Antichrist the Pope of Rome, Treatise 3 · Mark 3 – Mark 4
Third marke: the comming of Enoch and Elias.
The third marke which they giuegive of Antichriſts comming, is the returne of Elias and Enoch, Bel. de Rom. Pont. Perer. in Dan. Remond. & Vieg. in Apoc.who (ſay they) muſt come into the world, to oppoſe Antichriſt, and to preſerue the Elect in the faith of Chriſt, and to conuert the Iewes, which fable they labour to vnderprop by theſe enſuing teſtimonies of holy Scripture.
Ob. 1 Mal. 4.5. Behold I goe to ſend vntounto you Elias the Prophet, before the comming of the great and fearefull day of the Lord: and he ſhall turne the heart of the Fathers to their Children, and the heart of the Children to their Fathers, leaſt I come and ſmite the earth, as it were with an Interdict.
S. Ierome writing vponupon the fourth Chapter of Malachy, Reſp.anſwereth for vsus, that the Iewes, and Iudaizing Heretikes, imagined that Elias ſhould come, before foreign ſuum; that is, the comming of their Meſſias: Whereupon it was, that this queſtion was propounded to our Sauiour Chriſt in the Goſpell, Wherefore ſay the Phariſes, that Elias ſhall come? To whom he anſwereth, Indeed Elias ſhall come, and if you will beleeue me, he is already come, vnderſtanding by Elias Iohn Baptiſt. Thus S. Ierome. And in truth, our Sauiour Mat. 11.14. ſaith expr…ſſely, that Iohn Baptiſt was the Elias that was to come: And Mat. 17.12. that Elias was come already, but that the Iewes knew him not. And to the end that no man ſhould doubt of whom it was he ſpake: The Euangeliſt addeth, that the diſciples perceiued, that he ſpake vntounto them of Iohn Baptiſt: whereunto alſo aptly accord the words of the Angell to Zacharias, Luke, 1.17. That Iohn Baptiſt ſhould goe before the Lord in the ſpirit and power of Elias, to turne the hearts of the Fathers to the Children, and the diſobedient to the wiſedome of the iuſt men, that he might make ready a people prepared for the Lord. But the Ieſuites guided (as it ſeemeth) by a different ſpirit from our Sauiour Chriſt, in the explication of Prophecies, thus reply.
Repl. 1. It is manifeſt that Malachy ſpeaketh of the laſt comming of our Sauiour Chriſt, inſomuch that he calleth it, The great and terrible day of the Lord: and after addeth theſe words: leaſt I come and ſmite the earth with an Interdict: that is, leaſt comming to iudge the world, I condemne all the Rebellious.
Reſp. It is certaine, that there is a double day of the Lord: one of his firſt comming, by the which he calleth the Elect to ſaluation: the other of his laſt comming, by the which hee gathereth to himſelfe thoſe that are ſaued, and brings them into his kingdome. Neither doe we gaineſay, but that both the one and the other, may be vnderſtood in this place: to wit, that the Prophet hauing promiſed the firſt comming of Chriſt, doth threaten them with the laſt, which ſhould not be conuerted by the firſt. But howſoeuer it be, this is certaine; that the ſending of Elias is referred by the Prophet, to the firſt comming of Chriſt: and not to the ſecond. 1. Becauſe theſe words here, doe anſwer to them, Chap. 3. 1. Behold I will ſend my Meſſenger, and he ſhall prepare the way before me; and the Lord whom ye ſeeke ſhall ſpeedily enter into his Temple: which can poſſibly be applyed no otherwiſe then to the firſt comming of Chriſt. 2. Becauſe it is ſaid, That hee ſhall conuert the hearts of Fathers to their Children, and of Children to their Fathers: which both the Angell and Zacharias enſpired with the ſpirit of Prophecy, Luke 1. referre to his firſt comming: and the matter it ſelfe beareth witneſſe thereunto. 3. In briefe, the ſame is euident by that which the Prophet addeth: Leaſt I come and ſtrike the earth with anathema: which is aſmuch as if he ſhould ſay, leaſt I be conſtrained to haſten my ſecond comming, and cauſe them to feele the rigour of my Iudgement, if they conuert not vntounto me by the tryall of my mercy in my firſt comming. For as touching the word which is tranſlated fearfull or terrible, it ſignifieth alſo honorable, or venerable, as it is tranſlated by Tremellius, & Iunius. And albeit thoſe words, fearfull, or terrible, ſhould be retained in the text, yet this hindereth not, but that this place may be well referred to the firſt comming of our Sauiour Chriſt. For though this comming, be the deſired time and the day of ſaluation to the Elect; yet it is fearfull and terrible to thoſe that in a blinded fury reiected him: according to that which old Simeon ſaid to the bleſſed Virgine, Luke. 2.34. That he is appointed for the fall and riſing againe of many in Iſrael, and for a ſigne which ſhall bee ſpoken againſt. Neither indeed can it be denied, but that this day was terrible to the Iewes, aſwell in regard of their blinding and hardening, as alſo by reaſon of the great calamities which followed their rebellion. For was not their Land truly ſmitten as it were by Interdict, when Ieruſalem was deſtroyed, ſackt, and burnt, by Titus and Vespaſian, and the whole Common-wealth of the Iewes vtterly razed and deſtroyed? Hence it is, that Rupertus expounding this text, ſaith, That he dares not certainly define any thing concerning the comming of Elias into the world: foraſmuch as many hold, that he muſt come in his proper perſon: and others, amongſt whom S. Ierome, deny it.
Repl. 2. When our Sauiour Chriſt ſaith: That Iohn Baptiſt is Elias that ſhould come, he meaneth that (according to their iudgememt) that Iohn Baptiſt promiſed by the Prophet Malachy, is Elias; but not litterally, but allegorically, and that the true Elias ſhall come at the end of the world.
Reſp. This interpretation is ſo farre from truth, that on the contrary, our Sauiour plainly intendeth, that Iohn Baptiſt, was truly he, according to the letter, that was promiſed by the Prophet Malachy: but that by allegory he was called Elias, becauſe …e came in the ſpirit and power of Elias, as the Angell witneſſeth. And doubtleſſe this manner of ſpeaking cannot ſeeme ſtrange to thoſe,Bel. de Rom. P… lo…. 3. c. 6. that are neuer ſo little exerciſed in the reading of the holy Scripture,Remond cap. 48. M…llon. in Mat. 12. no more then this promiſe which God maketh to his people, Ier 30.9. Strangers ſhall ſerue themſelues no more of thee, but they ſhall ſerue the Lord their God, and Dauid their King, whom I ſhall raiſe vp vntounto them. And Ezech. 34.23. I will raiſe vp a Shepheard ouer them, Riberus in Apoc c. 11 …rt. 12.euen my ſeruant Dauid: I will be their God, and my ſeruant Dauid ſhall be a Prince among them. The ſame promiſe is repeated, Chap. 37. and in diuerſe other places: and yet notwithſtanding no man euer thought that Dauid was to come in his proper perſon.
Ob 2 Eccleſiaſticus ſpeaking of Elias, Chap. 48.9.10. ſaith thus, Thou waſt taken vp in a whirlewind of fire, and in a Chariot of fiery horſes: thou art appointed to pacifie the wrath of the Lord, at the demonſtrations of times, togather the hearts of the Fathers vntounto the Children, and to reſtore the Tribes of Iacob. Enoch (ſaith the ſame Author) was pleaſing to God, therefore was he tranſlated into Paradiſe, to bring repentance to the generations. Ecclus. 44.16.
B…p.The booke of Eccleſiaſticus being not of Canonicall authority, cannot conuince vsus againſt the authority of Chriſt, who expreſſely ouerturneth this interpretation of the Prophet Malachy, as Ianſenius him elfe is conſtrained to confeſſe. This comming then of Elias, was an aged opinion among the Iewes, as may be gathered out of the Dialogues of Iuſtine Martyr, againſt Tryphon the Iew: wherein Tryphon is bold to ſay, that he knew not whether the Meſſias was borne, or no: but admit he were, yet that he could hauehave no power vntill Elias were come, who ſhould annoynt him, and proclaime him to the people. And therefore it is no maruaile, if the Sonne of Syrac a Iew, were tranſported with the ſame beliefe. But it is a great ſhame that Chriſtians, inſtructed by the mouth of Chriſt himſelfe, ſhould ſo lightly entertaine theſe Iewiſh dotages, onelyonly diſguiſed with an other colour. As touching the other paſſage of Eccleſiaſticus, they alledge it falſly: the words in the Greeke are theſe: foreign. That …s word for word: Enoch pleaſed the Lord God, and was …ranſlated for an example of repentance to the generations. Now how ſerues this to proue, that Enoch ſhall come at the …nd of the world, becauſe he was tranſported by God, to be …n example to men? And if we ſhould retaine theſe words, …o the end to giuegive repentance to the Nations: yet this muſt be vnderſtood, to be done by example onelyonly, and not by his perſonall …omming.
Ob. 3 Our Sauiour, Mat. 17.11. ſaith, that certainly Elias muſt come and reſtore all things. Now that this is to be vnderſtood of Elias in his owne perſon, appeareth (ſay they) by 3. reaſons. Firſt, becauſe Iohn Baptiſt was already come, and had finiſhed his courſe, and yet neuertheleſſe Chriſt ſaith, that Elias ſhall come. Secondly, becauſe the Apoſtles ſpeake of the ſame Elias, whom they had ſeene in the Mountaine. And thirdly, becauſe it is ſaid, that he ſhall reſtore all things, which neither Iohn Baptiſt, nor any other did.
This is a wrong interpretation of our Sauiours words:Reſp. for the ſenſe is this. As our Sauiour Chriſt had forbidden his Apoſtles to tell vntounto any man, the viſion which they had ſeene in the Mount, vntill ſuch time as hee ſhould bee riſen from the dead: they preſently receiued an opinion, that Chriſt ſhould ſhortly after dye, and riſe againe, and then enter into his kingdome. But becauſe this ſeemed to contradict the order eſtabliſhed by God himſelfe, according to the Prophecy of Malachy, wherein it is foretold, that Elias muſt precede his comming; therefore they propound their doubt to be reſolued of him: wherefore then ſay the Scribes, that Elias muſt come firſt: to wit, before thou riſeſt againe, and entreſt into thy kingdome? Now our Sauiour Chriſt anſwereth them, firſt by conceſſion: of a truth Elias ſhall come firſt, and reſtore all things: that is, as Maldonate expounds. It is true that Elias muſt come: It muſt be that Elias come: the Scribes teach you this truly and well. For we muſt note that our Sauiour Chriſt doth not ſay, foreign, Elias ſhall come, to the end that they might expect his comming till ſome other time: But foreign, Elias commeth, in the preſent tenſe. As when Herod enquired of the Prieſts, foreign, where is Chriſt borne? that is, where ſhould he be borne? And when the Iewes ſaid, we know wel from whence this man is, but when Chriſt ſhall come, no man knoweth from whence hee is, foreign, that is, no man muſt know whence he is. Afterward he vnfoldeth the true meaning of the Prophecy, ſhewing that it ought not to be vnderſtood of the perſon of Elias the Thisbite, but of Iohn Baptiſt, whom the Iewes knew not to be Elias, but had done vntounto him what they would; inſomuch as they conſented to the cruelty of Herod exerciſed towards him: whence hee concludeth, that he himſelfe alſo ſhould be handled in like manner by them, as Iohn Baptiſt had. It doth not therefore follow, that though the Apoſtles had ſpoken of that Elias whom they ſaw in the transfiguration of Chriſt, that his anſwere to them was of the ſame: but rather he reuoketh them from their errour, to the true vnderſtanding of Malachus Prophecy, and declareth, who was the true promiſed Elias, to wit, hee that was already come. As concerning thoſe words, he ſhall r…ſtore all things; they are nothing but a Paraphraſe of the words of the Prophet Malachy, ſaying: That he ſhall tis ne the hearts of the Fathers to their Children and of the Children to their Fathers; which was accompliſhed in Iohn Baptist: for otherwiſe, it properly appertaines to none but to Chriſt, to reſtore all things: as being he, by whome pleaſed the Father to reconcile all things vntounto himſelfe, and to ſet at peace through the blood of his croſſe, both the things in heauen, and things in earth. Col. 1.20.
Ob. 4 Apoc. 11.3. I will giuegive power to my two witneſſes, that they ſhall prophecy a thouſand, Bel …e R…m. Pont l. 3. C. 3.two hundred and threeſcore dayes, b… ing cloathed in ſackcloath. Which that it is to be vnderſtood of Elias & Enoch, appeareth (ſay they) by that which S. Iohn ſaith, that they muſt be ſlaine by Antichriſt, and that their corpes ſhall lye in the ſtreets of Ieruſalem, without ſepulture: and after three dayes & an halfe ſhall riſe againe and mount vp into heauen, the which neuer happened yet to any man.
Saint Iohn ſpeaketh not in this place either of Elias, Reſp.or of …noch, or of Ieruſalem: ſo that to proue that hee ſpeaketh of …noch and Elias, becauſe they muſt bee killed by Antichriſt, … to proue the queſtion by that which is in queſtion. This …hen is a prophecy, which muſt be vnderſtood prophetically …nd ſpiritually, as ſaith S. Ierome, and not literally,Hieron. ep. ad Marcel. de q…inque qu. no …t. teſ…e. R…po…t. Iob. 6. in Apoc. for the number of two. For as demandeth Rupertus; Sha… the Lord of the Prophets, and the Author of propheſies hauehave but two witneſſes? Shall not all the Apoſtles and Martyrs, not to ſpeake of Confeſſors, be his witneſſes? Certainely this speech is great, very graue, and of imm…ſurable weight in the mouth of the Almighty: that though many, yea, i…umerable witneſſes, yet …he pronounceth that there are but two, and contenteth himſelfe with that number which is ſufficient by Law: for the ſacred Law admitteth at leaſt the number of two Witneſſes. And if there be no more it contenteth it ſelfe with ſo few. I will giuegive then (ſaith hee) to my two Witneſſes, that they ſhall prophecy: Which may be fitly thus vnderſtood; as if hee had ſaid, When thou ſhalt hauehave meaſured the Temple of God, and the Altar: that is to ſay, when thou ſhalt hauehave ſtretched forth and ſcattered abroad the limits of the Chriſtian Faith, as it is meete, with thy Reede, that is, with the authority of the Euangelicall ſcripture, I will not ſuffer that there ſhall bee want of Witneſſes, to teſtifie that thou haſt thus written for me. For albeit I hauehave written, and that truely, that many ſhall be called and few choſen; yet there ſhall neuer be ſo few Elect, neither ſhall charity grow ſo cold by the ouerflowing of iniquity, but that the truth of the Goſpell ſhall finde at the leaſt two Witneſſes. By all which ſpeeches, as alſo by the whole current of his diſcourſe, he ſheweth vsus that this number muſt not bee reſtrained to two alone: but that the Spirit of God would giuegive vsus to vnderſtand, that though the fury of Antichriſt laboureth to choake the truth, yet God will neuer ſuffer that there ſhall be wanting ſo many witneſſes as are neceſſary both to confirme the truth, and condemne falſhood. S. Auguſtine, Aug. hom. 8. in Ap…c. Beda …n Apoc.and Beda vnderſtand by theſe two Witneſſes, The two Teſtaments, the Old, and the New. And indeed both their number, and their office, and all the circumſtances of the text doe not vnfitly accord thereunto. As amongſt others Iohn Napeir maketh knowne vntounto vsus in his reuelation of the Secrets of the Reuelation.
Ob. 5 R…b…ra the Ieſuite in his Commentary vponupon the twelue ſmall Prophets, writeth to this opinion of the comming of E…och and Elias, the viſion of the two Oliue Trees mentioned in the prophecy of Zachary, Chap. 4.…. becauſe in the Apocal…ps they are called Oliue Trees and Candleſtick…. And Victorinus Martyr, and others writing vponupon the Apocalys, declare that he two Oliue trees in the Apolcalyps, are the ſame that are ſpoken of in the Prophet Zachary.
Reſp.We confeſſe that S. Iohn hath relation vntounto the words of the Prophet Zachary, and conſequently that the two Oliue Trees may receiue the ſame interpretation in both places. But yet withall we affirme, that theſe two Oliue Trees, or theſe two ſonnes of the Oyle which ſtand before the Lord of all the Earth, as the Angell ſpeaketh, are no other in true ſenſe, then the perpetuall and ordinary inſtruments, by the which the Lord preſerueth to his Church, his Grace, Peace. and Light: to wit, either the two Teſtaments according to Saint Auguſtine, and venerable Bede, that like good Oliue Trees furniſh vsus continually with ſpirituall Oyle in our Lampes, to bee ready prepared for the comming of our Brigegroome: or all true Paſtors of the Church, who being inſtructed by theſe two Teſtaments ſtand before the Lord of the whole earth, and conuert men to his obedience by the preaching of the Goſpell. As Ribera himſelfe is in concluſion compelled to expound it in generall of the Preachers of the Goſpell in his Tropologie vponupon this Text.
Ob. 6 Now becauſe the holy Scripture doth ſo little fauour their imaginations: they borrow the authority of the Fathers to vphold them. All the Fathers (ſay they) with one common conſent teach, that Elias and Enoch ſhall come to ſight againſt Antichriſt.
Reſp.Admit this were ſo, yet we might anſwere in one word: that as we hauehave learnt to know Chriſt by the Scripture, ſo alſo doe we learne to know Antichriſt. All that is alledged out, or beſide Scripture (ſaith S. Ierome) may as eaſily be reiected, as it is alledged. But yet I ſay further that it is falſe, th…t there is ſuch a conſent of the Ancients touching the comming of Enoch and Elias, as they pretend: for wee hauehave already heard how S. Ierome remitteth this opinion to Iewes and Heretikes: and if at any time he maketh mention thereof, as vponupon the ſeuenteenth Chapter of Saint Mathew, it is not in his owne name, but in the name of another.
Lactantius nameth neither Antichriſt, nor Elias, Lactant. lib. 7. cap. 7.nor Enoch: but onelyonly maketh mention of a certaine great Prophet, which God ſhould ſend towards the end of the world, that ſhould be put to death by a certaine King borne in Syria, who ſhould cauſe himſelfe to be called and adored as God. Hippolitus Martyr contents not himſelfe to make onelyonly Enoch and Elias to riſe vp againſt Antichriſt, but hee aſſociates vntounto them S. Iohn the Euangeliſt, who he ſuppoſeth is not dead, but tranſported into the earthly Paradiſe, there to abide with Enoch and Elias vntill the time of Antichriſt. Aretas writing vponupon the laſt words of the tenth Chapter of the Apocalyps: Thou muſt prophecy againe to many people, Nations, and tongues; ſaith, that many in regard of theſe words are of opinion, that Saint Iohn is ſtill liuing, and ſhall come towards the end of the world with Elias and Enoch, and ſhall with them be put to death by Antichriſt.Perer. in Dan. lib. 15. Pererius confuteth the conceit of Victorinus, who in ſtead of Enoch, putteth in Ieremy for a companion to Elias: aſwell as Abbot Ioachim who accompanieth him with Moſes; as doth alſo S. Hilary according to the report of Viegas. Theodoret ſaith, that Elias ſhall preach after Antichriſts death. In ſumme, the difference betwixt the Fathers touching this point, is no leſſe, then is at this day amongſt the Romiſh Doctors about the ſame: for ſome ſay, that Elias and Enoch ſhall come, which is the moſt common opinion.Maldon. in Mat. c. 17. But Maldonate affirmeth, that S. Iohn writeth ſo euidently in the eleuenth of the Apocalyps, that Elias and Moſes ſhall come. That no man can deny it not onelyonly without raſhneſſe, but alſo without impudency: Viega in Apoc. cap 11.with whom conſent in opinion, Arboreus, and Gagneus, as Viegas relateth. Ambroſius Catharinus is reprehended by Pererius, becauſe he adioyneth to Enoch and Elias, Iohn the Euangeliſt. In breefe, eueryevery one ſpeaketh heereof according to his owne ſenſe, as it ordinarily falleth out to them that louelove rather to grope in the darke, then to walke in the light of the holy Scriptures.
Ob. 7 Finally, that nothing may be forgotten that ſeemeth any wayes, though neuer ſo little, to countenance this dreame, they adde to their precedent allegations, this reaſon following: That ſeeing Enoch and Elias are yet aliue, there can no other reaſon be giuen thereof, but that they are preſerued aliue, to the end, Belde Rom. Pont. lib. 3. c. 6. Peter. in Dan. lib. 9. Remond. de Antich. c. 46.that a little before the conſummation of the world, they ſhould beare witneſſe of the truth of Chriſt againſt Antichriſt: the which Remondus amplifieth with pathetic… exclamations, on this manner. For what other counſell (ſa… he) hath the Father of Nature reu…ſed the order of Natu… Wherefore hath he in theſe two ſo abridged the power of dea… if not to preſerue them aliue for ſome great enterpriſe? A… what greater enterpriſe could there be, then to reſiſt the vnſupportable impiety of Antichriſt?
An idle conſequence, Enoch and Elias liue; therefore they ſhall come to fight againſt Antichriſt. As if God had not other reaſons of his wonders, then that which theſe fellowes imagine in their feeble braine. The Fathers hauehave ſearched out other reaſons of the tranſportation of Enoch and Elias then his imaginary preſeruation to combate with Antichriſt. Tertullian ſaith,Tertul. l. Reſurrect. …a…n. Ireneus lib. 5. cap. 5. that they are examples of our future immortality. Ireneus, that they are pledges of our rapting vp before our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and that theſe bodies wherewith wee are weighed downe in this earthly life, ſhall not hinder vsus from aſcending into heauen. But not to ſeeke other reaſons, it ſufficeth vsus that God hath aſſumed them to himſelfe after this manner, for the publicke edification of the Church, and the making their preaching fruitfull: for it is not vnknown how the world in the time of Enoch was corrupted and degenerated from it ancient purity into all manner of impiety; which Enoch did moſt exactly reproue by his prophecy, as appeareth by the Epiſtle of S. Iude. God therefore by this extraordinary rauiſhment of his perſon, would as it were by a publicke ſeale, confirme and approue the doctrine of his ſeruant: to the end, to moue men to repentance, and to yeeld obedience to his preaching. Whence it is that Eccle… … … and Elias were preſerued a…ue to come … …e time of Antichriſt, is repugnant both to … and to reaſon. To holy Scripture, for it ab… … …ounceth, That Enoch was taken away that hee … not ſee death, Heb. 11.5. And to reaſon: becauſe by this tranſportation they were changed, and this change is an entire exemption from the power of death, as witneſſeth the Apoſtle, 1. Cor. 15.52.53. 1. Theſ 4.17.
4. Marke. The great p…rſecution of Antichrist.
Ordinarily (ſaith Remondus) The laſt euills are the extreameſt: they that are in a Feuer,Remond. lib. de Antich. cap. 43. feele the laſt fit most violent. This poore Church which lyeth ſicke, conſumed in fleſh and beauty, by reaſon of the violent fits which it endureth; is not yet in it Chriſis: (theſe are his owne words.) The laſt fit which it ſhall hauehave, ſhall exceede all the reſt before:New words fit for new Doctrine. the rigour of the cold ſhall be more ſharpe, and the fierceneſſe of the heate more violent and burning, and the thicke beating of the pulſe redoubled. In the end he concludeth, That there ſhall be a greater perſecution then euer was in the Church. With whom are conſenting all the others,Bel. de Rom. Pont l. 3. c. …. Peter. in D…. lib. 15. V…g …n Apo…. 13. ſect. 17. that write of Antichriſt. For Antichriſt in ſuch ſort (ſay they) that there ſhall not bee any more any publicke ſeruice or ceremonies of Religion, or Sacrifices: none of which wee ſee arriued in our time; therefore Antichriſt is not yet come.