The Person and Period of the Antichrist, Discourse · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
89. THe 6th clauſe [exalting himſelf as God, above all that is called God] is the 6th part of the Induction; which doth exactly quadrare cum Papa, the Pope is the [foreign] 2 Theſſ. 2.4. that lifts up himſelf above all Kings and Emperours, who are as titular Gods on earth. This is as clear in all Hiſtories as if writ with a Sun-beam, though in profeſſion the Pope be ſtiled Servus ſervorum, yet in practice he is found Rex Regum: many inſtances we read of thoſe Earthly gods holding his Stirrop, kiſſing his Toe, as well as waiting (at his Gate) his leaſure and pleaſure.
90. To particularize the Popes pride and exaltation in ſome few inſtances. Boniface the 8th wrote thus Imperiouſly to the French King; we would have thee to know that thou art Subject to us, as well in temporal as ſpiritual matters; So tis Recorded in the Hiſt. of France. Pope Pius in his 2d. Epiſtle to Mahomet the Turkiſh Emperour pag. 396. promiſes to make him Emperour of the Eaſt (as his predeceſſors had made Charlemain Emperour of the Weſt) if he would turn Chriſtian and ſupply the neceſſities of the Church; Remondus in his Antipap. Chap. 20. Relates of Pope Innocent, ſaying the Church hath given me a Mitre for my Prelacy, and a Crown for my Kingdom, as I am Vicar of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
91. Platina writes, that Pepin one of the Kings of France having kiſſed the Toe of Pope Steven the 2d, held his bridle for him on horſeback, and ſerv'd him as his Lackey or Footboy: in vita Stephani ſecundi. The Emperor Frederick holding the ſtirrop to Pope Adrian the 4th, and miſtaking the wrong ſtirrop, the Pope rages againſt him, although the Emperor excuſed himſelf, ſaying he had not been brought up with holding Stirrops: and Benedict the 9th ſent a Crown to Peter King of Hungary with this Motto,
Petra dedit Romam Petr…, tibi Papa Coronam.
But more proudly did he that ſet the Crown on Henry the ſixt's head, and kick'd it off with his foot again.
92. Yet moſt proudly of all did Alexander the 3d carry to Frederick Barbaroſſa the Emperor, who comes creeping to the Pope for an Abſolution, and kiſſing his Feet, the Pope, like a proud devil Incarnate, ſets his foot on the neck of the Emperor (then proſtrate before him) ſaying thoſe words of the Pſalmiſt, Pſ. 91.13. Thou ſhalt tread upon the Lion and Adder, the Dragon and Baſilisk thou ſhalt tramph under foot. The Pope calls himſelf the Sun, and the Emperor but the Moon in a lower orb to him.
93. Nich. Vignier in his Eccleſ. Hiſtory, relating the manner how the Emperors were conſecrated and crowned, ſays that after Maſs the Pope in his Pontifical Chair, holds the Crown betwixt his feet, which, the Emperor bowing down his head, lifts up from his feet, and preſently the Pope ſtrikes the Crown of with his foot from the Emperors head down to the ground, to ſignifie that he hath power to depoſe them again at his pleaſure; and then the Cardinals that ſtand round about, takes up the Crown and ſets it on with great reverence: is not this like one of the ſpu… or kicks of the beaſt?
94. Thus the Pope, though he pretend himſelf to be Peters Succeſſor, yet walks he not in Peters ſteps, for whereas Peter takes up Cornelius when he fell down at his foot, Act. 10.26. Yet a Pope can let a Caeſar (who is Cornelius Maſter) to lay at his feet, and kiſs his Toe: and to exerciſe other practices of Inſolence towards him. See more Parag. 143. o… ſucceeding Peter. All thoſe forcited inſtances do well accord with that witty Acroſtick made of thoſe four letters. PAPA, to wit, Paparum Ambitio Peperit Antichriſtum.
95. And as if this were too little for the Pope to exalt himſelf above thoſe titular Gods, he exalts himſelf above the true God too; in contradicting his Word, diſanulling his Inſtitutions, and taking upon him to diſpenſe with his Laws; as Pope Paul the 3d diſpenſed with the 5 Commandment, in poiſoning his own father. And that Pope with the 6 Commandment that ſaid, Was God ſo angry with man for an Apple, and not he (Gods Vicar) with his Cook for a Peacock: and with the 7th, in allowing of Concubines, and common Whoredoms: and with the 4th in denying its morality, and with the 2d in omitting it. Et ſic de caeteris, which might be ſhown ad Nauſeam uſque.
96. That he exalts himſelf (as God) appears by thoſe fllattering Titles that are given to the Pope; as Lateran Councel Seſſ. 4. it was cried to him, tu es alter deus, deus in terra, &c. and thou haſt all power in Heaven and Earth given thee; this was ſaid to Leo the 10th, and their own Advocates blaſphemiouſly write. Idem eſt dominium Dei & Papae: beſides thoſe many incommunicable properties of God attributed to him, as Infallible, Almighty, ſupream Head and Husband of the Church. Pater patrum, Dominus dominantium, and Epiſcopus Epiſcoporum, all which (and much more) ſhews the Pope [foreign] a tanquam God, the Canoniſts uſual phraſe is, our lord God, the Pope.
97. The 7th clauſe in the Induction is [that he muſt ſeduce with lying Wonders.] This the Papacy owns with not a little boaſting of their power of working Miracles, inſomuch that Bellarmine (himſelf) makes this a note of the true Church, and proves the Romiſh Church to be a true Church, becauſe ſhe is dignified (as he ſays) with this honourable Mark: and what ſtrange wonders do we read in Gregory's Dialogues, in the life of St. Francis, in Jacobus de Voragine, in Bellarm. Lives, and in many other lying Legends, for confirmation of Popery? All which are the piae fraudes of Antichriſt.
98. That many Popes have done Miranda, or things to be wondred at, is not denied: for many of them (being in league with the Devil, as their own Hiſtories teſtifie at large) might work many things by the Devils help, that bred admiration in the beholders, as Hildebrand (that firebrand of hell) in a great concourſe of people, ſhakes fire out of his gown ſleeve in the ſight of them all. Theſe things and ſuch like, as Conjurers, they have done: theſe are indeed miranda but not Miracula.
99. True miracles require divine Power, exceeding the ability of ſecond cauſes: theſe neither Satan, nor any of his Inſtruments can do, for it is the Royal Prerogative of God, Pſ. 72.18. God only doth wondrous things. In this ſenſe, the Devil cannot go beyond the power of Nature, though through the acuteneſs of his Angelical underſtanding, and his long obſervation and experience from the beginning of the World, he is able to produce ſtrange and extraordinary effects. Yet all falls ſhort of a true Miracle, ſtrictly taken.
100. There is difference ex parte Rei, betwixt miracles and wonders: Miracles exceed the power of Created Agents, but wonders do not ſo. The Sorcerers of Egypt can imitate Moſes, and work wonders with their Inchantments, they can bring frogs to the increaſe of their plague, but they cannot take the frogs away again, their Frogs which they brought were but Phantaſms, for their frogs were not gathered up on heaps (when the Plague was over) as Moſes's frogs were, Exod. 8.7,14. This was a plain figure of the lying Wonders of Antichriſt and Rome, which ſpiritually is called Egypt, Rev. 11.8.
101. Satan did conjure up, all his Infernal powers in Pharaoh's time, that he might vie with the wonder-working power of God, and darken his glory, and the honour of his ſervant Moſes: therefore tis ſaid, the Magicians did ſo with their enchantments, Exod. 7.11. & 22. & 8.7. Thus he endeavour'd to obſcure the gifts of Miracles in the the Apoſtles, by the Sorceries of Simon Magus: and what a repreſentation Satan made to Saul, of raiſing up Samuel from the dead: thus by the ſubtilty and agility of his nature, he can amuze the minds of men with ſtrange actions.
102. Many ſuch things Satan hath done for thoſe in Confederacy with him (as the Popes have been) to raiſe admiration in the beholders, eſpecially where blind Ignorance and credulous Superſtition, hath ſat as Judge by the help of the External Senſes only: Such are the miracles that Rome boaſts ſo much of: ſome of which being true, in Genere Rerum may well be called lying wonders, though they be falſe in Genere miraculorum: Others be meerly fabulous which never were done, and ſo to be call'd Wondrous Lies.
103. Their lying Legends are full of this latter ſort; as that St. Dunſtan pull'd the Devil by the noſe with a pair of Pincers; that St. Patrick drove all the Venemous Beaſts with his Staff out of Ireland; that St. Gooderick tamed Wolves and Serpents with the Sign of the Croſs; that St. Nicholas (when he was but an Infant) abſtain'd from ſucking his Mothers Breaſts every Wedneſday and Friday: and many more ſuch traſh; Imputing the driving away of the Devil to their Crucifixes & Holy-waters, as Dr. Morton's Grand Impoſtor ſhews at large: they can ſhew of the Milk of the Virgin Mary, and the foreskin of Chriſt, and Feathers of the Cock that crew at Peters Denial of Chriſt.
104. Suppoſe thoſe Stories of their Legends true, which they write of an Image gratulating Aquinas for his Voluminous labours, ſaying [bene de me Scripſiſti Thoma] as if it had been a Voice from Chriſt out of Heaven, or as others ſay, from the Mother of Chriſt, for clearing her from Original Sin. This might be done by the Devil to deceive.
105. Such an other deluſion was Bernard complemented withal, when the Image of the bleſſed Virgin ſaluted him with [good morrow Bernard,] at his entrance into the Church; which the good man (though devoutly Superſtitious) tartly replied to, that her Ladiſhip had forgotten both her Self and her Sex, for it is not permitted to Women to ſpeak in the Church, 1 Tim. 2.12. the Pſalmiſt tels us that Idols or Images have mouths and ſpeak not: Theſe muſt therefore be Juggling tricks, unto which that Scripture alludes. Rev. 13.15. in making their Images to ſpeak.
106. Our own Hiſtorians tell us, how Frier Bacon made the Devil ſpeak through the Braſen noſe at Oxford: and what elſe was it but the ſame Devil that gave out all thoſe Ambiguous Oracles at Delphos to the Heathens. Their own Baronius tels us, how Simon Magus made Images to walk by the power of the Devil, and their Stories of Images weeping, nodding, and ſtretching forth the hand, [as with a bleſſing] are all dough-Cakes baked in the ſame Oven: the ſame Devil exerciſes his art of deceit, both under the firſt Beaſt, to uphold the Heatheniſh Idolatry, and under the 2d Beaſt, to maintain Antichriſtian Superſtition.
107. Henry Stephanus in his Apology for Herodotus, tels us of ſome Anſwers that were given to ſuch Superſtitious Fools as pray'd to Images by ſome Juggling Prieſts that lay hid behind the Images, Polidore Virgil (a Papiſt) ſays, thoſe Anſwers were made by Prieſts that crept into the hollow of the Image: Thus Devils Incarnate, (by their own Confeſſion) makes their Images to ſpeak, to ſay nothing of their bleſſing-Image at Weſtcheſter moved by a Wire and a Prieſt behind it, and other lying wonders.
108. It is a good Rule, when Miracles are wrought to be Patrons of Sin, they come from Satan: Such were thoſe wonders that Simon Magus wrought, not only to raiſe up an admiration of himſelf, but alſo to bring men off from Holineſs, and from embracing the Goſpel: Origen tels Celſus that Antichriſts Miracles were to bring men [foreign] to the deceitfulneſs of Sin; but Chriſts Miracles were [foreign] for the Salvation of Souls: true Miracles oppoſe Satans Kingdom, and are Mercies as well as Miracles.
109. Satans wonders that he works, (whether mediately or immediately) may amaze men, but do not benefit them, unleſs by way of Colluſion; as one Devil (in the exorciſt) may caſt out another, out of one poſſeſſed; which is done by the Devils conſent, and not by the power of any of their Exorciſms: a Devil will willingly quit a demoniack, for the hardening of mens hearts, and for the further advancing of his own Kingdom: Thus Auſtin de unitate Eccleſiae, Cap. 16. calls the Miracles of his time, either (figmenta mendacium hominum, or portenta fallacium Spirituum) forgeries of lying men, or prodigies of deceitful Devils.
110. Chryſoſtom on the 23. Homily on John the 5th. ſaid thus, [foreign] thou haſt no need of Miracles, for thoſe are Signs to the unbelievers, and Stella (one of their own Religion) ſpeaks well of this point, ſaying, Miracles as Scaffolds are neceſſary in the building of an houſe, but when the houſe is finiſhed, they are but impediments to the Paſſengers; ſo now if Miracles were done, it would argue a weakneſs in the confirmation of our Faith by the Miracles of Chriſt and the Apoſtles.
111. Miracles now are rather hurtful then profitable, and he that looks for wonders now is a wonder himſelf, as Auſtin de civit, dei lib. 22. Cap. 8. or ſaith qui credente mundo ipſe non credit, magnum eſt ipſe prodigium: he that ſeeks for wonders now, when the Faith of the Goſpel hath been preach'd to the World, and confirmed by Miracles, is himſelf the greateſt wonder, our Lord hath told us John 10.41. that Gods Miniſters may teach Truth, and yet work no Miracles: and ſuch may be the Devils Impoſtors, that come with Signs and Wonders. Deut. 13.1.2. Matth. 24.24.
112. The wonders then, (which the Popiſh Church brags of) are but fallacious and counterfeit wonders ſpoken of, 2 Theſſ. 2.9. and ſo are the very brand of Antichriſt; ſo that while they boaſt of them, and make them a note of the Church, they declare to all the World, that their Church is the Antichriſtian Church: were they true wonders wrought by a Divine power, they would then be Gods Seals, which are never ſet to confirm an untruth, but their wonders contradict the Doctrine of Chriſt, and ſo are the badge of Antichriſt.
113. Suppoſe the Jeſuit Acoſta ſhould (for gaining the poor Indians to this Popiſh Religion) foretel them, that for a Sign to them, the Sun ſhould be Ecclips'd at ſuch a time: This would be a wonder to them that are ignorant of the natural Cauſes thereof: yet no true one in genere Miraculorum, though in genere Rerum it fall out-ſo. 'Tis a lying wonder from the Jeſuits, becauſe it is given out with a purpoſe to deceive: Miracles are not a touchſtone to try the truth of Doctrine by, but we muſt try miracles by the word of God.
114. I have been longer upon this Clauſe, becauſe the Church of Rome lays a great ſtreſs of her excellency above all Churches, in her Miracles, whereby they (as it were) graphically decipher themſelves to be the Antichriſt, If any deſire to ſee more of Antichriſt's lying wonders, let him read Oſianders Epitome 7. Cent. fol. 260, 261. & 9 Cent. fol. 84. 120. & 11th Cent. fol. 236. and Fullers Chur. Hiſtor. concerning Abbies and Monaſteries▪ pag. 332. & 333.
115. The 8th part of the Induction is, the threefold brand, that God hath ſtigmatized him withall in his word: [The man of ſin, the ſon of perdition, and the wicked one] to ſhow what a complex of many groſs Impieties [the Antichriſt] ſhould be, and how fitly this character correſponds with the Pope; not only Dr. Prideaux in his Introduction, Pareus Medull. Hiſtor. Eccleſiaſt. Oſianders Epitome, and all our Church Hiſtories abundantly declare; but alſo their own Hiſtorians make moſt ſhamefull deſcriptions of their Popes Lives.
117. Tis a good Rule, [Firmum eſt genus probationis, quod etiam ab adverſario ſumitur, ut Veritas, etiam ab inimicis Veritatis, probetur.] 'Tis a ſtrong proof, when enemies of the Truth, are conſtrained to bear witneſs of the Truth: and Vives de inſtrumento probabilitatis, ſaith thus, Amici contra amicum, & Inimici pro Inimico invincibile Teſtimonium eſt, which in plain Engliſh is thus explained: the Teſtimony of a Papiſt againſt a Papiſt, and of a Papiſt for a Proteſtant is without exception.
117. Let us therefore take a brief account out of ſome Popiſh writers (whoſe Teſtimonies are unqueſtionable) and ſo make a compendious Landskip of a few Popes Lives, to ſhew what men of ſin, yea, rather monſters then men, they were. To begin with Sabinianus (who ſucceeded Gregorius Magnus, he who abominated the title of Univerſal Biſhop, as ſmelling too much of Antichriſt) this Pope their own Writers brands thus: Sabinianus culpabili vitâ, & formidabili morte notatus eſt, he lived wickedly, and died miſerably. Faſciculus Temporum ad Ann. 614.
118. What a villainous prank did Stephanus the 6th (whom many call Stephen the 7th) play (ſuch as never was plaid before, as Cardin. Baronius Tom. 10. Annal. ad Ann. 897. Num. 2. expreſſes it) with the Carcaſe of his Predeceſſor Formoſus, which he took out of the grave, brought into judgement before a Councel of Biſhops, ſpoil'd it of his Papal Robes, clad it with a Lay-mans garment, indicted, arraigned and condemn'd it, cut off 3 fingers of it, and caſt it into Tyber. Yea, depriving all them of their Orders (whom he had ordained) reordaining them again. Hoc prae ſui immanitate omnibus incredibile videtur, ſaith Baronius. Erroris tamen convincuntur, qui iſta de Formoſo negant & conficta putant: the barbarouſneſs of it makes it unlikely, yet the truth is, it is no fable.
119. Another of their Popiſh writers (Platina by name) tells us of Boniface the 7th, that he robbed Peters Church, and fled for a time to Conſtantinople, who afterward by Symony, and murthering two Popes, made himſelf Pope. Of whom Baronius ſays, inter famoſos latrones & potentiſſimos graſſatores, at que patriae proditores (Syllas & Catilinas) annumerandus. He outſtrip'd the moſt notorious robbers and traitors to their Countrey that ever were; yea Catiline and Sylla, and at laſt died like a Beaſt. This is a truth confirm'd by two witneſſes of their own, Platina in the life of Boniface the 7th, and Baron. Annal. Tom. 10. ad Ann. 985. Num. 1.
120. Their own Platina in the Lives of the Popes, writes how Sylveſter the 2d. [ambitione & diabolica dominandi Cupiditate impulſus, largitione primò quidem Archiepiſcopatum Rhemenſem, inde Ravenatem adeptus, pontificatum poſtremò majore conatu, adjuvante diabolo, conſecutus eſt, hac tamen lege, ut poſt mortem totus illius eſſet, cujus fraudibus tantam dignitatem adeptus erat▪ ] in plain Engliſh, he gave himſelf both body and ſoul to the devil, that he might obtain the Popedom. And this is confirm'd by many others of their own Writers, as Cardin. Benno de vita & Geſt. Hildebrandi. Stella de vit. Pontif. Caranza. Summ. Concil. & Aeneas Sylvius. Comment. de Concil. Baſil. lib. 1. ſays plainly Sylveſter Diabolicâ fraude Pontificatum aſcendiſſe. The Devil made him Pope.
121. And William of Malmesbury, lib. 2. de geſtis Regum Angl. cap. 10. fol. 36. affirms the ſame thing of this Sylveſter, ſaying, he is verily perſwaded Sylveſter was ſuch a Villain, … Hiſtorians relate him to be, otherwiſe why (ſaith he) did this Butcherly fellow at his death, tear his own fleſh (as he did) had he not been guilty of ſome notorious Impieties. Neither was Benedict the 9th much better, whom their own Platina calls teterrimum monſtrum, who lived like a Beaſt in his life time, and after his death appear'd partly like an Aſs, and partly like a Bear. Caput & cauda erant aſinina, ut reliquum corpus ſicut Urſus, ſaith Faſciculus Temporum ad Ann. 1304.
122. Such a notorious wretch alſo was Boniface the 8th, who entred like a Fox, reigned like a Lion, and died like a Dog, as his own Predeceſſor (Pope Caeleſtine) foretold of him. To omit the ſtories which their own Baronius and Benno hath recorded, how many Popes have been Magicians, and given themſelves to the Devil, ſacrificing to Devils in foreſts and mountains. If thoſe were not men of ſin, ſons of perdition and wickedneſs, where can any ſuch be found?
123. But above all thoſe wicked ones, there be yet three unnamed, which in their own Chronicles were monſters of men: as 1ſt Hildebrand (call'd commonly Gregory the 7th) that firebrand of Hell, that ſet both Church and State on fire; who hired a Varlot to tumble great ſtones down from the Battlements of the Church, to deſtroy the Emperor (Henry the 4th) as he was in his Prayers. Who poiſon'd 6 Popes (to wit, Clement the 2d, Damaſus the 2d, Leo the 9th, Benedict the 10th, Nicholas the 2d, Alexander the 2d) in the ſpace of 13 Years, by the help of his familiar Brazutus, that he might come to the Popedom. Who alſo being angry with his breaden god, for not anſwering how the good Emperor might be deſtroyed (who had eſcaped his bloody hands in St. Maries Church in mount Aventine, by the death of the Villain, whom he employed) this Pope throws his Sacrament into the fire.
124. This man of ſin ordinarily carried about him a conjuring Book, as Cardinal Benno, in vita Gregor. 7, at large relates thoſe things. This is he that confeſſed at his death, that the devil ſet him on work, to provoke God to wrath againſt the world. Florentinus Vigern. in Chronic. pag. 641. Matth. Paris in Guil. Conqueſt. Anno 1086. The 2d is John the 23. that denied the life to come, and the reſurrection of the body, ſaying; that men periſh like the beaſt. This made him die like a beaſt, inſomuch as he for his ſcandalous life, was called by thoſe that knew him, the incarnate Devil. Concil. Conſtant. Seſſ. 11. Act. 6. & penult.
125. But the 3d is John the 12. who made Deacons in a ſtable, and a Boy of ten years old a Biſhop, the Lateran (his Palace) a plain Stews, who being at Dice invocated Jupiter, Venus, and other Gentile Daemons; yea, and drank a Carouſe in honour of the Devil, who at laſt was ſlain by the Devil (himſelf) while he was committing adultery. Luitprandus Hiſt. Rerum per Europam Geſtarum, lib. 6. cap. 7, 8, & 10. Yea, Bellarmine himſelf doth confeſs thoſe Popes to be thus tainted, as Stories deſcribe them; but that we have raked uſque ad Naufeam, in this ſtinking Dunghill. I might tell you, what our own Dr. Heylin in his Geography of Italy, relates, the 2d Edition pag. 181, 182. to which I refer you.
126. The 9th Paragraph of the Induction, is that threefold Epithet, [Idolatrous, Ambitious and Cruel] all which be as palpable Adjuncts of the Pope, as any of the former. As firſt, that he is [Idolatrous,] therefore he is called pater omnium fornicatorum & abominationum terrae. How doth he adore Images, not only giving foreign but alſo foreign to his Idols, worſhipping of his Breaden god, and of his Crucifixes, directing Prayer to it, as to God or Chriſt himſelf. As in their [All Hail, Oh Croſs, our only Hope, increaſe Righteouſneſs to the good, and grant Pardon to the guilty] is plainly manifeſt. Thus is he as idolatrous as thoſe in Jerem. 2.27. ſaying to a piece of wood, thou art my Father, and to a ſtone, thou hast begotten me. ſo Hab. 2.19.
127. It appears alſo in his Lady's Pſalter, how he makes the Virgin Mary not only equal, but ſometimes ſuperior to the Son of God: as in thoſe Mattens, [Shew thy ſelf a Mother, and by the right of Motherhood, command the Redeemer] how doth he call her the Queen of heaven, the Miſtris of Angels, and ſuch like ſtuff according to the Councel of Trent, attributing to her Omnipotency both in heaven and earth. Coſter. in Hymn. Ave Maris ſtella, and a Kingdom of mercy, &c. as Biel in Canon. Miſſae. lect. 80.
128. As to his ſecond Adjunct [Ambitious] enough hath been ſaid of that before, from Paragraph 89. to 97. and the 3d to wit, [Cruel,] is as palpable as any, not only in his Murthering all that ſtands in his way to the Popedom, as Hildebrand did (ut ſuprà Paragr. 123.) and ſeveral others: but alſo in Butchering ſo many innocent Lambs of Chriſt in all Ages, and in all Nations (where this Beaſt raged) which would not bow the knee to his Baal; witneſs the Maſſacres at Piedmont, Germany, Ireland, England, and many others.
129. All theſe characters of Antichriſt being thus aptly accommodated to the Pope, how can we but ſay with Dr. Sclater in his Comment upon the 2d Epiſt. to the Theſſalon. pag. 115. If a man may be ſo bold with the Pope, as John Baptiſt was with our Saviour, to ask, [Art thou he that ſhould come, or do we look for another.] The like anſwer ſhould be returned, Go and tell what you have heard and ſeen; to wit, Devils worſhip'd, God contemn'd Religion prophaned, Superſtition hallowed, Beaſtly luſt practiſed, Parricide not only committed, but defended; and much more horrid Helliſhneſs thoſe (parùm probi homines) hath done. Is not this the man of ſin (without a Peer) foretold of in the Word.
130. The 10th branch of the Induction, is [He muſt be revealed in thoſe laſt times] this alſo ſuits to the Pope as the coat to the body, for Antichriſt hath ſeveral Periods, he was a long time in the Embryo before he was born, as he was a myſtery of Iniquity, ſo muſt he have a ſecret riſing of his Dominion; whereof ſome Foundations were laid in the Apoſtles times by Satan and his Inſtruments. The itch of preheminency began the groundwork of this Romiſh Babel betimes, 3 Epiſt. John ver. 9, 10. Thus the time of his Conception held proportion with his Continuance in the world: this Myſtery was working long in the Pope, before he was reveal'd to be Antichriſt.
131. If there muſt be 1260 years betwixt his Revelation, and his Deſolation or Deſtruction: then there muſt be a proportionable time for the Conception of this Monſter, before his Birth and Revelation. Pliny writes of the Elephant (whom Job calls Behemoth [the Hebr. Foemin. plural] as if he were many Beaſts in one) that he is two years in breeding in the womb, before he be brought forth: ſo this great Beaſt or Behemoth was breeding ſome hundreds of Years before his Revelation.
132. It is unqueſtionably true, that Antichriſt had many Periods. The Beaſt that John ſaw riſe up out of the ſea, Rev. 13.1. and come out of the earth, v. 11. aſcended up by little and little (and not all at once) till at laſt his whole Body appeared above ground, in a full view, and above Water, even to a full manifeſtation. His firſt Period was Naſcens, his 2d Creſcens, his 3th Triumphans, his 4th Decreſcens, and his 5th Period Expirans: as Rome the city was not built in one day, no more was the Romiſh Church or Antichriſt. And this Beaſt roſe up by degrees, being hid in a mystery, before he was Unvailed.
133. Crakanthorpe (in his Vigilius Dormitans) obſerves, that Antichrist was Naſcent when Rome uſurp'd authority firſt over all the Churches; 2ly he was Creſcent, when he maintained Adoring of Images, and Praying to Saints: 3ly Regnant, when he exalted Himſelf above Kings; and placed his Mitre above their Crowns: 4ly Triumphant, when he became Lord of the Catholick Faith: 5ly Cadent, we ſee him (ſaith he) in our Day, by Luther, Calvin, Perkins, &c. who unmask'd him; and he adds a 6th Period, to wit, Morient, ſaying, If we do not, yet our Poſterity ſhall ſee him die, for God ſaith, that his day is coming, Pſ. 37.13.
134. In his firſt Period, he was conceived in the Apoſtles time, yea, then animated; for the ſpirit of that Antichriſt was then in the world, 1 Joh. 4.3. and ſtrove long to ſee light. He was well nigh an 100 Y. in lifting up his head [of Supremacy] above the Earth. Ambition and Superiority ſhewed it ſelf in ſome of thoſe Biſhops of that See betimes, though they were reputed generally good men; yet had they from the following Centuries of the Apoſtles, a tincture of Antichriſt.
135. Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory tells us, how the purity of Doctrine was notoriouſly darkned, and defiled with Humane Traditions, from the time of Sylveſter the 1ſt (that was Biſhop when Conſtantine the great was Emperour) then began poyſon to be ſown more rank in the Church, and ſo on to Sabinianus. Yea and many endeavours were uſed by Innocent the firſt, in Y. 404. And by Leo the firſt, and by Pelagius the firſt and 2d, to bring forth this monſtrous brat of Supremacy, long before Boniface the third, got full ſtrength to do that work, by the Midwivery of the Parricide Phocas in the Y. 606. So then his firſt Period (Naſcent) is from the Apoſtles time to Boniface the 3d, in the 6th Century, then was he Antichriſt revealed indeed.
136. His 2d Period (Creſcent) is from this Boniface to Hildebrand, in whoſe time Hell broke looſe, and that woman [Wickedneſs] perk'd her ſelf higher and higher in the Ephah, Zech. 5.7,8. From him to Luther may be accounted the 3d and 4th Period (Regnant) and (Triumphant) wherein the Pope reigned and triumph'd over all Princes and Nations, even with both Swords. The 5th Period (Cadent) muſt be from Luthers time, after whom (they confeſs) Popery never proſpered, but languiſhed daily. And his 6th Age (Morient) is this our day, wherein he grows ſick of his Conſumption (which is a lingring death) more and more: the Goſpel hath won ground of Popery, and many Kingdoms are alienated from this Antichriſt.
137. The Romaniſts have a ſaying among them, thar ſince their Pope was ſo publickly preach'd to be Antichriſt, their Religion never throve; and this hath been done long, not only by Wickliffe, Luther, and other great Reformers, (which are ſuppoſed to be thoſe Angels preaching the everlaſting Goſpel, &c. Rev. 14.6,8,9. But by the Waldenſes, Arnulphus, Pariſienſis and many others. Illyric. Catalog. Teſtium Veritatis. The fulfilling of this 6th and laſt Period (which is Morient) we muſt patiently wait for. The Vials of Gods wrath are begun already to be powred out upon him, and ſhall at laſt bring his final Extirpation.