Antichrist Pointed and Painted Out in His True Colors, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. How Antichrist is described by Iohn, REVEL. 17.11.12. &c.
IN that place Antichrist is described by the Apostle, to be the last head or soveraign goverment which should raigne or rule over that Great Citie, Which in Iohn's dayes did raigne over the Kings of the earth, by which City Rome is understood by the consent of all,Bel. l. 2. De Pont. Rom. c. 2. For so sayth Bellarmin, Vrbs illa magna sedens super septem montes, & habens imperium super Reges terrae, Roma est; That is, that great Citie, that fits on seven hills, and hath dominion over the Kings of the earth, is Rome: so likewise sayeth the Iesuit Ribera, Ribera in apoc. 17.6yea further, Hoc in nullam urbē aeque convenit ac in Romam, That is, this cannot agree to no other towne or citie (sayeth hee) as to Rome.
By this great Citie then so situate and discribed, seing that it is granted that it is Rome; Wee are to consider, who is the the last head or soveraigne governement over the same, under which it shall go to utter ruine. (As wee see REVEL. 18.19. is foreprophecyed of her) and to showe this is the papacie, IT is showne unto us 1. By the origine and rysing thereof, to wit, that this head or soveraigne governement over that citie should arise by the decay and fall of the old Romā empyre, and at the same time also, when by the same decay other Kings should arise to Monarchik Dignitie with her, which, verse 12. is called at one houre, as 1. Iohn 2.18.Verse 12. the last houre is taken for the last time: Neyther is it to bee understood that at one precise period of time, the papacy over Rome, and the rising of other Kings should bee, whose kingdoms before were tributarie provinces onelie to the old Roman Empyre, but as Iohn's last houre includeth some ages, so this some difference of time, neither by ten Kings is a precise number of such to bee understood, but a definite number put for an indefinite, as we see usuall in scripture Gen. 31.7. Numb. 14▪ 22. and as likewise BELLARMIN acknowledgeth.Bell. l. 3. De Rom. Pont. c. 8. Whence it is as sure that Antichrist is come, and not to come (as papists fancy) and hath the soveraigne governement over Rome, as it is visible to the whole World, that there are Kings now in the severall kingdomes of Europe, which before were tributarie provinces onelie to the old Roman & now decayed Empire, seing that at one time he was to rise to his soveragnitie over Rome with them.
2. As it is showne unto us who shall be the last Head over Rome by the time of his rising to be so, when, even so it is showne unto us verse 8. Who he shall be by the place from which he ariseth, or whence, in these words; The beast that thou sawest was and is not, and (speaking in the future) shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit, where first we must remember that by the beast in generall is understood in this prophecie the Roman Iurisdiction, whereof, the Apostle or rather the Angell maketh fo…re estates. 1. That hee was, to wit, before Iohn's dayes in the person of fyve kings, that is severall sorts of governements, (as the Iesuit Ribera and others do expound) And which fyve, verse 10. are said to bee fallen, which were Kings, Consuls, Decemuirs, Tribuns, and Dictators. 2. Is not (sayeth the Angell in Iohn's dayes) to wit, as before, under any of the former governements. 3. And yet is, to wit under the imperiall governement, which then stood, and therefore in the present time, is the sixt Head spoken of, verse 10. Whereof the angell sayeth, and one is. And 4. Speaking in the future and of the last sort of governement over that citie; hee sayeth, and shall ascend out of the Bottomlesse pit, &c. Where hee setteth down three things concerning the papall governement, 1. Whence it commeth. 2. The generall subjection thereto, and 3. The last totall ruine therof, and of Rome over which the same is chieflie exercised. First then hee sayeth that this beast or last Head shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit, having reference heerein to that fallen starre spoken of Chap. 9. Who verse 11. is called the Angell of the bottomlesse pit, agreed by all to be Antichrist, and expounded by Romanists themselves, (as I hauehave shown Chapter 4.) To bee some eminent Bishop, & who shal hauehave Monarchik soveragnity, & therfore is called the King that shal be over the Locusts there described, which Beda calleth, the disciples of Antichrist, & Lyra, his priests over whom he is Prince, and Pope Gregorie calleth Th… Armie or swarme of Priests which were prepared for the King of Pride, who in his …yme was neere at hand, (a thousand yeares ago) as hee playnlie affirmeth.
2. The generall subjection that shall bee to this last Head, or sort of p…pall governement over Rome, is set down in these words. That they that dwell upon the earth shall wonder (whose names, are not written in the booke of life) when they behold the beast, Reference being had to that which is said Chap. 13.3. of the generall subjection to the old Roman empire, That all the World wondered at the beast, which generall subjection also is set down verse 13. Where it is said, That the Kings, who received power as Kings at one houre with the beast, (meaning the European kings) and (as verse 2.) Who had committed spirituall Fornication with the Whoore, being idolatrous, and having one minde with her, they should giuegive their power and strength unto the beast (as his secular arme) To make warre against the Lamb; That is, to persecute the professours of the Trueth of CHRIST, but at last The Lamb should overcome them, to wit, by conversion or eversion. And therefore, 3. The last and totall ruine of Head and state under him is set down in these words (that as Antichrist is called The sonne of perdition 2. Thess. 2.3. So Hee should go into perdition.
Having thus spoken of the beast, as the eight and last Head of Rome (The seventh being that of the Gothes, which continued onelie 70 yeares, and therefore is said verse 10. to continue but a short space.) The better yet to know him, wee hauehave to consider the mysterie of the woman that is born up and supported by this beast, that is, by the papacie, which is the Roman Clergie, whom they call the Church or their Churchmen. First then this is a woman, by which a Church is meaned, as wee see Revel. 12 1. 2. Shee is a Whoorish woman that is heere spoken of, like AHOLAH and AHOLIBAH, or an Idolatrous Church. 3. As making the kings of the earth, and inhabitants thereof, drunk with the wine of her Fornication, and procuring, as hath beene said, such a generall subjection to her, Shee is a pretended catholick Church. 4. As a mother of Harlots, (as shee is called, v. 5.) Shee is a mother Church, and 5. mysticall Babylon, which Iesuit Ribera and other Romanists expoundeth rightlie to be Rome, Shee is the Roman Church, all which being put together maketh up heer the cleare description of that Antichristian Church, over which the Pope is Head and Monarch, which is, the Romā, catholick, mother, Idolatrous church so much doted upon by seduced papists, and generallie submitted unto by them.
Out of which compleate description of Antichrist, let any papist under Heaven fynd out any other but the Pope, to whom the same in all points may bee applyed, as being the eight head of soveraigne authoritie over Rome, who arose thereto by the the decay of the Roman Empyre, and at the same time when others arose to soveraigne authoritie with him, as kings over these Kingdomes which now they rule, and which before were tributarie provinces onelie to the Roman Empyre, & who claimeth a suppreame ecclesiasticall authoritie over all priests and ecclesiasticall persons, as Universall Bishope, and Monarch of the Church, and who also hath claimed and heeretofore obtained a generall subjection of all persons whatsoever to him and his sea (according to his decree theranent) as being head of the Roman Catholick, mother Church,Extravag. Tit. 8. c. 1. unam sancta…. which hath dependance upon him and which he again supporteth by his pretended infallibility and power.
From all which former, wee therfore frame this argument; The eight head as governour, who now sits in Rome, and who arose at one time to soveraignitie over that Citie, when others arose to bee free kings over their kingdomes, which before were tributarie provinces to the old Roman Empire, (as all Histories record) & hath procured all subjection of al persons to him & his sea, not by force, but by allurement, of a sensuall Religion, and like an intysing Whoore, hath made these that are subject to him to committ spirituall Fornication, which is idolatrie, and who also claimeth especiallie a supreame ecclesiasticall authoritie over all priests and ecclesiasticall persons, as universall Bishope, sole Monarch, and Head of the Romā Catholick mother church. This head I say described so by Iohn, is that grand Antichrist. But the Pope is such; Therefore he is that Grand Antichrist. The major is scripture, expounded as hath beene shown, by Romanists thēselves, & by evidence of histories. the minor likewise is cleare by fit application in all points, to the Pope, and applyable to no other, and by his own undenyable practise; Therefore the conclusion inevitablie followeth.