A Treatise Concerning Antichrist, Book 1 · Chapter 3

A Treatise Concerning Antichrist · Book 1 · Chapter 3

p. 28CHAP. 3. Concerning the time of the Reuelation of Antichrist.

1. AS from the place we gather the Pope to be Antichrist, because the seat of Antichrist is Rome christned, or professing her selfe the church of Christ: So the consideration of the time ioyned with that of the place, doth make this trueth much more euident. Rome Christned is the seate of Antichrist: but when doth Antichrist sitte, that is, raigne there? I answere that he could not exercise Antichristian dominion there, whiles the Emperours had their seat in Rome. But when the Emperours were remoued and the Empire in the West dissolued: then did Antichrist succeed them in the seat, that is, in the gouernmēt of Rome. And this may be proued first, by the testimonie of S. Paule. 2. Thess. 2. 8. And then that outlaw, meaning Antichrist, shalbe reuealed. And whē 2. Thess. 2. 8.2 Thess 2:8is that? When he that hindereth shalbe taken out of the way. And who is that which hindereth the reuelation of Antichrist for a time, that he might be reuealed in his due time? Who this was, 2. Thess. 2. 6. 7.2 Thess 2:62 Thess 2:7the Apostle had told the Thessal. by word of mouth, and therfore forbare for iust causes to tell them by writing which they knew already, to wit, that he might not incurre the needlesse 2. Thess. 2. 5. 6.2 Thess 2:52 Thess 2:6hatred of the Romanes. But that which he had told them, in all likelyhood, was continued in the church. For although this place in it selfe be most difficult, yet generally it is vnderstood of the Empire and Emperours of Rome by most of the auncient writers of the Church. Tertullian: who shall be takē out of the way, but the Romane state? whose departure being diuided De resurrect. carn.among ten Kinges shall bring in Antichrist. Ambrose, After the decay of the Romane Empire, Paule saith that Antichrist In 2. Thess. 2.2 Thess 2shall appeare. Chrysostome on these wordes, OnelyOnly hee that holdeth that is (as hee expoundeth) hindereth now vntill he In 2. Thess. 2.2 Thess 2be taken out of the way: foreign (saith hee) foreign, that is, p. 29the Empire of Rome, when it shall bee taken out of the way, then he (meaning Antichrist) shall come, and worthily. For whiles men shall be in awe of the Empire, none will hastily be brought in subiection to Antichrist. But when the Empire shall be dissolued he shall seize vponupon the vacancie, and shall challenge to himselfe the Empire or rule both humane and diuine. Hierome speaking of these words, And now what hindereth you know, that he Ad Algas. quaest. 11.might be reuealed in his time: that is (saith he) what the cause is why Antichrist commeth not yet, you know very well. Neither could he plainelie say that the Romane Empire is to be destroyed, which the Emperours thinke is aternall. Wherefore according to the Apocalypse of Iohn, there is written in the forehead of the harlot cloathed with purple, a name of blasphemy, that is, Romae aeternae, to Rome aternal. And afterwards these words onelie he which holdeth now must hold vntill hee bee taken out of the way, and then that out law shall be reuealed, hee expoundeth thus, onelie that the Romane Empire which now holdeth (that is, gouerneth) all nations, depart and be taken out of the way, and then Antichrist shall come. Cyrill, Antichrist shall come, when the Catech. 15.times of the Romane Empire shall be fulfilled. Primasius, The kingdome of the Romanes shall bee taken out of the way, before in 2. Thess. 2.2 Thess 2Antichrist be reuealed: Theophylact, when the Romane Empire shall be taken out of the way, then shall Antichrist come. The in 2. Thess. 2.2 Thess 2greeke scholiast on those words, that which holdeth &c. hee in 2. Thess. 2. 6.2 Thess 2:6meaneth saith he foreign that which letteth and hindereth. And what is that? Many vnderstand the holy ghost, others the Romane Empire, whose iudgement is the better? For vntill that be dissolued, Antichrist shall not come. And for this cause blessed Paul spake so obscurelie, because he would not incur vnseasonable enmitie with the Romans. For when they should heare that the Empire of the Romanes shall be dissolued, they would persecute him and al the faithful, as being such as looked for the dissolution of the Empire. But if he had spoken of the holy ghost, what letted him to hauehave said plainelie, that the grace of the holie ghost did hinder him that he should not appeare? To which we may adde, that in the sixt verse the Apostle speaketh in the newter gender, and in the seauenth in the masculine: the p. 30former whereof may signifie the Empire, the latter the Emperour, of whom the holy ghost speaketh, as of one man (foreign) as he vseth to speak sometimes of Antichrist and wee of the Pope; although both by the one and the other is signified not one man, but a state or succession. Augustine in deede saith of De ciuit. Dei. lib. 20. c. 19.these words, but he that hindereth shall hinder. I do confesse that I am vtterly ignorant what he saith. Some think that this is spoken of the Romane Empire, and that Paul the Apostle would not therefore write it plainelie, least he should incur this slaunder that he was an ill willer to the Romane Empire; which men hoped to be aternall. Notwithstanding this seemeth to hauehave bin his iudgement also, for afterwards he thinketh those words may thus be expoūded of the Empire of Rome, tan…ū qui modò imperat, imperet &c. only he which reigneth must raigne (for so foreign also may signify, & to the same purpose Primasius expoūdeth those words, tantū vt qui tenet nunc, sc. imperiū, only he which holdeth now, to wit the Empire) vntil he be done, that is taken, out of the way; and then that outlaw shall be reuealed, whome no man doubteth to signifie Antichrist.

2 But what need I to be so diligent in gathering testimonies for the cōfirmation of this truth, seeing it is not only confirmed by the former assertiō (for how could Antichrist raign in Rome while the Roman Emperors remaind or raignd there) but also is confessed by Bellarmine himself, namely that by this let, is to be vnderstood the Empire of Rome. Rather let vsus cōsider whe ther the Empire that hindred, be taken out of the way, or not. Beliarmine vnderstandeth this taking away, of an vtter abolishing Cap. 5.of the Romane Empire, so that there should not remaine so much as the name of the Emperor or King of the Romanes. Frō whēce he would proue that Antichrist is not yet come, because the Romane Empire is not yet abolished. Wee confesse that the Romane Empire which hindred the reuelatiō of Antichrist was to be dissolued, and also diuided among ten, that is many kings (for so this number of ten is oftē vsed indefinitly): Num. 14. 22. Iob. 19. 3. Nehem. 4. 12.Num 14:22Job 19:3Neh 4:12which is all that can be gathered either out of the scriptures or fathers. But that there should be such an vtter abolishment of the Romane Empire, as that there should not remain so much p. 31as the name or title of the Emperor or King of the Romanes, we do vtterly deny. It is sufficient that the Emperor was so far See a. book. chap. 5.forth taken out of the way as it hindred the Reuelation or dominion of Antichrist, And so much the phrase of the Apostle seemeth to import, foreign vntil hee be done out of the way, (or as the Rhemists themselues do read, vntill he be taken out of the way) as may appeare by conference of like places. Let vsus then consider, in what sence the Romane Empire did Mat. 13. 49. Act. 17. 53. & 23. 10.Matt 13:49Acts 17:53Acts 23:10hinder, and was to be taken away, and in what sence it hindered not, and was to remaine: For the better vnderstanding whereof we are to distinguish betwixt the old Empire and 1. Cor. 5. 2. 2, Co…. 6. 17.1 Cor 5:2the new. The old Empire, as it hindered the dominion of Antichrist, was to be taken out of the way, that it might bee no more an hinderance thereunto. The new Empire in the west erected by the Pope hindreth not the dominion of Antichrist, but rather supporteth him, and therefore together with Antichrist was to remaine. Neither doth the Apostle speake of the new Empire, but of the old, as shall appeare by these reasons;

3 First the Apostle speaketh of the Empire which hindered 1.or held then, & of that only: for so he saith, only he which now letteth wil let vntill he be taken out of the way. And Hierome expoundeth those words, and now what hindreth, you know, after Ad Algas. quaest. 11.this maner, quae causa sit vt Antichrist us in praesentiarū non veniat optimè nostis, You know very well what the cause is that Antichrist cometh not now: But the old Empire hindered them and not the new. And therefore the Apostle speaketh of the taking away of the old Empire & not of the new, Again when he saith 2.the Empire hindred, he meaneth the imperial authority & dominiō, & that at Rome, not the title or name therof in Germany. For it is not the name or title of an Emperour in Germany, that can hinder the dominion of Antichrist at Rome, & much lesse at Ierusalē, where the Papists say his seat shall be. Thirdly, 3.Antichrist appeared & shewed himselfe (and in that sence was reuealed) before the erection of the new Empire. For the new Empire is the image of the former beast: which Antichrist the 2. beast Ap. 13. causeth to be made. And wheras Antichrist is (as the Papists also cōsesse) the 7. head of the beast which hath p. 32heads, the Empire renewed (which is the beast that was and is not though it be) is the 8. in order, though in name it is one of the 7. and in that sence is to bee referred to the sixt head, namely the Emperours. Fourthly the whore of Babylon, that 4.is the Antichristian state, was to sitte vponupon the beast which afterwards was to ascend, that is, the Empire renewed. Therfore with Antichrist there was to remaine an imperial state, though much abased vnderunder him. Fiftly, the Empire renewed is the 5.beast whereon the whore of Babylon sitteth. And therefore is Ioan de turrecrem. lib. 2. c. 114.so farre from hindring Antichrist, that it supporteth him, as the beast doth the rider. And to that end in deed was this Empire erected in the west, that it might support the church of Rome. For when as the church of Rome was oppressed by the king Adrian. 4. in epistol. ad archiep. German. apud Auenlin. lib. 4.of the Lombards, it sought aide of the Emperours of Constantinople; and when they would not defend the church, the Pope translated the Empire to the French king: and from him vponupon the same occasion to the Germaines, and that to this end, vt Dist. 96. c. si imperator, in glossa.Rex Teutonicorum foret imperator & patronus sedis Apostolicae, that the king of the Almaines might be Emperour, and patrone of the See Apostolicke. And for the same cause the Emperour 6.is called of them procurator siue defensor Romanae Ecclesiae, the proctor or defender of the church of Rome. Sixtly, the Papists themselues doe hould that the Empire which now is, shall continue vntounto the end of the world. For they say that in the second of Daniel (as many others also hauehave said) is described a succession of the chiefe kingdomes or Monarchies of the earth, which should continue vntill the end of the world: the last whereof is the Romane Empire, Seauenthly, the destruction of the Romane Empire (which the fathers say shall go before the reuelation of Antichrist), is the dissolution and diuision thereof among ten kings, which in deede long since happened to the old Empire, but cannot happen to the new: vnlesse we can imagine that ten mightie kings shall arise out of the bare name and title of an Emperour diuided among them. When as the Papists therefore teach vsus not to expect Antichrist vntill the Empire that now is either be diuided into ten kingdomes, they are ridiculous; or vtterly abolished which p. 33they say shall continue to the end, they are absurd, and in both impious, making (as it may seeme) a scorne of the prophecyes concerning Antichrist, which they make to imply impossibilities and contradictions.

4. By this which hath bene said it plainely appeareth, that howsoeuer the old Empire in the west, which hindered the dominion of Antichrist, was to be takē out of the way before Antichrist should be reuealed; yet notwithstanding euen with, & vnderunder Antichrist there was to be an imperiall state in name & title, which is the beast whereon the whore of Babylon sitteth, & therfore is so far frō hindering Antichrist, as that it supporteth him. Let vsus then cōsider how the Empire which hindred the reuelatiō of Antichrist was takē out of the way, & how afterwards Antichrist was reuealed. Of the taking away of the Emperour, as also of the reuelation of Antichrist there are two degrees. The Romane Emperour was first takē out of the way, when the imperia… seat was by Constantine the great translated from Rome to Bizantium or Constantinople, and that to this end, as they hauehave set downe in the forged donation of Constantine, that he might leaue rowme to the Pope. Because forsooth where the princehood of priests, and head of Christian religion Dist. 69. c. Constantinus, & de electione c. fundament. in sexto.was by the heauenly Emperour placed, there it is not iuste that the earthly Emperour should hauehave power. Secondly, after the death of Constantine the great, and of Flauius Valerius Constā tinus his son, the Romane Empire being diuided into 2. partes the Easterne & the Westerne, and by diuisiō being weakened, the Westerne was ouerthrowne in the yeare of our Lord 475. & Rome it selfe taken by the Gothes. So that neither in Rome any Romane afterwards had his seate of authority, vntill the Pope tooke vponupon him the souerainty: neither in the West was there any Romane Emperour vntill Charles the great, that is to say, from the yeare 475. vntounto the end of the yeare 800. In the meane time Italy was gouerned first by the Gothes, and afterwards a great part thereof by the Lombards. And howsoeuer the Emperours of the East had recouered Rome, and some part of Italy, which because they gouerned by exarches hauing their seat in Rauenna, was called the exarchat of Rauenna, the Lombards, p. 34enioying the rest: yet before the renewing of the Empire in the West, the Emperour of the East had lost all Italy and Rome, and that by the Popes means. For when as Leo the third called Isaurus, Emperour of Greece, had held a coūcel at Constantinople of 330. Bishops, wherein was decreed that all images within the Empire should be destroied & burnt: and afterwards put the same decree in executiō: the Popes of Rome first Gregory the 2. and after Gregory the 3. excōmunicate him, forbidtributes to be paid him out of Italy and Rome, absolue his subiects from their allegiance vntounto him, and hauing stirred vp not onelyonly the Italians, but Lombards also against him, the exarch of Rauenna is slaine, and the Emperour depriued of all his dominion & reuenewes in Italy and Rome. So that howsoeuer the Empire in the East stood all this while: yet according to the prophecie of th'apostle, he which hindred the reuelation of Antichrist, that is to say, the Emperour of Rome, was taken out of the way; First, by remouing to Cōstantinople frō Rome, where Antichrist could not vsurpe that dominion and soueraintie whiles the Emperour had his seate there, which afterwards he did. Secondly, because the Empire of the west, which properly was the Empire of Rome, was dissolued, & the Emperour of the East lost his title & interest in Italy and Rome.

5. Of the reuelation of Antichrist there be also two degrees. The first, of his raigning and shewing himselfe in his colours: the secōd, of his acknowledgemēt. Of his raigning there be 2. degrees also. The first, whē he challēged supreame authority ouer the vniuersal church of Christ. Which he did when he vsurped the title of vniuersal or oecumenicall Bishop or head of the vniuersall Church: which was done as we said about the yeare 607. About which time besides other prodigious sights Anno. 607.there appeared a terrible comet, & thē we hold that Antichrist (to wit, the head of the Antichristiā body) was borne. True it is that the seeds of Antichristianisme were sowē before his time: & euen frō th'apostles time the mystery of iniquity, that is, Antichristianisme, was working although more couertly, & preparation was made towards the birth of the great Antichrist, partly by heresies & some declinatiōs in the church of Rome in p. 35religion from the purity of the primitiue church, partly by the ambition of diuers of the Bishops of Rome, who aduauncing themselues as Socrates saith, beyond the limit of priesthood into forraine dominion, contended to hauehave the primacy aboue Lib. 7. c. 11.all other churches (and that is the chiefe scope of many of their Epistles decretall) and to the same end forged a Canon of the councel of Nice, when their ambition was curbed by other generall councels. And lastly by the indulgence of deuout Emperours and Princes, who hauehave by great deuotions and priuiledges aduaunced that church. Notwithstanding wee hold that Antichrist was not reuealed, vntill he shewed himselfe by vsurping an vniuersall dominion ouer the church of God.

6. But notwithstanding this great title & authority, Antichrist was yet but in his nonage, and vnderunder the gouernmēt not only of the Emperor, but also, for a time, of the Emperors Lieftenant in Italy the Eparch of Rauenna, by whom the election of the Pope (made by the Clergie and people of Rome) was of necessitie to bee ratified and confimed, vntill Benedict Anno. 684.the 2, obtained this priuiledge frō the Emperour Constantine 4. called Pogonatus, that the electiō of the Pope by the clergy and people of Rome should be good without the confirmatiō of the Emperour. Vpō which priuiledge obteined, the Pope began to care litle for the Emperour, holding himselfe hencefoorth to be foreign or rather as th'apostle speaketh foreign 2. Thess. 2. 8.2 Thess 2:8without law, & subiect to the iudgemēt of no mā, as they professe in diuers of their canons. Not lōg after they began to aduāce thēselues both against & aboue the Emperour. Constātine the 1. suffereth the Emperour Iustmian to kisse his feet, about the yeare of our Lord 710. Within three yeares after the same Anno. 710.Constantine setteth himselfe against the Emperour Philippicus Bardanes in defense of images, as did his two successours Gregory the 2. and third against Leo Isaurus in the same quarel. In whose three times, (that wee may know Rome to be the mother of spirituall fornications) were helde three Councels at Rome, wherein worshipping of images is approued and the oppugners there of excōmunicated. And we must note that about this time (saith the Author of the booke called Fasciculus temporum) the Popes began aboue their woont to oppose p. 36themselues euen in temporall matters against the Emperours: because of their vnsoundnesse in the faith (for so he calleth their oppugning of images) and to translate the Empire from nation to nation, as time required. As for Gregory the 2. he was the first which anouched himself supcriour to the Emperour; who Anno. 723.also excommunicated Leo the 3. because he sought to abolish the idolatry of his time, which they call worshipping of images. But his successour Gregory the 3. not onelyonly excommunicated the said Emperour for the same cause, but also forbad any tributes or duties to be paide vntounto him out of Italy & Rome, & absolued his subiects frō their allegiance vntounto him. Wherupō Rome (being then a Duchy) with diuers other cities in Italy, reuolting from the Emperour, sware obediēce to the Pope, Who Anno. 727.by the defection of the Italians, and helpe of the Lombards, dispossesseth the Emperour of all his reuenues in Italy; & consequently (as the popish author of the booke called Fasciculus temporum saith) totum regnum occidentis ab eo abstulit, Hee tooke from him the whole kingdome of the West. But when as the Lombards held the exarchat of Rauonna which the Pope intended to himself, & sought to rule ouer all Italy as the Gothes had done, not exempting Rome or those other cities which had reuolted to the Pope; first, Gregory the 3. when Rome was besieged by Luitprendus, vsed the friendship of Carolus Martellus Anno. 732.to free him from the siege. Whereupon the Pope remoueth the tuition of the Church of Rome from the Emperour of Greece vntounto Carolus Martellus the great Master of Fraunce, & to his sonne Pipinus after him. Whom that the Pope might bind vntounto him, and finde a sufficient defence against his enimies, hee (namely Zacharias) hauing (as themselues testifie) Caus. 15 quaest. 6. c. alius.deposed Childerick the King of Fraunce from his kingdome, and absolued his subiectes from their allegiaunce (because Anno. 750.forsooth he was too simple to rule) maketh him (namely Pipin) King of Fraunce. Who afterwards when his helpe was intreated by the Pope Steuen the third, against Aistulphus the king of Lombards, enforced the said King to yeeld vp the Anno. 754.exarchat of Rauenna, and Pentapolis, which hee gaue to the Pope. This donation his sonne Charles the great confirmed and enlarged with a plentifull addition (reseruing notwithstanding p. 37to himself the royalties of those possessions) when he had at the intreaty of Adrian the Pope ouerthrown the kingdome Anno. 773.of the Lombards in Italie. For which cause, as also for that hee assisted the Pope Leo the third, against the insurrections of the people of Rome, punished his aduersaries, and caused the people of Rome to sweare alleagiance to the Pope: The Pope (namely Leo the third) crowned him Emperour of Rome, translating Anno. 800.that title from the Emperour of the East to him, and in him renewing the Empire of the west, which had beene voide since the time of Augustulus. And as he made him Emperour, so to him was committed by Adrian and Leo, the confirmation of those which were elected to the Papacy. Which yoke as the Popes following oft strugled against: so at the last, they shooke it off. And whereas, in former times, the Pope was subiect to the Emperour, & being elected was confirmed by him, Adrian. 3. an. 883.afterwards it came to passe that as the Empire was renewed in Charlemaigne, and after reuiued in Otto the great, and that to this end that it might support the Papacy; so the Pope (namely Anno. 960.Iohn the 12, aliâs 13.) causeth the Emperour to sweare vntounto him to that end, taketh order for the election of the Emperour, Gregory. 5.appointing 7, electors, reseruing the coronatiō of the Emperor Anno. 995.and confirmation of the election vntounto himselfe; and at the length subiecteth the Emperour vntounto him as his vassall, challenging both swords and vsurping an vniuersal dominion and soueraignty ouer all the christian world, not onelyonly ouer ecclesiasticall persons, as Bishops and Priests, but also ciuil, as princes, Kings, Emperours, whome he esteemeth as his vassals, and maketh them kisse his feete, as we shall shew more fully when we come to speake of his Antichristian pride. VntoUnto this Monarchy C. Fundamenta. de elect. in sexto.(as they call it) not onelyonly of spirituall but also of temporall power, they long aspired, but neuer fully attained, vntill the time of Gregory the seauenth, in whom Antichrist was Anno. 1073.come to his foreign or full growth, wherein hee flourished, vntill our Sauiour Christ the king of kings and Lord of Lords began to waste and consume him with the breath of his mouth. This is that which Auentine saith, Hildebrand who also is called Lib. 5. annal. Boior.Gregory the seauenth, first established the Pontificall Empire. p. 38which his successours for the space of 450. yeares (that is to Auentine and also Luthers time) so held, in spite of the world, and maugre the Emperours, that they hauehave brought all both in heauen & hel into bōdage &c. at their pleasure they cast men headlong from heauen to hel, and again from hel aduance to heauen. The Emperour from henceforth is nothing but a bare title without body or shew.

7 But no sooner was Antichrist come to his full growth (wherby he plainly reuealed & discouerd himself) but straightwaies he began to be acknowledged, which is the 2. part of his reuelation, wherof also there are degrees. For first hee was acknowledged particularly dy diuerse learned & godly men in the time of Gregory the 7. and in eueryevery age since vntil the time of Luther. As for example, the Bishops of Germany affirme Gregory the 7. to be Antichrist. Antichristū esse praedicāt. VnderUnder the name & title of Christ (say they) he cōtriueth the businesse of Antichrist: he sitteth in Babylon in the temple of God: he extolleth Auētin. annal. Boior. lib. 5.himselfe aboue all that is worshipped, as if he were a God, he boasteth that he cānot erre. And afterward Auentin either in his owne name or in the persō of Sigeberius, speaking of the times Lib. 5. annal. Boior.of Gregory the 7, All men almost (saith he) that were good, open-hearted, iust, ingenuous, and single hearted, hauehave left in writing, that the Empire of Antichrist did then begin, because they saw those things which our Sauiour Christ so many yeares before had prophecied vntounto vsus, to happen in that time.

The Bishop of Florence, in the time of Paschalis the second, preached that Antichrist was come, meaning the Pope.Anno. 1119. Catalog. test. Anno. 1120. Catalog. test. & Magde, centur. 12.

Honorius Augustudonensis applieth the prophecies in the Apocalypse concerning Antichrist, to the Pope and church of Rome. Dialog. de lib. arb. & praedest. Bernard in his time acknowledgeth a general apostasie, and complaineth of the state of the church as AntichristianAnno. 1140. Serm. 33. in Cant. in conuers. Pauli serm. 1.

Ioannes Sarisburiensis taught that the pope is Antichrist, and the city of Rome the whore of Babylon. About the same time Petrus Blesensis wrote, that Rome is that very Babylon whereof Iohn speaketh in the Apocalypse.Anno. 1157. Polan. in Dan. Anno. 1158.

Gerhardus and Dulcinus Nauarrensis preach that the Pope p. 39is Antichrist, and that the cleargy and prelates of Rome were the very whore of Babylon prefigured in the Apocalypse.Ex I Fox.Exod 1

In the time of Alexander the third, the Waldenses teach that Anno. 1170. Ex I. Fox & catal. test. Roger Houeden in Ricardi. 1. Bal. centur. 3. c. 35. in appēd. Anno. 1189. Catalog. test.Exod 1the Pope is Antichrist, and Rome Babylon.

Ioachim the abbot, beeing demaunded of Richard the first king of England, now going towards the holie land, concerning Antichrist, aunswered thus; Antichrist is alreadie borne in the citie of Rome, and is aduaunced in the See Apostolicke. And in certaine Germane verses also published at Francofurt, he affirmeth that the Pope and his priests are Antichrists.

Eberhardus archiepiscopus Iuuacensis, Hyldebrand (saith he) about an hundred and 70. yeares ago did first, vnderunder the shewe Anno. 1241. Auentin. annal. Boior. lib. 7.of religion, lay the foundation of Antichrists kingdome. And straightwaies after, those priests of Babylon (saith he) couet to reigne alone, they cannot endure an aequall. Neither will they ceasse vntill they hauehave troden all vnderunder their feet, and do sit te in the temple of God, and be extolled about all that is worshipped. Their hunger afterwealth, and thirst for honour, is insatiable &c. he that is the seruant of seruants desireth to bee the Lord of Lords, as if he were a God. And againe, hee wasteth and spotleth, he deceiueth and killeth, I meane that man of perdition whome they call Antichrist, in whose forehead a name of blasphemie is written, I am God, I cannot erre, he sitteth in the temple of God, he ruleth farre and wide.

Robert Grosthead, the worthie Bishoppe of Lincolne, on his deathbed complaining of the Pope, and bewailing the losse of Anno. 1253. Mat. Paris. in Henr. 3.soules which happened through the auarice of the Popes court, with sighs he said; Christ came into the world to gaine soules: therefore if any feare not to destroy soules, is not he worthily to be called Antichrist?

Guilie…s de sancto amore, a master of Paris and chiefe ruler Anno. 1260.of that vniuersitie, called the monks and priests the subiects of Antichrist.

One Lawrence also an Englishman & master of Paris, proued the Pope to be Antichrist, & the synagogue of Rome the great Anno. 1290. I. Fox.Babylō. About the same time Maenardus Tyrolius in a publick p. 40edict calleth the Popes effeminate Antichrists. And againe, if they be not Antichrists, I pray you what are they?Auentin. annal. boior. li. 7.

Michael Cesenas principall of the gray fryers, wrote against the pride, tyranny and primacy of the Pope, accusing him to be Anno. 1322. 1. Fox.Antichrist, and the church of Rome the whore of Babylon drunken with the bloud of Saints. Hayabalus a fryer in the time of Clement the sixt, preached (and that, as he saide, by Anno. 1345. Henrie. de Herford. in Chronic. Catalog. test. 1. Fox.commaundement from God) that the church of Rome is the whore of Babylon, and that the Pope with his Cardinalles is the very Antichrist. Wilh…lmus Occomensis, as Auentine calleth him, wrote a booke against Charles and Clement the sixte, wherein he calleth the Pope Antichrist.Auentin. annal. Boior. li. 7.

Briget, whom the Papists worship as a canonized Saint, calleth the Pope a murtherer of soules, more cruell then Iudas, Anno. 1370.more vniust then Pilate, worse then Lucifer himselfe. She prophecieth 1. Fox.that the See of Rome shall bee throwne downe into the deepe like a milstone, (according to the prophecie of Saint Iohn, Apocalypse. 18. 21) About the same yeere, Matthias Parifiensis, a Bohemian, writing a booke of Antichrist, proueth that he is already come, and noateth him to be the Pope.

Franciscus Petrarch, in many places of his writings, calleth Anno. 1374.the court of Rome the whore of Babylon, the mother of the fornications and abominations of the earth.

Vrhanus the sixt, and Clement the seauenth two Popes at once, call one the other Antichrist. As Bernard before had called Baldus. de vit. pontif.Anacletus, against whom Innocentius the second was chosen as Antipope. That beast saith hee in the Apocalypse, to Anno 1378. Anno. 1130. Epist. 125.whom is giuen a mouth speaking blasphemies, & to war with the Saints (meaning Antichrist), occupieth the chaire of Peter, as a Lyon ready for the pray.

But most effectually doth our godly and learned countryman Iohn Wicleffe discouer the enormities and heresyes of the Anno. 1383. Bellar. de pont. Rom. lib. 3. c. 1.Pope whom he pronounced to be Antichrist. Artic. 30.

His iudgement as in other things, so also in this, that worthy Martyr of Christ Iohn Husse followed. Who affirmeth in his Anno. 1405.booke de ecclesia, that hee was troubled because he preached Christ, and discouered Antichrist. That the Censures of the p. 41Romish church were Antichristian, and proceeding frō Antichrist: & (as Gerson & the Parisians obiect against him Art. 16) that in those times & many ages before, there had bin no true Pope, nor true Romane church: but the Popes were Antichrists & the church of Rome the synagogue of Satan. Whose iudgement many in Bohemia followed. Sir Iohn Old…astell, the Lord Anno 1413. 1. Foxe.Cobham, that famous & noble martyr of Christ, prosessed to K. Henry the 5. that by the Scriptures he knew the Pope to be the great Antichrist, the son of perdition &c. Hieronimus Sauanarola taught that the Pope is Antichrist, because he did attribute Anno. 1500. 1. Foxe.more to his owne indulgēces & pardōs then to Christs merits.

About the yeare of our Lord 1517. Luther began to preach against the Popes indulgences, and afterwards against other Anno. 1517.errours and abominations of the Pope and church of Rome, discouering more plainely then any had done before him, that Rome is Babylon, and the Pope Antichrist. Since whose times this truth hath beene almost generally acknowledged by the true and reformed Churches of Christ.

Seing therefore we hauehave proued, that Antichrist was to sitte in Rome professing her selfe the church of God, and that after the taking away of the Romane Emperour whom hee was to succeed in the gouernment of Rome, and there to be reuealed both by his owne shewing himself in his colours, & also by the acknowledgement of others: it cannot be auoided but that the Pope is Antichrist. For he and none but he sitteth, that is reigneth in Rome, professing her selfe the church of God, and that after the taking away of the Romane Emperour, (not onelyonly by the remouing of the imperiall seat, but also by the dissolutiō of the Empire in the West) whom hee succeedeth in the gouernment of Rome, where he hath bene reuealed not onelyonly by his owne shewing himselfe in his colours, but also by the acknowledgement of others.

8. VntoUnto the former place of the Epistle to the Thessal. we will adde two other places out of th'apocalyps, from whence both the place and time of Antichrist may be iointly gathered. The former place is in the 13. of th'apocalips, where two beasts are described, signifying two estates of the Romane gouernment 2.as they are opposed vntounto Christ: the former representeth p. 42the persecuting Emperours, the latter Antichrist. Of the former he saith thus, I saw a beast arising out of … sea (that is, of many & diuers peoples which it had vanquished.) Now the description of this beast containeth in it the resemblances of those 4. kingdoms which are described in Daniel, the Romane Empire farre surpassing thē al. The first of the beasts in Daniel, signifying the kingdome of the Babylonians, is cōpared to a Lion: The 2. resembling the kingdome of the Medes and Persians, to a Beare: The 3. representing the monarchy of the Macedoniās, to a Leopard: The 4. figuring the kingdome of the Seleucidae and Lagidae, to a beast with 10. hornes, resembling so many of their kings, who should tyrannize ouer Iewry. The Empire of Rome therfore, as if it were compounded of them all, is resembled to a beast hauing ten hornes with so many diademes vponupon them, both in respect of the ten persecuting Emperors, answering the 10. Seleucedae & Lagidae, as also in regard of the 10. kingdoms or prouinces wherinto the Romane Empire in those times was diuided; being also like a Leopard, hauing the feet or pawes as it were of a Beare, & the rauening mouth of a Liō. And besides all this, is said to hauehave seuē heads, which afterwards (chapt. 17.) are expounded to be 7. hilles, & also 7. heads of gouernmēt &c. & to this beast was giuen authority or power, ouer eueryevery tribe, Verse. 7.language and nation &c. al which are proper to the Empire of Rome. The former beast therefore signifieth the Romane state, especially as it was vnderunder the persecuting Emperours, as Bellarmine Lib. 3. de pont. R. cap. 15.confesseth.

The second beast, described vers. 11. and so forward to the end of the chapter, is (as Bellarmine saith all men do confesse) Antichrist: who also is, by the cōfession of the said Bellarmine, De pont. Rom. lib. 3. c. 10. & 15.one of the heads of the former beast. By the description of this beast (that we may now note that which serueth for the present purpose, reseruing the residue vntil their due time & place) it is apparant, that there is one & the same principall seate of both the beasts, that in that seat the second beast succeedeth the former, practising al the power or authority of the former beast & Verse. 12.that before him, that is to say, euen at Rome: and that his chiefe endeuors tēde to magnifie the beast, that is the Romane state; as in making mē to worship it, in causing mē to make an image p. 43of & to the beast, wherunto he giueth spirit & speach, & enforcing men to worship the same: finally in compelling men to take vponupon thē the marke of the beast, his name, & nūber of his name. All which as they argue Antichrist to be a Romane, succeeding the Emperors in the gouernmēt of Rome: so also they fitly & properly agree to the Pope, who succeedeth the Emperours in the gouernmēt of Rome, where he vsurpeth all & more then al the power of the Emperours, chalēging a more vniuersal & soueraigne, or rather diuine authority, then belonged to thē; whose maine endeuors are to aduaunce the Romane state, which he calleth the See Apostolik, & which he maketh al mē to worship: causing them also to make an image of the Empire (which was the head that had receiued the deadly woūd) to & in behoofe of the Romane state; an image I say, partly in the Emperour of Almaine, resēbling the title ornamēts & shew of the former Emperours: partly in his owne courts not onelyonly in Rome, but in all other coūtries represēting the former imperial authority & tyrāny both in Rome it selfe, and in the prouinces thereunto belōging. This image both in the Empire & popish courts he animateth & authorizeth. For as there is no question to be made hereof in respect of his courts, so is it as true in respect of the Empire, if that be true which themselues professe. Namely, that what the Emperor hath, he hath it wholy frō thē: that the Empire in the West was renewed by the Pope, who trāslated the title of the Emperor of Rome frō the Emperor of the East, first to the Frēch, & after to the Germās: that the Pope caused this new Emperor to be made, that he crowned & authorized him, that he appointed 7. Electors in Germany, reseruing the cōfirmation of the electiō & coronatiō of the Emperour to himself: of which points we shal hereafter speake more at large. Further, he causeth al mē to worship the image by him Chap. 7.erected, & cōpelleth all men to receiue the marke of the beast, as also the name of the beast (which cā be no other but either Romane or Latine,) & the nūber of his name. i. to liue insubiectiō to the See of Rome, & to professe thēselues to be Romanes & Latines in respect of their religiō, as herafter shalbe shewed.Chap. 8.

9. The same is proued out of the 17. chap. of th'apocalyps, 3.where be reckened 7. heads, that is 7. kinds of principall rulers p. 44as it were heads of gouernment, whereby Rome hath bene gouerned, eueryevery one succeeding another. The sixt head being the Emperours, the seuēth Antichrist which is the Pope. For Antichrist is one of the 7. heads of the beast which hath 7. heads & 10. hornes. And this beast signifieth the Romane state, therfore Antichrist is a head of the Romane state. All which Bellarmine after a sort cōfesseth. Now it is most certaine that Antichrist is Lib. 3. de pont. R. c. 15.none of the first 5. heads, for they were past in th'apostles time: neither is he the sixt head which was of the Emperours, that then was; for that was to be done out of the way, as the Papists thēselues do teach, before the reuelatiō of Antichrist. It remaineth therfore that the seuenth head which is the Pope is Antichrist. The eight head, which also is one of the seuen, is the Empire renewed by the Pope, & is said to be the beast, which was & is not though it be, wheron the whore of Babylō sitteth. If it be obiected that the seuenth head wherby Antichrist is signified, was to continue but a short time, as it is said vers. 10: and that this therfore cannot agree to the Pope, who hath raigned already in Rome many 100. yeares: I answere that this is spokē of purpose to arme the faithfull with patience, who otherwise would thinke the reigne of Antichrist very long, & our Sauiour Christ also to be slowe in cōming. Whereas in truth neither is our Sauiour Christ slow in cōming as Peter sheweth, neither is 2. Peter. 3.2 Pet 3the kingdome of Antichrist long. But in respect of God with whom a 1000. yeares are as one day, & in cōpatison of the eternal kingdome of Christ (with whō the faithful are to raigne after they hauehave suffered vnderunder Antichrist,) it is to be accompted very short. And surely if the whole time from the Ascension of of our Sauiour vntil his returne vntounto iudgement, is noted in the Scriptures to be very short, and that to this end that we should not thinke it long, then is the raigne of Antichrist (which is but part of this time) much more short. The holy Ghost in the beginning of the Reuelation signifieth that the time of fulfilling Apoc 1. 3.Rev 1:3the prophecies therein m…tioned was at hād. And our Sauiour Heb. 10. 37.Heb 10:37Christ promiseth by the Apostle, that after a very litle while he would come: & in the last chapt. of the reuelatiō, he saith, yea, I Apoc. 22. 20.Rev 22:20come quickly. And Iohn likewise in his Epistle noteth that the …. Iohn. 2. 18.John 2:18whole time of Antichrist was but a part of the last howre.

p. 4510. And further whereas the Papists obiect, in respect of the time, that Antichrist is not yet come, because the Romane Empire is not yet dissolued, and consequently that the Pope is not Antichrist: it may notwithstanding euidently be shewed out of the same chapter of the Apocalypse compared with the Apoc. 17.Rev 17euent, both that the Empire is dissolued, and that Antichrist is already come. For the Empire is then knowen to be dissolued, when it is diuided among ten who shall hauehave receiued power as kings, as Iohn noteth, the fathers teach, & the Papists themselues confesse. But it is most certaine that the old Empire of of Rome is diuided among ten kings at the least, who before the dissolution had not soueraigne authority: and that the Empire which now is, being but a title, and contayning no such kingdomes, is not capable of such a partition. And that Antichrist also is come it is as euident. For those ten hornes which in the Apostles time had not receiuèd the kingdome nor soueraigne authority, but were gouernours of the prouinces by deputation frō the Emperour, were after the dissolution of the Empire to receiue powèr as kings with the beast; or, as the Papists reade, after the beast, that is Antichrist, If therefore the gouernours Ap. 17. 12.of the kingdomes whereinto the Romane Empire was diuided, hauehave receiued power as kings, then it is certaine that Antichrist is already come. For oither after him, or at least with him they were to receiue their soueraignty. It is as certaine therefore that Antichrist is come, as it is sure that the gouernours of the prouinces which once belonged to the Empire are soueraigne princes and not liefetenants vnderunder the Emperour. And that this Antichrist which is already come is the Pope, it is plaine enough by the same chapter. For whosoeuer succeedeth the Emperours (who were the sixt head) in the gouernment of Rome, as the seauenth head of the Romane state, he is Antichrist. But the Pope as the seauenth head of the Romane state succeedeth the Emperors (who were the sixt head) in the gouernement of Rome; therefore he is Antichrist. If you say, the seauenth head was not come in the Apostles time verse 10. and yet there were Bishops of Rome then: I answere that the Bishops of Rome, in the first three hundred yeares, were p. 46meane men in respect of their owtward estate, & nothing lesse then heads of the Romane state. And that howsoeuer afterwards they obtained great authority, & more & more aspired vntounto the soueraignty: notwithstanding, vntill the sixt head was taken out of the way, the 7. was not reuealed. But after the sixt head was gone, the 7. succeeded in the gouernment of Rome. Cupers de eccl. p. 37. n. 9. vrbem Romanam ad papam pleno iure spectare constat. & pag. 258. n. 7. Romana vrbsita Papae dominio cessit, vt Caesari nil iuris in …areseruelur.Insomuch that now for a long time the city of Rome hath so wholy belonged to the Pope, as that the Emperour hath no manner of right therein. To conclude therefore, If Antichrist was to sitte in Rome professing her selfe the church of God, & that after the taking away of the Romane Emperor whom he was to succeed in the gouernmēt of Rome, as hath bin proued: it followeth necessarily, seeing these notes agree to the Popes of Rome and to none but them, that therfore the Pope is Antichrist.