Saint Sauiour Scopeteines Frisonaries brethren â—f S. George de Alga Charterhouse Monkes Curthugian Fryers Carmelites Premonstratences Croched Fryers White Fryers Black Fryers Gray Fryers Dominick Fryers Frauncis Fryers Minorites Minimes Obseruants the order of Trinitte Bouhomes now lately viperous broode of Iesuites Then were their women lectaries as Penitenciers Brigidians Magdaline sisters with other Nunnes of diuerse sortes Yet I might speake of graue-keepers called knights of the Sepulcher knights of S. Iohns knights of S. Mary Temple knights Iesus knights and such a rabblement of sundry other sects by me ouer slipped of which if I should vndertake to set downe their obseruations their dissimulations their abominations together with their hypocrisie and filthy liuing I might write for euery letter a line for euery line a leafe and for euery leafe a whole quire of paper and it would yet be too little to discipher out their abominable practises These sects haue beene all of them instituted ratified confirmed and allowed by Antichrist the Pope yet not founded all by one Pope but by sundry Popes according to the words of the Apostle There shall bee false teachers which shall bring in damnable sects the Apostle speaketh in the plurall number and wee see it is fulfilled and these sects as they were infinite so they were as diuerse in their opinions yet all of them of one assent in this they all denyed Christ and they all preached the Pope they deny that Christ is sufficient for their saluation but they must atteine it by working by fasting by going on pilgrimage with a number of other ceremonies too foolish to be set downe Here againe are the words of the Apostle verified They shall deny the Lord that bought them and follow their damnable waies by whom the way of trueth shall be euill spoken of Now what trueth in Christ doth not the Pope and his shauelings rebuke and in setting vp their workes and following their owne waies deny altogether the truth of Christs waies And with faigned words they shall make marchandice of you can any thing be more directly spoken and to proue that they come with faigned words where find we in any place throughout the whole scriptures that maketh mention of purgatory of shrift of the sacraments of confirmation of penance of pardons and such other trash all of their owne faining and by this meanes doe they make marchandice of our soules These lights and many others whereby to discerne Antichrist are left vnto vs in the holy scriptures where the Beast seeing himselfe to be sought for he roareth and therefore to hide himselfe the more closely he persecuteth the word of God and seeketh with all wilynes to driue the people from it and with false and sophisticall reasons would make vs afraid of it he curseth and excommunicateth those that would reade it perswading them they are damned if they doe but looke on it but let not this dismay vs to seeke our soules health for there we shall finde the sweete promises of God to the great comfort of pooâ—e distressed sinners Whatsoeuer is written is written for our learning saith saint Paul but the Pope would perswade they are written to deceiue vs and hee is contented to sanctifie vs with holy oyle holy bread holy salt holy candles holy water holy blessings holy ceremonies and what other holynes a man himselfe would wish for sauing the holinesse of Gods word for that he will in no wise have vs to deale with all this is the doctrine of Antichrist and these be the markes whereby to know him CHAP. XVII Speciall notes whereby to â—onfirme the Pope to be Antichrist THe scriptures haue hitherto furnished vs with sufficient notes whereby to know Antichrist and there are diuerse testimonies yet to bee gathered and all of them confirming the Pope to bee that man of sinne that hath set himselfe against Christ but let vs here examine some fewe examples Christ was humble and meeke and the Apostle saith He humbled himselfe and became obedient euen vnto the death euen the death of the crosse and our sauiour himselfe commanding his disciples to follow his example saith Learne of me that am meeke and lowly in heart ye shall finde rest vnto your soules but is this humilitie to be found in the Pope behold his estate his doctrine his disciples his life you shall see nothing but pompe and glorie he ruleth ouer nations and kingdomes he maketh euery knee to bowe downe vnto him hee maketh Emperours and Kings to bring him water to carry his traine to leade his horse to hold his stirrop to kisse his â—eete he will needes rule ouer all the world and saith I am Lord of lords and King of kings the whole world is my dyocesse If Christ when the diuell profered him the kingdomes of the world and the glorie thereof refused them as things impossible to stand with his kingdome of whom is the Pope that hath receiued them the diuel said to Christ Fall downe and worship me and I wil giue thee all the Pope saith to the Emperour fall downe and kisse my feete and I will giue thee thine Empire he saith to kings in like maner sweare to defend me and my prescriptions and I will vphold thy crowne will giue thee this or that kingdome And as Christ commanded his to be lowly so hee commanded them to all obedience but the Pope will none of that but as he setteth himselfe at liberty and will be tyed to no lawe neither of God nor man so hee that will obey neither father mother neither Lord nor master neither King nor Prince let him but take the marke of the Beast let him but shaue himselfe a Monke a Fryer a Priest or some any one of those sects formerly rehearsed and the matter is dispatched he is exempted from all seruice and obedience due vnto man and the more disobedient he sheweth himselfe vnto the ordinances of God the more apt and meete he is for the seruice of the Pope neither is the professing vowing and swearing obedience vnto their ordinances any other thing then the denying defying and foreswearing obedience to the ordinances of God Doth not the Popes doctrine flatly teach disobedience rebellion and insurrection commanding the people to armes and to send his traditionâ— with sword and fire and neither to obey father mother master Lord King nor Emperour but to inuade whatsoeuer land or nation that will not obey his godhead how bestirreth he himselfe at this day that seeing his excommunications and cursings are so little regarded that men doe eate their meate with neuer the lesse stomacks hee now falles to blowing vp the coles of rebellion of sedition of treason he raiseth subiects against their Princes and setteth Princes vpon their subiects and thus vnder the tytle of Seruus seruorum hee sheweth himselfe to bee Tirannus tirannorum This is the Popes doctrine this is his humilitie this is his obedience and this is all his pietie that is so cloked
why theÌ„ some will say the Pope cannot be Antichrist for he doth both professe and preach Christ yea and would be Christs high Vicare here on earth but it is said before that Antichrist must so doe he shall turne himselfe into an angelâ— of light and must come in the name of Christ otherwise he could not deceiue But he shall deceiue many and the Pope abusing the name of Christ by that meanes setteth vp himselfe and gathereth offerings tythes and rents and bestoweth them to his own profit and not the honour of Christ but bringeth the consciences of the people vnder him through suspitious feare â—s though he had such authoritie giuen 〈◊〉 of Christ and euery sillable that hath but a sound as though it made for his purpose that he expoundeth falsely and therewith he so â—â—gleth and bewitchâ—â—h the eares of the people but especially of that simple ignorant sort that haue yeelded themselues to become slaues to his suggestions those I say he makeâ—h them beleeue what himselfe lifâ—eth for it is â—nough for theÌ„ to beleeue what the church beleeueth although they know not what the Church beleeueth nor the greatest part of them what the trâ—e catholike church meaneth He that beleeueth not to be saued through Christ the same denyeth christ but the Pope beleeueth not to be saued through christ for he teacheth to beleeue in holy workes for the remission of sinnes and theâ—eby to aâ—â—aine saluation as in the workes of penance inioyned in vowes in chastitie in pilgrimages in other mens praiers in Friers and Friers câ—â—es in Saints merits in the deeds of ceremonies and a thousand other such superstitious follies â—etteth he before vs to beleeue in and all of them destroying christ and most iniurious to his precious blood He that denyeth Iesus Christ â—aiâ—h the Apostle the same is Antâ—christ can any man deny him more directly then he that seeketh his saluation in his owne merits his owne deâ—â—ruings The blood of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from all sinne iâ— the blood of â—eâ—us christ cleanseth vs why then out owne workes doe not cleanse vs for they are not christ But let our good workes bee examined after the iudgements of God and wee ought rather to feare punishment for the faults that be euen in our best deseruing then to looke for any reward The Prophet doth liken our righteousnes to a filthy clout such as would abhorre any mans eies to behold it and therefore saith the Prophet Dauid Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant O Lord for no flesh is righteous in thy sight what maner of merit may this be then which cannot abide the censure of Gods iudgement nor be deliuered from condemnation but by mercie onely CHAP. VIII The good workes prescribed to the Pope BVt let vs see what good workes these same should be which the Pope hath prescribed the papists doe so much talke of First they teach vnto the ignorant to heare Masses euery day deuoutly to prostrate themselues before dead Images to muÌ„ble vp a number of prayers vnto Saints to go on pilgrimage to build vp Chaunteris to cause Trentales of Masses and Dirges to be said for the dead to giue large summes to idle Priests Monkes and Friers to giue gold and siluer to make crosses chalyces cuppes and restiments to say ouer Ladies Psalter to pray vppon Bâ—ades to receiue Holy bread holy water holy palme holy ashes holy fire holy creame holy candle holy oyle with a number of other holy toyes and those are the good works allowed and commanded by the Pope these are expresly iniurious to the precious blood of Christ and therefore the workes of siâ—ne and the very insâ—itutions of Antichrist By the workes of the lawe shall no flesh be iustified in his sight whosoeuer shall keepe the Lawe yet faile in one point is guilty of all And who is or euer was able to keepe the law christ onely excepted but are all vnperfect and the most righteous man sinneth seuen times a day But to cleanse those sinnes the Pope hath deuised a purgatory still excluding christ making him of lesse authoritie then he doth attribute to himselfe for he will in no wise but that christ shall be an vnperfect sauiour for if the Pope will giue christ leaue to forgiue the sin yet he will in no wise giue him leaue to forgiue the paine but we must to purgatorie to be plunged there and if there bee not good store of money left to the priests and to pay well for their Dyrges Trentals and â—oule Masses but the Pope himselfe he hath full powre and authority to graunt pardons for all sins euen a pena and a culpa aswell for the offence as for the punishment and not onely of sinnes that are actually committed but likewise of sinnes before they are done as to the holy Frier that kild the king of France to a second againe that murthered the prince of Oranges to sundry others to whom he had in like manner giuen full pardon and free absolution aforehand to haue attempted the like against our late gracious Queene Elizabeth Thus we do see the Pope taketh vpon him a greater power to forgiue sinnes then christ for christ forgiueth no sinne but vpon vnfeigned repentance and yet the Pope will not then suffer him to forgiue any more then the bare crime for if we will giue him no money the paine must not be remitted but in the scorching flames of purgatory if this be not directly the doctrine of Antichrist I referre me to their iudgements that are not too partiall nay that are not wilfully blinde CHAP. IX The fraits of the Popes doctrine and what it draweth after it BVt let vs see farther what this doctrine draweth after it If I may get to my selfe satisfactiâ—n by suffering in puâ—gatorie for my sinnes then I haue gotten more by my sins in suffering paine then I haâ—e done by christs death and so consequently paine was more effectuall and strong for me to obtaine heauen then was christs passion this is the Popes doctrine The reward of sinne is death and the paine that dependeth of euery sinne excluding Christ is eternall damnation then what shall purgatorie doe vnlesse for the vngodly that should first go to purgatorie and after to hell There is no remission of sinnes without blood saith S. Paul and christ speaking to the theefe on the crosse said This day thou shalt be with me in paradise not in purgatorie and Marie Magdalen had her sinnes freely forgiuen her by christ without going to purgatorie But to say the trueth there was at that time no such place at all nor any one word spoken of purgatâ—rie either in the Old or New Testaments and it was many yeares after christs death before the Pope could kindle it but after it once began to burne it grew so hot that it melted more treasure out of ignorant mens purses then the King of Spaines west Indies did then afford but the extreame
bring them out of the way but the Elect shall be kept by the mightie hand of God against all naturall possibiliâ—ie so that the elect and chosen of God shall neuer be without persecution and temptation of their faith not as those that are vnder the Pope for they present but suffer not and those which the Pope calleth heretikes shew no myracles by their owne confession neither ought they in as much as they bring no new learning nor any other thing then only the scripture which is already receiued and hath beene confiâ—med by Christ his Apostles with wonderfull myracles many hundred yeares sithence This is then to be noted that euen as Christ at his comming altered the state of the Church from the corruption of the pharises and confirmed his doctrine with myracles so Antichrist at his comming seeketh to alter the Church from that puritie which Christ and his Apostles had left it in and worketh myracles to oâ—erthrow the Gospell new doctrine must be confirmed with new mytacles Antichrist seekeâ—h to deface what Christ hath builded long agoe Christ hath fortified his building with miracles Antichrist seeketh to vndermine the whole foundation which Christ hath laid and to build a new for himselfe by myâ—acles and this was prophesied of aforehand by Christ and this was prophesied on a forehand by Paul Christ saith Antichrist shall come with signes and wonders to deceiue S. Paul saith He shall come with lying signes and lying wonders to deceiue and what miracles be those that the Pope hath brought to confirme his doctrine withall looke through their golden legend and tell me how many true myracles be in the whole booke what apparitions of Saints and isions of angels haue beene forged to come from heauen what yelling of spirits and crying of soules haue beene faigned to come from purgatorie these be myracles signes and wonders wrought by Antichrist his ministers but as S. Paul saith lying miracles both themselues deceiptfull and pretending to deceiue deceiptfull in themselues for that they were but lies and popish practises counterfeitly forged whereby to deceiue the simple and ignorant people to leade them into errours and to cosin them of their money in purchasing of pardons dyrges and masses And were not these miracles to heare it told that Roodes could speake Belles could ring alone Images could come downe and light their own candles Blocks could turne their eies and wag their lips shake their heads moue their hands and some of them could knit sinues sette bones heale the sicke giue sight to the blinde make the lame to goe but are not these practises discouâ—red long agoe and â—ound out to be no other then slights and meere deceipts These are called miracles and are indeede but lies and there are none but Papists that would be mocked with them CHAP. XV. What signes and wonders they should be that are brought in by Antâ—christ SAint Paul saith The comming of Antichrist shall be by the working of Sathan with all power and signes of lying wonders and all dâ—ceiueablenes of vnrighteousnesse amongst them that perish because they receiued not the loue of the trueth that they might bee saued and therefore God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeue lies that all they might bee damned which beleeued not the trueth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes Can any thing be spoken more plainely these shall be the workes of Antichrist which hee shall bring to passe that is to say lying wonders this shall he worke with all deceiueablenesse that is he shall come with all kinde of shifts and deceipt and with whom shal he preuaile and who be they that shall bee deceiued Those that perish because they loued not the truth that they might be saued and therefore God shall send them strong delusions to beleeue lies This text must also pertaine to a multitude gathered together in Christs name which for lack of loue vnto the trueth shall be led into all errour to beleeue in crosses to beleeue in visions to beleeue in welles and to giue credit to all maner of fables but the truth they shall not beleeue That they might be damned for not beleeuing but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes If these things had not beene thus sensibly foretold vs long agoe by the holy ghost it might haue beene thought a strange matter that so many should be thus still led away from the pure and vndefiled word of God and to giue themselues ouer to follow dreames fantasies but it is an euident token that their harts are not marked with the spirit of God but are led by strong delusions to beleeue lies CHAP. XVI The sixth marke whereby to know Antichrist YEt one other note is giuen vs by Saint Peter whereby to know Antichrist and saith hee There shall bee false teachers amongst you which shall secretly bring in damnable sects denying the Lord that bought them and many shall follow their damnable waies by wâ—om the way of truth shall be euill spoken of with faigned words they shall make marchandice of you now saith S. Paul The lawe speaketh to them that are vnder the lawe and euen so this is spoken to them that professe the name of Christ There shall be false teachers that shall bring in damnable sects Histories make mention of one Anthony who liued in the wildernesse of Thebais in Egypt in maner of a Hermer Anno 361 he had three disciples Darmatas Amatâ—s and Mâ—charius these liued solitarily and in strictnes of life but it was in the time of persecution whereby to shift them from the hands of tyrants and proceeded at the first of a good zeale to godlinesse but the diuell the peruerter of all things did so impoison the hearts of them that followed that they had more trust to their owne workes then faith in Christs blood and after that men began new rules of works to be their owne sauiours Benet he succeeded Anno 524 and in the time of Iohn the first and he preâ—cribed institutions to a certain order of Monkes In Anno 850 and in the time of Sergius the third sprung vp a new sect of Camaldimenses a holy company that kept perpetuall silence they fasted went barefoote and vsed to ly on the ground In Anno 1060 vnder Gregorie the sixth there sprung vp a new sect of Monkes calling them selues the order of the shadowed valley The Monkes of Oliuet sprung vp as a fruit of disorder ina time oâ— strife betweene three Bishops in Anno 1047 vnder Gregorie the twelfth The sect of Grandmontensis sprung vp vnder Alexander the second in Anno 1076. Innocentius the third admitted the Humilitates in Anno 1166 and a little before that in Anno 1098 vnder Vrbane the second began the order of the Cistercians Celestinus the first founded the Celestines in the yeare of our Lord one thousand one hundred eighty eight Here followeth now such a â—abblement of others as Gilbertines Lustinians Hieronimians Augustins the order of
heat is now well allayed and as men begin to wax wise so the scorching fire doth daily more and more abate Thus you may see the Pope and his sects are content to giue Christ his name but they rob him of the effect and take the signification of his name to themselues and they make of him but an Hypocrite as they themselues be as though he forgaue vs our sinnes but not the paine due to our sinnes and then who shall be saued for the paine due to euery sinne is eternall damnation These therefore as the Apostle saith are right Antichrists and deny both the father and the sonne for they deny the witnes that the father bare vnto his son and depriue the sonne of the power and glorie that his father hath giuen him CHAP. X. The second marke whereby to know Antichrist A Second marke giueÌ„ vs in the Scriptures wherby to know Antichrist is likewise left vs by S. Iohn as followeth Hereby know ye the spâ—rit of God enerâ— spirit that confesseth that Iesus is come in the flesh is of God and euery spirit that confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the slesh is not of God and the same is that spirit of Antichrist of whoÌ„ you haue heard that he should come Whatsoeuer opinion any member of Antichrist holdeth the ground of all his doctrine is to destroy this article of our faith That Christ is come in the flesh for though the most part of all heretikes confesse that Christ is come in the flesh in their maner yet they deny that he is come as the scriptures testifie the Apostles preach him to become for the whole studie of the diuell and all his members is to destroy the hope and trust that we should haue in Christs flesh and of those things that he suffered for vs in his flesh and of the Testament and promises of mercie which are made vs in his flesh for the scriptures testifie that Christ hath taken away the sinnes of the world in his flesh and that the same houre that he yeelded vp his spirit into the hands of his father he had fully purged and made full satisfaction for all the sinnes of the world But that Christ hath done this seruice in the flesh all the members of Antichrist doe deny and hereby saith the Apostle thou shalt know them All doctrine that buildeth thee vpon Christ to put thy trust and confidence in his blood is of God true doctrine and all doctrine that withdraweth thy hope and trust from Christ is of the diuell and the doctrine of Antichrist Let vs now examine the Pope by this rule and wee shall finde that all that he doth is the destruction of this article he wresteth all the scriptures and setteth them cleane against the haiâ—e to destroy this article he ministreth the very sacraments to the destruction of this article and all his other ceremonies as his absolution penance purgatorie dispensations pardons vowes with all his other disguisings is to that purpose The Pope preacheth that Christ is come to doe away sinnes yet not in the flesh but in water salt oyle candles ashes Friers coates and Munkes cowles and in the vowes of them that forsweare matrimonie to keepe harlots and sweare beggerie to possesse as much riches wealth ease and pleasure as this world may afford them and haue vowed obedience to disobey by authoritie all lawes both of God and man and these hypocriticall and false sacrifices teacheth he vs to trust vnto for the forgiuenesse of sinnes and not in Christs flesh CHAP. XI The third marke whereby to know Antichrist S Paule againe in his second epistle to the Thessalonians giueth this third marke whereby to know Antichrist where he saith that Antichrist shall sit in the Temple of God shewing himselfe that he is God By this it may euidently appeare that Antichrist shall come in the name of Christ and shall be a counterfeit christian for otherwise he should haue beene an open and expresse enemy vnto Christ A Turke a â—ewe an infidell oâ— heathen whose temples are the temples of Idols and therefore not to be called the Temple of God and so S. Augustine doth vnderstand the Apostles words for saith he The Temple of an Idoll or a diuell the Apostle would neuer call the Temple of God But Antichrist shall sit in the Temple of God hee shall not defy the name of Christ but he shall call himselfe Christs vâ—car the most catholike father the seruant of Gods seruants by these meanes he shall be exalted in the eie of the world he shall win the hearts of the people he shall sit in the consciences of men he shall make Kings and Princes to become his subiects he shall deceiue the learned and wise he shall cast himselfe into a colour of holinesse he shall fast he shall pray he shall giue almes hee shall walke as if hee were a disciple of Christ he shall go before and the world shall follow him they shall run to him out of all parts of the earth they shall fall downe before him they shall say vnto him thou art the comfort of the Church thou art the light of the world thou art most holy all law and all knowledge is hid in thy breast we beseech thy holines shew vs thy way expound thou the scriptures vnto vs teach vs how wee may bee saued thou hast the key of knowledge thy word is the word of truth thou canst not erre Thus shall Antichrist deceiue the world thus shall he dwell in the consciences of the people thus shall he sit in the temple of God but the Apostle saith further that he shall shew him selfe that he is God The Apostle doth not say that he shall call him selfe God for that were too broad and euery man would then beware of him and would say this is but a mortall man borne as other men be of father and mother and they likewise both mortall and againe he shall die and returne to the earth from wheÌ„ce he came but God had no beginning neither shall haue ending Antichrist him selfe knoweth all this and therefore will not deaâ—e so openly to call himselfe God but yet will shew himselfe a GOD and will be contented that other men should so repute him as Pope Nicolas saith It is well knowne that the Pope of the godly Prince Constantine was called God Againe in the Extrauagantes in the same Canon Lawe it is written Dominus Deus noster Papa Our Lord God the Pope And Christofer Marcellus in the counsaile of Laterane said to the Pope Thou art another God vpon earth CHAP. XII How the Pope doth shew himselfe that he is a God BVt he shall shew himselfe that he is a God saith the Apostle he shall receiue all reuerence as if he were God The Pope hath done this you see he hath compared his lawes with the lawes of God hee hath said that his word is the word of God and whatsoeuer he saith it must