Antichrist the Pope of Rome, Part 1 · Chapter 3
CHAP. 3. Of the Character or Marke of Antichriſt.
1. A Character is a marke or ſymboll of difference by which one thing is knowne from another; thus Merchants by certaine Seales and Markes vſe to diſtinguiſh their Wares, and Graſiers their Cattle and Sheepe, and Captaines their Souldiers; as Iſhmael the Perſian Sophi diſtinguiſhed all his followers that held of Haly, whom they pretended to bee the true ſucceſſour of Mahomet, from the Turkes, that were of a contrary opinion, by a red Ribbon on their Hats. The word is deriued from foreign or foreign, which ſignifieth to imprint, or ingraue a marke vponupon a thing: and ſo Character ſignifieth a marke, or note imprinted. And it is taken either literally, or metaphorically; literally as before, and metaphorically as in Demoſthenes, foreign, that is, In the speech is ſeene an image of the minde: more particulary for a forme or peculiar faſhion of ſpeaking, called of Tully. Forma dicendi: and ſo alſo Forma or Character viuendi, A faſhion or maner of liuing, conſiſting in outward Rites and Ceremonies, as it is vſed, 2. Machab. 4. And laſtly, it is vſed for the deſcription of a thing, whereby it is diſtinguiſhed from another, as Tully affirmeth in his Topicks. Theſe different acceptations of the word, ſhew plainly, that the Papiſts who reſtraine the word to ſome corporall and viſible marke to bee impoſed by Antichriſt vponupon his followers, doe manifeſt wrong vntounto the holy Ghoſt, reſtraining that to one ſtrict ſenſe, which ſhould bee left at large.
2. There be ſundry opinions touching this Character of the Beaſt what it ſhould be. Bullinger thinketh it to be Vnction of Chriſme, wherewith all Chriſtians liuing vnderunder the obedience of the Biſhop of Rome, are ſigned in the forehead. Bullinger. ſer. 61. in Apocal. Theodorus Bibliander in his Chronology tab. 10. ſaith, it is nothing elſe but the outward profeſſion of the Romane faith, without which the Papiſts affirme, that a man cannot be a true Catholike. Chytreus would hauehave it to be the Oath, which is impoſed vponupon all for their obedience to the Church of Rome. Others thinke it to be the Vnction ſacerdotall, by which an indeleble character (as they ſay) is imprinted vponupon all that take thoſe ſacred orders: and ſome againe to be nothing elſe, but the ſuperſtitious carriage of Popiſh ceremonies of the Romiſh Church, as worſhipping of Images, creeping to the Croſſe, adoring the Sacramentall bread, and ſuch like. Hippolitus the Martyr (if he bee not counterfeit) ſaith, that this Character is nothing elſe, but not to vſe the ſigne of the Croſſe, but rather to deteſt and aboliſh it, which is a pri…atiue marke, and therefore no marke at all: for a Character is a poſitiue impreſſion, Primaſius, Beda and R…p…tus thinke, that the Character of Antichriſt ſhall bee certaine letters, wherewith the name of Antichriſt ſhall be written: but this opinion Bellarmine him ſelfe confuteth. Ribera in his Commentary vponupon Apoc. 13. …. 1…. and 34.35. hath two opinions concerning this Character, the one that it ſhould bee a certaine marke in Antichriſts priuy Signet, wherewith hee ſhould ſeale all his Decrees, Edicts, and Letters after the maner of Kings and Princes, and probably coniectureth, that this may bee the picture of a Dragon, as the Romane Emperours carried an Eagle in their Signet and Enſignes: but hee little thought that this coniecture would touch ſome of the Popes, and Paulus Quintus by name, who bore Dragons in their Armes. But not reſting vponupon this, his ſecond coniecture is, that it ſhould bee the name wherein Antichriſt moſt glorieth, abridged in a certaine figure, and this he ſuppoſeth out of one Aubertus, who tooke it (as he ſaith) from Primaſius, might well be the name of Chriſt, or the Meſſias: which Antichriſt ſhould ſtile himſelfe by. This figure is thus expreſſed by him, as is ſet downe in the margent, which if it be ſo yet fitly agreeth to the Pope, who glorieth in the name of Chriſts Vicar, and vſeth, or rather abuſeth all kinde of croſſes to moſt horrible Idolatry: and therefore Napiour vponupon the Apocalyps, ſaith; that theſe very croſſes thus abuſed in the Church of Rome, are the true markes of the Beaſt. Laſtly, Bellarmine with more modeſty then the reſt, thinketh, that Antichriſt ſhall hauehave a poſitiue viſible marke which he will imprint vponupon all: but what marke this ſhall be, cannot be knowne, till Antichriſt himſelfe be come.
3. Bellarmine proueth out of the words of the Text, that this Character is but one and not m…ny, for the Scripture (ſaith he) ſpeakes alwaies of it, and of the name, and of the number of the name, in the ſingular number; and therefore that they ſpeake abſurdly, that bring in a multiplicity of workes: whereunto we conſent that the Character is but one: and yet it hindereth not, but that which is vnum ſpecie, or numero, one in kinde or number, may notwithſtanding hauehave many parts and branches: As the body of a man is one, and yet hath many m…ers: a tree is one, and yet hath many branches: the Church is one, and yet hath many parts: ſo is this Character one, and yet may be diuided into many ſections and parts which ſo that they proceede from one roote, and tend to one end, doe no wai…s hinder the vnity of this Character. And ſo though in generall, this Character o… the Beaſt be common to all Antichriſts followers, yet ſome may be marked with one branch of it, and ſome with another, according to their quality, being in effect all but one and the ſame. For as the Character of Chriſtians is but one, to wit, their ſubiection to Chriſt, and their ſpirituall communion with him, as the onelyonly Head and Spouſe of the Catholike Church: yet this one hath many parts, and is either inward or outward: the inward Character of a Chriſtian, is faith working through louelove, with which they that are indued, are ſealed vntounto ſaluation, and knowne onelyonly vntounto God. The outward, is partly in the forehead by profeſſion of this faith, and partly in the right hand, by liuing according to the rules of that profeſſion, and partly in the participation of the Sacraments, to wit, Baptiſme, and the Lords Supper, which are the badges of Chriſtianity. So the Character of Antichriſts followers, though it be but one in ſpecie, yet it is partly inward, and partly outward: the inward may well be accounted that implicite faith of the Papiſts, whereby they beleeue whatſoeuer the Pope and the Church of Rome beleeueth, or propoundeth to be beleeued, though they know not what it is: and the outward, is either in their forehead, by open profeſſion of the Romane faith, or in the right hand, by liuing according to the ſuperſtitious traditions of the Church; or laſtly in both, by receiuing the Popiſh Sacraments, and putting more confidence in them for their ſaluation, then in thoſe Sacraments which Chriſt himſelfe ordained.Aug. de ciui…. dei lib. 20. cap. 9. And thus Lyranus, S. Auguſtine, Primaſius, Richardus De ſancto Victore, Haymo, and diuers others of their owne ſide, expound the phraſes of the fore-head, and right hand, In fronte per profeſſionem, in manu per operationem.
4. This marke of the Beaſt then being one in ſpecie, and yet diuided into many branches, may well be conſidered two waies: either as common to all that are ſubiect to Antichriſt, or particular to ſuch as buy and ſell. This diſtinction is plaine in the Text, Reuel. 13.16.17. And he cauſeth all both ſmall and great, rich and poore, free and bound, to receiue a marke in their right hand, and in their fore-heades: this is the common marke, and then followeth in the Text: And that no man might buy or ſell, ſaue he that had the marke: which is the particular marke, plainly diſtinguiſhed from the former, by the coniunction copulatiue (and) whereby all Papiſts binde themſelues in obedience and ſubiection to the Pope, and the Church of Rome, without which it is not lawfull for any to make profeſſion of the Chriſtian faith, without the imputation of Hereſie, or Schiſme at leaſt. And this marke ſeemeth to be imprinted foure ſeuerall waies principally. Firſt, by the Sacrament of Baptiſme according to their vſe. Secondly, by their ſuppoſed Sacrament of Confirmation and Chriſme. Thirdly, by ſolemne oath and atteſtation. And laſtly, by cuſtomary ſuperſtition, and practiſe of the Romiſh Ceremonies.
5. Concerning Bapti…me, they themſelues teach and affirme, that therein is contained a ſecret and implicite oath of obedience to the Pope, which is a kinde of hidden Character: thus Mathaeus Tortus, or rather Bellarmine page. 51. and Auguſtinus Tryumphus. q. 22. art. 4. ad ſecundum. And this Character I thinke to be imprinted according to their doctrine by the Popiſh Ceremonies, wherewith that holy Sacrament is adulterated, Creame, Oyle, Salt, Spittle, and many other ſuch apiſh trumperies, which Chriſt, and his Apoſtles, and the Primitiue Church neuer heard of, but are part of thoſe counterfeit drugs, that are fetcht out of the Whore of Babylons box: and ſo whereas in holy Baptiſme, we receiue the Character of Ieſus Chriſt, they are thereby marked as ſlaues vntounto Antichriſt, which is a moſt horrible prophanation of that moſt Sacred myſtery. For ſhould that which is the marke of our obedience to Chriſt, be made a marke of our obedience to Antichriſt? Are men therefore baptiſed into Chriſt, that they ſhould ſerue Antichriſt? But thus it becommeth Antichriſt to doe, therefore we need not wonder at it.
6. In their ſuppoſed Sacrament of Confirmation, which they blaſphemouſly preferre before Baptiſme, for they teach, that a man is not a full and perfect Chriſtian, though he be baptized, till he be confirmed by the hands of the Biſhop, and that a man is not a Chriſtian till then. I ſay in this Sacrament, an apparant marke is printed on the forehead of the Confirmed by the Biſhop, with their hallowed Chriſme, in forme of a Croſſe and this they ſay is ſo neceſſary, that he cannot be a Chriſtian, qui confirmatione epiſcopali non fuerit chriſmatus: that is, not marked with Epiſcopall Confirmation.Bellar. catechiſm. Yea Bellarmine directly affirmeth, that by confirmation, another marke is imprinted vponupon the ſoule then by Baptiſme, by which a true Chriſtian ſhall be diſcerned from an Infidell apud inferos, that is, amongſt the dead, or in the gates of hell. This then is another way whereby men receiue the marke of Antichriſt, when with ſuch ſuperſtition, and an opinion of neceſſity, they vſe this Popiſh Ceremony, of which I doubt not but there is and may be an holy vſe in the Church of God; but ſo, that it be firſt purged from theſe ſuperfluities.
7. The third is by proteſtation and oath, whereby all from the higheſt to the loweſt, Emperours, Princes, Biſhops, Clerkes, with all that take any degree in ſchooles, or vndertake any publick office in the Common-wealth, or that being priuate perſons, are ſuſpected to diſagree from … doctrine of the Romiſh Church, are conſtrained to ſwe… … legiance and fidelity to the Pope, as to the ſupream… … the Church. And this Character is imprinted bot… … foreheade by ſolemne atteſtation, and in their righ… … laying it on a booke: and the reaſon hereof is this, … they hold it of neceſſity to ſaluation, for eueryevery creat… … ſubiect to the Biſhop of Rome. And that we may ſee … particular, the Emperour before he can be Crowne… … confirmed by the Pope, taketh two ſolemne oathes, one … his entrance into the City of Rome, to preſerue the ancient and vſuall cuſtomes thereof, and the ſecond in the Chappell of the Virgin Mary, called S. Mary amidſt the Towers, where he ſweareth himſelfe a Liege-ſeruant to the Pope, and that he will prot…ct and defend him, and the Church of Rome, in all the neceſſities and vtilities thereof: then he muſt be couered with a ſurpleſſe, and receiued amongſt the Canons of S. Peter, as a Canon and Brother, as if he were not capable of the Imperiall dignity, vnleſſe he were enrolled into the orders of the Beaſt: then one of the Cardinall Biſhops, accompanied with two Deacons, leadeth him in to the Altar of S. Maurice, where he is annoynted on the right arme and ſhoulders in forme of a Croſſe, with the exorciſed Oyle of the Catechumes, and before his Coronation, the Pope giueth to the Emperour kneeling before him a Sword and an Apple into his right hand, and a Scepter into his left. In fine, after his Coronation, the Emperour waiteth vponupon the Pope at ſaying of Maſſe as a ſub-deacon, and deliuereth vntounto him the Chalice, and a plate with Hoſtes, and water to mixe with the wine. This is the order of the Emperours Coronation: wherein what doth he elſe, but receiue vponupon him the marke of the Beaſt, ſeeing all theſe Ceremonies are both the inuentions of the Pope, and ſerue to no other end, but to tye him to his obedience? The like proteſtation of obedience to the Pope and Church of Rome, is made by all ſuch Princes as are ſubiect to the Papacy at their Coronation, as Hiſtories … …bundantly teſtifie. The Oaths that Biſhops take at … …f their conſecration, is notorious and famous, … …entioning God, nor Ieſus Chriſt, nor his word, … are that they will be obedient to the Pope, … …ll rights of S. Peter, entertaine his Legates, … …gment the Rights, Honours, and Priuiledges … of Rome, and viſit either perſonally, or by …, the Apoſtolike Sea, once in three or foure … …er with many other particulars: which Oath … at large, in the Pontificall, in the Chapter … …ecration of Biſhops: and who ſeeth not, that it is … oath of a Paſtour of the Church, promiſing obedience to God and his word, but of a vaſſall to the Pope, as to his feudall Lord, and Soueraigne Prince? In ſumme, the generall Oath that all take, is ſet downe in the Bull of Pius Quintus, vponupon the forme of Oath from the profeſſion of their faith, wherein is expreſſely contained, the new Romiſh Creed, conſiſting of twelue new articles, equall to thoſe twelue of the Apoſtles Creed, wherewith, as with a manifeſt Character, all the Romaniſts are ſtamped, and that by the decree of the Tridentine Councill.
8. The laſt way of imprinting this Character, is by the ſuperſtitious practiſe of the Popiſh Ceremonies, as namely, the celebrating of Feſtiuall daies ordained by the Pope, hearing of Maſſe, faſting in Lent, and other enioyned times, abſtaining from fleſh on Fridaies, and Saturdaies, ſhriuing to a Prieſt at Eaſter, partaking the Sacrament vnderunder one kinde, creeping to the Croſſe, falling downe before an Image, putting aſhes on their heads on Aſhwedenſday, and whipping themſelues on good Friday, with an hundred more ſuch vaine trumperies, which were neuer commanded by God, and wherein notwithſtanding they place the perfection of a Chriſtian life.
9. As touching the particular marke: that is proper to them that buy and ſell in the Church, as the words of the Text doe plainly ſhew: now if this buying and ſelling be referred to outward and ciuill commerce betwixt man and man, as ſome ſuppoſe, yet it fitly agreeth to the Romane Biſhop, who prohibiteth all ſuch commerce with thoſe that are not ſubiect to the Church of Rome. Bertold. Conſtant. Append. ad Herman. Contract An. 1054.Thus Gregory the ſeuenth, alias Hildebrand, counſelled William the Conquerour; Ne aliquem in ſua poteſtate aliquid emere aut vendere permitteret, quem Apoſtolicae ſedi inobedientem deprehenderet, that is, That he ſhould perm…t none to buy and ſell in his Dominion, whom he found diſobedient to the Apoſtolike Sea. Alexander the third, in Synodo Turonenſi, cauſed the very Decree to be made, that no dwelling place or ſuccour ſhould be affoorded to ſuch as withdrew themſelues from the ubiection of the Pope. Sed nec in venditione et emptione al…qua cum ijs communio habeatur. So it was alſo decreed in the Laterane Councill,Guliel Neubrig. rum Angl. c. lib. 2. cap. 15 … lib. …. cap. 3. againſt the Albigenſes, Ne quis eos in domibus vel in terra ſua tenere vel fouere vel negotiationem cum ijs exercere preſumat. The like is to be found in the Bull of Martine the fift, againſt the errours of Wicleffe, and Huſſe: and in the Bull of Pa…lus the third, againſt King Henry the eight and his ſubiects, Ne perm…t intur contractus inne negotiationes et marchantias quoſlibet exercere, &c. And no maruell if they forbid to buy and ſell thoſe that hauehave not this marke, ſeeing they goe ſo farre, as to diſſolue the bonds of nature and humanity: as that an Heretike may lawfully be ſpoiled of all goods: a Father may diſinherite an Hereticall ſonne: and a ſonne may likewiſe deny obedience and maintenance to his Father: a Catholike wife, is not bound to yeeld beneuolence to an Hereticall husband; ſubiects are not tyed to obey their Hereticall Prince, but may ri e vp againſt him and depoſe him. Theſe are their owne proper doctrines, printed, maintained, and propugned by them. And who is an Heretike with them, but he, be neuer ſo Orthodox, whoſe faith doth not conſpire in eueryevery point, with the faith of the Pope, and the Church of Rome? This Prophecy then in this literall ſignification of buying and ſelling, doth ſo fit the Pope and his Church, that it may ſeeme rather to be an Hiſtory, then a Prophecy. Neither is Bellarmines exception any thing worth, that the Iewes in Rome vnderunder the Popes noſe, are permitted to buy and ſell: for this Prophecy is plainly to be vnderſtood of Chriſtians, and not of the Iewes or Infidels.
10. But if we vnderſtand it ſpiritually, of the trafficke of ſoules, then is the caſe more cleare: for is not Merchandize made of ſoules of men in the Church of Rome, and doe they not ſell them at a very low rate? Witneſſe their Diſpenſations, Pardons, Maſſes, Trentals, Agnus deis, holy Graines, with a number more ſuch like fopperies, which they exchange with men for the price of their ſoules. And who are the traders in this Mart? But onelyonly they, that hauehave receiued the marke of the Beaſt, who buy them for things of nought, and ſell them againe to the diuell for worſe then nought. Of this trafficke of ſoules, S. Peter prophecieth, 2. Pet. 2.3. That there ſhould ariſe vp in the Church falſe teachers, who thorough couetouſnes ſhould with famed words make merchandize of mens ſoules: that is, proſtitute the people of God vntounto Sathan, and change the truth of God into gainefull fables. Theſe Merchants are all the Cleargy of the Papacy, who in their Sacrament of order, receiue the marke of the Beaſt. This is moſt apparant, by conſideration of the manner of the ordination of their whole Cleargy, from the leaſt vntounto the greateſt. The ſmaller orders, are theſe foure: Porters, Lectors, Exorciſts, and Acoluths. The Porters at their ordination, receiue from the Biſhop the keyes of the Church into their right hand: The Lector receiueth a booke, as alſo doth the Exorciſt with his right hand: and the Acolutha a Candleſtick with the candle put out: and by theſe ſeuerall ceremonies, they receiue the markes of their order, as is plainly deſcribed in the Romane Pontificall, Fol. 6.7.8.9. &c. But before all this, they receiue their firſt tonſure, the Biſhop cutting off the end of their haire in foure places: to wit, on the forehead, behinde, and by the two eares. The greater orders are three: Subdeacon, Deacon, and Prieſt. The Subdeacon receiues the Character of his order, by touching with his right hand the booke of the Epiſtles, as the Deacon doth by touching the booke of the Goſpels. As for the Prieſts, after that the Biſhop, with ſome other Prieſts aſſiſting, hauehave impoſed their hands vponupon his head, which is an Euangelicall cuſtome; he then annoynteth both his hands with ſacred oyle, and then preſenteth vntounto him a Chalice with wine and water, and a plate with an Hoaſt in it, which he receiueth in his fingers, touching withall the plate and the edge of the Chalice, and by this action (ſay they) is the marke of this order imprinted vponupon him. The like may be obſerued in the higher dignities of the Cleargy, Biſhops, Archbiſhops, Metropolitanes, Cardinals, all which, after their ſolemne oath of ſubiection to the Pope, as to their Leige-Lord, are really characterized with many markes and ceremonies. As Biſhops, at their conſecration with holy oyle, put on the crownes of their heades, & vponupon their hands a Croſier ſtaffe, a booke, a ring, two torches, two loaues of bread, with two veſſels of wine, a Miter all beſprinkled with holy water, and a paire of hallowed gloues. All which ceremonies, as they are not to be found in the booke of God, ſo they can be counted nothing elſe but the Beaſts markes. As for Archbiſhops, Primates, and Patriarches; though they be choſen and conſecrated, yet they may not execute their authority, till they hauehave receiued from Rome a Pall, Pallium, which Pallium, or Pall, is a little narrow cloake made of white wooll, hallowed by the ſepulchres of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and after kept by the Subdeacons till it be purchaſed of the Pope with a great ſumme of money. And this is their marke, without which they can neither buy nor ſell in this Babyloniſh Faire. He that would ſee at large the foolery of this ſuperſtitious ceremony, let him read Durand his Rational. Diuinis lib. 3. cap. 17. and the booke of Sacred Ceremonies. Lib. 1. ſect. 10. cap 5. The character of the great Cardinal, is a red Hat with long Taſſels, by which they are knowne to be pillars of the world, (as their name in their fond conceit importeth,) and are made not onelyonly the great Counſellors of State to the Apoſtolicall Chaire, but euen partes and members of the great Biſhop himſelfe.
11. By all this that hath beene ſpoken it is cleare, that all theſe diuers orders of the Cleargy, receiue the marke of the Beaſt; both in the forehead by an outward profeſſion, and recognition of their ſubiection to the Pope; and in their right hand, by actuall obedience: neither hauehave they onelyonly the marke, but alſo the name, and number of the name: for as the name moſt likely is foreign, containing alſo the number; ſo all that are of theſe orders muſt bee Latines, that is, be skilfull in the Latine tongue, without ſome knowledge wherein they would be vnfit for this negotiation, wherein all their trading is in Latine. And therefore the Councell of Trent doth require, that the very firſt orders are not to bee conferred vponupon any, but ſuch as hauehave ſome skill in the Latine tongue. I conclude then, that Saint Iohn hath ſet downe nothing touching the marke of the Beaſt, which doth not fitly agree to the Pope and his Cleargy.