doubted or any other man neede to doubt of the trueth but as it should seeme being no profest Churchman he modestly disputes the point as a man that would learne himselfe and others by asking questions wisely and withall inquiring whether it can be imagined that any man can be more like Antichrist then the Pope is he concludes negatiuely that none can and plainely layes downe in everie Probleme the obstinate absurdities of such as looke for Antichrist and beleeue he shall come yet cannot now see him to be come because either he stands too neare them as a beame in their eyes and they are parte of him bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh or they expect him when he comes to be so qualified for publique observation as the Church of Rome hath cunningly and poetically described him But such an Antichrist they shall never see for the church of Rome did so paint him in policie not for the disclosing but for the concealing and clowding of his proper and personall appearance and diverting the eyes of all men from beholding the right object For my parte meeting with this Booke in a manuscript and seeing the profit it may bring to all I could doe no lesse then be a midwife for the edition of this since I am not able to be parent for procreation of the like And I haue taken the boldnes upon me to dedicate it to no lesse persons then to the Kings and Potentates of the Earth for it concernes them all especially aboue and more then others to reade and to understand this Controversie least they should be made drunke or kept drunke with the dregges of that abhominable cuppe of Inchantments wherewith diverse of their forefathers haue been intoxicated and slept to death and least they should under the appearance of Christianitse countenance and support Antichristianisme and so thinking to doe Christ good service persecute his poore members ignorantly Besides many of them haue suffred much from the hand of Antichrist and his members The Kings of France haue beene butchered by their instruments and the kingdome put in Combustion by their incendiaries of the Roman Catholique league or partie Our Queenes Father Henrie IIII. of renowmed memorie must not be forgotten his blood is yet too fresh upon their fingers to be hidden from her Majesties eyes except they force her weake sexe as they haue done manie of the masculine gender to winke by threatning to dippe their fingers as deepe in her bloud which the Lord forefend if she cast an eye towards her Fathers Funerall or so much as inquire whether or no he dyed by age or by some injurious and traiterous hand Our Kings haue beene and are still excommunicated cursed exposed to slaughter and deposition by them The King and Queene of Bohemia haue beene pursued from place to place and all Christendome imbroyled with bloodie warres for the upholding of Papall usurpation against regall Iurisdiction Other Princes haue formerly felt and may hereafter feele the strength of his Imperiall and Catholique Armes and therefore it concernes these also to knowe the man of sinne for their owne comfort that they may the better beare their Crosses considering from what head and hand they come and that they may with more courage and assurance looke up towards deliverance Luke 21 28. as Christ hath willed them who at the length will be too hard for Antichrist and giue a happie yssue to all their afflictions And as it concerns Princes especially so it concerns others also as much as their salvation may concerne them to know Christ their Saviour and Antichrist the chiefe enimie of their Saviour and of their Salvation from each other and therefore I haue dedicated it to all Christians But if any wonder why in the Title of the Dedication I use these words To all Christians Reformed and Romish as if I contradicted my selfe in calling the Romish professors Christians which in other places I terme Antichristians I answer that the Pope himselfe could not be the Antichrist except he were a Christian and tooke upon him also to be the chiefe Christian in externall profession A man may in diverse respects be a Christian and an Antichristian at once The Pope is baptized professeth the fayth in generall termes as Peter did and thus he is a Christian and one of S. Peters successors as all other Bishops are but as he chalengeth to be head of the Church universall Bishop of an infallible spirit Iudge of the Scripture c he is Antichrist that is Rev. 18. Rome as head of the church is Babylon such as so dwell in it mystically by adhering to it are in Babylō whether they be in Rome or no such as renounce this Babylonish doctrine of Romish supremacie suprelacie holding the true head which is Christ Iesus alone those are with out Babylon though they dwel in Rome for Christ in shew but against him in trueth So those of the church of Rome are Christians in outward profession but as they adhere to the Pope as to the Vicar of Christ and head of the Church they are Antichristians and such of them as belong to Gods election are called out of Babylon by the holy spirit and may come out from thence by renouncing the Babylonish doctrine of the Church of Rome though for their persons and dwellings they continue in the same place and cittie still And that these Romish Christians may be informed and all other Reformed Christians established in the trueth is the end which the Author proposed to himselfe in the collection and composition and I in the publication of this treatise All that I feare is that both this worke and my owne indeavour shall meete the greatest discouragements from some of those that should protect and countenance us who eyther from error of judgment deny the Pope to be Antichrist and yet separate from him at which I wonder or else out of humane wisedome and policie seeme still to be in doubt and will not be resolved as fearing a diminution of their worldly greatnesse and glorie if this truth should be generally acknowledged Because they suppose much of their authoritie would be found to be built upon the sandie foundation of Antichristian usurpations But shall we loose heauen for earth or looke so low as to bring temporall respects into the ballance with eternall Can there be no provision for upholding the honour and countenance of the Clergie from common contempt and for the incouraging and rewarding of learning but what Antichrist invents to uphold himselfe withall Then let me rather be still poore and despised with Christ and accounted ignorant with his Apostles then rich and respected learned with those of Rome Truth and simplicitie are the chiefe ornaments of Church-men and should be inseparable Their serpentine wisedome should not be used for this world for that naturall subtiltie which hath no mixture of doue-like simplicitie infused by grace Christ did not teach to his Apostles
but Adam and Evah learned it of the old serpent and having therewith lost Paradise left it then with the wide world to boote as a Legacie for all their posteritie I would faine therefore finde that simple Christian Policie which lookes directly forward to the price of the high calling Phi. 3 13 14 and contents it selfe with that respect which followes the worke Rom. 2 29. whose praise is of God and not of men If the worldes wages comes with it I shall take it as the faithfull performance of his gracious promise who hath wild us first to seeke the kingdome of God Matth. 6.32 and his righteousnes and all needfull things for this life shall be added unto us This is my resolution and I am resolved besides that he who upon those earthly respects before mentioned or any the like humane grounds and motiues opposeth this booke or the like doeth therein sufficiently declare himselfe to be Antichristian and shall neede no further eviction or confutation then the evidence of his owne actions Kings and Princes therefore must cast an eye upon such and they shall soone see all their Councell is to uphold their owne earthly commaunds for personall respects a watchword sufficient for him that is wise to beware of such for they are wolues in sheeps cloathing And now to conclude how much are we to magnifie the Lord for our King Nobles Cleargie and Commons mette together lately in the high Court of Parliament and there so well according for matter of Religion that the Subiect no sooner shewed his grievance with complaint but the Soveraigne applied the remedie with compassion Such a Head shewes it selfe sensible of the suffering of the feete and such members will never forget as they haue protested thankfulnesse to such a Head Thus they are happie in knowing each other So that the king having any attempt against Antichrist neede not doubt the bodie And the people fearing the incroachments of Antichrist neede not doubt to acquaint the Head with their feares How happie a thing is it to heare that ecclesiasticall corruptions had no backs in eyther house nor no sonne of Belial there to pleade for Baal It is the bellie and not the conscience that speakes in such cases Whether they be greater frieÌ„ds to schollers and learning who provide for a few covetous and ambitious persons or they that provide for the generall number of carefull and conâ—cionable persons blinde men may see and judge what portion had Fulke Fox Whitaker Reynolds Perkins with many others in the Church Or were not these men learned Or who was more learned painfull and profitable to the Church of Christ then these He that thinkes me an enimie to the Bishops for this is deceived Nay rather I wish that where there is but one Bishop now there were twentie so farre am I from schisme or from being Antiepiscopall and howsoever of old such penny-wise Fathers haue been applauded as the onely pillars of the Church and friends forsooth to schollers yet now the world knowes better that as a man cannot fill his mouth and speake both at one time so they who are most greedie and unsatiable in seeking after offices haue least leasure and desire to performe the Dueties of them And that both the Parliament that desired and his Majestie who graunted and the Cleargie who never opposed the reimployment of silenced Ministers who were not turbulent did well understand For these men will be contented with litle and yet withall will labour to giue much contentment in the workes of their vocation so that if they may haue free and peaceable passage we shall see Superstition and Idolatrie haue a greater blowe in a few yeares by their labours then in manie yeares before by the unfruitfull unprofitable warre stird up against them as betwixt Fathers and their children which gaue way to the contrarie humour to increase And were some of these men well provided for and protected in Ireland I doubt not to say we should soone see the happie effect thereof and that an Armie of Priests would do more perhaps then an armie of secular souldiers and so settle that kingdome in obedience to Christ that we should not fear any invasion or inward motion by Antichrist or his instruments in those parts He that doubts this may looke into Scotland a place sixtâ—e yeares since as obstinately averse from the fayth as Ireland is now where in a few yeares Poperie was wholly rooted up and scarce a man to be found that would professe himselfe to be a Papist till these late dayes when the unhappie division betwixt the Cleargie gaue them oportunitie and incouragement to increase and multiplie It is our charge to conquer the Irish soules to Christ as well as the Irish lands and bodies to our selues and I am perswaded God hath not prospered our worke for our parte because we haue had no greater care to compasse his parte If they were Christs they would be ours too in spite of Rome and Spaine but being Antichrists in affection their able bodies are imployed as instruments against us in all places and their Countrie used now by Spaine as Scotland of old by France to divert and distract our warlike attempts and to hold us busied at home Their conversion would haue beene the glorie of our church government shewing that our Cleargie did not seeke themselues but Christ as now it is our shame that whilest the Romish Cleargie haue conquered many Countries for Antichrist in the East and West Indies we should neglect a neighbour countrie long in our possession suffering them still to liue in spirituall captivitie under the hands of ignorance Idolatrie darknesse and death But now we haue better hope seeing the reconcilement of the Fathers to their brethren and doubt not but that will be effected there which hath been performed in England and Scotland heretofore by the conscionable plaine painfull and powerfull preaching of the Gospell whilest men are not distracted nor their hearts alienated from each other by domestick controversies For these Church quarrels about Ceremonies besides the distraction do by the scandall hinder the progresse of Religion causing the enemie to insult in their unitie against our truth because they see us divided and in our divisions pursuing each other more bitterly for those things which we professe to be circumstanciall and indifferent then we doe them in fundamentall controversies And so they say truely we shew little charitie and therefore can haue no true fayth The Lord therefore joyne the hearts of our King Peeres Clergie and Commons in one to finish this good worke which they haue begun to the overthrow of Antichrist and blesse this worke to his full discoverie that Kings Princes Priests and People may learne to leaue him And so craving pardon for that capitall crime of plaine-speaking which I haue herein used I ende with the Authors owne Epistle or Preface to the Reader Quod à suis olim Lectoribus petiit
his enemies and not to his servants and freinds Concerning whom I desire to be resolved in 7. points 1 Vpon the words long before spoken by our Saviour vobis datum est Matth. 13. To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdome of heaven whether by these words he meant to signifie onely his Apostles or all his disciples and them also which as he speaketh in another place should beleeve in him through their words Iohn 17. 2 Why in these words he made no speciall mention of Peter or his successours which do now vindicate to themselvs the sole authoritie of the keyes aswell of science as of power and jurisdiction 3 whether those who by our Saviour are there signified by a vobis datum be not the same which are here called the servants of Iesus Christ and why here also there was no mention of Peter or his successours or of the Roman Church which was then in the Imperiall Cittie and doubtlesse had many godly men in it Rom. 16. and some of great dignitie 4 When our divine Evangelist writeth these things to the seven Churches of Asia whether he did not in this according to his direction and whether he doe not hereby shew who were meant by the name of the servants of God and Christ 5 what reason the Apostle had to send it to those Churches and not to the Roman church either as chief or as one of the rest was it perhaps for the reason of S. Hillarie Anne ambiguum est Antichristum in his tectis esse sessurum Or was he not an Apostle and Prophet to the Romans as well as to them of Asia or for what other reason 6 Whether in writing to those seven he did not intend to write to the whole universall Church of God as well to come as present as S. Augustine expoundeth Numero septenario vniversae Ecclesiae significata est perfectio De Civ 17 4. And onely to the Church and whether all others be not excluded by a vobis non est datum 7. And lastly whether in writing to the seven Churches and their Angels equally and indifferently he do not sufficiently shew that the state of the Church upon earth is neither in the nature of a Monarchie nor of a Democratie but of an Aristocratie where the several Angels preside in their severall Territories precincts and congregations agreeing in the unity of one faith under one eternall head the God of Truth Christ Iesus Let us not deceive our selvs Babilonians use to lisp They cannot speak the language of Canaan with a true spirit Neither onely this booke but all the Scripture is dark and obscure to them whose minde the God of this world hath blinded 2 Cor. 4. Hosh 8 12. and so much for the Persons IV. My fourth Problem is concerning the finall ende scope of this book in the verses above briefly touched to shew to his servants things which must shortly come to passe And here I must necessarily speak of the Subject which is so joyned with the end that the consideration of the one cannot be severed from the other I demand therefore what things must be shewed to the Church of God Surely takeing a generall view of this divine prophecy for my part I conceive that the most here spoken of is of the enemies of their persecutions malicious practises against the Church and of the defence and deliverance of the Church and the punishment of her enemies and so I finde S. Hieroms opinion In prologo Revelat quanta Ecclesia Christi passa et passura sit And to what end must these things be shewed unto them if not to the same for which our Euangelist in his Euangile reciteth many excellent sermons of our Saviour Christ namely to comfort and incourage the faithfull and to excite them to repentance vigilance patience and perseverance against the troubles to come Repent saith he to the Churches of Ephesus and Pergamus Fear not to Pergamus Hold fast to Thyatira c. So in the Gospell These things haue I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended So in his Epistle Let that abide in you Iohn 16. 1 Iohn 2. which ye have heard from the begining Take heed I haue foretold you Marke 13. Now if this be the end namely to arme the faythfull with those vertues against the troubles to come then what is or can be the subject of this book or what matter can it speak of but 1. it must describe the state of the Church in her severall times 2. The Head of the Church who is also her Saviour Protector in all her troubles 3 The enemies of the Church and their persecutions and practises 4. The Confusion of those Enemies and the punishments inflicted upon them in this world 5 Their Everlasting Damnation 6 The Deliverance of the Church And lastly her Everlasting Glory and felicity Whether this be not so I desire to know upon the three Problems ensuing My fift Problem therefore is concerning the Church V. whether it be not with sufficient plainenesse set forth unto us in these seven places 1 In the vision of the seuen golden Candlesticks Revel 1. in the middest whereof Christ Iesus walketh 2 In the vision of the Beasts and Elders in the midst of whom is the Throne of God and of the Lamb. Revel 4. 3 In the vision of the Temple of God Revel 12. set forth to be measured and opened 4 In the vision of the woman travelling with Child which bringeth forth Christ Iesus Revel 12. and then is forced to flye into the wildernes where she must continue for a long time after 5 As Mount Sion whereupon the Lamb standeth with all his Army chap. 14. 6 As a Bride trimmed for her husband chap. 19. 7 As the City of God the new Ierusalem whose wals are founded upon the Twelve Apostles chap. 21. VI. My sixth Problem is concerning our Saviour Christ the great and mighty Lord Protectour Prince and Saviour of his Church whether he also be not as many waies described unto us viz. 1 As the great Bishop and Teacher of his Church in the midest of the seuen golden Candlesticks Râ—vel 1. 2 As the Sacrifice for his Church chap. 4. and yet the Defender Protectour in the middest of the Throne a Lamb a Lyon chap. 10. 3 As the great Lord of Heaven and Earth Land Sea Dâ—u 32 40 determining the end of Times which is not revealed to any Angell Matth. 24. 4 As the seede of the woman and yet the Sonne of God Revel 12. Revel 14. 5 As the Lamb standing on mount Sion 6. As a most mightie valiant captain chap. 19. or invincible Prince going forth to warre against his enemies himself in the forefront readie to charge them in the face 7 And lastly as an inevitable Iudge both of quick
be understood but of the Church of God in Rome and who can be said or ever could be said to sit in that Church as God but the Pope But marke the seauenth and see whether yet againe Rome and the Church of God in Rome be not precisely described It is in the Prophecie of Daniel that beloved Prophet as our Euangelist was the beloved disciple He shall plant saith he the Tabernacles of his Pallace betweene the seas Dan. 11 45. In the Glorious mountaine of Holynes Neither goeth this place alone but commeth with a witnes For the like is said of the King of Tyrus a tipe also of Antichrist in that severe Priest and Prophet Ezechiel Thou hast sayd I am a God Ezek. 28. I sit in the seat of God in the midest of the seas That which Daniel signifyed by setting his Pallace betweene the seas in the glorious holy Mountain that Ezekiel expresseth by sitting in the seat of God in the middest of the seas and whether both these do not prefigure unto us the Church of Rome I desire the Learned to judge It must be a mountaine of Holynes Esa 11 9. and the seate of God which are the proper Titles of the Church in the old Prophets And this church must not be an obscure Psa 2 48. Zach 8 3. or litle but a glorious church and this Glorious church must be betweene two seas How this can be applyed to Tyrus Babylon Ierusalem Constantinople or to any other cittie in the world beside Rome I ask of all that know the two famous seas that imbrace Italie whereof the one is called MarC superum Adriaticum or the Gulfe of Venice the other is Mare Inferum Tirihenum or the Straights both mentioned by Vergil in one verse for the glorie of Italie An mare quod supera memorem quodque alluit infra Betweene these two seas Rome was and is seated which was in the beginning a church truly glorious both for the Martyrdome of many godly men for their constant profession of the truth against Heretikes for I will not detract the least thing from them and for that it was the Imperiall cittie For which cause it was called Prima sedes which was the greatest title that it had for 400 yeares Prosper was first Pope Leo his secretarie But after that Pope Leo the eloquent Orator and Prosper his familiar friend or Secretarie an excellent Poet began to ascribe higher titles unto it Peslem subeuntem prima recidit Archb. of Canterb. in his answer to D. Hill Prosper in lib. de ingratis Marke the statelines of these verses with the resonans of his letters S. P. Q. R. Sedes Roma Petri quae Pastoralis honoris Facta caput mundo quiCquid non possidet armis Religione tenet After this I say and such like Tacitus li. 1. by little and litle taking upon her as Augustus did in taking of the Empire of a church truly Glorious she began to be vain glorious but still glorious for none else could be the seat of Antichrist And it seemes they followed the wit and pollicie of their founder Romulus of whom it is said that he was Livy lib. 1. Tum fâ—ctis vir magnificus tum factorum ostentator haud minor He would loose nothing for lack of seting forth And the like is said of Scipio and other Romans But if any will apply this text to Antiochus and say that he placed the Tabernacles of his Pallace in Ierusalem I will not deny but Antiochus might be signified in Daniell to be the type of Antichrist but if they will say that this place is meant onely of Ierusalem and Antiochus I would desire them to answer me well to these three questions First how the church of God in Ierusalem could be called a glorious church or the temple a glorious temple in those times when it appeareth by the Prophets Hag. 2. that the second temple then standing was as nothing to the former the church was not onely oppressed and persecuted by Antiochus and others Vid. Aug de civ dei l. 18. cap. 45. but devided into sects in it selfe namely the Sadducces Pharisees Essees and others Secondly between what seas is Ierusalem seated True it is the great Midland sea is of the one side but of the other there is none but either Asphâ—ltis or Tiberius or Euphrates which are but pettie flouds to make a sea But granting they might be called seas as they are some times yet where do we read or can we finde that ever Antiochus planted his seat in Ierusalem If they will needs haue a litterall exposition let them shew how and when this was fulfilled But in Rome all these things concurre a glorious church between two seas and a place noted by other prophecies to be that great that septimountaine that Imperiall cittie whereupon Antichrist should sit The same argument will serue to proue that it cannot be meant of Babylon Constantinople or any other cittie For it cannot stand with the Prophecies Yet another objection is made Object If the temple of God and a mountaine of holynes then how Idolatrous Sodom Egypt c. as the place of Antichrist must be if idolatrous how christian This I shall declare more at large when I come to speak of the times of Antichrist Distinguo tempora and there it shall appear how it was Christian and how it fell to idolatrie and other sinnes still reteyning the name and outward profession of christianitie Ans But in the meane space the godly and reverend Bishop Salvianus shall answer for me who sheweth that Rome in his time in the times of her best bishops and under Christian Emperors continued still in her heathenish idolatrie and abhominable filthines It would be too long to recite all his words although most worthy but amongst the rest after that he had verie grauely seriously inveyed against the intollerable exactions and oppressions of those times he addeth these words which I think fit to recite somewhat the more at large for the full clearing of this point and because the booke is not common Atque hoc videlicet Laici tantummodo non quidam etiam Clericorum saeculares tantummodo non mulit etiam religiosi Imo sub specie Religionis vitiis saeculatibus mancipati qui scilicet post veterum flagitiorum probra crimina titulo sanctitatis sibimet inscripto non conversatione aliis sed professione Whom doth he mean by this title of hoâ—ynes nomen tantum denotavere non vitam summam divini cultus habitum magis quam actum existimantes vestem tantummodo exuere non mentem and a litle after Quomodo igitur tales isti paenitentiam se egisse non penitentes sicut etiam illi de conversione ac Deo aliquid cogitasse qui à conjugibus propriis abstinentes à rerum alienarum pervasione non abstinent cum profiteantur continentiam corporum incontinentia
SACRAE HEPTADES OR SEAVEN PROBLEMS concerning ANTICHRIST 1. Of his Place 2. Of his State 3. Of his Names 4. Of his Rising 5. Of his Raigne 6. Of his words and actions 7. Of his times Necessarie to be read and knowne of all men who professe Christ Iesus and hope to be saved by no other Name By G. S. Mal. 4 5 6. Behold I will send you Elias the Prophet before the comming of the great and dreadfull day of the Lord. And he shall turne the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers least I come and smite the earth with a curse 2 Thes 2 3 4. Let no man deceiue you by any meanes for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sinne be revealed the sonne of perdition Who opposeth and exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God that is worshiped so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himselfe that he is God Printed in the yeare M.D C. XXV To all Kings Princes and Potentates especially to King Charles Defendor of the Fayth and to the King and Queene of Bohemia professing the Fayth and therefore persecuted Also to all other Christians whether Reformed or Romish AMongst all those controversies which like cloudes overcast the Church of Christ at this present so that many stumble at noone day as at night and but a few are truely resolved of their owne aright walking with God according to knowledge there is none more necessarie to be generally understood then that of Antichrist both because this Egiptian darknesse which is in the land of Goshen proceeds from his inchantments to hold Pharoh still in the hardnesse of heart and also because the externall splendor and glorie of his seate supported with the countenance of Magicall science bellish unitie carnall succession corrupt custome ragged antiquitie Idolatrous universalitie Counterfeit miracles hypocriticall sanctitie stupenduous amplitude blinde devotion formidable tyrannie Catholique power and worldly felicitie as Salomons throne was with lyons cunningly carved doe much dazle vulgar judgments 1 Kings 10 19 20. and amaze the sillie Lambes of Christ But if this Magitian were fully discovered to be but an Impostor and onely to bumbast his reputation with lyes forgeries and usurpations like a spirituall Quack-salver then the more that Princes and people had doted upon him and deified him the more they would hate him Rev. 17 16 17. as those Kings shall who out of godly indignation hate strip eate the flesh of the whore and burne her with fire This the learned Limbs of Antichrist understand verie well and therefore eyther terrifie all men from looking into the booke of God where Antichrist is described at least from looking into the Revelation where he is set out to the life or else as the Scribes and Pharises did with their corrupt glosses and Comments made upon the Prophets darken the comming of Christ and denye him being come putting off the time of their Messias hitherto deferring and dallying as the Turkes doe with their Mahomet yea fayning his person to be humaine onely and his Office temporall thereby to hold the Iewes still in spirituall Captivitie by causing them to deny the Sonne of God their Saviour so doe these waue the comming of Antichrist and with their corrupt glosses and misapplications turne the truth of God into a lye causing the world to embrace the Sonne of perdition by telling them of an Antichrist that must be a singular person and not a succession as if we designed such a succession This they would proue by the names giuen him in the singular number 2 Thes 2 3. As also by the article â— or ille being demonstratiue particles But Gramarians say that not onely proper names and words that signifie individuall things but names that signifie a multitude or succession nownes appellatiue collectiue and successiue are both in Greeke and Latin expressed in the singular number and joyned with that demonstratiue particle As hic populus ille rex in aggregation succession or collection 1 Pet. 2 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philosopher say that â—num one may be taken not onely singulatim but congregatim and summatim And that a thing may be idem numero not onely as the sunne but as a heape of corne a flock of sheepe a river whose parts it may be may increase or diminish and be in continuall motion and alteration some going away and others comming in place and yet continue one and the same singular heape flock river to which both the singular number and demonstratiue particle are joyned Divinitie sayth that Antichrist is not onely opposed to Christ the Head who is one but to Christians the bodie the members who are a succession of kings priests annointed or a royall priesthood 1 Pet. 2 9. And for the use of a demonstratiue particle or the singular number or name they referr us to 1 Pet. 2 17. Dan. 2 38. Thou O King art this head of gould Thou thy predecessors thou and thy successors though per excellentiam thou aboue all before or after So 1 Pet. 5 8. ho Antidicos not one adversarie or one divell onely but all Rev. 13 2. and 2 Thes 2 7. with divers other places Thus neither Grammer Philosophie nor Divinitie will teach me what these new Roman Pithagorians wou'd force me to beleeue But ipse dixit is sufficient in the schole of Antichrist to silence not onely his schollers but Grammer rules the Logicall rules of reason the Scripture yea Christ himself But he that will not heare Christ Christ will not heare him though he crie Lord Lord never so loud as did not admitte and containe singulars a Iewe and perhaps of the Tribe of Dan the sonne of a Divell or of an Incubus of a virgin or of a Whore or of some bodie that he shall raigne three yeares and an halfe sitte in the Temple of God in Ierusalem kill Enoch and Elias with much other strange legionarie stuffe concerning Antichrist his person office Raigne warre and overthrow And least men should examine and so finde their falsehood they obtrude these opinions aforehand upon the Church to be beleeved as Articles of Fayth by all their members viz. That the Church is for the Head or principall part Romish and so particular for the bodie Catholique That the Pope is the Head of the Church and so as Head of the Church Judge of the Scripture and the onely true expounder of it having that infallible and universall spirit which directs the whole in all truth That his seate is the Rock immoueable to which in all stormes the shipwrackt soule should resort for safeguard That Salvation is no where else to be found And that his Decrees are to be believed and obeyed not to be questioned or examined in the least Loe thus he hath made sure not to be discovered except out of good nature he will confesse
Hebrew letter Nun Ezr. 1 6. Buxtorf a termination aswell of the Feminine as of the Masculine and common gender to note that those precious and pleasant fruites belong to women aswell as to men Now this doth plainely agree with that which in the former place hath beene observed of Rome the second Babylon viz. that she abóundeth in riches delicates and wantonnes and it hath an Antithesis to the description of mount Sion as it is expressed unto us both in the 14. chap. of this Revelation and in the second Psalm Psal 2. For there saith God I haue set my King upon Sion Har-codshi the mountain of my holynes But here the Kings and Princes of the earth are gathered to Har-megeddon the mountain of the precious and pleasant fruits of the earth The companie of the Lamb upon Mount Sion Rev. 14. are such as haue not defiled themselues with women But these pleasant and precious fruits belong to women as well as men And the like Antithesis may be noted in other places of the scripture as where the Prophet prayeth to be delivered from men of this world which haue their portion in this life Psalm 17. whose bellies God filleth with his secret treasure But I sayth he will behould thy face in righteousnes So the Apostle describeth certain men whose God is their belly Phil. 3. and who minde earthly things But our conversation sayth he is in heauen so the true church of Christ is set forth to be adorned with all heauenly graces Fayth hope and charitie Rev 12. namely the Sun of righteousnes to cloth her in fayth the starres to crowne her with light of truth and hope of immortalitie preached by the twelue Apostles the moone and all mutable earthly things to supporâ— her in works of charitie or to be despised and troden under foot in respect of eternitie But the Antichristian Church sitteth like a Queene of earthly felicities clothed with purple skarlet Rev. 17. pearles gold and precious stones abounding in all pleasures delights supported by the nations of the world Neither is the other circumstance to be neglected namely the meeting and congregation of Princes Rulers of the earth noted as well in the second Psalme as here in the Revelation in regard whereof Livy duâ—in Plaâ—ma in sal 2. Rome was in ancient time called Regum urbs for the multitude and magnificent state of their Senators so did the Emperor Constance also call it in the latter time so it may be still called for the number pompe and glorie of their Cardinals who will be honoured and accounted princes Another question would I aske whether this word may not thus be distinguished Arma-geddon with the first Alpha radicall to signifie the pallace or castle of the Troupes of women as well as men Now where that pallace or castle is where women abounding in treasures and pleasures are best mainteyned and defended I would haue them to answer that haue seene Rome of late or that haue read these verses made for her commendation Qâ—ot caeâ—â—m si elias Vide Abbat dem Antiâ—h cap. 11. tot habet tua Roma puellas Pascua quotque haedos tot habet tua Roma Cynaedos And many such like or the faculties dispensations pardons and decrees flowing from the castle of S. Angelo and the pallace of Lateran in their favour And lastly upon the same word I would aske whether that the Hebrew word which in the Greek writing is Armageddon may not by an easie transposition So Moâ—ines maketh it Ha. Romagedah to signifie the destruction of Rome onely of one letter and a prick in the Hebrew be read and taken for Romageddon so by name lead us to Rome that high cittie for so the word Rom also in Hebrew signifieth and their own Authors call it septem urbs alta jugis Hieron atque altae maenia Romae where princely men as the Cardinals and women abounding in treasures and pleasures as the Cortesanaes are gathered together Which transposition of a letter is verie usuall in the Hebrew and warranted by many examples of the holy Scripture And upon all these precedent places circumstances I demand Dan. 7 1. passim alibi whether it be possible to apply these prophecies to any cittie or place in the world besides Rome True sayth the Babylonian it is to be understood of Rome for so they confesse of late 1 Pet. 5. upon the word of S. Peter but Heathen not Christian To omit that answer which is obvious that the old Ethnick Empire of Rome was the impediment therefore could not be the seat of Antichrist and that another Ethnick Empire should be erected there towards the end of the world is incredible and if it should yet it could not fulfill the Prophecies for many reasons which may be produced and to instance because Antichrist must be one of the seauen heads of Rome whereof fiue were fallen in S. Iohns time and the Empire was one and the seuenth must be reveled after the impediment removed yet to passe by all these consider of two textes more which shall not come single but eyther of them fortified with an Authenticall contestis The sixth scripture then speaking of the Place of Antichrist telleth us plainly 2 Thes 2. August de civ dei l. 20 cap. 19. Nulli dubliim est cum de Antichristo ista dixisâ—â— c. Antichristus in domo domini in sede Christi sedebit Ambros in locum Male Ecc'esiam Dei in tectis aedificiisque veneramini Anne ambiguum est Antichristum in his esse sessurum Hilar. contra Aux that it must be the Temple of God It is the word of S. Paul which would never haue called the Ethnike state of Rome the Temple of God It must therefore be understood of the church of God so the Fathers take it without all doubt or question that in Rome for out of Rome it is in vain to seeke as by the former places may fully appear And yet this text goeth not single but seemes to be drawn out of an ancient prophecie of the Euangelicall Prophet where he bringeth in the prince of the first Babylon a tipe of the second using these words I will ascend into heauen Esa 14. and exalt my throne aboue beside the starres of God I will sit also upon the mount of the Church or Congregation so farr the Prophet Now lay the words of the Apostle to them That man of sinne exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God or that is worshiped so that he doth sit in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God On the mount of the Church sayth the one In the Temple of God sayth the other The Temple of God was in Ierusalem saith the Babylonian Object Answ But that is excluded by all the former places of Scripture most signall and significant I demande then how this place can
his Blasphemie against God Vpon which 7. considerations I demaund whether we may not safely coÌ„clude with S. Hierom S. Augustine and the other excellent expositors above cited that this Kingdom perspicuè manifestly doth belong to the Romans which is also here proved by these seven Attributes 1. His rising out of the sea of great commotions in the world like others 2. A politick state or kingdom like the others 3. More powerfull then any other for none overcame the whole earth like the Romans none had power over all kinreds tongues and nations like to them 4. None so cruell and bloudy 5. None had so many great Kings at command 6. None raised so great persecutions against the saincts and true Church of God 7. None have beene so blasphemous against God as they whereof hereafter These Attributes therefore seeme to be applyed to the Roman Empire as one body Now let us see the singularityes wherein every one of these three prophesies differeth from the other and consider whether they also do not properly belong to Rome The singularities in Daniel are such as being well considered seeme to declare unto us that it was the intention of the Holy Ghost not onely to represent unto us the Roman Empire and therein Antichrist afarre of But to shew us also a Type of Antichristian impiety in Antiochus that was then to come neare at hand both being enemies to the Church it could not be but that one should be like the other in somewhat And in the Roman Empire also to note that State wherein it stood before the Caesars and therefore tempereth his words somtimes more significantly to expresse the truth sometimes more properly to shadow the Type A thing not unusuall in sacred prophecies Aug. de civ dei lib 17. For so David speaking of our Saviour in his owne person I have sworn once by my Holynes that I will not faile David Psal 89. his seed shall indure for ever c. which properly belongeth to Christ yet addeth these words more proper to himself Thou hast broken the Covenaunt of thy Servant Let Theologians coÌ„sider the pâ—aces where David prâ—yâ—th God to confound oâ— destroy his enemies thou hast broken down all his wals c. So God in pronouncing his judgment upon the Serpent useth these words most significantly to foreshew that our Saviour should overcom the Divel The Seed of the woman shall breake the Serpents head yet these words in the same place upon thy belly shalt thou goe and dust shalt thou eate seeme more proper to the materiall serpent So it seemes in this prophesy Daniel though he speak principally of the fourth great kingdom more powerfull than any of the rest which was the Roman yet he inter-laceth somewhat concerning Antiochus the Type being though not a Roman yet an enemie of the saincts but more applyable to Antichrist the great enemie as may appeare by these seven particulars or singularities 1. In that he doth not resemble this fourth kingdom to any beast as he did the first to a Lyon The second to a Beare The third to a Leopard but of this he doth not shew of what certaine form or shape it was but onely that it was unlike to the foâ—mer most strong terrible whereupon I ask how this can possibly be applyed to Antiochus who had but a peece of Alexanders Empire and whether it do not lively expresse unto us the Roman state before it was setled in the Caesars when it had gott the Monarchie of the world as Polyb affirmeth yet had no certain form of government but was sometimes ruled by Consuls sometimes by Dictators sometimes by the Senate somtimes by the People sometimes by the Opimates Patritii sometimes by the turbulent Tribunes and seditious multitude But in the time of S. Iohn this Empire was grown to a certain though a monsterous form under the Caesars therefore we see it by him more certainly described The second singularitie in Daniel is that it is sayd to haue ten hornes which are not here said to be crowned as they in the Revelations And this much more properly signifieth the kings subject to the Roman state who made kings their ministers and servants then to the Selucidan Princes which were absolute kings crowned acknowledging no Superiour But in the Revelation these things signifyed by the name of hornes are said to haue crownes by certaine notes distinguished from the other Whereof hereafter The third singularitie in Daniel is that among these kings there arose another unlike the first And this seemeth to prefigure Antichrist whose kingdome is indeed most unlike to any of the other kings can not be applied to Antiochus The fourth note in Daniel is that before this litle Horne or king three other kings were plucked away which by some Interpreters is very hardly drawen to Antiochus but if we consider the Roman Antichrist it will appear to be easily applied and truly fulfilled For it is manifest that the Romans draue first the Grecian Empires secondly the French and thirdly the Germans out of Rome and Italy as shall be shewed hereafter So those three kings were plucked away to make roome for this little horne As for the Exarch of Ravenna which was but the Emperors Vice-Roy I cannot afford him the qualitie or title of a king and for the Lombards they never setled their state in Rome The fifth singularitie in Daniel is that this king coming up last spake presumptuous words and blasphemies And this I call a singularitie in Daniel For although blasphemie is attributed to this beast by S. Iohn also yet here it is sayd onely to be in his words but by S. Iohn in his names Now this was fulfilled in Antiochus much more it is in Antichrist as it is noted in the Revelation The sixt singularitie is that this little horne shall destroy the saints and faithfull servants of God and this was partly done by Antiochus but much more prophecied and performed by Antichrist of whom it is said Rev. 13. that he shall make warre with the Saints and overcome them The seuenth is that this little horne shall thinke to change times and lawes things which God hath specially reserved to himself Litle of this doe we read to be done by Antiochus and indeed in such things what could one man doe Lawes can verie hardly be changed in a short time but to alter times in a short time is impossible But this is verified fully in the Roman Antichrist as shal be shewed hereafter Probl. 6. Having therefore thus observed the singularities of the prophet Daniell in describing the Roman beast especially before the Caesars Let us now see the singularities observed by our Apostle describing it in the 13 chap. under the Caesars and in the 17 under Antichrist First in this 13 ch this Empire is represented under a certain form like a Leopard which Daniel doth not say 2 It hath seauen heads expounded to
upon weake foundations or to make long work of that which is readie at hand I desire thee to consider of the termes of this disputation ut constet quid sit id qou de agitur First I say I desire to know whether thou dost hold that there is a Rule of the Catholike fayth whereby to judge of Heresies which rule ought to be certaine and knowne to us as not onely the Fathers De verbo dei l. 1. c. 2. but we at this day do all agree and Bellarmine the great Champion of the Romish Church affirmeth For sayth he if it be not knowne it connot be a rule unto us and if it be not certaine it can be no rule at all So sayth the Scripture Prov 22 21 The words of trueth are certaine and therefore was the Scripture written Luc. 1.4 that we might knowe the certaintie of that we haue learned Secondly Summa provi dentia carere fuco voluit ca quae divina sunt ut omnes intelligerent quae ipse omnibus loquchatur Lailant De verbo dei l. 3. c 2. 2 Tim. 2. I aske how it is knowne whether it be not knowne according to the literall sense out of which effectuall arguments ought to be drawne as we also are agreed For certaine it is sayth the same Bellarmine that that sense which is immediately gathered of the words is the sense of the Holy Ghost which I thinke he intendeth so as it stand with other plaine places For in the Word of God no contradiction is to be admitted God cannot denye himselfe But the senses mysticall and spirituall which may be gathered out of the Scriptures are various and therefore cannot be used for arguments to confirme points of Fayth because we are not certaine that they are intended by the Holy Ghost as the said Bellarmine affirmeth out of S. Augustine Lastly then it resteth to know what that rule is and where to be found Of which because thou mayst see that I will not hide or disguise any thing from thee I finde four opinions Whereof none in my understanding can justly be reproved for they all agree together in substance The first is of the most ancient Tertullian De praescript who goeth no further for the rule of fayth then to the Vulgar Creed The same as it seemeth is followed by Diony Ar. commonly called the Creede of the Apostles which sayth he amongst us hath no questions but such as Heresies bring in and make Heretikes To know nothing but this is to know all that we ought to know And they that do not beleeue this are not faythfull are not Christians are not to be admitted to dispute of the Scriptures sayth he In Enchirid. ad Laur. The second is that of August who affirmeth this rule to be conteyned in the Creede and the Lords prayer For sayth he therein is the whole summe of all Christian religion namely whatsoever concerneth fayth hope or charitie A third opinion is that of the common Catechistes which adde to the two before named the Decalogue and the doctrine of the Sacraments The fourth is that which is now commonly imbraced which maketh the Scripture in generall to be the rule of fayth And in this Bellarmine also consenteth My question therefore is whether thou do not approue these rules or any of them if thou do and do acknowledge that these Rules or any of them be certeyne and knowne to us and to be litterally understood as Bellarmine confesseth it followeth then to consider who by these Rules shall be said an Heretick and whether that be not clearly defined unto us by Moses S. Iohn Deut. 12. Rev. 22. and S. Paul to be such a one as doth adde any thing to the true fayth expressed in these Rules Tit. 3 10. or taketh any thing from them and will not be reformed by due admonition To this agreeth Vincent Lirinen c. 32. Christi Ecclesia sedula depositorium apud se dogmatum custos nihil in iis unquam permutat Haeresis graece Electio latine est sententia humano sensu electa verbo dei contraria palam docta pertinaciter de sensa Grossetest Episâ— Lincoln in Mat. Paris nihil minuit nihil addit Then to the point I aske first concerning that Article by the councels aforesaid decreed That the holy Catholike church being the body of our Saviour Christ represented in a generall Councell is aboue the Pope and hath authoritie immediately from Christ unto which the Pope himselfe as a member to the whole ought to obey whosoever denieth that verily is an Heretike Doth not the Pope as I said and haue not all the Popes since the making of that decree mainteyned themselues to be aboue the generall Councell and so denyed that veritie and that no decree of a generall Councell is able to binde them neither is lawfull if it be made without the authoritie of the Roman Pontifex Aske Bellarmine their Advocate Do they not maintaine that he is the head of the Church that he cannot erre in matters of fayth and that all are bound to obey him ex necessitate salutis Are these things expresly and literally to be found in the Creede the Lords prayer the tenne Commandements the Sacraments or any part of the Scripture If they be why did all the Christian Churches of Europe so manie times determine against these Prerogatiues of the Pope If not then whether are not these most great additions to that Rule to which none must adde and from which none must deminish If we will truly judge of the greatnes of this Heresie let us consider the greatnes of the buildings erected upon it For great buildings must haue great foundations First therefore upon this Supremacie over the Church of Christ represented in the generall Councell they haue grounded their absolute power to call beginne determine ende prorogue and transfer generall Councels at their pleasures and also to confirme and allow or to abrogate and disanull them Which point if it be granted they are sure that nothing can be determined against them in any such Councell Then an absolute power over all not onely Bishops and Prelates but kings and princes will easily be inferred For it standeth with reason that he who is aboue the whole is aboue everie parte in toto pars continetur Then followeth their power to adjudge and condemn that for Heresie whatsoever he thinketh fit Then the power to excommunicate Nations and Countries to depriue and depose kings and princes to giue their lands for an Heritage to whom they will And in a word their absolute Anomy and lawlessenes that no man may judge of him no man may dispute of his judgment or call it in question though he draw millions of soules with him into hell a prerogatiue which the Scripture never intimateth to be claymed by any but Antichrist and never claymed by any but the pope wherein all the authoritie power and states of Christian
holy inquisition to finde out that sweete sinne and to pardon it which might be most profitable to the Church as having command over the purse of the partie peccant Thus it grew in time to be rightly called the Sacrament of pennance indeede for if it had not contrition at the first yet it ever ended in repentance though ever a little too late and therefore to small purpose for the pennilesse penitent The Cleargie having by these artes and infinite others as Idolatrie is full of invention for he that can once make his Creator can make all other things ingrost almost all into their owne hands they made divisions of Kingdomes and cutte them out into Bishopricks as all Countries especially Germanie can well witnesse Where the Emperor was shackled with Ecclesiasticall Officers of the Sea of Rome as with fetters of gold till the necessitie of the papacie about the rising up of Luther forced the Pope to permit the house of Austria to grow a little too great to the lessening of Antichrists immediate authoritie In so much as now the Papacie is made a servant to the House of Austria under a Catholike title as the Papacie before made both that House and all others servants to increase and support the excessiue greatnesse of that Sea under the like Catholike title and pretence But this was then and is now a violent motion and therefore not perpetuall then permitted and practised to prevent the losse of all which was justly feared upon probable grounds and now to hold what that Sea still possesseth but feareth to loose and to regaine if it be possible what she hath lost alreadie Which if ever she could regaine by this meanes she could then be content to burne the rodde of her wrath or to weare it out in her worke with whipping others In the meane time she is content to make the Spanish kingdome the Catholique sword so that the Roman Church may still be the Catholique scabberd to that sword and draw it or sheath it at the Popes pleasure But I beleeue that as by these arts that Antichristian Sea hath ascended up to that superlatiue height wherein it now sitts so it shall loose all by the same or the like meanes For whensoever the world shall be so happie as to haue an understanding Emperour who knowes his owne and is able to discover and recover Antichristian usurpations that such a man taking Henry the VIII of England for a patterne shall and may easily doe that in Germanie and so consequently in other places which that Resolute King by the advice of the Lord Cromwell and the example of Cardinall Wolsey did in his owne dominions viz. That King intending to dissolue all Monasteries made a division of part to the Nobles and Commons from whence it first came and so mette no opposition The patterne was the Popes owne who made Church-men Princes and changed the title and name of those Lands which were often by them acquired and possessed by ill arts as if he could haue changed the nature thereof and made them what he called them spirituall The King therefore did but reduce things backe to their right and former order Here onely was the error of that worke that the King did not restore the Tenths to the constant maintenance of the ministerie which portion whether it now belong to the Church or no jure divino I intend not to dispute pro or con But I dare say Gods owne order hath manifested it to be both competent and convenient for that purpose beyond all old exceptions or new inventions and so proues it to agree with the law of nature if not to flow immediately from thence deserving therefore to liue after the honourable buriall of the ceremoniall Law as it breathed long before it Had these things been better ordered and some Bishopricks broken into lesser pieces so that they might haue been sitte for honorable burthens but not too greate for the portage of one person who laden with too much temporall honour and revenue as men overgrowne with flesh and fatte become unwealdie and dishonourable burthens themselues to the Church then the undertaking had been absolute For whether it be fitt that one who will not preach the Gospell should haue power to silence such as would that one should haue power to silence a whole Diocesse of learned ministers and a whole Diocesse of these should not haue power to open the mouth of one That one should haue double honour for the single worke Nay for his wilfull idlenes and obstinate hindering the conscionable worke of others and others no honour but conzumelie and scorne for doing the double worke diligently That one should haue the provender belonging to manie labouring oxen for lying in the manger and hindering the poore asses from meate whilest divers oxen that would tread out the corne want come to eate or corne to treade out or are muzzeled whilest they treade That one should rule a place manie miles from his person as if he had both an infallible and infinite spirit and manie should not be able to rule a pettie parish or to catechise a household without helpe whether this thing be according to the patterne of the Apostolicall Hierarchie are problemes which some thinke fitt to be published amongst those of Antichrist because it may be doubted that he who would doe thus would not perhaps startle at a Cardinals cappe or the triple Crowne it they were profered or could be compassed easily and therefore such a man is no fitte instrument to be used against Antichrist in the pulling downe of Babylon or to sit for Christ and rule Obiect upon the top of Sion Object But kinges and Princes governe by substitutes farre off Answ True But it shall not be so amongst you Ans Mat 20 26. Matth. 20 25 26. Take these words of Christ as a Precept to shewe Bishops what they should doe or as a prophesie to shew all men the estate of the true Church what it shall be it is all one And doubtlesse such Princes as shall hereafter reforme will learne to mend what is amisse by the sight of other mens errors and so whensoever God shall blesse Germanie with an able and religious Emperour and shall put it in his heart to reforme the Church it is but changing those greate Bishopricks of Mentz Tryers Collen Munster and the rest into absolute Principallities and making them Hereditarie where now they are Electiue and the worke is at an end they will joyne to uphold their owne interestes and soone exclude the Papacie and mince the Prelacie somewhat finer A speedie and certaine preparation for this is the discoverie of Antichrist and it is the duetie of all men therefore that can to doe their best according to their talents in this subject and amongst others this learned Author hath done much and deserues much in this respect of the Church The Course he takes by Problemes to handle this controversie is not as if he