Antichrist the Pope of Rome, Part 1 · Chapter 7
CHAP. 7. Of the growth and progreſſe of Antichriſt.
1. THe Apoſtle, 2. Tim 2.17. compareth the doctrine of Heretikes to the Gangrene, the nature of which diſeaſe is to fret by little and little, till at length it ſeize vponupon the vitall parts, & ſo bring death to the body. So hereſie doth not inſinuate it ſelfe into the Church all at once, nor in a moment poſſeſſe the body thereof, but infecting the members by degrees, ere it be perceiued, diſperſeth it ſelfe through the whole body. This our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe affirmeth, Mat. 1….24. when he ſaith, That the enemy whilſt men ſlept ſowed his Tares, that is, in ſecret and vnperceiued, according to that of Saint Peter, 2. Peter. 2.3. That falſe teachers ſhould with famed words priuily bring in damnable hereſ…s. And the Apoſtle ſpeaking of Antichriſt, confirmeth as much when he ſaith, That from that time the myſtery of iniquity began to worke, 2. Theſſ. 2.7. to ſhew, that Antichriſt ſhould not come at one chop, ſo that hee might be deſcried, but ſhould gaine footing by little and litle, till at length he ſeated himſelfe in the Temple of God, and exalted himſelfe aboue all that is called God: which may ſerue for an anſwere to them that require vsus to deſigne preciſely the time when Antichriſt firſt ſeated himſelfe at Rome, who was the firſt Pope that merited this title, what yeere hee liued, and what hiſtories make proofe thereof. For ſeeing this myſtery of iniquity hath like a Canker or Gangrene, beene a long time wearing it ſelfe into the Church; will it follow that no ſuch euill was, becauſe the beginning thereof cannot be determined? How many diſeaſes are there in the body, and thoſe euen vntounto death, the beginning and firſt cauſes whereof cannot be knowne? Now is a man therefore ſound, becauſe he cannot tell when his diſeaſe tooke him? Neuertheleſſe, that our Aduerſaries may not take this as an excuſe of ignorance, I will clearely manifeſt …he progreſſe of this Man of perdition, and deduce in breefe by certaine hiſtories his growth and increaſe.
2. As therefore the holy Scripture deſcribeth Antichriſt by the name of a man; ſo it giueth vsus iuſt occaſion to obſerue in him the like progreſſes and changes as are found in the life of a man. As therefore the life of a man is diuided into ſeuen principall periods or peeces, to wit, Birth, Infancy, Youth, Mans eſtate, Declining age, Old age, and Death: ſo Antichriſt hath the ſame degrees and ſtaires, from his firſt entrance into the world, vntill his finall end and diſſolution. For it muſt needs fare with this Kingdome and Empire of Antichriſt, as it hath done with all other Kingdomes and Empires of the world, which hauehave growne from ſmall beginnings to a great height and ſtrength, and after by litle and litle decayed againe, till they come to their finall ruine. This we may ſee clearely verified in the foure great Monarchies of the world, and all other great and mighty Kingdomes: yea, the mighty Ottoman Empire is not now ſo great and powerfull as it hath beene, but as it aroſe and ſprang by litle and litle, and ſpread it ſelfe at laſt ouer the greateſt part of the world; ſo we hope by the declinnig therof, that it's death and ruine is not farre off. And concerning Antichriſt, me thinks, Saint Paul, 2. Theſſ. 2. euidently diſcouereth all his degrees of his ſtanding, both in his growth and fall. His Birth, when he ſaith, that he was euen then already come in his time, as Saint Iohn alſo affirmeth, 1. Iohn. 4.3. His Infancy, when he ſaith, that the myſtery of iniquity did already worke. His Youth, when he ſaith, that he could not be reuealed till that which withheld was taken out of the way. His Mans eſtate, when he ſaith, then ſhall this Man of ſinne bee reuealed, and ſhall exalt himſelfe aboue all that is called God. His Declining, when he ſaith, the Lord ſhall conſume him with the ſpirit of his mouth, that is, with the preaching of the Goſpell: and laſtly, his Old age and death, when hee ſaith, that after his conſumption he ſhall bee deſtroyed with the brightneſſe of Chriſts comming. Of theſe degrees in order.
3. Antichriſts birth was without doubt in the Apoſtles time, ſeeing Saint Paul ſaith, that the myſtery of iniquity did then worke; and Saint Iohn, that Antichriſt was already come into the world. Now hee could not come before Chriſt, for how could he then be Antichriſt? Therefore it is an vndoubted truth, that he was borne in the Apoſtles time: and yet no man can expreſly define in what yeere, monethmonth, or day he was borne; for his comming was into the Church as a diſeaſe into the body vnknowne and ſecret: neither can the place of his birth be determined, whether in Rome, or in any other City of the world. And as for Rome, wee are ſo farre from affixing the title of Antichriſt to thoſe holy Biſhops that were firſt in Rome, that we confeſſe that the Church of Rome was then propoſed to other Churches as a rare example of ſanctity of life, and purity of doctrine, and conſtancy in martyrdome: yet howſoeuer it is impoſſible to determine either the time or place of his birth, notwithſtanding that he was borne in the Apoſtles time, is ſo euident a truth, that he that will deny it, muſt withall deny the holy Scripture wherein it is plainely affirmed.
4. His infancy may well be thought to hauehave continued from the Apoſtles age vntill the firſt Nicene Councill: for if we conſider the hiſtorie of the Romane Biſhops during thoſe three hundred yeeres, we ſhall eaſily perceiue that preſently after the Apoſtles, they began (doubtleſſe beſide their thought and intention) to prepare the way for Antichriſt, who was to eſtabliſh his throne in their ſeate, and that as well by offering a kinde of primacy aboue other Biſhops, as by bringing in an intollerable number of traditions to darken the ſimplicity and purity of the Goſpell: which will plainely appeare, if we receiue for trueth, Decretall Epiſtles aſcribed vntounto ſuch Biſhops of Rome as liued in the firſt Age of the Church, to wit, Anacletus, Erariſtus, Alexander, Sixtus, H…ginus, Pius, Eleutherius, and others: for what doe they all breath but the ſpirit of Antichriſt? What doe they thunder out, but the primacy of the Church of Rome? What doe they beate vponupon, but prohibitions of offending Prieſts in any ſort whatſoeuer? And what doe they ſpeake of, but of appeales to the Sea of Rome, and ſuch like things? And all this at the time when priſons were full of Chriſtians, and the ſtreets ran with their blood. But howſoeuer theſe Epiſtles were counterfeit, as it is without doubt, yet certaine it is, that Pope Ʋictor nouriſhe… this infant, and made way for his further growth, when he excommunicated all the Churches of Aſia, and others, for not celebrating their Eaſter vponupon Sunday, as did the Church of Rome: which d…ede of his, was ſharpely reproued by many Biſhops, and particularly by Saint Irenaeus, Euſ…. hiſtor. lib. 5. cap. 24.as Euſebius reporteth: ſo did other Biſhops his ſucceſſors, when they made no ſcruple to take cognition of the cauſes of ſuch as were condemned by other Biſhops, and arrogated the iudgement thereof vntounto them.Cyprian. lib. 1. epiſt. 3. Which ambition of theirs, Saint Cyp…ian in an Epiſtle to Cornelius the then Biſhop of Rome, repr…hendeth moſt ſoundly and grauely, and proueth that eueryevery one ought to be iudged where his crime was committed, and where both his witneſſes and accuſers might be preſent: and that to appeale to the Biſhop of Rome, was nothing elſe but to abrogate the authority of other Biſhops. So alſo did Pope Zepherine, when he the firſt of all others tooke vponupon him this title, Pontifex Maximus, Epiſcopus Epiſcoporum, The cheefe Biſhop, Baron. Annal. ad An. 216.and Biſhop of Biſhops as Baronius confeſſeth. And thus did this wicked child play in his infancy, and yet ſhewing euen then moſt certaine preſages of his future behauiour in the Church.
5. After the Nicene Councill, when peace was giuen to the Church, Antichriſt came to the prime of his youth; and his pride and ambition grew to an higher ſtature and ſtrength, mixed with more boldneſſe and cour…ge then before: for fearing no more any perſecution from the Pagans, whoſe religion began by litle and litle to bee aboliſhed, the Biſhops of Rome began to lay more ſtrong foundations of their proiected primacy, vnderunder pretence of defending the ſound doctrine of the Trinity. For, when as Athanaſius, with Paul Patriarch of Conſtantinople, an… other Biſhops were baniſhed from their Churches by the Arrians, and retyred themſelues to Iulius then Biſhop of Rome, he receiued them,Epiſt. I…lij Papae. tom. 1. Concil. and wrote in their behalfe, letters to the Eaſterne Biſhops full of pride and ambition: wherein he challengeth the right of calling generall Councils, the iudgement ouer other Biſhops, and the appeales to the Church of Rome: which arrogancy of theirs, was greatly cheriſhed and encreaſed by a Decree of the Councill of Sard…ck, which rather by prouiſion to remedy the troubles of that time, in regard of the Arrian Hereſie wherewith the whole Eaſt was infected, then for a perpetuall right, permitted appeales to the Biſhop of Rome: if at leaſt this Decree of the Councill of Sardick be not counterfeit: ſeeing Saint Auguſtine acknowledgeth no Councill of Sardick, but hereticall.Aug contra Creſcon. lib. 3. cap. 34. The ſame ſteps of pride were troden in by all the whole ranke of Romane Biſhops of that …ge, inſomuch that the Councill of Meleuis was forced to giuegive ſtoppage thereunto,C…n il. …leuit. cap 22. tom. 1. Concil. by forbidding all appeales to bee made beyond the Sea, vnderunder paine of being excluded from the Communion of the Churches of Afric…: which cauſed Pope Zozimus, for the maintenance of the authority of his Sea, to produce the Decree of the pretended Councill of Sardick, which was ſaid to be the ſame with that of Nice: b… it was conuicted of falſhoode by the Copies of the Councill of Nice fetcht from Conſtantinople, and ſo his labor loſt. This Councill wrote vntounto Pope Celeſtine the ſucceſſor of Boniface about this falſification, and aduertiſed him not to bring into the Church (which ought to appeare as a light of ſimplicity) Fumoſum typhum ſeculi, A ſmoky arrogancy of the world. In like maner the Councill of Chalcedon went about to bridle this height of pride in the Romane Biſhops, when notwithſtanding the contradictions of the Legates of Pope Leo, it gaue an equall place of primacy in the Church to the Patriarch of Conſtantinople, and equall priuiledges …f honour, with abſolute iuriſdiction ouer all the Metropolitanes of Aſia, …ontus and Thracia, and that by reaſon of the Imperiall ſeate which was then there planted, as the Biſhop of Rome had before time beene exalted for the ſame cauſe. Hence forward the Patriarchs of Conſtantinople went alwaies in equipage with the Biſhops of Rome, and retained the title of Oecumenicall as well as they: and the Church of Conſtantinople, was by the authority of the Emperors ſtiled, Cap… omnium aliarum eccleſiarum, Head of all other Churches, as is euident by the writing of Iuſtinian the Emperor to Epiphanius Patriarch of Conſtantinople, and Authemius, and Meminus, and of the Emperor Leo, to Stephen Patriarch of the ſame place. So that in this Age, the Biſhops of Rome ambitiouſly deſired, and in a youthfull heate audaciouſly attempted that, which yet by no meanes they could abſolutely effect and bring to paſſe. And though Gregory the great, whether by fained humility or otherwiſe, ſeemed to abhorre the title of Vniuerſall Biſhop, or Patriarch, which Iohn of Conſtantinople aſſumed vntounto himſelfe, calling him therefore the forerunner of Antichriſt, and ſaying, that none of the Biſhops of Rome euer vſurped this title: yet notwithſtanding (if we will beleeue Baronius) he forbore not in effect to take the ſame title vponupon himſelfe,Baron ad An. 595. when he ſaith in one of his Epiſtles, That the Romane ſeate ſerued for a Watch-tewer ouer the whole world, and ſent out vntounto all, new Conſtitutions. But I thinke this Epiſtle rather to be forged, then truly of Gregories compoſing, for it was dated, Indict. 11. Anno Chriſti. 593. which kinde of datation the Popes vſed not;Gregor. lib. 12. epiſt 32. beſides he bringeth in Theodoricke ſubſcribing to this priuiledge, whereas at this time he was ſcarce of age to ſpeake, and in poſſeſſion of the City of Soiſſons which he neuer had. Now if we adde heereunto the great pompe and riot which the Romiſh Prelates and Cleargy abandoned themſelues vntounto in this Age, we ſhall perceiue more of the youthfull diſpoſition of this Man of ſinne.Ammian. Marcell l. 27. Ammianus Marcellinus a Pagan Hiſtorian, hauing related the ſchiſme and contention betwixt Damaſus and Viciſinus about the Papacy, wherein much humane blood was ſhed and ſpilt, at laſt concludeth after this manner: When I conſider the great pompe of the Romane Biſhops, I cannot but confeſſe that they which aspire vntounto thoſe honours, hauehave reaſon to ſtriue with all their might; ſeeing when they hauehave obtained them, they are aſſured to be enriched with the oblations of Matrones, and to come forth in publike in their Chariots magnificently arrayed, and to make feaſts vvith ſuch exceſſe, that their banquets ſurpaſſe the tables of Kings. And all this he appropriateth onelyonly to the Biſhop of Rome: for of other Biſhops he thus writeth in the ſame place, That their frugality in meates, and drinkes, parſimony in apparrell, and humility in carriage, commended them to God and to his ſeruants, as pure and modeſt perſons. Thus Marcellinus. Now it cannot be ſaid,Baron. ad An. 367. that this Hiſtorian in a malicious humour reprehendeth the riot of the Romiſh Biſhops (as Baronius would hauehave it) ſeeing he commendeth other Chriſtian Biſhops for their modeſty and temperance: And therefore, rather is Baronius impudent, in daring to iuſtifie this their pompe and pride, ſaying, that Then to the ſoueraigne preiſthood of Christ was ioyned a magnificent and regall Maieſty: Hier…n. epiſt 61.whereby hee giueth cauſe of fit application of that which Saint Ierome reporteth to hauehave beene ſpoken by one Praetextatus, a deſigned Conſull, but a ſacrilegious wretch, who mocking at Pope Damaſus, ſaid, Make mee Biſ…op of Rome, and I will preſently turne Chriſtian. In fine, the multitude of traditions, ceremonies, and ſuperſtitious doctrines, brought into the Church by the Biſhops of Rome, in thoſe firſt ſixe hundred yeeres, do ſhew, that Antichriſt was growne to a good age and ſtrength: as the mingling of water with the Sacramentall wine by Alexander the firſt, and of ſalt with water for Benediction, agreeable to the Pagans: Lent faſt for ſeuen weeks by Toleſpherus: the celebrating of Eaſter on the Sunday, by Pius the firſt; the which one Hermes is ſaid to hauehave receiued by reuelation from an Angell in a ſhepheards habit: the ſhauing of Prieſts crownes, by Amicetus, a cuſtome deriued from the practiſe of Iſis Prieſts, and condemned by diuers of the Fathers, as Clemens of A…exandria, paedagog. lib. 3. cap. 11. and Octatus contra Parmen. lib. 2 and Ierome on Ez kiel. 44. and the fourth Councill of Toledo. cap. 40. the Faſts of foure times by Calixtus: Siluer Cups into the celebration of the Lords Supper, by Pope Vrbane: but no Gold as yet, becauſe I thinke they follow Perſius rule, In ſatri q…id facit aurum? new Chriſme to be made eueryevery yeere, and the old to be burnt at the Euchariſt, by Pope Fabian: Diuine ſeruice to be celebrated vponupon the ſepulchres of Martyrs, by Pope Faelix: bleſſing vponupon the Altar of the fruits of the earth, as if they held them vncleane with the Manichees, till they were thus purified, by …urich… …us: as alſo the prohibition, that no Martyr ſhould be buried, but being clothed with a certaine kinde of Veſtiment called a Dalmatica, and a purple hood. Thus ſuperſtition began then to encreaſe and grow to ſome ſtrength in the Church, and that not onelyonly in matters of ceremony, but alſo of doctrine: for then began Temples to be dedicated to the honour of the Virgin Mary, and Martyrs, to the great diſhonour of God, to whom as all diuine worſhip is to be giuen,Aug. cont. Maxim. Ar…an. lib. 1. tit. 11 Leo ſer. 1. de matalib. Petri et Pat. l. Greg…r. epiſt. lib. 12. aepiſt 32. ſo all Temples for the exerciſe of that worſhip, are to be erected, as witneſſeth Saint Auguſtine. Then entred in the Inuocation of Saints, with the placing of hope and confidence in them, as may appeare by the doctrine of the Pope Leo, and Gregory the Great: then came in prayer for the dead, and Purgatory: for the fabricke wherof, they forced to forge an infinite number of miracles, and apparitions of dead ghoſts. The doctrine of iuſtification by the merit of workes, began then alſo to take ſome footing, though not ſo deepe as afterwards. So that now it is eaſie to conclude, that albeit the Biſhops of Rome, vntill the yeere 600. were not ſuch as to whom might be properly applyed the title of Antichriſt; yet it cannot be denyed but that the myſtery of him wrought in them, and by them; and that it was growne to ſome ſtrength and ſtature in this …ge
6. We hauehave ſeene Antichriſt in his youth, the myſtery of iniquity working in the Sea of Rome, through the ſimplicity of ſome Biſhops, and ambition of others, for theſe firſt ſix Ages, till Gregory the firſt; after whoſe death, he came to his mans eſtate, that is, was reuealed in the Church, and reigned in the Romane Sea: and as the period of this Age of man is commonly of longer continuance then the reſt, ſo is the time of Antichriſts reigne, longer then of his infancy or youth. It began preſently after the death of Gregory the Great, and continued well-neere the full ſpace of 800. yeeres, and aroſe to it height by certai… …egrees and ſtaires: for no mortall thing is perfect at the firſt, b t groweth by ſteps, as it alſo decayeth. The firſt degre… o… his reigne, which I terme his mans eſtate, was in the time of the Emperour Phocas, who hauing moſt treacherouſly and cruelly murdered his Maiſter, Mauritius the Emperour, together with his Wife and Children, to the end, that he might gaine the fauour of the Romanes, and keepe Italy from reuolting; he cauſed the primacy and ſuperiority of the whole Church, to be adiudged to the Romane Sea, and the Biſhop of Rome to be declared the ſoueraigne and vniuerſall Head of the Church, and of all other Biſhops; alleadging for it this reaſon: That as the City of Rome was the Mother and Princeſſe of the Romane Empire, ſo it ought alſo to hauehave the primacy and ſoueraignty in religion. And from this time, Boniface and his ſucceſſours tooke vponupon them the title of vniuerſall Biſhop▪ A title, which in deed appertaineth to none but Chriſt, who is the onelyonly true ſhepheard (as S. Peter calleth him, 1. Pet. 5.4.) and conſequently the onelyonly vniuerſall Biſhop and Head of the Church,Gregor epiſt. lib. 12. ep…ſt. 32. as S. Gregory notably confirmeth in many places, as in an Epiſtle of his to all Biſhops, where he vſeth this ſuperſcription: To all the members of the holy Church, moſt precious ſtones, ſhining in Chriſts diadem, whoſe vniuerſall head is Chriſt: he doth not ſay, the Biſhop of Rome, but Chriſt: yea he that taketh vponupon him this name, doth not onelyonly rob Chriſt of his dignity, but alſo eueryevery other particular Biſhop of that power and part of the adminiſtration of the Church, which is committed vntounto him by God. This S. Gregory moſt excellently, and at large proueth in diuers of his Epiſtles, as lib. 4. Epiſt. 34. and Epiſt. 36. and Epiſt. 38. and all grounded vponupon this reaſon, becauſe to be the vniuerſall Biſhop, is to be the onelyonly Biſhop, and ſo all others to be but his Subſtitutes, and Vicars, and therefore to hauehave no power of themſelues, but as it is deriued from him: and therefore that diſtinction of the word vniuerſall, deuiſed by the Ieſuites, is both vaine and friuolous, when they ſay, that it either ſignifieth ſingularitie, and ſo to be vniuerſall, is to be the onelyonly Biſhop of the world: or preheminency, and ſo to be vniuerſall, is nothing elſe but to be the chiefe of all Biſhops. And that in the firſt ſignification, the title is prophane, ſacrilegious, and proper vntounto Antichriſt: but in the ſecond, it may be attributed to the Pope, according to S. Gregories intention. This, I ſay, is an idle conceite: for he that ſhall aduiſedly read S. Gregory in the fore-named places, ſhall finde, that he doth not onelyonly condemne it in the firſt ſenſe, but in the ſecond alſo, namely, that one ſhould vſurpe that title to himſelfe, depriuing all others of it, ſeeing it is apparant in the Ancient Councils that all the Patriarches in common, beare the title of oecumenicall or vniuerſall Biſhops, without derogating thereby one from the other. And therefore if the Councill of Chalcedon (as they pretend) or any other Councill, did at any time giuegive the Biſhop of Rome this title, it was in common as to a Patriarch, and not in any ſingular manner: As the care of all the Churches was committed to Peter, but not in priuate, but in common with the reſt of the Apoſtles; for elſe S. Paul had ouer-laſhed, when he ſaide, That he was troubled with the care of all Churches. 2. Cor. 11.28. Hence it is,Theodoret hiſt. lib. 4. cap. 19. Nazianz. ſer. de Cypriano. that S. Baſill was called foreign The great light of the world: and Gregory Nazianzene ſpeaking of S. Cyprian, ſaith, that he not onelyonly preſ…ded ouer Carthage, but alſo ouer the whole Weſt, yea the Eaſt, and the South, and the North. In a word, theſe two titles, Biſhop of the vniuerſall Church, and vniuerſall Biſhop of the Church, are farre different, if not contrary: for the firſt was a common name to all Biſhops that made profeſſion of true and ſound doctrine, whereby they were diſcerned from Heretikes and Schiſmatikes, the vniuerſall Church ſignifying nothing elſe but the Orthodox and Catholike Church. But the ſecond cannot properly agree to any, but to an infinite perſon, to wit, Ieſus Chriſt, and if it be aſcribed to any, it is not in regard of prehemiennce, that he ſhould hauehave aboue all others, but in regard of the vniuer ality of care, he ought to ſhew towards the whole Catholike or vniuerſall Church.
7. This was the firſt degree of Antichriſts reigne or Kingdome. The ſecond was, when the Biſhops of Rome ſhooke off from their neckes the yoke of obedience and fealty, which they ought vntounto the Emperours: for, for a long time, the Pope was choſen by the common voyces of the Cleargy, and people of Rome, and this election was confirmed by the Emperour himſelfe, or by his Lieutenant,Platina. Baronius. the Exarch of Rauenna, and was ſubiect to him, as to his Lord and Maiſter, to be either eſtabliſhed or depoſed at his pleaſure: as we may ſee particularly in the example of Pope Martin the firſt, who was carried as a criminous perſon to Conſtantinople before the Emperour, and by him baniſhed into the Iſle Cherſoneſus, where he dyed: But afterward Pope Benedict the ſecond, by his hypocriſie, obtained of the Emperour Conſtantine the fourth, freedome of election, without the authority of the Emperour, or his Exarch: and then preſently began this Man of Sinne to ruffle in his pride, and neuer ceaſed, what by ſeditions and excommunications, till he had chaſed the Emperours authority wholly out of Italy. Then Pope Conſtantine, excommunicated the Emperour Philippious (who indeed was a fauourer of the Hereſie of the Monothelites,) and forbad the people of Rome, either to acknowledge him for their Lord, or to obey any Mandate or Commandement that came out by his authority. Then Gregory the ſecond, reſiſted the decree of the Emperour Leo the third, who in zeale to Gods glory, had commanded all Images in Churches to be beaten downe, and ſo maintained himſelfe by the fauour of Charles Martell againſt him, that the Emperour durſt not giuegive aſſault vponupon him by Armes Then Pope Stephen the ſecond, by the aide of Pepin, then King of France, wrung out of Arſtulphus the King of the Lumbards hands, not onelyonly the rightes and territories of S. Peter, but the whole Exarchate of Rauenna, with all the dependances thereupon, & beſtowed it vponupon the Biſhop of Rome: And yet their ambition was not ſatiate herewith, for they reſted not till the Kingdome of the Lumbards was vtterly rooted out by Charles the ſucceſſour of Pepin, who hauing conquered Dedier their laſt King, added vntounto his Fathers guifts, all that lieth beyond Liguria, from the old ruines of the City Luna, vntounto the Alpes, and much elſe where: And this is that which is called S. Peters Patrimony, which they defrauding their true benefactours of that acknowledgement which is due vntounto them, had rather aſcribe to the donation of Conſtantine the Great. Here then we may ſee two notable euents. Firſt, the Pope aſpired vntounto two hornes, to wit, both ſpirituall and temporall authority, and ſo became a temporall Prince in thoſe great territories which were conferred vponupon him. And ſecondly, the erection of the Image of the ſecond Beaſt: when the firſt made P…pin the Father a King, depoſing Chilpericke as vnſufficient, and then tranſlated the Weſterne Empire, from the Greekes to the French, conferring it vponupon Charles his ſonne: thus notoriouſly verifying the prophecy, Apoc. 13.14.15. That Antichriſt ſhould command the inhabitants of the earth, to make an image of the firſt Beaſt, to giuegive him a ſpirit, and to cauſe him to be worſhipped. This is ſo manifeſt a token of Antichriſt, that it cannot be doubted of, whether we reſpect the erection and tranſlation of this new Empire, which is a power onelyonly proper vntounto God: or the bringing into the Church the adoration of Images, and the canonization of Saints, which was a kinde of giuing life to the image of the firſt Beaſt, with whom it was accuſtomed both to worſhip dumbe Idols, of wood and ſtone, and to conſecrate and deifie mortall men, as they pleaſed. For this cauſe, many learned men hauehave fixed the number 666. vponupon this time, as the true beginning of the reuelation of Antichriſts kingdome: for if we adde to 97 yeeres of Chriſt, which were runne when the Apocalyps was written, 666. we ſhall fall vponupon the yeere of 762. in which the Pope as an earthly Prince, poſſ ſſed the Exarchate of Rauenna, and thoſe other territories, which he rece ued by the gift of Pepin and Charlem…igne.
8. But for all this, the Whore of Babylon was not yet aſcended to the top of her abhominations: for the Romane Sea was as yet held in ſome ſubiection to the mperours; ſo that no Popes could be receiued, without their approbation and confirmation, as is apparant by Stephen the fourth, and his two ſucceſſours, who were compelled to trauaile into France, to get the confirmation of their election Alſo the guardance and ſoueraignity of their temporall lands giuen by Pepin and his ſucceſſours, remained in the hands of the Emperour, and of thoſe that held vnderunder him the command of Italy. Alſo Lewes the ſecond, making his abode for the moſt part at Rome or thereabout, commanded with more abſolute power, then any of his predeceſſours had done. The Popes power then was by theſe meanes ſomewhat bridled, ſo that he could not do as he liſt. But th…ſe proud Prelates, diſdaining to be thus curbed, ſoone broke the yoake, and ſ…t themſelues free from all obedience to mortall man. Pope Nicholas the firſt led the ring: he amongſt other his goodly conſtitutions, prohibited the Emperours to be preſent at their Synodall aſſemblies; concluded that the Pope could not be iudged by any ſecular power; forbad the mariage of Prieſts, interdicted Princes, and receiued appeales of Biſhops and Prieſts that were Canonically depoſed: of which dealing, we finde many complaints made by learned and godly men liuing at that time, as of Hinemare Archbiſhop of Rhemes, and Lintpert, Archbiſhop of Mentz, with others. After him ſucceeded other Popes, whoſe continuall labour was to ſtrangle the power of Kings (as Claudius Fanchet ſpeaketh) and that partly by occaſion of their negligence in gouernment,Claudius Fanchet delinat. maiſon de Charlemaigne. and partly of the ignorance of their owne rights and ancient Canons, as may appeare in the anſwer of Theilgunt, and Gouthier, Biſhops, recorded by Fanchet and others: about which time, Pope Adrian the ſecond, threatned to excommunicate King Charles the Bald, if he did not render Lorraine to the Emperour Lewes. Neither did theſe effects of their power ſhew themſelues onelyonly in France, but in England, Germany, Italy, and other Countries of Europe; as is manifeſt in the ſtories of thoſe times: depoſing Kings, tranſlating Kingdomes, excommunicating all that any waies withſtood their ambitious deſignes, and interdicting whole Nations, as here England in the time of King Iohn, which ſtood in that ſtate of interdiction for the ſpace of ſix yeeres: during all which time, no bels were rung, no diuine ſeruice publikely vſed, no bodies buried in Chriſtian ſepulture, no Sacraments publikely adminiſtred, nor any religious exerciſe elſe performed, but all carried the face of Paganiſme, religion being vtterly baniſhed, or at leaſt ſo ſmothered, that it could not appeare. At this time alſo it was, that after the declining of the houſe of Charlemaigne, the Popes grew to that height, of not onelyonly pride, but alſo impiety, that they were eſteemed no better then monſters,Baron. …d An. 912. whom Baronius is conſtrained to call Apoſtaticks, and not Apoſtolicks. Then did that famous harlot Theodora, with her two daughters, Marozi… and Theodora, make Popes at their pleaſure, euen adulterous ruſſians, which are not regiſtred in the roll of the Popes of Rome, for any other cauſe (as Baronius confeſſeth) but to fill vp the ſucceſſion, and marke out the time. And theſe monſters created Prieſts, and Deacons, and Cardinals, like to themſelues: ſo that Baleus had great reaſon to call the time of the ſitting of theſe Popes, from Iohn the eight, till Silueſter the ſecond, the reigne of the great Whore. And it may ſeeme, that the Author of the booke of Antichriſt, which is found in the ninth Tome of S. Auguſtines workes, aimed at the ſame, when he deſigneth the reuealing of Antichriſt, to the time of the Empires tranſlation from the French vntounto the Germanes. And after this alſo, when Iohn the 1…. gaue the Emperiall Crowne, to Otho a King of Germany, and Prince of the Saxons, as it was before giuen to Charlemaigne, by Leo the third. This Otho, tooke not only an oath of allegiance to the Pope, but alſo of protection of him and his eſtates, againſt all the world. The oath is recorded at large by Gratian, diſt. 63. (tibi domine) by the tenour whereof, we may eaſily ſee, how the Emperour receiued at that time, the Character or marke of the ſecond Beaſt; and in ſtead thereof, yeelded vntounto them thei… power and authority, as it was foretold by S. Iohn. So that it cannot be doubted, but that in the Church of Rome at thoſe times ſate the true Antichriſt, in whom all the Prophecies were fulfilled, and the manners of the great Whore practiſed to the full: And therefore in a Councill held at Rhemes, not long after, the Fathers there aſſembled, were not afraide to affix the title of Antichriſt vponupon thoſe Popes.
9. The laſt and higheſt period of Antichriſts reigne, is yet behind, which began when Iohn the 18. or 19. ſucceſſour of Silueſter the ſecond, depriued the people of Rome of all right of election of their Popes, which power they had retained and exerciſed all that time. For he tooke it from them, and inueſted therewith the Prieſts of Rome, which began then to be called by the name of Cardinals; in which forme of election, it continueth till this day: and here began the arme of his reigne, which grew a little bigger vnderunder Benedict the ſeuenth, who by a Decree ordained, that none might be called Emperour, but whom the Pope ſhould chuſe, and to whom he ſhould preſent the Imperiall ſigne, (which was an Apple of gold, beſet about with precious ſtones, and a golden Croſſe on the top) ſo that whereas before, the Pope was no Pope, except confirmed by the Emperour, now topſie-turuy, the Emperour is no Emperour except confirmed by the Pope. But the top and top-gallant of his reigne, was vnderunder Gregory the ſeuenth, formerly called Hildebrand, who conuerted the whole ſpirituall power of the Pap…ll Se…ouer Churches, into a politicke Monarchy ouer earthly Principalities.
10. Out of all which that hath bene ſaid, I may commend vntounto the Reader, three notable obſeruations for the confirmation of this truth. Firſt, that not onelyonly our moderne writers, but alſo ſuch as were more ancient, liuing before the reformation of the Church, referre to this Gregory the ſeuenth, the higheſt degree of Antichriſts reigne. For Lollard who wrote vponupon the Apocalyps, in the yeere 1357. ſetleth the beginning of Antichriſts reigne (whom he peremptorily affirmeth to be the Pope, vponupon the yeere 1033. and with him agreeth …b…rhard the Biſhop of Saltzbourg, in the time of the Emperour Frederick: who in an Oration which he made in an aſſembly of the Princes and Biſhops of Germany, ſaith; that Gregory the ſeuenth laide the firſt foundation of the Kingdome of Antichriſt. Secondly, that at this time, the liues of the Popes were ſo filthy and abhominable, as it would yrke any Chriſtian heart to read ſuch things as are written of them by their owne writers. Cardinall Benno repreſenteth vntounto our view, a map of ſuch horrible monſters and incarnate diuels, liuing at that time in the Romane Sea, as the earth neuer bore the like. And of this time, the Author of the booke called, Faſciculus temporum, thus ſpeaketh. An effeminate time, wherein the Chriſtian faith began greatly to ſaile, and decline from it maſculine vigour: for then Sacraments, and Eccleſiaſticall Ceremonies, were not obſerued, but the people gaue themſelues to Southſayings, enchauntments, and Necromancy: and as were the people, ſo were …he Prieſts: Then Popes murdered one another by poyſon, rent Chriſtendome with Schiſmes, filled Churches with abhominations, and Kingdomes with warres, maſſacres, and blood. Thirdly and laſtly, that at this time the pride of the Romane Biſhops was growne to ſuch an exceſſiue height, as is almoſt incredible: for they conſtrained Emperors and Kings to kiſſe their feet, to hold their ſtirrop when they got on horſebacke, to miniſter water vntounto them for the waſhing of their hands when they went to meate, to waite for acceſſe vntounto them at their gates, till it were their pleaſure to admit them to their preſence; and finally, they were not aſhamed to trample vponupon their necks, as Alexander the third did to the Emperor Frederick the firſt, and to ſet the Crowne on their heads with one foot, and kicke it off againe with the other, with infinite other moſt arrogant demeanors. All which things laid together, doe exactly conclude, that euer ſince Boniface the third, the Pope hath beene the true and grand Antichriſt, albeit his tyrrany and pride encreaſed by degrees till Gregory the ſeuenth, when it was aſcended to his higheſt period.
11. Thus wee hauehave ſeene Antichriſt in his mans eſtate, that is, in the top of his ſtrength and pride; but then he began to decline and decay, as a man vſeth to doe after hee is fifty or threeſcore yeeres of age. This declining eſtate of the Man of ſinne began, when Martin Luther diſpelling the miſts of Popery, preached the glorious Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt to the world, and eſpecially cleared the doctrine of Iuſtification, which till then lay cloaked vnderunder the vaile of Scholaſticall diſtinctions, and Monkiſh deuotion. For albeit there wanted not in all Ages ſome that oppoſed themſelues againſt popiſh tyranny and ſuperſtition, and diſcerned and auouched that the Pope was that Antichriſt: yet none of them gaue him his deadly wound, till God ſtirred vp Luther to bee the inſtrument of this mercy. For his doctrine and preaching was no ſooner ſpread abroad in the world, but it was entertained as finding it not new, but grounded vponupon the antiquity of holy Scripture and ancient C uncills and Doctors. At this time God alſo raiſed vp ſuch a number of bright Starres, learned men in the Church, as no Age euer ſaw the like: theſe did not onelyonly refine from Monkiſh barbariſmes, humane learning, but alſo g… great light and propagation vntounto the truth, which had … long time lyen clouded vnderunder ignorance and ſuperſtition. And to helpe forward this great worke, not long before this time, the Famous Art of Printing was by Gods prouidence found out, as it were of purpoſe to divulge and ſpread abroad the moſt excellent writings of famous men then liuing, which peraduenture otherwiſe had neuer come to light. Now then all theſe meanes of Gods prouidence working together, brought forth ſuch an effect, that not onelyonly millions of people in all places, but alſo whole States and Kingdomes ſpying out the abominable errors of the Romiſh Harlot, fell away from the obedience of the Pope, and embraced the truth of the Goſpell, as is apparent at this day in Germany, France, England, Denmarke, Poland, and almoſt all parts of Europe. And this is that very ſame which was prophecyed of by Saint Paul, 2. Theſſ. 2.8. in moſt plaine termes, where it is ſaid, That the Lord ſhould conſume Antichriſt with the ſpirit of his mouth: where by the word (Conſume) is meant a declining and languiſhing ſickneſſe that ſhould fall vponupon him, whereby his vitall parts and powers ſhould eueryevery day grow weaker and weaker, as it is with ſuch as are in a conſumption: and by the ſpirit of Chriſts mouth, nothing elſe but the preaching of the Goſpell, according to the opinion of moſt Interpreters: and this is the reaſon why of all men liuing, they moſt hate godly and painefull Preachers, becauſe they are the Trumpetters to blow downe the walls of their Iericho.
12. Thus hath this Man of ſinne beene in his wane and declination, euer ſince Luthers time: but whether his old and decrepit age be yet come, is hard to iudge: as alſo of the time and houre of his death. Theſe things wee muſt leaue vntounto God, who onelyonly knoweth the ſecrets of times and ſeaſons that are to come: onelyonly wee may thus farre iudge, that as when we ſee a man waxe gray-headed, and declining, wee are aſſured old age and death are not far off: ſo we may alſo ſafely iudge, conſidering the declining eſtate of this Man of ſinne, that he is growing old and neere to his deſtruction: which finall deſtruction notwithſtanding, ſhall not bee accompliſhed, till Chriſt himſelfe come vntounto iudgement, when …s the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, he ſhall deſtroy him by the brightneſſe of his comming, 2. Theſſ. 2.8. How ought we then to wiſh and long for that bleſſed day?