Antichrist the Pope of Rome, Part 2 · Chapter 9
CHAP. 9. Touching foure other doctrines proper vntounto Antichriſt by the Papiſts confeſſion.
MIlenzius an Italian Monke writing againſt Marcilius in defence of Cardinall Baronius his aduice to Pope Paul the fift, about excommunication of the Venetians, hath a pretty conceit vponupon the names of Baronius and Bellarmine; for he frameth out of the firſt ſyllables of them both Ba, and Bel the name Babel, and ſurely not impertinently: for theſe two Authors hauehave as it were comprized in their writings all that apportioneth to the building of Babel, one in the queſtion of right, the other in that of fact, and indeed are the very pillars of Popery. I ſpeake this onelyonly by the way, becauſe we often ſpeake of them in this Treatiſ…. Bellarmine therefore to diuert mens eyes from the true Articles of the Antichriſtian Apoſtacy,Bell de Rom. Pont. l…b. 3. c 4. propoſeth foure other doctrines, which he ſaith Antichriſt muſt hold, which becauſe the Pope doth not hold, therefore hee is not Antichriſt.
2. The fi…ſt of theſe foure doctrines is, That Antichriſt ſhall deny Ieſus to bee Chriſt, and conſequently aboliſh the Sacraments of Chriſt, and bring in againe the Iewiſh Sabbath and Ceremonies. For (ſaith he) Antichriſt muſt bee a Iew by Nation and Religion, and receiued of the Iewes for their Meſſias, and therefore muſt openly oppoſe himſelfe vntounto Chriſt. And beſides Saint Iohn ſaith, that hee that denyeth Ieſus to bee Chriſt, is the ſpirit of Antichriſt. To which I anſwere, that firſt hee ſetteth downe that for certaine, which is in queſtion. For wee peremptorily deny, that Antichriſt ſhall be a Iew, either by Nation, or Religion, or receiued of the Iewes for their Meſſias, as is euidently proued by the Author of this Treatiſe, where hee anſwereth all the Arguments that are brought to the contrary. Secondly wee confeſſe, that Antichriſt ſhall deny Ieſus to bee Chriſt, and ſo doth the Pope. For though hee acknowledge the name of Chriſt in appearance, yet hee taketh from it all the vertue and efficacy thereof, as hath beene proued before, and profeſſeth Chriſt by word, but denyeth him in effect: for it is certaine, that Chriſt may be denyed two waies; either ouertly, or couertly, that is, either in word, or in effect: thus the deuill in many places of the Goſpell, confeſſeth that Ieſus is the Chriſt, and the holy one of God; and yet doth he not by might and maine oppugne this doctrine, and in effect deny it? S Iohn therefore well expreſſeth what Antichriſt ſhall doe, but he doth not expreſſe the manner how he ſhall doe it: and therefore this is a ſophiſticall concluſion, to argue from the ſubſtance of a thing, to the manner of doing it. For things may be denied, either directly or indirectly, either by expreſſe maximes, or by neceſſary conſequences; and this latter is therefore more dangerous, becauſe it is more deceitfull. We do not read that Epicurus denied this propoſition, There is a God: but when he framed to himſelfe ſuch a God that had no care nor prouidence ouer the world, did he not indirectly deny there was a God? For God cannot be without a prouidence. So the Pope doth not in direct words deny this propoſition, Ieſus is Chriſt: yet when he giueth vntounto him a phantaſticall body by his doctrine of tranſubſtantiation, robbeth him of all his offices, and ioyneth others with him in the worke of Redemption, what doth he but by conſequent deny him to be Chriſt? Yea but (ſaith he) all Heretikes thus deny Chriſt, therefore Antichriſt muſt deny him after another ſort; to wit, ſimply and abſolutely. But ſay I, the cleane contrary doth rather from hence follow: For S. Iohn doth manifeſtly affirme, that the ſpirit of Antichriſt, is the ſame with that of former Heretickes, when he ſaith; Such is the ſpirit of Antichriſt, of which ye hauehave heard ſay, that he ſhall come, and now is already in the world. Now if Antichriſt muſt ſpeake by the ſame ſpirit that Heretikes did, then he muſt alſo deny Ieſus Chriſt after the ſame manner, to wit, not by denying his name, but by deſtroying his faith; and thus this firſt doctrine agreeth fitly to the Pope, if we vnderſtand S. Iohn as he ought to be vnderſtood.
3. Their ſecond doctrine of Antichriſt is, that he ſhall name himſelfe not the Vicar or ſeruant of Chriſt, but Chriſt himſelfe, and this, becauſe it is ſaid, Iohn. 5.43. If another ſhall come in his owne name, him will ye receiue. Where it ſeemeth (ſaith Bellarmine) that Chriſt expreſſely vſeth theſe words: In nomine ſuo, In his owne name,Bel. de Rom. Pont. lib. 3. cap. 14. fore-ſeeing that the Lutherans, and Caluiniſts would ſay, that Antichriſt ſhould not come in his owne name, but in the name of Chriſt, as his Vicar. But what a vaine interpretation this is, may appeare by two reaſons out of their owne Maldonate. Maldon in Ioh. 5.43.Firſt, that Chriſt ſpeaketh not here in particular of Antichriſt, but in generall of all falſe Prophets, by the word, another; not defining one particular perſon, but deſigning any one whatſoeuer, that ſhall come in his owne name. Secondly, that by, In his owne name, he meaneth not, that hee ſhall take vponupon him the name of Chriſt, but that he ſhall come of his owne priuate authority, without being ſent of God. For albeit diuers amongſt the Iewes, both about Chriſts time, and after, tooke vponupon them falſly the name of the Meſſias, of whom Chriſt foretelleth, Mat. 24.3.33. Many ſhall come in my name, ſaying, I am Chriſt, and ſhall deceiue many: neuertheleſſe he here prophecieth of many that ſhall come in their owne name, that is, not being ſent of God, as the Prophet Ieremy ſpeaketh:Ier, 23.21. I hauehave not ſent theſe Prophets, ſaith the Lord, and yet they ran: I hauehave not ſpoken to them, and yet they prophecied. So that to come in a mans owne name, is nothing elſe, but to come without miſſion or commiſſion from God. Howbeit we deny not, but that Antichriſt ſhall ſeate himſelfe in the place of Chriſt, and in ſome ſort entitle himſelfe by the name of Chriſt, and aſſume vntounto himſelfe all the honour and reuerence which is due vntounto Chriſt; all which ſeeing it is apparent that the Pope doth, we may therefore in this regard alſo conclude him to be Antichriſt. For firſt, all the paſſages of holy Scripture which are directly intended of Chriſt, he referreth to himſelfe, as hath bene ſufficiently proued. Secondly, he aſſumeth alſo the proper titles of Chriſt, as to bee the Head and Husband of the Church, the High-Prieſt of the new Couenant, the Soueraigne Biſhop of the world, the great and vniuerſall Shepheard of the Flocke, and in a word the Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda, and the roote of Dauid, with other ſuch like. Thirdly and laſtly, he forbeareth not to ſtile himſelfe by the very name Chriſt, as Gregory the ſeuenth, alias Hildebrand doth, both in an Epiſtle to Lanfranke Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and alſo in a Councill held at Rome, againſt Henry the Emperour. In both which, he applieth to himſelfe that ſpeech of the Prophet, Pſal. 2.2. The Kings of the earth are banded, Baron. An. 1080. 8.and the Princes aſſembled againſt the Lord, and againſt his Chriſt, which S. Peter, Acts. 4.26. interpreteth as ſpoken directly of Chriſt and none other. In the ſecond Chapter of the Epiſtle to the Hebrewes, the holy Ghoſt applyeth vntounto Chriſt, theſe words of the eight Pſalme: Thou haſt made him a little inferiour to the Angels, to wit, in regard of his paſſion, Heb. 2.9. and yet this very ſame is the deuice or motto of Pope Paul the fift of late memory, in all the pictures and pourtraicts that were made of him. What ſhould I ſpeake of their blaſphemous application of the reſt of that Pſalme? as where it is ſaid, Thou haſt put all things vnderunder his feete, that is to ſay, the Popes feete: Sheepe, that is, the ſoules of the faithfull Chriſtians: Oxen, that is, Iewes vnderunder the yoke of the Law: Beaſts of the field, that is, Pagans wandering in the broad way to hell: Fowles of the aire, that is, Saints departed and in bliſſe: and laſtly, Fiſhes of the Sea, that is, ſoules tormented in Purgatory. The Pope is made Lord of all theſe, and what can Chriſt hauehave more? Nay,Bell. de Rom. Pont. lib. 2. cap. 16. Bellarmine highly commendeth S. Bernard, for giuing theſe high titles to Pope Eugenius: Thou art the great Prieſt, the Soueraigne Biſhop, the Prince of Biſhops, the Heire of the Apoſtles, thou art Abel in Primacy, in Gouernment Noah, in Patriarchacy Abraham, in Order Melchizedek, in Dignity Aaron, in Authority Moſes, in Iudgement Samuel, in Power Peter, & in Ʋnction Chriſt. Here the very name Chriſt is giuen by S. Bernard to Pope Eugenius, accepted of him as his owne, and allowed of Bellarmine as due vntounto him: and what can Antichriſt do more? But that we may ſee the very height of their blaſphemy in this kinde, I cannot paſſe ouer in ſilence one example more: It is this. After the Sicilian Veſpers, wherein ſo many hundred Frenchmen were maſſacred at once, in the yeere 1282. thoſe of Palerma ſent Embaſſadours to Pope Martin the fourth, for abſolution from that bloody act: who caſting themſelues at his feete, and ſaluting him as if he were Chriſt, made this ſupplication vntounto him: Thou that takeſt away the ſinnes of the world hauehave mercy on vsus: and againe, Thou that takeſt away the ſinnes of the world hauehave pitty on vsus: and the third time, Thou that takeſt away the ſinnes of the world, giuegive vsus thy peace: which the Pope was ſo farre from reiecting as blaſphemous, that he contented himſelfe onelyonly thus to anſwer, that the Palermans imitated thoſe that ſmote Chriſt, ſaluting him by the name of the King of the Iewes, and yet in effect being enemies vntounto him, and ſeeking his blood. Now then, if their owne maxime be true, the Pope is without all doubt Antichriſt; for he both ſtileth himſelfe, and ſuffereth himſelfe to be called of others by the name of Chriſt.
4. The third doctrine, which Bellarmine aſcribeth as proper vntounto Antichriſt, is, that he ſhall vſurpe the name and title of God, and not onelyonly his power and authority, and ſo ſhall call himſelfe God, and be worſhipped as God: and this he groundeth vponupon 2. Theſſ. 2.4. where it is ſaid, That he ſhall ſit in the Temple of God, as if he were God. But by his leaue, S. Paul doth not ſay that he ſhall call himſelfe God, but that he ſhall carry himſelfe as God in the Temple, that is, in the Church of God: and what is that, but to vſurpe the power and authority of God? This is therefore an abſurd concluſion, grounded vponupon a falſe interpretation of S. Pauls words. It is ſufficient then, to proue the Pope to be Antichriſt by this marke, if I ſhew that he vſurpeth the power and authority of God in the Church, and putteth on the diuine properties. And this he doth many waies: as firſt, it is an eſſentiall propertie belonging vntounto God, and his peculiar priuiledge, not to be ſubiect to errour: for though the Prophets and Apoſtles in their Sermons and writings, did not erre, becauſe they were immediatly inſpired and directed by the Spirit of truth; yet ſeeing that immediate inſpiration is not now to be found in the Church, vnleſſe by the Enthuſianiſme of the Anabaptiſts, therefore no man liuing can challenge to himſelfe ſuch a power. But the Pope doth this, and thereby demonſtrateth himſelfe euidently to be the Antichriſt: and yet this maxime, That the Pope cannot erre, is one of the principall engines which Sathan hath deuiſed to vphold the kingdome of errour. I know what they anſwere when we obiect vntounto them the examples of many Popes that hauehave erred; namely, by ſtrange diſtinctions, as, that he may erre as a particular perſon and Doctor, but not as Pope: or thus, Not when he determineth ex Cathedra, out of his Chaire, for the inſtruction of the whole world, but only when he propoundeth and deliuereth his priuate opinions by word or writing. But who ſeeth not the abſurdity and contra…tion of this diſtinction? For the Pope is alwaies a publike perſon and Doctor of the Church, and not a particu…a…; ſo that theſe are contradictory propoſitions, to be Pope, and yet to be a particular Doctor; as to bee a Soueraigne King, and a priuate perſon. And therefore if Catharinus had reaſon to mocke at Caietane, who writing of Herods ſadneſſe, for the demand of Iohn Baptiſts head, diſtinguiſhed betwixt the King and Herod, as if it was the King that was ſad, and not Herod: for (ſaith Catharine) if the King was ſad, and Herod was the King, then by my Logick, I muſt confeſſe, that Herod was alſo ſad; and if Herod would ſlay Iohn, then the King would ſlay him; & if the King ſeemed vnwilling to hauehave it done, then Herod did the like. And hauehave not we reaſon to reduce to the rules of the ſame Logick, thoſe that ſay, that Clement may erre, as Clement; that is, as a priuate man: but not as Pope, that is, a publike perſon? For as Herod is King, ſo is Clement Pope. This is as if a man ſhould ſay, that Ariſtotle was ignorant as a man, but wiſe as a Philoſopher; and ſo he ſhould be called a wiſe Philoſopher, and an ignorant man. But let this abſurd diſtinction be allowed, yet it will helpe them nothing; for many Popes hauehave erred as Popes, out of their Chaire in their publike Decrees and Doctrines. For Clement the firſt, in a decretall Epiſtle, which Turrian the Ieſuite maintainteh not to be counterfeit but true, deliuereth two groſſe hereſies, one of the Anabaptiſts,Cauſ. 12 q. cap. dilectiſsimis. touching the community of goods; and another of the Nicolaitanes, touching the community of women: which opinion Surius held ſo hereticall, that in the Colen edition, he cut out theſe words: In omnibus autem ſunt fine dubie et coniuges. Tertul. aduerſus Praxeam. c. 1.Tertullian telleth vsus, that a Biſhop of Rome in his time (ſome thinke Zepherinus, others Eleutherius) approued by his publike cenſure, the prophecies of Montanus, Priſca, and Maximillo. Pope Marcellinus, in a publike Act as Pope, ſacrificed to Idols, confeſſed by Bellarmine, though thus qualified; that he did it for feare of death, albeit that the Councill of Sinueſſa ſaith, that he did it being corrupted with gold. Liberius was infected with the Arrian hereſie; and ſo was Felix his ſucceſſour, by the teſtimonie of moſt ancient writers: as Athanaſius, S. Ierome, Damaſus, Hilarius, Martinus Polonus, Cuſan, Platina, Alphonſus de Caſtro, with others: neither doth Bellarmine denie it concerning Liberius, Aug. aduerſus Iulian. Pelag. lib. 1. cap. 2.but attributeth his fact vntounto feare, as he did that of Marcellinus. In a word (to omit many particulars in this kind) did not Innocent the firſt teach and define, that inf…nts which had not receiued the Euchariſt, could not be ſaued, contradicted by a direct Canon of the Councill of Trent? Concil. Trid. Seſſ. 21. Can. 4.Did not Vigilius deny, that there were two natures in Chriſt? Did not Celeſtine the third erre, in the doctrine of marriage of the faithfull, when one party was fallen into hereſie? Did not Iohn the 22.Liberat Abridg. cap 22. deny the viſion of God vntounto ſoules departed, before the reſurrection, which errour he was conſtrained to recant by the Diuines of Paris, Alphonſ. de Caſtro. hereſ. lib. 1. cap. 4. Eraſ in praeſat. ad quintum lib. Irena…in the preſence of Phillip King of France, with the ſound of trumpets? And laſtly, did not Iohn the 2…. ſay, affirme, teach, and maintaine, (they be the very words of the Councill of Conſtance) that there was no life eternall after this life, and that the ſoule of man dyed together with his body after the manner of beaſts, and that there ſhould be no reſurrection? All theſe then erred, not onelyonly as priuate perſons, but as Popes gouerning and inſtructing the Church.
5. But to leaue this, a ſecond priuiledge belonging to God, is to depoſe Kings, and diſpoſe of Kingdomes. Dan. 2.21. and 4.32. and 5.24. Iob. 12.18. Now the Pope challengeth alſo to himſelfe this abſolute power, as is euident in the inſolency of Celeſtine the third, at the Coronation of the Emperour Henry the ſixt, when he crowned and decrowned him with his feete, in ſigne, that it was in his power, both to giuegive and to take away the Empire. And in the Epiſtle of Pius the ſecond, to Mahomet the Turkiſh Emperour, where he promiſeth him that if he would receiue the Chriſtian faith, and ayde the neceſſities of the Church; he in recompence of this benefit, would create him Emperour of the Greekes, and of the Eaſt, as his predeceſſours had for the ſame reaſon, giuen the Weſterne Empire vntounto Charlemaigne. In pretence of which vſurped power, Iulius the ſecond interdicted the Kingdome of Nauarre, which by that colour was then inuaded, and ſtill at this day poſſeſſed by the King of Spaine. The like he did to the Kingdome of France, but not with like ſucceſſe, as witneſſeth Onuphrius; Onuphrius in Iudio. 1.and to the Kingdome of England in King Iohns time. And to make the caſe more manifeſt, there is to be ſeene at Rome, an Image of Pope Paul the fift of late time, whereunto as there are adioyned many proud inſculptures and deuices, ſo theſe eſpecially are moſt remarkable: vnderunder the picture are theſe words written. Ʋultu portendebat imperium, aboue it theſe: Paulo quinto vice Deo Chriſtianae reipub. Monarchae inuictiſſimo et Pontificiae omnipotentiae conſeruatori acerrimo. At the right hand a flying Angell beareth this inſcription: Gen… et regnum quod non ſeruierit illi, in gladio, in fame, et in peſte, viſitabo ſuper Gentem illam ait dominus, Ier. 27. and at the left hand another Angell ſpeaking thus: Et dedit ei Dominus poteſtatem et regnum, et omnes populi ipſi ſeruient, poteſt as eius, poteſtas aeterna quae non anferetur, et regnum eius quod non corrumpetur, Dan. 7. by which we ſee, that though the Pope at this day be much weakened in his power, a great part of Chriſtendome being departed from his obedience; yet he is nothing at all abated in his pride, but takes vponupon him aſmuch as any of his predeceſſors hauehave done: and therefore it is no maruaile, that Alexander the ſixt, gaue vntounto Ferdinand King of Arragon, all the Iſles and firme Lands, which were diſcouered in the Weſt and South, from the pole Artick, vntounto the Antarticke, as may more fully appeare in his Bull to the ſaid King.
6. A third priuiledge belonging to God, is, not to be ſubiect to any Law or iudgement of any creature: and doth not the Pope incroach alſo vponupon this? Thus they plainly write of him.Extrau… de conc…ſſ prebendae. Sede…. Apoſtolica. The Pope is not ſubiect to any humane Law the hath all Lawes inſhrined in his owne breſt: He may not bee iudged, either of the Emperour, or Kings, or Cleargy, or people: but his iudgement is to be preferred before the iudgement of the whole world: nay he can do all that God can do; preſcribe, ordaine, D…ſt … … quoniam.forbid, diſpenſe, abſolue, reſtraine, confirme, diſanull, derogate, reſerue, and what not? Yea make new articles of faith, and giuegive authority to the word of God, as if without him it were of no force.
7. Another priuiledge of God, is, that he alone is aboue Emperours,Optat. cont. Parmen. lib. 3. Kings, and Princes, and is the onelyonly Lord of the Angels. Optatus ſaith plainly, That none but God is aboue the Emperour; and doth not the Pope vſurpe a ſuper-eminency aboue both theſe? Aboue Emperours and Kings, as hath at large bene ſhewed before; when he calleth them his vaſſals and ſeruants, maketh them his Lacquaies to hold his ſtirrop, lead his horſe by the bridle, miniſter water for his hands, helpe to carrie him in his Chaire vponupon their ſhoulders, and kiſſe his feete,…b ſa… …remon …. ſect. 5. & lib. 5. ſect. 12. and adore him like a God. And aboue the Angels in foure things as the Canoniſts affirme; to wit, in Iuriſdiction, Adminiſtration, Knowledge, and Reward. Hence it is, that they take vponupon them to command the Angels, as Clement the fift did, when he commanded them to take ſoules out of Purgatory,Fe… …n cap. Canon ſtat. de conſtitut. Cornel. Agrippa ac vanit ſcient. fol. 138. and to carrie them into Paradiſe. And Clement the ſixt, who commanded the Angels to conuey the ſoules of ſuch as died in their Pilgramage to Rome in the yeere of Iubile, directly into Paradiſe, being wholly abſolued from the paines of Purgatory. And therefore Baronius is not aſhamed to call the Popes throne,Baron in paraneſ ad Remp Venet. A throne diuinely eſtabliſhed, exalted aboue the heauens, applying thereunto that ſentence of the Apoſtle, 1. Cor. 6. Do you not know that you ſhall iudge the Angels? And in declaiming againſt the Venetians, ſaith; He that is reuered of the Angels, ſhall he not be ſo of Princes? Further, it is Gods prerogatiue onelyonly to be adored with Diuine worſhip, and yet the Pope aſſumeth this alſo to himſelfe. For the ſalutation which is giuen vntounto him by Princes, Cardinals, and Embaſſadors,Antomia. hist. …om. 3. is called adoration: and the Embaſſadors of Florence, tell Pius the ſecond, that their City Sanctitatem illius Hyperdulia adorat, that is,Bell. de Sanct. beatit. lib. 1. cap. 12. worſhipped his holineſſe with Hyperdulia, which is a kinde of worſhip due onelyonly to the humanity of Chriſt, and to the Virgin his Mother. Laſtly, to pardon ſinne, to adopt and regenerate a ſinfull man, to bee not onelyonly holy but euen holineſſe it ſelfe in the abſtract, and to bee iudge of the whole world, are all Diuine prerogatiues, which notwithſtanding are all attributed to the Pope by his flatterers, and not denyed, nor reiected by himſelfe. For firſt, hee taketh vponupon him power to pardon ſinne, euen the guilt and eternall puniſhment thereof; (as ſome of them hauehave written,) but certainely the temporall puniſhment both of liuing and dead heere, and in Purgatory. Now to free from puniſhment, is to forgiue, as not to forgiue is to binde ouer to puniſhment; and ſo that ſaying of Chriſt, Hee that ſinneth againſt the holy Ghoſt ſhall neuer be forgiuen, neither in this world, nor in the world to come, is to be vnderſtood, to wit, ſhall bee puniſhed both in this world, and in the world to come. Secondly,Sixt. Senenſ. in praefat. bib…oth. Sancta. a great learned Rabbi in the Papacy, ſpeaking to Pope Pius the fift, as vntounto God, ſaith; That hee (to wit, the Pope) had adopted him for his Sonne, and regenerated him by his ſpirit; a blaſphemy which a Chriſtian mans eares are not able to brooke. Thirdly▪ the ordinary title of the Pope is, his Holineſſe, a if hee were as God, of a ſimple nature without all compoſition: and had his holineſſe not by participation, but of himſelfe. Of the like quality is that title, The cauſe of cauſes, which the Canoniſts giuegive vntounto him, by which Ariſtotle and all the beſt of the Philoſophers, defined God to be Cauſa cauſarum; Natura naturans, and Eus entium: but I forbeare to ſoyle my paper any further with theſe blaſphemies. Laſtly,Baron. Ibid. Baronius ſtileth him Ʋniuerſorum Iudicem, the Iudge of all, and not to be iudged of any: which to doe, what is it elſe but to place him in Gods throne, or rather to demonſtrate him to bee the true Antichriſt, who as Paul ſaith, muſt ſit in Temple of God as if he were God? And that which is moſt ſtrange of all the reſt, they aſcribe theſe preheminences vntounto him, though he be neuer ſo wicked a wretch, and vile a monſter. For the ſeate of Peter giueth him holineſſe,Melchior Canus. locor. lib. 6. cap. 8. though hee hath none of his owne, and Saint Peter hath tranſmitted to his ſucceſſors a perpetuall dowry of merits, with an heritage of Innocency,Diſt. 40. C…non not. as one of their Popes ſpeaketh: ſo that if their owne merits faile, the predeceſſors are ſufficient: for either excellent men are aduanced to this honor, or they are made excellent that are aduanced;Baron. An. 34.27. thus he. And Baronius allegorizing vponupon the ſhadow of Peter, affirmeth the ſame, ſaying; that ſuch vertues and abundance of graces were conferred on Peter, that his very ſhadow, (by which he typically meaneth his ſucceſſors) were partakers thereof: ſo that as their gloſſe ſpeaketh,D…ſt. 40. C…non in gloſſa. it is ſacriledge to diſpute of the Popes fact; and to accuſe him, is the ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt.
8. And thus it is manifeſt, that the Pope inueſteth himſelfe with the Dignities, Priuiledges, and Prerogatiues, that appertaine properly to God, and ſo maketh himſelfe no leſſe then God vponupon earth; which doubtleſſe is enough to proue him to be Antichriſt: howbeit if he alſo call himſelfe by the very name of God, then they cannot deny but by their owne doctrine he muſt needs be ſo.Diſt. 96. …. ſatis euident. And did not Pope Nicholas auow this title, as giuen vntounto his Predeceſſors, and him, by great Conſtantine? Aug. Steuchus. de donat. Conſtant. Extrau. Ioh. 22 in gloſſa.And Auguſtine Steuchus confirmeth the ſame as truth? Beſides, the Canoniſts and other Doctors of the Church of Rome, doe ordinarily ſtile the Pope, Our Lord God the Pope. And the Popes admit of this title, neither are their books purged of it; and Stapleton calleth Gregory the thirteenth,Staplet princip. fi…. Doctrin. praefat. ad Gregor. 13. Supremum, plane ſupremum in terris numen, The higheſt, euen the higheſt God-head in earth: and Paul the fift named himſelfe Vicedeus, a Ʋice-god, that is, one in the roome and place of God. I confeſſe, that Kings and Princes, are named Gods in holy Scripture, but in a farre different ſenſe then the Pope: for they are not ſo named, as if any diuine properties did pertaine vntounto them, but becauſe they repreſented in their authority, maieſty and gouernment, the very Image of God in their owne Dominions: but the Pope is ſo dignified for that the very properties of God, and omnipotent power are attributed vntounto him, and vſurped by him ouer all the world.
9. The fourth and laſt doctrine, which they ſay is proper vntounto Antichriſt, is, That hee ſhall not ſuffer any God to be worſhipped, neither true, not falſe, nor any Idols, but ſhall exalt himſelfe aboue all that is called God, or is worſhipped, which becauſe the Pope doth not, that therefore he is not Antichriſt. Thus Bellarmine reaſoneth. De Rom. Pontif. lib. 3. cap. 14. Whereunto I anſwere two things. Firſt, that the Pope exalteth himſelfe apparently aboue, not onelyonly all that is called God, that is, to whom the name of God is communicated, but euen God himſelfe, not openly and in word, (for what followers and Diſciples could hee then hauehave in ſuch a foule and groſſe oſtentation?) but indeed and fact, like Iudas that kiſſed Chriſt with his mouth, but betrayed him by his practiſe to the Iewes. Now that the Pope doth thus exalt himſelfe, is ſo apparent, that none that hath any relike of vnderſtanding can doubt thereof. For how he aduanceth himſelfe aboue the Angels, who are called Gods, Pſal. 8.6. hath beene declared before; and for Magiſtrates who are alſo named Gods, Pſal. 82.2. the caſe is as manifeſt; for when as they conſtraine the ſupreme Magiſtrate of the world, to wit, the Emperor, to kiſſe the Popes feet, and to hold his ſtirrop, when they depriue them of their Crownes, and ſettle others in their thrones, when they interdict their Kingdomes, as they did England in the reigne of King Iohn, and France vnderunder Phillip Auguſtus, ſo that all their publike acts were thus dated at that time, Regnante Chriſto, in ſtead of Regnante Philippo, when they make Princes to hold their Crownes in Fee of the Pope, paying him yeerely tribute, as hath beene ſeene well-nigh in all Kingdomes of Chriſtendome, but eſpecially heere in England, which Pope Innocent the fourth, calleth his Garden of delight, and a bottomleſſe Spring, and others, the Popes Aſſe to beare all burdens: And laſtly,Math. P…rt… in He…. 3. when they trample vponupon their neckes, cauſe them to waite at their gates, Crowne them with their feet, and burne their Letters and Embaſſi…s in contempt, as Pope Nicholas the firſt did the Letters of Michael the Emperor of Conſtantinople, which were diſtaſtfull vntounto him: when they excommunicate them, abſolue them, whip them, ſuſpend them, and call them their Veſſals and Liege-men: all which particulars might be exemplified with a multitude of examples if need were: When I ſay, he doth all things, doth hee not apparently exalt him elſe aboue all Magiſtrates? Againe, the Papiſts adore and worſhip the Saints, as their tutelar Gods, and doth not the Pope exalt himſelfe aboue them, when he canonizeth whom he pleaſeth, and blotteth out of the Calender thoſe that pleaſe him not? So that let him be neuer ſo holy, yet he is no Saint to the Church, except the Pope will: and be he neuer ſo wicked, yet if he will, he muſt be worſhipped as a Saint.Tertul. Apol. cap. 5. And ſo as Tertullian ſaith in another caſe to the ancient Romanes, Apud vos de humano arbitratu diuinitas penſitatur, niſi homini Deus placuerit, Deus non erit, we may affirme of the moderne Romaniſts, Sanctity is weighed by the Popes iudgement, except a man pleaſe him, he ſhall be no Saint, and if he pleaſe him he ſhall be one, be hee neuer ſo wicked. Images alſo which are their foreign, that is, obiects of their worſhip are dominered ouer by the Pope: for hee authorized their worſhip in the ſecond Councill of Nice, it being a matter, if not vnlawfull, yet in different before that time, this conſecration makes them capeable of publike adoration: and his Indulgences aſcribe more to one Image then to another. Againe, doe they not adore their conſecrated Hoaſt, which they ſay is the very body of Chriſt, as Chriſt? and yet they make it march after the Pope in his iourneyes of pleaſure amongſt the baggage and rabble of his Court, being carryed on the backe of a little Nagge, hauing a bell hanging at his necke, whilſt hee himſelfe is carryed in pompe vponupon mens ſhoulders, or rideth in Maieſty vponupon a faire Palfrey.
10. And thus in fine, there is nothing that is worſhipped as God, which he doth not exalt himſelfe aboue: nay he doth it euen aboue the true God himſelfe: as when hee maketh all Religion and worſhip to depend vponupon the Oracle of his mouth, ſaying; that nothing ought to bee receiued by the Church, though ordained by generall Councills, that is not confirmed by his authority: when he ſubiecteth the holy Scripture to his interpretation, to be wreſted into what ſenſe hee pleaſeth: when hee releaſeth men of their Vowes and Oathes which they hauehave made to God or Men, which is not only auouched by their Canoniſts,Can non eſt v…de v…o p… the C. quanta de iure iurando. but confirmed by experience. …s when Alexander the ſixt diſcharged his Son Caeſar Bargi… from his vow of Prieſthood, that he might marry and become a Temporall Duke. And when Hildebrand releaſed Rodulph of Sabaudia from his Oath to his lawfull Soueraigne Henry the fourth, and created him Emperor. But the vengeance of God followed Rodulph for his periury, his right hand wherewith hee had ſworne fidelity to the Emperor, being cut off in a battaile againſt him. And laſtly,Felin. l. quae in eccleſ. de conſtitut. when he taketh vponupon him power to diſpenſe cum iure Diuino, with diuine right, by limitation or reſtriction, and with the expreſſe Law of God, to wit, the fift Commandement, by freeing Children from obedience to their Parents vnderunder pretence of Monaſticall Obligation; and the ſixt Commandement, Thou ſhalt not kill, by their places of Sanctuary, whereout a Murtherer (by their Canons) may not be fetcht, what blood ſoeuer he hath ſhed;Polyder. Virgil. d… Inuen: lib. 3. cap. 12. againſt which abuſe Polidore Ʋirgill, a man of their owne bitterly inueigheth. And the ſeuenth Commandement, by their publike and authorized Stewes: and ſo in like manner, with all the reſt of the Commandements. Yea, not onelyonly with the Law, but alſo with the Goſpell, and with the Apoſtle, as their Canoniſts ſpeake; for whereas Chriſt in the Go pell ordained but two Sacraments in the Church, he addeth hereunto fiue other,C propoſuie, de conceſ. prebend. Cauſa. 25. q 1. ſunt quidem. in gl ſſ…. D ſt. 5 decenſec… at de hi…. and preferreth in dignity his Confirmation before Chriſts Baptiſme, becauſe that can be performed by a Biſhop only, this by eueryevery Prieſt, and in caſe of neceſſity by a Laick, or a woman: yea, they are ſo impudent as to ſay, that the Pope can change the forme of words in Baptiſme;Mathei Terti. Auiſo all… ſubdit del…dem. vene…. Fe…n C quae in eccleſ…ie co …ſt. tut. Concil. Trid. Seſſ. 22. …n fine and in ſtead of the name of the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoſt, put in, In the name of the Trinity. And for the other Sacrament of the Lords Supper they take away the Cup from Laicks; which when it was required by many Princes and States to be reſtored againe in the Councill of Trent, the Councill referred them heerein to the diſcretion of the Pope, thereby attributing vntounto him full power ouer the diuine Sacraments. In breefe, to cut ſhort, doe wee not ſee by experience, that the Pope and his inſtruments doe more ſeuerely puniſh ſuch as tranſgreſſe his Decrees, and Traditions, then thoſe that trample vnderunder their feet the Commandements of God? For, to eate fleſh in Lent, is with them a greater ſinne, then to ſteale, or commit adultery: and who knoweth not, that a Prieſt ſhall be more rigorouſly handled, if he ioyne himſelfe to one onelyonly woman in holy marriage, then if he keepe openly many Concubines and Harlots, or defile other mens wiues, or haunt the Stewes? And thus the Pope exalteth himſelfe aboue all that is called God, yea aboue God himſelfe.
11. Secondly, I anſwere, that it is no where found in Scripture, that Antichriſt ſhall ſuffer no God to be worſhipped, whether true or falſe, nor any Idols; nay rather his Idolatry doth proue him to bee Antichriſt. For his City and Seate is called the great Whore, with whom the Kings of the earth committed ſpirituall fornication: and who knoweth not, but that by ſpirituall fornication, is alwaies in holy Scripture vnderſtood Idolatry? as Ezek 16. Iſaiah. 1.21. And therefore when ſome of the Fathers affirme, that Antichriſt ſhall be no Idolater, but a hater of Idols, wee muſt conceiue, that either they miſunderſtood the prophecy of Daniel, Chap. 11.38. whereupon this opinion is grounded, or that they meant onelyonly the Paganiſh Idolatry, in the worſhip of Iupiter, Apollo, Mercury, &c. Which indeed our Antichriſt hath declared himſelfe to deteſt and hate, but neuertheleſſe, doth not ceaſe to exerciſe an Idolatry altogether as prophane and abominable in his worſhip of Saints, Images, Relikes, Croſſes, and a peece of Paſte, which they ſay, is Chriſt. As for that text of Daniel which they thus tranſlate, He ſhall not care for any God, but ſhall riſe vp againſt all: I ſay firſt, that the Prophet ſpeaketh not heere literally of Antichriſt, but of Antiochus, as hath bene ſhewed before. Secondly, that according to the Hebrew verity, the Text muſt be thus tranſlated, as Tremellius and Iunius hauehave proued. And as for the God of forces, he (to wit Antiochus) ſhall in his ſeate worſhip with Gold, Siluer, Precious ſtones, and things deſirable, a God which his Fathers knew not. Now who is the God of Forces, but the true God of Iſrael, whoſe Temple Antiochus prophaned with horrible Idolatry, and placed therein the Idoll of Iupiter Olympi…s, as wee may ſee in the ſixt Chapter of the ſecond booke of Machabees? which prophecy, I confeſſe Anagogically agreeth to the Pope. For hee hauing aboliſhed both all the worſhip of heathen Gods, and in a manner alſo of the true God himſelfe, the Omnipotent God of Forces; hath ſet vp a new God in the Church, namely, a peece of bread in the Maſſe, which none of the Fathers, or Apoſtles of Ieſus Chriſt euer knew. And to their breaden God they aſcribe power to forgiue ſinnes, to defend from euils both men and beaſts, and to bring to heauen: and therefore willingly dedicate vntounto it whatſoeuer is deere and precious vntounto them, as Gold, Siluer, Iewels, and what not? as the Children of Iſrael did for the making of their Golden Calfe. And that with ſuch reuerence and deuotion, that the leaſt contempt vntounto it in word, or deed, is reuenged with Gibets, fire, and all maner of torments, when as in the meane while moſt horrible blaſphemies againſt Chriſt himſelfe are tolerated and ſleighted ouer.
12. Bellarmine is here ſtrangely puzled, and cannnot tell where to reſt. For firſt, he ſaith, that by the God Maozim, or God of Forces, is ſignified Antichriſt himſelfe; which if it be true, then according to their owne authenticall vulgar tranſlation he ſhall worſhip himſelfe: for it readeth it thus, Deum autem Maozim in loco ſuo venerabitur: that is, He ſhall worſhip in his place the God Maozim. Now was it euer heard that any man euer worſhipped himſelfe? For though Alexander the Great tooke vponupon him the name of Iupiter Amon, and Caligul…, with others, aſſume… a Deity to themſelues, yet this was in regard of the people: for touching themſelues they could not but know that they were no better then mortall men. But to make the matter more euident, their tranſlation addeth, that hee ſhall fortifie M…zim with a ſtrange God whom he knew not: how then can this Maozim be himſelfe? Did he not know himſelfe? And how can he bee but an Idolater, ſeeing Idols in holy Scripture are called ſtrange Gods? Therefore Bellarmine not daring to rely vponupon this Interpretation, addeth a ſecond, to wit, that Antichriſt ſhall bee a Magitian, and ſhall worſhip the deuill in ſecret, by whoſe aide he ſhall effect wonderfull things. An opinion which deſtroyeth it ſelfe, and his owne poſition, that Antichriſt ſhall be no Idolater: for is it no Idolatry to worſhip the deuill? Is he, the old Dragon, a new vnknowne Idoll? And doe Magitians vſe to offer Gold and Siluer vntounto him, and not rather receiue ſuch guifts from him? Howbeit they that ſhall view the liues of the Popes, ſhall not finde this ſtrange,Baron. An. … 63. ſect. 17. Be…no… v…ta Hildebrand. that Antichriſt ſhall worſhip the deuill. For if we will beleeue their owne Hiſtories, many Popes hauehave beene M…gitians and giuen themſelues to the deuill. As Iohn the twelfth, who inuocated Iupiter, Venus, and other Daemons, being at dice, and drunke a carouſe in honor of the deuill. And Bennet the ninth, wh… ſacrificed to deuils in Forreſts and Mountaines: to omit others of the ſame ranke which might be named. Laſtly, Bellarmine more changeable then the Camelion, falleth vponupon this, that by Maozim was not meant a God, but ſome Caſtle or Fortreſſe, wherein Antichriſt ſhould repoſe his Treaſures, thinking it may bee vponupon the Caſtle Saint Angelo, where the Treaſures of the Pope are layd vp. Thus he knoweth not what to fix vponupon, and yet it muſt be grounded vponupon this text, that Antichriſt is no Idolater: and becauſe the Pope is an Idolater, therefore he is not Antichriſt: for one of the two they muſt of neceſſity confeſſe, either that he is Antichriſt, if no Idolater: or an Idolater, if not Antichriſt. So then, we clearely ſee that all thoſe doctrines which t…y ſay are proper vntounto Antichriſt, are plainely taught and maintained by the Pope.