A Treatise Concerning Antichrist, Book 2 · Chapter 17
Chap. 17. Being the conclusion of the whole Treatise.
HAuing therefore both by sufficient arguments manifestly proued that the Pope is 1.Antichrist, and by euidence of truth maintained the same assertion against the arguments of the Papists: let vsus now consider in the last place, what conclusions may vponupon this doctrine be necessarily inferred for our further vse. For first, if this be true, that the Pope is Antichrist, as I hauehave proued; and the church of Rome that now is, Babylon the Synagogue of Antichrist: then all other controuersies betwixt vsus and them, may be easily decided: their chiefe ground being the authoritie of their church, and of the See Apostolike. For then it is to be presumed, that those doctrines which are peculiar to the Pope and Church of Rome, are the errours of Antichrist; yea, and as the Apostle calleth 1. Tim. 4. 2.them, doctrines of diuels.
2 If the Romish church be Antichristian, then our seperation frō it is warranted, yea, commanded by the word of God, and all returning to it forbidden. Apoc. 18. 4. Come out of her my people, least pertaking with her in her sinnes, you partake also in her punishment.
3 If the Pope be Antichrist, then those that embrace that religion, and ioyne themselues to that church, acknowledging the Pope to be their head, receiue the marke of the beast. And those that do receiue the beasts marke (especially after he is reuealed) shall drinke of the wine of Gods wrath, and shall bee punished with fire and brimstone before the holy Angels, and before the Lambe. Apoc 14. 9. This therefore must serue as a serious admonition, and necessary caueat both to reclaime all tractable Papists, and to confirme all wauering and vnstayed Protestants. The former, as they tender their saluation, so to come out of Babylon: The latter, as they will auoid their endles confusion, to keepe out of Babylon. For not onelyonly to retaine the marke of the beast wilfully after he is discouered, but to reuolt from the profession of the truth vntounto Antichristian religion: it also is a fearefull signe of reprobation. For it is impossible that the elect should finally be seduced by Antichrist. Math. 24. 24. And the Apostle Paul obserueth, that Antichrist shall effectually deceiue them that perish with all deceitfulnes of iniquitie, because they hauehave not receiued the louelove of the truth, that they might be saued. And therefore God shall send them strong delusions, that they should beleeue lies, that al they might be damned which beleeued not the truth, but delighted in vnrighteousnesse. 2. Thess. 2. 10. 11. 12. Whervpon Chrysostome also writing, hath these words, foreign, Antichrist preuaileth with Castawayes or such as perish. And Ierome likewise, Ad Algasiā quest. 11.They shall be seduced (saith hee) by the lies of Antichrist, who are prepared vntounto perdition. But on the other side, those which renounce the Pope and church of Rome, and rise srō the graue of Antichristianisme and Popery, and follow our Sauiour Christ in the sincere profession of the truth, Blessed and holy are they for they hauing part in the first resurrection, shalbe freed from the second Apoc. 20. 6death: And howsoeuer they are esteemed of the followers of Antichrist, as heretickes & schismatickes, which are to be persecuted with fire and faggot, yet are they happie in their life whiles they ioyne with Christ against Antichrist, for such are called, elect and faithfull, and redeemed out of the world; and they are also blessed in their death, dying in the quarrell of Christ Apoc. 17. 14.against Antichrist: for of those specially doth the holy Ghost speake, Apoc. 14. 13. Blessed are those that dye in the Apoc. 14. 4.Lord, &c.
4 If the Pope be Antichrist, then those that are found to be resolute Antichristians, that is recusant Papists; but especially Iesuites and Seminary Priests, which are sent to reconcile men vntounto the Pope and Church of Rome, that is, (as hath bene proued) to set on them the marke of the beast, & consequently to brand them to destruction, and all such as seeke to peruert & seduce others, ought not to be fauoured or spared in a Christian common wealth. First, because they are limmes of Antichrist, and therfore by the commandement of God, we should do to them as they hauehave done to vsus. Apoc. 18. 6. Secondly, because they are enemies to God, and traitors to Christian Princes. They are enemies to God, not onelyonly because themselues are Idolaters, and consequently such as hate God, Exod. 20. 5. but also because they labour to withdrawe others from the true worship of God, vntounto superstition and idolatrie, and therfore in no case ought to be spared, Deut. 13. 5. 8. They are traitors also to Christiā Princes, being sworne vassals to the Pope their capitall enemie. For hee esteemeth all Christian Princes that do not acknowledge him to be their head, as schismatikes or heretikes. And as he vseth (so oft as he dareth) to proceede Antonin. sum. part. 3. tit. 22. cap. 5. §. 11.against such foure wayes, viz. by excommunication, deposition, depriuing them of their temporall goods & possessions, and raising warre against them, so all Papists acknowledging the Popes supremacie, do hold both that he hath authoritie so to proceede against Christian Princes, and also that in his definitiue sentence hee Antonin. sum. part. 3. tit. 22. cap. 5. §. 10cannot erre. And therforé if they put not in execution the sentence of their holy Father, it is not for want of treasonable will, and rebellious affection towards their Prince, but for lacke of meanes and oportunitie. As for example, when Pius 5. had sent his Bull of excommunication against our late Soueraigne Cupers. pag. 182. num. 8.Queene of happie memorie, therein deposing her from her crowne, and absoluing her subiects from their alleageance towards her, it is most certaine, that whatsoeuer many hollow hearted Papists pretended, yet fewe of them did acknowledge her for their lawfull Queene; and many of them thought it a meritorious worke to take away her life. And surely if not their persons, then much lesse ought their Antichristian religion, the mysterie of iniquitie, be tolerated in the Church of Christ. For what fellowship can there bee betwixt light and darkenesse? or what agreement can the Temple of God hauehave 2. Cor. 6.with Idols?
5 If the Pope be Antichrist, and his Church Antichristian, then can there be no reconciliatiō betwixt vsus & the church of Rome, we being, as often hath bene proued, the true church of God. For what agreement can there be betwixt Christ and Antichrist? Such neuters therefore shewe themselues to be n…llifidians and politicke Atheists, who would perswade men that both wee and they are the true church of Christ, and that the difference betwixt vsus being in words rather then in substance, may easily be composed: but they might as well say that there is but a verball difference betwixt the Gospell of Christ, and the doctrine of Antichrist.
6 Lastly, if the church of Rome, which because of her largenesse, calleth her selfe the Catholike, that is to say, the vniuersall church, bee notwithstanding the Synagogue of Antichrist: What infinit thankes doo wee owe to our good and gracious God, who hath not suffred vsus to be carried away with that Catholike Apostasie, as it were an vniuersall deluge, but hath gathered vsus into the arke of his true church, making vsus with the rest of his true professors his peculiar people. It remaineth therefore, that seeing God hath bene so gracious to vsus, wee should not be vnthankful to him, but rather should walke worthy our calling, as it becommeth the children of the light, adorning the profession of the glorious Gospel of Christ, by a godly conuersation; to the ende that by the plentifull fruites of righteousnesse and true holinesse, wee may glorifie God our heauenly Father, stoppe the mouthes of our aduersaries, and gather assurance vntounto our owne soules, of our iustification and saluation by Iesus Christ our bessed Lord and Sauiour; To whom with the Father and the holy spirit, be all praise and thankes-giuing, both now and euermore.
Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · George Downame, A Treatise Concerning Antichrist (1603)