Antichrist Pointed and Painted Out in His True Colors, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Antichrists Seat, or his place in particular, Revel. 17.9. and 18. proved to be Rome.
AS for Antichrists seat or place in particular, It is described two wayes: REVEL. 17. First by the name of mysticall Babylon, verse 5. And thereafter by the name of That great Citie▪ which in Iohn's dayes did raigne over the Kings of the Earth. Now that Rome is signified by both these wee are to prove, & consequentlie, that Rome is the Seat of Antichrist; First then that by misticall Babylon, Rome is understood: resembling the Assyrian Babylon in pryde, Idolatrie, and filthynes; and especiallie in cruell persecution of the People of GOD. Wee have not onelie the testimonies of Fathers, as TERTULIAN, IEROM, AUGUSTIN, AMBROSE, BEDA and OECUMENIUS and especiallie IEROM writting to PAULINUS,Hier. ad Paul. Tō· 9. in LIB. didymi de Sp. Sancto in praef. ad finem. speaking thus of ROME▪ When I was in Babylon, (sayeth hee) and Lived an inhabitant of that Purple Whoore, I desired to treat some what of the holy Ghost, and to dedicate my worke to the Bishope of that Citie, and behold, the assemblie of the Pharisees There (meaning the Roman Cleargie) They cryed me down. And as for the testimonies of the fore-named Fathers. They ar to be found as followers, TERTULLIAN adversus Iudaeos, & LIB. 3. contra Matrimonium. AUGUSTIN de civitate DEI, LIB. 18. c. 2. AMBROSE in 2 Thess, 2. BEDA and OECUMENIUS in 1. Pet. cap. ult. out of which place by Peter's writing from Babylon which the Romanists themselves expound to be Rome, Lyra & Card. Cajetan in 1. Pet. 5.13.they would prove that Peter was a… Rome, for so Lyra and Cajetan expound that place, as also Bellarmin and Baronius. Bell. De Rom. pont. l. 2.c. 2. Baron. annal. anno 43. Art▪ 17. Vieg… in Apoc. 17. Com. 1. Sect. 3. Ribera in Apoc. 17. num. 21. & 30. also, Bell. l. 3. de pont. Rom. c. 13 consesseth, per mer… tricem intelligi Romam.The Iesuit also Viega speaketh thus, Omnia quae in his capitibus de Babylone commemorantur, in Romam urbem aptissime quadrant; That is, all these things which are spoken of Babylon in these Chapters most fitlie agree to the City of Rome, Etiam quae erit tempore Antichristi; Even as it is to bee in the time of Antichrist. The Iesuit Ribera likewise Arbitror ergo (quod Andreas Episcopus Caesareae, & Arethas in hujus libri Commentariis nonnullos sensisse testantur) Romam nomine Babylonis designari, That is, I believe therefore (that which ANDREVV also Bishope of Caesarea, and ARETHAS testifyeth that some others in their Com…mentaries upon this booke did …old) that by the name of Babylon, Rome is understood, and againe. Hui… conveniunt aptissime omnia quae de Babylone dicuntur in hoc libro, That is, all things that are spoken of Babylon in this book most fitlie agreeth with Rome, which he proveth thereafter by many Authorities and witnesses.
The onlie evasion that Romanists use is, that by Babylon, Rome is designed as it was Heathen in the dayes of NERO, and other heathen Emperours, or as it shall be in the end of the World under their fancied Antichrist yee to come, wherby as ever they grant that Rome is the proper seat of Antichrist. But to show their errour in the first, to wit, that it is not called Babylon as it was heathen and under the old Roman Heathen Emperours, but under the Pops. First, Rome Heathen was under the sixt Head, which was imperiall governement, but Rome as it is described by Iohn, and to be the Seate of Antichrist, is under the last head which is papall governement. 2. Rome Heathen under imperiall governement procured subjection of nations to her by force and martiall coaction, but Rome as shee is described by Iohn to be the Seate of Antichrist, and under papall governement procured subjection of natio…s to her by fraud and Whoorish allurements (as v. 4.) of craftie seduction. 3. Rome as the seate of Antichrist is described cōmitting spirituall fornication with the kings of the earth, who are called, v. 12. the hornes of the Beast, to whome they giuegive their power, as his secular arme, to warre against the LAMB, by persecuting the saints of GOD His Martyr's: but when Rome was Heathen, these kings were not at all, for they were to rise a long time after Romes ceasing to be under the heathē Emperours. 4. Rome is described by Iohn as the Seate of Antichrist, by way of prophecie, not what she was then in Iohns dayes, but what shee was after to be. And 5. Rome is described by Iohn under her eight or last head, (which I hauehave proven the Pope to bee) under whom she is to go to such utter ruine, as never any more to be inhabited, nor the light of a Candle to be seen in her, Where it is evident that this never yet befell to Rome Heathen under the old imperiall governement.R…vel. 18.21.22.23
Next, where they would alleadge, when the former evasion failieth them, that it is Rome, as it shall be in the end of the world, under the fancied Antichrist, yet to come. 1.Ribera in Apoc. 14, p. 446. (as hath bene said) hereby they confesse that Rome is the proper Seate of Antichrist. 2. If this were true, then the Beast spoken of should hauehave more Heads then eight, to wit, a nynth after the Papall governement; under which it is prophecied that it shall go to utter ruine, and so not to have a nynth head at all.Ribera in Apoc. 17. Num. 34. 3. The Iesuit Ribera sayeth of Rome, Si quando haec eadem fecerit, quae Iohannis tempore faciebat, iterum Babylon, vocabitur, That is, if Rome shall do these same things, which she did in Iohn's tym, then she shall justlie be called againe Babylon, as she was before, and consequentlie come to that utter ruine foreprophecied of her, Cap. 18.2. and 21. For it is manifest (sayeth hee) Quod peccata quae extremo tempore patrabit▪ Num. 46.omnino similia futura iis quae fecit cum imperiū tenebant Imperatores. That is, that the sinnes which she shall committ in the last times, shall be altogether alike with the sins which she committed when the Emperours of old did raigne over her. Now that she is guiltie of the same sins, and in a greater measure; Let these ensuing Romanists themselves declare,Epist. 18. l. 1. 1. Their own famous Florentine, Arch-deane and chanon Petrarch, who lived in the 1300 year of CHRIST, speaketh thus, Ecce jam oculis vides, jam manibus palpas, Epist. 18. l. 1. ep. rerum senilium. epamico cu… titulus, calamitaten… urbis Romae describi….qualis est Babylon illa novissima, fervens, aestuans obseena, terribilis, &c. That is, behold now thou seeth with thy eyes, and feels with thy hands what a Citie this last spoken of Babylon is, hote burning in lust, filthie, and terrible, &c. Wherein what ever impietie (sayeth hee) or most wicked manners everie where, the whole World ever had or hath, thou shall fynd all accumulated there in one masse of impietie, and thereafter he sayeth; Yea, what other thing is done there, by the enemys of CHRIST, and Pharisees of our time, (to wit, the Roman cleargie) but like Iudas and the Roman Souldiers, while they would seeme to worship Him, they sell Him, they crowne Him with thornes, they spit on Him, they mock Him, they pierce Him, and of new they crucifie Him ▪ and then concluds thus▪ O Pudor, O Dolor, O Indigni…tas, talium hodie ur dicitur, est Rom…. Tha is, O sh…me, O griefe, O disgrace, for as hath beene said, of such persons consisteth Rome at this day, and more particularlie speaking of the Pope he sayeth, Non Apostolicam sed predonis in morem videres, ne que signis virtutū ac miraculis, sed …ignis castrorum & miris instructum legionibus, quasi in has terra…non Petrū sed Hannibilē desti…asset, That is, where thou may see, not an Apostolicke man or successour, but one like a Robber, nor one Famous for signs of vertue or miracles, but for militarie Ensigns and Armies mightilie furnished, as if he had not been appointed by CHRIST, to be a Successour to Peter, but rather against these land… to bee another Hanniball.
The next whom we produce is Platina the Pops owne Secretarie,Platina in vita Marcellin. who in the lyf of Pope Marcellin speaketh thus of the Roman Cleargie, Hi enim livore, superbia, inimicitiis, odiis, inter se certantes, tyrannidem potius quam Sacerdotium sapere videbantur, Christian… pietatis omnino obliti, …c divina mysteria potius prophanantes quā celebrantes, sed quid futurum nostra aetate aerbitramur, quum vitia nostra eo crevere u… vix apud DEVM miserecordiae locum nobis reliquerint? Tha… is, For these men by envy, pride, inimitie and hatred striving amongst themselves, did rather seeme to savour of tyrannie, then of Priesthood, being altogether forgetfull of Christian pietie, and rather prophaning holie mysteries, then celebrating them, but what think you will be the estate of things in our age to come? when our vices are grown to that hight, that they have left scarce any place with GOD, for mercy and forgivenes? & immediatlie thereafter he sayeth, Quanta sit avaritia, & cor… maximê q…ireru… potiuntur, quanta libid… undique conquisita, quanta ambitio, & pompa, quanta superbia & desidia, quanta ignoratio tum sui ipsius, tum doctrinae Christianae, quanta p…rvareligio, & s…mulata potius quā vera, quum corrupti mores vel in prophanis hominibus, quos seculares vocant, detestandi non attine… dicere, cum ipsi ita aperte & palā peccent, a… s… inde laudem quaerere… ▪ That is, How great is the ava…ice of Priests, & chieflie of those, who are in highest place (meaning the Pope) What leacherie where ever it may bee exercised, what ambition and pomp, how greate pride & idlenes, how great ignorance both of themselves and of Christian doctrine, how little religion, and that rather Hypocriticall nor true, what great corruption of manners, that even in prophane persons whom they call secular men were detestable, it belongeth not to speak, when as they sinne so openlie and in publick, as if by sinning so they were seeking praises to …hemselves. This made Nicolaus Clemangis in his book,Cap. 14. & 26. pag 64. & 65. De corrupto Ecclesiae statis, who was Arch-deane of Bajon, in the year 1400. to send Rome to that prophecie of Ezekiell, and in the two sisters AHOLAH and AHOLI…AH to reade her like guiltienes, and judgement to come upon her, and thereafter sayeth hee, F…c eorum vaticinia alio spectare, quid de tua Prophetia Iohannis scilicet in Apocalipsi censes? an non illam saltem aliquae ex parte pertinere putas? Num pudorem ita cum sensu perdidis…i ut haec neges? Illā ergo i…tuer…, & lege damnationem magnae Meretricis super aq…as multas sedentis, illic que tua facta praeclara contemplare & tuos fururos casus. That is, but let it be that the Prophecies of the Prophets look another way, what thinks thou of the prophecie of Iohn in the REVELATION that c…ncerneth thy self? Doeth thou not think that in some part at least it belongeth to thee? Hath thou so farre lost shame & all feeling that thou dare deny the same, look therefore upon that prophecie, and reade the damnation of the great whoor that sitteth upon many waters, & in her behold they fyne deeds, and thy future fall; Therefore also said Bernard more particularlie, Bestia illa de Apocalypsi cui datum est os loqui blsphemias, & bellum gerere cum sanctis. Petri cathedram o…cupat, tanquam leo paratus ad praedam. Epist. 125. That is, that beast spoken of in the Revelation, to whom a mouth is given to speak blasphemies, and to make warr… against the saints, doeth now occupie Peters chay…e, as a lyon prepared for his prey.
By all which former famous testimonies of Romanists themselves, Wee see that Rome under papacie is presentlie, & hath beene long ago, that mysticall Babylon, and great Whoore that siteth upō many waters, and who is that great City spoken of Revel. 17.18. And that shee is guiltie of no lesse sinnes, but rather greater, nor ever she was guiltie of in the time of the old Roman Emperours, both in the Head, and inferiour clergie, which made him to be long ago to be declared▪ and avowed to be Antichrist, Aventin l. 7. annal. Bojor. p. 547.& his clergie to be Ministers of Antichrist, as Eberhardus Archbishope of Salisburg in a solemne imperiall dyat at Reinsburg anno 1246. publickly professed. & as in ENGLAND, anno 1340. A worthie gentleman Gefrey Chaucer, of woodstok & Elme esquyre, Embassadour oftimes from king Edward the third to forraigne Princes, did plainlie expresse in his poeme of the plough-mans tale speaking first of the Pope himself thus;
CHRIST sent the poore to preach,
The royall rich Hee did not so,
Now dare no poore the people teach,
For Antichrist is all their foe.
And thereafter of his Clergie hee speaketh thus.
CHRITS Ministers clepen they beene
And rule all in robberie,
But Antichrist they serven cleane
Attyred in all tyrrannie. So speaketh also Bernard of the Roman Clergie, ser. 33. in CANTICA. Omnes amici & omnes inimici, Ministri sunt Christ… sed serviunt Antichristo; That is, All professe themselves to be friends, but are all foe…, they are called the servants of CHRIST, but they serue Antichrist.
From all the former wee agree thus▪ Misticall Babilon (called the whoore that siteth upon many waters) &c. Is the seat of Antichrist, as all do agree. But Rome under papacie is Misticall Babylon as hath beene proven by Romanists thē. selves. Therefore Rome, under papacie is the seat of Antichrist.