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 »y> -1>'V> ?- 
 
 
 
 ^ PRINCETON, 3ST. J. 
 
 Collection of Puritan Literature 
 
 Division **+*/ ^ 
 
 Section II I / *~ 
 
 Number 
 
 D !2 
 
 
 X3& 
 
S><y3 
 
 IP? 1 
 
 > > » I 
 
 3 
 
 info's ^^ 
 
 SO 
 
 
 '"ikS 
 
 
 1 
 
 
3~9 
 
 ANTICHRIST 
 
 the Pope of Rome: 
 o R^ 
 The Pope of Rome is Anrichrift. 
 
 I* the fir ft 
 7 rear iff, 
 
 In thefecond 
 Treattfe, 
 
 Troued in two Treatlfes. 
 
 >t. By a full andclecre definition of Anticbrifr, taken 
 
 from Scripture oncly. 
 2, By a plainc application of cucry part of his defini- 
 tion agreeing onely with the Pope. 
 j. By the wcakneffc of the Arguments ofBcHarmfat, 
 Florimond Reymond, and others; which they bring 
 toproue the contrary. All which arc hecre plain- 
 ly and fully anfwered. 
 
 Ci. Of his Pcrfon. 
 "By a DefcriptionJz . Of his Kingdoms 
 £3. OfhisDelufions. 
 
 In all which, the great Questions and Doubts about 
 Airtkhrilv, aye pithily and briefelj handled^ yet 
 J fully and amply c/eered. 
 
 By 7 ho: Beard,Do£ioi: inDiuini'ty, and Preacher of Gcds . 
 
 VV..rd in Huntington. 
 
 Cvrf?yeLMeroz>(fiiidtbe Jngellofthe Lord-,) Cur [eye bitterly the 
 \ Inhabitants thereof, hecaufe thsj came not to the he/pe of the Lord, 
 ' to the helpe of the L ord againft the mighty. I udg. j. 2 3 , 
 
 Printed by Tfaac Tagg.ird for Iohn Bellamic^ a^d are to be fold at his 
 Shop at die three go'den Lyons in Coinhiil, neere the 
 . Roy all Exchange, 1 6z f . 
 
TO THE RIGHT 
 
 Honourable, and Right Reuerend 
 
 Father in (jod> Iohn Lord ^BiJIoop 
 
 oiLincolne^ Lord Keeper of the Great 
 
 Scale of England) One of bis Maieflier 
 moft Honourable Priuie 
 CcttncclL 
 
 tight Honourable^ 
 
 Elian reports, that when 
 Diogenes faw certaine Rho* 
 dim Gallants gorgeoufly 
 attyred, hee laughed, and 
 (aid, Hit nihil eH prater fa- 
 (lum : and after feeing cer- 
 taine Laconians in bafe and 
 J fordide apparrel , Et h/ctfaid 
 he) alius fafl weft. So it may bee thought a kinde 
 of pride and vaine-glory v to thruft foorth many 
 Books in this fcribling Age. And again,for fuch 
 to put forth none thai are beft able.and that againft 
 the common Aduerfarie, may bee thought to pro- 
 I A 2 ccede 
 
 
 mi 
 
THE EPISTLE 
 
 ceede from another kinde of pride. In rhe firft 
 kinde peraduenture I may be taxed/or I hade now 
 thefecond time prefumed to batter the wall es of 
 Babel with the beft Engines of my poore fhre, not 
 thinking much to be reputed in fome fbit vainc- 
 glorious, fo I might any wayes aduance the truth, 
 and be profitable to the Church of God. Toadde 
 femthing into her Treafury 3 t hough but two mites, 
 was commended in the pcorc Widdow, and (hall 
 not(I hope) bee condemned in a poore Miniftcr. 
 The Icfuitesand Romifli Priefts, multiply Bookcs 
 and Pamphlets againftv?, and our Religion, not 
 fhaming to load vs and our iuft caufe, with impu- 
 dent lyes and flanders- thefe their fit f nudes ^as 
 they terme them)bcing the pillars of their church: 
 andrtiallnot wee encounter themattheyr ovvnc 
 weapon, and ^/>z? vipeUere, ft bookagainft book, 
 though not numero (for therein they haue the van- 
 tagc of vsj bmpovdere, equall to their bcftc'Cl fpeak 
 of the Ttiarij of our Churchy and not of my felfe, 
 being confeious to mine owne weakcrtc/Tc J But 
 why do I prefuineto write of Antichrift, after fo 
 many worthies of our fide, that hauc handled this 
 fubieft, and fo many differences in opinion con- 
 cerning the perfon of this Man of (inner* Hecre I 
 appeale to your Lordfhips fauourablc cenfurc. It 
 is a point vndecided in our Church, and therefore 
 Itookeitlawfull for any onetogire his opinion 
 therein without preiudicc to the truth : One eftee- 
 meth that the Pope is not Antichrift ; another, that 
 he is : Abttndet vnufyuify in fenfufuo (faith the A- 
 poftle: ) fo^all is wel,fo all be to edification,& pro- 
 
 : si 
 
D EDICATORT. 
 
 \ p^rtionablc to the analogic of Faith. Fo_r my part, 
 ] lain fully p-rfvaded, that the Pope and no other, 
 is the Antichrift, and Co fliail be perfwaded, vntill 
 f fee a contrary determination of the church, which 
 I will be alwayes ready to fubferibe vnto. The By- 
 fhop oisptUt^ when in his Booke he came to this 
 qucilion about Antichrift, paffed itouer with a re- 
 ference to other learned wri:ers,which I nofooner 
 (aw, but I fore-deemed that which after came to 
 paffc% that he had animum retiertendi Scdom&m : but 
 God forbid I lliould fouethe leaftfuch thought of 
 many that demurre as much in that point as he did. 
 Neither ncede I bee any moreaftiamedto fecond 
 thofe worthies thathnue written. of this Subiecl, 
 withgre/.t diligence and Learning, then the Poet 
 Syagrm was to write the Troianwarre after Mufi- 
 us ? Qrpheus^ztid Homer . for they wrote as Or /gen 
 faith Plato did his booke?, ad Docfos & erudites : I, 
 adcaptumvulgi:\\\ty fcholaftically and logically, 
 toconuincetheAdtierfiry,I^/rfw^*#y and dif- 
 courfiucly to confirme the friend ; and pcraduen- 
 turefomwhat more may be found in^his difcourfe 
 then in any of them; as a child vpon a gyants fhoul- 
 der may fee further then the gyant himfelfe. As for 
 the argument, I chofe it the rather, becaufrinall 
 other Controuerftcs,tjie contention betwixt vs 'is, 
 as that was betwixt the Romanes and Vyrrbus^Vter 
 imperaretx but in thisas betwixt them and the Car- 
 thaginians, Vter ejfit .-for if this foundation bee ra 
 zed,the whole building of Popery muft necdes fall 
 to the ground : and if it (land firme , what colour 
 can we haue for our fo peremptory and exa<5i a fe 
 paration? But 
 
THE EPISTLE^ &c 
 
 But in regard of your Lordfliippes manifold and 
 weighty bufineffes of State and Church 3 1 forbeare 
 any further fpeech: onely I humbly intrcat a pardon 
 of my boldncffe, in prefuming to dedicate this 
 Booke to your honourable protc&ion ; which to do 
 tworeafonsmouedme: One, that your Lordlhip 
 isaknowneand renowned Protestor of Religion 
 and Learning : and afecond, becaufeyouare my 
 Dioccfan 3 and fo it is your Lordftiips right by bond 
 ofdutie. 
 
 The Lord of heauen that hath aduanccdyouon 
 earth D prorewl you with his grace in your honour, 
 and at length inucft you with an exceeding farre 
 grearer honour in his kingdome. Thus pnycth hq 
 that is 
 
 Your Lordjhips in all d^emrence 
 andobferutnee: 
 
 Thc:Beard, 
 
The Preface. 
 
 Ext vnto the knowledge of our 
 Lord and Sauior lefts* Chrift y 
 there is nothingfo nece/farte, 
 as the true andfolide know- 
 ledge of Ant Uhri ft ^ the cru- 
 eUeft enemy to ChriH andhis 
 members. For, as except wee 
 know Chrift, we cannot either 
 put our affiance in him^ or obey his word % a*dfo obtaine 
 faluation by his meanes ;fo } except we know Antichrijl J 
 we can neuer beware of him, nor refifl him, nor fight 
 against him . Befidcs y as it is a notorious iniurie and 
 outrage, to call any one by the name of Antichrift, or to 
 fiyefrom him, he b&ing not fa;fo it is a ■ palpable flattery 
 ^unworthy a Christian, to honour } reuerence y and adore 
 as a God on earth, him whom we ought to deteft and ab- 
 horre, a* the mo ft per nit ions Organe of the diUell. 
 
 Now, that Antichrijl ought to cmc into the Worlds- 
 there is no contr oner fie among christians : but who, 
 and what kinde of man this Antichrist iftmld bee> fal- 
 
 leth 
 
To the Reader, 
 
 leth into great variety and diner fity of opinions. Tor 
 the mo ft Ancient Doclors which wrote before the time 
 of his reuealing , cxprejl thejpfelues with fo many 
 doubts, repugnances^ and light conietlu-' es (as it ordi* 
 narily fillet h out in the vpfild/rg ofPnphefies) that a 
 man may eaftlj perce'iue thereby , that they mexnt not 
 that their opinion jbould be receiued qs certain and vn- 
 doubtedtrueths . As a/Jo, the h;fer^ author/tie, and 
 bright nejfe of the. church of Re me, effect ally at thtt time 
 when the cheefeg/ory of their Bftjops was this; to fhedde 
 their bioudsfor the confefsion cfchriftfo dimmed azd 
 daze/ed their eyes ^ that they could not perfwade them* 
 felueSy that fuch a Monfler fbmld one day e (lab lift his 
 Tyianny, in fo founding a part of Chr isles King, 
 dome. 
 
 As touching thofe that came after L and could more 
 cleerely difcerne the markes by the which he is painted 
 out by the Spirit of God in holy Scripture: feme oft hem 
 haue confejfed and divulged him to the world. Others 
 carried with the current of the inueterate opinion of 
 the authority of the church of Rome, haue not onelj con- 
 fejfed the truth, but alfo b an dedthemf clues again fl it, 
 With all their force. Albeit that God notwith (landing 
 th^fe clouds ofdarkene/fe, and the fur ie of AntichriH, 
 which ruined all that duy ft open their mouth again!/ 
 him, rafed zpafaayes cert dine holy men, who neglect- 
 ing their owne liues^gaue glory td God y and difecnered 
 the impoftures. of this Sonne of Terdit ion : infomuch^ 
 thatfince diuerfe centuries of year esjt hath pleafed the 
 Lord to mttnifeft more fully his abhominatiom^ by the x 
 preaching of the Gctfcll. 
 
 But as thi* excellent bent fie amengftaUthJe thai 
 
 rre 
 
» I— I 
 
 To the Reader. 
 
 wa receiuefrom God in this decrepit e Age of the world ^ 
 ought to be prized and acknowledged in ail rcjpccls . Jo 
 there are veriefew which regard it as they ought. Some 
 by their negligence ^fuff a ing the Empire of AntichriH 
 to be repaired where it was ahotijhed : Others^ by their 
 miferahle dfent.ons^ opening a way forth" Woolfe^ to 
 enter into the Sheepefolddf chriji \ And others, by ga- 
 thering together all their dexte /tie and quick enef/e of 
 fraudes ,fopbifmcs^ ana Hies f laboutingto vpholde hu 
 feat e from falling. For to this purpofef rue the nw wri- 
 tings ofthfe that eudeamUr to make the world beleeue 
 that 4ntichrtH is not yet some ' y to the end^ to lull men 
 afleepe under his tyranny. And therefore as thefe men 
 employ all their diligence to mtwtiine the life of this 
 Beaji^ again si whom att> ought to arme thethfelues : So 
 ought the true SermntsofGod; ft/ffely to bend them- I 
 felues both with voyceandyen agatnfi him^ for the glo- 
 ry of their mafter lefts chrifl. 
 
 It is true, that there a fort of men too politicize and . 
 timer ou*; who otherwtfe fain? found of Religion, yet 
 thinke, that truth may be fnf fide ntly taught, and, err or , 
 confuted, without making any mention of Ant ichrijl : 
 a kinde of people which require ofvs another manner of 
 difcretion tti the execution of on r charge f 5 then Wa* v 
 fed by the Prophets -and A } p< files, ana which con fider 
 not how great imbecility uinman, &ndhow eafie hce is 
 to be tranjported into error jjpecially then when it cree- 
 peth in under the maske and appearand rfhlolineffe & 
 Meekeneffet and therefore 'how nee df nil it is t&vepref- 
 fed to the qui eke y that mi may bee retained confia^t in 
 theprofefpon of the truth : and in a Word, thai regard , 
 not what dutie of obedience they owe to the Conmaridt 
 
 * 2 ment 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 mem of God, made to vs all, A poc. 1 8 z 6% For what a 
 tyrannous part would it bee, to hinder thofe that know 
 and fee the Wolfe ', from making an outcry againft him f 
 What a lazinefje to (pare him, that (par eth and careth 
 not for the ruine offo rtunyfoutes , which hec holdeth 
 Captiue t JVay,Jofarre it is, that fait hfull Teachers 
 ought to hold their peace , that they ought rather with 
 full throat to cry out, and vnite their Vcines with that 
 which refounded from heauen ; Come our of her my 
 people, that ye bee not paitakers of her finnes : for 
 her finnes arc afcended vp vnto heauen 5 and the 
 Lord doth remember her iniquities. And albeit no 
 man (hould anfwer to our cry, yet at leapt wee (Jiculd de~ 
 liuer our owne Joules from death, and carry this witnes 
 in our confidences, that we haue not held the trueth in 
 zniu ft file nee Jo the danger of foulesjvbich Chriflhath 
 bought with the price of his blood. 
 
 This is that which caufieth this Treat. fie to come forth 
 intopublique, that they which yet know not Antchr Jl, 
 may at length know and deteft him : and they which 
 both know and deteti him, may bee. confirmed in their 
 knowledge, and encreafied in their deteft at ion - 3 and Jo 
 hereby may make more account of the benefit sofichr /ft, 
 and be more rauiflyed with his lone. For the more wee 
 know and deteft Antichrift, the more are we enamored 
 with chrifty and long for his comming, and defre the 
 full reuelat ion of his glory. So thatfuch as do not wth 
 all their heart abhominate this Man offinne, let them 
 vaunt of themfielues what they will, yet are they far re 
 eftranged from true piety, and that holyzeale, which 
 made Uauidto fay, Pfal.139. 21.12. Lord, fliould 
 not I hate them that hate thee/" and (hail I not bee 
 
 offended 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 offended ac them that rife vpagainft thee ? Yes, I 
 hate them with a perfed hatred, as if they were my 
 enemies. Norvifithisplaine confefsion doeth further 
 enrage Antichrijl againft vs*& it comefi topaffe that 
 we muftfeale it with our bloody trefhallbe thrice happy, 
 for then^ /hall we be receiuedinto heauen> there to Jing 
 a ! owdthis bleffcd (ong % Aleluiah,faluauon,glory 5 ho- 
 noured power r>e to our Lord God: for his Judge- 
 ments arc true and iuft, becaufe hee hath taken ven- 
 geance of the great Whore, cvhich corrupted the 
 earth with h*r Fornication,and reucnged the blood 
 of his Scruants from herhand. 
 
 The method which (lull be cbferued in this Treatife 
 for wore facility, is this. The fir ft part fh all containe 
 the definition ofi Antichrijl^ drawne out ofholie Scrip 
 ture : The fecond^ Jhall bee an application eft his defini- 
 tion to the Pooe, by certaine proofs. A nd the third, 
 [hallref ell the opinion of the RomiJI) Dec! ours touching 
 Antichrijl. 
 
 Tor the resl, Iprotcjl that my intention is not to of 
 fend mens persons : lonely tefirc to defiroy errour, ac- 
 cording to the gift of Grace giuen me ofGod^ ani to la- 
 bour the reuealing of the kingdome of Antichrijl^ in 
 whatperfonfoeuer I meete withatl. Aid* nt hat Icon* 
 ceale mj name, it is not in apprehenfion of any feared 
 cenfure, which Jhall be alwaies moft acceptable to me^ if 
 it proceed from the Spirit of Charity^ which ought to 
 guide the hearts and hands ofChriftians. B H tl haue 
 alwayes bene of opinion in thisfubiecl^ that tructh hath 
 ?nore fierce y being all bare and naked y thenfhadowed 
 with the names of men. And if after the labour of Jo 
 
 many 
 
 \ 
 
 Apoc.1^1,1. 
 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 many learned men, that haue illuftrvedthis matter ■, 
 
 tndwhofe foot slips lhauepurpofely followed* there bee 
 
 found fome clearing by this Treatife, as I hope will bee 
 
 to them that/hall fake the patnes to reade it through, 
 
 dndefpecially the third Part j / deftre, that theglcrie 
 
 thereof may beerendredto GOD alone, who will right 
 
 foonemake knowne to the world by the commmg of 
 
 his Sonne, the vtter abolition of him whom he 
 
 hath already fo cleerely dif covered 
 
 by the Torch of his 
 
 Co/pell. 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4t 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Table. 
 
 AHaddon Apotlion* Pag. 6* 
 Abbay of Heake founded in 
 Norjnandy myraculoufiy. pag. 354 
 Abomination ofdefolatton what. Jo 
 Sidri.wctiretk a wan born blind. 3 2 S 
 Agn^u Dei defer /bed. 282 
 
 Alexander the 6. a vile Pope. 3 o 
 Alb/genfes y ioocoo. flame by the 
 P pe. 66 
 
 An Altar pagan i[h working wonders. 
 
 329 
 
 Angel of. the bottomlefepit, 5 
 
 Angels die Doll or s and Teachers of 
 
 the New Teflament, 8 
 
 Antichrtfis name mgenerall.pag.\ t 'm 
 
 particular y page 2 . hts other 
 
 names, page 2 .his definition y ibid . 
 
 he is a man,$, one in number y 3. a 
 
 Cbriftian by name y 4. his 2 homes 
 
 a double ' power y $. in the Church at 
 
 God 9 6Jo come with miracles y ibid 
 
 hit idolatry jbtd.ambit ion y cruehy y 
 
 impurity y dtfcouery y 7. affeebling, 
 
 S.aKdruiKe t g. not by Nation a 
 
 lew ^69. nor the lewes Meffi<u~j 2 
 
 his miracles y J '5. hu feat "e \ 7 J. and 
 
 13? .how long to r eigne, 84.6/j de- 
 
 ftrucfion.ga^ f .his name^ndihe 
 
 number of his namely, and \c 9 y 
 
 110. beets the eight head cf the 
 
 ■ r Beaft x airdjet one of the feuen^t 5© 
 
 ~ beis an hypocrite^ yi.no open ad- 
 
 utrfary, 273. by confequexte hee 
 
 denreth lefus to b: Chr ft y 2 4 h 
 is tnjhew a Lambe, 194. beejha.fi 
 not abollifh Chriftian Sacrifice, 
 217,218. his perfecut<o^ y 233, 
 2 2£y . the continuance cfhti reigne y 
 *>. y ceres andhalfe y 223 Jhis growth 
 andprogreffej \66.borne w the A- 
 poftles time, 1 67.hu infancy y I bid. 
 htsyouib ) \69.hi4manseft i :teA7$ 
 which hath three degrees y p. 174, 
 1 7 ) , 1 7 6, 1 7 7. and his declining 
 efiate, 1 8 1 .his perfecution y 6 $ , 64 
 
 Atjocalyps \ 1 , ^.expounded and clee- 
 red y $%dhe 20.28 expounded and 
 cleered y 66. the 1 1 .and 8. expoun- 
 ded and cleered. 78 
 
 A pollen ins Tyan> us miracles. 328 
 
 Apoflacy in Antichrift s time how to 
 be vnderfiood y 245. out oft he A- 
 poftacy fine cbferuat ions } 246. of 
 Apnfiacie y whether we, or the Pa- 
 p-fts are guilty ,247,248. 
 
 Authors calling the Pope Antichrift y 
 & Rome Bab)lcn^o^t y ^2 y &c. 
 
 BA-'BeH, the two fiyftfy fables of 
 the two great pillars of Poperie y 
 
 283 
 
 Babylon m) flic all Ant ichrifts feat e y 
 
 ^..and 1 46 
 
 B apt if me the char abler of thrift and 
 
 Antichrift, 127 
 
 Battayles of Antichrift. ' 89 
 
 Ijifhcpsof Romei.vt ah Antichrift s 
 
 but fince they eare y 6o'^. p.lo* at 
 
 _M\ 
 
The Table. 
 
 At fi> ft holj men. ibid. 
 
 Bifio ps of bafe parentage and quality 
 came in, when Antichrtft began 
 his reigne at Rome. 193 
 
 ISlafyhemj of the Later ane Councell 
 
 27% 
 
 A blinde man difcoueredto bee coun- 
 
 terfette,pag, 321 .and one feigning 
 
 the Falling ficknejfe. 322 
 
 Bonds of Nature dtjfoMd bj Popery , 
 
 'Boniface the third, fir ft open tAnti - 
 
 chrtftt I o 
 
 'Bottomeleffe pit, frofunditj of errors, 
 
 A BuHfscrificed at Rome. 3 29 
 
 'Buying and felling forbidden to all 
 
 that haue not the Beafts name. 
 
 pag 120 
 
 CArdinals firft beginning . 179 
 Ca>herintts mocketh at Caie- 
 tatnes diftintlion. 2 89 
 
 Ceremonies Pop'tfh, the TSeafts Cha- 
 r alter. 1:0 
 
 Character or marke of Antichrtft, 
 z 2 : . diners opinions concerning 
 the fame ,12 4. is but one, yet hath 
 many branches, 125. Char after of 
 aChriftian,ii6. imprinted fur c 
 tvayes. 127 
 
 Cha&e of "Peter giueth holme fife. 294 
 Chrifis name ofvnion incommunica- 
 b 'e, 1 2* hee is the onely Spoufe of 
 the (fhurch ,ibid. how he is faide to 
 irccrffCiftcdjp, denied to be lefw, 
 
 1$6. crucified in Peter, pa, 125. 
 the onely vniuerfall Bifhoppe of the 
 Church. 1 7 ^ 
 
 Chrtfiians preferuedfrom the defini- 
 tion oflerufalem. » 8 5 
 
 Church of 'Romejhow a Church, r'38 
 it's reuo!tedf*om itfelfe,2$6.true 
 Church called heauen,pa. ill. not 
 extingtajhedbf perfecution, Ibid, 
 ours the per feinted Churchy fzge 
 
 21 r 
 
 Clergies character. 132 
 
 A Cocke facrificed to S.Chriftopher, 
 
 Mi 
 A Cempnhender cannot merit. 272 
 
 Communion alone condemned in the 
 axneient Church .page 257 .in one 
 kinde alfo condemned. ibid. 
 
 Confirmation imprints the character 
 of a Chriftian^ 127 
 
 Confutation of Popi/h opinions con' 
 cerntng Antichrtft. 3 7 
 
 Const amine the Popes Lacquey, 25. 
 his donation. 19 
 
 Croffe veorfhipped wit b Latria. 2 4 
 
 Croyfado y a trickjo catch riches .334 
 
 A Crucifixe dragged into the mye. 
 
 329 
 Cruelty of Popes to faithfull prof e fi- 
 fe ff or s oft he Go/pel, 213,214,215 
 H6,22I. 
 
 DAmtantu denies the temporaH 
 [word to the Pope, pag. 197, 
 198 
 Dan 
 
The Table. 
 
 Dart) why not mentioned in the Apo- I 
 calyps. 69 I 
 
 Daniel n ^45 .explained,96.hts pro- 
 phefie explained, < 1 . and^. and I 
 cap. 1 1. j. expounded, 29% J he 2. 
 andy .Itkewifi, 4^ 
 
 Dayes 1 290 in Daniel hew tobevn- 
 der flood fij. Dayes 1 260.42 wo- 
 neths,and three yeares & *« £<*//? 
 how to betaken, 230,231,232. 
 
 Definition of Antichrtft applyed to 
 the Pope, 10 
 
 Dehifions Antichrtft: -n, "\o\.by mi~ 
 racles.$02,?o$ ^o^&c.by Pur- 
 gatory, page 330.^ invocation of 
 
 Saints, 3 3 9,&bJbi Relets, 5 5 o 
 by Images. 3 ? 5.07 1'oftfb excom- 
 munications and pardons, 368. by 
 mon aft ic all Z) owes and the Sacra- 
 ments of the Romifh church ^o. 
 by abufe of holy Scripture . 396 
 
 DeriiaU of lefits to be Chrtft, the 3. 
 marke oft he Apoftacie. 2 6 «j 
 
 Saint Denis bsdy contended about ,/>. 
 
 353 
 Deftrnttionefthe Romane Empyre. 
 
 48 
 
 Dipping bread into the Wine con- 
 demned in the ancient Church of 
 
 R§me. 257 
 
 D tfeafes 1 all cured or procuredby fan 
 Saint, or other. 344 i 
 
 Doctrine proper to Antichrtft, 2 & 3 
 
 three deCtrines peculiar to the A- 
 
 pojlacy, 2 5 9 
 
 'SfDomimcke equalled andpreferrcd 
 
 before Chrift. -548 
 
 EC cleft aft icm 48,9,10. c leered. 
 P 5 6 >57 
 Eden what and where it is % 205. it 
 woi dt faced by the Floud, p. 2*04 
 
 205 
 
 Emperors , Princes, and Priefis, 5 • 
 
 Emperonrs crowned by the Pope, 
 
 pag.i6 
 
 Empire of Rome a let to Antichrtft, 
 
 pag.io 
 Enemies of Chrift, of two forts, no, 
 
 I (I 
 England interdicted fix yeeres, 1 7 5 
 Enoch and kit as camming, 5?. wItj 
 preferuedaltue, 61. they (hall not 
 arife as witnejfes againfi Anti- 
 chrtft, 200,20/, 209, who are 
 meantby them , 201,20 2. they 
 hue not in the earfhly Paradtfe, 
 2 o 2 , 2 03 . are taken vp ixto hea- 
 ven, 20 5 ,206 ,? 07 .Obiettions to 
 the contrary anfwered, 20 S . their 
 arifingfrom death to life after 3 
 dayes and an halfe. 2 1 o 
 
 Spicurtes helde not this propofuion^ 
 there is not a God, andyet an A- 
 thetft. 285^ 
 
 Not to Erre proper to God, affumed 
 by the Tope, 28? 
 
 FAbfe of Cfaifts •■•incarnation, 
 '26> .anoibcr of hu: rtfurrt- 
 
 
The Table. 
 
 ft ion, 269. another of bis miffion 
 of the holy Gkeft* 2 70 
 
 Facere, [ignifies to r eigne. 232 
 
 Fathers dtffcnt about the two witnef- 
 neffes,6l* about Ant 'ichrifi, 70, 
 71. their opinions of Enoch and 
 Eliot. 20 1 
 
 Figures of Ant ichrifi in the olde Te- 
 ftament. 1 1 2 
 
 Fire canfed to defcend from heauen, 
 
 page 76. 
 
 Forgiuingoffinne,what. 293 
 
 Formofm body drawne outof it grant 
 
 page 28 
 
 Afaft. Foxes particular opinion of the 
 42 moneths tn the Apocalips.2% 3 
 
 Frederick^ holdeth the Popes flirrop, 
 
 page 2 5 
 
 Friar Francis descended into Pur fa- 
 tory eueryyeere on his Feafl day to 
 deliuer all that had beene liberal to 
 his Order ,$$7- hte is equalled to 
 Chi(l,p*g 34?. <* Friar immea- 
 furably rich. 231 
 
 (~>Aine, the end of Popery. 33 5 
 JL Gene (is ^9 y 1 7 . expounded a nd 
 cleered. 69 
 
 S. George , a count erf eite Saint, page 
 
 *4 
 A new God worflotppedin the Chureh 
 
 ofR^me. 299 
 
 Cjog and iJVfagogi 92 9$ .94 
 
 Gojpell preached through the whole 
 
 iwr/d, 2 34.601^44 45.23 7. r.ea- 
 
 fins why in the Apoftles age, 235. 
 
 teflimonies of the Fathers that it 
 
 was preached^ 238. Remond av- 
 
 fwered concerning Granada, 2 3 9 
 
 traces of it remaining in mofl 
 
 countries ,2^1. in both the Indies, 
 
 241,243 
 
 Greek* Artie U explained. 40 
 
 Gregory the firft , th elafl good Pope, 
 
 thefeuenth a notorious Antichrtfi 
 
 p II 
 
 S.Gregory againft merites,the Majfe 
 
 and vniuerfal By/hop . 259 
 
 H. 
 
 HEauen hath three fignif cations 
 pa.205 
 Head minifteriall of the Church and 
 Husband, prouelhthe Pope to bee 
 Ant ichrifi. 277 
 
 Herejie faffely imputed to vs by the 
 papifis,2^ reuiuedtnthe Papa- 
 cie. 249 
 
 Saint Hieromes opinion of Rome pa. 
 
 81. 
 
 Hildebrandpoyfoning fixe Popes, by 
 
 TZrazjUtHs jo afcendvxu the pap a- 
 
 cie. pa. 2$ 
 
 Homes, tenne Kings, jfo, the two 
 
 homes of the Be eft what . 194, ip$ 
 
 196 
 
 How the Popedcnieth leftu to bee the 
 
 Cbrift. 73 
 
 How he makes himfelfe a God. 74 
 
 How he makes the image of the Beafi 
 
 sjeake. 7* 
 
 How 
 
The Table. 
 
 How fire to defcend from beauen, 7 5 
 
 16 
 
 IAcobtr.es tale $f the Virgin Ma- 
 ries going tirto Purgatory euery Sa- 
 terday. 337 
 
 lamblictu lifted vp into the aire ,3 27 
 fo Simon A'fag m. I bid. 
 
 IdoUtry of the Church ofRgnejage 
 
 2j?8 
 
 Icrufalemuet Antichrifts featefi g. 
 
 & 140 
 
 leftu how denied by the Papifts to bee 
 
 Chrifi. 26$ 
 
 Image of the Be aft made tofyeakeja. 
 
 7S 
 
 Images freaking. p*g. "($. 3 2 2,1 83 
 
 184 
 Images contemned. 322 
 
 Images /wearing t nodding, mooumg, 
 
 3 2 4 
 
 Images come from heauen. 3 5*9 
 
 An Image full ofBUsf>hemy. 291 
 India hdih traces of the Gojpett, page 
 
 47 
 Indulgences oppofed. 35' 3^ 
 
 lohn the thirteenth 3 4 woft vtic per- 
 
 fon. 
 Iohn Baptift , Eli as trudy. 5 5 
 
 lohn cbap.^.verfe 43 . expounded pa* 
 
 70 
 
 lubilee of Boniface the eight . 1 9 
 
 ludoA freed from Helleuef'te vveeke 
 
 oncefty the Prayers ffthe Church. 
 
 page 237 
 
 Jupiter Olympitufet vp in the Tern- 
 pie. 299 
 
 S. Jf Atherine t a counter fet Saint, 
 
 jP^ ^4.24 
 
 Key of the bottomeleffe, ptt. 5 
 
 Kingly Office of Cbrift, vfurped by 
 
 the Pope* 2j6 
 
 Lss4ttantiH4 err our concerning 
 zAnttcbrift. pa.^i 
 
 Lateinos. 99, 1 1 8. 120 
 
 Later ane CouncillblaQbemetb. 20, 
 
 278. 
 
 Latine Serutce brought in in the jeer e 
 
 666. 121 
 
 Leo, the Lion of she Tribe of ludah, 
 
 278 
 Lights of the Firmament^ powers in 
 
 the Church. 20 
 
 Lion oft he Tribe ofludah. Ibid. 
 Lucius King of Britaine head of the 
 
 Church. 257 
 
 MA ' I achy chap q.verfc 5. ex- 
 pounded. 5*4 
 Mai don ate again ft Be liar mine. 39 
 M aoz,tm what tn Daniel. 299 300 
 Atarriageof frie/ls allowed tn the 
 tunc tent Church of Rome, page 
 258. th? prohibition of it there is 
 
The Table. 
 
 ti figne of the Apofiacie, 2 60 . al- 
 lowed by the Fathers y car. firmed by 
 reafons y a 60 . 2 6 X . impure by the 
 Papifis, 161 
 
 Markeofthe r Beaft. 184,185. 
 
 Mary the bleffed Virgin equalled to 
 Chrift. 23 
 
 Maffe how called the facrifice of the 
 Church , 120.it u thefoule of the 
 Popes Kingdome. 16 id. 
 
 Matthew xq.expowded andanaly- 
 fed ^,2^^. the 17 } n. expoun- 
 ded and cleared, 57. the 2 4, 7 1 
 lil^ewtfe. 6 5 
 
 Ayong Maid de fired of her Ccnftf- 
 for y that (he wight haue Ittle hogs 
 tn keeping* 343 
 
 Meates prohibited a pgne of the U- 
 poftacie, 262. inihuthey agree 
 with Mont am ft x, i6$.andtbe 
 Manichees, 264 
 
 Mdchizjedek^ reprefenteth £V//?, 
 2%o*his Priefthood><i'xtLftf,$*7ov , 
 
 281 
 
 Merchandise of fodes in Purgato- 
 ry. 131 
 
 {JWiracles ordained for Infdelh not 
 hileeuers^o^ not trials of Do- 
 El'ine.but dottrins of them, 304, 
 305. they are not fio common m 
 the Romifh Church as in former 
 time ,306. Indian Miracles di fee- 
 uered 30 7 ^miracles of 3 forts ,307 
 counterfeit ,:o8,^op,3 10. fub~ 
 orned by Priefts, £21. effetted by 
 thedtuell, 3 i6.injhew y not in tru- 
 rt&,3 18>3 * 9- Miracles of Saint 
 
 FrjtnciSy^M . 3 I i.of 'S.Domintck^ 
 313. of *s4ugufiine the Monk?, 
 3 iq..iffunfper y ibid. of the virgin 
 Marte^ij. of Saint Anthonies 
 Vriefis. 319 
 
 My fiery imprinted in the Popes JWlf- 
 'ter. 1 ft 
 
 Mockage of Chrifl by the PapifieSy 
 
 1*5,267 
 
 Mofes abufedy 27. his horn es confu- 
 ted. 1 5 7 
 Multitude of the wicked the (fittte of 
 
 the diuell. 
 
 I41 
 
 N 
 
 NAhafh the Ammonite a figure 
 of Antichrifl . 1 r 2 
 
 Name, number, and mar\e of the 
 Beafi y 99,100,101. names ex- 
 prcffingthe tiumber 666* page 
 
 121 
 Nation of Antichrifl. 6y 
 
 Nero held for Antich/ifl byfome, 
 
 pag.42 
 
 Nichodemm puts Come of the blond 
 
 of Chrifl into the finger of his 
 
 Glove, which worheth miracles > 
 
 Number of Antichrifl s name, 1 1 4, 
 1 1 <y. my ftical interpretation t ho- 
 of ,1 1 ^.literal interpretation y\ 1 7 
 
 O 
 
 OAthtotheV&pe, the Teaftes 
 Char abler ,i 28. of the Empe- 
 ror at hti Corenation } 1 2 S.ofiBifiops 
 
 at 
 
The Table. 
 
 at their Consecration. 1 3 o 
 
 Two O'wc Trees, Za:h 4,3 mat . 
 
 pag. Co 
 
 Opinions of the Fathers dtuers con- 
 
 cemimg Afiticbriftt 4 1 
 
 Orders of the Pop, fa Clergy. 1 3 2 
 
 AnOxesJeaking* 328 
 
 PAH of ArcHtflxps. 1 ] 2 
 
 Pan the tn turned into a Temple 
 dedicated to all Stmts. 3 4 1 
 
 P paadmirablefrompf-pe. 20 
 
 Papacy not true Church, yet bath cer- 
 tain traces thereof, 22 the liut'ig 
 tmage of the Romane Empire ,1 86 
 187.188. 
 Papifls imitators of the Manichecs , 
 2 $ 1 ,pelagianiz,e. 253 
 
 P-madife bought for moneys 34- rtt 
 /under ly interpreted '. 204 
 
 Taulseptft. traduced by Rhemifts 3 p g. 
 
 257 
 7Vp/« ^W-> f&* P*p« /***, />*£. 
 
 ■ 2J 
 
 perfecution v^der Popes grea:eft,6<? 
 
 2i3.2i4.2i5 2 I<5- 221. 222. 
 
 223 
 Periods of Antic b'nfts being, pag A 
 
 was 
 Saint Peters chants isynetogcthtr.v . 
 
 Pfl^ff &; J?rf«?tf ^ Chrifttan, but yet in 
 deed contrary to thrift, I 2 .&** v- 
 fuvpetb Chrtfis offices, ptg> 1 2. his 
 -hjngdome erelvea by Sat ban, p . j 7 
 
 Popes HaretikeSj 1 3 . //<?* ck/- 
 lengeth a double power , 1 8. cani- 
 etb himfelfe at Cod, 19. worketb 
 miracles ,2 i is an Ideteter, t> 23 . 
 ambitteta 5 2 5 . f#//cf cruelty, 27. 
 of imptrity ^igfcndeth <* fword to. 
 princes ,f 21 Popes. by dtaboJicall 
 Arts worke miracles, 2 2 . Zft f £ 
 the foueraigne Hifhop, 27. &« j^i- 
 ftfttftf cruelty, p. 29. his Primacy 
 whenfrfr brought tn.p. 52. &r* w 
 Monarch of the world^pSp 90. 
 called Cod, 1 59 Popes moderne 
 contrary to the ancient, 2(7, d»a- 
 e it fer Hants to the Emperor, 2 59, 
 flUing themfelues Friends and 
 Huibands of the Church, Anti- 
 cbrtfli an titles. 273 
 
 Pope not bound to his owne Decrees, 
 2~6 they jexalt t hemfelues c.boue 
 Khgs, 2 j Spring ex cathedra, p. 
 289. Pope ft tied by the n>mcof 
 Cbnft,p> 2%6. vfurpeth his titles 
 and dignity, y 2%7> the power and 
 authority of God, 288. challenge t h 
 to hinifeffe to depofe K tugs ,290 .is 
 not fitbiect to any Law, 298 aboue 
 Angels and CMagiftrates, 292. 
 adored Kith Hyptrdulia.p. 2$$ . u 
 cafkd and calleth htmfetfe Geci, p. 
 294. inter diEls Kiigdomes, 29 J . 
 Is aboue the Saint sand f mares, p. 
 296 Jtfpsnfeth with the Law and 
 Cj(sfc(l 297. Altereth the Sacra^ 
 mcxts,! $%.m*k et b more account 
 of his owne Traditions then Cods 
 Commandements, 298.1* elelled 
 
 ** 
 
 to 
 
 I 
 
The Table. 
 
 by the people, confirmed by the £m- 
 feror,\ J^,the beafl with 2 homes, 
 p.194 195. per fecutes more then 
 Antiochw or the heathen Empe- 
 rors y * 1 3 2 1 4. 2 1 5 .changeth the 
 whole fernice ofCjod, 2 1 8. <4 An- 
 tichrifl both as one particular per- 
 fon,andbyfucceffton,p. 229.230. 
 Popes worfhippers of the dentil, p. 
 
 300 
 
 Popifh doEhines contrary to Scrip- 
 tartyi^ 14 1 5. 16. Popijh prayers 
 to Saints concluded with the name 
 ofChrift. 283 
 
 Power fptrituall And temporally fur - 
 ftd by Popes, 1 <}6,demed bj diuers 
 
 197 
 
 Pricfthood ofChrifi vfurped by the 
 Pope. 280 
 
 Prieils crownes (hauen. 172 
 
 Printingjvhen found out. 182 
 
 Prophet call office of Chrifi vfurped 
 by the Tope. 2 74 
 
 Purgatory a net to catch riches, 333. 
 jcojfedat, m.proued by fables, 
 3 3 6. and tabic tales, 3 3 7. 3 3 8 ♦ 
 
 Purple worneby Topes and Cardi- 
 nals : from whence and what it 
 fignifieth. 158 
 
 Vcflionsprophane about Chrifl, 
 
 67.270. Popijh idle quejli- 
 
 406 
 
 ons, 
 
 ^T? PcapttulatUn of all the con- 
 
 \\tcnts of the fir ft booke. 103 
 
 Relives grange and ridiculous ^51. 
 
 Rcmonds opinion confuted concer- 
 ning Antichrifls emit [ptr it ,22 7. 
 
 228 
 
 Remit from the faith. 24 5 
 
 Rome the feate of Antichrifl,^. built 
 
 vpon many waters, the Whore of 
 
 t Babilc» J ^. the Popes feate, 17. 
 
 her numeruR letters nete the time 
 
 of its defiruElion^ 1 wo* the treat 
 
 City when Chrifl was crucified, 
 
 78. 79. Rome not Pagan but 
 
 firiflianjhe feate of Antichnfi, 
 
 142,143 145. Its one and the 
 
 fame from the beginning, 142. 
 
 Rome not ruined is Antichrifls 
 
 feate, 1 4 5. Rome Chriflian my(li- 
 
 cattBabilonj^j. its Sodome and 
 
 ts£gipt y \ 53. bet wit 2 feasfDan. 
 
 II. 45-p*£« 1 54- printed li\e a 
 
 woman, is 5 . a (fity fituate v'pon 
 
 many waters, 1 ^Cworflnpped as 
 
 a Goddeffe, and full of idohtry, 
 
 ibid, full of blafpemy, 1 ff. is Ba~ 
 
 bMon,i6i.i62. 163. 
 
 Romesfecret name. 1 60 
 
 Romane Empire how to be ta\en a- 
 
 way. 50 
 
 Romane Church and Rom*ne Babi- 
 
 lon. 148 
 
 SAcramtnt of Eucharift carried 
 about a* t he Tcrfianfirc. 2 4 
 
 Sou 
 
 ~w 
 
The Table. 
 
 Sacrifice of Chrift canmt be reitera- 
 ted, e 8 1 . Sacrifices abominable At 
 Rome. 330 
 
 Sackcloth what, 210 
 
 Sat h an the &Ar chit eft of sAnti- 
 chr'tSls kingdome. 3 
 
 Samfon a Friar enriched by a Croy- 
 fado. S3 1 
 
 Saint j merits and fat if aft ions con- 
 demned by the ancient Church of 
 Rome ,2 ^% . falfe Saints inuoca- 
 ted,2 1 9. Topijb Saints and Sam. 
 teff's like heathen Gods and God- 
 defies ', 339. in their efftces, 340 
 in thfir protetling of Countries, 
 341. their names fitted to their 
 Trades, 3 42 .in deuotion to them 
 preferred before God, 342. 343. 
 thir offices differ. ibid, one o? 0- 
 t her can cure all difeafes, 344. if 
 one be dtjp leafed 3 they fly to an- 
 other, 345./ hey mufi needs bee at 
 odds when their Clients are, 345. 
 346. more honoured of the Pafifis 
 th( n God or Chrifi. 3 46 
 
 Seate generaR of Antkhrifi, 134. 
 I 3 y.and particular ', 1 40 
 
 Sybils prophecy that *s4michrift 
 fijould be a King Voitb 4 Loiter, 
 
 149 
 Sit in the Temple hath 4 interpreta- 
 titns, 137. fitting in the C^urch^ 
 what it is ,6. the Popes r eigne de- 
 figned thereby* 19 
 
 Sixtm Quintvu cemmendeth mur- 
 der. 38 
 Spanijh Armado facrifice u tk* Vvr« 
 
 gin Mary before t heir gotng forth, 
 
 ^^C.andvpbraid her ajter their 
 
 euerthrow. 34,9 
 
 Starr e fallen from heauin. 3 
 
 Sward temporal! and ffirituaU afcrt- 
 
 bed to the Pope, 196 denied by 
 
 diner /,/>*. 1 97. what meant by 2 
 
 Swords. 198 
 
 Superfiitioninthe Church the firft 
 
 Cooyeeres. 172 
 
 
 T 1 
 Eitan the name of asfntichrifl 
 accot ding to hi ntPts . 116 
 Temple of God the Church, 6. I 34 
 136. Temple at lerufalem not to 
 be bkilt,%2.ii$,Teinplts£hri{tu, 
 an Churches. 8* 
 
 Ten Kings (laH fhare the Romane 
 Empire bit weene them^and ioyn* 
 with Antichrifi. 80 
 
 At Saint Thomas of Qanterburies 
 death, how many died in the 
 World, and how many faued, 
 3*3,8. hi* Saintfhip que fi toned, 
 
 3 51 
 
 Three vnfatMe things, Priefts, 
 
 Monies, and the Sea. 333 
 
 A Time, times, and balfe a time, 
 f 4 2 inonethSiVi 60 dates cxpoun- I 
 ded. 84.85. j 
 
 To&et 4/aitsp r B'Uarmine 3 ^. 1 3 6 
 Tranfubftamiation condemned in 
 the ancient Church of Rome 
 
 258 
 
 'ripletfo'wneofthe Tope. 1 86 
 
 Veronica 
 
The Tabli 
 
 V 
 
 C 7£*W* her Unnen pitlttre^ 58 
 V he r whole Legend. 3 5 9 
 
 Vtifafian cnreth a blinde man. 
 
 328 
 
 Vicar of Chrifl the title of Ant i- 
 
 chrifis. 272 
 
 ViUory at Tiepant afcribed to the 
 
 Virgin UHary, not to thrift. 
 
 346 
 The 'Virgin ^Jlfaries fmocke, 552 
 Vulgar edition preferred before the 
 Hebrew and Greeke yi-j6.it s faul- 
 ty by their Popes owne indge- 
 mtnts. 275 
 
 - - 
 
 IV 
 
 WHat it is for one to come in 
 his owne name. 57 
 
 What were, thetVvo Witneffes that 
 fhonld prophsfte againjf Awtchrisl. 
 
 59 
 
 Whether Antic hrifl bee no ftngular 
 
 perfon. 3 8 
 
 Whether Antichrifl be come or no. 
 
 i 44 
 
 Whore of Babilon by Rome called. 
 
 151 
 
 Whore, the name of an JdoUtrons 
 City. 1 54 
 
 Whores in Rome 45000 in r paul the 
 thirds time. 332 
 
 Two Witn r Jfes,i tp. confuted, 200. 
 WW they were. 200 not agreed 
 vpon by the Fathers. 6 1 
 
 AVoomanBtfhop of Constantinople 
 faljlyd'uifed. <j& 
 
 A woman offering a candle to Saint 
 Mtchatl.and another to t he dmtlL 
 
 445 
 
 ZQdmts alleaged a falfe Canon 
 for the Popes ft premacy. 5 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
*A S Y^J) TSfS of this Tthok <Boo(e. 
 
 nefi,»r rat iSrTh e< l t fi„i [ i„„„fAnd t h,i(lb 7 ,feh <) l l ,Snl D n m 
 
 arefeaucn 
 Qucftions 
 di'lcuffcd. 
 
 J. Of the continuance of Antichrift. 
 6~. Of the battailcs of Antichrift 
 7. Of thedeftruaion of Antichrift. 
 
 4^ The great perfection of 
 
 Antichrift. 
 y. Antichrifts durance. 
 16. The end of the world. 
 
 the Qmclufion touching the name of Antichrift 
 with a Kecaprtnlatio». 
 
 P By his Name, Chap. 1. 
 \ By the number of his Name. Chap. 
 lofjByhis^ 1 -- 
 
 'he fecond Trea- 
 fc added to the 1 
 
 W ? ef " i P ti0 r n <*M his Charade"; Marir ChT, 
 AnuchruVperfonX By his feat in general!. Chap... P ' 
 
 J By his fcate in particular. Chap. y. and 6* 
 
 ^ByhlS pmtHrU ~ — I rf f ^. 
 
 growth and progreffe. Chap. 7. 
 
 I r Touching the image of the Beaft, Chap. 1 . 
 
 1 Obferuations in the fame fubicdt vponthe 1 ,. of 
 
 the Reuelation, Chap. 2 . 
 Of the two witnefTes that fhould rife againft Anti- 
 ic added to the I chrift,Chap. j. gainitAntr- 
 
 irmer, contained^ j.ADefcriptionof I Touching Antichrifts perfecution,Chap 4 
 lo three parts. > Antichrilts rcigne.< °[ thc continuance of Antichrifts reione Chap 
 
 Cha T 11 ^ ° f thC G0l " PCl thr ° Ush ^ C w ™"» 
 Of his reuolt and falling away,Chap. 7 . 
 Touching his title, the Vicar or C hrift,Chap.8. 
 Of foure Doctrines proper vnto Antichrift. 
 
 Chap.o. 
 
 By fuppofed miracles, Chap. 1 . 
 
 ByPurgatory,Chap. 2 . 
 
 By Inuocation ofSaints, Chap 3 
 ?.ADefcription of % ReLques.Chap 4 . 
 Antichr. delufioM." % £™g es >Cha M . 
 
 By Excommunications and Pardons,Chap 6. 
 
 By Monafticall Vowes and Sacraments, Chap.* 
 
 B v abufe of holy Scripture, Chap. 8. * ' 
 
 TheEpilogue and Conclufion^Chap.^. 
 
ANTICHRIST 
 
 the Pope of R.o me, 
 o R 
 
 TheRomanc ^-ntichrift. 
 
 TheFirUTreati/e. 
 
 The definition cfAntichrift ly the holy 
 Scriptures. 
 
 i ragg^dasj^ 
 
 J H E name A ntichrift is not ex- 
 tant inthc whole Scripturc,(aue^ 
 
 j in the Epiftlesof S. fob*, and it 
 istakenintwofenfes. For ci- 
 ther it fignifieth in generall all 
 thofe that in any fort calling 
 ■thcmfclues followers of the do- 
 ctrine of C haft, doe contradict 
 thefcmc, and vnder.thc name of 
 Chvift, oppofe themfeiucs a- 
 gainft him, and deftroy his Oo&rine, whether it be wholly, 
 
 iorinpart. Thus it is taken in the fecond Chapter oft hefirii 
 K | rpiftle 
 
 ' 
 
 
The definition ofAntichrtji 
 
 2Thef.2,V4 
 Apocii,7.& 
 
 I3,i-^ i7>5- 
 fcip.ao. 
 
 Thcpcrfon. 
 
 Epiitle of S. Iohn y when hcc faycth, that there were alreadis 
 «W4«7^»r/r^r«/?/;andthatheisAntichriit that denieth the 
 Father and the Soft. And in his fecond E piffle, Many Sedu- 
 cers (faith hce) are entred into the world $ which eonfejje not 
 that Iefus Cbrifl is come in theflefh ; (uch an one is afedveer, 
 and an esfntichrift* A nd fuch are thofe, which either hecrc- 
 tofore, or at this day haue erred either touching the Pcifon, 
 or touching the Office of our Lord Iefus Chnft. But in par- 
 ticular, it is taken for that grand and famous aduerfarie of 
 Chrift, who. by a fpeciall prerogatiuc is called the Ami-. 
 chrift, and to whom all the other former Aniichrifts ferucd 
 as fore-runners to make way for him, and open him a paf- 
 fage into the Church, by that change and alteration which 
 they haue already brought to true Religion by their errors. 
 Jt is of this A ntichri ft properly fo called, that Saint Iohn 
 fpcakethinhi$n"rft Epiftle, ^.chap. 3.verfc. To whom are 
 giuen diuerfe other T itles in the holy Scripture, as the Son 
 ofPerditian y the Man offinne, the fecond Beafi., the ff^hore, 
 the Mother of Fornications, and fuch Irk c :. and concerning 
 whom we are at this day in debate with the Factors of the 
 Church of Rome. 
 
 Now markc that which the Scripture reports in few words 
 concerning him, which I will cxplainc andproue hi eucrie 
 part afterwards : to wit, that Antichrift fhall bee a certainc 
 man ftirred vp by the cmcacic of Sathan ; one in number at 
 one time,, but yet vaiying by fuccefTron and fubrogation i 
 who fhall makeprofefTionofthc name of Chrift, though in 
 effect he wholly oppofeth himfelfe to his Doftiine, ftiall 
 haue his kingdome in the great Citie which rcigncth ouer 
 the Kings ofthc earth : iliall cxercife a double power , one 
 fpirkuall, another temporall : fliall carry himfelfe in the 
 Church ofGod,asifhe were God : working fignes and mi- 
 racles, but felfe and lying : fhall be an Idolater, Ambitious, 
 audi, full of all filthincfle, i*cucaled in the laft times,and fi- 
 nally (hall be fully deftioyed by the glorious comming of 
 our Lord I e£is C hr ift. i v r 
 
 I. Wcfay,that Antichriftisa Man : conformable to 
 
 that 
 
by the holy Scr/pture. 
 
 that of the A pottle, who callcth him* Man, 2. Theft. 2. $. 
 We adde, that this Man is one in number, at one time, but 
 varying by fucccfEon; bccaufe the Scriptureattributeth vn- 
 to bitDj things which cannot agree to one onely man. For 
 the Apoftle tcllcth vs, that this Myftcry of ! niquitic was in 
 working in iiiulmc: to whom accordcth Saint John when 
 he kith, to it he mu even then m the world. And yet the fame 
 ApcftJclncwe:h,thatheinall continue to the end of the 
 world, and '{hall bee abolifhcd by the prefence of Chrift j 
 both which cannot be truly fpoken of any one man. W here- 
 unto we may adioyncthis, that that reuolt whereof the A- 
 poftlcfpeaketh, and of which Antichriit ihall bee the head, 
 is not a worke ofoncorfew yeares.Therefore we conclude, 
 that this Antichi-iitlluliindcede be alwayes one on?ly per- 
 ibn in number, reigning ordinarily: but that this pcrfon 
 {hall be changed from time to time for the continuation of 
 the order. Euen as in a Monarchy, one onely at one time 
 hath the dominion, whocomming to faile, death feizeth 
 the Ihiing (as the ordinary phrafe fpeakes)and the next heyre 
 taketh his place in the kingdome : or at leaft, anothet is iur- 
 rogatcd into the deads rooinc by anew Election, as in the 
 Empire. But the Apoltle fpeakcth of Antichrift, as of one 
 folc pcrfon, and not as of many, becaufc all thefe Seducers 
 {hallhauebutonccndandayme,towit, toreigne at their 
 pleafure in the Church : (o they fhall maintaine their tyran- 
 ny by one tncanes, to wit, by falic doctrines, and by ralfe 
 myraclc?. 
 
 2. The Author and Architect of Antkhrifts kingdome, 
 is Sathan. I- or the Apoltie faith, that his comining mall bee 
 by the ejficac/e of Sathan ; and in another place, hee callcth 
 the docliine of Antichnft, the doctrine ef d:tteh. I n the A- 
 pocalipfc it is faid, that the Dragon/ball gittehts po*er to the 
 Beajh And that the great Babylon is the habitatim of *Z>/- 
 ttels, and the re fort ofenery vncleane Birit* The which God 
 will furTcr in his iuft iudgement, to the cnd,that d thofe may 
 ferity yohkh received not the lone of the truth, that they might 
 be fatted - ? andtbat they might bexiamted which beleened not 
 
 B z the 
 
 1 The/T. 2, 7. 
 I Iohn 4,3. 
 
 The Author, 
 
 iTinj.4,1. 
 Apod J, 4. 
 Apoc.18,2, 
 
 2Thef.2,II, 
 IK 
 
The definition of 'Antichrist 
 
 The Religion. 
 
 Whtfl* t,8 
 A?©ci$, ii, 
 
 Ckryfeft. hem. 
 
 Thchabitatio. 
 Apoc. 17. 9« 
 
 PrBjffrK 
 
 Apoc 1 7, i. 
 
 tht tr*tb y but tooke pleasure in wiejuitir. 
 
 5 . That he frnll be a Chriftian in name, but indeed ffistt 
 oppofc himfclfctothcdocTtiine of Chrift,ippearethhythat 
 which the A poftle fay th, That hee (halt fit in the Temple of 
 Gcd. A nd Saint Iohn y trnt. the fiecond Ben ! l , that is to fay _ 
 •\nrchriit, &*/& two hemes l;l?e thofe of the €a *nbe . but (pea - 
 keth as the Dragon* Whcreunto may be referred that excla- 
 mation of S* Chryfftome: What is it that Antichiift fniU 
 not attcmpt,doingthe works of Chritt, and performing the 
 offices of Chrifii ins before C hriftians ? o hgnifie, that *m- 
 tichrift flhall. ferue himfelfe of the name of C hrift, tc h* ght a- 
 gainftChriit, and vndcr that fairc pretext, introduce his 
 owne. pernicious Traditions among ft Chriftians. 
 
 4. i t cannot be denied, that Rome is pointed out to bee 
 the place of ^ntichrifts habitation, feeing S. lohn telfeth vs, 
 that the whore is fcated vpon feuen hils, which hath expicffe 
 relation vnto Rome, called by the Ancients l^rid\oQof y frpt. : f 
 colli* y a City fituate vpon feucn hils. W itneile this V erfc a- 
 mongft infinite others : 
 
 Septemvrbs altu ittnt4 s toti qvtprd/idrt orb/. 
 The high City on feucn hils,reigning ouer the whole world. 
 
 Which alfo is called Babylon, as fucceedingto the ancient 
 p aUylon in idolatry, pride, couetoufneffe, and extreme cru- 
 elty againft the s 'ain:s. And thus was it expounded by Ter- 
 iulliAn longagoc. For to what elfe can that bee applycd, 
 which is declared by & lohn y that this Whore u fet vpon m*- 
 nyrraters t which are fo m&ny Peoples y Multitudes , Nations y 
 And Tovgttes ? And what is that£>v\*f C.tic thAt reigneth oner 
 the Kings of the earth, but 7^*?. in ancient time the Em* 
 preffe oftbtvrorld? Yca,ifweeIookc tothelocall fcituation 
 of Rome, wee fhall iiade it in effect built vpon many Wa- 
 ters : for it is built vpon 7'yber y into the which (befi Jcs 
 Fountaincsandfmall Brookes) two and forty Riuers dif- 
 chargethemfelues: Befidcsthat, Rome was replenished in 
 cucry part, with Bathes, Fountaines, and Conduite-pipes, 
 
 to 
 
by the holy Scripture. 
 
 to fcrue not oncly for the ncccfTity, but alfo for the curiofity 
 andlafciuiou "neffeof the dwellers therein. 
 
 5 . f is double power ; one fpiiituali^ another temporal!, 
 is figntfied vnto vs by* that which S; ohn faith, That thefe- 
 cond beafi had two hemes \ that is to fay, a double power : ac- 
 cording to the ordinary manner of J peaking in holic >crip- 
 ture, where a horac is taken for power, as may appcare in 
 many place; of the prophetic of Daniel. For this caufc hec 
 forctd.eth, that this fame Eeaft ftnll exercifc all the power 
 of the firfi iicaft, that is to hy y of the Komanc Empire : and 
 yet callethhim the falfe Prophet, which is a fpirituall acculi- 
 ty. Like as In Ancient times the bmperours themfelues af- 
 fumed to them not onely the dignity l\ oyall, but alfo Pon- 
 tificall, calling themfelues Pontificu Ai*xinta y Soucraigne 
 high-Prictts. Cut abouc all, this Spirituall Power is mani- 
 festly deciphered by $.loh*f y Apoc.y. ? . I [aw a Starre, that 
 fell from hearten on th? earth , and to it wot given the Key of 
 thebottomlejfepit : andit opened the bottom f effep it, & afmoke 
 a-*ofeoHtofihefit,a4thefmoke of 'a g* eat Fnrnace : and the 
 fun and theatre were darkned with thefm»k* of the pit : & om 
 cfthefmoke of the pit, iffued forth Locttjfs on the earth : and to 
 them was giuen power Ukt vnto the power which Scorpions have 
 on the earth. And after, (peaking of thefe Locults,hc fayth, 
 that they had otter th >em 'for their King , the Angel of the bet- 
 tomLjfe pit , whofe name in Hebrew it Abaddon, and in Cret^ 
 jipottyon , that is to fay, Dcftroy ing. For wee know, that 
 the Spirit ofGodisaccuftomcd todefigne Byfhops andPa- 
 ftours of the Church by the mmc of, ngels, Mai 3 t . A- 
 ^0f.3.2O.andofStarrcs,^/>0<r. 1.20. So that this Starrc fal- 
 ling from heauen,denotcth out a Bifhop or Paitour, aban- 
 doning the preaching of hcaucnly doctrine, and rcuolting 
 from the purity of the Gofpell. 1 he key is a fpirituall po- 
 wer of binding and looting, as is manifeit by the w ordes of 
 our ( auiour Chrift, Mat. 16,10. A nd tire bottomlciTc pit is 
 a profundity of thicke and abominable darkneffes, fraudes, 
 crvours,and funerftitions. So tfcat this Bijfoop arrogating 
 to himfelfc the key of the bottomlcffe pit, that is to fay, an 
 B 3 aobfultel 
 
 TJic power. 
 Apoc,J3, II- 
 
The definition of Ant ichrifl 
 
 1 Thc/Ti, 
 
 Diuine ho- 
 nours. 
 
 2 ThefT 2, 4 
 
 I Tim.j. 
 Dan.p,2^17, 
 
 Pfal,i I0,T» 
 
 Apoci8,7* 
 
 Miradej* 
 2 ThcflU,^ 
 
 Idolatry, 
 Apoc t i7,2, 
 
 L 
 
 abfoiute po\\er,to teach,decree,and eitablifh at his plcafuie 
 all forts oferrours, without the authority of holy scripture, 
 is by good right called the King or the Angel of the bottom- 
 leffe pit, in H ebrew Abaddon y and in Greeke Apolljon, that 
 is to iay/lcftroying : which is the fame title that the A poftle 
 giueth vnto A ntichrift, calling him thefonne of perdition. 
 
 6. T hat he (hall carry himfelfc in the Church of God as 
 if he were God; the Apoftle teachcth when he faith,?/.?*/- he 
 (ball fit in the Temple of God, carry tKg himfelfe as if hie were 
 Cod. For by the Temple of God wee cannot hecre vndcr- 
 ftand any thing elfe but the Church, which is the true Tern- 
 ple,andthehoufcof God: feeing that the Temple of/m*- 
 falemhzuing becne deftroyed by the^w^y*/, muftneuer 
 bee reedified accordiag to the prophecy of Daniel. And as 
 touching this fitting whereof the Apoftle maketh mention, 
 it doth not limply fignifie actuation of body,as if he fhould 
 oncly haue place, and fit in the Church : but alfo power and 
 dominion after the manner of holy Scripture. As when God 
 the Father faith to his Sonne, Sit thou at my right hunch, the 
 Apoftle expounds it thus: Thathee muftr 'eigne , tiH he hath 
 put all his enemies vnder his feete. And in the fame fenfe it is, 
 that Habilon her felfe fwollen with vnfupportable pride 
 vauntethherfclfc in thefe words; I fit being a Queene,*ndam 
 nowiddm&r.dfh^lfeeno mottrwng. Wherein few words 
 (hcegloriethoffoure prerogatiucs which are fo famous at 
 this day : to wit, ofh:r Scat or Chaire, her Royall authori- 
 ty,her SucceflSon,and pcrpetuall durance. 
 
 7. Touching Antichnits Miracles and what they fhalbe, 
 we haue the A potties expreffc teftimony : That his com- 
 ming is by the (ffic-acy of Sat h an , in all power t andftgnes, and 
 lying wonders, W hereunto accordeth that which is fpoken 
 by SJohn, Apoc. i ; ,13, and 16,14. Concerning the spi- 
 rits ofdemls iffuing out of the mouth of the falfe Prophet, 
 and working wonders before the K ings of the earth. 
 
 8. His Idolatry is rcprelented by that wine of fornica- 
 tion, where with the great *vhore (hall make drunke the In- 
 habitants of the earth: as an infatiable Strumpet, that with 
 
 her 
 
by the holy Scripture. 
 
 her .orccries and Louc-potions enflameth herloucrs. And 
 this according to the inftance of holy Scripture, which of- 
 tentimes callcth Idolatry by the name of Fornication; as 
 when the Prophet hfy cryeth out : How u the fitithfuH 
 Citty become an bar let} And the Eordvpbraydcthhis people, 
 that they had employed the Gold and Siluer which hee had 
 ghienthem,to the making of thcmfelues Idols: with the 
 whkhthey had committed fornication. I he Spirit of God 
 teaming Idolatry by this name, not onely for that it is a 
 perfidious treachery againftthc trueSpoufc ofourfbules: 
 but aifo becaufe ordinarily it is accompanied with ail out- 
 ward f!JthmeiTe,and vnbridled luxury; as was to bee (erne in 
 the ancient 'Babylon of the Eaft,and ■ foretold of die Wc- 
 fteme lpirituall Babjlon, the feztc of Antic hrift. 
 
 9. his ambition hath hceretofore beene notorioufly dif- 
 couered,andismoft cuident in this; becaufe hee mufl exalt 
 himfelfe aboue all that is called God, For if he liftcth vp him- 
 fdfe againft God, how will hee fpare Kings and Ma- 
 giftrates, to whom the Scripture alio giueth the title of 
 Gods ? And alfo in this,that he fiiall vfurpe the power of the 
 firit beaft in hisprefence : that is to fay, the dominion ofthe 
 Empire, in the view and knowledge of the E mperours. Be- 
 sides that hee fliall take to himfelfe authority to giue a foule 
 to the fii ft Dealt : that is to fay, toauthorifie ana confirme 
 the new Empcrours fubftituted by him in the loome of the 
 old, whole election hee holdethvoyd without his appro- 
 bation. 
 
 1 <\ A ntichrifts cruelty is figured by the woman made 
 drunke with the blood of the Saintes and Martyrs of Jefus 
 Chrift. 
 
 11. And his impurity ,by the mmcsofSodome ancr*/£- 
 gyft^dofBabylo*. jffoc.\\.% y md I4.8.and.i 0.3.3. 
 
 1 a . That hee ought to bee reuealed and affccblcd in the 
 lafttimeSjby the preaching of the Gofpelhmaybcc proued 
 frrft by that ofthe Apoftlc, Then (hall this wtckfd man be rc- 
 Healed inhis time, whom the Lord'jhaR confitme with the fli- 
 rt* of hit month. For what is this (pirit of Chrifts mouth,but 
 
 the 
 
 Efay 1,2 !♦ 
 Ezctfc«I<7,'ft 
 
 Ambition*. 
 
 PfaI.*2,I, 
 Apoc, 13,12, 
 Apoc.ij,.if, 
 
 riJjonhM. 
 **ret. (patios 
 m 4poc+ 
 
 Cruelty, 
 
 AfGC,!//, 
 
 Impurity, 
 Difcouery, 
 
 J 
 
L 
 
 8 
 
 The definition efAnticbyift 
 
 EG1y.ii.4- 
 
 Apoc. 17.17. 
 
 Apo* 14-6.7 
 8.9. 
 
 Defixu&ion. 
 2TtTeC2 C 
 
 the word of the Gofpell ? The which the Lord hath drawne 
 out of darkenevfe into light in thefe laft times- as when the 
 Prophet faith, That the Heavens wc*e mide br the word of 
 the Lord, <mda?4 the hoafi of them by the breath of bis mouth. 
 And when Efaj faith,TW God wiH fmtte the earth with the 
 rod oj his month, and (lay th? wicked with the breath ofhij 
 lips. And when the 5 onne of God denounceth againft thefe 
 that follow the doctrine of the Ntcholaitans, That h$e will 
 fight agaivft them with the f word ofhismovtih. 
 
 Secondly, it may beprotiedby that which S. lohn (pcik- 
 cth concerning the fall of 3^/<?>;,and the reuolt of thole ve- 
 ry fame from her, which had giucnthe kingdome.tothc 
 bead : who concerning hatred againft her,iliiil make her de- 
 folateand naked. For albeit that in all ages eucr fince -the 
 conception and birth of Antichrift, God hath raifed vp 
 faithfuliwitneficsthathaue couragioufly fet themfclues a- 
 gainft his abominable \ doiatries and corruptions : not with- 
 (tanding fo it is, that the principall diiTipation of his king- 
 dome is referued till the laft times. I he which isplainely 
 reprefented in the Apocalipfe, by thole three Angels; one 
 of which carrying an cueiiafting GofpeU, calleth men to the 
 fcare of God,becauic the bouse of his judgement was come. 
 Another proclaimcth and publifhcth the fall o&Rabylon. And 
 the third, aducrtifcth men of the wrath of God, againft all 
 them that fhall worfhip the beaft and his Urogc; or take 
 his marke on their forehead ,or in their name* To the which 
 three Angels , two other arc ioyncd with like denunciati- 
 ons. Chap.%. For what are all thefe Angels, but the true 
 Doctors and Teachers of the New t eftament; who pub- 
 lifhing with a loud voyce in the Church the Gofpell of the 
 etcrnall 5 on of God, difpofe men to the obedience there- 
 of, and arme them with the fword of G ods word to the de- 
 ftrudtion of Antichrift. 
 
 I •> . b alMy that the total! deflrucYion of th's man of fin 
 is referued tiltheoloriouscommingo'the T.oid •( fjs Thrift, 
 the Apoftledeciareth when he faith,? hat he fell <:b nlifb htm 
 by thsbrtghtKejfeofhts com.w*g : to which anfwercth very 
 ™ . fit-. 
 
 i«wr a hi 
 
 .■ ■ 1 » -» 
 
by the holy Scripture. 
 
 fitly the reprefcntation of 5. hhn> That the beafi, and he 
 falfe Prophet jhaiis to fay,the troup of reachers,Prieft;,and 
 Supporters of Antichriit;(for the word/,*//?' Prophets is thus 
 taken collecliuely, as wee vfe to fpeake in fchooles, for all the 
 faLe Prophets,and Seducers, which iliall authorife end vp- 
 hold the dodrine of Antichritt;){hall bcecait aliue into the 
 Lake of fire andbrimftone, there to bee tormented day and 
 night for cuernioic. And the refiduc ofhis followers fhall be 
 flaine with the fvvord of the mouth of him that was mounted 
 vpon a horfc : that is to fay by this fentence, Coeye cur fed into 
 ev.er lofting /zr*,pronounced by the mouth of the Son ofGod, 
 reprefented by Saint John as a Monarch triumphing in iudge- 
 ment ouer all his enemies. 
 
 Imightadde heere many odier qualities by which the 
 
 fonne of perdition is marked out in holy Scripture, and 
 
 alfo amplifiethofe which are recited. But I fuppoie 
 
 that the matters fore fpccifled, being out of all 
 
 controucrfic amongft fpirits not contend-. 
 
 ous,are fufRcient to make this beaft 
 
 to be kno wne to the craw, and 
 
 to lead vs by his footftcpg 
 
 vnto his den. 
 
 The 
 
10 
 
 The Application tf 
 
 About the 
 yeare.6of» 
 
 About the 
 ycare.io73« 
 
 The Second Treat ife. 
 
 The Application of the definition ofAnticbriJt to 
 the Pope of Rome. 
 
 His is a Maximc rcceyucd of all, that when 
 the definition and properties of any thing 
 belong to a Subie6t,then the name alfo^ and 
 all that is thereby fignified belongeth to the 
 fame Subiecl:. So that if. Wee make knowne 
 that all that which wee haue reported out of holy Scripture 
 concerning Antichrift, do properly and Angularly agree to 
 the Pope of Rome; no man can deny, but that he is proper- 
 ly diat Antichrift, whofe communion wee ought with all 
 our heart to dcteft, at leaft if we defire to be rcccyued into 
 the communion of Iefus Chrift. 
 
 But when we fay that the Pope is Antichrift, and that 
 Rome is his feate, we doe not meane that all thole that hauc 
 bene Bifhops of Home fincetheApoftlcs times haue bene 
 Antichrifts: wc would in no cafe wrong thofcholie Lights 
 which haue fliincd bright ink in the primitiuc Ages, when 
 this Church was fet forth vnto others, as a rare example of 
 holineflc and purity, in doctrine, and manners, and conftan- 
 cic of martyrdome : But this is it wee affirmc , that all the 
 Popes of Rome, fince the time that Antichrift hath beene re- 
 uealed, and begun his kingdome, are this very Antichrift of 
 whom we haue before difcourfed : And that Rome is the 
 feate of Antichrift, fince the time that it began to warre a- 
 gainft the Saints. And if any demand when that time was ; 
 we anfwer, that it was then when Pope Boniface the third 
 obtained of theEmperour Pbocas, a murderer of his Mai- 
 ftcr, the tide of vniucrfall Bifliop or head of all Churches . 
 But after a fingular manner,whcn the Popes to the end to c- 
 (tablifh their fpirituall tyranny, fcrucd their turnes more fu- 
 rioufly with the tcmporall fword againft Kings and Nati- 
 ons.^ 
 
the definition ofAntkhrift, 
 
 It 
 
 ons. As aboue all in the time of fyegorj the leucnth, before 
 fcna.wjz'i Htldebrand, who filled Chriitendome with mur- 
 ders, (editions, fac kings, and turboylcs by thofe bloudie 
 wanes ,whic h hce moued againft the Empcronr Henry the 
 fourth. For albeit that the myftery of iniquity begun to ad- 
 uance forward in the Apoftles time, whercor wehaue a no- 
 table figure in the Harlot le^ahel mentioned Ayoc. 2.neuer- 
 thelcffethe fimplicityofthe P^ftours of the Church, and of 
 the faithful! and their zcale, to prefer uc the Euangclicall pu- 
 rity,with held (as the Apoftie lpeaketh) this man of finnc, 
 from ipc wing out his poyfon openly :befides the puiffance of 
 the Romane Empire which was then in fulleft vigour, furrc- 
 rcd liim not to lift vp himfelfe in that arrogant powcr,which 
 hee hath phantafied to himfelfe iince that time. But when 
 this fimplicity Euangelicall began to decline, both in the 
 hearts of the Paftours, and in the Church in gencrall : and 
 on the other hdc,thc Romane Empire beganne to be weak- 
 ned by the inuafion of the Gotbes and other Nations, which 
 coaftcd vpon it on euery part ; then this fonne of perdition 
 began bylitle andlitic to cftablifh his power euen in the 
 fight, and vnder the nofe of the Empcrours : Li fuch fort 
 notw'ithttanding, that this was not done without opposition 
 and refiitsnee, and paiticularly in relpecl of the Bilhopof 
 C&nftantinople, who in the time of 'Gregory the firit, afTumed 
 to himfelfe die title of vniuerfail Patriarch, and a primacy 
 ouer all other Churches : which pra&ifc was afterwards de- 
 feated and ftifled by the Emperour Pbocat. But howfoeuer 
 the Popes for this effect andpurpofe often abufed the fpiri- 
 tuall fvvord,yct they tooke not vp the temporall fword vntill 
 Gregory the fcucnth, who (as an Author of diat time fpeak- 
 eth) was the fu ft that girt himielfe with a warlike fword a- 
 igainft the Emperour, and gaue thereof an dxampleto other 
 PopcSi So ;thaf we afirirme and auouchjthat fihee the time of 
 Gregory the firit, : the Pope is hee to *vho^ the defiruuen of 
 Antichrift agreeth : butw r hpfe^oitainion'and ^fue'I.ty hatri 
 bcenc moire .manifofted to the world,. Smc^Ck^oryxhc &i 
 ycHvh. And now behold ousreafoos, 
 
 v ' C* x.FirfH 
 
 1 ■ ■ « . * ■ - — 
 
 Apolog.ofthe 
 Ieague,pub- 
 lifht <enji9<r. 
 
12 
 
 The JpplicAticn of 
 
 The Pope ii a 
 fingular man, 
 
 That cal- 
 
 Ilethhimielfe 
 Chrifts vicar. 
 
 BtUefum 
 
 Rom*7»4» 
 i.Comi.i 
 
 1 . Fitft, hce is a mail that by a continued order and fuc- 
 ceffion,rcigneth ouer many people, oations,and languages. 
 
 2 . He vaunteth himfclic of the tide of a Chriflian, yea hec 
 caileth himfclfe the Vicar of Iefus Chrift : he reteyneth the 
 facrcd. Bible, andthofe that at this day (lew themfelues as 
 the principal! inftruments of his kingdome, ambitioufly take 
 to themfelues the title of the fociety of Iefus ; but in very 
 deed,he is wholly contrary to Chriit and his doctrine. To 
 Chrift : for he robbethhimof his principall Offices, as of the 
 head of the Church, the Prince of Paf tours, the Soueraigne 
 High-Preift: an office which cannot bee attributedto any, 
 faue to him that liucthforcuer, yet he arrogateth it to him- 
 
 I 1 felfe,not forbearing the very name of the husband and fpoufe 
 of the Church, though it be fo, that the names which are gi- 
 ucn vnto Chrift to fignify the (trait vnion & contundtion be- 
 twixt him and die Church, as thofe of the head and fpoufe 
 arc incommunicable.For what creature is therc,which with- 
 out blafphemy can afTume to it fclfc in refpecl of the Church 
 that which is the property of a head, to wit, to reigneouer 
 the body,to goucrne it, and to giue fenfe,motion,and life to 
 eucry member thereof ? If amongit men any man mould 
 name himfelfc the husband of a woman, whom hee knew to 
 be coupled to another husband by lawfull mariagc, fhculd 
 he not giue to the true husband of that woman natter ofica- 
 louiie,and iuft caufe to reuengc by all meanes fuch a lawlefie 
 attempt? And dare any mortallmanjnthis facrcd myftcry 
 of the conjunction of the hcauenly fpoufe Iefus Chrift with 
 his Church, open his mouth in blafphemy to parragon him- 
 fclfe with Chrift, in calling himfelfc with him the Churches 
 Spoufe, without confidcring that a crime ofthat nature muft 
 needs be abhominablc before God and the Saints ? Sure the 
 Apoftie would not haue vs ioyned to any other husband, 
 faoe to him who by his infinite loue gitfing himfelfc to death 
 for vs, k rifen againejto the end that wee might bcare fruite 
 vnto God, and for this caufe he thus fpeakcth to the Corin* 
 thUtu* Jam icalom of you vt'tth a godly ie*Uu/tt \frr I hane 
 apfrofrUtedjoa t$ ontontly hmbtwljhM I might frtfwt jo* 
 
 as 
 
the definition efj&ntichrtft 
 
 M 
 
 as a chaft virgin wto Chrifl. As for other Titles which are 
 referred to the Miniftcry, by the which Chnlt worketh ef- 
 fectually by his Miniftcrs, as are the titles of a Paftour,or 
 Doclor, they may well be communicated vr.to others : but 
 yet this cannot be either Soucraignely or Vniuerfally oucr 
 the Church. But as S. Cyprian hath well faid, It is but one 
 r Bijl?op ricks ^hereof a Portion is folidly tJJigKtd to every 7?i- 
 fhop. 
 
 As touching Doclrine,hec vtterly ouerturneth that; for 
 not to fpcake of thofe ancient Heretical Popes, Liber tus2>x\ 
 hxivm,Howriu4 a Monothelite, Anajlafim a Neftorian; or 
 of others that hauc erred in the principall Articles of Chrilti- 
 an Religion, as /ohm 2* thinking amiffe of the foules im- 
 mortality : the bare and oocly comparing of the doctrine of 
 Chriftandhis Apoftles,with that which is at this dayrecei- 
 ucd in the Papacy,fhall determine this matter. 
 
 For firft, as touching the Scripturc,Icfus Chrift decla- 
 rethjthat the Commandcmentof God is made of no efiecl by 
 the traditions of mcn,and that God abhorrcth that is offered 
 vnto him,yl/rfM 5. 6.7. ?.On the contrary,thePope tcachcth 
 that traditions ought to be embraced with equa 1 affection 
 of piety, as the word of God,andthe holy Scripture. 
 
 Saint Paul calleth the Co spell the power of Cod to all that 
 beleette, Rom. 1 1 6. and fayth, That the vthole Scripture is 
 di*tnely t*Jpired,and is profitable to teach^conmnce^correSi^and 
 inftruti according to righteoufnejfe i that the man of Cod may 
 be perfected and fully inftrutttd to entry good worke. 2 . Tim.$. 
 16.17. But the Pope teacheth, that the Scripture is imper- 
 fc&,ambiguous,a leaden rule, a nofc of waxc, obfeure, the 
 booke of Hercticks, the caufeof crrours: read the Treatise 
 of Cardinall /V<m touching Traditions, or of the vnfuffici- 
 ency of the Scripture: and Bellamnne De verbs Dei ; and 
 Cbarron tn his three verities, with others. 
 
 As concerning finne,the Scripture tcachcth vs that Origi- 
 nal! finne is a vicious habit, clcauingfo clofe to our Nature,, 
 that it cannot bee vtterly deftroyed, no notintheRegene- 
 
 1 rate, fo long as wee U uc in this world. From whence pro- 
 C S ceedeth 
 
 Cyprian depm* 
 pftc fr*Ut, 
 
 But cfefttfoieth 
 hisDo&rinc 
 
 CmcilTrid* 
 
*4 
 
 The Application of 
 
 Ccnc\LTrid. 
 
 Rom t 7»7 t 
 Deut.27 t 2(J, 
 
 cccdeth that complaint ofthe Apoftlc : That he was led cap- 
 tive to the law of finne which was in his members ; in iuch fort, 
 that he cricth out by way of complaint, O wretched man that 
 I '<tm } who /hall deltuer mee from the body of this dea\h}¥>wx. 
 the Pope tcacheth, that the guifts of Nature remained found 
 and entire in man after his fall,and that Originall finne is no- 
 thing but a priuation of that iufticc which ought to bee HI 
 Naturclnbreefc,mat this finne is wholly wafhed away by 
 Baptifme,in fuch fort that there remaineth not any thing in 
 the Regenerate which may properly be called finne, CW//. 
 Trid.Sef.^ and All the Scholafticall OoEhours. 
 
 The Apoftle affirmeth incxpreffe wordes, that concupis- 
 cence is finne, becaufe the Law fayth, Thou [halt not conet. 
 ThcLawI fay, that pronounccth cuery oncaccurfed, That 
 contimieth not in all things that arc written in it to doc them. 
 B ut the Pope denounccth Anathema to him that fhall call 
 Concupifcence properly finne in the Regenerate. Concil. 
 TridSejf^. 
 
 The Scripture faith abfoluteIy,TW the w.iges of finne is 
 death } Rom.6.il. and that he that failethinonc point ofthe 
 Law & guilty of % the whole Jam 2.10. But the Pope denieth 
 that death is the wages of all finne : but declarcth, that there 
 are veniall finncs afwell as mortall. 
 
 Touching Freewillrthe Scripture teachcth v$,Th.it ths ve- 
 ry wifedome ofthe fiefh is enmity againfl God, Ron?J$> .7. and, 
 That the NatttraR manferceiueth not the things that are ofthe 
 fpirit of God. 1 Or. 2.14. and, That all the imaginations of 
 mans heart^are nethingbut tuill continually .Gen.6.^, So that 
 in ourflcfb dwelleth no good. Rom*y. 1 8. But the Pope quite 
 contrary teachcth, that there remaineth in man after his fall 
 a nat iue faculty to cooperate with God by Freewill, for the 
 difpofing of himfefcto the great Iuftification. Concil. Trid. 
 Sejf. 6. and all their Dollours. 
 
 Touching Iuftification , wherein confiftcth the principal! ' 
 foundation of our faluation; there is no whit leffc repug- 
 nance : For firft, the Scripture maketh the efficient caufe of 
 our Iuftification and Saluation to be God alone, according 
 
 to 
 
the definition of Antichrifl. 
 
 «S 
 
 to the good plcafure of his Will, his Mercy, and Etcrnall 
 purpok in Iefus Chrift, 2 Tint. \ .g.Ephef.i 5 ,and 2.4,5. But 
 diredly contrary the Pope faith, that there that is in man a 
 certainc prcparadon vnto Iuftice,by the which hce difpofeth 
 himfclfc to his Iuftification by the'naturall ftrength of his 
 Freewill, fo that hce is able to merit of God,£.v congrao^ 
 congruity,as the}' ipcake. Secondiy,the Scripture propoun- 
 dcth vnto vs for the material! caufe and foundation of our 
 Iuftification,thc oncly obedience of our Lord Iefus Chrift, 
 fym.^. 1 6. and Chrift himfcife is called our RighteoufneiTc, 
 Ier.2 ; . 6. 1 Cor 1.30. and wc are faid to bee made the righte- 
 ouihelTc of God in him, 2 Cor. 5. 2 1 . But the Pope maketh 
 the materiall caufe of our Iuftification to be the foule of man 
 wherein rightcoufhefic is inhercnt,as in it proper fubiccl and 
 j feat, whereunto they rcferrc the difpofitions of Freewill; by 
 the which (they fay) a man doth acquire the guifc ofluftifica- 
 tion. Thirdly, the Scripture teacheth diat the formall caufe 
 of our Iuftification is the free imputation of die righteouf- 
 neiTe and fatisfadlion of Chrift, which wee apprehend by 
 Faith,and by that mean es are reconciled vnto God. Roth. 4. 
 24, 2 ?.& 5. 1 o.w hence it cemmeth, that the Scripture fo of- 
 ten affirmcth that wc arc iuftihed by Faith, Rom. 3.24.2 f .& 
 that not onely m refpect of the beginning of our Iuftification, 
 but alio of the confummation and rmifhing thercof,which is 
 ctcrnalllife and faluation. Rom. 1.16. 17. But the Pope in 
 oppofttion to the Spirit of God, denounccth Anathema a- 
 gainft whomfoeuer fhall fay, that wee arc iuftificd by Faith 
 a!one,or that wee are itiftiiicd or formally made iuft by the 
 Iuftice of Chrift, by which hec hath merited for vs. So 
 that hce placeththe formall caufe of cur Iuftification in an 
 inherent quality in our felucs,and in our owne Iuftice. 
 
 The Scripture teachcthjthat the faluation of allBelecuers 
 in our Lord lefas Chrift is ccrtaine and allured. £o/w.8. 37. 
 ^S.eucn to that,thathe which doubteth,can obtaine nothing 
 of God. /am. 1. 6. On the contrary, the Pope denounccth 
 Anathema againft him that fTiall fay,that wee ought to be- 
 leeuc without doubting that his finnes areforgiuen,andcal- 
 
 leth 
 
 ConeilJTrtd* 
 RtlJitiuBtf. 
 Bteljnfentent. 
 
 Cmd.Tt'td, 
 Beljelu/hf. 
 
 Ub 
 
 *-<*?% 
 
 Ccncd.Trid. 
 
 Ms.™*.* 
 
 1 (<? cap,?. 
 Bel.de lufitf. 
 
 GoncitTtid. 
 
16 
 
 The Application of 
 
 ConrfiTrid 
 
 Jef.S.rdf.ri, 
 
 CondlTrid 
 
 Eck*ns. 
 BJjiemomtcl 
 
 Cmfc\\ % pt % 
 
 lcthchis confidence of the rcmiffion of our fmncs vainc,and 
 farrc from piety. 
 
 The holy Scripture witne{Teth,thatiti$ imporTtble to ful- 
 fill the Law.,and confequently that we ought not to hope for 
 faluation,or righteoa{heffe,by the obedience which we ren- 
 der vnto the Law. k»m m Ki- Cj* f . i,i6.Att. r$,to. But 
 the Pope denounceth Anathema againft him, that fluU af- 
 firme that a man cannot perfectly keepc the Law of God. 
 Yea more, henotonely teacheththata man maypcrformc 
 theLaw,butalfodoefomething more then the Law rcqui- 
 reth. Whence fpring their workes of Supererogation, and 
 their treafurcs of Indulgences mentioned in the Councell of 
 Trent. And whereas they deny, that that great worke of 
 Supererogation ,which the Sonne of God added by his death 
 to the acliue obedience which hee rendred to G»d for vs to 
 the Law,is imputed vnto vs forrightcoufhefle : yet he darcth 
 notwithstanding affirmc,that the workes of Supererogation 
 of the Saints arc imputed vnto vs,byhis Iubilccs and indul- 
 gences randbythismcancs robbing Chriftof his Glory, he 
 giucthitto his Idols. 
 
 Saint P*»/placeth amongft the do&rines ofdeuils, the 
 prohibition of marriagc,and the commandement toabltaine 
 frommcatcs.i 7Vw.4, i ,2,-? .andcalleth the abftinence from 
 meates and the diftinciion of dayes, Shadows, Itydiments cf 
 be world,and Dottrines of men. CoU i ,i 6, 1 7, 20 ^ 2. In all 
 which things a power of meriting withGod,is placed by the 
 Pope. 
 
 The Scripture faith that marriage is Honourable amongft 
 all men, And the (fed vndefited, but that whoremongers and 
 adulterers God mlltudge. Heb. 1 ? ,4. But the doctrine of 
 •he Pope s,thatit is better for a Pricft to be a Whoremaftcr, 
 men to bee married. Yea,fomc of them is not afhamcdto 
 fay, that the vfc of married women ought to be common^ afrvell 
 (U of the ajre and of the Sunne* 
 
 In fummc,it would bee a fubic&ofno fmallTrcatifc, fuch 
 as we intend this fliallbe^ut of a great volume, to rehcarfe 
 at length al doflrincs of the Papacy ,touching Images,raincd- 
 
 Gods, 
 
L 
 
 the definitiofi\fAntichrift. 
 
 17 
 
 Gods, Indulgences, Purgatory, and a number fuch like 
 things, which arc directly contradictory to the word of 
 God. 
 
 5. Now if any defirc, to vnderftand how Sathan hadi be - He 
 ftirred himfclfe and wrought in the cftabiifriing of the Papail panied viltii 
 
 is acccm- 
 
 kingdomc, let him read that which is written by Cardinal! 
 5<rw^concerningthofe Popes which reigned after S theft er 
 the fecond : or if he vnl\ 3 Vlatina the Popes Secretary : and he 
 fhail foone fee how many Popes gauc thcmfelues to the dc- 
 uil^that they might obtaine this dignity of a worldly Prince; 
 that I may not Ruffe this Treatife with a recital of their w r rct- / 
 ched Hues. 
 
 4. That the Pope hath his featc at Rome, there is none 
 fb ignorant that knowcth not:for albeit it hath beene fome- 
 times traaffercd to another parkas to Amgnon: ncuertheleife 
 this happened but icldome,and that out of order. And that 
 Rome for the compafTe of many ages, doth in manners an- 
 fwere vnto that Babylon which is figured in the Apocalipfe. 
 I make all them Iudges, that haue either read the 
 
 the cfFcacy of 
 Sathan. 
 
 Hath his fa* 
 at Home, 
 
 writings 
 
 of Petrarch, and r Bocace y with the Satyrs of Arioslo and o- 
 thcrs^or haue with their ownc eyes beheld the debauchc- 
 ments, and delights of the Popes Court. WitneiTe he, who 
 fpeaking of Rome biddeth itadiew in this D if tick, 
 
 '2{oma vaU y vid/ 3 fatu eftvtiiJfe y reusrtAr y 
 Cum leva, meru tr:x fcHrr* y cynedw ero* 
 
 Rome farewell, I haue thee feenc ,& that's enough for me: 
 
 1 will returne,when bawd,whore,knauc,buggercr I meane 
 
 (to bee. 
 Yea not fo much as the Author of the gloffc vpenthe 
 Decrctalls but fpeaketh of it in as plaine sermes. Rome 
 (Jiythhc^fofiftdea by tbeeveffetainetbjet the fecdes of her be- 
 ginning. For it was called Roma^as if one (J?oH?d fay , Rodens 
 man t&s gnawing hands: whereupon he citedh this verfe which 
 out of Latine loofeth it grace. 
 
 Roma mar. us rodit y quosrodcrenon va'etjdit. 
 
 D 
 
 Rome 
 
 
i8 
 
 The Application $f 
 
 Hath both a 
 fpirituallanda 
 temporal po- 
 wer. 
 
 Extra de Ma- 
 urft cfod.c* 
 ynaSandam, 
 
 Gwejrorffi/}. 
 lib -7 ep.j. 
 
 ThomMregnt 
 Princip.('tb,f^ 
 cap so % 
 
 Bel.de Vont'tf, 
 lib.f,cap.6ft 
 7- 
 
 Anhrojx oraf. 
 cont'AHxcut. 
 
 Rome gn a we th handstand thofe file cannot gnaw 3 
 With hatred {"he puriics,and kecpes in aw, 
 
 5. The Pope challengeth to himfelfc a double power, 
 one Spirituall,another Temporal!; which to be fo, Pope r Bo- 
 niface iaboureth to prouc after a moft impudent manner. 
 In this Tower (faitii hce) thtre are two Swords, the Spiritual 
 and the Temporal!, which wee Are taught by the words of the 
 Goftell : for where the Ap^fllefaid, behold two Swords beere; 
 that is toftyjn the Church, oar Saufaur Chrift doth not an- 
 fwere them thus ,Thefe are too many t but,It is enough* And 
 cert aim ly he that denyeth the Tompsrallfword to bee in the po- 
 wer of S, Peter, doth not well confder the words* of our Saui- 
 our, when hee faith, Pat vf thy Sword into thy (heath. In 
 breefc, the Pope cloth Co openly lay chime to the Monarchy 
 of both powers, Spiritual!, and Temporally that the Author 
 oftheBookcs intituled, The gouemment of Princes, which 
 are amongft the Workcs of Thomas Aquinas, calleth the 
 Pope both King and Preift, As our Lord and SiHtour lefts 
 Chrifi. And Hellarmwe who in this point is fo modeft that 
 he minccth the Popes temporall Soueraignity to Indirectly: 
 yet affirmeth that hee hath power to change Kingdomcs, by 
 taking them from one, and giuing them to another. And 
 whereas the ancient Chriftians did not put in pfa&ife this 
 power,in defpofingTVcTt' and Dicclefian pcrfecutcrs, lulUn 
 the Apoftatc, Valens the Arrian, and fuch like, it was ( faith 
 hee) becaufe they had not in their hands fnffcient Temp or All 
 forces \ though they wanted not the right to doe it . Farre from 
 the modeft y of Gregory furnamed the Great, who fpeak'ng 
 o£zhc Luwfrards that were Arrian$h\&, If I that am their 
 (eruant would have inter med/ed with the death oftheLuta- 
 bardes, at this day the Nation of the Lumbardes, W had nei- 
 ther Rinvy nor Duke, nor Count : but becaufe I pare God, I 
 fenre affo to meddle with the death cfany man. And of 5. Am- 
 brofe, who in encounter to the barbarous Gothes faith : C#/> 
 tear es are my weapon sifuch are thede fences of P riffs ,othefwife 
 f way not, I cannot re ffi. In fine, as this Boniface the eight 
 
 was 
 
Ufimton if Ah ticbrifi 
 
 19 
 
 was not 
 
 panngo 
 
 words to authorize his vfurpation, To hee 
 was no leffe audacious, torcprefent the fane in ceremonies 
 and deed?. For it is rccorded,how in that great Iubile, which 
 he celebrated in the ye are ! $co. he fets fonh himfclfc the firlt 
 day in his Pontificallhabite, giuing his benediction to the 
 pie : and the next day,came forth adorned withacrowne, 
 and the Imperial! vcitiments, caufing a naked fword to bee 
 carried before him. Brecfly, to this vfurped power, apper- 
 tained* that pretended donation of (/onfianttne fo often 
 brought vpon the itage by the Popes : the which Laxrenti* 
 m V*t* a Senatour cfReme fo plainly conuinccth of falfity. 
 And an Italian Poet fendcth to the country of the Moone to- 
 gether with the almes which are made for the dead : and 
 RouUnds wit, anfwcrable to that Elogie which the Scribe 
 that wrote the originall copy now kept in the Vaticanc Li- 
 brary, in letters of gold, added thereunto in his barbarous 
 gibbridge. 
 
 QuArn fibuUm longi temforts tntedaciiifinxit, 
 Afab'.e which an old ttgedlje hath forged* 
 
 6* The Pope alfo fitted* in the Church : for he braggeth 
 of nothing more then of his feat and chaire : neither is his 
 mancr of gouernment defigned ordinarily by any other word 
 then by fitting : infomuch,that when they count theycares of 
 their Popes, they fay he fate fo long in the Apoftlcs feat. In 
 brecfc,?hcy fight and contend for nothing fo much as for the 
 pretended chaire orfeatc of Saint Peter, directly contrary to 
 the manner of {peaking vied in holy Scripture, whereby the 
 minifters andferuantsof God, yea the Angels themfclues, 
 are fayd fttrt, to (land,and wayte before God, as feruants 
 before their matter to reccitie his coinmandcments, and not 
 to be let as they raigned and commanded. Thus the Pope 
 fits in the Church,and that he fits as if hee were God,ap pea- 
 red* by his vfurpation of the name, the power,and workes of 
 God : from the name of God, which hefayth was giuen him 
 byC0w/rffff/fl*mcEraperour 5 hcc concludeththat he cannot 
 
 D2 be 
 
 LMirentVjU* 
 
 defa/focrrti- 
 ta et emtnutx 
 
 3+ 
 
 Carrie Ji hita- 
 felfc in the 
 Church as if 
 he were God. 
 
 fdtit. tutelar- 
 ttr* 
 
20 
 
 The Application of 
 
 D* Zteftjap. 
 
 {sxh. 
 
 Efay.^. 
 In proem 
 Clem. 
 
 Extr, tie fide 
 ytcante.C.Jt 
 frdtrum* 
 
 Deconceff. 
 frebCpTQ* 
 
 fofciftt. 
 
 G'of,faKfi»* 
 Exir.cvm in- 
 ter, D'ft.l J) < 
 
 C+RCMAHO* 
 
 dfilitade 
 tndtorit & 
 •bed. 
 
 be iudged by any power ; becaufe Ced cannot bee iudged by 
 men. And fo ?.lfo the gloffe fpeaketh, that the Pcpc u net 
 man, butcallethhini admirable y which is the title of the Son 
 of God .• The Pcpe,Papa (faith it):'s alltdadmitabie^from the 
 inter tell ion Pape, which fignificth admiration, and indeed bee 
 is admit able y for he h$ldeth the place of God vfoh earth which 
 made the EnglifJ? Poet in hi* latepoejle to fay y 
 
 • ~Ttt maxime rerum 
 
 Nee detu es.nec homo tfxafi neater es inter vtrumj^ 
 O thou that art thegreate/t of ail things create , 
 Art neither Cod norman y but twixt b:ihfituate. 
 
 As touching power, he himfelfe faycth : i That God hath 
 committed vnto him phe rights cf the heavenly and cwihly 
 Empire : In the Councell oi Later ^ne he fufrereth himfelfe 
 to be titled, the Lyov ofthctrtb; of India, the reote of'Dauid, 
 the Sauiour^e : and in the \6 ScfTion of that Councell,hec 
 permitted that fentence, which is proper to the Son of God, 
 to be attributed vnto him : All power is giuett vnto me, both 
 in heauen and in ear; h. The glofle faith/ hat he can make any 
 thing ofnothtKg : It callcth hxcn/Dominum deum noftrum pa- 
 p urn, our Lord God the Pope. Hec aiTumeth to himfelfe the 
 power to giue authority to the word of God : The §ldand 
 the new Teftamew(fakh he) ought ta bee receipted \not becaufe 
 they are in the volume vf C awnicallw it in gs ^ but becaufe the 
 holy Pope Innocent , feemeth to haue decreed that they fcould be 
 received . It is ftrange to fee what (port hce maketh w ith the 
 holy Scripture,for the eitablifhing of his earthly Soucraign- 
 ty. God (faith he) hat h made two great lights m the firma- 
 ment of hea^nj he greater to rule the d*y> andtheleffertorule 
 the night: both great, yet one greater then the other : Cjod 
 therefore for the firmament of heauenfhat is , for the vainer- 
 fall Church, bath made two great lights : that is to fay, hath 
 ardetyned two dignities y the authority P ont ific all : a%d the power 
 Roy all: (/fit that which beareth rule oner the day, that is tnfpiri- 
 j ftwfl things } v by farre the great eft : and that whichrvleth **w 
 
 car^ 
 
the definition tf Antichrifl 
 
 21 
 
 c Am all things, the lejfe : fnfomuch that we may acknowledge as 
 Mficb dfferencebe twixt Po^es and Kings, as there is betvt'-xt 
 theSttnne and the Moons : Where the glofle addeth,that ac- 
 cording to Ptolomy the Sun exceedeth the Moonc in great- 
 neiTe/euen thoufand feuen hundred forty foure times. So 
 that it is no wonder,if Pope Alexander durft let his foote vp- 
 on the Emperours neckc,lying proitrate en the ground, vt- 
 ♦tering withall this verfe of the 9 I . Pfilme, Thottjhalt walhe 
 vpon the Bajlliskand the ts4$e , and the Lyon and the Dragon 
 P?ah thon tread vpon; feeing he debafeth them fo low ynder 
 his HolinciTe.Thus we read in the booke of ceremonies,7~to 
 the Pope &n ths night cfChrtfls natimty, blsffeth a /word, and 
 then gifieth it to fome 'Prince, infigne of the hifntte porvtr gi- 
 uen to bimfelfit according to that fentence of the Gofpell, 
 A Up ower is giuen vnto mi both in hearten and earth, and hee 
 (ballreigne from fa to fea, and from the fiends to the worlds 
 end. Further, befides all this,the Pope by Canonization 
 maketh Saints at his plead re, as the Rcmane Senate vfed in 
 former times to make Gods. And that which is abone all, 
 albeit it be G^d onely that ihroneth and dethroned* Kings, 
 as affirmeth the Prophet Daniel, and reigneth oucr the king- 
 domes of men, and beftoweth them on whom he plealcth, 
 and that it belongeth to him onely to write with his finger, 
 Mene,Msne y Tekeiypharfn, as he that only doth calculate 
 kingdomes, and weigh them in the -balianee,and diipofe of 
 them : neuerthclefie, the Pope arrogateththis power and au- 
 thority to himfelie, to depofc Emperours and Kings, to 
 change Kingdomes and States, and to beflow them where 
 he lift : as is not onely apparant by the challenge made by 
 himfclfe in his decrees, but alfo by the manifold examples 
 recited by Cardinall ^Be^Urmine at large hereof. So that it is 
 moil probable that the Legate that came not long fincc into 
 France % to induce that forme of praclife into that kingdomc, 
 which was pracSlifcd vpon the kingdomc o$Nat(arre,\\'ZS af- 
 filed by him, and had taken place, ifGod(whoisthcpro- 
 te&our of Kings and kingdomes againtt all \niuft powers) 
 had not turned afide this blow by his niighty hand. No w we 
 
 D3 % 
 
 Li 5. /.Cere* 
 ,71- n. cnttf. 
 C 7 . 
 
 Dan.f,jf. 
 
 fieljefim. 
 
2i 
 
 The Applic&tton of 
 
 Workcth ly- 
 ing miracles* 
 
 Benm Cdrdin^ 
 in yita Htlde* 
 brands. 
 
 EetmfijM. 
 
 Ifa fin* m Vi- 
 ta Gtegcr,G. 
 
 fay further,diatthe Pope exercifeth his tyranny in the Church 
 of God:for albeit that the Papacy beneither the true Church, 
 nor a found member of the fame : ncuerthelcffc there was 
 once a true Church in that place where the Pope -hath now 
 eftablifhed his feate, and as yet to this day the name remai- 
 ncth,and certaine traces and footitepsthereof,afwellby the 
 Sacrament ofBaptifme,which God hath ftill preferued thcrc- 
 in,as by the holy Scriptures which are there rcceiued,and by 
 the pure do&rine of the Trinity ftill profeffed and maintained 
 by them, 
 
 7. Cone : rning miracles,we may find an infinite number 
 rcgiftredin the Hues of their Popes : but fuch I dare fay. that 
 a mail may eafily know in what fhop they were forged.Thus 
 wee read, that the Sepukher of Pope Siluefter the fecond 
 (who was promoted to the Popedome by diabolical Arts, 
 and dyed at the fame time that was defined vnto him by the 
 diuell) giueth certaine fignes of the death of other Popes, 
 either by a clattering of bones heard in the graue,or by fome 
 fweateandmoyfture which it cafteth forth. Gregory the 
 feuenth, formerly called Hildebrand, call the Sacrament of 
 the Lords body into the fire,that hee might hauc thereby 
 fome diuine anfwere or ngneagainit theEmperour#>;;77 
 the fourth. The fame Hildebrand (faith Cardinall Benno) 
 when ke lifted wottldfkakg hisftec*:es % And then out ctufi to if 
 fae $Ar\es of fire ; and by thcfc,and fuch like miracles, as by 
 certaine markes of his fan£Hty,abufed the eyes of the fimplc 
 people. And when as the diuell could not openly perfecute 
 Chrift by the Pagans, hee laboured fraudulently to fubuert 
 the name of Chrift by this falfc Monke,vnder the habitc and 
 appearance of Religion. Bennet the ninth, gluing himfclfc 
 to the facrificcs of diucls in woods and forrefis, made wo- 
 men to runne after him, and to bee inamorcd of him by his 
 Magi call Arts. Gregory the fixt,as Platina rcporteth, being 
 ficke of that ficknefle whereof hee dyed, called to him the 
 Cardinals,and reprcued them for that, in I know what enuy 
 they found fault with thofe things which hee had holily and 
 iu£tiydone;Andtothcend (faith he) that you may know 
 
 after 
 
the definition of Antichrijl. 
 
 n 
 
 after I am dead.whether I hanc done well or euill,fet my bo- 
 dy within a Church,thedoeies faftlockt,and ifthedoores 
 open of themfclues by the onely will of God,iudge me wor- 
 thy of Chriftian fepukurc;but if it happen other wiie^aft my 
 body where you will., as 6cing damned together with my 
 foule. Which requcft of his, the Cardinals obeying, the 
 Church doores opened of their ownc accord, with a great 
 wind, that ibdcniy arofe : and fo his body was buried within 
 the Church,not without great admiration & opinion of his 
 holinelfe. Ajad yet this Grtgvrj the fixt, was one of Hilde- 
 brands Mailers in the Art of Magick,as is recorded by Ben- 
 no. And it was he to whom 2?^^ the ninth had fold ihc 
 Papacy for ready money: which not w knit anding hee was 
 conitrainedtoquk and giuc oner by Henry the fourth .-as 
 alio two other like pernitious Monfters, Sennet the ninth, 
 and Sihtsfier the third. But what need I to heape vp toge- 
 ther a long Roll offuch particular miracles of Popes, feeing 
 all thofe which we flndein their golden Legcnds,the Chro- 
 nicles of S. Francis, md the liues of their Saints, were forged 
 by the idle lpirits oflazie Monkes,to no other end but to au- 
 thorize the Pope and his do&ine again!!: the diuine truth of 
 holy Scriptures. 
 
 8. The Idolatry of the Pope is no whit/lcfTe palpable then 
 his former qualities; for hee not onely cemmunicateth the 
 'woifhipofGodto the Saints, and in a fpeciall manner 
 to the blefled virgin Aaary y v*h.oin fometimes they make e- 
 quail to the Sonne of God,by exemption from all finne,and 
 anone life her vp aboue her Sonne, when they thus cry vnto 
 her : Shew thy fclfe a Mother , W by the right of motherhood 
 command the Redeemer. And when they exalt her euen to 
 the throne of the Diuine Maicfty, calling her the Que en e of 
 
 Is an Idolater. 
 
 Heaucn, the Qxcene of Angels, and fay / hat the Heastenjhe 
 Eartkythe Ayre^andthe Sea w or [hips her ^ and that her power 
 and her mercy are infinite. But that which is more abhomi- 
 nablc,he diuideththe honour of God,wkh deadbones,with 
 Reiicks, and Images; yea, and with men, whofe acle^ giuc 
 iuit caufe to prefume,that they arc rather tormented in hell, 
 
 then 
 
 ConcilXrid* 
 
 fiJT**fJec % 2. 
 
 S.etfeffj.c*?*. 
 
 MaritJpfaitcri 
 imp.dt parts, 
 an<iO~oi:jsl % 
 
 Ctnc'tC Trii. 
 
*4 
 
 The Affllic&ticn of 
 
 AthAn.Apotog 
 
 Zf'tphdu.hdtrefi 
 
 Bxron.tn mar. 
 tjr°log % BA~ 
 
 Ofcrim eoncde 
 gAnft-Ctthar. 
 Legeni % dnrea* 
 
 Cowi/.Trid. 
 
 then glorified in hcauen : or with Idols that neuer were, and 
 confequently are by their owne definition true andabfolute 
 Idols. For what iTiall we fay of S .George whom the Church 
 of Rome irmocateth and adore th amongft the holy Mar- 
 tyrs ? of whom notwithftandingS. Atbavajius witneffeth, 
 that he was a wicked man and an Arrian Heretick,who be- 
 ing fent for by the Emperour Conftantivs, by force of 
 armes feazed vpon the Bifhopricke of Alexandria : who af- 
 terwards being put to death by die Pagans in the time of /w- 
 l>4n the Apoftate^and his body burnt,and afhes fcattercd in 
 the winde^not for the confeflion of the name of Chrift, but 
 for the outrage and violence which he had committed hi his 
 charge, as, wvitcth Epipbaxiw; neuerthelefle was byfome 
 held for a Martyr, and the Hiftory of his Martyrdome com- 
 mitted to writing by his hcreticali followers, as both Pope 
 Gelafius, and after him r Baron'tm acknowledge : which laft 
 faith,that all the ftory of the a£lcs of this Gtwrge> was nothing 
 clfe but a Fable and inucntion of the Arrtans, And yet this 
 is that Geerge, the iron of w r hofe Lance is vaunted of to bee 
 kept amongft the adored Rclicks at Romc.What fhal wefay 
 alfo of their S. Katharine, fo famous amongft the Virgins of 
 the Romanc Kalendcr; fothat they place her next in ranke 
 to the Virgin Mary : whole legend notwithftanding, is no 
 better then a pure Fable ? For where did we cuer read of 
 a King Coftvu that raigned at Alexandria, whofe daughter 
 they make her to be,orofan Emperour Maxentius in that 
 Country, by whofe judgement they fay, fhee was put to 
 death? I know well that they thinke to efcape this blame of 
 Idohtric by anfwering,that they referue oncly vnto God the 
 Worftiip ofL ttrrapm affoord vnto Creatures that onely of 
 Dulia. But this is a vaine and dcceitfull ftartinghole: y .c r 
 they afcribe this worfhip of Latvia which is proper onc T y 
 vntoGod,nbt oncly to the Sacrament of the Encbarift; the 
 which in a more then Pagan fupcrftition they carry about in 
 their ProccfTions to be adored as God,and caufe it to march 
 before the Popc,as the Tcrfuns carried fire,which they held 
 for God, before their Kines:But alfo to thcCroffc of 
 
 " Chrift. 
 
the definition cfAntkhrift* 
 
 2S 
 
 Chrifr,and this Image thereof, whether in VVcod,orin Stone, 
 or in any other matter : DirelUng their jpeecb and prayer vr.- 
 to t: m to himfelfe that kvoj.zs fayth their Thomas : according 
 as m?.y be heard and fecne in that Hymnc which they vfual- 
 ly fing vnto it : cmv i auefyes vmca y hocpajfionii tempore, 
 angepijs inftitiamfeifcp dona. v:tii,im* 
 
 All hayle,0 crofTe,our only hope in this our time of pafTion, 
 Encreafc good men with righteou{hes,toflnners grant re- 
 
 (miflion. 
 
 This is as the Idolaters perfens rcproued by the Prophet 
 /eremy vfcdto doc; To fay to a ^eeceoftvoodfThoa art my Fa- 
 ther and to aftoncJThoH haft begotten me. 
 
 9. The ambition of the Pope maketh it felfe fuffieiently 
 knowneby the exccfljue honours which heerequireth of 
 Emperours and Kings : if wee will belccue the Canon Cor- 
 ftantvnu. The great Empcrour Conftantme holding the 
 bridle of Pope Stlnefters Horfc, ferued him as his Lackey or 
 Footboy. PUt'wa writeth, that Pepin one of the Kings of 
 France hailing killed the feet of Pope Steuen the fecond,per- 
 formed the fame office vnto him, which Conftaniinehid. done 
 before to Silxefter.In the bookeofthe Papall Ceremonies it 
 1 o.dayned, that all men of what degree or dignity foeuer, 
 when they come before the prefence of the Pope, doe three 
 times bend their knees before him,with diftance of place ob- 
 lerucd for each curtefic, and kirfc his fcete; and that Kings 
 and Emperours hold his ftirrop, when he either mounteth or 
 lightcth from his-horfe,& lead his Horfe by the bridle. And 
 if he muft ieauc his Horfe, then that the Princes and Empe- 
 rours carry him on their fhoulders; and that they hold the 
 Bafon when hec wafheth before meate, and bring in the 
 fiift Mefle to his Table. I n brecfe, he fheweth no reuerence 
 to any of what quality or dignity foeuer he be : onely hec 
 lifteth himfelfe vp a little to kirTe theEmperour. So great 
 ishispiide,that when the Empcrour Fredericks prefented 
 -himfelfe to hold the ftirrop of Pope Adrian the fourth^and' 
 miftaking his onicc, held one for another; the Pope was io 
 
 E incenfecj 
 
 Thomjjn.p. 
 et C diet, 1 1, id. 
 
 rer.2.27. 
 
 He is ambitL. 
 
 OUf. 
 
 Dft.tf.C. 
 Conftantinui, 
 
 TUt'min Viu 
 Stepha/g.2. 
 
 Cere men. Pen, 
 
 tjficJti.j, 
 
1— 
 
 The Application of 
 
 Seethe Fele- 
 fiafKHiflrory 
 ofNich.Vjg- 
 nie*« 
 
 . incenfed hercat, that this fault was like to haue coft the Em- 
 perour full deere ; although hec excufed his errour by this, 
 that hcevvas not as yet fo well expert in that fcruice, as in 
 time he might be. A title of this high ambition is to be feene 
 in that picture which Pope Innocent the fecond caufed to be 
 fetvpin the Temple of Later we, which reprefentcd the 
 Pope fitting in his Pontificall Cfaaire, and the Emperour Lc- 
 tharim kneeling at his fectc, and receiuing from him the 
 Empetiall Go wne,with thefe two Latin verics. 
 
 Rex vcmt ante fores juratts frih vrbis honey vx, 
 Toft homo fit Pap&JUmit quo dante coronam* 
 
 But his ambition will more clearly appcare, by the core- 
 monies which are obferued at the Coronation ofEmperours, 
 as they are recorded by an Author that liued about the ycare 
 1 3 oo. The manner (faith he) how Emperours were confe- 
 crated and crowned, was this : The Pope hauing taken an 
 oath of the Emperour that was to be, vpon the flaircs of the 
 porch of Saint 'Peters Church, that hee will faithfully defend 
 the Church,and that which bclongcth to it, maintaine right 
 Iulticc,and fully and intircly rcftorc all the pofltfficns of S. 
 Peters patrimony, and the Church of l{ome y it any thing bee 
 taken from it. Then the Emperour and the Einprefib, are 
 conducted by the Pope into the Church, wheie during the 
 Ma{fe,which is celebrated with great iblemnity,thcPope an- 
 noyntethfirft theEmperour,and then thcEmpreiTe,with the 
 accuftomed formall words. Then fitting in his Pontifical! 
 Chaire,hcc hold cth the Cro wne betwixt hisfeete, which the 
 Emperour and the Emprcfle bowing downc their heads, lift 
 from his fecte : and prcfently the Pope ft rikingthe crowne 
 with his fcotc, cafts it on the ground, off from the Empe- 
 rours head ; in fignc that hee hath power to depofc them a- 
 gaine if their merits require. And then (in like manner) the 
 Cardinals that ftand round about,takc the Crowncand fetit 
 with great reuerence vpon their heads. But how fhould a 
 man better rep refent their ambition, then by the words of 
 
 their 
 
the definition ofAntkbrifi. 
 
 *7 
 
 their ownc flatterers? Thcfebce thefpeeches of aBifhop, a 
 chicfc officer to Pope -Paul the fecond. what fhou'd wee 
 thinke (faith he) of this Softer argue 'Bi&op, that poffeffeth the 
 place of the true Cjod on earth y who is lifted vp to the fulnejfe of 
 power ,t $ the throne Apiftol;ck„ to the top of all honours ? From 
 whsm as from their fountains iffue all rtuers, as branches from 
 a trce;rrhs is not ontly ejlab!;fhed for humane Princ;p*lity,but 
 a'fo for Dttitre: not onely for csmmandouer mort all creature y, 
 and men \ but <i/f> otter the Angels : not onely to tv.dge the It- 
 Uifsg Jbut a' o the dead : not onely in earth , but alfo in heaven \ 
 not onely to rale otter Chilians fiat alfo Infidels. And to make 
 (bort ; who u ordained and eleuatedby the Soueraigne Ged y in 
 hit p f ace 9 to the fame Dignity, IurifdiElion i ZJniuer fall power, 
 and Softer aigne prir.cpality, otter all the whole world : of whom 
 it is written in lob, that before him tremble thofe that beare vp 
 the world, and that the Kings of the earth, andthe Tyrants 
 thereof are no better then a IciHghingftcckjn his pre fence : and 
 that he imbaceth all po*er t and as the Scripture jpeaketh } Hee U 
 ahm and there is no fecond. Andagaineofhim it is written, 
 Thou art ahve end there is notte with thee: and againe, Mighty 
 abotie all the might tes of the vtorld : to whom (as witneffeth the 
 Profh?t)appcrtaineth Iufttce. P ewer, and Empire : and whom 
 Dduid figntfied i when heefaid, To him is giuen power, and the 
 kingdome, and all people and ton cues (hall ferue him. Thus 
 this mail enhancing the Popes dignitie by one degree after 
 anothcr,at lait ipioucthby Farra^icero, AriftotleJS.Dioni- 
 fus y and S . Jerome \tha t all order of things would per i(l>, if there 
 were not fuch a (meraigne High*Prteft, whom hee not onely 
 preferred! before ftaminering <JMofes (fo impudently hee 
 termeth him) an d before Aaron, but before Icfus thrift 
 himfclfe, whom hee robbethof this prerogatiue^to offer vp 
 himfelfe in facrifice for our finnes, and attnbuteth it to his 
 Papalllcioll. 
 
 i o. Concerning his Cruelty .Who can recount without 
 horrour } thc fauage cruelty which Pcpes haueexercifed one 
 towards another > Pope Stephen the fixt, in a more then 
 Neronian fury^hauing caufed the body of Pope ley mefm to 
 
 E * bee 
 
 n.crent ep.fccj.. 
 • 4tft tLnxt 
 Refer en .pt. 
 
 PaJ-i-inCve- 
 
 culy>it.humjm. 
 
 L.2.C.J* 
 
 U full of cru- 
 elty. 
 
28 
 
 The Jpplk.it ion of 
 
 V'attn* tn *b/- 
 
 jd.it* Vf td 
 Sergi-s> 
 
 Benno tn Wd 
 Gregory* 
 
 SerSlxQjjitJt- 
 Je Henrirtj. 
 wcrte, habit. 
 j j Sept. an. 
 is89.inAnti~ 
 (ixto. 
 
 bee drawne out of it's Sepulchcr,and to bee dcueftcd of the 
 Pontificali oinamcnts,commanded it to be burned a<riongft 
 the Laicks, hauing firft caufed die two fingers of the right 
 hand to bee cut off, which are vfed principally in the conic- 
 crating of Priefts, that they might bee throwne into Tiber.' 
 Bnt Pope Sergitu the third, deiirous to carry the prize of 1 
 cruelty in this very fubieS, caufed the fame body oilormo* 
 fwyto bee drawne againe out of it's graue,eight yeares after 
 his death : and cutting off his head,as if hee had bene aliue, 
 commanded his body to be caft into Tiber, as vnworthy of 
 buriall. Six Popes died of poyfon within the fpace ot i -\ . 
 yeares,by the practice of Htldebrand, afterwards Pope, by 
 the name of Gregory the feucnth : So that vntill he himfelfe 
 was aduanced to the Popedome,all in a ranke were poyfo- 
 ned, by his familiar friend ^Braz.ut w,as faith Benno. This is 
 
 I" the fame Htldcbrandjkux would haue murdered the Empc- 
 rour Henry the fourth, in S. Maries Church in Mount A- 
 Hentine, if God had not defeated the blow by the death of j 
 him, whom hee vfed as the inftrumentof his villany. By 
 whofe example Pope Sixttts Quint tu learned in our time to 
 plead infauour &commendation of the AiTafinatcs of Kings, 
 as is manifeft by mat Oration which he made in theConfi- 
 ftory of Cardinals,in praife of lames Clement the murderer 
 of Henry the third King of France : whofe a£t,with a mouth 
 full of blafphcmies,hc darcth compare with the worke of our 
 Redemption. It is not vnknownc alfo,ho w poore Celeftine 
 was handled by Boniface the eight, when by his cunning 
 practice he was depofedfrom his Papacy. In briefe,there 
 would be no end, if I fhould f et forth all the murders, affa- 
 
 I fines, and bloody warres, caufed and raifedvpbyPapali 
 Schifmes. And what forts of cruelties(I pray you)hauc they 
 not made knowne to the world, then when they banded 
 themfelues againft the Emperours,cithcr for the defence, or 
 encreafe of their Tyrannicall power ? What mifchiefes haue 
 they not procured, when they armed the Weft againft the 
 Eaft,vnder pretence of recouering the Holy-Land ? What 
 butcheries did they execute vpon thofe who were called 
 
 WaUenfes, 
 
the definition ofAntichr'tflr, 
 
 *9 
 
 IffMldcnpsJoy their Croyfadocs ? And if wc will draw ncerer 
 to our ownc times, hauc wee not feene all thcRiuers of this 
 Kingdome, itayned with the bfood'ofthofe that made pro- 
 fcffion of the truth of the Gofpcll, fhed by the inftigation 
 and folicitation of the Popes ? Principally fince the fending 
 of that braue fword by Pope /^tf/thefourtr^to King Henry 
 the fecond, which was as it were an ominous prefage of the 
 fury of Gods wrath which he meant to powre down,afwelI 
 vpon the King and his Linage, as vpon the whole King- 
 dome. As in very decd^fince that time, there hath nothing 
 bene fecne ontmi eries,calamitics,ciuil andforreyne warrs, 
 famines 3 maladies,and other fcourges of Gods diuine Iuftice, 
 that hauc followed and doc ltill follow, one in the nccke of 
 another cucry day. If any fay,that all Popes hauc not bene 
 thus tranfported withcriiclty,blood,and butcheryjl confefle 
 afmuch : Butyet,as he is no Icffe crucll that poyfoneth with 
 Sugar 3 thcn he that poyfoneth with Gall : fo neither are they 
 Ieflecrueli that hale poore foules to etcmall perdition by a 
 counterfeit flic w of fweetneffe, then they that throw them 
 headlong thereinto by force and violence. Yea, rather they 
 are more dangerous,that comming in {Keeps clothing, infi- 
 nuate thcmfelues more cafily into mens mindes, then they 
 that openly fhewing themfelucs to bee wolues,make men 
 fufpitious of them by their behauiours. 
 
 1 1. The examples of the impurities of Popes, are re- 
 giftrcd by all thofe that haue written their liues & gcfts.lt is 
 not vnknowne,how they permit publick whorcdome, and 
 draw at Rome a great reuenue from the Stewes. Whatneede 
 we to fpeake of this,when as that igfamous kind of impurity 
 which is againft nature,and inceftuouscopulations,ceafc not 
 to reigne and rage amongft them ? Nicholas of 'Bebrnch 
 borne in the Citty of Erpbord, hath certified the world by 
 publick writing, that being at Romt in the time of Pope 
 Martine the fourth, (whom the Popes flatterers not with- 
 ftanding number amongli the moft holy of the ranke) hee 
 was folicited by hin, to yeeld himfelfe to feme him as his 
 Cjanhnede in his plcafurcs. lohn the 1 3 was depoied from 
 
 E; his 
 
 Ari'iss** 
 
 Full of inpu- 
 rity. 
 
 tmtptandm. 
 
 PlaunA. 
 
3° 
 
 The Application of 
 
 Gmcc'urdtne, 
 
 Mathew Pa- 
 risjof Inno- 
 cent the fourth 
 
 ReueaJed in 
 thefe loft 
 times. 
 
 L'lbM Vnifat. 
 ecctefi confer** 
 
 Ptt.4e yineit 
 
 bis Papacy by aSynodeof Biftiops a(Tcmbled by the autho- 
 rity ofthe Lmperour Otho, for being a murderer, a Church- 
 robber, aperiured, and inceftnous perfon ,and guilty of 
 Whorcdome,ldoIatrie,and Inuocation ofdiuels. And in the 
 end this monfter(fo Platina calleth him) being furprized in 
 thea£t of Adultery, was killed by the womans husband 
 whoinheeabufed. Pope ^Alexander the fixt, abufedhis 
 owne daughter LucretU, and had concurring with him in 
 this incert,his two formes: It was this Luc*eee vpon whofe^ 
 Tombe a certainc Poet writ this notorious Epitaph, 
 
 Ccnditur hoc tumulo Lucretia nomine, fed re 
 Thais \Alexandri [ilia fyoxfajiurtis. 
 
 In fumme,that I may not heap vp together too many of 
 their Villanies, that which was fpoken of one ofthe Popes, 
 agreeth to the molt of them. 
 
 Eitts auaritia. tottu nonfuffcit or bis : 
 Bins luxurt& meretrix non (ufficit omnis. 
 
 17. Now, after that many Kings and Princes had com- 
 plained of theexcefliuetyranny/uiiatiable auarice,and dam- 
 nable debauchments of Popes, as He my the fourth, that rc- 
 proched Gregory the fcuenth, To teach without the c Dolbrtne 
 ofChri/l y <tndtoJpeak? without the truth ofChrift: avdas An- 
 tichrifl to be exalted in his owne heart, and to fay , / am God, 
 and amfst in the chair e of God, to be a murderer ofbod-es and 
 foules : AndtheEmperouf Frederick thefecond, who in one 
 of his Epiftlcs directed to all the Prelates of Chjiltendome, 
 calleth Gregsry the ninth, the Father of difcordmtd defo/ati- 
 onjhe great Dragon that fe due eth the world ,A*tichrift y afe- 
 CondBaUam,*he Angellrifingout of the bottomleffepit, ha- 
 my)<i vtols ft 11 cf bitterneffe* to hurt the Sea and the earth : 
 -Snd that the Waldenfes had fcattercd the true religion, in 
 France, Germany Italy y and other places : teaching among ft 
 other points,dmt the Church oSRome, was the whore ofthe 
 
 Apocaljpfe, 
 
the definition of Antichrift. 
 
 31 
 
 Aptctlypfe, U aty Ion mothcv of fornications, and that the 
 Pope was the head ofthefc crrours: And after that,alio many 
 good men, tco much affected to the crrours of their tiir.es, 
 and da2led with the brightneffe of the Papacy, were not- 
 withstanding confhayncd to cry out againft the Court of 
 Rome ,2nd to paint forth in liuely colours the abhominations 
 thereof: as S . Tcrnard, Peter Beifenfis Archbifhopof^f^w, 
 the pafTigcs of which Authors, are elfe where tobeefecne 
 at large ; A nd Artu/pbtu ArcLbifhop of Lyons, who for this 
 caufe was put to death atfyw* vnder Pope Honcriusthc 
 fecend: Ifay,after all thefe, mo.ny there arofe that paifcda 
 great dealc further ; for Michael Cefcnat generall Priour of 
 the G ray-Friers,in the tin.e oflohn the 2 1 . or 2 2 . wrote di- 
 rectly againft: the Pope, irnd called him A ntichrift, and the 
 Church of Rome, with her Prelates, the whore of Babylon 
 made drunke with the blood of the Saints; faid that there 
 were two Churches,one of the wicked which is flourifliing, 
 where the Pope reigneth ; the other affli6ted,which is ofthc 
 faithfull. A bout this timc,orlitleafter,liuedthe renowned 
 Italtan Poet Dante, who in his 19 .Sonnet of Kell, faith 
 ({peaking of Pope, Nicholas the third) that it w r as hee, of 
 whom the Euangilift S, John intendeth to ipeake,vnder the 
 name of the Whore which fitteth vpon many waters, with 
 whom the Kings of the earth committed fornication. The 
 fame Poet in his fi>:t Sonnet of Purgatory ,makcth this com- 
 print, That Rome had once the ftiining torch of two Suns, 
 which made the moit ignorant better to vndcrjftand,both the 
 things of this world,and ofGod : But that now the one hath 
 banjfhcd the other, the 1 word being ioyned to the Paftorall 
 ftaffe,fo that they cannot well goetcgether,the one not (lan- 
 ding in awe of the other. I f any beleeue not this (faith he) 
 let him iudgc the tree by the fruite,and he will confcfTe,that 
 flncc the Church of Rcme confounded in her felfethe two 
 powers, {he is grownc to all wickedneffc, and deftroyeth 
 with hcifelfe the Commcnwealth of Christians. A bout the 
 yeare 1 3 $ 1, Mathetv Pari,* borne in Bohemia, compofeda 
 large Volume concerning Antichrilr, wherein he labourcth 
 
 to 
 
 Ex.Rclat fa- 
 tcbldcRibe- 
 
 ria % 
 
 Berndrdpr. 
 } .in Cant. 
 
 Pet.BelfeHf. 
 
 Plst'tnatnyi- 
 ta Honor. 2. 
 
 VtieTdcoh.de 
 
 aauent. Ant'l- 
 chrijH'/jzi. 
 
3* 
 
 The application of 
 
 Aeneas SilVws 
 Hift-jr* Bohem* 
 
 to proue, that he was already in the workl,and that the Pope 
 was he : adding amongft other reafons this one, becaufe ac- 
 cording to his ordinances, men worfhipped the Saints as Sa- 
 uiours,and their Images andrelickes in fteadoflefus Chriit. 
 A Chanonof the Citty otPragc in Bohemi a ,cz\ied Militjins , 
 a Doctor of Theologic^preached in the time of Pope Gregory 
 the eleuenth, that Antichrift was alrea iy in the world, and 
 that he reigned yifibly in the perfon of the Pope,Cardinals, 
 Bifhops,Monkes, and other Ecclefiafticall peribns,who not 
 teaching the trutn,by their ambition an d negligence, made 
 the Church dcfolate,filling it with temporal! riches, and dc- 
 fpoyling it offpirituall. Infomuch, as hauing gained to him- 
 fclfe many Auditors andDifciples,the bruitc hereof came to 
 the earcsofPope tfr^r^whoexcomunicatedhim. About 
 this vevy time JVicleffe began in England to preach the pure 
 doctrine oftheGofpell, againfl: the traditions of the Church 
 olRome t not fparing it in his writings any more then the reft 
 | had done. This man was followed by many others, as by 
 name, by Iohn Vowney an Englifhm an,\vho writ a Com- 
 mentary vpon the Apocalipfc,where he calleth Rome the di- 
 uelsBiothel-houfe,6c the Church otRome the Whore of Ba- 
 bylon* Then came lohn FJuJJe after the yeare 14C0. who 
 greatly promoted this doclrine, and loft his life together 
 with Urome oiPrAge for the confefTion thereof,atthe Coun- 
 cill of Cotjfitnce. This was about that time when Pope 
 lohn 23. hauing cauled the Croyfado to bee pubLfhed for 
 the maintenance of warre intended againlt Ladifldm King of I 
 NAfles : when it came to be divulged at Prage, ccrtaineof 
 the people cryed out with a loud voyce, that the Pope was 
 A ntichrift, who ordained a Croy fa doe againft Chr iftians : 
 which pcrfons were. pre fently clapt vp in prifon,but the peo- 
 ple arifing in Armes^emanded them to be deliuered and fet 
 free, and when they were appealed by the Councill, with 
 promifeof afTurancc of their liues, andfo returning to their 
 houfes, the prifoners were fecretly put to death. But their 
 death was diicouercd by the blood that ramie vnder the pri- 
 fon doore : whereupon, the people running againe together, 
 
 tookc 
 
the definition ef Ant-ichrijl . 
 
 33 
 
 tooke away their bodies by violence^and wrapping them in 
 linncn clothes ,carriecl them through all the Gburcnes in the 
 Cttty^aying : Thefe are the Saints that ham delivered their 
 bodies to deal h fir the tefiament of Cod, Aifo about this time 
 Manfredc oiVerfelU** Iacobin preached publickly, that 
 A michrift was in the world. Hereof lames olMifny wrote 
 abookc, as did alio Thcdoric^ Vrizs m Aaguftiue Frier. 
 Peter CUrke anEnglilriman maintained publickly the fame 
 doctrine, for which caufc be ing chafed out of England \ he 
 retired into Eohemia, where he compofed a booke again/t 
 the Synagogue of Antichrift., and in the end was burned for 
 the fame , An, T 4 3 3 . Yea cuen diueifc of thofe that firme- 
 ly adhered to the Church of Rome, yet in thofe times were 
 coritrayncd to reproue an infinite number of crrours and a- 
 bufes that raged in tha- Church : as Peter of Allj y ov of uitti* 
 aco 3 Cardinal] of Cambray : Cjerfon y Clcmavgi<s •, and others 
 that iiued about that A ge : Infomuch as the forcfiid Cleman • 
 git is bold thus to fpeake vnto her : What thinheft thou of the 
 Prophecy which is in the Apocalyps ? dofl thou not beleeue at 
 leafl that it is directed again fi thee tn fame part ? Thou hafl 
 not (0 kfi thj (hame together with thy vndcrftandingfhfit thon 
 wilt deny tt : Regard it thetefgre, and read the damna- 
 tion of the great Whore that fitteth vpon many waters : and 
 therein behold thy goodly deeds. And a litlc after : // is long 
 Jince thy monflropu pride. not being able to vphold it felfe Jbegan 
 to fall, though /lowly ahd by little and little : and hath not thy 
 mine bceneperceixedbj many ? 'But at this day it tumbleth 
 headlong to deflrnllion^ like afaift torrent towards the Sea, 
 Laureutitu Valla a Romanc,, declaimeth in his time moft bit- 
 terly againft the Pope after this manner : That heeprattifed 
 in the commonwealth not only that which Verves & Cateli-ie y or 
 any other notorious theefe d'irft not : but alfo made trafficke of 
 things Ecclepafticall t cr oft he holy Spirit: fuch as Simon Afal 
 gus would haue detc fled About the y care 14 40. Roger Outer 
 Prieft was ftrangled with certaine others irj the prifons of 
 London, and the DutchcfTe of Gloceftcr bani&cd fc 
 do6kirieof/fy^. AProuinciall Frier of the order of the 
 
 F Men- 
 
 HiJlcr.Ecclef, 
 
 NichclVtr m 
 
 Vjfc'ictitrerum 
 
 ex.ttcntUruzn. 
 
 Clcmjng4r4& 
 de nun* ct rt- 
 pat .ecclef 
 
 Lturent.Vdltj. 
 decUr. de 
 em-ntiuCon- 
 ft*nrin'ldc&t- I 
 
 tone. 
 
 BaUsuCcn* 
 
 fv ies, 
 
34 
 
 The Application of 
 
 tJicho'Ae C*- 
 
 SaUus.ttfi*- 
 
 exdiaion*" ' 
 
 tkeolfgtco 
 
 Tho.Gdcdig' 
 
 nij.&'exLs* 
 
 Undo* 
 
 \ CMendicants preached in the yeare, 1454. that the Church 
 of Rome was that Whore mentioned in the Apocdjps. Rey- 
 nold Peacockjtiihop of Chicheftcrm England, defended 
 both by word and writing the doctrine oilViclefe^nd for 
 the fame by the reft of the Bifhops, declared anHcrcticke. 
 HaptiftaMantHMJn the yeare 1464. wrote his Eclogues, 
 wherein he painteth out in molt iiuely and elega nt c olours, 
 the corruptions of the Pope,Prelates,and Court of Rome : 
 as may witneite thefe verfes amongft many other. 
 
 -Petrt% domus polhta fluent e , 
 M*c tefcit lux a (hhIIa hie Arc Ana rcttelo y 
 Nov ignota loquorjiceat vulgata referre : 
 Sic vrbespopnliep ferunt^eafAmapef cmnem 
 1 Am vet m Eur op Am) mores extir pat koneftos: 
 SAnttus Ager (curris jvenerAbilis at a cjxxdis 
 SerHit}jonorAnd<x. diu&m GAnimedibm xde ; 
 jQuid miramur opes recidmafyfurgere tell a ? 
 Thuris odroAti globulos y et cinnama vendit 
 Mollis Arabs ^Tir if vefies : venalta nobis 
 TempUyptcerdotes taltAri , facrA>corona, 
 Ignis jbura precesxcslum efi venAle/Peufifc. 
 In Englifh thus. 
 
 Saint Peters houfe defiled with filthy luft 
 (I fpeake not fecret,nor things vnknowne tell, 
 Butfuch as Eur opes people needs know nwft) 
 Doth languish forc,and Vertues all expell : 
 The facrcd field with Ruffians is replete, 
 And holy Altars are with knaues befet : 
 The Temples to the holy Saints deuoted, 
 Doe fcrue as Stewcsfor vnclcane GAnimedes, 
 Yet rich they arc : no wonder to be noted , 
 For Arabsdruggs,andTyrus (likes out-fpreads, 
 By fale whereof they purchafe riches ftorc, 
 But Romifh wares are farre in number more. 
 Hccre Temple, A ltars,Priefts,are to be fold, 
 With Incenfc,Prayers,Hcauen,andGod,for gold. 
 
 In 
 
the definition ofAnticbriJl. 
 
 35 
 
 Intheyeare, 1498. leromeSattanarola a Iacobin at Flo- 
 rcncc,was burned by the iblicitation of Pope Alexander 
 thefixt, for calling the Pope Antichrift, and condemning 
 his excommunication . Vpon the Iubilcc of which Pope, 
 which tell on the yeare 1 50c. were made thefc veifes. 
 
 'Tc 'licit m czlumfarnMPU st a/ira facer dos, 
 Verfcdiu et cades ,s.d Stigiapundttittr. 
 The Romane Pric(t,ofhcaucn that promifc made 
 To others :is himfeife to hell conuaydc. 
 
 ~V\\QtValder,[?s y though they were perfecutedon eucry 
 fi Je,yct by th ir publicke writings, and particularly by tliat 
 -ifion of their Faith which they prefented vnto Princes, 
 the forme whereof we haue in that which they addreiTed irn- 
 to VUd> (law King of Bohemia, An. 1508. declared what 
 iuft caufc they had tofeparate from the Church of Rome : 
 and how farre they were from thofe errours,which their ad- 
 uerfarics wrongfully charged them withall. 
 
 So that King Lewis the twelfth, vndcrftanding by report 
 the demeanours of thofc of Merindoll and L ibrters, againft 
 whom ccrtainc Cardinals and Prelates defired to incite him : 
 fwore that they were more honeft then himfeife, or the reft 
 of his people. And prefently after, the King by the confent 
 of the Prelates ofhis Realme caufed a Councell at Lions to 
 be called againft Pope /*/*/, and money to bee ftamped, 
 •which fhould bee currant through the whole kingdom?, 
 bearing this infeription on the one fide,L«^. D. G. T{ex 
 FrAnco.Dnx A/edioU»i:2ndon the other (id? fercUm Balj~ 
 lortem : that'll, Lewis the tweffibfy the grace ofCjcd^King of 
 Franc efDuke of MdUiKe. IwiKdefiroj'Babylor:. At the lad, 
 in the yearc 1/17. vnder Pope Leo the tenth, followed the 
 preaching of fndulgcnces, for full remifTionof hm:es,and 
 deliuerance out of Purgatory, and obtaining of c'lekir^domc 
 ofheauen, by alkhofe that mould giuea ccrtaine fumme 
 of money forthc purchafeof me faid Indulgences, ha. 
 crimes foeuer they had committed. Wnich gaue occafi Jti to 
 
 F 2 Mwtm 
 
 Chdrktde 
 
 McuUnJihde 
 
 Franc, 
 
 JmoulpJt fit- 
 rorf.in (enii- 
 r.ttat Pduf K 
 
 NtcUrStpKt 
 
3* 
 
 he Application ef^c, 
 
 Martin Luther a Dolour ofDiuinity, and of the order of die 
 jingufline Friars t o oppofc himfelfe againft fo fhameleffe 
 a Merchandize, and to demonftrate by the word of God, 
 that the Pope is very Antichrift. Wherein he was followed 
 afterwards by a great number ofleamcd men, whom God 
 vfed in this Iaft Age as Jnftruments to reforme the Church 
 afwcll in Germany fi^giaxdyScotUnd^Denmnrke^s in France 
 and other Countries.In whole ftcps all they ought to tread, 
 whom God hath called to the gouernment of his C hurch,to 
 reueale more and more the Sonne ofperdition^n i to difco- 
 uef his fiI:hinefTe,if they will not be reputed Cowards in the 
 defence ofthetruthymd traytorsvnto Chrift. 
 
 1 1 . There rcmaineth then no more,but that poffeffing 
 our foules in paticnce,andpcrleuei:ng conftantly in the pro- 
 fefTionofthistruth,what pcrfccutionfocuer Antichrift 
 may raife vp againft vs for the {ame,we expect in 
 the end that hee ffialbe vtterly abolifhcd, 
 by the brigbtneffe of the comming 
 of our Lord Ie fus,w ho aiiurcdi 
 vs,that he will come quick- 
 ly. Yea come Lord 
 Icfus. 
 
 And laftly flul 
 bedeftrosed 
 by the glori- 
 ous comming 
 of Chi ill le- 
 fts. 
 
 77;« 
 
37 
 
 The Tliird Twttife. 
 
 Containing a Refutation cfthe opinions of the 
 Romijh Dottoatsfouching Antichritt. 
 
 ^55^^^^ Itbcrtol haue fufrVtently difcoue- 
 red byDiuine tcftimonies, what 
 kindc ofpcrfcn Antichrift ought to 
 bc,andby To plaine demonftrations, 
 proucd who it is in the world that is 
 to be acknowledged to be he, that 
 no man can choofe but vnd ei '(land 
 and comprehend the fame. Neiier- 
 dielefTc^leeingthis Antichrift v\antethnot his defenders and 
 vpholders, that labour by all meanes to heale his wound,and 
 hinder the fall threatned againft him by the Spirit of God : 
 therefore to the end that in this controuerfie no fcruple may 
 rema*ne,I will with as great breuity as thepurpofeof this 
 writing will pcrmit,refolue whatfoeuer either thelefuitsor 
 any other fhall produce to the contrary . Now all that they 
 fay touching Antichrift. may in few words bee reduced 
 within-thc conipaflc cf thisDemiitiomthe particulars u here- 
 of fhai be refute d in the fanic order,a$ hart ibene cbierucd m 
 the" two former parts. T hey fay therefore that Antichrift 
 ftialbe one ohely lingular man, who h not jet come \ but Jhatt 
 arift otrt of the tribe of ? Dan, Hndbccircxmcifed and rectified 
 levees for their AfrjJiM, And Jhall r eigne in Icrufalem 
 three jezres And an halfejwd fight atrainfi many Nations y and 
 at length at'tenrptinfrto mount vpjnto heattcn fhdlbe ftainebj 
 C hr ifi^n t he A ienn t of O lines. No w out o f this D cfi ni lion 
 arifc thefe feuen queftions to be difcufled.Firft, whether A n- 
 tichfift muft be one lingular perfori. S econdiy, whether hec 
 be come or no. Thirdly, of what Nation Antichrift (hall be 
 borne, and what Religion lie (halbe of.Fcurthly.cf his feate. 
 Fift'y,of his durance. Sixtly, of his bartailes. Andfeucnthly, 
 
 E . of 
 
 BetJefum. 
 
 VontAb.3. 
 
 Ferer.ib. s ;i H 
 D.tn. 
 
 RsmsttUibde 
 Ant'iehufi, 
 
38 
 
 A Refutation of the opinions of 
 
 Beldefum. 
 VontJ.yc.i. 
 
 Mat. 24-4- 
 
 Maldon-m 
 
 of his end and definition. 
 
 I. Qtieftion* 
 Whether Antichrift be one (inguUr perfon or no. 
 
 When the Romifh Do£taurs fay that Antichrift fhalbe 
 one fingular perfcn,they doe not meane as we doe, that hce 
 is one onelypcifon at one time, which variethand changeth 
 by fucceffion and fubrogation : but that he fhallbeone per- 
 fon alone,that {hall continue but a certaine time, and fliall 
 hauenofucceflbur. The which BeUarmine laboured* to 
 proueby fiue paffages of Scripture. 
 i ObieQion. 
 
 The fuftpaffage is in the fiift Chapter of the Gofpcll by 
 S.Ioht.v.tf. lam come in my Fathers name, andyereceiue 
 me not^ if another jh all come in hu owne name, him yon wtll re- 
 ceiue. Nowthistcxt(faithhe)isto bee vnderflood onelyof 
 A ntichrift, as witnefie, S % Chryfofiome.S, Ambrose, 5. Ah* 
 gufline^xA others. 
 
 Anfivere. 
 
 OurSauiourChrirl doth not fpeake hecre of A ntichrift 
 alone, but of all thofc that fliall come in their owne name, 
 and not in his : that is,not being called of of him, albeit they 
 fhroud themfelucs vnder his name. As when he faith in ano- 
 ther placCjTd^ heed that no man dceme you, fcr many fa all 
 Come in my name, (ay ing I am Chrift : that is (faith' Maldonate 
 the Iefuite) as if he hadfaid i whefoeuer he be i hat [hall come 
 in his orvne name yo% will receive himfi is your iadgement de- 
 praued: So that it is more fitting that wee interpret it not one- 
 ly of Antichrift Jbtit alfo in general! ofallfalfe Prophet s s xrhich 
 run without fending : for this was the ordinary fafliion onhc 
 Ic \\es,to recetue them rather then the the true Prophets . The 
 Fathers alfo whom they alien ge, when they apply this vnto 
 Antichrift ,excludenotothe"r falfe Prophets: but on the con- 
 trary, vnder him comprehend sll others. #<?/>/. I but(iaythcy) 
 Iefus Chrift oppofcth man to man,and perfonto perfoi 
 therefore y Chrifi was but one per fon y (o alfo Antichrift fhalbe 
 but one perfon. Anfwere, Chrift oppofethheere perfonto 
 perfbn : but yet a certaine perfon to an vncertainc, an indi- 
 
 uiduall 
 
the Romifh Dottors ^touching Antichrift* 
 
 39 
 
 uiduall {ingular,to a common indefinite : for elfewherc hce I 
 fait\\,manyjball come in my name, faying I am Cbrifl. Repl, I 
 But Chrift faith, that Antichrift fhall bee receiued of the 
 Icwes for their Meffnu. Anfw. This is falfe, our Sauiour 
 faith (imply: If any one come in bis owne name, you will receive 
 him : buthee doth not fay, you will receiuc him for your 
 CMeffias. For neither receiued they thus all the falfe Pro- 
 phets that came vnto them. Rep!. But all the falfe Prophets 
 came in the name of another,but our Sauiour fpeaketh heere 
 of one that fhall come in his owne name; that is to fay, fhall 
 acknowledge no other God but himfclfc. Anfw. This in- 
 terpretation is falfe, Maidonate faith farre better, That our 
 Lord Iefpts adusrtifeth vs of one and tfce fame thing both heere 
 and (JWat.z^. 2 . And that there is no contrariety when hec 
 faith there, that they (hall come in the name of Chrift, 
 and heere that they jhaH come in thetr owne name : for there to 
 come in the name of Chrift , is falfly to fay that he is Cbrift 9 and 
 fent of God>t bough bee be not : and heere to come in his owne 
 name, is to come without being fent of God. And to the end 
 that we may oppofc not onely alefuite toaIefuite,butalfo 
 a Iefuite Cardinall, to a Cardinall Iefuite , Tolet thus inter- 
 preted this paflage: Hee (faith hee ) ft all come in his owne 
 name, that [hall haue in truth no Dtuine vertue : but fhall ma- 
 litioufly fame himfelfe to be fent of God ,as the Sonne of Cod. 
 Ltke as the falfe Prophets came in their owne name, becaufe 
 they were not truly fent of God. And this is that which hee 
 now faith, if Any one come in bis owne name yhat is to fay, not 
 being truly fent of God, nor hauing the power of God: but 
 feigning himfelfe fuch by his owne malice. Inbrecfe,as Mat- 
 donatehith very well : where a fentence may bee vnderftood 
 generally, we muff not reftraine it to oneparticular. leajf wee 
 fit Itmits and boundes to the holy Spirit by which left* Cbrifi 
 IP«k£. 
 
 2. ObieBion. 
 In the fecond Chapter of the fecond Epiftle to the Thfffa- 
 lonians, the Apoftle fpeaketh of Antichrift as of one lingu- 
 lar perfon/or he vfeth the definitiue or demonftratiue Ar- 
 ticle 
 
 MallmJnUk, 
 S4h 
 
 Tolet hnjeht 
 cap*. 
 
 Mat.ij.j. 
 
4 o 
 
 A Refutation of the opinions of 
 
 ~ 
 
 tide when hce fpeaketh of him : 'a^w^^ayrk*, .*'$*»* 
 T»Un\Hct e . Themr.n offinne: the fonne ci perdition. For accor- 
 ding to kpiphamtu his rale, the Greeks Articles 'reftrainc 
 thefignifkationofnaniss, other wife coiniioi^to one cer- 
 taine and particular thing. 
 
 An fa ere. 
 
 We agree to ail this rierAntichrift flhalbe alwaies one 
 fingular perfon.one in number,one in feate.and one in pow- 
 er ; as is to be feenc in a Monarchy, or rather tyranny. But 
 this one perfon (hall vary by fucceilion, alb :it this Maxims 
 otEpifhan'im is not alwaies true,as may be obicrued in 
 i2.35XaiM.4- and many other places, where the Article 
 doth not demonftrate £pme one particular pcrfon. 
 3 .Obieitton. 
 
 When SJohn fpeaketh of Antichrift fo properly called, 
 he addcth the Article,andyet he addeth it not when he fpeak- 
 eth of Antichrift in common: to fignifie that Antichrift pro- 
 perly fo called,fhalbe one lingular pcrfon. A sje h/me heard 
 (faith he) that Antichrist [hall come y ettgn now are there many 
 Antichrtfts.iJelm* 2^1 8, 
 
 Artfinre. 
 
 We confent that this Tyrant is alwayes one at one time : 
 but yet hence it doth not folio w,that many doe not fucceed 
 one another in this feate of Apofhcy. And indeed if this 
 Article demonftrate one certaine pcrfon and no inore,let 
 them point vs out one which hath bcene from the age of the 
 ApoftleSjOnd muft continue to the end of the world. For 
 S. John faith: Every ff>r<'it that confeffeth vot fefiu Chrifl to be 
 come in thefle[h u not of Cod : and this is the spirit w dvaxfifc* 
 of Ant khrt ft, of whom j oh ban? heard faidjbat hce Po all come , 
 and he is now already in the world. 1 . febn 4 ♦ ? . Now if this 
 Article tb, demonftrateth one certains peribn:how many 
 A ges mnft th'ib Mai of fin continue aliuc,whom not wkhftan- 
 ding-'thcy fanfie) fhall endure but three ycarcs andanhaife? 
 ^.Obieclion. 
 
 Jn the feuenth,elcuenth, and twelfth Chapters of Dam. 
 ef. A ntkhrift is not called a Kingdomc,but one certaine King, 
 
 who 
 
the Rcmijh Dotlors touching Antichr?fl t 
 
 41 
 
 who of the ten Kings which he ilial finde in the world fh~.l de- 
 ftroy threc,and alio bring vnder fubic6tion the feucn 1 
 And CaUine himfelie conrdietb,that A^.tiocbiu was a figure 
 of Antichrift Whereupon itfolloweth, that feeing A 
 chw was one lingular perfon,therefore Antichrift ilial be al- 
 io one lingular pericn. 
 
 Anfwere, 
 
 The Prophet £)*##?/ doth not onely not call Antichrift a 
 Kingdome,but he alfo doth not fo much as call him a King; 
 for thefe Texts doe not fpeake of Antichrift, but of Antic- 
 chut ip 1 phones : as is apparent by the Commentaries and j 
 Annotations of Frtvc* lumm vpon D<imel 9 as alfo by that 
 which is written by \c iliger in his (ixt bocke of the Emenda- 
 tion of times : And if wc (hall referre allegoricaliy vnto A n- 
 tichrift that which literally is meant of A tte &**,cueiy one 
 knoweth that no found argument can bee drawnc horn \U 
 legories. Howfoeue: it be,me coniequence is not ncceifa- 
 ry,that feeing Antwchtu the figure of Antichiift was one 
 onely lingular pcrfon,thercfore Antichrift himfelfe muft be 
 fo too. For a figure doth not alwayes m euery part anfwerc 
 to the trutli; other wife our Sauiour Chrift fhould not bee 
 one lingular perfon, feeing hee was figured by many Sacri- 
 fices, and Priefts in the Old Teftament. 
 ^.Ohielhon. 
 
 Saint Iohn in the thirteenth juid feucteenth Chapterof the 
 Af9Cdljfs y fpeaketh of Antichrift as of a King, that fhall 
 come in the time often other Kings, and whofe reigne is de- 
 termined by three yeares and an.halfe, zs in T)anieL So 
 that as Darnel fpeaketh of one ccrtaine King,fo doth alfo S. 
 Iohn in the Apocal,ps> 
 
 Anfwere. 
 
 This confequencc is fiiuolous ; feeing Daniel fpeaketh 
 not at ail of Antichrift, as we mcane to proue : and befides, 
 doth it folio w,that becaufe S. Iohn reprefentcth Antichriil 
 as one Kinnr jt h erc f orc ac mu ft needs bee one lingular per 
 fon ? The Prophet Daniel rcprefenteth the Kingdomcs cf 
 the VtrfiaKSftoA Medespnd. TZabyloxians, by fcucrall Beafts. 
 1 G wo 
 
4i 
 
 A Refutation of the opinions of 
 
 $v!p\t Setter, 
 itb i.hjftor- 
 
 Hippslttas 
 Marryr. 
 
 
 and yet there is none To blotlufh as to conclude., that there- 
 fore thefe K ingdom:S are no other then lingular Perfons, or 
 Kings. As touching the three yeares and an halfe, during 
 which they afifirme Antichrifts kingdom: fhall endure, wee 
 fhall haue tit occafion to fpeak hecreafcer,and therefore here 
 paffe it ouer in filencc. 
 
 Itremaineth now that I fhould heere giue fatisfaclion to 
 fome tcftimonics of the Fathers which they vie to produce 
 For this pujrpofe. But they that h auecaft but their eyes ne- 
 tier fo little vpon the writings of the Ancient Fathers, fh ill 
 find them to haue fo,as it wcre,groped in the darke,about this 
 matter ,that it is hard to draw out of them any foli J cofl&u- 
 (ion.For fome of them haue thought that N:ro was the A nti- 
 chri(t,who mould rife againe before the end of the world,or 
 at leaft fhould bee prcferucd aliuctill then, and bcreuealcd 
 and recfkbliChcd in his kingdomc: which opinion was ta- 
 ken from the Author of thofe verfes which goc vnder me 
 name ofSyiiU* : as is to bee fecne in the fiftbookc of the Sy- 
 hillme Oracles. Others haue beene of opinion,that he mould 
 bee the cliuclj who mould appcarc in humaine fhape, 
 and fainc himfelfe to bee borne of a Virgine. Others Inue 
 thought that he mould be begotten of a woman bytheDe- 
 uill. S. hrome affirmeth,that he fhould be a man in whom 
 the Diueil did inhabitc corporally. Paym$ y lujl n ^Mnnyr y 
 LaEhmm^ad others, referre the commingof Antkhrift, 
 till after the rcfurrecnon of the Saints. For they fay that af- 
 ter SixcThoufind yeares accomplished, all the Saints (hall 
 rife againe out of their graues,and that our Lord Icfus fhall 
 defcend vpon the earth,and reigne with them in great glory 
 and aboundance of all ithings for the fpace ofaThoufand 
 yeares. Iitjuchfiirt (faith LA&knt$iu)thM the earth {ball then 
 d'fpUy her frttitcfitfcejfe, and of it orvne Accord bring forth all 
 abanndance and p/evty, that the Rockj and Afwntaines jhall 
 faeat Honey , the Riuers rtinxrtth iViKe, and the ouer -flawing 
 floods fhed forth MUkc> lnbrecfc,that there flialbe fuch an 
 Age,<w the Pott's fanfied of an Jlge ofCjo/d y during the which 
 the Saints fhould marry and beget Children like cothem- 
 
 felues 
 
the Remifh Dottorsjouchwg Ant/chrift. 
 
 43 
 
 fclucs;n hciineffe: But that after the expiration of thefe 
 Thoufmd ycares,Sathan mould be vnbound and let loofe, 
 and raife vp a greeuous pcrfecution againfl: the Ele6t,by the 
 meanes of Antichrift, and that after that mould follow the 
 generall iudgement. This opinion hath found heerctofore 
 iuch ftrong Defenders and Abetters., that S. lercme albeit 
 he doth not apptouc it,yet dares not condenmcit :and& 
 Angufline confefleth",that hec had becne fometimesof that 
 minde. In iummcJookc how many heads, fo many diffe- 
 ring opinions fhali wee finde,as it comnicth ordinarily to 
 paffc in matters propheticall and farrc rcmoued. Albeit in 
 the midft of thefe doubts, the Ancients haU£ manifc- 
 iteJjthat by that which they fookc concerning Antichrift, 
 ihey metier intended that he mould abfolutcly bee but one 
 lingular perfenrbut rather an eftate and goucrnment,as wit- 
 nefleth S, Anmftin* when hce faith : That diner fe doe net 
 thinks that by Antichrift is tobeynderstoodths Prir.ce alone : 
 but alibis whole body in generally that ts y all the multitude of 
 hi* adherents together with their Prince, And in another pi 'ace 
 (he &itti)that the V/hore and the 'Beaffi are $ne y and the fame 
 t'hitg; to wit, the whole body of the Wicked fighting againfl the 
 Lttmbe y and all the true 'Babylon. To which agreeth l I$pper- 
 f&,whcn he aftirmcthjTW the Bcafl (by which he meaneth 
 Antichrift) W/-^ Dragon are all one jo witjhe Demi with 
 his bod'yibat L\rtnhrJlthe congregation ofthe wicked. And 
 Lyra faith, 7 hat the *Bsafl h the whole body of the wic- 
 ked. 
 
 So then by this that hath bene fxid,is vtterly oucrthrown 
 one or their A rguments whereby they labour to prouc that 
 the Pope is no: Antichrift; namely,becaufe Antichrift muft 
 be one lingular perfon ,ancl the Popes haue bcenc many in 
 number. For we auouch clcane contrary ;that feeing Anti- 
 chrift muft be one indluuftial perfon atone timc,but varying 
 by fucccilion^an J that the Pope is fuch a perfon : therefore 
 there is no let hccrcby,but that he may be trucly Antichrift, 
 forafirnich as this marke fitly agreeth vnto him, together 
 with all the reft,as we haue already pioucd before. 
 
 G i ?.£j<eftiori. 
 
 Hteron.m Ie~ 
 
 i en*, lib. 4. 
 
 Augjli ci't'it, 
 
 Idem. ib'id Jib > 
 
 'dug.homSji 
 
 in Apoc, 
 
 R(*per*comjn 
 Ap;c/.f. 
 
 Lyra,ln Apoc. 
 '7* 
 
44 
 
 A Refutation of the opinions of 
 
 y'letatm Apr •• 
 
 2. Que ft ion. 
 Whether A itichrift be comejr no. 
 The Forr.ifh Proclours, to the end to malic men bc- 
 lecue that the Pope is not Antichrifi, aucrrc and maintaine 
 that he is not yet ccm:, neither mall come vntill about the 
 end of the world, the prccifetime whereof cannot bee 
 knowne. For the proofc hereof, they produce fixrcaions, 
 which BelUrmine callcth dcmcnflrations : for fay they , the 
 holy .Ghofl giucth vs fix markes or figncs of the comming 
 of -, ntichrifl: of which two goe before Antichrifi, to wit, 
 the preaching of the Gofpell through the whole world, ana 
 the deftruclion of the Romanc Empire : two accompany 
 him, namely the preaching of Enoch and alias, and an ex- 
 treme perfecution, by the which all the publickferuiccof 
 God {hall ceafe : and two {hall follow him,to wit,the de~ 
 flruclion of Antichrifi: after three yearcs and an halfe, and 
 the worlds end, none of all which markes arc as yet at- 
 riued,therefore Antichrifi is notyctcomc, 
 
 Ftrft marke : the preaching of the Gofpell through 
 the whole world. 
 The Scriptures (fay they) beare witneffe, that the Gofptll 
 [hall be preached through all t hi world, before the lajf perfects- 
 tion,rvhichJha/tberayfedvp by tsfntich-ift : Mat.24.14. and | 
 
 I this Gofpell of the hirgdome [hall bee -preached in all the habita- 
 ble earth jn vtitneffs to alligations; and then (hall the end come. 
 Now this Prophecy was not accomplished about the ycare 
 5oC. or 700. where fome fix the time of A ntichrifts com- 
 ming: nor in the time of S. Bernard, whither others referre 
 it : nor is yet fulfilled in our time ; for cuery day new Coun- 
 tries arc found out both in the Eaft and Weft, where there is 
 no figne or token of the preaching of the Gofpell. It fol- 
 io weth thercfore^that Antichrifi is not yet come. 
 Anfwere. 
 It is a falfe fuppofition, that the holy Scripture fhould 
 ^iuc vs for a figne of the comming of Antichrifi, that the 
 Gofpell fhould bee preached throughout the whole world ; 
 for there is notfo much as one wordheereof in the holy 
 
 Scripture* 
 
tkeRomijli Doftorffbkthing AntUhrtfU 
 
 4* 
 
 Scripture, For that fncechof our S~uiour Chrift allcdgcd 
 out of S. M>thrv y doth no waycs s.ymt at any fuch thing ; 
 forafmuch as hee fpcakcth not of" the vniucrfall pcrfecution, 
 which fhailbee ftirredvp againftthe Chrifthn Church by 
 Antichrift : but of a particular perfccution^by the which, the 
 Nation of the lewes fhould be opprefled, and the Temple 
 deftroyed,r.s it came to paffc about flue and thirty yeares at* 
 tcrthc death of our Lord Ieius Chrift : God in the meanc 
 while^hauing before thisdefolationofthc /<rw*\f,gathered to- 
 gether his Church out of all Nations of the world by the 
 preaching of the Apoitlcs, as is manifeft in the bookc of 
 their A els. A nd as S. Vaul y Rcrn. \ o. faith, That their Jeunc 
 was gone out throTtgh all the earth : and Col. j . That the Co/pel 
 ty.zt ccme int9 all the ww/df.Now this will cafily appearc if wc 
 rightly confidcr the Text of the Gofpcll : for when the A- 
 poillcs had fhewed vnto our Sauiour Chriit the goodly buil- 
 dings of the Temple, hee faith vnto them : Seeycuallthe[e 
 things ? of a truth J fay vnto yet*, that the refiall not bee heere 
 left a (lone vpon a (lone that fial! not be cafl darvne y Mat. 24.7 . 
 Whereupon our Sauiour fitting vpon the Mount of Olives, 
 his difciplcs faid vnto him,7W/ vs wh.nthefe things fh all come 
 to paffe^and what (hall be the figne of thy commmg and of the 
 end eft he world : which Q^eltion ftandeth vpon two parts : 
 FirftjConcerning the deftr u$ion of the T emplc,and fecond- 
 ly of the fignes of the comming of the Sonne of God, and of 
 the end of the world. Now our Sauiour anfwercth difHndt- 
 Iy to each part of the queftion, and that according to the or* 
 dcr wherein it was pi opounded : And fo hee handleth the 
 firft part touching the deftrudtion of the Temple vnto the 
 2 :. verfc : and from thence to the end of the Chapter, hee 
 fpcaketh of the end of the world, which is the fecond. Now 
 that which the Icfuites here alledge, is the 14. verfe, which 
 appertayneth yet to the firfl: qucltion : and therefore when 
 our Sauiour faith , 7 hat after the GcJpeH floall be pleached to 
 all Wa'ionr, then the end (hall bi\ hee vndcrltandcth not 
 the worlds end, which is called in this Chapter --Vw 
 cwt'XM*, the confununation of the world ; but the end 
 
 G3 of 
 
¥ 
 
 A Refutation cftne dpi mens of 
 
 i.iohn.4.3. 
 
 MaUm in 
 Mat. * f, 1+. 
 
 of :he Temple and Common wealth of the laves, whereof 
 he had laid in the fixtverfc, All t ho ft things rn^jl c- 
 faffebvt the end (ball not be jet , to wit, the end of lerxfaUm: 
 And thus Ettthymins following S. Chryfefiom?, and Thco- 
 pbilaEt them both,c'xpound the ph.ee. Secondly ,a3rmt that 
 by the end Oiould be meant the end of the world, as S. le- 
 rome and others hauc taken it : yet it will not follow, that 
 the preaching of the Gofpell to all the world mull go before 
 thecommingof Vntichiiii,as they pretend, butonely before 
 the end ofthe world. -In brecfc, if wee fhould content to 
 that(which is not true) that this perfecutipn whereof our Sa- 
 utour Chrift fpeaketh, fhould bee the laft|>erfecution ftirred 
 vp by Antichnft (as they would haue it,) yet would they bee 
 farre from their reckoning : for,thatthe Goipell be preach- 
 ed throughout the whole world, beforc^Vntichrift attemp- 
 ted! his great andlall perfecution,is one thing : and that this 
 be done before the comming of Antichrift, is another ; and 
 yet this is the foundation which they lay : but a falfe and 
 weake one, God wot. For the Apoitles tell vs,that in their 
 time Antichrift was already comc.and wrs in working, but 
 he was not yet reucaled,nor ftirred vp this great persecution. 
 Befides all this, when Chrift faith, That the Goipell jfhall bee 
 preached through the whole world, hee fpeaketh not of all 
 the world, confidcrcd (imply and vniuei Tally in it ownc la- 
 titude, but comparatiuely, in conference with theboundes 
 of lp.de a and Ifrae! 5 wherein the preaching of the Gofpell 
 had bene lockt vp,as it were,vntill his afceniion into hcaucn. 
 Or as ItfAldonatc fpeaketh, this was but an Hyperbolical! 
 manner of fpeaking, by the whole world, fgnifyingthe 
 grecttcft patt ofthe world. For At that time (faith he) when 
 Icrttfa-em wa.i dejlroycdjhere was {ezree one [{egiw to befottnd 
 ofthofe ihdt were the* difcottered<, wbcf em the vo)ce of the 
 Qoffeilhadnot fourMd. And that which is more then all 
 this, I fay that it is a falfe pretence of theirs, that there arc 
 any quarters or countries of the earth,either in the Eaft or 
 Weft, wherein no figac of the preaching ofthe Goipell is 
 to be found.For all thofc that write ofthe new- found world, 
 
 and 
 
the komifh letters fowling Aniich 
 
 ntft. 
 
 47 
 
 and fuch Countries as arc dayty difc fy the 
 
 contrary. For they affihne- that in Info* there arc. many 
 Chriftians which fay that they rcceiucd the Gofpell by the 
 MmiRctyofS'Tkemas, and thefe admit Bapthme, and 
 icceiuc the Lords Supper vndcrbothkinces, and execrate 
 the do&rine 2nd manners of the Icfuites : In fuch fort, that 
 m theyearc 1 %6j. as in the Citty of-CbchimjaaEfsm from 
 Catec/tt, an Armenian Bifhop exhorted the Chriftians that 
 pretended to follow the docuinc of S. Thomas^ to beware 
 of Popifh (uperftitions : and that one AleichiorCarttsrimz 
 lefuitc, inf tiling himfclfe the B ilhop of AfciMjOpp ofed a- 
 gainfthim : the [efuitc had bene opprefTed with darts dif- 
 eharged againft him by the hd&is y hza he not faucd himfelrc 
 by flight into the land of China, which bordereth v'pon /»- 
 din onthcEaftj amongfttKe idolatrous T^sgavs, where hee 
 was miferably buried. NeucrthcleiTe, euen here alfo arc oc- 
 current I know fome fhadowes of ancient Chriitianifme, 
 expreffed by certainc pictures which they rctaine. For they 
 haue an Image with three heads, which heads looke towards 
 one another, and in the fame three faces of oneGod, which 
 they fay arc of one intelligence and will. In like manner, they 
 haue the Image of a Woman, holding a Child in her armes, 
 who they fay was a Virgin both before and after her Child- 
 bearing. They confeffe the immortallity offoules, and be- 
 leeuc that there are rewards for iuft men, ana eternal! punish- 
 ments for the wicked after this life. 
 
 In jfmerica 3 the Religion is wholly PrigMri : butyctakc- 
 gether vnlikc to that of the Ancient Genttfes, and fuch as gi- 
 ueth proba ble coniccturc,diat Chriflianity hath bene before 
 time there preached. For peter Martyr faith,that towardes 
 Durien there are certainc American Priefts, that Baptize in- 
 fants of aycarccld, coding the water in croffe v pen their 
 heads, withcertaine ceremonies and fpccchcs, which the 
 Spavtards Yndertlood not. And lohn dc Lefy dothrcrort of 
 thofcof Br a fit that they be'eeue die immortality of ionics : 
 and that at a certainc timedifcourfing with them about the 
 true feruicc of God,the creation of the world,the -fail an 
 
 paration 
 
4 8 
 
 A Refutation of tine opinions of 
 
 Bef. de Rom. 
 
 paration of mankind, aidfichiikc po hits of Chriftian do- 
 ctrine .: when they had heard him attentiuely and with ad- 
 miration,for the ipacc of two houres, at the laft one of the 
 moft Ancient of thcm,thus anfwered : That they had heard 
 of their Anceftois, that a great while fince,thcre was a ccr- 
 taine mail that was bearded and clothed as w r eeare, which 
 preached vnto vs thefe tilings. . But when their Fathers 
 would not giue credite vnto him, then another came after 
 him, that gauc themth: fword, which they vfe as a Symbol 
 of malediction, and that euer fincc, there hath bcenc nothing 
 but warres and diffentioas amongft them, Thefe are mani- 
 feft tokens of the publication of the Gofpellin thofe Coun- 
 tries, and of the contempt which they made thereof. All 
 which things may eilcline vs ea/ilytoiudge,thatno man can 
 pretend that the Gofpcll hath not bene preached through die 
 whole world, and confequently that Antichrilt is not come, 
 according to this Maxime. 
 
 , And tnus this fubtilty of wit,is not a demonftration, but a 
 dreame, too feeble to be oppofed to this Diuine truth, that 
 affurethvs that Antichriit was in the world in the Apoftlcs 
 time;and to experience, vvliich fo many Ageshaue already k.d 
 of his Tyranny. 
 
 The fecond marke : the total! defa vltion eft be 
 R -,m*ne Empire. 
 The fecond marke and fore -runner of Antichrift,is the to- 
 tall fubuerfion of the Romane Empire : That as Chnfi came 
 into the world \when this Empire was at the yeriodof his great - 
 neffe : So Anticbrifi Jkould come % when it'(bofild bee vtterly 
 ruined >and at it's Lwefc ebbe, 
 
 Avfwcre. 
 1 1 is an idle fancy and imagination, that rhc mine of the 
 Roman? Empire fhould precede the commingof Ami- 
 chrift, feeing that he was already in the world in the time 
 of the A poIUes : as rhc Spirit of God fpeakingin holy Scrip- 
 ture doth afliirevs. Yet let vs heare their, grounds vpon 
 which they build this Chimera. 
 The Prophet 'Dante I (lay they) in the fecond Chapter of 
 
 his 
 
the Rcmtfb Deftorsfcnching Anthhrifl. 
 
 WMrfM 
 
 4? 
 
 % 
 
 hisProphccy,defcribeth the fucceffion of thcprincipall king, 
 domes of the world, to the end thereof, by 3 Statue whole 
 head of Gold fignified the kingdomc of the Affyrians s 
 breft of Siluer the Empire of the Per fans, belly of Braflc 
 that of the Greek? s : and feete of Iron, thelaft Empire of the 
 Romanes : and by the ten toes that arc on the feet, are vn- 
 derft-ood ten Kings, which mould diuidc amongft them all 
 that which this great Empire had poffeffcd.And in the feuenth 
 Chapter, he rcprefenteth the fame, by the ten homes which 
 iflued out of the head of the fourth Bearr, which zlfo was 
 •fignihedbythofcten horncs,that is to fay, ten Kings fpoken 
 of by S. lohn in his Rettelat /'^Chapter 1 7. 
 
 This interpretation of the fourth Bcaftfor the Romane 
 Empire, is repugnant both to the end, euents, and fequele of 
 the Prophets words : who by this Beaftvnderftandcth the 
 Kingdome of the Sehucides, by the which the levees had bene 
 grieuoufly vcxed,after the reignc of Alexander the Great,as 
 Junius meft learnedly hath declared vpon the fecond and 
 feuenth Chapters of Daniel. And it is alfo certains, that 
 Daniels Prophecy doth not extend to the worlds end, but 
 oncly to thecomming of Chrift intheflcfh: whofe King- 
 dome was to be efhblifhcd eternally,as maybe gathered out 
 of thefe words : And in the time of thefe Kings, the God 6 f 
 heauenfoall raife vp a Kingdome yvhtch /halt neuer be dijfolued, 
 and this Kingdome frallnot be transferred to another pecple : 
 but it fa all bret^in peeces andconfume all thefe Kingdomes } 
 an df? a II be efiabltfhed eternally, Jnfomuch, m thou haftfeene 
 that aftone is ct:t out' of a Atomtaine without hands. And 
 this the Icfuitc Perertw is conftrained to avow in expoun- 
 ding thefe words, a (lone en o".t without hands , albeit other- 
 wife he interprets by this fourth Beaft the Romane Empire. 
 Neither is Bellarmine himfclfc repugnant to this interprctati- 
 on,when he confcfTech,that the Prophet Daniel in his feuenth 
 Chapter fpcaketh literally of Am'tochm Fpiphanes, which is 
 the little horne,that pulled vp the three firft homes of the J 
 tenne of the fourth Bcait. As touching S. John, his wc j 
 arc fo farre from prouing that which they pretend, that they I 
 
 H rathetl 
 
 DanicJ.2. 
 44>4S« 
 
 Pc'rvccmdn 
 fth.lil.2. 
 
 BtlJeR-m. 
 VontJ.^.a. 
 
5° 
 
 A Refutation of the Qfinicns if 
 
 .Ob. 
 
 Ref?. 
 
 lather fuppiy vs withaftrong argument for the proofc that 
 A ntichviit is coine : Seeing chat not onely the Romane Em- 
 pire hath bene difmembred into many kingdomes,which arc 
 lubfifcing at this day : But alio thefe kingdomes haue giuen 
 their power and authority to the Beait^and fubmitted them- 
 ferues to the Pcpe, who aiTumeth to himfelfe the. power to 
 change and difpoffeiTethemathisplcaiurc. Ifanydeiireto 
 fee the enumeration of thefe ten Kings,which rcceiued their 
 power at the fame time with the Beai^he fhall flndc them 
 particularly deigned in their writmgs,who haue at this time 
 commented vpon the Reflation, 
 
 You know (faith the ApoIHe) fpcakingof Antichrifr, 
 what it is thai withholds! h him ,/ hat he may be reus tiled in due 
 lime, for already this my fiery of iniquity is onfoot^ncly he that 
 hsldeth let him hold i9ti%i^^yiwm y dmi€€ e medio pat ', that 
 is , vutiH he be taken out of the way : and then frail this wicked 
 one ba retiealed. This paflage is by moit of the A ncient both 
 Greek and Latine Fathers, interpreted of the Romane Em- 
 pire, and for the famecaufe they vfedtopray vntoGodin 
 his Church/or the prcferuation ofthis Empire, becaufethey 
 knew; that when mis Empire fliould b : ruined, great cala- 
 mities were ready prepared, and like to tall vpon the 
 Church. 
 
 This text doth no wayes proue, that the Romane Empire 
 rnuftbe vtterly deftroyed ; whatfoeuer the Ancients hath 
 faid to the contraiy : for wc arc no more bound to belecue 
 them in this point, then in that which they arfirme touching 
 the kingdome of Chrift vpon earth,for a thoufand ycares af- 
 ter the refurrectiomnor that this deitru£ion muft forerunne 
 the comming of Antichrift. On the contrary^ rather ma^es 
 faith that Antichrift was in the A poftlcs time. For as touch- 
 ing thefe words, 8«t*j*f*a>&!Ftft^ vat ill hee be taken out of 
 the way y they doc not inforc can entire sbolition of the Ro- 
 mane Empire, no more then when the Apoftle complaineth, 
 that the Corinthians had not forrowed, to the end that the 
 inceftuous perfon might betaken out of the way, wtl*ft* « l 
 fAt<n «/|uSr. i . /V. * ' verfc 2. Now he mcancth not that he 
 
 ftiould 
 
the Romi\h DottorsfoHching Antithrifi. 5 1 
 
 fhould be put to death, or vttcrly deftroyed : but onely that 
 he moidd be cai I out of the Church. In like maimer , if we 
 take thcfe words : he which h;ld:tk let him hold, till he be ta- 
 ken sut of the way y to be vnderftocu of the Romanc Empire, 
 (which notw ithftanding all admit not) yet who can let vs 
 from interpreting them thus \vntiU fitch time that he be taker, 
 out of the Miilclep cfl\ome ? That is to fay, vntill the Empc- 
 rours tranflating the Imperial! feat to iome other place, and 
 quitting Rome, do>: by little and little giuc place to Anti- 
 chrif 1, to cftablifti there his tyranny. For in truth,when the 
 Empcrours forfook Italy, they opened a wide doore for the 
 Popes dominion : who afterward came to be reuealcd by 
 his effects. to be that man of Sinnc.fpcken of by the Apoftle 
 to the Theffalenians. And if we will giuc any credit to the 
 Oracles of the Sybils 3 the Romane Empire fhould hauc bene 
 deftroyed before that time : for they defenbe the durance 
 thereof, by the number of yeares collected from the nume- 
 ral letters of die Citty of %eme in the Greckc tongue, in 
 ihefe words. 
 
 n\»£jj -/c Xu/JZt.t*;, c«» mi i Ot/*tptt *>>> 
 
 That is in Englifli: 
 
 W hen thrice three hundred forty yeares and eight 
 Then [hah fn ! fill: then loe the Defiinies, 
 Thy vttcr mine bane decreed fire/ght 3 
 *Accem]> lt(hwg thy name : which thus implies. ' 
 
 For the number of the word Rome, is 94S. taken in this 
 fort according to the v.alue of the Grceke letters. 
 
 ■-TOO 
 -800 
 
 ■"'.4° 
 
 9$ 
 
 And in very deed, to fpeakc properly the RcmancEin- 
 pire ended at the death of the Empcrour Decittt, when G al- 
 ii * Im 
 
 Sih'iH.Ordc* 
 
5* 
 
 A Refutation of the cfinicns of 
 
 lm his fucccflbur made it tributary to the Gothes, which it ne- 
 uer was to any Nation before. Now this happened in the 
 yearcico}. fincc the foundation of Rome : which amount 
 by fiue and fifty yeares,onclythe terme fetdowne by the 
 Sybtll : who defigned this time after this manner,to place the 
 end of the Romane Empire, at the beginning of that of the 
 Gothcs : by whom the Citty of Rome was at laft taken, 
 
 1 ruined, fackt, and burnt in the 41 o. ycare of our Lord Ielus 
 Chrift, vnder the conduct of Alartctu their Xing, and in the 
 time diHonorim the Empcrour : which was the true decline 
 of the Weftcrnc Empire, and the way making to the king- 
 dome of Antichrift. As alio plainely appeared foone after 
 in the yeare 418. when was held aCouncillat Carthtgr, 
 wherein Pope Zoz^impts caufed to be propounded by his 
 Legats a Canon, w r hich they affirmed tohaue bene agreed 
 vponat the Councill otNiee : whereby it was decreed, that 
 theBiihops of all Prouinces might appeale to FomejmA that 
 the Bifhop of Reme might either take knowledge of their 
 caufes himfelfe, or commit them to the decfion of whom he 
 pleafed. But this pretended Canon was found countcrfeitc, 
 after that the original! coppy of that Councill was fetchtof 
 purpofe from Conftantinople, and looked into: fo that the 
 Bifhop o£R$me was difappointed of his defire :and it was de- 
 creed, that whofoeuer of the African Clergic fhould ap- 
 peale beyond the Sea, fhould be depofed : as is to be fecne 
 by the A#s of the Councill, and by the Epiftles which were 
 written thereof to Pope Bomface y and his fuccciTour Ccle- 
 /ftne t which Cekflme had rcceiued into communion one Ap- 
 fiarius, excommunicated by the Church of Africa. So that 
 this was the flrit introduction which the Pope made into 
 his foucraigne Primacy, vntillfuchtime, that at length his 
 tyranny was fully difclofcd, and authorized by thcEmpe- 
 rour f hoc**. Albeit otherwifc we fee by the 1 3. Chapter of 
 the RcaeUti en, that both thcfcBcafts, to wit, the Romane 
 Empire, and Antichrift, fhould iubfift together. Seeing 
 that the fccond r Beaft [hall exercife the power of the firfi in hi* 
 prefence^andfhallcaufe the earth, and them that dwell therein % 
 
 to 
 
 ApoMS-U 
 
thcRomijh D ocl or $ ^touching Antichrifl, 
 
 53 
 
 t o worfiip the firfi "Beaft. I n fumme, the Apoftle faith, that 
 this Sonne of perdition was wtthhsldor kept backfihc was then 
 extant ; for that cannot be with held which is not. He faith, 
 that the my fiery of iniquity did then worl^c; hemuft then needs 
 be : for what operation can there be, by that which is not? 
 Kc faith, that he m&ft be repealed in his time : he was then, 
 before he was reuealcd. And thus this pretended demon- 
 ftration vapoureth away into fmoke,and cannot hinder ^but 
 that this remaineth as an inuincible truth, that A>itichrifiis 
 come, and that it is he whofe feate is, where heretofore was 
 the fcatc of the Romane Empire. 
 
 Third marhe ; the camming of Enoch 
 and Eli as. 
 
 The third marke which theygiuc of Antichrifts com- 
 ming, is the rcturne o{ Elias and Enoch, wffo (fay they) muft 
 come into the world, to oppofe Antichrift, and to prefcrue 
 the Elecl in the faith of Chriit, and to conuertthc Iewes, 
 which fable they labour to vnderprop by thefe enfuing tcfti- 
 monies of holy Scripture. 
 
 Mai. 4. 5. Behold Igoe tofendvnttyou ilia* the Prophet, 
 before thecomming of the great and f ear c full day of the Lord : 
 and hejhalltume the he a) t of the Fathers to t heir Children, and 
 theheartofthe Children to their Fathers , leaft I come and 
 [mite the earth, as it were with an Inter dill, 
 
 S, I frame writing vponthe fourth Chapter of Malachy, 
 anfwereth forvs, that the lewes, and IudaizingHeretikes, 
 imagined that Elias fhould come, before fa*t*t$m fetum ; 
 that is, the comming of their Meflias : Whereupon it was, 
 that this queftion was propounded to our Sauiour Chriftin 
 the G offcW^he re fore faj the Vharifes,that Elias /hall come? 
 To who n he anfwereth. Indeed Elias frail ccme t and if yon 
 will beteette me, he is already ceme > vnderftanding by Elias 
 Iohn'Baptifi. Thus S. Ierome. And in truth ,our Sauiour 
 Mat.x 1. 14. faith cxpr.iTcly,*W Iohn Bapuft was the Elias 
 tha> was to corse : And (JM at. ij. u» that Eli as was come 
 already, but that the Iewes hew him not. And to the end 
 that no man fhould doubt of whom it was he fpakc : The, 
 
 H 3 Euange- 
 
 Bel.de Rom. 
 Pont.Verer. 
 UtDan. 
 
 Remond.%? 
 Vieg.in /Spoc. 
 
 I.Ob. 
 
 Kelp. 
 
 J 
 
H 
 
 A Refutation oftbcepimcnsof 
 
 | EuangeM addcth,thatthc difciplcs perceiucd, that he (pake 
 vnto them or lohn 'Baptif? : whereunto alio aptly accord the 
 words of the kngcUtoZacbdriat, L'Ae, 1.17* That lohn 
 Baptiftfhouldgoe before the Lord in thejpirit a-idpmer of F- 
 lints, to tame the hearts of the Fathers to 1 be Children, and 1 be 
 dif obedient to the mfetiome of the tuft men, that be might make 
 ready a people pr (fared for the Lord. But the Icfuitcs guided 
 (as itfcerneth)by a different fpiritfiom out SauicurChrift.in 
 the explication of Prophecies, thus reply. 
 
 RepLi It is manifeft that Malteby ipeaketh of thelaft 
 comming of our Sauiour Chrift, infomuch that he calleth it, 
 The great and terrible day of the Lord : and after addcththefe 
 words : leafi I come and fmite the earth with an interdict : 
 that is, leaft comming to hidgc th? world, I condemnc all 
 the Rebellious. 
 
 Rejp. It is ccrtaine,that there is a double day of the Lord: 
 one of his firft comming ,by the which he calleth the EieeTt to 
 faluation : the other of his laft comming, by the which hee 
 gathereth to himfelfc thofe that are failed, and brings them 
 into his kingdome. Neither doe we gaineiay, but that both 
 the one and the other, maybe vndcrftoodinthis place : to 
 wit, that the Prophet hauing promiied the firft comming of 
 Chrift, doth threaten them with the laft, which fhould not 
 be conucrtedby theruft. Buthowfocucritbc, thisisccr- 
 taine ; that the fending of Elias is referred by the Prophet, to 
 the firft comming of Chrift : and not to the iccond. 1 . Be- 
 caufc thefc words hcrc,doe anfwerto them. Chap. 3 • t. Be- 
 hold I mil fend my Mefcnger, and he /hall prepare the way be- 
 fore we ; and the Lord rvhom ye feeke fhall fpeedily enter into bk 
 Tewple : which can pofTiblybc apply cd no othcrwiie then to 
 the firft comming of Chrift. 2. Bccauftitisfaid,T/WiW 
 fhall connert the hearts of Fathers to their Children, and of 
 Children to their Fathers : which both the AngcllandZ*- 
 cW/^.enfpired with the fpiritof Prophecy, Luke 1. refcrre 
 to his firft comming : and the matter it fclfc bcareth witneffc 
 thereunto. : . In briefc, the fame is euident by that which 
 the Prophet addeth ; Leafi I come and finke the earth mth 
 z anathema. 
 
the Ro.ni(?) DiCl or s. touching Afttithrift. 
 
 55 
 
 ihema : which is afmuch as it he fhouki f .y, leaft I be con- 
 ftraincdto haftenmy fecond comming, andcaufe them to 
 feelethc rigour of my Iudgcment, if they conuertnotvnto 
 me by the tryaJl of my mercy in my firft comming. For as 
 touching the word which is tranflated fear full or terrible, it 
 fignriieth alfo honorable, or venerable , as it is tranflated by 
 7remeHfus.de lumns.KtA albeit thofc words far f alitor ter- 
 rible , fhould be retained in the text, yet this hindercth not, 
 but that this place may be well referred to the fir ft comming 
 of our Sauiour Graft. For though this commingle the de- 
 fired time and the day of faluation to thcEle6t; yet it is 
 tearful! and terrible to thofc that in a blinded fury rcic6tcd 
 him : according to that which old S/ttw* faidtothebleiTed 
 Virgine,£»*J^V2 . 34. That he it appointed far the fall and r«J 
 fing a gain e of many in Jfrael, and for a fgne which frail 'bee 
 f]>o\en againfl* Neither indeed can it be denied,but that this 
 day was terrible to the I ewes, afwell in regard of their blin- 
 ding and hardening, as alio by reafon of the great calamities 
 which followed their rebellion. For was not their Land tru- 
 ly fmitten as it were by Interdtliy when Icrufalem was de- 
 ftroyed,fackt, and burnt, by Tittu and Fesjafian, and the 
 whole Common -wealth of the levees vtterly razed and dc- 
 ftroyed? Hence it is, that Rupertm expounding this text, 
 faith, That he dares not certainly define any t hi fig concerning 
 t he comming of Eli its into the world : for a f much M many hold, 
 that he mnft come in his proper psrfin : and other s t amongft 
 whom S t Jerome ydeny it, 
 
 i\epi 2. When our Sauiour Chrift faith: Tint TohnBtp- 
 trfi U Ettas that f?ottldccms y he meaneth that (according to 
 ther itidgememt) that John Tttptift promifed by the Prophet 
 Afalachy , is Eli as ; but net littera.llyjbttt allegorically % and 
 that the t rue 8 has /hall come at the end of the world. 
 
 Rejp. This interpretation is fo farrc from truth, that on 
 the contrary, our Sauiour plainly intendeth, that lohn Bap • 
 tifi y was truly he,accorcing to the letter,that was promifed 
 by the Propfat Mahichy : but that by allegory he was called, 
 Eliasy becaufehs came in the fpirit and power of £//<*#, 
 
 th 
 
5» 
 
 A Refutation of the opinions of 
 
 Bt!. de Rem* 
 
 RemandfAp* 
 
 M* lien. in 
 Mat.n* 
 
 Ribcrus.'m 
 Apoc c.j j. art* 
 
 2Z. 
 
 2.0b- 
 
 Bfify 
 
 the Angcll witneiTcth. And doubtleffe this manner of fpea- 
 king cannot feeme ftrange tothofe, that arc neucr fo little 
 exercifed in the reading of the holy Scripture, no more then 
 this promife which God makcth to his people, Ier$o.$. 
 Strangers [ball feme themfelues no more of thee, bat tjjej (hall 
 feme the Lord their God, and c Damd their King, whom [frail 
 raife vp vvto them* And Ezech. 3 4» * ? • l wi! ^ rai ft V P a 
 Shepheard oner them y euen my [truant Dauld : I will be their 
 qod^ndmyfcrmnt Dauid/hallbe a Prince among them. The 
 fame promife is repeated, Chap. 3 7- and in diuerfe other 
 places : and yet notwithstanding no man cuer thoug htthat 
 Dauid wxsto come in his proper perfon. 
 
 £rr/^i?/?/(r^»fpeakingof Slias, Chap. 4^.9. 10. faith 
 thus, Thou waft takenvpin a whir lew ind of fi We, and in a Cha- 
 riot of fiery horfes : thoH an appointed to paci fie the wrath of 
 the Lord ^ at the demonftratiens of time s-^ to gather the hearts 
 of the Fathers vnto the Children, and to reft ore the Tribes of 
 Iacob. Smcb (faith the fame Author) was pleafingtoCjod, 
 therefore w»s he tr an fated i%to Paradije, to bring repentance 
 to the generations. Ecclus. 44. 1 6*. 
 
 The booke of Ecclefiafti'cm being not of Canon/call au- 
 thority, cannot conuince vsagainft the authority ofChrift, 
 whoe'xpreflelyoucrturneth this interpretation of the Pro- 
 phet tJWalachy, as lanfenius him clfe is conftrained to con- 
 reffe. This comming then of Elias, was an aged opinion a-^ 
 mong the lewes^s may be gathered out of the Dialogues of 
 luftim Mart jrjLgwc&Trjphonxhz lew : wherein Trypbon 
 is bold to fay, that he knew not whether the Mcffias was 
 bome,crno : but admit he were, yet that he could haucno 
 power vntill Ellas were come,who fhould annoynthim,and 
 proclaimehim to the people. And therefore it is no mar- 
 uaile, if the Sonne oiSyrac a /<?iv,were tranfportcd with the 
 fame bclicfcBut it is a greatfhamc that Chri(tians,inltru&ed 
 by the mouth of Chrirthimfelfe, fhould fo lightly enter- 
 tainc thefc lewifh dotages,oncly difguifed with an other co- 
 lour. As touching the other paffagc c$£cclefiaftiCHS,&\p 
 alledge it falfly : the words in the Greeke are thefe: 
 
 EV»v 
 
the Romi[b Vottm pitching Antiehrifl. 
 
 57 
 
 is word for word: Snocb pleafed the LordGod, andvai 
 pranfltted fir an example of repentance to the generations. 
 Now how femes this to prone, that Enoch fhalfcome at the i 
 end of the world, becaufche was transported, by God, to be ! 
 ample to men ? And if we fhould rctaine thefe words~ ' 
 totheeryito tjxe repentance to the Nations t yet this muft be 
 vnderftooc j,to be done by example onely^nd not by his per- 
 fonali comining. 
 
 Our Sauiour, Mat. 1 7. T T . faith, that certainly Elf as mufl 
 fome and reft ore til things. Now that this is to be vnderitoo 
 of Him in his o wnc pcrfon,appeareth(fay thcy)by 3, reai 
 Full, becaufe hhn Biiptift was already cciv-c, an 
 Hied his courfc, and yet neucrtheleftc Chrift faith, that Eh** 
 iliallcome. Secondly, becaufe the Apoftlcs fpeake ofthe 
 fame Slias, whom they had fecne in the Mountaine. A n j 
 thirdly, becaufe itisfaid, that he {hall rcilore ail thine: 
 which neither hhn Bapttfl s iiov any other did. ' 
 
 This is a wrong interpretation of our Sauiours words : Ref P< 
 for the fznCc is this. As our Sauiour Chrift had forbidden his 
 Apofflcs to tell, vnto any man, the vifion which they had 
 feenc m the Mount, vntill fuch time as hce fhould bee rifen 
 rrom the dead : they prefently receiued an opinion, that 
 Chrift ihould fttortly after dye, and rife againe, and then en- 
 ter into his kingdo me. But becaufe this feemed to contra- 
 dict the order cftabiimed by God himfelfe,accordin<r to the 
 Prophecy of Malachj, wherem it is foretold, that Eli* muft 
 precede his comming; therefore they propound their doubt 
 tobcrefolucdofhim : whertfore then >fay the Scrips jhat £- 
 Uktmujlcomefirft : to wit, before thou rifeft againe, and 
 cntreft into thy kingdomc > Now our Sauiour Chrift an- 
 fwereth ihem,firii:by concefllon : ofatrtttb EUa* (hall come 
 firfl^nd r effort all things: that is,as Maldonate expounds. It 
 u true that Eliot mufl come .• It mufl be that Elias come : the 
 Scribes teach you this truly and well. For we mull note that 
 our Sauiour Chrift doth not fay, ^htMhmi .Was Jhall 
 come, to the end that they might cxpea his commiag till 
 I fome 
 
58 
 
 A Refutation of the of intern cf 
 
 4.05. 
 
 Belle Rom, 
 
 lomc other time : But htepk fam, Ettas commeth, in 
 the prefent tenfe. As when Hercd enquired of the Prieifo, 
 >*S;gfr$e)t£i«, where is Chrift borne > that is, where 
 mould he be borne ? And when the I ewes faid, we know wed 
 from whence this man is % but when Chrtfifhiii come, no man 
 knoweth from whence hee m,wAk jaifrMariBn %-n*, that is, no 
 man muft know whence he is. Afterward he vnfbldeth the 
 true meaning of the Prophecy, fhewing that it ought not to 
 be vnderftood ofthc perfon o£Elias the 7 bssfrife^mt of M* 
 TSaftiftfK horn the lewes knew not to be Ettas, but had done 
 vnto him what they would ; infemuch as they confented to. 
 the cruelty of flered exercifed towards him v whence hee 
 concludeth, that he himfelfe aifo fhould be handled in like 
 manner by them, as hhn Baptifi had. It doth not therefore 
 follow, that though the Apoflles hadipokeii of that Ettas 
 whom they fa w in the transfiguration of Chritt, that his an- 
 fwere to them was of the fame:but rather he reuoketh them 
 from their crrour, to the true vndcrftanding of Malachies 
 Prophecy ,and declareth, who was the true promifed Slias, 
 to wit, hee that was already come. As concerning thofe 
 words Jje fhall reflore Ml things ; they are nothing but a Para- 
 phrafe of the words of the Prophet Malacky, laying : 7 hat 
 hefiaUtifne the hearts of the Fathers to their Children, and of 
 the Children to their Fathers ; which was accomplished in 
 Iohn 'Btptift : for other wifc,it properly appertaines to none 
 but to Chrift,to reflore all tl iings : as being he, by whom it 
 plea fed the Father to reconcile all things vnto himfelfe, and to 
 fet at yeace through the bleed of his croffe , both the things in 
 heauen,and things in earth.Col.i*lO, 
 
 Apoc. 1 1 .$./ wiligiue power to my two witneffes, that they 
 (hall prophecy a theti fund, two hundred and three (core d Ayes, be- 
 'ing cleat hed in fackcteath. Which that it is to be vnderftood 
 of Ettas & £*^,appcarcth (fay thcy)by that which S. hhn 
 faith, that they mult bcflaincby Antichrift.and that their 
 corpes fhall lye in the ftrccts of IcrufaIem,wkhoutfcpulture : 
 and after three dayes & anhalfe fhall rifeagaine and mount 
 vp into heauen,the which ncuer happened yet to any man. 
 
 Saint 
 
the Romsfjb Thttors ^touching Antkhrifl. 
 
 59 
 
 Saint hbn ipeakcth not in this place cither of Elias ,or of 
 Enoch, oroflerufalemr.fo that to prouc that heefpeakethof 
 Snoch and £/W.bccaufe they muft bee killed by Aiukhrifr, 
 istoproucthequcftion by that which is in qucftion. This 
 then is a prophecy, which muft be vnderftood prophetically 
 and ipiritually,as faith S Jerome, and not literally, for the 
 number oft wo. For as cjcmandcch Rupert uj; Shall i be Lord 
 of WeP 'tophzts s and the Author efprophefies htue but two wit- 
 Wcffcs ? Shall net all the Apo files and Martyrs, not to (ptake of 
 Confeffors,bc hi* wtttteffes ? Certainely this fhsech is grctt , ve- 
 ry <rraue, avd of imme afar able weight in the mouth of the 
 Almighty : that though many , yea, i numerable witneffes^yet j 
 hepronounath th.it there are bat two, and contented) himfclfe 
 with that number which is faffcient by Law -.for the fatted 
 Law admit teth at leaf} the number of 'two Wttneffes. And if 
 t hire be no mere it cententeth it felfe with fo few* I willgiue 
 then (faith hee) to my two Wttneffes, that they fh a 11 prophecy ; 
 Which may be fitly thus vndtrflood; as if hee badfaid,When 
 thou [bah hauemeafuredthe Temple of God, and the zAltar : 
 that is t ofay, when thouflodt haueftr etched forth and feat tered 
 abroad the limits efthe Cbriftian Faith, as it is meet e, with 
 thy T.jedejbat is, with the authority of the Huangelicall [crip- 
 ture, I w ill not faff er that there fh all bee want oftVitneffes.te 
 tefltfiethat thou haft thm written for me. For albeit I haue 
 written, and that truely, that many fi?a& be called and few cho- 
 fen ; yet there jhall neuer be fo few Elect, neither faiall charity 
 grow fo cold by the etierflowwg ofiviqtHty, but that the 
 truth oftheGe^cll [hall finde at theleafttwo IVttmffes. By all 
 which fpeeches,asalfo by the whole current ofhis difcourfe, 
 he fhewcth vs that this number muft not bee reftrained to 
 two alene : but that thcSpirit of God would giuc vs to vn- 
 dcrftand^that though the fury of £ntichn(t Iabourcth. to 
 choakcthetru:h,yct.God will neuer furfer that there fhall 
 be wanting fo many witneffesas are ncceflary both to con- 
 fume the truth,and condemne falfhood. S. ri#gufiimr,ttid 
 *Beda vndcrftand by thefe two Witnenes, The two Tefla- 
 ments fheOldyttndthe New.hvA indeed both their number,, 
 
 I - and 
 
 Refp: 
 
 Hiercn.ep.ad 
 Marcel V, de 
 
 now. tefta. 
 RhJ>att,iti>.<j, 
 
 in Jtj>o*t 
 
 4t*g L>rn.t, 
 
6o 
 
 A Refutation of the epmcnsof 
 
 .Oh. 
 
 Ecfp. 
 
 (J.Ob. 
 
 Refp. 
 
 and their o{rlce,and all the civc umftanccs ofthe text doe not 
 vnfitly accord thereunto. As amonglt others Iohn Ntfeir 
 makethknowne vnto vs in his reuclation of the Secrets of 
 thcReuelation. 
 
 Rtbira the Ieiuitc in his Commentary vpon the twcluc 
 fmall Prophets,writeth to this opinion ofthe conuning of £- 
 nocb / m& 67/'^,the vihon ofthe two Oliuc Trees mentioned 
 in the prophecy of i^cW^Chap.^.bccaufc in the Apoct 
 ijfs they are called Oliuc Trees and Candlefticks. And f^itto- 
 rivfu Martyr } ind others writing vpon the Apocalyps, dcchic 
 thatt he two Oliuc trees in the jifolcaljfs, are the fame that 
 are fpoken of in the Prophet Zacbary. 
 
 Wc confeffc that S.Ichn hath relation vnto the words of 
 the Prophet* Zachary, and confequently that the two Oliue 
 Trees may receiue the fame interpretation in both places. 
 Bu:yet withall wc affirme,, that thefc two Oliue Trees, 
 or thefetrvo fonnes of the Oyle which fiandbtfoYe the Lord of 
 alt the Eartb^sthe Angell fpeakcth, are no other in true 
 fenfe^thentheperpetuall and ordinary inftruments, by the 
 which the Lord prefcrueth to his Church,his Grace, Peace, 
 and Light ;to wit,cither the two Tcftament** according to 
 Saint Aidgufltyie, and venerable Bede, that like good Oliuc 
 Trees furnifh vs continually with fpirituall Oyle in our 
 Lampcs, to bee ready prepared for the comming of our 
 Brigegroome.-orall true Palters ofthe Ghurcb-who be- 
 ing inftru6tcd by thefe two Teftamcnts ftand before the 
 Lord ofthe whole earth, and conuert men to His obedience 
 by the preaching of the Gofpell. hsRibera himfelfe is in 
 conclufion compelled to expound it in gcnerall of the 
 Preachers of the Gofpell in his Tropologie vpon this 
 Text. 
 
 Now becaufe the holy Scripture doth fo little fauour 
 their imaginations : they borrow the authority of the Fa- 
 thers to vphold them. All the Fathers (fay they ) with one 
 common confent teach, that ElifU and Enoch fhall come to 
 fight againft Antichrift. 
 
 Admit this were fo,yct we might anfwere in one word : 
 
 that 
 
the Komi j}) Doctors ^touching Antichrifl. 
 
 6\ 
 
 that as wchaue learnt to know Chrift by the Scripture, fo 
 alfo doc we lcame to know Antichrifl. All that is allcdgcd 
 out,or befide Scripture (faith S. Jerome) may as eafily be re- 
 fcftcd,as itis allcdged.Butyet I fry Luther that it isralfe, 
 that there Is fuch a confent of the Ancients touching the 
 eomimngof£*^and£//^,as- they pretend : for wee haue 
 already heard how S . ferome remitteth this ophvon to Iewes 
 and Hcretikes : and if at any time he makcth mention there- 
 of>svponthe feucnteenth Chapter of Saint UWatbcw, it is 
 not in his owne name, but in the name of another. _ 
 
 LaUantius nameth neither Antichrifl, nor Elias, nor E- 
 nocb : but oncly makcth mention ofaccrtaine great Pro- 
 phct,which God fhould fend towards the end of the world, 
 that mould be put to 'death by accrtaine Kingbomc inSy- 
 m,who mould caufe himfclfe to be called and^ adored as 
 God. Hippolitm Martyr contents not himfelre to make 
 onely Enoch and BIioa to rife vp againfl Antichrifl, but hec 
 affociatcsvntothcmS. hbnthz £uangclift,who hefuppo- 
 feth is not dead, but tranfported into the earthly Paradile, 
 there to abide with Enoch and Eli as vntill the time or Anti- 
 chrifl. Aretas writing vpon the laft words of the tenth 
 Chapter of the Apocahps : Thou njufr prophecy agame to ma- 
 nypto V le,NationsMto"g»es^\t\iM many m regard or 
 thefe words are of opinion, that Saint him is ffill liuing and 
 mail come towards the end of the world with Efeff^nd *r 
 »^,andfhall with them be piit to death by Antichnfl.F^- 
 nus confute* the conceit of Vflk*i*mi who m ftead ot b- 
 *^,puttethin/n^fora companion to Ehafi afwell as 
 Abbot loackim who accompanieth him with UMofes ; as 
 doth alfo S. Hilary according** die report ot riegas.Tht- 
 odoret faith,thatf has flhall preach after Antichnfls deatn. In 
 fumme,the difference betwixt the Fathers touching this 
 point, is no letfc, then is at this day amongfl the Romiih 
 Dodors about the feme : for fomc fay , that Eli as and Enoch 
 mall comc,which is the moft common opinion. But Mai- 
 *W*affirmeth,thatS./*&» writeth fo euidently m the c- 
 leuenthofthc Apocdyps, that Mas and Mofes mall come. 
 r Jt j 3 Tb*t 
 
 Ldfldnt. lib.?* 
 cap.?. 
 
 Perer.ln Daff. 
 
 lib.jf 
 
 
6i 
 
 A Refutation of the of inters of 
 
 cap / 1 . 
 
 7«Ob, 
 
 BeUe Rem, 
 VontXib* 3.T. C 
 ptrer.m Dav> 
 
 liemond.de 
 
 Tettul.dc Re- 
 furrefi/arn, 
 Ireneui /i&.f. 
 
 That no man can deny it not onely without tajhncjpt, but alfo 
 withont impdency : with whomconfent in opinion, Arbo- 
 revs and Ga*»eu* t *s P^/ relate th. AmbrofiHsCntbarwm 
 is reprehended by Pererius, becaufi he adioyncth to Enoch 
 Vl&E Has, lotto theEuangelift. Inbrcefe,eueryone ipea- 
 keth hecreof according to his ownc fenfe,as it ordinarily fair 
 Icth out to them that loue rather to grope ifttite darke,then 
 to walkc in the light of the holy Scriptures . 
 
 Finally, that nothing may be forgotten chat feemethany 
 wayes though ncucr fo little, to countenance this dreamc, 
 they addc to their precedent allegations,this rcaioii foUoW- 
 ing : That feetn* Enoch and ZliMareyetalwejhere can mo- 
 ther \eafon be gfue* thereof M* ha * they Are preferred alme 
 totheend.thatalittle before the confimmation of the world, 
 tbejjheuld beare witneffeof thetrmhof Chrifi *g*inft An- 
 tkhrifi : the which Remand** amphficth With pathcticall 
 cxdamations,on this manner. For what other comfcU(htfh 
 he) hath the Father of Nature remrfod the order of Nature! 
 Wherefore hath he in thefetwofo abridged the fewer*} death, 
 if not to. prefers them aim for (owe great enter prife} Ana 
 what greater enterprise could there be, then to reftft the Vnjup 
 portable impiety of Antichrist 
 
 An idle conference, Enoch and Eliot Hue; therefore they 
 [hall come to fight again? Antichti/r. As irGodhad not o- 
 therreafonsofhis wonders, then that which thefc feUpw*s 
 imagincin their feeble braiac The Fathers hauc fear died cut 
 oth?rrcafonsbftte 
 
 imaginary prefcruation to combate wife Antichrilt.7 ertult- 
 an itith, that they are examples of our future immortality. 
 /rwf»,that they are pledges of our rapting yp More our 
 Lord Iefus Chri(t,nndthat thefe bodies fthotwrffa wee are 
 weighed downc in this earthly life, (hall not hinder vs from 
 afcendimnnto hcauen. Fut not to fcekc other reafons, at 
 fufficethvs that' God hath af fumed diem to himfclie after 
 this manner ,for the publickc edification of the Church, and 
 the makingthcir prcathing fruitfull : for it is not vnknown 
 how the world in the time of Enoch was corrupted and de- 
 generated 
 
the Rcmifh Dofier touching Anth 
 
 *1 
 
 pays 
 
 ecv.as 
 
 generated iromi: aiici nt purity into ail miancr ofto ■■■ 
 which f-f/och didmoR exa&ly reprouebyhls prophecy, 
 appearcth by the Epiitic of S. fade. Qo\ therefore by this 
 extraordinary ray iflim cm of his pcrfbn, would as it were 
 by a publkke fcalc,confirmc and approue the doctrine of his 
 mt :to the end, to mouenicn to repentance, and to 
 yccld obedience to his preaching. Whence it is that Ecc'e- 
 (taflicw yVthom they alledgc,faithjthat hncch was tranfpor- 
 tedfor an example of ~pfcpent*Kce to the generations :that is 
 to fay,to men not of the fatter Age of the world. Albeit this 
 example profitcth vs alfb^by beholding the excellent fruitc of 
 his faith, as it is fct downe. Hcb. 1 1 . 5. hut vnto men of 
 his ownc age : for if he had becne taken out of the world 
 after the manner of other men,they would not haue thought 
 that he had becne pleating vnto God, and fent from him. 
 But when God ftretched forth, (as I m:v fofay) thearmes 
 of heauen to (hatch him vp to himfclfc, doubtlelTe the moft 
 blockifh that liued,could net but be aftoniihed at fo ftrange 
 a Miracle. We affinne the fame concerning §lut* . In braefe, 
 to thipkc that Enoch and Eltas were preferued aliue to come 
 againe to dye in the time ofAntichrift, is repugnant both to 
 holySciipture, and to reaion. To holy Scripture, for itab- 
 fo!ute!y pronounccth, That Enoch was taken away that bee 
 might not ft e death, Heb.i i.^i And to reafon : becaufc by 
 this transportation they were changed, and this change is an 
 entire exemption from the power of death,as wknefTeth the 
 Apoit'c J i.c^r.i5.52.5M.7^f/'4.i7. 
 
 4 Afar kg*. 
 The great p-r [cent ion of Antichrist* 
 Ordinarily (kith Re?nciid&s ) The lafl euills are the cx~ 
 trcamefl : they that are in a Fester, feele t he lafl fit moU vio- 
 lent. Thu poor e Church which lyeth ficke,. con famed in fie[h 
 and beauty y ^y reafen ef the violent •fits- which it endurtih ; is 
 not jet m it Chrifi : (thefc are his owne worefs. ) The lafl 
 fit which it /hail have % fJ?all excerde alltlye rcfl before 1 the ri- 
 gour of the co'dfbali be more fharpe, and the fierceneffo of the 
 heate move violent and bttrnhg^ndthe thicke beating of the 
 flfi 
 
 Re mend 'lib.de 
 
 New word* 
 fit for new 
 Doftrine* 
 
H 
 
 A Refutation of the opinions of 
 
 BeLJe Rom. 
 PontX^jefj* 
 PererjnDArS 
 Ub, i / . 
 Vmg.in Apoc. 
 
 I.Ob. 
 
 1 
 
 pulfe redouble}. Li the end he concludeth, That there Jhall 
 be a greater p;rfecunon then ener wo* in the Church. With 
 whom arc confenting all the others, that write of Antichrift. 
 For Antichrift in fuchfort (lay they ) that there (hall not bee 
 any more any pMtcke femice or ceremonies of Religion , or 
 Sacrifices : none of which wee fee arriuedin our time ; therefore 
 Antichrift is not yet come. 
 
 Anfwere. 
 Leaning to Phyfitians to iudge whether the ApHorifme 
 of£*?#W^beHypocraticall:wc fimply deny, both that 
 Antichrift muftabolifh all publicke fcruice and cercmonicb 
 ofReligion,andaifothathe hath not already abolifhed the 
 true feruicc of God,fo farre forth as is forc-prophecied of 
 him. 'For feeing that he mull: fit in the Temple of God, md 
 haue two homes like vnto the Lambe : how can it bee, that 
 hee fhould abolifh all the ceremonies and fcruice of God ? 
 He fhallindeedlnterdi&,and hath already long agoe inter- 
 dicted as much as in him lay,thctruefcruiceofGod,andthe 
 holyCeremoniesinftitutedbyChri(l. Wit neffe, that in the 
 holy Supper, he hath cut off the Cup againft the expreite 
 commandement oi our Sauiour, Dr inke yee all of this. And 
 in ftcad of the Sacrament which was inftitutedby Chrift/or 
 the confirmation of our Faith by the commemoration of his 
 I death : hath deuifedafacrifice not oncly for the quickc and 
 the dead,but that which is mod abominable ; for the difeafes 
 ofMen,ofHorfes,ofHogs, to aucrttcmpcfts,and ftormes 
 in the ayre,and infcifilitie of the earth, and in brcefe a for all 
 other nccemues of this life. But let vs fee, how thcyproue 
 that Antichrifts perfection (hallbe themoft grecuous that 
 euer was, and that hee (hall aboliih the whole feruicc of 
 God. 
 
 Math.ii. 2 1 . it is faid, That there (hall be great perfect 
 tio» 3 fuch as hath not besne the like fmce the beginning of the 
 rvorld.vntill this time y nor yet /]?alll&. Which words (faith 
 fo«*Ww)arcrefcrredbyaUthc Fathers of the Church to 
 the time of this perfection : and the abomination whereof 
 the Euangclift fpeaketh„fha!l be the fame Antichrift, as faith 
 \Tertfillian. ^ Vc 
 
the R«mi[b Dottors pitching Antichrijl, 
 
 «5 
 
 We hauc already heerctofore declared ,,that our Sauiour 
 ' Chiifts purpofc in this placets not to fpeakc of Anticbrift^or 
 of the end of the workl. And in truth, if this perfecution 
 whereof he heerefpeaketh, were imrri bllowcd with 
 
 the end of the world ; to what purpose mould he fay : That 
 there hath not beer.e th? lt\e affltdio ? face the beginning of the 
 world 3 nor /W/ bee ? For if the worlds end muft follow im- 
 mediately after Antichrifts deitruction, it is fofarre,that 
 there mould be any ilich like afmd^iori after wards,that there 
 can be no affliction at all, of what fort foeuer. As for the 
 abomination ofdefolation,it can no more then the othe;-, be 
 referred vnto Antichrift for the reafons fore fpeciried. 
 donats interpretation is much more agreeable to this paiTage, 
 to wit, that the abomination of defolation, is nothing 
 eifc but the abhominablc and horrible defolation of the 
 Citty o^Iertifalem: as is alio expounded by S. jL#£? in there 
 words: whenjoufhallfee lernjdem er.virGnedwith armies, 
 know th-tt then the deflation is neere tit hand, Lf*ke. 2 i.zO. 
 To fignify that the defoktion foretold by the Prophet Dame! 
 mould then truly be fulfilled : after the which,they mould 
 not ex'peel: any more reitauration of the Citty ,as it had bene 
 after other precedent de olations, 
 
 ^/w.;o.2 8.itisfaid,thant that time Sathanfnall bee 
 let loofe, and confequently ( faith S. Aug* ft W) this perfe- 
 cution of Ant ichriilfnall bee fomuch more grecuous, then 
 all that went before, becaufc the cruelty of Sathan being vn- 
 bound,is greater then when he was bound. Now wehaue 
 had no experience of any fuch cruelty, fincc the yearetixe 
 hundred or a thoufand of our Sauiour Chrift. For what is 
 that perfecution, which they affirme to haue becne exerciled 
 againft fuch as haue withdrawnethemfclues from the o- 
 bedience of the Pope, in comparifon of the pcrfecutions of 
 Nero y Domiti{M ,DeciH* , Tiioclefian ? Seeing that D imafa 
 writeth in the life of Marcelltu, that in one month vnder 
 the Emperour Dioclefian were flaine feucntcene thou 'and 
 Chriitiars > And Eufebiuj, that the prifons were foftufted 
 with Marty rs 3 that there was no roomc for MalefacX 
 
 K Is 
 
 Kcfp, 
 
 2.0E>. 
 
 BeUe °o m . 
 Pont-LZ.cr. 
 
 9- 
 
66 
 
 A Refutation of the cfinhns of 
 
 Beldt not- 
 Ec clef. cap. 
 "vlt'lmo* 
 
 3-Ob. 
 
 It is truc,that we read in the Apocalyps, that the Dragon 
 ppoftld Be bound a ihd*(and yeares, avd at the end iherctfbe let 
 leofe. But it alfo true, that whether we take the beginning 
 ofthefe thoufahd yeares from the birth of our Sauiour 
 Chriftwith Aretas, andS. jiugnflinex or from the deftru- 
 6tion o{Ierfsfaicm y \\'im others : or whether we referre it to 
 thctimeoftheEmpcrour Conflantine, about the goc. ycare 
 of Chriit^when God began to giue peace and refreihment to 
 his Church, after the former perfections : alwayesthefe j 
 thoufand ycarcs of Sathans imprifonment fhallbc accompii- 
 fhed, and this gricuous perfecution of Antichrift (hall bc- 
 ginne, either in the time of Gregory the feuenth, about the 
 yeare 1073. or of Boniface the eight, towards the ycare 
 1 3 00. For fince that time,what hath bene fecne but horrible 
 butcherries and molt cruell perfecutions againft the Saints of 
 God ? And to fay that thefe perfecutions are not to be com- 
 pared to thofe otNerofD omit inn fDeciKS.Dioclefian is mort 
 true : for thofe were onely corporall perfecutions, but thefe 
 both fpirituall and corporall : thofc were executed by fits and 
 diltin& diftanccs of time, and continued not, but for the 
 fpacc of certaine moneths and yeares : but theie endured 
 many Ages together. Thofc tooke away certaine thoufands 
 of M artyrs : but thefe, innumerable multitudes- A ud to the 
 _rnirpofc, Dttm&fu* numbreth vpfcuenteene thoufand Chri- 
 ftians,that were flainc in one month vnder / iocleftan . And 
 Bellarmitts reckoneth amongft the valiant acts of the Church 
 ofRomt, that an hundred thoufand of the Albigenfts were 
 flainc in one day , vnder Pope hnecent the third l*- ot to re- 
 prefent here the execrable Mall acres executed for the caufe 
 of Religion, in France and the Low Countries : So that, fo 
 farre is it,that this Prophecy fhould make vs expect the com- 
 ming of Antichrift, that it conflraineth vs to acknowledge 
 that he is already come, and hath exercHed along time his 
 tyranny;not in fecrct,but in the open view of the world. 
 
 From the time that the daily facrifice fhallbc taken away 
 (faith the Prophet Danief)md the abhoir inaticn of deflati- 
 on (hall be fct vp,therc fliall be a thoufand two hundred and 
 
 ninty 
 
the Remifb Do Hers Reaching Anticbfijl. 
 
 6 7 
 
 nioty daics : fignify ing thereby, that the publick feruice and 
 facrifice ofthe Church,inould vttcrly be aboluncd Recife, 
 by the pcrfecution of Anr.ichrilt : as both Irencm^ S. lerorxf, 
 and others expound the place. Whence they deduce three 
 conclufions. Firft,that Antichrift is not yet come. Secondly, 
 that the Pope is not Antichrift, feeing he hath not taken a- 
 the daily facrifice ofthe Church, but rather hath ador- 
 ned manner of honours. And thirdly, that they 
 thatoppofe themfclues againftthe Pope,arc the fore-runners 
 of AnticKrifr,feeittg they hold Qothing in fo much abhomina- 
 ticn,as th ;iy facrifi ce. 
 
 The Prophecy ipeaketh neither of * michriit, nor ofdic 
 feruice and prcteiu ce ofthe Chriitian Church : but 
 
 of isfrthchte, and of the daily facrifice of the Iewifh 
 Church : For from the time ofthe prophanation ofthe Tem- 
 ple, and {ctting rp the abhominable J doll of defolation vport 
 the Altar ofthe Lord, by the commandement of .Anttochut 
 Efifhanes s vntillthc purification and dedication of thefaid 
 Temple by ludzs Macbabeus, enter parted a thoufand two 
 hundred -and dinty daies, as Scaltger in his book ofthe E- 
 mendation of times hath notably difcouered. So that the 
 Allegorical! expositions of this Prophecy, cannot make any 
 thing for the confirmation of this dreamc: efpecially feeing 
 it huh bene before rnanifefted, that it is againft rcafbn, to 
 make men bcleeue, that Antichrift rnnft caufc the feruice of 
 God to ceaic. It is iiiflicicni-,ifvnder die iliadow of Gods 
 ferukc,he /hall bring in his abhominations, and make fem- 
 blance of worshipping Chriit, and honouring his Sacra* 
 mcnts.fhall depriue them of all efficacy and failing profit : as 
 maybe obierued more particularly in the MalTe : wherein 
 vndcrthc pretext of offering a facrifice to God, it hinde- 
 reth vs from receiukig from him .that which he ofTcreth vnto 
 vs : and by an imaginary facrifice, abolimeth the truth ofthe 
 Sacramcnunftitutcd by Chriil. In which regard, we con- 
 clude three things directly oppohtc to thole three cone 
 ons otTjeHarntiyj* • to w it, Fir it, that A ntichrift is not on- 
 ly come,but that he is alio reucale J, feeing initcad of a S. 
 
 K 2 ment 
 
 Ref F , 
 
 SedRgjU 
 
 EmencLtt.iejtt* 
 per Jib. vfag, 
 
 s+7- 
 
 i 
 
6% 
 
 A Refutation of the opnions of 
 
 Apocip.il- 
 
 Epift \Leonis s>. 
 xd Mtcbael. 
 Epifc.CQ»fttittJ> 
 
 C4?.3J. 
 
 merit he impofeth vpon the Church a facrifice. Secondly, 
 that the Pope is this Antichrift, fo.rafmuchas he ordain eth 
 this facrifice, maintained^ it abouc all things, and graceth it 
 with all kinds of honour. Laftly , that it is fo farrc, that we 
 who dctcft with all our hearts this facrifice, are fore-runners 
 of Antichrift ; that rather we are euery one, according to the 
 guift of Gods grace, the inftruments of the mouth of Chrift, 
 by whom he prepareth the deitru£tion of Antichrift : as on 
 the other fide,they that employ their tongues and pens, for 
 the maintenance of this facrifice, arc the mifcrable inftru- 
 ments of Sathan, that fliall be confumed with the fword of 
 the mouth of the Sonne of God,when the Beaft and the falfe 
 Prophet fliall be caft into the Lake of fire and brimftone. 
 
 Their fift demonftration, is drawne from the durance of 
 Antichrift, whereof I fliall fpeake afterward in due order : 
 as alfo of the fixt, which is touching the end of the world, 
 immediately (as they fay)follo wing the deftrucVion of Anti- 
 chrift after three yeares and an halfc, to the end I may not in- 
 terrupt the order of the proposed queftions,according to the 
 definition giuen of Antichrift. 
 
 Ont of what Nation Antichrift Jhall grow ^nd 
 of what Religion be [ball be. 
 There is a very remarkable difcourfc, in an Epiftle of 
 Pope Leo the ninth, to Mtcbael Bifhopof Conftantinople, 
 where he faith, that the report was, that thofe otConftrtnti- 
 nople y being accuftomed to behold Eunuch es fitting in the 
 Patriarchallieate, at the laftaduanced thereunto a woman. 
 A fine inuenuon,to make to vaniili by this trickc the memo- 
 ry of Pope lone, by diuerting this infamy vpon Conftanti- 
 nople, where all know that ncuer any fuch thing came to 
 paiTc. The like they doe in this fubieel : for to the end that 
 the true Antichrift maynotbeknowne and acknowledged, 
 they caft out a rumour, that he fliall be a lerv ; that men in 
 thisvaine expectation, may fleepevnder his tyranny. The 
 diuell herein doing like a crafty Captaine, who giuingthe 
 afTault to one fide of the Citty, makes a falfe alarum on an- 
 other 
 
the Rom/ fh D otters f ouch ing Antichrifl* 
 
 6q 
 
 other to amaze the Inhabitants, and hinder them from repai- 
 ring the breach. It is then a recciued opinion in the Church 
 ofl{ome, as a tradition from all antiquity : that Antichrift 
 fhallbeborncin Babylon, ofthe Tribe of/}rf»,and the Nati- 
 on of the Hebrewes : and that he fhall be circumcifed, and 
 obferue the Sabbath; their proofes are fctcht cither from ho- 
 ly Scripture,or from rcafon. 
 
 Gen. 49. iy. Dan [hall is a Serpent by the way, and an 
 Adder in the path, The neighing of his horfes (faith Icrrmy) 
 wm heard from Dan, and nil the (fauntty was moned with the 
 uoyfi of his horfes. Andinthefcuenth of the Apocalyps y 
 where the Angcll markcthoutthctweluc thoufand Elecl of 
 euery Tribe of Ifrael, there is no mention of the Tribe of 
 Dan ; in hatred of A nvchrift (a s they fay) the which conceit 
 they fortifie.by the interpretation of many of the Ancients 
 vpon this place. 
 
 Thefe are not proofcs,butconieclures,w'ithoutall weight 
 or probability : whereupon Cellar mine is conftrainedto fay, 
 that thefe paffages can haue no force in this refpe£t ; feeing 
 the Prophecy of lacob fpeakcth otSampfon, and that of Jere- 
 my ofJVabuchodonofor, not of the Tribe of Dan, or of Anti- 
 chrift, as S. Ierome hath vndcrftood both the one and the o- 
 ther. And as touching the Apocalyps, hefaith : That it is 
 not weli h^ownff why the Tribe of Dan is omitted, feeing S- , 
 phraim is aifo, which was oxe of t he greatefl Tribes of Jfrac I. , 
 But he is decciucd,in thinking that Fphraim is omitted; feeing 
 he is comprized vndcr the Lynage otloftph, as the Icfuitc 
 Per 'triiis hath well obferucd : howfoeucr, it is ccrtaine, that 
 the Tribe of Dan was not omitted in hatred of Antichrift, 
 as fomepf the Ancients haue conie£tured : but rather be- 
 came this Tribe was of longtime reuoltcd from the feruicc 
 ofthe ttue God : whence it is, that in the firft booke of the 
 Chronicles, where all the other Tribes are counted, thcrc.is 
 no enumeration made of this Tribe. Andbefides,if this pre- 
 tended A ntichrift, were to bee of the Tribe of Dm ; how I 
 fhould he be receiued ofthe Iewes for their Meffias (as they. 
 would haue it) feeing the lewes expeel their Mefllas, out of 
 
 K 3 the 
 
 Peter jn Dan* 
 
 Viegjn yipoc. 
 
 I.Ob. 
 Percr.in Dan. 
 
 Refp. 
 
 Perer-rnDdH. 
 
7 o 
 
 A Refutation of the opinions of 
 
 2.0 b. 
 g^Je Rom. 
 
 Vlegjn Aft?' 
 
 Rerp. 
 
 Bcde Rom. 
 Pont M*i*. 
 
 th: Tribe of Ittdi Fforh the pofteffty of D titid ? Fortius 
 caufc, Belttrmme difchimeth thefe allcgitions, andthinketh 
 to fiade more forcible demonftr *tions, that Antichrift mill 
 be a lexvy andbee recciued of the lews, in thefc Texts that- 
 follovv. 
 
 lam come in the name of my Father((sdth the Sauiour of the 
 world) and yon receive me not, if another corns in kU own* 
 name, him yoa mil receive John. 5.4^ .And that which the A- 
 pottle fpeaking of A ntichrift,faith, 2 . Thef 2.10. That be 
 (lall come in all efficacy of deceits m tbofe that periflp, becaufe 
 the J receipted not the hue of the truth that they might befaittd. 
 Now to whom doth this agree better then to the Iea>es,vjho 
 would not receiue ourLoid Iefus Chrift ? And thusS./*- 
 roKcJrcaexs, Hippolitw ffheedsret ,SnlpitiKi Sestertu, ind o- 
 thers expound. 
 
 Wchaue already before declarcd,thatthetextin$. Iohn, 
 doth notaymc at Antichrift in particular : neither is thatot 
 the Apoftle anymore particular touching the loves, but cn- 
 fergeSi itfelfetoall thofc that fiiallnot bclceucthc truth, 
 whether they bzlewes or Gentiles : as alfo the A pottle him- 
 fclfe feemcth to make dearcywhen he addeth, To the end that 
 alltbcy may be damned which bane not beleeued the truth, hut 
 batte taken pie aftire in iniquity. Where it is to be noted, that 
 the Apoftlc doth not Vic thepretcrperfc&tcnfc as Beiiar- 
 mins lubtilly difputeth,to fignifie that he fpeaketh of thofc 
 oncly that had not belceuedthc preaching of Chrift and his 
 Apottles : but the indefinite tenfe, which participated^ the 
 fignincation both of the time to come, and pift. For if he in- 
 tended onely thofc that had rciectcd the preaching of Chrift, 
 how could they be punifhed in their pcrfons, by the efficacy 
 of Antichrift, if hee come not till towards the end ofj.be 
 world,as they imagine ? As touching the Fathers: wherciorc 
 mould we Befaote enforced to receiue their opinions, then 
 BelLrniive ? who in this vciy fubicdt of the generation of 
 Antichrift, reruteth S. vf*£ufti*e> or f,-b a 1 m (as he would 
 haucit) that affirmcth that Antichrift fhall be borne or a 
 Virgtaj by the operation of the diucll : and WffolitHt Mar- 
 
tbcRomiJh Dottorsjouchinq Antichrist 
 
 7* 
 
 tyr that faith, that he {"hall bee the diucll himfclfc, w ho of a 
 faHeand counteifcit Virgin, fna!l recciuefalfe and coun- 
 terfeit flcfh : And rigtnefkaX tcachcth that certainc Angels 
 ftaue bene incarnate: Arid SulfitiHs, or rather S.Martwe, 
 that holdeth,that he fhrli be Ner e ? In brccfe,it were an appa- 
 rent iniuAice^to con Aiainc vs to admit as a diuine truth , that 
 which the Fathers propounded onciy by way of conieclure, 
 and that often againft both the truth and themfclues. And 
 in truth, if the Fathers had vndoubtedly belecued that Anti- 
 chriA ought to bee a hw y andreeAablifli Circumcifion, the 
 Sabbath, and other I cwifli ceremonies : how came it to 
 pofl e, that S . Avgbftine expounded this paffage of the A- 
 pocalyps after this manner : Ihe Beaft had. two homes like 
 vxto the Lamke, (that is to fay) the u*o ufiaments of the 
 L am be J the vnto the Church : txdkeejp&ke like the'Drtgox, 
 - (that is to fay) pretexted himfelfe vnder the name ofChriftia- 
 nity like a Ltmbe, to Jpread ahrcadfecretlj the vemme of the 
 Dragon. For to what purpofc was the newTeAament, for 
 the rcciifying of the Temple of Ierufalem y and the eAablifh- 
 ing the Iewifh policy, and ceremonies of the Law, Circum- 
 c&>n;and the b'abbarh ? I addc further, to what end Chould 
 Circumcifion,the c abbath,and l.egall ceremonies be; if An- 
 tichr jfl muil abolifli ail the publick feruice of God, as thefe 
 men prefuppofe ? 
 
 Touching reafon . They fay that AntichriA will doubt- 
 lefTc ioync himfelfeto thofe firft, that -vvillreceiue him : now 
 none are io fitly difpofed to recciuc him as the Icrvet, who 
 expeel their Meffias as a temporall King,which King fnall be 
 AntichriA :-for the Tnrke hath his ElntU arriued more then 
 nine hundred yeares fincc. The Idolater, Infuiell, snd Pa- 
 gun, neither looketh for, ner bcleeucth any fach to come . 
 The ChriAian, that calleth himfelfe reformed, is of the fame 
 mind :Thcy imagine that he is already come, and that it is he 
 that warrcth againA them euery day. None expeftcth him 
 with horror and apprehenfion of danger, but theCatho- 
 like, who tremblcth and quakcth at the fcare of his cont- 
 end the very remembrance thereof. For (i&Ariftctle ; 
 
 faith)' 
 
 Aug.hcmjj. 
 
 mtng, 
 
 3- Ob. 
 
 BMe Rem. 
 Pent. h3.cn. 
 
 R^777or:d.l'ihJe 
 Axtub.cap.i f. 
 
72 
 
 A Refutation of the opinions of 
 
 Refp, 
 
 Ckryfoftin 
 Thejr.caf.2. 
 
 BelJe Rom. 
 
 pOftt*l-j,C t 2 
 
 I faith) the certainty of a thing t » come, changeth the nature 
 1 thereof ) <mdm*keth it of future, prefent. Conclude .'therefore 
 Antichrift fhall be a lew. 
 
 In many words, there is oftentimes, much leafing and 
 vanity; we deny that Antichrift (hall be the Meffias which 
 thepoore decerned lewes expect as yet, ncidiercan the con- 
 trary euer be proued. Antichrift muft fit in the Temple of 
 God: Not in the Temple oflerufalem (faith S. Chryfijfame) 
 but in the Temple of the Church* In the Temple of god (faith 
 Aqxivas)that is tofayjn the Church: for afmnch as many ofths 
 Church jhallrecetue him. Or as S. Anguine faith ; He fall 
 fit in the Temple of God (that is) he fhallhaus principality and 
 domination, as if hee with his meffengers were the Temple of 
 God : which Indeed is fulfilled in them : for according to their 
 owne rule,the Church rccideth in the Pope and his Cardinals. 
 They then that are in the Temple of God, that is, in the 
 Church, whether they be /ewes or gentiles, are they y that are 
 more fitly difpofed to rcceiuc Antichrift, then the lewes that 
 are out of the Church. And what fitter difpofition I pray 
 you could Antichrift finde,for his reception into the Church, 
 then this do&rinc, that fendcth ouer his comming to the end 
 of the world, againftthe expreffe word of God? We doe 
 not then any longer looke for this Sonne of perdition as one 
 to come, but we arc affured that he is comc,and reioyce and 
 giue glory to God, that he hath begun to execute his iuftice 
 vpon the great Whore. But they that yet crouch vnder the 
 yoke of the Papacy,arc doubly miferable : for they arc fet- 
 tered in the fhacklcs of Antichrifts tyranny ,and yet they be- 
 leeue it not, but expeel: his comming with horror and fcare, 
 in (read of labouring to come out ovBabylon , accord ing to 
 Gods commandement. It is vaine therefore,and idle,that 
 they fay,that none of their Popes hath bene a lew, either by 
 Nation or Profcfllon : and that the lewes hauc notreceiucd 
 him for their Mcffias,:uid therefore that he is not Antichrift: 
 feeing it is no better then ameere dotage, that Antichrift 
 muft be a /«v,-and accepted of the lewes. 
 
 i.Rvfl. They reply :That Antichrtft fh all deny lefts to 
 
 Be 
 
the Romifi Dofiorsjoxcbing Aittichrift. 
 
 73 
 
 j be Cbrift : who is a lyar, but hee that denyeth Ufm to bee the 
 , Chrtft ? This is Antichnft, that denyeth the Father and the 
 Sonne. But the Pope doth not deny Iefus to be ChrifT. 
 
 #. IcfiismaybcdenyedtobeChrift, either ouertly or 
 couertly, by mouth or by deed : Thus the diuell in many 
 places of the Gofpcll, confefieth that Iefus was the Chriit, 
 the holy one of God : and yet what is his heart more fet vp- 
 on,then the ruine of this doclrine ? In like manner, the Pope 
 confeffeth with his mouth that Iefus is the Chrift, but he dc- 
 nyeth the fame, when by neceflary confequcnccs he deftroy- 
 eth the truth of his humane nature : afcribing vntohim an 
 vncircumfcribed body, which may be inuifibly in many pla- 
 ces : a body confcquently,that is no body, according to this 
 maxime of S. Augnflme : Takeaway the (paces from bodies , 
 and theyfliall be no where ; and becattfe no where, therefore not 
 at all exifting. Or when he robs him ofhis office, and de- 
 ftroyes his benefit to vs : His office, by aiTuming to himfelfc 
 the title of Head and husband to the C hurch,and communi- 
 cating his intcrceflion with the Saints : His benefit, in giuing 
 part of the glory of our faluation to our merits, which wee 
 owe entirely to the merit of him, Th At dyed for ourfinnes y a»d 
 rofe againefor our iufiif cation : and Co the Pope is truly and 
 properly the very true and proper Antichriit. 
 
 i.K^K They reply fecondly, that Ant ichriftfhall name 
 himfelfe God,and caufe himfelfc to be worfhipped as God : 
 and that in uch fort, that he fhall permit no other God to be 
 worfliippcd,whether true or fake, nor any Idols to bee re- 
 tained : according to thefe wordes of the Apoitle, z.Thejf. 
 2.4. That he oppofeth and lifteth vp himfelfe againft all that 
 is called God 3 or which is worfmpped y feAttng himfelfe 04 Qodm 
 the Temple of God, and deporting himfelfe as if hee were God. 
 But the Pope acknowledged one God ; the Father, Sonne, 
 and holy Gholt : callcth himfelfe the feruant of God, and 
 worflaippcth(as the reformed fay) Idols. Therefore the Pope 
 is not Antichriit. 
 
 Rejp. S. Chryfcfia me fixcclienuy expoundeth this paihgc j 
 oftheApoftlc : He faith not (faith he) calling himfelfe Cod, 
 
 L but 
 
 ?.in 
 
 oft -hem, 
 
 Th-jj: 
 
74 
 
 A Refutation of the opntins oj 
 
 T'-rrp l \L'm 
 
 Mk***ffi# 
 
 Z.Tbef,2. 
 
 C.ftcut ynire 
 Exceff.prddt. 
 $n Gbg. 
 
 but labouring tofl-ew himfelfe at Cod: for he [bull doe magnifi- 
 cent workes , and per for me admirable mir acles . Thecphttail , 
 and whofoeucr was the A uthor of thofc Commentaries at- 
 tributed to S. j4thanafitu ,a(nrmc as much. Hefatth not (fay 
 thcy^calling himfelfe (jod y but flowing himfelfe, that is y ftri- 
 uingtemake himfelfe acknowledged as God i for be/hall per- 
 forme both workes and wonders exceeding g) eat, to deceiue the 
 world. So that the A pottle meaneth not, that he {hall openly 
 name himfelfe God, but that by his workes hee fhall con- 
 ftraine himfelfe to be fo acknowledged, andfhallvfurpe a 
 diuinc power and authority. Now,who can deny but that 
 this accordeth fitly to the Pope ; if he confider that which we 
 haue proued in the fecond part of this Treatife, /<?#. 6 ? As 
 touching Idols, the Pope indeed condemncth them in word, 
 but yet elhblifhcth them yndcr the name of Images. In 
 fumme, 
 
 Reftittiit Papafolitf, depenit et ipfe y 
 Dtuidit ac vnit, eximit y ati^probtt : 
 Articulos fcltiit, fyxodxmj 3 fAcitgeneralsm 
 Tramftrti et mntat^appelUt nullm ab illo. 
 
 That is to fay, the Pope of his o wne folc authoritv/eefta- 
 biifheth,difpofeth, vniteth, diuideth,cxemptcth.and appro- 
 ucth or rcie&cth all writings, ycaeuenthofe that are diuine. j 
 Hebreakeththe A nicies of faith, he giueth authority to a 
 generall Councill, he tranflateth, and changeth, and none 
 may appeale from his fentencc. Could a man fay morc,?nd 
 in fewer words, either to prouethat he calleth himfelfe 
 God,or to declare himfelfe to be Antichriil } For it is to no 
 purpofe to fay, that the Pope pronounceth not thefc words, 
 lam Cod ; feeing there is none of thefc particular heads of 
 do6trine, which the GlolTcr doth not prone by the Papall 
 Conftitutions. 
 
 $.Repf. There remaincth one difficulty, touching the 
 miracles,wherewith Antichriil: is to accompany his doitrine: 
 for not to mention their ftrange talcs, like to the higgling 
 
 trickes 
 
the Rcmifo Ttottorsfouching Antichrift. 
 
 75 
 
 trkkcs of the old Romanes, where with Remondm purTcth vp 
 the 27. Chapter of his Antichrirt; Bellarmine obiectcth, 
 that S. tohty jlpoc. 1 3 . giucth vs three forts of miracles of 
 Antichrif t : 1 . That hejhall caufe frc to defcendfrom heaxen. 
 
 2. That hi (hall make the Image of the 'Beaft tojpeake. And 
 
 3 . thtt ho fh all count erf e it e himfelfe to be dead and rife again c : 
 Whence it folio wcth (faith he) that the Pope isnotAnti- 
 chrirl ;forafmuch as none of the Popes, euer fained himfelfe 
 to be deacl,andto rifeagaine : none of them, nor of their 
 miniftcrs, made fire to dcfccadfromhcaucn, or the image 
 of the Beaft to fpeakc. 
 
 Refp. The two former forts of miracles,are indeed attri- 
 buted to the fecond Beaft, that is, to Antichrift, Apoc. 1 3. 
 But as for the third, it is a dotage or dreame, whereof S. 
 hhn maketh no mention at all. He faith indeed : Thn it 
 /J?allbep:rmiitedto this fecond Beaft t that is f to Antichrift • to 
 glue life to the imAge of the Beaft : which having receiueda 
 deadly wottndjLothyst Ime. But this Beaft thus wounded is 
 the Romane Empire, at that time when it was difmembred 
 into diuer? Kingdomcs, and in a manner wholly deftroyed 
 bydiucrs Nations, that tooke vp Armes againft it : as may 
 cafilybe gathered out of Apoc. \j* The Pope therefore 
 then gauc life, to the image ofthisRomane Empire, when 
 he rccouercd it from it's ruine in Char/emaigne; giuing vnto 
 him, the Name, Title, and Authority, (as they thcmfelues 
 brag) of the Romane Emperour. Whence it is, that the 
 Popes require alio ofthefc new Empcrours, the oath of o- 
 bedienceand fidelity, as vnto their Lords and Superiours. 
 So that ic is cafic by confequence to vnderftand, what it is, 
 To make the mage oftheBeaft tojpeake : to wit, to giue au- 
 thority to thefe new C*ft trs -> to command as Emperours: 
 which they haue not, vntiil fuch time as they be crowned 
 andconfecratcdbythc Pope. As touching die fire which 
 they make to defcend from hcaucn, ' at leaft in fhe w and ap- 
 pearance, although their Legends fuinifh vs with fufficicnt 
 examples thereof; and particularly of S. *Afnthony, one of 
 the expcrtefl and nimblcit of their Saints, for the managing 
 
 JL2 of 
 
7 6 
 
 A Refutation of the epntcns of 
 
 Sxbell.tneAd. 
 
 P/ativ.ln "vita 
 
 Legend* Beatt 
 Thorn a. 
 
 Promptudr 
 
 rriiracul. &. 
 M4tU,exemj>, 
 
 of fire : neuerthelefle it iecmethmore fit, toreferreittoa 
 fpirituall intelligence^ the fire of cxcommunication,where- 
 with they haue ofcentimes enflamed the .Empire, King- 
 domes, and Common-weales, and fo terrified Kings and 
 Princes, that they haue bene forced to eaft themfelues at 
 their feet, ancj to liibmit their neckes vnder the yoke of their 
 infolenciesiasweretheEmperourFr^r/^, and Francis 
 Dandalas Duke of Venice : who fuffered himfelfe to be 
 chained like a dog, and to cate his meate with the dogs vn- 
 der the table of a Pope. Albeit, ncuertheicifc it is a wonder, 
 that Bellarmine fhould deny, that cither the Pope or his mi- 
 nifter$,eucr caufed an Image to fpcake : feeing this is one of 
 the moft ordinary miracles, that arc found in their Legends. 
 Thus we rcad,thatthe Images faluted the body of Pope For- 
 mofiu 3 be'mg drawne out of Tyber by filher men. Thus the 
 Crucifix approued the third part of 1 homM his famine, and 
 faid vnto htm : Bene f crip ft ft i de me t Thorn* : Thou haft writ- 
 ten well of me Thomat. But hearken to an example which is 
 worth the reciting. A certaine Gentleman called Theophiius, 
 being fallen into great pouerty, and thereby brought into 
 difpaire,gaue himfelfe to the diucll, with abjuration ofhis 
 Baptifme,ofGod,andofthcVirgine (JWary : which abiu- 
 ration.he wrote with his owne blood, and it was fealcd with 
 the diuels fignct : but a while after,this poore Theophilm^z- 
 penting himfelfe of that he had done, proftratcd himfelfe 
 moft dcuoutly before the image of the Virgin Mary, im- 
 ploring herhelpe with tearcs and weeping : who as alwaics 
 mercifull and gracious, tooke pitty on him, and pardoned 
 him : but the image of lefus Chrift, which was in the amies 
 of the Virgin, as being offended would not heare, but tur- 
 ned his face backward : which the image of the blefled Vir- 
 gin percciuing, laid the image ofher Sonne vpon the Altar,, 
 and went to finde out the diucll with Theophilm, whom (he 
 re/iorcd into the fauour of God againe ; and commanded 
 the diuell to render vp vnto him the writing of his abiurati- 
 on. Who then can deny, that the images of the fecond Bead 
 fpeakc? Notwithstanding, 3 "ellarmme is to be pardoned 
 
 for 
 
the Remi(h DocJer slouching Anti.chrtfl. 
 
 71 
 
 for this fault, feeing pcraducnture he feared, leaft out of 
 the words fpoken by an irnage,to Pope John the eight, Pa- 
 p.ifchannestu paries : Pope Iohn thou fh alt bring forth a 
 Child : fomc fhould conclude again ft him. that the fucceffor 
 of Leo the fourth,in the Papall S ca, was a woman. In briefe, 
 nothing hindercth, but feeing the miracles of the fecond 
 Beaft, doeappertaiae to the Pope ; that wee may conclude 
 hence alfo, that the Pope is Antichrift : feeing by Tiellar- 
 mines owne confcfllon, by the fecond Beaft^is meant Anti- 
 chrift. 
 
 4 Que ft ion. 
 Of the Seare of Antichrift. 
 Wchaue declared in the firft part of this Treatife, That 
 J\ome mult be the feate of Antichrift : and not oncly the Citty 
 of Rome y but the Romane Church ; forafmuch as he muft fit 
 in the Temple of God, that is, in the Church. But our Ad- 
 ucrfaries differ in their opinions concerning this matter. The 
 opinion of Remondm yfoiccc\ by diuers liuelyproofes of ho- 
 ly Scripture is this : whether this PrmceJJc of the Citties of 
 the war Id muft in time to come, be the feate of Antichrift , is a 
 thing vnknowtey and writ ten onely in the booke of Gods infal- 
 lible prxfeience : We know not what hs hath ordained therea- 
 bout ynor whether the vicictu'ftttiation thereof at that time (hall 
 tr,an (change it into another lerufalem. A nd a little aftei^he 
 rendreth a rcafon of this fpcech : For although (faith he} that 
 this Citty be the feat eft he Church ; yet neuertbelefle, it is not 
 exempted from the ftrokes of Fortune. It is compefed and 
 cymented of no other mold and mcttally then was Troy 9 Thebes y 
 and Carthage, great Romes corriuall, whereof fearer the frft 
 foundations are to be found. But yet for all this, he denicth 
 that Antichrift, muft either refide or prefide in the Chaire of 
 S . Peter y and in the Romane Church : directly contrary to 
 the opinion of S. "Bernard y who in his i 2$JErnftlc thus fpea- 
 kcth, The Beaft of the Apocalyp's, to whom is given a month 
 ottering blafrhemies y and power towarre againfi the Saints, 
 foffepth S. Peters Chaire , as a Lyon prepared for his prey. 
 For albeit, he fpeaketh no* of Pope Innocent the fecond, 
 
 L 3 but 
 
7 8 
 
 ^A Refutation of the opinions of 
 
 i.Ob. 
 
 BeiJe Rom. 
 
 Fillers It 
 Apa-.c.rr»itrt. 
 
 Rer P . 
 
 ManeU, 
 Aug.kom.f* 
 in At>oc. 
 Bedatn Apx. 
 RuptrfM m 
 Apocj, 
 LyainAptc. 
 BerthorliL 
 3jf..ttopo(J» 
 
 ApQC> 
 
 b uc of Peter ds £,»;«, wIid by force had intended himfeifc 
 into the Pomificall feate, yet hedeclareththat whether k be 
 by fraud:orbyforc?,Ainichrifi:may fit In S. Piters Chaire. 
 Others perceiuing how hard it is to fcparate the Citty of 
 Rome,from the Church of Rome, which is therefore called 
 R*mane,bzcax\{e it appertaines {o Rome, and that in what 
 place foeucr w r ec conftitutc the Pope, without pofleffing 
 Rome, his Church cannot be the Roruane Church; findcit 
 more fafe to fay,that Icrufalem and not Rome, (hall bee the 
 feate of Antichiift, the Temple of Salomon ,zw\ theJThrone 
 of Dattid , not the Temple of Saint P^terand Papall Chaire, 
 which they thinke to extort by thefc Texts of holy Scrip- 
 ture. 
 
 Saint lohn y Apocal, 1 1.8. witneflcth, that Elias and Enoch 
 fliall fight againft Antichrifi: in lerufalein, and there bee put 
 to death by him, and that their dead bodies fhail lye in the 
 ftrcet ofthe great Citty, which is fpirituaily called So- 
 domeand jfigypt, where our Lord was crucified. Thus 
 Aretas (fay they)and all others interprete this Text : nei- 
 ther can it be denyed. For what Citty is that, but Ierujaltm, 
 wherein our Lord was crucified? 
 
 It is falfe,that all interprete this text of Ierufalcm. Saint 
 fey owe interpreted] it ofthe world :S. Angnfiwe faith, In 
 the places of the great Citty, that is to fay, in the midfi ofthe 
 Church ■. 'Beda expounds it, ofthe whole fciety ofthe wicked, 
 tailed '( faith Itce ) fpirtttsally Sodomeand ts£gypt,that is, 
 dtfmbe and dark?, as hauixg neither the light ej 'Faith , nor the 
 voyceofConfeJfion, fo*p^#* vndcrftandeth it alter the fame 
 manner,For the Cttty or Commnnahy cfal the wkksd,whertcf 
 Urufalem was but apart.Lyraexpoimdsit 3 oCthe Congregati- 
 on ofthe fair h fit 11, in the time ofthe Pa.rUrch Arth-mliis, in- 
 fecled with the Eutichian herefie. Henhorins the Monkc 
 thinks that the world is thereby meant.In breefc, S. lerome 
 (peaking of this Tcxt,giucth this z&mcziTottching Enoch avd 
 Situs whom the /ff ocalyps faith ,mufl teturne and die/ hn is no 
 time todifp ate thereof feeing all that boo\>e mufl he vnderftood 
 .ff>iritmlly t as fffpoje : or if we fallow our cam all interpret at i. 
 
 on. 
 
the Romijh Dcttors ^touching Antkhrifl. 
 
 7* 
 
 OTJjWcemnft receive the lewifh Tables : That the 7 err; pie of 
 fertiftlem [hall be built againe^and fo Jacrifices effercd m the 
 Temple: and that the fyrituall feraice being put downe \ car- 
 nail Ceremonies [hall f»cceedin place theresfSmzMy, as by the 
 holy Citty ifi this very Chapter is not meant one particular 
 townc,but the whole Church ofChrift vniucrfally fcattcred 
 through the world: So through this Citty with the places 
 thereof f.gnificth principally Rome the feate of Antichrift,as 
 fhe is painted out vnder this name, Apoc. 1 7«yef k is alfo to 
 be vndcrftoodof all other Cittics,Lands, and places of the 
 world,that fubmit themfelues vnder Antichrifts yoke. And 
 as the Poet hath vpon other purpofe faid, That ether Nati. 
 o;is bans their bounds avd limits put that Rome U welj boun- 
 ded by^he whole world : So wefay that this, great Citty is no- 
 thing eMcbutthc whole would that fhall. adhere vnto Anti- 
 christ. And in very dccd,it is not found in holy Scripture, 
 that Icrufalcm is euer called the great Citty. 
 
 And as touching thefc wot ds, where our Lord rva* cvuei- 
 fifd, they muft be taken after the fame manners ^odomc 
 and iGgypt are,to wit, fpiritually, as Saint Jthn fpcrktth. 
 For as Rome is Sodbmc for impurity,and /Egypt for tyran- 
 ny : So our Sauiour Chrift is hecrein crucified cuciy day 
 afwcll in his mcmbers,asby the contempt of his Gofpell and 
 Grace. Forafmuch as they that rciedt the Gofpell preached 
 vnto them without repentance,, doe as farre as in them lyes, 
 crucific again c the Sonne ofGod,and cxpofehimto reproch, 
 Heb.6.6. Bcfides the Sacrifice oflcfiis OhriJt, which thry 
 brag to offer vpeuery day, wherein Chrift muit needs bee 
 rcipedted as crucified rwhercuntoi might adde, that he was j 
 crucified vnder the Romane Empire ,and by Pomiw Pilate 
 a Romane Magiftrate. 
 
 In the feucntcenth of the 'jipocahps it is fud,that the ten 
 Kings,that fhall fhare amongft them the Romane Empire, 
 and vnder whofe reigne Antichrift muft come, fhdl hate the 
 Whore clothed with Scarlet,that is to fay, Rome;and make 
 her defofrte and burne her with fire. How can Rome then 
 bee the feate of Antichrift, if at that time it muft be defol- 
 iated and deftroyed ? This 
 
 Quid. 
 
 1. Ob. 
 
 helsk Rr. m 
 
 n _ . i i 
 
 COr.t.Ub 
 
So 
 
 A Refutation of the opinions o f 
 
 Kefp. 
 
 Apoc.17.l7- 
 
 ih'id.Afoc.y. 
 IS* 
 
 B2l.lbid.c13. 
 
 H'leron.xd 
 am. 
 
 This ObiecYioii is compounded of many falfities. The 
 firfl, when it fetteth downe as granted, that Antkhriit jfhali 
 -come vnder the reigne of thefe ten Kings : for the Apoftlcs 
 tell vs that he was already come in their time. Another, when 
 it afficmeth,that thefe ten Kings fliall diuicle among thern- 
 felues alone the Romane Empire : whereas Saint John faith, 
 that the Beaft, which is Antichrift,{hall partake with them in 
 thisdiuifion. They fh all take (faith hee) vpon them power 4* 
 Kings , at the fame time with the Beaft. Laft, when it con- 
 ie&ureth that thefe ten Kings (hall deitroy the Whore af- 
 foone as they fhall enter vpon their reigne : whereas S . tohn 
 on the contrary fhe weth vs,that they fhall fi rft accord with 
 the Beaft^and fhall haue one Common Counfcll with him, 
 and giue vnto him their Power and Authority, to fight a- 
 gainft the Lambs f but at the Jaft thatthey concerning a 
 deadly hatred agaiufi: the Whore,fhall make her defolate, 
 and burne her with fire. So that out of fuch premifes can be 
 drawne no other then a falfc conclusion. But let vs returnc 
 this fuppofed truth of his interpretation, and that euena- 
 gainft himfelfc : for feeing this Whore which .(hall bee de- 
 ftroyedbytheteii Kings which fliall bee in the time ofAn- 
 tichrift, is Rome : it cannot be meant of Rome Pagan,as he 
 would, but of Rome Chriltian. For Rome was not Pagan 
 fince the time ofthe Empcrour Conftantwex and yet in their 
 opinion Antichrift mult not come till a little before the end 
 of the world. Andcertainelythc Ancient Fathers plaincly 
 declare, that they did not vndcrfbnd this, but of Rome 
 C hriftian. / thmke ( faith S . lerome fpeaking of 'Index) that 
 this place is mere holy then the recipe oj Tarpeitu (tk&lls to 
 fay Rome ) which hatting beenefo often jlrok.cn with Thunder 
 from heauen, hath mamfefted that it hath cliff leafed the Lord. 
 i\eadethe ApocalypsofS^ Iohn, and confider that which hee 
 report etb of the woman clothed with Scarlet , ofthe blajphcmy 
 written in her forchead^cf feuentJMountaines j>f many waters, 
 and ofthe end of Babylon* Come ottt of her my people (faith the 
 Lord)leasJyee partake of her plagues, Weigh alfo that whtch 
 is written in lercmy : Fly from Babyhn^andfaue every one his 
 
 foule : 
 
the RemifJ) DottorsjoHching Antkhrijl. 
 
 81 
 
 foule i for it is fitlsn, great Bab) Ion is fallen, axd made a habi- 
 tation of diucls, and are fort of 'euery vncleanc fpirit. And to 
 the end that no man mould thinke he fpeaketh of Rome Pa- 
 gan, he addeth ; That in truth there is the holy Church 3 there 
 the trophees of the Apofiles and Aiartyrs, there was the faith 
 preached by the u4poftles> there the Chriftian name loaning 
 trampled Paganifne vnderfoote^aduanceth itfelfe aloft : *But 
 there is affi the power and ambition ^c. And what re- 
 mained more I pray you ? B ut that addrefling his fpecch to 
 Rome, he faith vnto her with Petrarch : Thou art in truth the 
 very fame } whom the Euangeltfifaw in fpirit: the very fame I 
 fay, and not. another, who art fetvpon many waters. In an- 
 other place the fame Author fpcaketh thus . When I Conner- 
 fed tn Baby Ion, and rvas an Inhabitant of the purpled Whore ; I 
 pm pofed to dtjcourfe , fomethtngofthe holy Spirit > andto dedi- 
 cate the intended bsche to the Bifhop of that Citty. But be- 
 holi.that Pot which is to bs read of in leremy, after theftaffe 
 on the North [ids, began to be inflamed : and the Senate of 
 Pharifes made an outcry, neither was there one Scribe that 
 counterfeited : but all the faciion of ignorance confyired a- 
 gainft me-, as if a comb ate of DoUrine had bene propounded. 
 Therefore incontinently I returned to I erufalem y and reuiftte^ 
 the lodging ofUlfary, with theDen of our Sauiour, afte r the 
 Cottage of Romulus, and the Lupercalls of the fVolues '^Vhc^ 
 we fee cxprcffcly, that he callcth Rome; eucivfir- '"■ i 
 an (for he fpcaketh principally -or tneBifr- D „ n . r , ' 
 J 5 reof)bo^ 
 
 If they rep y 3 tnat admit it be fo : yet 2^ chriffian mail be 
 deftroyedbyAnti^ 
 
 fcate : We anfwere that this fuppofitionisfilfe, and contra- 
 ry to that which S. lohn fpcaketh, Apoc. \ 7. 
 
 Their third obie<ftion,is drawne from the words of the A- 
 poftlc, 2 . Thef 2.4. which are thefe : Euento befet in the 
 Temple of God. For though Anfelme expoundeth the Tem- 
 ple ofG od for the foules of the faithfully then when they are 
 ^"^oyAntichrift. And S.^»^ WV ndcrftandcththat 
 Antichnn; ihallaffirmc himfelfe to be the Temple of God, 
 M the 
 
 Hieroa.irtprA- 
 
 fat. lib. D 'i- 
 djmi.de fftrtt* 
 fanfto. 
 
 3. Ob. 
 
8* 
 
 A Refutation of the epmcns of 
 
 Ecfp. 
 
 AmMaraU, 
 
 Ga 'at^e 
 
 Arcan.Cathol 
 
 yetitlib^. 
 
 ! the true Church. And S. Cbryfofioms takethit forChriftian 
 Churches, which Antichrift fhall fubduc to himfelfe. Neuer- 
 theIefFc,thc more common, more probable,and more litcrall 
 interpretation (faith Bellarmwe) is, that by the Temple of 
 God, is meant the Temple ofSalomop. 
 
 S. Cbryfcfiomss interpretation is true : and that of Bel- 
 larmine vttcrly repugnant to the Prophecies of holy Scrip- 
 ture, which fpcake thus : That the Temple of I erufahmpriall 
 not be built againe, Dan$. 2 7. {Mat . 24. 2 . which Prophe- 
 cies were long after verified, vndcrthe Emperour Mian ; 
 who going about to reedifie IerHfalem> in fauour of the 
 Iewes^nd in hatred of Chriftians, the foundations were tur- 
 ned vpfide downe, by terrible fire burfting violently out of 
 the earth. And Galatinw the Monke proucth by the Anci- 
 ent Tbalmudiftsy that there fhall neucr be any building of a 
 third Temple : Howbeit BellarminekfooKXQtiito prouehis 
 interpretation by reafons, and thus he fpeakcth. 
 
 Repl. Fhft,Chriftian Churches (faith. he)arc ncuer called 
 the Temple of God, in the new Tefiament. Secondly, the 
 mod Ancient Fathers, both Greeke and Latinc,did not call 
 the places of Chriftian afTemblics, by the name of Temples. 
 Thirdly, this is the conimon cxpofiuon of the Fathers : as of 
 IrevMis, HippolHtu CM arty r y Cyrill, Hillary, Ambrose, 
 SedtdiWy'Dsijnafane. Fourthly, they that fay that he fhall 
 lit in cnC ClX^sfek ^°V nc ncuertheicife thereunto the Temple 
 otferufalem : as chry]oj?o&S+ Theodorct y IkeopbtlaB^ 
 AHTuftiveJ. lerome,OecHmemtu alone, and he the hteft in 
 time of all the rett,dcnieth that Antichrift (hall haue his feate 
 at icrufalem. 
 
 Rejp. The firft reafon is manifeftly falfe : for, What agree- 
 ment (faith the Apoftlc) u there -.betwixt the TcmpU of God 
 and Idols ? For yate are the Temple of the lilting God : Now 
 he fpeakcth all this to the Christian Church at Corinth, He 
 that ouercommeth (faith S. hhn) I will wake a pillar in the 
 Temple of my God, ^poc. 3 . 1 ft. that is to fay ,in the Churches- 
 ^^ expounds it. Andintheu. Chapter, arcedisgiuen 
 to S. lobn, to mcafure the Temple of God, that is to fay • 
 
 i/Zox>6.i6 
 
 Sedd in Apoc 
 caps. 
 
 intel- 
 
the Romi[b Doftors \touching Antichrift. 
 
 83 
 
 intelligence to Prophecy of the eftate of the Church of God: 
 or as S. Auguftine faith : To number the Church and prepare 
 it again fi the I aft day : Tor the Temple of ferufalem was not 
 then in being. The iccond reafon is. foolifh : for wherefore 
 fhouldthc Apofties,andthc Doclors, that jmediatcly fol- 
 lowed them, glue the name of Temples to the places where 
 Christians affcmbled, feeing they had not as yet any Tem- 
 ples, as Befixrrm&eamuthetk ? The third reafon bindes vs 
 nor againft the Scriptures : and our Aduerfaries do often al- 
 fo reieS the Fathers in this argument. As for thofe Fathers, 
 that ioyne the Temple of the le wer. y with the Church of 
 Chriiiians ; they fpeake figuratiuely,and meant thereby no 
 otherthing, but that Antichrift ftiouldfit in theChriltian 
 Church, which is collected and compounded of both levees 
 and Gthtjfes, as we alfo affirmc. So that Oecvmeniiu doth 
 not contradict, them at all, but onely interprets their mea- 
 ning. And to.purpofe, what can be more cleare,then that 
 which Theodore* writeth vpon this place of the Thejfaloni- 
 axf} Hecdleth (faith he) theTemple of God y the Churches 
 wherein Antichrift f? all rauifn to h'mfi/fe the fir ft feat e y to 
 make himjelfe acknowledged therein a* God : For how 
 could a man more liuelyand punctually defignc, not onely 
 the Church in generall, but alfo the Church of Rome in par- 
 ticular ; the Bifhop whereof was ordinarily rilled, The Bi- 
 tyop ofthefirftfeate? 
 
 5 • QueftioM. 
 Touching the continuance of Antichrift. 
 It was not without the lingular prouidenceofGod, that 
 the Ancient Doctors, whofe learned labours ferue as yet 
 to this day for the Churches behoofeinthe vnderrtandingof 
 the holy Scriptures, haue neucrthelcflc bene fo vncertaine in 
 this matter of Antichrift, as hath bene noted before, that 
 there is nothing refolute in their writings. For hereby it 
 mult come to parte, that the my ftery of iniquity fhould ad- 
 uincc it felfe, and yet be concealed, vntiil the time of h : s re- 
 uelation appointed in the Councell of God. As therefore 
 the Fathers were decerned in tlw precedent queilions, fo are 
 
 M 
 
 riicjr 
 
 in Afic. 
 
8 4 
 
 A Refutation of the epinions of 
 
 i.Ob. 
 
 BeLde Ponf. 
 Rom Jib,). 
 cap.S. 
 
 Remond'tap. 
 44> 
 
 Refp 
 
 they alfo in this : for the mod of them hold,that the continu- 
 ance of A ntichrift, is limited to the compaffe of three yeares 
 and ahalfc. And the Iefuites finding'thatthisetrour ferueth 
 greatly to perfwadc Ample people, who with fhuteies vfc to 
 receiue the opinions of Antiquity, that the Pope is not Anti- 
 chrifbarreft themfclues very ftiffcly therein,and ftrhic to co- 
 lour the fame, with thefe reafons that enfue. 
 
 It may be gathered (fay they) out ofthe feuenth, and 
 twelfth Chapters of Darnel: and out of the twelfth of 
 the Apocaiyps : that the continuance of Antkhriftsreigne, 
 (hall be three yeares and a halfe: for thefe texts fay, that he 
 fhall continue, a time, times, and halfe a time : by one time, 
 fignifying a ycare j and by times, two yeares ; and by a moy- 
 cty of time, halfe a ycare : and io S. hhn explaineth it,when 
 he iaith ; that Antichrift fhail rcigne forty two moneths , and 
 that Sit as and Enoch y fhall preach 1262. daies; which arc 
 prccifely, three yeares and a halfe. 
 
 Thefe places of the Prophecy o£ Dante!, fpeake not of 
 Antichrift, as I haucproued before : neither can they be ap- 
 plied vnto him,but by Allegories, which are no demonftra- 
 tiuc proofe in cafes of controucrfic : neither is that Apoc. 1 2 . 
 14. any whit more to the purpofc, forhefpeakethofthe 
 Dragon, not of Antichrift : of the (' hriflian Church gathered 
 onely out ofthc ferves,znd not ofthe Church of the Cent tier. 
 and of the perfecutien of that time, not of that which 
 fhall be in the laft times : as the whole courfeof the text 
 beareth witneflc. For it is there related, that after the fpacc 
 of a time, times, and halfe a time, the Dragon caff out a 
 flood of water againfl: the woman to take her away : but 
 that the earth hailing fwallo wed vp the flood, the Dragon 
 enraged,wentto make warre againit the others,which are of 
 the feed ofthe Church. So that he ftirred vp the firft Beaft, 
 to whom he gaue his power. Apoc. 1 3 .2. And finally ,thc 
 fecond Beaft, which is Antichrift, Apoc. 1 3.1 1. which ma- 
 kcth it as cleare as the Sunnc,that S. lohn fpeake s not of An- 
 tichrift, in the twelfth Chapter. The true intendment then 
 of Ais Text is, diat when tl Dragon had no power againfl 
 
 the 
 
the Romifl) Doctors foucbwg Antichrift. 
 
 the Church,bringing forth that male Child,whercof menti- 
 on is made, in the precedent verics ; our Sauiour Iefus 
 Chrifr, being glorioufly rifen from the dead,and exalted vp 
 into hcancn, then he fet himfelfc to make warre with the 
 Woman, which had brought forth this male Child, that is, 
 the Church of the Iewifh Nation, out of the which our Sa- 
 uiour Chrift was borne according to the flefh : and to the 
 which theEuangelicall grace being firft offered, was after 
 difperfed through all the Nations of the world,by the prea- 
 ching o r the Apoftlcs. Buttw o wings ofagreat Eagle were 
 giuen to the iPomAnjo the etdfre might pe before the Serpent 
 to her place : that is to fay, that this Chriftian Church of the 
 IcwifhNation, accompanied with vertue from aboue, and 
 diuinely aduertifed, efcaped from this firft efTault ofSathan, 
 and was preferucd from the common ruine of lerufdem, by 
 retiring her leife into the C itty Pella beyond I or dan, where 
 God had prepared for her a place of re treat, asinaDefert 
 and feparated Anglcjas Srfebiw reports the ftory in his third 
 bookc. For this is a fimilitudc taken out of Deut. 52. n, 
 v. here the Lord faith : That at the Sagleftirretb vp her ntft, 
 eth oner her yofthg y fireadeth abroad her rvinges, ga- 
 thereth them, and bea^eth them ok her xtixges : fo the Lerd J 
 doth lead his. In that place then was this Woman nourifhed; 
 for a timc,times, and halfe a time : that is, for the ipace of 
 three yeeres and an halfe, which are comprized from that 
 famous and la£l reuolt of the feiver, which happened in the 
 twelfth yeere of Nero } \nto the full and abfolute dcflruCtion 
 of the Ckty, fcr fo much time palled till the lacking of Ieru- 
 fa'cm ; as may be garnered out of/ofephw, and other Au- 
 thors, which plainly report, that before the reuolt, there 
 were heard many diuineprefagesand-jprcdictions : amongft 
 which, that is very memorable, that during the feait of Pcn- 
 tecoft, there was not onely heard a great noy (c in die Tem- 
 ple, but alfo a voy ce vnderftood by many, (peaking out of 
 the Sanctuary, and faying : Let vs depar'from hence. This 
 interpretation I follow the more willingly, becaufe it accor- 
 deth well with that manner of ipcaking, which is vfed by the 
 
 M 3 Pro- 
 
 85 
 
 
26 
 
 A Refutation of the opinions of 
 
 Prophet Dante!, Chapter 7, and it is vnderftood literally 
 of three yearcs and a haife. As alfo thof c feuen times which 
 muft parte ouer Nabuchodonozor, whilfthe fhould be out 
 of his Kingdome, cannot fignific any other but feuen yceres : 
 befides that, itpreuenteth a great number of obiections^ 
 which our Aduerfaries are wont to make againft all other ex- 
 positions. As touching the 1 260. dales/ or 42. nioneths, 
 they no waies conccrnethis time : for cucn for this caufe it 
 hathpleafcd God to vie diuers forts ofnumbers, to flgnifie, 
 that they arc diuers Prophecies. So that 1260. daies, are 
 not three yeeres and an haife, but 1 260. yceres : alter Che 
 which, God let loofe the rcines of Antichrist to fight more 
 funoufly againft the Saints; and to oucrcome them, as it is 
 faid, Apoc. it. 17. The which came to paffc about the time 
 of Boniface the eight, and the yeeres of our Lord 1 3 00. 
 And this according to the ordinary cuitome of the Prophe- 
 cics.,wherc a day figmfieth a yeere, as Numb. 1 4.1 4. *d wor- 
 ding to the dates wherein yon jpied the Land, ayeere frail be 
 counted for every day :and forty yeeres yon fh&li beare the punt fo- 
 ment of your iniquities And, Ez,ecb.q<6 .Jhoufbrit Beare the 
 iniquity of the hmfe of Inda forty yeeres, I bane gmen thee a 
 day for a yeere ; I fay one dtyfor oneyeere. A text by which 
 thelefuite ^/^n^labourcthto prone, that thefc three daies 
 and an haife, during the which the dead bodies of the two 
 Prophets mentioned Apoc. 11. ought to lye in the ftreets 
 of the great Citty , fignifie the pretended three yeeres and an 
 haife of Antichrifts periccution. But what can be more ex- 
 prefle toproue this, then the Prophecy of Daniels feuenty 
 weekes, which cannot be referred to the time of our Lord 
 Icfus Chrift, vnlcfTe we take daies for yeeres > as doe alfo 
 GalatinHs,Pererius,arid otner interpreters of Daniel. 
 
 S. lohn Apoc. 20. ;faith, that the vnloofing of the diuell 
 inuil be but for a fhort time. And our Sauiour C hrift him- 
 felfc afhrmeth : That tfthefe daies were not fyortcned, ncpfh 
 fhonldbt faued. How can it be then that the kingdome of 
 Antichriit fhould laft 1 2 60. yeeres ? Or how arc thefe daies 
 cut fliort,if they endure aboue athoufand yeeres? In fummc, 
 
 Chrift 
 
 Aran.Cathd* 
 
 2,Ob. 
 
 BelJe Vont. 
 RomXib.ysap. 
 
 Remands cap. 
 
theRomifi Vefiors ^touching Antichrift. 
 
 87 
 
 Chrift preached but three ycarcs and an haJfe : it is not 
 therefore fit that Antichrift fhould continue longer. 
 
 All this is from the purpofe. For the continuance 
 of Antichrift is one thing, and the continuance of Anti- 
 chrifts perfecution another. Antichrift began to be in the 
 time of the Apcftlcs,as hathbecne often declared : but his 
 perfecution began after a thoufand yeares ; whereof is 
 fpoken in the ^pocalyps, and hath becne handled of vs be- 
 fore. This is therefore a bad conclufion : thepeifecution of 
 Antichrift fhall laft but a final! time, (for this is the meaning 
 of Saint hhn by the loofing ofSathan,) therefore Anti- 
 chrift himfclfc fhall continue buta {mail time. Beftdes,this 
 fmall time,muft be ynderftoodfiguratiucly^and in compan- 
 ion to him, before whom a thoufand yeares are but as one 
 day;3s Saint Titer fpeaketh, 2. Peter 3. 8. Touching the 
 words ofour Sauiour Chrift, That tfthefe dayes fhouldnot 
 be (hortned, no jL/7? fionld be fatted: but for the E lefts fake 
 they [ball be fhortned \ they make nothing to this matter in 
 hand, as hath beenc already declared. Hee spctketh ( faith 
 8mhymim)rfthe dayes of the wane and jrege of lerufalem, 
 faying, that if the fewer e not abbre mated by diuine dfsfenfati- 
 on, no flip y neper fin y to wit, of the Iewes,/I?ould befaued, that 
 isffcapi death , and remains aline. Tor all had bene di ad both 
 thofe that were within ^and thefe that were without : the one by 
 Famine y the other by thePeflilence cr Sword, and all forts of 
 death f. So greatly was the fury of the Romanes incenfed a- 
 g*inft all the I ewes: a*d that euen again ft thofe winch were 
 differ fid through the world. Nowjje calleth the faith full that 
 were amwg the lew es, the Eleft, for whofe fikethe warre cer- 
 fed thefioncr, to the end they might not pcrijb with the- Infidels ■' 
 but rather that fime fart of the Infidels might be fined by 
 them : that no man might fay that this was fent of God for their 
 caufe which hadbelecucdm Is fits Chrift : But rat her, that on 
 the contrary , thofe that remained aliue,feeingi hat all that bo- 
 leeuedin Chrift were preferued fr cm that deflruftion, they 
 might vnderfl and thereby the true caufe, and \now certainely, 
 that not onely thefe per ifh not, as not part ahingmth the incre- 
 dulity 
 
 Rcfp, 
 
 Riher* in 
 4poc,c*t.mtm* 
 
 Ettfhjm.in 
 Mdtcap t jj^ 
 
«8 
 
 A Refutation of the opnicns of 
 
 TheophMjn 
 
 dulitjofthofethat were dead 3 bnt alfp that in that they them- 
 felues were preferued^was for their fakes. Which agrccth very 
 vvell with that which hathbecne faid before, touching the 
 prefer uation of the beleeuing Icwes in the Village oiVelU. 
 Theophilatt expounds it after the fame mancr. There (halt 
 be (faith he) an into Her able affliction : for the T^omanes jhall 
 command that none be pardoned. Hut God for their fike 3 that 
 fho'/.ldbeleeue among fi the people > or that had Already be'eetted, 
 doth notfaffer all of them to be put to death, he (hortned there- 
 fore thefe afflictions and this wane '.for if the war re had beene 
 reinforced and continued^ thofe that were in the tillage had 
 bene fami(bed t And as if he meant quite to ouerthrow the o- 
 pinion of our Aducrfaries,headdcth : Some (faith hc)vnder- 
 fland thefe dayes of Antichrifl ; but they are not fo to bs vn» 
 derftoodybut of the taking of lernfalem : for that that pertai- 
 tteth to Antichrifl beginneth at thejs words . if any fiy vnto 
 jmjbehold here is CbrisJ, or he is there fieleeue himnoti\N\\^l 
 could be fpoken more directly for the confutation of this 
 Obie$ion,andcleare demonstration w r ho is the true Ami- 
 chrift? Namely, hee that affirmcth that Chrift,whom the 
 Scripture aflureth vs to be in heauenat the right hand of his 
 Father, is really and fubftantially a morfell of P?itc in a 
 Cuboord, ina Box? Touching the confequence from the 
 time of our SauiourChriftsfirft preaching, to bee applyed 
 to Antichrifts continuance,it is too (lender a conie&ure to 
 be ballanced in fo weighty a matter,wherc weTeeke not af- 
 ter mens dreames,but the truth of God teltified in his word. 
 And therefore this- imaginary terme of three ycares and an 
 halfc doth not hinder,but that the Pope may be the true An- 
 tichrifl, and that the flft demonftration whereby they la- 
 bour to proue that Antichrifl is not corners falfe and er- 
 roneous. 
 
 6, Queflion 
 Of the battaylcs of Antichrifl > 
 Although they of the Church of Rome that hauc writ- 
 ten of Antichrifl adioyne this queftion to the reft, rather to 
 trouble and amaze fimple people, with the terror of I know 
 
 not 
 
the Roms(h Dbtttrs ^touching Antichrift. 
 
 8? 
 
 not what vncouth and fearefull words (as they tcrme them., )' 
 then to make them to vnderftand the truth^which they ftudy 
 to obfeure with their Shadows : ncuertheIcfTe,that I may not 
 leaue any thing of moment behinde vntouched; I will alio 
 confute that which hcereinfhall feme tocanyany (hew of 
 difficulty . They fay thereforc,that Antichrift after hee hath 
 conquered the Kings ot ^>€gtpt .Libia ^and £thhprs, y 3.nd pof- 
 fclTed their kingdoms,being become Monarch of the whole 
 earth,fhallmake vvarrc ogainft Chriftians throughout the 
 whole world, with an innumerable army which is called 
 Co^and /V;^/rr^:none of which things agreeing to the Pope, 
 uhey conclude that he is not Antichrift. But becaufc they 
 know that men will not belceue them on their word, they 
 cncleauourto makediuers paMages of Scripture to feme to 
 theirpurpofe. 
 
 The Prophet D^/V/ inhis fcucnth and eleuenth Chap- 
 ters, auoucheth that Antichrift fhall peffeffe the Trcafurcs 
 of /Egypt, and pafTc through Libia and Ethiopia. Thus Saint 
 Jerome 3 LM 'ant lUsJreveuijmiS others expound : infomuch 
 as Stint Ckrvfbfietne afrnrr.eth,that Antichrift (hall bee the 
 Monarch of the world 3 and fuccecd thc'Jiomsines in theEm- 
 pirc,asthey fuccceded the Grecians ; and the Grecians the 
 Perjtans, and the Verfiavs the ty£gyptiar>s. Now the Pope 
 hath not fubducd the kingdomesof zsZgjpt^Libia^nd. Ethi- 
 opiapor calleth himfelfe King or Monarch of the world: 
 he therefore is not A ntiehrift. 
 
 Thefe Texts fpeakc o>{ Avtiochtts Sfifhanes^s hath bene 
 fhewed before, and is confeffed by Bellarmixe* ■■ And the 
 contrary exposition therco: by henem and Latt<wtiHs y do 
 not any more force vs, then that which they giuc tourhing 
 thethouand yearcsofChrifts reigne vpon earth, with the 
 Chiliads. As for that which Saint Cbrjfofiome faith, that the 
 kingdome of the Romanes fhall be inuaded by ; ntichi ift, 
 and thathcfriall be Monarch of the world ; neede not fecme 
 ftrange, ifwee mo:e nee rely confrder, what the Empcro ■ 't- 
 is at this day, and what the Pope. Theodoret of Ntemzv 
 Hiftorian reprefentcth them in thefe words. Ji is fi- 
 
 N 
 
 entty 
 
 Remcndxap* 
 
 BelJe Pont. 
 Rem. i.js.jf. 
 
 I.Ob, 
 
 Refp, 
 
 
 'c/i'A 
 
 -> 
 
90 
 
 A Refutation of the opinions of 
 
 entlyfeene (faith hcc) 9 f what Magnificence the Empire of 
 Rome in Germany is : for there is found there one Archbifhop 
 orBtJhop, that hath twice afmueh i\euenue as the Ktr.gofthe 
 Romanes receiueth from all his Laxd : and fome fecular Prince 
 thatpoffefftth more Land: ihenthe Empercur doth. And if vie 
 looke vnio Rome or Italy y it hath bene in truth tn former time 
 the feate of the ancient Empire ".Hut now the Emper our hath 
 nothing but the baretitU thereof-. Spaine, France, Hungary, 
 Sicily ,and lt&y^arefubiell to their particular Princes y and not 
 to the Emper our. And jet in thefe Countries is to be feene the 
 imige of the ancient Empire*, for thtre was in ancient time a 
 Gouernour of the Gaules who had many Dioceffes wider him ; 
 So now there is alfi a Primate ofFvmtCy-that hath many Di- 
 oceffes vnder his iurtfdillion. And as in for mi r times the Cjc- 
 uerno/srs that commanded in the Garrifons of Spire and 
 Wormes, acknowledged him for their Super tour that was at 
 Mentz : So at this d*y the Btfhops of thefe Citues are fubteft; to 
 the Archbifhop o/Mentz. In bricfc,as all tbefe Goucrnours 
 acknowledged the Empcrour, and performed vnto him an 
 Oath offidciity and allegiance; (o all thefe Archbifhops and 
 Bifhops doe the fame to the Pope. But what fay I? the 
 Bifhops, yea,Kings 3 andEmperours do him Homage.AW 
 (faith Elondus ) the Princes of the world adore and feme one 
 perpetuall D ittator, to wit, the Vope the fuccefjour fiot of C&- 
 farjfut of the f fher S. Peter. Now all the world reuersr.ceth iu 
 Rome ; »r*f to the fepe, the Senate cf Cardinals. Tea morejn 
 a! EwcpcfendetbtoRomejearely tributes, either greater then 
 thofi oftimepafl,or at leaft equall vnto them, when all 7 'owner 
 rcpa'ire to the Pope to take from himthstr facer dot aU bene fees. 
 Can any man defire more Authcntick titles of the Papall 
 Monarchy ? Hee himfclfc affirmeth that hee hath a Souc- 
 raignety oucr the Empire, and That it being voyd y hefucceed- 
 eth in his roome. So that in right hecrcof, he declareth for a 
 nullity whatfoeueris done by the Princes wichout his ad- 
 uice. He faith, That the Chrifttav Smperours ought tofubmi t 
 their exeecutions to the Prelates Scclefiafttck^ And that hee 
 is the owner of the Roy all Crowxe and Dignity in ail the Weft. 
 
 Antichrifts 
 
 Blondusllh.s 
 Rom* Reft* ro. 
 
 Cpafhraljc* 
 re Indie jn 
 Clement et de 
 JptlLt. 
 
 C.fT.Tmpeiat. 
 
the Ron$i(h DottorsfouchixgAntichriJl. 
 
 Antichrilts great Scribe in his jintifa^affk^ difcourfmg of I 
 the Popes Crowne, which they call t\egnum y relateth this 
 paf fag e ou t of P ope Innscent. The Tltfbcp of Rome beareth 
 a Crowne in figne t>f his Royalty , andaMttrein figne of hit 
 Pontifca'y : but more often the Mitre, becaufe the Pontifical! 
 dignity is greater then thz Imperially And in another place : 
 The Church hath betj'teathedvnto me a moftprecistts and in - 
 efiimable dowry, and hath endowed me with many fpjritxall^nd 
 temporal! r races : to figvifi?, that prfi fhe hath giuen 
 me a (Jttttre, and far the Lift a Crorvne : the Mttre fr my 
 Prelacy, and the Crow ne for my Kmgiome : making mc the Vt - 
 car of him who is the King of Kings, and the Lo d of Lords. 
 J) id not Ben if we the eight, write thus Imperioufly to- a 
 French K ing ? We would h me th:e to know, th.it ihsu art fab- 
 iickvntovs^ aswe\ltnter»p rail as fpritttzl! matters. Pope 
 /'iwinhisfecondEpiftleto UWabomei the Turkifh Empe- 
 rour, promifeththatif he would turne ChrifHan, and fuc- 
 cour him in the neceffities of the Church, in recompence of 
 this benefit, he would make him Emperourof the Greekes, 
 and of all the Eaft, as in former time his prcdecefTours had 
 for the fame reafon, giuen the Weiterne Empire vnto 
 Cbarlem.iigvc. And was it not by vcrtue of the fame power, 
 that Pope Alexander the fixr, gaue the Ealt and Welt In- 
 dies, to the Kings oiSpaine and Vortugall ? .And what I pray 
 you was HeflarmiMsiutcntznd ayme, in thofebookes which 
 he wrote about the translation of the Empire, when it was 
 transported fir/t from the Gr^wtothc French men ,and after 
 from the French to the Saxons, and that onely by the autho - 
 rity of the Pope : but to demonstrate the Popes Soueraigne 
 Monarchy ouer the worid,by vertue whereor* he tranflaterh 
 Empires and Kingdomes at his pleafure > To deny then, that 
 the Pope doth not fucceedin the Romane Empire, and is 
 not Monarch of the world, and fo confequently the true / 
 Antichrift, isftrongly to clofeour eies againft the light of 
 truth. 
 
 Apoc . 2 o. When the thwfandyeerei (hall be aceomptifed, 
 Sntha* (hall be loofed otn ofprifan, and [hall come forth toft- 
 
 91 
 
 C'Cenfitntfa, 
 
 Remond In hit 
 Antipapa 
 chap. jo. 
 
 Hiilor.of 
 
 France, 
 
 Pint l.fpifl. 
 
 btijde tranjla, 
 Imptr. L i ,c,6. 
 
 BeUnfrart* 
 fif'o pes. cU 
 Gcmtra. 
 
 I.Oj 
 
9* 
 
 A Refutation of the cpmons of 
 
 BeLJe Font. 
 
 ftemMb,}. '■ 
 
 c*p.i 7 . 
 
 Kemond.cap. 
 
 if, 
 
 V leg, in jipoe, 
 
 cap.i'oft&.j. 
 
 Refp. 
 
 Tfoodorin 
 Dav* 
 
 Pliny Ahf, 
 cap. 2 j, 
 
 duce the Nations, that (halt be vpon thefonre quarters of the 
 earth y Gog and Magog* Avdjbali affemble them in battle > the 
 number of whom, is like the [and on the Sea (hore y &c. The 
 like Prophecy is found, Ez,(ch. 38. Now Cog fignifieth 
 Antichrift, and Magoghis Armic , to wit, the Scythians : 
 n oneof which can agree vnto the Pope, and therefore he is 
 not Antichrift. 
 
 The Prophecy o£Ez>echiel, by the teftimony o^Theodo^ 
 ret, had it's accomplishment, before the comming of our 
 Lord Iefus Chrift, in thofe perfections which were ftirred 
 vp againft the Iewes, by the Seleucides, that reigned m A fa 
 Minor, and ill Syria : in that part whereof which is called 
 Co^^r/*, is fituate the Citty called by the Greekes Hiera- 
 polis, and was builded by the Scythians y (o much renowned, 
 by reafon of that prodigious AtargaUs y or Derretv, which 
 was there adored j and was called Magig by the Syrians, 
 as witneffeth Plmy* For after that Ezechiel in his thirty 
 feuenth Chapter had Prophccied of the dcliuerance of 
 Gods people out of the Captiuity otHabylon, by the figure 
 of the rcfurre&ion from the dead; and their full reftauration 
 at the comming of the Metfias : he commeth afterwards, 
 by a kind of Anticipation, which is ordinary amongft the 
 Prophcts,as is apparant both ill Daniel y and Ieremy y to de- 
 clare the diuers-calamities which fhould befall the people of 
 God, before the comming of the Mcfllas ; principally by 
 the ad ioyning Nations : and the iudgements of God againft 
 all his enemies, which he comprehended* vnder Cjog and 
 Magog. 'As touching the place in the Apocalyps, icisdi- 
 uerfly interpreted : but affuredly there is no qucftion, but 
 that the Spirit ofGod doth therein reprcfent vnto vs, how 
 Sathan being after a thoufand yeeres let loofe, ftiall doe all 
 his vttermoft endcuours to hurt the Church of God, and 
 armc againft it all the Nations of the world, euen the mod: 
 ftrangc Nations ; and amongft them Gog and Magog. But 
 the greatcft difficulty is,what S . lohn vnderftandeth by thefe 
 names of Gog and Magog. Almoft all interpreters, both 
 Ancient and Modernc, agree in the interpretation oiCjog, 
 
 and 
 
the Romifl) Doffers ^touching Antichrift. 
 
 91 
 
 and take it for A ntichrift : but there is a difference in the ap*. 
 plication of times and perfons. For they of the Church of 
 Romes fide fay, that this Prophecy fhall not hauc its accom- 
 plishment but at the end of the world : whither alfothey 
 turne ouer the comraing of Antichrift. Our men sfrlrmc on 
 the other Cu\c, that it hath bene accomplished euer fincc the 
 time ofBowfece the eight, when thofe bloody warres were 
 ftirred vp betwixt the Eaft and the Weil:, vnder pretext of 
 recouering the holy Land. So that by Gog they vnderftand 
 the Pope, as the fecrct cnemic of the Church ; and by Ma- 
 gog the Turke, an cnemie open and profefled : Herein ac- 
 cording well with the Romifh Doctors,, that take Magog for 
 the Scjtbian Nations,amongft w r hom arc the Turke?. And 
 in truth, if euer Sathan feemed to bee let loofe to fill the 
 world with blood and (laughters, it was at that time : and if 
 euer he made a breach into the fields of the Saints vpon the 
 Church of God, it was fince that time that the Turkes flefti- 
 edand enraged againft Chriftians, rauiflied out of their 
 hands thofe tw r o flourishing Empires, Trebitynde and C*;/- 
 JFantinop'e, inuaded tweluc Kingdomes,tooke twelue hun- 
 dred Citties, not to count Iflands,that profefled the Chrifti- 
 an faith, and that which he gaineth euery day, in Hungary 
 and clfc where. But howfecuer this be molt certaine true, I 
 and fufficient to Shew how much damage the Church off 
 Chrifthah rcceiued by this Romane Antichrift, who hath 
 bene the firebrand and inciter of all thefe bloody warres-: 
 NcuerthelcfTe,! am ofopinion that by G^cannot be vnder- 
 ftood Antichrift propcily:ForS.A?6» faith,7W Sathan (hall 
 go forth to [educe the Nations that are vpon the f our e corners 
 of the earth: Amongft the which ,hcnamcth (jog and Magog* 
 Now who will fay that Sathan commeth forth to feduce 
 Antichrift, that hath bene fo long before feduced ? And leaft 
 any fhouU reply, that he (hall come forth to feduce Anti- 
 chrift 3 not fimply, as if he were not already feduced ; but to 
 this end and refpecl, tocaufe him to raifc Armies, and begin 
 warres ; the holy Ghoft manifeftly diftinguifheth, betwixt 
 the Nations feduced, and Antichrift, when he faith ; ■ jivd 
 _____ N3 tht 
 
 B*j>t.EgnAf. 
 
94 
 
 A Refutation of the opinions of 
 
 Bftnondtii cap. 
 /o. 
 
 <*/.//. 
 
 Efay,U.4. 
 
 the dwell which fbad feduce them : to wit, thofc Nations 
 which arc vpon the fourc corners of the earthy and by name, 
 Gog and Magog,was cafi into a Lake of fire and brimstone, 
 where is the He*]} and thefalfe Prophet : T hat is to fay, A nti- 
 chrift, and the whole band of falfc Prophets. For this caufe 
 I had rather vndcrftand fimply by Gog and A-iagog, the Em- 
 pire of the Turkes, which being out of the bounds of Chri - 
 itendome, warred againft the Church, and tore it in peeces 
 eucry day, efpecially fince the warres of Chriflians in A ft a, : 
 and the rather becaufe the fituation of thofe {Jttahometaxc 
 Nations agreeth well with the Prophecy of Ezjcbiel : then 
 to offer violence to the Text, to make it fall vpon the Pope, 
 whom the Scripture doth inother places fufficiently difco- 
 ucr to be the true and very A ntichr iit. So that in what fenfe 
 foeuer this paffage of S. John be taken, it maketh nothing 
 for that which our Aduerfaries pretend. 
 7. Qmflion. 
 Touching the deftruthen ofAntfchrift. 
 As the Romifh Doclors fet forth the birth of A ntichnft, 
 with variety of indentions : fo do they alfo his death and de- 
 {\x\x6t\on.RemondH4 paintethhim out after a marueilous fafh- 
 ion falling backward at the voyce of Chrift, defcending 
 from heauen with the fameCrofle in his hand, whereupon 
 he was crucified. And afterward, better aduifing himfclfe, 
 he attributeth this difcomfiture not to the voyce of Chrift, 
 but to S. Michael. The eldeft of the Angels (faith he) the 
 chisfe C aft awe and Colonel of the Armies offeftu Chrift, who 
 /haHferue vnder his name of Michael % as a watch-word in this 
 battellagainflAntichrifi, and (hall flay him with his hand for 
 which caufe the Apoflle faith (thefe arc Remonds owne 
 words) that Cod fballflay him with the Spirit of his momh : 
 thatis to fay, according to the opinion of cur Matters Jeftts 
 Chrifl (ball truly Jlty^ntkhrsft by authority : But S. Mi- 
 chael fball kill him with his hand, as his Minifier and Execu- 
 tioner. Sfay prophecied long agoe hereof \ when he faith That 
 be (hall [mite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the 
 Spirit of his ftps (haBhe flay the wicked. But what an ab- 
 
 furd 
 
the Rom /Jh D oft or s ^touching 4ntichri(l, 
 
 furd confcquencc is this ? Chrift. fhall (lay the wicked with 
 the Spirit of his lips , £rgt>, he frnil flay him by his miniftet 
 S.MichaeL The contrary is rather true, he fhall flay him 
 with the fpirit of his lips, therefore not by S. MtchaeU If 
 you vnderftand not by S. Michael, him of whom mention 
 is made in Daniel, to wit, the Sonne of God himfelfe ,, who 
 is indeed the true Michael: for who is there that can he 
 named cqnall vntoGod, but he alone ? who being in the 
 forme of God, thought it no robber) to be e^aaUvnteCod, 
 Phil. 7. 6* 
 
 TSeUarmine profecutinghis lixt deinonftration, wherein 
 helaboureth to demonfrrate thatAntichrillisnotyetcome^ 
 induccth many parages of Scripture, to proue and verifie, 
 that the end or the world inaU follow incontinently after 
 the deflruc'tion of A ntichrift : wherein this is moft remark- 
 able, that albeit he produceththatfpeechof the Apoille, 2. 
 Tbejf.i . 8. 7 he Lord (hallconfume him with thefpirtt ofhi,$ 
 mouth, and aboltft? him with the brightxefle of hi* comming: 
 neuerthelefle, he afrirmcth that Chrift our Lord fhall not 
 come, tiilforty fiue daics after the death of Antichrift : with 
 whom accordeth Pererms writing vpon Daniel : for if An- 
 tichri/tmuftbc defrroyed by the fpirit of Chrifls mouth at 
 his glorious comming ;how can it be that he fhould dye forty 
 fine daics before the comming of Chrift ? In briefe, not to 
 flay longer vpon this point, we grant vntothem,tthaAnti- 
 chrifr (hill continue till the end of the world, though efrec- 
 bled and weakned day by day, by the preaching ofthe Go£- 
 pcll ; and that his vtter dcitru£tion fhall not onely be a little 
 before the end of the world, but together with it.. B ut we 
 deny that his comming into the world, fhaii not precede 
 the end thereof,auy more then three yeercs and an halfe, as 
 they would perfwade vs againlt the authority of the Apo- 
 ftles,and the experience offo many Ages. 
 
 As touching the place where Antichrift muft be deftroy- 
 ed by the Sonne ofGod,they fay it fhall be vpon the Mount 
 ofOiyues, where he fhall fetvp vnto himfelfe an Altar in the 
 higheft top ofthe Mountaine ; and forproofe thereof,thcy 
 
 al- 
 
 R r mJltb~i<df, 
 
 P<rer.;„D dw 
 tit- if. 
 
96 
 
 A Refutation of the cftnkns of 
 
 Remond.ctp* 
 Peter j* &sn. 
 
 Dan. ii. 45" , 
 
 Rem&nd.ctp* 
 4S* 
 
 alledge this paffage of the Prophet Daniel. He/hall place 
 his Tabernacle at Avad.no> betweene the two Seat, on the glori- 
 ous and holy Momt aine , and {hall afcend to the top thereof. 
 Which S. ferome hath interpreted of the Mount of Olyucs, 
 and expbundeth this*word Apadno , his palace. S o that the 
 meaning is, that Antichrift {hail fix his Tabernacle and his 
 Palace, or Throne, betwixt the two Seas, to wit', the dead 
 Sea, and the Mediterranean, betwixt which two Seas leru- 
 falem is fituatc , Thus they . But if we markc the fpeech of 
 the Prophet "Daniel y asitiyeth word for w r ord according to 
 the Hebrew truth, tranflatedby Aria* Mont an us y it will 
 make nothing for this purpofe ;tnefe be the w r ords. Hejhall 
 flam the Tabernacle of htspdace betwecne the two Seas in the 
 noble Mount tine. Now the Prophet fpeaketh of Antiochus y 
 who feeing himfelfe affayled on the Eaft fide, by the Part hi* 
 ans y and on theNorthby the &>0***ȣj;, determined to fet- 
 tle his Court in Iudeafox the better taming of the hwes : by 
 reafon whereof, he committeth Antiochm his fonne to Li- 
 ft as > with a moyety of his forces and Elephants, to the end 
 that he might add reffe himfelfe againft /#i<?*, anddeftroy 
 all the inhabitants thereof, and diuide their Land by lot a- 
 mcmgft ftrangers : whilft in the meane while,he himfelfe di- 
 ic<Stedhiscourfeinto/ > ^y/^,toreceiuc the tributes of other 
 Countries. But if any will needs referre this Prophecy to 
 Antichrift; where can a more expreffc text be found for the 
 VcijQj who hath his feate in \ome^ betwiKtthe Tfrhenian 
 and ssfdriatkk^ Seas ? And fo the difcourfc that Remondus 
 maketh] will not vnfit the purpofe, that the Father of lyes 
 delighteth akvayes to fet vp his Idolatries in mountaincs : 
 but yet he fhall fpend his oyle, and lofe his labour in vaine, 
 inthedifcourfcwhichhciTiakethofoyle, arid of the Mount 
 ofOiyu^Sj to build therein :the imaginary Tombc of this 
 Antichrift. 
 
 Touching the name* and the number of the 
 name ofAntichr/fi. 
 I thought hereto fer a.full period to this Trcatife : but; 
 thatTmay net leaue it liimping hxvxy point, I wuMcniajgcit 
 
 with. 
 
the Romifh Doctors .touching Antichrift. 91 
 
 with a {hort rcmonftrancc of the name of A ntichrift, where* 
 in I will content my feK'c to reprefent barely, the moft pro- 
 bable opinions of thofe thathaue written thereof, without 
 the refuting the Aduer&ries, who confeffe, that they haue 
 nothing certainc touching this matter. 
 
 S.AA", ^r.x^.tcllethvs, that the fecondBcaft, that is, 
 Antichrift as all interprete, Caufed that all, little t n i great, 
 rich andpoore, bond tndfree, fhould receive a marke /» their 
 right hand, and in the* forehead : and that none (hculd buy t r 
 fell, if he had net this marke, or the name of the Beaft, or the 
 number of his n^me : Here is wife-dome, he that hath under- 
 flandirg Jet him count thennmber of the Be aft : for it is the 
 number of a man^nd his number k fix hundred, fxtj 7 and 
 
 Kence are fprung vp diuers interpretations 01 this name 
 and number, afwcllaniongft Ancient as Moderne writers. 
 For fomc take the word name Comply and properly : others 
 vnderftanci both this word, .and the whole fent.nce figuia- 
 tiuely.' A mongftthofe that haue taken this word in ahmplc 
 and proper fignification, the molt rcceiued opinion is of 
 them that take the name w »«*, for the nam : of A ntichrift, 
 feeing the number of 666. is precifely contained therein, as 
 may appeare by this figure enfuing. 
 
 a 
 
 3° 
 
 a, 
 
 i 
 
 T 
 
 300 
 
 s 
 
 5 
 
 l 
 
 10 
 
 f 
 
 5*0 
 
 
 
 70 
 
 ¥ 
 
 1 00 
 
 666> 
 
 For the Greekes diuiding their ^Alphabet into three 
 rankes or clalTes, defignc all forts of numbers after this 
 manner. 
 
 O * *i 
 
5>8 
 
 A Refutation of the opinknsof 
 
 xo\p 
 
 50U 
 40 i» 
 
 e 
 
 S 
 
 V 
 
 SO 
 
 p 
 
 r 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 *o 
 
 % 
 
 c 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 70 
 
 \ 
 
 » 
 
 b 
 
 T 
 
 80 
 
 (0 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 * 
 
 <?o 
 
 * 
 
 ICO 
 200 
 300 
 4OO 
 5 OO 
 £c.Q 
 700 
 8O0 
 9OO 
 
 In imitation of which Grecke Alphabet the Latincs 
 hauc ■ deuifed the like in Latine letters, A\*B 2.C3.D4. 
 E5.F6.q7.H8.I9. Kio. Lio. M 3d. N ' 4 <\ O 50. 
 
 p 60. 2^.70. # 80. 5 50. r 1 00. rioo.x$co y r^oo. 
 
 Z 500. Now as the Grecke brings forth the word >«*»*, 
 fo the computation being made by the Latinc Alphabet 
 brings forth the title of this Treatifc in French I Anted* ft 
 Romaine, which alio makes 66C\ which indeed is nothing 
 but the explication of the name wnfc*, a § may befeencin 
 this table. 
 
 L 
 
 10 
 
 R So 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 O CO 
 
 N 
 
 40 
 
 M 50 
 
 r 
 
 lOD 
 
 A 1 
 
 E 
 
 5 
 
 / 9 
 
 c 
 
 8 
 
 A7 4 
 
 H 
 
 66 t 5. 
 
 R 
 
 80 
 
 
 I 
 
 9 
 
 
 S 
 
 9 o 
 
 
 T 
 
 1 00 
 
 
 KWthcy vnderprop this interpretation of the number 
 of Amechnftsname, vpon hen&w a Martyr, whoarUrmeth, 
 Thatbythemtnejfe ofthojethat (aw S. Iohn^andby theteach- 
 i»g»freafon y the number of the name of the 'Beaft, according to 
 the Greeks computation, by the letters therein contained., (ball 
 
the Rcrnifh Doctors ^touching Antichriff. 
 
 99 
 
 be fix hundred fixty fix. And albeit Iren&tts doth not wholly 
 rcfoluc vpon the name \*mwc, which notwithftanding hce 
 faieth is very probable,feeing thelaft Empire was thus cal- 
 led; yet experience doth at this day more ftrongly confirmc 
 it : for befides that, this name, is the name of a man, and that 
 it agreeth not onely to the fecond Beaft, but alfo to the firft, 
 to wit, the Romanc or Latine Empire : and that it hath iuftly 
 this number,of 6^6 : The Pope whom I haue already pro- I 
 uedtpbe Antichrift,anfwereth very fitly to this name i whett j 
 he ordahieth that all the fcruices andmyfteries of his Church 
 be performed in the Latine tongue, and enioyneth that all 
 perfons cf what quality ibeuer,make their Praiers^hearc their 
 Maffes, thekVepers, and their Matins in the language of 
 the Latine Beaft, whether they vnderftand them or no. He 
 alio holdetb for lufpcc3 and corrupted, the Hebrew and 
 Greeke originals of the old and newTeftament, and will 
 haue the Latine tranflation, though neuerfo barbarous and 
 lame, as onely Authentick* 
 
 As touching thofc thattake this name and the whole fen- 
 tencc figuratiuely : fome vnderftand both by the name and 
 nu mb er,the time when the kingdomc of Antichrift began. 
 For as the name,is a briefc definition, or defcription of fome 
 things by winch it is knowne what it is : fo this number 656. 
 dotnafloordvs afmuch : for klcadethvs right to the time 
 wherein Antichrift the fonne of perdition openly difcouered 
 himfelfe to be fuch. For whether we calculate this number 
 fmcc the pollution of the Temple oilerufa'em by P empty the 
 Grent,tothc reigne of the Emperour Vhoctu : or whether 
 we reckon it from the natiuky cfour Sauiour ChriftjOr from 
 the Emperour Domitian y when S. Iohn wrote the Apoca- 
 Iyps; we fhall finde that thereby is iuftly defigned, the time 
 when the Pope began to eftablifti his vfurped feate : for in j 
 the time of Pbocas, the Pope began to ftile himfelfe the / 
 Head of all Churches, or the vniu'erfall Bifhop. And about 
 theyeerc6(T(). afcer the natiuky of Chrift. reigned Conflan- 
 tim the Fatherof Con ft ant tne the Bearded, who freed the 
 Pope from the power and command of the E rn -^cr our : and 
 
 Oz 
 
 as 
 
100 
 
 A Refutation of the epnicns of 
 
 Iren.lih.f cAp. 
 5". 
 
 I as fomebcarc witncffe,gauehimal o the City of Rome, or 
 at leaft the rights whereby he layeth claime thereunto. And 
 abouttheyearc 6 6tf. after Saint M» had written the dpo- 
 calyps } \iued Pope Steuen the fecond, who was the fir ft that 
 caufe d himfelfe to be caried vpon mens ftioulders, and that 
 tranfiated the Empire of the Greekes to the French Nation, 
 and the Kingdome of France from the race of the Mtrovoes to 
 Pepin. In recompencc whereof, he receiued that which i« 
 called in Italy the E xarchate, which ferucd him as a Ladder 
 to mount vp to that foueraigne Dominion which he hath ob ■ 
 tained iincc. Whcreunto agrecth very well that which /re- 
 new affinncth touching the mcancs of commingto the true 
 knowlegdc of this number 666. For he hithyThat the faith- 
 fall ^towing the number 665. denounced by the holy Scripture 
 to before and certaine y doefirfl expell the diuifionofthe king- 
 dome, (that is to fay of the Rormnc Empire) vxtoten Kings: 
 and after thofe ten reigning and beginning to advance their 
 eft ates y 4tnd to enlarge their tygdome : heth.it [hail comevn- 
 e: 'petted and en a fodaine y vforpi^g thekjngdome y and [ball ter- 
 rify the former Kfcgs Joining a name containing thU for ef aid 
 number -jthis man donltlejfe fh zll mznifeft hmfelfe tohe2 the 
 abomination of defotat ion. Now to what time may this bee 
 better referred,then to that when the Romane Empire being 
 rent in peeces, and difmembred in ■ o many places, by the 
 Gothes, Lombards, Vanda'/ex, and other Nations, the Pope 
 in-thc meanc while enriched himfelfe with the fpoyles of 
 this Empire, and vfurped in a mancr all the power and au- 
 thority thereof ouer thefc other Nations by his fpirituall ty- 
 ranny ? 
 
 Others that expound alfo this whole fentence ijguratiuc- 
 Iy,fay ;that by thefe wordsythe Market he name o\ the Be&ft, 
 and the number of his Name^ are to bee vndei flood thedi- 
 ucrs dcgrees,by the which this Deaft doth captiuatc men v»- 
 to his fcruice,to employ them in the traffick and negotiation 
 of his Indulgences, Difpcnlatious, Excommunications, and 
 other actions of his tyranny. And fo by the OMar^e, they 
 vnderftand the Clericall ordination and tonfure : by the 
 
 Namc y 
 
P" the Romifb Dofcrs .touching Anzichrift, 
 
 ioi 
 
 Name 3 thc facrcd Orders, by the reception whereof they 
 participate with the name of the Bead : and by die Number 
 of the Beafl, the knowledge of the Cannon Law and Papall 
 decrees whereby thev obtained it were in number, all the 
 Power, Faculties, andMyftery of the Beaft; for in them 
 is contained the number of his Name. And this is t.. at 
 which S. hhn an%meth,when he faith,7^ here u mfedome: 
 as if hce fhould fay, it is eafieto haue the Marke, or the 
 Name of the Beaft: for this contingcth to the moil igno- 
 rant: but in the Number of the Beaft, is wifedome : none 
 butfuchasarcwife,andhauevnderft nding,andarc called 
 illumined Do<aors,can amine vntoit. For as there arc three 
 forts or decrees of the knowledge of any thing : one com- 
 monandconfufed, which is gotten by fomc marke,that is,; 
 bylbmci.iugcor protraitureofthc thing : Another more 
 particular,and more cleare,arifing from the name : And the 
 third moll certaine * when we vnderftand the full eftatc ol a 
 thine, and haue as it were by number, all the faculties and 
 meanes thereof: A^ when it faid,TW Gcdbringeth forth by 
 number the army oft he Creatures t a»d cah\th them all by their 
 name. : and that he cottn'cth the number of the Stores, and 
 etlleth them My their names: So the firft kind ofthisknow- 
 lecWbelongcth to them that arc rude and ignorant; the lc- 
 cond, to thofc that arc more aduanced in vndcrftanding; and 
 the third,to them that arc pcifcd :and as Saint hhn ipeaketh, 
 th -thfiueiFifedome. So that this third cnfoldeth the twoo- 
 ther decrees, and the fccond,containcth the firft : but not on 
 the contrary ; and therefore he that hath the laft hath alio the 
 two others,andhc that the ha. h fecond^hath the firft. For 
 'this caufe S aint hhn attributed this wife and periec! man in 
 Antichrifts ncaotiation. the number of 66d. to fienific three 
 decrees of one quality, by three degrees of one number : tor 
 th?numberofftxeisaperfcdnumber,and fignrtying per- 
 feaion,the which either fimple,or multiplyed by ten, or by 
 anhundred, jifa*iesprod«ceth the fruit of one and the fane 
 terflUon :as witnelTeth *Beda vpon this place. Whence it 
 \vas,that Botifacethe eight, vanteth the pcitedion of the 
 
 O * 
 
 Efay 40 **C< 
 pfal. 147.4. 
 
102 
 
 A Refutation of the opinions of&c. 
 
 wor-kc of h : s Decretals by the number of fixe, in thefc 
 words : We haue ordained that this books which ought to bee 
 ioyned to the other fine y of t he volume of the Decretals, be cal- 
 led the fi.rt , to the end that thU fame volume, this lafh being 
 thereunto adiojned, comprehending the number of fixe, which 
 is a per feci number, may produce a per fett forme ofpraUtfe^nd 
 a pe rfeft difcipiine for maners. Which faying of his,is nothing 
 butancxpreue Paraphrafc of that which Saint John faith, 
 That in this number confifteth wtfedome *nd vnder/r'andtvg. 
 And fo this interpretation is the fame with that ot Venera- 
 ble Bede vpon this place, who amrmcth, That the marie of 
 the *Beasl is the myffery of iniquity which hjpocntes vnder 
 the name ofChrift,reeeiue in their maners andproftffion. And 
 thus none may buy nor fellahs haue not the name of the Be*ft y 
 or the number of his name \thzt is , (faith he) if he communi- 
 cate not with him in his fraud* and deceit : onely this expofi- 
 on diftingiufheth more particularly, that which hce pro- 
 poundeth in a more generall and confuted ma.icr. Where- 
 in this intcrpretaion hath this ouerand aboue, that it cannot 
 be denyed that the Bcaft doth not giuc,imprint, matntaine, 
 and cherifh this markc,as the witneffeof hismoft inward 
 and affectionate Freinds. 
 
 If any defiretohauc a more full fight of thefc things, he 
 may carry, his eyes to others that haucat large written 
 
 thereof. It fufficeth vs,that hereby we haue made the 
 
 inda^ation ofthefe things cific,and demonftra- 
 
 ted, that in what fort foeuer wee take this 
 
 name and number of the Bcaltytagrccth 
 
 exceeding well to the Pope, and 
 
 that in this title he is truly 
 
 Antichrift. 
 
 A 
 
I 
 
 ^ Summary recapitulation of all that hath bene 
 faidfMcerning Ant;ckritt % 
 
 |<P^p^^ ^ auc b y Goc * s mcrc y »finiflicd this Tractate 
 J %$\ y$J&\ touching the queftion fo ncceflary of / nti- 
 ffi \ l& ■•?■ j cni ^ : c ' cc ^ rc< ^ w ^ iClt tnc Sripturc hath defi- 
 
 j w'y/,4 Bed thereupon : : jfhewnehow this agrceth 
 &-:-^m to the Pope,?.nd confutcth that which is by 
 the Doctors of the Church of Rome ailedged to the con- 
 trary. What rcmaincth more to make knowne this Man 
 of funic, this Sonne of perdition ? What more vifible 
 markcsjcan be reprcfented,thenthofe which wc produce out 
 of the holy Scripture ? 
 
 Firft, The fprit nf God paiateth out Antichrift as a man y 
 who ly fpicccjfijv [hall continue in one feats. Audis not the 
 Pope fiichau one? 
 
 Secondly, That hee IhaH in (hew make fr*f<£ltm of tm 
 j Chrjfttan fa lb: but in ejfeEh (hall deftroj it. Is not the Pope 
 felted in the Temple ofGod^whcfchc would haue his Tra- 
 ditions to be receiued.in Read of Godsdiuinc word? 
 
 Third 7 y, Thai Stfhan (hall be the AtchiteB ofAmichrifts 
 kpgdomt. And where hath Sath.an more ftf ongly declared 
 his efficacy, then in the Papacy, wherein fo many Monftcrs 
 haue beetle exalted to the -higheft dignity in the Church by J 
 his aide ? 
 
 Fourthly; That his feat e (frail b'etn the great City of Rome, 
 fttuatedvpott feuenbtfs. Doth not the Pope keepchis rci:- 
 dence in this Tar pe ion rockc ? 
 
 Fiftly /That he fhatl ' exerap the power of the Rcmaue Tm- 
 f in, and efihef ilfe Prophet. And why doth the Pope weare 
 on his head a Crowne, like a King, and a Miter as a Bifhop, 
 if not to fhew that he hath both the one and the other,Sptfi- 
 tuall and Temporall power in his hands ? 
 
 Sixtly, That hefhal/carrj himfiftfetn the ChurchofCodas 
 if he were Gc d. And doth not the Pope fay that he cannot be 
 
 iud°ed 
 
 103 
 
104 
 
 A Summary Recipituht;on t 
 
 iud^ed by mcn/orafniuch as God is not iudged of any ? 
 
 Seuenthly> That the ommmgdfAnttc'bnft [hall bewhh 
 fignes and lying wonders. Who can number by how ma- 
 ny falfe rcuelations,countcr£. it Miracles, andfained appari- 
 tions of the dead, the Pope hath infinuatcd into the Church 
 his falfe religion ? 
 
 Eightly , That Ant ichrt ft (ball bean Idolater. Now the 
 Papacy is a world of Idolatries. 
 
 Ninthly % Th&t hep? ill beam'tttforsr* And is not he fothat 
 tumblcth do wnc the Crowne of Emperours , and ticadcth 
 vpon themfelues with his feet? 
 
 Tenthly, 7 bat the great whore fh all m%ke herfet f fe drunkjs 
 with tht blood of the Saints and Miriyrs of IcUu. And haue 
 we not feene Kingdoircs and Countries filled on cuery fide 
 with bloody Maflacrcs, by the follicitation and mediation 
 of Popes? 
 
 Eleuenthly, That the feate of Antichrist mafi be a Sodome 
 and a Babjlonfor impurity. And doth not Petrarch call Rome 
 at his time, the Fountainc of Dolours, and the Schooleof 
 Errors, the Temple of Herefie, 'Babylon y and the Shop of 
 Fraudes ? 
 
 Twelfthly, That Aatichrifl mtift bee revealed in the lafi 
 times. And who that is not blind feeth not in this light of 
 the Gofpell, that the Pope is truely the Man? 
 
 Laftly s T^f nAnckhrifl /ball be wholly - deftroyed by the 
 brightnejfeofChrifis comming. So albeit the Popes King- 
 dome day by day gocth to mine, Engtandjhc greateft part 
 of Germany ,Dcnma?ke, 2nd other Countries being reuolted 
 from his obedience : and that at lad: Rome mull be confu- 
 med with fire,as is prophecicd,-^p»r, 1 7. ncucrthelefle, his 
 entire and hill deftru&ion is rcferued to him that mail dc- 
 ftroy the whole Empire of Sathan, and by his glorious 
 comming fhail right ibonc call him with the falfe Prophets 
 into a Lake of fire. 
 But it may be,the Obie&ions that are brought againft this 
 Aflertion/ioe eclipfc this truth thereof: letvs hcare them 
 therefore. Firtt, Antichrtfi (they fay }mtift be one lingular j 
 
 perfon. I 
 
A Sumrn&r] Recapitulation. 
 
 105 
 
 per fori. This is true : and fo is the Pope ; as there is but one 
 Monarch in one Kingdome,who being dead giucth place to 
 his fuccefifour. Secondly, Antichrift is not come. This is 
 falfc,as hath beene Efficiently proued before. Thirdly, The 
 Gof]?e II mutt be preached through the whole world, before the 
 comming of Antichrift^ This is a dreame : and bcfidcs,is not 
 their found gone into the whole earth,and their words to the 
 end of the world, faith the great Herauldof the Gentiles, 
 (peaking of the Apoftles } Fourthly, The T^mane Empire 
 muft be wholly deft royed before his comming, A vaine fanfie: 
 for Antichrift is now already in the world,faith Saint Iohn of 
 his time : and the fecond Beaft fhall exercife the power of 
 thefirft,m his prefcnce(iaithhe)in another place. Fiftly, At 
 leaft Enoch and Ettas mrtftfir/t cime, an dbe pm to death be- 
 fore Antichrift. But our Sauiour Chrift faid,that Ettas was 
 already conic : and the Apoftle in the Epiftle to the He- 
 brews faith, thit Sxoch was tranfported that he might not 
 fee death. Mxtly, The perfection vnder Antichrift mufi be 
 ftch , thttthe whole ferules of God fliallbe abolifhed, and the 
 ancient perfections [hall be nothing in comparifon thereof. 
 And doc we not fee it fulfilled at this day , that the true fcr- 
 uice ofGod is banifhed in euery place where the Pope hath 
 an abfolute Dominion ? And that in ftead of a Sacrament in- 
 (tituted by Chrift,isfub(tituted a Sacrifice which taketha- 
 wayall thccffiicacy of (Thrifts Sacrament ? And who can 
 compare the ancient perfecutrons, with this vnder Anti- 
 chrift ? They were onely corporall,this is both fpirituall and 
 corporallrthcy offhort' concinuancc,this for many ages? Sc- 
 ucnthly,'2?/w Antichrift (hull be a hwfioihvy N*tion and Re- 
 ligion A mcere fable : for he mnfl fit in the Temple of God, 
 that is to fay in Ac Church, faith Sunt. Thomas. Eightly, 
 Antichrift will deny that lefts* thrift is come tn thepfb And 
 isnotthistodenyhimjto afaibe vnto him; an vnrifltunv 
 fcribed body, a body, and no body, as the Pope doth? 
 Ninthly, Am ichriftfh all condemn c Idols. So doth the Pope 
 by wordofmouth,but hce cftabliiTurth them indeed vndcr 
 the name of Images. Tenthlv, Antichrtft fiall catsfe fin to 
 . _P d£ 
 
io6 
 
 A Summary Recapitulat/cn. 
 
 dtfrendfrom hcAucn. The Pope with his thunder of excom- 
 munications fctteth on fire Empires, and Kingdomes. Ele- 
 uenthly, Antichriji Jhall caufe the image oftbeBer^fl tofiiea\e. 
 The Pope boaitcth that of his owne onely authority he gaue 
 the Empire to Charlematgne, and in himfelfc makcth the 
 Bcaits image to fpeakc,w hen he giucth Lawes to Kings and 
 Princes. Beiidesvnder his Dominion they report,that fome- 
 timeonc Image hath fpoken, another hathiweat, another 
 hath moued,and all to authorize his Idolatrie. Twelfthly, 
 Anttchrifl jhall fixe ha featc in Jerusalem. Afalfetale :for 
 he fliail rauidi to himfelfc the cheefc feat in the Church, to 
 wit,theEi{hoppiickeofRome,there ftriuing to make him- 
 felfe to be acknowledged as God, faith Theodoret. Thir- 
 teen thly , He foal reigne but ihreey ceres and nn half*. A left : for 
 he was in the world in the time of the A poitics^aiid fhall bee 
 abolifhed by the brightneffe ofChriftslaflcomming.Four- 
 teenthly, Antichrift (ball make btmjelfe Monarch eft he whole 
 earth wit h an innumerable army > called Gog and Magog . The 
 Pope doth more: for without an Army he fubdueth Kings, 
 makcth them to bow to his feet, by the terror onely of Ex- 
 communication : And as for Gog and Magog fhey arc to be 
 referred to another purpofe. Laltly, Antichrtfi Jball erell bu 
 Tabernacle betwixt the two Seas vpov the Noble Mount aine* 
 And doth not the Pope place his Throne in Rome, fituatc 
 ypon feuen Mountaines,betwixt the Tyrrhene and Adriatic'^ 
 Sea ? What more ? Both the name and number of the name 
 of Antichriil agiccth moit fitly vnto the Pope. 
 
 What greater and clearer reuelation can a man defire of 
 the Sonne of perdition then this is? And therefore you O 
 Kings and Princcs,how long wiilyec fuffcr your felues to be 
 made drunke with the Cup of his Fornication? Will you 
 notkiffethe Sonleafthe beangry,andfo yec perifliin this 
 way,whcn his anger is kindled but a little ? You are they 
 thathauc giuen your power and authority to the Bcaft,to 
 fight againft the Lamb:: but it is you alfo,that mufthatc him 
 andcatc hisflefh.And why doc you delay the doing hereof? 
 Hath not the ligftjt of the Gofpcll Sufficiently difcoucrcd the 
 
 fraudes 
 
A Summitry RecapituUtio>i t 
 
 107 
 
 fraudcs of this Man offline ? Hath not the fpirit of Chrifts 
 mouth which blowcth in fo many places, already cilcoinh- 
 tcd him in the moft eminent places of his kingc'.ome ? Doc 
 you expert that he {hall be abolifhed by the brightnes ot the 
 commingofium/whofc Trumpet foundcth already in our 
 eares, behold I come cptckely ? And what more worthy glo- | 
 ry ,can you ioyne to the Lawiels, then to purge the Temple 
 ofGod,as did good King lojtds ? And if this King of Kings, 
 this great Proteclor of your Scepters, doe aflift you in your 
 affaires, whathappineife may you looke for,whcrc not your 
 ownc caufe,but the caufe of the Omnipotent is in hand, who 
 calleih all Men together with you >to render vnto Ta&yton^ 
 (he h«lh do*e,and 1 pay her double according to her rtorkes} 
 For albeit her thundcr-clappcs doc at this day afionifh men : 
 yetfhcmuftfall,andbc made an habitation of Deuils,are- 
 fbrt for vncleane fpirits, and a receptacle of curfed birds : 
 \V hen as they that fhall obtaine viftory of the Dead, and of 
 his markc and number of his name, hauing the Harpes of 
 God in their hands, (hall fingpiailcs vnto him night and 
 d ay , for cuerlafting. 
 
 Nc w the Father of lights open the eyes and the hearts of 
 KitsgSy Magtjfrates ydxdpeflptesc the end that gimng place to 
 thewofdofGodythey may know, and acknowledge tsfntichrtft, 
 and detefling his y cite, may fabmit them feints to the yoke of 
 Chrift :to whom with the Fatherland the holy Spirit Jbe Glory, 
 and Smpire eternally. Amen. 
 
 Finis. Deo law. 
 
 Pi 
 
 AN. 
 
Chap. i. 
 
 109 
 
 ANTICHRIST 
 
 the Pope of Rome: 
 or, 
 The Roinane Antichrift. 
 
 The Firft Tart.. 
 
 CHAP.L 
 
 Ofthe^me ofAntkbriJi. 
 
 He name Antichrift, is a Greeke 
 ■word, compounded of the prc- 
 pofition a y7/j3nd ;tf *Vo*;iiow iili 
 hath three viiiall Significations in 
 Greeke Authors :for cither itfig- 
 nifieth contrariety andoppoh- 
 tion,as in a* w^ wkh^w^ dmtiw, 
 ^iw\o>/«: or equality, as «ynx«f>** ntt - 
 mp, or fubftitution & vicegercn- 
 cy,as«'v0yra7w > etajgrfo-<x<w.In al which 
 Significations, it properly agrecth to the Pope, and to none 
 efie: for allHeretikcs are enemies vntoChriftj and To are 
 
 Iewct 
 
HO Of the Name ofAntichrirft, C hap. I • 
 
 ■■ n i.i ..I a. ■ m i 
 
 /<?«>*/ and lurkes ; and Mahomet made himfelfe equal! vnco 
 Chrift, or rather fupcriour : for he acknowledged lefus 
 Chrift to be a Prophet fentfrom God, but himfelfe a grea- 
 ter Prophet. But none of thofe affirmed themfelues to be 
 Chrifts Vicar gcncrall vponthe earth, as the Pope doth: 
 and therefore he is the true and proper A ntichrift. For he 
 is both a fecret encmie vnto Chrift^as is proucd in this Trea- 
 tife, and matcheth himfelfe in equall dignity of power with 
 Chrift, and alio ftileth himfelfe, I r ic arias Deigtnsratisw 
 ten is. 
 
 2. The word A ntichrift is vfed onely in the Epiftles of 
 S. lohn 3 and in no other place of holy Scripture, and it is ta- 
 ken in a twofold fignifi cation : either gcncrall for aH that are 
 
 | enemies vnto Chrift, or particular for that great encmie, 
 
 I which S. Viiul calleth the man of linne. 2 . The]]. 2.3. In the 
 
 firftfenfeitisvfedby S.Iebn, \John.i. 18. and 22. and in 
 
 hisfecondEpiftlcverfefcuen : and in the fecond fenfe he 
 
 vfethit.i./^«.4.T. 
 
 3 . By which it is apparant,that all the enemies of Chrift 
 and his Church, are in the generall acceptation of the 
 word, Antichriits. Now r the enemies of Chrift and his 
 Church, may be diuided into two rankes, as they arc by the 
 holy Ghoft himfelfe, Alis, 4.25.26. to wit, levee s and Gen * 
 tiles* Touching the levees, w r ho can exprcfic the rage and 
 fury, wherewith theyhaue banded themfelues againft our 
 Sauiour Chrift and his Church > The Scripture declare th 
 with what malice they perfecuted Chrift himfelfe whilft he 
 liued atnongft them, eucn vntill they had brought him to the 
 moil ftiamcfull and cruell death, crucifying him betwixt two 
 theeues, and preferring Barrxbas a murtherer before him, 
 a? if he had bene the greateft malefaclour in all the world: 
 and alfo how after his rcfurrcclion,thcy perfecuted his Ape- 
 files'. But if we confult Ecdcfiafticall and Ciuill Hifto- 
 ries, we fhall finde, that they hauc not cca r edeuerfinccto 
 mew their malice to the very name of Chrift, in their mur- 
 thering Chriftian children, and efpccially Carpenters fons, 4 
 in defpite of lefus the fonnc of Iofeph who was a Carpenter : 
 
 in 
 
Chap. I . Of the Aame ofAntichrifi. 
 
 Hi 
 
 in poyfoning Riuers and Springs, and raifwg fedicions in- 
 Cities, with many other horrible enormities. But, as they 
 haue encrcafed in malice againlt Chrilt, fo Gods vengeance 
 hath followed them vnto this day : For after that horrible 
 defolation of their prime City and whole Nat ion,byT#'f«f 
 and fafpjfcw, they againe reuolted and committed moil 
 fcarfull outrages vpon Christians, and all others in Lybia y 
 t/£gvft, (jrcxiia, Cyp tts y an d P alefttna, till they were a- 
 gaine, firft by the Einperour T^w»f,and thenby Adrian 
 hisfuccciTor, fo difperfed,dcftroyed, and tornc in pceces, 
 that till this day,they durft neucr lift vp their hands in pub- 
 lique againft the Church : yea by a moft feuere cdiit of the 
 Einperour Adrian y (which S. lerome writing vpon the flrit 
 Chapter o£Zcpham<*h makcth mention of) they were prohi- 
 bited cucr to enter into their o wnc Country ; and fo they 
 arc vagabonds and runnagates vpon the earth as C#r/» was, 
 without Prince, Common-we alth, or Gouernment, And 
 fince mcthinkcslfcein^tw a notable reprefentation of 
 this rebellious Nation : for he flew *Abd the iuft ; fo they, 
 the iuft One, the Lord oflife, the Sonne ofGod : he was 
 made a vagabond vpon the earth, and foare they : but yet as 
 he had a marke fet vpon him by God, that none fhould flay 
 him, (o haue they; for God hath fo marked them by his fe- 
 crct prouidencc, that though they be hated of all men, yet 
 they arc not vtterly deftroyed, nor mixt with other Nations 
 by mariagc, or any other ciuill or religious combination, as 
 other ftrsgling Nations haue bene. And that for twocaufes 
 as it may fecme: one, that the vengeance of God might be 
 ftill vifible vpon them, for the confirmation of the Chrifti- 
 an faith : and the other, becaufe God hath appointed, atime 
 of their conuerfion, and reception into mercy, as the Apo- 
 ftle plainly fheweth, Rqt*. i i . 26. Thcfe then are the firit 
 fort of Antichnfrs, as the CaptaincS and ring-leaders of all 
 the reft. 
 
 4 . The fecond are the Gentiles^ which may alfo be diui- 
 ded into two rankes : firft,fuch as are not of the. Church, as 
 
 were the pcrfe and Potentates inthePri- 
 
 mittuc 
 
 *i\ 
 
Ill 
 
 Of the Name ofAnUchrift. 
 
 Ch. 
 
 ip.I 
 
 TertuUxontrd 
 
 M4rdonAb f $* 
 
 cap.%. 
 
 Ambrcfgje. 
 
 
 rnitiue Clinch, during the ten famous pcrfecutions, by 
 which millions of Chriftiins were cruelly fhu.^ht ere J, for 
 theprofeifioi of th? Cariftiahreiig!Ofl,prdphecicd of, RsueU 
 
 12. i \. and 13,1.2. A»i the Mihomenns particularly def- 
 bibedby S. hh«. Apoc. 9.14.^. An J feconcfly, fuch as 
 are within the Church, to wit, Hcretkes. Hypocrites, and 
 all notorious wicked perfoas : all which are, if not profeft, 
 yetexprclfe enemies to Chriit ; and therefore Teriullian 
 calleth Mircion Antichrift, and S. Ambrofe calieth the Ar- 
 rtAnsby the Came name : and S. isfugufiiKe vpon 1 . fakn.j. 
 affirmed! , That [0 many psri nredperfons, adulterers , drzx- 
 kards ,vfurers , and fuck like^as ays in the Church ,[-> many An- 
 ticbrifts are in it 4 becaufe they d'.ny Cbrifl by their worses* . 
 
 5. But properly and particularly ,the name Antichriit,is to 
 be appropriated to the great AduerfaryofChrift, defcribed 
 by S. Paul. 2 Theff.2. and by S. hhn, in the 13. Chapter of 
 I the ReueUtion 9 by the fecondBeaft: and in the 1 7. and 1 8. 
 Chapters in the fame booke. Of whom, all the other were 
 but fore-runners, and in whom all the herefies, impieties, 
 and cruelties of the former, were collected together, as into 
 one center, as Irenauslcmg agoe foretold ; and by whom a 
 tyrannical! Monarchy iTiould be fct vp in the Church, pre- 
 tending the Vicegerency, and vfuiping the place of Chrift 
 himfclfe. Of this great Antichrift, wc confcflc ,that Anti- 
 ochpu Epiphanes was a figure, but yet fo, that all the things 
 that are fpoken littcraliy of Antiechus, are not to be applied 
 vnto -bivn. Another type and figure of this A ntichrift, was 
 Ndhafh^nc Ammonite , who would make no league with 
 the Inhabitants cfiUbejh Gtlead, but vpon condiuon,that all 
 their right eies fhould be bored out : which is exactly fulfil- 
 led in the Kingdome of the Pope, by takingfrom the peo- 
 ple the holy Scripture, andfo leauing them in mifcrable 
 blindncfTe ; for what is this elfc, but to pull out their right 
 eies ? Butabouc all the rcft,he is moft notably* rcprefented, 
 by that foolifh fhephcard in the Prophet Zachary, Chap. 
 1 1 . 1 6. 1 7. For lee, 1 wtllratfe vp a fix f heard in the Land, 
 which fiatt not vifit t hofe that be cut off, neither jbaUfeek* t be 
 
 young 
 
Chap. I. Of the Kame cfAntichrift* 
 
 "3 
 
 ~yo>!g$»c,rm hedethut that is brokptfiorfeed tbxt that ftcutdeth 
 fitU : bat he [hall eate the fie /h ofths Ut, and texre their cU.vpci 
 ittpeeces : r?o: to the Idoii (hephe^d th %t !*A!<c:b the flick* ,thc 
 fwordpyail be vpor. his or me ana vfor his r^g ! Jt.eyc y his am? 
 Jhallbe cleane dried vf , And km right tyc fballh viterlj darl^ 
 ncJL 
 
 A notable Propheticall difcription of this great An- 
 tichrift, and \s oarpiycdbyS. loome > in his Commentary 
 vpon that place. And he is fitly called an Idoll (hepheard, 
 to fignifie that which S. Tan, arfirmeth, in the fecond to the 
 TbejJsMn tans that he (hculd fhew himielfc in the Temple of 
 God as God, exalting himfelfe as an Icioll to be worshipped ; 
 and adored c uen by the Pi incei of the earth : but that he 
 fliali be c illumed by the breath of the mouth of Chriit, 
 which is ihatiword of the Spirit, fpoken of Sphef 6. 17 
 And ofthis great Antlchrift^tftf efiet, who it fhouldbe,is all 
 dje centre uerfie betwixt vsan \ th c Church of Fs-re : they 
 affirming that he is yet to coffie ; and we, that he is already 
 reaealed^and JQctethin I ffhually vnderftood. 
 
 6. But co.v : ; s vord % thus property 
 ;ltood 3 wc ate farther to obferue, that it is lomeiimes 
 
 taken for the whole body of the Antichiiltian kingdome,and 
 fcrnetirr.es for die head of the body. In the fhit fenfe, it is 
 by S. Pau! y when he callcth it an Apoftacy or defection, 
 and the Myllery of iniquity. i*7be]f. i. * . and isexprcfTeu by 
 S. Iob* y voder the name of a crueil Be.; it, and of V aoylon, 
 and many waters, stpoc.i 2 . 1 1 . and 1 8. : i. and 1 7. 1 . In 
 the fecond fenfe it is taken by S*F**l. •i.Tkejf.z. where 
 lie is called the Man of finne, the Sonne of perdition, and 
 S irmttf*i»c t the Aduerfary, and by S.Iohn • w^w the Anti- 
 chriit,**7 «£*#»>, and A&*<^»», and A«*» writhe deftroyer. 
 
 7. The feu. rail periods ofthis Antichrift,are fiucFirft, 
 hisbirth, in the time ofthe Apcitlcs.l. febn^.j. Secondly, 
 his growth, which was from the Apoltles times, till the 
 reigne ofcPhccas the Emperour, in the yeare 607. Thirdly, 
 his reigne, which wis from the time of phocxi , till about the 
 yeerc,i 5 1 7. wherein he commanded in the woikl as a King, 
 
 > 2* 
 
 JUu 
 
Ii 4 
 
 Of the number efhti Tfyme. 
 
 Chap. 2.. 
 
 and no man durft gainfay his power. Fourthly, his reuea- 
 ing, which beginning in the ycere 1^17. proccedcth by de- 
 grees, and increafcth till the commingof Chrift to iudgc- 
 ment. Fiftly, his deftru&ion, which is begun by the prea- 
 ching of the Gofpeil, and fhall be finifhed by the comming 
 of Chrift. 2.T^/..2.8. 
 
 CHAP. 2, 
 Of the rwmktr of his Name. 
 
 '• \ S the manner of Tray tors is, vndcr pretence of the 
 
 i\Kings name and authority to raifc forces, feize vpon 
 
 Cities and Caftles,aud fendforth Edicts and Proclamations, 
 
 but all againft the Kinghimfelfe, that they may depriuc him 
 
 of his Throne, and let vp whom they lift in hisroomc : So 
 
 doth Antichrift vnder the name and authority of Chrift,ad- 
 
 uance himfclfe againft Chrift, and hi pretence that C hrift is 
 
 in body abfent from his Church, draw vnto htmfelfe by a 
 
 facrilegious viurpation the gouernment thereof. . For this 
 
 caufc the Spirit of God minding to arme the fakhfuil a- 
 
 gainft the futilities of this hypocrkicall enemic, propoun- 
 
 deih vnto vs a certaine name comprized vnder the number, 
 
 666. by which rightly vnderftood, wc might attaine to the 
 
 true knowledge of him. 
 
 2. The Text iiuhcApocalyps is this, T&^f >7om.nr(honld 
 buy or [ell J? the that hath this Character, or the name of the 
 Be aft, or the number of his name ; here is wife dome, let him 
 that hath vvderflcwdwg court the number of the Bcnftf.tr it is 
 e number of a ma.*t f and his number zs % 666 Where by the 
 character, the name oftheBca(t,and the number of his name, 
 in all probability is meant one and the fame thing. So Hay- 
 mo, Sixttis Scnenfts, j4[caz,ar, and others vnder (land it % 
 and thus the latter is ftill the cxpolition of Jfche former : as if 
 a man would know what is meant by the character, S. John 
 faith by way of expofition, Or the name of t he Beaft : and 
 what by the name of the Beaft, he addeth : Or the number of 
 
 hu 
 
 t 
 
Chap.2 
 
 Of the number of hi* Name* 
 
 115 
 
 his ftamd Andfo the character of the Bc'aft feemeth to be 
 nothing clfe,but the name of the Beafl,containing the num- 
 ber, 666. 
 
 5. By the Beaftwhofe Character, name, and number,is 
 here dciigned, is not to be vnderfbod Antichrifthimfelfe, 
 who is figured out by the fecond Beaft^/^r. / 3 .but the firrt 
 Bcaft^whofc authority Antichrift doth vfurpe, and caufcth it 
 to be adored., and credtcth an image vnto it, and impofcth 
 the name thereof vpon all men : as is plainc, A foe. 13.12. 
 that ij/hc R omanc or Latuie State (for fo the firft Beaft fig- 
 nifieth) the !aft head whereof, is Antkhrifr. 
 
 4. It is faid to be die number of a man, either becauic a 
 manbyreafon and vndcrftanding may fin dcout the my ftcry 
 thereof: or becauic it is an obuious and vfuallname amongft: 
 men : as 6 fay. 3. 1 . The -ben of a man : and Ape. z 1 . 1 7, The 
 meafsife of a man\ that is,fuch a'pen and mcafure as are in vfe 
 by men : or laftly, becaufc the name of the B :aft, containing 
 this number, is alfo the proper name of a man. Which way 
 foeuer it be taken, it is all to one effeft, for the fenfe of the 
 Text, 
 
 / . This number, 666* is diueifly interpreted by expofi- 
 torsofthc Text, and that principally two vvaies ; cither my- 
 /trcally,.or literally. The myfticall.expofitions arc fbure. 
 r irlr, fomc vncleritand it of the time w herein An'tichrift be- 
 gan to reigne and reueaie himfelfe. Secondly,of the certaine 
 degrees, by which this Beaft doth captiuatemen to his fcr- 
 uice and homage ; both thefc are exprelTed by the Authour, 
 and therefore I forbeare to ipeakc of them any further. The 
 third interpretation, is by a certaine Lawyer called Caryon, 
 in his Anatomy of Antichrift, Chap. 2 1 . who fpeaking of 
 this il'biccl/aith; that it is a fafhion of fpeech taken from the 
 Greckcs & Latincs,in the cenfuring or numbering their Ci- 
 tizens :for there wasf faith hc)a twofold catalogue or nume- 
 ration of them :Thc fa?z,cer;fm nommlg ^vAiich euery Citizen 
 was bound to giue vnto the Ccrifour: the other, a declarati- 
 on of the eftateand reucnue" of eucry GYi^'en^yvhei^y they 
 were ranked in theitTcuerall degrees: and' fo that S. lorn like. 
 
 -_~ • O* »1 
 
ti 6 
 
 Of the xumber of his 2{4mc. Chap. 2 
 
 a Cenfou: fetteth downe, fivftthe name, and (ccondly the 
 demeanes of the Bea{t,which is 666. talents of geld yeerely 
 comniihg in. And this(faith he) is the number of die reucnuc 
 of this my(Lry,arifing from his damnable tranficke of foulcs, 
 an 1 wcring in grcatnene to that of rich Sahmon, of whom it 
 is faid,tha| there came in vnto him euery yccre, 666. talents 
 of Gold ; which amounrcth to betwixt Sue and fix millions, 
 an Hebrew Talent auay ling in worth eight or ninethOufand 
 Crowncs.or fix fcore pounds of Gold, as both Epipb/wiu*, 
 and 'Bud.xui affirmc. The fourth myfticall interpretation, is 
 \\\2io£j4nfelmeTj.\{hov>o^Civteyh f Arj^ in his Commentary 
 vpon the Apocalyps, Chap. 13 ♦ who faith, by the number of 
 fix, which is the firfi: perfect number, is mcaiit thofe, that in 
 the (late ofMariage, doc after their mcarure Fulnll the Com- 
 mandements of God, and fo are in the lovvcir degree of per- 
 fection : and by 60. which is fonnedof fix and ten multiply- 
 ed together, thofe w r hich (tand hi the middle degree of per- 
 fection by their excellent graces and vermes, who though 
 they come jfhort of the third, yet doe ferre excecde the for- 
 mer : but by the fix hundred he faith, arc to be vndetftood, 
 liich as are in the higheft degree of perfection, as Menkes 
 that kcepe the integrity both of body and fpiric Now of 
 thefe three degrees, the firft bring forth fruite fix fold ; the 
 fecond, fixty fold; and the third, an hundred fold : and that 
 the Difcipies of Antichrift (hall preach, that none can befa- 
 ucd, excep: he bring forth one of thefe ineafures offruitcs. 
 
 6. Of all thefe myllicall interpretations, not one com- 
 meth any thing ncere to S. lohns intention : for touching the 
 firft, feeing S. Iobn faith exprciTely, that it is the name cfthe 
 number of the Bccft,itcaninno probability be referred to 
 the number of the timc,cither of the begjnning,or of the con- 
 tinuance of Anticruift. ' And for the other interpretations, 
 befides many difficulties that encounter them in the Text, 
 thisisoneprincipail : that is,there arc diners kindes of num- 
 bcrs } both amongit the Hebrews and Greekcf, fdme myfti- 
 call and Euangclicall^and others vfuall and ordinary, as Sca- 
 tter welt notcth ; foto put a difference betwixt thefe, the 
 
 holy 
 
Chip. I. Of the ni:mler of I u 2^amc. 
 
 117 
 
 holy Scripture fettcth downc certain c marV.es of diitine'rion, 
 whereby they may be difecmed. And for this caufc S, Uhn 
 to .£hcw that this number is net to be taken myfticaily, or 
 eabalidically, but literally and vfuaily,fettc:hthis note vpon 
 it, that it :s a&et** a.6r*srx,that is,*»fya/*ji*,a humane n*mc, era 
 : ordinary amongft men :for it is not t» *\fy-eV» with the 
 article, as if it-^cre the name of a certainc man, but*«fy*rvj 
 without the articlcjby \\ hich f gnirlcaticn, myiticall and ca- 
 balifticall interpretations are excluded. 
 
 7. The litetall Interpretation of this number is (as all a- 
 i grce) by fb;r.c certainc name, the letters whereof, exa#Jy 
 containe 6 6 '•. by computation, and neither more nor Icffc. 
 For as the &JittP£f,fo the Greekes in imitation of them, in 
 Acad of figHresJvie Alphabeticail letters, for computation. 
 Now this number of the name ofthe Beaft, fbmc compute 
 by the Hebrew, and fomc by the Grcekc Characters : by 
 the HebreWjbecaufethcRcuelation was made to S. hhn be- 
 ing an Hebrew, and therefore moit likely in the Hebrew 
 tonguc,as moft famiijar vnto him, and that he tranflated it 
 out of the Hebrew into the Greekc : and this they fay is ap- 
 parant, both by the fum'ry Hcbraifmes commonly vied in 
 this booke. and by the Hebrew names therein yet contained, 
 as Abtddox, H Armageddon , Ccg^rA Oil agog: and by the 
 fo ordinary repetition of the number of feuen, all which fa- 
 uour of die H ebrew language. And they that will haue it 
 expreffed by Greekc Characters, giuc this rcafon ; becaufc 
 the Rcuclation was written in Grcekc, and fent to the 
 Grceke Churches, which !a(t opinion is moit probable. 
 
 '<\ In Hebrew wefinde three words containing this 
 number and all of them fitting the prcfent iiate of Antichrift, 
 as we take it.The firft is r.'WEV* Romtiei? s thrt is Ram&Mgt 
 JZvmanttofoz NouncS collecliues with the Hebrewcs, as /«- 
 nim ebferueth, are taken promiicuoufly in both Genders: 
 and if they were not, yet the Fanninine termination agrceth 
 aiwell tothepurpo'c, becaufe this number is not the proper 
 DameofAntichrift, but ofthe Rom:,ne {rate, which after-., 
 ward is defenbed by the name of a woman, and an hai let. 
 
 ■ Ol ->'•' 
 
u8 
 
 Of the number of his Name. 
 
 Ch; 
 
 p*2 
 
 Apoc. 1 7. an d 1 8. Tnc fecond is a Latinc name written in 
 Hebrew letters, becaufe the Latines doe not vfe their letters 
 fornuaicrall notes, as the Hcbrcwes and Grecians doe, and 
 this they fay is\pvi37T2% Rominvu : the knowledge of 
 which name,deuote and learned M Fex y obtained (as he 
 faith) of God by carneft prayer. Both thefe names doe fitly 
 agree to the AntichrirHau State, for the Empire is {-till called 
 the Romane Empire ; and the Pope, the Roraane high Pi iclt 
 or Bifhop,and their Church the Romane Church ; as if Ro- 
 mane and Catholike were all one,as 'Baronttu aflirmcth, and 
 the Popes fubie6ls, Romane Cathclikes ; all which things 
 iliew the agreement of thefe names, to the thing they are to 
 exprelTe. The third is HXO^a Mtjfa, the Maffe, wherein 
 is couched together as it were in one bundle, wcl-nigh all 
 themyfteries of Antichrifts kingdome. 
 
 19. In Greekc, there are found out many names that con- 
 tainc this number. Ircndttts an Ancient Father and Schollcr 
 to Poljcarynty whom S. lohn ordained the firft Bilhop of 
 Smyrna^ propoundeth three* *•«»*«» x*»««r£n H ofthefirft 
 whereof he ahirmech nothing :but die feeond(he faith)is ve- 
 ry likely and probable, becaufe it is the name of the great 
 and laft Kingdome, out of which Antichrilt was to fprout . 
 But the third he refteth moft vpon, vt maxtmafide dignum\ 
 as mod: worthy ofbelicfe. But by Irenaw his lcaue,wc may 
 rather refoluc vpon the fecond *««(«, and that for two rec- 
 fons fpecified by Irsn&m himfclfe : one,becaufc it is the 
 nameofthehrftBeaft ; and the o:her,becaufe Antichriftis 
 to impofc that name vpon all men. But any one of the three 
 doe fitly agree to the Romane Antichrift. For firft, touching 
 the name Emntho4 y it is afmuch magnification, as happily 
 fiourifhing : and what eftatc in the world is more flourifh- 
 ing,in power,riches, and (lately buildings, multitude of at- 
 tendants, delightfull Careens, and Meadowcs, delicacy of 
 meatcs, and all other things,that may feruc cither for pompe 
 or pleafure, then the State of the Romane Pope ? There is 
 not any thing in this wo rld,e it her delightful to the cies,orde- 
 /Irous of the heart of man, which he and his Cleargy enioyeth 
 
 not. 
 
Ch 
 
 Of the number of his Name, 
 
 up 
 
 not. Their Palaces furpaflc in ftateiinesthe goodlier! Man- 
 sions ofKings,and Princes, and their Pompe is farre greater 
 then any of them. For this caufe, /W/fiVwobferucthin the 
 fecondE^iftle of his firft Bookc,that Rome in their ancient 
 Sacrifices was called by a fecrct name Atthxf* % which is as 
 much in e#ect,as Euimhau^ happily flourifliing. Secondly, 
 the name T/*.**vs one of the names of the Sunne, whom 
 bo:h the Grecians and UarbAYuws made an Idoll,and wor- 
 fhippcd 3 andcarrycth with it an orientation of reuengcAnd 
 isnotthe Pope fuchan Idoll? Hcc is carryed aloft VDon 
 mens fhouldersJuke tlic Goddeffc PejfenHntta,vi\\h the Sa- 
 crament carryed be fore him like the TerfiiK fire: all forts of 
 men fall downc and worfhip him as a God vpon earth, and 
 kiflfe his fecte. And that he may not want the name of this 
 Idoll, hcc cailcth himfclfc'the greater light that rulcth the 
 day,to wit the Church; that is,7VM»,or the Sunne, and the 
 Empcrour theleffer,torulc then:ght,to wit,the Layty. And 
 as the Moone is iabieci to the Sunne, and not the Sunne 
 to dve Moonc/o Emperors and Kings are fubie£t to him,and 
 nor he to them : and as fane as the Sunne doth execede the 
 Moone ingrcaxneflcyib farre doth the Fapall power ex- 
 cecde the Emperiall : and as it is impoffiblcfor the Sunnc to 
 depend vpon the Moone, fo it is for the authority of the 
 Pppetodepcnd vpon the Emperor : and as the Sunne is the 
 Father and Lord of all the Planets, fo is the Pope of all Tem- 
 poral! dignities : and as all the Planets receiue their light 
 from the Sunne, fo doe all Bifhops their power and authori- 
 ty from the Pope. And laftly,is the Sunne receiueth his light 
 from the fn-ft nv*ucr,and cormiiunicatcth the fame to all the 
 rcftoftheStanes: fo the Pope deriucth his rower immedi- 
 ately f-o-TiGod,and difpen r eththc fame to all the members 
 of the Carholikc C hurcb. And as for the vengeance which 
 this name Tit >n alfo importeth, who can doubt but that it 
 fittcthhim in this rcfpc&to an hairc, that confidereth with 
 what Gyant-like violence hee hath aflaultcd Kings and 
 Princes ; fomctimes with the thunder-bolts ofhis Excom- 
 munications, wherewith the grcatcft were wont to be terri- 
 fied,. 
 
j2o 
 
 Of the number of his Name. Chap. % 
 
 ficd as with lightning from heauen, fometimes with open 
 and bloody Wanes, and fometimes with fecret MalTacres, 
 and treacherous delignemcnts : thus making as it were the 
 earth to quake, aid the ftouteft and grcateli: hearts to trem- 
 ble at his threats. Moft fitly then by thefe two names wee 
 banc a moft liuely picture of this Man of fume : and yet I 
 confefTe they are notfo grounded vpon the holy Scripture, 
 as that we dare fully reft vpon them. 
 
 io. The third name is xcoiTrof, which is the moft proba- 
 ble and likely of all the reft, though Iren<tfu holds it not fo, 
 F or firft,the letters of that name exactly containc the mini - 
 ber,666\namciy,ifitbc written with the Dipthong g?,and 
 and not with a fingle totals the Iefuites cauill it ought to be, 
 andfo would infringe the credit of this nsmc, becaufc the 
 letters doc not agree with thenumbcr.But Irs* am that knew 
 the Greeke tongue better then they, and alio wrote in 
 Greeke, writeth it with the Dipthong, .and not with a fi'n- 
 gleiiM. And whereas (peaking of mmr, hcequalifiethit thus; 
 Stmtdoper •Iftri&Atur , that is if it may bee written by the 
 Dipthong «7commmg to **<?««;, hemaketh no qualification, 
 but taketh it for granted that it ought to be ib written. A rid 
 this learned Scaliger obferued in his j4nintod*erjions vpon 
 Eufe&tHS Chrctt i that theGreekes vkd toturne the letter 
 $ors into the Dipthong «<, when it w r ent before a TV, as 
 Aimwtf^^^.xawjWjnfomuch^that it was not oncly not a 
 fault fo to write, but a fault not to writefb.Secondly, it can- 
 not be doubted,but that by that Bcaft with feuen heads and 
 ten homes, fo#<?/. i ^.and 1 7. is metmtthc ftate of the Em- 
 pire and City of Rome :now the icuenth head which is An- 
 tichrift, is one of the heads of this Peaft, and therefore muft 
 needs haue the fame domination with it|thatis,Latineor 
 Roman c, as the other fixe were called, especially by the 
 GrcekcSjW'ho called it ordinarily by this name, The Ljtive 
 Empire and Ztrprevr. Thirdly, it i$ alfo ccrtaine, that du- 
 ring the time of the Latine or Romane Empire, Antichriit 
 could not difcouerhimfclfe: but that which wasthcobfta- 
 
 Iclc of his comming being remoued,iheu he was to fpring out 
 of 
 
Chap, 
 
 Of the number cfhis Name. 
 
 121 
 
 oftheruines thereof, andfo muft needs fucceed him in the 
 fame place and authority: bat the Empire of Rome is long 
 agoe t aken out of the way, there remaining nothing thereof ' 
 now but a bare title without being. And the Pope ha:h v- ! 
 furped all the power and authority thereof into his hands, as I 
 alio the City it felfe, and therefore why flioald wee doubt I 
 but that the name Antichrift is *<mW;; andfo that the Pcpe 
 
 is he without all queition ? Laftly, that he may plainely de 
 clarethat this name belongcth properly vnto him,and none 
 e lie, he impolcth this%iarnc vpon all that depend vponhim: 
 his Church is called the Latine Church, fo is the Apoftolical! 
 Sea • the publick Liturgie is commanded to bee Latine: fo 
 Prayers, Bulles _In.iu!genccs,Maffes > Vcfpers, Mattens, De- 
 crees, PIea* # all L nine jyea, the holy Scripture it fclfc by the 
 Decree ofthc CounfeHof frent^ is not authenticall, but in 
 Latin?. And that which is mod: obferuablc,this publick fer- 
 uicein the L .tine tongue, was ( as Wolphius fheweth) 
 brought in and obtruded vpon the whole Church, by Pope 
 Fitxltirt prccifcly in the ycere, 6 '56. which is the number of 
 the name of the Beaft in the jfptcthps. D\d not h en &tu 
 then ay:n: neere to the markc, when he propounded Hnu*\ 
 as very likely to bee this name ? Whoifhe had liuedat this 
 day,anjfcenc all thefe things before named, cfpccially the 
 diuinonofhisRomanc Empire, and the Papall vfurpation, 
 would not hauegiucn it out as a probable conie£hire,but as 
 an aflurcd and vndoubted truth. 
 
 i r There are diucrs other names found out, or rather 
 dcuifed by fundry Authors, which in the Greeke Chara- 
 cters make this number; as *p«0q of Hippolitus , which is 
 Ncgo in Latine ; **>*»»* of jiretbat fk&t is jtltiftris fweut; 
 \!rt*rm y Vilior i a Conquerour ; k«*w ihye, prautts dnx^z. wic- 
 ked Guide ; ,-xftv -SW!«e, vert nocens, truly hurtfull ; *ax«; a 'B- 
 ****, olim wardens, enuying of long time ; *>?or «/«* , tsfgnpu 
 went, an hurtfull Lambe ; *nw of Prtmdfi**, that is, con- 
 trArtHi, an Aduerfaric; ««*»«« iw^*«» the Italian Church ; 
 $«* Hiu'fin 5*« f , 1 4m 4 God vpon earth : with dhiers other like; 
 out of ail which, Betldrminc concludeth, that becaufc the 
 
 R word 
 
 Rtetnditltit. 
 
12 2 
 
 Of the number of his T^ame. Chap.2 
 
 wordx«ww in Gtc^kQ^o^^y^X^sRotnanm'm Hebrew, 
 doc not oncly comprehend this number, but manie other 
 names bcfidcs, therefore this cannot bee the name fignified 
 in the Apocalyps. But wee are tovndcrftand; firft, that 
 feme of thefc. names doe not iumpe with the number, as 
 ap»«*i, and -ht/ATnrw ; and fecondly, thatfomc do properly ap- 
 pcrtaincto the Pope, and to the Church of Rome; as 
 
 Kent* 'jfaytje/fjivof d.ft*ii i *<Ti(jL(>: > cM.H'kMsla iTaXm-J^^ h/M 'fht yam^yQt third* 
 
 ly 3 that none of them rcprefent the name of the former bead 
 which \*<rHr.c doth, and therefore are in no fort to be accep- 
 ted, as nothing agreeing to. the purpofc of that Prophefie : 
 for if any name would feme the turne, an hundred fuch like 
 were eafic to be dcuifedby the wit of man. 
 
 i 2. Asforthofe names inucnted by the learned Papifts, 
 oncly of purpofe to difgrace our Religion, they fauour fo 
 much of malice and ignorance, that they deferuc no other 
 confutation,but derifion and contempt : fuch arc thefe enfu- 
 ing : r JMartin Lamer fox Martin Luther, if the Latine let- 
 ters be accounted far numbers after the Greekc computati- 
 on, this isL/'f/skf/deuife : but Genebrtrd will hnue it to bee 
 Lulther for Luther being written with Hebrew characters. 
 ISelUrmine hath deuifed Dabid Chiireiafax Daniel Chitr<ms\ 
 and nt&wx for the Country wherein Ltttberwzs borne rail 
 which arc ridiculous, and faire vnbefecmingthe grauity of 
 fuch learned men, were not their eyes blinded with malice . 
 By as good reafon we might conclude, that Paulas £l*inttt4 
 was Antichrift, becaufe the Anagram of his name is. thus, 
 Quis tu> anL»fm} And his title which hee takes to him- 
 felfc, Vtcarius T>'$ generates in terris, containeth in the nu- 
 merall Letters thereof iuftthe-number 666. as may appearc 
 by this computation of them : or that euery Pope fince they 
 tooke vpon them the title of the head of the Church 
 and vniucrfall Fimop,is Antichiift: Other wife as Walter 
 Urtiite diucrs hundred yccrcs fince affirnicth, thefe words, 
 D fix Cleriy make the fame numbe r o*f 6 6 6 > bu t thefe Caba- 
 liflicall conceits, are rather flafhes of ouer-flowing wits, 
 then found traces of true iudgement . 
 
 x vThe 
 
Hit charaBer cr Marh, 
 
 12? 
 
 The name \<m?wthcn, is ofallthcmoft probable vp- 
 on which wee reft, vntill it flhallplcafe God to rcueale ano- 
 ther vntovs : for Antichrift niuft bee the head ofriicRo- 
 mane ftate in general! ., but fo farrc forth as it is Latinc : the 
 Mother City whereof is feucn hilled Koine. For this name 
 Latineis that by which the Eait and Wcfterne Romanes 
 were di/tinguifhed, the Weftcrne calling themfelucs indeed 
 Romanes,yetby theGreekes were called alwaics Latin cs 
 
 for diilinclion fake. 
 
 CHAP.?. 
 
 Of the C har titter or Marine ofAntichrift* 
 
 I. \ Character is a marke or fymboll of difference by 
 £\ which one thing is knowne horn another; thus 
 Merchants hy ccrtaine Scales and Markes vie to diltinguifli 
 their Wares, and Graders their Cattle and Shecpc, and 
 Captainestheir SoLldias; as !/bmae/-xhe Per/tan Sopbt diitin- 
 guifhed all his followers that held of -Haly ,whom theyprc- 
 tended to bee ihe true fucceflour ofcMahomet, from the 
 Turkes,that were of acontrary opinion, by a red Ribbon on 
 their Hats .The word is dcriucd from %*&***> or &&**>, which 
 iignificth to imprinter ingrauc a mirke vpon a thing: and fb 
 Character fignifieth a markc,or note imprinted. And it is ta«* I 
 ken either literally ,or metaphorically; literally as before,and 
 metaphorically as in Demofthenes y irtffc **/c^\r/?ot»f iuw&- 
 &K-*}i\%mvn, that \s,Inthe fpeech is feene an image of the 
 minde : more particular^ for a forme or peculiar fafhion of 
 fpcakingjcalled otTttlly Forma, dicendt : and fo alfo Forma or 
 Character viuendi, A fafhion cr matter of Iiftwjr^confiRlnghl 
 outward Rites and Ceremonies ,as it is vfed, 2 . Machab. 4 . 
 And laftiy, it is vfed for the defcription of a thing, whercb y 
 itisdiftinguimcdfromanother 3 asT«//)' affirmethinhis To- 
 ptckt. Thcfe different acceptations of the word, fhew plain- 
 ly ,that the Papifts who rcftraine the word to fome corporall 
 and vifible marke to bee impofed by Anticbrift vpon his 
 
 R 2 followers, 
 
«4 
 
 Bis Character or Marks. 
 
 Chap.j 
 
 followers, doe manifcft wrong vnto the holy Ghoit, re- 
 training that to one (lri£t feiife, which fhould bee left at 
 large . 
 
 i.Therebe fundry opinions touching this Character of the 
 Bcaft what it fhould be. 'Bullmger thinketh it to be Vnctioii 
 of Cbrtfme, wherewith all Christians liuing vnder the obedi- 
 ence of the Bifhop of Rome ,are figncd in the forehead. "But- 
 linger. (er*4 1 . in Idpocal. Theodorw Hibltcmder in his Chrono- 
 logy tab. i o.faith,it is nothing elfe but the outward profcfTion I 
 oftheRomanc faith,without which the Papifts affirme, that 
 a man cannot be a true Catholikc. Chyirem would hauc it to 
 be the Oath, which, is impofed vpon all for their obedience 
 to the Church of Rome. Others thinke it to be the Vnction 
 facerdotall,by which an indelcblc character ( as they fay ) is 
 imprinted vpon all that take thofe facred orders rand fomc 
 againetobe nothing elfe, but the fupei Ritious carriage of 
 popish ceremonies of the Romiih C hurch, as worshipping 
 ofImages,crecping to the CrotTe, adoring the facramentall 
 brcad,an jfichlike. H-.ppo'itw the Maityr(if he bec not 
 counterfeit ) faith,that this Ch?re.6b: is nothing elfe, but not 
 to vfe the nVne of the Crofle but rather to deteft r nd r'bolifh 
 it. which is a priuatiue markc,and thcrefoie no rciarke at all : 
 for a Character is a pofuiue imprefTicrt. frimsfim^ he la 
 and R'jpertiu thinke, that the Character of Antichrilt fhatt 
 beeceitaine letters,whcrewith the name cfArnchrift (hall 
 be written :but this opinion Tteltarminc himfclie coufuteth. 
 R^bera in his Commentary vpon Ay^c. i ; . ate. t | . and 34. 
 ^ 5. hath two opinions concerning this Char2cter,thc one 
 that it fhould bee a ccrtaine marke in /* ntichrifts priuy Sig- 
 net, wherewith hec fhould fcale all his Decrees, Edicts, and 
 Letters after the maner of Kings and Princes, and probably 
 coniectureth, that this may bee the picture of a Dragon, as 
 the Romane Emperours cariied an Eagle m their Signet and 
 Enfigncs : but hec little thought that this coniccturc would 
 touch fouie of thePopcs,and PhhIhs Quint h* by name, who 
 bore D ragons in their A rmes. But not refting vpon this,his 
 fecond coniccture is, that it (hould bee die name wherein 
 
 Anti- 
 
Cha 
 
 P-3 
 
 Hit Character cr Marke. 
 
 I2 5 
 
 Antichriftmoftgloricth, abridged inaccrtainefigurc, and 
 this he fuppofcth out of one Aubertns, who tooke it (as he 
 faith) from Prima/jut pnght well be the name of (Thrift, or 
 the McfTias: which Antichrift fhould flile himfelfcby. This 
 figure is thus cxpreffed by him, as is fct downe in the mar- 
 gent, which if kbe fo yet fitly agrecth to the Pope, who 
 glorieth in the name of Chrifts Vicar,and vfeth, or rather a- 
 buieth all kindc of croiTes to molt horrible Idolatry : and 
 therefore Naphur vpon the Apocalyps, faith ; thatthefe ve- 
 ry crofies thus abufed in the Church ofRame, arc the true 
 markes of the Bca& Laftly y BellarmiKe with more modefty 
 then the reft, thinVcth, that Antichrift (hall haue a pofitiuc 
 vilible marke. which he will imprint vpon all : but what 
 marke this fhall be, cannot be knownc, till Antichriil him- 
 felfc be come., 
 
 ; .. TZelUrmine proueth out of the words of the Text, 
 that this Character is but one and not many . for the Scrip- 
 ture(faithhe)fpcakcsalwairsofit, and of the name, and of 
 the number of the name, in the lingular number ; and there- 
 fore that they fpeake abfurdly, that bring in a multiplicity 
 of workes : whereunto we confent that the C haraclcr is but 
 one : and yet it hindercth not, but that which is vnumfpecie, 
 or numero, one in kinde or number, may notwithstanding 
 haue many parts and branches : As the body of a man is one, 
 and yet hath many menbers : a tree is one, and yet hath ma- 
 ny branches : the Church is one, and yet hath many parts: 
 fo is this Character ojae, and yet may be diuided into many 
 fedtions and parts, which fo that they proccede from one 
 roote,andteni to one end, doe no w r aics hinder the vnity of 
 this Character. And fo though in general!, rhis Character 
 o^the Beait be common to all Antichiifts followers, yet 
 fomemaybe marked with one branch of it, and fome with 
 another, according to their quality, being in e&cl all but 
 one and the fame. For as the Character of Christians is but 
 one, to wit, their fubieclion to Chriit, and their fpirituall 
 communion with him, asthe onely Head and Spoufe of the 
 Catholike Church : yet this one hath many parts, andisei- 
 
 R -j ther 
 
125 
 
 His char after or Mxrke. 
 
 Chap. $ 
 
 9: 
 
 JL 
 
 ther inward or outward : the inward Character of a Chrifti- 
 an, is faich working through louc, with which they that 
 are indued, are fealcd vnto faiuation, and knowne oncly vn- 
 to God. The outward, is partly in the forehead by profeffion 
 of this faith, and partly in the right hand, by liuing according 
 to the rules of that profeffion, and partly in the participation 
 of the Sacraments, to wit, Baptifine, and the Lords Supper, 
 which are the badges of Chriftianity. So the Character of 
 Antichrifts followers, though it be but one in Jpecie, yet it 
 is partly inward, and pardy outward : the inward may well 
 be accounted that implicitc faith of the Papifts, whereby 
 they beleeuc whatfocuer the Pope and the Church otRome 
 belceueth, or propounded! to be beleeucd, though they 
 know not what it is : and the outward, is cither in their fore- 
 head, by open profeffion of the Romane faith,or in the right 
 hand, by liuing according to the fupcrftitious traditions of 
 the Church ; oriaftly in both, by recciuing the Popifh Sa- 
 craments, and putting more confidence in them for their fal- 
 uation, then in thofe Sacraments which Ohrifthimfelfe or- 
 dained. And thus Lyramts, S Augufline^ Prima pus, 
 Richardus 1>e fantto Vtttore, Hajmo, and diuers others of 
 their owne fide, expound the phrafes of the fore-head, and 
 right hand, In fronte per profrffioncm, in manu peroperat;- 
 onem. 
 
 4. This marke of the Bcaft then being one in ft>ecie y and 
 yet diuided into many branches, may well be confidercd 
 two waies : either as common to all shat are fubiect to An- 
 tichrift, or particular to fuch as buy and fell. This diftin- 
 clion is plaine in the Text, Reuel. 1 3 . 1 6. 1 7. And he cau- 
 fetb allbothfmall and great, rich andpooreyfree and bound, to 
 receme a mark* in their right hand, and in their for e-beadts : 
 this is the common markc, and then folio weth in the Text: 
 And that no man might buy or fell, fttie he that had the 
 markfii which is the particular markc, plainly diftinguifhed 
 from the former ,by the coniundtion copulatiue(*»d/) where- 
 by all Papiftsbindethemfelucs in obedience and fubiedtion 
 to the Pope, and the Church of Rome, without which it is 
 
 not 
 
Chap 3 
 
 His Character or M*rke, 
 
 V.7 
 
 not lawful} for any to make profcffion of the Chriftian faith, 
 without the imputation of Hercfie, or Schifme atleait. And 
 this irarkc fcemeth to be imprinted foure feuerali waics 
 principally. Firft, by the Sacrament of Baptifme according 
 to their vie. Secondly, by their fuppofed Sacrament of Con- 
 firmation and Chrifme. ihirdly, by folemnc oath and at- 
 testation. And laftly ,by cuftomary iuperitition^nd pra&ife 
 of the Romifh Ceremonies. 
 
 S. Concerning Bapti me they thcmfelues teach andaf- 
 firme, that therein is contained a fecret and implicite oath 
 of obedience to the Pope, which is a kinde of hidden Chara- 
 cter: thus AdAth&tu Tortus y or rather BeUarmine page.51. 
 and AngHftmtiS 7ryuwphw> q.i i.<\rt.j\ % adfeenndum. And 
 this Character I thinkc to be imprinted according to their 
 dbdhine by the Popifh Ceremonies, wherewith that holy 
 Sacrament isadulteratcd,Crcame,Oyle,$ait,Spittlc,and ma- 
 ny other fuchapim. trumperies, which Chi ift, and HisApo- 
 files ,and the Priinitiue Churchncuer heard of, but arc par-t cf 
 thofe counterfeit, drugs-, that are fetcht out of the Whore 
 of ISabylons box : and Co whereas inholy Baptifme, wrre- 
 ceiue the Character of Iefus Chrilt, they are thereby mar- 
 ked as flaues vnto Antichritt , which is a raoft horrible pro- 
 phanation of that molt Sacred myftcry. For fhould diat 1 
 which is the make of our obedience to Chrift, be made a I 
 inarke of our obedience to A ntichrift ? Are men therefore 
 baptifed into Chr ift, that they fhould ferue Antichrift ? But 
 thus it becommctli Antkhrift to doe, therefore we need not 
 wonder at it. 
 
 6. In thcirfuppofed Sacrament of Confirmation, which 
 they blafphcmoufly prefcrre before Baptifme, for they 
 teach, that a man is not a full and perfect Chrifiian, though 
 he be baptized,tilthc be confirmed by the hands of the Bi- 
 shop, and that a man is not a Chrifiian till then, I C^y in this 
 Sacramcnt.anapparantmarke is printed on the forehead of 
 the Confirmed by the Bifhop,with their hallowed Chrifme, 
 in forme of a CrofYc and this they fay is fo necclTary, that he 
 cannot be a Chrifiian, qnt confirmation epifcopdt mnfucrit 
 
 .. Chrif 
 
128 
 
 His Cbaracier or M*rke. 
 
 Ch; 
 
 p. J, 
 
 BeUtr^catt" 
 ch:Jm. 
 
 cbrifmatus : that is, not marked with Eptfcopall Confirmati- 
 on. Yea ISelUrmtyie diredtly affinncth,that by confirmation, 
 another marke is imprinted vpon the foule thenbyBap- 
 tifme, by which a true Chriftian fliall be difcemed from an 
 lnfideli apud inferos, that is, among ft the dead, or in the gates 
 ofheH.'- This then is another way whereby men receiuc the 
 markc of Antichnft,when with fuch fupcrftition,and an opi- 
 nion of ncceffity, they vfc this Pophn Ceremony, of which I 
 doubt not but there is and may be an holy vfe in the 
 Church of God ; but fo, that it be firft purged from thefe 
 fupcrfluities. 
 
 7. The third is by protection and oath, whereby all 
 from the higheft to the Ioweft,Hmpcrours*,Princes, Bifhops, 
 Clerkes, with all that take any degree in fchooles, or ynder- 
 take any publick office in the Common- wealth, or that be- 
 ing priuate perfons, are fufpe£ted to difagrce from the 
 doctrine of the Romilh Church,are contained to fwcare al- 
 legiance and fidelity to the Pope, as to the fupreame head of 
 the Church. And this Character is imprinted both in their 
 forehcadeby folemnc atte(tation,and in their right hand by 
 laying it on a bookc. : and the reafon hereof is this, becaufe 
 they hold it of neceffity to faluation, for eucry creature to be 
 fubiedt to the Bifhop of Rome. And that we may ice this in 
 particular, theEmperour before he can be Crowned and 
 confirmed by the Pope, taketh two folemnc oathes, one at 
 his entrance into the City of Rome, to prcferuc the ancient 
 and vfuall cuftomes thereof, and the fecond in the Chappell 
 of the Virgin Alary 3 called S.Mary amidft the Towers, 
 where he fweareth himfclfe a Liege-feruant to the Pope,and 
 that he will protect and defend him,and the Church of Rome, 
 in all the ncccflities and vtHities thereof : then he muft be 
 couered with a furpleffc, and rcceiued amongft the Canons 
 of S. Peter, as a Canon and Brother, as if he were not capa- 
 ble of the ^mperiall dignity, vnleffe he were enrolled into the 
 orders of the Beaft : then one of the Cardinall Bifhops, ac- 
 companied with two DcaconSjlcadcth him in to the Altar of 
 S> Maurice, where he is annoyntcd on the right arme and 
 
 fhoul-. 
 
Chap. 3 
 
 His Char 'after or M*rke. 
 
 129 
 
 {houlders in forme of a CrofTe, with the cxorcifed OyJe of/ 
 the Catecbptmes t znd before his Coronation, the Ropegiueth 
 to the Emperour kneeling before him a Sword and an Ap- 
 ple into his right hand, and a Scepter into his k(u In fine, 
 after his Coronation } the Emperour waiteth vpon the Pope 
 at faying of Mafic as afub-deacon, and dcliuerethvntohim 
 the Chalice, and a plate with Hoftes,and water to mixe with, 
 the wine. This is th 2 order of the Empcrours Coronation: 
 wherein what doth he eifc,but receiue vpon him the marke 
 of the Beaft, feeing ail thefe Ceremonies arc both the inuen- 
 tions of the Pope, and feme to no other end, buttotyehim 
 to his obedience ? The like protestation of obedience to the 
 Pope and Church otRomejs made by all fuch Princes as a:e 
 fubic£t to the Papacy at their Coronation, as Hiftories 
 doe abundantly teftifie. The Oaths that Bifhops take at 
 the time^of their confecration, is notorious and famous, 
 when neucr mentioning G od,nor Icfus Chiift,nor his word^ 
 they onely fwcare that they will be obedient to the Pope, 
 deiend the Royali rights of S. Peter, entertaine his Legates, 
 maintaine and augment the Rights,Honours,andPriuiledges 
 of the Church of Rome, and vifit either perfonally,or by 
 by their Legates, the Apoftolikc Sea, once in three or foure 
 yeercs, together with many other particulars : which Oath 
 is to be feenc at large, in the Pontificall, in the Chapter 
 of the confecration of Bifhops : and who fecth not, that it s 
 not an oaJh of a Parlour of the Church, promifing obedi- 
 ence to God and his word, but of a vaffall to the Pope, as to 
 his feudal! Lord,and Soueraigne Prince?In fummc,the gene- 
 rali Oath that all take, is fet do wne in the Bull of Pitu Qvin- 
 ttts y vpon the forme of Oath from the profclTion of their 
 faith, wherein isexpreflcly contained, the new 'Romifti 
 Creed, confifting of tweine new articles, equall to thofe 
 tweiue of the Apoltles Creed, wherewith, as with a mani- 
 feft Charaeler, all the Romanics are ftamped, and that by 
 the decree of the Vridenttne Councill. 
 
 8. The lad way of imprinting this Character, is by the 
 fuperftitiouspia&ifeofthe Popiih Ceremonies, as namely, 
 
 S tie 
 
13° 
 
 His Chxr after or Mxrke. 
 
 Chap j 
 
 Bertotd.Con* 
 
 ad Herman, 
 
 Coniraftstn* 
 BQS4* 
 
 G*ftetl<!tir 
 
 brit-rtf*™ 
 AKg\tc.l&.i< 
 
 1 the celebrating of FcfKuail daies ordained by the Pope, 
 hearing of Kkffe, fafting in Lent, and other cnioyned 
 times, abftaining from flerh on Fridaies, and Saturdaics, 
 (hriuing to a Prieft at Eafter,partakingthe Sacrament vnder 
 one kindc, creeping to the CroiTc, falling downe before an 
 Image, putting allies on their heads on Aflvvvedcnfday, and 
 whipping theinfetaes on good Friday, with an hundred 
 more fuch vainc trumperies, which were neuer commanded 
 by God, and wherein notwithstanding they place the per- 
 fection of a Chriftian life. 
 
 9. A s touching the particular markc : that is proper 
 to them that buy and fell in the Church, as the words of the 
 Text doe plainly fhew : now if this buying and felling be re- 
 ferred to outward and ciuill commerce betwixt man and 
 man,as fome fuppofe, yet it fitly agrecthto the Romane Bt- 
 fhop,whoprohibitethall fuch commerce with thofc that are 
 not fubieel to the Church of Rome. Thus Gregory the fe- 
 uenth 3 4//<s« Hildebrand,ccw\{c\\cd fViliiamxhc Conquerour; 
 Ne aliqaem in fua pot eft ate aliqud emere (tut vender e ptr- 
 mittcret, quem dp-ftolica fedi inobedientsm deprebevidcret > 
 that is, That hejhoili permit none to buy and fed m his c Domi- 
 nicx, vrhsmhefoHrddifobsdicnttothe Apoftohke Sea. Alex- 
 ander the third, iu S) nodo Turonenfi, caufed the very Decree 
 to be made, that no dwelling place or fuccour fhould be at- 
 foorded to fuch as withdrew themfclues from the ubie6tion 
 of the Pope. Scdncc in vevMtione et empthne aliquAcumijs 
 csmmuniohabsatHr. So it was alfo decreed in the Later* ;e 
 Council!, againft the j4!bigex>(er, Ne efui* eos w domihm vcl 
 in terra [ha tenere vel fouere, vtl 'negotiation cm cum i}S excr- 
 cere prefumat. The tike is to be found in the Bull of Mart we 
 the fift, againfttheerroursof Wicleffe* m&Hufe : and in 
 the Bull of Padm the third, againli King Henry the eight 
 and his fubie£ts, Nepermtttantur contract m wire, neqoti&ti- 
 ones et marchantiat ejaaflibet ererce^ y (frc. And no maruell 
 if they forbid to buy and fell thofe that haue not this 
 marke, feeing they goc fofarrc,as to dnTcluc the bonds of 
 nature and humanity : as that an Heretikc may lawfully be 
 fpo iled ! 
 
His cbtratfer or Mxrle. 
 
 Chip. 3. 
 
 fpoilcd of all goods : a Father may difmherite an Heretical! 
 tonne : and a fonnc may likewifc deny obedience and main- 
 tenance to his Father : a Gatholike wife, is not bound to 
 yecld bcncuolcnce to an Heretical! husband; fubiecls are not 
 tyed to obey their Hereticall Prince, but may rife vp againft 
 him and depoic him. Thefcare their owne proper doctrines, 
 printed,n:&intained,and propugnedby them. And who is an 
 Heretike with them, but hc,be neuer fo Orthodox, whofc 
 faith doth not confpire in cucry point, with the faith of the 
 Pope, snd the Church otRome ? I hi? Prophecy then in this 
 litcrall Unification of buying and felling, doth fo fit the 
 Pope and his Church, that it may fecme rather to be an Hi- | 
 ftory,thcn a Prophecy. Neither is TSellatmtKCs exception 
 any thing worth, that the lewes in Rani yodcrthe Popes 
 noie,arc permitted tobuy and felhfor this Prophecy is plain- 
 ly to be vnderftood of Chriftians, and not of the Iewes or 
 infidels. 
 
 10. But if we vnderftan I it fpiritually, ofthc trsfficke 
 of fouks, then is the c:Sc more cleare : for is not Merchan- 
 dize made of foules of men in the Church of 2^w*, and doe 
 they not fell them at a very low rate? VVitneiTe their Difpen- 
 fations. Pardons, Maffes/Trentals,^?^ dcu,\\o\y Graines, 
 with a number more fuch like fopperies, which they ex- 
 change with men for the price of their foules. And who arc 
 the traders in this Mart ? Butonely they, that hauc rcceiued 
 the markeof the Dealt, who buy them for things of nought, 
 and (ell them againe to the diueli for worfe then nought. Of 
 this trafrlckeof foules,S.P^^ prophccicth,2,ZV.2.3- That 
 there fhould arife vp in the Church faife teachers,, who tho- 
 rough couetoufnes fhould with famed words make merchan- 
 dize of mens foules ithat is,proMitutc the people of God vnto 
 Sathan, and change the truth of God into gaincfuli fables. 
 Thefe Merchants sre nil the Cleargy of the Papacy, who in 
 their Sacrament of ordcr,recciue the matke ofthc Bcaft.This , 
 is molt apparant, by confederation of the manner of the or- 
 dination of their whole Cleargy, from the leaft vnto thd 
 grcateft. The ilmller orders, arc thef- foure : porters, Le- 
 
 S* clors,' 
 
 131 
 
 — — . »~ j .i * ■■ 
 
IJ2 
 
 Bis CharaftererMarkc* 
 
 Chap.j. 
 
 fiorsJExorcifts, and Acoluths. The Porters at their ordi- 
 nation, rcceiue from the Bifhop the kcyes of the Church in- 
 to their right hand j_ The Leclor recciueth abookc, asalfo 
 doth the Exorcifl with his right hand: and the Acolurha a 
 Candlcftick with the candle put out : and by thefe fcucrall 
 ceremonies,they rcceiue the markes oftheirordcr,as is plain- 
 ly defcribedin the Romane Pontifical!, Fol.6. 7. 8. 9. &c: 
 But before all this, they rcceiue their firit tonfure,the Bifhop 
 cutting off the.cnd of their haire in foure places : to wit, on 
 the forehead, bchinde, and by the twoeares. The greater I 
 orders are three : Subdeacon,Deacon, and Prieft. The Sub- j 
 deacon rcceiucs the Chara&cr of his order,by touching with 
 his right hand the bookc of the Epittles, as the Deacon doth 
 by touching the booke of the Gofpels. A s for the Pricfts, 
 after that theBifrtop, with fome other Priefts affifting, haue 
 impofed their hands vponhis head, which is an Euangclicall 
 cuftome ; he then annoynteth both his hands with facred 
 oyle, and then prefenteth vnto him a Chalice with wine and 
 water,and aplate withanHoaftinit, which he recciueth in 
 his ringers, touching withall the plate and the edge of the 
 Chalice, and by this aftion (fay they) is the marke of this 
 order imprinted vpon him. The like may be cblerued in 
 the higher dignities of the Cleargy, Bimops, Arcbbifliops > 
 Metropolitanes,Cardinals,all which.after their folemne oath 
 offubie&iontothe Pope,asto their Leigc-Lord, are really 
 characterized with many markes and ceremonies. As Bi- 
 fhops, at their confecration with holy oyle, put on the 
 crownes of their hcades,& vpon their hand's a Crofier fraffc, 
 abookc, a ring, twotorches,twoloauesofbrcad,withtwo 
 , veffels of wine, a Miter all bcfprinklcd with holy water,and 
 a pairc of hallowed gloucs. All which ceremonies, as they 
 are notto be found in the booke of God, fo they can be 
 counted nothing elfe but the Bcafts markes. As for Arch- 
 bifhops, Primates, and Patriarchies ; though tney be chofen 
 and confccrated,yct they may not execute their authorlty,til! 
 they haue recciued from %pmc a Pal!, Ptllittm, which M/- 
 ttm, or Pdll, is a little narrow cloake made of white woo!!, 
 
 hal- 
 
Chap.4« 
 
 His feat e ia gcner&U. 
 
 *33 
 
 hallowed by thefcpulchrcs of Saint Teterand Saint Paul y and 
 after kept by the Subdeacons till it be purchafed of the Pope 
 with a great fumme of money. And this is their marke,with- 
 out which they can neither buy nor fell in this Babylonifh 
 Fairc . He that would fee at large the foolery ofthis fu- 
 pcrftitious ceremony,lct him read Darand his Rational, ,7)/- 
 uinis Itb. \ k dip. 17. and the' bookc' of Sacred Ceremonies. 
 Lib. 1 .fed., \ c..c*p ? . The character of the great Cardinal,is 
 a red Hat with long TaiTcls, by which they are knowne to 
 be pillars of the world, (as their name in their fond conceit 
 importeth,)andare made not onely the great Counfel- 
 lors ot State to the. Apoftolicall Chaire, but euen pcrtcs 
 animembers of the great Bifhop himfelfe. 
 
 1 1 . Py all this that hath beene fpoken it is clcare =,that all 
 thefe diuers orders of the G leargy, recciuc the markeof the 
 Beaft ; both in the forehead by an outward profcffion, and 
 recognition of their fubiecliofl to the Pope; and in their 
 Tight hand,by adluall obedience : neither haue they onely the 
 marke,but alfo the name,and number of the name: for as 
 the name mofi: likely- is a«tu;o^ containing alfo the num- 
 ber ; fo all that are of thefe orders muftbee Latines i that is, 
 be skilful! in the Latinc tongue, without fame knowledge 
 wherein they would be vnfit for this negotiation,whercinali 
 their trading is in Latine. And therefore thcCouncell of 
 'Trent doth require, that the very firft orders are not to bee 
 conferred vpon any, but fuch as haue fome skill in the La- 
 tine tongue. I conclude then, thst Saint John hath fet 
 downe nothing touching the marke of the Beaft, which 
 doth not fitly agree to the Pope and JaisCleargy* 
 
 CHAP. 4. 
 
 Touching the feAte of Antichi'i^in gentralL 
 
 i.'TpHe fcate ofAntichrift(thatis, the place where hee 
 
 JL fhall rc/'gne and fit) is to bee considered two wayes: 
 
 S3 Firft, 
 
*34 
 
 Hs Seate ingeneraB. 
 
 Chap.4 
 
 Firft,at large,lecondly,more peculiar and proper. His Seate 
 at large is defcribed, 2. Thejf. 2.3.4. to bee in the Temple of 
 God: and his proper and peculiar Scatc is marked out,£o 
 HiL \ 7. 1 8 . to be the great City with fcucn hils,which ruled 
 then oucr the Kings of the earth. And thefe two different 
 confederations, doe fall into each others : for therefore hec 
 is faid to (it in the Church of God, becaufe hcfitteth in the 
 City with feuenhils,which takethvpon her felfe the name 
 of the Catholike Church: and therefore in the City with fe- 
 uen hiis,bccaufe in the Church. 
 
 2. By the Temple wherein Saint Paul faith Antichrift 
 (hal fit,cannot be meant the Temple at Isrufaiem^s fome.of 
 the Fathers hauc imagined, and the Papifis accuratlyjde- 
 fend,as mof t fit for their Antichfift,which they flippofe to a- 
 rifc out of the nation of the Iexves ; and that for three reafons. 
 Firft, becaufe the Temple of hrnfuUm was a type and a 
 figure of the Church of Chrift, and therefore as other 
 types and figures did, fo ought it to ceafc at the com- 
 mingof the body and the truth: and therefore when the 
 .Church was gathered out of the Iewcs and Gentiles, that 
 Temple was tohaue an end j they then that expect the rcfto- 
 ring of the Temple, with the fame labour expect the rcitau - 
 ration ofthe Iewifh Ceremonies. For as the Tabernacle 
 which Aiofes erected, which was a type cf the Church Mili- 
 tant, ceafed at the building ofthe firft Temple 3 fo that Tem- 
 ple both in the firft and fecond institution which was a type 
 ofthe Church triumphant, was to ceafc and yecld to the fpi- 
 rituall Temple which is the Church, wherein is rcprcfenicci 
 both the Church Militant and Triumphant.Sccondly ,it can- 
 not be vnderftood of the Temple of Iervfalent, becaufe it 
 was foretold both by the Prophets and Chi ift him r clfc, that 
 the fecond Temple being once laid wafte, fhould neuer be 
 rccdificd againe. D.w>/faithplainely, that the abominati- 
 on of dciblationfliould continue to the end, 7jAn.9A7.thzt 
 is,u> the confummation and end ofthe world, as both Saint 
 fer<me,Theodorct iZn&O'jgen expound the words. Efay 
 alfo according to Saint leromes interpretation prophecyeth 
 I of 
 
Chap.4« 
 
 His Seat e /b general* 
 
 »35 
 
 of the fame vtter and inccoucrablc deflation. Chap. 2 5 . 1 2 . 
 And fo doth feremiab,C\\^~ 1 9.S. » 1 . whci c be faith, / win 
 br sake this p<op'e a^dtbU Ctty a& oni brtAfath a F otters vtf. 
 fell tb^t cannot be made vrbele sgtine. Which words,faith S. 
 Itromc cannot be meant of the ^Wcw/^Jjut of the i\oman 
 captiuity : for after the captiuity of Bab/lovthc City was a- 
 gainc reftoied with the Temple; but after the deflxuetion by 
 Titus and Vtftafutnjx was neucr to be reito.cd. But drifts 
 prophecy is molt pregnant of all the reft, both Ln\e % 1 9.4^. 
 where he faith, That one flcnefhall not bee lift vpon another , 
 that ftall not be otterthrowKe. And Chap. 2 1. 24. That feru- 
 faUmjbaRbee troden downe efthc Ge*it!es y vntill the time of 
 the Qenttles f\j%ll be fulfilled : that is .till the end of the world, 
 as Saint Chryfiftome in his fecond Oration againft the Jcwcs 
 expounds it' Thirdly,thc cucnt in experience fheweth the 
 truth of all this : for the Temple hathbeene oftentimes at- 
 tempted to bee reediflcd :firft by the counterfeit Meffias, 
 r Barchochebm vnder Hadrian the Emperor : fecondly, in the 
 time ofConftantineby the I ewes : and thirdly, by Julian the 
 ^dpoftatejxho deputed vnto thatvvorkc ^///>/«y ofy^ntjo^ 
 f/;M,andfurni(liedhimvvitha!lproui/ion neceilary for the 
 accomplifhing thereof. But as SrimCbryfoftomc fpeakcth, 
 Ihtykvewnotthat they rrtnt abottt *nmf*ffible tbwg, the 
 Lordfromheauenbyafcarcfull earthquake and reuengwg 
 flames, with miraculous crolTcs fixed in their garments dif- 
 arpointed their purpofe, and made them wili they nil! they 
 tofurccafc from their workc. I til tans fcope with the reft of 
 theleweswas to conuince Chrift our Sauiour asa lying 
 Prophet : but they themfclues were thereby conuinccd of 
 horrible impiety, blafphemy, and apoftacy, againft the Son 
 ofGod.Addc hecreuntotheconfentof ChryfojJome y O/'i^eit t 
 CjriUof'lemfilen?) and lerorhc with others, that the opinion 
 of rcftoring the Temple is to bee numbrcdamongft lewiih 
 Fables. 
 
 ^.Neither by the Temple of Cod can wevndctftand any 
 other materiall Temples built of Lime and Stone, as if Anti- 
 chrif r fhould chufe. one of them to make his feat in, and from 
 
 thence 
 
 Chryfeftjtodt. 
 2-cbn//a /u.ia- 
 6J, 
 
 it vat.Cyrill 
 
 S r *Rfjflr,0 
 l> ; t>l.c.f. J7 . 
 Hier' n ad 
 
 S<cap,ylt> > 
 
l$6 
 
 His feat e in gene rail. 
 
 Clu 
 
 p. 4 , 
 
 
 thence to excrcife his dominion oucr the reft.- For God 
 dwclleth not in Temples built with hands : and thefc places 
 arc called Temples and Churches, not for their ftrudhire 
 and building, but by reafon of the aiTemblics of Gods peo- 
 ple in them, to offer vp fpirituall facriflces of Prayer and 
 praife vnto God : fo that wherefocuer Gods people affem- 
 ble together to pray vnto God, and to praifc his name, and 
 tohearehis\Vord,and to recciuc the Sacraments, there is 
 the Church, dioughinthe caues 'of the earth, or any other 
 priuatc placc,as was in times of perfection : neucrthelcffe, 
 if we vnder ftand matcriall Churches, yet we fay widi Saint 
 ////rfr^thateueninthefe Antichrift ftiallfit, Potejtate regi- 
 mint3 > non atltt prefentia corporate , that is, *Bj the power of 
 rule y and not by corporallp rtfer.ee. 
 
 4. But by the Temple of God is meant the Church mi- 
 litant, which Saint P^rcallcih a Spiritual! houfc, built of 
 liuely-ftoncs,that is Chiiftian foules. t . Peter, a .f. this Saint 
 PWcalleththe HoufeofGod, uTtm, ^.i^.anfvverableto 
 that of the Prophet concerning the Temple otSdomon; My 
 houfeJhaR bee called an hofife ef prayer toaUNaiians. It is a 
 wonder that Bellarmine ftiouldbcc either fo ignorant, or 
 impudent to aftirme,that in the Scripture of the Nc w Tcfta- 
 ment, by the Temple of God is ncuer vnderftood the 
 Chriftian Church,but cuennorc the Temple of ' Ierttfalcmz 
 whereas the-contrary is moft apparantly true, as i.Ccr.3. 
 1 6. Kmwyee rtot that yee are the Temple cf Cod} where he 
 fpcaketh to all thofe in the Church of Certnth, that call 
 vpon the name of the Lord Icfus Chrift, asisplainein the 
 firft Chapter of the fame Epiftlc, and fecond verfe. Againe, 
 I .Cor.y . 1 7. The Temple of God is hotjjwbicb are yots^md 2 . 
 Cor, 6. 1 6< Ton are the TePJpleofthe lining God: and Ephef. 2 . 
 20.2 1 ,' And yee are built vpon the foundation of the Prophets 
 and Apeftlesjefus ChriJI himfelfe being the cheife corner (tone f 
 in whom all the buildtngpilf framed together, • gvo&etb to an 
 holy Temple in the Lord. * o Apoc. $.\i.He that [hall onercome 
 I rvtll make him a pillar in the Temple of my God, &c. With 
 what face then can Bellarmine auouch,that neuer in the New 
 
 Teftamcnt 
 
Chap.4» 
 
 His feat e in ge fie rail '. 
 
 »37 
 
 Tcftament, is meant the Church,but alwaics the Temple of 
 hrufulem. And the reafon of thjs appellation is cuident ; 
 that feeing thz Temple of Salomon, called the houfc of G od , 
 and houfe of prayer, was a type or figure of the Church of 
 Chnft, therefore by an yfuall Metonymy in holy Scripture, 
 the Church of C In ill is called the Temple of God,and the 
 Houfc of God, and that not onely in theNewTcftament, 
 but alio in the Old, as Zacloar. 3.8. £7*7.14. i- /fr.a3.8.and 
 3 M U And though fome of the Fathers arc again!* this inter- 
 pretation, as IreK£fti who fuckt this error, as fome others, f 
 Iftoffi ^p/<t/atnan coetane with fome of the Apoftlcs, yet / 
 too much giuen to fuperltitious opinions which he broached 
 in the Church as Apoftolicall traditions,as all know ; yet the 
 molt of them are for it; as Saint Ierome y ad Algaf.cj. \\.In 
 templo Dei vel Hierofclymis vt qtiidamputant, veltn ecc/efia 
 vt verms arbitramur. Saint Au^ vfttnc de ctuitate Dei frfr. 1 q . 
 ■cip 1 9. In tcmplttm Dnfedet, taaqHam ipfefit tempium Dei 
 \qaodecclefu\ Chryfoftom.w 2 The/]. L.Sedtbit in templo T)ei } 
 non Plierofolymitann, fed adeo in ipfvs ecclepjf, The very 
 fame is affirmed by Oeeumenirnxkiz follower of Saint Cbry. 
 foftume in his Commentary vpon 2, TheJJl 2. and by Theodo- 
 rcton the fame place, and by Vrimafius : Aquino* alfo en- 
 dines to the fame opinion, and io doth Zx* **,whofe plane 
 cenfure is this : Hie fe»ftu errorem non covitnit-, fed pot us 
 
 j. The words in the Greekc arc i/ f Ti»y«oy, which may 
 receiue fourc feucrall interpretations. Firft, in templo ; fe- 
 condiy, Supra tempium : thirdly, Tanifuam tempium: and 
 \&\y,C<mir* tempium \ cuery oneofthefc hath it Authour 
 au<l Fautors ; but which way foeuer they be taken, nil fitly 
 'agree to the Pope. For firft, hefits in the Churcn 5 thatis,m 
 that which they hldy call the Cathol.cke Church, wherein 
 without que ft ion there are hidden many true memb : 
 the true Church. Secondly, he fits in it not as an ordr. 
 member thcrcof,.but as the head thereof, and {b exalts him- 
 felfc aboue it, as the bead isabouc the members-; and t*his 
 the word, £if 3 cfotncmphatidally declare: forjto^fif is nothing 
 
 T clic* 
 
Wis Sate in gtner all. 
 
 Chap.4. 
 
 elfebuttoreignc: and tofhew that none but the Pope is 
 this Antichriii, whereas Kings are faid to rcignc and not to 
 fit; Popes arc faid to fit, and not to rcigne,asifthcy would 
 verifiethis prophecy to the letter. Thirdly, he fits in the 
 Church y T*>.f turn tewpUm^s theChurch,according toS. 
 Atiguftme$os. he alone fomctimcs,as when it is faid, Papa eft 
 tota ccclepa v'trtnaltter ; and fomctimes ioyntly with his 
 Cicargy,viurpc vnto themfeiues the name ofthc Catholicke 
 Church,excludingnotonelyail others from th.it title that 
 hold not with the Pope,butcuen their owne Laity aifo,as if 
 they were the onciy people and heritage of the Lord. Thus 
 faith Saint Axgnftme^e&et in anticum, fignifJethyytV/^ ami~ 
 CM , As a. Frie*d; and the Scripture faith in like maner : 
 tfto mthitn Deum pretettorem & in locum rtfng 7, that is, 
 Be,0 God^i my protester and place of refuge. Laflrly, he fits 
 againft the Church, though he pretend neuer fo much the 
 title ofthc C hurch: For did euer Wolfe fo hauockc the 
 flocke of fheepe, as the Pope doth the fouies of men by his 
 damnable and pernicious do&rincs > So then, we need not 
 fecke Antichrift in the old wals of Babylon y nor among the 
 ruincs otferptfalem,r\or amongft the Turkes and fuch as are 
 ftrangers to Chriftianitie : but we muft feeke him in the bo- 
 fome ofthc Church ,andamongft them that vant themfelucs 
 thconely Catholicke Church of Chrift. 
 
 6. It is a moft friuolous and abfurd exception, that the- 
 Iefuitestake againft this,namcly, that ifthePope whom we 
 auerre to be Antichrift do fit in the Church,thenthe Church 
 of Rome is the true Church, and we in feparating our fellies 
 from the communion thereof, Schi rnatikes, and Hcrctikes. 
 For firft, it is certainc that the Church of Rome was once the 
 true Church of Chri(t,and famous for her faith and godhnes. 
 Sccondly,that they (till pretend themfelucs to be thcronely 
 Catholicke Church. And thirdly, we confeffe, that they arc 
 ftill a Church, though wonderfully corrupted and depraued, 
 asafickebody that hath no foundncflfc in it, but yet frill 
 holdeth lifc,for ithsth in it the found doctrine of the Trinity, 
 aad Chrift ian Baptifmc;with all the Articles ofthc Faith .But 
 
 ^ e y 
 
Chap.4. 
 
 Hu Seate in generall* 
 
 *39 
 
 they hauc added hecreunto many fearefull Idolatries and 
 groiTe corruptions ,and fo are like a mafic ofmcttall where- 
 in there is fomc Gold, but more Tinnc, Copper, Braffe, 
 Lead, and Drolfe. The vniucrfality of the name of the 
 Church ftretcheth it felfc to all that arc dipped with the wa- 
 ter of6aptifmc,and any waies profeOe Chrift : but of this 
 body fomc parts are more found, other languifh with difea- 
 fcs, and fomc againe*are furpnzed( though yet breathing ) 
 with deadly Symtomes,and with death itfclfe : ofthis latter 
 kind: is the C hurch of Romc,which :s pofleffed with a mor- 
 tall ficknc{lc,cucn neere vnto dcath,fromthc crownc of the 
 head, to the fole of the foot. Now are we departed from the 
 Church,bccaufe we renounce her corruptions ?Do we tor- 1 
 lake the whole maiTe,becau{e we abandon the drofle, and o- 
 dicr mixt mettals,and rctaine oncly the Gold ?. Doth a man 
 therefore foriake his Country, becaufe he flyeth from one 
 City infected with the plague, into another wherein the aire 
 is purer within the fame dition and dominion ? This is fo ab- 
 furd a'Conclufion,that it needs no refutation. Fourthly, there 
 is no do ubt,but that in the midft ofthis corrupt Church, 
 there arc many true members of the Church of Chriit, who 
 hate the abominations of the Scarlet Whore, and though fc- 
 crctly,yetfinccrcly worfhipGodin fpirit and truth. And 
 laftly, after the fame maner is the Church, wherein Anti- 
 chrift fitteth : as the Tevvcs were the people of God, when 
 they had defiled themfelues with moft filthy Idolatries .'nei- 
 ther are we more to bee accounted Schifmatikes for our fe- 
 paradon from this Synagogue of Satan,thcn the godly were 
 among the I ewes, who obeying the admonitions of the 
 Prophets, feparated themfelues from the fociety of thofc 
 wicked Idolaters. 
 
 7. Saint An£uftin: writing to this purpofe, vponthe 
 firft Epiftlc of Saint lo'jvjrdh 3 . approueth this expolition ; 
 For (laithhe)W/ Heretics <m& Schematises went out from a- 
 mongft vs \thnt ypfajl cut of the C hurch : but they could not 
 goe out if they were ofvs : And therefore before they wevt out , 
 they were not ofvs : nndtf before th'ey went out they were not 
 
 T 2 of 
 
i4-o 
 
 H/spart/cuUrfeatc, 
 
 Chap. 
 
 ofvs,thcn many a^e within unknot gone out, and yet a*e Anti- 
 chnfts. And Qccumemw vpcn the fcmeEpiftleof ^aint 
 John rendreth a reafon why it is iaid,that the Antichrift t .ire 
 ff'ting Mt of the Church jawa, to the end (faith he) th.it they 
 might bee accounted worthy of credit xvtth them whom they 
 fheuldfeduce, as commhgfrom the *D Jfctples, And preaching 
 the word $f God, According to the intention of their Af*fier. 
 Which reafon doth fo much the more agree vntothe great 
 Antichrift, by how much that his fedu&ion frrctchcth it 
 felfe to more, and therefore hath need of greater appcarar.ee 
 tobeChriftsDifciple, that the poyfon of his deceit, might 
 more powerfully worke into the hearts of men. And there- 
 fore feeing the Pope doth more proudly vaunt himfelfe of 
 the name of Chrift and the Catholikc Church, then any o- 
 | ther Heretikcs hauc done : it cannot be doubted, but that 
 this marke of Antichrift doth more properly agree vnto him 
 then vnto any other. 
 
 CHAP. ?. 
 
 Touching the particular feate of Antichrift. 
 
 i . *TP He proper and peculiar feat of Antichvift.is not hru- 
 X Jalemytefomc Papiils contend, nor yet the City of 
 the deuili oppofite to the City of God,nor yet Rome Pagan, 
 as it was before Conflantine, as others ; nor yet Rome defo- 
 lated and ruined at the end of the world, as a third fort a- 
 uene : but the City of Rome whilirit beares the name of 
 Chriftiamand pretends it fcJfe to be the Mother of all Chur- 
 
 Ichcs, and the place of Saint Peters ( haire. Not Ierufidem, 
 becaufc that City and Temple was fo de/troyed, that they 
 areneueragainetobere(torcd,a5 hath beene proued: nei- 
 ther isitcithcr probable or pofiiblc, that Antichrift in the 
 fpaccofthrecyceresandanhalfc,whichtsthe time affigncd 
 vnto him for his rcignc, fliould build fo famous a City and a 
 Temple to rcfidc in. And therefore by that great City fpo- 
 ken of, RtueLi i .8. in the ftrects whercofit is faid,that the 
 1 dead 
 
Ch; 
 
 sp.J. 
 
 His part huhrfcatc. 
 
 i 4 r 
 
 dead bodies of the two witncfTcs fhould lye, cannot be 
 meant hrufalcm, which is no where in the new Tcftamcnt 
 called the great City, but Cinita4 Romana, the Cm ofl{omcj 
 whofe center bcin^ at that time in /r*/v,fprcad it felfe by the 
 circumfirenccalmoftouerall the world : and is fitly called 
 Sodomeforthc filthuieffe therein committed, wherein that 
 vnnamcablc ftme ofSodome is not onely practiced, but cuen 
 commended and approued, a Cardinail of -theirs hauing 
 written a bookc in praife thereof: A nd i/Egyptfox the cruel- 
 ty and idolatry : and in this City it is truly faid,that the Lord 
 was crucified, not onely in his members, but cuen in a Pro- 
 uincc and kingdoiuc thereof, which all ludea was at that 
 time. 
 
 a. Not the City of the diuell, and multitude of wicked 
 men » for if the Whore be fo to be vnderftood, then the wa- 
 ters whereon fhefitteth, which the Angell interprets to be 
 pcoples 5 muldtudes. and Nations, arc not the City of the di- 
 uell, nor yet the Kings that committed fornication w ith her. 
 For the fame cannot be both die place and pcrfon that fit- 
 teth on the place. If then the Whore of Babylon &tttt\\ 3 
 tha:is,reigneth ouerthe multitude of the wicked, thenfhe 
 cannot fignific the fame multitude her felfe. Befides,if all the 
 inhabitants of the earth, whofe names are not written in the 
 booke of life, be the multitude of the wicked, u4poc. 13.8, 
 and this multitude doe follow and adore the Beaft. Apoc.j 3 . 
 3. then if this multitude be the Beaft iticlfe, it muft needs 
 follow, that the Beaft fhould follow and adore it felfe, which 
 is moiTabiurd. Some of our Aduemrics perceiuing. this 
 contradiction, doe of themfclucsreiect this interpretation. 
 Osmond in his \6. Chapter de Ant>chrifto i faith plainly, that 
 by the Whore o^ Babylon is meant the City of fyjw, confir- 
 ming the fame by. the authority of v \ Aitgufxbie^ Orofins^nd 
 S. leroixe .« Be liar mine condefcendcth to the fame opinion, 
 and fo aifodoc Ribtrt, and Vtcra-i two other Ieiuites. 
 
 2. . Nor Rent Pagan vnder the heathen Empcroufs : 
 Forfirft, this diflindtion of Rome Pagan andChriftian, is 
 meeiely Sophifticallandabfurd. For S. lohu in the Apoca- 
 
 1 3 ] yp s » 
 
14* 
 
 His particular Scale. 
 
 Chap. 5 
 
 Onufhr.com- 
 
 ment.Reipub. 
 Romjll.t* 
 
 Blondt«* Rom* 
 InftanM /. 
 
 lyps, (peaketh of one oncly Rom?> and that from the period 
 of his owne time, till the vtter mine and dciTru&ion thereof. 
 j4dqc. tj.i6. Now what a folly is it todreameoftwo 
 Rome s together, when as he fpeaketh exprefTcly but of one? 
 Secondly, the City of Rime was neuer but one and the 
 fame, wherein firft the Pagan Empcrours reigned, which S . 
 fohn reprefentcth by the firft Beaft : and then after them, 
 Antichri(t,which is the fecond Beait, or at leaft the feuenth 
 head thereof. In both which times, notwithstanding the 
 pcrfecutions raifed againlt thcm,thcre lined, and (till do liuc, 
 many godly Chriftians. And therefore it is falie which fome 
 of them amrme, that Rome-is not the fame that it hath bene, 
 being defcended from the fcuen mountaines, where ail their 
 (lately Palaces were creeled, inio the fiddofAfars ; as if it 
 were not litnatc in the fame place where Ancient Rome was, 
 and therefore not the fame City,with that which is fpoken 
 of in the Apocalyps . For as Rome in the time of the Empe- 
 .rour Claudius y vnderwhom Mount Auent'me was taken 
 within the compaffc of the walles, is not another different 
 City from that which was in the times of the Kings and 
 Coniuls, vviien the circuite was farre leffe : So that Rome 
 which is at this day, is not another from that which was in 
 the time of S. /although the compaiTc ofthc wals be farre 
 leffe, by athoufand and two hundred paces, as Otmyhriw 
 reportcth. And for the field of Afars, whither they fay the 
 City is defcended ; it was in the rcigne of the Emperour 
 j4ure£ian 9 that the plaine was cnclofed with in the wals, and 
 yctfo cnclo feci, that none efthefeuen Mountaines were left 
 out; though the buildings began to be more frequent in this 
 plaine . For after the facking of the City, by the Gotkes and 
 TotilM > when the third part of the wals were ouerthrownc, 
 Belli far ins and Narfes reedificd them againc, and wcll-nccrc 
 in the fame placc^and vpon the fame foundations,\vhich after 
 Were enlarged by Pope Leo the fourth, by taking in Mount 
 Vaticane, as "Blendm afiirmcth-.So that it cannot be denyed, 
 but Rome is .tin: hme at this day, which it was in the age of 
 S. fohtty albeit in regard of the great mines thereof it may be 
 
 ' much 
 
Chap. 5. 
 
 His part kttUr State. 
 
 H3 
 
 much changed in the buildings and edifices. All this is con-* 
 feffed by the Icfuite Ribern, writing vpon the i ^Chapter of 
 the A pocalyps, art. 4 3. For he acknowledged^, that it is for 
 fauation one and the fame City ftill, which being foiled 
 with fo many foulc impieties, mult one day be purged with 
 fiie : and that many in Rome at this day by their names and 
 Genealogics,doe boaft thcmfelues to be descended from the 
 Ancient Romanes rand though they be not fo dcfccndcd > yet 
 by ioyning thcmfelues vnto them, and making vp but one 
 ioynt body of a Common- wealth, and following their 
 fbot-iteeps of wickedneffe, they are to be reputed the fame 
 Citizens and Children of thofc vngodly parents,though not 
 by nature, yet by imitation, and fo arc liable to the fame 
 plagues and puniftimcnts which were denounced againft 
 them : thus Rib era. And therefore Be liar mines diftin&ion of 
 Rome Pagan,and Rome Chriftianis friuo.lous ;for Romehzth 
 cuer bcne,and is, but one and the fame, wherein there euer 
 were from the beginning of the preaching of the Gofpell to 
 them, both Chnftians and Pagans ; and this Rome as it might 
 in fomc fenfe be called the purpled Whore ,vndcr the domi- 
 nion of the •firft Beaft, fo it doth much more continue to be, 
 Wider the dominion of the fecond Beaft. Neither doth it fol- 
 low from hence, that Antichrift friould therefore re igne in 
 the time of JVere y and Domiifan, and otherpcrlccutingEm- 
 perours, though his myftery began then to worke,according 
 toS. P*i*!,2.TheJf. 2. For }\ome is not onely named the 
 Whore of Babylon > in regard of the fecond Bead, which is 
 ; A nticht ifr;but alfo in regard of the firft,the Romane Empe- 
 rours .Thirdly, if Rome Pagan be the featc of Antichrift, then 
 Rome,& not Tcm ft/em, is his fcatc;and then Antichrift is al- 
 ready comc,vnder the Heathen Empcrours,both which they 
 thcmfelues snoft itiffely deny .Fourthly, if the whole itate of 
 the Romane Empire, be figured out by the Beaft withfeuen 
 heads, whereof the fixt-wasthe Emperours, and the fcucnth 
 Antichrift, as is con^efled by moft (though the name of the 
 whole Beaft be alfo attributed to Antichrift, m the fame 
 Chapter by S. hhn\) and if S. U(tn defcribes the Rate of 'the 
 
 whole 
 
14+ 
 
 Hisparttculxrfea ie. 
 
 Ch. 
 
 P-5 
 
 whole Beaft, not feuering one part from the reft : then it 
 rnuft needs follow, th t that City which was the feate of the 
 hmperours^mufl alio be the feate of S ntichriil. Fifcly, ifS. 
 fohnhzd meant to reprcfentvn !er the type of my ft ic all Ba- 
 bylon, Rcrne Pagan, he would not haue ddferibed it as it was 
 to be vnder the eight. King, namely Antichrifl, who is called 
 tke eight, and yet is laid to be one of the feuen, but as it was 
 vnder the fixt head, to wit, die Empcrours : neither would' 
 he haue faid,that it fhould afcend out of the bottomlciTe pit, 
 feeing that was already afcended,and in a moil flourishing e- 
 iiate. Sixtly, R~mc is defcribed by S. lohn as it was to be a 
 little before the lafl and fmall deilruction thereof, Ayoc. i 8, 
 1 1. 22. '2-3. and as vnder the reigne of Antichriit: butinthc 
 time of the heathen Emperours, Antichriit was not come by 
 their owne confefTion, neither hath it bene yet vtterlydc- 
 {troyed,though it was grieuoudy facked, fpoiled, andde- 
 faced,by the Gotbes 3 yct it rcmaineth ftill a famous City. It 
 is impofliblc then, thatS.fobn fliould reprefent Rome Pagan, 
 wherein neither of thefe were performed . Seuenthly,S. fob* 
 fpeakes of Rome in that cflatc which it was in, after the defol- 
 iation of the Empire, it being diuided amongft ten Kings, 
 who were to recciuc their ft ingdomc together with the 
 Bealt,that is, Antichriit which can no waie^ agree to Rome 
 Pagan,for Rome cczfedto be P agan before the diifolution of 
 the Empirc,and neither the Beaft, nor the ten Kings had then 
 receiueddieir dominion. Eightly, S. hhn prophecyingof 
 the Whore of Babylon and her idolatry, w ith the perfec- 
 tion of the Samts, is rapt with admiration, and callcth it a 
 myftcry : but ifhc had meant %em< Pagan what Prophecy, 
 what my fiery* what matter of admiration had bene therein? 
 Coiildeither S. /«kw,or the Saints,bc ignorant of the Idola- 
 try and cruelty of l{nme Ethmcke, when they beheld them 
 with their eics ? Laitly, thofc things which are fpoken of 
 the Whore of Babylon, doc not agree at all to Rome Pagan, 
 to wit, that the Kings of the earth committed fornication 
 with her, and that the inhabitants of the earth fhould be 
 made drunkc with her winc# For ancient B$me did not al- 
 lure 
 
Chap.5 
 
 His particular Seate< 
 
 M5 
 
 lure Loucrs vnto her by whorrfh enticements, but conqnc- 
 redthemby politikewifedomc,and warlike valour : neither 
 did (he impofe her religion vpo.n conquered Countries, but 
 
 rather rcceiucd their religions into her lelfc, lothat (as their 
 ownc Leo affirmcth) {he was fubic& to the religions and er- 
 rours of all Nations, all which is truly verified of Kgme 
 Chriftian. 
 
 4. Norlaftly, Romediftolucd, ruined, and relapied (as 
 fo.ne of them fay it (hail be at the end of the world) but not 
 whilft itprofefteth it felfe to be Chriftian : for who can tell 
 that Rome fhali reuolt into Paganifme ? Where learnt they 
 this Prep h:cy > I am fure,that this conccite hath no founda- 
 tion in holy Scriptut'Cjno footftcp in the monuments of ho- 
 ly Fathers^ no teilmionyoFSchoolcrnen, no confent of their 
 ownc writei s;and laftly/io moments of reafon to maintaine 
 i t Sh it e z,, . ' iftt 1 ia ■ m , d ifillo w it, and Maluen- 
 
 <La that b.bou eth as \ rtuch in this qucftion as any, detefts it as 
 altogether incredible, and why ihould any then bekcue 
 their vaineand idle conie&ures ? 
 
 /. Seeing therefore that none of thefe is the feate of this 
 Man of Sinne, it muft ncedes folio w^that Rome Chriftian and 
 Papains his proper Seatc and Throne, which may be confir- 
 med by this demonftratiuc SyllogifmcrMyfticall Babylon is 
 the feate of Antichrift : but Rome Papal 1 is my fticall Baby- 
 lon ; therefore ^/wPapallis the feate of Antichrift. To 
 this Syllogifme they cangiueno found nor fo lid anfwer,but 
 are dilkaclcd into diucrs opinions : Some of them granting 
 the proportion, deny the affumption : others confcfling the 
 afTumption,deny the proportion ; but neither of them bring 
 any probable reafon of their deniall : and therefore feeing 
 they hauc nothing to oppofe reafonably againft the prcmilr 
 (qs 9 they muftneedes admit the conclusion, astheEnglifh 
 Rhemifts,in^/?^f.i7. ?. in a manner do. For as Nero and 
 other Empcrours, which bore the figure of Antichrift, had 
 their prime feate at Rame : fo(Tay they) it is moft likely, that 
 the great Ajrichrift fhali alfofit at Rom:, But that oiu- 
 argument may be vndeniable, it {hall not bee amiftc to 
 
 V prouc 
 
 Leo de petro et 
 
146 
 
 His particular Seate. 
 
 Chap. 5. 
 
 proue both the proportions feueraUyby themfclues. 
 
 6. That myfticall Babylon is the fcate of Antichriit,may 
 be proued by ciiuers reafons: I fay myfticall Babylon,not the 
 true Babylon in Chatdea, properly fo called, where isftttio - 
 chm E-ptpbanes reigned,who was the type of Antichrift : for 
 the Woman in the Apocalyps, is faid to hauc the name 7fif» 
 fiery written in her forehead, to wit, the great Babylon, the 
 mother of fornications ,& abhominations of the earth, yfyw. 
 1 7.5. plainly thereby flic wing, that that Babylon whereof 
 S. lohn fpeaketh,muft be myfticall. £ kft, becaufe the Chal- 
 dean B abylon was a type of this myfticall, an J therefore as 
 that was the fcate of ' Antiochpu the type : fo this mult needs 
 be die fcate of Antichrift himfclfe. Secondly, that which is 
 the fcate of the Beaft,muft necdes be the featc of Antichrift, 
 for Antichrift is defcribed to be the laft head of the Beaft, 
 slpoc. 17. and fometimes by a Synecdoche, is named the 
 whole Beaft; but myftica 11 Babylon is the featc of the Beaft, 
 therefore alfo of Antichrift. Thirdly, becaufe that which is 
 the fcate of the Whore,is alfo the fcate of Antichrift, for the 
 Whore and Antichrift are one and the fame thing, by the 
 confeftion of many learned Papifts : but myfticall Babylon 
 is the fcate of the Whore, and therefore of Antichrift. 
 Fourthly, the fame that was the featc of the fix flrft 
 heads of the Beaft, muftnecdes alfo be the featc of the fc- 
 uenth and laft; but myfticall Babylon was the fcate of the fix 
 flrft heads, to wit, Kings, Confuls, Diclatours,Decemuiri, 
 Tribunes , and Emperours ; therefore alfo of the fenenth and 
 hft, which is Antichnft. La/try, that City which in the time 
 of Antichrift was to be the Metropolis of impiety, and mo- 
 ther of fornication?, and abhominations of the earthy where- 
 with the Kings of the earth fhould commit fornication, and 
 the inhabitants be made drunke with her poy foned cup, and 
 which Should be her fclfe drunke with the blood of the 
 Saints and Martyrs of Icfus, is without doubt the fcate of 
 Antichrift : but S /^defcribcth myfticall Babylon to be 
 fuch a City ; and why fhould any doubt then, but that it is 
 the proper fcate of Antichrift ? 
 
 7. Con- 
 
Chap 5 
 
 His particular Seate* 
 
 H7 
 
 7. Concerning theaiTumption, that Rome C hriftian is 
 myfticall Babylon, may be proucd by many arguments and 
 reafons, but all may be reduced to this one head, namely, 
 that feeing the description of Babylon made byS. John, 
 Apoc* r 7. doth exactly agree vnto Rome in cuevy point, 
 therefore it cannot b at be,that Babylon is there intended.Eut 
 not to Hand vpon euery particular there arc two notes in the 
 defcription, which io euidently markc out the City of Rome, 
 as there can be no place of doubting left : for they fo pro- 
 perly agree vnto, Rome, that they cannot be apply cd to any 
 other City of the world. Thefirft is, Apoc, 17. 18. where 
 ngcll cc ileth fobn, that the Woman , to wit , the "Whot c 
 ofB -byion, istrr great City, which hath dominion ouer the 
 Kings oi the earth : now what City had then, and long-after, 
 cucn hi the Christian Hate thereof dominion ouer the Kings 
 of the earth, but Rome onely ? No man is fo ignorant as not 
 to know this to be true, none fo impudent as to deny it. The 
 fecondnote is ; that this Woman fitteth vponfeuen hils; 
 and this is the fitiiation of Rome at this day, for the wals of 
 the City enclofc feuen hils : to wit, Pa'atine^ Capitolme, 
 Qvtrtnall Coelipu, Efytiiline, Vinmall,$\\&At4entwe, and 
 therefore it is called in Greeke,fywrf nr\& A«0^,and in Latine 
 Scpkollif, and to that end they held a Feaft cucry yecrc, as 
 Plutarch reporteth, called Scpttmontum, in honour of thofc 
 feuen \i\\\s.Prepertimlib. 3 . E/eg.iO. conciudcthboththefc 
 notes in one ver'fe. 
 
 Septem vrbs aha iugisfoti qiltzpr+fidet Orhi. 
 Now from hence I thus conclude : that City which in the 
 time of S. fohn, had dominion ouer the Kings of the earth, 
 and was fituate vpon feuen hils, is myfticall Brbylon. But 
 Rome in S. lobns time, had dominion ouer the Kines of the 
 earth, and was foliate vpon feuen hils ; therefore Rome is my- 
 fticall Babylon. Hither I might adde the tcflimony of the 
 Fathers, as ofTerwftian adtierfpu Iudtos et contra A f anion . 
 lib. 3 . cap, 1 3 . Eufeb t Ub. 2. cap. 1 4, Hieron. in EfaiamJ-J . 
 1 1.C4p.^7.et ad Algaf.cj. \ i.Vttkorintu Martyr tn Apoca- , 
 Ijps. &c. But S. Atiguftmcs wimeffe (hail ferue for all the 1 
 
 V^ rell:' 
 
148 
 
 HisfarticuLr State. 
 
 Chap.5 
 
 rell : he in his booke de emit ate Dei. lib.i 8 . f *p. 1 . 2 r • 2 7. 
 et liL 1 6.cty. 1 7.caUeth Rome the fecondBabylon,anothcr 
 Babylon, and the Weftcrne Babylon. Yea many of the Po~ 
 pifhDodoLS thcmJ clues ,being ouercorne vvkh the force of 
 truthjConfeffcthc fame. KsTSaromw^Ann. 45 .»#> 18. Rtbe- 
 rain AptcaLiq. 11. 27.28. Ptegas in Apoc. 17. com |'J 
 fell. 3, 'Cellar, ds Rom. Pont if Mb. 2. cap. 2. and lib. 3. 
 \cap.i$.&c* J 
 
 8, TheRhemifts in their Annotations vpon the 7 7. of j 
 the Apoca!yps,diftinguiflibctwixtthcRoma~ne Church,and 
 the Romane Babylon. The Church (lay they) in Rome was 
 one thing, and Babylon in R me another thing. Peter fatein 
 R^me, and Nero fote in Rome* but Vetera in the Church of 
 H?me, Nero as in the Babylon of Rome ; thus they. And 
 thereupon they inferre, that R<>mt Chriftian is not myfticall 
 Babylon,and fo not Antichrifts featc, but Rams Pagan and 
 Heathen. But this is a mc ft idle conceke : fcr though it be 
 true, that the Church of Rome was one thing, and Babylon 
 in Upme another ; yet they were both Li Rdme, and lb mixt 
 together, that Hero liucd in the middeft of the Church, 
 though he w r asnotof the Church, andptter'm the mi J deft 
 o^ R abylon,though he was not of Babylon. For if the faith- 
 full were not in the middeft of Babylon, v\ hy doth the voyce 
 from heauen cry, Come cut ofker mv peopleffic. Afcc. 18.4. 
 Howbcit in Antichrifts time,which was euer fincc *Bonifati 
 the third (for then hefirft began tofliewhircifelfe) till this 
 day, the Church o'tRome is depraucd fo,and coirupted r chat 
 there remaineth of it nothing but the bare cati aiTc without 
 life, it being fallen from the faith of Chrift, to the idolatry 
 andfupcrftition of Anuchrift. And therefore not the tine 
 
 I Church of Rome, but Rome corrupted and Apoftated, yet 
 vaunting it felfe to be the oncly true Church, is this myfticall 
 ^abylon,the mother of all abhominations. 
 
 r. Yet the fame Rhemifts, in the pbec abouc named, 
 with a fearfull and troubled breath confefTc, that it may not 
 vnfitly be deemed, that the great Antichrift fhallhauc his 
 feate at Rome : this teflimony was wrung from them by the 
 
 eu'u 
 
C h a p . $ . His -fart icttl.tr Sate, 
 
 H9 
 
 cuidcnccofthc truth: and it is frrangethat they fliould ac- 
 knowledge To much,feeing cHe where they demorritratiuely 
 conc!udc,that his fcate fhould be at leruftlem. Thus they fop 
 vp their owne voinit,and are driuento auouch the fame truth 
 which clfcwhcrc they impugned. But let them rcmembc 
 two things. Fir/t that which isiucntinc fpcaketh concerning 
 the gen^r II opinion of the Fathers of that Age, which was 
 almoft 700 yecres agoc. They held that Rome then poffef- 
 kd by the Pope was Babyhft, and that for this reafon, be- 
 cauic it vfurped Diu inky, equalled it felfc ynto heauen,and 
 boafted that it was eternal], andneuer had, nor could erre. 
 Secondly, the prophecy ot Sybrfl who defcribeth Antichriit 
 to bec a certainc King, adorned with a while Miter, and bea- 
 ring the name of Pavtm , with his fcate neerc vnto Tyber ; in 
 fuchplainetermes,thataryman may eafily know,that he is 
 none elf: tx;t P 'ox 1 i -fit x Ro manm, the Romanc Biftiop, whofe 
 cheefc fcate cf rcfidence is at Rome, vpon the banke of 
 tykr. 
 
 1 o. By the T'eaft in the ^/pr.cap.i 7. with feuen heads, 
 and tenhomes^spaintedoutbytheholyGhoft the ftatcof 
 the Romanc Empire vnder the rcigne of the laft head, who 
 is the eight, and yet one ofthe feucn,vcifc 1 1. Now this 
 eighty's no other but the Pope of Rome,from the time of Bo- 
 HifAce the third, vntill this day, and forward to the end ofthe 
 vvoiiJ :for fine heads of this Empire, orfiue ofthe prophe- 
 eyed Kings were ccafei before I oh is time. Thefixthead 
 which wssoftheEmperorSjWasthen in being : the feuenth 
 is to be vnderftood ofthe Romanc Bifhops and Patriarcbcs, 
 which was not then extant /for though there were fiom the 
 Apolticstimcalwaies Billions of Home ;yet they were not 
 heads ofthe Romane Mate, before the fcate ofthe Empire 
 was tracflated from 'Heme to r Brz,*ntiiew. Now the Text 
 fa ich thus, this head muft endure butafhort time, that is, 
 from the time that the feat of the Empire was tranflated in- 
 to the Ealt,vntiU the vtter decay , and mine of it in the Weft : 
 from which time vntill the Papall kingdomc was fctvp by 
 Pbsca, it might well be faid,that this "head was, but is not, 
 
 V 3 and 
 
 J*ent*Amtdt* 
 
i5o 
 
 His particular Seatc* 
 
 Chap.^. 
 
 and yet is,verfe 1 1. ff^,that is,vfurpcdan extraordinary 
 ftate ofgoucrnment in the Church for a time ; // w<?r,that is, 
 afcended not to that height of pride which i: after did : and 
 7>fw,thatis, continued in the fame name and fuccciTion, 
 though with greater tyranny and vfurpation. For after Bori- 
 face the third had vfurped the Monarchy of the Church ;and 
 Gregory the fecond and third, had wt ung from ihe Emperor 
 the v* T e(tcrne portion of the Empire, and c (penally Gregory 
 the fcuenth had rauifhed into his hands the vniuerfall power 
 of both S words, fty ling himfelfe the Paitor of Paftor^and 
 the King of Kings ; then was this head the eight in number, 
 and yet one of the feuen,bccaufe itill the Eimop of Rome. 
 And if they fay that the Pope is but the fcuenth head, and 
 that the eight is yet to come, which is Antichrift : they mutt 
 remember that the fcuenth was to endure but a fhoit time ; 
 but the Popes kingdome is not ftiort,hauing continued thefe 
 many hundred ycercs : out of all which it neccflarily follow- 
 eth,not onely that Rome vndcr the Pope is Bo.bjjlon, but alfo 
 that the Pope himfelfe is Antichvilt, being the eigluhead of 
 the Bcaft,andyetoneofthefeucn. 
 
 ii« The ten hornes,which by the Angels interpretation 
 are ten Kings^that (hall diuide the Roman e Empire amongft 
 them, ar\d £hall rccciue their power as Kings at onehourc 
 with the Beaft, doc plaint ly intimate thefamc thing. For 
 whereas the Wettcrne Empire was difib!ued,and the power 
 thereof taken by the Pope from the Conftanuvoyolttan Fm 
 peror,then thefe ten Kings poffeffed the Prouinccs, and the 
 Pope the City of Rdme at one time : and whereas it is faid, 
 that firft, with one confent they gaue their power to the 
 Bcaft, and fought agairft the Lambe y but after being called 
 out ofy^y/^hated the Whore,and made her dcfolate and 
 naked; what can bee more plainely fpoken to {hew, that 
 which by experience at this day is verified, to wit, when 
 thofc Kingdomes and K ings which at the firft were flaues 
 and fubiedts to the Pope,are now the greatett enemies vnto 
 him ? which prophecy is already in part fulfilled, and fl-ali 
 do doubt in fliort time bee fully accomplished. Hence it is 
 
 that 
 
Chap. 5, 
 
 His particular Settc. 
 
 IJI 
 
 that BelUrmi-.u complaiaeth, that the Pope fincc the prea- 
 ching ofthe Gofpeil,hath loll part of Germany, Stttutn y Go~ 
 thia, Nornegta, all \Denmarke, and a good part oi England, 
 France, Helvetia, Polonia, Bohemia, and P anoxia, he might 
 haue added. Scotland and Ireland. Now I demand whether 
 the Romanc Empire be not already diiTolucd^and diuidedin- 
 totcn Kingdom* at lea(r,atv.i whether k is likely that chat rc- 
 liquc and fhadow of the Rcmane Empire which is now in 
 Germany, (h^ll be eucr diuided into ten Kingdomes ? And 
 therefore if thofc ten Kings haue becne long mice in the 
 world, and doe frill rcigne,itmuft needs folio w ; that Anti- 
 chrili is already come, and that Rome fubiccl to the Pope 
 is the mytticall Babylon fpoken of in the Renelation, and the 
 fcatc of that Man of finnc. 
 
 1 2. The defcription ofthe Whore doth as fitly confirme 
 this truth : for Rome Papall may rightly be called a Whore: 
 Firft, becaufc (lie ioyneth her iclfc to another Spoufethen 
 Chrift,to wit,thc Pope who ftilcth himfelfc Chnlts Vicar, 
 and the Spoufe of the Church. Secondly, becaufe me is 
 guiltyofApoitacy from Chri(t,and the Orthodoxall faith, 
 whereby of Bethel fhc is become 'Bcthanen, and of a faithfull 
 City, an Harlot. W'itnefTcjbcildcs a number of other things, 
 thofc two A pofratiuall doctrines fpoken of by S. Paul,\ .Tim. 
 4 . t . 3 .to wit,the prohibtion of marriage to ccrtaine men at al 
 t:mes,andofmeate3toallnicn at ccrtaine times, which two 
 the Apoftlelcts down as notes of that Apoftacy. But princi* 
 pally fhe is called the Whore of Baby Ion, by realon ofthe hor- 
 rible fupedtition and fikhy Idolatry pradtifed in her ( which 
 is notrrng clfe but fpirituall fornication before God: ) as 
 namely,inthe worfhip of Angels,Saints,Images,Reliqus,the 
 Croffe,and riicEucharift, to all which fhe proftitutcth her 
 fclfe as an Harlot,in a moll filthy maner., Neither onely is ilie 
 thus defiled her >Afe, but as the Mother of Fornications 
 makes drunkc the inhabitants ofthe earth with the Golden 
 Cup of her Tomications : for from her teats hath all the 
 world fucktthis poyfon,and (he braggemher felfc to be the 
 Mother and Mifkeffeofall other Churches, which fhe hath 
 
 in- 
 
 
152 
 
 Hi* particular Seah 
 
 Cb;> 
 
 M 
 
 infc&ed with her witchcrafts. 
 
 13. Neither is it to be forgotten that Saint John wonde- 
 red when he fa w this Whore, which he could neuer hauc 
 done, if he had meant Rome Ethnicke. For what wonder 
 was it that Ethnicke Rsme fhould worfhip Idols, and perse- 
 cute the Saints of God ? but this made him to wonder, that 
 Rome famous for Chriitianity and Religion, fhould fo dege- 
 nerate from her ancient purity,' that it fhould apofhtc from 
 Chriit, and become the Mother ofrupcritition,and the fcate 
 ofAntictuift : and to this may be applyed the name thatS. 
 lohn faith, fhould bee written in the Whores forehead, 
 M) fiery. Which very name the P ope for a long t ime wore 
 imprinted in his Miter, as the high Prieft of the lewes wore 
 in his thefe words, Holwejfe to the Lord* Now what doth 
 this but fignirlevntovs,that God would hauethewoili to 
 kno w,that in him is accomplifried the my (tcry of iniquity, 
 that is,Antichrtftianifme ipoken of by Saint VrnKi.Thzlf. 2. 
 Addc hereunto for a conclufion, that the proud brag of die 
 Whore, I fit as a ^tteene^dam no widd9)»,<md(}j4ilfee vo 
 f$rror*. Apot. 18.7. is taken vp and vaunted at this day by 
 the Church of Rome with equal! oftentation : for the Pope 
 claimeth to be the perpetuall Spoufe of the Church, and the 
 Church olRome to be thcrockc againfl which the gates of 
 hell cannot preuaile,and to be free from all poflibility of cr- 
 ring,much more vtter falling from Chrift. 
 
 1 4. For the conclufion of this fubieel, by the great City 
 fpoken oiReuel. 1 1 . cannot bee vnderftood any other then 
 the City of Bjrne ; which is therefore called fpirituail Sodome 
 zndes£gypt : Sodome, both by rcafon of the corporal! and 
 Sodomiticall vncleanncfTcs there pra&ifed bymeanes of the 
 prohibition of marriagc,as of the idolatry therein maintai- 
 ned and exercifed, by which the Scripture compareth to 
 Fornication rand ts£gyptjby reafbn oftheir tyranny vied a-. 
 gainft Gods Saints,wherein the Popes haue fane exceeded 
 the heathen Emperors. In regard whereof y Petrarch in one 
 of his Epiftles thus writeth : J&R that which is read either of 
 the A f Syrian or t^£gjptian Babylon y or of the Labyrinths >or of 
 
 the 
 
Chap. 5. 
 
 Ws particular Seate* 
 
 M? 
 
 the mud of \Ausrnus y or of the wferna.ll grows \is but a fable m 
 companion of this belt. Hcere is the builder of 'Towers , W the 
 terrible Ntmrod : he ere is S err, tr amis with h*r quitter jbe w~ 
 exorablc Minos y 4nd Radamanthfu ; hcere is Cerberus deuon - 
 witgdR, andpAfipkaeproftttHttngber felfetoa'Bttll, with a 
 double formed race, the '^Mtnotmrcjhe Monument of an exe 
 cr able tuft. Ina&ord y thou (halt fee whatfoetier hath bcenc 
 hideous , terrible y *nd c-mf:fcd a^d rofptkeallar once, this 
 (meaning Rome) is the fmoke of all wtckcdvcffc and impurity. 
 Now it is well called the great City : for as the names of So- 
 dome and zs£ypt properly takcn,doe not onely figmfic ccr- 
 taine particular Cities, but whole and entire u ingdomes, 
 confifting of many Cities and Towncs,as is moft euident of 
 <ty£gypt, which is a moft ample ¥ ingdomc, zndofSodome 
 alio, which was not the name of one City onely, but of a 
 whole Rcalme; as is apparent, Get*. 14.2. fo this great Ci- 
 ty fignifieth indeed principally ^m*,the proper feate oif An- 
 tichrift,bnt anagogically the whole focicty of Romilh pro- 
 ferTors,with all hingdomes and Cities that ate fubiect to the 
 Popifh yoke. In like mancr as by the iudgementof ±a %fel 
 mus and Kiberfrjfi/hh ciiucrs others, by the holy ( i:y which 
 the Gentiles fliouid trample vndcr their fcet 3 is meanc thev- 
 niucrfall Church of Chrift difperfed ouer the whole world : 
 and in this City it may well be faid, that the Lord was cruci- 
 fied. For he fuflfercd vndcr Pilate a Roinanc Magiftrate,and 
 in a Prouincc of the Ro nane Empire, which was then fudea: 
 aiid bcfkles, it is manifcft,that Chrift was crucified two 
 wayes, one in his owneperfon, another in his members : 
 which definition the Papiils cannot deny : for both Eellar- 
 miae and Barotitis report, that when Saint. TV/ *r was flying 
 from Rome tofauc his life, Chrift lefus met him, and being 
 demanded of S.Peter whither he went; he anfwered,' come 
 to Rome to be crucified againe : by which anfvvcre(fay they) j 
 fttf<?rvnderftoodthat Chrift would be againe crucified in{ 
 his fcruant.Now according to this diftinition wee fay, that 
 Chrift in his pcrfon was crucified on CMottnt Gotgotha y but 
 in his members and feruants at Rome y as well in the perfon 
 
 X of 
 
154 
 
 More particular obferudtions Chap. 6 
 
 of Saint Peter (if that hiftory be true}as of many other Mar- 
 tyrs whofe blood hachbecne, and is dayly -there fhed for 
 the teftimony of the truth, and in ether places by the 
 Popes authority. Addc hcereunro, that all fucirasreiccl 
 or prophane by their wicked imes the Gofpcll, arc 
 faid by the Apoftje to crucifie to themfelucs againe the 
 Sonne o£ Go i, Hebrews; 6.6\Ncither indeed, to fpeakc pro- 
 perly, was Chriit in perfon crucified in ferhjalem, but with? 
 our the City on Mount C<zluary y as the Apoftle fpcaketh, 
 Hek n.li. and that to fulfill the figure,L* ait. 16.17. That 
 the bodies of thofe Beafts whofe blood was offered by the ^ 
 High Pritfts. fo&a fimic-ofFcring, were burned without the p 
 Campe. 
 
 l o> 
 
 CHAP. 6. 
 More part icttUr obfernat ions about the fame fid •/>£?. 
 
 1 /T*he Do&prs ofthe Church of Rome dciiuing their opi- 
 X nion from Saint Ieror^e, apply that prophecy of Ua- 
 Wf>/,Chap. 1 1 .4.5 .( Hsefhall plant the tabtrnacic of his Royali 
 Palace between the fens) literally vnto Antichrift. Now 
 though we know that this prophecy is literally to bee vnder- 
 iioodoi A ntiocb us ^r\d of Antichrift onely Anagogically , 
 of whom Annochns was a type; yet it makes a good ar- 
 gument againft then., tnat home is molt likely to bee 
 the feate of Antichriit, becaufe it is fituate betwixt two 
 Seas, the Tyrrhene and AM 7*//r£f, according to this pro- 
 phecy. 
 
 2. In the fcucntecnth Chapter of the Apocatjps, there is 
 mention made ofthe great Whore, which name cannot more 
 properly bee app!yed to any thing then vnto the City of 
 Rome: for the viuall cufiome ofthe Prophets is, fo to tcrmc 
 Cities corrupted in maners, and giucn to idolatry by the 
 name of Whores. <SoNimueh is by the Prophet (Michah, 
 Chap.i .7. and by the Pi ophet, Nuhftm.Qh^ 3 .4. and leru- 
 y4/<rwbytheProphet^,Chap.i.2i. How is thejatthfnll 
 
 City 
 
Chap.6. 
 
 doutthefAmt, 
 
 155 
 
 City become an hirlst} And therefore the Prophet /<-n--/ 
 rnj rcprefenteth the corruptionoflhc Tribes of //r**/ and of 
 the realm cfadab, by two debauched or whorifh \vomen, 
 Chap.3. 6.eVci and £c^/Wamplyfieth the lame metaphor 
 at large, Chap. 1 6. Now this name agreeth very fitly with 
 the City of Rome, which was in ancient times painted like a 
 woman gcrgcoirfly atdred,to whom Other womcn,rcprcfen-- 
 tingthe iundry Prouinccsof the Routine Empire, came to 
 offer their prefents, as is to be feene iri the booke intitled, 
 Notiti* Imperii Romani. Thus was Rome alfo painted, tri- 
 umphing oucr the DacUxs^ and the picture thereof wis to 
 be icene in Marble in the Gardens of Cardinall Frederick 
 Co/ins in theyeere, 1549. jitaklphtu King of the Cotbes 
 hauingcakcn&<ww,artd de firing to eternize the nameofhis 
 Country, (tamped a ccrtaine coyne, wherein the City was 
 figured like a woman,to whom Victory prefented a LaurciJ 
 branch with this in auction ^lemsrtcz GotbiA&uz a more ex- 
 cellent picture then al theie, we read of in the time of the Em- 
 peror Ptjp rf/^»,whcre Rome is protrayed in the fimilitude of 
 a woman, with an Helmet on her hcad,herarmes naked,one 
 halfe ofh'crbrcailopen,hcrthighcsalmo{tvncouered, hoi* 
 ding in her hand a Scepter, and feated vpon feucn Moun- 
 taincs,withtheiiucr Ttber running on the one fide, and a 
 Wolfe the Nuifc of Pyomttlta and Rbemtu (landing on the o- 
 thcr. In the bottome was this infenption in great lcttcrs,fo- 
 «**. Now this ordinary 'defcription of that City, being hot 
 likely to be vnkno wnc vnto S. loha y and being directed by 
 the fame Spirit by which the former Prophets lpake, rt can- 
 not bee doubted but that hec followed the fteps of. the 
 one, and alluded vnto the othesin calling Rime the great 
 Whore. 
 
 
 3 . Tftis woman is faid to fit vpo.fi. waters, jipec . 17.1. 
 that is,to rcigne ouer .Kings, People*, Mukjuuics, Nations, 
 and Tongues, as the "Angcll hiinftlrc expouudcth • it, 
 vcrle.15.and 1 3. Now as a feate is fubjecl to him thatfittcth 
 on it,and ieructh, vpholdeth.beareth, and giueth eafe vnto 
 him \ and as the Maiefty of a Throne, procuret'h authority to 
 
 X 2 him 
 
 Hubert Colt" 
 jtj** l.rerum 
 
15* 
 
 Minutws T* - 
 
 Dion in Aw 
 
 jAore psrticular ohferu&tiws Chap.6.| 
 
 hiauhatiitteththercon,and ftriketh a reuerencc into the be- 
 holders^ fuch fort that when it is void,men giue a ccrtainc 
 obey fance vnto it: (b al Kings,Pcople,and Nations for a long 
 timc,fcrued,fu(laincd,and maintained by their grcatneiTe and 
 authority this Papallfcate, the name whereof being deri- 
 ued from s aint Peter ,itroke fuch a terror into them, that they 
 reucicnccd the per bns for the fcate fake,and fo this prophe- 
 cy was myftically fulfilled. And if thereunto we (ball adde 
 literally the topography and fituation of the place, wee fhali 
 finde,thattheCityof^«;f isfituate vpen many waters :for 
 it is built vpon the bankes of T^^ynto which Riucr, excep- 
 ting alFountaincs ,and petty rundlcts,there difcharge them- 
 felues, as Pliny writeth,42.Riucrs, befides the great num- 
 ber of Bathcs,Fountaines,and Conduits,as are there to bee 
 founds fcruing not onely for necetfity, but for pleafure, 
 
 Ifo that euery way it is a City fituate vpon many waters. 
 4 . It is (aid further , ApocaL 1 7. : . 7 to the Kings oft be 
 earth commit fornication with the whore y and. the Inhabit ants 
 were made d'tinke wtt h the vtine ofherfornicat ion . No w , w as 
 there eucr any City of the world, to which this might be fo ; 
 fitly applyed, as to the City of Rome, whether ancient or 
 new? Tor touching ancient Rome, the abominable Idola- 
 1 tries both originall in themfelues,and dcriued from conque- 
 red Nations praclifcd therein, were innumerable. They 
 worihipped as GoddeCTes Cloacina, (that is, the lakes and 
 fewer of fikhineffe) Feare, Pallor y the Feaer^c. Worthy 
 indeed for their impiety to haue their Gods alwayes pre Tent 
 with them, Acca Laurent ia 7 imd Flora fwo famous Harlots, 
 were reckoned amongft their adored Deities:and their Tem- 
 ples were no better then common Stcwes,as Mtnutius Fx- 
 lix rcporteth. The moft of their Emperors with their wiues 
 were confecrated after their death, and made Gods, hauing 
 Tcmplcs,Pricfts,and Sacrifices, appointed for them: as the 
 Priefts o(Lruia i DrufiUa the wife of Augttfliis , and of Do ■ 
 mialla the fiftcr ofTittu and Domitian ; and to make vp 
 the full hcapc of her idolatry, Rome it felfc was worshipped 
 of them as a diuine Godhead, as Dim reports: and had a 
 
 Tern- 
 
Chap 6. 
 
 about the fame. 
 
 *57 
 
 Temple dedicated to her, as P. /^/cKr, and Onuphrius re- 
 port. In the treafure of Antiquity, written by Hubert tea 
 Sdtztiu, wc finde thefe two inicriptions deriuH from an- 
 cient coyne^, one in Grcekc,PQM A ©E A :the other in Latine, 
 <Dea Rom*) that is, Rams a Goddejfe, whence are thefe excel- 
 lent verfes of Prudent iu* a Chriftian Poet : 
 
 Delubrum J{*m& colitur, namfarguine et ipfs 
 Afore ds&itiomenqj loci feu numen habetur y 
 j4icj 2 vrbis ,vensrifqne pari fe culmine tollttnt 
 Templa , ftmulgeminrs adolenturthura. deabu$ % 
 Which is thus m Englifh, 
 
 Rome like a Goddejfe is ador'dat *Rotne, 
 Wtth Image ^ Altar, Sacrifice, And Bloody 
 And by a change moft wonderfully whilome 
 A City, is become a God of wood : 
 Z> en su } <t*dfhe, their squall Temples (hare, 
 And to them both } men ince*fe daily bare. 
 
 Where befides the deifying of the City* from the cor- 
 refpondence betwixt the w or (hip which the Romanes per- 
 formed to r r cnHs^nd Rpmcjftz may by good right conclude, 
 that fhe is truly named by S. fohn, 7 he great Wh?re t But as 
 touching new %ome, fince the Papall feate exalted itfelfcto 
 the height of Antichriftianifmc, the fpirituall fornications 
 and idolatries, are fo euident to the world, as no man can 
 doubt thereof that hath bis eies'in his bead. But of them 
 more particularly in other places. 
 
 s. The apparrcll of this great Whore,is fid in the fourth 
 vcrfe, lobe purple and fcarlet Jbeautifiedwnh go 1 A .precious 
 (tones and pearler. And were not the Romane Emperours 
 fo adorned > Sjnefim fpeaking to thcEmperour Arcadius, 
 defcribes their attyre at large, and fo doth Pltny, with other 
 writers more. But the Popes mar uailoufly vaunt themfelues 
 in this colour, faying, that they i cceiued this priuiledge from 
 great Conflantine ,to weare royall Robes, as Grattan re- 
 ports, and Durand giucth reafons of their wearing Scarlet : 
 X' . * as 
 
 Onuphriua 
 
 Sj*eft/s 
 
 Pliny Lib 42 > 
 
 Graft an dift. 
 pt.CConflan- 
 tmus. 
 
 D^r and Rath 
 maleJitg* 
 caf.tfi, 
 
158 
 
 Mere particular obfer not ions 
 
 Chap. 6. 
 
 Saetar.Cere- 
 
 as namely : Firft, that they are ready to giuc their Hues for 
 
 their fhecpe,and therefore arc clad in red. And fecondly, as 
 
 Scarlet is twice dyed, fo their chanty is exceeding great, 
 
 both towards God and men. But if we defire to behold 
 
 this Man of Sinne in his ruffe, attired in ail -points like the 
 
 Whore of Babylon, obferue him as he is defcribedin the 
 
 booke of his owne Ceremonies, after this manner : He that 
 
 is new Slett to the Papatl dignity, is prefently dip obsd of his 
 
 oldAttyre y andcouered with a garment of white woo It, with red 
 
 befe andftndals>adorned with a go f den Crojfe.a redg.ru [e with 
 
 golden cU(pes 3 a redcap* a redrachet t a {onge A>be, and Au- 
 
 mtt(fe,anda Stele behnng with Peacies : And after sU thefe, 
 
 they calt vpon him a red cloak c of coftiy price, ar.d a M lcr e 
 
 adorned with gold and precious Hones. Coul J (I pray you) 
 
 the Whore of Babylon be more fitly represented in the pcr- 
 
 fonof the Pope ? Their Cardinals alio weare red hatts, and 
 
 feldome go forth, but clad in Scarlet. In a word, there isno 
 
 colour fo much in vfe and affe&ed in the Court oPRome, as 
 
 this is ; all the featcs of the Cardinals in the great Hall of the 
 
 Pallace, are painted with red, together with the Armes of the 
 
 Pope : all which doth notonely declare Rome to be the 
 
 Whore of Babylon, but alio dodi fignific the blood that 
 
 this Whore hath fhed, and the fliame that ought to polTcffe 
 
 their faces, for her abhominations. I conclude with that 
 
 witty Epigram of learned Zfe^, touching this matter; 
 
 Semiuiros qnicunj^ patres radiant e gal cro 
 cevfpicis , et rubrafyrmata fanga tPga : 
 
 (frede mini nntto fattrratas muricc vefits 
 dtdiie nee cocco pile a tinfta vides, 
 
 ScdcjHa rubra vide s, fan thrum cade vir or tim- 
 et merfa in font i totacrmre madent^ 
 
 Aut memor iftorum qua cdetcrimina, veftri^ 
 pro dominit iufio tattaptidore rttbent, 
 InEngliflithus. 
 
 IPben thou behold' ft the hats andfacred weeds 
 
 Wherewith the t\om/h Cardials adorned be.* 
 
 Thinly 
 
Chnp.6. 
 
 About the fume. 
 
 *59 
 
 Thinks not thefe garments dfd^vtith purple [cedes , 
 Nor jet deriud from eld Antiquity. 
 Toe blood offznccenrs, which bj their hands is fhed t 
 Doth giuc vnto their c<ips y this cohwrred ; 
 Ore/Je the garments bln(h with openfsame, 
 For thofe f.mle finr.es jvhich do their Lords defame. 
 6. Againc.fheis faidto be fuilofnamefof blajphemy, 
 Rem/. 17. 3 . which to be apparently verified of Rome, may 
 appcare by the blafphemous titles which arc giuen both to 
 the City it felfe, and alio to the Ernpcrours and Popes 
 thereof. To the City, they call it , vrbsfcra, the holy City: 
 Vrbsjcterntt, aneaerUfimgCtty : InntEla Roma t huinctble 
 Rerr;c : Inttict.tRoma £ter%4, Rome instinable and eternal! ': 
 Confer Matrix vrbisfna, the prefer uer of it fe' ft (for they made 
 her a GcddclTe as before.) In the time of M&xenttiu the Em- 
 perour,they reprefented Rome in this figure ; A Gcddcffe fit- 
 ting hi her Temple, holding in one hand a Lance, and in the 
 other a Globe, as the Qaccneand Lady of the whole world. 
 And in the time of the t mpcrour Prebiu y fhe was painted 
 alio fitting in a Temple, hauing in one hand the GoddeiTc 
 Victory, crow ning her with a Crowne of Lawrell, with this 
 infeription : T^omateterxa, that is, to etcrnall Rome : what 
 greater blafpherny can be fpo ken then this ? The like tides 
 giue tethcirEnipcrors,asto lulim Ctftr^huxiciKcaezp 
 putylmlM Crf/ir a God, Deo Auguilo^ to the God v^/- 
 guftm : yea they were not afliamed to affix the title of God, 
 to inofKvicfc ed and inramous perfons, as Adrian did to his 
 Ganymede j4>ithio&. Neither doe the Popes come bebir.de 
 the Heathen Empcroursin thefe blafphemous tides, as when 
 the Canonjfrs call him, a God on earth, hauing fulnefle of 
 power, aneffence ofrhe fecond intention, compounded of 
 God,and nan : pertaking both the natures of C hrift, as be- 
 ing not God alone, nor man alone, but both. Neither doc 
 their flatterers oncly adornc them with thefe brauc tidcs,but 
 the Popes themfclues approuc thereof, as is euident by that 
 triumphal! verfe made otSixtta die fourth, at his entry into j 
 Rome, which he well approued of. 
 
 Orach 
 
l6o 
 
 yiore part/cular obferuations C ha p . 6 , 
 
 Mmuttut V** 
 iix in O/Johh. 
 
 rtinylih.l. 
 cap. f . 
 S4in#$ % Poly 
 hi ft •**}•!• 
 
 Oraclo vocti tnttndi moderAris h Abends, 
 Bt merit o intcrrU crederls ejfe Deits. 
 
 Nay Paufus Quint «* of late, and his Nephew the Car- 
 dinal] Bur ghe fins .caufed euery pecce of their plate to be mar- 
 ked with this infeription ; TZurghefittmA atermtati die At urn. 
 But what doe I {land vpon thefc things, whereas he caufeth 
 himfelfctobc worshipped as a God, with proitration of bo- 
 dy ,adoration, buffing of feete, exaltation of mens fhoulders? 
 &c. as one of their owne cruc fham'd not to write touch- 
 ing" Paultu £h4intHA : quern n f - mm is in ft or vera cj lit pietdi : 
 yea he takes vpon him to be omnipotent like God, as not to 
 erre, to hane power to diipencc with the Law of God ; to 
 be the firft caufe, and the caufc of caufe? * &c. Thcfe, and a 
 number more fuch like horrible blafphemies, are belched 
 forth by them, againlt the God of heaucn ; and therefore 
 Rsme both Pagan and Papal!, may well be faid to be full of 
 names of blafphemy. 
 
 fc. In the Whores forehead is written the name, Myfterf 9 
 Ape. 1 7* 5. to fign ifie, not oncly that all that is ipokeu of 
 her, ought to be vndcrltoo J myftically and fpirituaily, but 
 alfo that all abhominations and idolatries, were to be prcfen- 
 ted to the world as diuinemyfteries, and that this City hath 
 gotten all her power and authority by the pretext of Religi- 
 on, as UltinntiHs V&ltx affirmed, That faperftition gaue > 
 founded y and evcreafedtke Empire to the Romanes, Hereunto 
 may be added, that %&me had a certainc other inyitic ail 
 name, which by their lawes might not be publiflie J and vt- 
 tered abroad, and therefore Valerius Sor annus was condem 
 ned to death, for prefumins: to divulge thismyfticall name 
 cfiRome againlt the Law. And for this caufe they had a Tem- 
 ple dedicated to theGoddeffe ^«£<rr<^theGoddciTc of Si- 
 lence, to whom they facriflced nbout the twelfth of the 
 Calends of February. This Goddeflc was painted with her 
 mouth coucred, to fignific the vcrtuc of filence,not oncly in 
 other things, but efpcciaUy in this myftcry : but hence alfo 
 the name of the God to whofe protection Rome was com - 
 
 mitted. 
 
Chap.£. 
 
 about the fame. 
 
 161 
 
 mkted, was kept fecret and hidden (as witnefTeth Pliny) for 
 fcare leaft being knowne, he fhouid be calicd out of their 
 City 3 and allured away by the prayers of rheir enemies >as the 
 Romans were accuftomed to entice vnto them by ccrtaine 
 charmes and exorciimes the Gods of other Cities which 
 they befieged, promifing them greater honours, and fcruices 
 at A^vr^thcn cuer they had heroic : Ko.vb:it this name 
 more fitly accor.xthto this Whore vndcr the Popes. For 
 vroat is k,thateleua:e.i them to :hat authority, which it once 
 had ouer the whole world, but the opinion of Religion , as 
 if it had engrauen in k forehcad,all the myftei ies of the King- 
 do nc of heaucn, to teach, giuc, and ;ell them at his plea! 
 yea, and to conccale them too, from the Lay -people, whofe 
 Lduaro a(as they fay)dependcd vpon the faith of the Church, 
 which they ignorantly b:lceucd in all things, keeping them 
 from fearching the '• criptures, and medling with matters of 
 faith, as myfterics on. iy appertaining to the Church, that is, 
 the Romii'h Prelates. Be: Ides that alio, they had,and haue 
 (till at this day, cerrarne fecrcts in their Religion, which in no 
 cafe maybe coin nunitatcd to the common people : To all 
 which, if we (hall adioynethc word, Tidy (ten, reported to 
 haue bene vfirhy imprinted in the Popes Miter, as witnciTe 
 lames Broca<d y and Francu the Monkc/ who beheld it with 
 their ownecyes; what can b: mo c cleayc and cuidrnt? 
 
 9. When h . lohn callcth this Cirv Bcbylon, he fpeaketh 
 not of Babylon in Chaldea, which at that time was vcterly 
 defc: t:d, by rcafon of the neighbourhood of Se'eicij, as 
 Pliny who iiued about S. Uh u age, reporteth : nor of the 
 v£g]ft>a-4 Babylon, to which the markes giaenvntoitm 
 this Chapter, do no vvaics agree : but of a thirdjwhereof the 
 Ancient Ch tldean B lbylon was a figure, that is, Rone^s all. 
 writers for the moll part do teftiiie. S.-j4*gq(ti»v elegantly 
 calleth, B*hy!w the fir ft R imcAnl Rome the fecond "Babylon: 
 and in another place he faith, Thut K«r»e ww ht?tt. a> 
 cond tt*h) lo*i y axd m it were tbedaugbi-er ofth'- (1 // . 
 Orofius hailing treated of the correspondence and* fimilitudc 
 betwixt *Bf*bi'o» and Rome, concludeththus : finbiktkJA* 
 
 Y h 
 
 Pliny *ti.2f. 
 
 CAf.I. 
 
 Idcol. ^record, 
 
 D.cfartt. \ 
 
 Franeifei 
 
 Sue* deeimif. 
 
 
 it 11, 
 
 Wlfifm I'll. Ir. 
 
I6z 
 
 Mere particular chfer tuitions C!i3p.6 
 
 TertuU.diuer* 
 
 lusJ»d<*os. et 
 
 conn a. March -i 
 
 *** 
 
 Hiero* in pro- 
 
 bgM.C.Dt- 
 
 dymidefpn- 
 
 t#. 
 
 helde Rom, 
 Port lib. 24. X* 
 Saranutd An. 
 
 Rih.r* in 
 s4p«c.cap> 14. 
 L*doutc Vines* 
 in Aug.de 
 c\(4itM.\8<. 
 cap.zi* 
 
 beginning efhdth Cities ', like tn power Jike ijegriatnefe 9 lihj m 
 time t like w goods and cutis y but yet not h\\e in iffite or end. 
 For the Empire of Baby ten was then worne out, but that of 
 Rome fubfiftcdyet vnderthegouernmentof Hsnor its*. Ihis 
 opinion is alio confirmed by Ttrtulhan before them both., in 
 thefc words : Thut Babylcn in S. hhn doth beare the figure 
 of the City of Rome \ andconfiquent!y s both great , and proud* 
 in Empire, and the murderer of Saints, And S« Isrome alluding 
 to this pafiage of the Apocalyps faith, wbe* Icomerfed in 
 Babylon, mid was an inhabitant in the Harlot did in purple^ 
 and lined after the R omane rights, tjre. The fame is confeifed 
 by Bellarmine, iSaronius, Rtbera, the Rhemift, budonitm 
 Vines, and others. The words of this hit are worth mar- 
 king : Though S. ferome(fmh he) in hisEpiftlc toMarcella, 
 calleth Rome "Baby Ion ,yet now i: is delivered from that odi- 
 ous name : For (here is noccnfufion inher y bat all things are 
 diftingmfhed and reduced vnto certaine Lawes \fo that though 
 there be a [ale of all, yet nothing is done without lave and pro- 
 ■ceffe,a»d a mofl holy right. Thus merrily he taunts this fcar- 
 Iet Strumpet, intimating in plaine tearmes, that feeing there 
 is a<3 confufion fo grcat.as that which is eftablifriec by Law., 
 therefore Rome euen in this regard, defcrueth the rather to 
 be (tiled with the name of Babylon, which fignificth confu- 
 fion : and that worthily. For as The ophilm laid of old Rome, 
 that it was m-ny.* nvcv: 'ftiriJkpbjiar, an abridgment of the iu- 
 perfition of air Nations which ran thither as into a com- 
 mon fewer : fb may we truly fay ofnew Rome, that there is 
 a confufed medley of all fuperftitions and Herefies, and not 
 onelyfo, but of all Nations and Cities alfo, zszsftbenttts 
 writeth. I* r he heavenly Qiy Rome, are ftfmd endofed all 
 Cities : all Nations dwell there, fappadocians , Scythians, they 
 of'Pontm, and innumer Able others > fo that it may well be na- 
 med, the epitctne of 'the habitable world. So that as the name 
 B<tbd, was giucn to the old City 111 the plaine of Shhar, by 
 rcafon of the confufion of languages which was there made ; 
 fo worthily may it begiuen, to this, wherein there iszs great 
 a confufion as there was, 
 
Chap. 6, 
 
 about thtfamCt 
 
 i<% 
 
 ro. And of what City canitbctrulyfaid,thatitis(ku-u:e 
 vpon feuen nils, but of 'Rome oncly ? For though they write 
 the fame ofy, onjtctntiit9y!e\ yet that City was not in being in 
 S. I ohm time, and he dcicribeth a City that was then ex- 
 tant : and b elides, K ome oncly or all the Cities in the world, 
 was flamed C tmtas fcpticeHu in JLatine, and t*f*A^fl(*,in 
 Grccke, by Ancient oets and Hiitorians : and in this it fitly 
 rcfcinblcth ancient Babylon, which by the Oracle is (hied 
 «r«f9fl^Mf, a City of feucn letters, bjcaufe the name Hoby- 
 lo» y containeth fornany ; which feucn letters offitfylonjui- 
 fwerc to the feuenhilsof Rjme • Andbccaufe it is myfticaH 
 Babylon, what number is fitter to icprefcnt this myftcry, 
 then feucn > The Greekcs called the true God irmueftg 
 that is, whofcnamcconfiftcd of feucn v oyer s or vowels, 
 and it is tobefcene in the bookc of ancient Oracles, col- 
 lected by hhn-Offtfnu : and that, either becaufe the name 
 of God might be gathered out of the feuen Greekc vowels, 
 orbea.ufe the name that Codhimfelfe taketh vpon him to 
 UifofeStSxed. 3 ,1.4,1s compofed of fcuen letters J^flV* t< V«> 
 '*™,Heih*tis y zs loj(fh Scakger obferueth. In Hebrew alfo 
 the name ft\JV* conaifteth of foure confonants, and three 
 vowels, which in Latine is written with feuen entire letters: 
 And indeed it would be tedious to relate the myiTeries that 
 arc by ancient Authors found in this number. So that whe- 
 ther we take this number in a literall, or in amyrlicall figni- 
 fication, it fitly fortcth with the City of Rome. 
 
 I t . RemonJ^ap. 2$. de Amickrifto y fpeaking of Har- 
 magtddon the place where the battel tliould be fought for 
 the falfe Prophet, that is to lay, Antkhrift, Apoc.\S.\6. 
 doth ftruic to encounter the name of Gerteua in thofc words : 
 but the Hebrew iettcis wherewith this word is written, do 
 eafily confute this malicious dotage, and plainly (hew they 
 care not what theyiay , fo thcyiruy any waies disgrace our 
 Religion'. Dmsms giucth vs a more probable interpretation 
 thereof, when he fixeth it vpon RomfjhcccXiie sirrx \gt 
 figniticth in Hebrew, (the word bcMg'tcadbrtckvl-ard. after; 
 the Hebrew mauncf) ^jff$f^^ what is j 
 
 V t Rome] 
 
 Sca'tgerJe &• 
 menadt tent* 
 
16*4 
 
 HieronjiJu'r 
 
 TAore particular ^bferuations drc* Chap,6. 
 
 Romo but haugntineffe, if it be concerned in the Hebrew, a$ 
 S. ferome witneiTcth i And if in Grctkc i flrerrgtfj y well then 
 may Rome be called Ar mageddit? ,Tke pibaerfton efhigbnc(fe y 
 both for that (he hath a long time fubuertcd many of the 
 orcatKingdomcsbfthe earthy by hcrtcmporallflrft, andfe- 
 condly, by herfpirituallfword : and alio for that iliefhall 
 at laft fubiiert her felfe by her ownc greatnciTc and pride. 
 But yet to fpeake ingemioufly, I take that the place is other- 
 wife vnderftood,in a more fimplc and plainc meaning, which 
 in a word is thus, H«r in Hebrew fignificth, a Mountaine, 
 and Mtgoddon, is the proper name of a C ity, fituate in the 
 land o£ Canaan, as we read. i.Kwg/,0. 1 5. from the moun- 
 taindus fit uation of which City, arifesh the name H Armaged- 
 don : and of this City, thofe waters taVe their denomination, 
 ;whichare mentioned, fudges, 5. nccrevnto which, was that 
 great ^rmieof labin vnderthe conduct of Stfcra, difcom.fi- 
 tcd by an handfull of the /(racfitesjmdcr Dehor <t and Baraks 
 Now vnto this defeate doth S. hhn fcemeto allude, as to a 
 mod excellent figure and reprefentation of thofe things 
 which he intended to propound. For this K ing labin with 
 his nine hundred Chariots of iroi>, and innumerable multi- 
 tudes of fouldiCrs, doth he notliuclyreprefent the dclignes, 
 jues, and confpiracies of Kings, and people, fighting a- 
 oainft Chriit, vnder the banner of Sathan and Antichrift ? 
 And what did Dehor a , a feeble and difarmed woman rcprc- 
 fent,but the Church of Chriii, itanding valiantly in cppofi- 
 tion agc*intt all tricfc aifnults > And why is the Mountaine of 
 'JMagedd'jn affigned to be the place, wherein this combate is 
 to be fought, rather then any other ? But to reprefent, that 
 they that fight againft the true Church, fmall in ftrcngth and 
 number,in comparison of her enemies, fhall haue the fame 
 ijluc of their batraVfeSjas the Canatnites had againft the I{ra~ 
 eliterotxhe two Tribes of Z abut on and Neph a!\m ,necre vn- 
 to the waters of Ma^eddom where they were all flaine eucn 
 to one, as it is euident, tudg. 4.16. and Iudges. 5. t 0. This 
 I take to be the moft probable interpretation of this Text : 
 and the rather, becaufc it is vfuaH,to fhadow out theprophe- 
 ! \1 ae& 
 
Chap.7» Amic'irifis growth 4ndpregreffe. 
 
 i<S? 
 
 c iesofthedcliueranccs of Chrifts Church in the New Tc- I 
 ftartiertt,6y fomc famous deliucrancc of Gods people m the 
 Old Tcftamcnt : as onr redemption by Chrift, by the re- 
 demption of the Ifraehtes out of *x£>y/>f :thc conquering of 
 our fpirituall enemies 6y Icftis Chriil, by the oucrthrow of 
 the Madinnttes by Cid o *, I l f*iy. <?.:>. thcdciiuerancc of the 
 Church from her enemies,, vnder the name of the deliuc- 
 ranceof Iert*fa f em, Zvh i :.p. 1 1 . where is^ alfo exprciie 
 mention of rhis Afjgfddw, where the Ifraelrtet wept for 
 King lofias. ftut enough of this: the conclufion of all is,that 
 there isiK>thing in the defcription of this Hariot,but fitly a- 
 grccth vnto Rome y n6t oncly ancient,but moderne, which is 
 named by an excellency of fpeech (the City} without a- 
 ny other addition, as Saint iobn ftilcth it in plaine tcrmes 
 3^«,»A»*5^thcCity, the great, the Articles repeated im- 
 porting lb much. 
 
 C H A R 7. 
 
 Of the growth Andprogrefft of Anttchrift* 
 
 X.T^He Apoftle, r.Ttm 1.17. compareth the doclrinc of 
 1 Heretikcs to the Gangrene, the nature ot which di- 
 fcafc is to fret by little and little, till at length it feize vpon 
 the vitall parts,& fo bring death to the body ,So herciie.dotfi 
 not insinuate it fcife into the Church all at once, nor in a mo- 
 ment poffeile the body thereof, but infecting the. members 
 by dcgreesjcrc it be pcrcciucd,dilperfeah it felti through the 
 whole body. This our Sauiour Chrift himielfe aflumctb, 
 Mat. 17.24, when he faith,7ita/ the enemy vpbdj} men fttpt 
 [owed his Tare j,that is, in fee vet jnd vnperceiued,accoiding 
 to that of Saint Teter i 2. Peter. 2. 3. 7 bat faff* teachers 
 jhoti'd with famed wot ds priui/y bring in damnable berefes. 
 And the Apoftle {peaking of Antichrift,coniirmetb as. much 
 when he faith,7"W/rv>w that time tlx myjlery cfftiicfHtty be- 
 gan to worke, 2 . Thftf. 2 . 7. to fiicw, chat Antich: iit iliould 
 not come at one chop, fothathec might be. defcried, but 
 
 Yj fliould 
 
l66 
 
 Anichrtp growth and pr ogre (ft. Chap. 7 
 
 _J 
 
 fnould gaine footing by little arid litie, till at length he fea- 
 ted himielfe in the Temple of God, and exalted himfclfc a- 
 boue all that is called God : which may ferue for an anfwerc 
 to them that require vs todefigne precifely the time when 
 Antichiiftfirft fcated himfelfeat Rome, who was the firfl 
 Pope that merited this title, what yeere hee liued, and 
 whathjftories make proofc thereof. For feeing thismyfte- 
 ry of iniquity hath like a Canker or Gangrene, beene a long 
 time wearing it felfe into the Church ;will it follow that no 
 fuch eui'll was, becaufe the beginning thereof cannot be de- 
 termined? How many difeafes are there in the body, and 
 thofe euen vnto death, the beginning and firft caufes where- 
 of can not be knownc ? Now is a man therefore found, be- 
 caufe he cannot tell when his difeafc tooke him ? Neucrthc- 
 lefTe,that our Aduerfaries may not take this as anexcufe of 
 ignorance, I will dearely manifeft the progreffe of this Man 
 of perdition,and deduce in brecfe by certaine hiltorics his 
 growth and increafe. 
 
 2. As therefore the holy Scripture defciibeth Aaticbriit 
 by the name of a mamfo it giueth vs iuft occafion to obferue 
 in him the like progreffes and changes as are found in the 
 life ofa man. Asthcrefore the life of a man is diuided into 
 fcuen principal] periods or peaces , to wit, Birth, Infancy, 
 Youth,Msns eftate, Declining age,01d age, and Death : lb 
 Antichrift hath the fame degrees and italics, from his firft 
 entrance into the world,vntiil his rlnallend and difiblution. 
 For itmuft needs fare with this Kingdome and Empire G-f 
 Antichrift, as it hath done with all other Kingdomes and 
 Empires of the world, which hauegrowne from fmali be- 
 ginnings to a great height and ftrcngth, and after by litlc and 
 litle decayed againc, till they come to their finall ruinc. 
 This we may fee dearely verified in the foure great Monar- 
 chies of the world, and all other great and mighty King- 
 domes: yea, the mighty Ottoman Empire is not now fo 
 great and powerfull as it hath beene, but as it arofe and 
 lprang by litle and litlc, and fpread itfclfc at laft ouer the 
 grcateft part of the world; lb wc hope by the dedinnigthciv 
 
 of;- 
 
Chap-^. Antichr'tftsgnwth andpregreffe. 
 
 i6j 
 
 of,that it's death and mine is notfarrcorf. And concerning 
 Antichrift.me thinks, Saint Paul J .Thcf.i. etiidently difco- 
 uercth all his degrees of his (tending, 6oth in his growth and 
 fall. His Birth, when he faith, that he was euen thei* already 
 come in his time, as ' aim /^»a!fo affirm, th, i John .4.3. His 
 Infancy, when he faith, that tile n.yftcry of iniquity did al- 
 ready worke.His Youtruwhenhe iaith,that hecouldnot be 
 reuealed till that which withheld was taken out of the way. 
 His Mans eftate,\\ hen he faith,, then fhall this Man of fame 
 bee reuealcd,and (hall exalt himfelfeaboue all that is called 
 God. His Dcdimngjwhcn he fakh,thc Lord (hall confume 
 him with the fpirit of his mouth, that is, with the preaching 
 of the Go (pell :" a:id laftly,his Old age and death, when hee 
 faith,that after his confiii nption he fhall bee deftroyed with 
 the brightneflc of Chrifts comming. .Ofthcfe degrees in 
 order. 
 
 3. Anttchrifts birth was without doubt in the Apoftlcs 
 time, feeing Saint Paul faith, that the myftery of iniquity 
 did then workc; and Saint M«,thatAntichrift was already 
 come into the world. Now hee could not come before 
 Chriftjfbr how could he then be Antichrift ? Therefore it is 
 an vndoubtcdtruth,that lie was borne in the Apoitles time : 
 and yet no man can cxprefly define in what yee re, moneth, 
 or day he was borne ; for his comming was into the Church 
 ds a difeafe into thebodyvnknowneand fecret : neither can 
 the place of his birth be determined, whether in Rome, or in 
 any other C ity of the world. And as for Rome, wee arc [o 
 farre from affixing the title of Antichriltto thofe holy Bi~ 
 fhops that were f'irft ift Rem?, that we confuTc that die 
 Church of Rom: .was then propofed to other Churches as a 
 rare example of fanclity of life, and purity of doctrine, and 
 conftancy in martyrdome? : yet howfoeuer it is impoffible to 
 determine cither the time or place of his birth, notwithstan- 
 ding that he was borne in the Apoitles timer's fo euidcnr a 
 truth, that he thatwill deny it, muft withall deny the holy 
 Scripture wherein it is plainely affirmed. 
 
 4. His infancy may well be thought to liaue continued 
 
 from 
 
x*8 
 
 Anticbrifls growth andprcgrejje . Cb ^.7, 
 
 Eufil.Hflcir* 
 
 CyprUnJib.s. 
 'MS- 
 
 from the 4poitlesagc,vntillthe firft Nkme Counciil: for 
 ifweconfider the hiftoneof the Rom?ne l:i(hops during 
 thofe three hundred yccrc$,wc fnalleafily pcrcciucdiat prc- 
 fcntly after the Apoftles,thcy began (doubtleifc befide their 
 thought and intention) to prepare the way for Antichrift, 
 who was to eftabliin his thrqpc in' their kate, and that as 
 well by offering a kinde of primacy abouc other Bilhops,as 
 by bringing in an intollerable number of traditions t o dar- 
 j ken the fimplicity and purity of the Gofpeli: which will 
 plaincly appeare, if we receiue for trueth, Dccrctail Epiftles 
 afcribed vnto fuch Bifhops of Rome as liucd in the firft 
 Age of the C hurch,to wit, AnacUtw, ^tuarifttu^ AUxa»iuT 1 
 Sixtwjliginiu ,Pttu , EleHtbenus^ and others : tor what doe 
 they all breath but the fpirit of Antichrift ? W hat doe they 
 thunder out ,but the primacy of die Church of Upme ? What 
 doe they bcate vpon,but prohibitions of offending Priefts 
 in any fort whatfocuer ? And what doc they fpeakc of, but 
 of appcales to the c ^eaof Kerne % and fuch like things > A nd all 
 this at the time when prifons were full of C hrjftiaus, and :he 
 ftrects ran with their blood. But howiocuer thefe Epiitle* 
 were counterfeits it is without doubt,yct ccrtainc it is ,• hat 
 Pope Vittor nouriflic i this infmt,nnd made way for his fur- 
 ther growth, when he excommunicated all the Churches of 
 jf/idyZnd others,for not celebrating their Eafter vpon Sun- 
 day,as did the Church of Rome : which d. ede of his, was 
 fharpely rcproucd by many P.ifhops, and particularly by 
 Saint IrcvicW) as huf:btK4 reporteth : (b did other Eifhops 
 his fuccelTors, when they made no fcru pie to take corn ton 
 ofthceaufesoffuchas were condemned by other Bifhops, 
 and arrogated the iudgement thereof vnto them. Which 
 ambition of theirs, Saint Qyfrtfin in an Epiftlc to Comehtu 
 the then Hilnop cf ^cw^repnhen .ech mo ft foundry and 
 graucly and pioucththat cuery one ought to be iudged 
 :c his crime was committed, an 1 where both his v\it- 
 ncrfc: rnd aco ■fersmigh 1 be rrcfent : ana th ttaappealq to 
 the Bifhop of Ro *f,wffl nothirge'fc but to abrogate t T ie au- 
 thority of other Bifhops. So al.o did Pope Zepbtrtnc, when 
 
 he 
 
Chtip.7- Anticbrifts grmth anafrogrcffe. 
 
 \6? 
 
 hethefirftof all others tookevpon him this title, l > 9ntifex 
 MaximttSyEf'ifioptis Epilcoporumflhschtefe 'Btfhop^nd'^i* 
 P?opofBi(bops, as Haronim eonfeffeth. And thus did this 
 wicked child play in his infancy, and yet (hewing euen 
 then moil ccrtaine prefages of his future behauiour in the 
 Church. 
 
 j. After the Nicene Councill, when peace was giucn to 
 the .. hutch, Antic htift came to the prime of his youth;and his 
 pride and ambition grew to an higher (tature and ftrength, 
 mixed with more boldneflc and courage then before: for 
 fearing no moie any perfecucion from the Pagans, whole 
 religion began by litle ;ndii*.le to bee abolifhcd, the Bf- 
 fhops o(Rom\ began to lay snore (hong foundations of their 
 proiceled primacy, vndcr pretence of defending the found 
 doctrine of tho Trinity, For, when .^s Uh&nafiw, wit 1 ! "Paul 
 Patriarch otO«/?4*finM^/*,and other Biihops wereba (h.d 
 from their ( hurches by the Aryi&mjxid rctyred themlciues 
 to I'i'iiu then B (hop of Rabufac rcceiucd them, and wrote 
 in their behalf e,lctters to theEafternc Biihops full of rride 
 and ambition : wherein Kc challengeth the right of calling 
 general] Councils, the iudgement ouer other Biihops, and 
 the appeales to the Church of Rome: which arrogancy of 
 theirs, was greatly chcrilhed and encreafed by a Decree of 
 the Councill of S i^dck^ which rather byprouifion to reme- 
 dy the troubles of thattimc,in regard of the Arrian Herefie 
 wherewith the whole Eaft was infe£ted,then for a pcrpetuall 
 right,permiticdappcaics to the Bifhop of Rome : ifatlcaft 
 this Decree of the Councill ofSardick*bi not counterfeit : 
 feeing Saint v£«g#/?/wacknowledgeth no Councill of Sar- 
 di^but heretical!. The feme Heps of pride were troden in 
 by all the whole ranke of Romane Biihops of that Age, in- 
 fomuch that the Councill of MeUuit was forced co giuc 
 ftoppagethcreuntOjby forbidding ali appeales to bee made 
 beyond the Sea, vndcr painc of being excluded from the 
 Communion of the Churches ofAf.tc • . hich caufed Pope 
 %oz*imHS 9 for the maintenance oftfic authority of his Sea, 
 to produce the Decree of the pretended Councill of S.v~ 
 
 Z 
 
 BdrtnAnndl. 
 
 EpiflJttfjj 
 Concil, 
 
 <4U? COHtTM 
 
 fcru JSJeuii!. 
 
170 
 
 Antichrifts growth ctnciyrogreffe. Chap.7, 
 
 I dick* which w as (aid to be the fame with that of Nice : biit 
 it was conuifted of falfhoode by the Copies of the Coun- 
 cill dtNtce fetcht from Conftant'mople, and fo his labor loft. 
 This Councill wrote vnto Pope CeUfttne the fucceffor of Bo- 
 ntfacc about this falsification, and aducrtifed him not to 
 bring into the Church ( which ought to appearc as a light of 
 Simplicity ) Fumofumtyphumfeculi, *A (mokj arrogancy of 
 the world. In like maner the Councill of Chalcedon went I 
 about to bridle this height of pride in the Romanc Bifliops, J 
 when.notwithftanding the contradictions of the Legates of j 
 Pope J>0,itgaue an cquall place of primacy in the Church 
 to the Patriarch of CVw/?*»f /»*/>/*, and equall priuikdges of 
 honour ,w ith abfolute iurifdiclion ouer all the Metropolis 
 tanesof v4/7<*,7W*# and Thracia^nd that by reafonor the 
 Impcrtall feate which was then there planted, as the Bifhop 
 of Rome had before time becne exalted for the fame caufe. J 
 Hence forward the Patriarchs otCovflahtinople went alwaics 1 
 in equipage with the Bifhops of Rome, and retained the tide I 
 of Oecumenicall as well as they .-and the ChurchofCtfw/?**- 
 tmsple, was by the authority of tae Emperors (tiled, Caput 
 
 I omnium altar urn ecclefi arum, Head of all ether Churches ps 
 is cuident by the writing of Iuflinian the Emperor to £/>/- 
 phanim Patriarch of Conftantino'ple, and Authentic, and 
 tjfteminm ,and of the Emperor Leo, 10 Stephen Patriarch of 
 the fame place. So that in this Age, the Bifhops of Rome 
 ambitiouily defircd,and in a youthfull hcatc audaciouHy at* 
 tempted that, which yet by no ineanes they could abfolutcly 
 effect and bring'topalTe. And though Gregory the great, 
 whether by faincd humility or otherwife/cemed to abhorre 
 the title of Vniuerfall Bifhop, or Patriarch, which Iohn of 
 ConftAntifiople affumed vnto himfelfe, calling him therefore 
 the forerunner of Antichrift, and faying, that none of the 
 Bifhops of Rome euer v.furped this title : yet notwithftan- , 
 ding (if we will bclceue Ttaromus ) he forbore not in cffccl 
 BwnAdAn* \ to take the fame title vpon himfclfe,when he faith in one of 
 / 9f- \ his Epiftlcs,7£4f the Aomane feate feruedfor 4 w*tcb-fwer 
 
 ouer the whole world /md fent cut vntc ali,tu re Conftitutions. 
 
 But 
 
Chap,^. Anticbrifis growth andfrogreffe. 
 
 ill 
 
 But I thinkc this Epiftle rather to be forged, then truly of 
 Cregories composing, for it was dated, Indttt. j f . Anne 
 Chrsfti.fH. which kindc of datation the Popes vfed not; 
 bellies he bringcth in Thcodon k? fubfenbing to this priui- 
 ledge .whereas at this time he was fcarce of age to fpe^ke, 
 and in poffdTion of the City of Soiffens which he neuer had. 
 Now if vveadde hecreunto the great pompe and riot which 
 the Romifli Prelates and Cleargy abandoned themfclues vn- 
 to in this Age,we fhall perceiue more of the youthful! difpc*. 
 (ltion of chb Man of finne. Ammianvu Marcelling a Pagan 
 Hiftorian,hauing related the fchifmc and contention betwixt 
 Damafa and Fictftnus about the Papac y, where i.i much hu- 
 mane blood was ili:d and fpilt, at lait concludcth after this j 
 manner : tybeu Iconftdcr the great pon.pt of the Romane Bt- j 
 [hops, I cannot bnt confeffe that the; which affire vntothvje 
 honours, haue reafuntofirtHe with all their might • feeing when 
 they hnue obtftixedthem, they are afar ed to be enriched with 
 the oblations of CMatr ones, and to come forth in pubhke in 
 their Chariots magnificent h arrayed, and to makffrafis vv/tb 
 fttcb exccjfejhat thetr banquets furpaffe the tables of N 
 -And all -this he approprjatethenely to the Pifhop oiRomi. : 
 for of other Bifhops he thus writeth in the fame place, That 
 their frugality tn meates, and drtnkes, parftmony in ( pparred, 
 and humility in carriage ^commended them to God and to hU 
 feruants ^at pure and mode ft per fox s. Thus MarceHintu . Now 
 it cannot befafd,that this Hiftorian in a malicious humour 
 reprchendeth the riot of the Romifh Bifhops (as 'Baronius 
 would haue it) feeing he commendeth other Chriftian Bi- 
 (hops for their modefty and temperance : And therefore, 
 rather is Ttaroniui impudent, in daring to iuftific this their 
 pompe and pride, faying, that Tt>en to the fottera'rgne \ 
 preiffhood of Christ wot toy neda magnificent and regall Ma- 
 ted): whereby hee gfueth caufe of fit application of that 
 which Saint /tfrcw<?rcporteth to haue beene fpokenby one 
 Pretext at m^ defigned Confull, but a facrilcgious wietch, 
 who mocking at Pope Damafits, faid, Make wee Biftop of 
 Rome, and I wiH prefently tvrne C'briftian. In fine, the mul- 
 
 Z. a titudc 
 
 Grcgordibji. 
 
 <<4ti?m'idn. 
 
 BdTW t dlj n i 
 
 S*7- 
 
 H\zron*pift % 
 ft* 
 
171 
 
 Antichrifls growth and progrejfe. Chap ;? 
 
 titudcof traditions,ceremonics,and fuperftitious doclrines, 
 brought into the Church by the Bhliops ofKsme, inthofe 
 fnlr fixe hundred yecrcs,do flic w,that Antichrift was grownc 
 toagocd age and ftrength : as the mingling of water with I 
 the Sacramental wine by Alexander the firft, and of fait 1 
 with water forBenedi6tion,agrceable to the Pagans : Lent 
 faft for feuen weeks by 7 olejpber w.zhc celebrating ofEaftcr 
 on the Sunday ,by Ptns the (irlt ; the which one Hermes is 
 j -faid to hauc rccciucd by rcuclation from an Angcll in a 
 (hepheards habit : thefhauing of Pricfb crowncs, by *A~ 
 iif/^/tf^acufiomedcriued from the praclife of Jfis Priefrs, 
 and condemnedby diners of the Fathers, as Clemens of A- 
 lexttvdria^adagogjtb.ycjp.i l.cnd Optatusvontra P*rmen. 
 lib. i and leromson £c-.^'/.44.anJ the fourth Council! of 
 \ToUdo.cap.^.xhc Faits of foure times by Ca/txtus : vilucr 
 Cups into the celebration of the Lords Supper, by Pope 
 Vtbanc : but no GoV is yet, bee: life I thinke they follow 
 \PcrpHf idtylnfairi*' qMtdfycit atjrttm? new Chrifme to be 
 'made eueryyeere, and the old to be burnt at the JEuchariit, 
 ib.y VoyzFstkun : Diuinc (eruice ro be celebrated vpon the. 
 fepulchres of Martyrs,by Pope Ftfix : blcfling vpoirthc Al- 
 tar ofthe fruits of the earth, as if they held them vnclearie 
 with the /l/*?Wr^/,tilithey were thus partfied, by lutichia- 
 :m ' : as alfo the prohibirion,that no Martyr fliouid be buri- 
 ed,butbei n ig clothed with a ccrtaine kindc of Vcftimcnt cal- 
 led a 'Dalmdtica^mi^ purple hood. Thus fuperftition be- 
 c;an then to encreafe and grow to fbme ftrength in the 
 Church,and that not onely in matters of ceremony, but alfo 
 of doctrine : for then began Temples to be dedicated to the 
 
 Ifb.iSitii \ 
 
 Leof-r.tAe 
 nit'ahb- Petr' 
 et Poult* 
 Ortgot tpft. 
 llb s ii*pift 2* 
 
 honour of the Virgin Mary i and Martyrs, to the great 
 iifhonour of Go d, to whom as all diuine worfhip is to be 
 Uuen,foall Temples for the cxercife ofthat worfhip, are 
 
 ■to becre&ed,as witneffeth $*\ti\jltft£*ftm&. Then entred in. 
 ;hcInuocationofSaints,withthe placing of hope and con- 
 fidence in them, as may appcareby the doctrine ofthe Pope 
 Leo ,and Gregory the Great:then came in prayer for the dead, 
 aftd Purgatory: for the fabrickc wherof,they forced to forge 
 
 an 
 
f ■■ .1 
 
 ' Chap.7. AMichrip grewtb tndprogrejfe, 
 
 »73 
 
 an infinite number of miracles, and apparitions of dead 
 ehofts. The define of iuftificationbythcmeritofvvorKes, 
 gcgan then alio to take force footing, though not fo deepe as 
 afterwards. So that now it iscafie to conclude, rhat albeit 
 theBiftwpsbf *.«e,vntaitheyccre 600 were not fuchas to 
 whom might be properly apply* 1 the tide of Anuehrifl : ;y et , 
 it cannot be dcnyed,but that the myftery of him wrought m 
 them.and by them ;and tlr.t it was growne to fome (trcngth 
 and ftiturc in this Age . f 
 
 6. We haue feettc Amichrift hhis youth the myftery of 
 
 .orfomeBuho >s> I ,oition of others, for thefe firftfix 
 Ae»s tillGwU dwfirftj after whole death, he cameto his 
 mLcfhte/th - is, w .sieuealed in rhe Church, and rcig- 
 nedinthe RAnane.Sca : and as the pcr.odof this Age of 
 mm is commonly 0M0 igcr continuance then the :rctt,io is 
 th : um=ofAntid,ri.breigne, longer then of hisinfancy or 
 
 youth. It began prcfei.tly after the dean of Oregon .the 
 
 Great, and continued weU-neere the lull fpace of 800 
 
 yceres, and arofe to it height by certaine degrees and 
 
 ftaires^rnomortallmingisperfcaatthefirft.butgioweth 
 
 by fieps,asitalfodecayeth. The firft degree of his reignc, 
 
 which 1 terme his mans eftate, was in the time ol the Empe- 
 
 rourpfc?*, whohauingrfnofttreacherouay and cruelly 
 
 murdered his Maifter, Mtmitm the Ernperour, together 
 
 withhis WifeandChiidren, totheend,that hemightgaine 
 
 t! e fwour of the Romanes,and kcepe /r,./y trorn f^* tin g 5 
 
 he caufed the primacy and fuperioriry of the whole Church, 
 
 to be adiudged to the Romanc Sea, and the B.fbopof^** 
 
 to be declared the foueraigne and vniucrlall Head or the 
 
 Church, and of all other Biftwps ; alleging for it this rca- 
 
 fon : That as the City of R?me was the Mpthcr and Pr.ncclle 
 
 of the Rornane Emoire, fo it ought alfo to haue the primacy 
 
 arid foueraignty in religion. And from this time, Aom^e 
 
 and his fucctffoi.rs tooke vpon them the title of vniuetfall 
 
 Bifhop : A title, which in deed appertained! to none out 
 
 Chiift, who is the onety true fhepbeird (as S. Ttter cahetb 
 
174 
 
 Jnticbtifts growth a?»dfrogre[fe. Chap.7. 
 
 Gr*got*pi# t 
 
 hhn, r.P/f.f. 4.) and confequently the onely vniuerfall Bi- 
 .^pani! Head of the Church, asS. fyegorj notably confir- 
 med! in many places, as in an Epiftlc of his to all Bilhops, 
 where heyfeth this fuperfcription : 7* all the members of 
 the holy Chnrch^mofi precious ft ones fliningm Chrift s diadem 9 
 tvhofe vniuerfall head is Chrift : he doth not fay, the Bifhop 
 of Rome , but Chrift : yea he that takech vpon him this name, 
 doth not onely rob Chrift of his dignity, but alio euery c- 
 ther particular Bifhop of that power and part of the admini- 
 stration of the Church, which is committed vnto him by 
 God. This S.Gregory inoft excellently, and at large pro- 
 ucthindiucrsofhisEpiftles, islib.^Epift. 34. and £pft. 
 36. and Vpifl. 38. and all grounded vpon this rcafon, be- 
 caufe to be the vniuerfall Bifhop, is to be the onely Bifhop, 
 and fo all others to be but his Subftitutes, and«Vicars, and 
 therefore to haue no power of thcmfelues, but as it is deri- 
 ued from him : and therefore that diftin&ion of" the word 
 vri*erfall)daiifed bythelcfuitcs,is both vain e and friuolous, 
 when they fay, that it cither fignifieth fingularitie, and fo to 
 be vniueifall, is to be the onely B ifhop of the world : orprc- 
 heminency, and fo to be vniuerfall, is nothing clfe but to be 
 the chiefe of all Bifhops. And that in the firit fignification ^ 
 the title is prophane, facrilegious, and proper vnto Anti- 
 chrift rbutinthefecond, it may be attributed to the Pope, 
 according to S. Gregories intention. This, I fay, is an idle 
 conceite : for he that (hall aduifedly read S. Gregory in the 
 fore-named places, (hall finde, that he doth not onely con- 
 demne it in thefirft fenfe, but in the fecond alfo, namely, 
 that one fliould vfurpc that title to himfelfe, depriuing all o- 
 ther J of it, feeing it is apparant in the Ancient Councils that 
 all the Patriarchcs in common,beare the title of cecuincnic?Jl 
 or vniuerfall Bifhops, without derogating thereby one from 
 the other. A nd therefore if the Council! of Chalcedon (as 
 they pretend) or any other Councill, did at any time giue 
 the Bifhop of Romet\\\s title, it was in common as to a Patri- 
 arch, and not in any Angular manner : As the care of all the 
 Churches was committed to Peter, but not in priuatc, burin 
 
 com- 
 
C h i p . 7 . Antichrifis growth tndprogrtjfc . 
 
 *75 
 
 ith 
 
 4C*p.lQ, 
 
 ** c J}rUme. 
 
 common with therein of the Apoftles ; for clfe S. Paul had j 
 ouer-lamed, whenhefaide, ThuthcveaA troubled with the I 
 fare cfaH Churches. 2.C0-.U. 2 8. Hence it is, that S. Bufill TkcJoret W 
 was called Sfrfpcltft •*upfcarf»rtff» The great light of the 
 world : and Qregory K*z>ianz>tne fpeakingof S. Cyprian, 
 faith, diat he not onely prefided ouer £*rth*ge 9 but alfo o- 
 uerthc whole Weft, yea the Eaft, and the South, and the 
 North. In a word, thefc two titles, Tifiof of the vniuerfaU 
 Church, and v runer fall Bi{hop of the Church, arc farre dif- 
 ferent, if not contrary : for the firft was a common name to 
 all Bifhops that made prorefTion of true and found doctrine, 
 whereby they were difcerned from Hcret&es and Schifma- 
 tikes, the vnwerfail Church fignifyingnotbmgehebutthc 
 Orthodox and Cathohkc Church. But the fecoad cannot 
 properly agree to any, but to an infinite perfon,to wit, Iefus 
 Chrift, and if it be afcribed to any, it is not in regard of 
 prehemiennce, that he fhould haue abouc all others, but in 
 regard of the vniuer r aiity of care, he ought to (he w towards 
 the whole Catholikeorvniuerfail Church. 
 
 7. This was the firft degree of Antichrifts reigne or 
 Kingdome. The fecond was, when the Bifhops of Rome 
 fhookc off from their neckes the yoke of obedience and fe- 
 alty ,which they ought vnto the Empcrours : for, for a long 
 time, the Pope was chofen by the commonvoycesof the 
 CIcargy, and people of Home, and this election was confir- 
 med by the Emperour himfelfe, or by his Lieutenant, the 
 Exarch o( Ravenna, and was fubieel to him, as to his Lord 
 and Maifter, to be either cftablifhed or depofed at his plea- 
 furcras we may fee particularly in the example of Pope Mar- 
 tin the firft, who was carried asacriminous pcrfon to Con- 
 ftanrinsple before the E mpcrour, and by him banifticd into 
 the Iflc- Cherfonefa, where he dyed : But afterward Pope 
 Eenedtii the jfecond,by his hypocrific, obtained of the Em- 
 perour Conflantine the fourth,frecdome ofelc6tion,without 
 the authority of the Emperour, or his Exarch : and then 
 prcfently began this Man of Shne to ruffle in his pride, and 
 ncucrceafed, what by [editions and excommunications, till 
 
 he 
 
 Baronite**. 
 
IjS 
 
 Antichrijls growth andprogreffe . Chap.7, 
 
 he had chafed the Emperours authority wholly out of Italy . 
 Then Pope Conflantine, excommunicated the Emperour 
 Thtlipptcm (who indeed was a fauourcr of the Herefie of 
 the MMothclttes,) and forbad the people o(Rome 9 either to 
 acknowledge him for their Lord,or to obey any Mandate or 
 Command ement that came out by his authority. Then Gre- 
 gory the fecond, refitted the decree of the Emperour Leo the 
 third, who in zeale to Gods glory,had commanded all Ima- 
 ges in Churches to be beaten downe,aiid fo maintained him- 
 felfe by the fauour of Charles Mar tell again!* him, that the 
 Emperour durft not giuc alTauk vpon him by Armcs Then 
 Pope Stephen the fecond, by the aide of Pepin y then King of 
 Trance , wrung out of Ay ftn'phm the King of the Lnmbards 
 hands, not onely the rightes aid tcrritoi iesof S. Peter t but the 
 whole Exarchate of Rtwenna 3 w'uh all the dependances there- 
 upon, & bellowed it vpon the Bifhop of Rome: And yet their 
 ambition was not fatiatc herewith, for they rcrtcd not till the 
 Kingdome of the Lumbar ds was vtterly rooted, out by 
 Charles the fuccefiburof/^v, who hauing conquered Pe- 
 ttier tlicir laft King, added vnto his fathers guifts,dl that lie th 
 beyond L/guria, from the old ruines of the City Ltit?4,\i\to 
 the Alpes, and muchclfe where : And this is that which is 
 called S; Peters Patnmony,which they defrauding their true 
 bencfadtours of that acknowledgement which is duevr to 
 them, had rather aicribe to the donation of Con ft amine the 
 Great. -Here then we may fee two notable eucnts. Firft ,the 
 Pope a fpired vnto two homes, to wit, both ipirituali and 
 tcmporall authority, and fo became a temporall Prince in 
 thofc great territories which were conferred vpon him. And 
 fecondly, the ercclion of the Image of the fecond Bead : 
 when the firft made Pepin the Father a King, depofing 
 Chilpertch as vnfuflficient,and then tranilatcd the Weft erne 
 Empire, from the Greekes to thef r?nch, conferring it vpon 
 Charles his fonnc : thus notorioufly verifying the prophecy, 
 jlpnc. 1 3. t 4. 1 j. That Antichriit fhould command the in- 
 habitants of the earth, to make an image of the firft Beaft, to 
 giue him a fpirit,and to caufe him to be woifliippcd. 1 his is 
 
 fo 
 
, xi rt i- ~ i - " — --■—«-- -^--- | | ._ t ^ 
 
 Chap. 7. Antkbriftsgrtmth and progrejfe. 
 
 »77 
 
 fomanifeftatokcnofAntichrift,thatit cannot be doubted 
 of, whether wcrefpeft the erection and tranflation of this 
 new Empire, which is a power onely proper vnto God ; or 
 the bringing into the Church the adoration of Images, and 
 the canonization of Saints, which was a kinde of giuing life 
 to the image of the firft Bcaft, with whom it was accuftomed 
 both to worfhip dumbe Idols, of wood and ftone, and to 
 confecratc and dcifie mortall men,as they pleafed. For this 
 caufe, many learned men ha.ueh*xe<' the number 656. vpon 
 thistimc, as thetruc beginning of the xeuelation of A nti- 
 chiifts kingdome : for if we adde to 97 yccrcs of Chrift, . 
 v\hich were runnc when the Apocalyps was written, 6 ' 6. 
 we fhail h II vr>on the yecrc of 76 : . in v hich the Pope as an 
 earthly p.ince , pciic (led the Exarchate of Kuttemt^ and thofc 
 other te:; itriries, which he receuea by the gift of Pepin and 
 Gbar/emasf»e. 
 
 8. But tor all this, the Whore of Babylon was not yet 
 afcended to the top cfherabhominations : for the Romane 
 Sea was as yet held in fome fubie&ion to the £mpcrours • fo 
 that no Popes could be receiued, without their approbation 
 and confirmation, as is apparant by Stephen the fourth, and 
 histwo fuccclTours, who were compelled totrauaileinto 
 France, to get the confirmation of their election Alfo the 
 guardauce and fcueia ; gnity of their temporall lands giuen 
 by Peptn and his fucceflburs, remained in the hands of the 
 Empcrour, and of thofe that held vnder him the command 
 of Italy, Alfo Lewes the fecond, making his abode for the 
 mod part at r F^me or thereabout, commanded with more 
 abfolute power, then any ofhis predeceftburs had done. The 
 Popes power then was by thefc mcanes fome what bridled, 
 fo that he could not do as he lift. But thefe proud | 'relates, 
 difdainingto be thus curbcd,foonc broke they oake, an: f.t 
 chemfelues free from all obedience to mortall man. Pope 
 Nicholas the firft led the ring : he amongfc other his good y 
 conftitutions, prohibited the Empcrours to be prefent ar 
 their Synodail avTemblies ; concluded that the Pope could 
 not be iudged by any fecular pow r cr ; forbad die mariagc of 
 
 A a Prieflju 
 
I7« 
 
 Antlchrifts growth wdprogrejfe. Chap.7, 
 
 chtt decline. 
 
 m-ufonde 
 
 Charlemagne- 
 
 
 Priefts,inter dieted Princes,and recciued appcales of Bifliops 
 and Priefts that were Canonically depofcd:of which dealing, 
 we fin ie many complaints made by learned and godly men 
 liuingatthat time, as of Hinemare Archbifhop of Rbemet, 
 zndLhitpert, Archbifhop of Alentz^wh others. After 
 him fuccecded other Popes, whofe continuall labour was to 
 itrangle the power of Kings (as Claudw Fanchet fpeaketh) 
 and that partly by occafion of their negligence in goucrn- 
 ment, and partly of the ignorance of their ownt rights and 
 ancient Canons, as may appeare in the anfwer otTketlgunt, 
 and GouthierJ&Sho^$ y recorded by Fanchet and others : a- 
 bout which time,Pope Adrian the fecond, thrcatned to ex- 
 communicate King Charles the Bald, if he did not render 
 Lorraine to the Emperour £.*»*/. Neither did thefc effects 
 of their power {hew thcinfeluesoncly in France faux, m E»g- 
 
 I land , Germany , Italy, and other Countries of Europe ; as is 
 manifeit in the ftories of thofe times : depofing Kings, tran- 
 dating Kingdomej, excommunicating all that any waies 
 . withstood their ambitious defigncs, and interdicting whole 
 Nations, as here £% gland in the time of King lohn , which 
 flood in that date of interdiction forthefpaccoffix yeetcs: 
 during all which time, no bels were rung, no diuine feruice 
 publikely vfed> no bodies buried in Chriftian fcpulture, no 
 
 i Sacraments p\iblikely admini&ed, nor any religious exer- , 
 cite elfe performed, but all carried thetacc of Paganifme, re- 
 ligion being vtterly banifhed, or at lead fo fmothcred> that 
 ;it could not appeare. At this timealfoitwas, that after the 
 declining ofthehoufe of Charlemaigne , the Popes grew to 
 that height, of not onely pride, but alfo impiety, that they 
 were efteemed no better then monllers, whom r Baromt4s is 
 conftramed to call Apoftaticks, and not Apoftolicks. Then 
 did that famous harlot Theodora y with her two daughters* 
 ■JMaroz*ia and Theodora ,tnakc Popes at their plcafure,euen 
 adulterous ruffians, which are not regiftred in the roll of 
 the Popes of ~B,ome % for any other caufc (2ls 'Baron im con- 
 feffcth) but to fill vp the fucceflion, and marke cut rjic time. 
 And thefc moufters created Priefts, and Deacons, and Car- 
 dinals, 
 
Chap.?- Anticbrijlsgrmth and progrejft. 
 
 179 
 
 dinals, like to themfelues.-fb that BaUhs had great reafon to 
 call the time of the fitting of thefe Popes, from lobn the 
 eight, till S theft er the fecond, the reigne of the great Whore. 
 And it may feeme, that the Author of the booke of Anti- 
 chrifl:, which is found in the ninth Tome of S. Auguftines 
 workes, aimed at the fame, when he defigneth the fleucaling 
 of Antichrift, to the time of the Empires tranflation from the 
 French vnto the G er manes \ And after thisalfo, when lobn 
 the 1 3. gaue the Emperiall Crowne, to Otboz. King of Ger- \ 
 m tny, and Prince of the Saxons, as it was before giuen to 
 Cbar/cmaigne y by Lto the third. This Otbj, tooke not on- 
 ly an oath of allegiance to the Pope, but alfo of protection of 
 him and his eftates,againft all the world. The oath is recor- 
 ded at large by Grntian t dtft. 6 3 . (tibi domtne) by the tenour 
 whereof, we may eaiily fee, how the Emperour receiued at 
 that time, the Character or markc of the fecond Bcait;and in 
 (lead thereof,yeelded vnto them their power and authority, 
 as it was foretold by S. lob*. So that it cannot be doubted, 
 bat that in the Church of %omc at thofe times fate the true 
 A ntichrift, in whom all the Prophecies were fulfilled, and 
 the manners of the great Whore pradhfed to the full : And 
 therefore in aCouncill held at $tfw<?/,not long aftcr,the Fa- 
 thers there aftembled, were not afraide to affix the title of 
 Antichrift vpon thofe Popes. 
 
 9. The lait and higheft period of Antichrifts reigne, is 
 yet behind, which began when hhn the 1 8 . or t 9- fucccf- 
 fbur ofSiluefter the fecond, depriuedthe people of Rome 01 
 all right of election of their Popes, which power they had 
 retained and exercifed all that time. For he tooke it from 
 them, and inucfted therewith the Priefts of Rome^hkh be- 
 gan then to be called by the name of Cardinals $ in which 
 forme ofelc&ion,it continucth till this day : and here began 
 the arme of his reigne, which grew a little bigger vnder Be- 
 nedttt the fcucnth, who by a Decree ordained, that none 
 might be called Emperour, but whom the Pope iTiould 
 chufe, and to whom he fhould prefertt the Impe riall figne, 
 (which was an Apple of gold, befet about with precious 
 
 Aai (tones, 
 
i8o 
 
 Antkhrifisgrcrz th andprogreffe. Chap.? 
 
 ftoncs, and a golden CrofTe on the top) fo that whereas be- 
 fore, the Pope was no Pope, except confirmed by the Em- 
 perour, now topfie-turuy, theEmperourisno Emperour 
 except confirmed by the Pope. But the top and top-gallant 
 of his reigne, was vndcr GV^r? the fcuenth, formerly caller! 
 Htldcbryind y who conucrtcd the whole fpirituall power of 
 the PaprJl Seaouer Churches, into a politickc Monarchy o- 
 uer eardily Principalities. 
 
 10. Out of all. which that hath bene aid, I may com- 
 mend vmo the Reader, three notable obferuations for the 
 confirmation of this truth. Firft, that not oncly ourtn> 
 dcrne writers, but alfo fach as were more ancient, lium° be- 
 fore the reformation of the Church, refcrre to this Gregory 
 the fcuenth, the higheft degree of Antichrifts reigne. 'For 
 Lollard who wrote vpon the Apocalyps, in the ycere 1357. 
 fetlcth the beginning of Antichrifts reigne (whom he pe- 
 re mptorily afrlrmeth to be the Pope, vpon the ycere 1033. 
 and with him agrecth Eberhardthc &iftiopo£ Salt zbwrg, in 
 the time or the Emperour Frederic^ : who in an Oration 
 which he made in an affembly ofthc Princes and Bifhops of 
 Germany , faith ; that Gregory the feucnth laide the firft foun- 
 dation of the Kingdoms of A ntichrift. Secondly, that at 
 this time, the hues of the Popes were fo filthy and abhomi- 
 mb'c, as it would yrkc any Chriftian heart to read fach 
 things as are written of them by their owne writers. Cat- 
 dinallSfcw* reprefenteth vnto our view, a map of fuch hor- 
 rible monfrers and incarnate diucls, lining at that time in the 
 Rcmaue Sea, as the earth ncuer bore the like. And of thi s 
 time, the A uthor of the booke called, Ftfiicultu ten,porum, 
 thusfpeakcth.y** effeminate time herein the Chriftia; faith 
 began grev'jtvfaile, md decline from it mafculiAevigctrr .for 
 then Stcr anient s, and EccleftaQkall Ceremonies jrtre not ob- 
 femed, bin the people gane themfe/ftes to Sotsthfli]ir;o-s^ en- 
 cha^ntment^and NfcrcmancyuiKd 04 were t he people ^ fo were 
 ;heFriefls : Then Popes murdered one another by poyfon, 
 rent Chriftcndome wit h Sch (fines, filled Churches with ab- 
 hominations, andKingdomcs with warres,maflacres, and 
 blood. 
 
Chap.^. 
 
 Antichrifisgrcwtli dndpngre(fe. 
 
 i8x 
 
 blood. Thirdly and iaftly, that at this time the pride of the I 
 RomancBilhops wasgrowne to iuchan excemuc height, 
 asisalmoft incredible : for they constrained Emperors and 
 Kings tokifle their fect,to hold their itirrop when they got 
 on horfebacke,to minister water vnto them for the wafting 
 of their hands when they went to meatc,to waitc for accefie 
 vntorhem at their gatcs^till it were their pleafureto admit 
 them to their prcfcncc; and finally ,ihey were not afhamed 
 to trample vpon their necks, as Alexander the third did to 
 the Emperor Frederick^ the firft,and tofct the Crowneon 
 their heads wkh one foot, andkicke it orr againe with the 
 other, with infinite other mo ft arrogant demeanors. All 
 which things laid togcther,doe exactly conclude, that euer 
 f.ncc Bofttface the third, theFopc hath becne the true and 
 grand AntichriM, albeit his tyrrany and pride encreafed by 
 degrees till Gregory the feuenth,whcn it was afcended to his 
 higheft period. 
 
 II. Thus wee hauefcenc Antichrifl: in his mans cftate, 
 that is, in the top of his Strength and pride; but then he be- 
 gan to decline and cccny, as a man vfethto doe after hee 
 isfifty©rthrccfcorcy:cresofage. This declining eftate of 
 the Man of finne began, when CM^rtin Luther, difpelling 
 the milts of Popery, preached the glorious Gofpcll oflc- 
 f is Chiilt to the worid,andeipccLiliy cleared the doclrinc 
 of Iultificaicn, which till then lay cloaked vndcr thevsile 
 ofSchokfticall difcinclions, and Monkifh deuotion. For 
 albeit there wanted not»in all Ages fome that oppefed them- 
 fclucs againft popifh tyranny and fupciitition. and difeer^ 
 ned and auouched that the Pope vv?s that Antichriil: : yet 
 noncofthemgaue him his deadly wound, till God itirrcd 
 vp Luther to bee the instrument of this mercy. For his 
 doctrine and preaching was no fooner fprcad abroad in 
 ■vorId,but it was entertained as finding knot new, but 
 gr " inded vpon the antiquity of holy Scripture and ancient 
 C unciils and Doctors. At this tune God alfj vailed vp 
 fuch a njT.ber of bright Starresjcarncd men in the Church, 
 as no Age euer faw the like: thefc did nqtonely refine from 
 A a 3 Monkifti 
 
x8i 
 
 Anticbrifls growth mAftpgreffc . Ch jp.7. 
 
 Monkifli barbarifmes, humane learning, but alfo gauc 
 great light and propagation vnto the truth, which had a 
 long time lyen clouded vnder ignorance and fuperftition. 
 And to hclpe for ward this great worke, not long before 
 this time ,the Famous Art of Printing was by Gods pro- 
 uidence found out, as it were of purpofe to divulge and 
 fpread abroad the molt excellent writings of famous men 
 thenliuing, which peraduenture otherwife had neucr come 
 to light. Now then all thefc meancs of Gods prouidence 
 working together,brought forth fuch an eftcc^that not one- 
 ly millions of people in all places, but alfo whole States 
 and Kingdomcs fpytog out the abominable errors of the 
 Romifh Harlot, fell away from the obedience of the Pope, 
 and embraced the truth of the GofpeIl,as is apparent at this 
 day in Germany, France, England, Denmark, Poland, and 
 almoft all parts of Europe. And this is that very fame which 
 was prophecyed of by Saint Paul, i.Theff. 2. 8. in moft 
 plamc termes, where it is faid, That the Lord fliould con- 
 fume Antichrift with the fpirit of his mouth : where by the 
 word (Con fume') is meant a declining and languishing fick- 
 nclTe that fhould fall vpon him, whereby h\s vital! parts and 
 powers fhould cuery day grow weaker and weaker, as it is 
 wrth fuch as arc in a confumption: and by the fpirit of 
 Ch rifts mouth, nothing clfebut the preaching of the Gof- 
 pcll, according to the opinion of moil Interpreters: and this 
 is the rcafon why of all men liuing.thcy moft hate god'y and 
 pamefull Preachers, becaufc they are the Trumpetters to 
 blow downe the walls of their lerieho. 
 
 1 i. Thus hath this Man of finnc beene in his wane and 
 declination,cuerfincc Lutbers time :but whether his old 
 and decrepit age be yet come Js hard to iudge : as alfo of the 
 timeandhourcofhis death. Thefe things wee muft leaue 
 vnto God, who onely knowcth the fecrcts of times and fea- 
 fons that arc to come : onely wee may thus fane iudge, that 
 as when we fee a man waxe gray -headed ,and declining ,w r ec 
 arc aflured old age and death are not far off: fo wc may al- 
 fo fafely iudge,coniidering the declining eftatc of this Man 
 
 of 
 
Chap.i. 
 
 The ImtgeoftheBeafl. 
 
 IS} 
 
 offinnc, that he is growing old and nccre to his deftruc\ion: 
 which finall deftrii&ion notwithfxanding,{liall not bee ac- 
 complished, till Chrift himfclfecome vnto iudgement,when 
 as the Apcftle fpeaketh, he fhall detfroy him by the bright- 
 neffeof hiscomniing,2.7&^ «.8. How ought we then to 
 wifti and long for that bieffed day ? 
 
 The Second Tart 
 
 CHAP.i. 
 Touching the Image eft be Beaff* 
 
 Xrft, dpoc4lyt)s i $.t 4.U is written by S. 7*/&»,that 
 the fecond bcaft fhould make an Image of the 
 firft,whichhad the wound by a Sword and did 
 liue; and that hec flhould hauc power to giue 
 life vnto this Image,and caufe it both to fpeake and to be 
 worfhipped. Which- words may be vnderftood either li- 
 terally,or morally, or myftkaily : but in which fenfe (bcuer 
 we take them,yet cuery way they fit the Pope, and demon- 
 ftrate him to be the true Antichrift, figured out by this ffc- 
 cond Beaft whereof Saint Uhn fpeaketh. 
 
 2. For if wee vndcrftand it as many of the PopiiTi wri- 
 ters doe, literaly, that this muft bee one of the miracles 
 of Antichrift, that hee {Ball giue life and fpcech to a dead 
 Image, which becaufe no Pope eucr did^ therefore hee 
 cannot bec Antichrift : lanfwcre/Jiat it is fatfe', that ncuer 
 any did fo : forelfe what meanethofe frequent motions, , 
 noddings, fweats, and weeping of Images, reported in 
 their Legends, and Marty rologics? At that great contro- 
 uer fie betwixt the Monkcs and married Pflrits, at the Sy- 
 nodezx Winchefter vnder Duff An, a Crucifix is faid to haue 
 thus fpoken in fauour of the Monks,againtT the Prkfts^ Non 
 
 
i$*4 
 
 The I mge ofthe Beaft. 
 
 Chap, i 
 
 , fief yttOH fiet Judicaftis benejnutaretis nsn bene ; Hon bene fen- 
 t turn qui pre s by ter is fittest ,that is, It {ball not bee y it (hall not 
 bee, you bane nidged weU,youfhsiU mt doe well to -change ; they 
 th'tnke illthttfauour the Priefts* It is written in the Romane 
 Breuiary in the Feaft of Saint Thomas, that when hce prayed 
 very earneftly before a Crucifix at Naples, this voice was 
 heard from the Crucifix : c Benefcripfifti de me Thoma, qnam 
 ergo mercedem acctpies ? Thou baft- written wdlofmee Tho 
 mas, what reward therefore wtlt thou receiue} Alfo in the 
 life and a£b ofHyacwthus, recorded by Seuerinm, we read; 
 that an Image of the Virgin (JPfary thus fpake vnto Hyacm- 
 thm flying from the Tartars. Ofilt Hyacinthi,eff9tgis manpts 
 Tartarorttm,& mecumfilio meo diffesaadam eft* conculcan- 
 data relinquish Accipe me igitur tecum x that is, O fonve Hj - 
 acinthus ,doefi thou flee from the hands of the Tartars, and 
 leaue mee with my Sonne to be cut inpeeces and trampled vp- 
 on by them ? Take me therefore wuh thee : and when he an- 
 fwered that her Image was fo bigge that he could not carry 
 it: itanfwered, Accipe,qnia allcuiabit pondm filttu metis t 
 
 ITake ne 3 for my Sonne will helpeto betre thy burden. Wee 
 finde alfo in Cefarins, another Image ofthe blcfled Virgin, 
 that in the behalfc of a Rencgatc that had denyed Chrift^and 
 humbled himfelfe before hcr,crauing pardon for his finne, 
 fpake thus vnto her Sonne in her armes ; Dulcffime fi V mi- 
 ferere iflim hominis : Sweet Sonne hatie mercy vfthis ira 1 : 
 which when he turning away his face denyed to doc, fhc 
 laide him vpon the AItar,and call her fclfe at his fect/aying, 
 Ego te precor mi flt,vt propter amor em met huic homini vc lu 
 ignofcere, I pray thee O my Sonne, for the lone of mee, to take 
 pitty of this man. Then the Sonne lifting vp his Mother, 
 faid, Nihil ego tibi pejfum dfveg^re M^tct mea,ecce ego om- 
 nia ei condeuo propter amor cm tat. Omy UWothtrJ can deny^ 
 thee nothing, behold, I forgine him a'! fir thy fake* The like 
 examples we findeof the Image ofthe bleflcd Virgin fpeak- 
 ing to the Porter of a Church, concerning Alex>u4;F\ic in- 
 trude hominem Dei. Let the man of God enter in : and to Saint 
 Bridget, m the Church of Saint P*/*/ in /?m<?, -and to Pope 
 
 Celcfline 
 
Chap. i. 
 
 The image of the Beaft, 
 
 rS 5 
 
 Ofc/tointhcChurcb of Saint Mary the EroprciTe, with a 
 number more. Now if thefc report's be true, as why may 
 not the deuiil tha: (according to their opinion ) caufed the 
 dead body of Samuel to fyczke, caufe alio a dead Image to 
 doe the Like ? or if they be falfe and counterfeit, deuifed by 
 iuperftidous Priclts ; yet howfocuer , they make a good ar- 
 gument againit them, that the Pcpe is Antichrift, who thus 
 giucth life and fpcech to dead Images. I omit that they 
 conilraine all their Diiciplcs to woriTiip ! mages, and con- 
 demnc and perfecute all them for Heretikcs that refufe this 
 ferine e. A nd albeit theft; Images cannot be faid to be por- 
 traitures of the Bealt,to w'njhe Romane State, ior this was 
 to erect an ougly imoge with feuen heads and cenhorncsjyet 
 may truly be called his Images, bothbecaufe they are 
 maSe in fauour of him, and heealfopcfTeifcth and caufeih 
 them to be adored, hs Lava* fie** g2 -and Micah 9 luJ.\%. 
 call the Images vdv.ch RabclznA the D amies had {tollcn 
 f om them, their Gods;bccaufe they made, worfjnppcd, and 
 
 pciTcfTedthem. 
 
 7. Thus liter ally may this prophecy rightly bee applycd 
 to the Pope: and as literally, fo may it morally, alio. Foras by 
 the Bealt is mfcntthe #*«*»'* Ernpire,fo the Image of that 
 beaft is nothing die but the rcprefentation of that Empire, 
 and this is notably verified in the Weftcrnc Empire ere &cd 
 by the Popes,firft in France ,and after in Cjtrmany. For as I- 
 m ges retaine the name,and a certaine outward fimilitude of 
 the prototypc,but arc vtterly void of the Nature and eflence 
 thereof: fothefe new Emperors of the Weft, bore the name 
 and title of the ancient Roman Empcrors,and were adorned 
 with Imperial] Ornaments and prerogatiues of honour, yet 
 wanted the power and Maielty of the ancient Empire, 
 wherein its life confifted. For the ancient Emperors ruled 
 oner Kww,and the Prou'irices fubie£t thereunto : butthefe 
 neither haue dominion oner Rome, noroucr any ancient 
 Prouince of the Empire : but are a bare title and name with- 
 out the thing. Now the Pope hath giuenafpiritvnto this 
 Image ,thatis,an Imperiall dignity and fpeech, that is, po 
 
 Bb 
 
 wer 
 
i8* 
 
 Ths Image of the Beafl m 
 
 Chap, i 
 
 wcrtomakc Lawesand Decrees, So that feeing die Pope 
 after the decay of the old Eafterne Empire was the erection 
 of this new in the Weft,crcating the fi lit Emperor, and in- 
 ftituting a Cclledge of Electors for the choifc of new in their 
 fucceflfion, and confirming the choi r c by his authority ; we 
 may defer uedly concludc,that he is the fecond 8eait,that is 
 Andchiift,which made an Image, and gaue life and fpeech 
 to the firft Bcaft. 
 
 4. An Ifo it is alfo morally fit and true: but if we take 
 it in a myfticall fenfe,then the Image of the 1'caft is the Pa- | 
 pacy it felfe/'fpecially fince it vfurped both the Spirituil and 
 Temporall Monarchy of the world. For the ancient Fm^c- 
 rors held an abfolutc and vniucrfall power ouerthe whole 
 world ; fo doth the Pope challenge vtito himfelfe the like 
 power and authority ouer all Creatures, yea more then c- 
 uer any Emperor did ; ouer the Angels in hcauen, Soules in 
 purgatory, and all men vpon earth : in regard of which tri- 
 partite Dominion, theyaffume vnto themfelues a Triple 
 Crowne. Neither need it feeme (Irange that the Papacy is 
 made and animated by the Pope as the Image of the firft 
 Bead, feeing he claimcth and vfurpeth to himfelfe both the 
 SwordSjSpiritual^andTemporalhand is not bnely the spi- 
 ritual!, but alfo the Temporal! Lord of the world. In which 
 I regard, ^or. 17. Antichrift is faid to bee both the fcucnth 
 King, and the eight: in refpecrof his tempoiall piwtr. 
 thecigh^andfo the image of the fixt,which was the Empe- 
 ror : but the feuenth in refpeclofhis Spiritual J Monarchy, 
 which giueth life vnto the Temporally and makcth it to 
 fpcake.and without the which,all his tcmporall power were 
 but a mute and brute Image. This truth, that the Papacy is 
 the liuely Image of the Romane Empire, is confeffed by the 
 moft part of the popifh Rabbies themfelues. Stenchm in 
 hisbooke r De donttis** Co*flantim y faith, As all Nations 
 once obeyed the Emperors,fo now they doe the Bifhop of 
 Rome, Blondpt* ItfmJnJlanc. Lib.^.n*. 2 6 callcth him a 
 perpctuall Di£htor,the fucccfTor not of fafkr, but of the 
 fifherman Teter, whom all the world adore and worfhip. 
 
 Hen. 
 
Chap. i. 
 
 The Image oft he Bea ft. 
 
 t8 7 
 
 Henry 3 fit !l:»gtr par d:\kxh them thus: As many of the Empe- 
 rorthidfuUtjjesfpowe'jAnd were worfoipped a* Gods> fo is 
 the Pop? as an earthly God taueftedrvi'.h plenitude ofpomr. 
 
 5. But ail ti lis will more clearely appeared wee fhall a 
 little compare the pride, power, and behauicur of Popes, 
 with that of ancient Emperors. And to begin with Auguftta 
 Citfdr: h:be(idesthelmperiail dignity, viiirpcd the foue- 
 raignity in religion,and was therefore (tiled Pomifex Maxi- 
 rn&nihc fame name vfurpeth the Pope,and not oiiely fo, but 
 as CdtguU proudly called himfelfe, Ctfiir Optimm maxi- 
 ma*: fohe r\\mfe\£z 3 Pontifexoptimi4s maximw,- the proper 
 ' epithe.es of the Diety. Domitian would thus bee fried, Dc^ 
 rktnm &Dem nofttr^Our L?rd Cjod\ the fame title is at- 
 tributed to the Pope, Dcmimt* Dew nofter Papa, Our Lord 
 God the Pope, Caligula his voice to his Grandmother Anto- 
 ma was this, Me/next mihi omnia licere, Remember that all 
 things are lawful! vno m: : and doth not the Pope challenge 
 the lame power? Wnatfoeuer he lifter, h is lawfull, though 
 in it felfe neuer fo vnlawfull j his reafon ftands for Law, arid 
 his Decrees all without examination are bound to obey. 
 Nero vaunted that the whole world was his, and that it was 
 in him to giueand take away Kingdomcs. And doth not 
 the Pope brag 2 that the world is his DiocefTe, and that hee 
 hath power oner Nations,to plant or pull vp Kingdomes at 
 his plcafure ? Caltfula and Maximinta the yonger, caufed 
 their feet to be kilted of their Saluters, and to that purpofe 
 Dwchfian decked his flnoes with Gold and Gems; the 
 Pope in like pride or greatei^caufeth not onely the common 
 people, but euen Kings and Emperors to khTe his fcete. 
 Claudius pardoned inceftuous marriages', and allowed the 
 Vnckle to many with his Neece : and the Pope likewife 
 difpenfeth with inceltuous Contracts condemned by the 
 Law of God and man. The Emperors afciibed into the ti- 
 tle and fpciety ofGods whom they lifted, as Adrian com- 
 manded AntinoHs his Ganimede to bee worfhipped as a 
 God : And what doth the Pope clfc, when he taketh vpon 
 him power to canonize dead Saints,and to infert them into 
 
 B b a the 
 
 Butttxger m 
 
183 
 
 The Image of the Beaft. 
 
 Chap. 
 
 M At. Paris in 
 Henrico- J- 
 
 Onuphrius in 
 
 Akxand.r. 
 
 the Calender tobeadored,togethcr with th:ir Images and 
 Relicks ? Caligula bragged, that nothingwas law and equi- 
 ty ,but that which came out of his mouth: and doth not the 
 Pope fay as' much, when he amrmeththat his Decrees are 
 vnquefhonable, and that all Lawes are fealed vp in the 
 do ice of his brcft } Vejpafian in louc of filthy lucre ray fed a 
 tribute our of Vrin;;and doth not the Pope the like out or 
 the S:cw -s? /Vm>,whcnhe conferred an office vpon any man 
 commanded him to wring out of mens purfcs,by the vei tue 
 of that officc,all chat they could to enrich his CcrYers,faying; 
 Scu quid mthioppu fit jhoc agamus nequu quicquam bobcat* 
 1 he fame raindc and maner poffeffeth the Pope, hce would 
 haue no man rich but himfelfe, fucking in like hell, the rcue- 
 nues of the world into his bottomlefle gulie, from whence 
 there is no redemption.-whereupon Maikew Taris was bold 
 thus to write,'^0tt?**/4 Curia inflar barathripotefiatem babe* 
 & confuetudinem omnium reditu* abforbendi. 1 1 was ordina- 
 ry with the heathen Emperors,to fell ciuill honours lor mo- 
 ney : and as ordinal y to the Pope,to fct to fale die dignities 
 of die Church. Simo-na ( faith the fame (JMathew i'arx ) 
 perinde regnat in Romano, Cttri* as fi nullum peccAtum ejfet. 
 The Roman e Emperon afcended often to the Imperiall 
 throne by murder and bloodfhcd : and is not this the beaten 
 path to the Papacy ? Ihldebrand (as teftifieth Benno) poy fo- 
 iled fix or feuen Popes in order by the helpe oiBra^utr^ his 
 familiar friend, that hce might feate himfelfe in the Papall. 
 Chairc. Nero and Ziefpafiav caufed thofc whom they law 
 togrowrich,eithertobc condemned to death vpon falfe 
 crimes,or to be poyfoned,or by fomc other violent courle to 
 betaken out of the way,that they might cnioy their wealth. 
 And thus dealt Alexander the (ixt with many wcakhy 
 Prieitsand Cardinajs,as witncfTcth Onuphriits. In fine, Ca- 
 ligula being offended with the Romanes, wifhed them alto- 
 gether to haue but one nccke, that at one blow he might dii- 
 patch them : and Martin the fecond being angry with the 
 C7*r#»«*?*.r,wifhcd that al Germany was but one great poolc, 
 that they might all bee drowned at once. Whatfliould I 
 
 fpeakc 
 
Chap. I . Ihelmxgt oftheBe.tft. 
 
 189 
 
 pcakcof the abhominable incefts, adulteries, Sodomitries, f 
 and filthy luxuries, wherein the Beaft and his Image the Pa- 
 pacy, do anfwer each other ? Do not the Chriftian, or rather 
 Antichriftian, Ztfaffis, Inlaws, hhns % Bonifaces, and 
 Paules, imitate the Heathen Neroes, Ttbsri^es, CaligttUes, 
 and Hcltog?balu[fes y in ali their foule vices ? It would be te- 
 dious to profccuteall :thefefor inftances may fuffice, to 
 teach vs\\ hither this image of the Beaft is to be referred, 
 and that the Pope is the great Antichrift, in whom all the li- 
 neaments of the old Romane Empire areliuely drawne, 
 and the very face thereof cxprcfTed inliuely colours. 
 
 6. For the clearing of this point, it is further to be ob- 
 fjmed, that S. hhn faith, that the fecond Beaft fhould exer- 
 cr*e the power of the firft in his prefence, and caufe the earth 
 an] them that dwell therein, to worfliip the firlt Beaft, 
 whofedeadly wound was healed, Apoc. 13. 12. Which pro- 
 phecy is fo clearly accomplifhed in the Pope of Rome, that 
 no man that h ith but common reafon can doubt thereof. For 
 what is the po .vcr of the firlt Beaft,but the'Maiefty and A u- 
 thority of the Romane Empire, reduced into the hands of the 
 Romane Bifhop, with fuch fubtilty and craft, that the Etn- 
 perou s were per fwaded by them, that they went about on- 
 ly to aduance their dignity, wheninthemeane while they 
 wrought nothing but their deftruction,leauingthemabody 
 without life, or rather a fhadow in ftead of a body ? So that 
 if we regard the thing it fclfc, the Papacy and the Empire, is 
 one and the fame in cffc& But if we confidcr the outward 
 failiion and appearance, the Pope to blind mens cics, hath 
 changed tire name, and vndcr pretence of his double power, 
 vfurped a Soucraigne authority ouer the whole world. The 
 power then of the firft Beaft, which Antichrift fhould excr- 
 cife,is oncly this ; that as theRomane Emperours challenged 
 a Soucraig'nty ouerall the Prouinccs and Kingdomes otthe 
 earth : SothcPopcs in like pride, vaunt of the like power o- 
 ucr all Kingdomes to appertaine vnto them : which how fit- 
 ly it may be called the Image of the Beaft, let all men iudge. 
 For proofe of all this, let vs heare one of their owne Aduo- 
 
 B b 3 cates, 
 
192 
 
 The /mage of the Bea/l. 
 
 Cb 
 
 ' cats , j4 h"pi[1 in tu Stench us, in his books dedorra*. Conflw- 
 \ tint In 'one place whereof he faith, that the Matcfty of the 
 | Romane Empire, was reuiued in the Papacy, which though 
 : ; : was not attained to the fame greatneffe, yet it retained a 
 • certaine forme (or if you will image) thereof : and this he 
 j would deriuc from the donation oiConftantinty who ( as he 
 affirrmth) quitting Rome, gaue it and ail the Weft, to a grea- 
 ter Prince then himielfe,the Pope.For the Emperour of holy 
 things, is greater then the Emperour of earthly. And in an- 
 other place, to fhew that this fecond B rait the Papccy , cau- 
 fed the firft to be worfhipped and adored, he faith that by 
 this donation offonjla nine, the Empire was not impaired, 
 but augmented and ennobled : for it reuiued the power and 
 language thereof, which were quite both defaced, and gaue 
 new life vnto it, w r hen it was weil-neere dead.: yea whereas 
 before it was onely a temporall dominion, now itinuefted it 
 with both fwords, aud fo the Papacy fupported the Empire, 
 which was ready to fall, and made it againe famous through 
 the whole world. And as touching the deadly wound of 
 the firft Bcaft, which S. John faith was healed : feme arc of 
 opinion, that this Prophecy was then fulfilled, when as the 
 line of the Ctfars w r as cut off by the death of Afcro, and the 
 Empire tranflatcd to another ftocke, which healed the 
 wound thercof,and made the eftate more flour idling, then 
 euer it had bene before. But I thinke rather by it to be 
 meant, the banifhing of the Emperours out of the Weft, 
 which was the wound, andere&ing a new Empire in (read 
 thereof, which was as it were the healing of the wound : and 
 all this brought to pafTc, by the power and meanes of the 
 Pope, who'c eftate is the fecond Beaft, and beareth the 
 
 image of the firft. 
 
 CHAP, 
 
Chnp. 2. Obfcrmtiom vfon Apoc.x } % verfe. 1 1 . 
 
 \g-i 
 
 CKAP.2. 
 Obfervathns vpw the thirteenth Chapter of the RefkUtisn 
 . ofS. lohn^ verfe eleuenth. 
 
 I . C Aint loh» y Apoc. I 3 . i x . faith, That he piw in thejpi- 
 O rtt Another Be aft, comming vp cut of the earth, hamng 
 tvP6 homes like a Lambed >:t ff enk^ng ai a Dragon. In which 
 words,the Spirit fo God dothreuealc vntp vs by certaine 
 circumftances,a notable dcfcription of Antichrift,who is inti 
 mated vnto vs by this fecond Beaft. Fcr by thofc two Beafts 
 mentioned in this Chapter, is figured out the double Em- 
 pire of the mod: cruell tyrants and perfecutors of the Church 
 of Chrift, fitting and reigning in one and the fame City, fpi- 
 rituall Babylon : as the foure Monarchies rcprefented by Da~ 
 »/>/, reigned fucccffiuely in the C aide an Babylon,v.hich was 
 a type of this. So that as the firft Bead, rcprefented the State 
 and dominion of the Romanc Emperours, fo the fecond 
 without doubt, demonitrated the Papall Empire, wherein 
 Antichrift was to reigne. This 1 fay , will moil euidently ap- 
 peare, if we fhall aduifediy confider three notable circum- 
 ftances oft'iis Text. 
 
 2. The firft circumfhiice is,of the time when this Beaft ap- 
 peared, to wit, after a great confufion of the City ofRjme by 
 bloody wars:for in the tenth verfimniediatcly going before, 
 i: is faid, Fie that leadeih intocapt'tuityfialbe ledinta captixtty, 
 dndht ihx: k:!!e;b-x;:h thcfwordjnufl be^'ed with the f&ord: 
 and then prefently S. Ichn addeth ; I fa* another 3 eafi riftng 
 out of the earth. By which it is plaine, that when the City of 
 Rome was reduced into that mifery, that there was nothing 
 in it, but rnurther,b!oodmed, and confufion, then was the. 
 time of Antichnfts appearance. Now there is no man fo ig- 
 norant in hiftory, thac knoweth not how the Empire and 
 City ofTtpvte, was hareffed and fpoiledby the barbarous 
 CotbesmdFarM/s, and other Nations, infomuch that it 
 was almoft brought to vttcr defolation, cfpecially in the 
 
 Weft : 
 
) 19 
 
 Obferuations vpon Apoc. 1 3 # verfe 1 1. Chap. 2 
 
 Weft : and how prefently after thefe broyles, the City of 
 Rome fell into the hands of the Pope, the whole dignity of 
 thcRomanc name, fetling it felfe in him. For though there 
 is at this day a Prince that beareth the name of the K ing o( 
 the Romanes, oiEmperour of Rome ; yet he hath no com- 
 mand in Rome . it is the Pope onely that ruieth in that City. 
 
 3. Secondly, itisfaid, that this Beaft arofc out of the 
 earth, that is, from a bafc and low eftatc, and from fmall be- 
 ginnings, and as it were out of the duft, exalting it fclfc by 
 degrees vnto thft height : which circumftancc alfo fittcth the 
 Pope to an haire. For at the firft, the condition of the Bi- 
 fhops of Rome,v,'$s humble and bafe, vnlike in mans iudgc- 
 menteuerto afcend to that grcatnclTc, which it after came 
 vnto. They were poore men, liumg by the labour of their 
 hands,and eating their bread from the fwcat of their browes; 
 S. Peter himfclfe, whom they falfly brag to haue bene Bi- 
 fhop of Rgme y was a poore fiflierman, wanting money to 
 pay the ordinary tribute to Ctfar, tillChrift iupplyeditby 
 a miracle : And jitts. 3.6. confeffcth ofhimielfc, Stlner ar.d 
 Gold he had none : h nd the firft Bifhops of %ome y till Cen- 
 ftmt'tnes time, as Mantuan vnder the pcrfon ofTe/efpbertu, 
 that liued.-<4tf. i42.reporteth,gaue thcmfelucs to ploughing 
 the earth, planting of Oichards,making of Gardens, digging 
 and dcriuing of Riuers, with many other fuch like manuall 
 cxercifes to keepe them from idlencffe. Afatttzans verfes 
 are worth the reading, touching this fubiedt. But bcfides 
 this, he that (hall looke but fomewhat neerely into the man- 
 ners of the Popes, fhall cafily difecrne, that the Papall po- 
 wer is mcerly earthly,little fauouring ofheauen and hcaueniy 
 things. For what creeled the Papacy, but the ambition of 
 earthly men > The Ancient Councils declare, that the true 
 caufc of the Papall primacy oucr other Bifliops, wasneucr 
 the commandement of Chrift, nor the holinefTe of thofc Bi- 
 fliops, but only the prerogatiuc of the Impcriall City where- 
 in they fate. Hence they obtained the firft degree of honour 
 and dignity amongft other bifhops ; as afterwards the Bi- 
 fliops otConftnritwople obtained the next or equal! prehemi- 
 
 oence. 
 
Chap, j, Obftruztions vpon Apoc % i$*verfe. 1 1 . 
 
 nence, byreafon that th^t City was made the feateof the 
 Empire, being tranflated thither by Cor.ftantine. This is ma- 
 n^iily to be tccne in the firft Council! of Conftantwopte, and 
 in the 2 - .Canon of the Councill ofCvjJcedon : and is con- 
 fefTedby Cardinall CufaKtu, in his fir ft booke of the Catho- 
 iickc Concordance, Chip. 16". His words are thefe, If the 
 primacy effcates might be demonftratea by the boimsffe of him 
 tb& firft frefidtd, or by the reverence oftheflace^dotebtlejfe Ie- 
 rufilem- jbouldbe the firft , becaufe the? e our great high-Priefi 
 lefm Cbrtft wrfhedhis Cbarch mthhu blood, A dde here- 
 unto, that prefently after Antichrift began toreignein the 
 Romane featc, there came in a rabble of Biihops, borne of 
 io bale parentage, and more vile in condition, that they dc- 
 ferued tri called the fonnes of the earth : as lobn the 
 
 eleucnth, : Pope Sergine % and the Harlot M^roz.ia : 
 
 Ht'debra joyj the fe u :nth , was the fonnc of a Car- 
 
 penter : Vrkave the fourth,of a Cobkr in Campania : and fo 
 alio, Ithn the 22. or the 2 3. as Platina numbrcth him: 
 Sennet the cleucnth, of a poore Laundreffe : TSennet the 
 twelfth^ofa Paiierer or Cooke : Sixtm the firft, of a Swine- 
 heard, with diuers others,whkh are to be found in the Ca- 
 talogue of the Popes. And thefe, behdes their bafeoft- 
 fpring, were infamous for bad conditions, as Hiitories re- 
 port of them : and that which is moil: ftrange, none were e- 
 quall to them in pride and arrogance, none To much eleuated 
 themfelucsabouc Kings and Princes. Ht'debrand depofed 
 the Emperour Henry the fourth, and thruit into his place 
 (though with ill fucceffe) Rodu'ph otSabaudta. lobn the 2? . 
 excommunicated Lewes of TSauariafoi taking vpon him the 
 name and title of Emperour,beforehe was crowned of him, 
 though lawfully elected : AndS/.vrwthe fift, excommuni- 
 cated the Prince ofConde, and the King of Navarre ', decla- 
 ring them by his Bull vtterly vncapeable for eu:r of the 
 Kingdome of Fr4«<v, And thus euety way, this lecond 
 Bcaft, may be laid to rife out of the earth, if we take the 
 words not in a litcrall, but in a fpirituall vndcrftanding,a$ 
 they ought to be. 
 
 Cc 4. The 
 
 I?? 
 
 J 
 
IP4 
 
 »^— — — — « « » ■ ■ i ill.,,, «> 
 
 Obftr nation svpon Jpcc.iliverfe, \ r. Ch3p,2 
 
 4. The third circumfhncc is. That this *B soft had two 
 homes !tk» vnto a Lambe, but (pake Itke the Drao^ov. That is 
 in general! thus : that Antkhrift fhall be a Lambc in appea- 
 rance, pretending humility, mildnefle, and courtcik ; but 
 what niew fo euer he maketh, yet his voyce is like the Dra- 
 gons, that gauc his power and throne to the fiift Beaft • by 
 which voycc,not withstanding his diilembling,hedifcouercth 
 himfclfetobe the great enemy vnto Chrilt. This interpre- 
 tation is cnteitaincdbythelefuitcs, Rtbera 9 and Viegm y 
 writing vpon this very Text of the Apocalyps. By thefe 
 hornes,faith Rtbera, arc not meant Kings or Kingly power, 
 whkl*flieweth it felfc openly, Hut a certains fecret axdfub- 
 tile power lurking ix foreet words , fauouring of not king but hu- 
 mility and holtvefe, but by the which notwithfiandtn^ he pro- 
 duced wonder fuli andfiraxge effeftsidndto (hew that This is no 
 violent power , therefore they arefaidto be /% to the homes of 
 a Lambe, which are not ftraight and pointed, but crooked and 
 tender y vnfit to da[h withall. Thus Rwzra. But ViegM more 
 plainly, when he faith : That this c Bcafifloalihane two homes 
 like vnto a Lamhc> becaufe he /hall m*\c frew to be mentis and 
 innocent : but becaufe thu gentlenefe andinnocency fiaflvctbe 
 true hut counterfeit, therefore he isfaidnot to haue the homes 
 of a Lambe i but like vnto a Lambeuvdhe is foid tojpealcel'ke 
 the^ragonybecaufe vvder his words \ which fesms to proceed 
 from zeale of the truth , Midden the verjpijfon of the dragon. 
 By which interpretation the hypocrifie of Antichrift is nota- 
 bly fet forth ; which S. Paul cals the myftery of in iqiiifr 
 the holy Ghoft^fo faith, that the word XJ^4yfiery i O^xldbe 
 written w the whore of Baby Ions forehead: All to fignifie,that 
 his proceedings fhould not be by open force, but by fecret 
 and myiticall ftratagems. Now this doth fo properly 
 marke outthePope of Rome, as that it fo agrceth to him, 
 that it cannot fo fully be verified of any other. For doth he 
 not vnder the title of, 7 heferuant of the feruants of 'God , co- 
 uer his power of being Lord of Lords ? He callcth himfelfc 
 the fucceffout of Simon Peter, and yet in clofccouctoulucffc, 
 refcmblcth Simon CWagtu : hebraggeth of the Kcyes of. 
 
 heaucn. 
 
^ I """ ■ • ■■■■■■■ ' ■ ■■ I II m l 
 
 Chap, I. Obfermtions vpon A foe. 1 3 .verfe. 1 r , 
 
 l 95 
 
 hcauen, and yet may draw with him (as thcmfelues write) 
 troopes of foules to hell without Controlhfttot . He hath no- 
 thing in his mouth, but the names of S. Peter , and S. />«»/, 
 euen then when he tramplcth Kings vnder -his feet, and trea- 
 dethon their necks : his tcmporall reuenucs arc called S. 
 Peters Patrimony ; he exac/teth homage of the Kings of the 
 earth in the name of S. Peter ; he excommunicateth, profcri- 
 beth, and dcthroneth thcm,ali vnder this venerable name : he 
 fiHcth his trcafures, enrichcthhis Whores, and aduanceth 
 his Nephewcs and kindrcd,by S.Peters pence : Indulgences, 
 and pretence of rccoucring the holy-Land, and of defending 
 bertyof the Church : he Ipeakcs fcarcc three words, but 
 he rcpeates this fentence of the Gofpcll, Thbtt art Peter, and 
 to thee i giic the Keyes of the kjngdome of heaven : and that 
 nothing may be wantingto procure himfelfe reucrencc, he 
 rrilcs himfelfe an Apoftlc, and his Decrees Apoftolicall or- 
 dinances : Thus vnder ipecious titles and names, he glideth 
 into mens hearts the venom of the pragon. He cftabliflieth 
 idolatry by the worshipping of images, and yet with his 
 mouth dcteftcth Idols : he Axettbctn<*tiz,nh Hcreticks, as 
 Afarciottj Mont aims ^Pclagms , and yctdecketh his religion 
 with the flowers of their hcrefies : he dares not vttcrly deny 
 the efficacy of Chiifts blood, and yet he annihilates it, by 
 conferring it vpon holy Graines, Crucifixes, Agnus Dei*, 
 holy-water, whips,Monkcs Coulcs, &c. as if he had po- 
 wer to infufc grace into mens foules by fuch fopperies. In a 
 word, \\z commondcth the Saints in heauen to be worship- 
 ped & inuocatcd as God himfelfe,giuing to them the honour 
 which is due vnto Chrilt, in feeking remiiTion of finnes, and 
 the kingdomc of heauen by their merit: and. yet as if all were 
 well, their praiers mult behnifhed with this concluflon, Per 
 Dominttm nofirum Iefum Chriftum .• By car Lord Iefus 
 Chrifl. So it were rnifcrable blindncflc, to fecke any w here 
 elfe for the Bcait, that hath two homes like a Lambe, and 
 fpeakech as die Dragon, but in the Romane fcate. 
 
 5 . But there be fomc of the learned, that interpret this 
 circumftanceof the two homes other wife, to wit, for a dou- 
 
 Cc2 ble 
 
\$6 
 
 Obferuations vpon Apoc. i^.verfe 1 1. Chap. 2 
 
 i ble power, which this Man of Sinne fhould challenge vnto 
 himfeife; Ciuill, and Spirituall : which interpretation's it a- 
 greeth vnto Antichrift in generally fo doth it alfo vxto the 
 Pope in particular,- to demonftrate,that he is that Antichrift 
 here fpoken of. To Antichrift /or the name of the faife Pro- 
 phet, which importeth a fpirituall dignity, is giuen vnto him 
 of S. lohn, •Apoc. 1 <f . 13. and as this, fo he is reprefented, | 
 Apoc. 17. 1 8. and ^.7. as a King armed with ciuill power 
 and authority. For the Whore is faidc to rcignc ouer the 
 Kings of the carth,andthe fecond Bedft to cxerci-e the po- 
 wer of thcfirit:& flic her felfe in the pride of her hcart,vaun~ t 
 tcth to fit like a Quecne : So that as the Empcrours c?Rome 9 
 were called not only Kings, but High-Priefb: fo Antichrift 
 is defcribed as inuefted with both the titles. And it agrccth 
 to the Pope alfo : for he fo apparantly vfurpcth boththelc 
 powers,that he bothboafteth of them in hisDccrecs,and his 
 Fauourites alfo afenbe the fame vnto Wim.Bowface the eighty 
 in the extrauaganc^^^^f. et obedient. C. vnam S anil am \ 
 proucth this to be true in plaine tearmes : for he faith, That in 
 this p&wer(to wit efrhe Popes') there Are two (words y the fpiritu- 
 all^ and the temporall : and rve are infiruBed he re *w(iaith he) by 
 he words of the Cjcfpell : for when the Apofl/cs faid, "Behold 
 twofwords, oftr Sammr Chrifl doth not anfaere, Thcfe are too 
 much, bntjt is enough : and certainly he that denkth that the 
 emporallfword, is not in thep&wer ofS. c Peter y &6th not well 
 conftder the words of Chrifl* p-yin^^ptst thy fieord into thy 
 (heath. Nicholas the third afrirmcth, that the Pope rightful- 
 ly poffefTcd both "Monarchies ;]]>/ritH(ill t and temporal!. And 
 theAuthour of the booke intitlcd, Of the gouernment of 
 Princes , amongft the opufculaof AquinM, auerreth directly. 
 That the Pope is both King and Priefl oa our Lerdlefiu 
 Chrifl. Bellarmixe alfo that '(hewed more modefty and dif- 
 cretioninthis caufethenhis fellowes, though hcatHrmeth 
 that the Pope hath this Soucraignc temporall power, but 
 indirectly in order to fpirituall ends, yet he faith,thafthe can 
 change kmgdomes, by takiug them from one, andgiuing 
 them to another. And if the Ancient Chrifliam did not vfe 
 
 this 
 
 C.fun'jUmenta 
 /xbxtoM £- 
 Jca.ct El?#. 
 pot e (I *te. 
 jiijum.de Re- 
 fimlnepr'lvctp* 
 lib.S.cap.19. 
 Bet, a-- Rem- 
 Vo tMb. 3 .cap. 
 
Chap.2." Obfer tuitionr vpon Apod 1 .wrfe. 1 1 . __2 21 
 
 this their authority agahft the ptrfecntmg Emf Mrs, ttwas 
 b-caufe they h-idnot temporal forces to bring it topafe, though 
 they Ld rilbt to doe it. And thus both the Swords are vfur- 
 pedbytheV>pc,reprefentcd;accordingto this intctpretati- 
 on,the two homes like vnto the Lambc. 
 
 6 But it is to be notcd,that that noucll opinion or theie 
 AntichriftianPrclates 3 was in ancienter times either ncucr 
 heard of,or vtterly condemned and confuted. Not to re- 
 member Saint Chryfifiame^mMgU^Sm Ambrvfe 
 and Saint Gw^with other of the Fathers, who were all 
 aeainit this temporal! Sword of Bifhops; wee findc many 
 holy menofiater time moft carncft oppugneis thereoh as 
 firit Vetrm Damtanns,* man famous in then Church lor his 
 hoIincirc,who liucd about theyecre of Grace,i050.as!S^ 
 r,nm confcffeth. This man, in an Epiftle written agamft 
 Pope Leo the ninth,who was then marines agamft the Nor- 
 w **«,thus writeth in effetf : The Terrene ktngdome And the 
 pricft hood are dtft signified h proper opes : the Kwgvjetb 
 fecuUr armes.and the Priefi is girt with a ffiritmll Sword, 
 which is the wordof God : It u ofthefectdar Prince that S^t 
 Paulfatth,hebe,trethnot th* Sword in VAi»e,**dofthePrteJt- 
 booifhtt the weapons of their warfare are not carnattbtttfttrt- 
 tmll : and therefore,* when King Ova* vfmfeAtbe Prtelttj 
 Office he was cowed with a leporoftejo when the Prtejt vjxr- 
 pet hi he office of the Kingfr cannot efcapc Gods vengeancewxth 
 much more to the fame purpofc. For which caufc,2<*nww s^m^Jj* 
 for all his holineiTe,taxcth him to haue maintained a doftrmc 
 in this point,contrary to the Catholikc faith : andproduceth 
 aga : nft him Saint "Bernard, Pope Gregory the ninth, and 
 font face the eight : who all afciibe this double power to the 
 Pone vpon the ground of thofe words of Chrift, Put vp thy 
 Swordtntothyfieath : Butbyhisleaue,more credit is to be 
 aiuento D4»m»i« then to himfelfe,or any of thole whom 
 heealiedgcth. ^ov'Vamianus proucth his affevtion by the 
 diuine teftimony of holy Scripture^ hce oncly by the hu- 
 mane teftimony offyrvard, Gregory, and *Bonif*ce. For 
 as for thofc paffaaesof the Gofpell, 'Beholdwo Swords, and 
 \ C c 3 * I 
 
' '** Obferm tions vpon Apoc^. verfe 1 r. Chap. 2. 
 
 BettarJe Ron. \ {*. U l*°*g h > and Pfit *P thy [word into thy (heath, Bellarmine 
 *$»f*-t*.T. himfclfc, and zMaldonate, confefle that no fuch thins 
 £%£Z can bcc literally concluded. Liflcn to Saint Ambrofc 
 who faith, that by the two Swords arc meant the Old and 
 New Tcftament, with which vvee arc warded ao*i»ft 
 the ambnjhes of Sathan: and by {It u enough) that hee 
 vvanteth nothing that is fnmijhcd with the doclrme of 
 bothtbeTeftaments. Bcbd^DatxUw was more ancient 
 then either Saint 'Bernard or the others oppofed by 'Barbni- 
 w,aiid according to Ariflotlesx^t^^^^^T^^X fe- 
 conded by Tcrtu&ian, ^miefuiftmum quodque vcrifftfoum, 
 that which is more ancient is more feuercnt and true. For 
 DAmiaws wrote this Epiftle in the yeere t 05 ^.and Saint 
 £'™Wfcnt this Bookes of confederation to Pope Zvgenms 
 the third, in the yeere 11 j 2 . tha:is,vpon the point of an 
 hundred yeercs after : and as for Gregory the ninth, and *Bc- 
 ntface the cight,they were yet later ; the one elected in the 
 yeere 11 2 7. an } the other in the yeere 1 2 P4.Addc hereunto 
 the differences of their perfons: Damianm was as famous 
 tor hisholmeffc as cucr Saint Bernard ws; and for the two 
 Popes they arc marked out for their dctcftable ambition the 
 onc*g*milFredericke the fecond,and the other againft pfe/. 
 tythcFaire,Kingof France; and therefore fuch witneftes 
 as dcierue no credit, especially in their ownccaufe. Laftly 
 we may oppofe Saint Bernard to Saint 'Be+natd, who more 
 fully and plain ely dcclareth his minde in another placeofthe 
 fame booke, where he proueth out of Saint P^r, 1. ep>ft. 
 ^.5.andoftheGofpcllof/:%,22.25. that that Pric ft or 
 J bifliop which taketh vpon him the power of the Temporal! 
 Sword,doth there withallloofe the Spiritual I it felfe : the 
 place is remarkable and worth the noting. But was this man 
 alone for this defence? No,there fuccecded him diucrs o- 
 thers^who fet themfclues as bul warkes againft this vfurpati- 
 on : as the Author of the booke intituled Devnstate ecelefa 
 co»fint4»da y mtibutcd to Venerictu oiVerfelles, in the time 
 of the Emperor Henry the fourth. A gaine, an Epiftle of the 
 Clergy otLieges written to Pope Pafcbalt the Cccond : Otto 
 Trt/in- 
 
Ch ap. 3 . Witneffes to rife ngainjl Antichrift* 
 
 199 
 
 Friftfigenfis in prologo. ltb.%. Chromcotum, about the ycere 
 1 1 50. r /)4»tes the Jtalun Poet, Marfilitt* Patauimu, and 
 others : all of whom conclude ftronglyagainftthcternporall 
 power ofPopes,faying, that as the Prince may not meddle 
 with the SpirituallSword 3 fo"neithcr may the Prieft with the 
 Temporal! : but that there is a diitincl order fet by God be- 
 twixt thefetwo great powers which mult not be confbun- 
 dcd.Thus it is clearc^that this afcription of a double power to 
 the Pope, which we fay is the marke of Antichii(t,was con- 
 demned, and reicckd long agoejand therefore that it is 
 no nouell doctrine now in thefc dayes, to fet our felucs a 
 gainit it. 
 
 CHAP.3. 
 Toptckixgthetwowitne(fes that (hoald rifcvP tigAwfi Anti~ 
 chrift^poc.l 1.2. 
 
 i .TO SHarmine and other of that crew produce this as a de- 
 ll? monftration w proue that Anticbriit is not yet come, 
 becaufe Enoch and E(Us hauenotyct appcarcd,who fhould 
 ftandvp to fight againft him, not with corporallbut with 
 fpirituall weapons : which fable defcrues ta be entertained 
 rather withfeofifes and hifles,the« to be confuted by ferious 
 reafons. Hyhow much the morel wonder at their impa- 
 dency or blindncffe,that fhould obtrude that for a demon- 
 ftration, which hath not fo much 3s the lcaft probjtbility of 
 reafoH : for as this clreamc hath no ground in holy Scripture, 
 as may cafiiy appear e by the folk! anfwercs giuen by this Au- 
 thor to thofe arguments which are deriued from thence ; (o 
 the opinions of the ancient Fathers avefo difcordant bc- 
 tweene theinielnes, and -fa variable and enterfcring. with 
 each other, that no man. of found judgement w;ju\dcriue a 
 dcmonftratiori from them., jtisfm opinion pf JrcxaMythtt 
 Antichrift fhould defcend out of the tribe of Dan, which 
 notwithstanding Bellarmine rciecleth as erronious,and why , 
 fliould he then clcaue to this dcul e of Enoch and £//**,; 
 
 which 
 
200 Witneffes t$ rife again]} Antichrsjl. Civ p.? 
 
 [ which hath fare nogreater,yeaeucn lcflcr reafon ink then 
 theforncr. 
 
 2. The ground of this conceit is out of, Apoc. i r. 2. 
 where it is faid,thatthe holy City fhould b? troden yndcjt 
 footc by the Gentiles two arid forty moneths : at whjcfa 
 time,Chrift promiteth,that he will giue power to his two 
 witneifes to prophecy, 1 260. dales. And that their teftimo-. 
 ny being cnded,thcy fhould be flaine by the Beaft,their dead 
 bodies lying in the ftreets of the gtcat City, and that 
 after three daies and an halfe, the (pirit of life Should enter 
 into them againe : and by thatrmracle,thc lewes fhould be 
 conuerted. Hence was that fable framed, that the lewes 
 vnderthccondudtofAntichriftjiliouIdpoilcilcthc City of 
 lerufdem^ad that thofc two witneffes which fhould ri.e vp 
 againft him, were Enoch and£7W,who were for this purpofc 
 refertied ahue in Paradife,to come againe in the end of the 
 world,to oppofe againit Antichriit;and at laft after their re- 
 fiu*rc6\ionfliouidouercomehimih Mount OZ;Wf,and then 
 Hue and i forty daies interceding, fhould bee the fecond 
 commingof Chrift. This is the fable which hangs fo ill 
 together,as no man can belceue itwithout hazard of his wits. 
 For firft,how can it be that by thefe two witneiies fhould be 
 precifely vnderftoodtwo men,and no more,feeing it is faid 
 in the ninth vcrfe, That people, and kindreds y and tongues ^and 
 Gentiles (houid fee their corpjes three dates avd An halfe , 
 were of all Nations and people of the world gathered toge- 
 ther at lerufalem to fee this fpectacle ? And againe iu the 
 tenth verfe it is faid. That thefe two Prophets vexed them 
 that dwelt vpon earth: and is it likely that two were enough 
 to trouble the whole world w r ith their preaching, and to 
 tufne them into this rage and fury ? B efidcs,how could the 
 report of their death be divulged in the world in three daics 
 and an halfc,that it fhould reioyce at their deftrue'tion ? 
 
 3. Secondly, fuppofe that by thefe two witneffes are 
 meant two men precifely: how will they p'rouc by any rca- 
 fon, that Enoch and 81$ as fhould bee thefe two ? The 
 Scripture fpeakes nothing of them to this purpofe, as is fuffi- 
 
 cicntly 
 
Chap. 3 . WHmffts to rrfe ngtinft Antkhvift. 
 
 cientiy prouf dbythc Author of ibis Treatife: nay, lis flat 
 again!* it/or tfr£.i i.~.!t isfaid,that Krorh was tranilated 
 thathc might not fee dcath,andyetthcfe feliowesina plaine 
 contradiction , will haue htm to dye,and to life againe : and fo 
 whereas the Scripture faith,that he was tranflatcd that hce 
 might not fee death, they on the contrary alfirme, that hee 
 was tranflate d that in the end of the world hee might fee 
 death. And though the Scripture doth not affirme the ame 
 of £V*cr,yet why fhould we not thinkc the fame condition to 
 belong co him,6eing they are both fe forth to vs as types of 
 Chrift } and as patternes of our immortality, one in the time 
 ofNature,and the other inthat time of the Law ? Neither 
 can it with any re ifod be imagined that being thus tranfla- 
 jcdftifl mortaif bodies, but rather that they 
 were changed into immortality.as they {hall be that furuiue 
 atChrjfts comming. As touching the Fathers, they are fo 
 much this opinioivhot it is folly to ground vp- 
 
 porfieircomc^Mresj fom: faying, thatby thefctwo wife 
 aeffes are meantthe Old and New Ted unent which is Saint 
 Ai^-ifitnes opinion, and is both godly and probable : fomc, 
 thtftvMO Churches of the Law and the Gofpell, as Beda: 
 fome Eliu and tlt^HA : other I It as and Mofes : others E - 
 noch and hremy ; ethers adde co thefc two, Iohn the Euan- 
 gelirt, which both Aretbat znd Theothil-ii affirme, was the 
 opin.onofmany in their time : others the Church and the 
 Scripture, which are both double, the partictdar Church of 
 thei"cwes,andthe Catholike of Icwes and Gentiles,and the. 
 Scripture of the Oid and New Tcftament, and fo the two 
 Oliues fhould rcprefent the Scripture, and the two Candle- 
 ftickes the Church,which recciueth Oyleof grace fromthefc 
 Oliues :otuers,twokinde of Martyrs, one inhabit, the o- 
 ther ia 2&; or two kinde of witneflcs, ConfefiorSj. and 
 Martyrs, figured by E«och and FAim ; for Enoch waJkqd in 
 peace with God, hut Eli.u endured grieuous perfection: or 
 laftly,twokindcs of Preachers, Prieils andMonkes, which 
 though they are many,yct are faid to be but two, in all .. 
 to thepra&ifeof our Sauiour Chrift, who fent forth his . 
 | D d " 
 
 201 
 
r 
 
 202 
 
 Witneffes to rife tg&inft Antichrift. Chap. 3 • 
 
 Trseoiog.ci'Af, 
 
 Chry/'.ff.ln 
 
 epift.dct He- 
 hr*os cap. 1 1- 
 
 Theephil'lk'td. 
 
 pies to preach by two and two; with diuers other vncer- 
 tainc conie$ureswhichI forbearc to name. So that the 
 Fathers are neither for them in this point, as they audaci- 
 oufly boait, nor yet indeed for the truth, which can bee but 
 one,and rlmple. Withhowmuch greater modefty doe o- 
 ther of the Fathers fpcake of this lecret ? Gregory Marian* 
 *,£■»<• ipcaking of £w^,faith,thatit is not yet manifeft whe- 
 ther he already hath comprehended the nature of God, or 
 fhal hereafter comprehend \t.Chryfofiome holdcth it a matter 
 beyond the capacity of mortall man,too curiouily to enquire 
 whither Enoch was tranflated,and how he lines : that Snocb 
 was translated (faith he) and that Eltxs was ailumed vp into 
 hcauen, wcebcleeue, because the Scripture eels vs fo : but 
 where they are, and how they hue, the Scripture is filent. 
 So Oecnmemm concerning £>?0^ 3 faith,that he was tranflated 
 aliuc,butwhere,andhow, it is vncertaine. Of the fame opi- 
 nion is Theophilaft ^nd diuers others : and therefore I con- 
 clude with Saint jfttgvfline, where the Scripture is filent, 
 Cohihere fi debet hnmrmA p7<eft4mptio y Maut preemption 
 mufl bridle itfelfe. \ might addc befides all this,that this de- 
 uifecroffeth directly the fpeech of our Sauiour Chrift;for 
 he faith, That no mnnknoweth the day and hourc of (Thrifts 
 fecond comming, but thathce lliall come as a thicfe in the 
 night,and as a fnarc vpon the Fowle. But if this opinion bee 
 true, then that day of his comming may bee certaincly 
 kno wne 4 j.dayes before : then which,nothing can bee more 
 oppofitc to our Sauiours words. 
 
 4. Touching Paradife wherein they (ay thefeholy men 
 doc Hue till the comming of Antichrift ; iftheyvndcrftand 
 thereby that heauenly Paradife which is the receptacle of 
 bleffedfoulesfpokenof by our Sauiour, Luh^e.i^.^.^nA 
 by Saint P<wt i i.Cor.\2.4. we condefcendthat there thefe 
 two iuft menenioy ctcrnall beatitude : but then they would 
 not returnc from thence to be flaine hecrc on earth, becaufe 
 a mortall creature could not reflde in that place of immorta- 
 lity. Rut if they meane the earthly Paradife which CMofes 
 ctefciibeth, Gcn.i.%. we fay., that this was vtterly defaced 
 
 b y 
 
Ch ap. 3 . Witness to rife Again jl Amkhrifl. 
 
 203 
 
 by the flood,andfo could be no receptacle for £W& at that f 
 time, nor for Slias afterward : which to be true, the defcrip- | 
 tionof Paradifc giucn by CMojes doth cuidently demon- 
 ftrate. For he faith, that God placed a Garden Eaftward in 
 Eden : whetethe word Eden is not to betaken in it proper 
 figni(ication,for pleafure and delight, from whence isderi- 
 ued the Greeke word «*•», plea/tire, but for a Country called 
 by tharnamCjas is plainc,<5*^.27 .i^.HarAn , Conneb,& He* 
 denjveYethy A4crcb Ants '.and 2= Kings, 19.1 2. where Rabfekeb 
 maketh mention of the people otbltfopctamiA conquered by 
 the King of the Aftyr't&ns % to w'lt, Har^n and Re*.epb 3 &ndtbe 
 children eft den which were in Tbtlafar ; which The/afar 
 was a FortrefTe of the Babylonians , fituate in the midit of 
 Etipbratis ito withftandthc Affirum*. and is othetwife cal- 
 led Ttltitb 4»by AthmtAnHs Murcellwus So that when it 
 is faid,that God planted this Garden in Eden, it cannot but 
 be vnderftood ofthe Country wherein it was planted, and 
 fo ifwe can finde out where this Country of Edm wasfitu- 
 atc,we may alio caiily iudge where Paradifc was, for it was 
 planted in the Eaft part of that Country. Now all auow 
 chat the Country of tden was in MefopotAm'tA or c Ba&jlon 3 
 and therefore there alio was this Garden or earthly Para* 
 dife.And to make the matter more pWm 3 Ptolomey an ancient 
 Geographer calleth this fruitfull tracl, by the name impor- 
 ting a delicious Country AnYAm\tidcs 3 oi rather AndAniiicLes, 
 as Iunitu hath iudiciouflyobierued : and it is certaine, there 
 is not at this day a more fruitfull and pleafant Country in the 
 •world then this is : and that which is moft remarkable, it a- 
 greeth in cucry particular with Mofes his defcription. For 
 the Riucr that ran out ofEden to water the Garden is£«- J 
 phrates which diuideditfelfc into foure heads,that is,fcure j 
 currents or channels, named by Mofes ,and knowne at this 
 day to be thcre,and no where elfc. IfPaiadife then was in 
 Lfl{efop0tam't<i,as is manifeft by this defcription,then it muft 
 necdes follow,that k was defaced by the ftood,and io could 
 riot remaine the habitation for Enoch and Eliot. 
 
 5. Hence appeareth how fond and improbable thole 
 D d 1 opinions 
 
204 . Witmffestorife agtinfi Antichrifl. Chap^. 
 
 opinions arc which arc taken vp by many both ancient and 
 modcrne writers. Origev with others, tranflate the whole 
 iitcrail fenfe of the bifrory into aiIegories,arTu'ming Paradife 
 to be no corporall 3 but a fpirituall place, lofephm faith, this 
 frfephtts ^»'i. Paradife was diftended oucr the whole earth, and fo Adam 
 yuiiih /• being call: out of Paradife, muft by this interpretation bee 
 
 ca/t out of the earth. To/fate, with A y iofto and others,place 
 It in the top of an high Mountaine.in the third region of the 
 ayremccrevnto the circle of the Moonc, a place asPhilo- 
 ibphytels vsvnftt for mans abode, by rcafon of the proxi- 
 mity of the Element of firc,and of the Planets. Some fend 
 it oucr beyond the riuer Gi&gis into the £,tft Indies 3 \\ot confi- 
 dering that the foliation of the riuer Euphrates with the 
 
 i channels deriued thereout, doe plainely contradict this con- 
 ceit. In brecfe,the common opinion of the moderne Papifts 
 j is ,that this place is fo firre remote from the knowledge of 
 I man, that no man can tell where it is fituatc,but yet that'it 
 1 remaines cntyrc 3iid found notwithstanding the flood: 
 which opinion is more ablurd then all the rcli : for if it bee 
 remote from all humane knowledge, to what end ferues the 
 defer iption which Mojes makes of it fo exprcily ? Why doth 
 he paint out the courfc of the riuer Euphrates with it diuers 
 currents,the bordering Countries, the things wherewith I 
 thofe Countries are renowned ,ns Go!d,P>dc!iium and the Q- 
 nix (tone of the land ofHayHah^M which are circumltanccs 
 by which Geographers vfe to rnarke out the Countries 
 which they defcribe ? And that this place could not conhft 
 entire without being wafted by the flood, thefe rcafons c- 
 ui:.ce. Becaufe Afafes faith ,(?**. 7.19. that the waters of 
 the Deluge afcended higher then the rvigheft Mountainesof 
 the earth, fiftecne cubices,and how then could Paradife bec 
 exempted from this dcftruclion ? If they fay that it was 
 preferucd miraculoufly from this inundaticn,as the Ifraelttes 
 were prcferued in the midft of the Red Sea and of Jordan : 
 I anfwerc, that this being a dronme hauing no ground in 
 holy Scripture, may bee as cafiiy reie&edas it wasrafhly 
 forged. And befides, it is manifeft that all Mefifotamia 
 
 where 
 
t Cbap.3. Witneffett* rifeagjiinfl Antichrifl, 
 
 205 
 
 [ where doubtleiTc this Garden was planted, was anciently af- 
 ter the Flood, and is Rill at this day inhabited, without any 
 trace left of this delicious Garden. And further, to what 
 purpofe did God command Noah to build the Mice for his 
 prefer nation, with fo great paine and labour, if this Garde n 
 hfSdfn had bene fafe ? And lailly, if Enoch waspreferucd a- 
 liuc m that Garden, how is it true which S. Peter affirmeth, 
 that onely eight pcrfons were preferued in the Arkc ? 2. 
 Pet. 3. 5. 
 
 6. Thelcfiike ?e*crim % conuinced with thefc reafons, 
 hath forfaken his fellowes, and daiifed a dreame of his owne 
 braine : for he confefTeth,that the Paradife fpoken of by Mo- 
 fif 3 w r as defaced by the Flood : but becaufe it is ceitaine that 
 i-noch was not touched with that dcftruiSrion, therefore he 
 faith ; Firir, that it may be,hc was taken vp miraculoufly by 
 God into the ayre, and there faucdaliuc during the deluge. 
 Secondly, that though S. f eter nanaeth but eight pcrfons 
 preferred from drowning, yet Enoch is to be added vnto 
 them, an d that n mention is made of him, becaufe he liucd 
 not m the focicty of men. And thirdly, Icaft he fhouldcrolfc 
 the vulgar trattflation of Eeclfjiafticfa y where mention is 
 
 . made of Paradife, chough the word be not found in the ori- 
 ginal! : he imjgineththat there is another Paradife,(ituatein 
 fecret and vnkuowne Country of the world.. Thus 
 th his cwne fancies,as men do that forfake the 
 Scriptures ; and giucth vs bcfldes the heauenly Paradife fpo- ] 
 ken of in the uew Tciiament, and the earthly Paradife de- 
 Jo ibed by MtfctgL third ncuer heard of before, iituate either- 
 in the aire, -which the Scripture maketh the lodging placeof 
 the diuels, or in a world via to all Geographers, or 
 
 at lcaft in the New -found Land of Ectopia, dcfciibcdby Sir 
 Thomas More , or inthclar. *acia $ which our izg- 
 
 ftfh Alsrcwy fpeakesof. 
 
 7. The piaine truth then according to the Scripture is 
 this, that Enoch and Ehau were taken vpintoheauen, into the 
 place and feate of the blelTed, where hauing changed morta- 
 lity into immortality, thcyliuc {till, and can ncuer t;: ft of 
 
 Dd 
 
 leath 
 
206 
 
 Witn ejfts to rifeagAinft Antichrifl. Chap. 3 r 
 
 Peter* in Sent, 
 lib. 7 diffiHt.de 
 tr*»flat t E- 
 mehq. 2. 
 Hieron aduerf. 
 errorer 
 loh.Hterofolj- 
 mst adPam* 
 m4chiutn. 
 
 death : for Gen. /.2g. it is faid, thatallthedaiesof/;*^ 
 were 36$. yecres, Andthat he walked with God, and was 
 not, for God tooke him : that is, liued no longer amongft men, 
 but w*as taken of God to himfclfe/or fo the word importcth. 
 And Heb. 11. 5. it is faid, That be was translated jhat be 
 Jhouldnot fee death : where the word tA«Wej;m» yfed by the 
 Appftle, fignifieth properly to be changed from one cftate 
 into another, and alludeth to that, 1 . Cor. 1 5. where it is 
 faid ofthofe that are ahuc at Chrilts comming, that they Hiall 
 notileepe, but fhall be changed ; how changed, but from 
 mortality to immortality, and where is the place of immor- 
 tality but in heauen ? But concerning Sltasjt isa more cleare 
 cafe ; for the Text, 2 . Kings. 2.11. faith plainly, That he af- 
 cended by a whirlwind into heaven :Now there is no doubt but 
 Snoch was tranfported into the fame place whither Eli.u af- 
 ter was, that is, into heauenly Paradife. I know that Heauen 
 is taken in three nullifications in holy Scripture. Fir ft, for 
 that ipace which extendeth itldfe from the earth to the cir- 
 cle of the Moone, where the birds flie,and rainc,fhow, and 
 thunder are framed. Secondly, it is taken for the cceleftiall 
 circles, wherein are the Stars, Gen. 1 . 1 4. And thirdly, for 
 the place ofthe bleffed, whither Chrift vifibly afcendcd,and 
 ofw r hich the Apoftleipeakcth, z.Cor. 12. when he faith, 
 That he wm rap vp into the third heauen. But to fay, that 
 Enech and 8 has were aiTumed vp into the fi 1 ft hcaucn,that is, 
 into a region ofthe aire, full of more tumultuons agitations 
 and difquietneffc then the earth, is a thing without all (hew 
 ofreafon : And to imagine that they are amongft the 
 Cceleftiall bodies ofthe firmament, either there to be roiled 
 about the world with the Spheares from the Eafttothe 
 Weft, or to be fixed in one ofthe Poles, this is a prophane 
 imagination, more proper to the Siotrks, then to Chriftians, 
 Therefore it rcmaineth, that they were receiued into that 
 heauen which is the refting place ofthe bleffed, and the de- 
 fired Country of all the Saints. Neither is this a noucll opi- 
 nion, for Verer'tus confcffeth,that Procopas Gaztlw was of 
 the fame mind : And S. Ierome alio confirmeth the fame in 
 
 an 
 
Chap. 3. Witneffes to rife ngainjl Anthhrift. 
 
 207 
 
 an Epiftlc of his : where to prouc, that after the refurre&ion, 
 we fhallhaue the fame flefh, bones,and members ^s we now 
 haue, he firft alleadgcth the authority of the Apoftle, r . CV . 
 if« j? ; Secondly, the example of the transfiguration of 
 Chritl, which was notonely in his face 
 
 but in all his mem- 
 
 bers : And thirdly, the example of Enoch and 8 lias 3 tranfla- 
 ted in their bodies into the heauenly beatitude. Iuftwe 
 J^r/yralfoamYmeth, ih?x Enoch mdElias were gathered 
 into the fame place, where the foules of the faithfull reft till 
 the refurrcftion. Of the fame opinion is Irett<eus,and to con- 
 clude, Ppspbfxiw callcth them, 7 he two firft borne of our refitr- 
 retthn-. thereby (lie wing,that they arc already fo beautified 
 in foule and body, as we fhall be after our refurre&ion, and 
 therefore to thefe t wo, he oppofeth Dathan z\\\Ahirara, 
 who as he faith, both in foule and body defcended into 
 belt. 
 
 %. All the difficulty of this interpretation Iiethinthis, 
 that it feemeth by lohn .2. 13. and 1 . £V. ? p 20. that no 
 flcfli cucr afcended into heauen before Ch rift, becaufc he is 
 faidonelyto hauc afcended, that did defcend, and that he 
 was the firft fruites of them thatflecpe, and the firft borne of 
 th? dead. But if we vndcrftand thefe Texts aright, this dif- 
 ficulty will foonevanifh. For by afcending into heauenin 
 S. fohn y is not meant any locall, or corporall afcenfion, be~ 
 caufe Chrift himfelfe was not then afcended, but cither a fpi- 
 rituall afcenfion in the knowledge of heauenly myfteries, as 
 2?«.*,and Maidonatc, and others thinke :ormorcfimply,as 
 Toilet another Iefuitc fuppofeth, that Chrift alone defcended 
 from hcauen by the affumption of our naturc,to teach and in- 
 ftrudt the people, & yet ftdl remained in heauen in hisDcity : 
 And whereas he is called the firft fruites of them that fteepc, 
 and the firft borne of the dead ; it doth not prone, that none 
 went to heauen before his afcenfion : but oncly that the re-* 
 furreclicnofthe other Saints to etemalilife, and their recep- 
 tion into heauen, depends vpon the refurre<5tron of Chrift, 
 as the true caufe thereof: as the bleffing of the whole harucft 
 depended vpon the blelTing of the firft fruites, as the Apo- 
 
 ftle 
 
 Iu(im. Mar* 
 
 orthodox .j.f j. 
 
 frewsaduetf. 
 kcreflti.fs.j. 
 EpphanJn 
 dn ccrat. 
 
 Se^4 *4nnot* 
 
 in riorum 
 tefiam. 
 
 lib. 3* 
 
208 Witnef[est9rifcag&inflAntichYift. Chap.j, 
 
 llle fpeakcth, Ronn t I . i <$. and fo all that euer afcended into 
 hcaucn, cither in body and foule together, as Enoch and £~ 
 lias did, or in foule alone, as the left of the Saints did, this 
 was by vertueofChviitsrefurrc&onandafccnfion, which 
 extended it fclfe vnto all A ges, both before his comming in 
 the flefh,and after : and doubtlcffc,if the foulcs cfthe Saints 
 hadacccifc into heauen before Cbnfts afcenfion, then might 
 'their bodies alfo, for the fame reafon is of both : but their 
 foules did, as may appcare by L^arm his foule, which was 
 tranflated into Abrahams bofome, which bofeme of Abra- 
 ham, fignifeth nothing elfe but die felicity »andioy,ahd reft 
 of the foules of Gods Saints after this life in heauen,asChrift 
 himfelfe auoucheth, Ad at. 8. t i .Where he faith, that many 
 fhall come from the Eaft,and from the Weil, and fit do wnc 
 with Abraham, Ifaac, znd/acob, in the kingdoms of hea- 
 uen. And thus both Bada, and S. Am&rofe, and Snlfiiim 
 5>*wa*,intcrprct the place. For as for L imbn i 
 is a doting dreame without all ground either in holy Sc:ip- 
 ture,or reafon : and \o alfo is this conceioc (as appe ;terh by 
 that which hath bene faide) to w r it, that Enoch and 
 were referucd aliue in the earthly Paracifc, to come againft 
 Antichrift in the end of the world, and by him to be put to 
 death. 
 
 9. Thefe two witncfTes then are not £*<?r£and Elias, 
 neither are they any two fingularperfons : for as %tffertm, 
 one of themoft learned men of his £ ge faith, Is it likely 
 that the Lordofthe Prophets, and the Author of all Prophecy, 
 (houldhaue but twowitneffes ? Were not all the AyoQles, the 
 Martyrs and c&nfeffors,his mtnejfes ? Surely thUisagreat, 
 g y ane,andwaivhty j/peech, to xvit* that though there be innume- 
 rable mtnejfeS) yet he faith that their (hall be bat two. By 
 which fpcech,as alfo by the reft of his difcourfe,he fignifieth, 
 that this number is not to be rcftrained to two alone, but 
 that the Spirit of God would notifle vnto vj, that though the 
 fury of Antichrift, doth labour to ftiflc the truth, yet God 
 will not fufTer it to want fo many witncfTes, as fhall irmTe to 
 confirme the fame. A nd therefore the moil probably opi- 
 nion 
 
 Bed* in Luc. 
 
 Ambrofe $n 
 crat.de ob'itu. 
 Valeniiniani. 
 SulpitJSeuctm* 
 
 epijl* ad Ba]]\ 
 
 Rftpertuijv 
 
 ApocUb.C^ 
 
Chap. 5 . Witneffes to rife agtiwft Antichrift. 
 
 209 
 
 niohis, that by thcfe two witn^ifes are meant, allthccon- 
 ftant defenders of the truth againft Antichrift, who though 
 they be many,yet are faid to be oncly two, for thefe reafons. 
 Firft, becaufe of the paucity of them, in comparifon of the 
 infinite number of falfe teachers, and Antichriftian Locufts. 
 Secondly, becaufe all their whole do&rinc is dcriued out of 
 the Law and the Gofpell, the two Teftaments which God 
 made with mankind. A nd thirdly, becaufe this number is 
 fufficient by the Law of God to conuince falfe-hood, For by 
 the momh of two or three witneffes (faith the Law) IhnUeHery 
 matter b? eft tbbfoed, : to which Law it feemeth the holy 
 Ghoft hath reference in this place : and certainly the worke 
 of defending the tnth againft A ntichrift, is fo great, that it 
 requircch mote workemen then two alone. And yet we 
 flnde, that two men ftirred vp by Go i, to wit, hhn Huffe, 
 and lerome of Pra^e, wkneffed the truth, and fought the re- 
 formation ofthe Church, againft that great famous Councill 
 of Conflance, wherein the whole pow r cr of Antichrist was 
 gathered together. For the Empcrour was there prcfent in 
 his ovvne perfbn,and the Pope, foure Patriarchs, rq. Cardi- 
 nals, 47. Archbifhops, f 7c;.Bi(riops, 5^4. Abbots, with 
 Do&ors and learned men innumerable : and yet thefe two 
 holy men,witneflcd the truth againft rhem ah 1 , an d willingly 
 layd downe their liucs in defence thereof 
 
 1 o. I fpeake not this in minde that the holy Ghoft aimed 
 at thefe two particul -ly , and yet why no : any two rather 
 then Enoch and Eltas ? Muft God needs fend them out of 
 hcauen,orelfe Ivs truth could not be witnefTed ?, Mid if£- 
 noch and Fhas in their afcending vp into hciuen,were figures 
 of Chrift, afcending and triumphing ; to caufc them to des- 
 cend againe to fuflfer death. is it not in a fort to b dug downe 
 Chrift againe from heauento fuffer on eatth ? For it ^eft.oy- 
 cththe figure of his triumph. Befide:,haue vvenot an ex- 
 prcflTeTcxt, Luke. 16. 2 p. That we mufinoi 'co-e for ir,y to 
 comzf'om lemen to infirutt v r > but muft h<~dd :o diac which 
 is written in the Law and the.Prophets ? In a word, to what 
 purpofe ftiould Enoch and Eltas come ? To difputc againft 
 
 E e Anti- 
 
210 
 
 Witneffes to rife againjl Antkhrifl. Chap. 3 
 
 Antichri{t,and conuince him out of the word of God ? Why 
 what then (hall become of the Church otRome, which they 
 fay cannot erre, and againft which, the gates of hell cannot 
 preuaile, and that it is the hammer of allHerefies,according 
 to TSxromui his dcuifc wicit h&refes ,fubegit gentes } fhall it 
 be enelofed vp in fomc caue with the feuen fleepcrs, that £- 
 noch and Elias mult needs leaue the place of their rcpofe,and 
 come do wnc to fupply her office > h not this to oucrturne 
 their o wne ftrong proposition, touching the continuance of 
 the Church of %oms} 
 
 1 1. But if by the two witneffes are meant thefaithfull 
 minjfters and people, that (hall maintaine the truth againft 
 A ntichrift ; why do they not preach in fackdoth, and w hy 
 are not fbme of them railed from the death, after theyhaue 
 bene flatne, and afcend vp into heaucn ? for thofe things are 
 attributed vnto thefe two witneffes. I anfwer, that by this 
 fackcloth,wcmiy wellvnderftand, prifons, perfections, 
 tortures, and all manner of afflictions wherewith the Saints 
 and miniilers of Chrilt, arc hauocked vnder the tyranny of 
 this Man of Sinne : thefe are the garments wherewith thefe 
 faithfull witneffes are cloathed, without facksor hairecloath 
 on their backes : whereas a number of their Fryars, as the 
 Capuchins by name, wearc haire on their backes without af- 
 fli6tion,being puffed vp with worldly glory, and citecmed 
 and chcriOied o fall men. Which then are the likcfl vknefles 
 of Chrift, whether they that preach without fackcloath being 
 fubieft to all manner of opprobrics and afflictions, or they 
 that are adored of the world, and yet weare fackcloath on 
 their backes ? Anrl for their rifing againc from death after 
 three daies and an halfe,! fay it i^truly aecompiifhed in thefe 
 our witneffcs,thoughnot according to their groffc imagina- 
 tions, yet according to the intention of the Spirit of God, 
 fpeaking by the mouth o£$.Iehrt. For as all things clfc in 
 trris Propheticall booke, £o is this rcfurredtion of thefe two- 
 witneffes to be vnderftood fpiritually, not of their bodies, 
 but of their doctrine, order and profemon, raifed vp and en- 
 creafed by the fucceflionofotheisia their roome 2 As alfo 
 
 by 
 
 I III T ' — . t 
 
Chap. 3 . Witnejfes to rife againjl Antkhrifi. 
 
 by their afcending into hcauen, we may well vnderftand a / 
 c oHe<5hng and gathering them together by the diuine calling, / 
 into the forme of a Church, in fpite of the malice and fury of 
 their Antichriftian Aduerlarics : as we fee at this day verifi- 
 ed, in England, Scotland^ Germany % Denmarle^ and other 
 Countries. For as the Congregation of the malignant 
 is called in this Prophecy ,Thc world,or The earth ; fo is the 
 Church of the clecl and faithfuil in oppo(itionthcreunto,cal- 
 led Heauen. And if we confidcr the ftace of the true Church 
 perfecutcd in all Ages,we fhall cafily fabferibe to this truth. 
 For after the ten firft perfecutions, wherein it was fcattered 
 and'poilcd like afhipinatempcit, did it not againe rcuiue « 
 and recoueriifc, when Conftantine gauc peace vntoit ? So I 
 afterward, in the time of the Arrian Hcrcfic, wherewith it 
 was long tormented as with a burning feuer ; was it not a- 
 gaine refiored as it were to life and fafety, by the faith r ulne? 
 ofChriilian Emperours,and diligence of godly Bifhops ? In 
 the time of Boniface the eight, how were the faithfuil perfe- 
 cted and tormented , till within three yecrcs and an halfc 
 before his death, when his perfecutions ceafed, and the 
 Church tooke'a little breath and reft ? But of all, this is moft J 
 apparant after the Council! of Co nfiar.ee , where John Bu/[e, 
 and lerome of Prague , were put to death : for immediately 
 after that Council, which lafted three yeeres & an halfc,thele 
 two witneflfes (tood againe as it were on their feetc, and the 
 lpirit ofiife cntrcd into them, not in their owneperfons, but 
 in their doclrine, which being condemned by that Popifh 
 Councili f began to fpread it fclfe and to prcuaile,and to haue 
 more followers and abetters, then euer it had before : and 
 that not onely in Bohemia, but after an hundred yeeres, in 
 Germany, and ether Countries, as the fame holy Martyr 
 Ht*Sfeh*<\ prophecicdatthchourcofhis death. And indeed 
 it is (trange to confidcr,what a number of cxcellcnt,leamed, 
 and holy men God (feed vp at that time, to enter combate 
 with the Pope,and to batter do wne the wals oiBahy'on :and 
 thus this Prophecy is euery way accoinpliiTied, if it be fpiri- 
 tua&y anc] rightly vnderftood. 
 
 Ee2 T?.Notc 
 
 211 
 
212 
 
 Antichrifls ftrfecHtion. 
 
 Chap.4, 
 
 it. Note one thing more, and fo an end of this : they 
 fay, that thefe two witneffes fhali prophecy 1260. daies, 
 which co me to three yeeres and an halfe, and then they mutt 
 be put to death by ^ntichrilt. Now the continuance of A n- 
 tichuifts reigac is by their deuife but three yeeres and an 
 halfc; fo that he mift begin his reigne the fame day with the 
 Prophecy of thefe pretended witne{fqs,£«oc/> and £//<#, and 
 dye alfo the fame day, which how ill hangs together I necde 
 notftand to proue , And to fhut vp all in a fhort compafle-J 
 affirme two things. Firft, that if it were true that Enoch and 
 Ettas 1 or any two other men, fhould come into the world to 
 oppugnc Antichrift;yet it cannot be concluded,that the Pope 
 is not Antichrift, becaufe thefe two are not yet come, feeing 
 they may yet come in due time : vnlcffe they can proue, that 
 the world {hail haue an end, within thefe fourc yeeres, or 
 1 33 /. daies, which one anfvver, is fufficient to ouerthrow 
 their whole demonft ration. Secondly, it is moft probable, 
 that S.lohfj fpcaketh not of Antichrift in that Chapter,/?* net. 
 1 1 . becaufe firft it is aid there . that the holy City fhallbe 
 deliuered vp To/? Wwi*, To the Heathen, therefore not to the 
 lewes or falfe Catholikes, which they make the followers of 
 Antichrift : And fecondly, becaufe theBcaft which is faidto 
 fight againft them, arifing out of the bottoivJeffc pit, and ha~ 
 uingfeuen heads, and ten hornes > is not meant Antichrift j 
 buttheRomane State, whole laft head is oncly the rcprcfen- 
 tation of Antichrift. 
 
 CHAP.4. 
 
 Of u4ntichriftsf erf ectitioii. 
 
 I . TPHat the pcrfecution vnder Antichrift fliall be great, is 
 J no queftion .-but that it fliall be greater then any euer 
 was, or fliall be betides, cannot be proued by any found 
 tcftimony of Scripture, as this Author hath moft exactly pro- 
 ued. But yet if this be granted, as we willingly condefcend 
 thereunto, I fay that the perfection of the true Church by 
 
 the 
 
Chap.4« 
 
 Antichrijls perfecution < 
 
 ?u 
 
 the Popes, and of the faithfull Profeffors of the Gofpell, 
 hath bcenc,and is at this day,more cruell and grecuous, then 
 eucr any perfecution was in former time, either by Ahttocht4s 
 among ft the Tewcs, or the heathen Emperors amongft 
 Chriftians. For n^ft^*r/^Wperfecu ted the true Church 
 that was onely among the Iewes, but the Pope hadi exten- 
 ded his perfecution to -all Nnions and Countries of Chri- 
 ftendome, the leaft of which Countries farrc exceeded in 
 largneiTethe (cwifti Nation. SccondIy 5 ^tfr/0c&j« his perfe- 
 cution was but for a fhort time, not much aboue three 
 yeercs, but the lopes perfecution, hath continued in full 
 ftrcngtb and force ,thcfe eight hundred yeeres and vpward. 
 Andlaftly, i:he number of Chriftians thathaue beene flaine 
 by Popes,doth farre exceedc the number of the Iewes de- 
 ftroyedby Antiocbw^ fo that there is no comparifon be- 
 tweenc them. The like may be faid of the Romane heathen 
 Emperors ,the limits of whole perfecution was ftraighter, 
 tl e time fhorter,and the number fewer, then that ofPopes 
 by many degrees, as the hiftories of the Church manifeftly 
 proue vnto vs. So that this confederation aboue all others, 
 prouesthe Popetobex^ntichrift,and the Church of Rome 
 to be the Whore ofBtiylov, w ho is faid to be drunke with 
 the blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Iefus, !Z^- 
 mL 17.5. 
 
 2. Seucntcene thoufand reported by Damafm to haue 
 beene flaine vii&zt Diode fi an in one moneth, and Euftbius 
 faith,that then the prifons were fo fturYcd^with Martyrs,that 
 there was no place left for Malefactors. Thi£ \vas I confeffe 
 a cruell and lamentable time, but yet the timesof Popery 
 fince thefe eight hundred yeercs, haue beene more cruell 
 and lamentable : for what kinde of torments and cruelties 
 were practifed againft Chriftiausby the ancient heathen Em- 
 perors,which the Pope and his flaues haue no: excrcifed a- 
 gainft thofc that haue any wayes oppofed his fuper(t;tion,e- 
 ucn to the burying of men aliuc,as Mathcw Part* rcportcth? 
 The blood of fo many thoufands flaine by reafon of the ex- 
 communications and profcriptions of the Emperors Hen- 
 Ee 3 Tier, 
 
 
 Math. P*rh 
 in Henrico, j. 
 
ai4 
 
 Antkhrifis perfection. Chap.4 
 
 BeUarAemiu 
 
 Ihidem. 
 
 ri es, and Frederick* >by the Pope, is a notable witncfle of the 
 Popi(hcruelI,andmore then Neronian pcrfecutions. I o- 
 mitthe cruelties exercifed vpon the tValdenfes % Albingenfes, 
 Leonift s ^Lo&ardt JPatarines J? elcobufians JPighardcs ^ Httjfites, 
 who vnderthefe names ,albeit good and found Christians, 
 were fo hauocked and fpoyled,that Ph alar is may fcemc gen- 
 tle and humane in comparifon of the Ro mane tyrant. BelUr- 
 i#/'w*himfclfcconfefleth, that vnder Innocent the third, ah 
 hundred thoufand of them were flainc at one expedition into 
 France. And Mather* Parts tels vs,that in Germany an in* 
 finite number were put to death in one yeere : but they fay 
 that they were Herctikes,and therefore defcrued to be thus 
 rooted out. Jndeede,theyareflanderedbyour Aducrfaries 
 and thcirs,withmofl: horrible herefies,and damnable opini- 
 ons : but if a man fhall obferue the repugnancies and absur- 
 dities contained in their writings, hee (hall not choofe but 
 confeffe thofe things were eichcr taken vp by vulgar re- 
 ports, which are alwaies foone fpread abroad without 
 ground, or deuifed by their enemies of purpofe to blemifli 
 their rcputation,and to hinder the courfc of their doctrine. 
 For he that doth but confider thofe holy and religious lyes, 
 and fraudes, (fothey call them) vfed by the Jcfuitesand 
 I Priefts againft the true Profeflbrs of the Gofpell at this day, 
 in the cieare light of the Gofpell, cannot doubt but that the 
 like deceitfull calumnies might well be caft vpon thofe holy 
 men in the thickeft darkneffc of Antichriits kingdomc. 
 Lookeinto the bookesof the Iefuites,as that which is called 
 the Credo of the Catrtinifts/Becanpu, Caluinian Apborifmes, 
 and Giffords CalHino-Twctfmtu ,and fuch like,and wee fhall 
 finde fuch prodigious doctrines attributed vnto vs, as ncucr 
 fo much as dreaming came into our mindes, much lcile iflfu- 
 cd out of our pennes. Now they that arc thus bold and 
 fhamclctfe towards vs being aliue, would thcy,thinkc you, 
 fpare them being dead, and notable toanfwerefor them- 
 felues > Iamfurcthat CMathew Paris reports, that their 
 do&rine condemned thus ofherefie, was approued by ma- 
 ny Biflhops of that Agc,as Orthodox and found* And that 
 
 the 
 
Chap.4. Antithrifts perfecutim. 
 
 215 
 
 the Alhtgenfes were the fame with the IFaldenfe t ,both «x£- 
 ntas Silniw, and Starlet on alfb,ina mancr eonfeffe: now 
 what the opinions of the Waldenfes were, appearcth both by 
 their owne Apologie written vnto the King of France ^nd to 
 Vladifliim the King of Hungary, and alfo by thofe things 
 which jifploonfus de Caftro afcribeth vnto them as 
 herefics, which notwithstanding are fo agreeable to the 
 wordofGod,asthatitishercfietohold the contrary. It is 
 manifeft then, that thefe good men fuft'ered perfecution for 
 no other cauie but for the ttuth fake, and for oppofing 
 themfelues to Popifh tyranny. 
 
 3. Whatfhouldlfpeakc of their cruelty in Bohemia a- 
 gainft the Htijfites, where infinite numbers peri{hcd,partly 
 by warre,and partly by fecret violence, and open, executi- 
 ons/or following the doctrine of Iohn Httjfe, and Jerome of 
 Prague > which notwithstanding was the very truth of God, 
 which we now pro fefle? I mention not their greeuous per- 
 fecutions heere in England y Scet land y andin the Low-Cohk- 
 tries ,nor their bloody and barbarous inquifitions, whereby 
 innumerable Christians hauc beene after diuers fafhionsin a 
 fauage maner made away, as witneffeth Vcrgerins who 
 could well tell. Three hiftorics I cannot forget being frefh 
 in memory : thefirft of thofe- of Lftier indole and Carriers y 
 Cofia^nd Sanfakfe \ my heart trembles to relate the execu- 
 tions that were there made offimple pcople,armed with no- 
 thing but prayers and teares : there was no difference made 
 of fex or age : women great with child were miferab- 
 ly murthered ; yong infants Herod-like thruft through 
 with ipcarcs, and fwords : forty women fhut vp in a Barne 
 fullofhayandftraw, were confumed with fire : and when 
 they laboured to get out at the windowes,they were beaten 
 backc with fpearcs and ftaties ? fiue and twenty men being 
 fled into a Caue,were there ilifled with fmoke and fire ? 
 8oo.wctc flainc outright in Carriers, and a great multitude 
 ofpoore people befide maffacrcd in all places : yea,in de- 
 teftattbnofthemen,or rather their Religion, thefe Tygers 
 oxt dowae the Trees, apt fparirjg the. fruitfull accordingto 
 
 the 
 
 
216 
 
 Antkhrifis ferfecuticn. 
 
 Ch; 
 
 ms 
 
 P4< 
 
 the Law : burnt the houfes,and mined the Caftels, and fo 
 made the whole Country defcrt and defolate. The fecond is 
 thetragicall Bartholomew day in France y vnder the colour of 
 a royall marriage,in the ycere, 1572. to which all the cruel- 
 tics of Pagans are not to be compared,no not that of Diode- 
 fiaft y whereby, 17000. Chriftians were murdered in one 
 moneth :for heere (as fome fay ) 40000. as others, that 
 fpcake with the leaft, 30000. poorc Hugomtes as they call 
 them, that is, found and good Chriftians ;were fiaughte- 
 red in ieffe then a moneth. And of this MarTacre the 
 Pope would needes haue the glory, or rather the in- 
 famy : for in ioy thereof, hee caufed a certaine coine to-feee 
 ftamped, wherein on the one fide was the picture of Gre- 
 gory the thirteenth then Bifhop of Rome , with this irifcripti- 
 on, (jregor .13. Anno .\6.fi4rnmi ftti pontificate , aftd on the 
 other was reprefented an Angell, hauing aCrofTe in one 
 hand,and a Sword in the other, killing a multitude of men 
 and women with this mkn£x\on } HngQnotorumflrages y that 
 is, The maffacre of the Htigonotes. And not content heerc- 
 with,to the end that he might glut his eyes with his owne 
 cruelty Jie caufed this maffacre totoee painted in three feue- 
 rall places in the great HaH^ where he v(ed to giue audience 
 to the EmbafTadors of Priqces:>his is an example of cruelty, 
 not to be paralelled by any former times, in any Age cf the 
 world* The third,is the hon ible and vnmatchable Powder 
 Treafon heere in England, which though it came not to that 
 effecVthey defircd, (God in mercy difcouering their hcllifh 
 defigne the night before the blow fhould haue becne gi- 
 uen,)yet in their intention aiv \ purpofe,which ts the life of all 
 actions, it was the moft crueli pre clife that euer the Sun be- 
 held • like vnto that of Caligula fh-bt wifhed that all the Ro- 
 manc Senators and people had but one head, that hee might 
 ftrike it off at one blow. Ineede not enlarge the heinouf- 
 neffe of their intentions in thisplot,the thing it felfe cryeth 
 cruelty, and the latenes of the defignement cannot but fix it 
 faft in our mindes. 
 
 4. Hence deriue three confequcnts. Firft, if the greatcft 
 
 pcrfc- 
 
Chap.4. 
 
 Antichrifis ferfecution. 
 
 217 
 
 perfccutionthateucrwas,beamarkeof Antichriil, then is I 
 the Pope Antichrist for ncuer was there fuch a persecutor of.y 
 the Church of Chrift^as he is,andhath beene. < econdly,that 
 it is a moft vile and palpable /ic,which they fatten vpon our 
 Religion and Churchy-hat it began with Luther, and is no 
 elder then his age; this they whifpereuery day into the eares 
 of fimplc pcoplc,and divulge in their Sermons and writings : 
 but doubtlcfle a^aini! their conference : for there arc tew 
 leaucs in their Annals and Churchvhiftories, which are not 
 marked whh the blood of our Martyrs ; and they themf lues 
 cannot 'leny,but that 400. yeercs before Luther was borne, 
 their Fathers perfecuted to death, and that by molt cruell 
 tormcnts,anumberthatprofc(fcdth:fame Religion with vs 
 in fub{tance,though not fo fully rcucaledvnto them byrea- 
 Pjii of die thicke darkncfTe of that Age. And ihivdlv, that 
 ous,not theirs, is the perfecuted Chur.h. For though heere 
 in England, and elfew here tke publike exercife of their Re 
 iigion is forbidden, and men by mul6t contained either to 
 communicate with vs in the fcruicc of God. and holy Sacra- 
 ments of the Church,or to fufTcr,and alio diuers Pricfts and 
 Icfiitcshaue beene executed by the edge of Law : yctfor 
 their number it is not one to a thoufand to thofe ofour Reli- 
 gion that hauc becne put to death by them : and for this 
 ca.ife,ours is Religion meerely, thehs rebellion and tranf- 
 greiTion of politikc Lawes, againft which they willingly 
 dam themfeluci by their voluntary thrulting thcmfelucs in- 
 to the kingdo:ne,to feduce the people, and withdraw their 
 hearts from their allegiance to their Soueraigne. This is fo 
 knowne a trutu,that I need not ftand further to proueit. 
 
 %. To the cruelty of Antichrifts perfecution theyafcribe 
 as a principal! effect, rhe abolifhing of the publikc feruice 
 andfacrificcof the Church, which they gather out of the 
 twelfth of Davie! y and becau c the Maffe is not yet aboliflied 
 which is their great vnbloody ficrificc, therefore Antichrift 
 is not yet comc,and fo the Pope is not A ntichnft: which ob- 
 ieclbn is mod exactly confuted by the Author of this Trca- 
 tifc : but yet to cleare the matter further, I adde a r.ote or 
 
 F f two. 
 
I 218 
 
 Antkhrifls perfecutiw. Chap.* 
 
 
 Jofepfat Anil* 
 ilb.jl*cap.\ t. 
 
 two. And firft,it is obfcruablc,thatthc facrificcs of Chrifti- 
 ans,arc either priuate, or publike : priuate Sacrifices, arc 
 fii ft, euery inans owne body which he muft offer vp as a 
 liuing,holy, and acceptable Sacrifice vntoGod,fo?w. 12.I. 
 which kinde of Sacrifice is fo farre from being abolifhcd by 
 any pcrfecution,that it is thereby rather erTe6tcd, when the 
 faithfull willingly offer their bodies to death, and all maner 
 of torments for the truths fake. Secondly, the fpltituall Sa- 
 crifices ofChriftians J arcPrayers,Thankigiuings,Almes, and 
 a contrite and humble heart,none of which can b: abolifhed 
 by Antichrift^exceptthe Church of God fhouldbcevtterly 
 deitroyed, which is impoffible : neither fhall the publikc 
 Sacrifices 2nd Ceremonies of the Church then ccafe,as Bap- 
 tifme,and an extcrnall profeffion of Chrifhanity. For Anti- 
 chrilt fhall fit in the Temple of God,as Saint Paul affirmeth, 
 and fhall haue two homes like the Lambe, though he fpcake 
 like the Dragon, Apoc. 1 3.1 1. For this caufe Remond'xs of 
 opinion,contrary to the Tenet otlZeltarmine y thzt this pcrfe- 
 cution of \ntichrift, fhall not abolifh the Made which they 
 eftecmeto be the onely true Sacrifice of a Chiiftians: and 
 therefore that that prophecy oi Darnells to be vndcrftoodof 
 the Sacrifices of the Law interrupted by Antiochm Epipha- 
 nes^is witnefle both Saint Chryfojtome^ and the Author of 
 the booke of the Machabees ,and Iofepbw. True it is, Ir<weM> 
 Tbeedoret, and others of the Fathers allcdged by TSellarmwe, 
 vnderftand that Text of Antichrift,but thefc are but the con- 
 jectures of thofc good men, which ought not to prciudi- 
 cate the truth confirmed by experience, and the euent of 
 things foretold. Howbeit euen thus alfo it may be fitly ap- 
 plyed to the Pope : for he hath changed the whole feruice of 
 God anciently prac-tifed in the Church, and in itead thereof 
 brought in a number of vaine obfcruations,and impious fn- 
 pcr(titions,asmuch different from that which was in anci- 
 ent timc,as Lead is from Gold,or durtfrom precious ftone. 
 For whereas the fubftanccof Chriftian Religion in regard 
 ofpra6tifc>coiififteth in thefe three points; the inuocating 
 of Gods name,Prcaching and hearing the word, and admi~ 
 
 nifiration 
 
Chap. 4- 
 
 Antkhrifts perfecution< 
 
 119 
 
 niftrationofthe Sacraments 5 hce hath foully depraued and 
 corrupted all thefc. In ftcad of inuocating the name ofGod, 
 he hath brought in Prayers in an vnknown tonguc,inuocation 
 of Angels and Saints departed, yea the worfhip of Images, 
 Cro{Tcs,and Relikes,andofapcece of bread which they call 
 their God : and oftentimes the Saints which they ad ore, are 
 fuch as ncuer wcrcliuing in the world,but mecre Chimeras 
 of their ownc braine: and that which is ftrange,eucn Pagan 
 Idolis under their name ; as in the Temple of the Vatic ane 
 in^^vndcrthe title of Saint Pster y they adore Ittpiter 
 CapitolinwfiS is euident by the haire of the Image, which is 
 curledandfiizled: whereas Saint Peter is alwaies painted} 
 bald, onely they haue taken away the thunderbolt out of his 
 hand, and thrufl in keyes in ftcad thereof. And at 'BoHrdwttx 
 in SaintAndrewes Church at the entrance of the Quire, they 
 make the image otf&ptter mounting vp into heauen vpon an 
 Eagles backe, to reprefent the afcen/ion of Chriit. Tou- 
 ching the preaching of the GofpelI,is it not apparant that the 
 greatest part of Gods word is deliucred to the people in an 
 vnknowne tongue ? y^nd what doe their new vpftart Friars 
 neucrheardofinthe world till of late yeeres,which are their 
 great and almoft onely Predicants ? J fay, what doe they 
 I preach for the inert part, but the rotten traditions of the 
 Church,and legendary fables to amaze mens mindcs, and 
 nuzzle them in fuperlrkion ? And touching the Sacra- j 
 mcnts,it is lamentable to fee how they haue changcd,corrup- 
 ted,mangled,and prophaned them : adding vtlto thebleffed 
 Sacrament of Baptifmea number of vainc, idle, yea filthy 
 fuperftitions,as Sak,Crcamc,Spettle,Oylc 3 and fuch like:as if 
 Chrift was not wife enough when he appointed Water onely 
 without any other mixture. And' the holy Eucharilt they 
 manglc,perueit,and abufe,according to their ownc fanfies, 
 taking away the one ha'.fe from the people, towit,the Cup, 
 the liucly rcprefentation of Chrifts blood, not breaking the 
 bread as it ought to bee by inftitution • nor communicating 
 .with the people, but oftentimes alone, contrary to the na- 
 ture of a Communion : and that which ismoftitvange,crof- 
 
 Ff* fine 
 
 ■ I I ■ '!■ ... I « . .! ■ ■ ■ l« III ■!■ ■■ 1 II ■■ I I IM^hLt 
 
r- 
 
 z%o 
 
 Afftichrifts ptrfecuthn. 
 
 Chap.4. 
 
 na.Chrtfi.l'ib» 
 
 Cbrj/o/fd* 
 tpiJt'AO. He-* 
 krAoscdp.i** 
 fer.17. 
 
 ad.HeU'i* 
 
 (ing theHoaft : which they fay is very Chrift, to protect 
 him from the diucll r as if Chrift flood in fcare of the diuell, 
 or that the Crofle did ian&ifie him, and not hee the CroiTe. 
 Thus the Pope hath depraued, if not vtterly abolifhcd the 
 whole externall feruicc of God, and therefore euen in this 
 refpeel alfo wee may conclude, that he is the true Aruichriii 
 fpoken of in the Scripture. 
 
 6. The MaiTeinaeed continucth vnder him, and is main- I 
 tained with great pompe,and the Fathers call it the facrificc 
 of the Church : but how? Not a true and reall facrifice, as 
 the Papifts hold, but beeaufe by the Lords Supper is continu- 
 ed in the Church a recordation, and memorial! of the death 
 and paiTion of Chrift. Thus Saint jiugHftwci Wte ( at the 
 Eucharift ) partake of t he pajfun of our Lord, and withjwect* 
 ne{fe and profit retains in our memory that his fie/1? was cru 
 ci fled for vs. And Chryfofioms : That which wee doe in ths 
 lords Supper is done in commemoration of that which was dene 
 before ; neither doe wee offer a facrifice % bm the recordation of 
 a facrifice* And TheophiUtt : Wee offer euery day, *r rather 
 make a recordation of that oblation by which Chrifi offered 
 himfetfe.ln this fenfc principally doe the Fathers call this Sa- 
 crament a facrifice,and therefore when thefe men contrary 
 to their iinention,affirme,Chri(t to be truly and really facrifi- 
 ced vnto God in the NbAfc by a mortall Pricft for remiiTion 
 ioffinnes, what doe they but deitroy the whole nature of 
 the Sacrament, which is a communion of the body and 
 blood of Chrift to the faithiull,and not ajacriflcing of it to 
 God ? So that wee confellc,that the Pope doth not abolifh 
 the MaiTc,but rather maintainc and vphold it as the foulc and 
 I ttrcngth othis kingdomc. It. is the Sacrament which hec de- 
 1 ftroy cth by the Maflc,and hot the Malic it felfe : and this his 
 I maintaining the MaiTe, proue.h him plainly to be that Anti- 
 chrift figured by Anttochpu, whotot>ke away the daily fa- 
 crifice of theSynagoguc,and fuborncd a falfe worfhip to /#- 
 piterOtympius in ftead thereof,as thefe haue done the vvor- 
 
 ihip of a pecce of bread in ftcad of the true and pure wor- 
 fhip of Chrilt. 
 
 7. But 
 
Chap.4« 
 
 Antkhrtjisperfecutio v. 
 
 221 
 
 7. But that wc may fee that the Popifli perfecution is not 
 IcfTc.butfarre greater then that of the Heathen Empcrours, 
 it will appcare, if we call to mind the bloody executions by 
 i > moil cxquifite torments, a6ted by their Inquihtors ofherc- 
 ticall prauity as they terme them : For thefc kind of people, 
 are molt ingenious in deuifing tortures for poore Chrifti- 
 ans; they thinkc fcorne that they fhould be excelled of any 
 Heathen Tyrant in this kind : nay Phaltiru himfelfe, neuer 
 WCnt beyond them in cruelty, as all know that know their 
 Inquifition Court : neither is this cruelty proper onely vnto 
 them^but the whole Nacion of Papifts are infected with the 
 fame ferity : and that they may knowthcmfeluestobethc 
 flaucs of Antichrif t, the more a man is addicted to their reli- 
 gion, the more fierce and bloody minded he is. Our owne 
 Stories do fhew, how they delight to glut their mindes and 
 eies with beholding the tortures of fuchas they cftceme He- 
 rcticks, making fport at their paines. And albeit our Nati- 
 on doth naturally abhorre all fpc&aclcs of cruelty ; yet I 
 know not how, they that are abandoned to that religion, 
 change this naturall clemency, into vnnaturall immanity. 
 Was euer any cruelty more monftrous, then to take a young 
 infant deliucred out of it Mothers wombe, and crawling 
 out of the fire wherein the Mother was burning > and to caft 
 itagaine into the flame, there to perifh with the Mother ? 
 This we haue had experience of in this Kingdome, as alio of 
 ranfacking the graues of the dead, and burning their bones 
 as Heretic ks, as they did the bo::es of Sneer y md Pati.'us Fa- 
 gin* . Yea fo foolifh is their impiety and rage, that they haue 
 come vnto the graue of a dead Cht if tiaiv and digging vp the 
 earth,taken away his winding fhcete, and fuminoncd him to 
 appearcat their Courts, as if he had benealiue : but they 
 thcmielues fliall one day appeare in the high Court of hea- 
 ucn.beforc the iudgement katc of Chnll, and there recciue 
 the iuft guerdon of their cruelty, May we not then prcferre 
 the Pope tothefierceft Tyrant that euer liucd ? And there- 
 upon, if there were no other argument but their bloody cru- 
 elty againft him., conelude,that he is the very Antichrift fpo- 
 
 Ff3 ken 
 
222 
 
 Antichrifls perfection* 
 
 Chap.4 
 
 ken of in the Scripture, whofc religion breathes nothing but 
 blood, and whole defigncments ayme at nothing butMaffa- 
 cres, and whofe proie£te plot nothing but the ruine and de- 
 ftru&ion of all thofe that will not receiue his markc on their 
 forehcads,and become his flaues. 
 
 8. Forconclufion of this poiut, touching Antichrifts pet- 
 fecution,obferuc thefe few things. Firft, that though there 
 was to bevnder Antichrift, almoft an vniuerfall defection 
 from the faith ;yet his pcrfecution is not to be vniuerfal^but 
 oncly in thofe places where theGofpell is entertained. Se- 
 condly, that this persecution is not to continue in full 
 ftrength till the end, but as it grew vp by little and little, fo 
 it is to decreafe by degrees ; as that Man of ^ inne is more and 
 more reucaled,and his power weakned, by the preaching of 
 theGofpell. Thirdly, that the edge thereof is bent againft 
 none butProtcftants :for lewes, Tnrkes s and Infidels, may 
 liuc fafcly with them,euen in Rome vndcr the Popes nofe,and 
 neuer be called into queftionfor their blafphemics : oncly 
 thepoore Proteftants are furc to feelc the dint of their ma- 
 lice,of which no other reafoncanbe giuen but this, becaufe 
 we fet our felucs againft their crrours and pompe: and thefe 
 are open enemies vnto God, to flie w that their owne glory 
 andcrcditis more deere vnto them, then the glory of God. 
 Fourthly, that he perfecutes not onely vs whom he calleth 
 his enemies, but alfo his owne friends and followers, ha- 
 uocking their foulcs,as he doth our bodies,and leading thm 
 blindfolded by troops into hell, and yet no man may dare 
 to fay vnto him, why doft thou fo ? Fiftly, that he cxercifeth 
 this crucl:y,not oncly by iudiciall cenfures,but by open wars, 
 fctting Kingdomes an d Princes together by the eares, and 
 raifing vp fubiccls in rebellion againft their Soueraignes.-and 
 when Peters keyes will not fcrue the turnc, to gird himfclfc 
 with Pauls fword, turning the Priefthood , which fhould be 
 the Oracle and Sanctuary of peace, into Martiall fury,and the 
 fword of the Spirit, into a fword of yron,thc force whereof 
 all Chriftian States hauc felt and feared not manyyecrcs 
 fince. Sixtly, that when by open violence he cannot pre* 
 
 uaile, 
 
Chap. 5. 7 he continuance tfhis reigne. 
 
 21$ 
 
 uai 
 his 
 
 ilc,then he fecks by trca r on to crTedt his wjll,fending forth / 
 i damned Emiflarics, Pricfts 3 rndIefuites,cndfuchljke,to 
 poyfonor ftab allfuch asftandin their light ; not fparing 
 En »perours, Kings, and Princes thcmfelues, asHiftonescio 
 plentifully report vnto vs. Andlaftly, that his hatred is 
 not [o much againft mens pcrfons, as zgainft their religion 
 and truth it felfe, which he labours by all meanes to extermi- 
 nate out ofthc world.But as L*ther a little before his death, 
 comforting his friends faid, fo fay 1 : Let vs be of good cou- 
 rage, though all the Potentates ofthe world be combined a- 
 gainit the truth, yet it {hall profper and preuaile in defpight 
 of them : FoxPro nobis magKm cjuidam bercs flat, a great 
 worthy ftands on. our fide. And when his friends doubted , 
 who this great manihould be : He replyed,// Iefus Chrifiw \ 
 eft qu;m oportct vhctre y It is Iefus Chrift who muft oucr- 
 come : who hath already wafted this Man of Sinne, by the 
 breath of his mouth, that is, the preaching ofthe Gofpell, 
 and fhall at laft vtterly deftroy him by the brightneflc 
 of his comming. Eucn fb Amen, come Lord. Iefus,come 
 quickly. 
 
 CHAP. $.. 
 Touching the continuance ofAntichrifts r eigne. 
 
 1 . \ Ntichrift is to be confidcred two waics : either in rc- 
 J~\ fpcCt of his perfon., or in refpect of his reigne. Tou- 
 ching his perfbn,he was borne in the Apoftles timc,and fhall 
 continue in the world, till the fecond comming of Chrift, 
 though with many changes and alterations, as it happeneth 
 to the life of man : where we muft take the word Perfott, not 
 as it is ordinarily vfed in our language, for one ccrtaine par- 
 ticular man,but as the be ft Latine Authors often do, for a 
 certainc title, ouTce s and quality, belonging to one at once, 
 yet to many by fucceffion. And thus when we fay the Pope 
 is Antichrift, we make all the Popes fince 'Boniface the 
 third, butoneperfon 3 though they haue bene diuers men in 
 
 fuc~ 
 
 mtnt % 
 
3*4 
 
 — 
 
 Theewtinuance ofhisreigne. Chap, 5, 
 
 fucccffion : and for this caufe it is, that when mention is made 
 of Popes, the fpcech is in the f ng ular number, though that 
 thereby they intend rot any one in particular, but the whole 
 order of them in general! : as the Pope is head of the Church, 
 the Pope cannot be an Heretic k, thePcpeis Chrifts Vicar 
 on earth, &c. Which fpeeches cannot be vndcrftood of any 
 one lingular Pope, but of the feate and fucceflion of the 
 whole order. And thus alfo we fpeake of Kings and Empc- 
 rour s, who at one time arc but one in number, yet vary by a 
 perfomllreprefcntation, whether by elcclion. or hereditary 
 fuccefTion ; and fo we fay, that the King neuer dyes, nor the 
 Pope, nor the Empcrour, to wit, fo long as there is a fuccef- 
 fionandcontinuaiiccintheKingdome. Now in this fenfe 
 I fay, that A' tichriits continuance in the world, hath bene 
 from the A gc of the Apoftles, and fhall continue till the la ft 
 day, But if we vnderftand it of Antichrifts reigne, then the 
 time is of a fhorter limitation : for as hath bene already 
 (hewed, that began in Boniface the third, and grew to the 
 height in Boniface the eight, and Gregory the feuenth,and not 
 long after, began to fade and decline, as we fee at this day. 
 
 j. The Papifts affirmc, that he fhall reigneiuft three 
 yeeses an d an halfe, and no more ; which they ftriuc to proue 
 out of Darnel 7*25. and 12.7. zndApoc. 12.14. where 
 mention is made of time, times, and halfe a time rvndcrftan- 
 ding by time , a ycere ; by times y two yccies ; and by halfe a 
 time, halfe a yeere. But this interpretation is fufficicntly dif- 
 peiledby the Author himfclfe : onely I will mew them how 
 fenfeldfe a deuife it is, and what difficulties they thereby caft 
 thcmfclues into, which arc not pofliblc to be reconciled. For 
 firfl, to fay that Antichrift fhall reigne but three yeercs and 
 an halfe, and in that fpace to reduce the whole world into 
 his obedience, is as impoffible, as if a man fhould vndertakc 
 to trauaile ten thonfand miles in three daies : it is beyond the 
 compafle of mans power to atchieuc fuch a conqueit in fo 
 fhort a time, no not if we make him as fortunate as Timo- 
 thew the Athenian Captiue> whom they painted flecping, 
 and Fortune cafting Cities and Countries into his lap : and 
 
 albeit 
 
Ch:p.J. The continuance ofhisreigne. 
 
 albeit he be armed with all the power of hell, yet the diuell 
 himfelfe is not able to bring the whole world vndcr the fub- 
 ie<5tionof one man in fo fhort a time. Sccondly,they fay, 
 that he mutt reignc oucr the Nation of the fewer, at Ierufa- 
 lem, and that they (hall recciue him for their Mcffias. But 
 how can this be brought to paife within that (pace? The Na- 
 tion ofthe levees, is di perfed almoft ouer the whole world : 
 now what Poftes or Pegafuffes fhallhe haue, to admonifh 
 them fo fpcedily of their Mcffias his being, and reigning at 
 fvrtifaftm ? Shall he get the Sunne to be his trumpeter, and 
 the Moone to carry his letters,to fummon this fc3ttcred peo- 
 ple? But fuppofe the fame of him may come to their eares; 
 how (hall they fo fpeedily march out of thofc farre Coun- 
 tries wherein they inhabitc, and affemblc fo fuddainly at le- 
 Yv.falem ? or if they could, and would; will thofc Nations 
 wherein they liue, fuffer them to paffe thus fuddainly from 
 them, with bag, and baggage, and not rather retaihe them 
 by violence, as Pbaroah did their progenitors in ts£grpt?Be- 
 fides, they hold that A ntichrift fhall reedifie Salomons Tctn- 
 ple,which is fo demolished, that one ftone is not left vpon an-- 
 other.But Salomon was feuen yeercs.in building it at the firft, 
 and that with an hundred and fifty thoufand workememand 
 for the fecond reftauration of it, we heare the /ewes faying 
 vnto €hrift,hx & forty yeeres was this Temple in building, 
 & will Antichrift in three yeeres fpace fct it vp anew? Where 
 of fuch a fudaine,fhall he findc workemen, timber, ftone, 
 and other materials, with mitrum'ents,atid wages ? Belike 
 becaufeChrift fail of his body, deftroy this Temple, audi 
 will build it againe in three daies, therefore Antichrift fhall 
 build againe the materiall Temple in three daies, taking a 
 day for a yccre. A game, by their doclrine, after Antichrift 
 hath obtained the Kingdomc ofthe /ewes, he muft fight with 
 three mighty Kings, of ty£jrypt, Libia, and Ethiopia^ and 
 poffefTe their Kingdomes: Now thefc Kingdomes arc vndcr 
 the dominion of two great Emperours, to wit, the Tutke, 
 and the Fmpcrourof the Abaffmes ; and is it probable that 
 they can be fo foone conquered ? Surely Ctfkr was neuer 
 
 Ge fo 
 
 225 
 
2l6 
 
 The continuance of his r eigne. C hap. 5 
 
 fo fpecdy in his vi&ories, when he wrote to the ^enate of 
 Rome, Venrsjidi^vici 1 learnt,! faw y I offer came. He mud 
 alio fubduc feuen other great Kings, and fo become the 
 great Monarch of the whole world,and caufc all Nations to 
 Apoftatc from Chrift, and entertaine his religion The whole 
 age of a man, is not fufficicnt to difcouer andveiw all the 
 Nations of the world, and yet this monitor muft quell and 
 tame them in three yccres, whereas the Romanes fcarcein 
 feuen hundred yceres could creel their Empire* and that but 
 ouer one part of the world. The Apoftlcs of Chrift, endu- 
 ed with diuine vertue, and power of miracles, and the gift 
 of tongues,could hardly in twenty yecres plant Churches 
 in 1110ft part of the world , and hardly in fiuc hun dred yecres 
 was Heathenim Idolatry abolifticd ; and {Tiall he, as more 
 powerful! then Chrift,erTe£l as great a workc in three yeeres 
 and an halfe ? Further, when they fay that he {hall caufe him- 
 felfe to be worshipped in all places, I won e'er what kind of 
 Apoftles and preachers he (hall hauc, thus to pcruert the 
 whole world in an inftant. Shall men fly about the world on 
 the wings of the windes?and if they do, with what eloquence 
 and Art, fhall they pcrfwadc both learned, andfimplc, to 
 this defection ? What (hall become then of the Pope, with 
 his Collcdge of Cardinals, and whole Romane Cleargy ? 
 Shall he finde them fo light of frith, that they will renounce, 
 not onely their religion(which is no great matter with them) 
 but their State, Pompe, and Authority, vpon fo Height a 
 fummons ?. Thefe and a number fuch like dotages, are fitter to 
 be preached to.itockes and ftones, or as their Friar Francis 
 did, to bcafts, and fotres, rather then to men of vnder Stan- 
 ding and iudgement : and yet their great learned Rabbies, 
 arc not afhamed to propound them to fimplc people as Ora- 
 cles of faith : but their repugnancy iliewcs their vanity. 
 
 3 . The Texts out of which they dcriue this fancy ,are as 
 full of contradiction to their interpretation, as the fancy it 
 fclfc. For firft, whereas it is written, Dan. 7. They Jhafl 
 he delittered into his hand for a time, timei, andkalfeatimc\ 
 In the eight Chapter, it is faid : That hejhatttrampfe down* 
 
 the 
 
Chap. 5 . The continuance of his r eigne. 
 
 227 
 
 the SAntiu&ry ,2300. daies: both which Texts, arcapplycd 
 by them vnto A ntichrift. But how can this agree, whereas in 
 one place they findc, three daies and an halfe, and in the o- 
 thcr, aboue fix yeeres, for fo 2 500. daies import. Secondly, 
 the time ,times, and halfe a time, in the twelfth Chapter, arc 
 expounded in the cleuenth veife,by the number r 29cdaies, 
 which Tjellarmwe confcfTeth to determine the durance of 
 Antichrifts reigne :but 1290. daies, make three yeercs, and 
 feuen monc ths, which is a moneth more then three yccres 
 and an halfe mow if A ntichrift muft reigne three yceres and 
 an halfe, or 1 1 6r. daies, as they gather out of the Apoca- 
 lyps,thcn he cannot reigne 1 ^9o. daies, or if this, then not 
 the former. Thirdly, they fay, Antichrift muft reigne three 
 yceres and an halfe, and Enoch and Eliot muft preach againft 
 him 1 260, daies, w ? hich make iuft three yeercs and an halfe, 
 and yet they adde, that thefc two Prophets muft be flaine by 
 Amichrift, a moneth before his owne deftru&ion : but how 
 co.\\ th s hang together ? If Antichrifts reigne, and Bnoeh and 
 8 lias preaching, haue one and the fame fpace of time allot- 
 ted vnto them ; how can it then be true, that they jfhall be 
 flaine a moneth before his deftrudtion ? Or if the laft be true; 
 th n the firft muft needes be falfe, that Antichrift fhall reigne 
 but three yeercs and an halfe : for here by their o wnc con- 
 fciTion is a full moneth after their flaughtcr giucn vnto the 
 life and reigne of this monfter : which difference of time, 
 though it be but fmall, yet it plainly proueth, that thofe num- 
 bers in Daniel, and the ^pocaljps, cannot be afligned for 
 the prccifetcrme of three yeeres and an halfe for Antichrifts 
 reigne. 
 
 4. But faith Remold, following his counterfeit Hyppc- 
 tittu, Antichrift fhall fend out his cuill fpirits through the 
 world, to ilgnifie and proclaime vnto all men, that a great 
 King is borne in the world, and fummon.them to acknow- 
 ledge and yeeld obedience vnto him. A ftrange drcame 
 doubtleflc, concerning the which, I would demand of them 
 three qucftions. Fnft, what ground of Scripture they haue 
 for this drcame. S. Paul indecde,t.7l*p/. 2 .9 . faith, that 
 
 G e 2 his 
 
 RemonJeAm- 
 
2*8 
 
 The continmnce of his r eigne. Chap . 5 
 
 his comrningfhall be with the efficacy of Sathan, with all po~ I 
 wer, and fignes, and lying wonders, and with all deceiuable- 
 neffe of vnrighteoufneffe : but that he (hall hauc at command 
 the infernall Spirits,and lend them as his trumpeters through 
 the world, to gather his fubic&s together, is no where to be 
 found in holy Scripture. Secondly, I demand, whether 
 thcfemaligne fpirits,whichhc (hall fend a broad, fhall be vi- 
 fible with affiimed bodies, or inuifible as {pints ? 1 f they fay 
 inui(ible_, how then {Kali they found out this meflage" to their 
 cares, and how can it be but that all men will fufpeft them 
 for decciuers, feeing they know that the diucll was a Iyer 
 from the beginning? Or if vifiblc like men, how (hall they 
 be able to perfwade the whoje world to Apoftacy from 
 Chrift info fudaine a manner, when as Chrifts owne A po- 
 tties, furnimed with the gifts of the holy Ghoft, could not 
 conuert the world in a fane longer time ? Befidcs, appearing 
 
 Ias men, they rauft needs be fufpecled of crro:>r and infirmi- 
 ty. Thirdly, I aske what fhall become at that time of their 
 great Bifhop, his Cardinals, and the innumerable Armies of 
 Monkes, Friars, Icfuites,Pricfts, &c. will they all bend their 
 knee at one inftant to this I do 11, and renounce their Chrifti- 
 anity : yea their Pompe, Riches, triple Crowne, red Hats, 
 with all S. Peters Patrimony, for the maintenance of which 
 
 I things, they hauefo laboured and ftriucn fo many hundred 
 yeeres > Is this the foundation vpon which their Church is 
 built ? Is this their faith, which they fay the gates of hell can- 
 not preuaile againft ? Is this S. Peterjchahc, which they 
 affirme cannot either errc or faile ? When they hauc anfwe- 
 red thele queftions, then we will beleeuc thisdrcame. 
 
 5. Yea but faith Remordm ,hee fhall be fo ftored and fur-, 
 nifhed with abundance of treafures amaflcd together by the 
 dcuill,that by them he fhall be able to draw after him infi- 
 nite multitudes ofpeople.-for Quid nonmoYtaliapcttor a cogis 
 auri facra fames > What cannot Gold doe ? Indeede Gold 
 can doc much,but is it pofliblc that hec fhould heape toge- 
 ther fo much Gold,as to corrupt the whole world therewith? 
 Muflhenotnecdshauea maffe bigger then Mount Atlas 
 
 to 
 
Chap. 5 • The continuance of hi* relent 
 
 229 
 
 to bring this to paffe } tteiides,isithkely that all the peo- 
 ple of the world would bee tempted with Gold to forfafce 
 their God, and their Faith, which is more precious then 
 Gold > How many of the very Heathen do we readc of, that 
 hauc d:fpifedGold,and preferred Vertue before it ? And 
 (h all there bee found no Chriftians to bee compared vnto 
 them in continency and vertuc } Credat fttdtus jipelU. 
 Let the vnbeleeuinglew bclecue this fable, furcly wee can- 
 not. But if peraduent ure they fpeakc this of themfelues, and 
 thofe that are of their owne profeffion : why then they muft 
 ofneccflity confeffe themfclues to bee mifcrable flaues vnto 
 Gold,and to hauc falcablc confctences.Neither is it any mar- 
 uaile if in this regard we affirme the Pope to bee Antkhrift, 
 feeing by riches and worldly honors and preferments hec 
 bindcth vnto himlelte his followers, efpecially his Cleargy, 
 whofe worldly (late and pompe is fo great,as fcarce any 
 Prince doth goc beyond them : Gold, Honors, and prefer- 
 ments being the very fiicwes ofthe Popes kingdomc. 
 
 6. But if they ttand prccifely for the termc of three 
 yeercs and an halfe for Antichriftsreigne, and becaufe the 
 Pope hath reigned fpiritually in the Church fifteene hundred 
 yceres,as r Beliarmirte a(Krmeth,that therefore he is not Anti- 
 chrift : I anfwere two things : Firft,that if they take Ami- 
 chrifttobeone lingular perfon,asthey doe, thenfome of 
 their Popes might be Antichrift by this computation of their 
 reignc : for it hath fallen out by Gods prouidence to them, 
 as neuer to any other kingdome in the world, fo farre as 1 
 hauc read, that they hauc reigned full three yecresandan 
 ha'.fejiccordmgto this prophecy. As Stephen the third or 
 fourth,gouerned the Papacy three yceres, fiue moneths,and 
 twenty eight dayes, as yinajlafui reports in the hues ofthe 
 Popes. Eennet the fourth fate three yeercs fix moneths and 
 fifteenedaies,andZ>0 the feuenth, three yeercs fixe moneths 
 and ten daies ; fo that one ©f thefc might bee A ntichrift ac- 
 cording to their owne accounts But becaufe wee muft not 
 fecke for this monfter in any one particular man without 
 relation to fucceffion 5 therefore 1 fay fecondly, that who- 
 
 Gg 5 foeuer 
 
2J0 
 
 The continuance of his r eigne. C hap. 5 
 
 ioeucrprefuircthto reigne fpiritually ia the Church befides 
 Chrift alone, the true and fole fpirituall King thereof, the 
 fame is Antichrift fitting in or ouer the Temple of God. 
 But the Pope by their owne confcrTion hath done this ; hce 
 therefore without doubt is that Antichrift fpoken of, vfur- 
 ping an vnlawfull tyranny in the Church of God. For Saint 
 Peter forbids all Paftors tobehaue thcmfelucs as Lords ouer 
 Gods heritage, i.f>/*r. 5. 3, and confequently to reigne ouer 
 them. 
 
 7. Out of all which! conclude, that thofe numbers in 
 the Apocaiypt of 1 260 daies, 41 moneths, and three yceres 
 and anhalfe, are not to be taken in a literall, but in a myfti- 
 callfignification: and that they denote not any certaine or 
 definite time in rc r pc6l of humane vnderftanding : but one- 
 ly this,thatGod in his counfaile hath determined a fet bound 
 to the perfecution of his Church, which cannot bee pafied ; 
 which bound though it be certaine vnto him,yet is vnccrtanie 
 vnto vs,becaufe it is not for vs to know the times and feafons 
 which the Father hath placed in his owne power. Atts.x.?. 
 And therefore os after foure hundred yceres complcat, God 
 brought the Children of Ifiael out of zs£gypt y (o he will after 
 fome hundreds of yceres,deliuer his Church from the cruell 
 and bloody perfecution of all the enirmes thereof,andgiue it 
 a peaceable and quiet repofe,as we fee effected in the time of 
 Conftantine the great : and to this end femes the diuers (Im- 
 putation of times by yceres x moneths, and dates, partly that 
 the faithfufl might know,that the lcaft moments and minutes 
 of time arc determined by God,and partly that they might 
 be ftrengthncd in thcirmifericsandaffli&ions,withthe con- 
 sideration of the fhortnciTe of them, intimated by fuch fhert 
 limitations oftime,as of a few yeeres, moneths, and d?ycs. 
 And befides, in that all thofe feuerall numbers iumpc toge- 
 ther in one fumme of time; for 1 ^6o daies,4 1 moneths, and 
 threeyeercs and an halfc,are all one in computationjit fliew- 
 eth plaincly,that they muft bee fpiritually conceiucd,othcr- 
 wife to what end fhould that variation feruc ? 
 
 8. But howfoeucr they be taken,yet it is clcarc,that they 
 
 cannot 
 
Chap, f . 7 be continuance of his reigne. 
 
 231 
 
 cannot be meant of the reigne or perfecution of Antichrift, | 
 but either of the ftate ofthe primkiuc Church vnder the hea- 
 then Emperors,orof the durance of the Romane Empire fi- 
 gured by the firft bc2l\,s4prc. 1 ?. Theflrft of thefe opinions 
 isbuiltvponthisground,bccaufeitisnot the manerofholy 
 Scripture to premonftrate any ccrtainc periods of thofe in- 
 terne troubles which are raifed vp in the Church by falfe 
 Chriitians^but oncly of fuch as arife from forraine enemies 
 that profctTedly hate the truth : as we fee the perfecution 
 ofthe ancient Church, vnder the <s£gyptians, Bafylcvianf, 
 and^*r/W>/#,deflncdbyi certainc number of yeeres by 
 the Prophets: but not that which was inflicted by Idola- 
 trous Kings 3 as Manajfes ,J Urobo urn ,and the reft ofthe Kings 
 of Ifrael: and fo thefe numbers in the Apocaljps are not to be 
 referred to Antichrift. who was to be a domcfticall foe, but 
 to the bloody cruelty of thofe heathen Tyrants. And this is 
 plainely euinced by the number of4 2 moncths,which is all 
 one in effect with the other two: for Apoc,\ 1. 2. it is faid,that 
 the Gentiles fhall tread vnder foot the holy City 42 mo- 
 net hSjW'hich I fee not ho wit can be well vnderftood but of 
 the heathen Emperors. And Apoc % \ 3.5. it is faidof thefirft 
 Beaft,that power was giuen vnto him to continue 42, mo» 
 ncths ; now by die firft Beaft is fignified cloubtleiTc the Ro- 
 mano Empire,which is faid to rife out of Seayehat is, out of 
 warlike tumults : and by the fecond which arifeth out ofthe 
 carth,that is.out of peace and quietneffc, in a flie and fubtill 
 maner,theftatcofAntichri(t. If then this be dircclly fpo- 
 ken ofthe Romane Empire which is the firft. Beaft, then it 
 can no wayes appertainc to Antichrift figured by the fecond; 
 vnlcffe we will make thefe two Beads fignifie but one and 
 the fame thing, which is as much^s to make a thing both be- 
 fore and after it felfcrand that which the holy Ghoft cals ano- 
 ther ,yct not to be another.and la(try,the image of a thing,to 
 bcthethingitfclfc. The fecond opinion touching the du- 
 rance ofthe Romane Empire, fecmeth alfo to haue fbmc 
 probability oftruth ; for the words in the originall, vfyar. 1 3. 
 5 .doc thus found, and Power was gitttn vnto bim } «roiw<r*/, 
 
 Facere 
 
*3* 
 
 Thtcmtitiuance of his r eigne. C hap . 5 
 
 Fucere y to do forty andtxvomonexhs. Now this word Facer e 
 todoe,beingputabfolutely, fignifieth in the Scripture lan- 
 guage^ command^reignCjOr execute whatfoeucraman in- 
 tendeth without impeachment : as Daniet.Z.i i.fpcakingof 
 Antiochtis^'w. is faid, That bee caft dorwe the truth to the 
 grounded did (Fecit) and profpered: and verfe 24. He [hall 
 deftroy, proffer^ and doe. And ib Saul faith vnto Dauid, \ . 
 Sam.i6. 1 5. Btejjed bee thou my Sotme Dautd, thou floalt doe 
 and preuaile , The words as they arc trriiflated Verbatim by 
 Ar'tafLMontanm arethefe: Vaciendo facte s y et vdendv va- 
 /^A^thatis, thou fhak come to the end of thy dcf.re^and 
 reigncin JfraelasGod hath promifed. Sohecrcwhenit is 
 faid, Power is giuen to the 'Beajl to do, 42. moneths, the mea- 
 j ningmayfeemetobe to reigne42moneths. So that Saint 
 Iohn in great likelyhood feemethheere to define thelengdi 
 ofcontinuanceofthe Romane Empire by 41. propheticall 
 monethsjVvhich make 1 26"o,ycercs, taking according to the 
 vfe of prophecy, a clay for a yeere : which opinion is ftrcngth- 
 nedbytheeucnt. For from thefirft foundation of Rome, 
 till the vttcrruincand fackingof it by Theodoricke the Cjoth, 
 which was in the time of the Emperor j4naftajitu y in the 
 yeere of the world ,44 5 6.and of Grace, 507. parfed fo many 
 yeeres by precifc computation : at which Anttchrift began 
 to grow ripe, and tofhew himfelfc more and more in the 
 ruincs of that Empire. Hitherto may bee annexed the ac- 
 count of Pagans themfelues. Cenforinus rcportcth out of 
 Z}arro y in the eighteenth booke of his Antiquities, that one 
 Vcttim a famous Augurc affirmed, That feeing the Romane 
 people had pajfed in good eft ate fix yeeres, ttfhoHld continue 
 I 2 00. <W then f)?ould be an end both of the City ard Empire : 
 which accompt differs from that in the jipocaljps but onely 
 60. yecrcs. The like vnto this is that heathcnilTi prophecy 
 found 'm the Sybilline Oracles, where thetearmcof Tfymes 
 durance is defined by the letters of the name in Greek *f a^w, 
 which being numbred, make 948. which numbers though 
 they differ from thofein the Apocalyps, yet they euidently 
 prouc this much,that the end of the RomanEmpire v\ as to be 
 
 about 
 
 Cenfor'mwde 
 
 dtenata't. 
 
Ch; 
 
 P£ 
 
 The continuance of his r eigne. 
 
 2 33 
 
 about that time, and that it is no ftrangc thing thus to con*, 
 iedhire. 
 
 o. Our learned and godly countriman M. Fox, hath an 
 opinion of his o wne,different from all others touching thefe 
 numbers, which hee faith, was after long itudy and prayer 
 caft ibdainly into his ininde,by fomc diuine infpiration. It 
 is this,thatthoie42.moneths are to be referred to the perfe- 
 ction of chc Church vnder the Romane Emperors, coun- 
 ting from the time otfohn Baptift, that was (1 line by Herod 
 the T,etr*rch y vntill peace was giucn to the Church by the 
 £mpcror Cowft*ntine y after the death ofL/m/#*, taking 
 thefe 42.moncchsfor weekes ofyeere? : fo tha t forty two 
 moncthsmakc by this reckning 294.yecrcs, to which if 
 weadde the 3 "\yeercs ofour Sauiour Chrift, when hec was 
 baptifed by /<?/?;;, we ftiall fall vpon the 5 24-yecrc of Chrift, 
 in which ConftAntine embraced Christian Religion. Which 
 interpretation of changing moncths into weckes,though ic 
 feeme not to accord with the ordinary current of the Scrip- 
 ture, where daies are put often for y eeres but ncucr moneths 
 for weekes : Yet feeing the fanclity'and holinefle of the man 
 isfofamouflyknowne,andhcfaith,that herecciued it by di- 
 uine reuclation,and the euentanfwcreth fo fitly thereunto; 
 whyfhoulditbcvtterly rcie&ed > Sure it is, that a moncth 
 by reafon of the folcmnity of the newMoonc was religi- 
 oufly obferued by the Ic wes, and the number of {cuen,whe- 
 therofdaiesoryccres,wasGods owne ordinance and ap- 
 pointment. Now who can tell, whether in this regard, the 
 Spirit ofGod did tranflatc the name of a moneth,to fignifie 
 a weeke of yee res ? The feuenth day was to them a ceffati . 
 onfromall worldly bufineffcs :thc feuenth yeere was depu. 
 ted for manumitting feruants, rcleafing debts, and giuing 
 rcfreflimentto the tilling of the earth ; fcuen times feuenty 
 ycere,was their Iubilce,wherein liberty was reftoredto all 
 bondage,areftoring of inheritances, and as it were arcno- 
 uationofthe world: wherefore feeing this Relig'on of 
 Sabbaths depended in a maner vpon the moncthly courfe of 
 theMoonejwhyfhoiilditfecmeabfurdto referrc a moncth 
 
 Hh to 
 
HA 
 
 The Gofpell preached through theworld. Qhap.6 
 
 But hccrc I affirme nothing,but 
 
 to a Sabbath of yecres ? 
 
 kauc the opinion of this good man rather to bee charitably 
 oon$rucd,thencontumclioufly difcraccd, as it is by the Pa- 
 pifts : for it bath in it more probability and rcafon, then a 
 number of their idle dreames andconccites. 
 
 CHAP.tf. 
 
 Of the preaching of the Cjv$f>ell through the whole world. 
 
 i.TTHat the Gofpell fhould bee preached through the 
 J. whole world, is noquefhon, feeing the mouth of 
 truth hath fpoken it, ft;** '.24.. But whether that prophecy be 
 already fulfilled, or whether it bee yet to come, is all the 
 doubt. The Papifts hold,thatit is notyet accomphfhed,and 
 thereupon conclude,that Antichrift is not yet come :6ut we 
 on the contrary anfwerc two things. Firlt, that though it 
 be not yet accomplifhed, yet it doth not therefore follow 
 that Antichrift is not come. For our Sauiour fpeaketh not 
 at all of Antichrift in that whole Chaptcr,except in general! 
 vndcr the name of falic Prophets, but of the deftruition of 
 Ierufalem^nd of the fecond comming of Chrift, which 
 vvcretbetwo queitions propounded vnto him by his A- 
 poftles, as he fate ouer againft the Temple. The firlt where- 
 of, to wit,touching the definition of Isrufdem and the 
 Temple,he refolues from the 4, vcrfe to the 2 %. And the fe- 
 cond from the 23.to-the $4. and then in the 54. and 3^. 
 vcrfcSjhe defignes a certaine time for thefirlt,to wit, before 
 that generation fhould paflc,that is, the age of the Apoftlcs, 
 but leaues the time of the fecond vnccrtaine,*and therefore 
 exhorts to vigilancy and fobriety,to the end of the Chapter. 
 And that the 3 4. ycrfe is to be vnderftood of the dcftruclion 
 of lerufa/em y md the $5. of the fecond comming of Chrift 
 to Judgement, the Pronownes dcmonftratiucs 'there -vied 
 plainely euince. For theDifciples had asked him thus,JP&«f 
 foall th*fe things bee, ( t that is, thefc things wh ; ch thou ipo- 
 ke ft concerning lerufdem and the Temple) and phatfhall 
 
 bee 
 
Chap. 6 . The Go/poll preached through the world. 
 
 H5- 
 
 Seethe pgneofthy comming} NowOiriftanfwcrcth, hac, I 
 theie things which I (pake of lerufakm (hall face "fulfilled J 
 before this generation paffc : but concerning that day, to 
 ■wit, of my fecondcomming, Ne man kyorveth 3 &cSo then,if 
 it be gtantcd,that in the 24«and2 j.vcrfes.ther be an implicite 
 prophecy of A ntichrilt as Chryfojiome fuppofcth,yet it is ap- 
 parent that the preaching of the Gofpell through the whole 
 wor!d,cannot \>z made a figne concerning his comming, but 
 either of the deftru£tion oi lerufalem ;or of the fecond com- 
 ming of Chrift, which were the queftions which the Difci- 
 ples dcfiredrefolution in. 
 
 2. But more probably, wee afSrme , that this figne was 
 effected before the dcltrudtion cSlerstfilem in the Age of 
 the Apo{tIcs,and by their Miniitery. For firft,Chrift being 
 ready to afcend into hcauen, layde this charge vpon his A- 
 poftlcs.that they fhouMgoe out into the whole world,and 
 preaduhe Gofpell to euery Creature mow can wee doubt 
 but they performed what Chrift had cnioyncd > This wast o 
 accuic thofe holy flcraults of want ofzeale and diligence in 
 their calling ; yea,of mar.ifeft infidelity and contempt. Or 
 jfhall we imagine,thatGod referued this worke to be brought 
 to patTeby certainc new A poftles,the Difciplcs of a refor- 
 med fouldicr in this lair A ge of the world, which were to 
 make vp that which was failing in the others duty. Se- 
 condly, to this end and purpofeChrrft furnifihed his Apofilcs 
 with the guift of tongues, whereby they were enabled to 
 fpeake all languages without ftudy,as is apparant, Alls. 2. 
 Now fhal! we thinkc that this gift was giuen them in vaine ? 
 And in vaine it had beencdoubtlelTe if they had not preached 
 to all Tongues,Languagcs, end Nations : to what end had 
 beenc the faculty of (peaking he Arabian, Scythian, Indian, 
 tongues,ifthey had not preached the Gofpell to thofe peo- 
 ple? Thirdly >the City ofVm*/rf/?»/, with the Temple, were 
 fhadowes anditypes of the Catholikc Church, which was to 
 be difpcifedoucr the whole :arth : now the type wrs not to 
 ceafe till the body came in full place, and therefore before 
 euerfionof that City and Temple, it was neceffary, the Got- ( 
 
 H h •>. pell 
 
236 
 
 The Gtftell preached through the world. Chap.rf, 
 
 I pell fhould be preached through the whole world. This is 
 the collc6tion of venerable Bede t thus writing. Diuwittu 
 procurdtumeft y &c. ftwasdtuinely procured, that the grace 
 of the Euan gelic All faith being manifefted through the whole 
 rverld y that Temple fometimes (0 famous , with it ceremonies, 
 fhould he taken out of the way 3 leafi fome being wetke in the 
 Faith y feeing thofe things to remaine which were inftitutedof 
 God fhould fall into admiration thereof * and fo be withdrawne 
 from thefneerity of that Faith which is in Chrtftjo cam all lu . 
 daifmf. Fourthly, our Sauiour doth not onely foretell that 
 the Gofpcll fhould bee preached through the whole world, 
 but doth alfo determine the time that it (hall be, before the 
 confummation or end come : which confummation or end,is 
 nottobe intended as of the world, but of Ieruf&ltmy for fo 
 Saint Lnke cleareth it,Chap.2 r . where the fame predictions 
 that are in Saint <JMathew y (\md apply ed and limit ted to the 
 mine of the City and Temple of lerujalem : and fo moft of 
 the Fathers interpret that confummation or end. Tertullian 
 de Refurrettione carsis, cap. 2 2 . Hilar, in CMath*. Can, 2 5 . 
 Chryfoft.m A4ath.hom.76.vfhofc words for their plainneffe 
 deferucs to be fet do wne, t&frln !£« ri ri\« « t»c nmxtw «*« W 
 tywixqu&i .that is. And then jhalbe the endytiot of the confumma- 
 tion oftheworldybntoflerufalem.Theofhilatt hathit,**w«^» 
 «m« tit Iipmxnu 1 Not of the world ybttt of IerufJem, Of the 
 fame minde are lgnatiu+yCpift.ad Philips Eufebius htslJib. 
 i.eap. 1 Jerome on Ffay.i 1 .and Danicl.9. Ambrofe on i ~Rom* 
 I o.ft.Theodoretyand 7?^*,with many others. Laft/y, there are 
 diuers expreffe Texts of Scriptures, which affirmc,thatthe 
 Gofpell was preached in the whole world in the Apoftles 
 time. As Mark. 1 tf.20. where it is faid,that the Apoftles 
 tFent forth and preached euerj where y**vl*x*l which euerj- 
 where muft needes incircle the whole habitable world. 
 Their found ( to wit,of the Apoftles) went out(faith Paul) 
 into all the earth, and their words vnto the end of the 
 world. The like hee afifirmeth, Cot. j a 6. where he addeth, 
 that it did not onely come into all the world, but alfo 
 
 I brought forth finite^ and therefore itmuft needs bee that it 
 
 was 
 
Chap.6. The G&jpell preached through the -world. 
 
 *17 
 
 was not onely virtually (as ISellvrmine cauilleth) but eucn 
 actually in the whole world :for how clfe-could it bring forth 
 fruite ? Laitly(which is without all exccption)thc fame Apo- 
 /11c in the 23, vcrieof the fame Chapter faith, That the 
 Gofpellwzs th.in preached to euerj creature vnder heauen. And 
 furely reafon fheweth the fame to be pofllble :for as Chryfb- 
 (tome well obferueth, If one Paul was able to plant the Gof- 
 peli in fo many Countries, as from lerufrfem to Spai»e y ima~ 
 gine what the othereleuen might do, who were employed 
 in this worke,and diuided the world betwixt them. 
 
 3. When we fay, that the Gofpcll was preached by the 
 Apoftles in all the world, our meaning is not, that the Apo- 
 ftles preached in cucry particular Region of the world, in 
 their ownc perfons; fo that there was no Country ,Prouince, 
 or City which they honoured not with their prcfence : for 
 this could not porTibly be in fo (hort a time, as twenty, or 
 thirty yecrcs, which was the vttermoft extent of their Lega- 
 cy. Neither yet do we thinke the fpcech to be meerely Hy- 
 berbolicall, as if by all the world were meant fome part of 
 the world. But we fay confidently,that the A poftlcs them- 
 felues preached the Goipell in the moft famous and generall 
 Countries of the world, and whither thcrnfelues could not 
 penetrate, thither they either fent their Difciples in their 
 roomcs,orfome of thofe new conuerted Chriftians, in zeale 
 to the faith recciued,went of their owne accords ; or at leaft 
 the fame and eccho of the GofpeLi ipread it felfc without a- 
 ny fct teachers, as S. Ambrofe exprertely affirmcth. Where 
 (faith he) t he p refe nee of a preacher was wanting, there t he re- 
 ft and f .me of the Gojpe/t founded, as the fame oft he miracles 
 in zs£ppt ffread it feife to all Nations , as witneffeth Rahab 
 the Harlot. And thus(as Eufebius faith) Thefauing dolirtne 
 of the Gtfpell, by the verttte and working of Cod 9 likfi a gltfie- 
 ring Sun^beame illuminated the world } and as water being flro» 
 ken with afione, lemeth not circling, tiR t he circles come to the 
 bank^yfo wither was the fowdofthe g*(f>ett ft aid ^ till it tou- 
 ched the very ends efthe world. Now this is moft probable, 
 becaufc the Apoftlcs by mutuall confcnt,or as fomc thinke, 
 
 Hh$ by 
 
 Chryfft Stn 
 
 Rom. tap. 20, 
 
 E'fih-kiflM. 
 X*ap& 
 
238 
 
 The GoQ>e 11 preached through the world. C hap. 6 
 
 by lot, diuidcd the world betwixt them : fome trauailing in- 
 to one Country, and fome into another : As Andrew to the 
 Scjthians, 7 homos to the Indians , Bartholomew into Arme- 
 nia, Mat hew into tAEthiopia, Simon Zelotrs into Per pa, and 
 Co ot the reft, as we may fee at large defcribed by 'Btromtu, 
 in the 44. ycere of Chritt. And it is alfo to be noted out of 
 Chryfoftome, in the Homily formerly alledgcd, that Chrift 
 doth not fay, that all the world fhall beleeue,and receiue the 
 Gofpell,but onely that it fhall be preached to all the world. 
 So that it can be no good argument to fay, that fuch a Nation 
 neuer heard of the Gofpell, becaufe they are not Chrift inns, 
 but Pagans : for it might be preached vnto them, and finde 
 no entertainment ; and if it did, yet it might be taken away 
 againe from them for their ingratitude, and they thcmfclues 
 abandoned by Gods iuft iudgemerft to their former Idola- 
 try : as is notorious at this day in many Countries now 
 wholly feruing Mahomet, hauing bene before famous for 
 their Chriftian profeflion. 
 
 4. But if ft be granted, that this vniuerfall promulgati- 
 on of the Gofpell, was not effected before the dcftru&ion of 
 lerufalem , yet it doth not follow (fuppofing this as a neccf- 
 fary fore-runner of A ntichrifrs comming) that he is not yt t 
 reuealed. For it might be long agoc accomplished, and fo 
 was, if we giue any credit to the teftimony of Antiquity : 
 For fretaud, one of the mo ft Ancient, commendeth the 
 Churches in Germany , and the Earl, for the integrity of their 
 faith. Theodoret afHrmcth,that not onely the Romanes, and 
 they that liued vnder the Romane Empire, but alfo the Scy- 
 thtans,3x\&S<Mromatians , Indians, Ethiopians, Per fans, Se- 
 res, Hircanians, Brytaines, C mertaus > Germains, and in 
 fumme, all mankind/and all Nations, were conuerted be- 
 fore his time, to the Euangelicall Law . Tertullians wkneffe 
 is moil pregnant, for he peremptorily affirmeth, that in his 
 age, The varieties of the Cetulians, the many borders of the 
 Moons, and coafis of Spaine, the diners Nations of the Ganlcs, 
 with the places ofBrittainevnacceffibleto the%omanes,the 
 Countries ofibcSartnatians, Dacians, Gcrmans t andScytht- 
 
 49U \ 
 
 rrenattd adnet m 
 Jus hxre/Mb.i* 
 
 cap** 
 Theodoret de 
 
 curand.Graeor. 
 *ffe#M.j>o 
 
 Tertul.iMtr*. 
 
 Indees. 
 
Chap.tf. The Go$ ell preached through the world. 
 
 *39 
 
 aKSyWtth many other hidden And v»knowne Nations fProninces, 
 and //lands , had receiued the faith of Cbrtft* Where it is to 
 be noted, that when he namcth hidden, and vnknownc Na- 
 tions, Prouinccs, and Mauds, he taketh away clearly that 
 exception of Bellarmine touching the finding out of the new 
 world : for that mult needs tall within the cotnpaiTeofthofe 
 termes, which though it hath bene but of late difcouercd vn- 
 to vs, yet might beknownetothe remote!* Chriftian Pro- 
 uinccs, by whofc neighbourhood and traffick,they could not 
 but rcceiue fome taft of the Gofpell. Ntcephorw teftifieth, 
 that after S . Marks had planted a Church at Alexandria, he 
 went and preached co the v£gyptians- 9 Ljbtans, Barbarians, 
 Cyreniavs, and pentopohtanes. EufebiHS writeth of diu crs 
 Martyrs that were in Thebaic, vnder Setter m the Emperour : 
 and we read,that in one Councill of Carthage, vnder S. Cy- 
 prim, were aifembicd together fourefcoreBifhops, outof 
 A^nca Numidia, and Mauritania, which plainly fheweth, 
 that though in S . Augttftines time, the faith of Chrifl; might 
 bee cxtinguiilied in fome parts of Africa, yet it' 
 formerly had rccciued the found, if not the faith of the Gof- 
 pell : . As OrtelUm fpcaketh of the kingdome of Nubia, 
 which h a part of Affrtca, 7 hat it was in time f aft imbued-, 
 with Chrifttan religion^ and jet at this day folk fear ce acknow* 
 ledge any religion at aH. So then,all thefe testimonies of An- 
 tiquity do manifeftly proue,that the Gofpell hath bene prea- 
 ctad through the whole world: what oeuer, oneiy Origme, 
 in a iinguiarity of opinion arTnrmeth to the contrary : and 
 therefore that this doth not hinder, but that Antichrift may 
 be come and reuealed, and that the Bifhop of Rome is he. 
 
 y.Moit friuolous then is that argument of RemondjMs 
 eight booke of Antichrift, where he inftanceth in Granada, 
 a Country of Spaine, w r hich(faith he)caft itfclfe at the foore 
 ofthecroiTe, and quitted Mahometiimcinthe time of our 
 Fathers,vndcr the ArmesofKing Ft?r<5&»W:conclude;there- 
 fore they ncucr heard of Chrift before ; for this is the que- 
 ftion : Surely either too groffe ignorance,efpecially in a lear- 
 ned Lawyer, whofc knowledge in matter of hittory fhpuld 
 
 be 
 
 NicephorM. 
 
 Eufeb.kifl.lib. 
 
 Concil.Car* 
 
 thag,apnd 
 
 Cjp/tan, 
 
 OrteHtusiritt* 
 
 bui.Afric** 
 
340 
 
 7>2- 
 
 Afdfe*thifl. 
 
 The Gc/peUpreached through the world. Chnp 6, 
 
 be more then vulgar, or too too palpable malicc,ifhc knew 
 it and concealed it : For whoknowethnot, that this king- 
 dome being before replcnifhed wkh C hriftians, was inua- 
 ' dcd by the Sarazevs, in the time of King kodericke, about 
 the ycere, 7 1 3 . or 7 1 4. as Barenim confefTeth ? The Hiito- 
 ry of which inuafion is particularly recited by Guevara, in 
 one ofhis golden Epiftlcs : where he faith, that the Sara- 
 z,ens gained in eight moneth?, that which was not regained 
 by Chriftians in almoft 800. yeeres : for fo much time paffed 
 from the firll loohng oi'Spaine, till the rccouery of Granada. 
 And if this were not, yet the religion of Mihomet, whereof 
 he faith the Granadans made profeffion before they were 
 fubdued by King Fer divan a ? might haue taught him that they 
 had heard report of Chrift before, feeing Mahomet him- 
 felfe maketh mention of him in his Alchoran. The like folly 
 he fTicwcth in fpeaking of the Kingdcme of China, when he 
 faith, That the great Kingdome of Sa*g/ai, which tve cull 
 China, neuer heard oflefm Chrift ^ but ftnee theyeere^ 1 y 77. 
 A bold afTcrtion, and contradicted by the Spaniards them- 
 felues 3 in their reports of that Country. For Mtndoz^a arTir- 
 meth,thatthe inhabitants of China y mzdc great reckoning of 
 the bookes of the Armenians, wherein it is found written, 
 that S. Thomas trauailing towards the Indians , pafTcdby 
 China, and there preached the Gofpeil, though with little 
 ftujte,by rcafon of the bruitcof warrc at that time ; but yet 
 neuertheleflethat fomeofche Chinans were baptized, & re- 
 ceiucd the doctrine of the Apoftles,with comman dement to 
 publimand difperfc the fame. To which report, agrecth 
 that which is written by the Iefuite ^Maffeus, in the fecond 
 booke of his Indian Hiftories , where he faith ; that in the di- 
 uifion of the habitable world amongft the A pottles, India 
 falling to the lot of S. Thomas, it is held by tradition, that 
 hearriued firft mSocotora,tt\ Ifle of the Arabian Sea, and 
 hauing there made many Chriftians, that he paffed to Cratt- 
 ganer ; where alfo after he had begotten many Children to 
 Chrift, he came to Ctlan, and hauing not fowne the fcedc of 
 the Gofpeil there in vaine, he paffed into the Eait parts, 
 
 oucrthw r art 
 
C h i p. 6. The Gofpell preached through the world. 
 
 *4* 
 
 oucrthwart the Mountaincs,\vith greate toy!e;w here hauing 
 alfo happily aduanccd Chriilian Religion in many places, 
 efpccially in the Kingdomc of Coromandelt, he came at 
 length to the famous Kingdome of £bi** s and in tlvis (ic!< I 
 (owed the feed of the Gofpell with no fmall fruitc,and butt: 
 Temples for the worfhip of Chrilt, and after returned to 
 CorintAndell) to rcuif te and confirmc his new apprcntiies in 
 the faith. %emsyd therefore fhould cither haue bene better 
 aduifed, prelfe held his peace in this 'ubiedt. 
 
 6 t But if Chriftian religion had bene euer planted in 
 thofc New-found Ccuntrics, there would haue remained 
 (faith Be liar mine) fome traits and footfteepsthercor : for it 
 could not be fo vttcrly blotted out, that no memotiall there- 
 of fhould furuiuc. To which f anfvverc two things. Firf}, 
 that k doth not follow, for peraduenture onely the fame and 
 cccho of Chnft came vnto their eares, without any fetled 
 preaching ;or if it were preached, yet peraduenture they did 
 not entertaine his doclrine, nor fubmit themfelues vnto him: 
 either of which might be, and the prophecy fulfilled, that 
 the Gofpell fhould be preached through the whole world as 
 Ihaue fhewed. Secondly, I 'fay that in molt of thofe Coun- 
 tries there haue bene found, manifeft traces of the Chriftian 
 faith,as may appeare,nct onely by thofc examples fet do wne 
 by this Author, but by diuers others recorded by other wri- 
 ters. LMaffeiu in his fore-alleadged bcoke, tefs vs of di- Maffemhj}. 
 •iters Images and pictures 'mfomi, which hucly (as hec fndtca.M.i, 
 thinkes)reprcfentcd the Chriftian faith, as that Image of a 
 Woman w ith a Child in her amies, which they fay was the 
 daughter of a great King, who for all'her Child borne of 
 her ownc body, remained ftill a Virgin : and chat other of a 
 body with three heades, reprcfentin^ the Trinity, and that 
 more exprciTcly (ifitwerelawfull to picture the Godhead) 
 then any ofthcPopifh Images do. Againc, they haue a 
 piclure of tweruc men, fignifying as it may lecmc the twelue 
 Apof tics of Chriit, who the natiues fay, were Philofophers 
 excelling in miraailousvertucs,and at laft tranflatcd amongft 
 Likewifc amonglt the Eaft Indians, haue bene 
 
 the Angels 
 
 Ii 
 
 lecne 
 
242. 
 
 The GoJpcH preached through the -world. Chnp. 6 
 
 t alef.inep.fi < 
 
 Maffeus.lbid- 
 
 In bifk* >reUt< 
 de I rtdt a ori- 
 ent- ex ep'tfi. 
 
 ***» I S93*x 
 Ma'atu. 
 
 Hiftrelat.de 
 
 rtrm Mo^er 
 ex THtijs 'psfl. 
 
 fccnediucrs monuments of Christianity : for their Brach- 
 manes,that is, their Pricft5,whom they hold in great honour, 
 acknowledge but one Soueraignc God, and they vfc to car- 
 ry three Sunnes vpon their right inoulder, to figniric the Tri- 
 nity in one Diuinc effcnce,as iomc write. Maffens faith,that 
 by thefJs three Sunnes_, they honoura certainc Parahammr^ 
 whom they eitceme as the moil, ancient of all the Gods. 
 Theybelceue that vpon a certaine timc,God came into the 
 world in an humane fhapc, to redecme the would from e- 
 tcrnall death. The leamedtt of them obferue rcligioufly the 
 Lords day, and therein often rcpeate this prayer i Irtorftup 
 ■: bejt 3 O God,bj thy g> ace and aft for cuer. They haue in their 
 writings y the ten commandements of the La w, and tei] of a 
 certainc Prophecy, which foretelleth that one day they {hall 
 all be brought vndcr the obedience of one Law. MMxor 
 Cctifjn d.\c(u\tc affirmethof theBrachmanes in the great 
 City otCtcindtgri, that they had boo kes called Sameftretan, 
 which anfwered in fomefort to our bookes of holy Scrip- 
 turc,and thatacertaineBrachman told him, that God crea- 
 ted man by his Gncly thought, whom they called Adam y 
 and rim they worfnipped one Go .1 oncly, and gaue no 
 part of his honour to any other. This relikc of knowledge 
 the Icfuitc refcrres to the difperiion of the tweluc Tribes of 
 [fr.iel, rather then to the preaching of S.ThomaSy who as 
 they thcmfelues confefic, preached in thofc Countries, and 
 was fiainc in the City of Mdiaporpow called S. Thowat vp- 
 on this occafion : Yea they alfo acknowledge, that then. In 
 wxrc many Christians, before euer the Portugals fctrocte 
 amongilthcm. Xxwr another Iefiiite, rcporteth of the 
 great Kingdomc ofi*/*/', that he was certified by a cer- 
 taine Merchant who had trauaiicd that way, that they were 
 Chrifhans, and had many Churches of great beauty and 
 bigneffc, and that he had fcene their King go to Church, for 
 he was a Chriftian. A nd in another relation of the Ic fuitcs, 
 touching the great Kingdomc oSMttgor, they fay ,that there 
 haue bene Chriftian Kings in the Land of Indufthav?, but 
 that they were vanquished by the Parthians, , and that their 
 
 laft 
 
Chap. 6. The Gc/peli preached through the world. 24 % 
 
 laft King was called Warnd, whom they held to be of the 
 po fterity of ^"Bartholomew. 
 
 7. Equal! testimonies and monuments of Chriftian re- 
 ligion, arc found in the Weft Mies, the late New-found 
 worldjcallcd America ; for Oforim rcporteth, that in many 
 Iflands thereof which are now wholly Pagan, were found 
 by the Spaniards, diners monumentsof the Chriftian faith 
 buried in the earth. And Vettr Martyr auoucheth, that in 
 Wefternc Cttba> now called Ferd?Kandtna y tivciiiv.cifionw2iS 
 inyfe : and that m 'Mexico y thepricfts baptize all infants, 
 both male and female, when they area yeere old, with reli- 
 gious Ceremonies. "Benzo alio relatcth, how amongfto- 
 ther Ceremonies, they offer in their Templcsbread, which 
 the Prieits taking and blcfTing, difttibute to the people af- 
 ter the manner of the ancient Chriftians. The inhabitants 
 of Peru beleeue, that there was vpon a certaine time longa- 
 go,a great deluge of waters. v\hcreby all mcnHndperifhed 
 except fome few that hid themfelucs in a caue, the n iouth 
 whereof was rammed vp, that no water could enter vnto 
 them, with prouifion of victuals ; and that they difcouered 
 the abatement of the waters on the earth, by two dogs fent 
 forth of their hole* Alfo they belceue,that there fhall be an end 
 ofthe world, but not before facha great drought and heat 
 come, that the very Sunnc and Moone fhall be confumed: 
 and this k the reafen why at the Eclipfcsof the Sunneand 
 Moone, both here, and in the E aft /Ww, they (b lament 
 and cry, fuppcfing that the Dragon of ihe firmament then 
 gnawcth and dcuoureth the Suunc. They beleeue alfo 
 (faith TSenzo) the immortality ofthe foule, ondthercfur- 
 rcclion ofthe body : and therefore when the Spaniards ra- 
 zed and fcarched mens graucs for gold, they dcfired them 
 not to difperfe their bones, to the end they might rife the 
 more cafily. The like alfo doth John Leri report ofthe E ra- 
 ff! tans y in the ftory of his Nauigation, 
 
 8. Allthefe things are tefiimonies of the light of the 
 Cofpell, fome time? prefented to thefe Nations, and rciccScd 
 againc by them by their folly and ingratitude jthedcjili 
 
 I i ^ abu- 
 
 f 
 
 Ofor.kiflcr. 
 
 Pet.Martyrde 
 [rfu . nuper 
 
 momi&bi* lib- 
 
 Nichcl.p'imex- 
 taaiAq ap.i- 
 
 Vrban Calueto 
 
 eem.inBenzjj 
 
 ft6'j'Caf.Zo t 
 
2<4 
 
 Saint Pauls reuolt,i.The(f.i . Chap. 7 , 
 
 
 ' abufing thciimplicity of this people, that wanted faithful! 
 teaching, and changing the Chriftian doctrines which they 
 had receiued, into groffe Idolatries. Peter Martyr giueth 
 vs a notable example hereof concerning one of the Cariqxes 
 Rotteiets of C*&*,\vho hauing receiued from a Popifh Mari- 
 ner an Image of the Virgin Mary, placed it amongft his I- 
 dols calLed Zsmes, and prefented vnto it meate and drinkc, 
 as vnto his other Idols: which Image notwithftandingeca- 
 'fed not to workc miracles amiddeft the other Idols, the di- 
 ucll finding it no leife fit to delude this ignorant people, then 
 any other I doll is. s So then it is clearc,that there is fcarce a 
 Country to be found in the world, .whither the Gofpell 
 hath not penetrated, and therefore that the prophecy of 
 Chriflr, 7 bit the Gofyeli foottld be preached through ihe world, 
 being fulfi lied, there is no doubt by their ownc account, b ut 
 th.it Ancichriit was long agoe come into -the world. For as 
 touching the Lands yet vndifcouered and vnkuownc, which 
 lye (as Rwond dzzzmetk) impalpable darkneffc, without a- 
 ny light of truth : I fay,ifthofe Countries be yet vndifcoue- 
 red, why doth he fpeake of their religion, which muft needs 
 be afmuch vndifcouered as themfelues : if of difcouercd 
 Countries, he is plainly confuted by that which hath bene re-, 
 lated out of the India* Hiftories, and might farther be en- 
 larged if neede were. Howfoeuer ^lct all this betaken one- 
 Ilyinapiobabledifcourfc : for though the Gofpell hath not 
 yet mined in all Countries, yet Antichriil may be come for 
 all that : feeing this is not fct forth as a Cignc of Antichrifts 
 comming , but cither of the deftruct ion of lerufalcw^ ox of 
 the fecond comming of Chrift to iudgement. 
 
 CHAP.?- 
 
 Oftbere*oh,or faffing away foretold by Saint Patt!,i. Tbeffl 
 
 2 , how it tffofilledin the Papacj. 
 
 t.^PHereuoltorfalling away mentioned by Saint Paul, 
 1 i.Tbef.i.f. which fhould be in the world before thg^ 
 
 com- 
 
Chap.;?. fulfilled m the Papacy. 
 
 245 
 
 comming of (Thrift, is not arcuolt from the Romane Em- 
 pire,as fome haue thought, albeit that bee alfo tang agoe 
 efTec~t:d : nor yet a deletion in maners, though that alio be 
 implycd m the former; nor by it can bee vnderftood Anti- 
 chrift himfelfe, though Saint Atiguftirte and fome other of 
 the Fathers haue fo called him. For how can a man bee faid 
 to bee an Apoftacy in the abftracl, except by it they vnder- 
 ftand that he was to be the principal! and prime Apoftate of , 
 the world, and as it were the Apoftacy it felfe, becaufc hee 
 was the caufe thereof; which doubdelTc was the meaning 
 of thofe Fathers. But by this Apoftacy, rcuolt,or falling a- 
 way,the Apoftlevtidcr(hndsafamous,andasit were, a vni- 
 uerfall and gencrall dcfe6tion from the Faith, and from true 
 Religioiijwhich fhould be in Antichnfts time; and whereof 
 hee fhould bee the head and Captainc : for fo the w r ord 
 <t7rQTA7i<t y is properly and vfually taken both in holy Scrip- 
 ture and all holy writers/or a defeclion from God, and from 
 thcFaith,asthe Iefaite Snares confelTeth. But to make the 
 point clcare,Saint Paul in another place thus expounds him- 
 felfe, 1 . Tint, 4. 1 . The Spirit jpeaketbplainelj f hat in the lat- 
 ter times fome fhMl Apoftate frem the Faith, meaning the 
 fame Apoftacy (faith Ffpetiftztts) which ismentioncd 2. 
 Thejf.1.1. And Anfelme thus expounds the fame words, 
 The Spirit ef Cod doth manifeftly in mee y and by me fay , (hat in 
 t he la ft ttmes , that is , durwg the reigr.e of Antichrift y or be- 
 fore t f?meJhall depart from the Faith fa reafon 0J ~ which depar* 
 ture it is faid> i.Theff t 2. vnleffe there cornea falling away 
 firfl. Now this is called the Apoftacy,wWor« *«a, by a fpc- 
 ciality or excellency of Speech; becaufc though there haue 
 bcene many defections fromChri/t caufed by the perfecti- 
 ons of Hcretikes or Tyrants, yet that which is to bee vnder 
 Antichrift is by an Antonomafte offpcech,callcd the A pofta- 
 cy : becaufe it is to bee farre greater and more gencrall then 
 all the reft. Whence wee may pertinently by the way note 
 Hue things. Firft,how idle and vainc a qucftion it is which 
 the Papifts demand ofvs vfually; where was your Church 
 before Luther ? As ifthenittooke the firft beginning and 
 Ii 3 rootc 
 
 SufiYe^Ji&.f. 
 
 Zflenfjni* 
 Timet. +.t. 
 Anfelmc. in /, 
 Tim^tj 
 
?4^ 
 
 Saint Pauls remit 2. Tbeff\i . Chap.?. 
 
 de'tM.*of.f, 
 
 roote in the world. For though it bee cafie to proue, and 
 hath beenc often by the Champions of our Religion, that in 
 all Ages, euen in the darkeft times of Popery, there hath 
 feeene a continuall fucceflion of witneflcs to the truth 
 which we profeffe : yet it is no maruaile that there was then 
 novifible forme of a reformed Church, feeing this Apofta- 
 cy did pre uaile and ouer-flow the world for a long time : 
 which is a fufficient anfwerc to that vainc obieclion. Se- 
 condly, I gather hence, that the Church of Rome dotherre 
 grofly,in holding that the Church of Rome cannot crre, mea- 
 ning the vifible Church : for if there muft be by their o wnc 
 confeflion an vniuerfall Apoftacy vndcr A ntichrift, then the 
 vifible Romane Church muft needs bee fubiecivnto it, or 
 clCc it is not vniuerfall. But as touching the inuifible Church 
 which is the Congregation of theEiedT, knownc oncly vnto 
 God,neither can it wholly,nor any one member thereof bee 
 feduced by Antichrift,as is apparent by our Sauiour Chnfts 
 owne fpeech, 7^^.24. 24.which is alfo confirmed by S .^0- 
 gufiine in thefe words ; Nnnquum a dtabolo eccle/iafsdttcettir 
 prtdeftmatA & eletha ante mundi conslitHtionem, that is, The 
 Church predefined and eletted before the beginning of the 
 world,(halt nwer be [educed by the r DeutlL Thirdly, note tha t 
 if this Apoftacy bee of Antichrift, and thofe that belong to 
 the body of Antichrift: then Antichrift cannot poffibly bee a 
 lew by nation and profeffion, nor his chiefe adherents the 
 lewes rcceiuc him for their Mejfi.u. For they that ncucr 
 made profeffion of Chtiftian Religion ,cannot be faid toA- 
 poftatc from the Faith. Fourthly, note that feeing the my- 
 ftery of Antichriftianifme, which is this Apoftacy hecre fpo- 
 ken of,began to workc in the h pofties timejthcrefore it may 
 well bee concluded, that all thofe opinions and tradition* 
 which are maintained in the Church of Rome to defcend it om 
 antiquity, hailing 110 ground nor warrant in holy Scrip- 
 turc,are parcels,fragments,and fymptomes ofthis A pofhey. 
 Laftly, feeing the Antichriftian Apoftacy hcerc fpoken of, 
 was to continue a long time,and not to be for a few yeeies 
 and daies oncly, as thole my fticall numbers, ttme, times, and 
 
Chap.7. fulfilled in the P,tpacy. 
 
 47 
 
 hdfe a time ,1 26c.daics,and a/ .nionethsdcelarcithcn Ami- 1 
 chrift cannot be one lingular perfon,as the Papifts dreame, 
 butafuccctfionofpeifonsin one fcate,asisby this Author 
 vnanfwerably proucd. 
 
 2. ButtheRipiitsaffirmCjthat the Protcftants arc guilty 
 of this Apoftaty,and not they/eeing it is manifeft that they 
 haue fallen away, a Sede kemana (they be 'Be Hay mines 
 words) The Romane ifo^andthatit cannot be proued that 
 they euer fell away from any Church. Eut I anfwere three 
 things ; Fir(t,that it is falfc that we are fallen away from the 
 Romane Searwe confefTe that wc are fallen off from that Sea, 
 but not fallen away:for wehold (till with it, what it holdeth 
 with the truth,as the doctrine ofthe Trinity, the twelue Ar- I 
 tides of the /poftJes Creed, with the BaptiimeofChrifti- 
 anyn the name ofthe Fathcr,the Sonne,andthe holy Ghoft. 
 Secondly, we difhnguifh betwixt Papacy, and Christianity 
 in the Papacy,that is betwixt Curiam & eccleft 'am ,the Court 
 of Rom? ,and the Church of Rome \ or ifyou will betw/xt Fi- 
 dem Romxnam^wd. Ftdem Chriflumm y the Roman faith,and 
 the Christian faith^ which is hidden in the Romane as a little 
 Gold in a maffe of Tinnc. Now J confeffc that we are fallen 
 away from the Papacy, that is, the Court and fuperftitious 
 doctrines of that Church, but not from the Church,Chrifti- 
 anity ,and Faith thereof. Thirdly,! fay that wc are co mman- 
 dedby the holy Ghoft to come out of Bafalw, u4poc,*i 8.4. 
 but Revs* is ^/7/W as both many ofthe Fathers acknow- 
 ledge, and they thcrnfelues confefTe: to depart then from 
 P K ome is not to depart from Ierufilem the Church of Chrift, 
 but from T> ah Ion 3 v<\\\z\\ is the Synagogue and kingdome of 
 Antichrift. May a man for thefafety of his body flye out of 
 an houfe infccled with the plaguc,and may not wee for the 
 tare ryof our foules flye our of the Church ofRw in-felted 
 with mofl peftilent errors? Wc were indeed once ioyned 
 in fcliowfhip with this Church, vntillGoGcnlightning our 
 eyes by his holy Spirit, wc pcrceiued in what danger wee 
 flood, and therefore rinding that k was departed from the 
 Gofpcil ofChiifl^and had framed to itfelfe a new Faith and 
 
 Religion 
 
348 
 
 iajfit Ptuls revolt \i .Thejj. 2 . Cbap.7. 
 
 Attain P[al. 
 
 Religion oat of its owne braine,and in ftead of Chrift had 
 entertained Aritlchrill, wc durlt not be fo fenfelcfle and pcr- 
 uerfc,as to pull the eyes out of our heads, and ftill embrace 
 that Religion, which wee were affurcd would bring vs to 
 damnation. And what if out forefathers were drowned in 
 that fuper(tition,andliued and dyed in the fame/hould wee 
 follow their examples? And not rather with leauing them 
 tothemercyofGo"d,who might take pitty vpon their ig- 
 norance/ay with the Prophet Ieremj 9 Qhap 16. 1$. Surety 
 our Fathers hatie inherited Ites and vanity wherein there is no 
 profit) which is a prophecy of the Gentiles conuertedto the 
 faith of Chritt, both from hcathenifh Idolatry at the fnflyuxi 
 from Antichriftianfupcritition at the laih So that though 
 wee are departed from communion with the Church of 
 Rome.yct we can in no reafon be called Apoftatcs from the 
 fakh,feeing we rctainc the ancient Religion taught by Chriil 
 and his Apoitles, and profeiTed in the primitiue and purer 
 
 I times of the Church, and rcuealcdin the Scriptures of the 
 OldandNcwTeftament. But ifwee turneour eyes vpon 
 thenijWemayeafilypercciue where this Apoftacy refterh ; 
 for they are they that arc apparently rcuoltcd from the faith ; 
 I fay,from the Faith. Firfc,of Chrift,and his Apoftles. Sc- 
 condly,of their owne Church as it was in ancient time. And 
 thirdly, into thofe errors which are called by the A poftlc, 
 Doctors of deuils, and are fct downcas markesohhis 
 Apoftacy. 
 
 3 . That they are rcuoltcd from the faith of Chri/t and his 
 Apoftles,the manifold hercticall doctrines taught and main- 
 tained in their Church doc clearely euiucc; for as it was of 
 old time laid of Rome,that it wasO£/* in vrbe^ confluence 
 of all Nations; fo may it be truely faid of the Romifli Religi- 
 on,thatit is a confluence and finkc of all hercfies, which to 
 bee fo will appeare,if wee take a view of the whole body of 
 their Religion com pared with the hcrefles of former Ages, 
 and that in order of timc,as they fprung vp in the Church. 
 To begin thcrcforc,Saint AugHjiinehxcth vpon the C»fer- 
 ttaits as the firft Hcretikcs in the Church, which hcrefie 
 
 though 
 
Chap.7* fulfilled in the Papacy. 
 
 249 
 
 • though it was vnfruitfu 11 in that time, yet hath becne rccci* 
 ucd in the Papacy by their opinion of the carnall eating of the 
 bodyof Chrift in the Sacrament, which at this day they fo 
 violently defend; for though the error of the Capernaites 
 was more groffe in the circumftance of eating, yet it was 
 all one in fub (lance with that which the Papifts hold. From 
 Simon the Magician,whom hen aw calleth The Father of all 
 Herctikes, they haue fucked that peftilent infection of fet- 
 ting fpirituall things to fale for money, which is fo ordinary 
 apractifeinthcChurch b^R^me, that their owne writers 
 cryfliamc vpon it with open mouth; and whereas it is a 
 queftion whether Peter were euer at Rome or no,itis out 
 of doubt that Stmon was there,as is in that elegant Epi- 
 gramme : 
 
 An Petrm Roma fttcritfab fudice IU efl : 
 Simonem Roma nemofmjfe negat. 
 
 From him alfo and his followers they haue tafcen their 
 exorcifmes,as may /eeme by the refemblance which is be- 
 twixt the one and the other. The Sicconiafis, Sethtans, Ar- 
 chonuques, 'B^tfilidians , Valentiniar.s, and almoft allother 
 Heretikes had their traditions which they oppofed as oft as 
 they were prefled with holy Seripture, as if the Scripture 
 were not perfe&,and that Chfift taught many things in par- 
 ticular to beconuayed from hand to hand, which were not 
 written. i\nd is not this the very pra&i'e of the Papifts in 
 their difputations,?.nd their conftant f <?>?#/, that the Scripture 
 is not fuiHcient without traditions;and that the word of God 
 isoftwokindcSjOne written, another vnwrittcn? Nay,fo 
 impudent are they in this blafphemy, that Tttrrian alefuitc 
 writing againft Sadeeljs notafraidto fay, that if Chriit had 
 left in his Church the Scripture onely for the tortll rule of 
 faith,it had no better then a Delphian 'word to be ruled by. 
 The Cjnollicks had their Images of Chrift a^ they faid, whic h 
 they vfed to worfhip: and doe not the Papifts the fame? 
 Their extrcame Vnclion they haue borrowed of the Valenti* 
 
 K k rrians 
 
 Trenaus //£, J, 
 i»fr*f*t. 
 
 ".!"" ' . 
 
250 
 
 Saint Pauls reuoU^.Thejf.z , Chap.7 
 
 Irex&ut lib. i> 
 cap. 24. 
 
 iS. 
 
 Epiphan. h*ref 
 
 IrensHsM.j, 
 c*p J, 
 
 idemXih.t* 
 cap j6* 
 
 f.Cdt.lt' 
 
 EptphAnJwt* 
 SS< 
 
 Jug.Steuchus. 
 
 m cymopti*' 
 
 mans and Heraclewites, who vfcd it, as both Jrensus and 
 Epiphaniits tcftifie : and alfo Exorcifmes and Channes, 
 with ftrange and vnknowne words, now alio frequently 
 pra6ufcd in the Church of Rome. ^Marcton whom Polycar- 
 pm called the eldcft Tonne of the deuill, affirmed, that thrift 
 had oncly a phantafticall and imaginary body: and doe not 
 the Papifts fay the fame, when they teach and beiecue that 
 Chrifts body is really And fubftantially contained vnder the 
 forme of bread in the Eueharift, without either quantity or 
 quality of a true body, that is, without its true dimenfions 
 and properties > He alfo magnified for merit, fingle life be- 
 fore marriage,as alfo did the Eucratites of old and new>the 
 Papifts in-our time. He cnioyned the Saturday faft, permit- 
 ted women to baptize,contrary to the pradtife of the ancient 
 Church : all which things notwith(tanding,are receiucd, 
 pradlifed, and maintained in the Church of Rome. From 
 whence come the fet Fafts in the Papacy, but from the griShd 
 heretike \Montanut jn\\o was the firft that prefcribed lawes 
 for fafting, as ApoUonim in Sufcbim witneflerh ? The EU 
 ceftans worfhipped certaine women, and kept the duft or 
 their feet,and their fpittle,as matters of reuerencc. And doe 
 not the Papifts the like in their adoration of women, and ma- 
 ny ridiculous rclikes,as the foreskin ofChrift,tr.ebieathof 
 lofeph ,thc breeches of S. /v mtcu y and haires of Saint Ptters 
 beard, with a thoufand fuch likctrafh ? The Nottatia*s glo- 
 ried in their ownemcrits,andxallcdthemfclucsCtf/W//i^ > 
 that is. pure pcrfons : the which pride is imitated by the 
 Papifts, when they vaunt of their ability to fulfill the Law 
 ofGod,andof fuch perfection of works as can merit heauen. 
 The M*mcbees haue contributed much to the building of 
 \ this myftery of iniquity. A s firft, their opinion of two be- 
 ginnings, to which well accordeth the dreame or Avgafti- 
 ntu Steuehus, to wit, that the Emperiall heauen was coctcr- 
 nall with God : and if coetcrnall with God, w r hat other 
 thing but another God ? Secondly, their practife of mini- 
 ftring t he Sacrament vnder one kinde, to wit, the bread, as 
 witnefletb Pope Gelaflm. Thirdly, thek prohibiting mar- J 
 
 riage_ 
 
Chap.7« 
 
 fulfilled in the Papacy. 
 
 251 
 
 riage tothcirek6l,thatis,totl\ckPricjfts, and tolerating ic 
 in their Lay Auditors. Fourthly, their abftirence from flc/h 
 on their falling daics, not forbearing in the mcanc while to 
 glut themfclucs with all manner of delicate fKh and iunkcts. 
 Fiftly, their inhibiting their elc& from cr-dng flefli at any 
 time, which was in like manner rnioyned by Pope Cregury 
 to all Monkes.but it is inpractifeoncly amongftthc Charter*- 
 houfe Monies at this day. Sixtly, their (wearing by the 
 crcatures,as S. Auguftine obic6teth to V unfits the M*mchee, 
 for thefe iweare by the Saints and their rclikes. Laftly, the 
 principall rcafon why the Manicbees confhtutc two begin- 
 nings, one the Author of good, and the other of euill> was 
 for fcare lcaft they fhould make God the Creator ofeuill. 
 But the Pap ids in this exceed the Manicbees, for they fcare 
 not to teach, that the rebellion of the flcfli againfl the fpirit, 
 had bene in man by the condition of his nature, if he had ne- 
 uer fallen : which opinion, direclly makethGod the Crea- 
 tor and Author ofeuill. A gaine,thcir vow of ceicbacy and 
 voluntary pouerty,was deriued from the Hereti' es called A- 
 
 ipoftolii<cs,whoreceiued none into their fbciety that was c- 
 uer married oj-ppffeiTcd any goods in propriety. From the 
 Meffalians diey haue borrowed the idle life of their Monks, 
 pretending that they ought to giue themfelucs wholly to 
 prayer, an J to abllaine from all labour,as an impediment 
 thereunto. Thus did thofe Hcretikes, as S. Auguftine dccla - j 
 reth, and the fame is the religion of the Popifh Mon \es.The 
 feme Heretikes taught, that Baptifmc was efTc&uall onely to 
 wafh away funics going before, comparing it to a razor that 
 fhaueth away the haire that is growne out, but not that 
 which is within the skinnc; which very opinion is taken vp 
 by the Papife,and therefore for (uch as finne after baptil "me, 
 they haue ordained the Sacrament of PCBaanccfoTthcobu 
 taming of rcmiffion. From whence commeth that (tric-l fi- 
 lenceofcertaine Monkcs, efpecially the Chartrians, who' 
 being fainted or (noken vnto, may net uifwere a weird by 
 the rules of their order, but from the VattaforiKcbie; ? who 
 as S. Attgufitnc witneffeth, in fnch for t pi ofefled and cbfci - 
 
 K k a uc' 
 
 "wft.C.ccm- 
 
 Deccnf'crat 
 ' -dug, crntrd 
 
 BeIiJcprat % 
 
 cap. 40. 
 
 >dcm itidsap, 
 57* 
 
 $id,cap,<fj. 
 
251 
 
 Saint Pauls msott % 2 .The(f*t . . Chap.7 • 
 
 lbiUdp.CS, 
 
 JugJe hccref. 
 
 •Am?, etepeccd- 
 fo originia cont 
 
 Vigkiascotjt.T* 
 dep:cc4t. erig. 
 
 ued filencc, that alwaies in company they flopped their 
 mouthes and nofthtils with their fingers, for fearc leaft any 
 voycefhould ftcale out of them : a Tuperftirion agreeing 
 better with the fchoole of Pythagoras, then with the do- 
 ctrine of Chrift and his Apoftles, & winch changcth men in-' 
 to brute beads, from whom we arc diftinguiflicdbytwo 
 excellent differences, r^/a^ff orattove, reafon, and fpeech. 
 S. Atcguftine recitcth amongft the number of HcretikeSjCer- 
 taine people that in a kind of fuperftition, went bare foote, 
 the which is imitated by the Capuchins and other Friars, 
 as if any worfhipof Godconfiited incouering or baring 
 the fcete. The fame Father in his 48. Epiftle to Vmcentim y 
 mockethatthe Donatijis, for gathering out ofthattcxtof 
 the Canticles, Chap. 1.7. Tell me where theufeedefl at nooxei 
 that the true Church remained oncly in isiffrica, fo tying it 
 to one place : and do not the Papifb in like mariner, tye the 
 Catholikc Church, whole bounds ftretcheth to all places 
 and timcs,to /?0#9<? ? Calling it Romijh Catholikc : which is 
 aimuch to fay, as particular vniuerfall. The Pelagians, 
 whofc hcrciie was the very bane of Chriftianity, and the 
 canker of our Redemption, are reuiued in the Papacy, and 
 that in fiich fort, that a man may fee them as it were lining 
 in their perfons, and their herefics in their doctrines. For 
 they taught, firft, that A clam had dyed by the condition 
 of his nature, though he had not finned: which very opinion 
 is auouched by Augitftinm Sieuchm writing vpoiiGeKcfif, 
 without any difapprobation,or condemnation of the Church 
 of Rome : for he faith,that infants dye though they be with- 
 out finnc. Secondly, they taught, that infants are borne 
 without origin all fmne, and in the fame eftatc wherein A- 
 dam ftood before his fall, and that iinne is not borne with a 
 man by nature, butrcceiued into man by will, &c : as S. 
 isfugnfline at large dcclarcth in his bookes written of that 
 fubic£t. And doth not Tighius maintaine the fame opinions 
 in his bookes of controueriles dedicated to Pope Pa-d the 
 third,, where-he alio dtredtly confutethS. Aagufline ? his 
 Pelagianifme in this point will be euident to him that will 
 
 take 
 
Ghap.7- fulfilled in the Papacy, 
 
 2 53 
 
 Indices Exputg 
 H.fpanj.n*. 
 & liC. 
 
 take the painesto read hisfowne booke : neither was this 
 doctrine of his condemned, but rather approued by the 
 Councillof 7W»«\as both their deepefilence of it, and alfo 
 their owne purging Indexes let forth by the authority of the 
 faid Council!, dobcare fufneient witneiTe : for thereby they 
 were authorized to laze out of their owne Writers, allfuch 
 fentences as krmeto oppugne this heretical! Doclrine. As 
 for example : thefeout of Ferns writings vpon Mat.i 2.33. 
 Chrifl heere prommceth plainly, that we: are all by nature eutll 
 Trees. And vpon John 1.1 2. jBj thU $f;ech 3 Chrtfi condemneth 
 our old nat'tuity^a-idconfe^uentiy all the powers of Nature that^ 
 are trans fa fed m to vs by natur all generation. And alfo thofe 
 words which he addeth touch- ing fpirituall regeneration ; 
 to wit, that it proceec ] eth nejther from thiholinefje, n»r from 
 humane reafan , nor font tht 'vcift dome of the flefh , but folelj 
 firem tbsivitt, purpofe y andcleUion of (Jod, with infinite other 
 fentences of like niture both in him,and other Authors. Be- 
 fides that, they teach, that the Virgin Mary was concerned 
 
 without or ig mail finnc,who notwithstanding cannot be de- 
 nied, but that flie was the daughter olAdxm. Thirdly, they 
 held, that Concupifccnce, efpecially that which remayneth 
 after B^ptifme, isnofinne : which fame opinion is maintai- 
 ned by the Council] of Trent* Fourthly, from thefc fame 
 Herctikes: they haue deriued their doctrine of Free-will, to 
 wit, that a men hath power inhimfelfc, todefireand effecT 
 his owne conucrilon, encly by an cxtcrnall coadiution of 
 Grace, which he may admit or reh it at his pleafure . Thus 
 the Pei?.gians,nnd thus the Papifts, as is to becfeene in their 
 writings. Laftly, the famedoCtrines which were taught by 
 the Pelagians, touching the merite of Workes, Iuftificati- 
 on, and Prcdcftination, arc retained to the full in the Church 
 ot Rome aunis clay. 
 
 The Eutych' a;is bo&ii; that the humanity of Chrirr was in 
 cuery. place : aid is notthis the opinion of the ,£hurch of 
 Rome, when they afrume,that Chriits body may be locally 
 jn two places at one inftant, to wit, iivheauervancL inearth ? 
 forif.it can be rn tv\^ places aronc.e^by the faine real on, it 
 
 ** 7, may 
 
 *4«g*ccnt.lH' 
 4a». 
 
 Condi Trident 
 
 ^Hf.epi/t.t?. 
 &* UbJeg}at. 
 
354 
 
 A**gM h*ref 
 Epip.htref. 73 
 
 OfrrlUt cOHQtO 
 
 tnfefto dflump 
 beat* Marine. 
 
 j CUpm Sonar- 
 feiw alias Ca~ 
 roi.Scrib*n.[e- 
 futta. 
 
 Saint Pauls reuol^i Thejf. 2 • Chap.% I 
 
 Sel.de net is 
 £c clef. cap. j>. 
 
 ttentmUb. \ 
 
 cap. zo. 
 
 maybe in infinite places. The Heretikes calfecL/^argW/r/, a 
 doreci the Angels ; fo alfo by their example doc the Paptfts . 
 The Cellyrtdians whofe heretic is defcribed-and confuted by 
 EpybaniWy laidc the foundation of that Idolatrie which is 
 committed in Popery towards the bleflfed Virgin , which is 
 fogroffe, that they make no difficulty to equal] her vvkb 
 God, aod-hermilke with Chrifh blood : They ihamc not to 
 fay, that fhee is as good a Mother, as God is a Father ; and 
 that ihe and her Sonne redeemed the world with one heart, 
 as Adam and Eus loft it with one Apple. And as the Colly 
 ridians offered Cakes vnto her/fo they offer Praycrs,Inccnfc, 
 Wax candles, with many other gifts . L aftly , the Gneflma- 
 flitff, ccrtainc Heretikes of whom Damafceue maketh men- 
 tion, condemned all manner of ftudie and learning in Chri- 
 stians, and gaucthe fame pule to a certaine order of Friars in 
 Popery called Ignorantes, whofe profeffion is ignorance, as 
 alfo to that doctrine of the Church of Rome, that ignorance 
 is the Mother of Deuotion, and that to knowleaft, is belt 
 ofal!. 
 
 4 Thus wee fee, that Popery is no better then a hotch- 
 potch ofHercfies, andthereforcinthat regard of their fal- 
 ling from the pure doctrine of Chrift and his Apoftles into 
 thefefoule Hcrcfics which ouerth ow the Faith, they are 
 guilty of this Apoftacy fpoken of by S. Pattl. I confeilc,they 
 charge vs, and our Religion, with many of the f .me Here- 
 tics; but how malicioufly and falfiy, we may eafily iudge by 
 thefc few examples. Bellarmine and Saunders, with others 
 aflume,that we hold the wicked Herefte of Simon Mxgtu, 
 who faid, That a man was fauedby grace, and not by iuft 
 workes: but the fame Bellarmwe giucthhim'elfctheLye in 
 the fame place : for he faith, that the Simontans referred not 
 faluation to the grace of the true G od , apprehended by faith 
 in Chrift as we doe, but to the grace of the Magitian Simon, 
 who vaunted himfclfe for God : anfwcrablc to that of Ire- 
 n&tu, that by their opinion men were faued by the grace of 
 Simon, and not by iuft workes. And yet the Iefuite Feuar- 
 dmins writing vpon that paffagc of lrenatu 3 \s not afhamed 
 
 (fo 
 
Chap.?* fulfilled in the PapAcy. 
 
 255 
 
 (fo feared is their confeience) to enroll vs vnder this Herefy, 
 as if the grace of God, were the grace of Simon Alagw^ 
 and there were no difference betwixt the Sonne of Cod the 
 Redeemer ofthe world, and a notorious Sorcerer and Impo- 
 itor. But hcercby they fhew, how hatefull and odious <he 
 Doctrine of the free grace of Chrift, istothefe fworne fcr- 
 uants of Antichriit. Againe, how impudently doe they fa- 
 tten vpon vs the blafphcmy ot Mtrcwn and Fformw ,to wit, 
 that with them we mould make God the Authour of finne ? 
 But our Doctrine fhewcth, how much we dctclt this horri- 
 ble blafphemy : for though with the holy Scripture, ancian- 
 ' cicnt Dolors ofthe Church, wee acknowledge that God 
 ordereth and difpofeth to his owne gloi y the finnes of men; 
 yet farrc be it from vs, as it is, to accufe him for the Author 
 of imne, either dircclly, or by any true confequence. For 
 mme is to be confidercd tw r o waves; either abfolutely in it 
 fclfe, or in relation to fome other thing : Now we exprefie- 
 ly teach, that finne abfolutely commeth -from the efficient 
 caufe, which is man the true author of finnc; but relatiuely, 
 it is not fimply directed by it efficient caufe , but by thc.pro- 
 uidcnceofGod, which wifely ordereth both euilland good 
 to his owne ends : which is die expreffe opinion ofS.jfHga- 
 ftine, who faith ; There are fome things which Cjod both n$a- 
 kctb and ordereth t and ethers which he ordereth onely ; bee m&- ' 
 keth the iujf avid ordereth them too \ but [inner s as they Arc [in- 
 ner:, he yytuketh not, hut onsly ordereth* Thus Augttftine with 
 vs, and with him and vs confpire all the Fathers, and moll of 
 their owne Doctors, as is plentifully proued by our writers.' 
 Againe, they accufe vs of Nonatianifwe, and why ? Bccau r e 
 wedcuiePenancctobea Sacrament : not confidering, that 
 there is great difference betwixt this and the opinion of the, 
 Nottitu*is y which denied remiifion of finnes to thofcihatf 
 finned after Bapti me, though they repented ncucr fo much. 
 Againe, they linke vs with the Afanicbetsfov denying Free- 
 will ; and yet who knoweth not, that the Mankhees denyed 
 kto our nature, wfrn it was firft create i and pure, and wee 
 onely to nature corrupted : they tooke away all libcrtic of 
 
 j • doingi 
 
 Bettarjleno't* 
 
 tiijmperftfr. 
 
 Vil % Morten m 
 Apol.Catloi* 
 
 Bellar.Ibid. 
 
*5* 
 
 Saint Pauls remit 2. Thttf.i. Chap.7 
 
 doing any manna- of good whatfocuer, and we onely in do- 
 ing fpirituafl good* Further, they lay alfo Denatifme to 
 our chargers if Wc held with them, that the Church onely 
 confifted of iuft men : whereas we plainly teach, that though 
 to the inuifible Church belong onely the elect, yet in the vi- 
 able (of which Donatus meancth)good and bad are mingled 
 together, as ChafFe and Wheat in the Barne floorc : and fo 
 there is as much dtffcrcnce betwixt their opinion and ours, 
 as betwixt vifible and inuifible. To omit all the reft of their 
 imputations of Herene vn to vs, by thefe few examples we 
 may iudge, how in hatred to our Religion, they make no 
 confcicnce to (lander it and vs , though neucr fo palpably fai- 
 fly, according to the old Prouerbiall precept, (^ahimmare an- 
 dafter, aliquid adh&rebit, 
 
 5. Secondly, as the Church of Rome is thusreuoked 
 from Chrift, fo is it from it Mfc ; that is, new Rome vndcr 
 Antichrift, from ancient Rome vnder the firftByfttops ;and 
 the Church that now is, from the Church that then was, and 
 from the faith that was then profeffed : fo that there is no 
 more likeneflc betwixt them, then is betwixt light & darkc- 
 nc(Te. Let vs take a little view of this change : and mft, con- 
 fider but that excellent Epiftle written by S./W to the Ro- 
 manes, wherein is comprized the whole faith of the anci- 
 ent Church of Rome. Where is there any the leaf! mention 
 cither of the Popes primacy, or of Indulgences, or of the 
 inuocation of Saints, or adoration of [mages, or vcrtue of 
 Reliques, or Monkifh fanctity, orPurgatoiy, orTranfub- 
 frantiation, or the facrifice of the Mafic, or Auricular con- 
 fcifion, with other fuch like- Doctrines , wherein the pyth 
 and fubftance of their Religion confiftcth? Is it likely, that 
 if thefe were Doctrines recciucd into that Church, the Apo- 
 ftle writing vnto it, would not hauefo much as fpokenone 
 word of them ? Nay, doc they not directly sroffc and con- 
 tradict the Apoftlcbymany of their Tenets ? as by their dd- 
 ctrine of Iuftification, by inherent iuft ice contrary to Rom. 
 1.17. and 4.6. and inuocation of Saints, contrary to Rom. 
 1 0.13. and fatisfactions and merits of condignity,contrary 
 
 to 
 
Chap.7. fulfilled in the Paptcy. 
 
 *57 
 
 to Rom.S.i 8? Infomuch, that the Rhemi/rs are conflraincd 
 to admon'ifli their Reader, that if any thing in pattls Epittles 
 feeme to found contrary to the faith eft he (/at holike (that is, in 
 their prefumption, the Romane) Churchy hee ought to per ■- 
 fvpa.de himfeifejhat he fir or net b from the true fence of the place. 
 As if the Apoftle mould fpeake one thing, & mean another; 
 or auouch one thing in word, and condemnethc fame in 
 fence: an imputation which none but blafphemy could lay 
 vpon him. So that whether we refpecl the Apoftlcs omii- 
 iion of dreir fupcrftitions, or their contradicting of his Do- 
 ctrines, it cannot bee denied, but that the face and fubftance 
 of their Religion is changed from that it was at that time. 
 Secondly, if we compare die Doctrine of the auncient By- 
 fhops of Rome, with die deciftons of the moderne Popes , 
 and of the Councill of Trent, this will appearc more-cleare . 
 For example : Sleutherim Brfhop of Rome, being confulted 
 by Lucius the King of Britaine newiy conuerted , by what 
 rules or lawes hee fhould gouerne the Church, anfwercd ; 
 That he had in his Kingdomc both the Tcftamcnts (ytramj 
 paginam) and that he ought by his Counccll to take his dire- 
 ction from them, for he was Gods Vicar in his Kingdomc. 
 But the Pope now failing himfclfe Chrifts onely Vicar on 
 earth, denicth that any fuch power appertained^ tofccular 
 Kings, to difpofc of any matters of the Church, and calleth 
 them intruders that take any fuch power vpon them. It is a 
 Decree o£ j4nacletH4^ and after him of Calixtns, That the 
 confecratton being fintfocd^ alhught to participate of the Sa- 
 cramentyVn/ejfe they mil be excluded from the Church affem- 
 blies. But the Romane Church that now is, hath decreed it 
 lawfullfor the Prices to communicate alone, the people 
 ftanding by, and looking on ;as if that which is doncby the 
 
 Etttithcuepift. 
 
 <tdLuctum 
 
 Reg.britan. 
 
 Prieff , were fuffrcient for then 
 
 /a/iwtheBifhop of Rome, difallowed the dipping of 
 the bread into the wine, as contrary to the Gofpcll, where 
 the bread and wine are difringuifhed and fet apart from 
 each other in exprcfte words: but the moderne Church of 
 Rome alloweth the Priefi to dippethe third pai t of the Hoft ' 
 
 Li io 
 
 peratg. 
 
 Dift.i.Eptfcop, 
 {$* jperafia. 
 Conctl.TrUcnt 
 
 De confecrdt. 
 
a S 8 
 
 Saint Pauls reuolt^.Thetf.i . Chap. 7 
 
 Srcuidr.jn Ca- J hi the cup, and praycth, that this mixture may be auay leablc 
 m-»(^ ^ J tofaluation. It was the opinion of Gelafipts a Byfhoppe of 
 Rome,that an image and fimilitudc of the body and blood 
 of Chrift is celebrated in the Sacrament, and that the fub- 
 Ihnce and nature of Bread and wine doth not ceafe;at which 
 fcntcncc, Cardinall Contsrtnus was aftonifhed in the con- 
 ference aC %atubbne y as witneffeth Chemnitiw : but now, 
 the Pope countcth this anHercfie, and them Herctikes that 
 hold the fubftancc of the Bread and Wine toremaine after 
 confecration, and not to be changed into the very body and 
 bloodof Chrift. Velugitu the fir ft, ordained a married man 
 Bifhop in Syracuft, with this caution onely, that hee mould 
 not transferre the goods of the Church to his wife and chil- 
 dren : but now the Church of Rome cannot in any cafe en- 
 Idurc married Byfhops, not leaftthegoodes of the Church 
 mould be embczeled, (for this is an ordinary praCti e with 
 thePoxsthemfclues, to pro ftitutc the Church goodes to 
 their Baftards,Nephcwcs and Kindred ;)butfor the impuri- 
 tic and pollution of marriage eftate, which (they fay) can- 
 not agree with the holincffc of the facerdotall order. Gela- 
 /T^againe forbad the fupcrftition of recciuingone pirtof 
 the Sacrament without the other, faying ; That eyther the 
 whole muft bcrcccyucdofail, or not rcceyued at all : and 
 that a diuifionof one and the fame myftery could not bee 
 made without great facrilcdge ; but the Church of Rome 
 now is fo farre from condemning fuch diuifton as facri- 
 ledge, that they pretend many caules and reafons why it 
 ought to be fo j and pronoun ceth Anathema to all that con- 
 | demne the Church of erring heerein. Leo the firlt fpeaking 
 1 of Martyrs, faith ; That they rcceyued, & not gauc cvownes: 
 J and that from their conftancie arofe examples of Patience, 
 and not guifts of Iufticc, and that their deaths were peculiar 
 to themfclues, not fatisfaclorie for others ; feeing amongft 
 all the fonnes of men, onely our Lord Iefus Chrift was, in 
 whom all are crucified, all dead, all buried, and all rifen a- 
 gaine. But the modcrne Church of Rome, cleanecontraric 
 auouchthc fuper-abounding paflfions and fatisfaclionsof the 
 
 Saints, 
 
 O^f.ctnt 
 iuh. & Nej7er 
 
 Chen: Ex Am. 
 GoncilTrident* 
 
 deiranfhbft- 
 
 DQ.zSJeSj- 
 r**cvf 
 
 BelJe Cleric is, 
 
 Deten/ecrJtft. 
 2.cornperimttt< 
 
 Cortcil 'Trident 
 SeJf.f.Caa-i* 
 
 Leo&ft Si. 
 
 Bel.de lniu!g. 
 
Ghap«7« fulfilled, in the Papacy. 
 
 *59 
 
 Saints, to fupply theneceffity and want of others, and to 
 merit for them the relaxation and rcmiflion of their debt . 
 The fame Leo profeffed his obedience to the Empeiours E- 
 dicts, and the like did Agntho after him, to Conflantinc. But 
 now the Pope challenged! obedience from the Emperour, 
 callcth him his Man, and cxa<5teth of him an Oath of fideli- 
 tic. In briefc, Cpegvy the Great denied all merit of workes, 
 faying, Thatoariulticeifi were diftri<5tly iudged, would 
 be coiiuinced as vniuft. Againe he faid,That the holie Com- 
 munion, was called Miffa, a Made, becaufc they that did 
 communicate were by the Deacon fent out of doores ; and 
 that except this were performed, theMaffe was not rightly 
 celebrated. A nd lalily, he affirmed him to be the fore-run- 
 ner of Antichrift, that ftylcd himfelfc vniucrfall Byfhop. All 
 which things are directly contradicted by the Pope, and the 
 Church of Rome : for they afcribe vnto their owne workes 
 and iuftice a merit of condignity, and a perfection proporti- 
 onable to the Law : they celebrate the Eucharift by the 
 Prieft alone, and yet difmiflc not the people: and laftly, the 
 Pope ftyleth himfclfe Vniucrfall Bifhop, and faith ; That it 
 is of the neceffity of faluationfor euerie foule to bee fubiedt. 
 vnto him. All which great change con(idercd,who can but 
 confeffe, that the modcrne Romane Church, is not the fame 
 with that which was of old, but is reuolted from it ; and that 
 if thofe ancient Paftorsofthat Church were the true Bifhops 
 and feruants of Chrift, then muft they that haue thus depar- 
 ted from their faith and holincffe, necdes be the true Anti- 
 chrift in feiidt, that is, contrary to Chrift and his truth? 
 
 6. Thirdly, that we may more fully vndcrftand that this 
 Apoftacic whereof we accufc the Papacie, is a iuft imputati- 
 on; we muftconfider how thofe Doctrines which are fet 
 downc in holy Scripture as exprelTe markes thereof, do pro- 
 perly and fitly agree vnto the Church of Rome. For albeit 
 this Antichrittianreuolt doth in generall iprcad it fclfe oucr 
 the whole body of Chriftian Religion, yet the Spirit of God 
 hath marked out certainc particular Doctrines, which arc 
 raoft notorious m that myfterie of iniquity ,and whereby \vc 
 
 L 1 2, may 
 
 Leo&'tfl.xC \ 
 
 Confttntinop. 
 
 \/y*.6.aa 4. in 
 
 ipift. ^gather. 
 
 IM.4Ep.fi.ji, 
 
 Co»c. Tridint. 
 fijf,0'*ap. 1 &'. 
 
 Khtmenf^'m 2. 
 
 ExtrdcMmd- 
 tor & obed. C7. 
 ynam Sax&.u 
 
i6o 
 
 Saint Pauls rcuolt % 2 .The^i. Chap. 7 
 
 Tfcoder. in 
 T$m„a f . 
 
 presbjterlb. 
 
 BelUr.de C/er. 
 
 D'cret.Grfg. 
 ds Cleric, con- 
 
 <iJ te. 
 Cdmj>ianrat.4 
 
 may iudgeofthcrcft. ThcfeDoclrinesarein number three; 
 t.v/o whereof are expreffed by Saint Pa*l y 1 Tim. 4. 1 .2. ? . to 
 wit, the prohibition of marriage, andtheabitayning from 
 ccrtainc mcatcs, which he callcth Doctrines of dcuils : And 
 the third is mentioned by S. Iohn,\ Iohn 4. 3. the denying 
 of Icfus Chrift to be come in the flefh : all which, if they bee 
 found in the Church of Rome, it cannot be denied, but that 
 they arc guilty of this Apoftaey. 
 
 7. Touching the firft,to wit, the prohibition of mar- 
 riage, where can we finde this marke more apparent then in 
 xhc Church of Rome, wherein by expreffe Lawes St decrees 
 it is prohibited and forbidden? For as Theodoret well obfer- 
 ueth, 7 he Ayoftle blames not fwgle life or continency y butcon- 
 dernnstk them that byyubltkeLaw conftrain men tofoHorv this 
 coptrfe of life. And where is this decree but in the Papacie ? 
 as the Law of Pope Calixt m infertcd into the Decretallcs 
 doth euidently declare. So that they arc not content with 
 Aiontanus, to condemnc fecond marriages, but they alfo 
 barre their Clergy by a conftrained Vow, from the full al- 
 fo. Which Decree of theirs, is both contrary to the Scrip- 
 ture, and to the continued pra&ice of the Church, till And- 
 chrilf began to reigne therein. For the Scripture commen- 
 dcth marriage as Gods ordinance, and as an holy and vnde- 
 filed cftate, and permitteth it equall to all men, fo that they 
 marry in the Lord. And lor examples, were dbrAham, who 
 is called the friend ofGod, and father of the faithfull : Mofes 
 then whom no man was more faithfull in Gods houfc, 
 Efa the miracle of Prophets, Ezektill y the High-Prieft 
 a type of Chrift, Zachary and Elizabeth , iuft perfons before 
 God, Peter, Paul^ Philltp, with thoufands more of godly 
 BifhopsandPricib, that fuffcrcd martyrdome for Chrjft, 
 were they, I fay, leffe holy, becaufc they were married, or 
 more vnfit for facred Functions ? This is to condemne the 
 generation of thciuft, and to giuc the flat lye vnto the holie 
 Ghofc : a fit practice for Antichrift and his fcruants,who call 
 it a facriledgc, an impurttic, and an abominable a£l, and in- 
 compatible with holy orders,. But how.contraric doe they 
 
 fpeake 
 
Chap.7. fulfilled in the Papacy, 
 
 261 
 
 fpeakc and decree to the ancient Church ? The great Coun- 
 cil I of A7rc confentcd with Papbnutius, that the familiaritie 
 betwixt a Pricft and his owne wife was chaftity, as Socrates 
 reporteth: andthc Councill of Gangrene ftrookehim with 
 Anathema that held that a married Brieft ought not to offer. 
 $.£bryfoftome thought marriage fo honourable an eftatc, 
 that a man with it might afcend to the facrcd Epifcppall 
 Chaire, And Ignatius before all thefc affirmcth, That if any 
 m: 11 call the lawfull fociety of man and wife, corruption and 
 pollution, he hath the Apellate!)™™;* for his companion. 
 But that which me thinkes is moft (trange of all isthis, that 
 the Councill of Trent fpcaking of the Mafic, faith ; That it is 
 fo pure a facrifice, that no vnworthineffc nor wickcdnclTe of 
 the offerers can defile it ; 2nd therefore, let a Pricft bee neuer 
 fo wicked a Fornicator, an inceftuous pcrfon, a Sodomite, 
 apcriurcd wretch, yet none ofthefe foulc crimes doc make 
 him vnfit to feme at the Altar, or any wayes impairc the ver- 
 uie of the Sacrifice : oncly marriage ordained of God makes 
 them ynfit, and the fcruice vnprofitable : and fo facerdotall 
 purity (hall not be polluted by the workes of the dcuill, but 
 fhall be by the ordinance'of God. Can any fpirit but Ami- 
 chrifts breath out this impiety ? Peccata inter dixit Dens y non 
 matrimonii (faith Sahiantu: ) that is, God hath forbidden 
 finncs, not marriages:, but thefc men allow that whkh God 
 forbids, ftnnes ; and forbid that which God alloweth, ntar~ 
 riage. I know their icape-holc here is, that they do not con- 
 demne marriage fimply as cuill, whichTatianyAfarcicu^na 
 'Cteanitheedid; and which is it that the Apoitle fpcaketh a- 
 gainft, but oneiy refpedriucly vnto holy Orders . To which 
 I anfwer Hue things : Firft, that it is impiety, to forbid marri- 
 age in any fort whatfocucr, whether absolutely, orinfome 
 rcfpe&j feeing that it dependeth not vpon any ordinance, of 
 maf^but is -the gift and vocation of God. Secondly, that 5. 
 Paul fpcaketh generally againft thofcthat prohibit- marri- 
 age without any fuch diftincTtion : and therefore to rcftraine 
 bisfpeech, is to wreft the Scripture, and to limit the fence 
 thereof to our owncvndei [landing, which is an intolerable 
 
 LI 2 iniurie 
 
 Soertt. bijfar* 
 /lb. 2 ,f dp.#. 
 Cone//. Gdn* 
 irenf.can.j.. 
 Ckrjfo/i.m tot. 
 him. i* 
 
 Iftidt. epiji.dd 
 Vhu'adeiph^ 
 
iSz 
 
 Saint Pauls reuolt^ iThejf.i. C hap . 7 
 
 BtlUr.de Cle^ 
 
 
 iniury to the Spirit of God himfelfc, efpcck'ly there being 
 no other place of Scripture, whereby that diftin<5tion may 
 be iuftiSed. Thirdly, that their diftinftion being admitted*, 
 yet they arc not thereby cleared from this imputation : for 
 withthofe fore-named Hcretikes,they abfoiutely condemne 
 marriage as an impure and vncleane thing. Beliarmine deli- 
 ucreth this Doctrine in direct words, when he fayth, That in 
 the coniugali acl there is mixed a certaine impurity and pol- 
 lution, yea in the very Saints themfelues : and therefore Pope 
 SMcm, and after him Pope Innocent, to prooue the vnla w- 
 fuineffe of Priefts marriages alledge thefe texts of Scripture. 
 Tttm i. t 5 . To them that are defiled and vnbelecning, nothing 
 is ptre, bm cnen their minde and confidence is defiled . And 
 againe, that they that are in the ft'/h cannot pleaft God, Rom. 
 8.8. So that though they prohibit marriage onely to fomc 
 fort of people, to wit, the Clergy •, yet their rcafon why they 
 do fo, is, becaufe it is in it felfc an vncleane a&e. Fourthly, 
 the Manichees did not condemnc marriage in all, but onely 
 in thofe whom they called their eleel ; as the Papifts alfo do 
 onely to their Priefts. Laltly, the horrible fruites not onely 
 of Adulteries and Fornications, but alfo of Sodomiticall 
 abominations and murthers that hauefprungfiom this rootc 
 of Celebacy (which he that defireth to take notice of, may 
 reade elfewhere at large difcouercd) doc manifcitlyeuince, 
 that it is indeede a Doctrine of diucls, as S. F Wcalleth it, 
 and an euident marke of theApoftacie of the Church of 
 Rome from the truth. * 
 
 8 The fecond marke of this Apoftacie, is, the prohibiti- 
 on ofmcatcs, which God hath created to be rcccyucd with 
 Thankcfgiuing : which marke is moll exprefTe and notori- 
 ous in the Church of Rome. For it hath forbidden by Law, 
 that which God by Law ordained ; to wit,the free vfc of the 
 creatures, retraining it by certaine times and differences at 
 their pleafure, and forbidding fomc at all times, and all at 
 fomc times, to abfrainc from fomc kindc of meatcs. Their 
 fhtftto auoid this marke, is ; That they do not command ab- 
 ftinencefrom meats as if they were vncleane of their ownc 
 
 nature, 
 
Chap.?. fulfilled m the TafAcy. 
 
 *6 3 
 
 nature, which was' the opinion of the Marcionites, Ever a- 
 tites, and Manichse s,bui onely in refpeel of religion and de- 
 notion, which by fuch abftinence is much furthered and en- 
 crcafed. To which I anfwer,that though they neucr fo much 
 abhorrc the Herefie ofthefe forcnamed Hcretikes ; yet they 
 fall into that of Mont an tit and Euftatbiw, who held the fame 
 opinion of Fatting, that thcmfelues no w do; and wete there- 
 fore condemned by the whole Church, as Eufebim wkncf- 
 feth. For Popilli Faftcs arc prefcribed by publike authoritie 
 and law, and fo they are no more arbitrarie, but ncceiTarie. 
 And {JMontanu* Falls are of the fame nature, for he was the 
 firfl that prefcribed lawes of Faftmg, for which he was con- 
 demned of the ancient Church, as witneffe both hufibim, 
 Socrates , S.Auguftine, Theodoret , with diuers others. So- 
 crates his words are thefe, after he had largely difcourfed of 
 the varieties of the Lent faft in feuerall Churches, hec thus 
 concludes: It is manif eft that the Apoftles permitted free liber- 
 ty of Faftmg to euerj m*ns rn'wde and choice , t bat euerie man 
 might do that which U good, without impulfionbyfeare or ne- 
 ceJJUy. But S. Attgtiftme is more plaine,when he faith, That 
 he found in Scripture that we ought to Faft, hut that tt was de- 
 fined by no precept of the Lord or his Ape flies, what dayes wee 
 ought, and what we ought not to Faft. Secondly, the Papiftcs 
 auow, that meats of themfelucs are not vncle?.nc : the fame 
 did the Montanifts,2LS mayappearc out ofTcrtttllian Mon- 
 taniz,'mg in his booke of Fafting. Thirdly, the Church of 
 Rome doth not abfblutely prohibit any meate, but onely 
 fufpendcth the vfe offome for a time. So like wife faith Jer- 
 tullian in the name of all the Mont ant ft s\ Wse abftainefronu 
 meats, we do not reieU them, but differ them. Fourthly, the 
 Church of Rome prefcribes fafting,and the choice of meats, 
 as a feruice of G od, and a par: of his worfhip. So alfo iaidc 
 Mont an w : Our Fadings are feruice s of God , and ought to bee 
 pcrformedto God alone. Laftly, the Papifts teach,that by their 
 Faftings the j appeafe God, fat u fie for their finnes, obtainere- 
 Jeefe in diflretfes, and merit heauen .• And doth not Mont anus 
 his paraclete fay the fame ? when he affirmeth, 7 hat Fafting, 
 
 can: 
 
 cap.iC. 
 
 if- 
 
 Socrat.kift, hb % 
 
 &"> cont Fau- | 
 
 Tkeodorhift. 
 ftncl.patrum 
 
 Tetful. Je i<?- 
 
 tunio. 
 
 Cofiet Enchir, 
 
 cap.tG. 
 
 Tertulde'ie'itt- 
 
 nie, cap. //. 
 
 Bttlafde bon 
 
 oj>er,tnpa>t. 
 
 lib.zjapJ. 
 
\ 
 
 2 &j ' Saint Pauls remit 2 • Thejf, 2 . C hap. 7 
 
 can do mudo with God, and that Cod isfatisfied by it, and *ri- 
 ginaltjinne aboli/hed, and ottr falttatienre-kjndledfvhtcb is ex- 
 tinguifhed fa fulrtejfe, jea } that the prerogative of it is fo great ', 
 that it maketh Godcohabtte with man, ai like with like. By all 
 which, it is eafic toconclude ,that the RomithFaits are dcri- 
 ued from Mont anus, and that he layed the foundation , and 
 thefc haue reared vp the building of that fupei (tition. And 
 therefore feeing the ancient Church condemned the error of 
 Montanus in this point, and the Montanifls defended it by 
 the fame argument which the Papifts now do; their opinion 
 and practice being all one in effect, I fee not how they can 
 cleerc thcmfclues from the fame cenfure and guilt. Nay, I 
 peremptorily affirme, that they farre exceed the Montanifles 
 in this fuperftition, and that in two refpefts. Fii(t, becaufe 
 CMontantu though he prefcribed litres of Failing, yet the 
 penalty of them was onely this; that they accounted the vio- 
 lates ofthofelawes not Heretikcs and Apoftatesfrom the 
 Faith, but onely JclTc holy, and Pfjchta, that is, carnal men: 
 whereas amongft the Papifts > he is cilccmcd vncleane and 
 an Heretike, and worfe then any Ie w, that eatcth &l (h on a 
 Faftingday; wherein, they fhakc hands with Mamchces * 
 Secondly, the Montanifls vndertooke this excrcife of Fa- 
 fling, edomandi corporis caufa, for the tamwg of fle/hty hiftes, 
 as S. -Anguftine confeflfetb ; and therefore they abftaincd not 
 onely from flefh, but from Wine, Fruites, many kindes of 
 Fifh, and all dclightfull meates, that might any way pamper 
 or pleafe the body : but the Popifh Fafb permit all delicate 
 viands and iunkets, that either Sea or Land can affoord.rlcfli 
 onely excepted, as infected with an vncleane fpint . They 
 glutthemfclues with the moftcxquifite and rich Wines, with 
 the moft rare and delicate Fillies of all forts, with fawecs of 
 rareft Cookery, with Fruites, Spices, Preferues, Confecti- 
 ons, and Broaths, as excellent as the Art of the Apothecary, 
 or of the Kitchin, can affoord. So that one did not without 
 caufe merrily fay,Thathe had rather be a gucfl at their falls, 
 then at thcmoJft plcntifull feafts of other men . And thus 
 (forfooth) they feeke to tame their flefh by their Failing, 
 I and 
 
 Au£.con.T4wfi 
 ManichJib. 
 
Chap.7. fulfilled in the Papacy. 
 
 165 
 
 and to quench the lufts thereof by fuch prouoeations as Na- 
 ture cannot affoord better and ftronger : infomuch,that Pt#- 
 tarch calleth Gluttons by the name ofFiftv eaters. And thus 
 is Montaxw left bchinde the Papifts, as a Nouicc in compa- 
 rifonofthemfelues, who in this laft point rather refemble 
 the damned Manichees then the Montamfts, as we may read 
 at large in S. Aaguftine^ in his booke concerning the man- 
 ners ofthofe Herctikes. And fo I Icaue the Church of Rome 
 branded alfo with this fecond marke of the Apoftacy. 
 
 9. The third marke of this rcuolt is out of S. Iohns Epi- 
 flic, chap.4.3 . and that is, to deny Iefus Chrift to bee come 
 in the flefh ; which though it hath bene literally verified in 
 diners Popes that were raake Atheists, andmocke-Gods, 
 as in Pope Leo by name, who called the Gofpell of Iefus 
 Chriit, a Fable, to Card inall r Bembm\ and in a number of 
 their Prelates and Ptiefts, which hauc ordinarily belched out 
 the like Blafpheniies : As of one for example , that hauing 
 preached of the paiTion of Chrift, fo paflionately, that hec 
 made his Auditors to weepc; prefently comforted them 
 with this exhortation : Oh wcepe not, for peraduenturc this 
 is not true. Yet let that be granted vnto them which they 
 challenge, to wit, that in word they do confeffe Iefus Chriit 
 to be come in the flelh ; and then what is that to the clearing 
 
 I of them from this marke ? For, as S.Auguftint noteth,all the 
 grand Hcretikes that eucr were in the Church, would con - 
 felTe as much ;and fodoth Mahomet in his Akharon,whom 
 diuers Doctrines of the Church of Rome defigne for the 
 great Antichrift: and yet who knoweth not,but that by con- 
 fequence and in erTccl riiey deny him, albeit in word they 
 confelTe him ? So like wife doth the Church ofRome by con- 
 fequent, deny the commirig of Iefus Chrift k\ the flefh, be- 
 caufe they deny the vcrtue and efficacy of his comming, and 
 the end for which hee came : for to take away the end of a 
 thing, is to take away the thing it fclfc, and to make it y die 
 and vaine, which is all one as if it were not. Thus thc'Apo- 
 ftle reafons when he faith, Gal. 2.21'* Ifrigbteo#foefe bee by 
 the Lav, Chrift is dead in vaine, that is, by confequent, net 
 
 M m dead 
 
 Plutarch 
 
 A*%.de mirth, 
 lian'tchjib,*) 
 cap.i^ 
 
 AugJra& % 6>\n 
 *f%£$hamsf*. 
 
266 
 
 Saint Pauls retwlt^.Tkejf.i. Chap.7 
 
 dead at all, for he could not dye in vaine.And Gal./ .4. Ch'tftr 
 Is made of none effett in regard of jo* that will bee tufttfied hy 
 the Law. How of none effect ? but becaufc the end for whkfi 
 he camc,isannihilated . Now, what is the end of the com- 
 ming of our Sauiour Ieflis Chrift in the flefh, but to bee Sa- 
 uiour of the world, as the name lefts importcth, and to bee 
 the King, Prieft, and Prophet of the Church, as is intimated 
 by the name Chrift, which is Nome** offtcif y a name impor- 
 ting his office? Now both thefe ends arc denied in the Papa- 
 cy, and therefore they muft needs be guilty of deny tag Chrift 
 to be come in the flefh. 
 
 10. Touchingthc firft end, which is to be the Sauiour 
 of the world; doe they not deftroy that, when they make (o 
 many Sauiours befidcs Chrift, as the Virgin Afarj, and the 
 Saints, to whom in expicffe words they afcribc this title of 
 Sauiour, as is to be feerre in many of their prayers vino them 
 found in their Breuiartcs > and not onely fc, but alfo- make 
 themfclues halfc Sauiours of themfelucs , by mixing their' 
 owne merits with the merits of Chrift, and their owne fattft 
 factions with his, malting both together the ioynt caufe of 
 our faluation, which is the precife doftrine of the Church of 
 Rome, as their bookes witnefTe : as alfo when they teach, 
 thatweearciuftifiedby our owne inherent righteoufnefle , 
 wrought in vs partly by Gods grace,and partly by our owne 
 free will, which they fay, is able either to' admit or exclude 
 the grace of God comming to conuert vs. Is not this to de- 
 ny Chrift ro be Iefus } For if he be not a lefus alone, he is no 
 lefus at all. And for the fecond end, they deny htm alfo to 
 be Chrift : For they nuke the Pope the head of the Church, 
 and attribute vnto him an infinite and an vnlimited power to 
 rule oucr mens confcienccs , to prefcribe Lawes to the 
 Church, to difpenfe with the Law of God, to be free from 
 error, and to do what he lift: Arrd thus they rob Chrift of his 
 Kingly Office, and giue it to the Pope. And for his Pricft- 
 hood, do they not alfo take that from him, by ordaining a 
 new Priefthoodof Popifh fhauclings, that haue power to 
 make their Maker, and to offer hiin yp vnto God, and a aew 
 
 facrifice J 
 
Chap.7. fulfilled in the Papacy. 
 
 26 j 
 
 facrificc in the Maffc for the remiffion of finnes, both of the 
 quickcand the dead, and that without fhedding of bloud, 
 without which the Scripture faith plainly, that there is no 
 remiifion? And do they not intrude the Saints into his Office 
 of Mediation, and cuery particular man into his Office of Sa- 
 tisfaction ; and dead creatures, as holy Water,holy Lambes, 
 holy Bcads 3 Scc. into his Office of purification of finncsrAnd 
 lailly, touching his Prophcticall Office, that they alio de- 
 priue him of,by adding to the holy Scripture their owne tra- 
 ditions, which they make of equall dignity and authoritic 
 with the word of God, by teaching the Scripture to bee an 
 vnperkcl rule of it felfe, and ofno credit without the autho- 
 rity of the Church.yca no better thenanofeofwax,orarule 
 otlcad; by detracting from the Scripture fo me parts there- 
 of, and appropriating to the Pope the onely key of interpre- 
 tation. Thus they deny the ends why Chrift came in the 
 flcfh,and confequcntly deny him to be come. 
 
 ti. But that they maybe left without excufe, will you 
 fee the height of their imr*$ty in this kinde ? It is in the blaf- 
 phemous and abominable queftions which their Schoolmen 
 nuke about Chrifts incarnation. Bonauentttre mooueth this 
 qucftion, Whether the Virgin (Jliarj merited to concciue 
 Chrift in her wombe, or whether her conception was onely 
 the gift of diuinc Grace ? andanfwereth thereunto, that fliec 
 merited by congruity, in regard of her fuper-exceilcnt hu- 
 mility, purity, and goodneiTc, to bee the mother of Chrift 
 before hii Incarnation ; but after her Annunciation, that (lice 
 merited by condignity, to be ouer-flhadowed and ingrofTed 
 by the vcrtuc of the holy Ghoit . I omit the vnchafte dif- 
 courfes that they ma kc of her conception, lcafcin reporting 
 them I (houldboih difhonour my Sauiour, andgiue iufl of- 
 fence to Chrift ian cares. 
 
 Another of the fame ftampeand rankc, thus difcourfeth : 
 The Fathers (faith he) of the firii Age,to \K\z,Adam,E»Gcb, 
 Noah y yc longing for the comming of Chrift in the Ficfh, 
 carneftly defircd ofGod the accompiillimen: of his pro 
 and when they could not obrainc it by their own;: 
 . M m % 
 
 BtnduentSin 
 3. Sent. Aft. 4. 
 
 BJrafo.fer.fj/. 
 
.6$ 
 
 ' ■ I ' * " ■■ ■ ■■! | ^^ 
 
 Saint Pauls remit % 2 .TheffiZ. Chap.7. 
 
 they fent vnto him their Embaffadors the Prophets, as Ms- 
 fss, T>A»id, E(ay, with the reft,who all rcqueftcd this fauour 
 at Gods hand; but thefc being alfo denied, they then fcnt. 
 their wiues with fupphcation for their iuitc, as Madame Eue, 
 Madame Sarah, Madame fo^ , cr<f 5 Madame/W//&,Madame 
 Efler, which all receiucd their anfwer with reproach ; one,ot 
 caufingher husband to finnc, another of infidelity, the third 
 of partiality to her children, the fourth of murther, and the 
 fift of vanity ; and therefore were reie&ed as vnworthic to 
 obtaine their fuite. At lalt, was fent a young maid of fourc- 
 tcene yecres olde, who full of humility and fhamefaftneffe, 
 kneeled do wnc and faid : Oh that my beloued wottldcome into 
 this Garden, and eate of the fr nte thtreof: [This Garden was 
 the Virgins wombc:] now the Sonne of God hearing thefe 
 words, faid vnto his Father ; Mj Father, I hane lotted this 
 Maid from my youths and hatte fought meanes to have her my 
 ffoufe. Whereat God the Father prefently called the Angell 
 GaBriel % ya6.{icnt\\\m to Nazareth vntoflfar/, with Letters 
 of credit, and a mefTage from the Father, that he had chofen 
 her to be his Wife; and from the Sonne, thathce had chofen 
 her to be his Mother, and from the holy Ghoft, that he had 
 chofen her to be his habitation ; and with thefe letters and 
 mcffagGS,(/<f£r#>/dcicendeih vnto her, and faith as it is in 
 the Gofpell, Aue Afaria^c. Now Mary hearing thefe 
 words of the Angell, was troubled, and calling her three 
 naydes that fhe had attending vpon her, to wit, Prudence, 
 Virginity, and Humility, asked their opinions what fhe 
 fbould do ; to whom Prudence apfwercd, that fhe muft not 
 be light of belcefc • and Virginity, that fhe muft know of 
 the Angell, whether this muft be effected bythefeedof a 
 man : and Humility faid, that it might be a dclufion, feeing 
 that no woman thateucrliued, was worthy of fuch a grace. 
 Then the Angell faid, Feare not Mary, for thou haft found 
 fauour withGod, neither fhalt thou fearcthc carnall know- 
 ledge of man, for the holy Ghoft (hall come vpon thee, and 
 the power of the Higheft (hall oucrfhadow thee, and there- 
 fore that holy thing that {hall be borne of thee, (hall be cal- 
 led 
 
Chap.7. fulfilled in the Papacy, 
 
 269 
 
 led the Sonne of God. Then Mary was rcfolued and faid, 
 'Behold the hand-maid of the Lord, fa it *vnto me according to 
 thy word : thus he. And what is this,! pray you, but to make a 
 ieftof the great eft my fiery of cur redemption^ wit,Chriils 
 Incarnation,and to turne it into a mcere fable and cnterlude? 
 With the like prophancneflc they difcourfe vpon his paflion, 
 rcfurrcclion, and fending of the holy Ghoft. For concer- 
 ning his pafTion, they fay, that rather then C hnft {hould not 
 haucbenc crucified, the Virgin Mary would hauc crucified 
 him with her ownc hands fo great washer defire of the fal- 
 uatfou of mankind. And touching his rcfurreclion, they 
 tell vs this pretty talc :That there wasaftrifeinheauenwho 
 fhould go to declare ynto his mother his refurreclion : A- 
 dam laid, that it belonged vnto him, becaufeashewasthe 
 caufc of euill to the world, fo he might be the melTengcr of 
 their redemption : but Chrift anfwered, nay, it may be thou 
 wilt be flayed by the way with eating Figs : tsikel faid 
 that it pertained to him ; but Chrift faid,nay, for Cain may 
 mcetcthee by the way and kill thee : then Noah prefentcd 
 him clfe,but Chrift faid, nay, thou mayeft not, for thou lo- 
 ueft wine too wcll,andfo maicft forget my meuagc. John 
 Baptift faid,T will go, but Chrift faid nay, for thy garment is 
 but of haire : the theefc of the erode faid, Let mehaue this 
 cflicc, but Chrift ("aid, no in no cafe, for thy legs be broke, 
 andthoumaift r.cttrauailefolonga iourncy. At laft anAn- 
 gell was fent who began to fing, Regina c&'t Uxare^AUeluya, 
 Ytfitt rcxitjicxt dixit , Al'e'wja. The like or more prophane 
 talc, they hauc deuifed touching the n.ilTion of the holy 
 Ghoft, which is this ; That the Apoftles came to the Virgin 
 Mat), and complained that Icfus Chrift her Sonne had not 
 kept promife in fending the holy Spirit :to whom the Virgin 
 anfwered, that this could not be pei formed before the fiftith 
 day after hi& rcfurrcclion, as on the fiftith day after the deli- 
 ueranceof the Children of Jfrael om of ty£gyft y the Lord 
 appeared in Mo unt Hon6 in flaming fire : then there went 
 to prayer Peter, with others on the one fide : LfizstrtuWuh 
 the 72.Defciples on another, Mary Magdalen with other 
 
 Mm; women 
 
270 
 
 Saint Pauls reuolt^i 7hejj>2. Chap. 7, 
 
 Lombard lib. 
 j DtJ2.il, 
 
 BondMent.tnji 
 Setttcnt Dtft. 
 
 12* 
 
 women on a third, and the Virgin Alary in themiddeft: 
 whereupon there grew a ditTcntion in heauen betwixt God 
 the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoit. The Sonne faid, 
 O Father,! promrfed to fend to my Apoftlcs the Comforter, 
 and now the time is come to fulfill my promife : the Father 
 anfwered, I am content, tell the holy Ghoft : but the holy 
 Ghoft replied,tell :nc how they handled thee wb.cn thou wait 
 among them ? Then the Sonne (Tie wed him his fide, hands, 
 and fec-te, pierced and wounded, faying ; this haue I fuffcred 
 for theloue of mankind ; then faid the holy Ghoit, alas for 
 me,but I will go vnto them in fuch a fhape, that they (hall 
 not dare to touch me, and immediately he defcended with a 
 great found from heauen, like the rum ing of a mighty wind 
 in the mnilitude of fiery tongues. All thefe prophanc fa- 
 bles are found in 'Barlet, a famous preacher of theirs, whofc 
 books being authorized by the Church of Rome, and not a- 
 ny waics purged or condemned, mull needs be imputed vn- 
 to it,as a doctrine rcceiued and approued. 
 
 1 2 But to rcturne to the point of Chrifts comrfung in 
 die flefh. Thcmaifter of Sentences, their famous Doctor, 
 propoundeth this queftion, whether Chrift might not haue 
 taken humane nature in the feminine fex : and anfwercth, 
 that fome were of opinion, that he might haue done it in ei- 
 ther fex if he had plcafed,but that it was more honorable and 
 fit that it fhould be in the mafculine fex. HonAucntHre gocth 
 a degree further,and askcth whether it were fit for Chrift to 
 take flefh from a man and woman together, or from a wo- 
 man alone : he anfwercth, that doubtlcfle he might haue ta- 
 ken flefh from man and woman together, or from man a- 
 lonc : which is fuch a blafphemy as ouci throweth all the 
 prophecies of Chi iits Incarnation, and indeed his Incarnati- 
 on it fclfe, in denying an abfolutencceffity of bein^ borne of 
 a Virgin. But aboue all in impiety, is that execrable qucfli- 
 on of the fame Author in the fame place,and of other School- 
 men his folio wers , to wit ; whether it was polTiblc that the 
 man Chrift could finnc, and fo not be God .: For if he could 
 finnc (fay they) he might alfo be damned ; and if he might be 
 
 damned. 
 
Chdp.^. fulfilled in thePapAcy. 
 
 2 7T 
 
 damned, he might alfo net be God. To this they aniwer, 
 that the humane foulc of Grift is to be confidercd, cither as 
 vmtedto the fVord, or as [cfarated and net vmtid ; Now it is 
 without queftion(fay they) that this fame foule if it were not 
 vnitcd might finne, which being vnitcd could not finne : As 
 if (prophage wretches as they arc) the foule of our Lord Ic- 
 fus Chrift, could be not vnited in any confederation what r o- 
 euer,qr that k is not blafphemy to haue fuch a thought : nay, 
 the fame Aiuhcrcondudcthpcrcmp:orily,that if we regard 
 the power of free • will in Chr'ft in this fenfe, as the power by 
 which a man finneth, Chrifl: might haue finned, and fo 
 might be dann*.cd,and nctbcGod. O blafphcmics intol- 
 erable ! my heart quaketh to thinke of them, and my hand 
 and pen to write them : neither would I in rcucrcnce to my 
 Sauiour Chrift dare to mention them, were knottodifcouer 
 the abhominations of the Whore of 'Babylon y and to (hew 
 that howfocucr h word they confeffc Cfirift, yet in effect 
 and truth they deny him, by calling the efficacy of his com- 
 ming into doubt by fuchprophanc questions. 
 
 1 3. To conclude, he that diuideth Chrift, doth alfo de- 
 ny him, and is as S. hhn fakh, the fpiritof Antichrift, for fo 
 their vulgar tranflation, according alfo to S. Atigufttne, rea- 
 dcth that Text. 1 4 lohr. . 4. % . Omnh fbirit tu qui foluit Ufum, 
 ex Deo nor, efi y et h'tc eft jiKtiehrifitu ; out of which ground 
 of their owne, Tconclude^that thePapifts diuiding Chrift, 
 do alfo thereby in erTcdtdenybimto be come in theflcfh.For 
 they teach,that Chrift performed the office of the mediator- 
 fhip ill his humane nature alonc,without any helpc or occur- 
 rence ofhis diuinity : which is both pure NefterUmfme, in 
 making Chrifts humanity a perfon alone, for actions are of a 
 perfon, and alio againft common rcafon.bccaufc Chrift as he 
 was Mcdiator^produced operations that were not oncly hu- 
 mane, but alfo diuinc ; as when he raifed the dead, dtfeoue- 
 rcd mens thoughts, conquered the dcuill, and rofe againe 
 from death, all which were wrought by his diuinc power : 
 now it is impoflible that a mecrc humane nature fhoukt be 
 the occa/ion of diuincopcrations.- A ddc hereunto, that it is 
 
 the 
 
 BelUr.dt* 
 ChnftoJtbs-C. 
 
 qucnU 
 
2JZ 
 
 The title of the Fkar ofcbrifl. C hap. 8 . 
 
 che common opinion of all their Doctors, that Chrift from 
 the very firft moment of his conception, was a Comp-chcn- 
 cier, that is, in the ftate of that blelTcdnelTe which is future to 
 vs after this life : but by thcirowncdo£h*ine, a Comprcbex- 
 der is not in tbefiate *f meriting^ and fo it will follow, that 
 Chrift by his comining in the flefh hath merited nothing,and 
 confequcntly that his comming was in vaiucj and fo indeed 
 as if it were not. And thus euery way the Church of Rome 
 ftands guilty of the Apoftacy foretold by S.Paul, whether 
 we refpedt their falling from Chrift into herefte : or from 
 their owne ancient Church and religion ; or the three Apo- 
 ftaticall do&rincs which they are fallen into,, which are left as 
 brands thereof. 
 
 CHAP.8. 
 
 Touching the title of the Vicar of Chrift. 
 
 x.T~He title of Chrifts Vicar ypon earth, agreeth v 
 J vnto the name and nature of A ntichiift: for the aai 
 
 elk 
 
 name 
 
 Antichrift, fignifietrt not onely anoppofttc,but alfo a fubfti- 
 tute vnto Chrift, as hath bene declared before : to fignifle 
 that Antichrift fhould be in name and pretence a friend vnto 
 Chrift, but indeed an enemy, and therefore an hypocrite, 
 hauing homes like a Lambe, but fpcaking like the Dragon, 
 And it mull needs be fo : for firft, where mention is made in 
 holy Scripture of the A ntichriftian Apoftacy, there is alfore- 
 membred the hypocrific of the Apoftates, as i . Tim. 4. 1 . 2 . 
 where the Authors of the Apoftacy are faid to fpeake lyes 
 through hypocrifie: So 2. 77**. 3. 5. and*. Pet. 2.i.2.$.and 
 S.Paul.z.Tbef. 2.3.7. callcth Antichriftianifme not onely 
 an Apoftacy, but alfo a myftery of iniquity: which he would 
 ncuer haue done, if Antichrift fhould hauc bene a profeft e- 
 nemy vnto Chrift. Secondly, to oppugne Chrift by open 
 force, and to feckc to roote out the Chriftian name, is direct- 
 ly contrary to all thofe conditions whereby Antichrift is de- 
 fcribed by the holy Ghoft : as that he fhould be a teacher of 
 
 lyes 
 
Chap. 8. The title of the Vicar ofchrijt* 
 
 173 
 
 lyes through hypocrifie, and that he fhould fit in the Tem- 
 ple of God, that is,thc Church, that his impiety is myfticall, 
 that is,palliatcd v^iih the name of piety, as their o wne gloflfe 
 fpeakcth on l.Tbeff'.?. and that the cup wherewith the 
 Whore of Babylon doth make drunke the inhabitants of the 
 earth, is of gold, faire and fpecious to fight, and the liquor in 
 it wine, which is plcafant to tafl ; but vndcr both, lycth and 
 is mixed molt deadly poyfon : all which doth plainly (hew 
 that Antichrift cannot be an open Aducrfary. * nd Iaftly/ec- 
 ing his very drift and ay me is, to {educe an J decciue the 
 world, for which caufc he is laid to come with the efficacy 
 ofdeceite ; it is nor likely that he fhould be fof.mplc as to 
 proreffe himfeife Chrifts enemy in plaine words, for who 
 would not then beware of him ? >.o that as it is vfuall with 
 aTraytorto pretend the name and authority of the King to 
 draw the fubiecls to his part : fo doth Antichrift,vncicr pre- 
 tence of C hrifts name and autho r ity, draw ihe world into 
 manifeft rebellion again ft Chrift. Now the Pope dothma- 
 nifrftly declare himfeife to be Antichrift, as by other markes 
 and qualities,fo cfpecially by this, in that he afiuniethto him- 
 feife the title of the Vicar of (Thrift, and vnder that colour 
 fecretly oppofcth Chrift and his Church. For, I pray you, 
 whatmeancth this tide but one of thefe two things, to wit, 
 either that Chrift hath difcharged himfeife of his officc,and 
 committed it to another ; or that he hath need of a Vicar to 
 fupply his roomejumfclfe being vnfufficient thereunto? And 
 if they fay that it is neither through negligence, nor impo- 
 tency, but rather as a mcanes which he hath ordained by his 
 prouidcr.ee to gouerne his Church on earth ; I would then 
 aske them, where is this commiiTion, and when was this au- 
 thority giuen vnto him ? Sure it cannot be, being a matter 
 of <o great a moment, but itmuftbeexprefled in words : 
 cfpecially feeing the Spirit of God is the great md gencrail 
 Vicar of Chrift on earth, and the Minifters are appointed as 
 themeancstobringmeHtoheaucn, and Kings and Princes 
 are in their dominions his Vicegerents and Lieutenants, for 
 the outward goucrnmentofthc Church. And indeed lt'wc 
 
 N n con-i 
 
274 
 
 The title of the Vicar ofckr/Ji. Chap.8 
 
 Benediti de 
 
 Bc»ed*fr.pr&~ 
 dt.tn Aniith. 
 
 confider a little neerely the Offices of our Lord Iefus Chrift, 
 to wit, his Prophecy, Priefthood, and Regality, we fhall 
 findc, that this vfurping Vicar hath rauifhcd them all into .. 
 his hands, and depriucd (Thrift thereof^as (hall appcarc in the 
 difcourfc following. 
 
 2. The Prophcticali Office of Chrift, is taken from him 
 by the Pope many waies, efpecially by thefc doctrines that 
 follow : Namely, that the holy Scripture is inefficient and 
 vnperfe£t of it feife, *and that this imperfection nuift be fup- 
 plycd by thehelpe of traditions: foi the Pope fcorning to be 
 enclofed within the bands of holy Scripture, hath taken vn- 
 to himfelfe authority to addc thereunto what he plcafeth, to 
 cut off what he liiteth, to change it into what fafhionhc will, 
 and to interpret it at his pleafure. Infuchfort, that whatfo- 
 euer he either forbiddeth, or commandeth, he cannot be ac- 
 cufed of crrour, or contradiction to the holy Scripture ; fee- 
 ing he hath the interpretation and expofition thereof in his 
 Iowncbrclt, as being a man diuinely chofen, todifecrne 
 truth from falfliood, to decide the controucrfies of the 
 Church, to rcfolue doubtfull quefHons,to determine articles 
 not determined, and to ordaine a Symbole of the faith, as 
 fpeakcth on; oftheir owne fide. Now what doc all thefe 
 things elfe import, but a derogation fromChrirts propheib- 
 call Office, rvbo is our oxely Maifter and Deft or, who hathgt- 
 ttenvmovs the word y which the 'Futhergaue vnto him , and 
 concerning whom,the Father fpeaketh from fltauen, Heart 
 htm. But their oppofition vnto this Office of (Thrift, is 
 more groffe, in that they preferre their vulgar edition of the 
 Bible, before the Hebrew and the Greekc, which was the 
 immediate dialects of the holy Ghofr. For the Counc ill of 
 Trent ordaincd,that this ancient Latinc vei fron, fhould bee 
 held Authenticall in all publike Lectures, Difputations 3 Scr- 
 mons, and Expofitions, and chat none fhould daretoreicct 
 it vpon any pretence whatfoeucr. And yet Pope $ixtm the 
 fift, caufing itto be rcimprinted in the Vaticane,and correct- 
 ed, enforceth it vpon the Church as the onely Authenticall 
 tranflation ordained by the Councill : as if a thing corrected 
 
 might. 
 
 Iohn.17.8. 
 Mat.]7.^ 
 
 Concil. Trident 
 SeJT+ 
 
 Pr*f*t.SixtK 
 S .prefix bib- 
 i lis/uU* 
 
Chip.8. The titled/ the Ficar ofcbrifl* 
 
 275 
 
 might be the fame as it was before the correction : Yea *Bet- j 
 Urmme with the reft of that crew, accufe the Grcekeand ' 
 Hebrew of many corruptions, which they fay are not found 
 in the vulgar Latine : whereas notwithftanding, for one cor- 
 ruption which rhey would faine faften vpon them, there are 
 to be found twenty in this, and that by confeflioii of many 
 learned of their o wne fide. And that which is worfe, fo im- 
 pudent is oil: of their Biihops, that fctting forth the Bible in 
 d-iuers languages, he placeth the vulgar Latine, betwixt the | 
 Hebrew and the Greekc, As Chrtfi betwixt two thceues, as ( 
 blafphemouQy he fpcaketh. Now it is to be noted,that not- 
 withstanding the decree of the Councill, and the ordinance 
 of Pope Sixnu \ yet Cleme/it the ninth in th* yeerc 1 5 9 2 . in 
 the rlrfi of his PontLncy, caufed the fame to bee reprinted a- 
 gaine in the Vaticane after another ed irion, giuing vnto it 
 the fame authority, which Sixtus had done vnto his : where 
 we may behold a Pope oppefed to a Pope, a Pope that can- 
 not erre, to a Pope that cannot erre : and yet they contradict 
 and enterfcrre with each other aiteri^rsnge manner : for 
 ittxwbkcifSixttv affirmed!, Clement denyeth; that which 
 Clement afnVmeth,S/',Yr/# denyeth ; the one brcathcth hot, 
 the other cold; the one the truth, the other falfhood ; the one 
 diminifheth, theother augmentcth; and in a word, difplay to 
 the world a fpec^acieof groiTc and ridiculous contradictions 
 of Romane Popes. A full view whereof, he that is defirous 
 to take, let him read an cnttffc booke of our Countryman 
 Doctor I 'times , about this fubiecl. Now iudge, whatatTu- 
 ranceafaithfull preacher Or cxpofitor of the word of God 
 can hauc, by reding himfelfc vpon this verfion fo Authcnti- 
 cfeH by the Councill of Trent, confidcring the difcordancc 
 that is in the editions of thefe two Popes, For if the one 
 could iudge that the other had erred in many places, why 
 might he not alio erre in many others vnobierued > And if 
 this nught happen to one fV>pc, why may it not be fufpc£bd 
 of another? If to Sixtpu, why not to foment ? It (as they 
 fay) Pope Sixtus wrought his workc after dinner, who can 
 ailure vs that Pope Clement might not aifo (lumber before 
 
 Nnj dinner. 
 
 Lyndancleep, 
 time ge» .Jh- 
 
 BeliumpApd'e, 
 T ho. lames. 
 
2j6 
 
 The title of the Vicar ofchrifl. Chap. 3 
 
 
 
 tier ? But to paiTc from this, and omit many other doctrines 
 of theirs, which are flat oppofite to the Pi ophcticall Office 
 of Chnft ; I conclude with a moft audacious and prcfumptu- 
 ous pra6tife tending to the fame, and namely, a peremptory 
 decree, that all the ordinances of the Apoitolikc(that is Ro- 
 mane) Sea, muft be receiued as if they were confirmed by 
 the diuine voyce of S. Peter himfelfe, and that what Kings, 
 or Bifliops, or Potentates foeucr, iTiaU violate or furTer to be 
 violated, the decrees of the Romane Bifrops, fhall incurrc 
 the execreable AnAihema^ as a preuaricator of the Cacho- 
 like faith. And yet the Pope himfelfe muft not be fubieel to 
 thefe thrice facred Canons, as Gratian moft philofophically 
 difcoucretht For as Chrift (faith he) who was the Law-gi- 
 uer, accomplifhed the fame in his ftefh, being Circutncued 
 the eight day, andprcfcntcdinthc Temple the fortieth with 
 Sacrifices according to the prefcript of the Law ; yet after- 
 ward to flic w thathe was the Lord of the Law, he healed a 
 Leper by his touch, contrary to the letter of the Law r So 
 the Bifliops of the Soueraigns fcate, giue reuerence to the 
 Canons, made either by themfelues, or by others ?&&s 
 their autarky, and in humility obferue them for example 
 fake vnto others : yet neuerthelclTe fomctimes, either by 
 commanding, or decreeing, abrogating, or ckering, they 
 fliew themfelues, Lords of the Decrees and Canons : thus he. 
 By which we may fee, how the Pope vfurpeth the very au- 
 thority and power of Chrift himfelfe, to wit, not to be fub- 
 ic<5tto his owneLawcs, but robe the onely absolute Pro- 
 phet, Matter, and Teacher of the world : to teach all,and not 
 to be taught of any ; to giue Lawes to all, and not to take 
 Lawcs from any;~to iudgeal^andnot tobciudged of any; 
 andlaflly, nottoerrc, as all others may doc be/ides him- 
 felfe. 
 
 3 . Touching hh Kingly Omxc,doe they not in like man- 
 ner rauifri that from him, when they afiiimc to themfelues 
 thofc very titles, and that fame power which appertained 
 vnto Chriit ? It is a Decree of a Councill held at Rome vn- 
 der Gregory the feucnth, in the yccre 1057. That there is 
 
 but 
 
Chap.3. The ittle of the F/ur tfchrift. 
 
 277 
 
 but one name in the world, to vett , of the Pope y and that thu | 
 nam: ought onely to bre named in the C butcher. What is this! 
 but to rob Chrift of that honour which the Scripture afcri- 
 beth and appropriated onely to his name, dels +4.1 2 ? A- 
 gaine,thcPopeintitleth himiclfcthc Head and Husband of 
 the Church,both which arc the proper titles of our Sauiour 
 Chriitby their owne conffTion : what then? will they make 
 the Church a monfter with two heads, and an adultereffe 
 with two hufbands ? ForChrift muftbeonehead andhuf- 
 band and the Pope wiiibe another,andfo*heremi:f.t be two 
 ofeach : which howfoeuer it may bee borne withall in the 
 title [Htad t ]yct it cannot be in endured the title [Husband:] 
 for iealoufie will not fufrer an husband to admit of a Vicar 
 or iubftitute in his oftkeofan husband; it cannot abide that 
 the wiues loue fhould be wooed, much more drawn away by 
 another : and therefore it is meft abfurdto dreame of a mi- 
 nifteriali husband, as they doc of a miniftcriall head. The 
 Pope can in no fen fc be the husband of the Church, but in 
 that he wooeth the Chsrch ; which is Chrifis fpoufe,from her 
 owne husband to hiinfcife, mud needs be an Adulterer and 
 not a husband. As for the tide [Head, ] I confefle that one 
 maybeiaidtohauediucrs heads in different refpecls, but 
 not of the fame order and kinde : for befide the the naturall 
 head which euery man hath, he hathalfo.a fpirituall head 
 which'isGod,andapolitickc headwhicius" the foueraignc 
 Magiitratc : but there is nothing in the world thatc?n hauc 
 two heads of the fame refpedt and ranke,but is a monilcrjand 
 iois the Church, if it hauc both Chriit and the Pope": for 
 their headfhip is of one and the fame kinde, to wit, ipirituail 
 «$ cannot bedenyed. I know ther cuafion, which is, that 
 Chrifl is tht principall head of the Church, and the Pope 
 onely the miniiteriall : but this is an idle and vainc diitincti- 
 oi» : for befides that,ithath no foundation in holy Scripture, 
 J demand,^ what refpect is the Pope the mimrteriall head > 
 Surcitmuft needs bee ckher in refpeft of'Chriit,orofthe 
 Church: butmrtfpectoftbe Church it cannot be,becaufe 
 to be the ininiftcriall head in refpeel of the Churches tofcruc 
 •j Nn 3 the 
 
278 
 
 ThetitlecftheVicArofchrift. Chap.8 
 
 Extrdu-nefede 
 K>acante,cSi 
 fratrtm, 
 
 Canc'd.Ltti* 
 
 ihidfijf.to, 
 Sefrt. 
 
 the Church , no w to feruc and yet to be the head,are things fo 
 oppofite,thatthey can no more agree together, then in the 
 body to be a membe^and to be the head : for the preroga- 
 tiue of a head is not to feme andminifter, but to command 
 •and gouerne : fo that if the Pope be the head of the Church, 
 ;he cannot be the minifter of the Church, and if he be the mi- 
 nifter,he cannot be the head. Neither can he bee fo called 
 in refpeel ofChrift,becaufe then it would follow, that hol- 
 ding the roome and place of Chrift, he (hould be a head of 
 the fame kinde and order, and confequcntly the Church 
 fhoul d haue twobcads, and fo be a monftcr . As therefore 
 he that fhould challenge himfelfe to bceaminiftcriallhuf-- 
 band to another mans wife,is no better then an Adulterer : 
 fo the Pppe challenging to be the minifteriall head of the 
 Church,is no better then an vfurper. .And that we may bee 
 fully refoiuedin thispoint^bferue laltly how they attribute 
 tothePopc,andthePopetohimfeife, all that euer apper- 
 tained! to the Kingdome of Chrift. Thus lohn the 2 z . faith 
 in his Ext rauagant, thzt God had committed vnto him the 
 rights both of the Ccleftiall and TerrePtriaii £ilipi:c. An?°- 
 nins VncctHs in his Oration which he made at the ninth Seffi- 
 on of the Councill otLtferamefiitih j that that prophecy in 
 the 7 2 . Pfilme,was fulfilled in Pope Leo the tenth, All the 
 Kings oft be earth (hall worfhtp htm, and all Nations (haliferxe 
 him ; and a little aftcr,thefime flatterer crycth thus out, A 11 
 Chrtftian Princes \mwjthat to thee alone tighten by. the lord, 
 all power both in heanen and earth. And in the tenth Scflion 
 ofthefame Councilman Arc hbifhop thus fecondeth him: 
 Take therefore vnto thee the two edged fword, (harpevedby the 
 power of God, and bidjCommand^enioyne^andbinde Kings 
 with the cordes of the great Kings greatnejfe, and Nobles with 
 the iron fetters ofcenfures, for to thee is giften all power, &c. 
 And in the Oration hcfaith,that All power abouc all powers 
 as well of he men, as of earth, is gitten to thee. So that it is no 
 maruaile that if in another Oration of the fame Councill of 
 Later ane, the fore-named Pope Leo the tenth is called,/^ 
 Lj on of the tribe ofludajbe rootecfDattid, the fauiour and 
 
 deliverer* 
 
Chap. 8. the title of the View of Chrift ■ 
 
 279 
 
 deliverer. So wc read in the bookes ofthe Ceremonies of 
 the Church of Rome y t\\zt the fvvord which the Pope hallow- 
 cthvponthe night of Chriits natiuity, denoteth the foue- 
 raigne power ofthe Papacy, according as it is written, All 
 power u given vnto me in heautn and earth ^and elfewhere; 
 andhee [hall reigne firomSeato Sea, andfrem the flood to the 
 ems oft he earth. But moft notorious is that adulatory £«- 
 cominm of a certaine Bifliop to Pope Vaul ihc fecond,whcrc 
 he thus mountcth :. What may wee thinke ofthe Soueraigne 
 Ttilhop who holdetk the place of the true God on earth , and u e- 
 len.ited to thefalncjje of ft ate, to the throne Apoflolike, and to 
 the top of all dignities > From wh$m <u from a spring, tffue all 
 ripters 3 as branches from a tree : who is not onely eft ab lifted for 
 humane principality but alfofor ditiine ; not onely to command 
 oner mart all men, bat alfi oner the Angels ; and to iu&ge not 
 onely the ImwgJjHi euen the deadend not onely vpon earth, bv.t 
 alfi in heauen.andto pre fide not onely otter Chri(rtans } but alfo 
 ouer Infidels ^avd to make \l)ort,who is ordained of (fed in hU 
 owne place , dignity jur if dift: ion y and, vniner fill power and prin- 
 cipality otter the world. And tothis purpofe he applycth ma- 
 ny text« ofholy Scriptures,as fpoken of him,vChich belong 
 onely vnto God : and in conciufion, he prcferrcth him to 
 ftammering Mofes (as impudently hec callcth him ) and to 
 Aaron, yz^o Icfus Chrift himfelfe.Andyct this man for all 
 his blafphemies was in great credk with the Pope, and his 
 bookc of great authority in the Church of Rome. In fine, 
 they attribute vnto him a power to make new Lawes that 
 btnde mens confeiences as well as the Lawes of God, and of 
 Chrift. So that we may itiftly conclude, that the Pope pu!- 
 leth Chrift from his Royall thronc.to mount himfelfc there- 
 into : for if he be the onely one to be named in the Church, 
 where is then the name of i cfus Chrift ? If he be the Chur- 
 ches Bride-groome, how is Chrift the fame ? If he be the 
 head ofthe Church,how is Chrilt the head ? lfhchaueall 
 the power iti hcauen and earth,hath Chrift any left for him ? 
 If he bctheiudgeof the quiekc and the dead,- what {hall 
 Chrift doe ? And if he can make Lawes to binde our con- 
 
 fciences^ 
 
 iSib.i.Ctremin* 
 
 Roderit^lcrm 
 
 renf E fit fin 
 fpecul. y:ts 
 hvman.lib.i. 
 cafi.i* 
 
 BellJe Rem. 
 Pomjtb.j.cap. 
 
 «■«■*" 
 
280 
 
 7 ht title of the View ofebrifi. C hap. 8 
 
 fcienccs,what need haue we of the Lawes of Icius (Thrift ? 
 And thus the Papal) Monarchy is erected in the Church to 
 ouerthrow the Monarchy of', hrift. 
 
 4. The Priefthood of Chrift rernaineth, which is after 
 the order of Melchizsde^und hath two parts,to wit,thc ex- 
 piation of our finnesby an offering of himfclfc on the CroiTe 
 once for euer, whereby he fatisficd the diuine iuftice for the 
 finnesofall the Elcft : and his IntercefTion,whereby we be- 
 ing deliuered from our ftnnes by his fatisfaction, are made 
 partakers of cternall faluation : which two acles as they arc 
 infeparably ioyncd together,and haue mutuall dependency 
 vpon each other; fo they arc vncommunicable to any Crea- 
 ture, and vnimitable by any. Howbcit this facred Office 
 with both the parts thereof is taken from Chrift in the Pa- 
 pacy, and imparted to other things : Asfirft, when they 
 deuife another Priefthood, Altar,and acrince, different from 
 thofeof iefus Chrift, making the worl i belecue, that Chrift 
 is offered euery day ,and in all places, in the MafTe, for ob- 
 taining ofremiflion offinnes,for th~ iiuing and the dead, 
 contrary to the expreffe Text of the holy Ghoft, Heh. g.26. 
 and r o. 1 o. 1 1. 1 2. and that oftentimes by the hands of a 
 tnortall man foyled with abominable vices : and in ftead of 
 Chrift, offering apiece of bread,to the which they render 
 Diuine honours^as if it were Chnft him r elfe,by an execra- 
 ble Idolatry : and inftcad ofthe Croffe/ubftituting an Al- 
 tar of ftone after a Iewifh an J hcathenifh manner : as if 
 Meft.hi<.edckjwzs not a type of Chiifts Priefthood , who 
 notwithftanding rcprcfentcd Chrift in thefc particuIars.Firft, 
 in that he was both a Pricft and King together. Secondly, 
 without Fathcr,Mothcr,orc'ifccnt,hauing neither beginning 
 of daics, nor end of life. And thirdly, in that his Priefthood 
 was ctrctfzCATop t hat is, (as the word fignifietb)vnpaflable to 
 any other fucceflbr or Vicar whaifocucr.For we muft note, 
 that as MetchtzL,edek.'\$ brought in by Mofes as a man fallen 
 from hcaucr.mot declaring either his Father, Mother, or 
 race, not (i. ccecding in office to my that went bcfbre,nor 
 rcfigning the fame to any fuicciforor Vicar ; fopur Lord 
 
 Jefus 
 
Chap. 8. The title of the Vicar ofchrijK 
 
 2ffl 
 
 IefusChiift ashcehad no predeceffor in the office of his 
 Pricfthood,fo he cannot hauc any fucce{for or Vicar : but as 
 he alone was defigned by the Father to this officc,fohc alone 
 without any hclper,exercifed the fame heerc on earth, and 
 ftill cxercifeth it in heauen by his interccflion for finners, a!- 
 wayes lining, to the end that by the vcrtue and force of his 
 Priefthood and facrifice,he might to thefull,orto the vtter- 
 moftjfaue fuchas come vnto God by him, as is at large dif- 
 couricd in the icuenth Chapter of the Epiftle to the He- 
 brewes. Neucrtheleife, quite contrary the doctrine of the 
 Churchcf^^is, that the Pope with all his Bifhops and 
 Prietts, are Sacrificcrs after the order of <JMelchtz,cdskji 
 which if it bee true, how is Chrifts Priefthood ezTretfaCciTov 
 orvntranfitiue,orvnpaflable ? And how is Chrift onely a 
 Prieft after the ore'er of ' CMelcbiz^edc^ if he hauc for his 
 companions in ofHccfo many thoufemd of Popifhfhaue- 
 lings ? And if the oblation made once by Chrift on the 
 Crofie be rciterarcd cucry day in the Made, how can it bee, 
 but that Chriftsfacrifice was impcrfcvSt, feeing it ftoodin 
 need of iteration, as the Apoftlc concludcth of the legal! fa- 
 criHccs inthi5rcgard,f7V^.7.2 7 ? But not content herewith, 
 theyioynealfothefufferingsofthe Saints, with this facri- 
 flee ofChrift/or the fatisfa&ion and expiation of our finnes. 
 For they fay, that the Apoftles, Martyrs, and other Saints, 
 haue for the louc they bare to God, done more good and 
 iurreredmorceuill, then was needfull for the expiation of 
 their owne finnes before God, and for the meriting of eter- 
 nalllife : So that of their fuperabounding merits and fuffe- 
 rings,icyncd with thofe of Chrift, is compofed that fuppo- 
 fed trealure of the Church, which the Pope difpenfe th to the 
 world by his Indulgences: yea,they proceede fo farrc,as 
 to make eucry Chriftian a fatisficr for himfclfe and his owne 
 finneSjby the merit of his good workes, as Fafting, Almcs, 
 and other workes of Penance. And that which is yet more, 
 they attribute vnto dead things ,as Agnta d: is, Holy graves, 
 and othertram,a power of taking away of(inne, which bc- 
 longeth onely to Chrifts blood. For fo one of their Popes,, 
 
 O o Vibane\ 
 
282 
 
 The title of the riar cfchr/Jl. Chap. 8 
 
 Lib.t.f*zr*£* 
 remoji.ftfi'?' 
 
 Vrbane the fift commendeth his holy Lambe which hee fent 
 to the Emperor of fyVw?,thatithaih power to brcake and 
 vex finne as Chrifts blood : Peccatttm fravgit ( faith he ) vt 
 Chrifit {wgHis ,& attgit : and what was this but the picture 
 ofa Lambe compofed of Balfame,purc Wax, and holy Wa- 
 ters it is defcribed by the fame Pope in this Difticke ? 
 
 Balfiimti4>et mania cera,cnm chrifmatid v> da 
 Confident agnum .• quod mur.us do tibi magnum* 
 
 But the prayers vfed at the confecration of this Ag^m, 
 are moft blafphemous and horrible : for they pray 3 that by 
 the power of it crimes maybe diffolued, and fpits of finne s 
 I clenfed away y and thai far don and grace may be conferred^ and 
 eternall life gained : they compare it with the Pafchall 
 Lambe of the Icwes,by the fprinkling of whofe blood they 
 were deliuered in ts£gypt from the deilroy ing Angell ,* and 
 to the Lambe of God which takcth away the finnes of the 
 world, euen the Sonne of God that was offered on the 
 CrolTe,and afcribe vnto it all the vermes and effects of ei- 
 ther of thefe, as to deliuer from all manner of danger both 
 body and foule,to protect from the deuill and his fubtleties, 
 and to deface and abolifh fin.If this be not to reie# the blood 
 of Chriftyand the vertue of his facrifice,what can be, feeing a 
 little peeccofWaxismade to haueequall vertue and effica- 
 cy to them, againft finne 2nd the deuill ? And thus they rob 
 Chrift of the firft part of his Priefthood ; and doe they leaue 
 him thcfecond.to wit,his Interccflion? No verily he is not fo 
 much beholding vnto thcm;but they make the blcflcd Virgin 
 with the reft of the Saints and Angels, their interccifors vnto 
 God as wellasChri(t,asifhe alone were not our fufficient 
 Mediator, without their alTiftance : What fay I 5 as well as 
 Chrift ■? Nay^morc then Chrift : for their Prayers, and 
 Temples,and Deuotions, are ten times more in honour of 
 the Saints,then of Chrift,as experience flic wcth, and as hath 
 bene declared before. 
 
 5. I know that all their Prayers to the Saints are soue- 
 
 red 
 
Chap.9. Vsure T>ottimes proper to Antkhrtlh 
 
 red and coloured with the name of Chri(t,and concluded e- 
 ucr with thefe words, T$y lefm Cbrifl our Lord : and that all 
 the vertucand power which the Saints hauc,commeth from 
 Chrift. Cut who knoweth not alfo, that the Idolatrous 
 Iewes cloaked their Idolatries vnder the name of Ichouah, 
 and thought thcmfelues vnrcprouable when they put his 
 name vpon their Idols, and in that pretence offered facrifice 
 vnto them ? So the Mother of A4ich*h faid vnto \\wr\Jhaue 
 wholly dedicated the [titter to the Lord of my hand for my 
 Sonne, to make a grauen and molten Image : and fo this 
 miferablc A-fichah hauingconfccrated his Idoll,and appoin- 
 ted it a Leuite for a Pricit,faid -.Now do I know that the Lord 
 will doe mee good,p cing Ihnuea Leuite to my Prieft. In 
 like manncrthcPapiftsexcufe all their Idolatry, which they, 
 commit towards the Saints, andtheiniury which they doe 
 vnto Chii(t,withthis pretence, that all the vertue which 
 is in them is by fomc fecret influence deriued from ChriiT : 
 asifitwereiawfull for men to addc in matter of Religion 
 whatfoeucr they thinkc good, whether Paganifh Idolatry, 
 or Ievvifh Ceremonies, vnder colour, that they draw their 
 efficacy and vertue from Chrirt : Or that they apply vnto 
 vs the efficacy of (Thrifts redemption: of which tranimiffion 
 of vertue and application the Scripture hath not a word, but 
 rcferreth vs vntoFaith,as the only meanes of applying Chrift 
 toourfoules, and the redemption wrought by his blood. 
 And thus vnder the tide of the Vicar of Chrift lycth hid the 
 very poifon of Antichrift. 
 
 285 
 
 CHAP.?. 
 
 Touching fonre other docirines proper vnto Antichrift by the 
 Papifts confejfion. 
 
 Mtlenz,iw an Italian Monke writing againft Marcili- 
 iu in defence of Cardinal! 'Baroniw his aduice to 
 Pope P dtt I the & ft, about excommunication of the Vcncti- 
 ans,hath a pretty conceit- vpon the names of Haronitu and 
 Co 2 1icllarminc\ 
 
284 
 
 Foure Dccirines proper to Antichrijl. Chap. 9 
 
 Bcttarmine ; for he framcth out of the firft fyllablcs of them 
 both #4 ,and 2?*/ the name Ifo^/, and rarely not imperti- 
 nently : forthefe twoAuthorshaucas it were comprized in 
 their writings all that apportioned^ to the building of Babel y 
 one in the queftion of right,the other in that offa&, and in- 
 deed are the very pillars of Popery. Ifpcake this onely by 
 the way,becaufe we often fpcake of them in this Trcatife. 
 BeM.de Ram. BelUrmine therefore to diiiert mens eyes from the true A r- 
 PontJib. 3 .cj.. ticks of the Antichriftian Apolhcy, propofeth foure other 
 doctrines, which he faith Antichrift mult hold, which be- 
 caufe the Pope doth not hold, therefore hec is not Anti- 
 chrift. 
 
 2. Thefiiftofthefefoure doctrines is, That Antichrift 
 {hail deny lefus to bee Chrift y znd cenfequently aboliili the 
 Sacraments of Chrift, and bring in againc the fewifh Sab- 
 bath andCercmonies. For (faith he) Antichrift muft bee a 
 lew by Nation and Religion,and receiued of the fewes for 
 their Mejjia*,2nd therefore muft openly oppofe himfeife vn- 
 to Chrift. Andbefides Saint hhn faith,that hce that denyeth 
 Icfus to bee Chrift, is the fpirit of Antichrift. To which I 
 anfwere,that firft hce fettethdownc that for certainc, which 
 is in qucftion. For wee peremptorily deny, that Antichrift 
 fhall be a Icw,eithcr by Nation,or Religion, 01 receiued of 
 the Jewcs for their MtffiM, as is euidently proucd by the 
 Author of this Treatife , where hec anfwereth all the Argu- 
 ments that are brought to the contrary. Secondly, wee con- 
 felTe, that Antichrift fhall deny Icfus to bee Chrift, and fo 
 doth the Pope. For though hec acknowledge the name of 
 (Thrift in appearance, yet hee takcth from it all the vertuc 
 and efficacy there of,as hath beenc proued before, and pro- 
 fciTeth Chrift by word, but denyeth him in effeel : for it is 
 certainc ,that Chrift may be denyed two waics ; either ouert- 
 ly,or coucrtly, that is,eithcr in word,or in effect : thus the 
 dcuill in many places of the Gofpcll, confeffeth that lefus is 
 the Chrift, and the holy one of God ; and yet doth he not by 
 might and mainc oppugnc this dcclrine, and in effect deny 
 it? S *»hn therefore well exprcfTcth what Antichrift fhall 
 
 doc, 
 
Ch ap. g. Foure VcttrinespYOfer to Antichrifl. 
 
 28J 
 
 doc, but he doth not exprefle the manner how he fhilj doe 
 it : and therefore this is a fophifticall condufton, to argue 
 from the fubftance of a thing, to the manner of doing it. r or 
 things maybe denied, either direclly or indire&ly,cither by 
 exprcfTe maximcs,orby ncccfTary confequenccs ; and this 
 latter is therefore more dangerous,bccaufe it is more deceit- 
 full. We do not read that Epic mm denied this proporti- 
 on, There is a God : but when he framed to hirpfeife fucha 
 God that had no care nor prouidence ouerthc world,did he 
 not indirectly deny there was a G od ? For God cannot be 
 without a prouidence. So the Pope doth not in direel words 
 deny this proportion, lefm is Chrtft : yet when he giueth 
 vnto him a phantafticali body by his doctrine of tranfubftan- 
 tiation, robbcth him of all his offices, and ioyneth others 
 with him in the vvorke ofRedcmption,what doth he but by 
 confequent deny him to be Chrift } Yea but (faith he) all 
 Herctikes thus deny Chrift, therefore Antichrift muft deny 
 him after another fort ; to wit, (imply and abfolutcly. But 
 fay I,thcclcane contrary doth rather from hence follow : For 
 S . Iohn doth manifeftly affirmc, that the fpirit of Antichrift, 
 is the fame with that of former Heretickcs, when he faith; 
 'Such is the fpirit of Antichrift, of which yc haue heard fay, 
 thnt he [hall come, and now is already in the world. Now if 
 Antichrift muft fpeake by the fame fpirit that Heretikes did, 
 then he muft alfo deny Iefus Chrift after the fame manner, to 
 wit, not by denying his name, but by deftroying his faith ; 
 and thus this firft doctrine agrecth fitly to the Pope, if wc 
 vndciftand S.Fohn as he ought to be vnderftood. 
 
 3. Their fecond doctrine of Antichrift is, that hefliall 
 name hjmfclfe not the Vicar or fcruantof Chrift, but 
 Chrift himfclfe, and this,becaufc it is hidjohn^.q^, J fan* 
 other fh all come in his ownename, him \»t\l ye receive. Where 
 itfeemeth (faith *BeRarmine) that Chrift cxprclTely vfeth 
 thefe words : In nomine fue, In his ownc name, fore- feeing 
 that the Lutherans, and Caluinifts would fay, that Anti- 
 chrift fhould not come in his owne name, but in the name ©f 
 Chrift, as his Vicar. But what a vaine interpretation this is, 
 Oo 3 may 
 
 Be/JeRtm. 
 PoxtJsl.j.c4f, 
 
2S6 
 
 Foure Doctrines proper to Antichrifi. Chap.p 
 
 Mjttdon in loh* 
 
 far,!;**!? 
 
 may appeare by two r&for.s out of their owne Mal'dwate. 
 Firft, that Chrift fpeaCeth not here in particular of Anti- 
 chrift,but in general! of all faife Prophets, by the word, an- 
 others not defining one particular perfon, but defigningany 
 one whatioeucr, * that fl^al] cpme in his ownename. Se- 
 condly, that by, In his owne name, he meaneth not, that hee 
 (hall take \*pon him the name of Chrift, but that he fhall 
 come of his owne priuate authority, without being lent of 
 God. For albeit diuers amongit the lewes, both about 
 Chrifts time, and after, tooke vpon themfaii\y the name of 
 the Mcffias, of whom Chriii forctclleth, Mat.tq.*<$$,Ma~ 
 ny [ball come in my name,piying^ I am Chrift, and [ball deceiue 
 many : neuertheleffe he here prophecicth of many that fhall 
 come in their owne name, that is, not being fent of God, as 
 the Prophet lerimy fpeakcth ; / haue not font theft Prophets, 
 faifh the Lord, andyet they ran ilhaue notjpoken to them, and 
 yet they prophecied. So that to come in a mans owne name, 
 is nothing elfe, but to come without miffion or commifli- 
 on from God. . Howbcit we deny not, but that Anti chriii 
 fhall featc himfclfc"injthe place of €hrift,and in fome fort en- 
 title himfelfe by the name of Chriii, and afliime vnto him- 
 fclfe all the honour and reuerencc which isdue vnto Chrift; 
 all which feeing it is apparent that the Pope doth, we may 
 therefore in this regard alio conclude him to be A ntichrift. 
 For firft, all the pafiages of holy Scripture which are directly 
 intended of Chrift, he referreth to himfelfc,as hath bene fuf- 
 ficientlyproucd. Secondly, he affumcth alfo the proper 
 titles of Chrift, as to bee the Head and Husband of the 
 Church, the High-Pricft of the new Coucnant, the Soue- 
 raigne Bifhop of the world, the great and vniuerfall Shep- 
 heard of the Flocke , and in a word the Lyon ©f the Tribe of 
 Itfda, and the rootc <£Dauid, with other fuch like. Third-* 
 iy and laftly, heforbeareth not to ftile himfelfe by the very 
 name Chrift, as Gregory thefeuenth, alias Hildebrand doth, 
 both m an Epiftlc to Lanfrar.ke Archbifhop of Canterbury , 
 and alfo in a Councill held at Rome, againft Henry the Em- 
 perour. In both which, he applicth to himfelfe tbttfpeech 
 
 ' . of 
 
Chap.p. Foure Destines proper to Antichrifi. 
 
 287 
 
 of the Prophet^ PfitL 2.2. The Kin^ s of the earth are banded, 
 and the Princes affembled againftthe Lord, andagainfthis 
 Chrift, which S. Peter, ARs. 4.26. intcrpreteth as fpoken 
 directly of Chrift and none other. In the fecond Chapter of 
 the Epiitle to the Hcbrewes, ,thc holy Choft applyeth vnto 
 Chi ift, the fe words of the eight P Jaime : Th on haft made 
 him a little infer tour to the Angels, to wit, iaregard of his 
 paffion, Hek z. 9.. and yet this very fame is the deuice or 
 motto of Pope Paul the fift of late memory, in all the pi- 
 ctures and pourtraicts that were made of him. What fhould 
 I fpeake of their blafphemous application of the reft of that 
 Pfiilme ? as where it is faid, Thou haft put all things vnder hU 
 feete, that is to fay, the Popes fectc : Sheepe, that is, the follies 
 ofthcfaithfull Christians : Oxen, that is, fewes vnderthe 
 yoke of the Law: Heafts of 'the field, that is, Pagans wande- 
 ring in the broad way to hell:F<?r*?/e/ of the aire, that is,Saints 
 departed and in bliffe : and laftly, Ftfhes of the Sea, that is, 
 foules tormented in Purgatory. The Pope is made Lord of 
 all thefc, and what can Ghrift hauc more ? Nay, Bellarmine 
 highly commendeth S. Bernard, for giuing thefc high titles 
 to Pope Eugenitu : Thou art the great Prieft, the Soueraigne 
 Btjhop, the Prince of Biftjnps, the Heireofthe Apoftles, thou 
 art Abel in frimacy \ in Gouemment Noah, in Patriarchacy 
 Abraham, in Orher Otielchiz.edel^, in Dignity Aaron, in 
 Anthority /l<f&fes,in lodgement Samuel, in Power Veter, c*r in 
 V nil ion ghrift. Here the very name Chrift isgiucn by S. 
 Bernard 'to Pope Eugenim, accepted of him as his owne, 
 and allowed of 'BclUrmine as due vnto him : and what can 
 Antichrift do more? But that we may fee the very height of 
 their blafphemy in this kinde, I cannot paffe ouerinfilcnce 
 one example more : It is this. After the Sicilian Vcfpers, 
 wherein fo many hundred Frenchmen were mafTacred at 
 once, in the ycerc 1282. thofe of falerma fent EmbaiTa- 
 doui s to Pope Martin the fourth, for abfolution from that 
 bloody act : who cafting themfelues athisfeete,andfaluting 
 him as if he were Chrift, made this fuppjjcation vnto him : 
 Thou that takeft away thefmnes of the mrldhwe mercy on vs: 
 
 and 
 
 Baron. An. 
 10$ 0.8. 
 
 BelUeRen. 
 
 PontJ$b*i>6ap* 
 
 it* 
 
2 $8 Vcure DoBr ties proper to Anthhrifl. Chap.?' 
 
 and againe, Thois that takeft away thefinnes of the wsrldhaue 
 pittjonvs : and the third time, Thou that t -theft" way the 
 finnes of the world, giue vs thy peace : which the Pope was fo 
 farre from reicc^ing as blafphemous, that he contented him- 
 felfe onely thus to anfwer , that the Paler mans imitated thofe 
 that fmote Chrift, fainting him by the name of the King of 
 the I ewes, and yet in erTecl: being enemies vnto him, and fee- 
 king his blood. Now then, if their owne maxime be true, 
 the Pope is without all doubt Antichrift ; for he both ftileth 
 himfelfc, and furTereth himfcife to be calied of others by the 
 name of Chri(t c 
 
 4. The third doctrine, which BeSttrmirie afcribeth as 
 proper vnto Antichrift, is, that he (hall vfurpe the name ind 
 title of God, and not onely his power and authority, and fo 
 fhall call himfelfe God, and be worfhipped as God 2 and 
 this he groundeth vpon 2. Theffii.^* where it isfaid, That 
 he /ball fit in the Temple ofGod 3 as if he were God. B ut b y his 
 leaue, S. Paul doth not fay that he fhall call himfelfc God, 
 but that he fhall carry himfelfe as God in the Temple, that is, 
 in the Church ofGoii : and what is that, but to vfurpe the 
 power and authority of God ? This is therefore an abfurd 
 conclusion, grounded vponafalfe interpretation of S. Pauls 
 words. It is diffident then , to proue the Pope to be Anti- 
 chrift by this marke, if I fhew that he vfurpcth the power 
 and authority of God in the Church, and puttcth on the di- 
 Uine properties. And this he doth many waies : as fir ft, it 
 is an cffentiall propertie belonging vnto God, and his pecu- 
 liar priuiledge, not tobefubicclto crrour : for though the 
 Prophets and Apoftlesinthcir Sermons and writings, did 
 not erre,becauic they were immediatly inipired and directed 
 by the Spirit of truth ; yet feeing that immediate inspiration 
 is not now to be found in the Church, vnlcflc by the En- 
 thufianifme of the Anabaptifts, therefore no man liuing can 
 challenge to himfelfc fuch a power. But the Pope doth this, 
 and thereby demonftrateth himfelfc cuidently to be the An- 
 tichrift : and yeuhis maxime, That the Pope cannot erre, is 
 one oftheprincipall engines which Sathan hath deuifed to 
 j vphold 
 
IChap.p. Foure DoRrmes proper to Antichrifl. 
 
 i8p 
 
 yphold the kingdome of crrour. J know what they anfwere 
 when we obied vnto them the examples of many Popes that 
 haue erred; namely, by ftrangc diftincliofis, as,that he may 
 errc as a particular per fon and Doclor, but not as Pope : or 
 thus, Not when he detcrmincth ex Cathedra y out of his 
 Chaire,torthe inftru&ionof the whole world,but only when 
 he propounded] and deliuereth his priuatc opinion? by 
 word or writing. But who feeth not the abfurdity and con- 
 tradiction of this diftin&ion ? For the Pope is alwaies a 
 publike perfon andDoclor oftheGfiurch, and not a particu- 
 lar; fo that thefc are contradictory proportions, to be Pope, 
 and yet to be a particular Doclor; as to bee aSoueraigne 
 King, and a priuate perfon. And therefore i^atharinus had 
 reafon to mocke at CMetane % who writiug of Heroes fad- 
 nciTe, for the demand of /<?&« Baptiits head, difhnguifhed 
 betwixt the King and Hered, as if it was the King that was 
 fad, and not Herod : for (faith Catharine) if the King was 
 fad, and He rod was the King,thcn by my Logick,I muft con- 
 feflc,that Herod was alfo fad ; and if Herod would flay Iobn, 
 then the King would flay him; & if the Kingfecmcd vnwiHing 
 to haue it donc,then Herod did the like. And haue not we rea- 
 fon to reduce to the rules of the fame Logick, thofe that fay, 
 that Clement may crre, as Clement ; that is, as a priuatc man : 
 but not as Pope, that is,a publike perfon ? For as Htrod is 
 King, fo is Clement Pope.This is as if a manfhould fay, that 
 Ariftotle was ignorant as a man, but w ife as a Philofopher ; 
 and fo he fhouid be called a wife Philofopher, and an igno- 
 rant man. But let this abfurd diftin&ion be allowed,! yet it 
 will hclpe them nothing ; for many Popes haue erred as 
 Popes, out of their Chaire .in their publike Decrees and Do- 
 ctrines . For Clement the firft, in a decretall Epiftlc, which 
 Turrian the Iefuite maintainteh not to be counterfeit but 
 true, deliuereth two groffc herefies, one of the Anabaptifts, 
 touching the community of goods ; and another of the Ni- 
 colaitanes, touching the community of women : which opi- 
 nion Sttrittt held fo hercticall, that in the Cdlen edition, he 
 cutout thefc words ; In omnihus atttcm ftirt fine dubie ff 
 ' _____ Pp cor.- 
 
 
2^0 
 
 Foure Dottrines proper to Antichrtft. Chap.9 . 
 
 Tertul.dduer" 
 
 
 Conc'U.Trid. 
 
 L\her*i A- 
 hridgtap *^ 
 
 AlpbonfM 
 
 Caftro.heicf* 
 
 Itb.j-cap.** 
 
 Er*ftnpr*f*t. 
 
 adqutntumll'b 
 
 Ireruu 
 
 coniuges. TcrtftftiAv teliethvs, that a B ifnop of Rome in his 
 time (fame tfAnkcZepberinus, others € km her iw) appro- 
 ued by his pubiikc ceniurc, the prophecies of Montantu, 
 prifca, and Maxim'tllo. Pope Marccllwu*, in a piiblike A& 
 as Pope, facrificcd to Idols, confciTcd by ^*5^HM**,tho#gh 
 thus qualified ; that he did it for fearc of death, albeit that 
 the Councill of Sinuejf a faith, that he did it being corrupted 
 with gold. Ltbtripu\Nis infecled with the Arrian hereiic ; 
 and fo was Felix his fucceffour, by the teftimonie of moft 
 ancient writers : as Athanafitu^S. Ierome^ Damaftu, HiU- 
 riuty xJMartimts Polonus, Cufan, Platina y tsf/pbonfui de 
 Caftro ,\vith others : neither doth "Be liar wine denie it concer- 
 ning Liberia 3 bvx attnbuteth his facl vnto feare,as he did that 
 of MarcelUmis, In a word (to omit many particulars in this 
 kind) did not Innocent the fit ft teach and define, that inf: nts 
 which had notrecciued the Eucharift, could not be faued, 
 contradicted by a direct Canon of the Councill of 7 rent ? 
 Did not Vigilim deny, that there were two natures in Ghrift? 
 D id not Celejlinc th? third errc, in the doctrine of marriage 
 of the fakhfull, when one party was fallen into hercfie > 
 Did not lohn the 2 2. deny the vihon of God vnto foules de- 
 parted, before the refurrccYion, which crrour he was con- 
 ftrained to recant by the Diuincs of Paris y in theprefence of 
 Phillip King of France, with the found of trumpets > And 
 laitly, did not lobn the 2 3 .fay,affirme, teach,and maintainc, 
 (they be the very words of the Councill of Conftance) that 
 there was no life eternall after this life, and that the foule cf 
 man dyed together with his body after the manner of bcafts, 
 and that there fhould be no refurrccHon ? All thefc then 
 erred, not oncly as priuate pcrfcus, but as Popes gouerning 
 andinftrucling the Church. 
 
 5. ButtoJeaucthis, a fecond priuiledge belonging to 
 God, is to depofc Kings, and difpofe of Kingdomes. 'Dan. 
 2.21. and 4. 3 2. and 5.24. lob. 12. 18. Now the Pope 
 challcngcth alfo to himfclfc thisabfolute power, as is cut- 
 dent in the infolcncy c&Celefltne the thirds at the Coronation 
 of the Emperour Henry the fixt, when he crowned and de- 
 crowned 
 
 i. 
 
Chap.p # Foure Doctrines proper to Anticbriji* 
 
 291 
 
 cro vvned him with his fecte, in figne, that it was in his po- 
 wer, both to giuc and to take away the Empire. And in 
 the Epiftle of Pint the fecond,to Mahomet the TurkifhEm- 
 perour, where he promifcth him that if he would recciue the 
 Christian faith,, and ay de the necefTities of the Church ; he in 
 recompence of this benefit, would create himEmperourof 
 the Greekcs, and ofthe Eaft, as his predccerTours had for 
 the fame reafon, giuen the Weftcrne Empire vnto Cbarle- 
 maigve. fn pretence of which vfurped power, luliut the j 
 fecond interdicted the Kingdome of Nauarre, which by that 
 colour was then inuaded, and ftiil at this day poflefTcd by 
 the King of Spaine. The like he did to the Kingdome of 
 France, but not with like fuccerfc,as witneffeth Onuphritu ; 
 and to the Kingdome o£ England in King lohns time. And 
 to make the cafe more manifeft, there is to be fecne at, 
 Rome, an Image of Pope Paul the fiftof late time, whereun- 
 to as there are adioyned many proud infculpturesand dcuir- 
 ces, fo thefe cfpecially are molt remarkable .• vnder the pi- 
 cture are thefe words written. Vultuportendebat imperi- 
 um, aboue it thefe : Paulo quinto vice Deo Cbrtftiant reipub, 
 Lfl{otjarcbd> inuiEhiJfimo et Ponttficid omnipotenti& conferuato- 
 ri acerrimo. At the right hand a flying Angcll bcaretli this 
 infeription : Genset regnum quodnonferuieritilli, ingU- 
 dto, in fame, et in pefie> vifttabo fuper Gentsm HUmait domi- 
 nnsjer.17. and at the left hand another Angell fpcaking 
 thus : Etdedit ei Dominm pot eft at em et regnum, et omnespa- 
 puli ip ft ferment, poteftm eins, pot eft a4 <&terna qm non axfere- 
 wr, et regnum eiui quod non corrumpetur, Dan, .7. by which j 
 we fee, that though the Pope at this day be much weakened 
 in his power, a great part of Chriftcndomc being departed 
 from his obedience ; yet he is nothing at all abated in his 
 pridc^but takes vpon himafmuch as any of his preckceffors 
 hauedone : and therefore jt is no maruaile, that Alexander 
 the fixt, gaue vnto Verdttfand^Wig&ivirrxgon, all the Jfles . 
 andfirme Lands, which were di couered in the Weft and 
 South, fromthe pole Artick, vnto the Antartickc, as may 
 more fully appc arc in his B ull to the laid King . 
 Ppz 6. A 
 
 Ofiuthnm 
 
 lulls t, 
 
 m 
 
298 
 
 Voure Lottrines proper to Antichrifl. C hap» 9 
 
 Extrdf4.de 
 concejfprc 
 bend.c.Sedcs. 
 .'polite*. 
 
 mam % 
 
 Optatxont' 
 Parmenlib'1 
 
 Lihfdcr.Cere- 
 (flib.ffett. 
 
 12. 
 
 Tel'm 2 n cap- 
 
 C*wnflat*de 
 
 conft'ttut. 
 
 Cornel. Agtippa 
 
 efeVdnitfci- 
 
 ertt.fo/.ijf. 
 
 Bareninpa* 
 rdntfad 
 Rtmp Vtntt. 
 
 6. Athirdpriuilcdgc belonging to God, is, not to be 
 fubicdt to any Law or iudgement of any creature : and doth 
 not the Pope incroach alio vpon this ? Thus they plainly 
 write of him. The Pope is notfubieli to any humane Law : he 
 hath all Lawes informed tn his owne brefi : He ma) not bee 
 tudged x either of the Emperour y or Kings y erClcargy. or peo- 
 ple : but his iudgement is to be preferred before the iudgement 
 of the whole world t nay he can do all that God can do\prefcrtbe , 
 ordaine 3 forbtd, dtjpenfi^bfolue, refiraine, confirme, difwull, 
 derogate, re feme, and what not > Tea make new articles of) 
 fatth, and giue authority to the word of (Jod i as if without 
 him it were of no force. 
 
 7* Another priuiledge of God, is, that he alone is aboue 
 Emperours, Kings, and Princes, and is the oncly Lord of 
 the Angels. Optatus faith plainly,TW none but God is aboue 
 the £mperour\ and doth not the Pope vfurpe a fupcr-eminen- 
 cy aboue both thefc ? Aboue Emperours and Kings, as hath 
 at large bene fhewedbefore ; when he calleth them his vaf- 
 fals and fcruants, makcth them his Lacquaies to hold his 
 ftirrop, lead his horfc by the bridle, minifter water for his 
 hands, helpc to carric him in his Chaire vpon their fhoulders, 
 and kin" e his feete, and adore him like a God. And aboue 
 the Angels in foure things as the Canonifts affimie ; to wit, 
 inlurifdi&ion, Adminiftration, Knowledge, and Reward. 
 Hence it is, that they take vpon them to command the An- 
 gels, as Clement the fift did, when he commanded them to 
 take foules out of Purgatory, and to carrie them into Para- 
 difc. And Clement the fixt, who commanded the Angels to 
 conuey the foules offuch as died in their Pilgramagc to Rome 
 in the yeere of Iubile, direclly into Paradifc, being wholly 
 abfolued from the paines of Purgatory. And therefore 
 Baronius is not afliamcd to call the Popes throne, A throne 
 diuinely eftablifhed, exalted aboue the heauens, applying there- 
 unto that fentence of the Apoftlc, 1. Cor ,6. Do you net 
 know that you fhalliudge the Angels > And in declaiming a- 
 gainftthe Venetians , faith ; He that is rener.ed of the An- 
 gels, [hall he not be fo of Princes} Further, it is Godsprero- 
 
 gatiue 
 
Chap.p, Foure Vottrines proper to Anticbr'tft. 
 
 293 
 
 2. 
 
 gatiue onc'y to be adored with Diuine worfhip,and yet the f 
 
 Pope afTumcth thi5 alfo to himfelfe. For the falutation which I 
 
 is giucn vnto him by Princes, Cardinals, and EmbaiTadors, M«'"»- , *-*'tf 
 
 is called adoration : and the Embailadcrs of Florence, tcll_ 
 
 fin* the fccond,that their City SanLlitatem iRim H)perdu-_ 
 
 liaadorat, that is, worfbipv;cd his holindfe with Hyper 
 
 dulta, which is akindeofworihip due oselyto thehumani-_ 
 
 tyofChrift, and to the Virgin his Mother. Laftly,to par^f^*' 
 
 don finne,to adopt and regenerate 3 finfull man, to bee not 
 
 onclyhoiyjbutcucnholinciTekfcife in the abftrad, and to 
 
 bee iudgc of the whole world, are all Diuine prerogatiues, 
 
 which notwithstanding are all attributed to the Pope by his 
 
 flatterers, and not denyed, nor rcic&ed by himfelfe. For 
 
 firfr, hce takethvpon him power to pardon iinne,cuen the 
 
 guilt and cternall punimment thereof; ( as fome of them 
 
 haue written, ) but ccrtainely the tcmporall punifhment 
 
 both ofliuing and dead heere, and in Purgatory, Now to 
 
 free from punifhinent, is to forgiuc, as not toforgiueis to 
 
 binde ouerto punnifhment; and fo that faying of Chrift, 
 
 Hee thatjinneth again ft the holy Ghcft (hall neuer be forgiuen , 
 
 neither in this world, nor in the world to come, is to be vnder- 
 
 ftood, to wit, jfhallbee punifhed both in this wor]d,andm 
 
 the world to come. Secondly, a great learned Rabbi in fchg^ sixt.$ene»J:m 
 
 Papacy, fpeaking to Pope Pius the fi ft, asvntoGod 
 
 tr*fat.btbfatk. 
 
 faith; That hee (to wit,the Pope ) had adopted him for loh\ 
 So/<nc ,and regenerated him bjhts jptrit ; a blafphemy which ji^ 
 Chriftian mans cares are not abletobrooke. Thirdly the 
 ordinary title of the Pope is, his Holineffe, a if hce were as 
 God,ofafimple nature without all compoiition : and had 
 his holineiTenotby participation, but of himfelfe. Of the 
 like qualify is that title, The cattfc of caufts ,which the Cano- 
 niftsgiue vnto him, by which Ariftetle and all the belt of 
 the Pbiiofophers,defined God to be Cattfa caufarum : A r rf- 
 tnra natttrans 5 and Ens entium : but I forbeare to foyle my 
 paper any further with thefe blafphemics. Laftly, B aromas 
 ftilethhim Vkihcy forum Ittdicem, the Judge of all, and not 
 tobeiudged of any; which to doe,whatis itelfe but to place 
 
 Pp 5 him 
 
 ,*JL Sana** 
 
 ^ 
 
 Barsn.lh'td, 
 
 •— * 
 

 294 
 
 Fonre Doctrines proper to Antichrift. C hap .p 
 
 Melchicr Ca* 
 cap.X. 
 
 not* 
 *7< 
 
 
 Dift-Qf.Cfa-] 
 tit euident. 
 
 A*gStenchtt« t 
 de donation, 
 ftant. 
 Extraujoh, 
 
 ix'ttiloff*. 
 
 StAp'ct pf'in- 
 cip.fid.Dottrin. 
 prufdtuidGre. 
 gor.ij. 
 
 to bee 
 
 him in Gods throne 3 or rather todemonftratc him 
 the true Autichrift, who as />**/ faitrynufl (it in Temple of 
 God as if he were God ? And that which is moft ftrange of 
 all the reft, they afcribc thefe preheminences vnto him, 
 though he be neucr fo wicked a wretch, and vile a monftcr. . 
 Forthefcateof/V^rgiucchhim holinelTc, though hechath 
 none of his owne, and Saint Peter hath tranfmittcd to his 
 fucccfTors a perpetuall dowry of merits, with an heritage of 
 Innoccncy, as one of their Popes fpeakcth tfothat if their 
 owne merits faile,thc predcceflors are fufficient : for cither 
 excellent men are aduanccd to this honor, or they are made 
 excellent that are aduanced ; thus he. And Baromiu allegori- 
 zing vpon the jfhadow of Peter 3 arrirmcththe fame, faying; 
 that fuch vermes and abundance of graces were conferred 
 on Peter fhzt his very fhadow,( by which he typically mea- 
 nethhis fucccfTors ) were partakers thereof: fo that as their 
 gloflc fpeakcth,it is facriledgc to difpute of the Popes fa£t ; 
 and to accufe him,is the finne againft the holy Ghoft. 
 
 8. Andthusitismanifeft,that the Pope inuefteth him- 
 fclfe with the Dignities, Priuiledges, and Pi'erogatiucs, that 
 appertainc properly to God,and fo makcth himfelfc noIeiTe 
 then God vpon earth; which doubtlclTe is enough to proue 
 him to be Antichrift :howbeitifhe alfo call himfelfc by the 
 very name of God, then they cannot deny but by their 
 owne dodtrinc he muft needs be fo. And did not Pope Nicho- 
 las auow this title, as giuen vnto his Prcdeceffors, and him, 
 by great Conftmtins > And Attgxftine Stench tu confirmeth 
 the fame as truth? Befides,the Canonifts and other Dodors 
 of the Church cfi Rente y doe ordinarily ftilc the Pope, Om 
 Lord God the Pope. And the Popes admit of this title,nei- 
 thcr arc their books purged of it ; and Stdpleton callcth Gre- 
 gory the thirteenth, Sufntntim^Une fufremumin ten is r.u- 
 7»sk> Theh'tgheft \tuen the r higheft God-head in earth : and 
 Paul the fift named himfelfc Vtcedew^ Vice-god ,that is, one 
 in the roome and place of God. Iconfefle,that Kings and 
 Princes, are named Gods in holy Scripture, but in a farre 
 different fenfc then the Pope : for they are not fo named,as if 
 
 any 
 
Ctap.9- Foure Deprives proper to Antichrifi. 
 
 295 
 
 any diuinc properties did pcrtainc vnto them, but becaufe 
 tl; jyrcprefentcd in their authority, maicfty and goucrnment, 
 the very Image of God in their ownc Dominions : but the 
 Pope is fo dignified for that the very properties of God, and 
 omnipotent power arc attributed vnto him, and vfurped by 
 him ouer all the world. 
 
 9. The fourth and laft do&tinc, which they fay is pro- 
 per vnto Antichrift,is, That heefhall not fuffer any God to 
 be wormipped,neithcr truemor falfemor any I dols,but (hall 
 exalt himfeifc abouc ail that is-called God,or is worfhipped, 
 which becaufe the Pope doth not, that therefore he is not 
 AntichrifL Thus 'Bellarmtm rcafonetivD* Rom. PontifJtb.. 
 3 .cap. 1 4. Whereunto I anfvverc two things. Fir ft, that the 
 Popeexakethhimfelfe apparently aboue, not oncly all that 
 is called God,that is,to whom the name of God is commu- 
 nicated,butcucn God himfelfe,not openly and in word,(for 
 what followers and Difciplcs could hee then haue infuch a 
 fouleandgroflfeoftentation ?) but indeed and facl,like/#- 
 das that kitted Chrift with his n 1041th, but betrayed him by 
 his pracTifc to the Iewcs. Now that the Pope doth thus ex- 
 alt himfelfe,is fo apparent, that none that hath any rclike of 
 vndcrftanding can doubt thereof. For how he aduanceth 
 himfeifc abouc the Angels, who arc called Gods, 7^7.8.6. 
 hath beene declared before; and for Magiftrates who arc 
 alfo named Gods 3 Vfil.S 2. -2 -the cafe is as manifefl ; for when 
 as they conftrainc the fuprcmeMagiftrate of the world, to 
 • wic,thc Emperor, to kiffc the Popes feet, and to hold his 
 ftirrop,when they depriue. them of their Crowncs,and fettle 
 others in their thrones, when they interdict their King- 
 domes,as they did England in the reigne of King Iohn % and 
 Fravcevndci' Phillip Augufius^o that all their publikc a$s 
 were thus dated at that i\me y Rename Cbrt(lo y hi(kad of 
 Regnant t ?hilfpp& y when they make Princes to hold their 
 Crowncs in Fee of the Pope, paying him ycercly tribute, as 
 hath beene fecne well-nigh in all Kingdomes of Chriften- 
 dome, but efpecially heere in England, which Vo^Innocent 
 the fourth,callcth his Garden of delight, and abottomleflc 
 I Spring,. 
 
l$6 
 
 Fonre Doctrines proper to Antichrijl. Chap.cj . 
 
 M *th. Parts In 
 Hen. ?. 
 
 TettituApol, 
 ea/.f. 
 
 Spnng,and others,thc Popes Affe to beare all burdens. And 
 laftly,when they trample vpon their neckes, caufe them to 
 waitc at their gates,Crowne them with their fect,and burnc 
 their Letters and Embaflies in contempt, as Pope Nicholas 
 thefirft did the Letters of Michael the Emperor of Con- 
 fiaminoplffy which were diftaitfuli vnto him : when they 
 excommunicate them, abfoluethem, whip them, fufpend 
 them,and call them their Vaffals and Liege-men : all which 
 particulars might be exemplified with a multitude of exam- 
 ples if need were: When I fay,he doth all things,dothhec not 
 apparently exalt him felfe aboue all Magistrates > Againe, 
 the Papifls adore and worfhip the Saints, as their tutelar 
 Gods, and doth not the Pope exalt himiclfe abouc them, 
 when he canonizeth whom he pleafeth, and blottethout of 
 the Calender thole that pleafc him not ? So that let him be 
 neuer foholy,yetheisno Saint to the Church, except the 
 Pope will .-and be he neuer fo wicked, yet if he will, he muft 
 be worshipped as a Saint. And fo as lertftllian faith in ano * 
 thercafeto the ancient Romanes, Apud vosde hwnano arbi- 
 tratudimnitaspenfitatur^mfihomini Dem placuertt, Depu 
 nontrit, wc mayarTirmeofthcniodcrueRomanifts,^^/-,. 
 ty is weighed by the Popes tudgement> except a man f leaf chint y 
 he (hall be no Saint, md if he pleafe him Jic fhall be one,bc bee 
 neuer fo wick ed. Images alfo which arc their fiCda-pAra ,that 
 is,obie6ts of their worfhip are domincred ouer by the Pope: 
 for hce authorized their worfhip in the fecond Councill of 
 Nicest being a matter,ifnot vnlawfull,yet indifferent before 
 that time, this confecration makes them capeable of publike 
 adoration : and his Indulgences afcribe more to one Image 
 then to another. Againc, doe they not adore their confe- 
 crated Hoaft,which they fay is the very body of Chrift,as 
 Chrift ? and yet they make it march after the Pope in his 
 iourneyes of plcafure amongft the baggage and rabble of his 
 Court,being carry cd on the back e of a little Nagge,hauing a 
 bell hanging at his neckc, whilft hec himfelfeis carryed in 
 pompc vpon mens fhoulders, or ridcth in Maicfly vpon a 
 faire Palfrey. 
 
 10 And 
 
Chap.p. Foure DoBrims proper to Antichrifl. 
 
 297 
 
 i c. And thus in finc,thcre is nothing that is worfhipped 
 as God,which he doth not exalt himfelfe aboue : nay. he doth 
 it cucn aboue the true God himfclfe:as when hce makethall 
 Religion and worfhip to depend vpon the Oracle of his 
 mouth, faying; that nothing ought to bee receiuedby the 
 Ghurch,though ordained by gencrall Councills, that is not 
 confirmed by. his authority : when he iubie6teth the holy 
 Scripture to hisinterprctation,tobe wrcfted into what fenfe 
 hecpleafcth: whenhee relcafeth men of their Vowcs and 
 Oathes which they hauc made to God or Men, which is not 
 only auouched by their Canonifts,but confirmed by experi- 
 ence. As when Akx*.r.dsr Ac fixt difcha r ged his ScnCtfar 
 Borgia from his vow ofPriefthood,thathe might many and 
 become a Tcmporail Duke. And when Ihldebrand ' rclea- 
 fed Rodu/pb oiSnbaudta from his Oath to his lawfull Souc- 
 raignc Henry the fourth,and created him Emperor. But the 
 vengeance of God followed Rodu/ph for his penury, his 
 right hand wherewith hee had fwome fidelity to the Empc- 
 ror,beir.g cut oft ill a battaile againft him. And laftly, when 
 he takcth vpon him power to difpenfe cum ture Dinmo y 
 with diuinc right, by limitation or reftri6tion,and with the 
 exprcfle Law of God, to wit, the fift Commandcment, by 
 freeing Children from obedience to their Parents vnder pre- 
 tence otMonafticall Obligation ; and the fixt Commandc- 
 mcnt,7lW fbalt net kjHfay their places ofSan6tuary,whcrc- 
 out a Murtherer (by their Canons)may not be fetcht, what 
 blood focucr he h3th iliedjagainft which zbufePolidorc Vir- 
 gill y i man of their owne bitterly inueigheth.And the feuenth 
 Commandcment, by their publike and authorized Stewes : 
 and lo in \\\ e manner, with all the reft .of the Coir.mande- 
 ments. Yea, notoncly with the Law, but alfo with die 
 Gofpell, and with the Apoftlc, as their Canonills Ipcake '; 
 for whereas Chrift in the Go peil ordained but two Sacra- 
 ments in the Church,he addcth hereunto fiuc other, and pre- 
 ferreth in dignity his Confirmation before Chrifts Baptilmc , 
 becaufe that can be performed by a Bifriop only, this by euevy 
 Pricft,and in cafe ofneceflity by a Laick,or a woman : yea, 
 
 Qn they 
 
 C'tn.nonefi 
 \\>ott i(e ^0/0 
 Vpon the C. 
 'quanta de iw e 
 iurando % 
 
 Fefin.lqu* in 
 tcckf.de conftf 
 tut. 
 
 Po/jdortfrpiJ. 
 dt[nuentllb. 
 
 C propoftiifjfe 
 cor.cef.tteltnd- 
 CXMfaiff l. 
 
 (unt a u idem. 
 D iK-^'decrn- 
 
2?3 
 
 loun Doctrine? proper to AntichrijL Chap.? . 
 
 MAthetTert). 
 
 dtt.dtLdcai* 
 \inst. 
 
 tcd*\\dcCO»ftL 
 
 tut. 
 
 Ccftc'U.Trid. 
 
 SeJJlllAnfiuc 
 
 they are foimpudeiK as to iay, that the Pope can change the 
 forme of words in Baptiimc ; and in (lead of the name of the 
 Father,the Sonne,and the holy Ghofl, put in.In the name of 
 chc Trinity. And for the other Sacrament of the Lords Supper 
 they take away the Cup from Laicks; which when it was re- 
 quired by many Princes and States to be reftoved againc in 
 the Councillor* Trent, the Council! referred them hcercimo 
 : tlic difcretion of the Pope,thcreby attributing vnto him full 
 power ouer the diuine Sacraments. In brecfc,to cut fliort, 
 doc wee not fee by cxperience,that the Pope and his inllru- 
 ments doe more feuerdy punifh fuch as tranfgreffe his De- 
 crees, and Traditions, then thofc that trample vnder their 
 feet the Commandements of God ? For, to eate ftefl) in 
 Lent, is with them a greater finnc ,then to llcale,or commit 
 adultery : and whoknowethnot,that a Prielt £hall be more 
 rigoroufly handled, iflie ioyne himfclfc to one onely wo- 
 
 Iman in holy marriage 3 then if he keepe openly many Concu- 
 bines and Ha:lots,or defile other mens wiucs, or haunt the 
 Stcwes ? And thus the Pope exalteth himfclfc abouc all that 
 is called God,yca abouc God himfclfc-. 
 
 1 1. Secondly, I anfwerc, that it is no where found in 
 Scripturc,that Antichriiiflull fufrcr no God to be worfhip- 
 ped, whether true or faifemorany Idols ; nay rather his Ido- 
 latry doth proue him to bee Antichrift. Fot his City -and 
 Scate is c ailed the gre at Whore, with whom the Kings of 
 the earth committed fpirituall fornication: an.i who know- 
 cth not,but that by fpirkuall fornication, is alwaies in holy 
 Scripture vndcrftood Idolatry ?as hz,^ i &• I faith. 1.2I* 
 And therefore when fomcofthc Fathers affirmc, that Anti- 
 chrift fhall be no Idolater, but a hater of Idols, wee muft 
 concciuCjthat either they mifunderltood the prophecy of 
 Z)4w>/,Chap. 1 1 . 3 8.w hereupon this opinion is groundccLor 
 that they meant oncly the Pnganifh T dolatry, in the woifhip 
 otfttpjter, ApaHo, Mercury ,&c. Which indeed our A ntkhriit 
 hath declared himfclfc to deteft and hate,but pcucrthelefle, 
 doth not ceafe tocxercifcan Idolatry altogether as prophane 
 and abominablein his worfhip of Saints. Images, Rclifkes, 
 I r Croffes, 
 
Ch.ip.p. Foure DoClr'tnes proper to Antkbrift. 
 
 CrorTcs,and a peecc of Paftc, which they fay, is Chrift. As I 
 for that text of D aniel which they thus tvxi(\M,He p?all not I 
 care for any Godjjut fiafl riffvp againft: all: I fay firft,that the J 
 Prophet fpeaketh norhecrc literally of Antkhrift, but of J 
 Avtiocbw^shzth bene flic wed before. Secondly ,that ac- j 
 cording to the Hebrew verity, the Text muft bethustran- j 
 flatcd,as Tremellttu and IfMtwhme proued. And as for the 
 God of forces y be (to wit tAntiochiu) \h all in his feate worfhip 
 ■with Gold \Siltser ^Precious fiones, and things de fir able y a God 
 ■which his Fathers hvtvp not. Now who is the God of Forces, I 
 •but the true God ollfracl, whofc Temple Antiochtts pro- 
 piuned with horrible idolatry, and placed therein the I- 
 doll o(fnpitcr Olympitts, as wee may fee in the fixt Chapter 
 of the tecond bookc of (^Machabecs ? which prophecy,I 
 confefle Analogically agrccth to the Pope. For hee hauing 
 aboliilied both all the worfhip of heathen Gods, and in a 
 manner aifo of the true God himfelfe, the Omnipotent God 
 of Forces ; hath fct vp anew God in the Church, namely,a 
 pcece of bread in the MalTc,which none of the Fathcrs,or A- 
 poitlcsoflcfus Chrilr. eucr knew. And to their breaden 
 God they afcribe power to fbrgiue finncs,to defend from c- 
 uils both men and beads, and to bring to heauen : and 
 therefore willingly dedicate vnto itwhatfocuer is dcercand 
 precious vnto them, as Gold, Siluer, Icwels,and what not > 
 as the Childrenof I frael did for the making of their Golden 
 Calfe. And that with fuch rcucrcncc and d:uotion,that the 
 Icait contempt vnto it in word, or dccd,is reuenged with Gi- 
 bets,h*re,and all mancr of torments, when as in the meane 
 while mofthovriblcblafphemies againft Chrift himfelfe arc 
 tolerated and llcightcd ouer. 
 
 1 2 . TtelUrmixeis here (trangcly pulled, and cannnot tell 
 where to reft. For h" rft, he faith, that by the God Maoz,im, or 
 God of Forces, is fignified Antichrilx himfelfe; which if it be 
 true , then according to their ownc authenticall vulgar tranll - 
 tion he fhall worfhip him clfc:for it readcth it thus, Dcum at.- 
 tern Maoz,tm in locofuo venerabitftr :ihzz \s,He/hallwoyfhip in 
 his place the God Maox.im. Now was it eucr heard that any 
 
 Q^q 2 rrian 
 
 299 
 
;oo 
 
 Foure BoRrines proper to Antichrifi. C hap. 5? 
 
 Bjron.An. 
 06 3. ft ft. 1 7. 
 Ben no m vtta 
 Hildebrand* 
 
 man euer worfhippcd himfelfe ? For though Alexander 
 \ the Great took c vpon him the name of /#p/r*r Amon,*x\& 
 Crf/zga/^with others, affurncd a Dcicy to themfelues, yet 
 this was in regard of the people : for touching themfelues 
 they could not but know that they were no better then mor- 
 tal! men. But to make the matter more cuident,their tranfla- 
 tion addeth, that bee frail fort 1 fie LMaoz*im with a ftrange 
 Cjch, whom hek*eivxot : how then can this Aiao^im be him- 
 felfe ? Did he not know himfelfe ? And how can he bee but 
 anldolatcrJTceing Idols in holy Scripture arc called ftrange 
 Gods ? Therefore 13 e liar mine not daring to rely vpon this 
 Jnterprctatk>n,acldeth a (econd, to wit, that Antichrift fhall 
 bee a Magitian, and fhall worfhip the deuill in fecrct, by 
 whofe aide he (hall effect wonderiull things. An opinion 
 which deftroyeth it felfe ,and his ownc pofition, that Anti- 
 chrifi [ball be no Idolater : for is it no Idolatry fa worfb f the 
 deuill > Is he,thc old Dragon,a new vnknowne Icioll ? And 
 docMagitians vfc to offer Gold and Siluer vntohim, and, 
 not rather receiue fuch guifts from him ? Howbeit they 
 that (liall view the liues of the Popes, fhall not findc this 
 it range, diat Antichrul fhall worfliip the deuill. For if we 
 will belecuc their ovvne Hiftories, many Popes hauc becne 
 Magitians,andgiuen themfelues to the deuill. As hhn the 
 twclfth,who inuocated Ittpitcr, VeKw^zw^ other Dcemons, 
 being at dice, and drunkeacaroufe in honor of the deuill. 
 And'2?**»*/theniiit!i,who facrificed to dcuils in Forrells 
 and Mountaincs : to omit others of the lame ranke which 
 might be named. Lafrly, Bcllarmine more changeable then 
 the Came //<?»,falleth vpon this, thai by CMaoz,im was not 
 meant a God, but fomeCaftlc or FortrclYe, wherein Anti- 
 chrifi fhould repofe his Treafures, thinking it may bee vpon 
 the Caftle Saint Augclo 3 where the Treafures of the Pope are 
 iayd vp. Thus he kno weth not what to fix vpon,and yet it 
 muft be grounded vpon this tcxt,that Antichrift is no Idola- 
 ter : and becaufe the Pope is anldolatcr, therefore he is not 
 Antichrift : for one of the two they mult of Leceflity confeffe, 
 either that he is Antkhi if t, ifno Idolater : or an Idolater,! f 
 
 not 
 
Chap. 
 
 De/ujicns by Miracles. 
 
 The Third Tart 
 
 CHAP/. 
 
 Touching Antichr'ifis dettfen of the world, and firfl bj 
 
 fuppofcd Miracles, 
 
 liR y S. Pa*l 9 *. The f. 
 
 2 . 9 . r p. 1 1 . tclleth vs, that 
 Antichrifts comming, fhall be after the working 
 or Sathan, with all power, andrignes, and lying 
 wonders ; and in all decciuableneffeof vnrighte- 
 oufheiTc in. them that perifh, becaufe theyrecciued not the 
 ioue of the truth, that they might be faued : and that for this 
 caule, God fhould fend themftrongdclufion to.bcleeuca 
 lye. In which words, we may obferue Hue things. Firft, 
 that AntichriQ fhall comc,armcd with the power of Sathan. 
 Secondly, that by his power he fhall decciue;the world. 
 Thirdly, that the rcafon why the world fhall be decciued by 
 him, is,becaufe God fhall fend vponthem itrorg dcluficn, 
 eucn fo ftiorg, as to bclccuca l)c.Fourthly,that the chicle 
 meanes whereby he fhall decciue, is by lying 'rgnes and 
 wonders. And Mily, that they oncly fhall be decciued by 
 him, that arc ordained to perifh, who receiued not the loue 
 of the truth that they might be faued ? Now that this Sa- 
 thanicall delufion of the world is cuidently verified in the 
 Papacy, is fo manifeft, that none that hath but the leaft 
 fpatke of rcafon can doubt diereof : and alfo that this delu- 
 fion is effected, as by one fpeciali meanes, by lying fignes 
 and wonders. For all the whole rabble of their writcrs,boaft 
 of cheir miracles, as an eiTentiall marke of their Church, 
 which they call Cathohke. There is no Temple of any note 
 Qjr* in 
 
 3°' 
 
 <*■"» | 
 
 not Antichirft. So thcn,wcclearcly fee that all thofe do&rines 
 which they fay are proper vnto Antichrift x are plainely 
 taught and maintained by the Pope. 
 
302 
 
 Tielufiom by fldiracles. 
 
 Chap 
 
 in the Papacy, wherein there is not feme Statue or Image 
 celebrated for miracles, vv hereunto they:go in Pilgrimage 
 for deuotion ;nor any Author of any fort of Monk cs or reli- 
 gious. place, which arc not made famous by this markc. 
 Their Mona{terics,theirCloi(ters,thcir Chappcls, their Al- 
 tars, proclaime eucry where this delufton : The Legends of 
 their Saints and fuch like bookes, whereunto moft men here- 
 tofore gauc as much credit as to the word of God it felfc, 
 arc fo prodigioufly (tufted with this trafti, that the vet v rea- 
 ding of them would aftonim any in who.fc heart there is but 
 theTeafttaftc of piety. Read the conformities of S. Francis , 
 the Hiftory of the Ardibifhop iS&ttotimtUi tbdflpwers of S. 
 Francis, the Golden Legend of lames DeVcragtKs, the 
 boolc oftne miracles of the Virgin <JHary y the Dialogues 
 of CcfarixS) the Annales of Baronius, the Hiftory of our. 
 Lady of Halls written by Lippus, the Sermons of Domi 
 fecure, with a number other fuch like ; and you fhallfinde 
 neither banckc nor bottomc of this foppery : neither mode- 
 ration, meafurc, nor end, of miracle? : Yea, how Sathan 
 hath bewitched their hearts, to belccue that which is incre- 
 dible, and to imagine they fee that which they fee not, nor 
 can be kenc. Andby this markc (forfooth)thcy would prone 
 the true Church to be with them, and no where elfc ; and 
 challenge vs to prouc our religion and million by miracles ; 
 which becaufc we cannot do, they therefore triumph oucr 
 vs as Heretifccs and Schifmatikcs from the true Church : 
 whereas indeed their vauntof miracles , doth proue them ra- 
 ther to be the Synagogue of Antichrift, and our want of 
 them, doth clearly dcliucr vs from that fufpition. 
 
 2. For we arc to obferue here three things in general!, 
 before we come to the particular confederation of this point. 
 Firft, that miracles were ordained of God for the ignorant, 
 andfach as had not rccciucd the faith of Chrift, andthatin 
 the prime daies of the Church, when the new and ftrangc 
 doclrinc of the Gofpell began firft to be preached,to the end 
 that they which, by reafon of the fceming contrariety of 
 Chrift ian rcligion/to the principles of humane reafon,wculd 
 
 not 
 
Chap. I • Del/ijion by Miucles. 
 
 3°5 
 
 not be per (waded with words, might by beholding itrange 
 workes , exceeding the power of nature, wrought by the A- 
 poftlcs, be enclined to the entcrtainement of their do&rine:: 
 and fo there was anecciTaiy vfe of miracles, in the infancy of 
 the Church ; that thereby vnbelecuers might be conucrte* 
 to the faith. But after the world had rccciued the dcclrinc 
 of the Gofpcli, and profciYed the faith which was; before fb 
 ftrongly confirmed, there was no further vfc of miracles m 
 the Church : but if any controuerfics did arife in religion, 
 men were not to feeke the decihon of them by new miracles, 
 but by the holy Scriptures, which were giuen of God to be 
 the rule of faith, and touchftonc of truth and falfhood, and 
 the fiipremc iudge of controuerfics. . Thus faith Chryfofiome, 
 Mtraclcswerc then profitably wrought , and are profitably now 
 fioi wrought: for now ws-confirme our doilrine by dmine Strip* 
 tures, atd by thofe miraslcs which were wrought before. So S . 
 Augufiine, Oar Fathers followed vifibh miracles , whereby it 
 id come to pajfe, that they are not necefjary for their pofterity. 
 Miracles (iaith fyegory) ^vere ncceffary in the beginning of the 
 Church ^that faith being nourijhedthr/eby, might encrcafe* as 
 we when we plant trees, do water them-till they be fettle dm 
 earth, but not afterward. Elpenctm alio faith plainly, That 
 where there at e no infidels , there Uno necejfity ef miracles : as 
 long a,s there was a vocation from infidelity to faiths miracles 
 were wrought by fi"ffts min ifters : but this vocation ceafing, 
 and fedaEtion from faith to infidelity comm'tn^ in place thereof, 
 the power of doing miracles, wjvs t o be giuen vp to it, at an heJpe 
 thereunto. But Stella aboue the reft, difcourfcth mod ex- 
 cellently vpen this matter. For hefheweth, riiit, that mi- 
 racles are not now ncceffary in the Church, being grown e 
 and confirmed, as they were in ttefirft planting thereof.. Se- 
 condly, that he which belecueth not for the miracles already 
 done, will much leife beleeucif new ones be propounded 
 vnto him. And thirdly, that miracles now are rather hurt- 
 full then profitable : as a child when he bcginnethfnft to-go, 
 is fuppcrted with a iittic chariot, which would be an hindc- 
 rancc vnto him when he is grawne be ftrength : or as ladders 
 
 and 
 
 Chryfeft.inj. 
 Cor*i.kom.G. 
 
 Aui.de V*r4. 
 Relive*?.;. 
 
 Cre/orJn 
 Ekangel.hom* 
 
 Tim.;. 
 
 
3°4 
 
 Ttelufions by Miracles. C hap. i 
 
 Axgdcciutt. 
 
 TettvlAe pra- 
 
 and fcaffoldcs arc neceflary in the building of an houfe, but 
 when the houfe is finifhed, they are impediments to the paf- 
 fengers : So if now miracles fhould be wrought,men would 
 fay that their faith was not fufticiently confirmed and pro- 
 ued, feeing it flood in need of more miracles to do the fame. 
 Thus Stella 3 a man of their owne feci: aid religion : And 
 therefore to conclude againe with 5 . Augnftine : irhofoeuer 
 jet fcek^th for wonders that he may bcleeue, he himfelfe u the 
 greateft wonder , who, the world beletetting, belceneth net. An- 
 fwcrablc to all which , is that of S . Paul, i . Cor. 14. 22. 
 Tongues are a figne not to them (hat beleette, but to them that 
 beleeaenot. So that their vaunt of miracle s, is nothing elfe 
 but an Antichriftian brauado. 
 
 3. Secondly, obferuc that miracles are not the touch- 
 (tone to try the truth of doctrine by, but the truth of dodtrine 
 the touchftonc of miracles, whether they be true or falfc : 
 and fo of Doctors and Preachers, they are neither to bee 
 proued or difproued by their miracles, but are to be tryed 
 by their doclrinc. This proportion is^uidently proued by 
 two cxpielTe Texts of Scripture : the one, Deut. 1 $ . 1 . 7 . 
 $.&c. and the feconi,^/4/-. 7.22. For albeit, fuch won- 
 ders as are wrought by falfe Prophets for the confirmation 
 of an vn truth, are for the molt part no true miracles, but 
 counterfeit and faincd ; ncuertheleflc admit they were true, 
 (as oftentimes God doth co-operate with falfe teachers, for 
 the punifhment of mens impenitency) yet whether they be 
 true or falfe, doctrine is not to be tryed by thcm,but diey by 
 it. Therefore Tertuflian {peaking of Herctikes faith, That 
 they confirme the faith of their do^lrine, by oftentAtion of Mi- 
 racles, as that they had ratfed the dead fHrcddifeafes , and fore- 
 told things to come y to the end f hey might be count edttue Apo- 
 flles y a* if it were not written, that many falfe Chrifts, and 
 falfe Prophets fhould artfejhat jhall (how great figncs amlwon- 
 ders to decetue, if it werepojfible, the very cleft. Mat. 24. 24. 
 and all tofortifie vs again ft heretic all pre aching : thus he. By 
 which fpcech he forewarncth to take heed, that we be nor 
 decerned by the vaunt of miracles, feeing they may be com- 
 mon 
 
Chap. 
 
 DcluJioHS by Mir tides. 
 
 305 
 
 mon, afwell to Herctikes,as true beiceuers, S. Atignfline is 
 more direct in this point, whofc words in his booke of the 
 vnity of the Church, are worthy to be rcmembred : they- 
 are thefc : Let none fay it is therefore true,becAPi(e 'Donate 3 cr 
 Pontius , or fome other, h'<Me wrought great manta'tles, or bs- 
 caufe men graying at the feptlcher s of the Saints are heard \ar.d 
 ■ne their fuits : the fe are but either the fitfions of lying 
 men , or the wonders of \ieceiutngfytrtts : for either they were 
 not true^orifany wonders it wrought by Her e tikes, we ought 
 • the ma) e to beware of them* And as for the impctration of 
 mens prayers a: the fcpulchrcs of the Saints, he faith : that the 
 lewss wore often heard of God in the high places, which 
 notwitnl landing were abhoininabic vntdhim : and for viri- 
 ons and apparitions, he faith ; that the diucfi can tf anstbrme 
 himfeltc into an \ n^eil of light, and deceive by this meancs : 
 nay he faith, that the very Pagan } and Icwes, are often heard 
 in their fupplications, and relceued, either by feduciug fpi- 
 rits, winch can do nothing but that which God pcrmittcth : 
 or by God himfelfc, either for trx punifhment of wicked- 
 neffe, or for the colufort of mifery : or is a meanes to make 
 men feeke for eternall life: thus he, Where he fheweth, what 
 little moment miracles are of, feeing both Pagans, Iewes, 
 andHerctikcs, are permitted to workethem, that wicked 
 men might thereby be more hardened in their malice, and 
 made more obftinate to their deftruclion: which very thing 
 the Apoftleauoucheth, concerning the miracles of Anti- 
 chrift, 2. Thfjf. 2.10. And therefore the fame Father wri - 
 ting againft Pet ilia* the Donatift, who ebiected again ft the 
 Cathohks their miracles, as markes of the true C hurch, thus 
 aniwereth in bricfe : Seeing many donotfuch things, which 
 yet notwithstanding belong vnto the kin^dome of God 5 and 
 many againe do them, winch yet do not belong thereunto : 
 therefore no man ought to boaft of miracles as markes of the* 
 true Church, but feeke for it rather in his word that r urcm- 
 fed it with his blood. S. ftryfofier>:e is yet more plaine,and 
 affirmethjthatChrirtfoiecoldthatfalfe Prophets, and Anri- 
 chnft, fhould pretend great figncs and wonders to decciue 
 
 R 
 
 the 
 
 Aug : contr4. 
 Pesd:* n , Ub.l % 
 cap.jf. 
 
 Cbryfcft'm 
 
5o6 
 
 Velufiem by Miracles. Chap. 1 
 
 the world, to the end (faith he) that Chriits true roimficrs 
 might not be tryed by their working of miracles., though 
 ncucr fo good ; bat by this, that they worke no miracles at 
 all. So then, when they fay, that theirs is the true Church, 
 and their Miniftcrs the true Minifters of Chrift, becaufc it is 
 illuftrated with miracles ; and our Church and minifteriall 
 miffion filfe, becaufe we haue no miracles : The anfwere is, 
 firft:, that if this were a good argument, then the Pagans and 
 
 Donatifts were the true Church afwell as they, who 
 ged of their miracles afmuch as they :. and Antichrilt hiin- 
 iclfeflhould haue his miffion from God, becaufe his com- 
 ming is with great figncs and wonders, as the ApoKle Ipea- 
 kcth. And fecondty, that our want of miracles, is fo fane 
 fromprouing vs to be none of Chrifts Church, that it pre- 
 uethvs rather to be his Church, according bothtoS.-^«- 
 gv/?/»#, and S. Chrjfofiomcs opinions. 
 
 4. Thirdly, obCeruc that miracles arc not fo frequent and 
 common in their Church, as they were in former times : for 
 whereas heretofore they were fo vfuaJi, that fcarfeaday 
 paflfed without feme new miracle ; and fearee an Image or 
 Saint,that were not renowned therewith: now we fhall hard- 
 lv hcare of one fo many yeccres, & that ill fome few notori- 
 ous p!accs,as ziLatcrctto, Hals, and SUbe?/j } and flich like. 
 Now I demand, where arc their miracles that they fo much 
 bra?.geof? And if they tellvs of tkofe that were wrought 
 in former times Jaskcagainc, where is that power now bc- 
 comc?Is it flowne into the Jndie s to be praclifcd there by the 
 Icfuitcs for the conucrfaonof thofc vnbeleeuing "Pagans ? So 
 in .Iced they fay. But their ownc Acofla an eyc-witneffc 
 doth giuc the lye to thisfi>tton, for thus he writech : what is 
 optr preaching ? And what U our confidence >Certthlj we work? 
 no miracles to est; fir me our drfhine, neither m t here any needs 
 oft hem :fo t a/bine in hdineffe before men, that they- feeing etir 
 good mrk*s t mayglorifi: our Father which is in keaxen, this is 
 tbegrcateft perf&jdmg miracle that ctn h?. Therefore 
 MilchiCT Ca~ I Melchisr Canwthus cenfureth thofe fabulous bookes, that 
 tmUM.ii. V were written of this fubicdt : There are of late (faith he) 
 <"*/.<♦ 1 certaine 
 
 fdute luim* 
 
Chip. i . Delujiens by Miracles, 
 
 3°7 
 
 certatne fables come forth, the Author whereof and the f lave 
 where they were aftedj arefofarre off, that it U notpojfible to 
 difcouer thetr ftl/hood: but yet the whole body of the narration 
 isfo contriued, that the Spanijh prouerbe mxy eapty app:are to 
 be verified in them : Des tuengat viat y lucngas msnirxs, that 
 is, From farre Countries, long lyes* And fuch are their Indi- 
 an miracles. But what need they trauaile To farrc for mira- 
 deSjif they be ncccflary markes of their Church ? And why 
 arc they not ftill wrought, at the fepulchcrs and relikcsof 
 their Saints, as they pretend they were in time paft ? Marry j 
 thercafonisjbccaufcthc dcuiUfcares to piay his tricks inthc 
 day, lca(r he fhould be difcoucrcd, but loueth the darkneiTe, 
 as becommeth the Prince of darkneiTe. As at the riling of 
 the Sunnc, Owles and Bats,and all night birdes, hide them- 
 felues in their holes ; fo did thefe rapcrftitious fables, at the 
 brc ikxng out of the Sun-fhine of the Gofpell. And as at the 
 comming of Chrift, the Oracles ceafed, and the great God 
 Pan died ; fo at the preaching of the Gofpell, miracles in a 
 manner van iflicd, andallthofc fupcrftitions wcrea{hamcd 
 to (hew their faces. And this indeed is thegrcateft miracle 
 of this Age, that the fal (hood of miracles is thus difcouc- 
 red, 
 
 7, But to leauc the generall, and to come to more par* 
 ticular dilcouciy of Popilli miracles, and to fhew that they , 
 arc no better then lying iignes and wonders, fuch as are [ 
 afcribed to Antichriltby S. Paul : They may well be diftin- 
 guimed into three rankes. For fome arc altogether falle 
 and counterfeit, yea many fo ridiculous, that they cany 
 with them no likclyhood of truth, A fecond fort are true , 
 but are not miracles, hauing nothing in them that is prodigi- 
 ous or fupcrnaturali. And a third fort there are,which to our 
 fenfes fceme miraculous, forafmuch as they furpafic our vn- 
 derftanding^ but are wrought by the operation of Sathan, 
 and by thcdcccitc of vnclcane If it its. And to this diftin&i- 
 on of Antichriftian miracles, doth well agree that of r Be (lar- 
 mine^ where he faith, that they arc lying in refpeel of all the 
 •caufes : the Efficient, the Muter, the Forme, and the End. 
 
 Rr~, The 
 
 N'tcepkcrjifi* 
 lih*l4ap.i 7% 
 
 ? utacbSt 
 p<tr.Euas,gM* 
 
 VmtMb*i, 
 
5 o8 
 
 Delujions by Miracles, 
 
 Chap.j 
 
 ThtoJor.tn 1 • 
 Theft. 
 
 Arstai in 
 
 Chyj/oft.'m ** 
 Theff.,. m 
 Aug.dcC'Mt, 
 DCiMb.iOsC. 
 
 Mf.lchwr.C4tt, 
 hb.ti^cdp.6* 
 
 The efficient, becaufe they are wrought by the power of the 
 father of lyes, who can effect no true miracles ; as the Apo- 
 ftic faith, thafhiscomming is after the working of Saih:n; 
 The matter, becaufe they arc not true miracles, but fabulous 
 and counterfeit, luch as luglcrs vie to wori:e,faith Thecttoret^ 
 dazeling mens eyes, and as it were robbing them of their 
 tight, faith Aretas. Forme, becaufc howfoeuer they may 
 fceme firange.yct they hauc their hidden caufes, not excee- 
 ding the power of nature, as true miracles do. And tart- 
 ly, in regard of the end, which is the principally becaufe they 
 lead vnto lyes, as ^Tj^/^w^obferucth : and fo are well 
 termed lying wonders, though in regard of matter and 
 forme they be neuer fo true, as S. Attguftive noteth. 
 
 6. But to follow our fii-ft diuifion, which is in efTcc3: all 
 one with this. In the fair, rankc we may place an infinite 
 number of Virions, Reuelations, Apparitions of foules out of 
 Purgatory, and Legendary wonders. For Melchicr Ccwiu 
 a great man of theirs, and a SpaHtJh Billiop, affirmcth, that 
 the Hues of the Philofophers were more grauely and truly 
 written by Diogenes Laertiw, then the liucs of th e S aints by 
 Chri/tians. : and that Stieiomta had more faithfully reported 
 the acts of the Emperours, then Chtiflianshad the a<5ts of 
 Martyrs, Virgins, and Confefibrs : and that he was afhamed 
 of many things written, tending not to the profit, but to the 
 hurt of the Church ; the writers rather ayming to rleafe 
 ihcmfclues in their fictions, then to cdifle others ; and pre- 
 tenting vnto vs fuch Saints, which if they could be fuch, yet 
 yvould not be fuch as they make them. For who would bc- 
 lccuc(Taithhe)that S.Francis hauing caught a Flea, would 
 not kill it, but put it fairely againe vpon him;as if(forfooth)he 
 delighted not oncly in |-ouerty, but in ftuttery and filthi- 
 ne{Te ? And how ridiculous alfo (faith he) is that which is 
 written of S. DemiKi'cke, that he cau fed the dcuill that came 
 to annoy him,to hold a candle in his hand till it was fpent, 
 and fo burnt his fingers with great painc and anguifh > Thus 
 Canus writcth, affirming withall, that the number of fuch 
 idle fiction s is not to be numbred. But I will adde fonie few 
 
 to 
 
; I Chap, i . Dchjions £y Miracles, 
 
 °9 
 
 ! to his beginnings, which ncuertheic'fle fhall be but as the [ 
 cleaning after the harucit. That -it m*y appcare, hew pitti- 
 ! fully the dcuill hath blinded mens eyes vnder the king- 
 j dome of Antichrift. And here to omit, how S. Anthcnj of 
 /V^caufcdhishorfc to kneele downe and woifhip the 
 i holy Hoalt : how a ccrtainc woman to make her Bees fruit- 
 full,puta confccratec! Ho:dt into thc'Hyuc, where the Bees 
 built a Chappell with an Altar, and wir.dowcs and dcorcs, 
 and a Stecplc,with Eels, and lung their Canonicall hourcs, 
 and kept watch like Menkes in their Cloyfters : how Saint 
 Dkftaxe pulled the dcuill by the nofc or by thelips,(asfomc 
 others fay) with a pairc of Pincers : how a Parrat being like 
 to befurprized by an Hawke,flying ouer the ilnine of Saint 
 Thorn a* o'iCanterbnrj^ cryed Saint Thomas hclpc me* when 
 preieritly the Hawkcfell downe dead, and the Parrat cfca- 
 ped : how another being falfly accufed for dealing his Ma- 
 ilers Hawke^nd ready to be executed, dcfircd in his heart 
 helpeofthe Lady ofZ^wm^whcn inftantlyihc HawVc 
 came flying in the ayre jingling herBels and lighting vpon 
 the gallowcsy and freed the poore man from the halter : how 
 Saint Aidtu in companion giuing eight Lambes to eight 
 hungry Wolucs, afterwards by prayer drew them againc 
 aliue out of the Wolues bellies : How^aint Patrick* drone 
 with hisftafre all the venemous beafts out of/re/axd, and 
 caufed a ftollen fheepe to bleatc in the belly of him that had 
 eaten it : how Saint Luffi or Low flint vp the dcuill in a 
 tankard all night,and made him howle and bray molt hide- 
 oully,before he could get out : how Saint Barbara turned' 
 the fheepe of a ccrtainc fhepheard that had difcouered her W 
 herFathci\,intoLocu(rs : how a ccitainc Kinght being long 
 learning his Ahs Afana^nd not able to come vino Gratia 
 
 pte»a,had a flower fprung out of his mouth in his graue, in 
 eucry lcafe whereof was written in Golden letters', JeflMn 
 j\faria:hovj Saint Margaret was (wallowed rpo* the de+i+Ik 
 in the figure of a Dragon,and making thefigne of the CroiTc 
 in the Dragons belly, the Dragon burll,and Saint MaY£a¥et 
 came' our fare and found: how Saint Gooderick ^ith'thc 
 Rr ; fienc 
 
 j. 
 
32° 
 
 Dehfiox* by }Air*cle$A 
 
 Chap. i 
 
 figneofthcCroflctameaWoIuesand Serpents in fuchfbrt, 
 that they lay with him by the fire fide without offc ring any 
 hurt : how Saint Chrifiopbers ftafFe being ftuckc into the 
 ground,began prefently to bcare leaues, and to buriiifTi, 
 whereupon 8000. men were conuertcd to the Faith of 
 Chrift. And how Saint Ntckolat when hee was an Infant , 
 faftedcucry Wcdncfday and Friday from fucking his Mo- 
 thers teate. How Saint Dents the Areop4gitan t carried his 
 head in his hands after it was ftriken offjtwo miles : How 
 Saint Bernac turned oakc leaues into ioaucs, (tones into 6- 
 ftes,and water into wine : how a Bifhop called Trian bl- 
 uing killed his Cow and his Calfc to cntertainc Saint Patrick^ 
 found them the next morning both feeding in his Meadow : 
 how Saint Domivicks hooka lying three dayes inaRiucr, 
 were taken vp as dry as a feather : how Saint Romual fpoke 
 Diuinity as foone as he wasborne,and preached as.foonc as 
 he was baptized : how Saint Cbriflina fpake when her 
 tongue was cut out; how Saint Ambright Earlc of Verne 
 when he couldnottakc the Sacrament at his mouth, layd it 
 on his fide, which opened then to rcceiuc it, and then fhut a- 
 gaiue : how Chrift tookefrom Saint Katharine at hcrre- 
 qucfthcr old heart, and gauehcr a newinroomc thereof: 
 How Saint Margaret catching the dcuill by the haire, tram- 
 pled him vnder her feet : how Saint InltAnn bound the dc- 
 uill,and whipthim, and dragged him along the fttects for a 
 laughing ftocke to boyes, andatla(t caft him into a lakes: 
 how Saint Zene faw a company of deuils flecping on the 
 skirts of a womans gowne,and on a fudainc tumbling into 
 thedurt,whcreathcc and the other deuils that followed on 
 foot laughed heartily : and laftly how the deuils for fee- 
 ing of holy water ran fo faft out of the ficke mans Chamber, 
 that they trod one on anothers heeles for haft. Ifay,to o- 
 mit all thefe, with a numbcrlcflc number more of the fame 
 kinde, I will infift in fome onely which are not common- 
 ly knowne,and yet are as famous in foolery and falfliood at 
 thefe arc. 
 
 7. And to begin with Francis their fo much admired 
 
 Saint • 
 
C h a p. r . Vchtfion by Mirdcles. 
 
 3*1 
 
 Sainr; ifwcfcarchthcbookes that arc written of his acts, 
 \vc (hall finde many (o ftrangc and ridiculous wonders, that 
 they deferue rather lighter then credit. As that he com- 
 manded the Swallow'es to hold their peace while hec was 
 preaching, and they obeyed him : and that one day feeing 
 a great ftockc of Bilges togcthcr,he faidvnto his Fellowes 
 that were vvith htm in company, Marke me how Imcaneto 
 preach to thefe Btrdes my Sifters : and whilfthee was prea- 
 ching, how the Birdcsfate very attentiue,and did not depart 
 thence till he hid finifhed his Sermon, and giucn them his 
 benediction, which they recerucd with fhew of great 
 reference, in opening their eyes and bcakes^ and ftret- 
 ching forth their heads and ncckes. That hec conuertcd a I 
 Wolfe in the territory of Anguhmm which deuoutcd both I 
 men and beads, and finding him faid vnto hkn : Come 
 hiikjr brother lFclfs y l command thee in the n<xmt of God 3 thai 
 tbouhnrtno per [on any more. Whereupon the Wolfe caft 
 himfcJfe at his feet, and lifting vp his paw, put it into Saint 
 Francis his hand,promifing to doe no more hurt, and fo fol- 
 lowed him vp and downeashis brother, fo that the very 
 dogs wo&ld not barkc at him. And againc, diat vpon a cer- 
 taine time bang purfuedby the deuill, he fled to a rocke, 
 where finding no place to hide him in,he thruf t his face clofc 
 to the rockc, whicn foftning like Wax, recciued the impre f* 
 Hon, and hid him a long time from thcdciriil. This is anew 
 tricke ofefeaping the deuill by nimblcnelfcof foot, and ab- 
 fconfion in a rocke : but they are as fenfcleffe as rock es that 
 wilt giuc any credit thereunto. It was- as familiar with him 
 and his Difciplc$.,to raife vp the dead, as to diinkc a cup of 
 Wine. At a time in a brauado,he flew a mans Sonne, to the 
 end that he might reftore him againe to life, as he did,if all 
 that is written betrue.Tt is reported alfo of him in the famous 
 booke of his Conformities with Chrift, that finding at the 
 Mafic a Spider in the Chalice, hee would not put it out for 
 (heading fome drops of the blood, but dranke it with the 
 blood and all, and that by and by,nis thigh ttchipg,thc Spi- 
 der iffued whole thcre-out,he hauing no hurt at all, nor yet 
 
 the 
 
 FfcresS.fnn- 
 etfii.eap.jj 0* 
 rap. 20. 
 
 Lib .cczfrrr.'it * 
 S Trawl fa 
 Cbrontt . 
 
3'2 
 
 Delufions by MiracLs. C hap-, i . 
 
 Pdxl.LtlHgSKS. 
 
 Cbron.Ctt$- 
 
 ic lmagw 
 
 the Spider, being both prefer ucd by the merit of tr 
 ik d blood. Butthepalp^bklt Lye ofallthereltisthis, that 
 God vpon a lime dctertnrnjiig vttcrly to dedroy the world 
 for the contempt of the Goipell,his Sonne Chrift to appeafc 
 his anger, promifed to renew his life and palFion in Saint 
 Francis, and to imprint vpon him his flue wounds ; by the 
 vcrtue whereof,men fhould be reciaymedfrom their Gnhes* 
 and io faued. All which he did to pacific his Fathers wrath, 
 and alio prom ifed^to draw many thoufand women out of 
 the hand of trie deuill,by the virginity of our Lady his Mo- 
 ther,renewed in the body of Saint Clare ■ both which being 
 cfrciitcd,God changed his opinion, and pardonedche world: 
 as it the folk wonders of brands, and the hypocrific of 
 CUre, were of as great merit and power with God, as the 
 blood of ChrifT. The like wee read ofthe I whins of the 
 Order of >aint Ttcnnet, who to countenance their opinion a- 
 gainttthe Cordeliers, zbout the iinncleffe conception of the 
 Virgin ^f^ > fuborncd a nouice of their Couent to counter- 
 feit Saint Francis, and to furTcr with great tcrmcnt,h*ue 
 wounds to be feared into his body, with a number more !uch 
 like linpofhjres ; and to declare vnto the people how all this 
 was done vnto him by the rcuclajtion of the blcffed Virgin. 
 The whole flory is ac large related by Piiutut Lcingnwx 
 Monke ofthe fame Order : declaring withall,that tfycMa- 
 giftratcsof 'Berne where the Tragedy was acted, finding out 
 their knauery both by diuers euidcijt (uipigioas, apd slfo by 
 trie confcilion of the counterfeit hhrifc!fc,iea2cd vpon the 
 Authors thereof, and after degradation, committed them 
 to the fire to bee purged of their villany. It the marges 
 of Saint Francis had bene as well cxamincd,as thefc were of 
 this pooreNouice,I doubt not,6ut they would hauc bcene 
 proucd to be ofthe fame nature and itampe. 
 
 8. But to leaue their Fr<wcis,md to come toDommicke. 
 another grand Saint of theirs, and fome ofthe rclt of their 
 Saints. This Saint Domtnicke hauing a man prefented vnto 
 him,that was pofleffed with deuiis, tooke his Stolc,and firft 
 putting it on his ownc necke,after indofed with it the necke 
 
 of 
 
Chap, 
 
 i. 
 
 Delufions by Mirac/cs. 
 
 313 
 
 of theDcmoniack, an ! commanded the dcuils to torment 
 the man no more,at which command they themfclucs were 
 tormented within the man, and defired of him leauc to de- 
 part : but he would not,except they would giue apledge that 
 they would no more returnevnto him,and the pledge muft 
 bee the holy Martyrs whofe bodies lay buryed in that 
 Chinch : Which after the dcuils had (with much adoejob- 
 taincdofthe Martyrs to be their pledgc,and proued it to bee 
 Co by the turning of their bodies in their graues, their heads 
 being remoued to the place where their feet fhouldbc, he 
 fct them free to fceke their fortune in the broad world. This 
 fine Fable is accompanied with another of the fame mettcll. 
 As Saint Domtmcke was once preaching in a place, after the 
 Scrmon,certainc Ladies which had beenc feducedbyherc- 
 fies came and kneeled at his feet,arid faid vnto him: 6 thou 
 fcruantofGod,hclpevs : if it be true which thou halt prea- 
 ched, the fpirit of Error hath hitherto blinded our thoughts. 
 Then he faid vntothem.be ftill & waite a littlc,and you fhall 
 fee what Lord it is that you haue ferued. And by and by they 
 faw leaping into the middclt of them a great black Ca^with 
 broad flaming eyes, & a bloody huge tongue hanging downe 
 to his nauill,a wreathed tayle turned vp to his back c, mewing 
 his filthy part behind,out of which came an horrible ftinke, 
 and when hce had encompaffed round about the Ladies on 
 each fide, at laft hee mounted into the fleeple by a Bell- 
 rope, and left a filthy fauourbehindchim. Then the Ladies 
 gaue God thankes, and returned to the Catholike Faith, Ant 
 mentkinturfoet*. I omit how Saint Dominich forced the 
 deuill that came to tempt him, to hold him the candle till it 
 burnt his fingcrs,and made him yell and howlc; becaufc this 
 is already touched before by Cavus. But to leauc thefe two, . 
 and to come to fome other of their Saints. 
 
 Andfirft of Attgiiftme the Mouke,our pretended Englifh 
 Conuerter : this man hauing a holy ftaffcin his hand which 
 he vfually walked withall, on a fodaine (faith his Legend) it 
 flew out of his hand, and pitched three furlongs off, where , 
 it founded a plenteous vVell,which was ncuerlecne before. 
 
 Sf Againe 
 
 Hcriy % Ste/J.tn 
 
3*4 
 
 Velujicnsby Miracles. 
 
 Chap.il 
 
 Againe be telleth, that hec curfing the people of Kent for ' 
 mocking him,their children were prefently borne with/ong 
 tayles in token of Gods vengeance vpon themfor abufing fo 
 holy a man. And that which is yet more ftrangely ridicu- 
 lous^t relateth.that he rayfed vp at a Mafic two Ghofts out 
 ofthegraucs,oneof a Lay-man that died excommunicate 
 for not pay iog his tithes and had ly en in hell i $ o yccres^and 
 
 I the other of the Prieft that aceurft him, who at his requcft 
 abfolued this poorc Ghoft,and fo they returned both to their 
 graue in peace. Full ofl ike wonderous lies is that Legend 
 which I forbear e to mention. Next I come to Saint lunger 
 who was accounted of Saint FrAvci* for a moil holy man, of 
 whom in the forefaidbooke of Conformities we finde thefe 
 twoftories. Thefirlt is,thaton accrtainc time he being pur- 
 pofed to play the Cooke, (ct on a kettle with Pullets, with- 
 out pulling, drawing,or wafting them, together with other 
 flefhandrootesin like manner : and hauing made thefe 
 boyle together vpon a great rue,brought this braucdifhto 
 his compainions,who found no difhft nor fluttery in it, but 
 all as fine and neat as might bee. This talc cals to my minde 
 another of the famenature,but of a contrary cffe£t,to wit of 
 a Pilgrime,that cemming to demand iuftice for the murther 
 ofhisSonneofaMagiftratc,who being then at dinner, was 
 vnwillingtohearehim:heetaufcd the Capon that was on 
 the table ready dteft and hot, to dart vpon the feet, and to 
 be couercd with feathers and flye away,to the end he might 
 thereby iuftifie the truth and equity of his complaint. The 
 fecond ftory of Friar /umpcr is, that being lodged at a ccr- 
 taine time by a friend, in a faire bed and white flicetcs, hec 
 leftbehindc him in the bed his fikhy Excrements for pay- 
 mentywithout bidding his Hoft fo much as fare well : now 
 thefe two honeft ftories are recited in that booke, to (hew 
 the humility of this holy Friar: but this is humility with a 
 witneiTc,except he was moucd to fuch an acl by reuelation, 
 or that the thing he Icftbehinde him in the bed, was a mem- 
 phiticall perfume,and nota ftincking excremcnt,and thenhe 
 was a great dealc more holy then another Friar called R*f- 
 ft»* 
 
Chap.r. 
 
 Delujions by Mirtclts. 
 
 315 
 
 /w,who made the dcuill to flee away with tin's threat, that! 
 h?e would doe a thing in his throat. Icouldadde to thefe 
 beaftly tales,another of.St?tf»<?«Ar,who when his wife chan- 
 ced to fay,that he could workc miracles as well as her backc 
 fide could fing;laid this punifhment vpon her,thatall the reft 
 of her life, (he neuer opened her mouth to f peak,but a crackc 
 with aneuillfauourcameoutbehinde. But to returne to S. 
 lumper ,\us no maruaile that he was fo humble to beguild his 
 bed,fecing(as it is in the book of Conformities from whence 
 thefe braue ftoriesarefercht) one Friar lohn dc Vullcts arfir- 
 mcd,thathc fmek the fauour of the faid Imifer 1 2. leagues 
 off, r o odoriferous was his fandtified bo3y . We read in the 
 Legend of Saint Mtchary jihzt he did penance feuen y ceres, 
 amongftthornes and bumes,for that vnaduifedly hce killed 
 a Flea that bit him; neither can 1 forget another act of Saint 
 Ttomintcke, recited towards the endofhisLegend,an aclto 
 make good companions laugh, and gcare at : it is this. 
 There was acertaine Nun called yW*jry,that was difeafed in 
 herthigh for the (pace of fiuc rnoneths,with great paineand 
 hazard of her life : atlafl fhc thought with her felfe that (hee 
 was vn worthy to pray vnto God,and co be heard; & thcrfore 
 prayed S aint Domimeke to pray for her, that fhe might reco- 
 uer her health: after whofe prayer fhee fell afleepc, and in 
 her flecpe faw S.Tlominickcfan&mg by, who drew out from 
 vnder his Cope an ointment of plcafant fauour,and therewith 
 anointed her th igh : and when me demanded the name of 
 the oyntment, Saint Dominicke anfwered that it was the 
 oyntment of'Loue : this is the tale, and lleauc the interpre- 
 tation thercofto the Reader, without faying what I thinkc : 
 onelyamcrry man may imagine, that it was neither better 
 nor worfe,then the priuacy of Saint Frcncii with Saint CUrc y 
 a holy Virgin ,and with Friar M*ffe a beautifull yong man 
 related in the bookeofhis Conformities. 
 
 p. But not to trouble the Reader with more of thefe 
 idle Fables, I pafleouer Saint QerrrrAwe, who preaching in 
 r Britaine y becaufc the King did not entcrtaine him in his 
 houfe,thercforc the next day pofieiTcd him of his Crowne, 
 
 Sf 2 and 
 
 Vide UenJSt€* 
 
 phan.prjttJt, 
 in Jpol prQ 
 HendJ 
 
31* 
 
 Velujiom by Miracles. Oiap.i J 
 
 
 and placed a Neat-heard in his rootne, that had entertained 
 him: and Saint Cofme and Damicen, who curcda dcuout 
 worshipper of them,of a Gangrene in his thigh, by cutting it 
 off whillt he flcpt, and fetching a Blackemores thigh that 
 was lately buried, and fanning kin the place thereof. And 
 Friar 'Bemnet of */frez,ne ^'ho being adcuout worfhipper 
 of Saint Daniel* whofe Scpulchcr is in Babilon y was carried 
 thither vponthetaile ofaDragon,and cutoff' his finger for 
 aRelike, and was brought againe by the fame ir.eancs he 
 went ; and how he being in a tempeft caft into the Sea, was 
 like a fecond /<?»/**,ejiclofed with a cloudy and tranfported 
 
 (into Paradife ; where being asked of Enoch and thai what 
 he was; he anfwcred,Iama brother of S. Francis : which 
 SnochandEliasno fooner heard, but they danced for ioy, 
 and led him v p and Jo wne to view that plea fant place : from 
 whencc,he was prefently after taVen by a little cloud, and 
 carried againe into the Sea,which men fecing,wcre wonder- 
 fully aftonifhed. I omit(Ifay)thefe,with a number more, 
 and end with their tales of the blefled Virgin, and our Saur- 
 ourChrilt. For as their owne CMelchior Cant** afrumeth, 
 they hauc euen dared to abufc them with their Lycs,as they 
 hauedone other Saints. For their fabulous tales and mira* 
 j clcs concerning Chrifr, Irefcne the Reader tothofeApo- 
 chrypha bookes which are written of the life of Chrift, 
 where they fhall findc a whole thrauc of them. As for the 
 blefled Virgin, they attribute to her fuch ftrange miracles, 
 as doe rather deferue contempt then credit. As that fhec 
 changed her felfc into the forme and habit of one T^eatnxz. 
 Nun,and ferued in her roomc hTtccne yeeres, whilft (hce 
 played the Harlot abroad,and that at length "Beatrix being 
 opprefTed withpouerty, came to the Nunnery gate in a fecu- 
 lar habit, and asked the Porter whether he knew Bcatrtx or 
 no, who was fomtime Giiardianeflc of that ColIcdge.Hc an- 
 fwered,I know her well, (lie is a good & holy Dame, & hath 
 liuedlong without reproch in this houfe: which fpeeches 
 fhewondringat,anddcparting,theble(fcd Virgin appeared 
 vnto her,and told her how (he hadfupplyed her place in her 1 
 
 habit, J 
 
Ch.1 p. r . Dcluficns by M tracks. 
 
 3*7 
 
 Mirarolijc&t 
 
 gttoitjaVirjr. 
 •Mar l» tttma 
 
 >S47- 
 
 habit,and budher now returne, for none liuingknew her J 
 fault. A talc dcuifed by filthy Monkcs, to encour; ge their 
 deiiout fillers to play the harlots freely, in hope that the Vir- 
 gin (JMary would couer their faults : and thus they ms.ke 
 a Virgin, apatroneffe ot whoredomc ; as may appeared fo 
 by another talc. A ccitnine Abbeffc being with child, the 
 Virgin Ui/ary to hide her fault, prefented her fdfe in her 
 /hape to the v ifhop to be examined, and fhewc d by proofe 
 that fhe was not with child, and fo cleared her from the im- 
 putation. But they do not cnely make her a patroneffe of 
 whoredomc, but of theft e,lfo,a$ this tale witneffcth. A ccr- 
 taine woman hauirag robbed her husband, ran away with a 
 Pricft that had aifo robbed the Veitcry, and being, purfued 
 and taken^ the Virgin Afary commanded the deuill that had 
 tempted them to this finne, to dcliuer them againe and rc- 
 ftore them to their owner ; who prefently freed them of 
 their prifonment, and put the woman in bed with her huf- 
 band,andthePrieft in his ownc boufe,bringingback againe 
 alfo the things they had ftollen into both places, and inftead 
 of them, left two deuils in prifon imheir fhapes :and fo they 
 deny ing the fa6t,& the deuils being found in the prifon who 
 manifcttcd what they were, and vanished ; the pai ties were 
 acquit both of their punifhment,and reproach. What fhall 
 
 I relate how another woman tookc the Virgin. Maries Son 
 out ofher armes, and vowed to keepe him from her, as fhe 
 did, till fhe had freed her fonne which was in prifon ? And 
 how they bring her infometimes killing an armed man, or a 
 Monke, fomciimcs giuing fuckc with her tcatcs, and fome- 
 tim:s giuing aman a box on the earc,with a numberfucli like 
 vnb°feem*ing afts : or how to faue the credit of an Abbeffe 
 who was with child, fhe commanded two Angels to play the 
 niidwiues, and to carry the child in lier name, to a ccrtaine 
 Hermite to be kept for her till it was feucn yecres old : Gr 
 how fhe came to the Cell of one Alannt^ and was fo familiar 
 with him, that flic not onely efpoufed him to her husband, 
 but alfo killed him, and opened to him her paps, and pou- 
 red great plenty of her ownc milkc into his mouth. Thefc arc 
 
 S f 3 furTicient 
 
3 .8 
 
 Velufions by Miracles. Chap. 
 
 
 I,King,n,28, 
 
 fufficient if not too many, to fhcvv, not oiiely the falhty, b ut 
 alfo the ridiculoufneffc, of moft of their miracles which they 
 fo bragge of; and how fitly they anfwer thofe which S. Paul 
 and S. lohn afcribe vnto Antichrift. 
 
 10. To the fecond fort of Popifli miracles, appertaine 
 thofe things that to the outward ienfefeeme miraculous,buc 
 indeed haue nothing of a miracle in them, nor of a fupcrnatu- 
 rall effect. A s that which CafaritM reportcth for a miracle, 
 that vpon the Eue of S. CWatbias, a thunder-bolt fell vpon 
 S. Andy ewe s to wrc in Collen : For how often is it heard to 
 thunder, not onely at the end of February , but alfo in the 
 moncth of January , and December ? And that in the ycere 
 1212. thunder falling Tpon a Theater, twenty men were 
 ftriken dead,and onely one Pricft afcaped, flying when hee 
 fa we the others burning. In briefe, if any one by any 
 meanes were cured offome grecuous difcafe, or were deli- 
 uered out of prifon,or his fliip after a temped were arriued 
 at a good Haucn, or cfcaped fhip-wrackc, or any fuch like 
 thing ; if the party called vpon any of their Saints, prefently 
 they cry,A miracle, a» if fome extraordinary matter was hap- 
 pened ; when it is mecrly the prouidence and goodncflc of 
 God, that caufcth the Sunne to (hinc vpon the iuft and vn- 
 iuft that hath done it : and furcly in fuch things if any thing be 
 miraculous, it is the ingratitude of men, whohauing felt the 
 fuccour fo prefent of the diuine Maiefty in their ncceflities, 
 in (lead of offering vp vnto him the cup of thank fgiuing,they 
 giue the glory of their deliucranccs to Idols, and dead crea- 
 tures, and fo robbe him of the homage which is due vnto 
 him. Like vnto feroboam, who faid of his Calues which he 
 had newly fafhioned, 'Behold thy Cods, O Ifrael, which 
 brought thee vf ont of the Land ofzALgypt : or to Bcltaffar the 
 King of Babylon, who is reproucd by 7)ax>ief y for magnify mg 
 his Gods of Gold, Silucr,Iron, Brafle, and Wood ; that nei- 
 ther fa we, nor heard,nor vndcrftood ; andnot praifing the 
 God of hcauen, in whofc hand was his breath and all his 
 waics; or to the Emperour Marks Awreliut ,who hauing by 
 the praier of his Chriftian foldicrs, obtained a memorable 
 
 and 
 
Chap. I . Delujions by Miracles ■ 
 
 3*9 
 
 and 
 giuinj 
 
 miraculous vi&ory againft the M&rcomans, in ilead off 
 ng thegloiy thereof to tLc tn:e God, attributed his vi- 
 ctory to Iuptcr % caufiDg it to be cngrauen in a pillar in ho- 
 nour of that IdoW^sTJtrovtiti rcporteth. 
 
 11. To this kind, i m-y referrc all fuch counterfeit 
 miracles, as hane appeared (trange to the ignorant perfons, 
 as hau? bene conn iucd by the fecret Iuglings and fraud of 
 men : as that of hane the holy Maid of Ker.t , who was long 
 time held for a Propheteffe, by the fab tile inucntion of the 
 Gray Friars : For tncy laid that line was defcended from hca- 
 ucn, and that fhe did r.ithcrcate nor drinke v though in fe- 
 fhe banqueted and reuellcd with her holy fathers 
 
 crct, 
 
 Amongft other thir.gs, they per f wade the filly people, that 
 fhe knew the linnes of all perfons ; and indeed l"he would tell 
 them that came vnto her, the f.nncs that they had commit- 
 ted ; but it was by this tneanes : the Friars '.uffered none to 
 come vnto her, but fuch as had firft confeffed themfelues to 
 their Ghoflly Father ;and fhe had aplace fitted of purpofc, 
 where this holy Hypocrite might hcare their confeltions, 
 being hcrfelfc vnfeenc : But her cofonagc being at length 
 d ifcouercd, fhe with her holy Fathers, the deuifers of this 
 miracle, was executed to death, as our Chronicles witnefTe. 
 Againe, a certaine Pardon pcdler of S. Anthony ^vizd this 
 trickeof lcgcrdcn:aine to gainc credit to his Saincandhim- 
 felfe : he ft^ owed gunpowd-r in the neft of a Pye, that was 
 necre vnto the place where he was to preach, and then tyed 
 vnto the neft r. little cord,fetting fire on the other end there- 
 of. Now as he was divulging his pardons in his Sermon, the 
 Pye fenting the powder, made a great noyfe, whereat he 
 expecting the fame, and knowing that the fire was crept 
 ncere vnto the neft, cryed out : Thou rvtckedbeaft, that hin- 
 dsreft this holy preaching, S. Anthony re tUbttme thee with fire: 
 and by and by, thefire being got to the neft by the cord,bur- 
 ned it, with the yong ones that were therein 1 and fo a mira- 
 cle was cryed, to the great gaine of this pardon mongcr.The 
 fame Author rcporteth another miracle of the fame imprefli- 
 on : to wit, that thefe Pricfts of S. tsinthony, vfed to make 
 
 hot 
 
 lohMendrd. 
 Lib Jeclar.lt 
 refU & <#**' 
 deCw* Aelf 
 ers. 
 
320 
 
 Defojlons by ^iiraclest 
 
 Chap 
 
 hot their little croffcs or images of brafle, whilft the good 
 wife went into her garner or cellar to fetch them their aimes : 
 and when flic ha j . offered herguifc, they caufed her to kiiTe 
 the laid croife or Image ; which being found hot, they per- 
 fwaded the good woman .that S. Anthony was angry, as not 
 being content with her gift ; and then in haft fhe returned a- 
 gaine to augment the iarne, and finding the image grownc 
 cold, it was a figne (as they pcrlwaded her) that S.sst'mhony 
 was well pacified. He relatcth another alfo, ' acled by the 
 matters of the fame faculty, to wit, how a gallant of this 
 trade, being offended that nothing was giuen vnto him at a 
 poore husbandmans hou e, fet fire on the (table where his 
 Kine were, which burned not onely theftablc,butthe reft of 
 his houfc, and all his goods : and this went currant for a mi- 
 racle of S. Anthony, till the villany was difcoucred. He 
 addeth alfo another ftory of the fame fubic-CT, how another 
 otS.Anthonies Prieits. cozened a poore butcher and his wife 
 of a pecce of linnen cloth, by perfwading his wife, firft that 
 her two Swine which fhe had, would fhortly turne vp their 
 hceles, vnleffe they were cured by fome holy blciTing of S. 
 Anthony. For which,me mult giuc him that peecc of linnen 
 cloth which was in her houfe, which fhe did : and then by 
 deluding her husband that purfued him for the cloth, with 
 putting fome fire into it, which made it toburne and fmokc, 
 fothat the poor man aftonifhed, gaue backc the cloth to the 
 Prieft, and cryed the miracle, and went about the Country 
 wich him to publifh the fame. Againe, in the Country of 
 He rry in Trance, there was a C hambermaid of a Pi iclt (to 
 fpeakein reuerence to their fhauen order) thatrecciueda 
 1 wines blood into a Tinne platter, the BoiTc w hereof was fa- 
 fhioncd with the picture of S.Peter y i\\c which plate the Pricft 
 vfed for the recciuingof his offerings of the people : now it 
 happened that fome drops of the blood entrcd into the 
 Boflfc, and there congealed, which afterward being thawed, 
 appeared in the fneerfS. /Vrrr, and then loe the bels rung, 
 and the people arflembled together,to fee this great miracle; 
 and fo was it bcleeucd, till by another Pricfi: that cuuiedhis 
 
 fellow. 
 
 Vide Hertrk. 
 Steah^n.in 
 prAfat.JLd Afol* 
 pro Herod* 
 
Ch.ip.i 
 
 Delufions by fAiracks, 
 
 321 
 
 fellow, the cau'c was difcoucrcd, and the miracle difmira- 
 clcd. A like tale the fame Author reports to haue happe- 
 ned at a Caftle without Bonrges, it was thus : It chanced 
 that a Pigion bleeding with a blow which it had receiued, 
 light vpon the head of an image of our Lady, where it came 
 to pafle, that the blood ranne downe vpon her face: prefent- 
 ly a miracle was proclaimed with a loud outcry ; but the 
 Kings Lieutenant caufing the head to be fearched, found 
 both the feathers ofthe foulc,and blood in the holes thereof; 
 and then the miracle which had bene cryed foloud_,was faire 
 and foft vncryed againe. 
 
 1 2. It is nonewes, nor ft range thing, to heare of infinite 
 numbers of blindc, lame, and difeafed perfons, that haue 
 bene cured by fuch a Saint, or fuch a Cmcifix, or fuch an 
 Image ; and cfpecially by the Images of our Lady at Law- 
 rettOy Hdlhy and Sichem, and other places. But it is to be 
 rioted, that though fome fuch cures might be wrought by 
 the power of Sathan, to further fuperftition ; yet moft of 
 them were mccrly counterfeit : for it hath bene an ordinary 
 pra$ifc of Popifh Priefts, to haue men to fainethemfelues 
 blind,or lame, or other wife ill affected with fome dangerous 
 difcafe, and then to returne as if they were found and hea- 
 led. There be many examples of this kind of impofture : 
 But I will relate onely three, out of Henry Stephanas Afo 
 logy* The firftis of S. Renandix. Paris, in the fuburbes of 
 our Ladic ofthe fieldes, which Saint,the Monks of that place 
 would make men bdecue, was the mod: holy and grcatcft 
 worker of miracles, that was within fifty miles round about. 
 And to this effect, they fuborned certainc lame, and blind, 
 and other countcrfeitcs, who knew their watch- word, when 
 they (hould cry, I am cured : But it happened, that one a- 
 mongftthc reft, thatfaid he was borne blinde, and making 
 the lame outcry, I can fee : a certainc man defirous to difco- 
 ucr the abufe,bad him ifhe could tec, to tell him what colour 
 the lining of hiscloakc was of;the counterfeit prefently to 
 prouc that he could fee, told him directly the colour : which 
 being heard of many, their knaucry was reucalcd ; for how 
 
 Tt could 
 
322 
 
 Veluficm by Miracles. 
 
 Chap, i 
 
 could a man borne blind iudge of colours ? The fecond ex- 
 ample is > of thofethat faine thcmfeluesfickeof the falling 
 fickneffc, which is called S.Ichns euill, and therefore they 
 vfe to pray vnto him for remedy thereof. Some fuch went 
 vponS. hhns Feftiuall day, to entreat his helpe, who after 
 they had fomed and cryed a long time, Iohn, lohn, lobi, a- 
 bout his fhrine or image, made mew to be healed ; where- 
 in is an apparent impudent falfhood, for they that fall of that 
 euill, can neither fpeakemor moue, as all know. The third 
 example, is of a certaine Monke of ^w/c^callcd Fra.Watbto, 
 to whole fcpulcher there rcforted multitudes of people, that 
 fecmed cither blind, or lame, or impotent infomc member, 
 or diftrciTed with fomc euill or other, and thefe perfons lod- 
 ged at the bed: Innes, for they were well waged for their 
 paines : but ere they had ftayed any while there, they be- 
 came all found and well,as they reported : howbeit this iug- 
 ling tricke was eafily fpied and dilcouered by aU men of vn- 
 dcrftanding, and therefore the Priefts being afhamed of it, 
 laid it foone afidc ; and fo this holy Monke was not io foonc 
 canonized, but he was decanonized as foone. And this in 
 truth was, and is an ordinary pracVife of Romifh Monks and 
 Prieils, deluding poore people, and blinding their eyes with 
 a mill: of fuppofed miracles ; when indeed there was no fuch 
 matter, but all hypocrifle and dilTimulation. 
 
 1 3 . And to conclude, what fhould I fpcake of the fpea- 
 king, weeping, nodding, ftretching forth the hand, and fuch 
 like actions of their images? arefhey not all forged in the 
 fame fhop ? The Im.ige of the blcfled Virgin is faid to hauc 
 fpoken to S. 'Bernard, bidding him good morrow, and to S. 
 Hyacynth, entreating htm to take her and her Sonne with 
 him,whcn he fled from the Tartar/ans : and to «<4/<f.*7/& , 
 who flaying long in the Church Porch, the image ofour 
 Lady bad the Sexton let him in. And the crucifix to 7 ho- 
 mos slqHma*, Thouhaft written well cf me Thomas, what re- 
 ward wilt thon haue > And to the Counciil of Winchefter ga- 
 thered together about the queftion of Pricfts marriages, Take 
 Dttnjianes waies vnto yon, for they are the beft : as hath bene 
 
 declared 
 
Chap..r. 
 
 Dclufions by Miracles \ 
 
 3*3 
 
 declared before. C oncerning all which,I may giue the fame 
 cenfure, that Polydore Vtrgi ! , othcrwile a [trongPapitt,doth 
 of the laft ; that they were nothing but the contriumgs of 
 fubtile Prielts, who hiding themfelues, either behinde or in 
 the hollow of the imagc,vttered thefe voyces : witneflfcthefe 
 few examples. A certaine Florentine, a deuout worfhippcr 
 o\S.Ich4 Baptift, wasatatimeinquifitiueof the image of 
 this Saint, whether his wife had euer plaid falfc with him or 
 no : which rcquclt being oucr-heard of fome boa compagnt- 
 on, he placed him fclfc fo clofely behinde the image, that the 
 next day when the deuout iealous ioole came againe, he 
 fpake vnto him, and bad him come againe the next day,and 
 he fhould berefoiued of his doubt :he iuppofing it to be the 
 voyce of the Saint, came at the time appointed, and then the 
 other not failing tolurke in his old place, told him that his 
 wife had plaid falfe, and that he was a cuckold : at which the 
 poore man/being firft abafhed, at length grew into chollcr, 
 and /aid to the image : Cm fed be thon of God, thoa haft al- 
 waies bene an entU tovgned Saint, and therefore Herod cat off 
 thy head : and fo witii other rcproachfull fpceches he depar- 
 ted in difcontent. This (tory is to be feene in an Italian booke 
 entitled VtACcttolez^e delptouano *s4r lotto : and doth not one- 
 ly mew how images fpeake, but alfo how fawcily they han- 
 dle their Saints , when they anger them in any thing. To 
 which purpofc, the fame Author reporteth another ftory, 
 w hich I will not forbeare to fet downc by .the way, that we 
 may the better iucige.of their deuotion : It is this. A Cooke 
 of Florence, that ved with great deuotion to worfhipan 
 image of a yong IefusChriil, to wit, of that age which he 
 was of when his mother found him in the Temple dhputing 
 with the Doctors, had but one Sonne, who with a tyle fal- 
 ling on his head, was fo wounded, that he was like hardly 
 to efcape.Then the Father runneth in halt to hislitde image, 
 andinftead of a candle which he vied to offer vnto k, 
 brought a good rod to terrific it, praying it fincc he hod fei-j 
 ucd him fo long,& had neuei recciued any boone from him, 
 now to grant him the life of his chili, that was all his . 
 
 Tt2 
 
 ViAe Hen.Sfe- 
 phan.prtpar. 
 td Apol tro 
 Hered. 
 
324 
 
 Velujions by Miracles \ 
 
 Chap, 
 
 fort and hope : but his Sonne dyed, and he in a rage retur- 
 ned to his little Ictus, and without cither kneeling or reue- 
 rence laid vnto him : Thou bey, I renounce thee, andwtllneuer 
 ferue thee more : wouldfl thou not grtnt me this cnerequejr, for 
 all the fer nice I batte done thee > If I had prayed to thu great 
 crucifix which is hard by thee, I know I (hould bane bene beard, 
 but this it U to deale with bcyes, I promt fe thee for thy fake 1 
 will never haueto do withboyes againe. What fottifh igno- 
 rance, what prophane fuperftition is here > Ignorance, in di- 
 ftinguifliing betwixt a great Iefus and a little one, an old and 
 ayong : and prophanenefle, in defying him whom he had 
 worfhippedashisGod. Buttorcturne to my purpofe of 
 fpeaking images. There was one that prayed to the image 
 of our Lady, and hearing an anfwer that plcafcd him not, 
 madefy fome iugiing Prielt behind the image, he fudged 
 by the manner of the voyce, that it was not the mother that 
 fpake, but the child, and therefore faid vnto him, Held thy 
 peace thou little waggc, fftffer thy mother to tyeake, who is elder 
 then thou. By this hand full of flower, we may iudgc of the 
 whole batch of talking images .• And that the Weeping, 
 Sweating, Nodding, and Mouing ofimages, isaloafc ba- 
 ked in the fame oucn, as diuefs examples do teftiflc : for 
 their tearcs and fweat might eafily be procured, by diftil- 
 Hngby night into fome concauity of the image, cither wa- 
 ter or oyle ; or by anncynting their faces without, an Chea- 
 ting them within, with a chafing-difh of coles. As old men 
 in the Country fticke not to tell of an image at Berry, necre 
 the Abbey of J^amfey, which vfed to fweat ; and that fweat 
 was held a foucraigne remedy againft all aches, and wcak- 
 ncfTe in the backe ; and therefore happy was he that could 
 gcttuiy of it in his handkcrchcifc. So there was a crucifix at 
 Mara, neci c vnto Tholoufe, downe whofe checkes tearcs 
 vfed to diftill ordinarily ;but deceitfully, as my Author afrlr- 
 meth to haue bene proucd byfearch. The like may wee 
 thmke ofthatRoodeof/^Wr/, which when Wstliam Long- 
 fhamp Bifhop of Ely lay a dying, let teares fall aboundantfy 
 out of his eyes, as if it had bene a flood of water : but no 
 
 maruaile^ 
 
Chap. I . Belnfions by Mir&clts. 
 
 325 
 
 maruailc, for they fay it was the vfc of that Rood alwaies to 
 inourne when a Bifhop departed. Concerning mouing of 
 the hand, the Image of Saint Nicholas at IFeftcheftcr ,may 
 feme to difcouer the trickc ofall the reft : for at the burning 
 of it in the market place of the City ,it was found that thcl- 
 mage was made with fuch a deuifc,that if one ftanding be- 
 hinde did pull a certaine firing which was in the backc part 
 thereof, it would moue the hand as if it bleiTcd the people. 
 This is knownctobc true by many of the inhabitants yet 
 liuing. But this was a blefling Image : the next I fpeake of, 
 was hurting and malicious. For when as3certaine Peafant 
 of Burgundy, nccrc vnto aTowne called Cbafcu/e } wa$ pray- 
 ing to a Crucifix for the fouleofone newly deceafed, and 
 tor whom the Bc!s rang, the Crucifix in (read ofmaking 
 onely a figne to him by nodding his head, by the weight of 
 him that was behinde it,fcll downc right vpon him, and fo 
 crufhing the poorc man, that the ringers were fainc to leaue 
 the B els. and carry him to his houfe halfe dead ; where hee 
 layiicke along time, after which fickneiTe returning to trie 
 Church, and feeing a fairc young Crucifix with a fmiling 
 countenance in place of the o Id, which had broken it necke 
 in the fall, hee could not forbeare but fay thus vnto it : 
 What £ood countenance foeuer thou caft vpon me > jet I will ne- 
 ver trufl thee : for if thou line to the Age of a wan, thou wilt bee 
 ai wicked. is thy Father that thought to kill wee, I could en- 
 large this point with many more fuch like examples; but 
 theie I thinke are fufficient to dedare,that a grert part of their 
 pretended miracles,are nothing but things either effected by 
 naturall caufes, or deuifed by fubtle Priefts for their ownc 
 gaine. A nd they thcmfelues when they call PUfrAudes,ho-> 
 ly deceites, doc plaincly intimate as much : and Caietane a 
 Cardinallandagreat learned Diuine faith, that the credit 
 of their miracles dependeth vpon the report of men, who 
 becaufc they arc vnen,may both decciue others, and decciue 
 thcmfelues. 
 
 1 4. As touching the third fort of their miracles,thcy are 
 fuch as are indeed things admirable to the eyes and opinion 
 Tt g of 
 
 Jpiftad* 
 y ant* at.f dent. 
 
326 
 
 Velnfions by Miracles. Chap, l 
 
 /return Ub. \ . 
 
 of men, but yet arc not true miracles, which cannot bee ef- 
 fected but byaDiuinepower : whereas thefe are mccre- 
 iy the workesand erTedts of euillfpirits, as were the won- 
 ders of Vharaohs Magicians, the deuill hecrcin ayding his 
 fcruants^nd enabling them to vvorkc meruailes for the ad • 
 uancement of his owne kingdome. As for example, cannot 
 the deuill willingly quit a poflefTed Demomack^n^k'mg (hew 
 to be forced thereunto by Exorcifmcs ? Cannot he diiturbe 
 the humours in a body, and fo caufe fome fudainc fkke- 
 nefle, which fhall ceafe as foone as hee withdraweth his 
 working ? Theyheale truely,whtatheyccaie to hurt. Kc 
 that dciireth examples of thefe wonderments, fhall finde a 
 full armefull ofthem,in the booke of Saint Francis Confor- 
 mities with Chrift. For whereas it relateth fo many hea- 
 lings ofthelickc and difeafed,fo many raifingsof thedcad, 
 and other ftrange things done by him and hisdifcipies^that it 
 might fceme they had all miracles at command, and that it 
 was as eafie and ordinary for them to worke a miracle as for 
 toeate^nddrinke : what fhould weimagine,butthat either 
 they arc lying Fables, or if true, feates of Sathan to delude 
 mens foules ? For is it likely that they fnould exceed Chrift 
 and his Apofrlc.s,in the power of working miracles ? And 
 to whom but Sathan can we afcribe it, if it be true that Saint 
 Francis Cowle fhould be fo miraclificous, as to giue Mght 
 tothreeblindeperfons^man and two women? and that 
 his Breeches had that vcrtue inthem,to make women con- 
 ceiue with Child that were naturally barren ? with a number 
 fuchlikc. But they bragge of no miracles fo much as of 
 thofe that haue accompained their MaiTe : and yet can they 
 not produce a ftranger wonder in this kinde,then that which 
 Irenmnt rcporteth to haue beene a&ed by acertaine he- 
 rctieall Impoitor, called Marh. For in celebrating this Sa- 
 crament,he fo changed the colour of the wine, that it appea- 
 red to be very blood,and caufed a little wine fo topufFevp 
 and fwell,that it filled the whole Cup,and ran oucr, yea and 
 another greater veiTeli alfo without any addition or aug- 
 mentation of the liquor. This mult needs bee a Sathanicall 
 
 illufion, 
 
Chap. I . Deluficns by Miracles, 
 
 3*7 
 
 iilufion, and to it is ccnfurcd by lrer.<ziu % In like mancrin 
 the Church of Rome, one of their ownc Schoolmen confef- 
 fcth,that there appeared fomctimes in the Sacrament the very 
 iubitanceof fle/h, cither by the lcgerclemaine of men, or by 
 the operation of the deuiil. And 'tijell vpon the Canon of 
 theMafleamrmcth, that fometimes miracles are wrought 
 at Images by the working of deuils, to decciue fuchas ad- 
 dict themfeiues to thofc mifordered fcruices, God fo pcr- 
 mitting,and their infidelity requiring. They tell how Saint 
 Domimck^nd S.Fr*.wr#,were raihChcd vp into the aire, which 
 is a ftrange thing if true but yet fuch as might be effected by 
 the dcuill. YoxSttvapiui in the life of the philofophers faith, 
 that Itmb'ictu whililhc was praying,was'hoifted vp ten cu- 
 bits from the earth : and thcmfelues write, that Simon 
 Mfigiu vfed to fiye in the ayre,till Saint Peter b rought him 
 downe headlong to his coniufion. Oj^r/>«aMonkc,re- 
 portethlikcwife>how a ccrtaine Knight called Gerrard of 
 HolIsKbdchjOo'wigz Pilgrimage to Saint TbwtM in the /e- 
 dies, andpromifmghis wife to returne within fiue yecrcs, 
 ov clie that fl.ee fhould' haue liberty to marrie, diuidinga 
 Ring betwixt them in pledge of this agreement, vpon the 
 very day of the expiration of thefe flue yeeres when ilie was 
 married to another,was tnnfported by a ccuill from the In- 
 cites to his ovvnehoufe before the new married were -got- to 
 bcd,& being known of his wife by the halfc Ring difpoffef- 
 fed the other of his prize. When therefore we read fuch ex- 
 amples of Monkcs and others, tranfported from place to 
 placc,why fhould we not conclude, that the dcuill furnifhed 
 them with Hoife,Chariot,and Coachmen, as he doth often 
 to Coniurers and Witches, and not that they were tranfpor- 
 ted by aficry Chariot from heauen.as £/f^ was ? So that 
 when w : e hearc of mouing Images 3 of Saints going through 
 the 'fire without burning of entring Cnurches and other 
 places the doorcsbeingfhut,of plagues falling vpon thofe 
 thatdefpifed their Saints,and fuch like tilings ; wee ought to 
 remember that Simon Magus did by the power of the dcuill 
 as much, or more. Hee( faith BAronius) made Images to 
 
 walke, 
 
 Ale x.Hale sin 
 4.Jtnt '.*■ ,/ j> , 
 
 Caftr./ti.S. 
 
 B*ron.A».tS. 
 
323 
 
 Delufions by Miracles* 
 
 Chap.i 
 
 tS9f 
 
 walke, rolled himfelic in fire without burning, flew in the 
 aire, turned ftones into bread, opened barred doores, broke 
 chaines of iron,caufedmany fliadowes to walkc before him, 
 which he laid were the foulesofmen : and laitiy,if any duiit 
 repute him for an Impotlor,he cither afflicted with difcafes, 
 -or tormented him with euiil fpints. 
 
 1 5. And indeed what miracles can the Church of Rome 
 brag of, which are not equalled by the heathen through the 
 operation of the deuill? It is written of Apollomm Ty**new % 
 that he raifed to life a young Maid laid in her Coffin ; that he 
 banifhed thepeffilenceoutof EpkefusfoT which caufc the £- 
 phefians erected a Statue vnto him in their City, and offered 
 facrificcs vnto hirri,as vnto a God :hee being at Ephefm de- 
 clared to the Citizens the death of the Emperor Domitian, 
 at me fame houre that he was (laine at Rome:and that which 
 ismoftftrange,thathcdidnotoncly worke wonders in his 
 life,but alio after his death, at the Monument which was fee 
 vp vnto him. So *£r/<rw*f,whilft hec was facrificing, the 
 wood that was abouc the Altar,turned it felfe toward the I- 
 mage of Iupiter, and was fired no man knowing how. A 
 Romane Virgin carried water in a Sync : another drew with 
 her girdle a (hip that was drowned in the fand, into the Ha- 
 uen,whichby the ftrengthofMen and Oxen could not bee 
 moued. In the fecondPunick- warre,an Oxe fpake,and faid; 
 Cattettbi Rama, Beware te thee Rome. The Emperor Vef* 
 pAJinn{^\{ Cornelius Tic it tuvnzy be bclecucd) opened the 
 eies to one that was blind in v4/*.v/Wr/tf,attheaduertifement 
 of the Oracle of 5*r*/>^, and cured one that was lame. And 
 in like manner did the Emperor Adrian y to one that was 
 borne blind,as Spartianm reportcth. But that which Lip pits 
 writeth of a ccrtainc Tablet taken cut of the Temple ofcx£/l 
 raAffp/f^confirmcd alfoby Baremiu in his Annalcs,is not on- 
 ly ftrange,but euen a perfect picture of Romifli miracles ; 
 for he affinneth that in this Tablet it was recorded, that one 
 Crfi'a* a blind man worfhiping at the Altar, was reftorcd to 
 fight by touching the Altar with his fingers, and after put- 
 ting them into his eyes : and how one Luc ins delpcrately 
 
 fickc 
 
Chap. i. 
 
 Delufions by Miracks. 
 
 V9 
 
 fickc of a Pluri fie, was cured with the afhes ofehe ' karmiix- 
 cd with wine and applyed vnto his fide; and how one 
 IhIia* was cured of an extreame vomiting of blood,by ta- 
 king a few graincs of a Pine- Apple from the Altar,and eating 
 them three dayes being mixed with hony : and how one 
 Valerias >s4per a blind Souldier, recouercd his fighc by an- 
 no mting his eyes with the blood of a white Cocke mixed 
 with hony. Now itisto bee noted, that all' the 'c things 
 were done by the aduertifement of the Oracle ; and that 
 thofe that were thus cured, returned and gaue thankes vnto 
 the Idoll 3 or rather the deuill for their deliuerance. . ! fthefe 
 reports were falie 5 asfomethinkc, then wee may nidge the 
 fame of Popifh miracles;and iftruc,then wee fee that if fuch 
 wonders might be done vnder the hrft Bcaft, for the vphol- 
 ding of their heathnifh Idolatries,why not vnder the fecond, 
 for the maintenance of Antichriitian fjperftitions ? And 
 that we may fee that thefe two B cafts are not vnlike, I will 
 conclude with two notable examples. The firft vnder Pope 
 Adrian the fixt,when the City, of Rome was greatly affli&ed 
 with the peftilence ; A certaine Grecke named Demetrio 
 Spfrf^<?,tookeaBu]l and cut off apart of his right home, 
 and whifpering fomc charme in his right eare,made him in- 
 ftantly fo tame,that he led him with a threed tycd to his left 
 horne,to a pillar where hec facrificed him, whereupon the 
 contagion prefendy.ceafed. This abominable facrifice was 
 tolerated at i^aw vnder the Popes nofe, and at that time 
 when Popery was in the ruffc,and when it was no lefTc then 
 death to preach the pure doclrine of the Go fp ell. The fe- 
 cond is more honible,3cled by Priefts at the fiege of Mwnt 
 Dragon in Naples:thc ftory is this. The Callle being ready 
 toyecld for want of water, certaine people of the* City de- 
 ceiuing the Watch and Sentinells of the enemies campcin 
 the riight,drew to the Sea banke an Image of a C rucirix,and 
 caft it into the Sea with execrations and imprecations, and in 
 the meanc while ,the Priefts fet an A{fc at the Temple gate, 
 and fung him a funeral! Hymne, as to one about to dye, and 
 thenputaconfecrated Hoaft into his mouth, and burned 
 
 V v him 
 
 Remot/dJe 
 Antich.cdp & 
 Pauljcuxu*. 
 hifi.l&.zt. 
 
 t.vude letto 
 NeajtolMbj, 
 
3S° 
 
 Delujionsby Purgatory, 
 
 Chap.z 
 
 himaliueatthcgate oftheTemple,which deuillifh facrifice 
 was no fooner performed, but the heaiicn was coucrcd with 
 clouds, a ftormearofc, and with thunder and lightnings 
 great abundance of raine fcll,and fo the befieged were deli- 
 ucrcd from their danger. Is not this an horrible miracle of 
 RomifhPrieftSjandcananybutthc deuili be author there- 
 of ? For Chrift crucified was drowned by diem in his I- 
 magc,and furcly God could not be prefentat fuch an abomi- 
 nation. Thefe be their miracles then that they vaunt fo much 
 of,cither ridiculous Fables,or mens delufions, or Sathan im- 
 pofturcs. And it is Gods mercy that they bragge of them, 
 feeing clfe wee fhould want one maine Argument top roue 
 the Pope to be Antichrift, whofc comming ■ muft bee with 
 lying iignes and wonders, and with the efficacy of Sathan to 
 dccciue^ifit were poffiblc,thc very ElccV 
 
 CHAP.2. 
 
 Delnfionsby Pvrgatorj. 
 
 I. A Nrichrift like Morphem transformes hirnfclfe into 
 xXmanyfhapes/ometimes into the fhapeofa Lambe 
 WvkiServw fertiorum Dei : fomctimes into a Lyon by his 
 Excommunications and thundering threats : fomctimes in- 
 to a Wolfe by dcuouring not oncly mens goods, but their 
 bodies and loulcs by falfe doctrines ! fomctimes into aTy- 
 ger,bycruellmafiacrcsand bloudy pcrfecuting the Saints: 
 and fomctimes into aFox,byfubtlctrickes and crafty delu- 
 fions. And as the Fox hath many fhifts,and windings, & tur- 
 nings to deceiue withall •> fo hath he many deuices to delude 
 thcworlcr.Onc I hauedifcouercd,whichisby falfe miracles. 
 And now I propound a fecond, which fhall be from the falfe 
 opinon they hauc of the Saints : not that I purpofe to dero- 
 gate any thing from the true Saints of God, who arc blef- 
 {cd inhcauen, and to be honoured on earth ; but to fhew 
 how they arc abufedby the Papall A ntichriflian Church, 
 and how thereby they haue deluded the world, and gained 
 
 great 
 
Chap.?. 
 
 Vdafions by Purgatory , 
 
 33* 
 
 great riches to thcmfelues; for this is the cheefe aime of all 
 their defigncs in this kinde,and therefore whatfoeuer brings 
 water to this Mill,be it neucr fo foolifh, and againft reafon, 
 they maintaine with might and mainland what fo is or can 
 be fpoken in oppcfitibn thereunto,is fo much labor loft, be- 
 caufe it is fpoken againft the belly which hath no care?. The 
 old prouerbe is verified by them, Tkefmell of game u good 
 cm of any thing* And when they are vpbraided with their 
 C6uctoufneffe,thcy laugh in their flceue with thatauariaous 
 Athenian , 
 
 « m , popttlw me fthilntyit mihiplaudo 
 
 Ipfe dorni fimttl ac numrnos contemflor m area* 
 
 Whereupon I remember the anfwere of a Monke of 
 Bloufio one that mocked him and his Order ; It (hall be long 
 (faith tie) ere yon of the Laytte^fhallfo mocke vs of the Clear- 
 g % Y,as we haue ntanyyeeres mock* dyon : which hec fpakc ha- 
 uin'g regard to the dclufions wherewith they had entertained 
 the world a long time,and led them by the nofe as a Bcare to 
 the ftakc. I confeiTc he fpake not fb blafphcmoufly ,as Pope 
 Leo the tenth, who anfwered Cardinall T>embo y allcadging 
 vnto him a text of Scripture,/*^/ riches bath thu fable ofle- 
 ftu Cbrifi brougit vnto v/?Though as concerning riches this 
 wretch lyed not, and had fpoken truely if he had faid thus; 
 What riches haue wee gotten in abttfing the name of lefus 
 Chrifi > For it is incredible how great the Treafmes of the 
 Church and Churchmen haue beenc. Baptifia Tulgofus a 
 great fauoui er of the Romanc Church,reporteth of one 7V- 
 ter Rtary zYvm Minor that was made Cardinall by Pope 
 Sixtw the fourth, who contented not himfelfe oncly to 
 weare in his priuat houfe garments of cloth of Gold,and to 
 vie Couerkts for his bed of the famefhirfc, but euen the 
 tickes for his beds were cloth of Gold for the moil part,and 
 the reft filke. He relatcth alfo how at R»me he-made a Fcaft 
 to S lien or oC Arr agon, who went to marrie with Here tiles 
 d'tfteDukeoC Ferrara, wherein he fuinimcd her fcruice 
 
 V v 2 with 
 
 Henry Stephen 
 
 quo juprt* 
 
 Baptifia JV. 
 grj. de horn* 
 {uxusttcjtic de- 
 li cijS I J, cap. r, 
 
 t-.fo- 
 
 I 
 
33* 
 
 Defofiom by Purgatory, 
 
 Chap. 2, 
 
 L 
 
 with mch variety ofciiilies,a:id abundance of exquifue cates, 
 that th: banquet laftcd feuen houres : during which time 
 (lcalt they (houldbc weary ofcating) he intermixed dmcrs 
 {ports and cnterludes : and to oltent his high Magnificence, 
 ateueryferuicehis fcruants changed their habits,and came 
 in new attyre. And yet all this is nothing, in comparifon of 
 that which he expended vpon his Harlot Ttrsfia : for he en- 
 tertained her in that fumptuofitie and pompc,that her very 
 fhoocs were coucrcd with precious ftones. This Ftilgofim 
 reporteth out of his owne knowledge and view. But to re- 
 turne to Pope Leo that wondered at the great riches which 
 this Fable ( as he called it) had procured vnto them : how 
 ; did he augment the iame by one onely £ royUdo ? * gr; ; y 
 Friar oicMillan called Samfin ,out of the money which hec 
 had gained by this meancs, offered an hundred and twenty 
 thoulandDucatesforthe Papall featc: and if he offered lb 
 muchjwhat may we thinkc thathce had gained oucr and a- 
 bouc ? For it is not likely ,but that he would rcferue to him- 
 feife agoodfummeagainlt alleuents. Now if the riches of 
 ^eruants was fo great, what may wee iudge of the riches of 
 their Mailers r And to (hew euidently that they make good 
 the old proueibe before named, the booty and tribute 
 which they receiue from common Harlots doth manifeit the 
 lame. Forisitnot abominable, that the fuccciTors of Saint 
 Peter C as they bragge thcmfelues to bee ) fhould receiue a 
 good part of their rcuenuefrom thofethat got their lining by 
 the miierable fweate of their bodies, and that fo filthy a 
 gainc iTiould bee confecrated to their holineiTc ? True it is, 
 that in the time of Pope Taut the third,the number of fuch de- 
 tc/rable Creatures was much diminifhed/or he had in his re- 
 gifter recorded but flue and forty thoufand,a thing greatly 
 lamented by them,that tiae dcuils kingdome was no greater, 
 though for all that it be a good and round number. And it 
 is certaine that the name Com -tisane (which is the honefteft 
 title of a Whore) arofe from the Court of Rome, as being 
 fuch as were night and day entertained by the great 
 Cardinalls,Prclates, and Courtiers. Jnaword 'Bareles one 
 
 of 
 
Chap,2 • Delufions by Purgatory* 
 
 33 
 
 giucthvs a true proucibc that ran / 
 Prtefis, Mo*<keSy And the S a, are. 
 
 | of their great preachers, 
 ! currant in his time : 7 hat 
 
 j three vn fat table things . experience fhe wing the fame to bee 
 true, when as they did not oncly fucke profit from the quick 
 and the dead, but alfo pilled and polled their children from 
 generation to/gene ration. 
 
 2. Oncmcanes amongft the reft, whereby they haue 
 thus abufed the world,and fcraped together fo great wealth, 
 isafaLe peifwafion wrought into mens hearts of the dead, 
 whether fuch as are canonized and reft in heauen as they 
 fay ; or fuch as rgmaine without canonization, are either 
 [y in Paradifc, or tormented in Purgatory: Thefc be the 
 j two forts ofdead,which they rufc their profit from. And te 
 | begin with die foft f T ft : w ho knowcth not, that the chiefe 
 J maintenance of fimple Prieits and Monks, was, and is drawn 
 from their Requiem } as their common manner of fpeech wit- 
 neffeth, Let vs (ro drinbrypon the fir ft skj*nc thit commtth to 
 the market : w itnefle alfo that Pricft that thus complained to 
 his parishioners : What wo- Id you htue me to dorm p*rrfbir>- 
 ncrs, yougiue "ne no effer/rjrs, and if yen die net, yehtriveitk 
 (hall I line'} Now all this traffickers grounded vpon the ter- 
 ror of Purgatory, from which men hoped to bee deliuered, 
 by their large gifts to J^riefts, who fhould fing MalTe for 
 them. But if alter they had fung their Requiem* their reward 
 was not fuch, as that they might c haunt Gaudeawm ; then 
 was the deuill there prefently, then the foules of them for 
 whom fo leane a Requiem was fung,returned to be reuenged 
 of their Children ,or Parcnts,or Friends, that had not To well 
 rewarded the Priefts,thatthey might by their powcifull Dir- 
 ges be, if not wholly releafed from Pujgatory, yet atlcaft 
 eafed of fome part of their torments. This is fo common 
 atricke in the Papacy, to bring water to their Mill, and to 
 draynemenspurfes ; as it will be but left labour toftand 
 much vpon ir. . Therefore to paffe ouer examples which are 
 frequent in this Mnde of delufjon :• I fay onely,rhnt it was, 
 and is, an ordinary cuftome and praclife of the Romifh 
 
 Priefts, when they confeiTcd fuch pcrfons as by at the poin 
 
 V 
 
 of- 
 
 SeeHexrjS/e*. 
 pheruVrxfocQ 
 to his Apolo- 
 gy where trefe 
 rhinrs are at 
 large fet 
 dovvne„ 
 
334 
 
 Velufions by Purgatcry* C h ap. 2 
 
 of death, to caufe them to make S. Vr<vtcis, or S. Damimck^, 
 
 or fome other Saint, the Patron e of their Religion, their 
 heire,or clfe they could not be faucd : by which mcancs,thcy 
 drew from fome haife, from others two third parts, and 
 from others the whole fumme of die irfubftance; which 
 ftiouldhauc bene to maintaine their wife and children : for 
 ibmetimes if the children refufed to turne Monkes, they fea- 
 zed vpon alias their owne inheritance. There be extant at 
 this day many Teftaments and VVils, that giuc faith to this 
 report. But that which I3 worfe then all, is, that ofttimes 
 they do not ftay till men be heerc their end, but make them 
 put off their clothes ere they be willing to go to bed, as the 
 prouerbefpeaketh. Their Croyfado is a notable trick to 
 thispurpole ; for neuer did any theefefo iniuvioufly take a 
 trauellcrs purfeby the high way, as the Croyfado minitters 
 dofecretlyrobbeand fpoile infinite numbers of people ; and 
 that not onely the rich,but eucn the poore alfo ; making them 
 to borrow, beg, or fteale, to giue to this holy vfc ; or elfc 
 neitheir themfclues,nor their children,can be fa tied. By 
 which mcancs it is no doubt, but that many of thefc poore 
 people, in ftead of redeeming their foules from the deuill, as 
 they fuppofed, haue eucn fold them into his hands. It is no 
 new nor foft cry of theirs, that Paradife is to be bought for 
 money, as the old Latine verfes found in S. Stephens Church 
 ztTtourgef^ engrauen inaTableofftonebearewitncfTe. The 
 firft whereof is this, flic des dettote, cceleflibm a([ocio te : but 
 neuer v^ere men contained to buy Paradife till this trick of 
 the Croyfado was inucnted: for the authorization and con- 
 firmation whereof, the Preachers of thofe times alleadged 
 many Grange talcs and reportes 3 as this one among the reft ; 
 that when the liuing gaue money to the Priefts for the dead, 
 the fouies that were in Purgatory, hearing the found of the 
 money ting in the bafon, fell a laughing for ioy of their de- 
 liuerance. 
 
 3 . Thus was the world deluded in thofe times, by thefe 
 panick feares of that fuppofed fire of purgatory, which men 
 ftoodin more awe of, thenofhcllitfelfe. But yet fome 
 
 were 
 
I 
 
 Chap. 2 . Velufions by Purgatory* 
 
 out of Purgatory ; hce contented, and promiled them a 
 crowne for their paines, when they had deliuered his Sonncs 
 foulc : whereupon the Friars hauing fung their Maffcs/orgot 
 not to demand their crowne. But the Florentine made them 
 this anfwer : If you make tt appear c vnto me, that you have de- 
 liuered him out ef Purgatory, yon fh all have your crewne, but 
 vet before that be done. The Friars, after long contestation, 
 complained to the Duke, and dehrcd iufticc againft the p?.r- 
 ty ; who called the man before him, and demanded why he 
 did not pay them according to his promite? to whom he an- 
 fvvercd, that his promite was vpon condition, that they 
 fhould dcliuerhis fonncs foulc out of Purgatory ; which if it 
 might appcare that they had done, he would prefently pay 
 them. TheDuke hearing this, told the Friars that the man 
 hadrcafon ; and therefore caute cither the foulc that you 
 hauc deliuered to come before me in pcrfon, and tcftifte his 
 deliucrance, or let him tend two other foules to witnefic the 
 fame, or at leaft let him tend a letter (Igncd with the hand of 
 IcfusChrift, and then you fell bee fure to rcceiue your 
 crowne. Thus was Purgatory derided, at Florence in Italy, 
 vnderthe Popes note, and that in the time of their greatcft 
 blindnehe. Another like mockagc was committed in Frances 
 for when as the Pricfts demanded their pay of a certaine 
 man for deliuering a foule out of Purgatory by their Mantes 3 
 he asked them ;' If a fbule that was once come out of that 
 
 prifon 
 
 335 
 
 ! were vvifer then others, and eafily fmelt out this religious 
 ; frr u J : of which fort I will propound fome few examples. 
 Pcpe Clement the eight, being heficged in the Cattle of S. 
 -»^«^/<?, together with certaine Prelates his friends,a Gentle- 
 man of Rome was bold thus to fay, Hitherto J haue belet- 
 uedthat the Pope could deliver foules out of purgatery : but 
 now feeing that be cannot free himfclfe out oft bu earthly pri- 
 Jon, I am cozftrained to beleene, that much lejfe can he deliver 
 foules out of that tnfernall prifon. Another iell was aeled at 
 Florence, of the fame mcttall with the former : A certaine 
 Florentine being importuned by fome Friars, to caufe Maflc 
 to be fung, to dcliacr the foule of his Sonne lately deceafed 
 
Z\6 
 
 Velufions by Fur gut cry. Chap.: 
 
 prifon were in any danger to rcturne thither againe ? Who 
 an.wered, No : why then(quoth he) there is no neede that I 
 fhould giue you money for ' this foule that is already dcliue- 
 rcd and in fafcty; I will rather keepe it for the dcliucrancc of 
 one that is ftill there detained. An Italian alfo at Vcntcejxx as 
 merry a moode, and with as good a grace, told the Popes 
 Legate ; that if his HolincfTchad bene well aduifed, hee 
 would not haue faid that he could deliucr fo ulcs out ofPur- 
 gatory, but out of Hell, for concerning Purgatory, there 
 were two things to proue : Fir(t, that there is a Purgatory : 
 and fecondly, that he can deliuer foules out of it : whereas 
 cuery one beleeueth that there is a hell, p and fo there remain 
 ned nothing but to proue, that he could deliuer foules out 
 ofit. 
 
 4. He that doth but well confider the reafons which they 
 alledge for Purgatory, will fay that there neuer was a grea- 
 ter delufion in the world : for to omit the Texts of Scripture, 
 which they wreir and wring till they bleed againe, againft 
 all fenfe for the ptoofe thereof : they vfe befides in their 
 preaching, many pretty tales, to amaze and delude the yulgar 
 fort. A certainc preacher at Pari*, in th? rcigne of Henry the 
 fecond, fpeaking againft the Lutherans that would not be- 
 leeue there was a Purgatory, faid,hc would tell his Auditors 
 a ftory to confute thefe fellowcs ; which was this,and thus : 
 I rode (faith he) late one cuenirfg to my fathers houfe at S. 
 Amkomisbu&gCy and as I was riding with my man before 
 me on a very good horfe that carried my cloak-bag,his horfe 
 ftayed on a fuddainc contrary to his cuftomc, and began to 
 pufTe and fnortrl bad my man to fpurre him:fo I do faid he, 
 but he will not go forward ; for a ccrtaine I know he feeth 
 fome thing : Then Ircmcmbring what my mother had told 
 me long before, that in that very place flic had fcene fomc 
 apparition ; I fell to my Pater neper, and A W, and bad my 
 man againe to fourre his horfe forward, which he did, but 
 the horfe hauin^ gone two or three fteps, ' flopped againe, 
 and began a frefh to puffe and blow ; my man then told me 
 againe, that doubtlefTc there, was fomefpirit in the way ; 
 
 and 
 
Chap.2. Delujicns by Purgatory* 
 
 337 
 
 and then I faid my De profunda, which was no fooner done, I 
 bat the horfc went forward, and by and by topped the 
 third time « I had no fooner faid, Jluete tmnes anin§A et AV- 
 qtiiem ttervam, but he palled freely without any more flop- 
 ping. Therefore feeing thefe wicked Lutherans fay there is 
 v*o Purgatory, and that we ought not to pray for the dead; 
 I fend them to my mans cloak-bagge hor'c, cuen to-my mans 
 horfc, to Icarnc their IcfTon. This Aifc-like reafon you fecjs 
 taken from an hoi;fc, and indeed fitter for ahorfc to bclceue 
 then a man. Another prcachcr,a gray Friar, called Bardotti, 
 being demanded why the good thecfc went right into Para- 
 difc, and tafted not of Purgatory,fceing he had not done any 
 pennance here on earth ; anfwered, that the rcafpn (as he 
 found it related in acerrainc. Gofpell) was, for that when 
 Chrift being an infant, was carried into *s£gypt, thistheefc 
 hindered his companions from robbing him, ' and thofe that 
 were with him, and alio that he then faid to (Thrift ; Ipray 
 you bearc in memory the good turnc that I do you ; which 
 was promikd by Cruift, and this promifc was then perfor- 
 med, when they were crucified together : for in recompence 
 of his good torne, he freed him from Purgatory, and led him 
 dirc&ly into Paradife. But I wonder in what Gofpell hce 
 found this. Sure I am, neither in CMatbew, (JMarkjr, Luke, 
 nor hhn, but in fome A pocrypha Gofpell, if rather it were 
 not a lye forged in his owne brainc. Take with you two or 
 three itories more,and then I (hall lcaue this Popi&i fire to be 
 qucnchedjOr kindled at their pleafures. The Cordeliers or 
 gray Friars,andthe Iacobins,cnuyingcach others gaine and 
 thriuing,and labouring to getcuftomc in their trades, thus 
 encountred together. A gray Friar preaching to the people I 
 in a towne of Sicily, made his Auditours belecuc, that S . 
 TrAncit cuery yecre vpon his Feaft day, defcended into Pui[-* 
 gatory, and dcliucred from thence, all the foulcs ojf fuch as 
 had bene bountjfull to his brethren. 7'hq Tacpbjns percei- 
 uing that by this tale the Cordeliers had gained much 
 cuftomc, and profited fo hindered their trading, began to 
 preach, that the Virgin Mary, as hailing more charity and 
 
 X x authority 
 
338 
 
 Velnjicm by Purg/ttory, 
 
 Chap. 
 
 authority then S . Francis, did not lcaue as he did, her dcuout 
 followers and bcnefa&ot s a whole ycerc in Purgatory, but 
 fcuen daies,oneiy at the longcft : for eucry Saturday (which 
 day is dedicated vnto her)fhedc fcended into Purgatory, to 
 redec me thence all thofe that had giuen almes to her bre- 
 thren : which deuice of theirs being beleeucd, brought them 
 againe into more credit and trading then eucr they were be- 
 fore. The other tale is out of S . Brandons Legen d , where to 
 pcrfwadc filly people, that their prayers and MafTes arc sble 
 to deliucr foules out of Purgatory ; they tell how I/sdat is 
 permitted to come out of hell euery Saturday at Eucnfong 
 time, and to reft himfclfe on a ccrtainc rock in the Sea, vntill 
 all the Sunday feruice be performed : concluding ftrongly, 
 thatif the praicrs of the Church can eafe for a time the paines 
 of hell to the damned, much more are they of force to free 
 the foules of the Saints out of Purgatory, and fend them di- 
 rectly into hcaucn. A third is in the life .of S.Th&mas of 
 Canterbury : at the day of vvhofe death (faith the Legend) 
 J there died in the whole world, three thoufand thirty and 
 three : of whom the three thoufand went directly into hell, 
 thirty into Purgatory, and three onely into Paraoife, where- 
 of S.7ft*»w/ was one. And this (faith it) was rcucalcd by 
 one of them that went to hcauen, to a friend of his vpon 
 eapth ? SHntfr&dic<wt. tit. mors. By thefe and a thoufand 
 fuch like fictions and fablcs,touching this purging fire, they 
 kept the world in awe ; and deluded them after a miferoble 
 manner fo? their ownc gaine : it being no maruaiJe, that fee- 
 ing Purgatory maintaines them, and their pcmpc,and pride, 
 they alfo rnaiataine it, and (toutly fbnd in the defence there- 
 of : for what with counterfeit apparitions of dead ghoftj, 
 and fuch terrible tales of tormented foules, the poore peo- 
 ple were fb fcarred, that they fpared for no coft to preucnt 
 this paine : when in thomeane while, for want of true faith 
 and repentance, they caft themfclucs into hell and deftrufti- 
 
 GHAR3- 
 
Chap., 2* Vefofiom l>) Imccation of Saints, 
 
 339 
 
 GHAPtf. 
 
 Delt* front by the Inuncation of Saints. 
 
 i."T"Hcfecond fort of their Saim;s, arcfuchas are either 
 J actually canonized by the Pope, or opiniatiuely in the 
 mindes ofmen, and being freed from Purgatory, keepe their 
 pcrpetuall refidencc in heancn. From thcie flow three 
 kindesof dclufions ; The ru'ft by their inuocation : thefe- 
 cond by their Rclikcs : and the third by their Images. Con-- 
 cctning their Inuocrtion, it is firitto be obferucd, how al- 
 moftthc whole Lcitargie of their Church in refpeel of cheir 
 Sainrs, isborrowed from the Pagans, both for matter and 
 forme. 7 here is fo great a conformity betwixt the Pagan 
 Gods and Godde{Tc5, and the PopiiTi Saints and Sainteifes, 
 as it is hard to diftinguifh betwixt them : not a conformity 
 in regard of the true Saints (lead I ihould be miftaken) but 
 in regard of their worfhippers, who in all things imitate 
 them, fauc in their manner of facrificing. For the Pagans 
 worfiiippcd dead men, whom they fuppofed to be placed in 
 the number of the Gods, and attributed vnto them diuers 
 offices, and charges ouer humane affaires ; die which very 
 fame is praclifcd in the Church ot Rome, as experience fhew- 
 eth. And as Arnebtu long agoe rcproched the Pagans for 
 forging vnto thcmfeluesGods,whcreof fome were Carpen- 
 ters, fome Clothiers, fome Mariners, fome Mufitions, fome 
 Huntfmen,nnd fome Heardfmen : one was aPiper,anothcr a 
 Mid wife, another a D iuiner, another a Phy fitian : one was 
 the God of Eloquence, another of Warrc, another a Smith, 
 &c. The c Bahyloni.uis\\i& r Bell for their tutelarGod, The 
 *s£grptjanr, I (is and Ofyris •: The Rhodians, the Stirme : The 
 Delfbians y ApsBo :R*mc, aGod that might not be named .• 
 The Athenians , CMivcrna : The Ephefians, Diana, &c. So 
 in like manner hauc the Papifts their Saints anfwcrable to 
 them in all refpcc"ls : For do not S. Crf™, and S. Damian+ 
 fuccccd ApoHo y and^^/cw/rfp/WjinPhyfickc &Chirurgcry?j 
 For thefe arc the Saints they pray vnto in..thefe cafes. 
 Xx2 Among 1 
 
 Aruoh.cdy.tr a* 
 GmtcsJib.i* 
 
34° 
 
 Delujiwsby Imocathn of Stints. Chap.3 
 
 Among the Pagans, loiter was the G od of the fi re, Jum of 
 ayre, TeSus of the earth, and Neptune ofthe fea : In ftead of 
 whom . the Papifts haue for the fire S . ssfgathe, for the Sea 
 S. Nicholas. For wine recommended to TZaccbus, by the 
 Pagans, and corne to Ceres ; they haue S.Ioffe y and S.Vr, 
 bayne : Intteadof Apollo^nd Pan, thcoucrfeersand guar- 
 ders of their cattell, thefe haue found out S.Vandoljne, or 
 Wendeline for their fhecp : §,Sulogi:u for their hoi fes : S* 
 Pelagtm for their oxen and kine ; andS. Anthony fat 1 
 their hogges. Among the Pagans, Apollo, Minerua, and 
 the Mufes, were patroncs of learning, Vulcane the God of 
 the Forge and of Smithes, e/£/V#/4p/** of Phyfick, Mays of 
 Warre, Diana of Hunting, Venus and Flora, of Harlots 
 and Courtizans : In place of whom, the Papifts haue for 
 learning S. Catherine and S. (jrcgory ; for Painters, S. Luke ; 
 for Pbyfitians, S,^ofme and S. Damian ;for Smiths, S. £/<w j 
 for Hunters, S.Eufiachius and S. Hubert ; for Harlots, S* 
 yi/^ry A/^^i/w,aiid S. Aphrc. The pagans had their Phy- 
 fitians for fcuerall difeafes : as yfya//* for the peitilcncc, Her- 
 cules for the falling fkknefTe, Luana for the paines of child- 
 birth, &c t The Papifts in their roome, haue Sebaftian and 
 S. #0* &*, for the peftilence ; S i Petronefla for the fcuer ; S. 
 7^» or S. Valenttne, for the falling fickneffe ; and S« Mar- 
 g*ret , for women intiauailc : Yea fo fir re grew this fuper- 
 ftitfon, that they afcribc to feucrall Saints, the gouernmen t 
 ofthe fcuerall members of the body, which the A ftrologi- 
 ans aifigne to the t welue figncs ofthe Zodiack. For S.Of- 
 ttlms gouernes the head, S. Catherine guardcththe tongue, 
 S. Apolhnta cureth thexeeth,S. #/<*/<? hath the neck in tuition, 
 S.Larvrenee the backc,back-bonc and {houldcn^S. Erafentts 
 the belly and the cntrals, S. Apoflwjtr/usor S.Briee the pri~ 
 uy parts, and fo ofthe reft : Yea in ftead of their filthy Pri~ 
 aptis,MMunus,Perfica,Pertunda, thefe hauefubftitutedS. 
 Gnerlichon, and fome others ; that in nothing they might 
 feeme fhort of them in abhominablc fupcrftition. Neither 
 want thefe like them their Patronesfor fundry Countries : as 
 S. Denis, w$ S.Micbaeifoi' France, <v lame* for SpAine, S, 
 
 Ge&rgf [ 
 
Chap. ?. Velujicm by Inuoeat ion of Saints. 
 
 341 
 
 (jtorge for Germany and England, Saint Peter and Saint 
 Paul tot 'TyflW^Saint /f/<«^for Venice % and fo forth. Albeit 
 that all ehefc Countries are (as they fay ) vnder the fpeciall 
 protection of the Virgin Mary, to mf,Spai*e by reafon ofthe 
 promife made that the blefled Virgin made to Saint /awes; 
 /talyjoy the choice that fhee made ofher refidencc there, 
 tranfport higher Chamber to Ltxvrct to ; Germany ,by reafon 
 of the multitude of Temples dedicated there vnto her ;and 
 Frvwtf,bccaufethe chicfe Cities of that Country are confc- 
 crated to her honours. Thus the Papifts make by their fu- 
 perftition,thcir Saints neerc a kin to the heathen Gods, ex- 
 cepting oncly,that whereas they eitecmcd thofe things that 
 were written oftheir Godsbuc Fables, thofe things that are 
 written oftheir Saints arc bclceued, and accounted as true 
 Hiftcries ; as it is a Fable that Per fens flew UMedafa, but a 
 true hiftory in their account that Saint George flew the Dra- 
 gon. One thing they cannot deny, that "Boniface the fourth 
 turned the Pantheon , a Temple dedicated vnto all their 
 Gods,into a Church confecrated to all Saints,and placed the 
 bleffed Virgin the Mother of Iefus Chritl inroome of Cyhele 
 the Mother ofthe Gods. I will adde yet another thing more 
 notorious for impiety ,to wit; that albeit in this refemblance, 
 I excepted facrificing,yct we finde that abomination alio in; 
 (bme places. As for example, when in Tonrraine they v(cd 
 to offer a Cocke to Saint Cbriftopksr, for a certaine fore in 
 the top ofthe fingers : and to enlarge their fuperftkion, it 
 mult be a white Cocke, otherwaies they fliould rather pro- 
 uoke the Saint to anger, then make him propitious vnto 
 them. I will not fpeakc oftheir facrifice in the MafTe, where- 
 in the greateft part of the Ceremonies arcderiucd from the 
 Pagans;nor of Purgatory, whereof the Pagan Poets were 
 the firft Authors. 
 
 2. Secondly ,if wee confider alittle the feuerall Offices 
 and Trades, together with the ftrange names afcribed to 
 thefc their Saints, we fhall more cafily and clearely appre- 
 hend their groife abufe of the world in this kinde of delufi- 
 on. For touching their names, many of them ; arefo fitted %o 
 
 Xx? their 
 
 
 
34* 
 
 Delttfionsby Inuoution of Saints, Chap. ^ 
 
 PUutfM. 
 
 their Occupations ,» that s rr.an cannot imagine, but that ci. 
 thcr they were of purpofe baptized with them for the credit 
 oftheir offices, or that their offices were afltgncd vnto them 
 m rcfemblance oftheir names. For why elk mould they call 
 their fwcet fmclling Saint, Saint lumper : their Saint for the 
 difeafes o£the hand, Saint Maine y as if it were Saint Hand, 
 and hee which was for the Gowt which is commonly in the 
 knee, Saint C/tfroM that is Saint Knee : for /linking dung and 
 excrements Saint F/4sr<?,as we cry fie when ournofes en- 
 counter fuch a fauour : their Shoomakers Saint,Sain: Cre- 
 ?/»,asif it were Saint Pa»tofl? : their Shrouctide or Gut- 
 tide Saints, Saint ^*tf£*^, Saint Crsxard, Saint Pavf&rd: 
 their Saint Protre&rifle of Harlots Saint Afhrc y as the hca . 
 then called Venn* Aphrodites ifluing out of froth, or Saint 
 Magdalen fczczufe (Tie her felfe was once fuch an one t Saint 
 Sttfan*a for flandcrs,and Saint Ub for fcabs, with a number 
 more of the like nature. What doe thcic names I pray 5 ou 
 import, butthemecre gulling and deluding of the world ? 
 For why {hould their names 6c offices thus iampe together, 
 if it were not by fraudulent and impofturous dcuifes of craf- 
 ty & couctous Pricfts?Bc(idcs that,wc may fee how they ex- 
 ceed the Pagans in their prophanencsifor though the Pagans 
 had a large number of Gods,of the greater, middle 5 andle(fcr 
 (izc,as thefe haueof Saints; yet alwayes they carried a more 
 teuercnt refpe£t,and deuotion to their great lupiter y then to 
 blithe reft, as he in the Poet faid, r Dxmmodo Inpiter mihi 
 prop it iw Jit facet facto minor es V eos. But the Papifts widi- 
 out all conlcicnce employ their Saints in all their affaires 
 both great and fmall,pafling by God as an idle Idea, fel- 
 dome praying vnto him,in comparifon of the frequent pray- 
 ers that arc made to the Virgin Wary, and the other Saints. 
 Their Beades fhew this to bee true, where for one Vater 
 tiofttrjhcy drop nine Attes : and their Temples and Altars, 
 which are more ten to one dedicated to Saims^thcn to the 
 blcffed Trinity. A ndd id euer the Pagans debafe their /*- 
 p/f*r fo much, as to picture him like an old man with affofTe 
 in his hand,as thefc doc God the Father in their Churches ? 
 
 Or 
 
I Chap J • Delujions by InuccAtion of Saints, 
 
 ?4? 
 
 Or did they eucr in contempt cafi their Got's iiito the fire or 
 durc,as Pope !>omfACc did his breaden Chrift ; 2nd another 
 Pricft thrcatnedtodoetothefarncGodofPaftc,ifhe could 
 notaffwegcatempeftwhich was roi fed (as he fuppofcd}by 
 thedcuiii ? And to cor. dude this point, albeit the Pagans 
 imagined Pan to be the God of fhephcardes and fhecpe;yet 
 they neuer put any of their bafer fort cf Gods to the kec- 
 pingofGcefc and Swine, as thefe doc their Saints. Vpon 
 which occafcn I remember a (lory in Stealer,: jlyohgit for 
 HeYodciw, which I will r.ot forbcare to lelate for the folacc 
 of the Reader. It is,how a certaine young Gentlewoman be- 
 ing in a dangerous iickncffe, and hailing confefTcd her felfe 
 to her Pricft and rcceiucd abfolution,faid vnto him that (he 
 feared lcaft when fhe (hould ccmc into Paradifc, the charge 
 offuch filthy Bcafts ihould bee committed vnto her, and 
 therefore it would bee a great contentment to her minde if 
 flic might be made the Piotedtreffe of little dogges, where- 
 unto ihehadbcenc formerly accuftomed : but whether the 
 Prieft granted herfuite,orno,Icannotconicclure: onely this. 
 I gather out of her rcqucft,that the Pagans did not fo vilifie 
 their Idoll Gods,as the Papifts do their Saints in their blinde 
 fuperftition. 
 
 3. Whatfhould I fpeale of the great difference which 
 is in the opinion ofthcirbeft Legenders, touching the quali- 
 ties and offices of their Saints ? fome aferibing the fame 
 office to one Saint, which others doc vnto another. This is 
 at large difcouered by the forcnamed Author Henry Siefhen 
 iii his slpo/ofie for Herodot /#,and therefore I here but touch 
 vpon this faring : ouclymeethinkesit fotmdesin touching 
 this plane fong, that all thefe fuperftnious-inuocationsof 
 Saints, are no better then deuiees of men, whereby they 
 fought both to enrich themfclucs, and to impouerifh the 
 world. And is there any fo fottifhly blinde,that will be thus 
 deluded by .them ? For when the queftion is, whether Saint 
 Feriot ,or Saint j4ttdoche> or Saint GaBicet is th« keeper of 
 theirGeefe : or whether Saint Wendelittt hath the care of 
 fheepe^ or Saint L**ft : or whether Saint Genen befor the 
 
 Gowt, 
 
344 Defojioffs by Imoc&tkn of Saints. C hap. 3 
 
 [Gowt, or Saint Mauve : or whether Saint Roche be Phyfi- 
 * tian Tor feabbed hands, or Saint Maine : whether the eyes 
 be committed to the charge of Saint Otttlti or Saint €Ure i 
 and of the teeth to Saint Apotionu, or to Saint Chrifiopher : 
 becaufe of his great tooth keptasarehkc in a certaine Ab- 
 bey in France which is of that bignelfe, that in proportion 
 the mouth wherein it ftood, mult needs be as great as the 
 mouth of the greateft Furnace betwixt London and Tm k?. I 
 fay when as thisqueition refts vndctcrmioed,vntill the Pope 
 and his Cardinals cither decide kin their Confifbry, or 
 call a Councill for thatpurpofe, how can the poore people 
 in theie their ncccfllties, either belecuc they fhali be heard in 
 their prayers, or not rather fcare, that if they pray vnto a 
 Saint that hath no intercft in their caufe,he will be offended 
 for troubling him with matters that conccmc him not, and 
 the other that hath,will be angry for being neglcSed ? 
 
 4. But the higheft ftraine of impiety and Idolatry in their 
 InuocAting of faints is this ,that there is nodifcafe belong- 
 ing to man cither in regard of body or mindc, the cure 
 whereof they doe not attribute to fome one Saint or other. 
 As for the body , the very itch in the hands to Sairt 
 UWaine, and fcald in the head to Saint Ttgntn, and cough 
 in the lungs,to Saint J^xinun ->and the very French pox, to 
 Saint lob : And for the minde,thcFrenzie (they fay) is cu- 
 red by Saint AcariHt : and Iealcufie by Saint Auertine : 
 but what flhould we doubt of this,when fterility and barren- 
 nefle in a woman is remedied by the filthy duft fcraped off 
 from a part of the I mage of Saint Gaerltcbon, which fhame 
 andhoneflyforbiddcthtonamc : or by ftriding oucr Saint 
 Rfimbavtrt-hrccches, which ifa barren woman doe, fhe (hall 
 be fure to haue a child within a twcluc-moneth, as they 
 make poore people belecuc at this day ? and fo they make 
 fome ofthcir Saints as filthy and abominable as the heathens 
 did their Priaptu. And that which is yet more abufiue and 
 abfurd, they afliimc,that the fame difcafes which they fup- 
 pofe thefe Saints can cure, they can alfo fend if they bee did 
 plcafcd,and fo they muft of ncceflity inuoca:e them not onc- 
 
 i*l, ,„ 
 
 -..ii r 
 
|Chap« 2 . Delufiom by Inuocntion ef Saints* 
 
 345 
 
 lyinthcbopeofgood,but for fcarcof hurt; as that good 
 wife after (he had offered a candle to Saint Michael, offered 
 .another alio to the dcuill that (rood by him, (for thefe two 
 alwaics arc painted together )that the one might hclpc her, 
 and the other not hurt her. And as the Indians acknow- 
 ledge one Soueraignc God,but yet facrifice to the deuill, be- 
 caufe(as they fayjGod is good,and will not hurt; but the 
 dcuill is malicious and need to bee appeafed. Or as the Ro- i 
 mtnes had their Vt hues as well as their loues.and worfhip- 
 ped as Gods the Fcauer & the Go wt, with other difcales, for 
 feare they fhould fall vpon them : (b there is no doubt but 
 the Popifh Saints were and are adored and worfhipped ra- 
 ther for fearc of fome cuill they might doe them, then for 
 hope of any good from them. Hence it was, that if the Saint 
 which they inuocated did not relceue them in their miferics, 
 then in anger they vfed to renounce him, and choofc vnto 
 themfclues another Saint in his roome, at whofc hands they 
 hoped to findc more fauour. This is an ordinary prac*hfe in 
 the Church of &?*»*, & whereof daily experience affoordcth 
 many examples : to w'it,of fuch as haue forfaken Ch iftbe- 
 caufe hecdid not helpe them in their need, and fled to the 
 Virgin his Mother,as more mercifull and indulgent: and fo 
 from one Crucifix to another, from an old to a young ,and 
 from Saint hhn to Saint Peter ^ and from the Lady ztLaw- 
 r^ftftothc Lady at Sichemficc. And this worlc thenthe, 
 heathen Romanes, who though they in all reuerence tran- 
 fported the tutelar Gods of thofe Cities and Countries 
 which they conquered into their P<*»//;<?0*,hauingrir[t inuo- 
 cated and coniuted them to forfake their old habitations; 
 yet they did neither renounce, nor withleffc deuotion wor- 
 fhip their owne Gods which they had before. But that 
 which is moit ftrangc of all, hence it muft needs come to 
 pa(fe,that when the Clients of diuers Saints are at oddes and 
 ftrife, then the Saints w r hom they haue chofen to bee their 
 Patrones muft alfo of neceffity either be at ocids for their C\\\ 
 ents,or forfake thcm,or at Icaft one bee oner-ruled by cheo- 
 
 Ither. And fo in like maner when one k inguomc is at w ."-re 
 , Yy vvhfj 
 
345 
 
 Delttfions by Inaoc&tion of Saints, C hap. 3 
 
 with another, as fuppofe England with France, then alfo S. 
 Michael (landing for the defence of France ^2AY\t (jeergt for 
 thcdefenccof£»£/W,mu(tbcat wane in hcauen, orclfe 
 how are they their protectors, if they quit them in their 
 greatcftneed ? As the heathen Poets made Vulcane and 
 Pallas to &u\& againft Troy, and ^Apollo and Venus for it : 
 theverfeis well knowne, Mulciber in Trotam, pro Troia 
 fttbat Apollo, ts£cftia Venus Tetter is, Fall as imqna fait. If 
 thefe fceme to any ftrange conclufions, I anfwere with the 
 prouerb,£#^ types, like Lettiee; fromfuch rotten pra£tifes, 
 what elfe can flow,but rotten conclufions ? 
 
 ?. To conclude, though their impiety and Idolatry bee 
 in aU thefc rcfpecls moft groffe and palpable; yet all is no- 
 thing to their abominable blafphemyin preferring their 
 Saints before Chrilt,,or at leaft in equalling them vnto him : 
 and this will pkinely appcareby two profiles of theirs. Firfl, 
 in that they rely more vponthe mediation andinterccfllon of 
 Saints^then vpon the mediation of Chrilt, & therefore direct 
 more prayers,and build more Altars vnto them, then vnto 
 him. And fecondly, in that after any great benefit rcceiucd 
 or deliucrance obtained,they afcribe all the honor rather vn- 
 to thcm,then vnto Chrift, as if they were the onely auihors 
 and bequeathers thereof. Many and memorious are the ex- 
 amples of this blafphemy, and fo ordinary in all places, as 
 with no forehead can be deny cd. I will in this puipofe re- 
 late onely two famous examples, the fiift whereof is this. 
 After thegrcat battaile at Ltpanto, wherein Don Uhn of Au- 
 flria being Gencrall,theTurke recciued fuchan ouerthrow, 
 as the like he neuer had by Chriftians before ;• prefently fo- 
 lemne thankfgiuings and proceflions were made by Sea and 
 Land to the Virgin Mary, as to the Goddefle of victory; 
 with little or np remembrance of (Thrift I cfus 3 who was the 
 onely protector ofthem in that dangerous expedition. This 
 ftory is recorded at large in the booke entitled the generall 
 hiftory ofSpaite. The fecond example is of the Spanifh at- 
 tempt for the conqueft of EngUxd in the ycerc, 1588. at 
 which time > whcn the whole Armado was gathered together 
 
 an<i 
 
Chap.j. Ddufions bj InuocAtion of Saints. 
 
 347 
 
 and ready to fet forward,the Generals and great Comman- 
 ders aiTembled in a Church of our Lady,gaue her a folemne 
 thanks for the victory 3 which they made themfelues asfure 
 of,as if it had beene already atchieued : but when they faw 
 themfelues difcomfited, and their Nauy ouerthrowne,thofc 
 that remained, went to the fame our Ladies Church, and 
 there not onelycxpoitulated with hcr,but vpbrayded& rc~ 
 uilcd her to her face for her neglect of them. Neither is this 
 any wonder, feeing they fet her vp as the CommandrefTe of 
 her Son,equali her milke tohis bIood,and offer vprnore fa- 
 ciificcsof deuotion to her then to him. Hovvbeii they may 
 fecmc to haue fome rcafonfor the bleffed Virgin, becaufe 
 (he was Chriiis Mother; but whatreafon haue they forS. 
 Fraicis zn&Szmx. Dominkkf, whom they not oncly equall 
 vnto Chrift, but in fome things prcferrc them before him? 
 For touching Saint Francis jiu&q. what they write of him in 
 thebooke of his Conformities : Chrifi made Saint Franci* 
 Uks and conformable to himfelfe in aH things, A gaine,in the 
 Mount of Alue rnafiz'nz Francis w r as made one Spirit with 
 God the Father,and his Sonne Chrift I cfus. A gainejbleffcd 
 Saint Francis had the title of lefus o£Naz**retb King of the 
 Icwcs giuen vnto him. A gaine,hc obferued the Law of God 
 lfteral!y,and the whale Gofpell to a tide. Againe,that pro- 
 phecy o(\h^. Revelation, I faw another Angellfvhich had the 
 feale of thz lining God, wot I tier ally fulfilled in Saint Francis . 
 Againc,as Chrift on the day of his death defcended once in- 
 to Limbo,and by the vcrtuc of hispafTion releafed all the 
 foules that were found there; fo Saint Francis cuery yeere on 
 his birth day went into Purgatory,and carried from thence 
 into Paradife all the foules of three Orders,to wit; Minorites, 
 the Sifters ofSaint £7*r*, and the Continentes. Againe,who- 
 foeuerdyed in his habit,could not bcdamncd,and that it was 
 as forcible for remifllon of finncs,as the Sacrament of Bap- 
 tifme. Againe, that in Saint Francis wcie renewed the 
 wounds and paflion of Chrift for the Redemption ofman- 
 kinde : that he was giuen for a light to the Gentiles,that A- 
 brahxm faw his day and reioyced : that hec came out of the 
 Yy 2 wound 
 
348 
 
 Delufions by Imocation ofSa ints. Chap.$ I 
 
 wound of Chrifts fide, with the banner of the Croflcinhis 
 hand difplaycd,that as (Thrift was foretold by the Prophets, 
 fowas Saint Francises Chrift had his forerunncr,fo had S* 
 Franc u j«5 Chrift had his Apoities vvhofe found went out in- 
 to all the world,fo had >aint Francis: as Chrift had his Mag- 
 dalene to wafhhis fcet,fohad Saint Franca: and as Chrift 
 had his Ittdas to betray him, fo had Saint Francis. Laftly, to 
 omit a number more offuch like impieties, as (Thrift was 
 tranffigurcdinthe Mountdo was Saint Francis, but with 
 more glory ; for vnto Chrift appeared onely Mofes and Eli- 
 *«,but vnto5aintFr^M^ appeared Chrift, the blciled Vir- 
 gin, lohn Baptift,3nd lohn the Euangelift,wkh a greatmulti- 
 tude of Angels. And thus blafphemoufly they aduance their 
 Saint Francis ^a an equall, if not fuperiour dignity vnto 
 Chrift. 
 
 6*. Neither is this their blaiphcmy any whit inferiour hi 
 their Deminicke. For when as thefe two Orders of Francif- 
 c anes and Dominicanes enuicd one anothers grcatnc{Tc,and S . 
 Dominicke though firft in timc,yet wasbchinde in credit to 
 Saint Francis; Antoninus a great Archbifhop, and a Demi- 
 nicaneby fecl,ftart vp,and labours to exalt his Founder, not 
 onely aboue Saint Fravcis Jouteucn aboue Chrift himiclfe : 
 and to that end,thus he writes of him ; Chrift (faith he) vai- 
 fed but three dead perfons, but S. Dexnimcke forty : Chrift 
 being immortall cntred twice in vnto hisDifciples the gates 
 being ftiut,but SzmtDowixukc beingyet mortal! (which is 
 more wonderfull) entree! into the Church when thedoorcs 
 were ftiut,wkhout noiie,that he might not waken the Friars; 
 and fo he runncs ouer allChrifts miracles, and full preferrcs 
 Saint Tjom'inicke. Further the fame power was giucntoS. 
 Dominicke that was vnto Chrift; for the Angels miniftred 
 vntohim,the Elements obeyed him,as when the bookc con * 
 taining his doctrine was thrownc into fire,it came out thrice 
 vnhurt,and the dcuils trembled at his bcckc,and refufed not 
 his command. He was called Dominictu (faith he) epiaji 
 totiu domi»/,fo that Chrift is Lord abfolutcly andauthorita- 
 tiuely,but Saint Ztow/wrt^principally and poiTefIiueIy:Chrift 
 
 faide., 
 
Chap. ? . Delufions by Invocation ofSaints, 
 
 ■ — ■ iii __ 
 
 (aid, lam the light of the world, : and of S. Domintcke the 
 Church fingeth, Jhon art the light of the world. AH the Pro- 
 phets prophecied, of Chrirt, fo did they of S. Domtnicke : 
 Chrifi was borne nakcd,but laid in a Manger by his mother, 
 that the cold might not hurt him : but S. Uomwicke being 
 an Infant, went out of his bed, and as if hee had hated all de- 
 lights of the flefh, lay often naked vpon the bare earth. 
 When Chrift was borne,a c ,tarrc appeared in the skie, which 
 Jed the Wifemen vnto him, and forefhe w'cd that he fhould 
 enlighten the world : but when S. Dominicke being borne, 
 and was to be Baptized, his mother law a ^tarre in his fore- 
 head , foretelling, that there was a new light come into the 
 world. Chrifts prayer was alwaies heard of his Father,fauc 
 once in the Garden, when praying according to-hjs fcnfuali- 
 ty, he would not be heard according to his rcafon : but S. 
 Dominicke was ncuer denied any thing that hee prayed for, 
 and consequently, neuer prayed according to fenfuality. 
 Chrift loued vs,and wafhed vs from our finnesby his blood, 
 which was flied by others : but S. Dominicke let out his 
 blood daily with his owne hand,with a three corded chaine; 
 one for his owne fumes, which were few ; a fecond,for thofc 
 that arc in Purgatory; & the third/or fuch as liue in the world. 
 And lafrly, Chriit being to depart out of this world, promi- 
 Ccd his Difciples the comforter his Spirit : and S. 'Dtmwicke, 
 when he lay vpon his death-bed .faidto his Difciples ,VVeepe 
 not for my corporall departure for I fhall be more profitable 
 for you in that place whither I go, then 1 Ira ue bene here ; for 
 there f fhall be a more powcrfull Aduocate for you to God, 
 then I could be in this world. Thus he proiecutes the com- 
 parifon, through all the parts of the life of Chriit. But thus 
 much I fuppofc is fufficient to demonftrate the horrible blaf- 
 phemy of the Church of Rome, in their inuocation of Saints. 
 And that no man may thinke thefe be the conccites of pri- 
 uate men the booke of $. Francis conformities ; was appro- 
 ued by thcgenerall confent of the Minorite Friars in their 
 Chapter houfe, and printed at Bonoma byauthority in the 
 ycere 1 3 89 and after reprinted at Msllan in the ycere 1 5 1 o. 
 Y£3 by 
 
 349 
 
350 
 
 Delujicm by Relikes, 
 
 Chap 4 
 
 by Gotardns Ponticw, and intitled Liber Aureus , A Golden 
 booke : Yea three Popes, (jregory the ninth, AUx&vderxhst 
 fife, and Nxholu the third, commanded all men to belecue 
 S. Francis fine markes or wounds, vpon paincof herefie : 
 And Hcrwet the twclft ordained a Feaft to bee obferued to 
 their honour. And for S. Dominicke 9 Grego^j the ninth, in 
 thcyeere, t n 3 . iflumed him into the number of Saints, al- 
 lowed him a Feftiuall day, approued his rule, and guarded it 
 with many priuiledges : In a word, thefe bookes wercne- 
 uer condemned by the Church of Rome, nor decreed to bee 
 purged by any oftheir Indices ; and therefore itand in their 
 Kalcnder of bookes as Authcntical! wicneffes of their im- 
 piety. 
 
 7. Out of all this difcourfc, I may howfoeucrinferre 
 thefe three important Maximes. \ hft, that the CymerUn or 
 i/EgyftUn darknefle was neucr fo great, as was this generall 
 darkheflc,orrather blindncrTc in Popery ; or as is Rill at this 
 day > where that religion reigneth in full i way. Sccon Jly,that 
 their Priefts and Friars, were in thofe daies^ and a:e llill,men 
 without all confciencc and fcarc of God ; who for the en- 
 crcafcof their owne gaine and credit, obtruded thefe groiTe 
 abufes vpon the common people, as diuinc Myrlericsand 
 Oracles not to be fpoken againft,but rcceiucd with vndoub- 
 ted beleefc. And thirdly, that the prophecy of S. Vaul^ be- 
 ing thus verified in them, concerning llrong dclufions, this 
 muft necdes bee the time of Antichvifts reignc, and of the 
 height and top of his power and pride : though now (God 
 be thanked) his Kingdomc is in the wane, and hath all the 
 lymptomcs of a deadly confumption. 
 
 CHAP. 4. 
 Delnjiofts by Reli\es. 
 
 'iTTHc fecond delufion which arifechftom their cano- 
 
 X nized Saints, is by their rclikes, by meanes whereof 
 
 it is ftrange,both how mifcrabiy tlicy hauc abufed the world 
 
 for 
 
Chap.*. Dcluficmby Relikes. 
 
 351 
 
 for along time,and what wealth they haue amafied to them- 
 Cducs. I might be infinite in this kindc, but I will comrael 
 my difcourfe into as (hort and narrow rccmc as lean : j* nd 
 therefore to omit their infinite number offalfe relives, fub- 
 orncd by crafty Pritfts for their ownegainc ; yeafuchas 
 were not of Saints in heaucn, but of the damned in hell, as an 
 Ancient Doctor teftificth when he faith : Mu/tortim corpora 
 \ adoraztur in t err it , quorum aminacrtitiantrir in infer is : that 
 is, The bodies of many are adored tn eart b, whofefeulcs are 
 tor mem ed tn bell, /, n J as it is confirmed by the Legend of 
 S, Martin, where wee read,of one worfhipped with great 
 deuotion, who was knowne to haue bene a notorious wic- 
 ked man : In which tanke,wc may lufrly place our Canterlw- 
 rj Saint Tbomas Bccl^t, atwhofe fhrine fo many demotions 
 were made. For forty eight yceres after his deatb,it was dis- 
 puted among the Doclors of Paris, whether he were dam- 
 ned or faucd, as a French Fliftory rcportcth : and one Roger 
 a Norman, maintained, that he had iultly deferucd death, for 
 rebelling againft his Soueraigne, theminifter of God. A- 
 gaiwe, to omit the multiplicity of relikcs of the fame kinde, 
 belonging to one end the fame Saint ; . as balfeadozcnof 
 heads, two or three dozen ofeares,as many of hands,and of 
 armcs,andof legs ; this impefture being funScientlydifco- 
 uered by many writers. And laflly, to cmk their fecret foi- 
 iting.in of new relikcs in ftead of the old, which either were 
 ftollen away ? oT loft, or could not beprcfciued fromrotten- 
 neiTc ; and thefe the members, fomctim.es of a man hang'd or 
 buried, and fometimes of an AfTe or Dogge,or fome other 
 beaft : as at Geneva, that which a long time W3S worfhipped 
 for an anne of S . Anthony, was found to be no other then 
 the haunch of a Dcare : I fay, to omit alkhefc impolturcs 
 which are moft frequent in the Church of Rome, and where- 
 of plenty of examples might be brought, I wiil-infiitonely in j 
 fuch deccitcs as are morciare, and admit-no exception nor 
 cauill. 
 
 2. At S. Mar j maior in Rome y they fhew the Cratch or 
 Crib wherein our Lord Iefus Chrift was laid at his Natiuity, 
 
 which 
 
35» 
 
 Delufiom by Relikes. Chap,^ 
 
 Chryfoft \ham . 
 
 S'lrtm.de regno 
 
 Baron. An. fj> 
 t 3 . 
 
 idem An, 3 4, 
 
 NicholCittes. 
 Annuls 
 
 which fome of chem fay was made of earth, alleadgingto 
 that puipofc the opinion ofS.Cbryfoftome misinterpreted, 
 but others of wood, as Haronins affirmcth : And fo they 
 themfciues agreeing not what it was, why fhould wee be- 
 leeuethat there is anyfuch thing at all ? Stgcnms rcporteth, 
 that at the taking of Cdfarea in Syrat by Baldwin the fiiit 
 King otfervftlem, the Genuans had in their fhare a cup made 
 of an Emraud which Chrift v(Qi\ at his laft supper, and cau- 
 {cd it to be kept and worfhipped as an holy rclike. P ut Ba- 
 rotitis giueth this fiction (it may be vnw ill ingly) the lye, for 
 he alleadgcth the authority of Bede > that the Cup wherein 
 Chrift celebrated his laft Supper was of fiber, with two 
 eares,and was kept at forttfalem : both which opinions can- 
 not be true, and therefore the one thus difcrediting the other, 
 makes them both two to be fufpe£ted as falfe. Againe,at S. 
 lohn Later ane in Rome y \s to be feene and adorcd,the Spunge 
 wherewith they prefented vnto Chrift on the Croffc vine- 
 gar and gall, which Baronim amrmetryctaineth ftill a cer- 
 taine ruddy colour, as if it had bene dipped in blood. But 
 the French Annates affirmc, that S. Le xvu the French King 
 
 I 1 redeemed this Spunge of the Z/en tidns, to whom it was 
 pawned by the Emperour oXConftantinople, together with 
 the true ftumpe of the true Croffe,and the iron of the Spcarc 
 wherewith LongU pearced our Sauiours fide : and thefe 
 were receiued as holy relikcs in a Chappell at Paris ,and yet 
 thcybraggeof the fame ztRome, and in other places. By 
 vertue of the fame C himicall multiplication,whcrcby Chi ifts 
 Coate without fcame is found at Argentinetl in France 3 and 
 at Triers in German)/ : and S. John Baftifts ringer wherewith 
 he pointed vnto Chrift, at ^"ez.entiHm^ ar iholoufe, at Lions , 
 at Florence, andclfe where. But I promifed to pafle by thefe 
 things, hauing handled them at large inmyRetra&atiue 
 from the Romifh Religion. Met. 7. pag % 20 7 . My aime is 
 here to fhew how they difcouer their ownc fraud, by their 
 contradictions ; and to that purpofe,thc Smockc of the blef- 
 fed Virgin may feme for another example, which they fay is 
 woucn of fine linnen and filkc ; two Elles and a quarter long, 
 
 and 
 
 _ - ' 
 
jChap.4* 
 
 Delufions by Re/ikes. 
 
 35? 
 
 and an Elle two quarters and an haltc large : a coftly fmock | 
 without doubt, efpcciaUy in thofe times, when the vie of 
 filke was not fo frequent as it is now ; for a pound of hike as 
 FUxita VoptfiHS witneffethjwasinthctime of skbac/iaruhd 
 Emperour worth a pound of gold : And is ic crcdrble(thinke 
 you) that the Virgin CftUry ihouldhaue afmockeofhalfe 
 Hike, when her pouerty and fofipbs was fo great, that they I 
 had not mcancs to buy a Lambe to offer at her purification^ ! 
 as (he was commanded by the Law if fhc had bene able,bu: | 
 two turkle Doucs,or twoyong Pigeons, which was the of- ( 
 fcrir.g of the poorer fort, as all interpreters of the leconj ! 
 Chapter oi S.L^kes Gofpcll, with tJWaldoriate a Teiuire 
 himfelfc affimech ? In like manner, there was a great fuite in 
 Law betwixt the Chapter of our Lady in Paris, and the Co- 
 ucnt of S. Dents, about the body of S. Denis ; whereof the 
 Chapter faid they had the head, and the Couent the whole 
 entire body, head and all : the matter came to tiyall, and it 
 was adiuriged by the whole Parliament, that the relike in the 
 Chapter, was the head of S. Denis of Carinth, and not of 
 Denis oftsftbsns, which they adjudged to be in the Co.ucnt. 
 But this creates anew doubt/or it is not read in any Hiltory, 
 that the (Corinthian Denis was cuer in France, and how then 
 couLl his head come to Parts ? And for the Athenian 7)ems, 
 Pope Leo the ninth, as "Baron ins confeffeth, decreed by an 
 abfolute fentence, that his true body was at %*tisbone in 2?*- 
 uaria, and no where elfc ; whence I gather, that if the Pope 
 erred m his fentence, as he muft needes do, if the Parisians 
 were in the right ;then the Ratisbonians were Idolaters, in 
 worfhipping a counterfeit Saint \ if he erred not, then were 
 the Panfians Idolaters, efpeciaily feeing it was prohibited by 
 the Councill of Later we, that no rehke fhouid be rccciued 
 publikely, without the authority of the Pope. 
 
 3. But to proceed with thisabuic : They are not content 
 to proftitute the bodies and members of their Saints to ado- 
 ration onely, but they alio propofe as relikes to be adored, 
 their very garments, and wh -tfocuer did any waics apper- 
 taine vnto diem. A s at Triers^ in the Abbey of S. Smwjo- 
 ' : *•; Z z fipts 
 
 Baron. An. 
 ioCI.io, 
 
 See more for 
 cfii in S.t- 
 phen>Ao Io^ 
 
 G»pi 
 
 Kodotu*. 
 
 -„•» 
 
354 
 
 Velujions by Re like s % 
 
 Chap.4 
 
 This tale it 
 
 more at large 
 in Stephi*s 
 Apology for 
 Herc&stue. 
 
 fephs Panto fies were a long time in rcqucft : And at Aix in 
 Cjermany^ they braggc of his Breeches, together with the 
 Virgin JiiAries Smccke before mentioned : the one being fo 
 littJe as they would fie a chiide, the other To great as they 
 might be wornc by a Gyant. In Tome places are refcrued 
 their pots, and difhes; yea to the very taile of the AfTc which 
 carried Chrift, which is to bee fecne at Ge*#es ; and to the 
 purpofc of this Affe, the holy Hay which was in the Manger 
 where Chrift was laid being new borne, is a rclikc of great 
 fame in Lorraine. But what (hall we fay to that Itrange do- 
 tage of theirs, that caufc the ilenes wherewith $., Stephen 
 was (toned to bee worshipped 5 asat^r/w, zxVtgatjdm 
 LanguedoC) and at Vlorencc y And the arrowes wherewith S. 
 SebaftUn was fhot to death ? Sure if the (tones defcrucd to 
 be woifhippcd, much more did the (toilers ;and if the sr~ 
 rowes,much more they thai (hot them. And that the Rea- 
 der may not be too much attonifhed at this their fottiiTincs, 
 let him but markc this ftory following, and hce fhall cadly 
 pcrcciuc how the poorc world at that time, had neither eyes 
 in their head, nor vndei ftanding in their braincs, but were 
 led like blinde men to the ditch, and fooles to the ftockes, 
 without once faying, Whither go I ? The (lory is this/for let 
 me do them that fauour [o to call it:)wbcn 'K'tcodewm tooke 
 downe the body of Chrift from the CiaiTe,he gaibcrcd fome 
 ofhis blood into the finger of his gioue(for there is no doubt 
 but that gloucs were then in vfe at well as they arc now) and 
 with this blood wrought many miracles: by rcaibn -where- 
 of, being pcrfccutcd by the levee /,hc tooke a parchment and 
 wrote therein all the miracles he had done, and the myftcrics 
 ofthis blood, which he clofing vp together with the bloodi- 
 ed it to the beake of a great Birdwhichhc had found,& threw 
 the beake into the Sea, recommending it vnto God. This 
 holy bcake about a thoufand yccrcs after, hauing trauailcd 
 vp and downc all the Seas, from the Eafl to the Weir, at laft 
 arriued in JVorm&tdy, in the fame place where at this cay 
 ftandesthe Abbey of the bcake : This holy beakc lying 
 . there among the buGies, it chanced that a good Duke of 
 I Nor- 
 
Chap,4« HelufioHS by Relikes. 
 
 35J 
 
 Normandy bunting a Kartinthofe quarters, the Hart and 
 Dogs were on a fodcJaine all io filent, that none knew what 
 was become of thetn : till atlaft,they were all found on their 
 knees, and praying their Canonicall houres as fome thinkc : 
 with which fight the Dukes deuotion was fbftirrcd vp,that 
 he caufed the buflhes to be grubbed vp> and found there this 
 holy beakc, with that which was within it fafe and found; 
 whercupon,as being admonifhed of God, hee erected the 
 forcfaid Abbey, and called it by the name of the Beakc, 
 where this holy rclikc is (till to be fcenc. Now who doth 
 not fee, that if one beakc fcedethfo many idle bellies as arc 
 in that Abbey ; and not oncly fcedeth, butalfocnricheth 
 them with great poffeffions ; how great muft needes be the 
 riches that accrue from fogrcar a number of relikes, as can- 
 not bee brought within the compafle of an Inuentory ? If 
 tkere were no other thing to proue this, the very caskets or 
 iTirincs wherein they put their relikes are a fufficient demon- 
 ftration hereof; fcr they are commonly of that price, being 
 emboiied with gold and precious (tones, that few mens 
 citatcs are able to counteruaile their worth. 
 
 4. But betides thcie folemne relikes kept thus in pompe,in 
 their Churches and religious houles, there are others of lef- 
 fer efteeme, which are carried vp and downc from one place 
 to anochcr,& fliewnc to the common people, to drainc their 
 puifes withall. Now thefc were oftentimes difcouered by 
 the Church-men which liued in thofe places where thefc 
 Pcdlers came with their wares ; and this partly through en- 
 uy, lcaft their ownc trading in this kind fhould be hindrcd, 
 and partly through fcare, lealt the fimple people perceiuing 
 their groffc abufe and cozenage,mould thereby be moued to 
 fufpcdtall the reft.For thefc relikc-mongers did many times 
 fo cuidently and impudently delude the poore people with j 
 their counterfeit trafh, that if they had not bene curbed and , 
 rcftraincdjtliey would haue diicredited the whole pack : For 
 they contented riot themfe lues in fetting forth their wares 
 like Mountebankes,to fay and prociaime,behold in this Viall 
 the blood of Icfus Chrift gathered vp vnder the Croffe by 
 
 Z 2 z the 
 
35* 
 
 Belufions by Relikes. 
 
 Chap.4 
 
 the Virgin Mary « and in this the teares that fell from Chrifts 
 eyes, when he wept for Laz*<\rm : and behold the bands 
 wherewith the Virgin fwathed Chrift in z*£gjpt : and be- 
 hold the Milke, and the Haire, and the Combe, the Coyfe, 
 the Vaile, the Girdle, the Pantofles, the Gloue,the Ring, the 
 Handkerchicfc, &c. of the Virgin Mary I But they were 
 forne of them fo fhamcleffe as to fay, behold in this box(but 
 they mutt not open the box) the breath of Iefus Chrift,kept 
 carefully by his mother euer fince he was an Infant. And a- 
 mongft thofe that w r ere gro wne to thisimpudency,we readc 
 of a Pricft at Genttes^ who returning from the Earf, boafted 
 to hane brought with him from Bethleem the forefaide 
 breath of Iefus Chrift, and from Mount Sinti, the homes 
 that CHofes had on, when he defcended downe from that 
 Hill : and when he was accufcd for deluding the people with 
 this forged fturfe ; his anfwer was nothing but this, that if 
 they would notbelceue that he had the true breath of Chrift 
 in the Violl, and the homes of Mofes ; no more would he 
 beiecuc,that the Milke which they fhewed publikely and fo- 
 lcmnly at Genues, was the very milke of the Virgin Mary, 
 feeing there was an equall ground of credibility for them 
 both ; and therefore that either his reiikes deferuedas much 
 credit as theirs, or at leaft, theirs no more then his. A rcafon 
 mcthinkesvnanfwerablc, considering that the credit of all 
 their rclikes,dcpendeth meercly vpon the opinion and report 
 of men, wlio are fubiedt, both to decciuc, and to be de- 
 cerned. 
 
 5. ButnomaruaHe, if fuch rclikes as thefe were diia- 
 uowed by the warier fort, feeing they crolfe both common 
 fenfe and reafon ; and imply, not onely an improbability ,but 
 alfo an impoffibility : For touching the breath of Chrift, 
 what wit of man can giue a rcafonjhow it could be enclofed 
 in a box,and kept fo long a, time? And for TvJofcs his homes, 
 it is apparent that there was no fitch thing ; it arofe from a 
 groffe errour of their owne tranflation, whereas the Text 
 faith onely, that the skinne of his face did (hine, when he def- 
 cended downe from the holy Mountaine. Exed. 34, 19* 
 
 And 
 
i»>H ■i*«IIM» 
 
 Chap.4. 
 
 Delufions by Re/tkes* 
 
 357 
 
 And Saint *7W alluding thereunto, 2. Cor. 3. 7. confirmeth 
 the famerfor he faith,that he carried a vaile ouer his face, bc- 
 caufc the Children otlfrad could not ftedfaftly behold the 
 fame, for the glory of his countenance ; but for homes, not a 
 fyllable in holy Scripture is to be foundjand yet they picture 
 him with a paire of homes on his forehead, and oftent the 
 fame homes for rclikcs in their Churches.Neithcr neede thefe 
 feemeftrange, feeing they w ant not many others, that are 
 both more fenfelelTc and abfurd: as Saint Michaels Sword 
 and Buckler, wherewith he oucrcame the deuill, as if the 
 deuill that is a fpirit, would be conquered with fuch wea- 
 pons : the found of the bels which hung in Solomons Tern- I 
 pie, whichacertainc Monke made the world bclecuehce} 
 brought from the Eaft ; certaine haircs which fell from the 
 Seraphim, when hce came to imprint the fiue wounds of 
 Chrift in Saint Francis body : yea,fomeof them are not 
 afhamed to ihew the Pilgrimes that go to ferufalem a three 
 corncrd ftone, which they bcare them in hand, is that 
 very ftone whereof Datttd fpeakcth in the iift.Pfalme. 
 The ft one which the builders refitfed is the head of the coy ner. 
 And that lofeph the reputed Father of Chiifl might not 
 come behind hisSon^tCtf/^r^er/* neerevnto Blots, is kept 
 for a Monument his breath alfo,which he breathed when he 
 clauc wood being a Carpenter : and at Barges in Spaitteis 
 fhewne a Crucifix whofc nailes and beard are cat euery mo- 
 neth they grow fo faft, and in thefe excrements they fay is 
 great vertue. In Galtcia (as Pilgrimes report)are preferued 
 fomeofthcFcathcrsof certaine Chickcns,whkh are of the 
 race of that Cocke which crowed when Peter denyed his 
 Matter. And at Saint Denk is to bee fecne, the Lanthorne 
 which It4das carried in his hand when he came to betray his 
 'Mafter.Can any man bclceue thefe that is in his right wits > 
 And yet they obtrude thefe relikcs,with an infinite number 
 more of the like ftraincand flampe, vpon the common peo- 
 ple^ mattets of faith and deuotiom 
 
 <!>. R ut let me conclude this whole difcourie of Relikes, 
 with two moft famous examples* The faft whereof is of 
 
 Zz? Saint 
 
35 3 
 
 Delufiom by Inuges. 
 
 •••- • ■ i ' ■ - — V 
 
 Chap. 5. 1 
 
 Saint Peters ehaincs, the one of which (as they fay) being 
 the chaine wherewith hoc was bound at terttftlcm and 
 brought vnto R ome y and laid nccrc vnto the other where- 
 with hee was bound at Rome ; cbefe two chaines rcioy- 
 cing to fee one another as two friends, fo leaped and skip- 
 ped, that they ceafed notvntill they embraced each other, 
 and became vni ted togcthcr,as they rctnaine at this day in 3 
 famous Church at Rome 3 called vpon this occafion Saint Pe- 
 fer ad VmctiU. Another is of the linnen cloth of Saint ffero- 
 Hi^whcrcinChrifthad imprinted the picture of his face; 
 this was carried by Volufiwm Embaffador from Ttbenm 
 to RemtyZnd cured him ofhis fickneiTe which the Phyfkians 
 were in defpaire of : and cuer fince is rcferued at 'i\ome for 
 an holyRclike,thoughacertaincCity in Spline dothchal-, 
 Icnge the fame alfo, and in both places it is deuoudy wor- 
 {hippcd,and therefore cither the oucjor the otheiynuft needs 
 be guilty of idolatry. 
 
 7. To fearch to the bottome of this gulfc of fuperftit ion, 
 would beget both a great labour to my fclfe,and weatineflc 
 to the Reader, lend therefore this difcourie about Relikes 
 w\fa two Mementoes. Thefirft whereof is, that this mult 
 of neceflity be the kingdome of Antichrift, when the whole 
 world in a manner fliould be deluded withfuch groffe and 
 palpable Lyes. And the fecond, that feeing theie Relikes 
 were worshipped with fuch great deuotion, that they cucn 
 put their whole hope and confidence in them for the obtai- 
 ning of blcfTings, either temporal /piritual^^^ 
 were therefore guilty of asgroile Idolatry, as euer the Pa- 
 gans were in worshipping their Idoll god s,or rather dcuils, 
 as Saint Ptf#/tearmeth them, x t C*r* 1 o, 20. 
 
 CHAP.y. 
 Delujions by Images* 
 
 l*THHe third kindc ofDeluiion from their Saints Canoni- 
 X zed,isby their Imagcsjwhich becaufc it hath beenc 
 
 -s— ^_____ ^^ partly 
 
C h 2 p. 5 . D efafiom by Images \ 
 
 1A9 
 
 partly touched already in the point of miracles, where their 
 mouing, nodding, fpeaking, and healing, isdifcoueredas 
 counterfeit and falfe jl will here inf ft onely vpon fuch things 
 as concerne their very eiTence and being, ihat their /nti- 
 chriftian fupcrftition may be apparent to the whole world. 
 And to begin with their conformity with the Prgans. The 
 P.-jgans fay,that feme of their 'mages were fallen irom hca- 
 uen, as the Image of P/j/Z/t/jandfo me made by mens hands. 
 In like manner thePapiftsbragge of iomc of their Images, 
 that they came from hcauen, as that of our Lady ofGlad- 
 neflc, which they fay was brought downe by the Viigin 
 Afary her fclfe from hcauen, accompanied with ab;nd of 
 Angcls,cnd deliueied to three Friars prifeners at Cm /><r,and 
 by them tranfportcd into Trance. A nd another of cur Lady 
 of d'/cxtferrat^ hieh they fay was found in an hollow caue 
 or a Mountaine,by the direction of an heaucnly light,and the 
 melodious tinging of A ngels that wo: fhfppcd it before men 
 eucT knew thereof; fcr thefc people are not content to bee 
 Idolaters thcmfelucs onely but they would laine make the 
 Ai>gels bothFautors and partakers in the fnrtc Idolatry. To. 
 this kinde maybe referred fuch as they afrirme,were miracu- 
 loullymade, and which they hold in as great eilecirc as if 
 they were fallen from hcauen. Amcngft w hklyhat is moft 
 fam jus, which they fay Chrift IcTus impiinted on a linnen 
 do:h of S^Feron:ca y o£wbkh I made mention bcfore,& which 
 is kept ac Rome in SzmbPtttrt Church, which becaufc.it is a 
 renowned I ma gc,bichoid the whole Legend thereof, as it is 
 reported by Vr'tol de Lccrss in the words of Mather* of 
 B^eftmivfler. Tybenu* the Emperor ( faith hee) being af- 
 flicted in his bo'cy with the diicafe of the Leprotic, it was 
 told him that there was a Phyfitian in lernfa-em that healed 
 ^I diicafes with his word ,noc knowing that zbc. I ewes and 
 FtUte had put him to death. He giueth therefore in: charge 
 to- one V*ltifian his Friend 3 to goc prefently to IerirfaJem,and 
 to command Pt/ate to fend this Phy fitian vnto him-: but ?/'- 
 /4^hauingrcceiued the comtnandement of the Emperor, 
 and being terrified thcrewith,dcf;ie3 fourteenc dales refpite: 
 
 during 
 
 
$6o Delnjicffsbyltnages* Chap. 5. 
 
 during the which time, Volutin asking acertainc Matron 
 that he heard had beene familiar with ! clus called FeroKica, 
 w r here he might finde this Phyfitian : fhe anfwered,alas this 
 was my Lord and my God, whom Wfaf * hath condemned, 
 andcaufedto be crucified through the cnuy of his- owne 
 Nation the lewes. Then Volufim in great griefe faid, I am 
 heartily forry therefore ,feeing I &e I cannot accomplish my 
 Mailers commandement. But Veronica anfwcred,when my 
 Lord went vp and downe preaching, and I was depriued of 
 his company, I was defirous to get his picture drawne; 
 to the end, that when I fhould bee depriued of his pre- 
 fence, I might folace my fclfe with the fight of his I- 
 mage : and as 1 was carrying a linnen cloth to a Painter to 
 haue his picture drawnethercin,my Lord metme^nd asked 
 me whither I was agoing ? To whom I hauing declared 
 the caufe of my voyage, hee asked ofme the cloth, and wi- 
 ping his face there with,left therein the impreflion of his ve- 
 nerable countenance, if therefore thy Matter lookc but de- 
 uoutly vpon this picture, hec fhall prefently recoucr his 
 health. ^A*#*»anfwcrcd,Canfuch a picture bethought for 
 Gold or Siluer ? No faith Veromcapw. with an earnef: af- 
 fection of deuotion : and therefore I will goe with thee 3 and 
 carry to the Emperor the Image to looke vpon,and then re- 
 turne to mine owne Country. Volnflan vpon the credit of 
 this report, returned to Rome with Veronica, and laid to 
 the Emperor Tiberius, PiUte and the lewes haue put this 
 Phyfitian to death whom thou defiredft to be brought vnto 
 thee : but a certaiiie Matron is come with mee,which bring- 
 cth with her his pi6ture,which if thou lookeft vpon dcuoutly, 
 thou (halt be cured ofthy difcale.Then the Emperor caufing 
 it to be prefented vnto him,and looking vpon it with great 
 deuotion was forthwith reftored to his former health.This is 
 the tale, which if it feeme to any to be but of a tub as the Pro- 
 ucibc fpeaketh,that Author forenamed confeileth as much, 
 when he defires to be belceucd in it, but confefTeth it to be 
 cozen German to a drcame,and yet the ignorant people bc- 
 Iceueittobe as true as theGofpell, and Pope Ubn the two 
 
 and 
 

 Chip, J. Delnfions by Images. 
 
 z€i 
 
 and twentieth alio wcth ten thoufands daics of pardon tocach | 
 one that (hall fay this prayei following to this pidurc of Ve+ 
 ronica* 
 
 Salve fantta fades nofiri Redemptoris % 
 In qua nitetff>;cies diumi fyendoris , 
 Imprejfa panmcnlo ninei candoru 
 D at a^yeromcx lignum ob amoris^rc 
 
 Wherein they addreffe their fpeech by a mod palpable I- 
 dolatrynotto Chritt ,bat to his picture onciy^an.i to fuch a 
 piclureas is themcere deuicc of man, whereof none of the 
 Euangelifts make any mcntion,who remembring matters of 
 leffer moment,would neuer haue forgotten fuch a miracu- 
 lous impreliion of the face of Chrift^if there had beene any 
 fuch thing : but let the Credit of this talc depend vpon their 
 Legend, which is as full of Lies as a (Lble of dung, as one of 
 their o wne Bifhops confefieth. 
 
 2. Concerning 1 nnges made by the Art of man, we haue 
 diucrs pregnant examples of notorious dclu(ion;as when 
 they maV e Nictdenrns'^z that is fpoken of in the third Chap- 
 ter of Saint Johns GofpellJ a Painter, and to haue drawnc an 
 Image of Chrift on the Croflc, which the Iewcs infeorne 
 crucified againe,to delpite Chrift. This ftory is referred by 
 llellarmme to Athanajiju> in a bookc entitled Theptffion of 
 the Image of our Lord.Chap . 4. but he doubteth whether A- 
 thanafiw was the Author of that bpol.^e or no, and yet he is 
 alleadgcd inthefcuenth Synodc,tfff.4.asanauthenticall wri- 
 ter. But 3 fortius giueth the flatly e both to BelUrmine and 
 to this facredSynodc, when he iaith,that this miracle hap- 
 ■ncd in the time oiConftantwe and Irene y vnder whom was 
 held that pretended feuenth vniuerfali Synode, and therefore 
 could not dcriue its authority from Atk*nafii<t*. Stgekert 
 alfo in his Chronicle reciteth it as done in the y eerc of our 
 Lord,7<5f. And to make the matter clearCjLtfr/r* CM*ri 
 »**#Hiftoriographcrto the Emperor Charles the fift kitty 
 that he worshipped the fame Image aa BUr;es \i\SpAmc\v a 
 
 A a a Teml 
 
 BsUarJe 
 mag Jib. s 
 
3 <Sa 
 
 Delttfions by Images. 
 
 Chap. 5 
 
 Temple of the Augufl'mes, whereas Syria is held to bee the 
 feate thereof. Saint Luke alfo is made a painter of an Euan- 
 gclift,out ofwhofe (hop (lfvvc will beleeuc their talcs)hauc 
 beene fent forth more Images of ChrKt,and the blciTed Vir- 
 gin his Mother,then out of any Painters fhop of the world 
 befide. For at Rome oi\c\y ,wc finde'in the Later ane Church, 
 an Image of our Sauiouv of cwelueyeeres old emboifed with 
 Gold and precious (toncs,begun (as they fay)by Saint Luke, 
 and.aftcrfinifhed by an Angell,which Image eucry ycere on 
 the fourteenth day olAuguftjs by the ordinance of Pope Leo 
 the fourthjCarricd in triumph vpon the fhoulders of the molt 
 honourable Citizens of Rome all about, from thence to Saint 
 OHarid maior y and the next morning after Mafic faid, it is 
 carried with like pompc into it owne place : and vpon this 
 day are fct free fourteene prifoncrs worthy of death,in honor 
 of this Image. At Saint Mary of the people, js a Tablet of 
 the Virgin Mary painted (as they fay) by the hand of .Saint 
 Luke* At Saint Mary in the broad way, is to bee fecne a 
 Chappeli, where Saint Luke wrote the A els of the A pottles, 
 and painted a Tablet of the Virgin Mary, which is in the 
 fame Chappeli, and was thefirft (fay they)that hee painted, 
 after hee had firft feenehcr, and therefore repreientethher 
 with a Ring on ha* finger. At Saint Augujline alfo they 
 oftcnt another Image of the Virgin Mary painted by Saint 
 Luke. At Saint Mary called Ara cdi, is another Image of 
 the Virgin 7^1 dry of Saint Lukes workmaniliip,!nfuch quality 
 as flic wasin,when{he{toodby theCrofFc of her Son : be- 
 fore the quire of which Church is alfo a round ftone latticed 
 about with iron,wherein the impreffions ofthe feet of an An- 
 gcll are to be fecnc,fixed there when Pope Gregory confecra- 
 ted the faid Church-. At Saint Mary the ncw,in a Marble 
 Chappeli is a Tablet made by the hand of Saint L*^,which 
 was brought from Troa* to Rome^nd was not hurt by fire, 
 when the Church wherein it ftood was all burnt toafhes. 
 Likcwifc in the Chappeli of Saint Mary of gracc,there is a- 
 nother Tablet of Saint Lukes painting; and another in the 
 Church ofSa&itS/AtfWjWith a number more,andailat Remex 
 
 b y 
 
Chapo 5. Dclujtons bj Images. 
 
 & 
 
 by which we may gucfTe what a multitude of his pictures are 
 to be found in other places, when one City doth fo abound 
 with them. I fpeake not of vulgar and common Images,thc 
 abufe whereof is no lefTe then ol thefe ; but I remember on- 
 ly fuch as no man of found fenfe can apprehend with proba- 
 bility or appearance of truth, confidcring what the holy 
 Scripture rep ortcth of Saint £«£f,and what the more found 
 antiquity witncficih of him. 
 
 3 . Morcouer,as Arntbitu long agoc derided the Pagans 
 for the diuers figures which they aiftgned to their Gods, as 
 when they piclarcd Jupiter Hamon y Wuh two homes like a 
 Ram, Saturnc wiih a Sickle, Mercury as a Mcffenger equi- 
 page d for a voyage, V&niu all naked,as a woman ready to 
 proititute her body to whoredome, Vulcan with a Ham- 
 mer and other inftruments of the Forge, Apollo with a Harpe 
 like a Mufitian,and Neptune with a three forkedMace : So 
 he might well deride the Papifts ifhe were now liuing,who 
 reprefent their Saints in like fa(hion,as Mofes with two 
 hornes,Saint Iohn with a Challice, Saint lames withapil- 
 grimes ftaffc,Saint Paul with a S word,Saint Peter with two 
 Keycs, Saint Genrfi with a Violl, S. Anthony with aHoggc, 
 and fuch like. For as hee fpeaketh ofthe heathen Gods,(b 
 we may truely affirme of thefe Popifli Saints, that if we take 
 from them theircnfignes,one of them could not be differen- 
 ced from the other, no more then Aclors in a play without 
 their habits,for what can wetearmc this but meerly an inter- 
 lude of fuperftitionPAddc hereunto,that as the Pagans wor- 
 fhipped their Gods vndcr the Image and prourtraiclurc of 
 certainc men,yca, of infamous Harlots :as we rcad,that Phi- 
 dias drew the Image of lupiter Olympian by the vifagc of 
 his Minion Pantaroes, and Prapiteles the Image oS.Vcnm by 
 the famous Harlot Vhryne : So the Papifts hauc their linages 
 draw ne after the fame modcll,as of our Lady^Saint tJMary 
 Magdalen ,and other fhe Saints,by the feature and fauour of. 
 fuch delicateDames as were prcfented to their view : yea, 
 this grofTc fuperftition is grownc to that height ofimpuden- 
 cy,thatifthepic3ute of any notorious Harlot be but placed 
 
 Aaa 2 
 
 in 
 
 
3tf* 
 
 DeluJicKS by Images. 
 
 Chap. 5 
 
 Gt*eu/tr/tg9l- 
 1 denepftJLtb.i* 
 
 in a Church or Chappcll, or fome other place of publike or 
 priuate "d euotion,they ; pare not to kneclc vnto it,and toa- 
 dorc* before it, as if it wereamoft vndoubtcd Saint. Of 
 which horrible abufc Anthony Guevara Bifhop of Mondone- 
 */o,Preacher and Chronicler to CW/«thefift,giueth vs a 
 fumxient witneiTc;forhein one of his Golden Epiftles af- 
 firmcth, that a ccrtaine Great man of note called Henry 
 Henriques, had in his Oratory three Tablets of three very 
 beautiful! women curioufly drawnc, with thefc inferiptions 
 ouer them,Saint Lamia, Saint Flora, Saint Lais, the names 
 of three ancient and famous Harlots among the Pagans, 
 which notwithftanding this Lord prayed eucry day vnto, 
 and laid his Aue Maria, and Pater noflcrs. Neither is this 
 •oiiely in priuate deuotion, but it is notorbufly knowneby 
 experiencc,that on their Feaftday o£ Corpus Cbrifit,zt which 
 time Altars arc addreffed in the middeft of the ftreets with 
 great oftcntation,they vie to prefent to the people to wor- 
 ship the molt wanton and lafciuious pictures that they can 
 fmde out in any priuate hbufes,with a more then 'hcathenifh 
 prophanation. 
 
 4. But the quinteiTenccofdelufionlurkcth in the Images' 
 and worfhip of the blcffedVivgin, againft whom farrc be it 
 from mee to conceiue the lcaft thought of irrcucrcncc 
 and difhonour, I fpeake encly againft their fuperftition 
 which fhe her felfc abhorreth. Ic is therefore to benotcd,that 
 they haue a whole legion of our Ladies pictures, from 
 whence fprin'geth thegrcateft reucnewes of their Cleargy. 
 Some take their names from the places, Cities, or Townes, 
 where they arenas our Lady of LawrfttOyGWt Lady of Si* 
 :hem,om Lady of Halls y o\it Lady otWalfingham, our Lady 
 3f y//>, our Lady ofN-antueil^om Lady of Francxeite, w\xh 
 a number m6rc; Others giue names to the places where 
 they are ; as our LadyofmeVale/vvhfchis therefore called 
 our f adics Vale, our Lady of the Mount, our Lady of the 
 Wood,our Lady oftheFicld,our Lady of the Well, our La- 
 dy of the Fountaine,our Lady of the Caue.our Lady of the 
 Snow,becaufe in the hottcft time offummer the place where 
 
 this 
 
Chap.?, 
 
 Belujions by Images* 
 
 3*5 
 
 this Image (rands, is alwaies full of Snow, as they report : 
 fome againe take their names from the fuppofedefte&s, 
 which they arc thought to workc : as our Lady ofRecouery, 
 our Lady of Comfort, our Lady of GladncfTe, our Lady of 
 Joy, our Lady ofPitty, our Lady of Vcrtue, our Lady of 
 good Newes, our Lady of ^ood De(irc,our Lady of Aydes, 
 with an infinite number of the like kinde : So that we may 
 iuftly fay ofrhefe Papifts, as the Lord himfclfe faith of the 
 lewes by the mouth of the Prophet leremr, Chap, i r .1 3. 
 O Ittdab according to the number of thy Cities were thy G$ds i 
 and according to the km mber of t heflreets oflerufalem, bane 
 yefetvp Altars to that Jhamefuflthing^ emn altars to bnrne 
 incenft vnto Bad. A prophecy verified in the Popifh 
 Church, where they hauc a feuerall Saint for cuery City, and 
 the Virgin CMary a common protcclrix of them all. 
 
 5. But this is not all : the differences that arebctwixt 
 thefc our Ladies are very great, afvvell in other things, as in 
 their names ; and that both in their age, and in their feature, 
 and in their beauty, and their countenance ; as Henry Ste- 
 phen in his Apology for Herodotus , hath at large defcribed: 
 but inthislurkesthe maincpoyfon (faith the fame Author) 
 that for rhc moft part they arc acoutrcd and garnifhed both 
 in countenance and vefture, like notorious Harlots ; as they 
 vfed to paint S. Mary Magdalen, to wit, naked in fome 
 parts, as alio the ^/Egyptian Mary. And to this purpofe 1 
 remember (faith he) what I hauc read of our t ady of all 
 beauties at 7ottrs % fo tearmedbecaufe fhe vfed to be painted 
 after the fame manner that Venn* was wont to 6e among the 
 Pagans : For all the daintieft Wenches of Tows were 
 brought before the Painter ; and from one he borrowed her 
 high forehead, from another her (parkling eyes, from a third 
 her pretty long nofc, from a fourth her fmiling mouth/rom 
 others a dimpled chin,and other parts of the body mow whe- 
 ther the obic6t of fo beautifull an our I. ady, enk indlcth our 
 deuotion or no, or rather what other flame it ftirreth vp, I 
 leaueto them that arc competent iudges in this kinde. This I 
 ♦ am aflured of, out of his Aiithot.which is one lohn Menard, 
 : ,"' A a a 3 a 
 
166 
 
 Delufiom by Images, 
 
 Chap. 5 
 
 a great preacher in thofe times, that there arc in their bookes 
 of deuotion, to be feene moll lafciuious pictures, fitter to in- 
 ccndluft, then to ttirre vp dcnotton. But whether thofc 
 pictures were of fuch as they had at command, or of fuch as 
 they would haue at command, I know not : onely it is likely 
 they were of fuch creatures, as to whom they bore great af- 
 fection, and lcaft they fhould forget them, would contem- 
 plate their pictures in their prayers. 
 
 6. Now I would askc them in this fubieft but one que- 
 ftion, to wit, Whether all thefe our Ladies which I haue na- 
 med, arc one and the fame in fubftancc, or diucrs and many? 
 If they fay, One and the fame, I aske then why they difguife 
 hcr.after i'o many fafhions ? If they fay that they are diuers, 
 I would fainc know of them, which is the true Virgin Mary 
 the mother oflefus Guilt ? This queftion which way focuer 
 they anfwer, cafts them into molt foule and grolfc abfurdi- 
 ties, and therefore I leaue it to their wifedomes to refolue : 
 onely let me remember them of the opinion of a good wo- 
 man of Mount Riuard'm France ,who faide,that our Lady of 
 Wftuttiftf, and our Lady of Francptstl were Sifters, and furely 
 fhc had reafon, feeing their habits and countenances were 
 fo me what alike. 
 
 7. But this abufc is not onely in the habits of our La- 
 dies, but alfo of the other Saints, which to decipher to the 
 full, would aske a longer difcourfc then Tin tend ; and for 
 which, I referre the Reader to the former Author, Henry 
 Stephen. Indeed the differences betwixt them, is both m- 
 finitj and incredible ; not onely in thefe things, but in many 
 others; and therefore it is a great wonder how they being fo 
 different betwecne themfelues, fliould haue fo perfect an 
 harmony in the kitchins of their holy Church, which they 
 all with one accord maintaine in fuch fort, that they hardly 
 giuc place to the kitchins of Kings and Emperours. Much 
 reuencw commeth to them from the bodies of their Saints 
 departed y in regard of their rclikes, as hath bene declared be- 
 fore, but it is nothing to that wealth which they gaine by 
 their foules : which that wc may belecue to be true, let the 
 
 Reader 
 
C hap. y . Dtlujiom by Images, 
 
 3*7 
 
 Reader take but the paines to view thcfe Latinc vcrfcs, 
 which I will let downc verbatim, as they were a long time 
 written in Cothic^kttcrs id a Tablet of (lone, faftned to a pi- 
 cture of the Church of S. Stephen at B surges , neere vnto the 
 Altar, where vfed to be fung their Card inall Mafic: for they 
 containc in them the very quinteffencc of mod impudent and 
 abhoininable impiety, and is fo Authemicall a prefident, as 
 cannot be denyed, without denying their owne hand and 
 icale. The veiies are thefc*. 
 
 Hie des deuete. y ccekftibiu affbcio te ; 
 Menx es £grotaper munerafunt ibi lot a : 
 Ergo venitste gentes a forde remote r 
 Quidtti* eft ot e cert i de dtuite d*e : 
 Teprecor accelera, fpargas hie dumpotes WA : 
 Et fie reuera fecure ccelicaffera. 
 Oft tufcires, quantum data profit ibt res 9 
 Tmuxta vires y donares queddare quires, 
 Te mifer a pan a dum tempus habes aliens 
 Hue dare tepana, venire fit aperta erumena, , 
 Confers c odeft is fabrics y qui porrigit, eft is i 
 JExhccfumteftis, hicvos mundarepotcfttSi. 
 Fratres haw it e de truncopocula vita 
 Hie all quid finite y veri velut Ifratlita 
 (Jrede mihi crede, cceli dominaberis cede 
 Nam pro mereede Chrifto dices mihi cede. 
 Hie dutur exponiparadifus venditioni^ 
 Currant ergo boni, rapientes culmna throni 
 Vis ret inere forum 3 mihi tradas paucabonorum 
 Profumma quorum, refer abitnr aula polornm* 
 Hie ft Urge des ,in ccslo fit tuafedes : 
 Qjfiferit htcparce,parcecompre%dit'tn arcs 
 Cur tar das tantam ? numrni mihi des aliqxantum-,- 
 Profilo nummogaudebis in <ttherefummo % &c. 
 
 I forbeare to interpret thefe vcrfcs in Englifo, becaufe 
 their greater! grace lyes in the Latine rimes , oncly the mea- 
 ning 
 
3<*8 Dclufions by Excommunications .Ch3p.6* 
 
 ning in few words is this : That he which giueth to an Image, 
 goethdiredtly into Paradife,andthe more he giueth the bet- 
 ter place he (hall finde there ; yea, that Chriit himfeife (hall 
 yecld his place vp to fuch an one. Now is it poflible that 
 men that are reafonable creatures, fhould be thus deluded 
 and blinded ? But this is the efficacy of Antichriftian deiufion 
 inflicted by Gods iudgementvpon men for their finnes, and 
 wrought by the fubtiety and malice of Sathan,vpon their 
 fbulcs. 
 
 CHAP.tf. 
 
 D chip on s by Pofifh Excemmttnications and Tar dons * 
 
 I . TJ E fides all thefe fo renamed delufions, the world hath' 
 JDbene no lefle inueigled and deceiucd by their vfe, or 
 rather abufc of the Keyes, which the Pope chalicngeth, to 
 hauc authority to difpofe in the Church, and fublcgateth the 
 fametoBiihopsandPriefts. This power is exercifed two 
 waics : cither by fhutting whom they lilt out of the King- 
 dome of heauen, by excommunication : or by fetting open 
 thedore to whom they lift, by Pardons, indulgences, and 
 Abfolution. Now their Excommunication is twofold, the 
 leffer and the greater : the leflfer is nothing clfe but an execu- 
 tion fronuhe Sacraments of the Church : and the greater 
 called Anathema,™ vttcr abfeiffion from the body of Chnft. 
 And in like manner their Indulgences are of two kinds : one 
 Sacramentall after the Sacrament of Confeffion and Pe- 
 nance, which is an abfolution from finnes : and the other 
 Iuridicall, which is an acl of iurifdi&ion and Ecclciiafticall 
 authority,giuing abfolution from the cenfurcs of the Church: 
 now how both thefe arc abufed, and the world deluded by 
 them, is the point I am to manifeft in this difcourfc fol- 
 lowing. 
 
 2* And firft, Ifay that this power left to the Church by 
 Chriit, is in many things foavilcd by the Church of Rome^ 
 and in o thers fo exalted aboue mcafurc, that there remaines 
 
 little 
 
Ch;ip.5 # 
 
 and Pardons, 
 
 369 
 
 dy, into the affliction of his purfe. This their owne Canon 
 affirmeth exprelTely. And the gloiTe vpon it faith, that if a 
 man may rcdeeme his faft by giuing a peny, much more 
 may one be freed by an others fail, and therefore it is an or- 
 dinary pradiife amongft them to giue money to fotne religi- 
 ous perfons, to faft and pray and make fatisfa&ion for them, 
 and in their ftcades. But I mould feare that if I did my pe- 
 nance by a Proclor,! fhould alfo be faued by a Pr oclor. i aft- 
 ly . that which is worft of all, thefc fello wes vndcr the colour 
 Bbb of 
 
 little m it of the inftitution of the Sonne of God. This is a 
 formall abufc, and one of the feftered vlcers of the Chu ch 
 otRome, which requircth a fuller Treatifetolanchthe fore 
 thereof, then my intent will allow : I will oncly fearch it a 
 little,thoughnottothcbottome. And to begin, obferue 
 firft^ how the Councill of Trent y in the 1 j. SefTion, and 
 Chapter 5. ofthercformation,feemeth billing to put it hand 
 to the correction of the abufes of Fcclefiafticall cenfures : 
 but all that thofc holy Fathers do, is nothing elfe but to ex- 
 alt the authority ofBifhops, and to abafethat of Priefts, and I 
 to clip the wings of the frcular Magistrate. Secondly, the 
 forme of their Sacramentall abfoljtion, which is in the Priefts 
 power to giue, is vtterly full of blafphcmy ; for they doe not 
 onely abfolue in the name of the Father, the Sonne, and the 
 holy Ghoft, which is agreeable to Chrifts in(tituuon,but al- 
 fo in the name and merits of the Virgiu Mary, and all the 
 Saints, and their ownc fatisfactions , which is a manifeft cor- 
 ruption of the dodVine of 'aluation. Thirdly, this abfoluti- 
 on is giucn vpon condition, that the finner fhall endure fomc 
 fatisfadtory paincs impofed vpon him by the Pdeft, as fome 
 Fafts, fomccertaine l J ilgrirnages, fome ccrtaiae number of 
 Prayers ; which laft feemeth to me a groffe abufe, to put 
 prayers amongft paines, feeing good workes cannot be cal- 
 led paines or punimments, it being a greater puniftiment to 
 be forbidden them, then commanded. Fourthly, (which is 
 yet worfe) if a man being enioyned this penance hauc no hu- 
 mour to faft and pray,or go on pilgrimage, he may redeeme 
 all with a little money, and permute this affliction of his bo 
 
 Eman Sd It" 
 jn t Aphsi ifn* 
 
 Ct% pre sitter 
 
3 7° 
 
 Velufions by Excommunicathns C hap. 5 
 
 T ' lUtds'w 
 
 of fpirituall fatisfa$ion, vfurpc to thcmfelues a tcmporall do- 
 minion oucr the bodies and goods of men : their bodies, by 
 caufing them to be whipt and fcourged, as Cardinall 7 diet 
 witnefleth. Abfoluatur(J^\\h\\Q) cum Pfalmo et er*tio*e do- 
 minies et verberibvu : and as we haue two famous examples 
 in two great Kings, Henry the fecond ot England , to whom 
 Pope Alexander the third caufed trie whip to be giuen by a 
 multitude of Monkes, whereof fomegaue him fine blowes, 
 other? thrce,and fo forth as their humours led them^as it is re- 
 corded by CMathew Parti in his Hiftory. The fecond ex- 
 ample is in Henry the fourth of France, who recciucd in the 
 perfon of his EmbafTadour the Bifliop of Unreux, being pro- 
 stitute at the feete of his Holinefie Clement the eight, diucrs 
 ftrokes with a wand, /before the King could be receiued in- 
 to the bofome of the Church of Reme*. And how they en- 
 croached vpon mens goods by this meanes, their continual! 
 falc of Indulgences,for a certaine rate of money, which gaue 
 Luther the firft occaiian of breach with the R omane Church, 
 doth fufficiently fhew : for by this tricke they drayaed mens 
 purfes, and amailed infinite treafure into their owne cof- 
 fers. 
 
 3. And becaufe I haue mentioned their Indulgences, 
 whieharean extrauagant kinde of exercife of the Keyes,nei- 
 thev meerely facramentall ,nor iuridicall, but of a mixt nature 
 partaking ofboth : let vs in few words obferue their abufe 
 of the world by them ; and that fo grofle and palpable, as is 
 almoft incredible, wereitnotforc-prophecied of them by 
 the Apoftle, that God fliould fend vpon them ftrong delu- 
 sion to belccue Iyc3. This power the Pope challengeth to 
 himfclfe alone : for he(fay they) being Chri(ts Vicar here on 
 earth, hath the keyes of the Churches treafury ty ed to his 
 girdle, which treafury, is filled with the merits of the Saints, 
 to wit, their workes of fuperero gat ion, which they haue 
 more then they neede for their owne ialuation, mixt w ith 
 the merits of Chrirtiand all thefe to be difpenfcd anddifpo- 
 fed at the Popes pleafure. By this power the Pope can at an 
 . inftant, deliucr all the Joules that are in Purgatory, and fend 
 I them 
 
Chap 6. 
 
 and Pardons. 
 
 371 
 
 them intoParadife: which if it be true,then itfollowcth,that 
 if he can do this and will not, he is an vnmcrcifull Tyrant in 
 fuffcring fo many millions of foulcs to lye frying in that fur- 
 nace,when it is in his power to giuc them cafe : if he will and 
 cannot, then hec is a notorious Iyer to vaunt of this power. 
 By this fame power, he taketh vpon him to giuc pardons to 
 thofc that arc aliue, and to exempt them from the punifh- 
 ment or their finncs by plenary remiiTton : but it is witli this 
 condition , St Yionyrmatur obex, If there be not a barre in the 
 receiver ; which barre is want ofFaith and Repentance : but 
 this is a moft intollcrablc abufe, for if a man hauc faith and 
 repentance ,he is fine to be faucd,whether he hauc the Popes 
 pardon or no : and if he want faith and repentance, they 
 themfelues confclTe that the Popes pardon can doe him no 
 good. By this power, they promife plenary remiflion of 
 finnes, to all that come to Rome on Pilgrimage, and chaunce 
 to dye by the way, and to them that Hue and v ijfit the holy 
 places there, cfpccially the feucn priuiledged Churches. 
 They promife to fome 5 o. to fome an 1 00. to fome 3000. 
 yceres of pardon : yea Boniface the eight granted out of his 
 bountifull liberality 8 2 000. yecrcs pardon, to euery one 
 that fhould fay a prayer of S. /4ngttfiwe y printed in a Table 
 at Venice , and that t ottes quoties. And lobn the 2 2 .granted 
 20. yeeres pardon to euery one that doth but bow his head 
 at the naming of Iefus : by which account, a man may pro- 
 uide in one day for millions of £ ges, and, that which is re- 
 markablc,beyond the worlds continuance ; whereas Purga- 
 tory lafteth according to their opinion, but till the day of 
 iudgement. By this power, the Pope vfethto confecratc 
 and hallow an infinite number of Crucifixes, Mcdailcs, and 
 sslgmu *Deis, holy Graines,6r Beades, and fuch like trad), 
 and to fend them abroad into the world, that whofocuer 
 wearcth one of them about him, if he be at the point of 
 death, and fay but in his heart the name Iefus, iliallhauc 
 an abfolute forgiuenefle of all his finncs, though he cannot 
 be partaker of the other Sacraments of their Church By this 
 po wefjleaft Rome fhould be too farrc to fetch thefe pardons, 
 
 Bbb2 the, 
 
37* 
 
 Velujioxs by Exccmmunk&ticns Chap. 6 J 
 
 the Pope hath appointed many petty Markets andFaircs of 
 them in cuery Country, and the Pedlers that cany about this 
 trafh, arc the Pricfls and Iefuitcs. L o the tenth, fent one 
 Tereitm about with thefe Pardons offering to cuery one for 
 the payment often {hillings, and not a peny vnder, to fet at 
 liberty the foul" of any one which they fhould name in Pur- 
 gatory. Out of this power iflueth their odious merchandize 
 and fetting to fale of all manner of iinne called, Ttxa pceni- 
 tentixrU ApoflohcA : whereby impunity is granted, be the 
 finne neuer (b gricuous, fo the party pay according to the 
 rate for his abfolutiou : as for adultery orincelt, foureTu- 
 rons .- for both together,fix Turons : for wiifull murthcr be- 
 ing in holy orders, twelue Turons : and fo in proportion for 
 other offences ; fo that there is no finne fo heynous, for 
 which pardon may not be purchafed for a fmall tumme of 
 money. Now then is it not too too manifeft, how groiTely 
 the world hath bene deluded by this impious praclife ? For 
 hereby not onely notorious finners, as Whores, Thecucs, 
 Adulterers, Murtherers, &c. arc made fecure and careleiTe 
 in their finnes,fecing a pardon is fo eafily to be obtained, but 
 they are alfo enboldened to continue in their finfull courfes ; 
 forafmuch as they yfc to pardon a fmne before it be commit- 
 ted : as it is faid of Doctor Parry, that he brought with him 
 his pardon in his pocket, for murthering our late Queene of 
 happy memory, intended by him : and a ccrtaine Germans , 
 hauing obtained a pardon for the next finne he ihouid com- 
 mit, robbed prefently the Popes Pardoner, and fo could 
 not be accufed thereof becaufc he had his pardon ^o fhew. 
 And that this delufion, though it ranne currant amongft the 
 ignorant people, was refented by fome of the wi cr fort, c- 
 uen in thefe tim?s of darkneiTc, may bee proued by diuers 
 testimonies : as of one ) liner cMniliard, a great preacher of 
 thekovync,andaFriar, whofpeaking of thefe pardon-Pcd- 
 lers, whom he calleth < BHiMtor&s 9 amongfl; other hath thefe 
 words : An credit is quod whs magnns vfurarius plentu vi- 
 tys^qm hjibtbh mtUemilliapeccata, ddttdo fex albos trwco 
 habeatrcmijfioncm emninm fecatorumffiorurn ? Certe durum 
 
Chap.5. 
 
 and Pardons* 
 
 373 
 
 efl mthi credere y et dttriits pradtcare. In like manner the Au- 
 thor ofthcbookc entiled Onus 'icdefi£ y trmsfpeaketh : I fit 
 indxlgenttamm Buccinatores ownimodam promittmtt fecuri- 
 tatem, qua par it negligent iam } et negligently of enfant 'Dei: 
 that is,Thefepublifhers of Pardons promife all manner of 
 fecurity which breedeth negligcnce,and negligence the of- 
 fence ofGod. But mofr pregnant is the complaint of the 
 Germatne Nation in the booke of their Centum gravamina ^ 
 exhibited to the Popes Legate ztNorimberge, -/*>/. i 522. 
 for there they thus complainc. By the f ale and Merchandise 
 of this ware, (namely pardons) not o*>ely Cjermany i* fyniled 
 ofmoney y bttX Chrifttam godltneffe is txtinguifbed : for from 
 hence fvhoredome, Inceff y Adultery ,Periurf s Afurder y Tbeft , 
 Robbery y V fury y and a whole he ape ofmifhtefes haue proceeded , 
 no man being afraid to commit avjfinne in reff>e(2 of con- 
 fcience y when he was perfwaded that a pardon might be fur cha- 
 fed at fo eafit a price, 
 
 4. But enough of this trafli,whercin peraducnturcl haue 
 frayed too long : I come now to their Excommunications, 
 which containe in it fo many abufes as is hard to count them. 
 For whereas the Ecc!c(iaiticall cenfurcs were admitted to 
 humble finners, and lb to bring them to repentance, the 
 Church of fow* turtles them quite to another end: For they 
 make them feme for the finding out of things loft, and the 
 payment of defperate debts, and for terrifying from finnes 
 not yet committed, fo laying a plaiftcr where there is no 
 wound. Forthcfuft : if a man haueanHoife ftollcn from 
 him,or any other thing,he may procure an Excommunicati- 
 on againft the party that had ttole him though vnknowne,to 
 be of force if he bring him not againc, and fo the Iheefe 
 muft either gallop away to hell or returne to the Gailowes, 
 let him choofe which: and lb oftentimes it'fallcth out, that 
 by this m?ancs, 3 ! : athcr hath vn wittingly excommunicated 
 his owne Son, and for the body of an Hor fe, fent his Sonnes 
 foule to the deuill. Cardinall Tola approueth of this kinde 
 of Fxcom!nunication,and fo doth the Councill of Trent. In 
 Ukemancr,the fame Cardinall al!oweth,that an Excommu- 
 ' Bbb j nication 
 
 7*9&f de lit* 
 f?r U ft.Ucerd. 
 libjc*f> 8 
 Coneil Trident. 
 
. ~— 
 
 .2 ^4 Delujicns by Excommunications Chap.6*. 
 
 nicacion may be publikely denounced s gainft ail fuch,as fhall 
 rob facha Lords Orchard, or fleale his Kine, this is for a 
 fault corn .uicted. And if a Creditor be defirous to be fpeedi- 
 lypaidehis debt, he may by their rules excommunicate the 
 Debtor before hand, if h:c come not togiuc fatisfa&ion 
 Within a prefixed time. And this is the vie che'y make of the 
 power of the Keycs, giuen by our Sauiour ( hrifttohis A- 
 poftles for the faluation and humiliation offinncrs. 
 
 5,. But mod pcrnitious is their common rule ,that a man 
 excommunicate,is fufpended from the charge and office he 
 bearethwhatfoeueritbee, and canexcrcife no acl of iurif- 
 diition which is not voidcin Law : for this is to fubiccl sen- 
 der the power of the Pope and his Bifhops, allciuill Magi- 
 strates, all the offices of the Crowne, all th Q Lords of the 
 Councill,ycathc very Crowncs of \ings the Tifeiues,who af* 
 ter once an Excommunication is darted againftthem, be ic 
 wrong or right,are depriued of all authority, and all their 
 Edic^OrdinanceSjand Decrees, made vtterly voide and a- 
 nuiled. And yet their interdict of a whole Kingdoms for 
 an offence concerned againii the King onely, is a matter of 
 greater horror and deteftaiion : for then no Bell is fuffercd 
 to be rung in the whole Landfall Diuincfe-ruicc ceafeth, hoe 
 that would heare a Maffe inuftgoeout of die Land f all the 
 Sacraments of the Church are fufpended, except Baptifme, 
 auricular confeflion and extreame VncTion rthe bodies of the 
 dead are buried in the ficlds,and nil Church-yardcs flaut vp.. 
 In this miferable cafe was our England yndcx King hhn for 
 the fpace of fix yecres, during all which time, how many 
 foules were fent into hell (if we belceue the Pope) as men 
 dying out of the communion of the Church oiRome ? And 
 all this for pecuniary quarrels, and certaine temporall lights, 
 which the King dcaiecUo thePope,the people being not the 
 caufc thereof But yet it is moft abominable of all,that re- 
 miflionof fitines is giuen as the wages of iniquity,and abfo- 
 lution to a (inner vpon condition that he giuehisHoufe,or 
 hisLand,orhisKingdorneto the Pope, for the wages of 
 iniquity: as when hading excommunicated one Prince, hee 
 
 — 12& 
 
Cfup.tf, 
 
 and Pardons. 
 
 5/5 
 
 giueth his Dominion to another vpon condition he fhould 
 inuade and lacke the othere Country, and difpoiTcffe him 
 thereof. This is a common practife of the Pope againft Em- 
 perors and Kings, as the (torics of the Emperor Frederick? 
 the fecond, and his forme Conrad*, w:th diuers of our Eng- 
 lifli Kings fufficicntly wiineffe. And in France during the 
 laft league ,wcrc there not pardons fct vp in ail the principal] 
 Cities of the Kingdome,w herein nine yceres rcmifficn was 
 granted to euery one that fhould rebel] againft the King ? as 
 if he fhould fay. bceau'e thou art wicked^thcrefore thou fhalt 
 be fitued ; becaufe thou art a Tray tor 3 therefore thou (halt 
 haue remiflion of thy finncs, and the kingdome of heauen. 
 And as touching the rauifhing of mens goods by this 
 mcancSjthe cafe is fo cleare by manifold experience, that it 
 admits no deny all ; for during the ? oo. yceres wherein the 
 Pope quarrelled with the Emperors of Germany^ for fo long 
 that quart ell continued) did not the. power of the Pope en- 
 crcafe, and that of the Emperor decrcafe euery day ? Eue- 
 ry Pope by the terror of his Excommunication drawing 
 from the Emperor excommunicate^uiftSjPriuilcdgeSjPof- 
 icfllons and temporal! rights, before hee could be abiolued. 
 HcgaueabfolutiontoKi g Ighn oiFnglwtd, vpon conditi- 
 on that he fhould due him his Kingdome, and become his 
 Vaflall and Liege-man, paying him a thoufand Markes a 
 yccre,, as to his chiefe Lord. 
 
 f. And fore a man would hardly belecuc^how enormous 
 and prophane the abufc is in their abfolutions from the cen- 
 fure of excommunication, ThelefuitcS^inhis Aphorifmes 
 fakh,that an abfolution made vpon a falfe ground is auaHea- 
 ble : and Tolht y that an vniuft abfolution ftands in force: 
 and if a Bifhop abiblue without fatisia&ion, his abfolution 
 holds. £ sifa Bifhopabfolue atheefc without binding him to 
 reltore the theft. Befidcs,that which is wot fc : in the Church 
 ofRnme as they abfolue by a CommilTary ,fo a man may bee 
 abfolucdby his Proctor; and that which is yctworfc, a man 
 may be abfolued without h's knowkdgc,andagainfthis wil, 
 which is as much as. to fay, thou (halt be faued whether thou 
 
 wilt 
 
 phor*fm,]n yer~ 
 
 b- Kxctimm* 
 
 fttuaSdcerd. 
 
Toffet <te In* 
 
 lib.cdp.tjf.. 
 Idem. cap .if. 
 
 mm 
 
 Delajions hy Excommunications C h n p % <& , 
 
 wihforno. They teach alfo that an He re tike or fchifmatike 
 may abfolue an excommunicate perfon at the point of death: 
 and to an excommunicate may giuc communion, that is, that 
 which hee hath not : yea, that a man may be abfolued from 
 his excommunication afcer his death. Out it is pretty which 
 Be liar mine ^ Sa, and /Vamrre affirme, that hec which giueth 
 Indulgences to othcrs/riay alfo giue them to himfelfe,and fo 
 there can be no want of pardon, when a man may pardon 
 himfelfe : and yet Maffe is fa id for the Pope departed, prc- 
 fuppodng that he is in Purgatory, and that he cannot pardon 
 himfelfe. But aboue all, is the Bull of C&va Domini re- 
 markeable, by which the Popceueryyetre vpon Maundy 
 Thurfday, being mounted on a Scaffold, hauing two Pea- 
 cocks tayles at his two earcs in imitation of the heathen 
 Emperors, ( as is reported by Dion in the life of Setter ui) 
 thundereth out along Excommunication,and ratificth it by 
 caftingdownefrom alcfta burning candle wherein are ex- 
 communicated, firfr, all Heretikes and c chifmatikes, with 
 all others that are difobedient to the Pope. Secondly, 
 all that appeale from the Pope to a future Councill, toge- 
 ther with their Counfellors, aydcrs and fauourers. Third- 
 ly, all Pyrates and Robbers, that ramagc the Popes coaits, 
 from Mount Argentarioto Terracivs, as if the Pyrates vp- 
 on the coafts of England, and France ,and Spaine, were not 
 as guilty as thefe. Fourthly, all Princes that impofe any 
 new Taxes,Sub(idies,or impofitions vpon their people with- 
 out the pcrmifilon of the Pope : which claufe, toucheth all 
 Kings and Princes to the quicke,who are conitrainedby 
 neceffity of their arTaires,and authorized by the word of God 
 to raifefuch Taxes onafudaine for their prefent occafions. 
 Fiftly, all falfificrs -of the Apofrolicall Letters, all that con- 
 ueyArmesto Hcietikes,all that (top prouifion ofvicluals 
 commingto the Popes Court, all that hinder the voyage of 
 fuch as goe to Rome on pilgrimage, and all that kill,hurt, 
 rtrikc,orrob a Cardinal, or any other Prelate. Laitly,all 
 that rccciue tythes of the Cleargy,or vfurpc any waies their 
 righc^or take knowledge of caufes Ecclcfiafticall being 
 
 Lay- 
 
Chap.5. 
 
 and Pardons, 
 
 ?77 
 
 Lay-men, which claufc cnwrappcth not onely infcriour 
 officers of ftate,6ut euen Emperors,Kings,andDukes in their 
 Dominions,and is indeed directly aymed againft them. Here 
 is a roaring Bull indeed,able to tern'fie the whole world with 
 hisbellowing : but God be thanked,men that are not alto- 
 gether blinded with fuperftition,haue learnt out of the word 
 ofGod,thatit is but Brutum fttlntn, which hurts none but 
 thofe Cowards, which a panickc fearc can as foone ftrike 
 downc dead as theltrokc of a Gun. And I hope weehaue 
 thoufands that are of the fame minde with a Parisian Prieft, 
 who hauing receiucd an Excommunication agairil the Em- 
 peror Frederick* 'the fecond, which was to bee publifhed 
 with found of Bcls, and Candles lighted, and after extinct, 
 thusanfwered : I am commanded to excommunicate the Em- 
 peror Fredericks y and not knowing the cau(e y yet knowing that 
 there are great quarrels and an irreconc'Uiable hatred betwixt 
 the Tope and him y and I know that one doth wrong to the other , 
 but which it is I know not : therefore asfarre as my power ex- 
 tendeth J excommunicate him that doth the wrongs whether fo- 
 euer hee be^andabfolue him that it is done vnto, 
 
 7. Yea fo inftnitly outragious were they in this cenfure 
 ofExcommunicatioiijthat thereby they brought the necks 
 of Emperors and Kings ynder their feet. It is a ftory noto- 
 riouflyknowne, how Pope Alexander trampled vpon the 
 necke of the Emperor Frederick? y when he came vnto him to 
 be abfolued from his Excommunication. And how the Em- 
 peror Henry the fourth danced attendance bare-footed in 
 cold weather diucrsdaies before the Popes gate,erc he could 
 be admitted to his prefence : and how for feareofthis thun- 
 der clap, Kings haue waited like Lackeys on the Popes 
 Horfes, and one held his bridle, another his ftirrop : and 
 how Francis Dandaltu the Venetians Embaffador, crept on 
 his hands and feet, with a chaine about his necke like a dog 
 all along the Popes great Hall, ere he could obtaine an abfo- 
 lution for the State of Venice from the Popes Excommuni- 
 cation. And how the King otFrance, and the King of Eng- 
 land, attended on the fame Pope like Lackeys in the City 
 
 Ccc of 
 
378 
 
 Veltifions by Excommimicatiens Chap. 6< 
 
 See thefe 
 things more 
 fully difcour- 
 'fei ofbyjtfar- 
 rtAj in his**- 
 
 pmm< Abbot 
 
 and Dovfnam 
 dc Jntichrifio. 
 and hen-Ste- 
 phen in his A- 
 pology for He- 
 rod* 
 
 of 2? agettce. And how Adrian the fourth,caufed the forcna- 
 med Emperor Frederick? to hold his ftirrop whenhee dis- 
 mounted from his Horfe,and frumped him for his lrbour, in 
 holding the right for the left.' And how arrogantly 'Boni- 
 face foe eight entreated Pbitlip the Fairc^ King o{ France, 
 bragging that for his contumacy the Kingdome of France 
 was fallen to the Church otReme. And Albert oiAuftria, 
 in refuting to giue him the Imperiall Crowne being lawfully 
 chofen, and vaunting that hcehimfclfe was Emperor and 
 Lord of the whole world. Thcfe ftorics being at large let 
 downc by others,I doe but brecfely touch,and as it were by 
 the way. 
 
 8. Machiauell vpon the oceafion of the dealing of Pope 
 Alexander the third with the Emperor FW«7fl^,hath this 
 notable faying;that the Popes were growne great by three 
 things 3 by Excommunications ^ by Par dons, and by Armes : 
 for by Pardons they made thcmfelucs to be adored, by Ex- 
 communications to be redoubted, and by Armes to bee o- 
 beyed, but by all three they raked together infinite Trca- 
 fures,and fo made themfelues great. For touching Pardons, 
 it hathbccncfufficiently declared before : andforExcom- 
 municationsjthcir ordinary pra<ftifc was to excommunicate, 
 to the end,that an abfolution might be pin chafed with mo- 
 ney, as the forenamed Frederick* bought his- abfolution of 
 Pope Cregorj the ninth, for an iooooo. ounces of Gold. 
 Boniface the eight in the highefl: degree of impicty,was not 
 content to excommunicate the French KiagP£/7«;j» after the 
 ordinary manncr,but together with himyall his, to the fourth 
 generation. Is not this a manifeft: trampling vpon the necke 
 of Kings,and abufing of the blindnes of the world?For what 
 appearance is there that any mortal! man hath power to ex- 
 communicate a man and all his pofterity to the fourth gene- 
 ration ? The fame Pope in defpite ofthe forenamedFrench 
 King^ifanulledallthe Indulgences giuen by his Prcdecef- 
 forsto Frenchmen :a mo ft firange andabiurd aft :for if 
 thefe Indulgences were ofthatvertue as they pretend, they 
 mutt hauc redeemed out of Purgatory millions of foules; and 
 
 *1 
 
Chap £. 
 
 and Pardons. 
 
 379 
 
 if they were by this Decree nullified, then it muft needs 
 follow., that thefe poore fbulcs muft ret urne backcagainc out 
 of Paradifc into Purgatory : this condufion is an uimphtf- 
 hanti which ftingeth both waies. And for Amies, theone- 
 ly vfe of them was, when their ipirituall cenfures were cither 
 reie&edor contemned. 
 
 9. To conclude,wkh this thunder and lightning from the 
 Popes feate ( for fo it is named by them clues) men were fo 
 ten ified^hat they vvcrcdriuen into courfes ofcxtremitic and 
 defpciation: for they were perfwaded that they were hereby 
 giuen ouer to the power of Sathan, and vttcrly depnued of 
 the protection of God, and his holy Angcls ; and of the king- 
 dome of heauen. And therefore one of their owne Friars 
 faith, that it is not fit that this dart fhouldbeputinto the 
 hands of euery fooLfh Prelate,which notwithstanding is or- 
 dinarily done in the Church of R?me t the Pope lending to 
 Bifhops and Priefts this thunderbolt, as often as occafion 
 rcquireth. And this is me more remarkcable,feeing fuch as 
 are excommunicate arc depriued not onely of the communi- 
 on of Saints for the prefent, but of the very prayers of the 
 Church for the future. For on good-Friday when they pray 
 for I ewes, Turk es,, and Pagans, yet they pray not for thefe. 
 Howbeic fincc the light ofthe Gofpcll began to fliine in the 
 firmament ofthe Church,the w r orld isgrownc a little wifer, 
 and thefe thunderclaps arc asmuchnowcontemned,as they 
 were before rcuered : yea, many of their owne Religion 
 haue catt off the terror ofthem,and fctthem at naught. Take 
 for example the Emperor Charles thefift,who was not one- 
 ly a fauourer, but a protector ofthe Church otRome ; this 
 man being menaced with an Excommunication by Pope 
 PWthe third,ifhe did not deliuer vp the City P/aifance in- 
 to his hands,gauc him to know by his EmbaiTador,that if he 
 thundrcd and lightned with his Excommunications, hee 
 would anfwerc him with the thunder and lightning of his 
 Artillery. Their diucllifli pollicy therefore being thusdif- 
 couered,they fell to other more violent courfes,as the fire 
 and faggots, the bloody Inquifition, the burning chamber, 
 Ccc 2 open 
 
 Memt.Ccncl* 
 Coif, 
 
 —*\ 
 
380 
 
 Velufiom by Forres and Sacraments. Chap.^ 
 
 open warres, fccret treafons, fword, gun-powder, dagge, 
 piftoli,and poyfon, mau f acres > murders, with all manner of 
 more then AT^r^-like cruelty, and all too little to maintaine 
 their abominable pompe and fuperftition. Thefe are now 
 the engines of their policy, the old fpirituall cenfurcs being 
 almoft out of date,and by thefe they labour both to vphold 
 their Babel, and to ouertut ne the truth. Put our Lord Iefus 
 Chrift hath gmen to the cinders of his bleflcd Martyrs,the 
 vertuc which is laid to be in the afhc&of the Phcenix,and that 
 with more abundancerfor the allies of a Phoenix bring forth 
 but one Phoenix; but the afhes of one faithfull Seruant of Ie- 
 fus Chrifr, hath ingendrcd an infinite number of the fame 
 kinde, who notwithftandiLg all their cruelties and bloody 
 executions, do, and willftand for the defence of the truth, 
 and more and more difcoucr the abominations of that purple 
 Whore* 
 
 V 
 
 CHAP.7. 
 Delujions by LMonaftkaR Vo\ves y audi he SAcraments of ike 
 Romifb Church. 
 
 i.T^Heir Monafticall Vowes and Sacraments lye fo in 
 X my way , that I cannot draw towards my conclusion, 
 vntill I a little difcouer how the world hath bene deluded by 
 thofemeanes. And touchingthcir Vowes, they are of three 
 forts. Firft, the Vow of voluntary pouerty. Secondly, of 
 celibacy or (ingle life. And thirdly, of blinde and regular 
 obedience.* all which are profeffed by their Monkes and Fri- 
 ars in their Cloifters, to the great abufing of the world by 
 thefc tricks of Antichriltian policy. 
 
 1. Concerning their voluntary pouerty which they vow 
 and profelTc, who fecth not how by this tricke they hauc 
 made themfclucs rich and mighty vpon earth ? they profeiTc 
 to haue nothing,and thereby game all things that their hearts 
 can defire,and that in fuch plenty and abundance, that the 
 very fat of the earth is their portion. Looke into all Coun- 
 tries 
 
Chap.7- Delufions by Vowts and Sacraments* 
 
 3 8i 
 
 tries of Chriftendomc,and youfhall finde the Abbeycs,Mo- 
 nafterics,and other Religious houfes,feated for themoft part 
 in the moft fertile and pleafant places of all Kingdomcs,and 
 enriched with fo infinite poifeflions^that here in EngUndfa. 
 Law of Mortmatne was faine to bee made to rcftraine men 
 from giuing toolauifhly tothofe idle bellies. Monafteries 
 (faith one of their owne writers) were founded in time paft 
 for Deuotion,though now they arc abufed to rapine and co- 
 uetoufhefTe : for they haue at this day deftroyed the world, 
 and brought to nothing the ftatc or the Empire and of all 
 Lay-men: wherefore all fuch places as arc,or fhall be cre&cd, 
 may worthily bee called nets framed to catch Lay-mens 
 goods. In this fmall land of £»g/W, the reuenucs of the 
 Religious houfes which were diflblued, did arife according 
 to the old rents, to the fummc of an hundred thirty foure 
 thoufand fix hundred and three pounds two fhillings fbure 
 pence halfe peny : which fumme what it would amount vn- 
 to in the true vale w according to the cftceme of thefc times, 
 Ilcauetothcm to calculate that are better fcenc in wordly 
 matters then my felfcrmy opinion is,that it is not the tenth of 
 the true vale w. The Votaries of Saint Francid Order, of all 
 other^profefledpouerty in the highefl degree ; according to 
 the rule of their Order they might not fo much as touch any 
 Gold or Silucr,neither had they any "right,tidc,or interell in 
 any thing to be their owne : their good Founder VrAncit 
 hauing laide it downe,t hat without any con ft ruction ,gl©ffe, 
 or interpretation, they fhould haue nothing of their owne. 
 And yet thefe Hypocrites wii take as much Gold or SUuer as 
 is giuen them with their Gloues on their hands.and Hue pof- 
 feffed of great reuenues, and fare plentifully in their Cloiftcrs: 
 like vnto that melancholy Athenian that imagined all the- 
 fhips and goods in the Port Ptr*um to be his owne, when 
 he had none : fo thefe profefling they haue nothing ,yet pof- 
 feiTc all things their hearts can wifk But I would faine 
 know how they can excufe thcmfelucs by this rule from be- 
 ing thceues. For(as Hvfpittian faith) what is.hc but a theefc, 
 that cateth and drinkcth, and clotfietb himfcjfc with that that 
 
 Ccc 3 is 
 
 PetTerdiitnf. 
 
 m forma itbell 
 <jt*'o aptuncx 
 l«bftit.ex/uo 
 ccrporc. 
 
 HoffinUnJ* 
 ertg.Msnjtcb. 
 
3^2 
 
 Velujions by Vo-vces and Sacraments. Chap.7. 
 
 TemtJv Ex- 
 
 is none of his owne, nor can bee by any righf> other thecues 
 eateand drinke their owne when by guift it becommeth 
 theirs, but no guifc could giue them a propriety t any 
 thing : this thing (faith the fame Author) troubled the Fri- 
 ars exceedingly, becaufe it proticd them manifeftly to bee 
 theeues,and they could not deuife how to fhift it oif. And 
 to this agreeth Fertu inhiscxpo/ition of the eight Comman- 
 dement, where he piaceth in the ranke of thecues, all thofe 
 which vnder the habit of Religion, dcuourcd widovves 
 houfes, and rauidied to thcmfelues the riches of the world 
 by Lyes and deceites : what is then thisvcwofpoucrty,but 
 a mecrc tricke to gull and rob Lay-men of their wealth, and 
 to enrich thcmfelues with their fpoylcs > And yet forfooth 
 they pretend heereby a Rate of perfe&ibn and holinciTc, a- 
 bouctheLaw, and grounded vpo:i an Euangelicall coun- 
 fell, If thou wilt bepprfett, goefell all thou baft and giue it to 
 thfpoore. Mat, ig. As if it were likely, that our Sauiour 
 woutdatthefirftdauSgiuea counfcll of perfection to one 
 that wasnotyetconuertcd to the faith of (Thrift, but was 
 meerelyofthelcwim Religion : or if he did, yet thatthefe 
 fellowes are afcended to this degree of perfection, when by 
 their giuing away all (as they fay ) they gaine more then all, 
 more cafe, plenty,be!ly-chcare, wealth, and contentment, 
 then they could haucif they had kept their ownc in their 
 hands. 
 
 3» Their vow of eclebacy or fingle life is Qflike quali- 
 ty and nature : for vnder the pretext of holineflc and purity, 
 theCleargyof Rom'. pradVtfedall manner offilthineffe and 
 impurity* Sogroffely was the world deluded by this their 
 counterfeit fan6tity, that ifaPriefl was found in bed with 
 another mans wife, yet he was not to be fufpe^ted of any vn~ 
 cteaneadt; but to be thought onely to counfaile and aduifc 
 her for her foules health : and yet the horrible adulteries,and 
 Sodomiticall abominations which hauc fprung from this 
 root of celibacy, are vncountable. I might call to witneffc 
 Saint B*rn *rd in h\$bookc de conuerfad ' /ericos,cap.i9.and 
 vpon the Canttoiet fer.66. md&Ko* HMerick* Bimop of 
 
 nAftgufla 
 
Chap. 7. Vclufiws by Torres dtid Sacraments. 
 
 3*3 
 
 tsjvgttfta in his Epiftle to Pope Nicholas the firft : and Ro- 
 bert Holkot an Englifh Dominican Friar, in his 1 73,Le6ture 
 vpon the bookc of Wifcdome : and Pah-ormttane a man of 
 great fame intheCouncillof^///,jP^r/. J. de cleric. coniug. 
 C3p.cnmolim. Andlohn Gerfon Chancellor of Paris, who 
 compla incd that in his time fome Cloifters of Nuns were be- 
 come Stevoes ef Strumpets and Whores. And Mantuane-x 
 Carmelite Italian Friar, with Polidore VtrgiU, and many 
 more, who haue in their writings largely difcouered thea- 
 bominablc fruit aof this filthy vow: but I will fix one'y vp- 
 on fuch as touch this point of dcluiion. Attentive thus wri- 
 teth concerning thofe times. The Decree of Celeb acy (faith 
 he) was acceptable to Whorcmongers^to whom now it was 
 lawfiiilin Read of one wife to haue the fellowship of fix hun- 
 dred Harlots. Hence many falfe prophets tooke occafion 
 by fables and miracles to caft mitts oucr the truth : and by 
 drawing places of Scripture to their purpofe todecciue the 
 people. J n a word,whcn as very few did trucly make warre 
 with luft,and fomc did faine continency for gaine fake vndcr 
 thehonefhiameofchaftity,thcy committed Whoredomes, 
 Incefb,AduIteries,eucry where,withoutpunifhment. Thus 
 he. UMathcvc Paris is altogether as plaine and downc right 
 to this purpofe ,his words are thefe. He (fpeakingof Grego- 
 ry the fcucnth) fsrbad all Diuine ferutce by married Priesls y 
 and Lay. people to beare their Maffesfiy a new example, and as 
 nioft thinke > an vnconfidcratc judgement, contrary to the opi- 
 nion of the holy Fathers. From whence arofe fuch afcandall, 
 that the Church was neuer fodiftrafted by any S'chifme or 
 Hcrcfie : fome contending for iu&ice,othersagainft iufhee, 
 and in the mcane while few keeping thcmfelucs continent, 
 though fome made great oftentation thereof for their owne 
 gaine ; manyioyncd to their incontinencyperiury by rea» 
 fon of their adultcries,and yet whawere in greater eftimati- 
 on with the people then thefe hypocrites ? Sigebert another 
 Hiftorioorapher of theirs, thus writcth. 'By this occajion 
 (faith he) many falfe Doftors ffringingvp in the Church tur- 
 uid the people from Ecclefiafttcalldtfcipline byprophane node I- 
 
 ties. 
 
 RUetLVoLct. 
 
 P*ncrr/iitdh 
 
 te.Geyfon. 
 
 Mdntuan* 
 
 PolUyirgill, 
 
 Attentive, 
 
 Mai.Varii'tn 
 Gtliefmg.pti- 
 
 mc> 
 
 fyele t t>Jtt* 0t 
 
 — 
 
1 384 
 
 Velujioxs by Verves and Sacraments . Chap.7. 
 
 Nichcl.Cle* 
 man?- iib^e 
 rttinafg* re* 
 p4ratE:ciff 
 
 Mdt.Pdru.i* 
 Henrtco.pimo* 
 
 Stepbdn Apd. 
 fir Herod* 
 
 ties. Nicholas Clemangis thus bitterly inueigheth againit 
 thefe fellowes : Jhefe Votaries (faith he) who by hove much 
 according tot he vowes of their 'Religion they fhould be wore 
 perfett , W chaft, &c* then others, byfo much are they more 
 wicked andobfeusne ; Monkes in habit, but monfters in confei- 
 ence, and cower fatten. And in the fame book c concerning 
 Nuns he faith, That they were not affembhes of Virgins dedi- 
 cated vnto God, but brothel -hot* fes of fVbores and Strumpets, 
 St ewes of Z)entu t and receptacles of lafciuiom and vnchaft 
 wantons to glut their tufts. But to leaue teftimonies,and to 
 come to examples. Did not that Cardinall called Johannes 
 Cremenfis ,that came into England as Legate from the Pope, 
 in the reigne of Henry the firft, fouly abufc the people & the 
 Cleargy ? when the next night after hee had in a Council! 
 at London vehemently inueighed againft Prietts marriages, 
 and exhorted vnto chaftity, and cna&eda Law in that be- 
 halfc,he was found in bed with an Harlot to thefhame of 
 the Order of Prieitkood, and reall confutation of his owne 
 Decree ? Or that filthy Friar, named lohannes de Comibm 
 that dyed of the Pox, yet left fuch an opinion of holincffe be- 
 J hinde him, that when after his death the red buttons of that 
 difeafc appeared in his face, the people prefently beleeued 
 that he was turned into a Seraphim ? Or that great Saint of 
 theirs Saint Duftane, who for the difallowing of Priefts 
 marriages,wrought by the Art ofNecromar.cy, wherein hee 
 was very expert,diuers great miracles, as to make an Image 
 tofpeaketothc Councill affembled at Winchefter, and his 
 Harpc hanging vpon the wall, to found of it felfe an holy 
 hyir\ne^GaHdeteincalo,ci*c. withfweetmclody,andto hold 
 the deuillby the nofe with a pairc of Tongs or Pincers when 
 hee came to tempt htm vnto incontinency. If thefe (lories 
 were true,as they are related, then doubtlcfle the deuill was 
 there the chcefc A&or : if falfe,thcn what ftiamclciTc bcafts 
 were thcy,that reported them to the world ? Buthowfoe- 
 uer it wcre,ftill it rtmaincth that hecreby the poore people 
 were miferably deluded. It is written of Saint Cjodericke, 
 who being mightily tempted with the lufls of the flefh, that 
 
 to 
 
Chap.7. Delufions by Vowes and Sacraments. 
 
 ?8 5 
 
 to abate the heate thereof, he vfed diucrsremedics,asto i 
 wcare ahairefhirtnext his skin, and fomctimes a coatc of 
 Maile,andto ftanrl in the night when he was molt tempted, 
 in a Well of water vp to the chinnc. One time(as they fay ) 
 there appeared vnto him a great old dcuill^accompanicd with 
 a number of young ones like blackc boyes with fliauen 
 crowncs,which turned vp his bare buttocks vnto him in de- 
 fiance of his chaftity: and if any man that had a barren wife 
 complained to this holy Saint,he made them fruitfull by ty- 
 ing his girdle about them.This and much more of fuch ftuftc 
 is found in his Legend, which was read in the Church on his 
 feftiuali day with great dcuotion, and certainely beleeued 
 by the blinded multitude. And no maruaile if they were fo 
 deluded to bdeeue this, when as they gauc credit to farre 
 more abominable an J filthy relations^as to that obfeceue tale 
 ofth: miraculous conception and birth of Saint Wolfione 
 Bi'fhop of Wivchtftcr, which h this : that his Father dcfirous 
 to lye with his Mother vpon agoodFriday,and (lie refuting 
 in honor of the day, was forced to leauc his Spcma vpon a 
 [tone, which fhee finding and lamenting thcloffe thereof, 
 wrapt it vp in a loeke of wooll, and nouriftied icvp vndcr 
 her arme-hole till it was a perfect Child : and hereupon they 
 fay,he was called Wolftone, a man famous in thole daies for 
 many things but efpecially for this his miraculous (I might 
 fay Sodomiticall) begetting. I will end with a merry ftory 
 related by iJttalfmbtiry and others, of a Nun that was Sifter 
 to the Emperor Henry the fecond,whom he fo entirely lo- 
 ued,that he would often haue her to lye within his Pallace 
 very nigh to his owne Chamber. Thi&Nunwas fecrctly 
 bcloucdofthc Emperors Chaplaine, and with him had di- 
 ucrs amorous meetings in the night : now one morning hec 
 being about to depart from her Chamber to his owne, leaft 
 his footing mould be fecne in the fiiow which was newly 
 fallen that night_,fh: tooke him on her backe and carried him 
 ouer to his owne Chamber : at which time;thc Emperor be- 
 ing by chance rifen to doe fomc worke of nature, and loo- 
 king out of his window, beheld the whole pageant : fhortly 
 
 Odd after 
 
 Bale A£s of 
 Englifo Vo- 
 taries, 
 
 Idem. 
 
 Gui'el.Mtl- 
 mc$but.ltb.\i% 
 
 Viirtn'.ftseul. 
 
3 86 
 
 Detufions by ftvresfipd Sacraments. Chap.y, 
 
 Malmfbuty* 
 Poltckro.M, 
 AntonWfdrt* 
 
 after fell a Bifhoprickc which the Pric(t gaped after, and a 
 Nunnery whichhis Sifter defired : then the Emperor firtt 
 called the Prieft,andfaid to him,! giue thee this benefice vp- 
 on condition, you faddle no more the Nun : And after cal- 
 ling her laid, I giuc you the Nunnery vpon condition you 
 horfenomorcthePrieft. Were not thefe couple like to bee 
 excellent goucrnours ofthc fpiritualty,thinke you ? But all 
 was chafte Religion fo long as marriage wasabfent. And 
 becaufe I haue mentioned a Nun, let mc giuc you two or 
 three examples more of them to accompany the Friars. One 
 is oCEdttha the Abbeilc offVihon y vt\io was Saint DnnRancs 
 holy Minion. Her that holy man beheld on a time, as fhee 
 was eroding and blefling her forehead with her thumbe ; 
 which heprefently taking into his hand iaid, Nentr way 
 this thftmlrrpertjh, and fo it fell out ( faith the ftory ) for after 
 her death-all her body was found refolued into alhes, except 
 that thumbe,and another fecrctpart which in all likelihood 
 he had bleflfed alfo. ft is written by the fame Authors, that 
 Elgma the wife of Canutiu King of England hauing no 
 children, and being therefore difliked ofthc King her huf- 
 band,went to an holy Nunnery to thofe 1 eligious chafte vro- 
 mcn,hoping to find there fome rclcafe for her malady, as in- 
 deed (lie did :for finding there an holy Sifter with child, fhe 
 bargained \o haue the childe brought vnto her in fecret, 
 which flie,counterfeiting her fclfe alio in the mcanetimc to 
 be great bellied, made flic w to be her o wne,and fo conten- 
 ted her husband : this Child was called Srvcno^nd the yccre 
 before Canutw dyed,was crowned King oi Norway. But a* 
 boue ail thefe, two Nuns following were famous for their 
 cozenage : oneaNunof/^i/f5»in Yorkefhire, who being 
 ingrofted by a young Monkc of the Cifternian Order, when 
 ftie was to be deli"uered,feigned that Henry Murdach Arch- 
 *bifhopofr^/dcceaied,whohad becne her bringervp in 
 her infancy ,fent two mid wines fromheauen,and diicharged 
 her of her child without paine, and tooke it away with 
 them,fo that it was neuer feene after. Another, the Nun cal- 
 led Beatrice (of whom 1 haue fpokeabefore)thatisrcported 
 
 tol 
 
Chap„7. Dclufions by Vomts ani Sacraments. 
 
 387 
 
 tohaucbecnc fofauoured of the Virgin Mnry y that dice in 
 her habit and feature kept her place for many ycercs, whilft 
 fhc plaid the Strumpet abroad.- I conclude with that chart 
 Sifter, that hauing had three baftards, which afterwards 
 grew famous in the Church for their learning, to wit, Low- 
 bsrdjCratian^nd Comefter 3 gloiycd in her villany, and faid, 
 that it was an happy -fault that had brought forth three fuch 
 worthy men. And thus wee fce,howthc fimplc world hath 
 becne deluded and abufedby this vow of celibacy. 
 
 4. Their third Vow is of regular obedience, whereby 
 they fo reiigiouily tye themfeluestothe rules of their Order, 
 as in outward femblance, they fceme to the world to bee 
 mod holy Saints, when in the mcane while infecret they 
 breakethofe rules at their pleafure,and make no confcicnce 
 of obferuing the Ccmmandcments ot God. So great is their 
 hypocrine m this kinde, that fome of them would not for- 
 footh die,till their fuperiours had giucn them leaue. But I 
 cannot better decipher the hypoenfic of this generation, then 
 in the words of Cornelitu J4grippa 3 \Nho at large defcribeth 
 them after this manner. There are (faith he ) in the Church 
 diucrs feels, Monkes, Friars, Anchorites,&c. which both the 
 old Law^and the purer times of the Church were ignorant 
 of. Thefe at this day, challenge to themfelues the onely 
 name of religious pcrfons,proferting difficult rules oflife,and 
 mod: holy dutics,vnder the names of the woithy Fathers^ as 
 Saint 75 afll ,Saint Benedttt, Saint Hernard, Saint Augujtme, 
 Saint Francis, drchwi at this day few of them arc good, 
 whereas of euill there is a great multitude. For hither re- 
 fort as to a Sanctuary for wickcdneife,fuch as are terrified in 
 confcicnce for their mifdeeds, or that by reafon of the ven- 
 geance ofthe Law can be fafc no where elfe, or which hauc 
 caft themfelues into poucrty by Harlots,Dice, and Luxury : 
 or whom the hope qf eafe, and the impatient defperation 
 of defrauded luft, the inconfidcratnes of youth, the malice 
 of an vniuft ftep-mo.thcr, and greedy Tutors,. haue cnclo fed 
 within thefe wals. All which troope arc combined toge- 
 ther by a pretended flie w of fan6tity, vnder a hooded habit, 
 
 Dctd 2 and 
 
 Ccrnel.Jgrip* 
 
388 
 
 Delujlofss by Forres and Sacraments. Chap.7. 
 
 litt 
 
 and a ftrong vow of poucrty. In that great Sea of fupcrfti- 
 tion, wherein fwirn and rauih the great Leuiathan^nd Tle- 
 hemoth y with other ftrange fifties, and creeping things innu- 
 merable : out of this gulfe ifluc forth fo many Stoicall 
 Apes, fo many infolent money- wormes,fo many palliated 
 beggers, fo many hooded monfters, fome wearing long 
 beards, fome cordes, fome ropes, fome fackdoth, clubfoo- 
 ted,wood-fhanked, bare-legged, blackc,dusky, grifely ;at- 
 tyred fome in white, others in diuers colours, others in lin- 
 nen,others withnets, others with fhort clokes fcarce reach- 
 ing to their buttocks y others with long dokes to their hecles, 
 others clad like Mourners, others like Souldiers : ibme 
 breecht,fome vnbreecht,fome girt, fome loofe, with a num- 
 ber more of fuch like Stage- Players. Thcfe for their ha- 
 bit fake vfurpe the oncly facred name ofRcligion, and boaft 
 themfclues as companions to Chrift and his Apoftlcs ; when 
 as their life for the moft part is notorioufly wicked, and 
 yet vnpunimable through the pretext of Religion. For they 
 are guarded with the priuiledgcs of the Romanc Church, 
 and exempted fromthe lurifdi&ion ofall other Churches : 
 and therefore though they may call others in quefhon in a- 
 ny Courtof Tuftice, they if theyhaue done wrong cannot 
 be met withall bat at Rome, or Iernf*Um. Foxes they arc in 
 fhecpes skins, {odiffcmbling their Art of fraud, that they 
 fceme to profefle nothing but counterfeit hypocrific, and 
 pure gaine, vnder the colour of piety ; whillt with a pale 
 countenance they faine to fa (t,and draw dcepe fighes from 
 their breft,with teares at command,and murmurc continuall 
 prayers withmouinglips,and by acompofed gefture, fofecr 
 gate,deiccledeyes,feeme moft humble and mecke , when in 
 truth if they bec looked into, no finkc is more filthy and 
 corrupt: and yet they ouercome all with the title of Religi- 
 on,and defend themfclues with their hood, as with a buckler 
 again ft all the dam of Fortune, and fo being fecure from 
 worldly troubles and dangcrs,eatethe bread ofidIenefle,and 
 flcepe in deepe fecurity; and account this Euangelicall po- 
 uerty^tocate the fruit of others mens labours,and hue by the 
 
 fweat 
 
Chap. 7. Delafiom by Vowes and. Sacraments. 
 
 }SP 
 
 fweat of other mens browes : and whereas by their bafe 
 habit they profciTedccpe humility, walkingbare-footed like 
 poore pefants, difguiicd like Conicdians^bound with cords 
 like theeues, fhauen crownes like Fooles, with hoods, eare- 
 laps and little bels like Icftcrs, and other fuch markes of dc- 
 iedtion, and reproch forChrifts and religion fake : in the 
 meanc while are tranfported with ambition, and direct the 
 whole courfe of their order, to gaine to themfelues titles of 
 honour, no kinde of people being more greedy of high pla- 
 ces in the world then thefc arc. This and much mpre to the 
 fame purpofe writcth Agrtppa, touching the hypocrite of 
 thefe Romifh Votaries. And fo wee fee how the world hath 
 bene a long time deluded by thefe Monafticall vowes. 
 
 5. And now 1 come to their Sacraments, which are 
 engines of no letfe dclufcon then the former. But to omit the 
 two Sacraments inftituted by Chrift,which notwithstanding 
 theyhauc moft horribly corrupted, I infift in their owne 
 flue which are proper vnto them. And firft to begin with 
 their Sacrament of Penance, whereof there are three parts : 
 Contrition, Confeflion, and Satisfaction. For Contrition, 
 thoug h their conftant doctrine is , that ftnitensfl velpufitttu 
 dolor fit,abfoluitHr a culpa, as Rojfenfts • though the penitents 
 gricfe be {mall, yet he is abfolucd from his fault ; Tenuis dm 
 lorfufficity a little griefc fufficeth, as<JVl*ldo»ate : Contritio 
 impcrfefta, an impcrfcel contrition, as Acofta ; Quocutify 
 grjtdv rsmiffa, in the lo weft degree,asS*4?v*,,and Toilet ;yet 
 it may wipe away the grcatelt finne. Though I fay,thcy 
 teach this in their bookes, notwithstanding they tcrrifie the 
 people in their S crmons, that they muft be greatly humbled, 
 and rend their hearts by contrition, ifthcy willbcfaued (for 
 it is tobe noted,that Popery is one thing in their books,and 
 another in their common praclifc and fpeecb :) and that 
 which is moft abfurd of all, they neede not to be contrite at 
 all, if they will giue a little money for a Pardon, andyctgoe 
 tohcauen too. Touching ConfcfTion, what is it but a meere 
 deuicc of pollicy to drayne menspurfes, and to diue inttf 
 their purpofes ? Hereby they fcarch into the Counfailes of 
 
 Ddd 1 
 
 Princes, 
 
 RoffenfiJrf.f. 
 Maidon** '** 
 
 Art.i. 
 
 Acojladef*- 
 lut indgrum, 
 lib .s-cap'it* 
 Toilet de 1ft* 
 ftrutt.SdcerA' 
 lib, 3. cap. /. 
 Sudtrez, tcm.4. 
 d$Ht.4,jt8. 
 
390 
 
 Delufiom by fowes and Sacraments* . Chap.% 
 
 Alt4AtT*Ug> 
 depUnfi* ec- 
 cte(lib<i-Art. 
 27. 
 
 Jgfippaieta* 
 
 
 Princes, and myfteries of State, and intentions and pra&ifes 
 of the common fort of people ; and fo frame and proportion 
 their plots accordingly, and that many times for the ruine 
 and deltru&ion of whole States. For if they finde any mil"- 
 chieuoufly minded againlt Hereticall Prmces,as they tcarmc 
 all that proteft againft the corruption of their religion ; they 
 not onely giue them abfolution from their intended crime 
 before it b? committed, buteuen animate them vnto it with 
 promife of Paradife,and commendation of an act,not;oncly 
 meritorious, but Hero icall. Thus Father Garnet confeiTed 
 our Powder Traytors ; andalefuite, c RauilUc, that mur- 
 chercd Henry the fourth the French King : and yet forfooth 
 the feale of fecrccy folemnly fworne, but daily broken for 
 aduantage, doth caft a vizard of holyneile vpon their pra- 
 cliife. Bcfides it is a knowne cafe, how molr of th3 1 fhorne 
 generation, make their confeffion an ordinary bawde of vn- 
 cleannelTe. This is affirmed by diuers of their owne writers : 
 one thus. It is an ordinary praliife (faith he) forPnefts to 
 commit execrable viHany with women at fhrifty ranijhing 
 wines, and defiowring maydes in the Church, and committing 
 Sodomy with yongmen, ejre. Corneltus jfgrippa calleth in 
 plaine tearmes Auricular conftffion ,genm cjuoddam lenocinif, 
 and proucth the fame partly by a ftory out of the tripartite 
 Hiftory, where it is rccorde<£,how a noble woman was raui- 
 fhed by aDeacon in the.timcof flirift/or which caufe Hetta- 
 riwtheBifliop oiConfiantinople banifhedthis fecret confef- 
 fion out of his Churches alfo all the Bifhops of the Ea(r,did 
 the like in theirs : and partly by their owne knowledge and 
 experience in thefe words : Ineede not feoke farre (faith he) 
 for examples, for I could relate many, frc(h andwellknowxe if 
 I would ;for Priefis, Friars, and Morikes, haue vnderprc-, 
 tence ofreltgion, free and fecret accejfe to aR forts of women, in 
 fhew to vifit, comfort , or confeffe them for their foules health : 
 but in fie ad thereof, they to whom ttisa (tnne to touch money by 
 the rule of their order, Of count it no {tnne, contrary to the rule 
 of religion. 1. Cor. 7. r. to touch women with vnchafle hands, 
 and to defile holy VirginsfVidowcs y and Wines \yta oftentimes 
 j like 
 
Chap.y. Delufions by Fotves an& Sacraments. 
 
 3 91 
 
 Itke the Troiane adnlterer and theefe, to conuay them from 
 i heir husband? y and according to Platoes larv i toyrofittme them 
 to their felUwes : a*:d fo vchofe foules they Jhwld game vnto 
 God, their bodies they facrifize to the denilL Vpon this fame 
 ground Acofla y a famous Iefuitc^ faith, that it was a good 
 prouifion if the obligation of fccrct confcffions were vttcrly 
 taken away, for the pretentions ofmoft abhominablc facri- 
 ledgcs and filthy a£ts,in likelihood to be committed by fuch 
 as were forbidden the vfe of marriage. What is this but vn- 
 dcr a pretence ofholineiTe,toopen a gap to all wickedneffe 
 and vncleanncfle ? As for their fatis faction, which is thelaft 
 part of their Sacrament of Penance, that is clearly nothing 
 elfe but a Pageant of hypocrifie,and a meere mockery : For 
 fu(t,whatfocuer paine is enioynedthem by their GonfefTour 
 in rccompence(as they fay)for their finne, is for the moft part 
 fo Height and cafiy(to wit, faying fo many Creeds,or Auees, 
 going in Pilgrimage to fuch or iuch a Saint, giuing them- 
 fclucs a fe w ltripes on the backe w ith a whip, failing a ccr* 
 taine number of daies,&c.) as a wicked man would hardly 
 exchange his long pleafure in rlnne, for fo ftnall and fhort a 
 punifhment. And fecondly, let the Penance enioyned bee 
 neucr fo fharpe and great, yet a pardon may releafc it, and 
 that maybe obtained by a little money ; or if money bee 
 wanting, for viiiting one of the feauen Churches in Rome,or 
 faying a fhort praienn the Primerpr deuoutly worfliipping 
 theCroffe, Nailes, Whip, Launce, Heart, orHandes,of 
 Chrift painted on a wall. Yea thirdly, if we are not able or 
 willing to performe our penance our lelues, we may hire an- 
 other to do it for vs, and in our ftead, which is the plaine 
 doctrine of To&/,ashath bene fhewed before. And what is 
 all this, but a May-game of fport, and a meere mocking of 
 the world ? by which notwithftan ding they both keepe the 
 people, yea and Princes too, in awe and fubie&ionjand heap 
 vp great treafurcsinto their coffers. 
 
 tf. From their Sacrament of Penance, I defcend to the 
 other fourc. And flrft of Confirmation, which as it is abufed 
 in the Church of Rome, is nothing elfe but a deuicc to gaine 
 
 reucrencc 
 
 curand.Icdcr 
 
 ' 
 
 J 
 
19 * Dcfofiom by Vcrcces and Sacraments. C hap.7 . 
 
 rcuercnce and rcfpe& to their Bifhopsaboue other Priefts. 
 For hence it is,that they prcferre it before B.aptifme, wh ch 
 they fay euery ordinary Prieft may conf:rre,- but this oncly 
 be performed by a Bifhop, and that a man hath not his full 
 Chriftcndomc, till he be fbryfm.ttw, that is,thus comfir- 
 med; and theBiihops blefllng is fo donatiue of fauing grace 
 ex cpere operato> that if a man dye before he hath committed 
 any tnortall firme after it, he muft o( neceffity go to heauen . 
 \ Hence it was, that yong & old flocked vnto them by troups 
 on euery fide, kneeling on their knees as to fome Saint come 
 from heauen, and crauing their benediction with moft ear- 
 ned deuotion, and yet in conclusion ail was not worth a 
 rufbjbut they returned home as empty of grace as they went 
 thither. I know that this Ceremony is of great A iniquity , 
 and hath an holy r.nd commendable vfe in the Church of 
 God: but that it fhould be a Sacrament conferring gracc,and 
 that a man is not a perfect Chriftian without it, is a moft ab- 
 I hominable delufion. 
 
 Marriage is the next, which they call a Sacrament, afcti- 
 
 bing vnto it the very efficacy of fauing grace, as to the reft, 
 
 and yet deny the vfe of it to their Priefts : before a vow (fay 
 
 thcy)it is S act amentum & Sacrament; after a vow Sacrilegi- 
 
 um y facrilcdge. Now if it be a Sacrament, why is it not 
 
 common to all [? Why may any man vow againft it } Why 
 
 dothey barre their Pncfts of it, who of all other hauca 
 
 right vnto the Sacraments > Will they deny them the meanes 
 
 of their faluation, and fo make them vngracious as they are ? 
 
 But I meane not to difputc the queftion any further, faue 
 
 onely to (heW how thefefclloweshaue decerned the world 
 
 with a pretence of piety, in calling this ordinance of God a 
 
 Sacrament of grace, and yet deny it to their Cleargyas a 
 
 finne of the flcfh,and preferring concubinage, adultery, and 
 
 whorcdome,before it,as Icflereuils. 
 
 I will put in the next place, their extrcameVn6tion, 
 
 though it be hit in order, and fay oncly thus much of it,that 
 
 Concit.Tridemr. '&* be true which the Councill of Trent decreed, that this 
 
 fe/fuxsp.i* Sacrament wipeth dcanc away all fuch finnes as remaine vn- 
 
 purged 
 
C hnp.7,, D elufions by Vowes and Sacraments. 
 
 39i 
 
 purged or vnfatisfied for : an, I which the Council! of Fh- 
 renceiud^cd, that the effect of this Sacrament is, Sanatio 
 anim£, 7 be healing of the fou!e : and which BaHdrmine affir, 
 mcth, that therefore the flue fenfes are annoyntcdy becaufc 
 they are as it were the Hue dooresby which linnc enters into 
 the foule :to wit, that there might be a gcncrall purgation of 
 all finncs which remaine. I fay,if ail this be true, then hath 
 the world bene grolly deluded by them. For Purgatory, 
 fay they, is ordained to purge away the rclikes of finne 
 which in our life time wc haue not fatisfied tor : thus r BelUr- 
 mme define th Purgatory, To be a place, wherein as it were in 
 aprtfon, t bo fs fatties are purged which were not fuffctent'v pur- 
 ged tn this life, to the end that being fo purged, they may be ad- 
 mitted into he men. Now if all the relikcs of finne be wiped 
 away by this extrcame vndVion,thcn what vfe is there of Pur- 
 gatory ? And if the rclikes of finne be to be purged in Pur- 
 gatory , then what vie of this Sacrament ? Either therefore 
 the onc,or the otherys a meere delufion,or rather both,feeing 
 there is no purgation of finne,but by the blood and Spirit of 
 Chrift alone, by which as many as beleeue in him are wafh-: 
 ed, andclenfed irom the very dregges of corruption, i John. 
 1.7. i. C or ' 6* if- Addc hereunto, that this vhdUon was 
 notvfedbythe Apoftlcs, and in the primitiue Church, as a 
 medicine to purge the ouie from finne, but as a miraculous 
 meancs of curirtg fome dangerous difeaie of the bodyvThus 
 faith Ciffander, fetting *downc the tonne, of words which 
 were thchvTed at the annbynting oflickc perlbns : l<wnoynt\ 
 thee with holy oyle, in the name of the Father, the Sonne, and 
 the holy Gbofl spraying thatbymeanesoftbts holy vnft ton ,and 
 our fuppf teat ton, Sanitatem recuperes per D omi.iv.m noilrWtA 
 wherefore (faith he) this vri6Uon was not then apjMy ed to. 
 fuchaswere at point of death,' and whofe lire was-f«clcfrx:-; 
 rate. The Icfuitc Fettnrdentiat confelTeth as much, wheivlic 
 I aith, Th*t the effcll of this oyle of old, w u th.it men 'might be 
 cured from the defcafes of 'the body ■: And therefore S. CU-mexl 
 Bifhop of Tome, amongst the i?>cne:l conlt.it! raons-. 
 downethis forme of benediction of.this holy oyle: O Goo 
 
 E c c th 
 
 EelUrJeex- 
 
 ttem.^nftUtb^ 
 
 i.cap.f. 
 
 idemdcPttr* 
 
 P*tJlb.l y Cl % Ct 
 
 Cajf4nder. 
 Confute. Art. 2^ 
 
 feudrd-fnt. ' . 
 
 CCTKATilltLb J 
 
324 
 
 Vehfions by Vowesand Sacraments, Chap.7. 
 
 GulicL 
 Malmsbur* 
 
 the Creator y fanlitfie by Chrift thus eyle 3 and giue it vert ue to 
 cure and drive away dt (cafes. How arc they then beguiled 
 'and deluded, that are made beleeue, that this laft vncYion by 
 a Prieft, is auailable for rcmifTion of their finnes, and a po- 
 werful pafport to conuay them into Paradife ? 
 
 7. I will end, though out of order, with their Sacra- 
 ment of Orders, wherein the whole institution of Chriit is io 
 diibrdered, and put out of frame, that little remaineth entire 
 and found in this facred fun&ion. For the charge laid vpon 
 Priefts by the Spirit o( God in holy Scripture, is, to labour 
 id the word, 1 . Tim. 5.17. and to fecde the Flocke of Chrift 
 with wholefome doctrine, 9s4fts. 20. 27,2 S. and to admi- 
 niftcr the Sacraments to the people, and pray for them, Alls. 
 2 . 24.But in the ordination of Priefts in the Church of Rome, 
 there is ho mention of any of thefc things. The formality 
 vfed is oncly this : The Bifhop annoynteth with oyle in 
 forme of a croffe, the. fingers of him that is to bee Priefted, 
 whichare to touchthe Holland putting into his hand, be- 
 twixt his fingers, a Chalice and a little Difh with thefe 
 words, Receive power to offer facri fee to God;andto celebrate 
 LMafe y both for the quiche and the dead. A nd by thefc words 
 he eftablifhcth him a facrificer of the body of Chrilt,and gi- 
 ucth him a power that furpafieththc power of all creatures in 
 hcauenor earth, whedier Empcrours, or Kings, or Angels, 
 or the Virgin "JMary her felfe : whence PcpcVrbane the fe- 
 cond inferred, That it yeas an abhomin«ble thing, that the 
 hands of them that create their Creator, fhonldbc bound to 
 fir ue them whofe hands are daily polittted wtthfi'thy tow kings. 
 And by this reafon he maintaincd,thatEmpcrours and King? 
 o^htnottogiuclnucititures. Another great Doctor, that 
 was Almoner to the Prince of Conde y in the foil booke of 
 his Tfyyall frieft-hood y Chap.^. thus imgmfifththisfun&ion 
 vpon the fame ground. Iofhna(fz\\\\ hc)ftaydebut the Sunne 
 in the y } ace where it was before : but the[e(towk PricRs)ftay 
 Iefus Chrift being in heauen y on the middefl of an Altarjtehere 
 he was not before : the creature obeyed hint, but the Creator 
 theft : the Sunne htm , but God the fe ^as often as they fronour.ee 
 
 the 
 
■ — »— ■ >^ ^1». ■» ■■■ |l» ll < l ■ I !■ ■ ■■ > II ■ -II « | 
 
 Chap.7. Delufions by Vewes and Sacraments. 
 
 3? 5 
 
 the words of consecration. And againe, The Prieflhood and 
 the Dinimty bane [owe thing w common betwixt them , and 
 are dlmoj} ofeqxailgrcainejfc, becaufe they Ate efcqtcalt power: 
 And therefore (faith hz) feetng the Tried marchethchecke by 
 tolle with the *DtHinity 3 andthat all Priefts are Gods, it follorveth 
 that the Priefthood excetletb the Roy alt y 9 and that Priefts are 
 greater then Kin^s. Neither is their pra&ifc different from 
 theif doctrine ; For at the Papall MafTc, if an Emperour or 
 King aflift in pcrfon.he performeth the office of a ^ubdeacon 
 or a Deacon at moft, and Deacons wee all know are but 
 , Prietts feruants. And 'Baronitts commendeth S. Martinet- 
 caufb at a Fcaft he prefented the cupto a Prieft to drinkc of 
 ncxthimfelfe, rather then to any of the Princes, that were 
 fet with him at table. And this is the firft pecce of his ordi- 
 nation. Next vnto which fblioweth the fecond, that the Bi- 
 {hop then impofcth his.hands vpon his head, and vfeth rhefe 
 words, RtcetHc the holy Ghoft \ wbofi Jinnes then Jhalt remtt, 
 they are remitted vnto them y and xvhofe finnettboH /hah ret nine y 
 they are retained. By which words is committed vnto them 
 a power to remit, and retaine finnes as we fee, and yet not 
 all mines neither : for fome pa(fe the power of fimplc Priefts, 
 and are referred for Bifhopsand Pcnitentiaries,from whom 
 alfo there are {bmecaufesreferued to the Pope himfelfe, and 
 therefore they cunningly alter the words of theGofpeil, and 
 in flead of, ff'bofietters finnes, fay onely, Whofe finnes, A nd 
 thefe be the two parts ofthcir ordination,whcrcinthe cheefc 
 peece is clcanc forgotten, to wit, authority and power to 
 preach the Gofpcll : and not onely forgotten in their Orders, 
 but alfo in their pradtife ; for few there arc of infinite multi- 
 tudes, that labour to inilrucl: the people by preaching, either 
 for want of ability, or ofcoofcience : whereas cuery igno- 
 rant Ideot facrificeth daily, and giucth abfolution to^uet^' 
 one that will demand it for a price. And yet who' are in 
 greater eftcemc then thefe ? Who dares controlle t hem ? Or 
 what Lawes Can take hold of them > They arc wholly exempt 
 from all ciuili command and authority, and. endowed with 
 'fuchpriuilcdges and liberties, as no man dare fay vnto them 
 
 Eec 2 be 
 
\ 396 
 
 ArabyieofetherDduJions. Chap.8 
 
 Ku 
 
 be they ncuer fo wicked, Blackc is thy naile, for fearc of in- 
 curring the cenfures of the Church. And thus it is apparent, 
 how (trongly the world hath bene deluded by this their Sa- 
 crament alio, afwelias by the reft. 
 
 CHAP.8. 
 A rMle of other Romift> Ddufiorts, arifing prtncfpafy from 
 the ignorance and ahnfeofhclj Scrtpture, 
 
 i.7T~0 avoydc tedioufheffe in thisfubiccl which is infinite, 
 J I will binde vp in one bundle a few more of their clelu- 
 nons,whereby the Popifh Priclts haue abufed the world^and 
 thofe principally which arift, either from the ignorance, or 
 from the malicious abufing of holy Scripture, or from both 
 together as ioynt caufes. The ignorance and fottifhnefle of 
 •the Romiih Cleargy in former times* is fo notorious and fa- 
 mous, that it is almoft a needleiTe thing to report that which 
 is written of them. Their ownc rule, that Ignorance is the 
 mother of deuotion, though directed to the Laity,yet poflef- 
 fed their Cleargy alfo : by which they were encouraged to 
 lay afidc all ltudy of holy Scripturc,and to addicl thcnifelues 
 Ito blindc and fuperftitious deuotion, the true daughter of 
 their blind mother Ignorance. S. 2?<rr#W faith, that igno- 
 rance hath two daughters, dubiety or doubting, and faifity 
 or crrour : their deuotion then muft either be full of doubts, 
 as proceeding from vnknowne grounds, or of errour pro- 
 ceedingfrom authorized ignorance of holy Scripture, There 
 is one Ancient Law in our Kingdome, hatcht in the blind- 
 neffc of Popery, that plainelyeu inert h the ignorance of the 
 Cleargy in thofe times, and their want of learned men : It is 
 this, that ra many crimmallprfenccs, he that could but rcade 
 thePfalme A{iferere\ or ibme other, though he vndcrftood 
 ncuer a word thereof, fhould be exempted from the fccular 
 po\ver,as be rig fltto makeaClcrke, which plainly argued 
 .that .which I named before, the groffe ignorance of the 
 gteateft part of the Cleargy in thofe daies. I confeffc that 
 \ this 
 
Chap.8. A rabble cf other Delujuns. 
 
 197 
 
 this Law is ftill continued ,but it is not with opinion that fuch 
 pcrfons are fk to be made Pricfts, but onely for mitigating 
 of the rigour of the Law in petty offences, which otherwile 
 would be inflicted on them as vponthe greatest. If we dc- 
 (ire particular examples of this fottifrincMe in Popifh Priefts, 
 I could referre the Reader to ether Authors that haue writ- 
 ten thereof and efpecially to Stephens Apology for Herodo- 
 tus , where is a whole thraue of them : but that he may haue 
 alio hcere fome fatisfaclion, I will not forbcare to relate 
 fbme of them,partly out of that bookc, and partly out of 
 other writers. Their owne Canon Law telleth vs of a 
 Pricft^hat in the Sacrament of Baptifme vfed thefe words, 
 'Bapiz.ote in nominepiitria,etfifia y et ffiiritua fanlU, which 
 notwithftanding Pope Zticbary writing to one Boniface a 
 Bifhop in whole DiocclTc this abfurdity was committed, 
 rcfoluethtobetnae'8aptiimc,though the rules ofGrammer 
 were broken ; and fodoth alfo Peter Lumbar d. Another, 
 in the confecration of the Eucharift faid, Hoc efi corpftm 
 mcum y which by the fame rule muft be a good confecration, 
 albeit notwithstanding their Religion will neuer allow it, 
 feeing the confecrating vertue lurketh in Chrifts owne 
 words, Hoc eft corpw meum s and thofctruely pronounced. 
 Another, read in/>£* 19.?. Suertit domumjnftczdofE- 
 pferrit domum, ouerturncd the houfc, in ftead of fwept the 
 houfe, which was arniftakc that euery School-boy could 
 haue corrcclcd : but k feemes this Prieft had read Luertit in 
 his books,but ncucr Fuernt in all his life before. Another 
 read D em ijfus p er port am Jeidownc by the gate,in (read of 
 Demijfm per ffortam, let downc by a basket.^#/.o. 2 5 .An- 
 other to proue that an Hcretik e ought to be c put 10 death,al- 
 ieadged that text of Saint Paul, Trttu. 3 . 1 c. Htrtttcum de- 
 ttita, a^t&tde an Htret&e, as if it were*/* v/M,fupple,f0&, 
 that is, take away an Heretike. But moll famous was hec 
 that being asked whether the Virgin Afaries name could 
 be found in the Old Teftament, anfwered yes,inthc firft of 
 Gen* vcrfc. 1 o.wherc it is written .Etcongregationem acjua^ 
 rum vocamt <JWaria; and hee alio that would finde the 
 E e e 3 MalTe 
 
 Dectet.%.p.de 
 (onfecrat Difi* 
 
 Lumk*rdJib* 
 
 4-Se-ntent. 
 
 Dift % 6. 
 
 J 
 
3P8 
 
 A rabble of other Delusions. Chap.8 
 
 StelU.clcrkc- 
 
 mit.S.Fran- 
 cifti. 
 
 Mafle in the firft Chapter of Saint John inthcfc words : I*t- 
 ueninas Meffitm, we haue fottnd the Majfe : and hee alfo 
 who being in contention with his Pari{hioners,about pauing 
 the Church, brought in the Prophet leremy for his Aduo- 
 catc,Chap,i7.inthefe vtordS)Paueant Hit et non patteam e- 
 go $ let them pauc,but I will not paue. I will not remember 
 that Pop iih Prieft in the beginning ofQuecne hlnLtbeths 
 reigne,who reading the firtt Chapter of Saint Mathewes 
 Gofpell jn the Church, Abraham begate ffaac, and Ifrac 
 begate Iacob^c. when he came to the hard names of A~ 
 minadab and tfaaffoH&c. brake off on a fudainc, not being 
 able to read any further, with this concluiion^^/o they be- 
 gate one Another to the end of the Chapter, Neither will I 
 fpeakeofhimaPopifhPricftalfo miniftriSed in that time ; 
 that read, Mat* x 7.2 y.in ltcad otcaft an Angle into the Sea y 
 cafl an AngeUinto the Sea : nor him that being by his Ordi- 
 nary bidden to conftrue this Article of the Creed, Pajfxs eft 
 ftib Pontto Pilato to try his furn"ciency,anfwercd thus, Pajfus 
 efi,bep<tffed y ftsb Pontio Vilatojwertbe brtdge PHatttm : which 
 the BiChop finding fault withall,faying,that Sub fignified vn- 
 der y not over ,hc rcplycd ;but if hec had gone vnder hep had 
 beene drowned. But to parte further, if their ignorance in 
 the Latinc was fo great, what fhall we thinkc of their know- 
 ledge in the Hebrew and Grceke ? One of them being held 
 for a learned Rabbi >htth this deriuation of the word pr whi- 
 ter y either pr&bens iter, or more (ubtily y qua/i.pr£ alys bibens 
 ter : and of the word Diaboltu^dia which fignifieth *&<? 
 te>*,and bolus which fignificth morcellus a morfe ft, beczuk he 
 makes but two bits of a man, one of his body, and 
 aaothcr ofhis foule. The bleiTed name lefiu is thus abufed 
 by themrfor they fay that the two iyllables wheron the word 
 Iefus ftandeth, fignifie the two natures ki Chrift, and the 
 three vowels the Trinity, and the two confonants the two 
 fubftances in Chrifts Humanity, to wit, his body and foule. 
 So the word Cephas, which ha, Syriackc word Signifying a 
 ftonc,fome of them dcriue from the Greeke word xs9*aw an 
 headjeutting off the two laft letters. Some againe from the 
 
 French 
 
Chap. 8. A]rdble of other Belufions, 
 
 399 
 
 French or Englifh word Ckefoi Cheefe^vA others from the I 
 Latinc word t/?/>»f,which ccincs fiom Op/tf,whofeprcter- j 
 perfect tence is Cepi : znd all this doltifh itirre is to vphold 
 the Popes fuprcmacy that he Should bee hend ofthc Church. 
 But it is no maruailcifthey thus dealt wiihthofe three holy 
 LaTiguagcs^fantfifieci by the Cicfle ofChrift/ceingin their 
 opinion the knowledge ofthem was a manife ft introduction 
 into Lutheranifme, which they callhcrcfic,butin truth is a 
 mcancs to difcoucr their errors, and lay them open to the 
 world. Neither was this ignorance found one'y in oidinary 
 Piieils,butcucn in Bifhops and Popes : as witncfTeth Al- 
 ptjottftu de CaftroJtb.i , cap.q, ad barcf. when he faith • Cw- 
 ftat flares eorvm adeo illiterates effe 3 vt Gramatkam fcr.it at 
 ignorcxt. I 1 is well kno wne,tbat many of them are fo vnlear- 
 ned,that they know not their Crammer vules : for example, 
 a Bifliop examining one that was to be made Deacon, in 
 fteadoiasking^tfcf/ABf Saeramenta, demanded quot funt 
 7 Sacramento. :how many are the feuen Sacraments ? T© 
 whom the Deacon anfwering> Tret : cheBifhop replycd 
 Jrt cfttibtUy^hsx call you them ? And it is reported of Pope 
 Junius the fecond,that figning a War iant,initcad of pat hee 
 wrote fiatftr. If any fhould hereftcp vpand fay, that wee 
 haue alfo ainonglt vs many ignorant Mini(tcrs,that hauc 
 beene as abfurd in their preachings and demeanors : Ian- 
 fwer,that there neuer was Church better furniflied with able, 
 learued > and godly Preachers, then ours is ( the Lords name 
 be piaifed for it : ) ho w beit I deny not, but that there arc a- 
 mongltvsmany wandring ftarres, lewdc, and vnlcamed 
 MiniilerSjwho in their. preachings and fayings mayperad- 
 uenturc abufe their calling,and aftbord matter of laughter to 
 prophanc and fuperititious perfons : but notwithstanding 
 I auouch, firfi, that the number of them is but fmall,in com- 
 parifonofthe huge troopes of ignorant Pricfrs and Friars 
 which fwarme in al the places of Popery like Locufts in Sum- 
 mer. And fecondly,thatour Church is ficke of tliem, and 
 feckes tojeafe her ftomach of fuch vnfauory morfcls by little 
 and little,not countenancing them and their ignorance, as 
 
 they 
 
400 
 
 BerefJe tr*- 
 
 Thymus de 
 d&mon(acfit.c. 
 Ji.Thef.2f 7 . 
 Hvfius.de ex- 
 prejfo verfo. 
 D.s. 
 
 A rabble of other T>eluficns. Chap, 8. 
 
 they doe in the Roinifh Synagogue. And thirdly, that fuch 
 abuics ill ionic ot our Cleargy are matters meercly taken vp 
 by report, and often deuifed by Popifh and irreligious per- 
 fons,in malice to our Religion,without any ground of truth: 
 whereas thole things which are related of them,are cither 
 authentically regtftred in their owne bookcs,or divulged by 
 men of their ownc fadcion and Religion. And therefore I 
 maytruely make vfeofthc faying of the Poet againit them : 
 Etfi tjos dignifitmHi bac contuwrfia maxime, itidigni illi qui 
 dicant tamen. Howfoeuer, the whole world will confeffc, 
 that the times of Popery were times ofblindnelTe and igno- 
 rance, both in Cleargy and Layty, and that when the Gof- 
 pell began againc to Inine forth in the world, Learning alfo 
 began to fhe w it felfe in all places,which before had lyen hid 
 as it were in a dungeon, 
 
 2. T hits they abufed the world by their ignorance : but 
 their horrible prophanation of holy Scripture is much more 
 abominable; as rtr(r,in depriuing the people of all liberty to 
 read the fame, as if ic were the onely root and fpringof He- 
 refie. This prohibition w f as fo (triclly vrged, that it was 
 more danger to bee found reading in a Bible, then forging 
 falfe money, or counterfeiting the Kings coine,and hee was 
 peremptorily iudged an Heretike,that was found with a Bi- 
 ble in his houfe,though he held in opinion no dodrrine con - 
 trary to the Church of Rome : yca,oneof them a(rlimeth,that 
 it was the dcuils inucntionto permit the people to reade the 
 Bible : and another, that hee knew certaine men poiTcffcd, 
 becaufc being but husbandmen,they vfed to difcourfcofthe 
 Scriptures : another,that Lay -men arc no better then hogs 
 and dogs,and therefore that thefe precious pearles are not to 
 be committed vnto them : and that the Scripture to a L fly- 
 man, isas a Sword in a mad mans,or a knife in a childs hand. 
 But what maruaile if Lay-men were forbidden by Prieits, 
 when eucn Pricfts forbad thcmfclues to rcadc the Scripture ? 
 For their* whole ftudy was either the Canon Law, or fomc 
 Po(till,oratleaftfomc bookc of worfe report: as for the Bi- 
 blc,thcy did little acquaint their eyes with that obiedtyeaft it 
 
 fliould 
 
(Chap, 
 
 A rabble of ether Delufions. 
 
 401 
 
 Pnould induce them into Hercfk. In fomuch as an ol J Pvrcil 
 bearing a yong man alledge Scripture out of the New Tcfta- 
 ment^wondren, andfwore chat he hadbecnea Prieft fifty" 
 yeeres^and yet neuer knew what theNew Teftamcnt was. 
 EfbenftM in his Commentary vpon <77/»*j«giucch vs a full, 
 iuiiificatwn of this report: forth:re he^rhus writeth y J re- 
 member (faith he) i-h*t a ricbk It aim* Bifhtp was wont to tell 
 mee } that his CoHntry-nUn were terrified from the fiudy of 
 c Diuinity with feare of being made Heretics, as if here fie 
 fprungfi-om theftah^nd not rat her front he ignorance 6f- the 
 Scriptnr*. Wh it A"d'oeymr (.'o&itrfj-men profvffe kfaid I >:'■ 
 of both' Lifwps (cjuothile ybw si^ccidhofthe CanokLaw, 
 fir this Uthe fliorttft cut to -id the liig b dignities of the Church . 
 I collfv-'fle thac-for very frnme, within thefc forty yeercs they 
 haie transited tfhe Bible into Miners vulvar ianguages, as the ; 
 Prench and* -fin'gii'.n' :•• howbcit'imfc^corrqpcecijii trabSlk^ 
 \ md v'oroWtr^uard^wichi^H^^bflres^id annotate, 
 ons that in Read' ofths wholeibme iuiccof £auing know-. 
 ledg jjhe Reader hicks out nothingbut poyfon and yenome 
 to hi ^ fn'uh. And theft: editions were permitted to.be ;r,ead 
 oflefy of thofc, thK had 'attiiflcd; a jchfpeniation: >thdr cforej 
 .fro'rn'-tncff Ord^ry;ot chat Could difpend a certaine -fumbie-- 
 .of money by their'yceie-y reuenue e as if heretic buildcd 
 her neft rather in thebrcft of the poorcman,chen of the -rich y 
 or as if the rich were le&ecarnall theathe poorc. , And thos> 
 that general I ■naW^Jv'vhieh.'^i^wdttaiueih to alLHeretikdsy 
 hucifvgt^&xtebi^W to this^nera&n;.'w'no cannot abide 
 the light of the crYptureSjbut iliefrom thhu As GwJes/a'nd- 
 !Bats"fr^m the fight. 
 : / 3. Arotfter gro^rt&op 
 
 hf thcy^d^Mttk^Hi wb^frs^byuhsfo i^tnelefle addittfchs?; 
 andidle ]>nrapl^(es,a^d^r¥tm^otatijpiis-^ For touchy g-.adw 
 »ditibns 3 4vhatcan be rnofe palpoblc,then when they pathtarp 
 jthe ftanoi-ofthc Scripture, > 'with thofe boois: which ive*g 
 hcl<ib^^b^e^rt G ^e^aadffiiplt of thcZaridknttrfvaihcaiSifofj 
 
 that they proeee^e^'nafibai the Sp^^rWhiBt&ioediJjitfho 
 
 F ^f Cane. 
 
 Efpenptus.jn 
 
 ,7 lt-CAp.i.(2* 
 
 L 
 
402 
 
 A rubble of other Delufions, Chap. 8. 
 
 Canonical writings . Bcfides, doe they not make their vn- 
 writtcn traditions, I fay not one, but the principall part of 
 Gods word > Without which in their iudgement, the 
 bookcofGodisanvnperfcct rule of faith, a dead letter, an 
 inckydiuinity 3 and no better then a leaden rule, oranofcof 
 wax, flexible toeucry humour. In this ranke I may place 
 diuers counterfeit books, difguifed vndcr the name of fome 
 of the ApoftIcs,or their Difcipics/ull of fables ,blafphemics, 
 and contrarietics,and yet commended to the world as par- 
 cels of the written word of God,andbclccuedinas holy 
 Scripture it felfc. As, the Goipels of Saint Ntcedemtts, of 
 Saint Thomas , of Saint Bartholomew, of the Naz.arites, of 
 Saint Anne, the booke called P aft or, and that which is cal- 
 led Orthodoxograyha TheohgU facropi»B& : with diuers 
 others. But aboue all, that booke afcribed to Saint lames, 
 caWcdProtevangclion, fiuccLcnatalibm Iefit Chrislf,otipfm 
 Afatru virgtnis /f/**r/<?,bcarcth the t "11 for impiety. In this 
 is recorded a long ftory of Saint *s4nnc: barreniicffe, and 
 how by prayer {he obtained a childe of God which was the 
 Virgin Unitary, and how flic was dedicated by her Mother 
 jto.rne Lord^and brought vp in the Temple like an holy Nun, 
 and after by lot fell to /ofepb^nd being with childe by the 
 holy Ghoft,aftcr much trouble and ftirre,was dehuercd in a 
 Caucofhcrxiiildcjby hclpc of a midwife miracuioufly found 
 loutby./^^jwkhfaiiumbcruiorcfuch idle circumftanccs, 
 which any Chiiflian heart would blufli to readc, though 
 they were notafhamedto writc,and commei.d to the delu- 
 ded work! as Articles of Faith. There they tell like wife of 
 many miracles wrought by our Sauiour Chrift when he was 
 ariaikie ras that when he was carried an infant into ts£gjft, 
 andbcing aMaultcd by theeucSiOne of the thecucs would not 
 AirTef his fellowes tolay hands vpon Uftph and his company, 
 but departing, defired theinfanc Icfus to remember this 
 good turnc : and this wastbe good theefc whom Chrift rc- 
 membred vpon the Crofle. Againe,that'Chtiil being a Lad 3 
 and working with hisFafchcr lofeph \\\ the Trade,had beene 
 on a time coiredtcd by him/or mifcuttinga pcece of timber 
 
 top 
 
Chap. &. A rabble of ether Velufions. 
 
 403 
 
 too fliortfor hisworkc, had he not miraculoufly with his 
 hands pulled it out to the full length. And thus the doltifh 
 Friars and I 3 riefts fluffed all their Sermons, difcourfes, and 
 writings, partly with Legendary tales, and partly with 
 fables outoffuch v>^/wrr/p^bookes,lcauuigin themeane 
 whilcjtnc holy Scripture vntouched, wherewith they had 
 imall or no acquaintance. 
 
 4. Befides,what^oe they by their ftrangc paraphrafes 
 oFthetext,butturneitintoaplaincentcrludeorpIay ? The 
 Sermons and Pollils of their Friars,arc ftuft with fuch idle 
 ftufre,which fauourcth mecrcly of a prophane wit, and ten- 
 dcth to no other end,but to the deluding of ignorant people. 
 For inflancc,takethe example ofthat finfulT woman called 
 Mary % L tthe .7* who warned our Sauiours feet with her tearcs, 
 and wiped them with the haircs of her head : this they 
 turneintoa pleafantComcdy^whereinarethefe Dramata or 
 Adtors. Firft, Lflitry a wanton Wench, giuen to plcafure 
 and flefhly dalliancc^Iike another Thamthtn her Siller Mat. 
 tha a deuout young woman reprouing her for her wicked 
 life,and pcrfwading her to repentance : next Iefus Chrift,an 
 holy and Religious Preacher working vpon Tier confeience 
 by wholclbmc and heaucnly admonitions. Then Simon the, 
 Pharuee preparing a dinner for Chriftinhis houic,and en- 
 tertaining all his Friends that came with him : be/ides, ccr- 
 taine gallant yongftcrs making loucto Mar), and 'labouring 
 to keepc her in her oldcourfc of wantonnciTe. .And laftly, 
 the Virgin Mzry entertaining her after her tonuerfion into 
 hcrfrici.dfhip and familiarity. There was neucr Comedy 
 better a£ted,and more to the life, then this Friar-likc relati- 
 on was,by that Friar Mwtby name, which we will con- 
 feffc if we read thedifcourfeit felfc,as it is written by him at 
 large. In like Comtca-ll manncrthey handle the par afxle of 
 the prodigall childe,whtch being breefcty. recounted by the^ 
 Euangelifi, is fo enriched and difguifed with a number of 
 idle circumftances, &,<* cannot but motie laughter in reading 
 of them :for the true dUcourfc whereo^as alfo of the {lory of 
 the Officers that werclettt to appibhtmd Chriit .hhn.'pi^/ * 
 
 Fff 2 of ! 
 
4°4 
 
 A rabble ofrtherDelufions. Chap. 8 
 
 of the two women chat contended about the lining childe be- 
 fore King Salomon, i. Kings'}. with anumber fuchlike. I re- 
 feree the Reader to tfoair ownc bookes, and efpccially to the 
 Sermons of Fnat Menot, Dormifecnre,ai\d Stella C/erico- 
 rum, ,2 
 
 j. As for their. fake interpretations and mifallcgations 
 of texts of Scripture ,thcy are fo frequent in all their bookes, 
 that it may.feeme loft labour to ftand about them : therforc 
 for a tafte oncly take thele examples following,wherein they 
 apply the Scripture directly intended of our Sauiour Chrift, 
 to their Saints and SainteiTcs. The bookcof the Conformi- 
 ties of Saint Francis afToordes many examples ofthiskinde 
 ofprcphanation, but the conclufion of that bookc is worth 
 thenotingjwhichisthts, Malta quidem & alia figna fecit 
 Franajcm ,qaa nonfu-nt fcr/jyta in ttbro hoc : fo affirming the 
 fame words of hrm,which were written by the Euangelift 
 of Chiriftiiimfclfe^ I Xihus a Friar of -Saint Dominickj Order 
 appJyerlvmohisBactoaeSainti'Ddw/jf/^that prophecy of 
 &*cbituy£hapm6.x ! 9 2tf \ touchingthe foare Chariots,which 
 being dra\vne taithfoure kinde of Horfes ofduicri colours, 
 !iigni£d&iurekuide : ofFnar5of that Order, Minors, Here- 
 [mtttSyG&mcitiis, zn&tpiaritcavt s.> To Saint Aagnffifae they 
 jappty titetlofika^tf/. n&iki.Tu fignacut^p/vnirttdwu Dei 
 plenty fa fjentU ::and to Saint Agnes, that text irt the Canti- 
 ok 7, q. 6 \y$!wamfukkr*iti& 'decora char,ffir»t in*de/tcys;2nc\ 
 to^zml£j(cisijdsttc>£ 5arnt«foi*jGho^Lci .. ^ .LUxin ttnebrix 
 bmit'i <tfi I tcrrefox: ixmlrton s cchtptehendbrmt. -The fc bra if e 
 applications atehiftfoe Serirtons entitled Z}*?^/ ftcme: but 
 theftare nothing to, them thaclfollbW forblarphcmyancr 
 ionpijty* The two great lights fp ok en o fij Gen. i . t 6. fignifie 
 (Ayi *Hcy)thc two dignities lis the: fitmamem: of the Catho- 
 likeC&icb^o wit^i7tifi^^fltttl'Reg4ll;theone to rule the 
 day o^tlx Spitanalt^nd! thtother to rute r ttfc night of the 
 ! L ay ty , and is IefFe tfhen the other by 5 7 . dcgrces,as falgv the 
 Glofler rMpon that'placcv That firft and famous promife -of 
 the Mtffi t$i Qen* i t < is taken o#fns» Jfcbftfyarid put dtf tlte 
 Vkgi^hi$Mcihai!,byrrcadir^ (lead of 
 
Chap.8. A rabble of other Delufions. 
 
 ipfe or tf\'im according to the Hebrew origmall Text, and 
 the Septuagint tranflation. Againe,tbat Prcpheticall pro- 
 mi fe made principally vnto Chrilt, and fecondarily to the 
 EleCt, PfaL 91.17. Thou jhah xvalke vpon the Afpe and Coc~ 
 k*tricc, c?c. wasapplyed by Pope Alexander the third to 
 himfelfe, and the Emperour Frederick^ ; and that not in bare 
 words, but in a reall action, by trampling vpon the Empe- 
 rours necke. Efay. 49. 23. it is written, They [ball worfbtp 
 towards the face oft he earth ,and licke the duft of thy feete : and 
 £faj. 2 9. T 6 . Uphold I will lay in Si on a tried /love, a precious 
 corner ft ane^ [are foundation \ and Hofea, 1 .11 . The Chil- 
 dren effudah and Ifraelpiatt&e gathered together , and appoint 
 thernfelues one head : and C antic. 7.5. Thy head is like the 
 Ttfount Carmell: and CM at. 28.18. ANporver u giuen to me 
 in heauen and in earth : a.:d Pfal, 8. 7. Thou haft put all 1 hings I 
 vnd-:rhU feete, the-Towles of theaire,x\\zus (fay they) the 
 Angels inheauen : Beafts ofthefi'fldjhztkfhe godly hi this 
 life : and Ft(heseftheSea, that is,the {bulesin Purgatory. All 
 thefe Texts they apply vnto the Pope with a number more, 
 making him cqinll vnto Chrift,and mucfting him with his ti- 
 i tics of dignity :as of the C hurches H'ead,rhe great Shepheard 
 of the Flocke, the Lyon of the Tribe of fuda,' the Bride- 
 groome, &c. I might enlarge my felfe in this field : but for 
 brcuityfake take oncly thefe three or foure examples more, 
 and fo an end with this pcece of delii(ior+. pope^em/ar^he 
 eit:ht, challenged to himfclfc the power o£ bfcthCword*, 
 Temporal!, and Spirituall ; becaufc Chrift falde, that two 
 Avoids were fufficient, and bad Veter not caft away one of 
 them, but put it vp into tkefieitb. So like wife they expound 
 that Text, Mat. \J. 14. Solve proteet me, .Pay for the* a* d 
 . me : to fi gnifie that Chtiflsfa'friily hath two heads, to wiry 
 , Chrift and peter ; becaufe they two oncly payde, and that 
 P*f*r was aehiefc ouer the reft of the Apoftles, becaufc 
 none of the reft payde; as if paying of Tribute wa* a figne 
 of preheminence, and riot rather of fubicftiotl. In like man- 
 nerV^^-wf^allead^eththatof^^.ib.i'^. Arife Peter ) 
 fyl i*nde ate *. to prouethe Popes povver to excommunicato 
 Pff?- , : <hej 
 
 »•« 
 
 405 
 
40l 
 
 A rabble of other Delujiow, Chap.8 - 
 
 the Venetians : £*//,thatis,cxcommunicatc: And gate, that 
 /s,.bring them to the obedience ofthe Church of Rome. In 
 fine, I cannot omit that their famous interpretation of a Pa- 
 rable recorded by S. Marke, Chap, i j. 34. where it is {aid, 
 That a certaint man going into aftrange Country, lenueth his 
 boHfe,4nd gittetb authority to his feruants, and commaiidsth 
 the porter to rratch. This man(fay they) going into a ftrangc 
 Country, is the foule which by death departeth out of this 
 world : his leauing authority with his fcruants, flgnificth, 
 that he chargcth his Executours to procure w th his goods, 
 the prayers and fuffrages ofthe Church) whereby he may be 
 freed from Purgatory : he commandcth the Porter to watch, 
 that is, he giueth part of his goods to his Paftour, that hce 
 may diligently facririccforhim,by faying Mafic. Who (eeth 
 not the impiety and prophaneneffe of thefc interpretations ? 
 Andyetthefeare nothing, cither in number or quality, to 
 thofe that arc ordinarily found in their bookes. 
 
 6. What fhould 1 fpeake of their intricate queftions, 
 curious diftin6tions, fubtile (peculations, and fond allufions, 
 wherewith they haue fo perplexed all diuinity, that little of 
 the true fenfe and meaning thereof can be vndeittood ? Take 
 a fhort view of them, and thereby iudgc of the whole lump. 
 Touching queftions : whether God could finnc if he would ? 
 Whether he can yet do as much as he hath done ? Whether 
 he could afTume the nature of man in the Female kinde ? Or 
 whether the holy Gholt could produce the McflTias out of 
 another creature then a woman? Whether the good Angels 
 arc of one accord ? Whether God feructh himfelfc widi all 
 of them ? Whether they arc greeucd at the damnation of 
 them whom they guard and keepc ? How many orders and 
 degrees there arc amonglt them ? With many more ofthe 
 like nature. Againe, about the Sacrament, how Chriftis 
 prefent, and at what moment of the confecration the ele- 
 ments arc changed ? Whether if a Rat eate the Hoaft, he be 
 thereby fancMcd,and made an holy Rat ,and (b of Mice and 
 Doggcs } How the Spider fwallowed vp by S.Francis came 
 out whole and found at his thigh, whether of it ownc moti- 
 on. 
 
. J Chap, 8. A rabble of other T>elufions< 
 
 407 
 
 on, or by Diuine reuclation, and whether it partookc of the 
 merits of Chrilts blood, and fo was tranflatcd into heauen. 
 Thcfc and a thoufand more fuch iile qucftions are tobce 
 feenc in their bookcs/ull of blaiphemy and impiety. 
 
 7. Touching their fubtile Jpcculations and inferences , 
 w ho can but fay vnto them, Wit ,whither wilt thou, if hce 
 reade but thefe enfuinginftanecs ?One proucs, that Peter 
 had no skill at his weapon, becaufe when hee fhould haue 
 ftroke off M<xkhui head, he did but flicc off his eare. An- 
 other, that the royall Maicfly is fubieel to the PriefThood, 
 becaufe the feruant whofc eare wasltrokc of£ wascalled 
 MMckujywhkh fignifieth a King. A third, that Ecclefiafri- 
 call dignities are not to bee conferred in regard of kindred, 
 butofdefart; becaufe the keyes were giucn by Chriftto Pe* 
 r*r,and not to Isbn, though his beft bcloued,becaufe he was 
 his cozen. They tell likcwife,both the colour and faQiion of 
 Chrifts coate, how it was made by the hands of his blefled 
 mother, and grew vp with him,as he grew : Aodhowhis 
 flefh was fo tender being made of the pureft blood of the 
 bleflcd Virgins body, that if hce had but dafht his foote a- 
 gainft a ftone,it pained him afmuch, as if another had bene 
 wounded in his eye. Yea, they blufli not to preach,how 
 many fcourges Chrift had giucn him on his backe, and how 
 many woundes he had in his body, and how many thornes 
 there were in his crovvne, and what he wrote on the ground 
 whenheabfolued the woman taken in adultery : and what 
 was the womans name that cry cd, 'Bleffedu the wmbe that 
 bare thee, to wit,*. AfarceUa, Marthxes Chambermaide : and 
 the foldicrs name aUb that pierced his iuie,to wit, S.Longme, 
 Nay,thcy can difcouer what fpeeches paficd in Paradifc be- 
 twixt God the Father, Cod the Sonne, and God the holy 
 'Ghoft, about the incarnation- of Chrift, and about the me f- 
 fage to be font to the Virgin Mirf, touching his refurrcdtU 
 on. Thefe metaphyficall fpeculations fauour more of froth 
 of\v it, then of any fruiteof Religion. 
 
 8. Their di(Vmc3ions arc no lefte dclufiue then the for- 
 rntt : for thereby they labour, if not to extinguish, yet at the 
 
 leaft 
 
 i 
 
I 408 
 
 A rabble of other Dclupons. Chap. 8*. J 
 
 leaft fo to obfcure and darken the truth, that it can hardly be 
 difcerncd of the quick eft fight. For example : to excufe 
 their Idolatry in worshipping of Saints, they make a three- 
 fold kindc of religious worftiip : Dulia, belonging to the 
 |S aints in generall : Hjf>erdHlia f , appropriated oncly to the 
 humanity of Chrift, and the blciTcd Virgin his mother : and 1 
 Latvia, due onely vnro God. Againc,to maintaine their 
 doctrine of merit, they diftinguifh workes into three de- 
 grees : fomc proceeding from nature onely before grace : o- 
 thcrs from faith and grace,but not from a man fully i.uftifted : 
 and«fome from ape rfon fully iuftificd : and thcfelaft (lay 
 they) arc meritorious of euerlafting glory and happinclfc. 
 Beiides, they diftinguifh their merits, into congruiiy, and 
 condignity : the facrifice of Chrift, into bloody and vnbloo* 
 dy ; the one ontheCroffe, the other in the Malfe. And 
 whereas in the firft inftitution of the Sacrament, our Sauiour 
 faith, Drwkeyealioftlw, they diftinguifh of the word'v?//, 
 and fay, that by it arc ment, notallChriftians, but All the 
 Apoftles oncly. And likewife in their Sacrament of Mar- 
 riage, whereas the Apoftle faith, Mairmge u honohrable a- 
 jnongft attpien, they diftinguifh againe of tiie word All, in 
 like ienfeasthey did before in the Sacrament of ;thc Lords 
 Supper, v'izj&ok. jAII in generally but Alhhxt arenot bound 
 with avow to jthc contrary. And thus when wee fay, cut of 
 the Scripture, that Chrift is the onely true foundation of. the. 
 Church; they diftinguifh offounda-tions,, x\d lay , that Chrift 
 indeed'j's the prime and principal! foundation, but rhat the 
 fecondajty foundation is Peter } md fo the Pope, vpon whom 
 all the reft are built. Againe they fay, that all the Apoftles 
 were equall in rcfpecl of the peoplc,but not betwecne them- 
 felucs :as if />*ter,that neither ordained his fellow Apoftles, 
 nor inftrudtcd them, nor gouerncd them, could be their fpi- 
 rituall Paftour. So whan the Scripture plainly. aflSrmeth, 
 that Chi .ft is the oncly Mediatour betwixt God and vs; they 
 anfwer by diftin&ion, th^theis t^qonetyjMcdfctourietf >Rc- 1 
 derriptior^ ty$ not of !ui#rc|p#pn, . Agatne^tfcat he isCthek>n- 
 Jy Mediator in . regard bp*h of Nature andiOffice^ • but ^ at 
 
 the 
 
 . ' ' - - ■ ' 
 
C h ?p. 8. A rabble of other Delufiom, 
 
 409 
 
 the Saints are our Med iators in regard of Office, though not 
 of Nature. Sc for fatisfaSions,Chrifts fatisfa&ion (they fay) 
 is in vcrtue fufficient, but not in ad efficient, except it be ap- 
 plyed by our fatisfa&ion. So when the Gofpell faiths That 
 wh:n vee baue done all that rve can, rve are yet vnprofltable [tr- 
 uant ^ they elude it by a distinction, faying ; wee are vnpro- 
 fitablc indeed to God,but not to our felues. And when vvc 
 giuc inftances of many Popes that haue erred and bene He- 
 reukes,thcy anfwer that the Pope may crre, quatemuhomo^ 
 but not quateniu Papa. In fine, there is no truth in religion, 
 nor point of faith, which is not mangled and ob cured by 
 ftich curious diftinclions, and the world thereby moft gric- 
 uoufly deluded. 
 
 q. Laftly, touching their fond allufions, to decipher 
 them to the full, would Sbke more inke and paper, then I 
 would willingly imploy vpon fuch idle ftuffc : I will inihncc 
 in three examples oncly. The firit whereof (hall be of their 
 Epifcopall ornaments. The two homes of a Bifhops Miter 
 (fay theyjfignificth his knowledge in the old and new Tcfta- 
 ment: his white Gloucs, the finccre adminiflration of the 
 holy Sacraments : his cleane SurpliiTe, the fimplicity and in- 
 nocency of his life : his C roller StarYe,the drawing ofOhrifts 
 mc:peto the pafturc of Gods word : and hisCroffcand 
 booke, the affections and afflictions which he isfubiectvnto. 
 Axe notthefe braue contemplations befitting anHeroicall 
 inuention ? ^ ut I come in my fecond example to their Maffe, 
 where the Pried at one inftant perfonates many parts :to wit, 
 ofChriit, of the Virgin Mary y ofthetwelue Apoftles, and 
 principally of fudas, of the Thecfe on the CroiTc,ofthe Cen- 
 turion, of the Publicane, and a number others .When hec 
 croiTcth the Hoalt (fay they) hce reprefents the perfon of 
 Chrift : and when the Cup, the perfon of fud&t : by three o- 
 ther crofTcs which he maketh before, he perfonates the Fa- 
 ther, the Sonne, and the holy Ghott : and by three after, 
 three eitates of mcn;onc in heauen, another in Purgatory ,and 
 a third vpon earth : by flue crofTcs which he makctn after all 
 thefc, he reprcfents cither the tiue dayes betwixt Palmefun- 
 " Ggg clay 
 
4i o 
 
 A rabble of other Velnfions. Chap.8, 
 
 day and good-Friday 3 or the fiue wounds of Chriit : by bur- 
 ning candle(fay they) figurcth either ChrifT, who cnlightc- 
 nethcucry one that cemmeth into the world,or the light of 
 faith and ardour of charity, which is in cucry Chriftian 
 foule : and the CJioria in excel fs, pronounced with a low 
 voyce,reprcfenteth Chirr! crying in his cradle whenhee was 
 an infant : and pronounced with an high ftrainc, his terrible 
 voyecat the day ofiudgement. Did cucr Mountebankeor 
 Iugglerfo cozen the world with counterfeit fhowes and 
 wares, as thefe Impoftours haue done by thefe their hypo- 
 criricalldcuices ? The third example is, touching their Lent 
 dyct, wherein they finde fuch an infinite number of fottifh 
 myfterics, as would bee tedious to repeate. There is not a 
 Figgc,nor a Rayfin, nor Prune, nor Egge, nor Eggc-fhell, 
 nor Kcrncll,but hath a myfticall and fpiritu 11 allufion : their 
 very Salict compofed of diucrs kinde of Hcrbcs, muft figni- 
 fie the word of God of diners fenfes ; and the Vinegar and 
 OyJe which arc equally mixed in it, the Mercy and Iufticc 
 of God, thcOrenge charity, and the Kcrnell fccretalmes. 
 But for this matter I refcrre the Reader to a bookc called, 
 Qnadragcfmale Spirit fta!e y printed at Paris^no.x 565. and 
 corrected and allowed by two Doctors. Therein wee (hall 
 'finde no manner of thing which is eaten of them in Lent, but 
 applyed to a fpirituall fenfe. But I lcauc the further amplifi- 
 cation of this dotage to others, thatlTiall fcarch more nar- 
 rowly into the bottomlelTe gulfc of their idle fpcculati- 
 ons. 
 
 10. Icould adde here a multitude of Apifh tricks and 
 inucntions, vfed by Pcpifh Prices, to maV e their Anditours 
 laugh,or weepe at their plcafure : with a catalogue of their 
 ridicu/ous difcourfes both in theirbookes and pulpit. A s of 
 hhrijthat vpon a wager made one halfe of the people in die 
 Church to laugh, and the other to weepe at one inilant, and 
 that of purpofe by a pafTTonate difcourfc of thepaftlonof 
 Chriftto thofethat fate before, -and laying open his bare 
 backfide to them that ftood behinde. And of him that cryed 
 in the pulpit before the Pope and his Card in d\s,Fye S. Peter, 
 
 Fye 
 
- . I, I 
 
 Chap.8. A rabble ofot^er Delufions. 
 
 411 
 
 Fye S. Paul&c. Or of him that to terrifie his Auditours, 
 prcfcnted vnco them a man like a dcuill, with flaming eyes, 
 a great hooked nofc, bloody teeth, and long crooked nailcs, 
 braying out an hideous voyec. Or of him that to fhewthc 
 ^people the ouglineffe of hell, hide open to their view the fil- 
 thy backfide of the Sexton, with whomhee had compacted 
 for the acting of this play. Or of him that preached alwayes 
 by dumbc geftures and fhowes. Or of him that was difcour- 
 fingvpon mortality and death, caufed on a fudainc a dead 
 mans skull, with a candle burning within it, to bee ray ed vp 
 on the top of a pole, to thctcrro ir of the people. Or of him 
 that would proucaLutheraneto be w orlc then the dcuill, 
 becaufe the dcuill would flee away at the making of the 
 figne of the croffe, but a Lutherane was not afraidc of it. 
 or of him that hailing let fall his note of the names of perfbns 
 to be excommunicate, faidc,that he excommunicated all that 
 were in that hole, except the Bifhop and Officially yvhofe 
 names were alfo there wrictcn. Or of him that compared 
 thcGiace ofGod, to (hecpestrictles :-an,^ another, the Sa- 
 crament to a Venifon Pafty, which iscalled Venifon though 
 nothing be fecne but the cruft. Or of him that compared 
 foldiers to Iefus (Thrift in all things faue in one ; namely, that 
 he hauing dekended into hell, returned backe ngaine, which 
 they fhould neuer do. I could (I fay)addcthcfe with a num- 
 ber more fuch like examples, but that they are at large fet 
 forth by other Authors, and efpeciallyby the forenamed 
 Henry Stephen in his Apology, and alfo becaufe the whole 
 rabble of Popifli fhauelings may thinke themfelucs already 
 fufficiently graced in thus magnifying their witty inuentions. 
 B ut howfoeuer they thinke, the world I am fure may clearly 
 hereby perceiue, ho w it hath bene a long time deluded by 
 them, and how S. Itfi*is Prophecy is fully verified in the 
 Papall Church and religion : Cjod (halLfcnd vpon t hemftrong 
 dclnjiens to beltcue Ijes. 
 
 Cg&* 
 
 CHAP.?. 
 
412 
 
 A conclufion of the Treat tfe. Chap, p 
 
 i. 
 
 C HAP. 9 
 
 A conclufton oft be whole Treat tfe. 
 
 I Had here caft Anchor, and ftroke failc, had not two 
 fhelues lyen in my way, which feerhed to hinder my 
 landing : I meanc two doubts or fcruplcs which arc to be re- 
 moued. The firft whereof is, How it was pofilble, feeing 
 thefe abufes are fo palpable, that the world fhouid be delu- 
 ded by them. Andthefecond, Whether there were none in 
 thofc blindc times that fmelt out their dclufions, but all in 
 gcnerall were carried away with the Itreamc thereof: which 
 two things being rcfolucd, it cannot but be manifeft, that the 
 Pope is that man of finnc, that lbnne of perdition, and that 
 great Antichrift forcprophccicd in the Scripture, and'that 
 the Church of Rome is that Whore of Babylon which (riould 
 inebriate the world with her enchaunting cup of Fornica- 
 tions, 
 
 1. Touching therefore the fi ill : I fay, that it nccdenot 
 fecme ftrange, that the world fhouid bee thus deluded by 
 them, if we confider : firft, the iuiViudgcmciu of God, wlio 
 gauethemvp to the efficacy of decc ire, becaufe they had re- 
 ic6ted the loue of the truth, as the Apoftle fpeaketh, 2 . Tbefi 
 2. 9. For where there is not the loue of the truth, there 
 muft needes be a loue of lyes, errour and fuperftition. Se- 
 j condly, if we confidcr the powerfull enchauntments of the 
 Babylonifli Whore, who" like a hcllifh SorccrelTe fo bewitch- 
 ed the worid with the vainc name of the Catholike Church, 
 and S . Peters Chaire, i and a braue oftcntation of pompous 
 Cercmonies,togethcr with the whole frame of their religion, 
 agreeable to mans corrupt nature, that few (moft being bc- 
 fottcd with their braue fhowes) could either conceiiic in 
 their heart, or difcerne with their eyes in what flate they 
 ftood,but were carried in the crowd like fhecpe to the lham- 
 blesto manifeft dcftruclion. Thirdly, if we confiderhow 
 the word of God, out of which they might drawe fauing 
 knowledge, and by light whereof might difcouer their er- 
 ror s. 
 
Chap.p. A condufion of the Treatife. 
 
 ^ — ^— — ^— ^— — 
 
 rors,was lockt vp from them in an vnknownc tongue, and 
 not permitted to bee read of any,fauc fuch as had a fpecial] 
 priuiledge and licenfe thereunto : for when light is taken 
 away,daiknefTcmuft of necctfity follow in place thereof 
 and thconely light of hcaucnly truth is to bee found in the 
 holy Scripture as Danid confefTcth, />/*/• I 19.105. Laftly, 
 if \vc confider the reucrend opinion they had of their holy 
 Mother the Church, and alfoof their Prelates, and Priefrs, 
 whole doctrines they were forbidden to examine or difpute, 
 vpon paine of hercfie,but fwallow al that came to hand,vnder 
 the pretence of an implicite faith, which they were taught 
 was of it fclfe furVicient to faluation,without any more adoe. / 
 From thefc fountaines fprung all that ftrange blindncffeand J 
 flupidity of thofc times. For in truth, could any man that 
 was not (troken with the fpirit of giddineffe and {lumber c- 
 uer frame his heart to bcleeue thefe monftrous doclrines, 
 that Saints departed ought to be worfhipped and inuocated 
 with truft and confidence as God himfclfe?that the Pope can 
 canonize them to this worfhip at his plcafurc > that Images 
 are to be adored with the fame degree of honor as is due vnto 
 their pattemes\contrary to an cxprcfTc precept of the Law ? 
 that the Pope though neucr lo wicked a wretch, is as a God 
 vpon carth,cannot ere in his deh*nitions,but hath the kcyes of 
 Paradifcathisgirdle 3 tolct in,orfhutout ; \\homhe Kfi ? that 
 it is a IciTe finnc to commit Fornication or Acultery,then for 
 a Pricft to marry,or for a Lay-man to cate fleih on a Friday? 
 that cucry jMsfTe mumbled vp iu a corner, and bought with j 
 money,can dcliucr a foulc out of Purgatory ? that an igno- ) 
 rant Priefthauing pronounced cenaine Sacramentall words 
 oner all the loat'.cs in the market, with an intention to confe- 
 crat,thcy fhould be prcfcntly turned into fo many GodsPthat 
 a man can care His God, and carry him vp anddownc in a 
 box to, be adored ? that.amancan pcrforme woikesoffu- 
 pcre rogation 3 that is, doc more good workesthen arc nccd- 
 full for his ©wrie aluation,andput the reit into the trcafury 
 of the Church tobebeflovvedvponothrrsthatwant ? that 
 Emperors and Kings arc fubicdt vnto Popes', notonely in 
 
 ^ £& 3 Spiiituall 
 
 413 
 
414 A concluJionoftheTreAtife* Chap.o, 
 
 Spiritual! things, but alfo in Tcmporall Inordine ad fpiritu- 
 alta } that it is an heroicall a& to kill an hereticall King, 
 namely,fuch an one as in ail things doth not accord with the 
 Church oiRome ? Laltly, (to omit many mor€ doctrines of 
 the like nature) that pardon of finnes hecre in this life, and 
 deliuerance out of Purgatory in the life to come may bee 
 bought for money,and where no money there no rcmiflfion? 
 I fay,can any man that is not extrcamely fiupified with fot- 
 tifh ignorance bcleeue thefe do£trines,which are fo palpably 
 falfe,anJfo contrary to natural! reafon,as nothing can bee 
 more > Yea, fogroffe was their ftupidity, that when any 
 thing happened,that might giuc them occaiion to mifdoubt 
 tbey were not right,they were fo farre from the apprehenfi- 
 on thcreof,or of laying it to heart, that it reflected vpon 
 them to their further hardning. As when they faw the Sa- 
 cramentall Bread and Wine to poyfon therecduers, as the 
 one did an Archbimop of 7V% in the time of Pope An aft a- 
 pfu the fourth : and the other, the Emperor Henry the fc- 
 uenth : or to be deuoured of Rats and Mice, and dogges,or 
 to putrifie and corrupt in the velfels wherein they were re- 
 ferued. Thefe occurrcnts might open their eyes in all wife 
 iudgement,but in ftead thereof it darkened them n>ore,cuen 
 tothis,toeftecme thofe bafc Creatures fan&iried by their 
 greedy theft, and no lefTc then holy ^aints in their account. 
 And to fruit vp the point, were they not vtteily blinded,and 
 depriucd of all light ofrcafou and vndcrftanding,thcy would 
 ncucr afcribe fuch an holy vertue to the very habit of a Friar 
 of the Order of .Saint Franc r>,that they fhould thinke if they 
 were wrapped in it at the hourc of their death, their foules 
 muft needs flye immediately to heauen : an d that the onely 
 meancs for the deuill to be faucd, was to take vpon him the 
 habit of Saint Francis, I will not fpeake of their equalling or 
 rather preferr ing the Virgin LMaries milkc to the blood of 
 Chnft: there is a whole Poeme of thatfubic&extan^written 
 in Latinc by Clarpu Ttonarfcitu, alias Carol w Scribanitis a 
 Iefuite : nor of their curing all dileafed horfes with holy wa- 
 ter iprinkled vpon them by a Prieft on Saint Loycs day, at a 
 
 Church 
 
Chap p. A ccnclufion oft fie Treat/fe 
 
 4M 
 
 Church in France dedicated to his honor : norofathon- 
 fandmore fuch lire fopperies which might bee produced. 
 This little I thinkc enough to cleare the fiiftdoubt, to wit, 
 that this blindncffc camevponthe world bytheiuft Judge- 
 ment of God,and that it is neither fticngc nor incredible. 
 
 3. Touching the fecond obicclicn, 1 fay, that though 
 this blindnciTc was grcat,yet it was not fo gencrall,but there 
 were fomciu themidft ofthofc darke times which fpyed 
 out,nnd difcoucrcd their abufes.WitnefTe Sai nt Bernard, 
 Petrzi* D am i an w, Out hem us dcfwclo Amore,"Hicolans G Al- 
 lien* Nar6ottexfi3 3 Sauauarcl4-ai i \orcrAmz i j4rKef'pbtis Bifliop 
 o{ Or/eance,Htlde6srt Archbishop of Tours, CM At hew Pa- 
 ris, May -ft litis of Padoua, Vrfp'rgenfa, ( lemangis , with a 
 number more of later time : asPetwch, MantUAn,PlAtinA, 
 not to mention John Wtckleffe, Iohn Htijfr, Feronee ofPrtge, 
 cfc. all which learned perfons did mightily inueigh again/t 
 tHeabufesandcorruptionsof the Church of Pome in thofc 
 dayes,and that with fuch vchcmcncyof fpirit,that the found 
 of their words could not but ring to all cares. Take two or 
 three examples in Read of all the reft. BarcvtHs bringcth in 
 Peter DAmian thus crying out agsinft the prauitiesof the 
 Sea of Rome ; O the ApcPcolikc Sea 3 hetretofore the gUry of 
 the world,hut now alas thou art become the [hop of Simon, the 
 h ammers there be Ate vpon the Ann He, and their money comes 
 from hell : whereunto Baronrus himfelfe addeth thefe words: 
 for then a!lfi?lh had corrupted their way. So that it feemed a 
 deluge was not fufficicnt to wafli away the filthy ordures, 
 but they required the fire oiCjomorrha to purge them : and 
 therefore ( faith hec) Peter T) ami An then on Heremite of 
 Mount Atieilan in VmhriA, wrote vnto Pope Leo a booke 
 entitled Go morrhdnti, wherein he diicoucreth the hidden vi- 
 ces of the Cleargy, and defireth reformation. Hildebert 
 Archbimopof 7fl»r/,lsasplaineand dircc^as may appearc 
 intheEcclcfafticall hiftory of Nicolas pignier, where his 
 complaint is let downe- at length. A4athevo PAris reports, 
 that when Pope Innocent the fourth was to depart from the 
 CounciiIofiL/^j,thcCardinall //*£«*;> who was appoin- 
 ted 
 
 B'itcn.An. 
 io+gje&.io. 
 
 Mat- Pat u in 
 
 Heu.^tag. 
 
I 4«* 
 
 A conclusion of the Treatife. Ch ap.p 
 
 
 Mirft.pdtAU. 
 Lb.Dfftnfp*- 
 
 te^ to giuc the farewell Sermon to the City,after the elegant 
 pafliges or complement which he vfed to them,at laft added 
 thefe words : My Fr tends, fwee our camming hither, we hauc 
 done much profit to this City ; forwhnn wee arriued,wee found 
 three or four e St ewes in it, but now depxr ting, wee leaue but one; 
 but it is true, that one flretchethfrom the E aft gate of the Ci- 
 ty, and con tin us th all along to the Weft. But it is moft ftrangc, 
 th.it in the lift of the Orders and perfons that were at the 
 Councill o£Conftance,\s placed as a cheefe part of that (acred 
 affembl}\. the number of the profefTed Whores that were 
 there found : and Ffftergenfa faith, that there were of them 
 attheleaft4yo : fo that it is no maruaile if fuch a holy Sy- 
 node adiudged to the fire lohn HuJJe and /eromc of Prage. 
 MarfiLptio&Padoua, comparcth the Papa!l Church, and 
 Court,to Nebuchadnez,z>ars Statue ,whofe head was of Gold, 
 armes and breftof Siluer,belly and thighes of Brafle, legges 
 ofIron,andfeet one part of iron,thc other of earth : by all 
 which is rcprcfented(faith he)the arrogancy,luxury,fymony , 
 carnallity,ftupidity,and attaritious grecdinctfe of the Popifh 
 Cleargy : adding intheend,aprophctica!i prediction ofthe 
 mine of this Baby lonifh Strumpet. It is worth the labour 
 to read this whole difcourfe atfu!l,a brcuiatc whereof I one- 
 ly hcere offer to your view. But abouc all, let vs heare the 
 fearcfull complaint of Clemangis. This Age (faith he) is an 
 •stge of Gold, not in manners ( as the Foets fained vnder Sa- 
 tttrne) but in the enraged and vnf at iable de (ire and ext$rtion 
 of 'that men all : for Sacraments, Order signifies, Relaxa- 
 t tons > Dtffen fat ions fifpees, Benefices, yeafinne it f elf e, is now 
 fit to fait for Cjold : Idiots y and vnl earned per Jons, that can 
 fear ce fp ell y much leffe reade with vnderftandtng y & that vnder- 
 (land Lattnc no better then Arabickfy and when they pray or 
 fingjznow not whether they bleffe or curfc their maker, are ad- 
 mitted into the Priefthood. Heere you may fee men without 
 dtfcipline, without reft, wtthout order '.gluttons, drunkardes, 
 idle praters, vbiquitaries ^vnchaft and tafciuious perform, and to 
 fay all in one word, idle bellies wtthout learning and common 
 hon*ftj. Thus hce complaineth, and much more to this 
 
 effe&. 
 
 Nicc/Cifvd*' 
 
 gis.eptft.td 
 
 foh.Gerfvn* 
 
C h p. p, A conclufion of the Treatife. 
 
 417 
 
 crYe£t,whichhcthat will may findc in the forcquotcd place. 
 Petrarch alfo, though Iiuing vndcr the Popes nofc,wrote as 
 bitterly againft the impieties of the Antic hrifti an Syna- 
 gogue : he called Rome 'Babylon y and faid, that Chrift was 
 thence baniilicd, and that Antichrift ruled in his place :that 
 Beelzebub wasthde iudgc, and that vnder theftandi.dof 
 Chrift they made warre againft Chrift : that greater iniury 
 was there "done vnto Chrift ,thcneucr was by the Scribes and 
 Pharifees when he liued> amongft them : that the hope of 
 ctcrnalllifc was held of th srn for a fable: that the more w ic- 
 ked a man was,the more he was prized & honoured. And in 
 a word, that in this Church heauen gate was opened, and 
 Chrift bought and fold for Gol.i, and if Ivdas (hould bring 
 hither his thirty pence (the price of Chrifts blood)hc fhould 
 be receiued : and that truth wash.dd for folly, and error and 
 lying for thechecfeft wifedome. Thus wrote hce, thus pe- 
 remptorilyjand thus piercingly, and yet (which is a won- 
 der),efcaped the firc^but then the facred inquifition was not 
 on foot^as it is at this day, A multitude of fuch like fayings 
 oflearnedmenlcould heape together :butletthefc fuffice 
 for a fay of the whole,that I be not ouer-burdenibme to the 
 Reader. 
 
 4. Belides, the common Prouerbcs and Vcrfcs v r cd in 
 thofctimes,doecuidentlyproue, that their filthy abomina- 
 tions lay not vndefcryed : for what elfe doe the fc Prouerbs 
 import ? As confident as a Pope,as proud as a Prelate, as 
 fat as a Monke,and as crafty as a Friar, the Table of an Ab- 
 bat, more vnlearned then a Monke,r«7tfw Theologale for 
 the moft excellent Wine ? In German) they hauethis Pro- 
 uerbe : Inmdio cenJiflitvirttu^Spricht der Tenjfcl,dhatr 
 fchmfchewtzjwo momchemfas^ that is, Spake the detail when 
 heeftte betweenc two Friars > And in France this, A Friar is 
 a Creature that [ones tohauethe fire at his backe, and the ta- 
 ble at his bslly. And this alfo: Three things are injktiakle, 
 Priefis, A4on\t,*nd the Sea^ in r cfpeft of chcir auarice, as the 
 former was in refpect of their luxury. Thelc things wcu in 
 cucry ordinary mouth, in fomuchas the ignorant people 
 
 H h h ftuckc 
 
 mjKachtit lib, 
 6 cap.iS* 
 
418 
 
 A conchfion of the Treatifc. Chap.9- 
 
 ftuckc nor to fcoffcat many of their groflfe abfurdities, as he 
 that being reproucd for not Yncoucring his head when hce 
 was fprinkled w r ith holy water,anfw r cred jthat ifthat {acred" 
 water could palfe as farre as Purgatory, it might moll eafily 
 paflc through his Bonnet. Or he that affirmed, that eroding 
 and holy water might peraduenture fcarr e away yong dcuils 
 that were but young nou'tces in their trade: but an old dcuill 
 would not bee affrighted with fuch bug-bcarcs. The like 
 feoffes were ordinarily cad out in that blindc Age againll 
 Purgatory,Inuocat'tonof$aints,and Images,as hath becne 
 (hewed before. Nay,many of the very Popes themfelues 
 haue made a mocke and fcoffe of their o wne Religon :as Leo 
 the tenth called it a Fable,and faid;that he could not open the 
 dooreofParadifetohiinfdfe,becaufc he had fold the keyes 
 thcrcofvuto others. And lalim the fecond,that threw Saint 
 Peters Keyes into Tybcr, and tookem his hand Saint Patties 
 Sword; frying, that feeing Saint Veters Keyes could do him 
 no good,hc would now try what Paules Sword would doc. 
 And Gregory the feuenth,<J/V# #//&£rW,who-whenhcfavv 
 the Hoall would not an-fwerca demand' that he made vnto 
 it, in a rage threw it into the fire, in the prcfeocc of many 
 Cardinals that thought td hinder the fame. And if Popes 
 HolinelTcs were thus Atheillically prophanc,why fhould we 
 wonder at inferiour PrieflsPAsat him that meeting his Ene- 
 my in the flreet,who threatned to beat him but for rcucrcme 
 to his God of Paftc, laidhis God on the ground,fay nig," the 
 dcuill take him ifhec take part with either of vs. Or at him, 
 that threatnedto throw his God intothe fire if he did not ap- 
 pcafe the prefent tempeftof thurrdcr and lightning, and fo 
 fhew himfclfe llrongcr then thcdeuill:or at him,who hautng 
 receiued a box on the earc by a Captaine,bidding him alfo to 
 turnc the other eareto receiuc another, according to C hafts 
 rule,as he alfo did,fell hallily vpon the Captaincy buffctted 
 him foundly, with this Memento^ that Chi ill alfo comman- 
 ded vs to doe as wc would be done vnto; and withall, defi- 
 red the ftanders by to let them alone, for they did nothing 
 but expound Scripture : or at him that being about to go to 
 
 MaiTc, 
 
Chap.p. Aconclufionofthe Treat ifi. 
 
 MafTe,and hauing a box ful of Wafers,fhooke them together 
 and faidjVee rogues^yee rogucs^which ofyou fhall be made 
 aGodtoday ? Orathniuhatfaid.,that they dealt with their 
 God in the Mafic 3 as a Cat doth with a Moufc, which after 
 they haue made fport withall a whilc^they eatc at lalt. But to 
 leauethcfeProucibs and feoffs, and to come to the verfes 
 that were written in thofe daics of the impiety and impurity 
 oftheRomifh CJeargy. In this fubiecl I might be infinit,buc 
 Iwillomitfuch as arc ordinary in cucrybookc, and pro- 
 pound a few more rare^and which are not o bilious to euery 
 view : Pafqnin is famous in this kindc,as in thisEpigramme 
 of fiue Popes^withinany more of the like ftampc. 
 
 Stxtum Lenones, lulinmrexert cynadi y 
 Imperittm vanifcttrra Leonis babes. 
 Clement emfuri a vexant,er auara cttpido, 
 ^ȣ ffes eft regni Paulefvttura tni > 
 In Englifh thus. 
 
 Bawdes ruled Sixtusjttlius Canimedes y 
 
 A ruffian fwayd oCleos power the rayncs ; 
 Fury and auaiicc Clement pojfedes, 
 What hope then of thy rule^O ^**/,rcmayncs ? 
 Another Poet in thofe times thus wrketfa of the Monkes 
 of Saint Ant honies family. 
 
 Dicer is Antoniporcos patiiffe ffibttlctts 
 
 Viuus^adhtic Monachos lum'me cajfus alls f 
 Parftnpor ingemj eft, ventrify abdamen vtrifq ue : 
 
 Sorde pari gaudent, ingltiute^pari : 
 Nee mintu hoc brutumgemu eft mtitumuefttillo, 
 
 Nee minus in ftp idumjtec minus illepidum : 
 Cater a conuenieni \fednon IchU trror in vno e/I 9 
 ^Debuerat Monachu glans abm ejfe tuis . 
 In Englifh thus. 
 
 O Anthony y thou hoggc art faid to feede 
 Aliue, now dcad,Monkes are thy charge indcede : 
 Like doltifh wit,l ike greedy paunch in both, 
 Alike they arc in filthineffe and iloth : 
 
 Hhh 2 Monkcs 
 
 4Tp 
 
qia 
 
 A conclufion of the Treat zfe. Cha p. 9 
 
 Monkes no lefle brutiflyio Icljc dumb then fwine, 
 As linking as vnfauoury arc chine : 
 The reft agrce,yet one thing is amifle, 
 That Monkes on Acornes doe not fcede T wiflfe. 
 Gttaltgr (JWapes^n Englifh Diuine that flourished about 
 the yeere \\9? • defcribeth this generation after another 
 ftraiae,in aftyle confonant to that Age. 
 
 Bfi nullum Ttfonacbo magi* damoffium^, 
 Ntbif auaritu-yiihii magis varium, 
 Cut ft quid datur.efi pofejfor omnium, 
 Si cjuidquam petit urjitlhnbet proprium y 
 Siprandit y competit vt loquinefciat, 
 Ne lingua dent turn opus impediat, 
 Si bibit, expedit vt fedens bauriat, 
 Ne pes fpib ponder e ventrls defciat r 
 Die deuotitu ad or at dolia > 
 Nolle cum bipede labor at beflU 
 Tali difcrimine, tali modeftia, 
 Meretur vir Dei regna ct/eftia* 
 In Englilhthus. 
 
 The deuill is not Co wicked as a Friar, 
 Nothing fo couetous/o various berc: 
 If ought be giuen,he takes it as his owne, 
 If ought be askt, he nothing hath that's knovvne : 
 When dinchcdothjhc muft abftainc from fpeaking, 
 Leaft that his tongue fhould let his teeth from eating. 
 And when he drinkes he muft not ftand but fit, 
 For feare his feet fhould fakcr,and his wit : 
 All day deuout he Bacchus doth adore, 
 All night a beaft two footed is his ftote : 
 This danger great, and modeftexercife, . 
 Condu6tsthismanofGodto Paradifc. 
 Of the fame liindc of people another Poet writ this. 
 Difticfcc. 
 
 Credibilecft Circen mutajfe potent ibus herbis^ 
 In Afonacbof^fues^in^fues Monacbos* 
 In Englifh thus, 
 
 I 
 
Chap,£. A conctufion of the Treat: f% 
 
 *- ||" ■ III! I' ■!■ I | , 
 
 1 thinke fomc Witch hath chang'd of late by 'peljs, 
 Monkcs mto Swine, Swine into Monkesin cells. 
 Another thus defcribes them. 
 
 Maxima pars i urb& rjfo ytta vertice oberrat 
 
 lam nunc confoevit viftere more fuo : 
 Grathr eft lepus , extguufue cnmiculw tills , 
 Quam fmtt hhannn m)ftica[crtpta librt y 
 P far is vel minimum partem falmsnis babentes y 
 Qunm Sdomonis babent proutda difta fimnh 
 InEnglifhthus. 
 
 The greatcft part ofcrowne-fhauen Prieftsare fuch, 
 As vie to Hue as lift themfelues each one: 
 A Hare or Cony is more pleafing much 
 To them, then are the facred bookes otlohtt. 
 They more ei.eeme a peece of dainty Salmon, 
 Then all the graueft words of wife Salomon. 
 Another Poet thus. 
 
 Derfum afini, cor euis, roftram fuis , of£ cofamba, 
 Fulcra bonis monacho fat >et honeftus erit . 
 InEngli/hthus. 
 
 Giue to a Monke an Affe? backe to bow, 
 A fhecpes round hart, the nofthrils of a Sow, 
 A Doucs wide mouth, an Oxeslcgs in ftore, 
 And then will he behoncft, not before* 
 Another Poet thus. 
 
 Fercnla % vina y venH4 \modofnnt femper^frere ', 
 Vcrtictbm raft [da rnina gregis. 
 In Englifh thus. 
 
 Good cheare, good wine, and wanton Venus game, 
 Haue bene, and are,offliaucn-crownd Pricftsthe bane. 
 
 - I cannot pafTc ouer the elegant Epigramme written by 
 John Pannoniaa, a Poet of their ownc,touchingthe hollow 
 Chaire, wherewith they vfed to examine the virilities of 
 their Popes before they were inftailed ; 
 
 42I 
 
 Hhh 
 
 Of 
 
422 
 
 A conclufion of the Treat tfe* Clz\ g 
 
 Of old none got S. Peters Kcyes,butfuch 
 
 Whofc manly parts were proucd by the touch. 
 
 Whence comes it then that now this trynll fairc 
 
 Surceafeth by that famous bored Chairc ? 
 
 It is,becaufe the Popes that now do fit, 
 
 Prouc themfelucs mcn,by baltards which they get. 
 
 5. And thus I fuppofe I haue fufficiently proued,that God 
 in all Ages ftirredvpfomewitneffesofhis truth, andrcpro- 
 tiers of AntichrHtian errours : for further manifcRat ion 
 whereof, I refcrre the Reader to that famous bookc intitled, 
 C^tdogm tefimm veritatis, where this point is proucd and 
 profcctited at large. And albeit that witnelTesare but few 
 in comparifon of the multitude of approuers; yctbythefe 
 few wc may well conieclure, that thoufands more lay hidden 
 in fecret, whofe writings and fayings are not difcoucred to 
 the world; being either confumed by the teeth of Time, or 
 fuppreffed by the malice of Ancichrillian pollicy , or purged 
 out of their bookes by their cxpurging inquifitours : and fo 
 we may fee the vanity of that Popifh (lander, Where was 
 your religion before Luther > But ouer and aboue thefe vcr- 
 ball witneffes, wee hauc one reall tcftimony, dcriued from 
 the hues and miferable ends of moft of the Romiflh Popes, 
 mice they were afcended to the height of the Antichriltian 
 pride and power: the name which the Apoftle afcrifees vnto 
 Antichrift when he calleth him the Sonne of perdition, is a 
 fit Character of thefe monlters ; and that whether we take it 
 actually as working perdition to others, both by examples 
 of life, or doctrines of crrour : or pafTiuely,as pulling downe 
 vpon themfelucs horrible dc(trucl:ion, nor onely in the life to 
 come, butcucn apparantlyin this world, by their fearcfull 
 ends. If wee take but a view of all the Popes which fucccf- 
 fiuely reigned in the Church o(Reme 9 from the yeerc 897. 
 till the Council of Con/ltnce, about the ycere 1 4 1 7. which 
 were about an hundred and eight in number, and at which 
 timethekingdomcof Antichrift was in it bigheft degree of 
 exaltation ; weeflhallfinde, and that by the report of their 
 
 owne 
 
Chap.?. A conclnfion of the Treatife 
 
 4*3 
 
 owne writers jinoll: of them fuch monftcrs of men, fuch dc- 
 uils incarnate,fuch villaincs in graine, fuchRuffians,Tyrants, 
 Firebrands of fedition, and debauched Atheifls, thatneuer 
 any State or fucccflion, whether of Heathen Emperours, ©r 
 of Turkish Monarches, or of Tartaric, Scythian , Indian 
 Kings,is to be compared vnto thefc, in Villany, Tyranny, 
 Luxury ,and all manner of impiety. It was a ftrange thing in 
 thofc times, to ftnde a Pope but moderately wicked ; and if 
 any were better then other, as Celeftine the fiftj who of a 
 Monke of the Order of S . Rennet was made Pope, Platina 
 faith, that aboue two hundred thoufand men were moued 
 with the nouelty of the facl, and fan6tity of the perfon : and 
 therefore Pafquin defcribing in an Epigrame or Epitaphe, 
 the life and death of a molt notorious wicked man,concludcs 
 his Hexaitkke thus, Scire cupup&Heis c&tera ? Papa fait : as 
 if, to be Pope and a good man together, were almoft a thing 
 impofTiblc. Anfwerable whereunto, is that faying of Guic- 
 t tar dine > In Pont'ficibtts hodic,&c. at this day no man looks 
 for any honeity in a Popc,they arc accounted excellent good 
 oncs,ifthey haue but a dram ofhoneity : yca,ifthcy furpaiTe 
 not the wickednefTe of other men. And therefore Marcel- 
 Itu the fecond protcfted, that he did not fee, Quomedo qui 
 locum hunc alttjfimum tenentfaluari poffunt : how a Pope can 
 be faued. I fpeakc ofthofe corrupted times, wherein all true 
 religion and piety, wasneerebanifhed out of the world. 1 
 confeffe/hat fince Lvthers diicoucry of their abhominations, 
 they haue bene thought not lciTc vicious,yet morecautclous, 
 as- hauing in their view fo many eyes to watch their dea- 
 lings, and fo many tongues that efurft proclaimc them to the 
 world. And for their ends, how few of them had the blcf- 
 fingto dye anaturalldeath > Some /trangled,{tifled, orfa- 
 mifhed in prifon,as Stephen the feuchth: "Bennet the iixt: and 
 hhn the fift : Some ftricken as they were committing the ve- 
 ry a6t of adulters lohn the twelfth : Some feazed vpon by 
 the dcuill, as Sifuefter the fecond : Adrian the fourth was 
 choked with a fl'ye : Innocent the fourth,beatcn to death in a 
 vifion with the Croficr ftarTc of 'Robert GroftfxadB'iQnop of 
 
 hin- 
 
 Platind m 
 
 Guichift, 
 liK'6, 
 
 Omphran\>itA 
 
 Marcell-adji* 
 mm Plat in** 
 
424 
 
 A tontlujion of the Treat ife. Chap.9. 
 
 10/4. 
 
 Lincoln : Sennet the ninth, was ftranglcd by the deuill in a 
 wood, of whofe damnation Baronius aftlrmeth, there was 
 a manifeft virion prefented to N one Vaclus. John the a j . was 
 crushed to death with the fall of an Hall, which he had built 
 in the Caftle of Viterbium. Celeftme the fift, dyed in pt ifon, 
 wherein he was enlofed by Ttniface the eight : neither did 
 that wicked Boniface efcape the vengeance of God ; for be- 
 ing imprifoncd in the Caftle S. Angelo, by the procurement 
 of Philltp the Faire King of France, he dyed ftarke mad moft 
 lamentably, hauing nrft gnawne off and eaten the flefh off 
 his owne hands : and at the houre of his death, there was 
 heard fuch terrible thundering in the Cattle, as if all the dc- 
 uils inheii had bene prefent. Clement the firft dyed with 
 fcare. Pr&ane the fmh poyfonedhimfelfe. Paul the fecond 
 dyed drunke of an Apoplexy. Alexander the fixth was 
 poyfonedby adrinke,whichhe.c himfelfchad prepared for 
 certainc Cardinals, through the miftakc of his Cup beater. 
 And latins the third 5 fayning himfelrc ficke, and abftaining 
 from food, fell ficke indecd,anddyed,and fo his ieft was tur- 
 ned into earneft. I might relate the fearefull ends of a 
 number more, but that I haften to my conclufion. Neither 
 J do I fpeake of thofe that were purpofely poyfoned, the Ca- 
 talogue of which would be too great, it being an ordinary 
 pra&ife in that Sea,fceing in the fpace of 1 3 .yeeres,fix Popes 
 were thus brought to their ends by Brasjutus the familiar 
 friend of TZenhet the ninth, who 'e names are recorded by 
 Cardinall Benno, in the life of Hildebrand. Who now can 
 doubt, but that that title, The Sonne of perdition, afcribed 
 firft by our Sauiour Chrift vnto Indus that betrayed his ma- 
 iler, and hung himfelfe : an d fecondly, by S. Paul to Anti- 
 chrift, doth fitly appertaine to the Popes of 'Rome ; who as 
 they hauebeneapparant hauockersand deftroyers of milli- 
 ons of foules and bodies of other men," fo they for the moft 
 part,haue bene deftroyed themfelucs,after a violent and hor- 
 rible mancr ? And o we haue aplainc rcall teftimony of the 
 villany and impiety of the Romifh Cleargy in thofe times ; 
 for the head being thus diftempered, how could the body I 
 
 be| 
 
Chap.p. Accncluficncfthe Treatife. 
 
 425 
 
 be but vnfound and dcpiaucd. 
 
 6. And now, Quidntfivotafttferfunt ? That God in 
 mercy would enlighten the vndcrftanding ofall Popifh fc- 
 duced foulcs, that they may fee their crrours, and the dan- 
 gerous cftatc wherein they ftand vnder the kingdomc of 
 Antichi i(t : and giuc vs wifedome more and more to dif- 
 cerne their abhominablc dciufions, and conftancy to ftand a- 
 gainit them to (he end : we haue not yet refitted vnto blood, 
 and in all likclyhcod the fiery tryall is not farre off. For ne- 
 ucr did that man offinne rage more then at this daVj both by 
 open wane, and fecrct policies. Vrhillcmwickes fhoul- 
 dcrs arc now too wealec to vpbeare the Laterane roofe, and 
 therefore Loycla with his Iefuiticall broode, haue put vndc£ 
 
 theirs. This Macciauillian rowte, profcfTing pouerty, and 
 yet poiTcffing more goods and lands then many Princes, and 
 {ntercfltrig thcmfcJucs in all matters ofStatc, arc crept into all 
 Kingdomes, and like the C ockatricc poyfon with their very 
 breath and afpeel : thefc arc the Popes cnginers andftrata- 
 gematizers, whereby he fcekes to fubucrt the true Church of 
 Chrift, and to fortify the wals of his ownc Tlabyhtt. But 
 Chrift Iefus the great King ofheauen and earth, (tandcih ar- 
 med with power ,for the defence of his Children ; and there- 
 fore maugre all their fury and malice, wee doubt not but 
 that truth fhall prcuaile againft errour,and true religion flou- 
 1 riili more and more ;and that in fulnefie of time, that Pro- 
 phecy (hall be accomplifhed, j4pcc. j 8. 3. 'Babylon that 
 great City is fatter, u fallen ', ak •a become the habitation 
 e>fdeurfr 3 /tftdtbe hold cf entry foulc fjtr;t y Ar.d 
 A cage (fcitery vncleane and batefyi! bird, 
 Eucn fo bee it, Amen, 
 Amen. 
 
 Fixis. Latts 1)co t 
 Iii 
 
Faults of the Prefle are thus to be feorre- ! 
 #cd> and charitably borne withall/ , 
 
 I 
 
 P^.5 for acuity ,r .quality . Ibid for Pontificu mjixima t ■ 
 r.Ponttfices maximi , p . 1 6 . for is not a foamed, r, are not , I 
 pag. 19. for as the reign ed, read as tfthcf. pag.22.for 1 know '( 
 whatfj.know not wh.it \pag.% z,r. Peter Ttfefenjts fag. 3 q-for " 
 luxa,r.luxu,andfor ade y r ades.p.3^ .for Stigia,r .sliga. Ibid. 
 r.£'abriers.pag.q.2*r.Pupias p. 5 J.fsr zfX^* 1 * r HK'rm p 60. 
 for writeth jr. writ he tb ^64. mai^etbe point after theje words, 
 for Antichrift: p. 7%. for intended/, intruded. p. y 9 for through 
 r though. p. 91 . r. Pope Titu thefecond in his Zptftle. p. 91. read 
 7)ercato.p. \ o 1 . r.t this wife andperfdlman p<tg. 1 o ] . r.^ff- 
 futedfor confuteth.p* 1 1 1 .for f nee, r. fare. p. 1 2 1 . r. of the Ro- 
 mane Empire. p. 1 2 5. ^multiplicity ofmarkes. p . 1 47 . for Vi- 
 nin4lljrtminaH,&forfeptimontum,feptimontium.p.\6o. read 
 Burgbefiana etermtati.p. 1 -jS.r.Luitpertand Fauchet.p. 179. 
 forarme of his reigne,r. acme */£/> reigne.p.\96s, Apoc. 1 8 > 
 7. p.lpj.r.bj the two homes, p. 205 for E Utopia, r.O Utopia* 
 pag. 206. for Gaz,eltu,r.Gaz,eu4. p. 2 1 3 .r, 1 jooo.ar: reported, 
 p»zl^.r.VetrebuJians.p.2^9.r m SimoniansforStcroniAns. pag, 
 26S .for Doctrines/. DoBors.p.z6$.r.his garden 3 for this gar- 
 den, p . 2 7 %jr,fne dubiap.^oy.r.luengus mentiras. p. 3 1 3 ./Jr rf 
 foundedf.it founded, p. 3 i^.forpo/fejfed,r.dtJpofefed.p .319.^. 
 per fwaded, for per/wade. p.^2,r S.Genou. /M 5 3 « r « Fiauiw 
 Vopifcm.p, 3 6o.r.to be drawne. Ibtd.rwt to be beleeuetL pag. 
 399 .for Vope Imiw/ t Pope Iulius* 
 
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