Antichrist Stormed, Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Shewing that the Prophecies of our Saviour in Mat. 13. 15. Also that of Paul, Acts 20. 29. and 1 Tim. 4. and 2 Thes. 2. 3. Concerning false Prophets and grievous Wolves, as also of the Man of Sin, may and ought to be applied to the Pope and Church of Rome.
FIrst, The Lord Jesus foretold that Enemies should come in his name and deceive many, and that they should appear in Sheeps clothing, and under that Vizard hide their devouring Teeth; see his words, Mat. 13. 15. Beware of false Prophets which come to you in Sheeps clothing, but inwardly are ravening Wolves; that is, have a design to destroy.
Now 'tis most evident that the Popes of Rome, and their long Succession have thus (especially at first appeared) i e. in Sheeps clothing, covering their hellish designs under the name of Christ, Vicar of Christ, an Apostolical Bishop, &c. the true Church, holy Church, and Christian Religion, but with an intent hereby to deceive, for all their pretences of Jesus Christ's being the truth, Christ hath been but as a Vizard to hide their wolvish nature and devouring teeth, for whilst they under the notion of Christianity hide themselves, they have carried on most pernicious and destructive designs, and that in these three respects following; viz. (1.) If there have appeared any Kings or Queens in the Christian World, that have been piously inclined, they have forth with endeavoured to pervert them by their Diabolical Doctrine, oft destroying them with their holy Poyson. (2.) If any Ministers, or Men of Parts and Piety have risen up to set forth Gods holy truth, and so bless the dark World with Gospel Light and Saving Doctrine, they have either choaked them with Gifts and Preferments, or affrighted them by dreadful fears, or by a ravenous thirsting after their Blood, and have most wickedly and treacherously destroyed their lives by cruel torments. (3.) If collective Bodies of pious Congregations of Saints or good Men, have sprung forth in the World, they have followed them like Bloodhounds, and devouring Wolves, with Fire and Sword, fearful Massacres, Devastations, Murthers and Slaughters, till they have spoiled them, torn in pieces, and devoured them: Compleatly fulfilling the Prediction of Christ and that of the Apostle, Acts 20. 29, 30. For I know this, that after my departure, shall grievous Wolves enter in amongst you, not sparing the flock: Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw the Disciples after them; who can this Prophecy so exactly agree to as the bloody Popes, who at first arose out of the Church, and acted the part of Wolves to purpose, as hath been hinted.
II. 'Tis also evident that all the marks of the Man of Sin spoken of by St. Paul, 2 Thes. 2. 3. do agree exactly to the Pope and the Romish Church.
1. As first he was to rise after there came a falling away from the Primitive Faith; see his words,—That day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that Ma… of Sin be revealed, &c.
This cannot mean a particular falling away, (as our worthy Writers have shewed) but a general Apostacy of the Church, from the Holy and Apostolical Doctrine and Disciplin… of the Gospel, or such a falling away that should be obvious and visible to all; that should not fall out in a corner, or among… a few private Christians, because 'tis laid dow… as a general Rule, whereby the Saints in general might know and judge of the Revelation of Antichrist, or Man of Sin. And now 'tis well known that there happened this falling away or general Apostacy three or four hundred years after Christ, out of which (and soon after which falling away) he Pope shewed himself to be this Man of Sin, nor did he arise till that Apostacy happened in the World.
2. Another mark he hath is this,—i. e. He shall exalt himself above all that is called God, &c. viz. Magistrates and Rulers, as Kings and Emperors, for these are called Gods; I said, Ye are Gods, &c. There are Gods many, &c.
This mark meets directly in the Pope or Popes of Rome, he exalts himself above all and every one of these who are called Gods. 1. He has assumed a Name above them. 2. greater power than they, in that he pretends to give them their Crowns, and not only so, but has power to excommunicate them, nay and depose and devest them of their Regal power as he pleases, and also in his disposing of Kingdoms, yea, making Emperors wait a… his Gate, hold his Stirrup, prostrate themselves to kiss his Toe, and then to tread upon their Necks as Alexander the Third did to Frederick Barbaross—And this is allowed and justified by the Doctors of the Romish Church. And Bellarm. de Rom. Pont. lib. 5. c. 8. give… … as a reason why the Pope would not come to the Council of Nice, lest if the Emperor should come thither, he should attempt to sit above him, so that by these two words in the Text, the Apostle describes him, both in his Enmity and Pride, Opposition and Exaltation. For observe first, he assumeth to himself an higher power than those that are called Gods; theirs is Humane, his is Divine; theirs on the Bodies or Estates of Men, his over the Conscience; theirs to the living, his to Mens Souls after death.
3. The Man of Sin, 'tis said by the Apostle, shall also exalt himself above all that's call'd God, or that is worshipped as God, sitting in the Temple of God, shewing himself to be God, verse 4.
Even so the Pope makes himself like God, and as God, as the King of Babylon of old said, I will be like the most High, Isa. 14. 14. And as Gods place of residence of old was said to be in the Temple of Jerusalem, so he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, not in the Material Temple, but in the Spiritual Temple, i. e. the Church of God which is so called; the Apostle speaks of him as a Bishop who had a Seat, and the Popish Writers give the Pope that, and such like Titles.
Dominus Deus noster Papa, idem est Dominium Dei & Papa, tu es alter deus in terra. Council Later. Sess. 4. Thou art another God on Earth. And as God he maketh Laws to bind the Conscience, and dispenses with Laws both Natural and Moral, and pardons sins as he pleases, past, present, and to come, can deliver Souls out of Purgatory, and translate them to Heaven; so that this Man of Sin is not to be looked for amongst the Turks, Pagans or Infidels, he sitteth in the Temple, the Church of God; not that it can be the true Church, where he sitteth and acteth, but rather the Synagogue of Satan: But that which he calleth so, and which bears that name, and also was really so before the falling away, when he first got up. He also exalteth himself above God, when he makes the Scriptures to derive their Authority more from the Popes Canonizing than God himself, and without it no Man is bound to believe them, …it. 2. 23. Again, if the Pope should err by commanding Vice, and forbidding Vertue, the Church is bound to believe Vice is good and Vertue to be evil, Bellarm. lib. 4. de summ. pont. c. 5. Besides he can forgive sins tho' the evil habits be not changed, what is all this then to make himself God, and to exalt himself above God? &c.
4. The Man of Sin 'tis said could not get up until that which then, i. e. in the Apostles days did let, was taken away. For the Mystery of iniquity doth already work, only he we now letteth, will lett until he be taken away, verse 7. which was the Heathen Emperon Government, or sixth Head of the Beast.
This also shews the Pope to be the Man of Sin, for he rose to his glory and wicked grandeur not till the sixth Head or Pagan power was gone or taken out of the way, for tho' the Mystery of iniquity did work gradually, and corruptions crept into the Church early, yet did he not appear till after the Christian Emperors had made way for him; hence he i… said to be an eighth, and of the seventh.
III. There is another Prophesie concerning this cursed Antichristian state, it is i… 1 Tim. 4. 1, 2, 3. Now the Spirit speaked expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith, giving heed to seducing Spirit and Doctrine of Devils.
No doubt but Rome is concerned in the place, for either by Doctrine of Devils are meant such Doctrines that are brought i… by the power and influence of the Devil or Devilish Doctrines, or else the Doctrine of Damons, the Apostle hereby signifying that is the latter times, that is, after the general Apostacy, the Man of Sin, or Papal Rome should bring in the Doctrine of the Pagans concerning Daemons, which were lookt upon by them to be an inferior sort of Gods, a kind … middle Beings between their highest Gods and Men, whose Office was to be Advocates or Mediators between Men and the highest Gods, because they judged it was not lawful for Men to come to the highest Gods immediately, and these they worshipped by Images.
Even so the Papists or Mystery Babylon hath divos and divas, Saints of all sorts whom she hath Canonized, to be called upon in her publick Prayers, Altars and Feast days dedicated and kept unto their memory, and many other Honours, acknowledging them to be Mediators between God and Men, and unto these Daemons or petty Gods she makes her Prayers, and hath their Images, and to whom they do divine Homage like as did the Pagans of old.