The Person and Period of the Antichrist, Discourse · Chapter 16

The Person and Period of the Antichrist · Discourse · Chapter 16

p. 208An Appendix concerning the Witneſſes. CHAP. XVI.

1. AS the Oracles of God which were committed to Iſrael were by a ſpecial Miracle of Mercy preſerved in the Captivity of literal Babylon: So the Truth in the Old and New Teſtament hath been no leſs wonderfully continued, all along the Tyranny of Myſtical Babylon: And as God preſerved his Truth, ſo his Church in Babylon, during the Riſe and Reign, yea, and till the Ruine of Antichriſt: though the Apoſtacy was General, yet was it not ſo Univerſal in p. 209all Individual Perſons, [in thoſe Tongues, Kindreds, and Nations, that wondred after the Beaſt] but that there was yet a Remnant according to the Election of Grace, Rom. 11.4.5. As in the Baaliſh Apoſtacy, God reſerv'd 7000. that bowed not to Baal; So in the Antichriſtian Defection God had his 144000. Virgins that were not polluted with the Babyloniſh Whoredoms, Revel. 14.1,4.5.

2. As there were (all that time) the true Seed of the Woman, which kept the Commandments of God, and had the Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt, Revel. 12.17. againſt whom the Dragon raged, yet the Gates of Hell could not prevail: ſo during all the Reign of Antichriſt God raiſed up his Miniſters, who in their ſeveral ſucceſſive Ages in ſeveral Countreys, gave their Teſtimony (as Gods Witneſſes) againſt the Spiritual Whoredoms and Idolatrous Worſhips of Antichriſt, and nouriſhed the Church in the Wilderneſs, Revel. 12.6,14. The ſmoak of the bottomleſs Pit was never ſo thick as to darken wholly the light of the Goſpel, and the Dragons Tail never ſo long, as to knock out every Star out of Heaven or the Church, the Lamb hath all along a Remnant of poor afflicted Paſtors (as well as of People) reſerved in the midſt of Babylon, which were called choſen and faithful, Revel. 17.14. Thoſe are the Witneſſes (which the Holy-Scripture foretells,) ſhould Prophecy in Sackcloth p. 2101260. days, or, which is all one, all the 42. Months of the Reign of Antichriſt.

3. Though it cannot be denied, but the People of God (all this term) mournfully bewail'd the Abominations of thoſe times wherein Antichriſt trod down the Holy City, ſo may be call'd (quodam modó) Witneſſes in Sackcloth: Yet the Godly Paſtors of this People (diſtinct from them in Office and in the Act of their Prophetical Function) are more properly and peculiarly call'd the Witneſſes; for 1. The firſt Reaſon is, the People are not call'd (any where in Scripture) Prophets, as thoſe Witneſſes be: The 2d. Reaſon is, the People are the Church in the Wilderneſs, which thoſe Prophets fed, Revel. 12.6,14. ſo may not be confounded with them, unleſs we will make a double pair, (according to the notion of ſome) from Rev. 11.4. the 2 Olive trees to be the 2 Prophets, and the 2 Candleſticks to be 2 Churches, which the People make up in the Wilderneſs.

4. The 3d. Reaſon is, from the power the Lord gave thoſe Witneſſes, not only to pray and mourn, (which is the work of private Chriſtians, as well as of publick Miniſters) but alſo to Prophecy, not ſo much by praedicting future things, as by Preaching the Everlaſting Goſpel, (againſt the Son of Perdition) as their proper Function, which is not the Function of the People; the 4th. Reaſon, Prophets p. 211are uſually diſtinguiſhed from the People, where they are placed both together, as Mat. 10.41. Prophets and Righteous men are diſtinct, ſo in Revel. 17.24. Prophets and Saints: the 5th. Reaſon, Miniſters have in all ages born the heat and burden of perſecuting times, and ever have been the Sacrifices for Slaughtering Tyrants, and moſt likely ſhall be ſo, when the Slaughter of the Witneſſes comes at the end of Antichriſts Reign.

5. And thoſe Witneſſes are call'd two, not ſo much upon the account of any Contradiſtinction of Orders, but to expreſs the paucity of them, which were very few, (if compared with the Locuſts out of the bottomleſs Pit, which were Innumerable) and yet not ſo few, but they were ſufficient to confirm the Truth, and publickly to detect the Abominations of Antichriſt, and to denounce the wrath of God againſt him; yea, and the exerciſe of that power (God gave them) was ſo effectual, that Fire is ſaid to proceed out of their Mouths, for devouring their Adverſaries, Revel. 11.5. for the Lord did make his Words in their mouth to be Fire, and the Popiſh People to be Wood, and it devoured them, Jer. 5.14. Thus their Miniſtry is ſaid to torment thoſe that dwell on the Earth, Revel. 11.10. or on Earthly principles.

6. And if that Scripture in Revel. 3.10. [the hour of temptation which ſhall come upon p. 212all the World] be Synonimical to the Slaughter of the Witneſſes in the Street of the Great City; as Dr. Arrowſmiths opinion is, taking the word foreign (as he Reads it) or foreign not largely for totum terrarum orbem, for the whole World, but ſtrictly, for the Roman World, that is, for thoſe Nations ſubject to the Roman Power, for ſo is [foreign] taken in Luk. 2.1. If (I ſay) this in Revel. 3.10. be exegetical to that in Revel. 11.8. thence have we an hint that the Street may not be any particular Kingdom, (wherein thoſe Prophets are to be ſlain) but all the Kingdoms that either have been, or ſhall be ſubject to the Romiſh Beaſt, which accords with Graſerus, and Mr. Medes opinion of the Street, but this for digreſſion.

7. It is very manifeſt, that God hath had his Prophets or Miniſters to witneſs to the truth in all Ages, even from the very Apoſtles times, and that the Faith of the Reformed Churches was maintained by the Antients ever ſince that time, our Jewel (againſt Harding) doth abundantly prove, ever for 600. Years. Yet as there were divers other Hereſies that peſter'd the Church of Chriſt; beſides, and before that grand hereſie of Antichriſtianiſm prevailed. So the teſtimony of thoſe ancient Witneſſes was principally againſt thoſe Hereſies precedent to Antichriſt, as Athanaſius againſt Arrianiſm, and Chryſoſtom againſt Pelagianiſm, &c. doth ſhew this.

p. 2138. And though we find ſeveral of thoſe ancient Witneſſes to prophecy in Sackcloth, eſpecially, thoſe two forenamed, who were for a long time in a mournfull ſuffering eſtate for their Teſtimony againſt thoſe Hereſies, &c. Yet may not we take them for thoſe Sackcloth-prophecies in Rev. 11.3. becauſe their Sackcloth was put on upon other accounts, to wit, for the Hereſies aforeſaid, &c. and not upon the account of this Romiſh Beaſt that was to tread down the holy City, for Antichriſt was not yet come to his throne in their day. That Cockatrice egg was long in the ſhell before it was hatched, and appeared a fiery flying Serpent; it ſtole into the world (ſenſim ſine ſenſu) unſenſibly, and at unawares.

9. In the following Ages, when the man of Sin began to prevail, God raiſed up godly and learned Miniſters, who in every Century oppoſed the Romiſh Doctrines, defending the ſufficiency of the Scripture, Communion in both kinds, Juſtification by free Grace; and diſowning Invocation of Saints, Worſhipping of Angels, Adoration of Images and Reliques; yea, and Praying for the Dead. All which they oppoſed with many pregnant Reaſons, and openly teſtified againſt all the corruptions and uſurpations of Antichriſt.

10. Inded Rainerius (a grand Papiſt) gives us 'an intimation of the Antiquity of a Sect which (he ſaith) hath now leavened almoſt p. 214all Lands, having a great pretence of Holineſs, becauſe they live righteouſly among men, and believe all things truly concerning God, only they hate and blaſpheem the Church of Rome, to which the multitude is very inclinable: this Sect (ſo pernicious to the Church of Rome) hath been ever ſince Pope Sylveſter (he grants) in the days of Conſtantine, if not from the Apoſtles times. From this hint it may be ſaid, that there hath been Witneſſes againſt Rome (ſuch as the Pauperes de Lugduno were, he he writes on) ever ſince the 3d Century in Conſtantines time, Rainer. contra Haer. cap. 4. pag. 54. thoſe were true Proteſtants.

11. But though this be certain (beyond controverſie) that the ſame Truths (profeſſed by the Proteſtant Churches) have been defended by the Antients, not only from Conſtantines time, but alſo from the very Apoſtles. Yet to find out Witneſſes, diſtinct witneſſes, and witneſſes in Sackcloth, mourning for the Abominations of Antichriſt, before Antichriſt was revealed, I think will prove very difficult; and ſeeing God gives us a plain intimation, that the flood of Arrianiſm muſt be ſwallowed up before the riſe and revelation of the Antichriſtian Beaſt, Rev. 12.16. & 13.1,11. I conceive the proper Witneſſes againſt Antichristianiſm will hardly be found till the Arrian hereſie expire, and the Teſtimony againſt it be fulfilled: we cannot make them contemporize.

p. 21512. Now if Antichriſtianiſm could not be revealed, while Arrianiſm was regnant in the World; and if we diſpair of proper Sackcloth-witneſſes (ſuch as we now treat on) before the Revelation of Antichriſt, then it may contribute no little light to us in this grand Inqueſt, to ſearch after the time when the Church left groaning under Arrianiſm: for God doth not burden his Church with two ſuch great evils (as Arrianiſm and Antichriſtianiſm) both at once: the Epocha of the latter muſt be the expiration of the former.

13. That the Arrian Hereſie began in the 3d Century, is obvious to all vulgar underſtandings, for the ſuppreſſing of which Hereſie, the general Councel at Nice in Bithynia was called, in the Year 325. after Chriſt: but the venemous plants of that Hereſie was ſo deeply rooted, that they could not be plucked up thereby; and ſo Arrianiſm ſpread like a Gangren (ut ſuprà) and infeſted the Church for ſome Centuries after, and though thoſe good Emperours, Theodoſius (both elder and younger) Arcadius, Martian and Juſtinian improv'd their zeal and diligence againſt it, yet could they not bring it to an utter extirpation, or to a ceſſation of its Perſecution.

14. The Church of God was ſadly perſecuted by the Arrian Vandals, till the good Emperor Juſtinian ſent his brave General Beliſarius againſt them, and thereby freed the Chriſtians p. 216from their Perſecution, ſubverting their Empire in Africk: this was done (according to Helvicus) in the year of Chriſt, 533. And yet in Aſia the ſeeds of this Hereſie could not be rooted up, but the Eaſtern Churches were crumbled into Factions, and weariſome Digladiations (by it) among themſelves: till Mahumetaniſm aroſe, and ſwallowed up all before it. This was about the 6. Century, and much what contemporary with Antichriſtianiſm, ut ſuprà Par. 34. ch. 2. —Vix lucem in Occidente aſpexerat Antichriſtus, cùm repentè in Oriente exortus eſt Pſeudopropheta Mahometes, ſaith Biſhop Uſher de Succeſſ. pag. 31.

15. It follows then that the Witneſſes teſtimony againſt Arrianiſm laſted till the 5. Century, then how can we find genuine Witneſſes againſt Antichriſt till the 6. Century. Among thoſe Fathers, which our Hiſtorians and Chronologers call (patres ſub Papatu] Alſted. Encuclopoed. pag. 2840. which they begin to reckon by ranks about Century the 6. Indeed I find Hierom in the 4th Century to witneſs that Antichriſt was coming, when he ſaw the Empire ſhaken by the Barbarians, but he is no Witneſs in Sackcloth againſt Antichriſt revealed.

16. I find (upon diligent ſearch) that Gregory the great, juſt upon the 6. Century comes forth much like a Sackcloth-Prophet, and mourns out thoſe words in his day, Putreſcentem. p. 217quaſi navem Eccleſiam habemus, & tempeſtate fortiter obviante; jam jam que putridae tabulae naufragium ſonant. Which dolefull complaint of Gregory's Agobardus Biſhop of Leiden (living in the 3d Age after him) took up, ſubjoyning to Gregory's words a more dolefull ditty, Si tunc jam putreſcebat navis Eccleſiae, & ſi ejus tabulae jam putridae erant, quid nunc eſt, Agobard. ad Ludovicum Imperatorem de Regimine Eccleſiaſtico. If the Church was a crazy Ship, ready to be broken with a ſtorm in Gregory's day (as he mourned) 'twas much more ſo in 3 Ages after Gregory.

17. Yea, the ſame Gregory lib. 4. epiſ. 32. breaks out into this mournfull exclamation, O Tempora, O Mores, ſaeviunt & dominantur quotidiè in necem fidelium cultores Idolorum & tamen Sacerdotes qui in pavimento & cinere flentes jacere debuerunt, vanitatis ſibi nomina expetunt, & novis & prophanis vocabulis gloriantur. And as if through a proſpective Glaſs he had ſeen a ſtorm ariſing, this ſame Gregory propheſies of his ſucceeding Age, Qui poſt nos vixerint, tempora deteriora videbunt, ita ut in comparatione ſuitemporis felices nos dies habuiſſe aeſtimabunt, lib. 8. epiſt. 36. and further, Omnia quae praedicta ſunt, fiunt, rex ſuperbiae propè eſt, & (quod dici nefas eſt) Sacerdotum ei praeparatus eſt exercitus, lib. 4. epiſt. 38. He foretells ſad times were coming, when the king of pride (Antichriſt) comes.

p. 21818. Gregor. magn. writing to Mauritius the Emperor, ep. 32. lib. 4. ſaith, Ipſa Chriſti man-data ſuperbi atque pompatici cujuſdam ſermonis inventione turbantur: Petro quidem cura Eccleſiae committitur, univerſalis tamen Apoſtolus non vocatur: & Conſacerdos meus (Johannes Conſtantinop.) Univerſalis Epiſcopus vocari conatur. From hence I note, that in Gregory's time Antichriſt was more likely to be revealed, at Conſtantinople, than at Rome. And the ſame Gregory ſaith, Juxta eſt ille, de quo ſcriptum eſt, ipſe eſt Rex ſuper univerſos ſuperbiae filios, quod non ſine gravi dolore dicere compellor. Then ſhewing John of Conſtantinople's ambition to the Biſhop of Alexandria and Antioch, he concludes thus, Oh quàm gravi conſiderationis hujus gemitu torqueor! epiſt. 32. lib. 4. herein he ſpeaks like a mournful Witneſs.

19. Now what can be ſaid to this prophetical Teſtimony againſt Antichriſts revealing (though not yet revealed) but as our learned Biſhop Uſher; that this Gregory the great did not ſpeak theſe things of himſelf, but rather he propheſied (as Caiphas did) being High-Prieſt that Year: for he laid down this Rule, Quiſquis ſe univerſalem Sacerdotem deſiderat, is in ſua elatione Antichriſtum praecurrit, which fell out ſoon after his death, he ſtrenuouſly oppoſed John of Constantinople, in his aſpiring after this Title, calling it Diabolicam ſuperbiam & Antichriſti malitiam, lib. 4. epiſt. 6.

p. 21920. He did not only oppoſe it in others, but alſo did abominate it in himſelf, confidently aſſerting that In iſtud ſceleſtum vocabulum (univerſalem ſcilicet Epiſcopum) conſentire, nil aliud eſſe, quàm fidem per dere, and calling himſelf Servus ſervorum Dei (whether Hypocritically, as ſome ſay, I dare not judge) yea, and acknowledging himſelf a Subject to the Emperor Mauritius. Notwithſtanding all this, I cannot make this Gregory my firſt Sackcloth-Prophet, not only becauſe he was a notorious Patron of Superſtition, though an Oppoſer of this Supremacy, but alſo, becauſe the myſtery of Iniquity was but opening her Pack of Abominations in his time, and not yet revealed: now this Sackcloth-Prophecy muſt not forego it, but contemporize with it, leaſt an inequality be made twixt 42. M. and 1260. days.

21. Iſidore (who was Pupil to this Gregory the great) is more likely to be a witneſs againſt Antichriſt revealed, for then Phocas (that ſecond Zimri) had ſlain his Maſter, and midwiv'd Antichriſt into the world. This Iſidore beheld with his eyes that grand uſurpation of Univerſal Supremacy, not only in Boniface the third, but in three other Popes after that Boniface (living till about 640. Y. after Chriſt) and ſo had more occaſion to abominate this Antichriſtian arrogancy then his Tutor (Gregory the great) had. Yea, and might better ſay (then his Name-ſake that lived before him) p. 220Eccleſia foeminae cuidam ſimilis eſt, quae ex antiqua felicitate excidit, ac ſigna tantùm habet (ornamentorum ſcilicet Arculas) opibus autem ſpoliata eſt. She hath the cheſt, but loſt the caſh.

22. This Iſidor makes not Petrum but Petram the Rock to be the Foundation of the Church. Illyricus Catalog. Teſt. Verit. pag. 647. and Alſted joyns Sophronius with him, ſaying of them that they teach ſo of their Works, Ut ex iis plurima Romanae Curiae dogmata poſſint refelli, Chron. Teſt. ver. pa. 369. and that Toletan Synod, Anno Chriſt. 630. wherein Iſidore ſat Preſident (as Calviſius pa. 677. ſaith) decreed againſt the Corruptions of the Romiſh Clergy.

23. Alsted ſaith, Seculum iſtud à Gregorio magno adeò ſterile admodùm fuit, ut non uſque quàque clari ſunt viri modò recitati. So diſmal was that darkneſs when Antichriſt began to ſee the light, not much unlike the Apoſtles Voyage, Act. 27.20. wherein neither Sun nor Stars for many days appeared. For after the Light of the Primitive Church expired, little conſiderable Knowledge ſhone forth in the midſt of the Antichriſtian ignorance and blindneſs: Yet all along the 6. Century, and ſo downward, God had his Witneſſes, againſt Antichriſt (though but few) which are call'd [patres ſub Papatu] ſuch as Heſychius, Leontius, Venerable Bede, Damaſcen, Haimo, Theophylact, Oecumenius, Rabanus, Bertram, Paulus Diaconus, &c.

p. 22124. Illyricus tells us that the Order agreed upon in the 5. Century, was, that the Romiſh Biſhop ſhould have the firſt Place in the Councels, the Biſhop of Conſtantinop. the 2d Place, the Biſhop of Alexandria the third, and the Biſhop of Antioch the fourth: and that this was aggreed on for Order ſake, but not for Dominion. Yet he further ſhows, that this Order of the 5. Century was turned into Dominion in the 6. Illyr. Cat. Teſt. pag. 619. to 632. at large, and in pag. 695. he tells of a Book which Clemens wrote againſt Boniface, who got it burned, which Book, were it extant (ſaith he) Nos de multis rebus commonefacere poſſet. it would tell tales out of the School. Thus Antichriſts revelation muſt be in the ſixt Century.

25. But more particularly Anaſtaſius Biſhop of Antioch in the year 607. looks much like a Sackloth-mourner, who was named Sinaita from his long faſting and praying in Mount Sinai, as Nicephorus lib. 18. cap. 44. (if he may be credited) relates, this faſting and mourning was immediately after the revelation of Antichriſt, and ſo renders it the more probable, being the very year after. About the ſame time our own Hiſtorians tell of that famous Preacher Wolferus, that like another Elias (according to the deſcription of the Witneſſes) obtained Rain from Heaven in plenty, which had been much wanting for 3 Years together, about p. 222this time alſo Daganus (this Daganus refuſed to eat bread with the Romiſh Biſhops in the ſame Inn, utterly rejecting them) and ſeveral other Biſhops oppoſed the Romiſh Rites, and refuſed all Communion with their Romiſh Biſhops, ſaying the Profeſſion of Christianity was purer amongſt them, than that which they brought from Rome.

26. The ſame Iſidore aforeſaid (Lib. 8. Etym. Cap. 11.) ſaith of Antichriſt, Chriſtum ſe mentietur & contra eum dimicabit, & adverſabitur, Sacramentum Chriſti (ut veritatis eius Evangelium) ſolvet, omneſque veteris legis Ceremonias reſtaurare tentabit: He will faign to be for Chriſt, yet War againſt him: he will reſtore the Ceremonial Law of Moſes, and corrupt the Sacraments of the Goſpel of the Meſſiah, and Olympiodorus alſo in the 6th. Cent. (in Eccleſ. 4. Cap.) ſaith, Vidi ipſos peccatores cum adoleſcente Secundo, hoc eſt, Antichriſto, qui exurget pro domino noſtro chriſto: he calls Antichriſt [adoleſcens] quia Juvenili temeritate eſt in malo fervidus, robuſtuſque nequitiae Innovator, He was Raſh, Heady, and Hot in his Innovations, when but a Youth: Mugd. Cent. 6. Cap. 4. Pag. 121. A. and beſides this Olympiodorus, I find that Illyricus brings in ſeveral other Witneſſes to ſucceed in that age, as Juſtus, Caſſiodorus, &c. Illyr. Teſt. Ver. Pag. 576. 577. 578.

27. Olympiodorus, Juſtus, and Caſſiodorus, p. 223oppos'd the Popiſh points, and expreſly ſay about this primacy of the Romiſh Biſhop, [Ca…t Eccleſiae Chriſtus & unus Paſtor eſt Chriſtus qui unum habet Gregem, Sc. unitatem Eccleſiae Catholicae,] and Johannes Maxentius, who would have diſputed at Rome againſt their Errors, but was ill treated there by the Pope; which made him break out into thoſe words, O mira furioſorum Caecitas, & a veritate alienatarum mentium Criminoſa fallacia: neque enim fas eſt, tam apertè poſſe mentiri Epiſcopum Romanum, Oh the Impudence of the Pope thus openly to prevaricate; about this time John of Beverley mourn'd out his Soul for the troubles of the Church, leaving his See at York, he died at Beverley with a Goſpel Spirit, Illyr. Teſt. Pag. 696.

28. This Maxentius aforeſaid had a Bull iſſued out againſt him by the Pope, which he Anſwers, and Reproves the Pope of ſeveral lies in it, and rebukes his Pride very often, Illyr. Catal. Teſt. Ver. Pag. 584. and (our Illyricus adds many other Witneſſes in the 6th. Cent. againſt Antichriſt, as Adelhelmus, Caeſarius, Julian, Pomerius, and ſome others, pag. 647. and Alſted adds Heſychius, who upon his Commentary upon Leviticus, hath many Teſtimonies concerning the Truth, Catalog. Teſt. Verit. Pag. 369.

29. Alſted ſays of this Caeſarius, [Egregia quaedam Scripſit, quae non favent papiſtarum p. 224Doctrinae] his Writings favour not Popery, ibidem. and Sabellicus (Ennead. 8. lib. 6.) tells how Peter of Conſtantinople oppos'd Primacy in the Roman Biſhops, as Gregory had done in John of Conſtantinople, and Paulus Cretenſis appellationem ad ſedem Romanam concedere noluit, he allow'd not of Appeals to Rome, as Vitalians Ep. in tom. 2. Concil. makes it apparent: The Magdeburg Centuriſts makes Iſidore, Caeſarius, Adelhelmus, Julian, Pomerius, Witneſſes to the Truth, Cent. 7. Cap. 4. Pag. 28. and ſay of the Biſhops of Conſtantinople, [quòd Phocae conſtitutionem moleſtè tulerunt, & a Romanae Eccleſiae formâ abhorruerunt,] they loath'd the Romiſh Forms and Dominion, Pag. 125.

30. Bede tells us of Aidanus, (our own Countreyman) who ſtood off not only from Romiſh Primacy, but from Prelacy, in his owning a Synod wherein Elders, Deacons, and People, met, Bede lib. 3. Cap. 5. and when the Romiſh Ceremonies were intruded on the Church, he ſaid, non gravia legis, non Phariſaeorum onera populis proponenda, the yoaks of the Law and burdens of the Phariſees, ought not to be impoſed upon the People, Oſiand. Epit. 7th. Cent. Pa. 105. and another of our Countreymen [Finnanus] hath this eminent Encomium left upon Record, that he was [Chriſtianae libertatis ſirenuus propugnator contra jugum pontificium] a ſtout Champion for Chriſtian Liberty againſt Romiſh Tyranny, p. 225Magdeburg Hiſt. Cent. 7. Cap. 70. Pag. 289. and 2. adverſus Ceremonias pontificias Rom. fortis defenſor Oſiand. Epit. Cent. 7. Pag. 180. and in the year of Chriſt 638.

31. Oſiander alſo tells us of Colmannus, qui maſculè ſeſe pontificiis traditionibus oppoſuit, who bravely withſtood the Romiſh Traditions, Cent. 7. Pag. 196. adding alſo to the number of thoſe Witneſſes the aforeſaid Caeſarius, ibid. and the Magdeb. Centuriſts ſay, quaedam concilia hujus aetatis veritatem Teſtantur, ſome Councels defended the Truth in that day, Cent. 7. Cap. 4. Pag. 28. and Pag. 189. Concil. Angl. (at our Hereford) acted, ut nullus Epiſcoporum ſe praeferat alteri per Ambitionem, no Prelate muſt prefer himſelf before another by Ambition, this in Y. 673. or (as Helvicus) 664. and the 11th. Toletan Councel condemns the [foreign Papiſticam] Popiſh Diſorder, which Helvicus makes about 674. ſee Illyricus, pag. 689. and Alſted Chron. p. 369.

32. I have been larger in producing Witneſſes againſt Antichriſt in the 6th. Century not only, becauſe I take that to be the Epocha of the Beaſts Revelation, but alſo becauſe I cannot find (upon my very ſtrict ſcrutiny) any Witneſſes before that, Cent. againſt the Beaſt Revealed, wherein I have the concurrence of many Reverend and Learned men: Auguſtin (in libro de Antichriſto) ſaith, Antichriſtum non Anteâ in mundum venturum eſſe, niſi venerit primùm p. 226diſoeſſio, i. e. niſi diſceſſerint omnia Regna a Romano imperio, quae priùs ſubdita erant, hoc autem Tempus nondum advenit, there muſt be a departing of the Kingdoms from the Empire, before Antichriſt come, this is not yet done, ſaith he in the 4th. Century, and Gregory ſaith the like (as before) in the end of the 5th. Century.

33. The Magdeburg Centuriſts ſay, (Centur. 5. page 1. F.) plus nimio conceſſum eſt, Antichriſtus hoc ſeculo quaſi intra Viſcera Receptus videatur, qui poſteriori ſeculo (veluti maturus faetus) eſt editus, and in Century 6. Cap. 1. pag. 1. G. [Antichriſti Regnum, quod quaſi in alvum Eccleſiae ſuperiori ſeculo receptum eſt, hoc ſeculo vitam & Incrementa accepit, & quaſi ad maturitatem ſuam & ad ipſum partus Tempus ſub Phocâ imperatore eſt deductum] Antichriſt lay lurking in the Womb all the 5th. Century, and when he was fully ripen'd for the Birth, he was brought into the World by Phocas in the 6th. Century: This is a clear proof from many Learned men.

34. So likewiſe Oſiander in his Epitome, Hiſtor. Eccleſ. Cent. 5th. Pag. 1. ſays that then might be Antichriſts Birth and Craddling, as well as Conception: Antichriſtianismus (ſaith he) hâc in Centuriâ conceptus, and Pag. 179. haec fuere Antichriſti Romani incunabula] not yet made manifeſt, and Cent. 6. Pag. 1. he ſaith, In hâc Centuriâ Antichriſtus pedem p. 227in Eccleſiâ dei poſuit & fixit: and Cent. 7. Epiſt. 2d. Pag. tunc Antichriſtus Rom. ſedem ſuam plenariè in Eccleſiam dei collocavit, quam ipſius Anteceſſores aliquoties inferre conabantur, Antichriſt fix'd his foot, he took full poſſeſſion of the Church of God in the 7th. Century, which his Predeceſſors did but endeavour to do.

35. And Cent. 7. Pag. 1. he ſaith Antichriſtus adjuvante Phoca Eccleſias dei ſub jugum ſuum miſit, Antichriſt by the help of Phocas, brought the Church of Chriſt under his Yoke: for till Boniface the 3d. thoſe words [Volumus & Jubemus] which he calls, (vox Superba Antichriſti) was not heard of: and the Biſhop of Rome became not Antichriſt, donec Malefacius ille Bonifacius a Phoca Imperatore obtinuit, &c. till he obtain'd a full power of calling together and breaking up Synods, of Confirming and Aboliſhing the Decrees of the Synod: till then, he did not Seat himſelf in the Church of God, as Paul foretold, it ſhould come to paſs, 2 Theſſ. 2. Oſiand. Epit. Cent. 7. Pag. 14. 15.

36. Illyricus alſo makes this Boniface the 3d. primum in Regno magnae beſtiae Regem, the firſt King in the Beaſts Kingdom, who had the mouth of a roaring Lyon, and ſpake like a Dragon, Revel. 13.2.11. 2ly. He makes Pope Joan to begin the Kingdom of the great Whore, and 3ly. He makes Pope Sylveſter the p. 2282d. to begin the Kingdom of the great Dragon, becauſe then began the Pope-Conjurers, Necromancers, Robbers, Murderers, &c. then 4ly. He makes Innocent the 4th. to begin the Kingdom of the Locuſts, by whom the Fryar-Mendicants came and ſpread themſelves all over the World; and laſtly, The declining Kingdom of Antichriſt, he reckons from Julian the 2d. who threw Peters Keys into Tyber, as Unvaileable, and took Pauls Sword, which (he ſaid) ſhould prevail, Illyr. Catal. Teſt. Ver. Pag. 650.

37. Illyricus likewiſe Relates a famous Story of Ageſtinus, in this 6th. Century) that was expell'd the Colledge for his Witneſſing againſt Popiſh fooleries to Euſtaſius; for Redreſs of this grievance, the Synod at Matiscon was ſummon'd by King Lotharius, wherein Ageſtinus makes a particular Invective againſt the Superſtitions of that day, in Y. of Chriſt (as Helvicus reckons) 625. and could we have a faithful account of this Synod, (ſaith Illyr.) freed from the Monkiſh Writers, ſome grave Witneſſes againſt Antichriſt would be found, Illyr. Pag. 676. Alſted alſo begins the Infancy of Antichriſt at Innocent the 1ſt. Year 404. his Childhood, at Boniface the 3d. Year 606. his Youth, at Leo the 3d. Year 800. his grown Age, at Hildebrand, Year 1075. and his old Age at Leo the 10th. Year 1517. then roſe Luther againſt Leo's Indulgences, Alſted Chroonl. Pag. 392. 394.

p. 22938. And in the 7th Century Biſhop Uſher demonſtrates, that at leaſt the Church did live then (though ſhe had not ſound health) in giving her Teſtimony againſt Antichriſt, as many Biſhops exploded Antichrists Images at Constantinople in Y. 754. and further ſhows how the Brittiſh, German, and Gallick Churches gave the like Teſtimony (ſighing out their [proh dolor] like mournfull Witneſſes) with the Oriental Churches, againſt Image-worſhip, Uſher de Succeſſione Eccleſiae pag. 33, 34.

39. But in the 8th Century, Gregory the fourth (unlike to the firſt of that name forenamed) appeared ſuch a man of Sin in his proud Tyrannical Uſurpations, that Italy it ſelf had ſeveral Sackcloth-witneſſes againſt that Antichriſt (as Baronius confeſſes, Ann. 863. Sect. 42.) Inter quos fuit Baſilius, Zoſimus, & Metrophanes, cumque ipſis multi alii, qui hujuſmodi tyrannidem deplorabant, & ad Eccleſiarum defenſionem multis cum lacrymis opem ab aliis implorabant, Many Witneſſes then deplored Antichriſts Tyranny, and implored the help of others againſt him. Uſher de continua Succeſſ. pag. 39. & 40. In this Century alſo Albertus, Clemens, & complures alii à Bonifacio diſſenſerunt, Hiſtor. Magdeburg. Cent. 8. and vehemently oppoſed him. Avent. Annal. lib. 3. I name but few witneſſes in thoſe Cent. (becauſe it is not doubted of by any, but by Enemies) and they be too many to p. 230be quoted. See Magde. Cent. 7. pag. 277.

40. Then in the 9th Century, Agobardus, Rabanus Maurus, Bertram, yea and Scotus, were all Orthodox about the Lords Supper, and oppoſed the Popiſh Doctrine of the Real Preſence with the Authority of Auſtin, as well as of the Scripture. Fox Martyrol. 1ſt Vol. pag. 187. And he ſhews how Scotus alſo aſſented to the Graecian Church, more than to the Roman. See alſo Jus divinum Miniſterii, p. 54. Oſian. Epit. 9. Cent. pa. 44. li. 4. c. 1. Clark Martyr. Engl. pa. 42. Dr. Humphry Regius Profeſſor at Oxford tells this ſtory of Scotus (out of Crinitus) in his Preface to Praxis Jeſuitiſm. pag. 22. that Scotus was ſuppoſed to be poyſon'd by ſome of his own Popiſh Scholars, for his Teſtimony againſt Popery in that Point. And about the latter end of this Century, Arnulphus Biſhop of Aurelia ſpeaks boldly in a Synod at Rhemes. Quid hunc in ſublimi ſolio reſidentem veſte purpured & aurea radiantem? quid hunc (inquam) cenſetis? Antichriſtus eſt: and ſadly mourns there, quòd Religione profligatâ, nomen Dei impunè humilietur; & Cultus divinus etiam à ſummis Sacerdotibus condemnatur, who is this that ſits on his Throne in Scarlet? 'tis Antichriſt, who by a looſe Religion lays the Truth waſt, yet ſcapes ſcot-free. Uſher. Ibid. pag. 44.

41. In the 10th Century (though Bellarmin ſays, Nullum ſeculum indoctius & infoelicius.) p. 231Yet God had his Witneſſes againſt Antichriſt, as appears by our own Aelfricks Homily in the Saxon Tongue, appointed to be read at Eaſter to the People in Confutation of the Real Preſence; neither was this the Opinion of one Biſhop (to wit) Aelfrick only, but Wulfſine Biſhop of Sherbourn, and Wulfstane Biſhop of York, and divers other Learned Men in that time: but eſpecially Berengarius was a witneſs in Sackcloth againſt Tranſubſtantiation, an error that crept late into the Church, and yet was the firſt that was moſt vigorouſly oppoſed.

42. In the 11th Century Bernard writes, wo be to this Generation for the leaven of the Phariſees, &c. all pretend to be the Miniſters of Chriſt, and yet ſerve Antichriſt; for he is Antichriſt which counterfits himſelf not only the Day, but the Mid-day, extolling himſelf above all that is called God, this is (as he calls him) the meridian Devil, &c. And in another place, he in Prayer mourns out thoſe words [Oh God, thy near Friends (in pretence) come near to conſpire againſt thee, &c. Alaſs, alaſs, oh Lord God, theſe are the chief in Perſecution, that are chief in the Church, and about their forbidding Marriage, he ſaith, it fills all [Concubinariis inceſtuoſis, ſeminifluis, mollibus, maſculorum concubitoribus & omni denique Immundorum genere] with filthy Fornicators, effeminate, inceſtuous, Seed-ſhedders, Sodomites, all manner of uncleanneſs. This is ſpoke like a Witneſs.

p. 23243. Then in the 12th Cehtury, more Light began to break forth, and the Waldenſes appear'd (thoſe famous Witneſſes againſt Antichriſt) that communicated Light to many Nations. Inſomuch that in the 13. Cent. our own Groſthead Biſhop of Lincoln (Romanorum malleus) daringly wrote to the Pope himſelf, that he was Antichriſt. In the 14. Cent. appear'd Bradwardin, Armachanus, and that famous Sackcloth-Prophet John Wickcliffe. In the 15: Cent. John Hus, Jerom of Prague, and then Luther, &c. So that in no Cent. did the Lord want witneſſes to his Truth, beſides many others that mourn'd in ſecret places of the wilderneſs, which are not found upon Record.

44. Thus from the beginning of the 6t. Century, Witneſſes in Sackcloth may be found againſt Antichriſt revealed, but not ſo clearly from the 4th Century (which yet many hath followed) from Innocent the firſt, which not only Event, but alſo this Argument ſeems to gainſay, to wit, though Innocent the firſt attempted Supremacy, yet on a ſlender Foundation, inſomuch as his Succeſſors Zoſimus, Boniface the firſt, Caeleſtine the firſt, and Sixtus the third, bottom'd their claim of Supremacy upon a ſuppoſititious Canon of the Councel of Nice. This fraud was detected by the African Biſhops, comparing it with the Authentick Copies, Alſted Encuclop. Hiſtor. pag. 2849. at large.

45. Methinks to foot the accompt of Antichriſtianiſm p. 233from Leo the firſt, ſeems far more probable, than from Innocent the firſt, becauſe this Leo the firſt inſiſted upon no ſuppoſititious Canons for his Supremacy claimed, but (as Alſted ſaith) [Cunctis majoribus ſuis aſtutiùs egit] he was more crafty than all his Predeceſſors; pleading a Divine Right for his Primacy, that Chriſt gave to Peter above all the Apoſtles, & ſo conſequently to the Roman Biſhop (Peters Succeſſor) above all other Biſhops. This plea his Legats ſtrenuouſly urg'd in the Counſel of Chalcedon, in the Y. of Chriſt 450. as Helvicus accounts it, or 440. as Prideaux, being the 4. Oecumenical Councel, to which if we add the term of Antichriſt (1260.) it will fall about 1700. or 1710. Y. after Chriſt.

46. This ſeems a more probable Epocha, not only becauſe Event hath not yet confuted this, as it hath done the other: but 2ly. becauſe the higheſt claim for Supremacy (to wit, Jus divinum) was then pretended: 3ly. the name (Leo) ſuits well with the Beaſt (Antichriſt) who is ſaid to have the mouth of a Lion, and a mouth ſpeaking great things, Rev. 13.2,5. as if this Leo (call'd Magnus) were graphically pointed at in that deſcription. But 4ly. tis obſerved that 3 great Diſpenſations about Antichriſt, fell out under 3 Leo's [Beaſts all] this Leo the firſt laid the foundation, Leo the third advanc'd the Kingdom of Antichriſt by crowning Charles the Great. And Leo the p. 234ninth (or as ſome ſay the tenth) weaken'd it, and perhaps a 4th Leo may ariſe to deſtroy it, about the Y. of Chriſt 1710.

47. But the moſt probable of all, is the timing of Antichriſt at 606. ut ſuprá. For 1. Gregory the great ſaid after Leo the great, that Antichriſt was but at Hand in his time. 2ly. Boniface the third then caught the Bird of Supremacy, which his Predeceſſors only beat the Buſh for. 3ly. Luther then timed Antichriſt, who was ſo much enlighten'd againſt him, and many ſolid, holy, and learned Men ſince, according to which, Antichriſts fall may be protracted till about the 18. Century. Exitus acta probat, Event will be the beſt proof.

48. Thus through the help of Chriſt I am at length arriving out of this troubleſom Sea, wherein I could find ſo few way-marks to guide me in my ſearch after ſo abſtruſe a point. Thoſe firſt Ages of Antichriſt were very unhappy in the rarity of famous Writers, or (at leaſt) the Monuments of very few be come to our hand, becauſe the myſtery of Iniquity more and more prevailed: hence Illyricus ſaith, Pontificiorum aſtu, ſcripta omnia, quae Primatum Romanum & Superſtitiones ejus ſeculi impugnabant, ſuppreſſa ſunt, & ex bibliothecis ablata, & flammis conſecrata, Illyr. Cat. Teſt. pa. 676. thoſe Writings are few upon Record, being either conſumed with the teeth of Time, or cancel'd by an Index expurgatorius.

p. 23549. Yet this is a received Truth, and ſubſcrib'd by all, That the Faith (which Chriſt and his Apoſtles taught in the firſt Age) had viſible Profeſſors and Witneſſes in all ages, for otherwiſe the gates of Hell would have prevail'd againſt it, and Chriſt would not have been preſent with the Church to the end of the World. Therefore that there were Witneſſes in every Age can be doubted by none, but to aſſign all the Witneſſes (in every Age) to that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints, from the [primo Antichriſti ortu] hic labor, hoc opus eſt: and though Witneſſes to the Truth be found to be few in compariſon of the Enemies to the Truth, yet by thoſe few we may conjecture, many more (as in Ahabs time) lay hid unregiſtred. So that to ſay our Religion was not before Luther, is a Popiſh ſlander, ſeeing it is unanſwerably proved, that the Faith of our Religion is the ſame Faith which Chriſt and his Apoſtles taught in the primitive times.

50. To conclude, the preciſe point of time for Antichriſts fall, can hardly be demonſtrated from Boniface the third neither; becauſe Phocas his grant to Boniface, Palmerius makes to be in Y. of Chriſt 607. and Beda 612. Magdeburg. Centur. 7. pag. 121. D. E. though moſt make it in the 606. This uncertain (ſubſtratum) compells me to leave the pointing out of this Punctilio of time to God only. It ſhall be one day known to the Lord, Zech. 14.7.

[Hu Jevadang Jehovah] is an excluſive p. 236expreſſion, God only, and not Man knows it, tis neither night nor day with us. When the Church hath no Prophet (there being [Chathimath Chazon] a ſealing up of Prophecy, Dan. 12.6,9.) to tell her how long; then ſhe goes to God and cries, Oh God, How long, Pſ. 74.9,10. The Saints upon Eearth cry, How long, Pſ. 13.1,2. The Souls under the Altar cry, How long, Rev. 6.9,10. And Chriſt (himſelf) cries, How long, Zech. 1.12. God anſwers with good words and comfortable, v. 13. to wit, v. 21. that his hamers ſhall 1 fray the Beaſts horns, 2. caſt them down, 3. caſt them out as Gentiles, 4. caſt them away, as a ſtone out of a ſling, 1 Sam. 25.29. God will give them ſcattering for ſcattering, 1 Sam. 2.3,13. Luk. 1.51,52. 1 Kin. 14.10. In the mean time our work is Waiting and Watching, which is 1. Angelical, Dan. 4.10,13. and 2. Evangelical Work, Mat. 24.42. & 25.13. & Mark 13. laſt. No Watchman can tell us what time of Night it is, Iſa. 21.12,13. onelyonly that the Sunſet to our Antipodes (or Antichriſt) is Sun-riſe to us, untill the Day dawn, and the ſhadows flee away (the Church ſaith) I will get me up to the mountains of Myrrh, and hills of Frankincenſe, Can. 4.6. This holds out 1. our Repenting -which is as bitter as myrrh, Lam. 3.19. 2. our Praying-work which comes up as Incenſe, Pſ. 141.2. Oh, that we may be found ſo doing, til the ſun of right: ariſe with healing in his wings, then ſhall we go forth (from the bondage of Babylon) and grow up as calves of the ſtall, Mal. 4.2.

FINIS.