Antichrist the Pope of Rome, Treatise 1
The First Treatiſe. The definition of Antichriſt by the holy Scriptures.
THE name Antichriſt is not extant in the whole Scripture, ſaue in the Epiſtles of S. Iohn, and it is taken in two ſenſes. For either it ſignifieth in generall all thoſe that in any ſort calling themſelues followers of the doctrine of Chriſt, doe contradict the ſame, and vnderunder the name of Chriſt, oppoſe themſelues againſt him, and deſtroy his Doctrine, whether it be wholly, or in part. Thus it is taken in the ſecond Chapter of the firſt Epiſtle of S. Iohn, when hee ſayeth, that there were alreadie many Antichriſts; and that he is Antichriſt that denieth the Father and the Son. And in his ſecond Epiſtle, Many Seducers (ſaith hee) are entred into the world, which confeſſe not that Ieſus Chriſt is come in the fleſh; ſuch an one is a ſeducer, and an Antichriſt. And ſuch are thoſe, which either heeretofore, or at this day hauehave erred either touching the Perſon, or touching the Office of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. But in particular, it is taken for that grand and famous aduerſarie of Chriſt, who by a ſpeciall prerogatiue is called the Antichriſt, and to whom all the other former Antichriſts ſerued as fore-runners to make way for him, and open him a paſſage into the Church, by that change and alteration which they hauehave already brought to true Religion by their errors.
2 Theſ. 2, 3.4 Apoc. 11, 7. & 13, 1. & 17, 5. & 19.20.It is of this Antichriſt properly ſo called, that Saint Iohn ſpeaketh in his firſt Epiſtle, 4. chap. 3. verſe. To whom are giuen diuerſe other Titles in the holy Scripture, as the Son of Perdition, the Man of ſinne, the ſecond Beaſt, the Whore, the Mother of Fornications, and ſuch like: and concerning whom we are at this day in debate with the Factors of the Church of Rome.
Now marke that which the Scripture reports in few words concerning him, which I will explaine and proue in euerie part afterwards: to wit, that Antichriſt ſhall bee a certaine man ſtirred vp by the efficacie of Sathan; one in number at one time, but yet varying by ſucceſſion and ſubrogation: who ſhall make profeſſion of the name of Chriſt, though in effect he wholly oppoſeth himſelfe to his Doctrine, ſhall hauehave his kingdome in the great Citie which reigneth ouer the Kings of the earth: ſhall exerciſe a double power, one ſpirituall, another temporall: ſhall carry himſelfe in the Church of God, as if he were God: working ſignes and miracles, but falſe and lying: ſhall be an Idolater, Ambitious, cruell, full of all filthineſſe, reuealed in the laſt times, and finally ſhall be fully deſtroyed by the glorious comming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt.
The perſon.1. We ſay, that Antichriſt is a Man: conformable to that of the Apoſtle, who calleth him a Man, 2. Theſſ. 2.3. We adde, that this Man is one in number, at one time, but varying by ſucceſſion; becauſe the Scripture attributeth vntounto him, things which cannot agree to one onelyonly man. For the Apoſtle telleth vsus,2 Theſſ. 2, 7. that this Myſtery of iniquitie was in working in his time:1 Iohn 4, 3. to whom accordeth Saint Iohn when he ſaith, that he was euen then in the world. And yet the ſame Apoſtle ſheweth, that he ſhall continue to the end of the world, and ſhall bee aboliſhed by the preſence of Chriſt; both which cannot be truly ſpoken of any one man. Whereunto we may adioyne this, that that reuolt whereof the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, and of which Antichriſt ſhall bee the head, is not a worke of one or few yeares. Therefore we conclude, that this Antichriſt ſhall indeede be alwayes one onelyonly perſon in number, reigning ordinarily: but that this perſon ſhall be changed from time to time for the continuation of the order. Euen as in a Monarchy, one onelyonly at one time hath the dominion, who comming to faile, death ſeizeth the liuing (as the ordinary phraſe ſpeakes) and the next heyre taketh his place in the kingdome: or at leaſt, another is ſurrogated into the deads roome by a new Election, as in the Empire. But the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of Antichriſt, as of one ſole perſon, and not as of many, becauſe all theſe Seducers ſhall hauehave but one end and ayme, to wit, to reigne at their pleaſure in the Church: ſo they ſhall maintaine their tyranny by one meanes, to wit, by falſe doctrines, and by falſe myracles.
2. The Author and Architect of Antichriſts kingdome,The Author. is Sathan. For the Apoſtle ſaith, that his comming ſhall bee by the efficacie of Sathan: and in another place,2 Theſſ. 2, 9. 1 Tim. 4, 1. Apoc. 13, 4. Apoc. 18, 2. hee calleth the doctrine of Antichriſt, the doctrine of diuels. In the Apocalipſe it is ſaid, that the Dragon ſhall giuegive his power to the Beaſt. And that the great Babylon is the habitation of Diuels, and the reſort of eueryevery vncleane spirit. The which God will ſuffer in his iuſt iudgement, to the end, that al thoſe may periſh, which receiued not the louelove of the truth, 2 Theſ. 2, 11, 12.that they might be ſaued; and that they might be damned which beleeued not duplicate page duplicate page the truth, but tooke pleaſure in iniquitie.
The Religion.3. That he ſhall be a Chriſtian in name, but indeed ſhall oppoſe himſelfe to the doctrine of Chriſt, appeareth by that which the Apoſtle ſayth,2 Theſſ 2, 8 That hee ſhall ſit in the Temple of God. Apoc. 13, 11.And Saint Iohn, that the ſecond Beaſt, that is to ſay, Antichriſt, hath two hornes like thoſe of the Lambe, but ſpeaketh as the Dragon. Whereunto may be referred that exclamation of S. Chryſoſtome: Chryſoſt. h…m. 4…. in ma…t.What is it that Antichriſt ſhall not attempt, doing the works of Chriſt, and performing the offices of Chriſtians before Chriſtians? …o ſignifie, that Antichriſt ſhall ſerue himſelfe of the name of Chriſt, to fight againſt Chriſt, and vnderunder that faire pretext, introduce his owne pernicious Traditions amongſt Chriſtians.
The habitatiō. Apoc. 17.9.4. It cannot be denied, that Rome is pointed out to bee the place of …ntichriſts habitation, ſeeing S. Iohn telleth vsus, that the whore is ſeated vponupon ſeuen hils, which hath expreſſe relation vntounto Rome, called by the Ancients foreign, ſepticollis, a City ſituate vponupon ſeuen hils. Witneſſe this Verſe amongſt infinite others: Propert.Septem vrbs altu iugis, toti quae praeſidet orbi. The high City on ſeuen hils, reigning ouer the whole world.
Which alſo is called Babylon, as ſucceeding to the ancient Babylon in idolatry, pride, couetouſneſſe, and extreme cruelty againſt the Saints.Tertul. aduer. Ind. & aduerſ. Marcion lib. 3. And thus was it expounded by Tertullian long agoe. For to what elſe can that bee applyed, which is declared by S. Iohn, that this Whore is ſet vponupon many waters, Apoc. 17.1.15, 18.which are ſo many Peoples, Multitudes Nations, and Tongues? And what is that great Citie that reigneth ouer the Kings of the earth, but Rom…, in ancient time the Empreſſe of the world? Yea, if wee looke to the locall ſcituation of Rome, wee ſhall finde it in effect built vponupon many Waters: for it is built vponupon Tyber, into the which (beſides Fountaines and ſmall Brookes) two and forty Riuers diſcharge themſelues: Beſides that, Rome was repleniſhed in eueryevery part, with Bathes, Fountaines, and Conduite-pipes, to ſerue not onelyonly for the neceſſity, but alſo for the curioſity and laſciuiouſneſſe of the dwellers therein.
5. His double power; one ſpirituall, another temporall,The power. is ſignified vntounto vsus by that which S. Iohn ſaith,Apoc. 13, 11. That the ſecond beaſt had two hornes; that is to ſay, a double power: according to the ordinary manner of ſpeaking in holie Scripture, where a horne is taken for power, as may appeare in many places of the propheſie of Daniel. For this cauſe hee foretelleth, that this ſame Beaſt ſhall exerciſe all the power of the firſt Beaſt, that is to ſay, of the Romane Empire: and yet calleth him the falſe Prophet, which is a ſpirituall acculity. Like as in Ancient times the Emperours themſelues aſſumed to them not onelyonly the dignity Royall, but alſo Pontificall, calling themſelues Pontificis Maxima, Soueraigne high-Prieſts. But aboue all, this Spirituall Power is manifeſtly deciphered by S. Iohn, Apoc. 9.1. I ſaw a Starre, that fell from heauen on the earth, and to it was giuen the Key of the bottomleſſe pit: and it opened the bottomleſſe pit, & a ſmoke aroſe out of the pit, as the ſmoke of a great Furnace: and the ſun and the aire were darkned with the ſmoke of the pit: & out of the ſmoke of the pit, iſſued forth Locuſts on the earth: and to them was giuen power like vntounto the power which Scorpions hauehave on the earth. And after, ſpeaking of theſe Locuſts, he ſayth, that they had ouer them for their King, the Angel of the bottomleſſe pit, whoſe name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek Apollyon, that is to ſay, Deſtroying. For wee know, that the Spirit of God is accuſtomed to deſigne Byſhops and Paſtours of the Church by the name of …ngels, Mal. 3.1. Apoc. 3.20. and of Starres, Apoc. 1.20. So that this Starre falling from heauen, denoteth out a Biſhop or Paſtour, abandoning the preaching of heauenly doctrine, and reuolting from the purity of the Goſpell. The key is a ſpirituall power of binding and looſing, as is manifeſt by the wordes of our Sauiour Chriſt, Mat. 16 19. And the bottomleſſe pit is a profundity of …hicke and abominable darkneſſes, fraudes, errours, and ſuperſtitions. So that this Biſhop arrogating to himſelfe the key of the bottomleſſe pit, that is to ſay, an abſolute power, to teach, decree, and eſtabliſh at his pleaſure all ſorts of errours, without the authority of holy Scripture, is by good right called the King or the Angel of the bottomleſſe pit, in Hebrew Abaddon, and in Greeke Apollyon, that is to ſay, deſtroying: which is the ſame title that the Apoſtle giueth vntounto Antichriſt,2 Theſſ 2. calling him the ſonne of perdition.
Diuine honours. 2 Theſſ. 2, 4.6. That he ſhall carry himſelfe in the Church of God as if he were God; the Apoſtle teacheth when he ſaith, That he ſhall ſit in the Temple of God, carrying himſelfe as if hee were God. For by the Temple of God wee cannot heere vnderſtand any thing elſe but the Church, which is the true Temple, and the houſe of God: ſeeing that the Temple of Ieruſalem hauing beene deſtroyed by the Romanes, 1 Tim. 3. Dan. 9, 26, 27.muſt neuer bee reedified according to the prophecy of Daniel. And as touching this ſitting whereof the Apoſtle maketh mention, it doth not ſimply ſignifie a ſituation of body, as if he ſhould onelyonly hauehave place, and ſit in the Church: but alſo power and dominion after the manner of holy Scripture. As when God the Father ſaith to his Sonne,Pſal. 110, 1. Sit thou at my right hand; the Apoſtle expounds it thus:1 Cor. 15, 25 That hee muſt reigne, till he hath put all his enemies vnderunder his feete. And in the ſame ſenſe it is, that Babilon her ſelfe ſwollen with vnſupportable pride vaunteth herſelfe in theſe words; I ſit being a Queene, and am no widdow and ſhall ſee no mourning. Apoc. 18, 7.Where in few words ſhee glorieth of foure prerogatiues which are ſo famous at this day: to wit, of her Seat or Chaire, her Royall authority, her Succeſſion, and perpetuall durance.
Miracles.7. Touching Antichriſts Miracles and what they ſhalbe, we hauehave the Apoſtles expreſſe teſtimony: That his comming is by the efficacy of Sathan, 1 Theſſ. 2, 9.in all power, and ſignes and lying wonders. Whereunto accordeth that which is ſpoken by S. Iohn, Apoc. 13.13, and 16.14. Concerning the spirits of deuils iſſuing out of the mouth of the falſe Prophet, and working wonders before the Kings of the earth.
8. His Idolatry is repreſented by that wine of fornication,Idolatry. Apoc. 17, 2. wherewith the great whore ſhall make drunke the Inhabitants of the earth: as an inſatiable Strumpet, that with her Sorceries and LoueLove-potions enflameth her louers. And this according to the inſtance of holy Scripture, which oftentimes calleth Idolatry by the name of Fornication; as when the Prophet Eſay cryeth out:Eſay 1, 21. How is the faithfull Citty become an harlot? And the Lord vpbraydeth his people, that they had employed the Gold and Siluer which hee had giuen them, to the making of themſelues Idols:Ezech. 16, 17 with the which they had committed fornication. The Spirit of God tearming Idolatry by this name, not onelyonly for that it is a perfidious treachery againſt the true Spouſe of our ſoules: but alſo becauſe ordinarily it is accompanied with all outward filthineſſe, and vnbridled luxury; as was to bee ſeene in the ancient Babylon of the Eaſt, and is foretold of the Weſterne ſpirituall Babylon, the ſeate of Antichriſt.
9.Ambition. His ambition hath heeretofore beene notoriouſly diſcouered, and is moſt euident in this; becauſe hee muſt exalt himſelfe aboue all that is called God. For if he lifteth vp himſelfe againſt God, how will hee ſpare Kings and Magiſtrates,Pſal. 82, 1. Apoc. 13, 12. Apoc. 13, 15. to whom the Scripture alſo giueth the title of Gods? And alſo in this, that he ſhall vſurpe the power of the firſt beaſt in his preſence: that is to ſay, the dominion of the Empire, in the view and knowledge of the Emperours. Beſides that hee ſhall take to himſelfe authority to giuegive a ſoule to the firſt beaſt: that is to ſay,Vid. Bonha. Aret. & ali…s in Apoc. to authoritie and confirme the new Emperours ſubſtituted by him in the roome of the old, whoſe election hee holdeth voyd without his approbation.
10.Cruelty. Apoc. 17, 6. Antichriſts cruelty is figured by the woman made drunke with the blood of the Saintes and Martyrs of Ieſus Chriſt.
11. And his impurity,Impurity. by the names of Sodome and Aegypt, and of Babylon. Apoc. 11.8, and 14.8. and 19.2.3.
12.Diſcouery. That hee ought to bee reuealed and affeebled in the laſt times, by the preaching of the Goſpell: may bee proued firſt by that of the Apoſtle, Then ſhall this wicked man be reuealed in his time, 2 Theſ. 2, 6, 8whom the Lord ſhall conſume with the ſpirit of his mouth. For what is this ſpirit of Chriſts mouth, but the word of the Goſpell? The which the Lord hath drawne out of darkeneſſe into light in theſe laſt times: as when the Prophet ſaith,Pſal. 33.6. That the Heauens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the hoaſt of them by the breath of his mouth. And when Eſay ſaith, That God will ſmite the earth with the rod of his mouth, Eſay. 11.4.and ſlay the wicked with the breath of hi… lips. And when the Sonne of God denounceth againſt theſe that follow the doctrine of the Nicholaitans, Apoc. 2.16.That hee vvill fight againſt them with the ſword of his mouth.
Secondly, it may be proued by that which S. Iohn ſpeaketh concerning the fall of Babylon, A…oc. 14.8.and the reuolt of thoſe very ſame from her, which had giuen the kingdome to the beaſt: who conceiuing hatred againſt her, ſhall make her deſolate and naked.Apoc. 17.17 For albeit that in all ages euer ſince the conception and birth of Antichriſt, God hath raiſed vp faithfull witneſſes that hauehave couragiouſly ſet themſelues againſt his abominable Idolatries and corruptions: notwithſtanding ſo it is, that the principall diſſipation of his kingdome is reſerued till the laſt times. The which is plainely repreſented in the Apocalipſe, by thoſe three Angels; one of which carrying an euerlaſting Goſpell,Apoc. 14.6.7.8.9. calleth men to the feare of God, becauſe the houre of his iudgement was come. …nother proclaimeth and publiſheth the fall of Babylon. And the third, aduertiſeth men of the wrath of God, againſt all them that ſhall worſhip the beaſt and his Image; or take his marke on their forehead, or in their name. To the which three Angels, two other are ioyned with like denunciations. Chap. 8. For what are all theſe Angels, but the true Doctors and Teachers of the New Teſtament; who publiſhing with a loud voyce in the Church the Goſpell of the eternall …on of God, diſpoſe men to the obedience thereof, and arme them with the ſword of Gods word to the deſtruction of Antichriſt.
Deſtruction.13. Laſtly that the totall deſtruction of this man of ſin is reſerued til the glorious comming of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, the Apoſtle declareth when he ſaith,2 Theſſ. 2. That he ſhall aboliſh him by the brightneſſe of his comming: to which anſwereth very fitly the repreſentation of S. Iohn, That the beaſt, and the falſe Prophet, that is to ſay, the troup of Teachers, Prieſts, and Supporters of Antichriſt; (for the word falſe Prophets is thus taken collectiuely, as wee vſe to ſpeake in ſchooles, for all the falſe Prophets, and Seducers, which ſhall authoriſe and vphold the doctrine of Antichriſt;) ſhall bee caſt aliue into the Lake of fire and brimſtone, there to bee tormented day and night for euermore. And the reſidue of his followers ſhall be ſl…ine with the ſword of the mouth of him that was mounted vponupon a horſe: that is to ſay by this ſentence, Goe ye curſed into euerlaſting fire, pronounced by the mouth of the Son of God, repreſented by Saint Iohn as a Monarch triumphing in iudgement ouer all his enemies.
I might adde heere many other qualities by which the ſonne of perdition is marked out in …oly Scripture, and alſo amplifie thoſe which are recited. But I ſuppoſe that the matters fore ſpecified, being out of all controuerſie amongſt ſpirits not contentious, are ſufficient to make this beaſt to be knowne to the claw, and to lead vsus by his footſteps vntounto his den.