Antichrist the Pope of Rome, Part 1 · Chapter 4
CHAP. 4. Touching the ſeate of Antichriſt in generall.
1. THe ſeate of Antichriſt (that is, the place where hee ſhall reigne and ſit) is to bee conſidered two wayes: Firſt, at large, ſecondly, more peculiar and proper. His Seate at large is deſcribed, 2. …heſſ. 2.3.4. to bee in the Temple of God: and his proper and peculiar Seate is marked out, Reuel. 17.18. to be the great City with ſeuen hils, which ruled then ouer the Kings of the earth. And theſe two different conſiderations, doe fall into each others: for therefore hee is ſaid to ſit in the Church of God, becauſe he ſitteth in the City with ſeuen hils, which taketh vponupon her ſelfe the name of the Catholike Church: and therefore in the City with ſeuen hils, becauſe in the Church.
2. By the Temple wherein Saint Paul ſaith Antichriſt ſhal fit, cannot be meant the Temple at Ieruſalem, as ſome of the Fathers hauehave imagined, and the Papiſts accuratly defend, as moſt fit for their Antichriſt, which they ſuppoſe to ariſe out of the nation of the Iewes; and that for three reaſons. Firſt, becauſe the Temple of Ieruſalem was a type and a figure of the Church of Chriſt, and therefore as other types and figures did, ſo ought it to ceaſe at the comming of the body and the truth: and therefore when the Church was gathered out of the Iewes and Gentiles, that Temple was to hauehave an end; they then that expect the reſtoring of the Temple, with the ſame labour expect the reſtauration of the Iewiſh Ceremonies. For as the Tabernacle which Moſes erected, which was a type of the Church Militant, ceaſed at the building of the firſt Temple; ſo that Temple both in the firſt and ſecond inſtitution which was a type of the Church triumphant, was to ceaſe and yeeld to the ſpirituall Temple which is the Church, wherein is repreſented both the Church Militant and Triumphant. Secondly, it cannot be vnderſtood of the Temple of Ieruſalem, becauſe it was foretold both by the Prophets and Chriſt himſelfe, that the ſecond Temple being once laid waſte, ſhould neuer be …ee …ified againe. Daniel ſaith plainely, that the abomination of deſolation ſhould continue to the end, Dan. 9.…7. that …s, to the conſummation and end of the world, as both Saint Ierome, Theodoret, and Origen expound the words. Eſay alſo according to Saint Ieromes interpretation prophecyeth of the ſame vtter and irrecouerable deſtruction. Chap. 25.12. And ſo doth Ieremiah, Chap. 19.8.11. where he ſaith, I will breake this people and this City, as one breaketh a Potters veſſell that cannot be made whole againe. Which words, ſaith S. Ierome cannot be meant of the Babylonian, but of the Roman captiuity: for after the captiuity of Babylon the City was againe reſtored with the Temple; but after the deſtruction by Titus and Veſpaſian, it was neuer to be reſtored. But Chriſts prophecy is moſt pregnant of all the reſt, both Luke. 19.44. where he ſaith, That one ſtone ſhall not bee l…ft vponupon another, that ſhall not be ouerthrowne. And Chap. 21.24. That Ieruſalem ſhall bee troden downe of the Gentiles, vntill the time of the Gentiles ſhall be fulfilled: that is, till the end of the world, as Saint Chryſoſtome in his ſecond Oration againſt the Iewes expounds it. Thirdly, the euent in experience ſheweth the truth of all this: for the Temple hath beene oftentimes attempted to bee reedified: firſt by the counterfeit Meſſias, Barchochebas vnderunder Hadrian the Emperor: ſecondly, in the time of Conſtantine by the Iewes: and thirdly, by Iulian the Apoſtate, who deputed vntounto that worke Alipius of Antiochia, and furniſhed him with all prouiſion neceſſary for the accompliſhing thereof. But as Saint Chryſoſtome ſpeaketh,Chryſoſt. orat. 2. contra Iudae…s. They knew not that they went about an impoſſible thing, the Lord from heauen by a fearefull earthquake and reuenging flames, with miraculous croſſes fixed in their garments diſappointed their purpoſe, and made them will they nill they to ſurceaſe from their worke. Iulians ſcope with the reſt of the Iewes was to conuince Chriſt our Sauiour as a lying Prophet: but they themſelues were thereby conuinced of horrible impiety, blaſphemy, and apoſtacy, againſt the Son of God. Adde heereunto the conſent of Chryſoſtome, Origen, Orig. tract. 29. in Mat. Cyrill in Ruffin… lib. 1. c. p. 37. Hieron ad Marcell…. Sozom…n. lib. 5. cap. vlt.Cyrill of Ieruſalem, and Ierome with others, that the opinion of reſtoring the Temple is to bee numbred amongſt Iewiſh Fables.
3. Neither by the Temple of God can we vnderſtand any other materiall Temples built of Lime and Stone, as if Antichriſt ſhould chuſe one of them to make his ſeat in, and from thence to exerciſe his dominion ouer the reſt. For God dwelleth not in Temples built with hands: and theſe places are called Temples and Churches, not for their ſtructure and building, but by reaſon of the aſſemblies of Gods people in them, to offer vp ſpirituall ſacrifices of Prayer and praiſe vntounto God: ſo that whereſoeuer Gods people aſſemble together to pray vntounto God, and to praiſe his name, and to heare his Word, and to receiue the Sacraments, there is the Church, though in the caues of the earth, or any other priuate place, as was in times of perſecution: neuertheleſſe, if we vnderſtand materiall Churches,Hilar lib. contra Arrian. e… Auxen…. yet we ſay with Saint Hilary, that euen in theſe Antichriſt ſhall ſit, Poteſtate regiminis, non actu preſentiae corporalis, that is, By the power of rule, and not by corporall preſence.
4. But by the Temple of God is meant the Church militant, which Saint Peter calleth a Spirituall houſe, built of liuely ſtones, that is Chriſtian ſoules. 1. Peter. 2.5. this Saint Paul calleth the Houſe of God, 1. Tim. 3.15. anſwerable to that of the Prophet concerning the Temple of Salomon; My houſe ſhall bee called an houſe of prayer to all Nations. It is a wonder that Bellarmine ſhould bee either ſo ignorant, or impudent to affirme, that in the Scripture of the New Teſtament, by the Temple of God is neuer vnderſtood the Chriſtian Church, but euermore the Temple of Ieruſalem: whereas the contrary is moſt apparantly true, as 1. Cor. 3.16. Know yee not that yee are the Temple of God? where he ſpeaketh to all thoſe in the Church of Corinth, that call vponupon the name of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, as is plaine in the firſt Chapter of the ſame Epiſtle, and ſecond verſe. Againe, 1. Cor. 3.17. The Temple of God is holy, which are you, and 2. Cor. 6.16. You are the Temple of the liuing God: and Epheſ. 2.20.21. And yee are built vponupon the foundation of the Prophets and Apoſtles, Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe being the cheife corner ſtone, in whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth to an holy Temple in the Lord. So Apoc. 3.12. He that ſhall ouercome I will make him a pillar in the Temple of my God, &c. With what face then can Bellarmine auouch, that neuer in the New Teſtament, is meant the Church, but alwaies the Temple of Ieruſalem. And the reaſon of this appellation is euident; that ſeeing the Temple of Salomon, called the houſe of God, and houſe of prayer, was a type or figure of the Church of Chriſt, therefore by an vſuall Metonymy in holy Scripture, the Church of Chriſt is called the Temple of God, and the Houſe of God, and that not onelyonly in the New Teſtament, but alſo in the Old, as Zachar. 3.8. Eſay. 14.1. Ier. 23.8. and 3….1…. And though ſome of the Fathers are againſt this interpretation, as Irenaeus who ſuckt this error, as ſome others, from P…pias a man coetane with ſome of the Apoſtles, yet too much giuen to ſuperſtitious opinions which he broached in the Church as Apoſtolicall traditions, as all know; yet the moſt of them are for it; as Saint Ierome, ad Algaſ. q. 11. In templo Dei vel Hieroſolymis vt quidam putant, vel in eccleſia vt verius arbitramur. Saint Auguſtine de ciuitate Dei lib. 10 c…p 19 In templum Dei ſedet, tanquam ipſe ſit templum Dei quod eccleſia Chryſoſtom. in 2 Theſſ. 2. Sedebit in temp…o Dei, non Hieroſolymitano, ſed adeo in ipſis eccleſus. The very ſame is affirmed by Oecumonius the follower of Saint Chryſoſtome in his Commentary vponupon 2. Theſſ. 2. and by Theodoret on the ſame place, and by Primaſius: Aquinas alſo enclines to the ſame opinion, and ſo doth Zua ez, whoſe plane cenſure is this: Hic ſenſus errorem non continet, ſed potius probabilis eſt.
5. The words in the Greeke are foreign, which may receiue foure ſeuerall interpretations. Firſt, In templo; ſecondly, Supra templum: thirdly, Tanquam templum: and laſtly, Contra templum; eueryevery one of theſe hath it Authour and Fautors; but which way ſoeuer they be taken, all fitly agree to the Pope. For firſt, he ſits in the Church, that is, in that which they falſly call the Catholicke Church, wherein without queſtion there are hidden many true members of the true Church. Secondly, he ſits in it not as an ordina y member thereof, but as the head thereof, and ſo exalts himſelfe aboue it, as the head is aboue the members; and this the word, Set, doth emphatically declare: for to ſit is nothing elſe but to reigne: and to ſhew that none but the Pope is this Antichriſt, whereas Kings are ſaid to reigne and not to ſit; Popes are ſaid to ſit, and not to reigne, as if they would verifie this prophecy to the letter. Thirdly, he ſits in the Church, Tanquam templum, as the Church, according to S. Auguſtine, for he alone ſometimes, as when it is ſaid, Papa eſt tota eccleſia virtualiter; and ſometimes ioyntly with his Cleargy, vſurpe vntounto themſelues the name of the Catholicke Church, excluding not onelyonly all others from that title that hold not with the Pope, but euen their owne Laity alſo, as if they were the onelyonly people and heritage of the Lord. Thus ſaith Saint Auguſtine, Sedes in amicum, ſignifieth, velut amicus, As a Friend; and the Scripture ſaith in like maner: …ſto mihi in Deum protectorem & in locum refugij, that is, Be, O God, as my protector and place of refuge. Laſtly, he ſits againſt the Church, though he pretend neuer ſo much the title of the Church: For did euer Wolfe ſo hauocke the flocke of ſheepe, as the Pope doth the ſoules of men by his damnable and pernicious doctrines? So then, we need not ſeeke Antichriſt in the old wals of Babylon, nor among the ruines of Ieruſalem, nor amongſt the Turkes and ſuch as are ſtrangers to Chriſtianitie: but we muſt ſeeke him in the boſome of the Church and amongſt them that vant themſelues the onelyonly Catholicke Church of Chriſt.
6. It is a moſt friuolous and abſurd exception, that the Ieſuites take againſt this, namely, that if the Pope whom we auerre to be Antichriſt do ſit in the Church, then the Church of Rome is the true Church, and we in ſeparating our ſelues from the communion thereof, Schi…matikes, and Heretikes. For firſt, it is certaine that the Church of Rome was once the true Church of Chriſt, and famous for her faith and godlines Secondly, that they ſtill pretend themſelues to be the onelyonly Catholicke Church. And thirdly, we confeſſe, that they are ſtill a Church, though wonderfully corrupted and depraued, as a ſicke body that hath no ſoundneſſe in it, but yet ſtill holdeth life, for it hath in it the ſound doctrine of the Trinity, and Chriſtian Baptiſme, with all the Articles of the Faith. But they hauehave added heereunto many fearefull Idolatries and groſſe corruptions, and ſo are like a maſſe of mettall wherein there is ſome Gold, but more Tinne, Copper, Braſſe, Lead, and Droſſe. The vniuerſality of the name of the Church ſtretcheth it ſelfe to all that are dipped with the water of Baptiſme, and any waies profeſſe Chriſt: but of this body ſome parts are more ſound, other languiſh with diſeaſes, and ſome againe are ſurprized (though yet breathing) with deadly Symtomes, and with death it ſelfe: of this latter kinde is the Church of Rome, which is poſſeſſed with a mortall ſickneſſe, euen neere vntounto death, from the crowne of the head, to the ſole of the foot. Now are we departed from the Church, becauſe we renounce her corruptions? Do we forſake the whole maſſe, becauſe we abandon the droſſe, and other mixt mettals, and retaine onelyonly the Gold? Doth a man therefore forſake his Country, becauſe he flyeth from one City infected with the plague, into another wherein the aire is purer within the ſame dition and dominion? This is ſo abſurd a concluſion, that it needs no refutation. Fourthly, there is no doubt, but that in the midſt of this corrupt Church, there are many true members of the Church of Chriſt, who hate the abominations of the Scarlet Whore, and though ſecretly, yet ſincerely worſhip God in ſpirit and truth. And laſtly, after the ſame maner is the Church, wherein Antichriſt ſitteth: as the Iewes were the people of God, when they had defiled themſelues with moſt filthy Idolatries: neither are we more to bee accounted Schiſmatikes for our ſeparation from this Synagogue of Satan, then the godly were among the Iewes, who obeying the admonitions of the Prophets, ſeparated themſelues from the ſociety of thoſe wicked Idolaters.
7. Saint Auguſtine writing to this purpoſe, vponupon the firſt Epiſtle of Saint Iohn, tract. 3. approueth this expoſition; For (ſaith he) all Heretikes and Schiſmatikes went out from amongſt vsus; that is, went out of the Church: but they could not goe out if they were of vsus: and therefore before they went out, they were not of vsus: and if before they went out they were not of vsus, then many are within and not gone out, and yet are Antichriſts. And Occumenius vponupon the ſame Epiſtle of Saint Iohn rendreth a reaſon why it is ſaid, that the Antichriſts are sprung out of the Church, to wit, to the end (ſaith he) that they might bee accounted worthy of credit with them whom they ſhould ſeduce, as comming from the Diſciples, and preaching the word of God, according to the intention of their Maſter. Which reaſon doth ſo much the more agree vntounto the great Antichriſt, by how much that his ſeduction ſtretcheth it ſelfe to more, and therefore hath need of greater appearance to be Chriſts Diſciple, that the poyſon of his deceit, might more powerfully worke into the hearts of men. And therefore ſeeing the Pope doth more proudly vaunt himſelfe of the name of Chriſt and the Catholike Church, then any other Heretikes hauehave done: it cannot be doubted, but that this marke of Antichriſt doth more properly agree vntounto him then vntounto any other.