A Compend of the Controversies of Religion, Chapter 20

A Compend of the Controversies of Religion · Chapter 20

CHAP. XX. AN APPENDIX, OF ANTICHRIST.

To the Reader. Of the neceſſitie of this Appendix.

AFter the proclayming of the Eternall Goſpel, Revel. 14.9. there is a fearfull Commination, agaynſt all thoſe that any more follow the Beaſt, or receiue his marke: to wit, That they ſhall drinke of the VVyne of the VVrath of GOD, and bee tormented with eternall Fyre. It is, therefore, verie behooffull, for everie Chriſtian to know this Beaſt: that as the People followed Abſolon, tho in their ſimplicitie; ſo men follow not lyke-wyſe, in obſtinacie, againſt p. 192revealed Light, that detected diſſembler now, and Traytor to GOD'S Trueth.

For this cauſe, as the Starre made the VVyſe-men know CHRIST, and where Hee was: So hauehave I ſet the Starre of GOD'S VVord before thyne Eyes, to leade thee to the knowledge of Antichriſt lyke-wyſe, and where hee is. And what-ſo-ever place of Scripture I hauehave adduced to indigitate Antichriſt, (as the finger of the Baptiſt pointed out CHRIST) I hauehave, for thy better ſatisfaction, and convincing of the Adverſarie, brought eyther the Expoſition of ancient Fathers, or Romane Doctors, there-on; and hauehave made the application, out of the Records of their owne Hiſtories: ſo that their owne mouth, ſhall indyte their owne Dittie, and ſaue that paynes to their ſilent partie.

And all this I hauehave taken from ancient vnſuspected Bookes of their owne, which I hauehave beſide mee: vſing all fidelitie for thy aſſurance, and all perſpicuous brevitie that is poſsible, for thy contentment and eaſe.

OF ANTICHRIST.

§. 1. VVhat ſort of Adverſarie hee is, to wit, not an open Enemie, but a counterfeit, or a masked Foe, vnderunder the Christian name.

2. THeſ. 2.3. Let no mā deceiue you, by any means, for that day ſhall not come, except there bee a falling away first, and that man of ſinne bee revealed, the ſonne of perdition.

Note then, That Antichrist ſhall bee an Apoſtate Chriſtian, and no Iew, vnderunder the Chriſtian name, making defection from the trueth of CHRIST: for ſo ſayth Bellarmine, (Lib. 3. de Pontif. cap. 2. §. ad postremum.) By this falling away, (ſayth hee) moſt rightlie may Antichrist bee vnderſtood; for hee ſhall bee ſo notable p. 194an Apoſtate, that hee may be called the Apostaſie it ſelfe.

Remarke alſo, That therefore hee getteth Iudas ſtile, and is called The ſonne of perdition: becauſe as Iudas was the ring-leader of thoſe that came againſt Chriſt, yet profeſſing him-ſelfe a chiefe Diſciple, and ſaluting Chriſt as his Maſter; ſo is Antichrist the ring-leader and head of thoſe that are againſt the trueth of Chriſt, yet profeſſing him-ſelfe a chiefe chriſtian, and a Deputie for Chriſt: therefore ſayth Augustine (tract. 3. in Epist, Iohannis,) that Antichrist is the greater liar, who profeſſeth with his mouth Ieſus to bee Chriſt, but denyeth him by his deedes: which beeing contrarie to the doctrine of Chriſt, they are contrarie to the Word of God, which Word of God is Chriſt. Therefore he concludeth, Let vsus then (ſayeth hee) take heed, not to his tongue, but to his deeds; and where his deeds ſpeake, wherefore require wee words?

Revel. 13.11. And I behelde an-other Beast, comming out of the Earth, and hee had two harnes, like the Lambe, and hee ſpake as the Dragon.

Note then, That heere againe Antichrist p. 195is deſcrybed, (as all men confeſſe.) And this is that Beaſt, ſayeth Auguſtine, (Hom. 11. in Apocalip.) which vnderunder the chriſtiā name reſembleth the Lambe, that hee may ſecretlie powre in the poyſon of the Dragon. This is that hereticall church, which would not counterfeit the likeneſſe of the Lambe, if ſhee did openlie ſpeake; but ſhee counterfeiteth chriſtianitie, that the more ſecurelie ſhee may deceiue the ſimple. And there-after hee ſayeth more expreſſelie, That this hereticall, and antichriſtian church, ſhall heere-in make her ſelfelike to Chriſt; which altho her members be ſpirituallie perſecuting Chriſt, yet they will ſeeme to glorie of the ſigne of the Croſſe of Chriſt.

§. 2. The tyme which is fore-tolde of Antichriſt's comming, and that the ſame is alreadie paſt.

2. THeſſ. 2.7. Onlie hee who now letteth, vvill let, till hee bee taken out of the vvay.

This Bellarmine expoundeth, according to common conſent, (lib. 3. de pont. c. 5.) to bee the decay of the olde Romane Empire.

p. 196Now that this is performed, let a clowde of Popiſh Authors teſtifye: Aquinas on this place of Paul's, ſayeth thus, That as it was a ſigne of Chriſt's comming, to wit, the domining over all of the Romane Empire; ſo is it a ſigne of Antichriſt's comming, to wit, the revolt of Countreyes from the Romane Empire. But (ſayeth hee) Countreyes hauehave long ſince revolted from the Romane Empire. Wherefore hee is forced to grant, that in place there-of, there is onlie to bee ſeene a ſpirituall Monarchie at Rome: and from whence wee therefore conclude inevitablie, That Antichriſt is come.

So ſayth Haymo alſo, a Germane Archbiſhop, on this place, who wrote in the 800. yeare of God: The Apoſtle ſhoweth, (ſayeth hee) that our Lord ſhall not come to judgement, while firſt a decay bee of the Romane Empire; which wee now ſee fulfilled, and that Antichriſt doeth now appeare in the World, who ſhall kill the Martyres of Chriſt.

Lyra lykewyſe, on this place of Paul, ſayth, that in his time, the whole Kingdomes of the World had alreadie revolted from the Romane Empire.

And the Author of Faſciculus temporum, in the life of Honorius 1. ſhoweth, that this irrecoverable decay begā anno 639. So that now, (ſayth hee) all the p. 197foure Monarchies are decayed, and there reſteth none now, but that of Antichriſts.

Revel. 17.12. And the ten hornes vvhichwhich thou ſawest, are ten Kinges, vvhichwhich hauehave received no Kingdome as yet, but receiue power as Kings at one houre with the Beast.

This Bellarmine expoundeth (lib. 3. de Pont. c. 5.) to bee the diſſolving of the Romane Empire, in-to ſeverall free Kingdomes, which before were but tributarie Provinces; and which muſt bee vnderſtood of the olde Romane Empire, which was in Sainct Iohn's dayes, and ſo is alreadie fulfilled: and can-not ſo bee vnderſtood of this new one, which conſiſteth not of ſo manie Kingdomes, and is but an image onlie of the olde, erected by the Pope, and ſubject vntounto him. And ſo (according to Iohn's wordes) is not diviſible in ſo manie Kingdomes.

That this diſſolution then of the olde Empire is alreadie accompliſhed, by the revolt of tributarie Kingdomes from the ſame, and their aſſuming of power, to bee free Monarches, is alreadie proven by the fore-named teſtimonies: and in ſpeciall, by that of Lyra's, whoſe words are theſe, The whole Kingdomes of the p. 198World (ſayth hee) hauehave alreadie, as it were, revolted from the Romane Empire, denying to be ſubject there-to, or to pay tribute: and now manie Yeares agoe, the Empire hath alſo wanted an Emperour.

Whence it followeth, that as ſure Antichriſt is come, as it is ſure that the olde Romane Empire ſtandeth not entire, but is diſſolved, by the revolt of Kingdomes there-fra, which of olde were ſubject there-to: and that at that ſame inſtant time, when thoſe aſſumed power, as free Kings over their Countreyes, that even then Antichriſt was alreadie come, and grew great in the Church: ſeeing it is expreſſelie ſaide, that thoſe Kings at one houre receiue power with the Beaſt.

§. 3. The place in generall where-in Antichriſt is to bee found.

2. THeſſ. 2.4. Who ſitteth in the Temple of God:

That is, (as not onelie expound Ierome and Theodoret, but their owne Sainct Aquinas, and Lyra, on this place,) who ruleth in the Church: or, as Auguſtine ſayth, (Lib. 20. de civitate Dei, c. 19) who giveth him-felfe out, as if he, & his followers, were the onlie true Church.

p. 199Both which, that the Pope doeth, Bellarmine beareth witneſſe, proving his Monarchicke ruling in the Church. Lib. 2. de Pont. c. 12. and that hee, and his followers, are onlie the true Church, in his fourth Booke, De Eccleſia, throughout.

§. 4. The place in ſpeciall, where-in Antichriſt his ſeat is to be found.

REvelat. 17.9. The ſeaven heads, are ſeaven Mountaynes, where-on the Woman ſitteth.

Which ſignify Rome, ſayeth Bellarmine, (Lib. 1. de Euchariſt. Cap. 11. §. reſpondeo Sacramentalem) which is ſituated on ſeaven Hilles.

Where-vntounto the Rhemiſts alſo are forced to conſent, ſaying, on the fift verſe of this ſame Chapter, As in the beginning of the Church, Nero, and the reſt of the perſecuting Emperours, (which were figures of Antichriſt) did principallie, ſit in Rome: So alſo (ſay they) the great Antichriſt ſhall hauehave his ſeat there, as it may well bee.

Note then, That Antichriſt muſt not onelie (by the Papiſts owne confeſſion) rule as a Monarch in the Church generallie: p. 200but alſo, that Rome muſt bee his ſeate particularlie. Where-in that hee hath ſitten long a-goe, hath beene proved by the tyme of his comming, and is clearlie teſtifyed by their Petrarch, a Romane Arch-deane, and Channon, who lived anno 1350. and who thus teſtifyeth of Rome in his tyme, That it was even then the ſeate of the Whore; & that even then the Kinges of the earth did drinke the Wyne of her Fornication. So that no-thing more was to be expected, than the performance of that which the Angel ſayeth, Babylon is fallen. Petrarch, Lib. Epiſt. 18.

§. 5. His Qualities and Actions, where-by to know him: and firſt, his exorbitant Pryde.

2. THeſſ. 2.4. Who oppoſeth and exalteth him-ſelfe aboue all that is called God.

That is (as ſaith their Carthuſian) aboue all creatures, that are eyther reputed, or for ſome ſingular perfection, or eminencie, are ſo called, gods; beeing ſuch by participation of name onelie, as ſayeth their Aquinas.

Now, theſe are eyther heavenlie Angels, p. 201ſo called, Pſal. 97.7. and expounded ſo to bee, Hebr. 1.6. or they are earthlie Princes, ſo ſtiled, Pſal. 82.6.

But to applie, that the Pope exalteth him-ſelfe aboue all theſe, let his Cardinall Turrecremata teſtifie, where hee ſayeth, (Lib. 2. ſumma, cap. 52.) That as Chriſt got dominion from His Father, aboue all Principalities, and power aboue all creatures what-ſo-ever that hauehave beeing, that all knees ſhould bow to Him: So Hee hath granted moſt fullie this dominion and power to Peter, and his ſucceſſours. Hence was that prowde word in the Bull of Clement the fift, concerning thoſe that died comming to his Iubile, ſaying, VVee command the Angels, &c. And hence alſo is that prowde claime of Boniface the eight, in his decretall, Extravagant, lib. 1. tit. 8. vnam ſanctam. Affirming, that he was to judge all men, and to bee judged of none; and that all men (whether Kings, or Subjects) vnderunder paine of damnation, ſhould profeſſe their ſubjection to him, as their onlie ſupreame Lord, both in ſpirituall things, and temporall.

p. 202§. 6. His Blasphemie.

2. THeſſ. 2.4. So that hee as God, ſitteth in the Temple of GOD, ſhewing him-ſelfe that hee is God.

Revel. 17.3. And I ſaw a Woman, ſit vponupon a ſcarlet-coloured Beast, full of names of Blasphemie.

Now, that in both theſe places Antichriſt is deſcrybed, all men admit. Let vsus ſee then, if the Pope ſitteth as God, in the Temple of God; 1. Vſurping the ſtile of God, 2. as alſo, His proper prerogatiues: 3. and laſt, by vſurping the proper ſtiles of the Sonne of God; let vsus ſee, if hee bee that Beaſt, full of the names of Blasphemie.

1. Firſt then, that hee aſſumeth the ſtile of God, is evident out of his canon Law, (Diſt. 96. c. ſatis, &c.) whence Pope Nicolas 2. inferreth, that hee is to bee judged by none. Which priviledge ſeeing hee granteth not to anie Prince, it is evident, that he vſurpeth not that ſtile in that ſenſe, that it is attributed to Magiſtrates in Scripture, and who are p. 203never, but in the plurall number onlie, called Gods, but not anie of them, a God, in the ſingular.

2. Next, that hee vſurpeth God's proper prerogatiues, is evident in his diſpenſing with God's Law: the reaſon where-of is, becauſe (ſayth Angelus Clavaſinus, in his Summa Angelica, tit. Papa, f. 141.) wee hauehave by the example of God him-ſelfe, that hee oft-tymes hath diſpenſed with his owne Law. Therefore it followeth, that the Pope lykewyſe doing ſo, ſhoweth him-ſelfe, that hee is God, or God's equall. For it is a common rule amongſt them-ſelues, that an inferiour can-not diſpence againſt the command of a ſuperiour. (Summa Antonini. Part. 3. tit. 22. cap. 6. §. 2.) And it agreeth alſo with common ſenſe and reaſon.

A few examples of ſuch diſpenſations, in place of manie, wee will bring out of their owne Authors. The fore-ſaid Angelus, in his ſumma Angelica (f. 141.) relateth, that Pope Martin the 5. gaue one a diſpenſation that married his owne Siſter: and ſhoweth, that Sainct Antoninus is a conjunct recorder of this with him.

Lyke-wyſe, Villa, Scotus, and Orbellis, all three, on the fourth Booke of Sentences, reporte, howe that Pope Lucius p. 204diſpenſed with Panormitan, an Archbiſhop, to hauehave two Wiues at once, out of the fulneſſe of his power, (ſay they) againſt that Apoſtolicall precept, 1. Tim. 3.2. (Villa. f. 195. diſt. 27. Scotus, f. 255. d. 33. q. 2. Orbellis, d. 33. §. 2.

3. Laſt, that hee vſurpeth the proper ſtiles of the Sonne of God, and ſo is that Beaſt, Full of the names of blaſphemie, let theſe inſtances teſtify: 1. Hee is called, That light that came into the world, and which the world received not (Iohn, 1.10.) for ſo the Biſhop of Bitonto, in his oration before the Counſell of Trent, publicklie proclaimed him. Which title to bee onlie competent to Chriſt alone, both the text manifeſteth, verſe 8.9.10. and, 12, and their owne Authors, Carthuſian, Lyra, Ferus, and manie moe, on that place teſtify. 2. Hee is called, The Huſband of the Church, by Bellarmine (lib. 2. de Pont. cap. 31.) which Aquine, Lyra, and Lombard, (on 2. Cor. 11.2.) ſhoweth, to bee the proper ſtile of Chriſt Ieſus allanerlie. 3. By the ſame Bellarmine, in his Preface, De ſummo Pontifice, hee is called, That corner ſtone, proved and precious: which title of Chriſt's alone, Lyra; Hugo de S. Charo, Pintus, and Peruſin (on Iſai. 28.) ſhoweth, to be incommunicable to anie what-ſo-ever: hee being called [the corner ſtone,] becauſe p. 205hee coupleth (ſay they) both Iew and Gentile in one vnitie of fayth, [proven] by the paſſion of his croſſe, and [precious] in reſpect both of the infinite value of his perſon, being God and Man, as alſo of the merite of paſſion, which redeemed the whole World. And laſt, hee is called by Turrecremata, (lib. 3. ſummae, cap. 9.) King of Kings, which is onlie proper to our Saviour, (Revel. 19.16.) and due to him allanerlie.

§. 7. His Idolatrie, or ſpirituall VVhoredome.

REvel. 17.6. And vponupon her fore-head, was a name written, Myſterie Babylon, the Mother of Harlots, and abhominations of the Earth.

Now of the veritie here-of in Rome, let their owne doctrine and confeſſions, in one inſtance onelie, concerning the worſhipping of Images, clearlie beare witneſſe.

Their doctrine is this, That the ſame honour is due to the Image of Chriſt, which is due to Chriſt him-ſelfe: for ſo ſay their canonized Saincts, in their authorized p. 206wrytings, Sainct Aquinas, 3. parte. q. 25. and Sainct Bonaventure.

Like-wiſe, That the Images of Chriſt, and of the Saincts, are to bee worſhipped, not onlie by accid…nt, or improperlie; but alſo by them-ſelues, and properlie; ſo that the worſhip ſtayeth in the image it ſelfe, and as they are conſidered, even in them-ſelues, and not onlie as they ſupplie the place of that which they repreſent. So teacheth Bellarmine, (lib. 2. de reliq. c. 21.)

Their confeſſion of the Idolatrie that is amongſt them, conforme to this doctrine, is ſuch: Polydorus Virgilius ſayth, (lib. 6. de inventione rerum, cap. 13.) that in his tyme, it was come to that madneſſe and impietie, that thoſe carved and painted Images, were ſo worſhipped, as if they had ſenſe and that the rude people did more confyde in them, than in Chriſt him-ſelfe, or the Saincts.

Caſſander alſo (lib. conſuls. c. de imag.) affirmeth, that the worſhip of Images, was come to that higheſt adoration amongſt them, that ever was vſed by Pagans, to bee given to their Idoles; and to that extreame vanitie, that they hauehave left no-thing vndone, which the verie Heathens performed, in dreſſing and decoring their Images. And there after concludeth, that as long as the occaſion p. 207of ſuch errour is not taken away, but that Images decked with golde, and ſilke, and precious ſtones, are ſet in Churches, and on Altars, that ſo long no ende of ſuperſtition is to bee hoped for.

§. 8. His Crueltie.

REvel. 17, 6. And I ſaw the Woman drunken vvith the Blood of the Saincts, and of the Martyres of IESVS.

This to bee true of the Popes, I ſhall adduce onlie their owne witneſſes: Platina, in the lyfe of Sylvester the 3, teſtifyeth, That the Popedome was at that time come to this paſſe, that hee who exceeded moſt in pryde, and bryberie, attained to that degree of honour, all good men being opp…eſſed by them: which faſhion (ſays he) I wiſh our times had not kept: and except God prevent it, wee are to ſee worſe.

In lyke manner, thus doeth the Author of Faſciculus exclaime, (f. 49.) ſaying of the 900. yeare. O worſt time that ever was! (ſayth hee) where-in the godlie man is periſhed, and Trueth is decayed p. 208amongſt the ſonnes of men! O what contentions are in the Apoſtolicke ſeat! what emulations, ſects, envie, ambition, intruſion; yea, and perſecution is now! Alace, what companie, what aſſemblie, yea, what man then, may bee now ſecure?

Alſo in the life of Boniface the ſeavēth, he ſayth, that manie were ſlaine, as in the primitiue Church, for that (to wit) which the Pope called Hereſie.

And in the lyfe of Innocent the third, like-wiſe hee ſhoweth, that 100000. of the VValdenſes were partlie ſlaine, and put to flight, by the Earle of Montferrat, aſſiſted at the Pope's command, with Biſhops and Abbots.

And that in Mysticall Babylon, the blood ſhed in the whole Earth, may bee found, Onuphrius, in the lyfe of Iulius the ſecond, ſhoweth, that the Pope was the verie fyre-brand, and ſtirrer vp of Warres, everie-where through-out all Chriſtendome.

This is then, that killing of the two Witneſſes, (Rev. 11.3.) whom Augustine, (hom. 8. in Apoc.) and Beda on that place, expound to bee the true profeſſours of Chriſt's Church: and for number, called two, becauſe (ſayeth Beda) of that illumination by the light of the two Teſtaments, whoſe trueth they purelie profeſſe, and whence, (ſayth p. 209Augustine) all that ſuſpicion of ſome, is al-together excluded, who thinke, that thoſe two Witneſſes ſhall bee two men, who before Chriſt's comming had in the Clouds aſcended vntounto Heaven.

§. 9. His Simonie, or ſpirituall Merchandize.

2. PEt. 2.3. And thorow covetouſneſſe, ſhall they with feigned vvordes make merchandize of you.

Therefore, Revel. 18. amongſt the merchandize of Mysticall Babylon, is recounted laſt, as moſt ſpeciall, to ſumme vp all the ſoules of men.

Of the practiſe of this ſimonie, firſt, in an ordinarie cuſtome of buying and ſelling the Papacie it ſelfe, let that teſtimonie of the Popes Secretarie, Platina, in the lyfe of Sylvester the third, ſuffice, who ſayeth, that they who moſt exceeded in Pryde, and Bryberie, attained to that degree.

Next, for ſelling of inferiour cures of ſoules, let firſt a Pope him-ſelfe ſpeake, to wit, Pius the ſecond, who before his comming to the Popedome, in his fourth Epiſtle to Iohn Peregall, his Procutor at p. 210Rome, writeth thus: There is no-thing (ſayth hee) that the Court of Rome giveth without Money: for the verie impoſition of hands, and the gifts of the holie Ghoſt are ſolde: neither is the remiſſion of ſinne beſtowed vponupon anie, without large Money.

Here-of alſo teſtifieth their Poët, and Carmelite Frier, Mantuan, in his Booke Of the calamities of tyme, ſaying, All things are to bee ſolde at Rome, Churches, Prieſthoods, Maſſes, holie Orders, &c. Prayers, yea, Heaven, and God Himſelfe are to bee ſolde there.

Whence it is, that their owne Duaren teſtifyeth, in his Booke for defence of the liberties of the French Church, that in the time of Pius the third, for the annats of benefices in three yeares, the Pope drew out of France fyue and twentie hundreth thouſand Crownes; and for diſpenſation, to hauehave two or three Benefices together, that hee got two hundreth thouſands of Crownes.

Whence alſo it is, that the Abbot of Ʋrsperg, in his Chronicle (f. 321.) ſayth, That the water-floods of all the Treaſures of the Earth, did flow to Rome, to quench her thirſt of Money, which was al-wayes vnſatiable, and which her Chancellarie & Penitentiarie Courts ſufficientlie can teſtifye.

p. 211§. 10. His falſe Miracles, or lying VVonders.

2. THeſſ. 2.9. Whoſe comming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and ſignes, and lying wonders.

Now, Augustine (de vnitate Eccleſiae) calleth theſe Miracles, lying: not onlie becauſe they induce to lies, but becauſe they are either feigned by men, and ſo are not true, or elſe they are the tricks of lying ſpirits, and ſo either à falſo, or ad falſum.

Now, that both theſe laſt ſorts hauehave beene frequent, and ordinarie in the Popiſh Church, is more than notorious.

Of the firſt ſort then, their owne Lyra, teſtifyeth thus, in his expoſition on Daniel, 11. Some-tymes now alſo in the Church, (ſayeth hee) is a great deceiving of the people, by miracles feigned by Prieſts, and their adherents, for their worldly gaine.

Of the ſecond ſort, where-by they chiefelie ectabliſhed their Purgatorie, thus ſpeaketh Chryſostome, (hom. 29. in Matheum) Theſe voyces (ſayth hee) that ſay, I am the ſoule of ſuch a one, proceede p. 212from the fraude and deceit of the Devill: for it is not the ſoule of the departed that ſayth that, but Satan, who, that hee may deceiue the hearers, feigneth him-ſelfe to bee that foule.

Of all Miracles then, that are pretended to bee wrought in the latter dayes by the Romane Church, we may anſwere with Augustine's words, ſaying, The Lord hath made vsus warie of theſe Miracle-workers, fore-telling vsus, That in the laſt dayes, falſe prophets ſhall aryſe, working ſignes & wonders, that they may ſeduce (if it were poſſible) the verie elect: ſo that how manie Miracles they obtrude for them, with as many arguments furniſh they vsus, againſt them: ſeeing no Church, but the falſe Church of Antichrist, is fore-tolde, in the latter dayes, to worke, or pretende ſuch.

§. 11. His Name, and Marke.

HIs Name, that moſt ancient Father Ireneus, in his fyft Booke, ſayeth moſt probablie, is, Latinus: devotating there-by, that hee ſhall bee a Latine, or a Romane Biſhop. And the impoſing of which name on others, is, by profeſſing of them-ſelues to bee Romanists, that all men may acknowledge p. 213there-by ſubjection to his Sea, and ſervice; or at leaſt, bee of the number of his name: that is, (as Carthuſian expoundeth) that they bee at leaſt ſo accounted by others, that they are his followers.

But beſide this, hee hath a Marke, which hee imprinteth on his ſpeciall ones; and which Augustine, Beda, Lyra, and Carthuſian, expounded, to bee a full conformitie to his obedience, and doctrine, and which Ʋnder Chriſt's Name, in Hypocriſie, (ſay they) they ſhall take vponupon them, in their fore-heads, by an open and impudent profeſſion: and in their right hand, by a reſolute practiſe and action. And which may clearlie now-a-dayes bee ſeene true, both in thoſe Ieſuits, and their Ieſuited followers; as-well in their practiſe of Idolatrie againſt GOD, as alſo in their treacherous crueltie againſt man lyke-wyſe.

§. 12. Of Antichriſt's daylie conſumption, and finall deſtruction at laſt.

2. THeſſ. 2.8. And then ſhall that wicked man bee revealed, whom the LORD ſhall conſume by the Breath of His p. 214Mouth, and ſhall destroy with the brightneſſe of His comming.

This Cardinall Cajetan ſo expoundeth, By the Breath of His Mouth, that is, (ſayth hee) by the ſpirituall vertue of the Worde of the Goſpell, piece and piece, turning away men from Antichriſt's following, and leading them to imbrace the trueth of the Goſpell. And this is that victorie of the Lambe, ſpoken of, Revel. 17.14. over thoſe European Kings and Countreyes, who before, as his ſecular arme, gaue their power, with one accord, to the Beaſt, & perſecuted Chriſt's Servants; but beeing converted now, by the ſpirituall vertue of the Goſpell, hate that idolatrous Whoore, and ſhall make her deſolate, and burne her with fyre, for her threſhing is come: and yet but a little, and the tyme of Harveſt ſhall come. Even ſo, Come Lord Ieſus.

FINIS.