Of the End of the World and Judgment of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sermon 1

Of the End of the World and Judgment of our Lord Jesus Christ · Sermon 1

Of the end of the world and iudgement of our Lord Ieſus Chriſte to come, and of the moſte perillous dangers of this our moſte corrupt age, and by what meanes the godly may auoid the harmes therof / two ſermons preached in latin in the aſſembly of the clergie by Henry Bullinger / and now ſorely engliſhed by Thomas Potter.

¶Heerin are expounded the words of our ſauiour. Mat. 24. touching the end of the world, & the laſt iudgmēt. Alſo the words of Dā …elin the 7. chap. cōcerning the moſt troubleſōe kingdōe of the Pope / & the end therof. Finally the woords of the Apoſtle. 2. Tim. 5. concerning the perils of the laſt times / and the excellency and fulnes of holy Scripture.

Imprinted at London at the long shop in the Pultrie by Iohn Allde.

Of the end of the world & the Iudgement of our Lord Ieſus Chriſte to come, and of the moſte gréeuous perils of this our moſte corrupt age or time.

❧The firſt Sermon of Henry Bullinger.

THE matter it ſelf requireth, and the examples bothe of the Prophets and alſo of the Apoſtles doo inſtruct vsus, that all our Eccleſiaſticall preachings (doctrines I mean, admonitions, rebukings, exhortations, counſails and comfortings) are to be framed according to the time. And moreouer, that all Eccleſiaſticall dooings are to be referred vntounto edifying.

But if wée ſhould now intreat and ſpeak as the preſent time requireth, and to the prophet of vsus all, who are moſte of vsus miniſters of the Church, and therefore are wee moſte cheefely aſſembled héere to th'entent ſomewhat ſhould bée ſaid concerning the duety of our office, that is moſte principally requiſit to knowe: there appéereth to vsus no matter more profitable, nor more neceſſary, then to admoniſh your holineſſe (ye Fathers and brethern honorable and moſt déerly beloued) of the conſummation of the world,The prepoſition. and the finall iudgement of Chriſte Ieſus our Lord. And alſo as our ſpeciall duty requireth) diligently and erneſtly to ſtir vp the people of Chriſte, committed to our charge: vntounto a ſober watchfulnes, leſt ſudainly and vnwares the day of the Lord ſteale vppon them, which vndoutedly cannot be far of, and which our elders afore vsus, teachers in the Church abooue a thouſand or ix. hundred yéeres paſt, did think to be at hand.

How much rather ought we (vppon whom the ends of the world are come, & who alſo hauehave moſt manifeſtly ſéenful filled very many of y^e Propheſies y^t hauehave been ſet foorth concerning the end of the world, and the things that ſhould come to paſſe (immediatly before the day of Iudgement) to lift vp our heds, knowing that our redemption euen now draweth néer.

Chriſte Ieſus our Lord béeing yet a fauourable high Préeſt of the faithful, on, the right hand of his father, but héerafter at the laſt, a moſte ſeuere and yet moſte iuſt iudge of all the whole world, graunt mée habilitie to ſpeak duly vntounto you, and you grace plentifully to heare with frute to the glory of his name and edifying of his Church. And becauſe bleſſed Peeter the Apoſtle, the cheef teacher of this Church, and moſte faithful Diſciple of Ieſus Chriſte our Lord (ſaith). If any man ſpeak: let him ſpeak as the ſayings of God. I wil ſtudiouſly indeuour to ſhewe foorth, and with as much plainnes as I may▪ to open my whole matter euen with the woords of Chriſte our Lord, and with the ſayings of the Prophets and Apoſtles. For the holy Prophets in whom was the Spirite of Chriſte. Daniel moſte chéefely and Zacharias (omitting Eſay & Ezechiel) hauehave moſt diligently and copiouſly inſtructed the Church of God with their propheſies concerning the latter times of the world and the iudgement of Chriſte our Lord to come.

But Chriſte our Lord, the light and fulfilling of the lawe and the Prophets, hath ſo largely and ſo manifeſtly debated of theſe matters, that if any man doo yet deſire a more plain expoſition: may ſéem to ſéek at the Sun béeing of it ſelf moſte bright ſhining, a light much brighter.

The ꝓphecy of Chriſt touching the end of the world and the maner of the laſt dayes.He béeing demaunded of his Diſciples in the moūt Oliuet, and in the ſight of the moſt famoꝰ Citie of Hieruſalem, what ſhould be the token of his cōming, and of the end of the world: Made anſwere. That the holy Citie of Hieruſalem should firſt of all be taken and laid flat to the ground, and that the Iewes them ſelues should be led captiue into all nations. Wath. 24And that the Goſpel of the kingdome should be receiued of all natiōs throughout the whole world. And that afterward should falſe Prophets go abrode, who with falſe doctrine and faied miracles should deceiue the world & that vvith ſuch prohability & happy ſucceſſe: that euen the very elect should hauehave combrance thervvith. Among other things he reſiteth, Falſe teachers and falſe Chriſtes, and euen thoſe Antichriſtes alſo, that ſhould forſake the very true Chriſte the ſonne of the eternall God, and ſhould not ſincerely vntounto the faithful ſhew him foorth, ſitting on the right hand of his father: but in the earth, in the deſert, in ſundry and diuers places, and alſo euen En tois temeios that is to ſay, in cloſe and ſecret places, in Cheſts and Ambries. For the Grecians call Temeia ſecret and wel fenced places, where treaſures are laid vp, alſo the hidden and priuy places of a houſe, and the very Ambry or Spence. And the little Sacrament houſes diligently fenced with Locks and boltes, the Popes men call them Ambries,As ſure as God is in the Ambry out of the which as out of an Ambry, they bring foorth Viaticum, their viage, prouiſion or Howzel (as they call it.

But our Lord in the Goſpel with loud voice crieth out, ſaying. Do not beleeue them, doo not go foorth, doo not beleeue them. Beeholde, I hauehave tolde you before. And héeer he addeth by and by, that greeuous perſecutions shall ariſe againſt the godly, He ſaith, that there shalbe great troubles, that there shall appeer tokens in the Sun, in the moon and in the ſtarres, that ſome shalbe greeued vvith great pēciuenes through despair, & that ſōe beeing diſſolute & vvā ton through to much & a certain careleſſe ſecuritie, shall be in that laſt day ouervvhelmed, & that the vvorld shalbe about the end altogither ſuch as it vvas before the flud & in the daies of Loth, vvhile the Giants & Sodomites lay ſleeping and ſnorting quietly in the dung of vvickedneſſe, deſpiſing all the good admonitions of God, giuen vntounto them by the holy Fathers, in ſo much y^e deſtruction came vponupon them vnlooked for. Paule the Apoſtle of Chriſte, ſpeaking alſo of that vngodly ſecuritie.2. Theſſe. 5. Of the times (ſaith hee) & at vvhat momēt our Lord vvil come to execute iudgement: there is no need for mee to vvrite vntounto you brethern. For you your ſelues do plainly knovve that the day of the Lord vvil come as a theef in the night. For vvhen they shall ſay peace and quiet ſafetie: then ſuddain deſtructiō shall come vponupon thē as the pain of childe bearing vp on a vvoman in trauail, and they shall not eſcape. But our Lord in his Goſpel procedeth with his Prophetical expoſition,Luke. 18.Luke 18 & ſaith moreouer. Iniquitie shall abound and the louelove of many shall wax colde, ſo that the ſonne of man vvhen he commeth: shall ſcarcely finde faith vponupon the earth. Saint Peeter alſo fortelling of the extreme wickednes of this laſt age.2. Peeter. 3. I ſtir vp your mindes (ſaith hée) to remēber the vvords that hauehave beene ſpokē heertofore by the holy Prophets and alſo the cōmaundement of vsus the Apoſtles of our Lord and …auiour. This vnderſtand ye firſt, that in the laſt daies shall come mockers▪ vvhichwhich vvil vvalke after their ovvne luſt, and ſay. VVhere is the promiſe of his comming? For, ſins our fathers died, all things continevv in the ſame eſtate from the beginning as they vvere firſt made. Our Lord alſo in the goſpel addeth moreouer to all theſe things That hee vvil come in his glory ſudainly and vnloked for, to iudge the quick & the dead, & that hee vvil giuegive revvards of life to the godly, & vvil commit the vvicked to euerlaſting Hel fire. For as the lightning (ſaith he) cōmeth forth of the eaſt, and shineth euen vntounto the vveſt: ſo shalbe the cōming of the ſonne of man. Take heed therfor vntounto your ſelues leſt your harts bee oppreſſed with ſurfetting and drunkennes, and with the cares of this life, and ſo that day ſteale ſudainly vppon you. For truely it shall come vponupon all the inhabitants of the earth like vntounto a ſnare. VVatch therfore praying at all times, that ye may be counted vvorthy to eſcape all theſe things that are to come, and to ſtand before the ſonne of man. Verily in this place our Lord is earneſt & vrgeth ſo, as in no other place more vehemently, exhorting all people of all kindes, and of all ages vntounto a ſober watchfulnes. In Saint Mark. VVatch (ſaith he) for ye knovve not when your Lord vvil come, Mark. 13.Mark 13vvhether in the euening, or at midnighr, whether at the cock crowing or in the dawning, leſt if he come ſudainly, he finde you ſleeping. In S, Mathew hée ſetteth foorth very many parables, ſo the intent hee might the more déeply faſten this thing in the mindes of all men. For he ſetteth before vsus An houſeholder that vvatcheth, leſt the théef in the night breaking in to his houſe ſhould ſteale away all his ſubſtance. He ſetteth foorth A faithfull and wiſe ſeruaunt, that miniſtreth meat in due time to the whole houſholde committed to his charge. On the other ſide, he ſetteth againſt him a noughty Seruant, vnthriftliy waſting his maiſters goods, and alſo very vniuſtly dealing againſt his felowe ſeruants, moreouer drunken and vnwatchful, not any whit regarding his maiſters comming: whom taken with the fault he dooth rent in péeces like a Traitor. He ſetteth before vsus Ten Virgins, wherof fiue were ſober and wiſe, but th'other v. were fooliſh and ſlouthful, and therfore ſhut out of the ioyes of the wedding.

Furthermore hée ſetteth before vsus a certain Noble houſe holder, that looke his iourney into a far countrey, and yet firſt before his departure diſtributed his goods by Talents, which he left to be occupied in merchandiſe for his gaines, who boūd with euerlaſting chaines his vnthrifty ſeruant, wicked and ſlouthful. And to eueryevery parable: he ioyneth a ſentence right worthy & méet to be grauen déeply in our harts. VVatch therfore be cauſe ye knowe neither the day nor the houre in which the ſonne of man vvil come. But moreouer,This doctrine of our Lord / is to be vrged & beare … in to our mindes. who can ſay that this doctrine vttered by our Lord and Sauiour, concerning the laſt age and the iudgement to coome, is comberſome or obſcure? It is ſurely more cleere then the noone day vntounto them, that deſire to be wiſe. But vntounto them that are blinde alwaies, all things become darknes, becauſe of their owne accorde they procure vntounto them ſelues euē very extreme darkneſſe. But this diligent carefulnes of our Lord, and alſo this wholeſome example ought to ſtir vp all vsus his ſeruants vntounto like deſire of godlines, to th'intent that wée may with great faithfulneſſe and diligence, ſtir vp alſo euē the whole world béeing almoſt all in theſe our daies deeply fallen a ſleep: ſtir thē vp (I ſay) ſhake them, and ſharply with erneſt calling on, vrge them to watch, pray, and to conſider throughly the doctrime of our Sauiour, and finally to mark wel thoſe things that hauehave béen doon in times paſt and thoſe things alſo that are now doon in theſe our daies.

Verily thoſe things that were foretolde by our Lord,By a compariſon the prophecy of Chriſte is made manifeſt. we hauehave ſeen them, euen in the very things them ſelues, continually & in long courſe of time to hauehave béen fulfilled. For the holy Citie weried with the gréeuous ſéege of y^e Gentils, at the length was taken, ſpoiled, ſet on fire & vtterly deſtroyed, ſcarcely any few tokens or prints remaining therof. But thoſe Iewes that periſhed not by famin, peſtilence, and the ſword: were taken captiue by the Romains, and diſperſed into all nations throughout the whole world. And alſo the Goſpel of the kingdome, in deſpite of the Iewes & Gentiles, and euen in deſpite of hel gates, hath béen receiued throughout the whole world.

Furthermore we hauehave ſeen, that there hath burſt out of the déep pit of hel,Apoca. 9. thoſe great hepes of falſe prophets thoſe deadly locuſts, which with moſte corrupt and new kinde of doctrine, he hath troubled, vexed, rent in péeces, ſeduced, yea and all ſo repleniſhed with moſte vnſpeakable calamities, the whole Church of Chriſte. But if you as yet ſée not theſe things: conſider more erneſtly, what I ſhall now ſay.The foundneſſe of doctrine is corrupted. The ſimplicitie and integritie of the olde and Apoſtolike doctrine was in that deadly time vtterly corrupted. It ſemed, and is yet now adiudged by thoſe Doctors, to be a doctrine very vile, vnſéemly, and nothing Catholik, which béeing taken out of the moſte ſacred Goſpell and moſte ſimply and plainly ſet foorth vntounto all men according to the example of the Apoſtles, dooth teach, that the faithful are iuſtified by the onelyonly grace of God, thorew faith in Chriſte, or that ſinners are acquited from damnation, their ſinnes forgiuen thē, and euerlaſting life obtained by the death of y^e ſōne of God. which benefits they receiue by faith onelyonly and doo ſhew foorth & teſtify their true faith by good woorks. So ſhall it ſéem vntounto thē a matter vnaduiſed and nothing plain, if thou ſay that the rule of Chriſte alone is a moſte abſolute rule of true faith and good life, alſo that Chriſte alone ſuffiſeth vntounto the godly. And that he alone remaineth the Hed, the King, the high preeſt, of the Churche, in which he is preſent and which he ruleth very wel with his ſpirite and power, euen vntounto the end of the world: that the Church cleueth only to him, honoreth him in Spirite and trueth: that the ſame worſhippeth him, not in elements, or corruptible things, but in glory, & at the right hand of God the father. If thou doo thus beleeue, & doo thus plainly and ſimply cōfeſſe thy faith: thou ſhalt be accounted nothing Catholick, yea ſuſpected of hereſy, or rather a very Heretick indéed. For héerunto thou muſt ad, that Chriſte indeed dooth iuſtifie vsus, but not fréely. For Our merits muſt come to, and ſo our ſaluation therby is made perfect. And therfore by all menes poſſible, they impugne and perſecute this propoſition as hereticall namely, That Sinners are iuſtified by onelyonly faith in Chriſte, and not by the vvorks of the lawe. Moreouer they teach vsus to ſpeake more Catholikly and to frame our talke in this wiſe, namely that men hauehave their ſinnes in déed forgiuen thorow Chriſte: but not without the Key graunted vntounto y^e Préeſts, which is lawfully employed in Confeſſions. That mennes ſinnes are indéed pardoned, as touching the fault: but not as touching the pain, which pain (ſay they) is taken away or miniſtred by Satisfaction, or by the Popes pardons. And the beléeuers are ſaued indeed, but yet their ſoules muſt firſt be wel ſodden and purged with Fire and Holy vvater. They ad moreouer, that in very deed the Goſpel of Ieſus Chriſte is the rule of true faith and good life: but not altogither perfect. But that the want therof is patched vp with liuely Traditions, and by the decrees of the councels and Fathers. That the rule of Munks are moſte alowable. and moſte perfect, becauſe (forſooth) they are in the ſtate of perfectiō. That Chriſt in déed is y^e hieſt hed in Heauē: but that he in earth hath placed in his-ſted y^e Biſhop of Rome, with fulnes of power to be the hed of his Church. So that they which doo not acknowledge this hed, cannot inioy Chriſte in Heauen: for that we ought (vnderunder pain of damnation) to be ſubiect to the Biſhop of Roome. So they graunt that Chriſte is in déed in Heauen with his Father, an interceſſor and mediator for the faithful: yet they ad by and by: But he is not a mediator alone: For the ſame thing alſo is graūted vntounto the merits of y^e Saints in Heauē ſo that by their menes alſo they cauſe our Lord to extend his mercy vntounto ſinners calling vponupon the names of the Saints. So they graunt that Chriſte is to be worſhipped in ſpirit & trueth: but yet they affirme, that he is neuertheleſſe to be worſhiped with golde, with ſiluer, and all kindes of precioꝰ things,Iohn. 4. Daniel. 11. Acts. 17.John 4Dan 11Acts 17 that are to be offered and dedicated to the ornament of temples. So they ſay, that the faithful doo indéed worſhip Chriſte at the right hand of the father in glory: but that he neuertheleſſe muſt be adored alſo and worſhipped vnderunder the forme of bread, in their Chappelꝭ, in their Alters, in their Temples, in their ſtore boxes and Pixes: when by the power of God, and of the woords of conſecration, the ſubſtance of bread and wine is turned, yea tranſubſtantiated in to y^e ſubſtance of the body and blood of Chriſte, no one iot of the ſubſtance of the bread and wine remaining, but onelyonly the very accidents and outward ſhewes, that appéer. Therfore, that Chriſte is to be worſhipped héer, euen héer on the earth, and vnderunder the elements and outwarde creatures, they doo erneſtly affirme by the traditions of the Popes, Innocencius, Honorius and Vrbanus, and doo euen poynt him out, as it were with the finger in the earth, heere, and there, moreouer in the deſert, in the ſecret places, in their Clauſters, & in thoſe their monaſteries. Yea farthermore, to th'intent that the admonition of Ieſus Chriſte our Lord, might not be obſcure or dark, ſaying in the Goſpel. (They shall ſaye vntounto you: beholde heere is Chriſte, beholde he is there, beholde he is in the deſert, beholde he is in the ſtore boxes, or in the ſecret places) roūd about the Pix or litle Sacrament box, they write in great golden letters. Heer vvorship thou God. If in any place out of Roome they doo open their Romain pilgremage (Ein Romfart) that is to ſay, if any where they happen to lay out thoſe their indulgences and Pardons to ſale for merchandiſe, then again in the forefrunt of their Scrips, ſatchels, boxes and ſhops of pardons, they write in great golden letters. Heer is ful remiſſion of all ſinnes, and theſe things truely are wel knowen to all men throughout Chriſtendome. But what dooth Chriſte our Lord ad moreouer vntounto thoſe things?

Go not forth, do not beleeue them, beholde I hauehave tolde you before. Furthermore, we hauehave heard and ſéene in more then a thouſand places, great fearful Miracles to hauehave beē wrought before dum Images, and before y^e bread turned into God. And all things were doon to this end that theſe new & Doctor like decrées of the trāſubſtantiatiō of y^e bread, of the worſhipping of Images, of y^e inuocation of Saints, and the purchaſing the merits of Saints,The perſecution of the Church of Chriſte. might be ſet foorth & commēded to the faithful. But he y^t wil not beléeue theſe things, or ſhall in any iot ſpeake againſt them: is by and by ſnatched vp to priſon, & to execucion of death. We hauehave learned out of hiſtories, that there hath béen neuer at any time ſtirred vp againſt the people of God, any perſecution more greeuous, of longer continuance, and finally alſo more cruel then this laſt by Antichriſt. The affliction of the people of God in Egipt continued not abooue two hundred yeres. It is written in déed that they were in Egipt and on their iourney iij. hundred yeeres. But all this time is not aſcribed to the perſecution of the Iſraelits. But the perſecutions, which they ſuſtained vnderunder the Iudges and Kings, were very ſhort.

The captiuitie of Babilon was ended within y^e ſpace of lxx. yeeres. The affliction of Antioche and Greece was contained within certain bonds. Moreouer the ten perſecutions of the primatiue church, laſted thrée hundred yéeres, euen to the reign of Conſtantine the great. And they had in the mean while certain breathing ſpaces, certain reſpits, and quiet times.

But ſince the time in which the Bishop of Rome inuaded the kingdom of Chriſte, & began vſurpingly to take vponupon him the rule of the Church, and laſtly to chalenge to him ſelf the fulnes of power: there was then no reſt at the end of lxx. yéeres & abooue. None, or very ſhort truces, but continuall laying of trappes and ſnares, perpetuall practiſes and torments (as it were) euerlaſting. The ſharp and cruel Inquiſicion was written with the blood of the faithful: that is to ſay, a more rigorus way, to enquire againſt the faithful, then euer was practiſed, by the Emperour Diocleſian, ſuch as was neuer ſéen in any age or time from the beginning of the world. Heervnto is mixed Excommunication, the ſtrong ſinew of perſecution. This kinde of perſecution, hath ſhaken the moſte mightie Kings, the Henries and Fridericks, and their children and nephewes, the Levviſes, and innumerable princes. With the ſame, the Pope hath ſubdued vntounto him ſelf, people otherwiſe very fierce and couragious. The ſame hath taken away the moſte holy and moſte learned men in the world: and hath compelled the ſimpler and more vnlearned ſort, either vtterly to kéep ſilence, or els to diſſemble. For at the length by this his outragious tirany: be made kings and princes thrall and obedient vntounto him, ſo that all mē (by hepes) hauehave gréedely héertofore, and now doo ſtil beare armor in defence of this new God, and to maintain, and by violence to force vppon all men, his new Religion. I doo fain nothing héerin, neither reliue I my gaule, neither ſpeak I any thing for hatered, or fauour of any man. God, the iudge of all men is my witnes in this behalf.

Moreouer, all hiſtoryes bothe olde and new, doo make mention of theſe things. Finally what is doon in our daies, and with what perſecutions are oppreſſed, not the blaſphemers, not the contemners of Religion, not the adulterers, not thoſe that are defiled with inceſt, with whordomes, with fornications (to ſpeak nothing of more filthy acts) not murderers, not Sorſerers, not Traitors, not deceitful perſones, couetous men, Vſurers, or Theeues and oppreſſors of widowes and fatherleſſe children: but the profeſſors of the true Religion, and the confutors of the Popes abominations.

They that doo not ſée it, and with gréef mark it, are more blinde then y^e Iewes, who whē they heard this ſaying (Chriſt when he commeth, shall hee do mo miracles then this man hath doon? (and when alſo the thing it ſelf did beare witnes in the meane while moſte apparantly, yet by no meanes did they beléeue in him. Yea, how is it, that they more fréendly doo ſpare and fauour Théeues, and murderers, then the loouers of the Euangelicall trueth? The Iewes are ſuffered and borne with all, the Turks, the Saraſens, and the moſte naughty and moſte hurtful men of all. The Goſpellers alone beeing vnharmful, are neuer thought worthy of any pardō. Theſe onelyonly ſéeme méet to be diſpatched out of the way without any mercy. So that héerin alſo thou maiſt perceiue Chriſtes ſaying to be verified. You shallbe hated of all men for my names ſake. Alſo The time wil come, that he, vvhichwhich shal kil you shall ſeem to doo honour vntounto God. Again who is ignorant, with how great ſtraitnes euen in the Papiſtrie moſte cheefly in the Abbies, are vexed, men not altogither euil, and many with troubled conſciences? Who knoweth not that God and godly men, not a few, pine away euen with very ſorow? But who ſhall recite vntounto vsus the age, of late daies and in this our time, notable and famous in ſignes, …ūders and ſtraunge tokens? I wil not now ſpeak of the ciuil and forain warres, ſeditions, ſchiſmes, ſects, debates, tumults, trecheries, treaſons, vnfaithfulnes, wiked leages, mens crueltie moſte extreme, and deſtructions moſte horrible, and thoſe not a few.

Of theſe things who cannot gather, that faith and louelove is become colde vponupon earth, and that extreme wickednes boyleth in the harts of men? Furthermore, we ſee that the world at this day, beeing in ſuch horrible daūgers, is moſte abundantly ſtuffed and repleniſhed with ſuch as deſpiſe God, and make a mock of all trueth▪ the moſte religious (that is to ſay) they, vntounto whom this name is giuen, and who hauehave their liuing & gaines by Religion, make Religion it ſelf a very game. VntoUnto vsus it is a good perſwaſiō (ſaid that moſte holy one) which maketh vsus Lords ouer the whole world. And I am a ſhamed, to rehearſe thoſe things that are ſpoken by learned and religious fathers in this kinde of matter. The Epicures béeing a company of Swine, doo laugh and pleſantly make a ieſt at the looue of vertues, and at the calamities, which the faithful doo patiently ſuſtain for Religions ſake, at the immortalitie of the ſoule, and the reſurrection of the body, alſo at y^e rewardꝭ of the godly and puniſhments of the wicked, and at thoſe things whatſoeuer, which are ſpoken conſerning ſpirituall and heauenly matters. More ouer, we ſée that the people of all ſorts one with another are déeply drowned in a careleſſe ſecuritie: and that therefore reigneth among them a monſterous looue of ſurfetting and drunkennes.

Moſte men doo promiſe to them ſelues many hundred yéeres yet to come, and therfore they make mery or els with diſſimulation doo let paſſe all prechings of of repētance, of faſting, and of ſobriety, of faith and of prayers of the end of y^e world now at hand, & of the eſchuing the infection of euils.Gene. 18.Gen 18 But if any doo ſomewhat fréely reprooue theſe Swine for their ſhameful filthines: by and by he heareth that, which Loth heard at the hands of his Citizins the Sodomites. Thou cameſt hether as a ſtranger, and wilt thou now be a Iudge among vsus? But (I pray you) which be the daies of Noe & Loth, if theſe be not they? All good admonitions, and the very woord of God it ſelf are moſte extremly deſpiſed. What remaineth therfore (ye fathers and brethern honorable in Chriſte, and moſte déerly belooued) but y^t the laſt day of our Lord is not very far abſent: and that therfore all our ſhéep committed to our charge, are to be exited and ſtirred vp vntounto a diligent and ſober watchfulneſſe? In vain ſhall we cry out, when the very day falleth vppon vsus. For it ſhall inuade vsus vppō a ſudain, like vntounto a lightning.

Wherfore, the mindes of all men muſt betimes afore hand be made ready, and verily with none other doctrin, thā with the ſame of Ieſus Chriſte our Lord, of which I hauehave hitherto intreated with as much breuitie as I could. Notwithſtanding, I doo aduiſe all men,The day & yeere of the laſt iudgemēt cannot be diſcerned. héerin erneſtly to take heed, leſt in ſcanning and ſifting out of the time or els the day or yéer of the laſt end, we be to bolde or rather to raſh: as ſōe lewd felowes there hauehave béen of late yéeres, who hauehave (as it were) w^t their finger poynted out y^e day and the yéer of y^e finall iudgemēt, therin ſhewīg forth their folly worthy to be mocked of all men. Chriſte Ieſus our Lord, the iudge of all men, who, according to his Godhed,Mark. 13.Mark 13 vnderſtandeth all the councels of his father, ſaid in the goſpel of S. Mark. Of that day and time no man knoweth, no, not the Angels which are in Heauen, neither the Sonne him ſelf (as touching his humain nature) but the father alone. And a little after. Ye knowe not when that time shalbe.

Therfore as the Lord him ſelf hath taught vsus to ſpeak: ſo let vsus ſpeak, and ſay. Take heed, watch and pray. For ye knovve not when your Lord wil come, in the euening or at midnight, at the Cock crovving, or in the davvning, leſt if he come vnwares, hee finde you, ſleeping. VVherfore vvhē ye shall ſe theſe things cōe to paſſe vvhichwhich I hauehave tolde you before, should happen: knovve ye that the kingdome of God is at hand. And therfore look vp and lift vp your heds. For your redemption dravveth nigh.

This ſhort doctrin of Chriſte our Lord may ſuffiſe vntounto his Diſciples, béeing careful and diligent, and not delighting in long proces. And becauſe I dout not but that ſome yet doo deſire and look for a more plētiful diſcourſe vpō theſe things: we wil therfore bréefly ouerrun the doctrin of bleſſed Daniel vponupon this matter.The ꝓphecy of Daniel touching the end of the world and the times of the laſt age. Him we chooſe out among others, and before others, becauſe our Sauiour intreating of the deſtruction of the Citie and the world, ſent vsus back to this Prophet, whoſe prophecy we ſhould eaſely vnderſtand,Daniel. 7.Dan 7 if we did giuegive good héed thervnto. Daniel therfore béeing taught by the heauenly viſion: rehearceth foure Monarchies, that ſhould ariſe in the world, among which: the laſt be calleth a Beaſt, which, (he ſaith) ſhould hauehave ten hornes, among which: one Little horne ſpringing vp ſhould caſt down iij. of them and that the ſame ſhould growe vp in maruelous forſe, and far excel all the reſt. The ſame alſo (ſaith he) had the eyes of a man, and a mouth ſpeaking great things, and that he made gréeuous and perpetuall war againſt the Saints, ouer whōe alſo he eaſely preuailed and reighneth moſt puiſauntly and moſt licenciouſly, vntil the ſeats were prepared and iudgement placed in throne.

For then was all that kingdome rent in péeces, and the beaſt thrown into the fire to be burnt with euerlaſting flames. Saint Ierome expounding theſe things ſaith. By the fourth Beaſt, the Prophet vnderſtandeth the Romaine Empire, vvhichwhich …e neither calleth a Lion, as the Empire of Babilon, neither a beare as of Perſia, neither a Parde, as of Macedonia, but he calleth him a Beaſt▪ to the intent that vvhat ſoeuer vvee imagine moſte fierce and cruell in beaſts: the ſame vve may vnderſtand by the Romains. Thus much ſaith S. Ierome. But ſéeing Daniel him ſelf hath ſowen abrode the ſéedes of the right expoſition héerof: by folowing the things them ſelues, and conferring of hiſtoryes: I will ſhowe the interpretation of this propheticall viſion, not inforced: but takē out of the woords of y^e prophet & out of the very things them ſelues, & therfore eaſy and apparaunt of the owne accord, Verily, it is wel knowen, that the Romain Empire hath raged ouer the whole earth with furious woodnes more thē beaſtly.

For, if I ſhould omit to make mention how that vnderunder this Empire (whoſe vaſſals were the Herods) Ihon Baptiſt was beheaded, and at the laſt Chriſte him ſelf was crucified vnderunder Tiberius the Emperour (Pontius Pilate beeing then Lieutenaunt for the Romains) all the Apoſtles of Chriſte were alſo moſte gréeuouſly afflicted, and at the length moſt cruelly ſlain, and the Primitiue Church (with the x. moſte fierce perſecutions with fire and ſword) worne away yea, and almoſte vtterly conſumed: yet who knoweth not, y^t there was almoſte no parte of the world inhabited, wherinto the moſte raging weapons of the Romains hauehave not broken in, and vexing of the ſame (with their filthy luſt, in tollerable pride and vnſatiable coueteouſnes) hauehave at the length vtterly deuoured it? But the iuſt Lord, in due time hath recompenced blood thirſty Rome according to her deſerts,The Romain Empire deſtroyed. and by diuiſion hath made concord, and ſo alſo hath rent her ſtrength in ſunder, which thing the prophet hath ſignified by the x. hornes. For, while the prouinſes reuolted from the Romain Empire, and ſome of them created Kings vntounto them ſelues: and other ſome bare armour againſt the imperiall Citie, and the Emperours them ſelues, within few yéeres it came to paſſe, that the Citie béeing Lady of the whole world: was taken & ſacked of barbarous people, and alſo made a mocking ſtock, and at the laſte ſet on fire and deſtroyed by Tottilas of Oſtgothia, a prince worthy of eternall remēbrance, and a moſte famous ſeruant of God.

At the ſame time and before alſo, when the Cittie was come into the hands of Genſiricus the VVandall, and when immediatly afterward it was gouerned by Odacer king of the Saxons, who béeing dead: it was ſubiect to Djetricus of Verona & the Oſtgothes, all that while there was no lawful Emperour or Caeſar in Italy, as afore at Rome. Only at Conſtantinople, in the Cittie of Conſtantine, the great y^e moſte godly prince, reigned the Emperours of the Eaſt, vntil Ioannes Paleologus the ſonne of Mahuel béeing the laſt Emperour of Conſtantinople (except one) did in the councel of Florence acknowledge Eugenius then Biſhop of Rome, vntounto whome he there ſubmitted him ſelf & his alſo. This was doon in the yéere of our Lord 1439. For,The Emp…r… o… Conſtantinople …oued & ouerthrowne ſtraight waies his ſonne Conſtantine the vij. ſurnamed Draco, béeing ſubdued by Mahumedes the Emperour of the Turcks, loſt his Cittie, his life, and his Empire. So that for a iuſt puniſhment of that moſte filthy reuolting and backſliding: the moſte auncient Empire of Grecia, that had ſtand vpright 1119. yéeres, was by y^t Turcks thrown down and very cruelly ſubuerted. This calamitie happened in the yéere of our Lord 1453, So that from the councel of Florence to the reuolting: were onelyonly xiiij. yéeres betwéene. And S. Ierome in his Cronicles noteth that the Citie of Conſtantinople was dedicated by Conſtantine in the yéere of our Lord 334.

Conſider héer, in the meane while (ye worthy men) the goodnes and Iuſtice of our Lord God, and therwith all his meruellous trueth.The benefits of God beſtowed vppon Conſtantine the greae. The bleſſed Emperour Conſtantine faithfully ſerued the true God and his ſonne Ieſus Chriſte in rooting out, and ſuppreſſing of all hetheniſh Idolatrie and ſuperſtition & on the other ſide in planting, ſpreading abrode, and eſtabliſhing of Chriſtian religion, and for that cauſe (as S. Auguſtine maketh mention) God that plentiful rewarder of all good men, was willing to adorne him not onelyonly with eternall ioy in Heauen: but alſo with moſte ample glory and renowne vponupon earth.

For he gaue vntounto him the moſte famous Citie in the world, and a continuall and moſt inuincible kingdome. For, God drawing him away from that fatal land of Italy, and from the bloody Cittie of Rome (which alſo, it is likly the prince him ſelf to hauehave abhorred) brought him vntounto Bizantium in Thracia, where he built a famoꝰ Citie of his owne name which was vntounto his poſteritie euen vntounto the end of y^e world a moſte worthy remembrance of ſo very good & moſt mighty a Prince. Wherby it come to paſſe by a certaine prouidence of God, and (as it were) by a certain prophecy, that it ſhuld take the name of Conſtantine him ſelf, and alſo of that good chriſtian woman Conſtantia. Like as ſome report, Rome to hauehave taken name of Romulus, that ſlew his brother, or (as ſōe ſay) a robore tirannico & immenſa ſuperbia, that is of the tiranicall force, and vnmeſurable pride (what if ye ad, vom braemen vſtrumen vnd be ſchiſſen) with which it hath been a raging enemye againſt the whole worlde bothe ſpiritually and corporally. Aſſuredly all hiſtoryes doo witneſſe, that our Lord God bare a ſinguler great fauour vntounto the Citie of Conſtantinople. One matter onelyonly will I reſite.

After the decay of the Romain Monarchie, how ſoeuer y^e whole world run togither with mutuall warres amonge them ſelues, & moſt kingdomes taſted of meruelous alterations: yet neuertheles the kingdom of Conſtantinople remained ſtedfaſt and vnmoouable, giuing often repulſe vntounto barbarous nations, and alſo to the very Saraſines, beeing enemyes otherwiſe moſte mightie & fierce. But at the length beeing vtterly void of Gods protection: it was laid open to be ſpoyled and trodden vnderunder foote by the Turks, at what time the Princes of Conſtantinople béeing deceiued by Eugenius the Pope, to the great calamitie of moſte mightie Princes. (For at that ſeaſon by the vnhappy councel of Amurathe, he ouerthrew Ladiſlaus the moſte victorious King of Hungary and Polonia, with all his whole hoſte) departing in the councell of Florence, from their true head Chriſte, acknowledged the Pope of Roome to be the true Vicar of Chriſte, on earth, and the lawful ſucceſſor of Peeter (I reherſe the woords of Platina) to occupy the chéefeſt and higheſt place in the world, whom the Church bothe of the Eaſt and alſo of the Weſt ought of duty to obey.

But ſéeing that theſe things hauehave happened to this moſte noble ond moſte ancient Citie, through the iuſt iudgement of God: let men take héed in theſe dayes what they doo, that béeing deliuered thorow the tuicion and diligence of good Princes, from this Romain beaſt outragious, proud, inſatiable in blood and riches, filthy and deceiuable: yet wil again throwe down thē ſelues to be ſtamped vnderunder his féet, and to be ouerwhelmed Sith all kinds of legerdemain.

But now I return to Daniel. It appéereth out of hiſtories (as I was about to tel) that in the Weſt, within Roome and Italy, beeing the auncient ſeat of the empire, there was no Caeſar or Emperour, all the time from the deſolation of the Weſt Empire, vntounto the dayes of Charles the great, which was thrée hundred yéeres and more. For the Hornes, that grue vp by the diuiſion of the Romain Empire, béeing diuers and many, did fiercely fight togither, and ſlew one another. So that Roome and Italy was gouerned now by the weſt Gothes afterward by the VVandalles, after that by the Saxons, ſo by the Eaſt Gothes, then by the Greeks: and at the length the Lombards alſo, and Frenchmen attained to the Empire.

And during this vnhappy time, while the frantick Prinres ſlewe one another with mutuall wounds, there ſprung vp in the middeſt of this contention, that baſe and deſpiſed litle Horne that Daniel ſpeaketh of, namely a pariſh Préeſt of Roome, who a litle before this time through moſte wicked deuiſes & practiſes, began to be in authoritie: which helped him exceedingly to y^e attainment of the Empire. For now he was accounted almoſte of all men in the weſt parts for the vniuerſall paſtor, as Biſhop of that place, which (after long contention had, firſt with the Churches of Africa, and afterwarde of Conſtantinople) Phocas the Emperour, altogither an infamous and vnfortunate Prince, commaunded to be chéefeſt and head of all Churches in the world.

Therfore now the Popes iudgements and decrées were of great authoritie among princes, as of a man altogither Apoſtolike: who neuertheleſſe hitherto was equall with other Biſhops, and had no princely ſuperioritie, and therfore, was a baſe and deſpiſed litle horne.

And Daniel dooth not let to tel, by what meanes, that baſe perſon not accounted of, who was once vnderunder the ſubiection of the Romain Princes, is now ſtarted vp to ſo great a dignitie & power,The little horne ouerthroweth iii. hornes. namly by the ouerthrowe of thrée Hornes in that ſharp conflict of the other Hornes. And héer I would hauehave you to note dilygētly, how y^t Daniel, in declaring of this matter, vſed not one ōly woord but thrée.

For he ſaith, that the Hornes were pluct a way, brought lowe & fel down. Namely, that one of the thrée hornes was pluckt awaye, an other brought lowe, and the third fel down. For Grigory Biſhop of Room the ſecond of that name, a Cirian born, and a man very wittie and ſubtile, did excomunicate Leo Iſauricus Emperour of Conſtantinople (béeing a good and other wiſe a ſtrong Prince) for taking away the Images out of the temples of Chriſtians, whom alſo he plucked away and draue him out of Italy. Héerin reigned the Saxons and Oſtgothes, men barbarous about Clxxv yéeres. But theſe were ſubdued by Belliſarius, a mā very expert in the affaires of war. And Narſes a ſkilful and mightie warrier, béeing ſent by the princes of Conſtantinople, draue them clean out of Italy, and he him ſelf ruled Italy, as Liuetenant for the Prince of Conſtantinople.

After this, Longinus brought a new kinde of gouernmēt into Italy called the Exarchate, The Exarchate af Rauenna.ſuch a one as was the Deputy and Viceroy in Italy in place of the Prince of Conſtantinople. He was termed Exarchus, who had his ſeat at Rauenna and not at Roome, becauſe it remained, very filthy, and (as it were) deſolate, by meanes of the waſte & deſtruction doon by the Gothes. And after Narces and Baſilius, Rome had neuer Conſuls, nor ſenat lawfully aſſembled. But the Romain ſtate béeing vtterly waſted: was gouerned a long time by the rule of a Grecian, whō the Exarchus ſent from Rauenna. And it was not called the Exarchate of Roome: but of Rauenna.

But after that Leo the Gréek Emperour was excōmunicated, and Gregory the Pope had perſwaded all the Cities of Italy to reuolt: they began to chuſe them Dukes to rule ouer them. Wherby it came to paſſe immediatly, that caſting away the gouernment of the Exarchate, they ſlew through ſedition Paule the Exarchus togither with his Sonne at Rauenna, and expelled the Grecians out of Italy. And ſo this horn was plucked away.

Moreouer, Pope Zacharias, wheras he was falſely eſteemed by the Frenchmen and other nations, to be the true Apoſtolike and vniuerſall biſhop on earth, was choſen vmpire, to pronounce whether were more worthy of the kingdome Hildericus or Pipin the dwarf. But he brought lowe the true King Hildericus, in place of whom hée exalted Pipine béeing the chéef ruler of his houſe.

Wherfore, Stephen the ſucceſſor of Zacharie, ſecond of that name (the repulſe béeing giuen to the Lombards, and alſo in deſpite of y^e Greeks) receiued for a reward of his wicked fact, the Exarchate of Rauenna, lately made deſolate by the practiſes of the Pope. And ſo another of the thrée Hornes was brought lowe, and the litle horne was exalted, into a higher eſtate. Furthermore, now after theſe commeth Charles the great, the ſonne of Pipin y^e dwarf, who beeing called foorth by Pope Adrian in to Italy againſt the Lumhards, at Papia or Ticinum 'beſéeged and took Deſiderius the laſt king of the Lombards in Italy, & ſo ouerthrew and rooted vp the kingdome of Lombardy. Wherby the third of the thrée Hornes, may very wel be ſaid to hauehave fallen downe. But the Citie of Roome was giuē by the …āe Charles vntounto Saint peeter, and to the biſhop there, the ſucceſſor of Saint Peeter and to the Romain Church. And thoſe things, which his elders before him had giuen lately: the ſame he enlarged and confirmed.

But before I procéed to other things partaining to this matter: I cannot omit the expoſition of Daniel, & the iudgement of that moſte famous and godly man Ebarhardus Archbiſhop of Saliſburge concerning Pope Gregory the ninth, and other Biſhops of Rome, who about the yéer of our Lord 1240. in a common Parlement of the kingdome (as it is mentioned by Iohānes Auentinus in his ſeuenth Book of Cronicles) thus ſaid.

Theſe mightie holy Préeſts of Babilon deſire to reign alone. They cannot abide to hauehave any equall. They wil not ceaſſe til they hauehave brought all things vnderunder their ſubiection, and ſit in the Temple of God, and lifted vp abooue all whatſoeuer is woorſhiped. Their hunger for riches, their thirſtineſſe for honor is vnſatiable. The more thou giueſt to a couetous man: the more dooth he couet and deſire. Reach him thy finger and he will couet for thy whole hād, We wax the worſſe (euen all the ſorte of vsus) through immoderate libertie. He that is the Seruant of Seruants, deſireth to be the Lord of Lords, euen as though he were God him ſelf. He diſdaineth the holy aſſemblies and councels of his bretheren, yea, of thoſe that be Lords and rulers ouer him. Hée is afraid leſt he ſhould be cōpelled, to yeld account of thoſe things whiche hee dooth daly more and more againſt the lawes. He ſpeaketh great things, as though he were a God. He imagineth in his hart new deuiſes, to the intent he might eſtabliſh a Kingdome to him ſelf. Hée chaungeth lawes, confirmeth his owne, defileth, robbeth, ſpoyleth, defraudeth, killeth, euen hee that wicked outcaſt, whom they vſe to call Antichriſte. In whoſe forhed is written the name of blaſphemy (I am God, I cannot erre) he ſitteth in the temple of God, and ruleth far & néer. But as it is writtē in the ſecrets of holy Scriptures, he that readeth let him vnderſtand. The learned ſhall vnderſtand, but all the wicked ſhal doo wickedly and ſhall not vnderſtand. And by and by after this. The maieſtie of the people of Roome, by whiche in times paſt the whole world was gouerned, is taken away from the Earth, and the Empire is returned back into Aſia. The Eaſt ſhall beare dominion again, and the Weſt ſhalbe brought vnderunder ſubiection. The kingdome was multiplied, and the higheſt gouernment of things, is now diſperſed in to many, cut in ſunder, diminiſhed (I wil not ſay) torn all to péeces. Ciuil diſſentiōs are ſowed abrode for euer. And wée ſée no end of deadly warres. The name of Emperour is but a vain name, and but a ſhadowe only.

There are now ten Kings at once, whiche hauehave parted amongſt them the whole earth béeing héertofore the Romain Empire, not to rule and gouern it: but to conſume it. The ten Hornes (which ſeemed incredible to Saint Auguſtine) that is to ſay. The Turcks, the Greeks, the Egiptians, the Africans, the Spanyards, the Frenchmen, the Englishmen, the Germaines, the Siciliās, the Italiās, hauehave in poſſeſſion the prouinces of Rome, and hauehave rooted out the Romaines, that inhabited the ſame. And vnderunder theſe grewe vp a litle Horne, which had eyes, and a mouth ſpeaking preſumptuous things. He bringeth into ſubiection vnderunder him thrée Kingdoms moſte cheefly, that is to ſay. Sicily, Italy & Germany, and compelleth them to ſerue him. He vexeth the people of Chriſte, and the Saints of God with his intollerable ſoueraintie He turneth all things vpſide down, bothe things diuine and humain. He attempteth matters horrible & excecrable. What can be more euident, then this Prophecy? All the miracles and prodigious wunders, of whiche our Hauenly maiſter did admoniſh vsus (read ye the chronicles) were wrought a great while ago, in which preſumption & violēce poſſeſſe all thinges. Good mē are toſſed to & fro with all reprochefulnes and pouertie. All right is confounded, and Lawes periſh, there is no faith in men, no peace, no gentleneſſe, no ſhame, no trueth, & there withall no ſafetie alſo, no gouernment, no reſt at all from euil men, all the whole earth is in a whurlyburly, warres doo rage on eueryevery ſide. all nations are vp in armour, aſſaulting one another. Cities néere bordering do fight togither. Kingdomes are ouerthrowen, and Cities doo vtterly periſh not onelyonly with Swoord and fire, but alſo with continuall Earthquakes and ouerflowings of waters, and with often diſeſes and hunger. Maruelous wunders happen eueryevery where in all the Elements of the world. The aire is infected, corrupted, and vnholſome through vnſaciable rain, ſometime with vnprofitable drought, ſometime with colde, ſometime with to-much heats. Neither dooth the Earth yéeld any foyſon vntounto man, neither the corne, nor trées, nor Vines hauehave any fruteful increace. And though in their bloughth they giuegive great ſhowe: yet in Harueſt they bring no frute. Cattel and beaſtes dye vppon the earth, Birds in the aire and the fiſhes in the waters. Blaſing Starres and darknes of the Sun, the coloure of the Moone, the ſuddain and vnaccuſtomable falling of the ſhooting Starres, the heauens ouerſpred with blood, confoundeth the mindes of men with dreadful terrour. through the wrath of God againſt men, there rageth Swoord, fire. hungar and ſiknes. Neuertheleſſe the vngodly acknowledge not the Iuſtice of God, but rather increace more and more in euil. In ſo much that they hauehave eyes and ſee not.

And this hauehave I reſited woord by woord out of the Chronicle of Auentinus, whiche if any of you deſire to read, ye ſhall finde it in the Copie of Ingolſtadius printed in the yéer of our Lord. 1554. in the lefe 684. and 685. &c. All theſe ſayings of the Archchbiſhop agrée very well to our matter and expound the ſame. And it appéereth, that I am not alone of this opinion that he putteth other Kingdoms in place of the thrée Hornes. Whiche thing I commit to the Iudgement of the reader. With my expoſition accordeth the number of the beaſts name. Apoca. 13. of which I hauehave elſwhere diſcourſed more at large.

Now let vsus return to our Daniell, bréefly to expound that alſo which remaineth. But thus by caſting down of the thrée hornes, that litle horne mentioned by Daniel, namely that bace Seruant of Chriſte, and euen the Seruant of Seruants, did not onelyonly clime vp to the higheſt top: but alſo became the moſte mightie Prince of that fatall Land of Italy, Apoc. 17.Rev 17and Lord of ſeuen hilled Room, and of the Palaice of Antichriſte. The which, he and his repaired and adorned by the ſpace of ſeuen hundred and fiftye yéeres, ſo that olde Rome by the help of theſe woorthy Patriarches, may now ſéeme to be new borne again. And héerunto Saint Paule ſéemeth to hauehave relation,1. Theſſa. 2. who in the Epiſtle to the Theſſalonians, plainly ſaid.

This thing onelyonly nowe vvitholding vntil he be taken out of the way, and than that wicked one shalbe reueled. Which is aſmuch in effect, as if he had ſaid▪ This onelyonly that now letteth, namely the Empire of Roome ſhalbe taken away, and when Tocatochon that is, the ſame impediment ſhalbe taken away, then ſhall the Romain Sea be erected, and in the ſame newe and ſecond ſeate ſhalbe placed the two horned beaſt, bearing the badge of keyes, and armed with two ſwoords. Neither doo I alone expound this place of Paule after this ſort. Tertulian did euen ſo expound the ſame abooue fourtéen hundred yeeres ago, who in his book of the reſurrection of the fleſh.

VVho shalbe taken away (ſaith hee) but the Romaine eſtate, vvhoſe departing ſcattered in to ten kingdomes shall bring in Antichriſte?

The ſame meaning alſo hath Saint Ierome in the eleuenth queſtion to Algaſia, The Pope / a new King and troubbler of kingdomes.who manifeſtly calleth Roome by the name of Babilon, the ſeat of the Beaſt and of the purple Harlote. And thus the Pope this newe king, béeing eſtabliſhed in his kingdome, began euen him ſelf alſo to create kings, and in greatneſſe of glory to excel all chriſtian Princes, and afterwarde in all kingdomes to make trouble and whurly hurly.

For Leo the thirde Pope of that name, reſtored, or rather raiſed vp anew the Romain deſolate and defaced by the ſpace of thrée hundred yéeres and more, reiecting vtterly the Princes of Conſtantinople, For he appointed Charles the French King to be Emperour: and yet in ſuch ſorte, that beſide the vain name it litle auailed him. For he reſerueth Room to him ſelf, and the chéefeſt part of Italy, which the Gréeks had poſſeſſed, and was called by the name of Exarchate. But he graunted vntounto Charles a parte of Italy, (ſom Romain titles) whiche was recouered from the Lombards, and alſo the empty name of Emperour. Therfore according to the prophecy of Ieſus Chriſte, vttered by Iohn in the Apocalips. The Image of the beaſt is ſeen, ſtirred vp by the falſe Prophet. No dout, the ſame was doon by the marueilous crafty woorkmanſhip of that olde wily Fox. For when all antiquitie looked for Antichriſte about th'end of the Romain Empire, and when he was about the very ſame time riſen vp and had placed him ſelf in the ſeat of god▪ he going about (as it were) to repaire the dcayed Empire, brought to paſſe, that he was not knowen of the faithful. But, they rather béeing deceiued with his ſuttle practiſes, looked for a certain (I knowe not what) Antichriſte of Babilon, whom in their publiſhed Bookes they declare, ſhould bée yet to come, and whom alſo they earneſtly diſpraiſe.

Yet ſhould they not miſſe the right mark, if they would with all elder times call Roome that Babilon, and in ſteade of time comming to place the time preſent. At the length the ſtock of Charles and Pipin béeing rooted out, ſo that the Popes had remaining litle or no help at all from the hande of the french Kings, as in time paſt they had abuſed the power of the Greeks and Lombards, from whom afterwarde they flitted vntounto the French men, ſo now they créep in to the fauour of the Princes of Germany, the better to bring their matters about.

Wherfore the Othoes w^t their Armies, ſet vppon Italy with great labour and expences. VnderUnder theſe are choſen vij. men, whom they tearme Electors. They chuſe the Emperour. But the Imperiall maieſtie and eſtate is giuen by none but by the Pope. For now the Popes of Roome had gotten the Monarchie in to their owne hands, wherby alſo within a while after they pluckt away the Empire from the Henries, Frediricks, Levvis, and many other notable and holy Princes of Germany, troubling in the meane ſeaſon, and waſting with ſwoord and fire, all the kingdomes in Chriſtendome, ſo that (not without good cauſe) they were called the Children of Perdition.

I wil now ſpeak nothing of the war that was commonly named the Holy war, which was procured moſte chéefly by the induſtrie of the Pope. In that warre were ioyned togither all the nations and kingdomes bothe of the eaſt and of the weſt, moreouer alſo of y^e North and of the South. Wherby folowed ſo huge a bloodſhed, that there was neuer at anye time in the worlde any battail fought with more ireful and obſtinate mindes, and with ſo great loſſe of things as this the popes holy battail.

Moreouer, they began to thruſt out Kings from their auncient inheritances and kingdomes, through treaſons & murders, and in their places to exalte others for their owne pleaſure and cōmoditie.

For which cauſe bothe Kings and kingdomes fought moſte fiercely one againſt another. So they ſtirred vp the Kings of Hungary, the Kings of France, the Kings of Germany, and the Princes of other nations, againſt thoſe, whom they accounted for their enemies. So was Cicily and Naples wreſted away from the poſteritie of th'Emperour Friderick the Sweuian, and cruel warre was betwéen the Germans, Frenchmen and Spaniards. But often times the French Kings were lewdly recompenced at the Popes hands.

In déed Boniface the viij. with wunderfull impudencie béeing bolde to claim the kingdome of Fraunce to be the benefite of the Popes maieſtie: took away the ſame from Philip the fair, then King of Fraunce, and gaue it (forſooth) to Albert of Awſtrey. But, impoſſible it is, to declare, in few woords, how ſore this new vnhappy kingdom of the pope, and moſte miſcheuous Monarchy hath ſhaken the whole world. It is ſufficient, to hauehave at the leaſt wiſe touched theſe things, that by them, as through a lattiſe windowe, yee may ſée, that there is not, or was not at any time any kingdome in all Chriſtendome more troubleſome, then the Popedome of Roome. The hiſtories doo at large proſecute the ſame.

Now I return to Daniel. let vsus therfore conſider Daniels moſt perfect and euident deſcription of this new king, and let vsus compare the things them ſelues with him, to the intent all men may plainly knowe with out any douting, that the prophecy of Daniel is to be expounded and ment of none other then of the biſhop of Roome, and of his kingdom, and that all things touching him, are all ready throughly fulfilled. Wherby it commeth to paſſe, that wée can looke for none other thing, but the laſt iudgement and therwithall the end af all things.

For which cauſe, let vsus all watch (as duty bindeth vsus) and ſtir vp all men to a circumſpect watchfulneſſe. The eyes (ſaith Danial) of this little horne vvere the eyes of a man. For this King was throughly exerciſed, wily, deceitful, and furniſhed with all kinde of arts and practiſes. And his retinew excelleth in this facultie all the practicioners of all princes. And ſurely this facultie hath promoted him vntounto his kingdome, augmented his power, couered his wickednes, and keepeth him yet in ſafetie.

The Prophet addeth further. His mouth ſpeaketh great things, or preſumptuous things. Alſo, He shall ſpeak meruelous and wunderful things againſt the God of Gods. So that the prophet dooth meruail greatly at his impudency. But (reuerend maiſters and déerly belooued brethren) if yée deſire to heare ſome of his great preſumptuous woords giuegive eare. I wil reherſe ſome of them vntounto you out of their owne bookes.What thinges are taught in the decrees decretals / and gloſes touching the Pope of Rome / his maieſtie and Monarchie.

The Pope (ſay they) is aboue all lawes. He may prefer by his owne interpretation equity not writē before the lawe written. For he ſeemeth to hauehave all lawes in the Cofar of his breſt. Therefore, what ſoeuer the Pope alloweth or diſſaloweth, the ſame ought we alſo to alow or diſsalow. Of the iudgement of the Apoſtolick ſeat no man ought to iudge: neither is it lawful for any man, to correct or repeale the ſentence of the ſame, namely becauſe of the primacy & ſoueraintie of the Romain church, giuen from abooue by the benefite of Chriſt in bleſsed Peeter the Apoſtle. The Iudge ought not to bee iudged, neither of councel nor of Emperour, nor of the whole clergie, nor of the Kinges, nor of the people. The cauſes of others: God would hauehave to be determined by man. But without all queſtion, God hath reſerued to his own Iudgement, the high ruler of this Sea: In ſomuche that if he should cary with him by heapes innumerable people to hel fire, yet no mortall man may preſume, to reprooue his faultes heerin, becauſe he is to iudge all men, and himſelf is to be iudged of no man. God ſuffereth not the church of Rome to erre. And eueryevery one, that obeyeth not the decrees of the Romain Seat is an Heretick.

And Pope Adrian ſaith alſo. Wee iudge and ordaine by generall decree, that he be deteſtably accurſed, and remain alwaies gilty before God, as a breaker of the catholike faith, whoſoeuer shall ſuffer to be violat…d, or beleeue that there ought to be violated in any point, the ſenſure of the decrees either of the kīgs or of the Bishops, or of any heerafter the mightie Popes of Roome. All the ordinances of the apoſtolick ſeat are ſo to bee eſteemed, as confirmed by the diuine voice of Peeter him ſelf.

With lowd voice (ſaith Leo the fourth) I feare not to pronounce that whoſoeuer shalbe found, not indifferently to receiue and allow all the decrees of the holy fathers, which are intituled among vsus by the names of Canons, hee is therby approoued ſuch a one, as dooth not profitably and effectually to his behoof, keepe or beleeue either the Catholick & apoſtolick faith, or els the foure holy Goſpels. For, whoſoeuer dooth againſt her which is the mother of faith: dooth indeed breake and violate the faith. And albeit the Fathers of the Apoſtolick ſeate, ſome times bee not good: yet they are alwaies preſuppoſed to be good. The Pope ſinneth whē he cōmitteth adultrye or murder, but he may not be accuſed. It were apoint of Sacriledge to diſpute of the Popes dooings: whoſe wicked acts are excuſed, as the murders of Sampſon, the robberies of the Hebrues and the adultery of Iacob. Yea, alſo if one of the Clergie doo imbrace a woman, let it be ſaid that hee dooth it to bleſſe her.

Let no man think that I hauehave …ai…ed any of all theſe things. For I hauehave in effect reſited the very woords of the Canoniſts, which I am able to ſhew in their owne Books if any man ſhall require it.

The Pope alone (ſay they) hath all the dignities & all the power which all the Patriarcks hauehave had. His authoritie is greater then the authoritie of the ſaintes: becauſe whom he confirmeth, no man may diſable the ſame. He hath bothe the ſwordes. He is not to be called to account by any man, no, although he be called an heretick. Hee alone appealeth from all men to God him ſelf, becauſe he is the Vicar or deputie of Chriſte, and hath fulnes of power from God. He may ſpare whom he luſt. To him alone and to none els: it is lawful to take a way from one and giuegive to another. All the whole world is the dioceſse of the Pope: and the Pope is the ordinary of all men, hauing fulnes of power in things ſpirituall and tēporall. For he is Lord of Lords, hauing the right of the King of Kings ouer his ſubiects. He is all things and aboue all thinges. And it is requiſit vnderunder pain of damnation to be ſubiect to the Bishop of Roome. For God and the Pope hauehave bothe one cōſiſtory. Alſo, the pope is ſaid to hauehave an heauēly power and authority, and therfore alſo to chaūge the nature of thinges, by turning the ſubſtāce of one thing into an other. And of nothing he can make ſomething. And the ſentence that is of no force: he can make it of ſome value. Becauſe in thoſe things that he liketh: his will ſtandeth for reaſon. And no mā may ſay vntounto him, why dooſt thou thus? For he may diſpēce with all lawes, and of iniurye make Iuſtice, by correcting of lawes and chaunging of them.

Hetherto hauehave ye heard the mouth ſpeaking great things, worthy truely to be ſtopped vp with the Turds of the Deuil. But thus the Rat is bewrayed by ſhewing of her ſelf.

And while he thus did ſhite foorth theſe moſte filthy Turds in the middeſt of the Church: yet ſtil he would needs ſéem to ſpeak on the behalf of the higheſt, whoſe Vicar he boſteth him ſelf to be on earth. VVho (as Daniel ſaieth) dooth think that hee may chaunge bothe the times and the lawes. In very trueth, no man can or ought to chaunge the ordinances of God. Therfore Antichriſte ſhall think that he may chaunge them. Er wirds whaenem.

Saint Ierom noteth vponupon theſe wordꝭ of Daniel, that Antichriſte ſhall make ſubiect vnderunder his power, the whole Religion of Chriſte, Wherin we hauehave ſéen the Popes to hauehave doon what they luſted them ſelues. But becauſe all times doo bring foorth faithful Preachers of Chriſte, Enoches and Eliaſes, who doo withſtand ſuch abhominations: therfore Daniel ſaith very wel, that hee made war againſt the Saints, and preuailed ouer them. Of which war, becauſe I hauehave ſpoken before, when I expounded the woords of Chriſte our Lord: there is no néed héer to make repetition again.

But becauſe the godly, vppon whoſe ſhoulders this burden and care doth teſt, might demaund, how long time this other beaſt ſhould rage, and waſte the kingdome of Chriſte, and blaſpheme the name of the eternall God: Daniel preuenteth this thing and ſaith.

The end of the Popes kingdome.They shalbe deliuered into his hands, vntil a time and times, and half a time. In whiche dark kinde of ſpeaking, he ſéemeth to ſignifie nothing elſe, but that the Saints muſt cōſtantly abide in that fight, whether the time, that they muſt fight in, be long or ſhort. For no certain determinate time is declared, and therfore none muſt be looked for.

Moſte men hauehave vnderſtanded, by a time, For a time / times / and half a time.times and half a time, one, yéere, ij. yéeres and half a yéere, in which Antichriſte ſhould rain, and then afterward ſhould be quite aboliſhed. But the doctrine of the Goſpel is repugnant to that interpretation, which conſtantly affirmeth that the day of iudgement is knowen vntounto no man. And Daniel alſo in the ſelf ſame chapter ſaith, that the beaſt ſhall rage, vntil the ſeats be prepared, that is euen vntil the day of iudgement. And that he ſhall then be thrown down hedlong in to the déep pit of Hel, and alſo that the faithful ſhalbe deliuered and glorified, who hauehave for Chriſtes cauſe ſuſtained all kindes of puniſhments.

Verily Paule agréeing with Daniel: VVhom our Lord (ſaith he) shall put away with the brightneſſe of his comming. But who can certainly declare vntounto vsus the time of Chriſtes comming, that is, the day of Iudgement? But hée, which ſhall ſay, that Antichriſte ſhall reign iij. yéeres and a half, and ſtraight wayes after be aboliſhed, may ſeeme to declare it plainly. For the end of Antichriſtes kingdome, is the very laſt day of the finall Iudgement.

Therfore by that dark kinde of ſpeaking, no time certain is appointed. But rather the godly are admoniſhed, of patience, and long ſuffering, and that we ſhould not ouer curiouſly ſéeke out the very moment of this time, but rather refer it vntounto Chriſte, who ſaieth in an other place vntounto his Diſciples. It belongeth not to you, to knowe the times and moments of times, which the father hath reſerued vntounto him ſelf. But vvatch ye, that when your Lord shall come, he may finde you vvaking.

After theſe things Daniel moſte plentifully witneſſeth, that the world ſhalbe at an end, and that the day of iudgemēt ſhall certainly come, and throwe down Antichriſte in to Hel.

VponUpon which treatiſe, Chriſt our Lord hath ſet foorth a large Commentary and an expoſition, by the hands of Iohn, his Apoſtle in the xix. and xx. chapters of the Apocalips, the which I leaue vntounto your diligence to be ſerched out, and for brevities ſake: I doo not ouer buſily ſift out this matter.

The concluſion.And now (I ſuppoſe) it appéereth vntounto you, by the moſte cleere doctrine of Ieſus Chriſte our Lord, and alſo by the euident ſayings of the moſte holy Prophets of God, and by the plain interpretation of the moſte ſelect and choſen Apoſtles of Chriſte. Finally the manifeſt compariſon of the things them ſelues, which partely the Hiſtories doo teſtifie, to hauehave béen doon a long time agoe, and partly we ſée them dayly come to paſſe before oure eyes, that the Prophecyes of the laſt time are now all ready fulfilled, and that therfore the day of our Lord is at hand, and our redemption approcheth néere.

Wherby (I think) you all doo vnderſtand that your duties require you, to admoniſh, to exhorte, and inſtantly to call vppō, and vrge the faithful, to watch and lift vp their heads, ſhaking away all drowſines. And that they looke for none other ſignes, nor other times: but to beleeue the Goſpel, the Prophets and Apoſtles, and the very things them ſelues apparent before the eyes of all men, and alſo that they wait not for any other Antichriſte to come, but to take now good héed to them ſelues, of him, that is now preſently reigning and troubling all things, & to flée vntounto Chriſte Ieſus, who is the fulnes of the faithful, and in him to ſéek all things pertaining to our ſaluation, to depend wholy vppon his mouth, and vppon his help, to hauehave reſpect vntounto him alone, to depart from all vncleanneſſe, to liue godly and honeſtly, and moſte chéefly to beware of vngodly ſecuritie, and careles negligence, and alſo of drunkenneſſe bothe ſpirituall and corporall, that when the Iudge our Lord Ieſus Chriſte ſhall appéere in the clouds of Heauen with great power and glory, we may ioyfully be taken vp in to the aire to meet him, and ſo alwaies liue with our Lord. To whom be glory for euer.

FINIS.