Antichrist the Pope of Rome, Treatise 3 · Question 3
3. Queſtion. Out of what Nation Antichriſt ſhall grow, and of what Religion he ſhall be.
Epiſt. Leonis 9. ad Michael. Epiſc. Conſtant. cap. 25.There is a very remarkable diſcourſe, in an Epiſtle of Pope Leo the ninth, to Michael Biſhop of Conſtantinople, where he ſaith, that the report was, that thoſe of Conſtantinople, being accuſtomed to behold Eunuches ſitting in the Patriarchall ſeate, at the laſt aduanced thereunto a woman. A fine inuention, to make to vaniſh by this tricke the memory of Pope Ioue, by diuerting this infamy vponupon Conſtantinople, where all know that neuer any ſuch thing came to paſſe. The like they doe in this ſubiect: for to the end that the true Antichriſt may not be knowne and acknowledged, they caſt out a rumour, that he ſhall be a Iew; that men in this vaine expectation, may ſleepe vnderunder his tyranny. The diuell herein doing like a crafty Captaine, who giuing the aſſault to one ſide of the Citty, makes a falſe alarum on another to amaze the Inhabitants, and hinder them from repai…g the breach. It is then a receiued opinion in the Church …f Rome, as a tradition from all antiquity:Perer. in Dan. lib. 15. V…egan Apoc. cap. 13. ſect: 3. that Antichriſt …all be borne in Babylon, of the Tribe of Dan, and the Nati…n of the Hebrewes: and that he ſhall be circumciſed, and …bſerue the Sabbath; their proofes are fetcht either from ho…y Scripture, or from reaſon.
Ob. 1 Gen. 49.17. Dan ſhall be a Serpent by the way, and an Adder in the path. Perer. in Dan. lib. 15.The neighing of his horſes (ſaith Ieremy) was heard from Dan, and all the Country was moued with the …oyſe of his horſes. And in the ſeuenth of the Apocalyps, where the Angell marketh out the twelue thouſand Elect of …uery Tribe of Iſrael, there is no mention of the Tribe of Dan; in hatred of Antichriſt (as they ſay) the which conceit …hey fortifie by the interpretation of many of the Ancients vponupon this place.
Theſe are not proofes, but coniectures,Reſp. without all weight …or probability: whereupon Bellarmine is conſtrained to ſay, that theſe paſſages can hauehave no force in this reſpect; ſeeing …he Prophecy of Iacob ſpeaketh of Sampſon, and that of Ieremy of Nabuchodonoſor, not of the Tribe of Dan, or of Antichriſt, as S. Ierome hath vnderſtood both the one and the other. And as touching the Apocalyps, he ſaith: That it is not well knowne why the Tribe of Dan is omitted, ſeeing E…hraim is alſo, which was one of the greateſt Tribes of Iſrael. But he is deceiued, in thinking that Ephraim is omitted; ſeeing he is comprized vnderunder the Lynage of Ioſeph, Perer. in Dan. lib. 15.as the Ieſuite Pererius hath well obſerued: howſoeuer, it is certaine, that the Tribe of Dan was not omitted in hatred of Antichriſt, as ſome of the Ancients hauehave coniectured: but rather becauſe this Tribe was of long time reuolted from the ſeruice of the true God: whence it is, that in the firſt booke of the Chronicles, where all the other Tribes are counted, there is no enumeration made of this Tribe. And beſides, if this pretended Antichriſt, were to bee of the Tribe of Dan; how ſhould he be receiued of the Iewes for their Meſſias (as they would hauehave it) ſeeing the Iewes expect their Meſſias, out of the Tribe of Iuda from the poſterity of Dauid? For this cauſe, Bellarmine diſclaimeth theſe allegations, and thinketh to finde more forcible demonſtrations, that Antichriſt ſhall be a Iew, and bee receiued of the Iewes, in theſe Texts that follow.
Ob. 2 I am come in the name of my Father (ſaith the Sauiour of the world) and you receiue me not, if another come in his owne name, Bel. de Rom. Pont. l. 3. c. 12.him you will receiue, Iohn. 5.43. And that which the Apoſtle ſpeaking of Antichriſt, ſaith, 2. Theſſ. 2.10. That he ſhall come in all efficacy of deceite in thoſe that periſh, Viegan Apoc. cap. 13. ſect: 3.becauſe they receiued not the louelove of the truth that they might be ſaued. Now to whom doth this agree better then to the Iewes, who would not receiue our Lord Ieſus Chriſt? And thus S. Ierome, Ireneus, Hippolitus, Theodoret, Sulpitius Seuerus, and others expound.
Reſp.We hauehave already before declared, that the text in S. Iohn, doth not ayme at Antichriſt in particular: neither is that of the Apoſtle any more particular touching the Iewes, but enlargeth it ſelfe to all thoſe that ſhall not beleeue the truth, whether they be Iewes or Gentiles: as alſo the Apoſtle himſelfe ſeemeth to make cleare, when he addeth, To the end that all they may be damned which hauehave not beleeued the truth, but hauehave taken pleaſure in iniquity. Where it is to be noted, that the Apoſtle doth not vſe the preterperfect tenſe as Bellarmine ſubtilly diſputeth, to ſignifie that he ſpeaketh of thoſe onelyonly that had not beleeued the preaching of Chriſt and his Apoſtles: but the indefinite tenſe, which participateth the ſignification both of the time to come, and paſt. For if he intended onelyonly thoſe that had reiect…d the preaching of Chriſt, how could they be puniſhed in their perſons, by the efficacy of Antichriſt, if hee come not till towards the end of the world, as they imagine? As touching the Fathers: wherefore ſhould we be more enforced to receiue their opinions, then Bellarmine? Be…de Rom. Pont. lib. 3….12.who in this very ſubiect of the generation of Antichriſt, refuteth S. Auguſtine, or Raba…us (as he would hauehave it) that affirmeth that Antichriſt ſhall be borne of a Virgin, by the operation of the diuell: and Hippolitus Martyr … ſaith, that he ſhall bee the diuell himſelfe, who of a …lſe and counterfeit Virgin, ſhall receiue falſe and coun…rfeit fleſh: And Origene, that teacheth that certaine Angels …aue bene incarnate: And Sulpitius, or rather S. Martine, …at holdeth, that he ſhall be Nero? In breefe, it were an appa…nt iniuſtice, to conſtraine vsus to admit as a diuine truth, that which the Fathers propounded onelyonly by way of coniecture, …nd that often againſt both the truth and themſelues. And … truth, if the Fathers had vndoubtedly beleeued that Anti…hriſt ought to bee a Iew, and reeſtabliſh Circumciſion, the …abbath, and other Iewiſh ceremonies: how came it to …aſſe,Aug. hom. 11. in Apoc. that S. Auguſtine expounded this paſſage of the A…ocalyps after this manner: The Beaſt had two hornes like …to the Lambe, (that is to ſay) the two teſtaments of the …ambe, like vntounto the Church: and hee ſpake like the Dragon, …hat is to ſay) preſented himſelfe vnderunder the name of Chriſtia…ity like a Lambe, to ſpread abroad ſecretly the venime of the Dragon. For to what purpoſe was the new Teſtament, for …e redifying of the Temple of Ieruſalem, and the eſtabliſh…g the Iewiſh policy, and ceremonies of the Law, Circum…ſion, and the Sabbath? I adde further, to what end ſhould Circumciſion, the Sabbath, and Legall ceremonies be; if An…chriſt muſt aboliſh all the publick ſeruice of God, as theſe …uen preſuppoſe?
Ob. 3 Touching reaſon. They ſay that Antichriſt will doubt…eſſe ioyne himſelfe to thoſe firſt, that will receiue him:Bel. de Rom. Pont. l. 3. c. 12. now …one are ſo fitly diſpoſed to receiue him as the Iewes, who …xpect their Meſſias as a temporall King, which King ſhall be Antichriſt: for the Turke hath his Elnabi arriued more then nine hundred yeares ſince. The Idolater, Infidell, and Pagan, neither looketh for, nor beleeueth any ſuch to come.Remond. lib. de Antich. cap. 16. The Chriſtian, that calleth himſelfe reformed, is of the ſame mind: They imagine that he is already come, and that it is he that warreth againſt them eueryevery day. None expecteth him with horror and apprehenſion of danger, but the Catho…ike, who trembleth and quaketh at the feare of his comming, and the very remembrance thereof. For (as Ariſtotle ſaith) the certainty of a thing to come, changeth the nature thereof, and maketh it of future, preſent. Conclude: therefore Antichriſt ſhall be a Iew.
Reſp.In many words, there is oftentimes, much leaſing and vanity; we deny that Antichriſt ſhall be the Meſſias which the poore deceiued Iewes expect as yet, neither can the contrary euer be proued. Antichriſt muſt ſit in the Temple of God.Chryſoſt in Mat. hom. 49. Not in the Temple of Ieruſalem (ſaith S. Chryſoſtome) but in the Temple of the Church. In the Temple of God (ſaith Aquinas) that is to ſay, in the Church: foraſmuch as many of the Church ſhall receiue him. Aquin. in 2. Theſſ. cap. 2.Or as S. Aug…ſtine ſaith: He ſhall ſit in the Temple of God (that is) he ſhall hauehave principality and domination, as if hee with his meſſengers were the Temple of God: which indeed is fulfilled in them: for according to their owne rule, the Church recideth in the Pope and his Cardinals. They then that are in the Temple of God, that is, in the Church, whether they be Iewes or Gentiles, are they that are more fitly diſpoſed to receiue Antichriſt, then the Iewes that are out of the Church. And what fitter diſpoſition I pray you could Antichriſt finde, for his reception into the Church, then this doctrine, that ſendeth ouer his comming to the end of the world, againſt the expreſſe word of God? We doe not then any longer looke for this Sonne of perdition as one to come, but we are aſſured that he is come, and reioyce and giuegive glory to God, that he hath begun to execute his iuſtice vponupon the great Whore But they that yet crouch vnderunder the yoke of the Papacy, are doubly miſerable: for they are fettered in the ſhackles of Antichriſts tyranny, and yet they beleeue it not, but expect his comming with horror and feare, in ſtead of labouring to come out of Babylon, according to Gods commandem…nt.Bel. de Ro…. Pont. l. 3. c. 2. It is vaine therefore, and idle, that they ſay, that none of their Popes hath bene a Iew, either by Nation or Profeſſion: and that the Iewes hauehave not receiued him for their Meſſias, and therefore that he is not Antichriſt: ſeeing it is no better then a meere dotage, that Antichriſt muſt be a Iew, and accepted of the Iewes.
1. Repl. They reply: That Antichriſt ſhall deny Ieſus to be Chriſt: who is a lyar, but hee that denyeth Ieſus to bee the …riſt? This is Antichriſt, that denyeth the Father and the …nne. But the Pope doth not deny Ieſus to be Chriſt.
R. Ieſus may be denyed to be Chriſt, either ouertly or …uertly, by mouth or by deed: Thus the diuell in many …aces of the Goſpell, confeſſeth that Ieſus was the Chriſt, …e holy one of God: and yet what is his h art more ſet vp…n, then the ruine of this doctrine? In like manner, the Pope …onfeſſeth with his mouth that Ieſus is the Chriſt, but he de…eth the ſame, when by neceſſary conſequences he deſtroy…h the truth of his humane nature: aſ…ribing vntounto him an …circumſcribed body, which may be inuiſibly in many pla…s: a body conſequently, that is no body, according to this …xime of S. Auguſtine: Take away the ſpaces from bodies, …d they ſhall be no where; and becauſe no where, therefore not … all exiſting. Or when he robs him of his office, and de…oyes his benefit to vsus: His office, by aſſuming to himſelfe …e title of Head and husband to the Church, and communi…ting his interceſſion with the Saints: His benefit, in giuing …rt of the glory of our ſaluation to our merits, which wee …e entirely to the merit of him, That dyed for our ſinnes, and …ſe againe for our iuſtification: and ſo the Pope is truly and …roperly the very true and proper Antichriſt.
2. Repl. They reply ſecondly, that Antichriſt ſhall name …mſelfe God, and cauſe himſelfe to be worſhipped as God: …d that in …uch ſort, that he ſhall permit no other God to be …orſhipped, whether true or falſe, nor any Idols to bee re…ained: according to theſe wordes of the Apoſtle, 2. Theſſ. ….4. That he oppoſeth and lifteth vp himſelfe againſt all that … called God, or which is worſhipped, ſeating himſelfe as God in …e Temple of God, and deporting himſelfe as if hee were God. …ut the Pope acknowledgeth one God; the Father, Sonne, …nd holy Ghoſt: calleth himſelfe the ſeruant of God, and …orſhippeth (as the reformed ſay) Idols. Therefore the Pope … not Antichriſt.
Reſp. S. Chryſoſtome, Chryſoſt hom. 3. …n 2. Theſſ.excellently expoundeth this paſſage …f the Apoſtle: He ſaith not (ſaith he) calling himſelfe God, but labouring to ſhew himſelfe as God: for he ſhall doe magnificent workes, Theop…il. in 2. Theſſ 2. Athanaſ. ſiue vulgar. in 2. Theſſ. 2.and performe admirable miracles. Theophilact, and whoſoeuer was the Author of thoſe Commentaries attributed to S. Athanaſius, affirme as much. He ſaith not (ſay they) calling himſelfe God, but ſhewing himſelfe, that is, ſtriuing to make himſelfe acknowledged as God: for he ſhall performe both workes and wonders exceeding great, to deceiue the world. So that the Apoſtle meaneth not, that he ſhall openly name himſelfe God, but that by his workes hee ſhall conſtraine himſelfe to be ſo acknowledged, and ſhall vſurpe a diuine power and authority. Now, who can deny but that this accordeth fitly to the Pope; if he conſider that which we hauehave proued in the ſecond part of this Treatiſe, ſect. 6? As touching Idols, the Pope indeed condemneth them in word, but yet eſtabliſheth them vnderunder the name of Images. In ſumme,
C…ſi…ut vnite E… ſſ t aetat. in G… ſſ.Reſtituit Papa ſolus, deponit et ipſe,
Diuidit ac vnit, eximit, at que probat:
Articulos ſoluit, ſynodum que facit generalem
Transfert, et mutat, appellat nullus ab illo.
That is to ſay, the Pope of his owne ſole authority, reeſtabliſheth, diſpoſeth, vniteth, diuideth, exempteth, and approueth or reiecteth all writings, yea euen thoſe that are diuine. He breaketh the Articles of faith, he giueth authority to a generall Councill, he tranſlateth, and changeth, and none may appeale from his ſentence. Could a man ſay more, and in fewer words, either to proue that he calleth himſelfe God, or to declare himſelfe to be Antichriſt? For it is to no purpoſe to ſay, that the Pope pronounceth not theſe words, I am God: ſeeing there is none of theſe particular heads of doctrine, which the Gloſſer doth not proue by the Papall Conſtitutions.
3. Repl. There remaineth one difficulty, touching the miracles, wherewith Antichriſt is to accompany his doctrine: for not to mention their ſtrange tales, like to the iuggling trickes of the old Romanes, wherewith Remondus puffeth vp …e 27. Chapter of his Antichriſt; Bellarmine obiecteth, …at S. Iohn, Apoc. 13. giueth v… three ſorts of miracles of …ntichriſt: 1. That he ſhall cauſe fire to deſcend from heauen.
That he ſhall make the Image of the Beaſt to ſpeake. And … that he ſhall counterfeite himſelfe to be dead and riſe againe: …hence it followeth (faith he) that the Pope is not Anti…hriſt; foraſmuch as none of the Popes, euer fained himſelfe … be dead, and to riſe againe: none of them, nor of their …iniſters, made fire to deſcend from heauen, or the image …f the Beaſt to ſpeake.
Reſp. The two former ſorts of miracles, are indeed attri…ted to the ſecond Beaſt, that is, to Antichriſt, Apoc. 13. …t as for the third, it is a dotage or dreame, whereof S. …hn maketh no mention at all. He ſaith indeed: Th…t it …all be permitted to this ſecond Beaſt, that is, to Antichriſt; to …ue life to the image of the Beaſt: which hauing receiued a …adly wound, doth yet liue. But this Beaſt thus wounded is …e Romane Empire, at that time when it was diſmembred …to diuers Kingdomes, and in a manner wholly deſtroyed … diuers Nations, that tooke vp Armes againſt it: as may …ſily be gathered out of Apoc. 17. The Pope therefore …en gaue life, to the image of this Romane Empire, when …e recouered it from it's ruine in Charlemaigne; giuing vntounto …im, the Name, Title, and Authority, (as they themſelues …ag) of the Romane Emperour. Whence it is, that the …opes require alſo of theſe new Emperours, the oath of o…edience and fidelity, as vntounto their Lords and Superiours. …o that it is eaſie by conſequence to vnderſtand, what it is, To make the mage of the Beaſt to ſpeake: to wit, to giuegive au…hority to theſe new Caeſars, to command as Emperours: which they hauehave not, vntill ſuch time as they be crowned …nd conſecrated by the Pope. As touching the fire which …hey make to deſcend from heauen, at leaſt in ſhew and ap…earance, although their Legends furniſh vsus with ſufficient …xamples thereof; and particularly of S. Anthony, one of …he experteſt and nimbleſt of their Saints, for the managing of fire: neuertheleſſe it ſeemeth more fit, to referre it to a ſpirituall intelligence, to the fire of excommunication, wherewith they hauehave oftentimes enflamed the Empire, Kingdomes, and Common-weales, and ſo terrified Kings and Princes, that they hauehave bene forced to caſt themſelues at their feet,S…bell. Enead …. and to ſubmit their neckes vnderunder the yoke of their inſolencies: as were the Emperour Frederick, and Franc… Dandalus Duke of Venice: who ſuffered himſelfe to be chained like a dog, and to eate his meate with the dogs vnderunder the table of a Pope. Albeit, neuertheleſſe it is a wonder, that Bellarmine ſhould deny, that either the Pope or his miniſters, euer cauſed an Image to ſpeake: ſeeing this is one of the moſt ordinary miracles, that are found in their Legends Thus we read, that the Images ſaluted the body of Pope Formoſus, Platin. in vita Se…gij. …. Le…enda Beati Thoma.being drawne out of Tyber by fiſher men. Thus the Crucifix approued the third part of Thom… his ſumme, and ſaid vntounto him: Bene ſcripſiſtide me Thoma: Thou haſt written well of me Thomas. But hearken to an example which is worth the reciting.Promptu…r D… itul…ie miracul. B. Mariae, exemp. 42. A certaine Gentleman called Theophil…, being fallen into great pouerty, and thereby brought into diſpaire, gaue himſelfe to the diuell, with abiuration of his Baptiſme, of God, and of the Virgine Mary: which abiuration, he wrote with his owne blood, and it was ſealed with the diuels ſignet: but a while after, this poore Theophilus, repenting himſelfe of that he had done, proſtrated himſelfe moſt deuoutly before the image of the Virgin Mary, imploring her helpe with teares and weeping: who as alwaies mercifull and gracious, tooke pitty on him, and pardoned him: but the image of Ieſus Chriſt, which was in the armes of the Virgin, as being offended would not heare, but turned his face backward: which the image of the bleſſed Virgin perceiuing, laid the image of her Sonne vponupon the Altar, and went to finde out the diuell with Theophilus, whom ſhe reſtored into the fauour of God againe; and commanded the diuell to render vp vntounto him the writing of his abiuration. Who then can deny, that the images of the ſecond Beaſt ſpeake? Notwithſtanding, Bellarmine is to be pardoned for …s fault, ſeeing peraduenture he feared, leaſt out of …ords ſpoken by an image, to Pope Iohn the eight, Pa…annes tu paries: Pope Iohn thou ſhalt bring forth a …: ſome ſhould conclude againſt him, that the ſucceſſor …o the fourth, in the Papall Sea, was a woman. In briefe, … … praeſcience: We know not what he hath ordained therea…t, nor whether the vicious ſituation thereof at that time ſhall …ſchange it into another Ieruſalem. And a little after, he …dreth a reaſon of this ſpeech: For although (ſaith he) that … Citty be the ſeat of the Church; yet neuertheleſſe, it is not …mpted from the ſtrokes of Fortune. It is compoſed and cymented of no other mold and mettall, then was Troy, Thebes, and Carthage, great Romes corriuall, whereof ſcarce the firſt foundations are to be found. But yet for all this, he denieth that Antichriſt, muſt either reſide or preſide in the Chaire of …. Peter, and in the Romane Church: directly contrary to …he opinion of S. Bernard, who in his 125. Epiſtle thus ſpeaketh, The Beaſt of the Apocalyps, to whom is giuen a mouth …ttering blaſphemies, and power to warre againſt the Saints. …oſſeſſeth S. Peters Chaire, as a Lyon prepared for his prey. For albeit, he ſpeaketh not of Pope Innocent the ſecond, but of Peter de Luna, who by force had intended himſelfe into the Pontificall ſeate, yet he declareth that whether it be by fraude or by force, Antichriſt may ſit in S. Peters Chaire. Others perceiuing how hard it is to ſeparate the Citty of Rome, from the Church of Rome, which is therefore called Romane, becauſe it appertaines to Rome, and that in what place ſo euer wee conſt…tute the Pope, without poſſeſſing Rome, his Church cannot be the Romane Church; finde it more ſafe to ſay, that Ieruſalem and not Rome, ſhall bee the ſeate of Antichriſt, the Temple of Sal mon, and the Throne of Dauid, not the Temple of Saint Peter and Papall Chaire, which they thinke to extort by theſe Texts of holy Scripture.
Ob. 1 Saint Iohn, Apocal 11.8. witneſſeth, that Elias and Enoch ſhall fight againſt Antichriſt in Ieruſalem and there bee put to death by him,Bel. de R…m. P…nt l. 3. c. 13. and that their dead bodies ſhall lye in the ſtreet of the great Citty,R…lera i… Apo …. 11. art. 20, & 21. which is ſpiritually called Sodome and Aegypt, where our Lord was crucified. Thus A…etas (ſay they) and all others interprete this Text: neither can it be denyed. For what Citty is that, but Ieruſalem, wherein our Lord was crucified?
Reſp. Hiero… ep. ad Martel… Aug hom. 8. … Apoc. Beda in Apoc. Rupertus in Apoc. 6. Lyra in A…c. …ert… or l b. 3. … Ap…c.It is falſe, that all interprete this text of Ieruſalem. Saint Ierome interpreteth it of the world: S. Auguſtine ſaith, In the place of the great Citty, that is to ſay, in the midſt of the Church. Beda expounds it, of the Whoſe ſociety of the wicked, called (ſaith hee) spiritually Sodome and Aegypt, that is, dumbe and darke, is hauing neither the light of Faith, nor the voyce of Confeſſion. Rupertus vnderſtandeth it after the ſame manner, …or the Citty or Communalty of al the w…ck…d, whereof Ieruſalem was but a part. Lyra expounds it, of the Congregation of the faithfull, in the time of the Patriarch Arth…m…us, infect…d with the Eutichian hereſie. Berthorius the Monke thinks that the world is thereby meant. In breefe S. Ierome ſpeaking of this Text giueth the aduice: Touching Enoch and …lias whom the Apocalyps ſai…h, muſt returne and die, th…s is no time to diſpute thereof ſe… all that booke muſt be vnderſtood spiritually as I ſuppoſe: or if we follow our carnall interpretation, wee muſt receiue the Iewiſh Fables: That the Temple of Ieruſalem ſhall be built againe, and ſo ſacrifices offered in the Temple: and that the spirituall ſeruice being put downe, carnall Ceremonies ſhall ſucceed in place thereof. Finally, as by the holy Citty in this very Chapter is not meant one particular towne, but the whole Church of Chriſt vniuerſally ſcattered through the world: So through this Citty with the places thereof, ſignifieth principally Rome the ſeate of Antichriſt, as ſhe is painted out vnderunder this name, Apoc. 17. yet it is alſo to be vnderſtood of all other Citties, Lands, and places of the world, that ſubmit themſelues vnderunder Antichriſts yoke. And as the Poet hath vponupon other purpoſe ſaid, That other Nations hauehave their bounds and limits, Ouid.but that Rome is onelyonly bounded by the whole world: So we ſay that this great Citty is nothing elſe but the whole world that ſhall adhere vntounto Antichriſt. And in very deed, it is not found in holy Scripture, that Ieruſalem is euer called the great Citty.
And as touching theſe words, where our Lord was crucified, they muſt be taken after the ſame manner, as Sodome and Aegypt are, to wit, ſpiritually, as Saint Iohn ſpeaketh. For as Rome is Sodome for impurity, and Aegypt for tyranny: So our Sauiour Chriſt is heerein crucified eueryevery day aſwell in his members, as by the contempt of his Goſpell and Grace. Foraſmuch as they that re…ect the Goſpell preached vntounto them without repentance, doe as farre as in them lyes, crucifie againe the Sonne of God, and expoſe him to reproch, Heb. 6.6. Beſides the Sacrifice of Ieſus Chriſt, which they brag to offer vp eueryevery day, wherein Chriſt muſt needs bee reſpected as crucified: whereunto I might adde, that he was crucified vnderunder the Romane Empire, and by Pontius Pilate a Romane Magiſtra…e.
Ob. 2 In the ſeuenteenth of the Apocalyps it is ſaid, that the ten Kings, that ſhall ſhare amongſt them the Romane Empire,Bel. de R…m. Po…t. lib. 3. cap. 12. and vnderunder whoſe reigne Antichriſt muſt come, ſhall hate the Whore clothed with Scarlet, that is to ſay, Rome; and make her deſolate and burne her with fire. How can Rome then bee the ſeate of …ntichriſt, if at that time it muſt be deſolated and deſtroyed?
Reſp.This Obiection is compounded of many falſities. The firſt, when it ſetteth downe as granted, that Antichriſt ſhall come vnderunder the reigne of theſe ten Kings: for the Apoſtles tell vsus that he was already come in their time. Another, when it affirmeth, that theſe ten Kings ſhall diuide among themſelues alone the Romane Empire: whereas Saint Iohn ſaith, that the Beaſt, which is Antichriſt, ſhall partake with them in this diuiſion. They ſhall take (ſaith hee) vponupon them power as Kings, Apoc 17.17.at the ſame time with the Beaſt. Laſt, when it coniectureth that theſe ten Kings ſhall deſtroy the Whore aſſoone as they ſhall enter vponupon their reigne: whereas S. Iohn on the contrary ſheweth vsus, that they ſhall firſt accord with the Beaſt,I…d Apoc. ….15. and ſhall hauehave one Common Counſell with him, and giuegive vntounto him their Power and Authority, to fight againſt the Lambe: but at the laſt that they conceiuing a deadly hatred againſt the Whore, ſhall make her deſolate, and burne her with fire. So that out of ſuch premiſes can be drawne no other then a falſe concluſion. But let vsus returne this ſuppoſed truth of his interpretation, and that euen againſt himſelfe: for ſeeing this Whore which ſhall bee deſtroyed by the ten Kings which ſhall bee in the time of Antichriſt, is Rome: it cannot be meant of Rome Pagan, as he would,Bel Ibid. c. 13. but of Rome Chriſtian. For Rome was not Pagan ſince the time of the Emperour Conſtantine: and yet in their opinion Antichriſt muſt not come till a little before the end of the world. And certainely the Ancient Fathers plainely declare, that they did not vnderſtand this, but of Rome Chriſtian.Hieron. ad Marcel. v…. I thinke (ſaith S. Ierome ſpeaking of Iudea) that this place is more holy then the rocke of Tarpetus (that is to ſay Rome) which hauing beene ſo often ſtroken with Thunder from heauen, hath manifeſted that it hath displeaſed the Lord. Reade the Apocalyps of S. Iohn, and conſider that which hee reporteth of the woman clothed with Scarlet, of the blaſphemy written in her forehead, of ſeuen Mountaines, of many waters, and of the end of Babylon. Come out of her my people (ſaith the Lord) least yee partake of her plagues. Weigh alſo that which is written in Ieremy: Fly from Babylon, and ſaue eueryevery one his ſoule: for it is fallen, great Babylon is fallen, and made a habi…tion of diuels, and a reſort of eueryevery vncleane ſpirit. And to …e end that no man ſhould thinke he ſpeaketh of Rome Pa…n, he addeth: That in truth there is the holy Church, there …e trophees of the Apoſtles and Martyrs, there was the ſaith …reached by the Apoſtles, there the Chriſtian name hauing …ampled Paganiſme vnderunder foote, aduanceth it ſelfe aloft: But …here is alſo the power and ambition, &c. And what re…ained more I pray you? But that addreſſing his ſpeech to Rome, he ſaith vntounto her with Petrarch: Thou …t in truth the very ſame whom the Euangeliſt ſaw in ſpirit: the very ſame … ſay, and not another, who art ſet vponupon many waters. Hi…ron. in pra… D … … de ſpirit. ſanct….In another place the ſ…me Author ſpeaketh thus. When I conuerſed in Babylon, and was an Inhabitant of the purpled Whore; I …urpoſed to diſcourſe ſomething of the holy Spirit, and to dedicate the intended b…oke to the Biſhop of that Citty. But behold that Pot which is to be read of in Ieremy, after the ſtaffe on the North ſide, began to be inflamed: and the Senate of Phariſes made an outcry, neither was there one Scribe that counterfeited: but all the faction of ignorance conſpired againſt me, as if a combate of Doctrine had bene propounded. Therefore incontinently I returned to Ieruſalem, and reuiſited the lodging of Mary, with the Den of our Sauiour, after the Cottage of Romulus, and the Lupercalls of the Wolues. Where we ſee expreſſely, that he calleth Rome; euen Rome Chriſtian (for he ſpeaketh principally, of the Biſhop and Clergy thereof) both Babylon, and the Whore clothed with purple. If they reply, that admit it be ſo: yet Rome Chriſtian ſhall be deſtroyed by Antichriſt, and therefore is farre from being his ſeate: We anſwere, that this ſuppoſition is falſe, and contrary to that which S. Iohn ſpeaketh, Apoc. 17.
Ob. 3 Their third obiection, is drawne from the words of the Apoſtle, 2. Theſſ. 2.4. which are theſe: Euen to be ſet in the Temple of God. For though Anſelme expoundeth the Temple of God for the ſoules of the faithfull, then when they are ſeduced by Antichriſt: And S. Auguſtine vnderſtandeth that Antichriſt ſhall affirme himſelfe to be the Temple of God, the true Church. And S. Chryſoſtome taketh it for Chriſtian Churches, which Antichriſt ſh…ll ſubdue to himſelfe. Neuertheleſſe, the more common, more probable, and more literall interpretation (ſaith Bellarmine) is, that by the Temple of God, is …eant the Temple of Salomon.
….S. Chryſoſtomes interpretation is true: and that of Bellarmine vtterly repugnant to the Prophecies of holy Scripture, which ſpeake thus: That the Temple of Ieruſalem ſhall not be built againe. Dan. 9.27. Mat. 24.2. which Prophecies were long after verified,A… M… …ll. vnderunder the Emperour Iulian; who g…ing about to reedifie Ieruſalem, in fauour of the Iewes, and in hatred of Chriſtians, the foundations were turned vpſide downe, by terrible fire burſting violently out of the earth.…t. de A…. Cath…. … lib. 5. Ap. 1…. And Galatinus the Monke proueth by the Ancient Thalmudiſts, that there ſhall neuer be any building of a third Temple: Howbeit Bellarmine laboureth to proue his interpretation by reaſons, and thus he ſpeaketh.
Repl. Firſt, Chriſtian Churches (ſaith he) are neuer called the Temple of God, in the new Teſtament. Secondly, the moſt Ancient Fathers, both Greeke and Latine, did not call the pl…c…s of Chriſtian aſſemblies, by the name of Temples. Thirdly, this is the common expoſition of the Fathers: as of Irenaeus, Hippolitus Martyr, Cyrill, Hillary, Ambroſe, Se…a…us, Damaſcene. Fourthly, they that ſay that he ſhall ſit in the Church, ioyne neuertheleſſe thereunto the Temple of Ieruſalem: as Chr…ſoſtome, Theodoret, The…ph…lact. S. Auguſtine, S. Ierome, Oecumenius alone, and …e the l…teſt in time of all the reſt, denieth that Antichriſt ſhall hauehave his ſeate at Ieruſalem.
2. Cor. 1.1….R…p. The firſt reaſon is manifeſtly falſe: for, What agreement (ſaith the Apoſtle) is there betwixt the Temple of God and Idols? For you are the Temple of the liuing God: Now he ſpeaketh all this to the Chriſtian Church at Corinth. He that ouercommeth (ſaith S. Iohn) I will make a pillar in the Temple of my God, Apoc. 3.12. that is to ſay, in the Church, as Beda expounds it.Beda in Apoc. cap 3. And in the 11. Chapter, a reed is giuen to S. Iohn, to meaſure the Temple of God, that is to ſay: intelligence to Prophecy of the eſtate of the Church of God: … as S. Auguſtine ſaith:Aug. hom. 8. in Apoc. To number the Church and prepare … againſt the laſt day: for the Temple of Ieruſalem was not …en in being. The ſecond reaſon is fooliſh: for wherefore …hould the Apoſtles and the Doctors, that imediately fol…owed them, giuegive the name of Temples to the places where Chriſtians aſſ…mbled, ſeeing they had not as yet any Tem…les as Bell… m…ne auoucheth? The third reaſon binde… vsus …ot againſt the Scriptures: and our Aduerſaries do often al…o reiect th… Fath…rs in this argument. As for thoſe Fath…rs, that ioyne the Temple of the Iewes, with the Church of Chriſtians; they ſpeake figuratiuely, and meant thereby no other thing, but that Antichriſt ſhould ſit in the Chriſtian Church, which is collect…d and compounded of both Iewes and Gentiles, as we alſo affirme. So that Oecumenius doth not contradict them at all, but onelyonly interprets their meaning. And to purpoſe, what can be more cleare, then that which Theodoret writeth vponupon this place of the Theſſalonians? He calleth (ſaith he) the Temple of God, the Churches wherein Antichriſt ſhall rauiſh to himſelfe the firſt ſeate, to make himſelfe a knowledged therein as God: For how could a man more liuely and punctually deſigne, not onelyonly the Church in generall, but alſo the Church of Rome in particular; the Biſhop whereof was ordinarily ſtiled, The Biſhop of the fi…ſt ſeate?