊〉 Babylon salute you I Answer If in this Text as is granted by Babylon Italian Rome is understood then we must in all those places in the Revelation where Babylon is spoken of understand Rome which if it be granted as the Bishop doth grant it here and saith that the most learned of the Jesuits do grant it then must Babylon which is Rome be the Seat and Throne of Antichrist which Rev. 1â— 5 is called mistery great Babylon the mother of whoredom and abomination of the earth And Chap. 18.2 It is fallen it is fallen Babylon that great City the habitation of Devils and the hold of all foul spirits and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird for all Nations have drunk of the Wine of the wrath of her Fornication c. this notes out her utter ruine and destruction And this is Rome as Rev. 16.19 And that great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the Cup of the fierceness of his wrath Yet neverthelesse he hath said above that by Babylon is meant Rome so self willed and self-conceited is our Bishop that he flies off again page 61. and saith that what is said Rev. 17.18 cannot be understood of Rome without trope or figure for that it is said that in Babylon was found the blood of the Prophets and Saints and all that were slain upon Earth which cannot saith he be referred to any one City in the World but only
Idolatry nor Infidelity nor blasphemy but the highest degree of man-slaughter or the unjust murthering of an innocent Person Page 80. and page 82. he saith it is worse than Adams sin and page 87. he further saith this sin is a judicial condemning of an innocent Person or Persons their superiors as Christ was unto death and that by a representative of a whole Kingdom I Answer first to the latter part how or by what Scripture or what authority can be produced for proof of what he saith page 80. and 82. and 87 for his bare word is not sufficient ground for any man to pin their faith upon without either Scripture or reason to confirm it but such fancies or fictions as these you may remember that in his 65. page he calls them new delivered truths and therefore saith we should recide from former errors or opinions though never so generally embraced by former Authors for he is the only man for to find out a new Antichrist and to clear the old Antichrist from that stain and polution if any man will believe him But secondly how can any man of any indifferent knowledge believe any thing that he writes who doth so often as you have heard contradict himself and the Scriptures also and so again here in this place where he saith the Apostle gives us to understand in that 2 Thes 2. that Antichrist shall commit one singular peculiar sin that should only and properly be the sin of Antichrist and none else whereas neither that text nor any other in the whole Scriptures doth speak of any singular or peculiar sin that makes him to be Antichrist but the Scriptures speak of many sins in many several places that should declare him to be the great Antichrist as is shewed in many places of this Book and even in this Text from whence he would gather his assertion His contradicrion of Scripture the Text speaks the absolute contrary as first that Antichrist shall exalt himself above all that is called God Secondly that he should sit in the Temple of God Thirdly that he should shew himself that he is God that is the highest God on earth above all other Gods either in Church or State Fourthly that his coming should be after the working of Satan with power and that is shewed above how he claims and exerciseth a power above all c. Fifthly that he should come with sigus Sixthly with lying Seventhly with working wonders with deceit and unrighteousness Eightly that he should forsake the truth and not receive it in love besides several sins spoken of 1 Tim. 4. and 1 John 2. and all along in the Revelations and elsewhere of many sins that Antichrist should be known by and this man rejects all and will have him known by one singular peculiar sin which no Text in all the Scripture nor no Author that ever did write did particularly point him out by for if that had been the peculiar sin to know him by then should they have been Antichrist that crucified Christ the Apostle would not after have writ of another Antichrist and which the same sin should make him Antichrist which never can the like be committed with such a height of rebellion against God and with such a rage reaching up to Heaven by any other rebellion or murther neither by Parliament nor Phocas or any else And as our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was put to death by a Roman Power and Authority I think we may upon better grounds than you bring argue that it may imply thus much that Antichrist should have his rise seat and residence in that very place from whence the power and authority came that crucified our Lord Jesus Christ and though there be no Text of Scripture to prove this except perhaps it might be proved by consequence comparing Scripture with Scripture yet I will not be curious to search into it but leave it to the judgment of others however if I mistake not it it seems to carry more force in it than all the new fangle stories you tell us of Page 95. he draws a conclusion from the writings of Tremellius and Beza that Antichrist shall exalt himself above the Bishops and indeed in this I grant that he saith very true for the Pope of Rome hath so exalted himself by his universal Priest-hood as head of the Church and Christs Vicar and Peters Successor that he claims an authority over all the Bishops in the World and doth exercise that authority in many Kingdoms more than any one doth besides and therefore by the Bishops own argument the Pope of Rome is the great Antichrist and man of sin c. for the Pope saith it standeth upon necessity to salvation that every humane creature be subject unto him and therefore requisite and necessary for men that will be saved to know the dignity of his See and excellency of his Dominion for his Priest-hood was prefigured in Aaron and other Bishops under him was prefigured by the Sons of Aaron to be under him thus he exalts himself above the Bishops as is said before Page 99. he saith that the denying Jesus to be the Christ is the proper note and undeniable mark of the great Antichrist who is the head of all other inferiour Antichrists as 1 John 2.22 Who is a lyer but he that denyeth that Jesus is Christ the same is Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Son I answer I shall not trouble the Reader to relate what the Bishop saith from this Text to the purpose he aims at but I shall as I have done by other Texts and Arguments shew you how undeniable this Text rightly applyed doth prove the Pope to be Antichrist first he is said in this Text to be a lyar and so in the Text before named 2 Thes 2.9 that is a crafty deceiver of the People by granting pardons and indulgences and many other priviledges which are so well known I need not repeat them and which are all as so many lies for there is no truth in them nor no Scripture to prove that he hath any such power or authority but that by his lies he causeth the People to believe him and he is a lyar also in professing outwardly in words what he denieth in his practice as might be made appear in many several things and as appears in the former part of this Book he is a lyar that denies Jefus to be Christ Jesus signifies a Saviour thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sine and Christ fignifies anointed that is to be King Priest and Prophet to his Church a King to rule and govern his Church to appoint Laws and Officers and Ordinances in the Church a Priest to offer Sacrifice for the sins of the People and that he did especially when he offered himself Heb. 9.13 If the blood of Bulls and Goats and the ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh
the end of the World and at the last period of the last times as the Scripture he saith doth evidently testifie I answer that these Scriptures he means to prove it by is yet unwritten for I am sure he never read them for though he quote 1 Tim. 4.1 that Text makes directly against him and nothing for him For saith the Apostle Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits What is meant by latter times and Doctrines of Devils and those devilish Doctrines are said verse 3 to be the forbidding of Marriage and commanding to abstain from meats c. I am glad the Bishop doth confess this Text to be meant of Antichrist But because the Apostle speaks of the latter times must it therefore needs be understood as he saith of the last period of the last times or as he saith in the 30. pape of his 2d Book That Antichrist shall reign but three years and a half or much about that time and very shortly after must be the last Judgment But let us see what other Scriptures say that we may expound Scripture by Scripture Gen. 49. Jacob called his Sons together that he might shew them what should befall them in the last daies surely this is not meant three years and a half before the end of the World as he calls it the last period of the last times c. Verse 19. Gad a troop shall overcome him but he shall overcome at the last So Daniel 4.8 and 1 Peter 1.20 and so Matth. 26.60 By the last times in these Texts is understood the fulnesse of the time appointed and determined of God for the affecting and bringing to passe what God hath intended to have done and the time he hath appointed and so that Text before 1 Tim. 4.1 in the latter daies that is the daies before determin'd and appointed that Antichrist should forbid marriage and meats and it is now 980. years since marriage was forbidden in the Council of Constance â—nd Antichrist doth reign still this is a long three years and an half that is stretched out to more then three times three hundred years since Antichrist preached that Dectrine and yet the Bishop either cannot or will not see his mistake Page 16. he saith He cannot sufficiently wonder at Mâ— Meade Marefius Tilenus the Synod of Gappe and other Divines aforesaid that they should imagin that God would be so regardlesse so unmindful and so severe though in Justice he might as to suffer the great Antichrist to reign and rage against his Saints so many hundred years as they prescribe that makes the Pope Antichrist I answer Who can sufficiently wonder that a man of such a place and dignity as a Bishop should be so far mistaken himself as in writing lesse than half one Leaf so grosly to contradict himself The Bishop contradicts himself c. For even now he said that it was agreed upon by all Papista and Protestants old and new that Antichrist should come towards the end of the World and now he confesseth that Mr. Mead Maresius and Tilenus and others afore-named which was above twenty are of contrary opinion and the Synod of Gappe to boot who can to use his own words sufficiently wonder at this so great a Doctor a finder out of a new Antichrist which the world never dreamed of but besides his slighting the Judgment of so many Authors before-named by himself together with the Magdeâ—urgerses and Synod of Gappe who can sufficiently wonder that he should charge God to be regardlesse and unmindful of his Saints to suffer Antichrist so many hundred years to tyrannize over them as if Gods Actions were to be measured by his Reason he hath forgotten that God suffered all Nations except the Jewes and some few Proselites to walk in their own waies almost four thousand years For with him a thousand years is but as one day c. And as is said above the Beast that is the seventh Head When he cometh he must continue a short space Rev. 17.10 and yet this short space was 87. years before he received his wound and then was 132. years after before the wound was fully healed which was but a short space in comparison of the time that Antichrist hath reigned was ever the Church of God without enemies since the Creation that you should count it a greater wonder now then it was in former Ages but I let this passe Page 17. he tells us That the Apostle shewes but he neither doth nor can tell us where the Apostle shewed it nor to whom that God would raise up Reformers to root out Errors out of the Church and to prescribe a Form of Godliness these are his very words A Form of Godlinesse and then followâ— or a Set-form of God's Worship whereby the Church should be guided in the true Faith and these Reformers he saith are stiled I Answer I do not read of a Form of Godlinesse in any place of Scripture but in 2 Tim. 3.5 in which Text the holy Apostle doth admonish us to turn from such as have no more than a Form of Godliness And in the four foregoing Verses what manner of persons they would be that would set up a Form of Godlinesse That perillous times should come A Form of Godliness for the Government of the Church of Christ that men should be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud cursed speakers disobedient to Parents unthankful unholy without natural affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of them that are good traytors heady high minded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God having a Form of Godlinesse but denying the power thereof from such turn away or because they are such therefore turn away from such Is such a brood as this Sir your Reformers to root out Heresie as you say and to settle a Form of Godlinesse whereby the Church of Christ should be guided a woful condition is that Church in who have such Reformers and such Guides The Apostle branches them into eighteen several ranks or qualities of which I dare say there was never a one of them that ever was a good Refomer of the Church of Christ but rather Deformers And as for that Text you bring which you say calls such Reformers good men as they were indeed say you But I know not who will believe it for under favour I must tell you it is falsly applyed for the Apostle there is foretelling what Antichrist should do when he came into the World viz. That he should depart from the true Faith and be a seducing spirit that he should be a lyer an hypocrite that his conscience should be seared or benumbed in the practice of wickednesse that he should teach the Doctrine of Devils as the forbiding of marriage and commanding to abstain from meats which may be received with thanksgiving of them that believe and know the Truth And