A Treatise Concerning Antichrist, Book 1 · Chapter 8
Chap. 8. Of the name and marke which Antichrist shall impose vponupon men of all sorts, with some other effectes.
1. THe second effect of Antichrist is noted Apoc. 13. 16. 17. 18. And hee Apoc. 13. 16. 17. 18.made all both small and great, rich and poore, free and bond, to receiue a marke in their right hand or in their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, saue hee that had the marke, or the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisedome: let him that hath vnderstanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man: and his number is six hundreth sixty and six. Of which prophecie Bellarmine saith thus. Fatentur omnes pertinere omnino Lib. 3. de pontis. Rom. c. 10.ad Antichristum verba illa Ioannis Apoc. 13, &c. All men confesse that those words of Iohn Apoc. 13. doe vndoubtedly belong to Antichrist. From this ground therefore we may reason thus. Whosoeuer enforceth all sorts of men according to this prophecie to take vponupon them the name of the beast, or the marke or number of his name, he is Antichrist: But the Pope of Rome enforceth all sorts of men according to this prophecy to take vponupon them the name of the beast, or the mark and number of his name: therefore he is Antichrist. For the clearing of this argument, two things are to be cōsidered. First, what this name, number, and marke is: Secondly, whether the Pope impose the same vppon all sorts of men. The number is expressed in the text, to be 666. And it is plainelie saide to bee the number of the name. That we may not thinke it to be the number of the time when Antichrist should appeare as some hauehave imagined: neither can it in any good sence bee said that Antichrist inforceth men to take vponupon them the number of that time. And it is called the number of the name, because in the letters of the name this number is contained. For it is the maner of the Hebrewes and Greekes to vse their letters for notes of number, according to their order in the Alphabet &c. it is also called the nūber of a man, because (as it may seem) the name of the beast, cōtaining this number, is also the name of a man. And this I take to bee the most simple interpretation.
2 What the name is wherof the holy ghost here speaketh, it may easily be gathred out of the text. For 1. the holy ghost doth not speak of Antichrist his name properly, but of the name of the beast which Antichrist should cause al sorts of men to take vponupon them. If therefore we know what the beast is, it will not be hard to tell what the name is. The beast whose name Antichrist shall compel men to take vponupon them, is the former beast described in the beginning of the chapter. For so it is said, that Antichrist the second beast, exerciseth the authority of the former beast, that he causeth mē to worship the first beast whose v. 12.deadly woūd was healed: that he causeth an image to be made v. 14.to the beast, that he giueth spirit to the image of the beast, that v. 15.he suffereth none to buy or sel which hauehave not the name of the v. 17.beast: which cānot be vnderstood but of the former beast. Now that beast described in the former part of the chapt. is without doubt the Roman or Latin state, as hath bin proued heretofore & the Papists sōtimes cōfesse; the name wherof without questi on is Roman or Latin. If therfore the name Romane or Latin in the learned tōgues containe the nūber 666. then the name of the beast which Antichrist causeth men to take vponupon them, is Roman or Latin. But in what lāguage are we to accoūt the nū ber of the beasts name? Surely either in Greeke which is most likely, because the reuelatiō was writtē in greek: or in Hebrew because the reuelatiō (as some think) was giuē in hebrew to S. Iohn being an Hebrewe borne: or else we may take the beasts name according to his own lāguage set down in Hebrew characters, because the Latines doe not vse their letters as the Hebrewes & Greeks do in numeratiō. For seeing we know what the beast it self is, we might wel take that name which fitteth this nūber any of these ways. Irenaeus (whose master Policarpus beene Saint Iohns disciple) reporteth, that those, who had seen Iohn, face to face, did teache, that the number of the name of Lib. 5.the beast according to the computation of the Greeks by the letters which be in it, shall containe 666. Hee therefore setteth downe three names in greeke letters contayning that number: in two whereof there is no shew of reason that either of them should be this name, seeing neither of them (I meane foreign & foreign) is the name of the beast. The third name, is foreign, whereof hee writeth thus: Sed & foreign nomen sexcentorum sexaginta sex numerum; & valde verisimile est. Quoniam verissunum regnum hoc habet vocabulum, Latini enim sunt qui nunc regnant. But the name Lateinos also containeth the number 666. and it is verse likelie, because the most true kingdome hath this name. For they are Latines which now raigne. Which in effect is as much as if hee had saide, the name Latine is very likelie, because it hath the number 666. and is the name of the beaste which figureth verissimum regnum the most true kingdome, that is the Latin or Romane state. The name of the beast Apoc. 13. 7.therefore in greek contayning the number, is foreign, that is to say Latine.
3. In Hebrew the beasts name comprehending that number is foreign that is Romane. For the beastes name beeing a nowne or name collectiue, may indifferently, according to the maner of the Hebrewes, be vttered either in the Masculine or Foeminine gender. And the Foeminine termination doth better fitte the prophecy, not onelyonly because it rendreth the iust number, but also because the beast as it is subiect to Antichrist beeing the adulterous Romane state, is elsewhere in the foeminine called the whore of Babylon, and the mother of fornications. The most vsuall name of the beast in it owne language, that is, the Latine tongue, is Romanus, which in Hebrewe characters is, as Master Foxe supposeth, foreign to the knowledge whereof as himselfe reporteth hee attained by earnest prayer. And that the name Latine or Romane in the learned tongues is the name whereof the holy ghost speaketh, it appeareth, because eueryevery thing here spoken of the name, agreeth fitly and properly thereunto. For first it is the name of the beast. Secondly, is containeth the number 666, as may appeare by this supp…ion … Thirdly, it is such a name as he, to whom all other notes of Antichrist doe agree, (I meane the Pope) enforceth men to take vponupon them, as shalbe shewed. Fourthly, because the name Latinus or Romanus is also the name of a man. For Latinus was one of the auncient Kings of Italy, and Romanus was one of the Popes. Wherefore I doubt not to conclude that the name is Romane or Latins in the learned tongues. For howsoeuer many others names may be produced which comprehend the number 666, yet either they are not the name of the beast, or are such names as Antichrist was not to impose vponupon men. But Lib. 2. cap. 10.of this, more here after.
4. Now let vsus see what that marke is whereof the holy Ghost speaketh. Chara…t or Character is as it were a cognizance & a note of difference wherby men of any profession, or religion, are knowne and distinguished from others. And it is partly in ward and partly outward. The inward is that which is imprinted in the soule: the outward is that which is either expressed or receiued outwardly, as namely in the forehead, or in the right hand. In the forehead that is by outward profession, and in the right hand that is by operation, as the ordinary glose expoundeth. As for example, the character or marke of a christian or seruant of Christ is subiectiō vntounto Christ and acknowledgement of him to be our head & Sauiour. This inwardly is the grace of a true faith wrought in the soule by the finger of Gods spirit, wherby we beleeue in Christ our sauiour. For those that truly beleeue are sealed or signed to saluation. That which Eph. 1. 13.outwardly is expressed, is either by consession of the mouth, or operation of the hands. In respect whereof, profession of the Christiā faith may truely be said to be the outward marke of a Christian, as also determinat us modus us viuēdi &c. (as the scholemen speake) the certaine maner of liuing according to the law & religiō of Christ. So that he which beleeueth with his hart & cōfesseth with his mouth that Iesus is Christ, & withal frameth his life according to the law & doctrine of Christ, he may be said to hauehave the marke of God Apoc. 9. 4. both in the heart by beleeuing, & in the forehead by profession, & in the right hād by operation. See Rom. 10. 9. 10. & 2. Tim. 2. 19. And furthermore the outward markes receiued to testifie our subiectiō vntounto Christ & our cōmunion with him, as also to distinguish vsus frō men of other religions, are the Sacramēts of Christ, as baptisme and the Lords supper. And thus you see the marke of a Christian which is but one in substance, namely the true acknowledgement of Christ, is thus diuersly expessed & testified.
5. The like may be said of the marke of the beast, which is also called the marke of his name. The beast as wee hauehave proued Apoc. 14. 11.is the Romane state, the name is Romane or Latine. The marke therfore of the beast is that whereby they of the Romish or Latine religion whom we call Papists, are distinguished frō others, that is their subiection vntounto the Pope as their head and acknowledgement of the See of Rome. This inwardly in the soule is their implicite faith: whereby eueryevery Papist is bound hand ouer head to beleeue whatsoeuer the Pope or Church of Rome beleeueth: and the rather because they are to be perswaded that neither of both can erre. That which outwardly is expressed is either by confession of the mouth or operation of the hands. So that the profession of the Romishe religion and certaine maner of liuing according to the Lawes and customes of the Pope and church of Rome, may also be said to be the marke of Antichristians: euen as the obseruation of the Heathenish rites is called 2. Macah. 4. 10. the Character of the Graecians. Who soeuer therfore in heart beleeueth whatsoeuer the Pope & church of Rome do or shall beleeue, & outwardly professeth the Romish religion & frameth his life according to the lawes & customes of the church of Rome, as for exāple to fal downe before images, to adore the Eucharist, to frequēt the Masse &c. he may be truly said to hauehave the marke of the beast. Moreouer the outward marks receiued to testifie their cōmunion with the church of Rome, are certaine sacraments of their holy mother church, which as they say do imprimere characterē indelebilem, imprint a character that cannot be done away, and therfore are not to be iterated, as namely their sacramēts of cō firmatiō & orders. In the former wherof (which they prefer before baptisme) all yoūg ones are anointed in the forehead with oile, which they cal Chrisma salutis, The Chrisme of saluatiō, & without which they will hauehave none to be accōpted christians. Nunquā erit Christianus (say they in their law) nisi cōfirmatione De consecrat. dist. 5. c. vt iciuni.episcopali fuerit Chrismat us. In the latter, those of their clergy besides their shauing on their heads, are anointed also on their heads, as Bishops, or on their hands as Priests. Thus you see also how the Characteristicall note or marke of Antichristians which is one in substance, namely subiectiō to the Pope & acknowledgmēt of the See of Rome, is diuersly expressed & testified. Whosoeuer therfore since the reuelation of Antichrist is a Romane or Latine in respect of his religiō, acknowledging the Popes supremacy, & professing himselfe a mēber of the church of Rome, that is to say, in one word eueryevery resolued Papist, hath the marke of the beast, his name and number of his name.
6. Now it remaineth that, by application of this prophecy to the Pope, I should shewe that hee causeth all both small and great, rich and poore, free and bonde, that hee should giuegive them a marke in their right hand or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, saue hee that had the marke, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Whereby thus much is meant, that Antichrist by his vsurped dominion and tyranny should make all sortes of men subiect vntounto him, and to testifie their subiection both by wordes and deed: and that hee should suffer none to liue among them or to enioy the benefites of humane society, but such as acknowledge the See of Rome, professe themselues members of the Romane church, and vse the Latine religion and seruice. All which doth fully and only agree to the Pope of Rome. For he, by his diuelish policy vsurped authority, lying wōd…rs & al deceiueablenes of vnright…ousnesse, had not onelyonly brought all men both high & lowe into subiection, but also perswaded thē that vponupon necessity of saluation, and paine of damnation, they were to subiect thēselues vntounto him, & both by word and deed to testifie their subiection. Hereunto belōgeth that oracle (for so sometimes they cal their their decrees) of Boniface 8. Subess… (saith he) Roman… pont…fici, omni humana creaturae declaramus, Extr. de Maior. & obed. c. vnā sanctam.dicimus, definimus & pronunciamus omninò esse de necessitate salutis. To eueryevery humane creatur… wee declare, affirme, define, and pronounce, that to be sub…ect to the Pope of Rome it is a matter altogether necessary to saluation. Whereupon the glosse saith, Quic quid saluatur est sub Romano pontifice. Whatsoeuer is saued, is subiect to the Pope. The same is concluded by Thomas Aquinas, and others, That to be subiect to the Pope is of the necessitis Lib. de error. Graecor. c. 72. Antonin. sum. 3. part. tit. 22. c. 6. §. 5. An. 884.of saluation. Stephanus 5. aliàs. 6. decreed that such Canons as were concluded vponupon and giuen out by the See of Rome, are of necessity vntounto saluation to bee obserued. Calixtus 2. straitly forbad any to dissent from the Church of Rome, for as the Sonne came to doe the will of his Father, so Christians must do the will of their mother the church of Rome. Ex. 1. Bal. act. ponti…. Rom. Capistran fol. 26.For to gain…say the Church of Rome is Heresie. Those which denie the Pope to hauehave both powers, deny the Gospell: and they which deny the Pope to hauehave the primacy of the vniuersall Cuper…. pag. 46. in summar. num. 9.Church, their errour is equall to the errour of the Grecians, who deny the holy Ghost to proceed both from the Father and the Cupers. pag. 56. num. 21.Sonne. If therfore thou wilt not be an Heretike this must be thy faith, that as there is one God immutable, so there is one vicar general of God vponupon earth (namely the vicar of Rome) whose Capistran. fol. 32.s…ip is stable. For seing in the triumphant church there is one supreame Clementin. lib. 5. de hareticis, cap. ad nostrum in Gloss.prince to whose obedience all that church is most perfectly subiect, to wit, God: it followeth necessarily that one supreme prince is pre…nt ouer the whole militant Church, towit, the Pope, whose … all are bound to ob…y. And this priuiledge Christ Anton. part. 3. tit. 22. cap. 6. §. 5.hath giuē to the church of Rome, that al must be obed…t vntounto it, a… vntounto Christ. Therfore he susteineth the sentence of condēnatiō Ibid. cap. 5. §. 17. ex Gloss. ordin. Papae appli…ta.qui conte…it f…i pontificis is obedientiā, tanquāsi contemneret Dei …, w…o … the Popes obedience a… if he cō temned Gods omnipotency. And to cōclude, as I began, with an other oracle or canon of their law, Peccatum igitur paganitatis …, quisquis dum Christianum se esse asserit, sedi apostolica Dist. 81. c. si qui sunt.ob…dire cont…it, He incurreth therfore the sinne of Pagani…, whosoeuer professing himselfe to be a Christian, renounceth obedience to the S… apostolicke.
7 And as he hath made all to subiect themselues vntounto him, all I meane whose names are not written in the booke of the lambe, (for this is the vniuersality that the Papists bragge of) so he hath caused all both small and great, rich and poore &c. to testifie their subiection; as namely by pinning their faith on his sleeue, and binding themselues to beleeue as he beleeueth: by professing his Antichristian faith and religion of poperie; by obseruing his popish that is to shy superstitious and idolatrous rites and customes, as frequenting masses, adoring images and reliques, worshipping the crosse and Eucharist, praying to Saint… yea to stocks and stones, going on pilgrimage, praying in latine and that on beades, &c. by taking his marke both on the forehead in the sacrament of confirmation, and on the hand in the sacrament of orders, but especially by taking an oath of fidelity and obedience vntounto him. For therein especiallie they receiue his mark both in the forehead by solemne profession, and in the right hand which they lay on the booke. This oath not onelyonly graduates, priestes, Bishoppes, but Kings also and Emperours were compelled to take. And whereas it is Vid. Meditat. 1. Foxij in 14. cap. Apoc. Decret. Gregor. libro 2. tit. 24. de iureiur. c. Ego N. Clementin. lib. 2. de iureiur. c. Romani.said that Antichrist should take order that none might buy or sell, vnlesse he hauehave the marke, or the name of the beast or the number of his name: that speeche doth so fitte the Popes of Rome as that it might seeme rather to bee a narration of that which they hauehave done, th…n … prophecy of that which they were to doe. For Martin 5. in his bull annexed to the councill of Constance giueth straight ch…rge to all gouernours, that they should not suffer any Christians (such as Iohn Wickleffe, Iohn Husse and Ierome of Prage who in that bull are condemned for hereticks) who acknowledge not the See of Rome, nor embrace the doctrines and traditions of holy mother church, not beleeuing as the church of Rome beleeueth, nor liuing in the cōmunion of that church, that is to say, which hauehave not the marke, nor the name of the beast, nor number of his name, they should not suffer them I say, domicilia tenere, larem fouere, contractus inire, negotiationes & mercaturas quaslibet exercere, aut humanit at is solatia cum Christi fidelibus habere. To keepe house nor harth, to make contracts, to exercise any trafficke or merchandise, or to hauehave any comforts of humane societie with other Christians. In like sort Paulus 3. when Henry 8. of famous memory had shaken of his yoke, and renounced his marke, he forbadde al men to vse any trafficke or merchaundise, or to make any contractes or couenants with him and his subiects: he deposed as much as in him lay, by his bull of excommunication, the king, disabled his posteritie, absolued his subiectes from obedience, exposed his subiectes and their goods to violence and spoile, according to the inscription in his coyne, Gens & regnum quod non serui…rit mihi exterminabitur, The nation or kingdome which serueth not mee, shall bee rooted out. The like thunderbolt Pius 5. sent out against our Soueraigne Ladie of blessed memorie Queene Elizabeth: and Sixtus 5. against Henrie the king of Nauarre (now king of Fraunce) and Henrie prince of Condee. And heereunto serue their blodie inquisitours at this day: who are to suffer none to liue, or to hauehave the benefite of humane societie, who are but suspected of schisme or heresie. And who is an hereticke? That doth not beleeue as the Pope and church of Rome beleeueth; though hee beleeue according to the scriptures. And who is a schismaticke? That doth not acknowledge the Antonin. part. 3. tit. 22. c. 5. §. 11.Pope to bee the head of the church. Seeing therefore the Pope of Rome causeth all sortes of men to take vponupon them the marke of the beast, and suffereth none to buy or sell that hauehave not the marke or name of the beaste or number of his name, it cannot bee auoided but that hee is Antichrist.
8 And these were the principall effects of Antichrist noted in the scriptures: whereunto some others may bee added out of Apoc. 13. which hauehave in part beene touched heretofore: as first, that he exerciseth al the power of the former beast secondly that he causeth men to worshippe the former beast, thirdly that he forceth men vponupon paine of death to worshippe the image of the beast. All which, as well as the former, agree to the Pope. For as touching the first, who knoweth not that the Pope hath swayed the Romane state for many hundred yeares? exercising a more soueraigne and absolute authoritie ouer men of all sorts, then euer the heathenishe Emperours did. For hee forsooth hath the authoritie of the king Bald. in c. ecclesia, vt lit. pendent. Bloud. Rom. ins…aur. lib. 3.of kings ouer his subiectes; hee is perp…uus dictator, whome the princes of the worlde adore and worshippe: hee is as Boniface the eightth in the greate Iubile Anno. 1300. (hauing shewed himselfe the one daye in his pontificall vestimentes, and the second in the imperiall robes) proclaimed of himselfe, I am Pope and Emperour, I hauehave both the heauenlie and the earthly Empire, and as they speake in their lawe, the Monarchie of both powers: hee hath the princehood of the whole world, as wee hauehave hearde before. And where doth he exercise this authority? in the sight of the beast, that is, at Rome, which is his Papall seate, and in the gouernemente whereof hee succeedeth the Emperours.
9 And that the Pope maketh the inhabitants of the earth to worship the former beast, it is as euident; seeing his main policyes and chief indeauours serue to magnifie the Romane state. To this end, besides many other policyes in part obserued before, do his Iubileyes tend: wherin he vseth to promise plena…y remission of al sinnes to all that either come on pilgrimage to Rome, or miscarie in their iourney: as also the incredible indulgences and pardons which hee graunteth to those which shall come as Pilgrims to Rome, to visite the holie places there, especially the 7. churches which are priuiledged aboue the rest. To which purpose there is reported in an old English book, (and the reporte no doubt was currant in times Arnaldus Londinens.of popery) the whole pardon of Rome graunted by diuerse Popes, a part whereof I will breefly recite for their behoofe, to whome the absurdities of Poperie are not knowne. The seauen priuiledged churches, whereof not onelyonly that Author speaketh, but … also of late hath wrieten a whole booke, are 1. the church of Saint Peter in the Vatican: …. the De 7. vrbis eccles….church of Saint Paul without the walles: 3. the church of Saint Laurence without the walles: 4. the church of holy crosse in Ierusalem. 5. the church of Saint Mary Maior. 6. the church of Sait Sebastian without the city: 7. the church of Saint Iohn Laterane. To all them that dayly goe to the church of Saint Peter, Syl… graunted the third part of all then sinnes released, 1.and 2800. years pardon. And the … of as many Lentons or Quarins. Now a Quarin saith my author is to goe woolward and barefoot seuen yeare, and to fast bread and water on the frydayes … to … one night where he sleepeth another, … co… vnderunder no co…ed place vnlesse … be to heare masse in the church dore or porche … … or drinke out of no other vessell but in the same that he mede his auowe in. Hee that doth all these points seuen yeares together, death and …inneth a quarin, that is to say, a Lenton. Besides, there is an image of our Lord about the church dore, hauing between his feete one of the pence that God was sold for; as o… as you looke vponupon that p…ny you hauehave 1400 yeares of pardon. In that church be eleuen altars, of which 7. are specially priuiledged with grace and pardon. At the first altar is the visage of out Lor… who looketh on that, hath 700. yeares of pardon, &c. Before the quire dore stand 2. … …rosses; who kisseth the crosses hath 500 yeares pardon. From the … to the assumption of our Lady, hangeth a cloth of our Ladies owne making before the quire, and as many times … a man beholdeth it he hath 400. yeares of pardon, &c.
10 They that visite the church of Saint Paul without the walles ha… 48000. yeares of pardon. Item on Childer…asse day 2.4000 yeares of pardon. Item on the vias of Saint Martin when the church was hallowed 14000. yeares of pardon, and as many quarins, and the third part of all sinnes released. Those that visit the church of Saint Lau…ence, at the high altar hauehave 18000. 3.yeares of pardon and as many quarins. And who goeth thither eueryevery wednesday he deliuered a soule out of purgatory, & himself quite of all …nes. In the church Sanct…crucis that is of holy crosse is giuen an hundred thousand yeares of pardon and as 4.many quarins, and eueryevery Sunday a soule out of Purgatory, and the third part of all sinnes released. To thē that visite the church of 5S. Mary Maior, is graūted, at the high Altar 14000. yeares of pardon, & as many quarins: And at the altar on the right hād 19000. yeares of pardō. And Pope Nicolas the 4. & S. Gregory each of them graūted thereto 10000. yeares of pardon. And frō the Ascensiō of our Lord vntounto Christmas, yee hauehave there 14000. yeares of pardon, and as many quarins, and the third part of all sins released. To them that visite the church of S. Sebastian is granted 6forgiuenesse of sinnes and all penaunce. At the high Altar is giuen 2800. yeares of pardon, and at the first Altar in the Church, 2400. There is a vawte where lie buried 49. Popes that were Martyrs: whoso commeth first into that place deliuereth 8. soules out of Purgatory of such as hee most desireth, and as much pardon therto, that all the worlde cannot number nor recken. And eueryevery Sunday you deliuer there a soule out of purgatory. In that vawte standeth a pitte in which Peter and Paule were hidde 250 yeares, he that putteth his head into that pitte and taketh it out againe, is cleane of all sinnes. To that place siue Popes each of them graunted a thousand yeares of pardon, and as many karins. And so the grace that is at S. Sebastians is grounded that it cannot be taken away. To those that 7visit the Church of S. Iohn Laterane, Pope Siluester gaue as many yeares of pardon, as it rained droppes of water the day that he hallowed the same Church. And that time it rayned so sore, that no man had seene a greater rayne before that day. And when hee had graunted this, hee doubted whether hee had so much power. Then a voice came from heauen, and said, Pope Syluester, thou haste power enough to giuegive that pardon. And God graunted this much thereto, that if a man had made a vowe to Ierusalem, and lacked good to doe his Pilgrimage, if hee goe from S. Peters Church to S. Iohn Lateranes, hee shalbe absolued from that promise. And any time that a man commeth to Saint Iohn Lateranes, hee is quite of all sinnes, and of all penaunce, with that that he be penitent for his sinnes. Blessed is the mother that beareth the childe that bareth Masse on Saterdayes at Saint Iohn Lateranes. For hee deliuered all them that hee desired out of Purgatory to the number of 77. soules. Item on the tower of the Churche standeth a double crosse, that was made of the sworde wherewith Saint Iohn was beheaded, and eueryevery time a man beholdeth that crosse hee hath 14000. yeares Pardon. At the high altar a man may hauehave remission of all sinnes, and of all penaunce, and innumerable pardon more then he needeth for himselfe. There is a graue wherein Saint Iohn laid himselfe, hee that putteth therein his head hee hath an hundred thousand yeares of pardon, and as many karins. These indulgences with many such like (which for breuity sake I omitte) my Authour saith are written in a Marble stone before the Quire dore &c. Besides these seuen, there are many inferiour Churches whereunto great indulgēces hauehave bene graunted by the Popes. There are named in the aforesaid Booke 26. Churches, wherein is graunted, to them that visit any of them, 1000. yeares pardon, and in some 3000, in others 5000. some, wherein promise is made of release from a third parte of sinnes, and in some from all sinnes. Here is a Church of Saint Gregory, in which whosoeuer is buried, hee shall neuer be damned. Thus (saith my Authour) may a man hauehave at Rome great pardon and soule health, blessed beene the people and in good time borne that receiueth these graces and well keepeth them &c.
11. Hereby it appeareth that the Pope causeth the inhabitants of the earth to worship the beast with seuen heads, that is, seuen hilles: that with the citie of Rome (which wee hauehave proued to bee the whore of Babylon) the inhabitants of the earth hauehave committed spirituall fornication, and that with the cuppe of her fornications they hauehave beene infatuated and made drunke. And that the Pope hath caused men vponupon paine of death to worshippe the image of the 3.beast which he hath animated and put life into, it is easie to proue, whether you vnderstande it literally or mystically. For literally, as they hauehave put life and motion into images and made them to speake in the sight of men: so hauehave they suffered none to liue that would not participate with them in their idolatry which they call worshipping of images. Mystically the image signifieth either the Popes court, or Empire renewed, or both: the one resembling the authority and power, the other bearing the name and representing the dignitie of the old Empire. Of the Popes court at Rome, and of his Legates and Officers abroad there is no question to bee made, but that none are suffered to liue which worshippe not them. And it is true also of the Empire. But by worshipping the image of the beast, wee doe not vnderstand obedience to the Emperour in his lawfull decrees: but the obedience performed vntounto him as hee is an image of the persecuting Emperours, inspired by the Pope, and seruing as his minister to establish and propagate the Romish religion. In this sence as hee who obeyeth him worshippeth the image of the beast, and is in the same predicament with those that receiue the marke of the beast, Apoc. 14. 9: So hee that obeyeth him not is put to death; and dying in this quarell is in the same happy state with Apoc. 14, 13. 15. 2.those which refuse to receiue the marke of the beast.