Antichrist the Pope of Rome, Treatise 2

Antichrist the Pope of Rome · Treatise 2

p. 10The Second Treatiſe. The Application of the definition of Antichriſt to the Pope of Rome.

THis is a Maxime receyued of all, that when the definition and properties of any thing belong to a Subiect, then the name alſo, and all that is thereby ſignified belongeth to the ſame Subiect. So that if wee make knowne that all that which wee hauehave reported out of holy Scripture concerning Antichriſt, do properly and ſingularly agree to the Pope of Rome; no man can deny, but that he is properly that Antichriſt, whoſe communion wee ought with all our heart to deteſt, at leaſt if we deſire to be receyued into the communion of Ieſus Chriſt.

But when we ſay that the Pope is Antichriſt, and that Rome is his ſeate, we doe not meane that all thoſe that hauehave bene Biſhops of Rome ſince the Apoſtles times hauehave bene Antichriſts: we would in no caſe wrong thoſe holie Lights which hauehave ſhined bright in it in the primitiue Ages, when this Church was ſet forth vntounto others, as a rare example of holineſſe and purity, in doctrine, and manners, and conſtancie of martyrdome: But this is it wee affirme, that all the Popes of Rome,About the yeare. 605. ſince the time that Antichriſt hath beene reuealed, and begun his kingdome, are this very Antichriſt of whom we hauehave before diſcourſed: And that Rome is the ſeate of Antichriſt, ſince the time that it began to warre againſt the Saints.About the yeare. 1073. And if any demand when that time was; we anſwer, that it was then when Pope Boniface the third obtained of the Emperour Phocas, a murderer of his Maiſter, the title of vniuerſall Biſhop or head of all Churches. But after a ſingular manner, when the Popes to the end to eſtabliſh their ſpirituall tyranny, ſerued their turnes more furiouſly with the temporall ſword againſt Kings and Nations. p. 11As aboue all in the time of Gregory the ſeuenth, before ſirnamed Hildebrand, who filled Chriſtendome with murders, ſeditions, ſackings, and turboyles by thoſe bloudie warres, which hee moued againſt the Emperour Henry the fourth. For albeit that the myſtery of iniquity begun to aduance forward in the Apoſtles time, whereof we hauehave a notable figure in the Harlot Iezabel mentioned Apoc. 2. neuertheleſſe the ſimplicity of the Paſtours of the Church, and of the faithfull and their zeale, to preſerue the Euangelicall purity, with held (as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh) this man of ſinne, from ſpewing out his poyſon openly: beſides the puiſſance of the Romane Empire which was then in fulleſt vigour, ſuffered him not to lift vp himſelfe in that arrogant power, which hee hath phantaſied to himſelfe ſince that time. But when this ſimplicity Euangelicall began to decline, both in the hearts of the Paſtours, and in the Church in generall: and on the other ſide, the Romane Empire beganne to be weakned by the inuaſion of the Gothes and other Nations, which coaſted vponupon it on eueryevery part; then this ſonne of perdition began by litle and litle to eſtabliſh his power euen in the ſight, and vnderunder the noſe of the Emperours: In ſuch ſort notwithſtanding, that this was not done without oppoſition and reſiſtance, and particularly in reſpect of the Biſhop of Conſtantinople, who in the time of Gregory the firſt, aſſumed to himſelfe the title of vniuerſall Patriarch, and a primacy ouer all other Churches: which practiſe was afterwards defeated and ſtifled by the Emperour Phocas. But howſoeuer the Popes for this effect and purpoſe often abuſed the ſpirituall ſword, yet they tooke not vp the temporall ſword vntill Gregory the ſeuenth,Apolog. of the league, publiſht An. 1106. who (as an Author of that time ſpeaketh) was the firſt that girt himſelfe with a warlike ſword againſt the Emperour, and gaue thereof an example to other Popes. So that we affirme and auouch, that ſince the time of Gregory the firſt, the Pope is hee to whom the definition of Antichriſt agreeth: but whoſe dominion and cruelty hath beene more manifeſted to the world, ſince Gregory the ſeuenth. And now behold our reaſons.

p. 12The Pope is a ſingular man.1. Firſt, hee is a man that by a continued order and ſucceſſion, reigneth ouer many people, nations, and languages.

That calleth himſelfe Chriſts vicar.2. He vaunteth himſelfe of the title of a Chriſtian, yea hee calleth himſelfe the Vicar of Ieſus Chriſt: he reteyneth the ſacred Bible, and thoſe that at this day ſhew themſelues as the principall inſtruments of his kingdome, ambitiouſly take to themſelues the title of the ſociety of Ieſus; but in very deed, he is wholly contrary to Chriſt and his doctrine. To Chriſt: for he robbeth him of his principall Offices, as of the head of the Church, the Prince of Paſtours, the Soueraigne High-Preiſt:Heb. 7.23.24.Heb 7:23Heb 7:24 an office which cannot bee attributed to any, ſaue to him that liueth for euer, yet he arrogateth it to himſelfe,Bel. de ſum Pontifi lib. not forbearing the very name of the husband and ſpouſe of the Church, though it be ſo, that the names which are giuen vntounto Chriſt to ſignify the ſtrait vnion & coniunction betwixt him and the Church, as thoſe of the head and ſpouſe are incommunicable. For what creature is there, which without blaſphemy can aſſume to it ſelfe in reſpect of the Church that which is the property of a head, to wit, to reigne ouer the body, to gouerne it, and to giuegive ſenſe, motion, and life to eueryevery member thereof? If amongſt men any man ſhould name himſelfe the husband of a woman, whom hee knew to be coupled to another husband by lawfull mariage, ſhould he not giuegive to the true husband of that woman matter of iealouſie, and iuſt cauſe to reuenge by all meanes ſuch a lawleſſe attempt? And dare any mortall man, in this ſacred myſtery of the coniunction of the heauenly ſpouſe Ieſus Chriſt with his Church, open his mouth in blaſphemy to parragon himſelfe with Chriſt, in calling himſelfe with him the Churches Spouſe, without conſidering that a crime of that nature muſt needs be abhominable before God and the Saints? Sure the Apoſtle would not hauehave vsus ioyned to any other husband, ſaue to him who by his infinite louelove giuing himſelfe to death for vsus,Rom. 7.4.Rom 7:4 is riſen againe; to the end that wee might beare fruite vntounto God, and for this cauſe he thus ſpeaketh to the Corinthians. 2. Cor. 11.2.2 Cor 11:2I am iealous of you with a godly iealouſie: for I hauehave appropriated you to one onelyonly husband, that I might preſent you p. 13as a chaſt virgin vntounto Chriſt. As for other Titles which are referred to the Miniſtery, by the which Chriſt worketh effectually by his Miniſters, as are the titles of a Paſtour, or Doctor, they may well be communicated vntounto others: but yet this cannot be either Soueraignely or Vniuerſally ouer the Church. But as S. Cyprian hath well ſaid,Cyprian de ſimplic. pralat. It is but one Biſhopricke, whereof a Portion is ſolidly aſſigned to eueryevery Biſhop.

As touching Doctrine, hee vtterly ouerturneth that;But deſtroieth his Doctrine. for not to ſpeake of thoſe ancient Hereticall Popes, Liberius an Arrian, Honorius a Monothelite, Anaſtaſius a Neſtorian; or of others that hauehave erred in the principall Articles of Chriſtian Religion, as Iohn 22. thinking amiſſe of the ſoules immortality: the bare and onelyonly comparing of the doctrine of Chriſt and his Apoſtles, with that which is at this day receiued in the Papacy, ſhall determine this matter.

For firſt, as touching the Scripture, Ieſus Chriſt declareth, that the Commandement of God is made of no effect by the traditions of men, and that God abhorreth that is offered vntounto him, Mat. 15.6.7.8. On the contrary, the Pope teacheth that traditions ought to be embraced with equa l affection of piety, as the word of God, and the holy Scripture.Concil Trid. Seſſ. 4.

Saint Paul calleth the Gospell the power of God to all that beleeue, Rom. 1 16. and ſayth, That the whole Scripture is divinely inſpired, and is profitable to teach, conuince, correct, and inſtruct according to righteouſneſſe, that the man of God may be perfected and fully inſtructed to eueryevery good worke. 2. Tim. 3.16.17. But the Pope teacheth, that the Scripture is imperfect, ambiguous, a leaden rule, a noſe of waxe, obſcure, the booke of Hereticks, the cauſe of errours: read the Treatiſe of Cardinall Peron touching Traditions, or of the vnſufficiency of the Scripture: and Bellarmine De verbo Dei; and Charron in his three verities, with others.

As concerning ſinne, the Scripture teacheth vsus that Originall ſinne is a vicious habit, cleauing ſo cloſe to our Nature, that it cannot bee vtterly deſtroyed, no not in the Regenerate, ſo long as wee liue in this world. From whence proceedeth p. 14that complaint of the Apoſtle: That he was led captiue to the law of ſinne which was in his members; in ſuch ſort, that he crieth out by way of complaint, O wretched man that I am, vvho ſhall deliuer mee from the body of this death? But the Pope teacheth, that the guifts of Nature remained ſound and entire in man after his fall, and that Originall ſinne is nothing but a priuation of that iuſtice which ought to bee in Nature. In breefe, that this ſinne is wholly waſhed away by Baptiſme, in ſuch ſort that there remaineth not any thing in the Regenerate which may properly be called ſinne. Concil. Trid. Seſſ. 5.Concil. Trid. ſeſſ. 5. and all the Scholaſticall Doctours.

The Apoſtle affirmeth in expreſſe wordes, that concupiſcence is ſinne,Rom. 7.7.Rom 7:7 becauſe the Law ſayth, Thou ſhalt not couet. The Law I ſay, that pronounceth eueryevery one accurſed, That continueth not in all things that are written in it to doe them. But the Pope denounceth Anathema to him that ſhall call Concupiſcence properly ſinne in the Regenerate.Deut. 27.26.Deut 27:26 Concil. Trid. Seſſ. 5.

The Scripture ſaith abſolutely, That the wages of ſinne is death, Rom. 6.23. and that he that faileth in one point of the Law is guilty of the whole Iam 2.10. But the Pope denieth that death is the wages of all ſinne: but declareth, that there are veniall ſinnes aſwell as mortall.

Touching Freewill: the Scripture teacheth vsus, That the very wiſedome of the fleſh is enmity againſt God. Rom. 8.7. and, That the Naturall man perceiueth not the things that are of the ſpirit of God. 1 Cor. 2.14. and, That all the imaginations of mans heart, are nothing but euill continually. Gen. 6.5. So that in our fleſh dwelleth no good. Rom. 7.18. But the Pope quite contrary teacheth, that there remaineth in man after his fall a natiue faculty to cooperate with God by Freewill, for the diſpoſing of himſefe to the great Iuſtification. Concil. Trid Seſſ 6. and all their Doctours.

Touching Iuſtification wherein conſiſteth the principall foundation of our ſaluation; there is no whit leſſe repugnance: For firſt, the Scripture maketh the efficient cauſe of our Iuſtification and Saluation to be God alone, according p. 15to the good pleaſure of his Will, his Mercy, and Eternall purpoſe in Ieſus Chriſt, 2 Tim. 1.9. …pheſ. 1…, and 2.4, 5.Concil. Trid. ſeſſ. 6. c. ô. 7. Bel. de Iuſtif. lib. 1. Biel. in ſentent. &c. But directly contrary the Pope ſaith, that there that is in man a certaine preparation vntounto Iuſtice, by the which hee diſpoſeth himſelfe to his Iuſtification by the naturall ſtrength of his Freewill, ſo that hee is able to merit of God, Ex congruo, of congruity, as they ſpeake. Secondly, the Scripture propoundeth vntounto vsus for the materiall cauſe and foundation of our Iuſtification, the onelyonly obedience of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, Rom. 4.16. and Chriſt himſelfe is called our Righteouſneſſe,Concil. Trid. ſeſſ. 6. c. 7. Bel. de Iuſtif. lib. 1. cap. 2. Ier. 23.6. 1 Cor 1.30. and we are ſaid to bee made the righteouſneſſe of God in him, 2 Cor. 5.21. But the Pope maketh the materiall cauſe of our Iuſtification to be the ſoule of man wherein righteouſneſſe is inherent, as in it proper ſubiect and ſeat, whereunto they referre the diſpoſitions of Freewill; by the which (they ſay) a man doth acquire the guift of Iuſtification. Thirdly, the Scripture teacheth that the formall cauſe of our Iuſtification is the free imputation of the righteouſneſſe and ſatisfaction of Chriſt, which wee apprehend by Faith, and by that meanes are reconciled vntounto God. Rom. 4.24, 25. & 5.10. whence it commeth, that the Scripture ſo often affirmeth that we are iuſtified by Faith, Rom. 3.24.25. & that not onelyonly in reſpect of the beginning of our Iuſtification, but alſo of the conſummation and finiſhing thereof, which is eternall life and ſaluation. Rom. 1.16.17.Concil. Trid. ſeſſ. 6. …an. 9. 1… & cap. 7. Bel. de Iuſtif. …ib. 2. cap. 2. But the Pope in oppoſition to the Spirit of God, denounceth Arathema againſt whomſoeuer ſhall ſay, that wee are iuſtified by Faith alone, or that wee are iuſtified or formally made iuſt by the Iuſtice of Chriſt, by which hee hath merited for vsus. So that hee placeth the formall cauſe of our Iuſtification in an inherent quality in our ſelues, and in our owne Iuſtice.

The Scripture teacheth, that the ſaluation of all Beleeuers in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt is certaine and aſſured. Rom. 8.37.38. euen to that, that he which doubteth, can obtaine nothing of God. Iam. 1.6. On the contrary,Concil. Trid. ſeſſ 6. c. 9 & ca…. 13. the Pope denounceth Anathema againſt him that ſhall ſay, that wee ought to beleeue without doubting that his ſinnes are forgiuen, and calleth p. 16this confidence of the remiſſion of our ſinnes vaine, and farre from piety.

The holy Scripture witneſſeth, that it is impoſſible to fulfill the Law, and conſequently that we ought not to hope for ſaluation, or righteouſneſſe, by the obedience which we render vntounto the Law. Rom. 8, 3. Gal. 2, 16. Act. 15, 10. But the Pope denounceth Anathema againſt him, that ſhall affirme that a man cannot perfectly keepe the Law of God.Concil Trid ſeſſ. 6. cap. 11. & Can. 18. Yea more, he not onelyonly teacheth that a man may performe the Law, but alſo doe ſomething more then the Law requireth. Whence ſpring their workes of Supererogation, and their treaſures of Indulgences mentioned in the Councell of Trent. Concil Trid ſeſſ. 21. cap. 9.And whereas they deny, that that great worke of Supererogation, which the Sonne of God added by his death to the actiue obedience which hee rendred to God for vsus to the Law, is imputed vntounto vsus for righteouſneſſe: yet he dareth notwithſtanding affirme, that the workes of Supererogation of the Saints are imputed vntounto vsus, by his Iubilees and indulgences: and by this meanes robbing Chriſt of his Glory, … giueth it to his Idols.

Saint Paul placeth amongſt the doctrines of deuils, … prohibition of marriage, and the commandement to abſtai… … from meates. 1 Tim. 4, 1, 2, 3. and calleth the abſtinence from meates and the diſtinction of dayes, Shadowes, Rudiments of …he world, and Doctrines of men. Col. 2, 16, 17, 20, 22. In all which things a power of meriting with God, is placed by the Pope.

The Scripture ſaith that marriage is Honourable amongſt all men, And the bed vndefiled, but that Whoremongers and Adulterers God will iudge. Lig…is. Eckins. B…l…de monac… lib 2. cap. 30.Heb. 13, 4. But the doctrine of the Popes, that it is better for a Prieſt to be a Whoremaſter, then to bee married. Yea, ſome of them is not aſhamed to ſay, that the vſe of married women ought to be common, aſwell is of the ayre and of the Sunne.Canſ. 12. ….

In ſumme, it would bee a ſubiect of no ſmall Treatiſe, ſuch as we intend this ſhall be, but of a great volume, to rehearſe at length al doctrines of the Papacy, touching Images, fained-Gods, p. 17Indulgences, Purgatory, and a number ſuch like things, which are directly contradictory to the word of God.

3. Now if any deſire,He is accompanied with the efficacy of Sathan. to vnderſtand how Sathan hath beſtirred himſelfe and wrought in the eſtabliſhing of the Papall kingdome, let him read that which is written by Cardinall Benno, concerning thoſe Popes which reigned after Silueſter the ſecond: or if he will, Platina the Popes Secretary: and he ſhall ſoone ſee how many Popes gaue themſelues to the deuil, that they might obtaine this dignity of a worldly Prince; that I may not ſtuffe this Treatiſe with a recital of their wretched liues.

4. That the Pope hath his ſeate at Rome, there is none ſo ignorant that knoweth not:Hath his ſeate at Rome. for albeit it it hath beene ſome… …ffered to another part, as to Auignon: neuertheleſſe … but ſeldome, and that out of order. And that … …mpaſſe of many ages, doth in manners an… … …bylon which is figured in the Apocalipſe. … …ges, that hauehave either read the writings … …cace, with the Satyrs of Ariosto and o… … …heir owne eyes beheld the debauche… … of the Popes Court. Witneſſe he, who … biddeth it adiew in this Diſtick

…a vale, vids, ſatis eſt vidiſſe, reuertar,

Cum leno, meretrix ſcurra, cynedus ero.

O Rome farewell, I hauehave thee ſeene, & that's enough for me:

I will returne, when bawd, whore, knaue, buggerer I meane to bee.

Yea not ſo much as the Author of the gloſſe vponupon the Decretalls but ſpeaketh of it in as plaine termes.Gloſ. 1. de El…it in. 6. c. fundament. Rome (ſayth he) founded by theeues, retaineth yet the ſeedes of her beginning. For it was called Roma, as if one ſhould ſay, Rodens manus, gnawing hands: whereupon he citeth this verſe which out of Latine looſeth it grace.

Roma manus rodit, quos rodere non valet, odit.

p. 18Rome gnaweth hands, and thoſe ſhe cannot gnaw,

With hatred ſhe pur…ues, and keepes in aw.

Hath both a ſpirituall and a temporall power.5. The Pope challengeth to himſelfe a double power, one Spirituall, another Temporall; which to be ſo, Pope Boniface laboureth to proue after a moſt impud…nt manner. In this Power (ſaith hee) there are two Swo…d…, the Spirituall and the Temporall, which wee are taught by the wo ds of the Goſpell: Extra de Ma…. et obe …c. vnā Sa…ctam.for where the Apoſtle ſaid, behold two Swords heere; that is to ſay, in the Church, our Sauiour Chriſt doth not anſwere them thus, Theſe are too many, but, It is enough. And certainely he that denyeth the Temporall ſ…o d to bee in the power of S. Peter, doth not well conſider the wordes of our Sauiour, when hee ſaith, Put vp thy Sword into thy ſheath. In breefe, the Pope doth ſo openly lay claime to the Monarchy of both powers, Spirituall, and Temporall, that the Author of the Bookes intituled,Thom. de regni Princip. lib. 3. cap. 10. The gouernment of Princes, which are amongſt the Workes of Thomas Aquinas, calleth the Pope both King and Preiſt, As our Lord and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt. And Bellarmine who in this point is ſo modeſt that he min…th the Popes temporall Soueraign…ty to Indirectly: Bel. de Pontif. lib. 5. cap. 6. et 7.yet affirmeth that hee hath power to change Kingdomes, by taking them from one, and giuing them to another. And whereas the ancient Chriſtians did not put in practiſe this power, in de…poſing Nero and Diocleſian perſecuters, Iulian the Apoſtate, Valens the Arrian, and ſuch like, it was (ſaith hee) becauſe they had not in their hands ſufficient Temporall forces, Gregor. epiſt. lib. 7 ep. 1.though they wanted not the right to doe it. Farre from the modeſty of Gregory ſurnamed the Great, who ſpeak…ng of the Lumbards that were Arrians ſaid; If I that am their ſeruant would hauehave intermedled with the death of the Lumbardes, at this day the Nation of the Lumbardes had had nei…her King, nor Duke, nor Count: but becauſe I feare God, I feare alſo to meddle with the death of any mar. And of S. Amb…oſe, Ambro. in orat. cont. …ux cut.who in encounter to the barbarous Gothes ſaith: My teares are my weapons: ſuch are the defences of Prieſts, otherwiſe I may not, I cannot reſiſt. In fine, as this Boniface the eight p. 19was not ſparing of words to authorize his vſurpation, ſo hee was no leſſe audacious, to repreſent the ſame in ceremonies and deeds. For it is recorded, how in that great Iubile, which he celebrated in the yeare 1300. he ſets forth himſelfe the firſt day in his Pontificall habite, giuing his benediction to the people: and the next day, came forth adorned with a crowne, and the Imperiall veſtiments, cauſing a naked ſword to bee carried before him. Breefly, to this vſurped power, appertaineth that pretended donation of Conſtantine ſo often brought vponupon the ſtage by the Popes:Laurent. Valla de falſo credita et ementita Conſtant, donat. the which Laurentius Ʋalla a Senatour of Rome ſo plainly conuinceth of ſalſity. And an Italian Poet ſendeth to the country of the Moone together with the almes which are made for the dead: and Roulands wit, anſwerable to that Elogie which the Scribe that wrote the originall copy now kept in the Vaticane Library, in letters of gold,Ari…ſt. Cant. 34. added thereunto in his barbarous g…bridge.

Quam fabulam longi temporis mendacia finxit,

A fable which an old aged lye hath forged.

6. The Pope alſo ſitteth in the Church:Carrieth himſelfe in the Church as if he were God. for he braggeth of nothing more then of his ſeat and chaire: neither is his maner of gouernment deſigned ordinarily by any other word then by ſitting: inſomuch, that when they count the yeares of their Popes, they ſay he ſate ſo long in the Apoſtles ſeat. In breefe, t…ey ſight and contend for nothing ſo much as for the pretended chaire or ſeate of Saint Peter, directly contrary to the manner of ſpeaking vſed in holy Scripture, whereby the miniſters and ſeru…nts of God, yea the Angels themſelues, are ſayd ſtare, to ſtand, and wayte before God, as ſeruants before their maſter to receiue his commandements, and not to be ſet as they raigned and commanded. Thus the Pope fits in the Church, and that he ſits as if hee were God, appeareth by his vſurpation of the name, the power, and workes of God: from the name of God,Diſt. 96. cap. ſatis. euidenter. which he ſayth was giuen him by Conſtantine the Emperour, hee concludeth that he cannot p. 20be iudged by any power; becauſe God cannot bee iudged by men. D… E…ct. cap. fundam in ſexto.And ſo alſo the gloſſe ſpeaketh, that the Pope is not man, but calleth him admirable, which is the title of the Son of God: The Pope, Papa (ſaith it) is called admirable, from the interiection Pa…, Eſay. 9. In pr… C….Isa 9which ſignifieth admiration, and indeed hee i… admirable for he holdeth the place of God vponupon earth: which made the Engli…h Poet in his late poeſie to ſay,

—Tu maxime rerum

Nec d…u… es, nec homo quaſi neuter es inter vtrum que

O thou that art the greate…t of all things create,

Art neither G…d nor man, but twixt both ſituate.

Extr. ne ſid… vacan… O ſi ſiatrum.As touching power, he himſelfe ſayeth: That God hath committed vntounto him the rights of the heauenly and earthly Empire: In the Councell of Laterane he ſuffereth himſelfe to be titled, the Lyon of the tribe of Iuda, the roote of Dauid, the Sauiour, De con…eſſ. preb C…propo…i…i.&c. and in the …6 Seſſion of that Councell, hee permitt…d that ſentence, which is proper to the Son of God, to b… attributed vntounto him: All power is giuen vntounto me, both in heauen and in earth. G…ſ…b. f…. Exer. … …nter. D…ſt. 1…. C. R…an… tum.The gloſſe ſaith, that he can make any thing of nothing: It calleth him, Dominum deum noſtrum papam, our Lord God the Pope. Hee aſſumeth to himſelfe the pow… to g…e authority to the word of God: The old and the new Teſtament (ſaith he) ought to bee receiued, not becauſe they are in the volume of Canonicall writings, but becauſe the h…ly Pope Innocent, ſeemeth to hauehave decreed that they ſhould be receiued. It is ſtrange to ſee what ſport hee maketh with the holy Scripture, for the eſtabliſhing of his earthly Soueraignty. God ſaith he hath made two great lights in the firmament of heauen, C…ſ… d… ma…r… … obe….the greater to rule the day, and the leſſer to rule the night: both great, yet one greater then the other: God therefore the firmament of heauen, that is, for the vniuerſall Church, hath made two great lights: that is to ſay, hath ordained two dignities, the authority Pontificall, and the power Royall: but that which beareth rule ouer the day, that is in ſpirituall things, is by farre the greateſt: and that which ruleth ouer p. 21carnall things, the leſſe: Inſomuch that we may acknowledge as much d…fference betwixt Popes and Kings, as there is betwixt the Sunne and the Moone. Where the gloſſe addeth, that according to Ptolomy the Sun exceedeth the Moone in greatneſſe, ſeuen thouſand ſeuen hundred forty foure times. So that it is no wonder, if Pope Alexander durſt ſet his foote vponupon the Emperour, necke, lying proſtrate on the ground, vttering withall this verſe of the 91. Pſalme, Thou ſhalt walke vponupon the Baſili… and the Aſſe and the Lyon and the Dragon ſ…alt thou tread vponupon; ſ…ing he…d b…ſeth them ſo lo… vnderunder his Holineſſe. Thus we read in the booke of ceremonies,Lib. 1. Cerem…n. …ontiſ. C. 7. That the Pope on the night of Chriſts natiuity, bleſſeth a ſword, and then giueth it to ſome Prince, in ſigne of the infinite power giu…n to himſelfe, according to that ſentence of the Goſpell, All p wer is giuen vntounto me both in heauen and earth, and hee ſhall re…ne from ſea to ſea, and from the flouds to the worlds e…d. Further, beſides all this, the Pope by Canonization maketh Saints at his pleaſure, as the Romane Senate vſed in former times to make Gods. And that which is aboue all, … it b… God onelyonly that throneth and dethroneth Kings, as …firmeth the Prophet Daniel, and reigneth ouer the kingdomes of men, and beſtoweth them on whom he pleaſeth, and that it belongeth to him onelyonly to write with his finger, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Vpharſin, Dan. 5, 25.Dan 5:25as he that only doth calculate kingd…mes, and weigh them in the ballance, and diſpoſe of …em: neuertheleſſe, the Pope arrogateth this power and authority to himſelfe, to depoſe Emperours and Kings, to change Kingdome, and States, and to beſtow them where he l…t: a… is not onelyonly apparant by the challenge made by himſelfe in his decrees, but alſo by the manifold examples recited by Cardinall Bellarmine at large hereof.Bel. de ſum. Pontif. lib. 5. C. 8. So that it is moſt probable that the Legate that came not long ſince into France, to induce that forme of practiſe into that kingdome, which was practiſed vponupon the kingdome of Nauarre, was aſſiſted by him, and had taken place, if God (who is the protectour of Kings and kingdomes againſt all vn…uſt powers) had not turned aſide this blow by his mighty hand. Now we p. 22ſay further, that the Pope exerciſeth his tyranny in the Church of God: for albeit that the Papacy be neither the true Church, nor a ſound member of the ſame: neuertheleſſe there was on… a tru… Church in that place where the Pope hath now eſtabliſhed his ſeate, and as yet to this day the name remaineth, and certaine traces and footſteps thereof, aſwell by the Sacrament of Baptiſme, which God hath ſtill preſerued therein as by the holy Scriptures which are there receiued, and by th… pure d…ctrine of th… T…ity ſtill profeſſed and maintained by them.

Worketh lying ….7. Conc rning miracles, we may find an infinite number regiſtred in the liues of their Popes: but ſuch I dare ſay, that a man may eaſily know in what ſhop they were forged. Thus wee read, that the Sepulcher of Pope Silueſter the ſecond (who was promoted to the Popedome by diabolical Arts, and dyed at the …ame time that was defined vntounto him by the diuell, giueth c…taine ſigne of the death of other Popes, either by a clattering of bone… heard in the graue, or by one ſweate and moyſture which it caſt…th forth. Gregory the ſeuenth, formerly called Hildebrand, caſt the Sacrament of the Lords body into the fire, that hee might hauehave thereby ſome diuine anſwere or ſigne againſt the Emperour Henry the fourth.Benn… Ca…din, in vita Hildebrand…. The ſame Hildebrand (ſaith Cardinall Benno) when he lifted would ſhake his ſleeues, and thereout cauſe to iſſue ſparkes of fire; and by theſe, and ſuch like miracles, as by certaine markes of his ſanctity, abuſed the eyes of the ſimple people. And when a the diuell could not openly perſecute Chriſt by the Pagans, hee l…boured fraudulently to ſubuert the name of Chriſt by this falſe Monke, vnderunder the habite and app…arance of Religion.Benno. …d. …ennet the ninth, giuing himſelfe to the ſacrifices of diuels in woods and forr…ſ…s, made women to runne after him, and to bee inamored of him by his Magicall Art.…l …n… … ta G…egor. …. Gregory the ſixt, as Platina reporteth, being ſicke of that ſickneſſe whereof hee dyed, called to him the Cardinals, and reproued them for that, in I know what enuy they found fault with thoſe things which hee had holily and iuſtly done: And to the end (ſaith he) that you may know p. 23after I am dead, whether I hauehave done well or euill, ſet my body within a Church, the doores faſt lockt, and if the doores open of themſelues by the onelyonly will of God, iudge me worthy of Chriſtian ſepulture; but if it happen otherwiſe, caſt my body where you will, as being damned together with my ſoule. Which requeſt of his, the Cardinals obeying, the Church do…res opened of their owne accord, with a great wind, that ſodenly aroſe: and ſo his body was buried within the Church, not without great admiration & opinion of his holineſſe. And yet this Gregory the ſixt, was one of Hildebrands Maſters in the Art of Magick, as is recorded by Benno. And it was he to whom Bennet the ninth had ſold he Papacy for ready money: which notwithſtanding hee was conſtrained to quit and giuegive ouer by Henry the fourth: as alſo two other like pernitious Monſters, Bennet the ninth, and Silueſter the third. But what need I to heape vp together a long R…ll of ſuch particular miracles of Popes, ſeeing all thoſe which we finde in their golden Legends, the Chronicl…s of S. Francis, and the liues of their Saints, were forged by the idle ſpi…its of lazie Monkes, to no other end but to authorize the Pope and his doctrine againſt the diuine truth of holy Scriptures.

8.Is an Idolater. The Idolatry of the Pope is no whit leſſe palpable then hi… former qualities;Concil. Trid. ſ…ſſ. 21. dec. 2. Ibid ſeſſ. 5. art. 5. e…ſeſſ. 5. can. 25. Maries pſalter. …mp…at paris. an. 16 n… fol. 34, 69, 8…, 90, 91, &c. for hee not onelyonly communicateth the worſhip of God to the Saints, and in a ſpeciall manner to the bleſſed virgin Mary, whom ſometimes they make equall to the Sonne of God, by exemption from all ſinne, and anone lift her vp aboue her Sonne, when they thus cry vntounto her: Shew thy ſelfe a Mother, and by the right of motherhood command the Redeemer. And when they exalt her euen to the throne of the Diuine Maieſty, calling her the Queene of Heauen, the Queene of Angels, and ſay, that the Heauen, the Earth, the Ayre, and the Sea worſhips her, and that her power and her mercy are infinite. Concil. Trid. ſeſſ. 25. dec. 1.But that which is more abhominable, he diuideth the honour of God, with dead bones, with Relicks, and Images; yea, and with men, whoſe actes giuegive iuſt cauſe to preſume, that they are rather tormented in hell, p. 24then glorified in heauen: or with Idols that neuer were, and conſequently are by their owne definition true and abſolute Idols. For what ſhall we ſay of S. George whom the Church of Rome inuocateth and adoreth amongſt the holy Martyrs?Athan. Apol… 1… de ſugaſ…. of whom notwithſtanding S. Athanaſius witneſſeth, that he was a wicked man and an Arrian Heretick, who being ſent for by the Emperour Conſtantius, by force of armes ſeazed vponupon the Biſhopricke of Alexandria: who afterwards being put to death by the Pagans in the time of Iu…n the Apoſtate, and his body burnt, and aſhes ſcattered in the winde, not for the confeſſion of the name of Chriſt, but for the outrage and violence which he had committed in his charge,Epiph i…aereſ. 76. as writteth Epiphanius; neuertheleſſe was by ſome held for a Martyr, and the Hiſtory of his Martyrdome committed to writing by his hereticall followers,Gelaſ. …cta Rom D…t. …5. Bar… mar…y…log. Roman. as both Pope Gela…ius, and after him Baronius acknowledge: which laſt ſaith, that all the ſtory of the actes of this George, was nothing elſe but a Fable and inuention of the Arrians. And yet this is that George, the iron of whoſe Lance is va…nted of to bee kept amongſt the adored Relicks at Rome. What ſhal we ſay alſo of their S. Katharine, ſo famous amongſt the Virgins of the Romane Kalender;Oſorius con…d… San…t Cathar. Legend. Aurea. ſo that they place her next in ranke to the Virgin Mary: whoſe legend notwithſtanding, is no better then a pure Fable? For where did we euer read of a King Coſtus that raigned at Alexandria, whoſe daughter they make her to be, or of an Emperour Maxentius in that Country, by whoſe iudgement they ſay, ſhee was put to death? I know well that they thinke to eſcape this blame of Idolatrie by anſwering that they reſerue onelyonly vntounto God the worſhip of L…tria, and affoord vntounto Creatures that onelyonly of Dulia. But this is a vaine and deceitfull ſtar…ing ſtole: for they aſcribe this worſhip of Latria which is proper onelyonly vntounto God,Conciſ. T…d. ſeſſ. 13. cap. 5. not onelyonly to the Sacrament of the Euchariſt; the which in a more then Pagan ſuperſtition they carry about in their Proceſſions to be adored as God, and cauſe it to march before the Pope, as the Perſians carried fire, which they held for God, before their Kings: But alſo to the Croſſe of p. 25Chriſt, and this Image thereof, whether in Wood, or in Stone, …in any other matter:Thom. 8. n. p. 3. q. 25 Art. 4. et Ca…et. Ibid. Directing their ſpeech and prayer vn…it as to himſelfe that was, as ſayth their Thomas: according … may be heard and ſeene in that Hymne which they vſual… ſing vntounto it: O crux, aue ſpes vnica, hoc paſſionis tempore, …ge pijs iuſtitiam, reiſ que dona veniam.

…ll hayle, O croſſe, our only hope in this our time of paſſion,

…ncreaſe good men with righteouſnes, to ſinners grant remiſſion.

This is as the Idolaters perſons reproued by the Prophet …remy vſed to doe;Ier. 2.27.Jer 2:27 To ſay to a peece of wood, Thou art my Fa…er and to a ſtone, Thou haſt begotten me.

9.He is ambitious. The ambition of the Pope maketh it ſelfe ſufficiently …howne by the exceſſiue honours which hee requireth of …mperours and Kings:D ſt. 96. C. Co…ſtantinus. if wee will beleeu… the Canon Con…antinus. The great Emperour Conſtantine holding the …ridle of Pope Silueſters Horſe, ſerued him as his Lackey or …ootboy. Platina writeth, that Pepin one of the Kings of …rance hauing kiſſed the feet of Pope Steuen the ſecond,Platinum vita Stephan. 2. per…ormed the ſame office vntounto him, which Conſtantine had done before to Silueſter. In the booke of the Papall Ceremonies it …s ordayned, that all men of what degree or dignity ſoeuer, when they come before the preſence of the Pope,Ceremen. Pontific lib. 3. doe three …mes bend their knees before him, with diſtance of place ob…rued for each curteſie, and kiſſe his feete: and that Kings and Emperours hold his ſtirrop, when he either mounteth or lighteth from his horſe, & lead his Horſe by the bridle. And if he muſt leaue his Horſe, then that the Princes and Emperours carry him on their ſhoulders; and that they hold the Baſon when hee waſheth before meate, and bring in the …irſt Meſſe to his Table. In breefe, he ſheweth no reuerence …o any of what quality or dignity ſoeuer he be: onelyonly hee …ifteth himſelfe vp a little to kiſſe the Emperour. So great …s his pride, that when the Emperour Frederick preſented …imſelfe to hold the ſtirrop of Pope Adrian the fourth, and miſtaking his office, held one for another; the Pope was ſo p. 26incenſed hereat, that this fault was like to hauehave coſt the Emperour …ill deere; although hee excuſed his errour by this, that hee was not as yet …o well expert in that ſeruice, as in time he might be. A title of this high ambition is to be ſeene in that picture which Pope Innocent the ſecond cauſed to be ſet vp in the Temple of Laterane, which repreſented the Pope ſitting in his Pontificall Chaire, and the Emperour Letharius kneeling at his feete, and receiuing from him the Emperiall Crowne, with theſe two Latin verſes.

Rex venit ante f…res, iuran… priùs vrbis honores,

Poſt homo ſit Papae, ſumit quo dante coronam.

See the Ec leſiaſt. Hiſtory of Nich. V…gnier.But his ambition will more clearly appeare, by the ceremonies which are obſerued at the Coronation of Emperours, as they are recorded by an Author that liued about the yeare 1300. The manner (ſaith he) how Emperours were conſecrated and crowned, was this: The Pope hauing taken an oath of the Emperour that was to be, vponupon the ſtaire, of the porch of Saint Peters Church, that hee will faithfully defend the Church, and that which belongeth to it, maintaine right Iuſtice, and fully and intirely reſtore all the poſſeſſions of S. Peters patrimony, and the Church of Rome, if any thing bee taken from it. Then the Emperour and the Empreſſe, are conducted by the Pope into the Church, where during the Maſſe, which is celebrated with great ſolemnity, th… Pope annoynteth firſt the Emperour, and then the Empreſſe, with the accuſtomed formall words. Then ſitting in his Pontificall Chaire hee holdeth the Crowne betwixt his feete, which the Emperour and the Empreſſe bowing downe their heads, lift from his feete: and preſently the Pope ſtriking the crowne with his ſoote, caſts it on the ground, off from the Emperours head; in ſigne that hee hath power to depoſe them againe if their merits require. And then (in like manner) the Cardinals that ſtand round about, take the Crowne and ſet it with great reuerence vponupon their heads. But how ſhould a man better repreſent their ambition, then by the words of p. 27their owne flatterers? Theſe bee the ſpeeches of a Biſhop, a chiefe officer to Pope Paul the ſecond.Redoreicus, Zamerent e…ſc…p. Caſtella…t Refer e…a. p…. Pa…l. 2. in ſpec…l vit. human, L. 2. C. 1. What ſhould wee thinke (ſaith he) of this Soueraigne Biſhop, that poſſeſſeth the place of the true God on earth, who is lifted vp to the fulneſſe of power, to the throne Apoſtolick, to the top of all honours? From whom as from their fountaine, iſſue all riuers, as branches from a tree; who is not onelyonly eſtabliſhed for h…mane Principality, but alſo for Diuine: not onelyonly for command ouer mortall creatures, and men; but alſo ouer the Angels: not onelyonly to iudge the liuing, but al o the dead: not onelyonly in earth but alſo in heauen: not onelyonly to rule ouer Chriſtians, but alſo Infidels. And to make ſhort; who is ordained and eleuated by the Soueraigne God, in his place, to the ſame Dignity, Iuriſdiction, Ʋniuerſall power, and Soueraigne principality, ouer all the whole world: of whom it is written in Iob, that before him tremble thoſe that beare vp the world, and that the Kings of the earth, and the Tyrants thereof are no better then a laughing ſtock in his preſence: and that he imbraceth all power, and as the Scripture ſpeaketh, Hee is alone and there is no ſecond. And againe, of him it is written, Thou art alone and there is none with thee: and againe, Mighty aboue all the mighties of the world: to whom (as witneſſeth the Prophet) appertaineth Iuſtice, Power, and Empire: and whom Dauid ſignified, when hee ſaid, To him is giuen power, and the kingdome, and all people and tongues ſhall ſerue him. Thus this man enhancing the Popes dignitie by one degree after another, at laſt proueth by Var…o, Cicero, Ariſtotle, S. Dioniſius, and S. Ierome that all order of things would periſh, if there were not ſuch a ſoueraigne High-Prieſt, whom hee not onelyonly preferreth before ſtammering Moſes (ſo impudently hee termeth him) and before Aaron, but before Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe, whom hee robbeth of this prerogatiue, to offer vp himſelfe in ſacrifice for our ſinnes, and attributeth it to his Papall Idoll.

10. Concerning his Cruelty.Is full of cru…ty. Who can recount without horrour, the ſauage cruelty which Popes hauehave exerciſed one towards another? Pope Stephen the ſixt, in a more then Neronian fury, hauing cauſed the body of Pope …ermoſus to p. 28bee drawne out of it's Sepulcher,P atina in vt…a Stephen. 6. and to bee deueſted of the Pontificall ornaments, commanded it to be burned amongſt the Laicks, hauing firſt cauſed the two fingers of the right hand to bee cut off, which are vſed principally in the conſecrating of Prieſts, that they might bee throwne into Tiber. But Pope Sergius the third,Id… vita …erg… 3. deſirous to carry the prize of cruelty in this very ſubiect, cauſed the ſame body of Pormoſu…, to 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 caſt into Tiber, as vnworthy of buriall.Benno in vita Gregor. 7. Six Popes died of poyſon within the ſpace of 13. yeares, by the practice of Hildebrand, afterwards Pope, by the name of Gregory the ſeuenth: So that vntill he himſelfe was aduanced to the Popedome, all in a ranke were poyſoned, by his familiar friend Brazutus, as ſaith Benno. This is the ſame Hildebrand, that would hauehave murdered the Emperour Henry the fourth, in S. Maries Church in Mount Auentine, if God had not defeated the blow by the death of him, whom hee vſed as the inſtrument of his villany. By whoſe example Pope Sixtus Quintus learned in our time to plead in fauour & commendation of the Aſſaſinates of Kings,Ser. Six Quint. de Henrici 3. morte. habit. 11 Sept. an. 1 89 an Antiſixt…. as is manifeſt by that Oration which he made in the Conſiſtory of Cardinals, in praiſe of Iames Clement the murderer of Henry the third King of France: whoſe act, with a mouth full of blaſphemies, he dareth compare with the worke of our Redemption. It is not vnknowne alſo, how poore Celeſtine was handled by Boniface the eight, when by his cunning practice he was depoſed from his Papacy. In briefe, there would be no end, if I ſhould ſet forth all the murders, aſſaſines, and bloody warres, cauſed and raiſed vp by Papall Schiſmes. And what ſorts of cruelties (I pray you) hauehave they not made knowne to the world, then when they banded themſelues againſt the Emperours, either for the defence, or encreaſe of their Tyrannicall power? What miſchiefes hauehave they not procured, when they armed the Weſt againſt the Eaſt, vnderunder pretence of recouering the Holy-Land? What butcheries did they execute vponupon thoſe who were called p. 29Waldenſes, by their Croyſadoes? And if we will draw neerer to our owne times, hauehave wee not ſeene all the Riuers of this Kingdome, ſtayned with the blood of thoſe that made profeſſion of the truth of the Goſpell, ſhed by the inſtigation and ſolicitation of the Popes?An. 1556. Principally ſince the ſending of that braue ſword by Pope Paul the fourth, to King Henry the ſecond, which was as it were an ominous preſage of the fury of Gods wrath which he meant to powre down, aſwell vponupon the King and his Linage, as vponupon the whole Kingdome. As in very deed, ſince that time, there hath nothing bene ſeene but miſeries, calamities, ciuil and forreyne warrs, famines, maladies, and other ſcourges of Gods diuine Iuſtice, that hauehave followed and doe ſtill follow, one in the necke of another eueryevery day. If any ſay, that all Popes hauehave not bene thus tranſported with cruelty, blood, and butchery; I confeſſe aſmuch: But yet, as he is no leſſe cruell that poyſoneth with Sugar, then he that poyſoneth with Gall: ſo neither are they leſſe cruell that hale poore ſoules to eternall perdition by a counterfeite ſhew of ſweetneſſe, then they that throw them headlong thereinto by force and violence. Yea, rather they are more dangerous, that comming in ſheeps clothing, inſinuate themſelues more eaſily into mens mindes, then they that openly ſhewing themſelues to bee wolues, make men ſuſpitious of them by their behauiours.

11. The examples of the impurities of Popes,Full of inpurity. are regiſtred by all thoſe that hauehave written their liues & geſts. It is not vnknowne, how they permit publick whoredome, and draw at Rome a great reuenue from the Stewes. What neede we to ſpeake of this, when as that infamous kind of impurity which is againſt nature, and inceſtuous copulations, ceaſe not to reigne and rage amongſt them? Nicholas of Bebrach borne in the Citty of Erphord, hath certified the world by publick writing, that being at Rome in the time of Pope Martine the fourth,Lui…pra…. (whom the Popes flatterers notwithſtanding number amongſt the moſt holy of the ranke) hee was ſolicited by him,Plati…a. to yeeld himſelfe to ſerue him as his Ganimede in his pleaſures. Iohn the 13 was depoſed from p. 30his Papacy by a Synode of Biſhops aſſembled by the authority of the Emperour Otho, for being a murderer, a Churchrobber, a periured, and inceſtuous perſon, an… guilty of Whoredome. Idolatrie, and Inuocation of diuels. And in the end this monſter (ſo Platina calleth him) being ſurprized in the act of Adultery,… …ine. was killed by the womans husband whom hee ab…ed. Pope Alexander the ſixt, ab…ſed his owne daughter Lucretia, and had concurring with him in this inceſt, his two ſonnes: It was this Lu…cee vponupon whoſe Tombe a certaine Po…t writ this notorious …p…taph,

Conditur hoc tumulo Lucretia nomine, ſed re

Thais, Alexandri filia ſponſa, nuru….

In ſumme, that I may not heap vp together too many of their Villanies, that which was ſpoken of one of the Popes, agreeth to the moſt of them.

Mathew Pari… of Innocent the fourth'Eius auaritiae totus non ſufficit orbis:

Eius luxuriae meretrix non ſufficit omnis.

Reuealed in the e laſt times.12. Now, after that many Kings and Princes had complained of the exceſſiue tyranny, inſatiable auarice, and damnable debauchments of Popes, as Henry the fourth, that reproched Gregory the ſeuenth,Lib. de vnitat. eccleſ. conſer…. To teach without the Doctrine of Christ, and to ſpeake without the truth of Chriſt: and as Antichriſt to be exalted in his owne heart, and to ſay, I am God, and am ſet in the chaire of God, to be a murderer of bodies and ſoules: And the Emperour Frederick the ſecond, who in one of his Epiſtles directed to all the Prelates of Chriſtendome, calleth Gregory the ninth, the Father of diſcord and deſolation, Pet. de vinei… lib 1. epiſt. 3….the great Dragon that ſeduceth the world Antichriſt, a ſecond Balaam, the Angell riſing out of the bottomleſſe pit, hauing viols full of bitterneſſe, to hurt the Sea and the earth: And that the Waldenſes had ſcattered the true religion, in France, Germany Italy, and other places: teaching amongſt other points, that the Church of Rome, was the whore of the p. 31Apacalypſe, Babylon mother of fornications, and that the Pope was the head of theſe errours:Ex. Relat. Iacobi de Riberia. And after that, alſo many good men, too much affected to the errours of their times, and dazled with the brightneſſe of the Papacy, were notwithſtanding conſtrayned to cry out againſt the Court of Rome, and to paint forth in liuely colours the abhominations thereof: as S. Bernard, Peter Belſenſis Archbiſhop of Roan, Bernard ſer. 3. an Cant.the paſſages of which Authors, are elſewhere to bee ſeene at large: And Arnulphus Archbiſhop of Lyons, who for this cauſe was put to death at Rome vnderunder Pope Honorius the ſecond: I ſay, after all theſe,Pet. Belſenſ. epiſt. 25. many there aroſe that paſſed a great deale further;Platina in vita Honor. 2. for Michael Ceſenas generall Priour of the Gray-Friers, in the time of Iohn the 21. or 22. wrote directly againſt the Pope, and called him Antichriſt,An. 325. and the Church of Rome, with her Prelates, the whore of Babylon made drunke with the blood of the Saints: ſaid that there were two Churches, one of the wicked which is flouriſhing,Vide Iacob. de Miſnia lib. de a…uent. Antichriſti. 1321. where the Pope reigneth; the other afflicted, which is of the faithfull. About this time, or litle after, liued the renowned Italian Poet Dante, who in his 19. Sonnet of Hell, ſaith (ſpeaking of Pope Nicholas the third) that it was hee, of whom the Euangiliſt S. Iohn intendeth to ſpeake, vnderunder the name of the Whore which ſitteth vponupon many waters, with whom the Kings of the earth committed fornication. The ſame Poet in his ſixt Sonnet of Purgatory, maketh this complaint, That Rome had once the ſhining torch of two Suns, which made the moſt ignorant better to vnderſtand, both the things of this world, and of God: But that now the one hath baniſhed the other, the ſword being ioyned to the Paſtorall ſtaffe, ſo that they cannot well goe together, the one not ſtanding in awe of the other. If any beleeue not this (ſaith he) let him iudge the tree by the fruite, and he will confeſſe, that ſince the Church of Rome conſounded in her ſelfe the two powers, ſhe is growne to all wickedneſſe, and deſtroyeth with herſelfe the Commonwealth of Chriſtians. About the yeare 1381. Mathew Paris borne in Bohemia, compoſed a large Volume concerning Antichriſt, wherein he laboureth p. 32to proue, that he was already in the world, and that the Pope was he: adding amongſt other reaſons this one, becauſe according to his ordinances, men worſhipped the Saints as Sauiours, and their Images and relickes in ſtead of Ieſus Chriſt. A Chanon of the Citty of Prage in Bohemia, called Militſius, a Doctor of Theologie, preached in the time of Pope Gregory the eleuenth, that Antichriſt was already in the world, and that he reigned viſibly in the perſon of the Pope, Cardinals, Biſhops, Monkes, and other Eccleſiaſticall perſons, who not teaching the truth, by their ambition and negligence, made the Church deſolate, filling it with temporall riches, and deſpoyling it of ſpirituall. Inſomuch, as hauing gained to himſelfe many Auditors and Diſciples, the bruite hereof came to the eares of Pope Gregory, who excōmunicated him. About this very time, Wicleffe began in England to preach the pure doctrine of the Goſpell, againſt the traditions of the Church of Rome, not ſparing it in his writings any more then the reſt had done. This man was followed by many others, as by name, by Iohn Pourney an Engliſhman, who writ a Commentary vponupon the Apocalipſe, where he calleth Rome the diuels Brothel-houſe, & the Church of Rome the Whore of Babylon. Then came Iohn Huſſe after the yeare 1400. who greatly promoted this doctrine, and loſt his life together with Ierome of Prage for the confeſſion thereof, at the Councill of Conſtance. This was about that time when Pope Iohn 23. hauing cauſed the Croyſado to bee publ ſhed for the maintenance of warre intended againſt Ladiſlaus King of Naples: Aeneas Silvius Hiſt r. Bohem. cap 35.when it came to be divulged at Prage, certaine of the people cryed out with a loud voyce, that the Pope was Antichriſt, who ordained a Croyſadoe againſt Chriſtians: which perſons were preſently clapt vp in priſon, but the people ariſing in Armes, demanded them to be deliuered and ſet free, and when they were appeaſed by the Councill, with promiſe of aſſurance of their liues, and ſo returning to their houſes, the priſoners were ſecretly put to death. But their death was di couered by the blood that ranne vnderunder the priſon doore: whereupon, the people running againe together, p. 33tooke away their bodies by violence, and wrapping them in linnen clothes, carried them through all the Churches in the Citty, crying: Theſe are the Saints that hauehave deliuered their bodies to death, for the teſtament of God. Hiſtor. Eccleſ. Nichol. Vignier.Alſo about this time Manfrede of Verſellas a Iacobin preached publickly, that Antichriſt was in the world. Hereof Iames of Miſny wrote a booke, as did alſo Thedorick Vrias an Auguſtine Frier. Peter Clarke an Engliſhman maintained publickly the ſame doctrine, for which cauſe being chaſed out of England, he retired into Bohemia, where he compoſed a booke againſt the Synagogue of Antichriſt, and in the end was burned for the ſame, An. 1433. Yea euen diuerſe of thoſe that firmely adhered to the Church of Rome, yet in thoſe times were conſtrayned to reproue an infinite number of errours and abuſes that raged in that Church: as Peter of Ally, Faſcicul rerum ex…ttendarum.or of Alliaco, Cardinall of Cambray: Gerſon, Clem…gis, and others that liued about that Age:Clemang tr…act de ra…ace… repar. eccleſ. Inſomuch as the foreſaid Clemangis is bold thus to ſpeake vntounto her: What thinkeſt thou of the Prophecy which is in the Apocalyps? doſt thou not beleeue at leaſt that it is directed againſt thee in ſome part? Thou haſt not ſo loſt thy ſhame together with thy vnderſtanding, that thou wilt deny it: Regard it therefore, and read the damnation of the great Whore that ſitteth vponupon many waters: and therein behold thy goodly deeds. And a litle after: It is long ſince thy monſtrous pride, not being able to vphold it ſelfe, began to fall, though ſlowly and by little and little: and hath not thy ruine beene perceiued by many? But at this day it tumbleth headlong to deſtruction, like a ſwift torrent towards the Sea. Laurentius Valla a Romane,Laurent. Valla declar. de ementita Conſtantini donatione. declaimeth in his time moſt bitterly againſt the Pope after this manner: That hee practiſed in the commonwealth not only that which Verres & Cateline, or any other notorious theefe durſt not: but alſo made trafficke of things Eccleſiaſticall, & of the holy Spirit: ſuch as Simon Magus would hauehave deteſted. About the yeare 1440.Baeleus Centu…ies. Roger Onley Prieſt was ſtrangled with certaine others in the priſons of London, and the Dutcheſſe of Gloceſter baniſhed for the doctrine of Huſſe. A Prouinciall Frier of the order of the p. 34Mendicants preached in the yeare,Nichol. de Cuſaan ſ…m. 1454. that the Church of Rome was that Whore mentioned in the Apocalyps. Reynold Peacock Biſhop of Chicheſter in England, defended both by word and writing the doctrine of Wiclefe, Balaus. et f…x. ex d…ctionatio. theologico Tho Ga…o…gnij. & ex Lolando.and for the ſame by the reſt of the Biſhops, declared an Hereticke. Baptiſta Mantuan, in the yeare 1464. wrote his Eclogues, wherein he painteth out in moſt liuely and elegant colours, the corruptions of the Pope, Prelates, and Court of Rome: as may witneſſe theſe verſes amongſt many other.

—Petri que domus polluta fluente,

Mac reſcit luxa (nulla hic arcana reu…lo,

Non ignota loquor liceat vulgata referre:

Sic vibes populiꝙ ferunt, ea ſama per omnem

Iam vetus Europam) mores extirpat honeſtos:

Sanctus ager ſeueris, venerabilis ara cynaedis

Seru…t, honorandae diuium Gaenimedibus aede;

Quid miramur opes recidi…a que ſurgere tecta?

Thu… is odroati globulos, et cinnama ve…dit

M…llis Arabs, Tirij veſtes: venalia nobis

Templa, ſacerdotes, altari, ſacra, coronae,

Ignis, thura preces, coelum eſt venale, …euſ que .

In Engliſh thus.

Saint Peters houſe defiled with filthy luſt

(I ſpeake not ſecret, nor things vnknowne tell,

But ſuch as Europes people needs know muſt)

Doth languiſh ſore, and Vertues all expell:

The ſacred field with Ruffians is replete,

And holy Altars are with knaues beſet:

The Temples to the holy Saints deuoted,

Doe ſerue as Stewes for vncleane Ganimedes.

Yet rich they are: no wonder to be noted,

For Arabs druggs, and Tyrus ſilkes out-ſpreads,

By ſale whereof they purchaſe riches ſtore,

But Romiſh wares are farre in number more.

Heere Temple, Altars, Prieſts, are to be ſold,

With Incenſe, Prayers, Heauen, and God, for gold.

p. 35In the yeare, 1498. Ierome Sauanarola a Iacobin at Florence, was burned by the ſol…citation of Pope Alexander the ſixt, for calling the Pope Antichriſt, and condemning his excommunications. VponUpon the Iubilee of which Pope, which fell on the yeare 1500. were made theſe verſes.

Pollicitus co…lum, Romanus et aſ…ra ſacerdos,

Per ſoelus et c…des, ad Stigia pandit iter.

The Romane Prieſt of heauen that promiſe made

To others … himſelfe to hell conuayde.

The Walde …ſes, though they were perſecuted on eueryevery ſide, yet by th…ir publicke writings, and particularly by that confeſſion of their Faith which they preſented vntounto Princes, the forme whereof we hauehave in that which they addreſſed vntounto Vlad…ſlaus King of Bohemia, An. 150…. declared what …ſt cauſe they had to ſeparate from the Church of Rome: and how farre they were from thoſe errours, which their aduerſaries wrongfully charged them withall.

So that King Lewis the twelfth,Charles de Moulin. lib. de Monarch. Franc. vnderſtanding by report the demeanours of thoſe of Merindoll and Labriers againſt whom certaine Cardinals and Prelates deſired to incite him: ſwore that they were more honeſt then himſelfe, or the reſt of his people. And preſently after, the King by the conſent of the Prelates of his Realme cauſed a Councell at Lions to be called againſt Pope Iulius, and money to bee ſtamped, which ſhould bee currant through the whole kingdome,Arnoulp. de feron. i… continuat Paul. Acmilij. bearing this inſcription on the one ſide, Lud. D. G. Rex Franco. Dux Mediolani: and on the other ſide, Perdam Babylonem: that is, Lewis the twelfth, by the grace of God, King of France, Duke of Millaine. I will deſtroy Babylon. At the laſt,Nichol Vi…e hills Eccleſiaſt. in the yeare 1517. vnderunder Pope Leo the tenth, followed the preaching of Indulgences, for full remiſſion of ſinnes, and deliuerance out of Purgatory and obtaining of the kingdome of heauen, by all thoſe that ſhould giuegive a certaine ſumme of money for the purchaſe of the ſaid Indulgences, what crimes ſoeuer they had committed. Which gaue occaſion to p. 36Martin Luther a Doctour of Diuinity, and of the order of the Auguſtine Friars to oppoſe himſelfe againſt ſo ſhameleſſe a Merchandize, and to demonſtrate by the word of God, that the Pope is very Antichriſt. Wherein he was followed afterwards by a great number of learned men, whom God vſed in this laſt Age as Inſtruments to reforme the Church aſwell in Germany, England, Scotland, Denmarke, as in France and other Countries. In whoſe ſteps all they ought to tread, whom God hath called to the gouernment of his Church, to reueale more and more the Sonne of perdition, and to diſcouer his filthineſſe, if they will not be reputed Cowards in the defence of the truth, and traytors vntounto Chriſt.

13. There remaineth then no more, but that poſſeſſing our ſoules in patience,And laſtly ſhal be deſtroyed by the glorious comming of Chriſt Ieſus. and perſeuering conſtantly in the profeſſion of this truth, what perſecution ſoeuer Antichriſt may raiſe vp againſt vsus for the ſame, we expect in the end that hee ſhalbe vtterly aboliſhed, by the brightneſſe of the comming of our Lord Ieſus, who aſſureth vsus, that he will come quickly. Yea come Lord Ieſus.