Antichrist the Pope of Rome, Part 1 · Chapter 5
CHAP. 5. Touching the particular ſeate of Antichriſt.
1. THe proper and peculiar ſeat of Antichriſt, is not Ieruſalem, as ſome Papiſts contend, nor yet the City of the deuill oppoſite to the City of God, nor yet Rome Pagan, as it was before Conſtantine, as others; nor yet Rome deſolated and ruined at the end of the world, as a third ſort auerre: but the City of Rome whilſt it beares the name of Chriſtian, and pretends it ſelfe to be the Mother of all Churches, and the place of Saint Peters Chair…. Not Ieruſalem, becauſe that City and Temple was ſo deſtroyed, that they are neuer againe to be reſtored, as hath beene proued: neither is it either probable or poſſible, that Antichriſt in the ſpace of three yeeres and an halfe, which is the time aſſigned vntounto him for his reigne, ſhould build ſo famous a City and a Temple to reſide in. And therefore by that great City ſpoken of, Reuel. 11.8. in the ſtreets whereof it is ſaid, that the dead bodies of the two witneſſes ſhould lye, cannot be meant Ieruſalem, which is no where in the new Teſtament called the great City, but Ciuitas Romana, the City of Rome, whoſe center being at that time in Italy, ſpread it ſelfe by the circumference almoſt ouer all the world: and is fitly called Sodome for the filthineſſe therein committed, wherein that vnnameable ſinne of Sodome is not onelyonly practi…ed, but euen commended and approued, a Cardinall of theirs hauing written a booke in praiſe thereof: And Aegypt, for the cruelty and idolatry: and in this City it is truly ſaid, that the Lord was crucified, not onelyonly in his members, but euen in a Prouince and kingdome thereof, which all Iudea was at that time.
2. Not the City of the diuell, and multitude of wicked men: for if the Whore be ſo to be vnderſtood, then the water… whereon ſhe ſitteth, which the Angell interprets to be peoples, multitudes, and Nations, are not the City of the diuell, nor yet the Kings that committed fornication with her. For the ſame cannot be both the place and perſon that ſitteth on the place. If then the Whore of Babylon ſitteth, that is, reigneth ouer the multitude of the wicked, then ſhe cannot ſignifie the ſame multitude her ſelfe. Beſides, if all the inhabitants of the earth, whoſe names are not written in the booke of life, be the multitude of the wicked, Apoc. 13.8. and this multitude doe follow and adore the Beaſt. Apoc. 13.3. then if this multitude be the Beaſt it ſelfe, it muſt needs follow that the Beaſt ſhould follow and adore it ſelfe, which is moſt abſurd. Some of our Aduerſaries perceiuing this contradiction doe of themſelues reiect this interpretation. Remond in his 26. Chapter de Antichriſto, ſaith plainly, that by the Whore of Babylon is meant the City of Rome, confirming the ſame by the authority of S. Auguſtine, Oroſius, and S. Ierome: Bellarmine condeſcendeth to the ſame opinion, and ſo alſo doe Ribera, and Viegas two other Ieſuites.
3. Nor Rome Pagan vnderunder the heathen Emperours: For firſt, this diſtinction of Rome Pagan and Chriſtian, is meerely Sophiſticall and abſurd. For S. Iohn in the Apocalyps, ſpeaketh of one onelyonly Rome, and that from the period of his owne time, till the vtter ruine and deſtruction thereof. Apoc. 17.16. Now what a folly is it to dreame of two Romes together, when as he ſpeaketh expreſſely but of one? Secondly, the City of Rome was neuer but one and the ſame, wherein firſt the Pagan Emperours reigned, which S. Iohn repreſenteth by the firſt Beaſt: and then after them, Antichriſt, which is the ſecond Beaſt, or at leaſt the ſeuenth head thereof. In both which times, notwithſtanding the perſecutions raiſed againſt them, there liued, and ſtill do liue, many godly Chriſtians. And therefore it is falſe which ſome of them affirme, that Rome is not the ſame that it hath bene, being deſcended from the ſeuen mountaines, where all their ſtately Palaces were erected, into the field of Mars: as if it were not ſituate in the ſame place where Ancient Rome was, and therefore not the ſame City, with that which is ſpoken of in the Apocalyps. For as Rome in the time of the Emperour Claudius, vnderunder whom Mount Auentine was taken within the compaſſe of the walles, is not another different City from that which was in the times of the Kings and Conſuls, when the circuite was farre leſſe: So that Rome which is at this day, is not another from that which was in the time of S. Iohn, though the compaſſe of the wals be farre leſſe, by a thouſand and two hundred paces, as Onuphrius reporteth.Onuphr …mment. Reip…b. Rom. lib. 1. And for the field of Mars, whither they ſay the City is deſcended; it was in the reigne of the Emperour Aurelian, that the plaine was encloſed with in the wals, and yet ſo encloſed, that none of the ſeuen Mountaines were left out; though the buildings began to be more frequent in this plaine. For after the ſacking of the City, by the Gothes and Totilas, when the third part of the wal… were ouerthrowne, Belliſarius and Narſes reedified them againe, and well-neere in the ſame place, and vponupon the ſame foundat ons, which after were enlarged by Pope Leo the fourth, by taking in Mount Vaticane, Blondu… R…m… Inſtan. lib 1.as Blondus affirmeth: So that it cannot be denyed, but Rome is the ſame at this day, which it was in the age of S. Iohn, albeit in regard of the great ruines thereof, it may be much changed in the buildings and edifices. All this is confeſſed by the Ieſuite Ribera, writing vponupon the 14. Chapter of the Apocalyps, art. 43. For he acknowledgeth, that it is for ſituation one and the ſame City ſtill, which being ſoiled with ſo many foule impieties, muſt one day be purged with fire: and that many in Rome at this day by their names and Genealogies, doe boaſt themſelues to be deſcended from the Ancient Romanes: and though they be not ſo deſcended, yet by ioyning themſelues vntounto them, and making vp but one ioynt body of a Common-wealth, and following their foot-ſteeps of wickedneſſe, they are to be reputed the ſame Citizens and Children of thoſe vngodly parents, though not by nature, yet by imitation, and ſo are liable to the ſame plagues and puniſhments which were denounced againſt them: thus Ribera. And therefore Bellarmines diſtinction of Rome Pagan, and Rome Chriſtian is friuolous; for Rome hath euer bene, and is, but one and the ſame, wherein there euer were from the beginning of the preaching of the Goſpell to them, both Chriſtians and Pagans; and this Rome as it might in ſome ſenſe be called the purpled Whore, vnderunder the dominion of the firſt Beaſt, ſo it doth much more continue to be, vnderunder the dominion of the ſecond Beaſt. Neither doth it follow from hence, that Antichriſt ſhould therefore reigne in the time of Nero, and Domitian, and other perſecuting Emperours, though his myſtery began then to worke, according to S. Paul, 2. Theſſ. 2. For Rome is not onelyonly named the Whore of Babylon, in regard of the ſecond Beaſt, which is Antichriſt; but alſo in regard of the firſt, the Romane Emperours. Thirdly, if Rome Pagan be the ſeate of Antichriſt, then Rome, & not Ieruſalem, is his ſeate; and then Antichriſt is already come, vnderunder the Heathen Emperours, both which they themſelues moſt ſtiffely deny. Fourthly, if the whole ſtate of the Romane Empire, be figured out by the Beaſt with ſeuen heads, whereof the ſixt was the Emperours, and the ſeuenth Antichriſt, as is confeſſed by moſt (though the name of the whole Beaſt be alſo attributed to Antichriſt, in the ſame Chapter by S. Iohn:) and if S. Iohn deſcribes the ſtate of the whole Beaſt, not ſeuering one part from the reſt: then it muſt needs follow, that that City which was the feare of the Emperours, muſt alſo be the ſeate of Antichriſt. Fiftly, if S. Iohn had meant to repreſent vnderunder the type of myſticall Babylon, Rome Pagan, he would not hauehave deſcribed it as it was to be vnderunder the eight King, namely Antichriſt, who is called the eight, and yet is …aid to be one of the ſeuen, but as it was vnderunder the ſixt head, to wit, the Emperours: neither would he hauehave ſaid, that it ſhould aſcend out of the bottomleſſe pit, ſeeing that was already aſcended, and in a moſt flouriſhing eſtate. Sixtly, Rome is deſcribed by S. Iohn as it was to be a little before the laſt and finall deſtruction thereof, Apoc. 18.21.22.23. and as vnderunder the reigne of Antichriſt: but in the time of the heathen Emperours, Antichriſt was not come by their owne confeſſion, neither hath it bene yet vtterly deſtroyed, though it was grieuouſly ſacked, ſpoiled, and defaced, by the Gothes, yet it remaineth ſtill a famous City. It is impoſſible then, that S. Iohn ſhould repreſent Rome Pagan, wherein neither of theſe were performed. Seuenthly, S. Iohn ſpeakes of Rome in that eſtate which it was in, after the deſolation of the Empire, it being diuided amongſt ten Kings, who were to receiue their Kingdome together with the Beaſt, that is, Antichriſt which can no waies agree to Rome Pagan, for Rome ceaſed to be Pagan before the diſſolution of the Empire, and neither the Beaſt, nor the ten Kings had then receiued their dominion. Eightly, S. Iohn prophecying of the Whore of Babylon and her idolatry, with the perſecution of the Saints, is rapt with admiration, and calleth it a myſtery: but if he had meant Rome Pagan, what Prophecy, what myſtery, what matter of admiration had bene therein? Could either S. Iohn, or the Saints, be ignorant of the Idolatry and cruelty of Rome Ethnicke, when they beheld them with their eies? Laſtly, thoſe things which are ſpoken of the Whore of Babylon, doe not agree at all to Rome Pagan, to wit, that the Kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and that the inhabitants of the earth ſhould be made drunke with her wine. For ancient Rome did not allure Louers vntounto her by whoriſh enticements, but conquered them by politike wiſedome, and warlike valour: neither did ſhe impoſe her religion vponupon conquered Countries, but rather receiued their religions into her ſelfe, ſo that (as their owne Leo affirmeth) ſhe was ſubiect to the religions and errours of all Nations,Leo de Petro et Paulo. ſer. 1. all which is truly verified of Rome Chriſtian.
4. Nor laſtly, Rome diſſolued, ruined, and rel…pſed (as ſome of them ſay it ſhall be at the end of the world) but not whilſt it profeſſeth it ſelfe to be Chriſtian: for who can tell that Rome ſhall reuolt into Paganiſme? Where learnt they this Prophecy? I am ſure, that this conceite hath no foundation in holy Scripture, no footſtep in the monuments of holy Fathers, no teſtimony of Schoolemen, no conſent of their owne writers; and laſtly, no moments of reaſon to maintaine it. Suarez, Alcaſar, Iuſtinianus, diſallow it, and Maluenda that labou…eth as much in this queſtion as any, deteſts it as altogether incredible, and why ſhould any then beleeue their vaine and idle coniectures?
5. Seeing therefore that none of theſe is the ſeate of this Man of Sinne, it muſt needes follow, that Rome Chriſtian and Papall, is his proper Seate and Throne, which may be confirmed by this demonſtratiue Syllogiſme: Myſticall Babylon is the ſeate of Antichriſt: but Rome Papall is myſticall Babylon: therefore Rome Papall is the ſeate of Antichriſt. To this Syllogiſme they can giuegive no ſound nor ſolid anſwer, but are diſtracted into diuers opinions: Some of them granti…g the propoſition, deny the aſſumption: others confeſſing the aſſumption, deny the propoſition; but neither of them bring any probable reaſon of their deniall: and therefore ſeeing they hauehave nothing to oppoſe reaſonably againſt the premiſſes, they muſt needes admit the concluſion, as the Engliſh Rhemiſts, in Apoc. 17.5. in a manner do. For as Nero and other Emperours, which bore the figure of Antichriſt, had their prime ſeate at Rome: ſo (ſay they) it is moſt likely, that the great An…ichriſt ſhall alſo ſit at Rome. But that our argument may be vndeniable, it ſhall not bee amiſſe to proue both the propoſitions ſeuerally by themſelues.
6. That myſticall Babylon is the ſeate of Antichriſt, may be proued by diuers reaſons: I ſay myſticall Babylon, not the true Babylon in Chaeldea, properly ſo called, where, Antiochus Epiphanes reigned, who was the type of Antichriſt: for the Woman in the Apocalyps, is ſaid to hauehave the name Myſtery written in her forehead, to wit, the great Babylon, the mother of fornications, & abhominations of the earth, Apoc. 17.5. plainly thereby ſhewing, that that Babylon whereof S. Iohn ſpeaketh, muſt be myſticall. Firſt, becauſe the Chaldean Babylon was a type of this myſticall, and therefore as that was the ſeate of Antiochus the type: ſo this muſt needs be the ſeate of Antichriſt himſelfe. Secondly, that which is the ſeate of the Beaſt, muſt needes be the ſeate of Antichriſt, for Antichriſt is deſcribed to be the laſt head of the Beaſt, Apoc. 17. and ſometimes by a Synecdoche, is named the whole Beaſt; but myſticall Babylon is the ſeate of the Beaſt, therefore alſo of Antichriſt. Thirdly, becauſe that which is the ſeate of the Whore, is alſo the ſeate of Antichriſt, for the Whore and Antichriſt are one and the ſame thing, by the confeſſion of many learned Papiſts: but myſticall Babylon is the ſ…ate of the Whore, and therefore of Antichriſt. Fourthly, the ſame that was the ſeate of the ſix firſt heads of the Beaſt, muſt needes alſo be the ſeate of the ſeuenth and laſt; but myſticall Babylon was the ſeate of the ſix firſt heads, to wit, Kings, Conſuls, Dictatours, Decemniti, Tr…bunes, and Emperours; therefore alſo of the ſeuenth and laſt, which is Antichriſt. Laſtly, that City which in the time of Antichriſt was to be the Metropolis of impiety, and mother of fornications, and abhominations of the earth, wherewith the Kings of the earth ſhould commit fornication, and the inhabitants be made drunke with her poyſoned cup, and which ſhould be her ſelfe drunke with the blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Ieſus, is without doubt the ſeate of Antichriſt: but S Iohn deſcribeth myſticall Babylon to be ſuch a City; and why ſhould any doubt then, but that it is the proper ſeate of Antichriſt?
7. Concerning the aſſumption, that Rome Chriſtian is myſticall Babylon, may be proued by many arguments and reaſons, but all may be reduced to this one head, namely, that ſeeing the deſcription of Babylon made by S. Iohn, Apoc. 17. doth exactly agree vntounto Rome in eueryevery point, the…efore it cannot but be, that Babylon is there intended. But not to ſtand vponupon eueryevery particular, there are two notes in the d…ſcription, which ſo euidently marke out the City of Rome, as there can be no place of doubting left: for they ſo properly agree vntounto Rome, that they cannot be applyed to any other City of the world. The firſt is, Apoc. 17.18. where the Angell telleth Iohn, that the Woman, to wit, the Whore of B…bylon, is th great City, which hath dominion ouer the Kings of the earth: now what City had then, and long after, euen in the Chriſtian ſtate thereof dominion ouer the Kings of the earth, but Rome onelyonly? No man is ſo ignorant as not to know this to be true, none ſo impudent as to deny it. The ſecond note is, that this Woman ſitteth vponupon ſeuen hils: and this is the ſituation of Rome at this day, for the wals of the City encloſe ſeuen hils: to wit, Palatine, Capitoline, Quirinall, Coelius, Eſquilme, Vininall, and Auentine, and therefore it is called in Greeke, Roma foreign, and in Latine Septicollis, and to that end they held a Feaſt eueryevery yeere, as Plutarch reporteth, called Septimontum, in honour of thoſe ſeuen hills. Propertius lib. 3. Eleg. 10. concludeth both theſe notes in one verſe.
Septem vrbs alta iugis, toti quae praeſidet Orbi.
Now from hence I thus conclude: that City which in the time of S. Iohn, had dominion ouer the Kings of the earth, and was ſituate vponupon ſeuen hils, is myſticall Babylon. But Rome in S. Iohns time, had dominion ouer the Kings of the earth, and was ſituate vponupon ſeuen hils; therefore Rome is myſticall Babylon. Hither I might adde the teſtimony of the Fathers, as of Tertullian aduerſus Iudaeos et contra Marcion. lib. 3. cap. 13. Euſeb. lib. 2. cap. 14. Hieron. in Eſaiam. lib. 13. cap. 47. et ad Algaſ. q. 11. Victorinus Martyr in Apocalyps. &c. But S. Auguſtines witneſſe ſhall ſerue for all the reſt: he in his booke de ciuitate Dei. lib. 18. cap. 1. 21. 27. et lib. 16. cap. 17. calleth Rome the ſecond Babylon, another Babylon, and the Weſterne Babylon. Yea many of the Popiſh Doctors themſelues, being ouercome with the force of truth, confeſſe the ſame. As Baronius, Ann. 45. nu. 18. Pabera in Apocal. 14.11.27.28. Viegas in Apoc. 17. com 1. ſect. 3. Bellar. de Rom. Pontif. lib. 2. cap. 2. and lib. 3. …ap. 13 &c.
8. The Rhemiſts in their Annotations vponupon the 17. of the Apocalyps, diſtinguiſh betwixt the Romane Church, and the Romane Babylon. The Church (ſay they) in Rome was one thing, and Babylon in Rome another thing. Peter ſate in Rome, and Nero ſate in Rome; but Peter as in the Church of Rome, Nero as in the Babylon of Rome; thus they. And thereupon they inferre, that Rome Chriſtian is not myſticall Babylon, and ſo not Antichriſts ſeate, but Rome Pagan and Heathen. But this is a moſt idle conceite: for though it be true, that the Church of Rome was one thing, and Babylon in Rome another; yet they were both in Rome, and ſo mixt together, that Nero liued in the middeſt of the Church, though he was not of the Church, and Peter in the middeſt of Babylon, though he was not of Babylon. For if the faithfull were not in the middeſt of Babylon, why doth the voyce from heauen cry, Come out of her my people, &c. Apoc. 18.4. Howbeit in Antichriſts time, which was euer ſince Boniface the th rd (for then he firſt began to ſhew himſelfe) till this day, the Church of Rome is depraued ſo, and corrupted, that there remaineth of it nothing but the bare carkaſſe without life, it being fallen from the faith of Chriſt, to the idolatry and ſuperſtition of Antichriſt. And therefore not the true Church of Rome, but Rome corrupted and Apoſtated, yet vaunting it ſelfe to be the onelyonly true Church, is this myſticall Babylon, the mother of all abhominations.
9. Yet the ſame Rhemiſts, in the place aboue named, with a fearfull and troubled breath confeſſe, that it may not vnfitly be deemed, that the great Antichriſt ſhall hauehave his ſeate at Rome: this teſtimony was wrung from them by the euidence of the truth: and it is ſtrange that they ſhould acknowledge ſo much, ſeeing elſewhere they demonſtratiuely conclude, that his ſeate ſhould be at Ieruſalem. Thus they ſup vp their owne vomit, and are driuen to auouch the ſame truth which elſewhere they impugned. But let them remember two things.Auent. Annal. lib. 4. Firſt that which Auentine ſpeaketh concerning the gener ll opinion of the Fathers of that Age, which was almoſt 700 yeeres agoe. They held that Rome then poſſeſſed by the Pope was Babylon, and that for this reaſon, becauſe it vſurped Diuinity, equalled it ſelfe vntounto heauen, and boaſted that it was eternall, and neuer had, nor could erre. Secondly, the prophecy of Sybill who deſcribeth Antichriſt to bee a certaine King, adorned with a white Miter, and bearing the name of Pontus, with his ſeate neere vntounto Tyber; in ſuch plaine termes, that any man may eaſily know, that he is none elſe but Pontifex Romanus, the Romane Biſhop, whoſe cheefe ſeate of reſidence is at Rome, vponupon the banke of Tyber.
10. By the Beaſt in the Apoc. cap. 17. with ſeuen heads, and ten hornes, is painted out by the holy Ghoſt the ſtate of the Romane Empire vnderunder the reigne of the laſt head, who is the eight, and yet one of the ſeuen, verſe 11. Now this eight, is no other but the Pope of Rome, from the time of Boniface the third, vntill this day, and forward to the end of the world: for fiue heads of this Empire, or fiue of the prophecyed Kings were ceaſed before Iohns time. The ſixt head which was of the Emperors, was then in being: the ſeuenth is to be vnderſtood of the Romane Biſhops and Patriarches, which was not then extant: (for though there were from the Apoſtles time alwaies Biſhops of Rome; yet they were not heads of the Romane ſtate, before the ſeate of the Empire was tranſlated from Rome to Byzantium. Now the Text ſaith thus, this head muſt endure but a ſhort time, that is, from the time that the ſeat of the Empire was tranſlated into the Eaſt, vntill the vtter decay, and ruine of it in the Weſt: from which time vntill the Papall kingdome was ſet vp by Phocas, it might well be ſaid, that this h… was, but is not, and yet is, verſe 11. Was, that is, vſurped an extraordinary ſtate of gouernment in the Church for a time; Is not, that is, aſcended not to that height of pride which it after did: and Yet is, that is, continued in the ſame name and ſucceſſion, though with greater tyranny and vſurpation. For after Boniface the third had vſurped the Monarchy of the Church; and Gregory the ſecond and third, had wrung from the Emperor the Weſterne portion of the Empire, and eſpecially Gregory the ſeuenth had rauiſhed into his hands the vniuerſall power of both Swords, ſtyling himſelfe the Paſtor of Paſtors, and the King of Kings; then was this head the eight in number, and yet one of the ſeuen, becauſe ſtill the Biſhop of Rome. And if they ſay that the Pope is but the ſeuenth head, and that the eight is yet to come, which is Antichriſt: they muſt remember that the ſeuenth was to endure but a ſhort time; but the Popes kingdome is not ſhort, hauing continued theſe many hundred yeeres: out of all which it neceſſarily followeth, not onelyonly that Rome vnderunder the Pope is Babylon, but alſo that the Pope himſelfe is Antichriſt, being the eight head of the Beaſt, and yet one of the ſeuen.
11. The ten hornes, which by the Angels interpretation are ten Kings, that ſhall diuide the Romane Empire amongſt them, and ſhall receiue their power as Kings at one houre with the Beaſt, doe plainely intimate the ſame thing. For whereas the Weſterne Empire was diſſolued, and the power thereof taken by the Pope from the Conſtantinopolitan Emperor, then theſe ten Kings poſſeſſed the Prouinces, and the Pope the City of Rome at one time: and whereas it is ſaid, that firſt, with one conſent they gaue their power to the Beaſt, and fought againſt the Lambe, but after being called out of Babylon, hated the Whore, and made her deſolate and naked; what can bee more plainely ſpoken to ſhew, that which by experience at this day is verified, to wit, when thoſe Kingdomes and Kings which at the firſt were ſlaues and ſubiects to the Pope, are now the greateſt enemies vntounto him? which prophecy is already in part fulfilled, and ſhall do doubt in ſhort time bee fully accompliſhed. Hence it is that Bellarmine complaineth,Bel. de de Rom. Pon. lib. 3. c. 21. that the Pope ſince the preaching of the Goſpell, hath loſt part of Germany, Sueuia, Gothia, Noruegia, all Denmarke, and a good part of England, France, Heluetia, Polonia, Bohemia, and Panonia, he might hauehave added Scotland and Ireland. Now I demand whether the Romane Empire be not already diſſolued, and diuided into ten Kingdoms at leaſt, and whether it is likely that that relique and ſhadow of the Romane Empire which is now in Germany, ſhall be euer diuided into ten Kingdomes? And therefore if thoſe ten Kings hauehave beene long ſince in the world, and doe ſtill reigne, it muſt needs follow, that Antichriſt is already come, and that Rome ſubiect to the Pope is the myſticall Babylon ſpoken of in the Reuelation, and the ſeate of that Man of ſinne.
12. The deſcription of the Whore doth as fitly confirme this truth: for Rome Papall may rightly be called a Whore: Firſt, becauſe ſhe ioyneth her ſelfe to another Spouſe then Chriſt, to wit, the Pope who ſtileth himſelfe Chriſts Vicar, and the Spouſe of the Church. Secondly, becauſe ſhe is guilty of Apoſtacy from Chriſt, and the Orthodoxall faith, whereby of Bethel ſhe is become Bethauen, and of a faithfull City, an Harlot. Witneſſe, beſides a number of other things, thoſe two Apoſtaticall doctrines ſpoken of by S. Paul, 1. Tim. 4.….3. to wit, the prohibition of marriage to certaine men at al times, and of meates to all men at certaine times, which two the Apoſtle ſets down as notes of that Apoſtacy. But principally ſhe is called the Whore of Babylon, by reaſon of the horrible ſuperſtition and filthy Idolatry practiſed in her (which is nothing elſe but ſpirituall fornica…on before God:) as namely, in the worſhip of Angels, Saints, Images, Reliqus, the Croſſe, and the Euchariſt, to all which ſhe proſtituteth her ſelfe as an Harlot, in a moſt ſilthy maner. Neither onelyonly is ſhe thus defiled her ſelfe, but as the Mother of Fornications makes drunke the inhabitants of the earth with the Golden Cup of her Fornications: for from her teats hath all the world ſuckt this poyſon, and ſhe braggeth her ſelfe to be the Mother and Miſtreſſe of all other Churches, which ſhe hath infected with her witchcrafts.
13. Neither is it to be forgotten that Saint Iohn wondered when he ſaw this Whore, which he could neuer hauehave done, if he had meant Rome Ethnicke. For what wonder was it that Ethnicke Rome ſhould worſhip Idols, and perſecute the Saints of God? but this made him to wonder, that Rome famous for Chriſtianity and Religion, ſhould ſo degenerate from her ancient purity, that it ſhould apoſtate from Chriſt, and become the Mother of ſuperſtition, and the ſeate of Antichriſt: and to this may be applyed the name that S. Iohn ſaith, ſhould bee written in the Whores forehead, Mystery. Which very name the Pope for a long time wore imprinted in his Miter, as the high Prieſt of the Iewes wo… in his theſe words, Holineſſe to the Lord. Now wh… … this but ſignifie vntounto vsus, that God would hauehave the … know, that in him is accompliſhed the myſtery … that is, Antichriſtianiſme ſpoken of by Saint Pa… … Adde hereunto for a concluſion, that the prou… … Whore, I ſit as a Queene and am no widdow, a… … ſorrow. Apoc. 18.7. is taken vp and vaunted a … the Church of Rome with equall oſtentation: ſo … claimeth to be the perpetuall Spouſe of the Church, … Church of Rome to be the rocke againſt which the g… … hell cannot preuaile, and to be free from all poſſibility of e… ring, much more vtter falling from Chriſt.
14. For the concluſion of this ſubiect, by the great City ſpoken of Reuel. 11. cannot bee vnderſtood any other then the City of Rome; which is therefore called ſpirituall Sodome and Aegypt: Sodome both by reaſon of the corporall and Sodomiticall vncleanneſſes there practiſed by meanes of the prohibition of marriage, as of the idolatry therein maintained and exerciſed, by which the Scripture compareth to Fornication: and Aegypt, by reaſon of their tyranny vſed againſt Gods Saints, wherein the Popes hauehave farre exceeded the heathen Emperors. In regard whereof, Petrarch in one of his Epiſtles thus writeth: All that which is read either of the Aſsyrian or Aegyptian Babylon, or of the Labyrinths, or of the mud of Auernus, or of the infernall groues, is but a fable in compariſon of this hell. Heere is the builder of Towers, and the terrible Nimrod: heere is Semiramis with her quiuer, the inexorable Minos, and Radamanthus; heere is Cerberus deuouring all, and Paſiphae proſtituting her ſelfe to a Bull, with a double formed race, the Minotaure, the Monument of an execrable luſt. In a word, thou ſhalt ſee whatſoeuer hath beene hideous, terrible, and confuſed, and to speake all at once, this (mea…ing Rome) is the ſmoke of all wickedneſſe and impurity. Now it is well called the great City: for as the names of Sodome and Aegypt properly taken, doe not onelyonly ſignifie certaine particular Cities, but whole and entire Kingdomes, conſiſting of many Cities and Townes, as is moſt euident of … …ot, which is a moſt ample Kingdome, and of Sodome … …ch was not the name of one City onelyonly, but of a … …ime, as is apparent, Gen. 14.2. ſo this great Ci… … indeed principally Rome, the proper ſeate of An… … …nagogically the whole ſociety of Romiſh pro… … all Kingdomes and Cities that are ſubiect to the … …e. In like maner as by the iudgement of Anſel… … …bera, with diuers others, by the holy City which … …iles ſhould trample vnderunder their feet, is meant the v… … all Church of Chriſt diſperſed ouer the whole world: … in this City it may well be ſaid, that the Lord was crucified. For he ſuffered vnderunder Pilate a Romane Magiſtrate, and in a Prouince of the Romane Empire, which was then Iudea: and beſides, it is manifeſt, that Chriſt was crucified two wayes, one in his owne perſon, another in his members: which deſtinction the Papiſts cannot deny: for both Bellarmine and Baronius report, that when Saint Peter was flying from Rome to ſaue his life, Chriſt Ieſus met him, and being demanded of S. Peter whither he went; he anſwered, I come to Rome to be crucified againe: by which anſwere (ſay they) Peter vnderſtood that Chriſt would be againe crucified in his ſeruant. Now according to this diſtinction wee ſay, that Chriſt in his perſon was crucified on Mount Golgotha, but in his members and ſeruants at Rome, as well in the perſon of Saint Peter (if that hiſtory be true) as of many other Martyrs whoſe blood hath beene, and is dayly there ſhed for the teſtimony of the truth, and in other places by the Popes authority. Adde heereunto, that all ſuch as reiect or prophane by their wicked liues the Goſpell, are ſaid by the Apoſtle to crucifie to them elues againe the Sonne of God, Hebrewes 6.6. Neither indeed to ſpeake properly, was Chriſt in perſon crucified in Ieruſalem, but without the City on Mount Caluary, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, Heb. 13.12. and that to fulfill the figure, Leuit. 16.17. That the bodies of thoſe Beaſt, whoſe blood was offered by the High Prieſts for a ſinne-offering, were burned without the Campe.