Lectures Upon the Epistles to the Thessalonians, Part 2 · Lecture 5
THE FIFTH LEC TVRE VPONUPON THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAVL TO THE THESSALONIANS.
2. THESSA. CHAP. 2. verſ. 34.
—for that day ſhal not come except there come a departing firſt. and that that man of ſinne be diſcloſed, euen, the ſonne of perdition.
4 Which is an aduerſary, and exalteth himſelfe againſt all that is called God, or, that is vvorſhipped: ſo, that he doth ſit as God, in the Temple of God, ſhovving himſelfe, that he is God.
WELBELOVED brethren, ye hauehave heard the requeſt the Apoſtle makes in the beginning of this ſecond chapter to the Theſſalonians. He requeſts and adjures them by the comming of the Lord Ieſus, and by our aſſembling vntounto him at his comming▪ that they ſuffer not themſelues to bee deceyued, or put by their mindes, troubled in hart and affection, eſpecially in this head of doctrine that concernes the comming of the Lord in the latter day, and that they ſhould not be deceiued by falſe teachers who wēt about to deceiue them in this point, teaching that the day of the Lord is at hand, he ſhall come incontinent, ye ſhall be found aliue when he ſhall come. This age and generation ſhall not be paſt when he ſhall come. This pointe of falſe doctrine that theſe falſe teachers went about to perſwade the Theſſalonians, and ſo to vnqiuet them, held them ay in vexation of ſprit and minde, looking ay for Chriſts comming, aſſuring them that he ſhould come ere that preſentage ſhould end.
Now in this text the Apoſtle enters to a refutation of that falſe doctrine, and he proues that the day of the Lord was not inſtant, that the day of the Lord would not beat ſuch a tyme, that it ſhould not fall out in that preſent age. Now marke his reaſons. If the day of the Lord were inſtant then there ſhould not bee an vniuerſall Apoſtaſie and defection from the faith of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, before the day and comming of the Lord:Vniuerſal defection must goe before the Lords cō ming. For, vvhy? This Apoſtaſie muſt craue a large ſpace of tyme. Then, he ſubjoines, but, ſo it is, before that day ſhall come, there ſhall be an vniuerſall Apoſtaſie and defection from the faith and trueth of Chriſt Ieſus. And ſo, hee concludes. Therefore, it is not ſo, as they ſay: The day of the Lord is not inſtant and is not ſo neere hand, as they goe about to perſwade you. Marke his reaſon. The propoſition and firſt part of the argument is not expreſſed in the text. The next parte, the aſſumption is ſette dovvne in the text, to witte, The day of the Lord ſhall not bee, before that an vniuerſall defection be firſt. Now, before I come to the wordes, take vp ſhortlie this one thing. The Theſſalonians, to whom he wrytes being deceiued, thought, that, incontinent Chriſt ſhould come, and that they ſhould be reſt to the Heauen with him, and glorified from hand. The Apoſtle, to put them out of this conſaite, tels them, ere they and the Church be reſt vp to Heauen and glorified there, that, they ſhall ſuffer yet on the earth ſome trouble, there ſhall be yet a great alteration and vexation in the Church of God. Brethren, mark it. The battell muſt goe before the victory, let none looke for the victory before he fight, thou wilt not come ſleeping to Heauen. Thou muſt fight on earth ere thou come to glorie and ere thou triumph in Heauen, thou muſt be victorious on earth▪ throgh many tribulations we muſt enter in the kingdom of heauen. This is that, which the Apoſtle teaches the Theſſalonians.
Novv, to come to the vvordes of the text, and to make this matter plaine, we ſhall inſiſt particularlie on eueryevery word, taking vp the meaning of Gods Spirite heere. And firſt, …here occurres this vvord Apoſtaſie, which muſt be before the day of the Lordes comming. This Apoſtaſie is nothing, but, a falling avvay, a flyding aback. This Apoſtaſie is not a particulare Apoſtaſie, or, defection of this man, or, that man onelyonly, of any one perſon, or any two or three perſons onelyonly. But it is an vniuerſal defection of multitudes of men and wemen in this world. For the word ye ſee is generallie ſet downe in the text to be a departure without any reſtriction. It is not ſaid a departing of this man or that man, but generallie a departing. Therefore the Apoſtle muſt meane of a departing and falling away of multitudes, and great multitudes. Now all the queſtion is, what Apoſtaſie meanes the Apoſtle of? I am not ignorant how a great number of the olde Latine fathers in the Church, vnderſtandes this Apoſtaſie to be meant of the defection of many Nations from the Empyre of Rome. It is true indeede the Nations of the world fell away from the Romane Empyre: But how well and rightly they vnderſtood this Apoſtaſie of that falling away from the Romane Empyre God knowes. And it is a wonder that ſo many learned and quick ſpirited men ſhould hauehave erred together in this pointe ſo long: Indeede it is likly that when one of them fel in this error all the reſt followed on in troupes without further diſcretion or judgement. But I leaue them. What Apoſtaſie is this then that the Apoſtle meanes of heere? I ſhall tell you. It is an vniuerſall defection, not from an Emperour or earthly King, but from the King of Heauen Ieſus Chriſt, and from his faith. This agrees with the courſe of this text and with that which followes immediatly of the Antichriſt the head of this Apoſtaſie. This agrees with the ſpeaking of this ſame Apoſtle in ſundry other places. In the 1. Tim. chap. 4. verſe 1. he foretels of this vniuerſall defection from the faith. The wordes are, The spirit ſpeakes euidently that in the latter dayes ſome ſhall depart from the faith, and ſhall giuegive heed to ſpirits of error and doctrine of deuils, forbidding to marie, and commanding to abſteine from meats vvhichwhich the Lord his ordained to be receiued vvith thankeſ-giuing of them vvhichwhich beleeue. There the ſumme of this defection whereof he ſpeakes in this place. Looke alſo the 2, Tim. chap. 3. verſ. 1. 2. 3. In the latter dayes there ſhall be troubleſome tymes, men ſhall be louers of themſelues, louers of pleaſures and not of God, corrupt in mynde, reprobates concerning the faith: There the Apoſtaſie from the faith. In that ſame Epiſtle chap. 4. verſe 3. The tyme ſhall come vvhen men ſhall not ſuffer to heare the ſound doctrine, but according to their ovvne luſtes ſhall gather together heapes of teachers: to wit, orders of Monkes, Friers, and heaps of Ieſuites, and the reſt of that prophaine and deuiliſh rable, that the deuill by his ſpirit hes thruſt in on the people of God, and they ſhall auert their eyes from the trueth and turne them to lies. Peter in his 2. Epiſtle chap. 2 verſe 1. ſayes, There ſhall be among you falſe teachers vvho ſhall bring in damnable hereſies, and many ſhall follovv them to their perdition. They ſhall goe to deſtruction with their Hereſies, and many ſhall goe after them. And before them Chriſt himſelfe foretolde of this defection 18. chap. of Like verſe 8, When, ſayes he, the Son of man ſhall come, thinke ye he shall finde faith on the earth? No, there be an vniuerſall defection. Then this vniuerſall defection is nothing elſe, but this Apoſtaſie and defection from the faith of Chriſt that ſhall be before Chriſts comming in the world. Now ye ſee then this is a prophecy of the thing to come. Is this Prophecy fulfilled yet or not? Is it come to paſſe? Is that vniuerſall defection of the world from the church, from the faith of Chriſt come, or ſhall we looke for it? There is the queſtion. I tell you, it is come, I cry it out, it is come, and come long ſince, and verie long ſince; It holdes on and ſhall hold on. Mahomet beganne it, when he drew away not only the people from the faith of Ieſus, but alſo drew away the verie name of Chriſtianity, ſo as there durſt not one avowe himſelfe to be a Chriſtian. The Orientall Churches ſo well planted by the Apoſtles of Chriſt, whereof this Church of Theſſalonica was one, may beare witnes hereof. Who followed on? (Mahomet ended it not then) The Popes, that beaſt of Rome followed on. As Mahomet played with the Orientall Churches: So the Papiſts played with the Weſter and Occidentall Churches. The Pope hes drawen away this occidental Church of Chriſt in Europe, not indeede from the name and outward profeſſion of Chriſt, for all are called Chriſtians, but he hes drawen them from the faith of Chriſt, without the which there can be no ſaluation. So this Apoſtaſie prophecyed ſo long before is come now to paſſe.Church militant ſubiect to errors. But ere I goe forward mark here. The eſtate of the Church of Chriſt militant on the earth, ſhe is ſubject to errors and Hereſies, to be caryed away vvith falſe doctrine, ſubject to defection, yea to an vniuerſall defection of the whole viſible Church on the face of the earth. And, brethren, euen godly men ſeeing this thing they hauehave bene compelled at tymes to doubt (they were ſo offended) whether if this Church was Gods Church or not, whether if this building was builded by God or not which they ſaw ſo beatten downe, and lying ſo long dead. It is a lamentable thing to ſee the Church of Chriſt ſo long vnderunder the dominion of the Antichriſt. And therefore the Lord by his Apoſtle and others hes foretold of this vniuerſall defection that the godly may be comforted and ſtand: ſeeing nothing commes to paſſe but by his prouidence and foreſight. Then again ye know the Papiſts propoſition; the church cannot ere. Now conſider this place and ye ſhall ſee it cannot ſtand with that opinion. I aske how can that opinion ſtand with this Prophecie of Paul who telles, not of a light error, but of an vniuerſall defection from Chriſt? Either this muſt be falſe which the Apoſtle ſaies, and which Chriſt ſpok before him (which wer blaſphemie to affirme) or that which they ſay, that the Church cannot erre muſt be a lye, and it is ſo. And all the Papiſts are blaſphemous lyars, beleue them as ye will. No the godly are not ignorant of their purpoſe in this their aſſertion. They hold that doctrine to be a pretence to keepe the Antichriſtian Church in her error and Apoſtaſie: for ſhe is altogether out of the way, and if ſhe could thinke ſhe could be ſubject to error ſhe were curable, but becauſe ſhe lyes in her ſtinking Hereſie and Apoſtaſie and will not acknowledge it, therefore in the juſt judgement of God ſhe ſhall periſhe, perdition ſhall be her end, if the Lord waken her not in tyme.
Now to the wordes. The wordes are, That the day of the Lord ſhall not be vntill the tyme that that man of ſin be reueiled. That man of ſin muſt be reueiled ere the Lord come in the world againe. This is one thing with that which went before of an vniuerſall Apoſtaſie, the comming of an vniuerſall Apoſtaſie and the reuelation of that man of ſin the Antichriſt, is one thing in ſundry wordes: For what is the Antichriſt but the head of this Apoſtaſie and vniuerſall defection? and of all Apoſtats vnderunder the Heauens he is the cheefe Apoſtate. Now he is called heere a man, the Antichriſt as though there were but one perſon. Marke it, (for this place is miſtaken) When ye heare of this name of the Antichriſt, who is here called the man of ſinne, be not deceiued. The Antichriſt woulde perſwade you that this name of Antichriſt ſignifies but one man ſome one perſon who ſhal be in the vvorld at ſuch a tyme. No, the name of Antichriſt imports not one man onelyonly, but a ſucceſſion of perſons, one after another: in one kingdome or tyrannie ouer the Church of Chriſt in the vvorld; All this ſucceſſion of perſones is expreſſed by the name of one man or one perſon, becauſe they ranne on all one courſe, and eueryevery one of them hes but one purpoſe to exerciſe their tyme in oppreſſion of the Church of God. Therefore the vvhole ſucceſſion is called but on man. But when ſhall this reueiling of him be? He is ſaid to be reueiled vvhen his kingdome and tyrannie commes to the height and full perfection in the ſight of the vvorld: He beganne long before he vvas reueiled, and he vvas in the dayes of the Apoſtles. When Paul and Peter vvas in the vvorld, he vvas. And beginning in their dayes, he grovves on peece and peece in greatneſſe from a ſmall beginning vntill hee came to ſuch a vvonderful and great height that he makes the vvhole vvorld vvonder at him: and this fell out in Anno 666. Reuel. chap. 13. verſe 18. He came to his height vnderunder the Emperour of Constantinople, Conſtantine, … being Pope of Rome at that tyme. Iohn in his firſt Epiſtle chapter 2. verſe 18. ſayes, that the Antichriſt is to come: Then he ſubjoynes, euen novv there are many Antichriſts. By the many Antichriſts Iohn meanes theſe forerunners, little Antichriſts, falſe Prophets, and little Heretikes vvho vvere forerunners to prepare the vvay to this great Antichriſt the monſtrous beaſt of Rome againſt his comming. By the Antichriſt that vvas to come, he vnderſtandes the great Antichriſt, the head of the Apoſtaſie, the mid-man betvveene the Dragon and the Antichriſtian kingdome and the Church. Reuelation chap. 13. verſe 16.
Novv to goe forvvard to the deſcription of the Antichriſt … it follovves. He is firſt deſcryued from his nature. Secondlie from his properties.Deſcription of the antichriſt And thirdly, from his actions and effectes he bringes in the vvorld vvhen he commes. Marke it, This is a Prophecie not of the little falſe Prophets, but of the great Anchriſt and falſe Prophet that … at Rome.) What is he of nature?His nature. A man like vntounto other men of nature, not a deuill, nor ſubſtance of a deuill, but he is of an humane and manlie ſubſtance. Some thought that the Antichriſt ſhould be the deuill or a beaſt: it is but ſolie. He is not a beaſt of nature, but he is called in the Reuelation a beaſt for his beaſtlineſſe, and for his filthineſſe. (O how capable is the nature of man of euill, if God giuegive it ouer to be guyded by the deuill!) Then, what maner of man is he?His properties. The firſt propertie, the Antichriſt hes, he is a man of ſin. He calles himſelfe the ſeruant of the ſeruants of God, No, but he is a ſlaue to ſinne, his meate and drinke is ſinne. The ſecond propertie, he is the Sonne of perdition, deſtinate from all eternitie to Hell and euerlaſting damnation. Peter in his ſecond Epiſtle chap. 2. verſe 3. ſayes, Long agoe his damnation is not idle, or, his deſtruction ſleepes not, but, wakes. He gettes this ſtyle, that Iudas gettes, in the 17. chapter of Iohn 12. verſe, the ſonne of perdition, adjudged to perdition from all eternitie in the ſecreete counſell of God. Theſe two properties ſtandes well together, the man of ſinne, addicted to ſinne deſtinate to perdition. The ſecond is the ground cauſe of the firſte For, hee, whom God from all eternitie deſtinates to perdition, that man will neuer doe a good turne. Nothing will come from his mouth, hart, or, hand, &c. but, all ſinne. Alas, when we looke and ſee men, who can doe nothing, but ſinne, ſinne in the houſe, ſitting, eating, drinking, and in the field, euer ſinning, what ſhall we ſpeake of them who does ſo, if they take not vp another courſe, ere this lyfe be ended, but they are men from all eternitie deſtinate for Helles fire. Let eueryevery man try himſelfe. Alas, if thou looked to thy bloudie hart and hand thou would thinke, thou had little warrand of thy ſal…ation. Now this for his nature and properties.
Now, to his actions and doinges. What doing ſhall he hauehave? The firſt action.His actions. He ſhall oppone himſelfe against all, that ſhall be called God, and ſhall be vvorſhipped. This is the firſt action, a plaine oppoſition to all thinges that keepes the name of God,His firſt action. and is worſhipped in Heauen and earth. He ſhall oppone him againſt all powers and magiſtrats, and againſt all thinges, that caries the name of a magiſtrat, whether they be Princes, or, Emperors on the earth, or, in Heauen, God and his Chriſt and from this oppoſition, he is called an aduerſary, as the deuill is. As the deuil is called Satan, that is, an aduerſar; ſo ſhall he get the name of an aduerſar. And he is called Antichriſt, that is, an aduerſar to Chriſt. Now, let vsus ſee who muſt be this man. I make my reaſon. He that oppones himſelfe to eueryevery thing, that hes the name of God, or▪ is worſhipped either in Heuen, or, earth, that man of neceſſity muſt be this Antichriſt, this is the action, that properly is competent to that perſon. Who is this man, then? look about al nations, if ye can take vp ſuch a man. Who is it in Europ, or, out of Europ, that oppones himſelfe to Ieſus Chriſt the Lord, in doctrin firſt, in life and conuerſation next? I tell you, if ye finde ſuch a man, he is the Antichriſt. Now I ſhall tell you ſome points of Chriſts doctrine, wher-vntounto this aduerſar oppones himſelfe, that by them ye may find out,Pope the antichriſt who is this Antichriſt. The Lord Ieſus ſaies and teaches Thou ſhalt adore the Lord thy God onelyonly, and him onelyonly ſhalt thou ſerue. What man of this world is it, that commes in and ſaies No, thou ſhalt not worſhip him onelyonly, worſhip Angels, worſhip men & the ſoules of men departed this life, worſhip Images, dead mens bones called relicts, do reuerence to graues, and aboue all thou ſhalt giuegive that worſhip, that is due to God only, to that breadie God in the Maſſe? Who does this and teaches it? Is there any ſo ignorant, that knows him not? Againe, Chriſt forbids to worſhip God with ſuch worſhip as men hes inuented, to worſhip him with men traditions & inuentions. Who is he that ſaies, he muſt be worſhipped by infinit traditions, which are out with the book of the Scripture, and many againſt the booke of the Scripture, and bids ſerue him according to a rable of vyle traditions inuented by the brane of man. Yet more Chriſt ſayes, this Scripture, the olde and new Teſtament is perfite, it is ſufficient to make the man of God perfite, it conteines all thinges neceſſarie to our ſaluation. Who is he▪ that ſayes, it is confuſed, difficle, mutilate, manked, the mother of all Hereſies? Who ſayes this? Looke ouer to Rome, who but the Pope. Woe to him and all his adherents. Yet, further. Chriſt ſayes, I am the onelyonly Mediatour betweene God and man. Who is he, that ſayes, No, there muſt be many moe interceſſours and mediatours? Is it not the Pope? Chriſt ſayes, Iuſtification is onelyonly by true faith in me. Who ſayes, No, no, thy merite and goode workes muſt be a parte of thy ſaluation and thou muſt deſerue it? Is it not the Pope? Chriſt requyres of vsus a ſure confidence, that in his bloude our ſinnes are for giuen, and that thereby, we ſhall be ſafe and get lyfe euerlaſting. Who ſayes, it is an high preſumption to beleeue ſo firmely, and biddes thee doubt whether thou ſhalt get lyfe, or not: Is it not the Pope? Chriſt ſayes, it is impoſſible to fulfill the Law of God. Who ſayes, it is poſſible to fulfill i…, is it not the Pope? A plaine contradiction. Chriſt ſayes, the onelyonly price of remiſſion of ſinne is my bloud. Who ſayes, I ſhall giuegive thee Indulgences and pardones for thy ſinnes? is it not the Pope? Chriſt commanded to miniſter the Sacrament or the Supper vnderunder both the kindes. Who ſayes the bread may ſuffice the laikes, let the Prieſts take both? is it not the Pope? Chriſt permittes the vſe of mariage to all perſones, without difference. Who commes in with that doctrine of deuils, forbidding mariage, and meates which the Lord hes commanded. Wherefore ſhould I be long? Who is he, that oppones himſelfe to euerie article of our faith? beginne at the one end and leaue at the other, he oppones to them all? Is it not the beaſt of Rome? Knowe ye not this to be true?His life. ye ſhall ſee it in that great day. Then come to his lyfe and behauior, wherein he denyes Chriſt. Chriſt when he was in the world was holy, yea, holineſſe it ſelfe. But, what command is there, either in the firſt, or, ſecond Table, which he tranſgreſſes not moſt euidentlie? Who is the head and cheefe Apoſtate from Ieſus Chriſt the head of the Church? Who is the cheefe Heretike vnderunder the Sunne? The cheefe Idolater, the cheefe Magitian and ſorcerer vnderunder the Sunne: Who is the cheefe blaſphemer vnderunder the Sunne? Goe to the ſecond Table. Who is the diſhonourer of all powers and Empyres vponupon the face of the earth? Who, of all murtherers, is the greateſt murtherer, and can not be ſat…ate with the bloude of all the Saintes? Who is moſt adulterous and filthie? Who is the greateſt theefe and oppreſſor, reauing kingdomes? Who is the moſt perjurde perſon? And come to the laſt. Who is moſt full of all concupiſcence in this worlde? Who is he, that ſettes himſelfe aboue all men in this earth, and with an vplifted hand oppones himſelfe to God, in all thinges? Read the Popes hues written all by their own men. So, I gather, in one word. This Antichriſt, that maks oppoſition to the great God of Heauen, to all power and majeſtie on the earth, he was neuer, he is not now, nor neuer ſhall be, if he be no… that man of Rome, who ſittes not in Peters chaire, but, in the chaire of ſcorners, in the ſeate of peſtilence: He is the very Antichriſt and thou haſt no eyes to ſee, if thou ſeeſt not this.
Now come to the next action.His ſecōd action. He prophecyes of another action, that ſhall be, when he ſhall come. He ſhall, not onelyonly in malice oppone himſelfe to eueryevery thing, that is called God, but, in the pryde of his hart ſhall exalt himſelfe aboue eueryevery thing, that is called God and is worſhipped on the earth, againſt all power both heauenly and earthly. Now, who is this, that exaltes himſelf this way? Spy this man, who hes this action in his hand, and without doubt this man is the Antichriſt. Now, I will aske ſome few thinges, that we may finde him out the more eaſilie. Who is he, that exalts himſelfe aboue the Emperour? Who, vnderunder God is the head-man of the world? Who is he, that wil cauſe the Emperour ſtand and hold his ſtirrop, and will cauſe the Emperour holde to his ſhoulder, that he may leane on it, and cauſe him hold water to his hands, and goe before with his firſt meaſe, to his dinner? Who will ſay, he hes an abſolute power, to make and abrogate lawes at his pleaſure? He will make account to no man. He hes an abſolute power, to cloſe the Heauen and open it at his pleaſure. To cary with him cartfulles of ſoules of men to Hell, if it pleaſe him? Who is able to comprehend this matter? Is there any here, that hes bene in Rome and ſeene the Pope in the ſolemne tyme of his jubile, and who hes heard, or, reade of it? How he commes out of his Palace with ſuch a rich and glorious arrayment, that he makes the world to wonder, with his threfold crowne of gold, and pretious ſtones on his head mounted vp on mens ſhoulders, in a golden chaire, with his relicts and his breadie-god borne before him. Then, he will go to his paradice, the people on eueryevery ſide crying for remiſsion of ſinnes. Then when he commes to Paradice, with an hammer of gold he will knock and bid the gate open, and he enters in and there he giues indulgences, ſome giues this homage, and ſome, that, yea, ſuch, as is competent to God onelyonly. Fy on him, ſuch is his pryde, that he will ſcarcely affoord to put out his feete to kings to kiſſe them …s not this an horrible abhomination and monſtrous villainie?
I will not inſiſt.His third action. There followes two particular actions, which riſes on his pryde. The firſt is, He ſhall be ſo proud that he ſhall ſit in the Temple of God as God, that is, in his Antichriſtian kingdome, which yet keeps the name of Chriſt, becauſe it keeps a kinde of profeſſion of the word of God, and in ſome reſpect hes the enſenzies of the Church. But, how ſhall he ſit? Not like another man, but, as God, he puts God out of his chare and ſittes down in Gods chare. What is the ſeat of God? Gods chare is the conſciences of men and wemen, which all the Angels dare not preaſe to. Yet, he will ſit downe there, and giuegive out Lawes, bind the conſciences. Now, will ye ſpy this man out? Is this the Mahomet? Papiſt, I aske at thee, ſittes the Mahomet in the Temple of God, ſittes he in the Church, that hes the name of the Church of God? O, ſayes the Papiſt, this, that ſhall be the Antichriſt i… not yet come: This that ſhall be the Antichriſt ſhall be a wicked man, that ſhall be borne at Babylone of an Hoore, in whom the deuill ſhall dwell bodily, a Iew by nation, of the Trybe of Dan, who ſhould be circumciſed and broght vp in the citties of Choraſin and Bethſaida, who ſhall be deteſtable, for his forceries and witchcraftes, who ſhall come to Ieruſalem, and there reedifie the Temple of Salomon, and take vponupon him the name of Chriſt, and ſhall reigne by the ſpace of three yeeres and an halfe with great tyranny and cruelty, againſt the Chriſtians, and ſhall ſlay Enoch and Elias the forerunners of Chriſt, and then ſhall come the latter day, when in the Mount of Olyues Chriſt ſhall deſtroy him, and condemne him to Hell. A faire fable. It is thou, ô man of ſin, thou, beaſt of Rome, that ſittes in the conſciences of men, it is thou, that ſhalt be beatten out of the chare to the Hels. It is thou ô beaſt of Rome, that ſits in the Temple of Chriſt.
Another effect of his pryde. He ſhall ſhowe himſelfe to be a God ſitting in the chare of God,… fourth action. in the Church of God: He ſhall giuegive himſelfe forth as God, as preaſe to counterfoote God, in his name, ſtyle, dignitie, and all other circumſtances, and bereaue God of that, which is proper to him. Well, ſpy this man. Who is he, that taks the name of God on him in the earth? He is not God onelyonly, not man onelyonly, but he is a midde thing betweene a God and a man. Who takes to him the ſtyle of a king and power aboue all the kings of the earth? Who ſayes he hes the right to beare both the ſwordes? Heard you euer of a Pope Benifacius the …ight… of whom it is ſaid, He entered in lyke a Tod, raigne like a Lyon, and died like a dog. In the tyme of his jubile in the firſt day thereof he commes out in the Popes weed, and as he goes he bleſſes the people. In the next day he commes out in Ceſars warlike clock and a naked ſword horne before him and ſitting downe, he cryes out, Behold two ſwordes heere, I am the head of the Church, I am the Pope and Ceſar, I hauehave the Empyre in Heauen and earth. Who calles himſelfe the head of the Church? A ſtyle onelyonly proper to Chriſt. Who calles himſelfe the Vicar of Chriſt? The brydgrome of the bryde the Church Who calles himſelfe the high Prieſt? Styles onelyonly proper to Chriſt. Is it not this beaſt of Rome? Whereto ſhould I inſiſt? It is wonder, that, the earth can beare ſuch a proud filthie villaine. It is a wonder, that the Heauen can couer him; but, we muſt reuerence the long ſuffering patience of the Lord. And ſeeing the Scripture hes pointed him out ſo euidently, it is a wonder that men ſhould be ſo blinde, that they ſhould ſo reuerence him, when he rages this waye in ſinne, and that they will call him the ſucceſſour of Peter, and the head of the Church. What ſhall I ſay▪ all reading and hearing will not inlighten the mynde and perſwade men▪ except the Spirit of God be preſent to open the hart. Therefore leauing this beaſt, I pray God to ſend his Spirit to let men ſee, that they may abhorre ſuch an enemy to God and Chriſt, and that they may imbrace the light of Ieſus, and that he would keepe vsus, that we be not deceyued by theſe vanities. To this God, euen, the Father, Sonne and holie Spirit be all praiſe for euer.
AMEN.