Certain Discourses, Part 4
A Confirmation of the Iudgement of these two most Reverend and learned Bishops in this particular, and the vindication of it, from the aspersion of Novelty or Singularity, from some grounds out of the Ancient Fathers; the continued Suffrages of learned men in successive ages, and the most eminent Bishops of England and Ireland of later yeares: occasioned to be the more large by the Censure which Doctor Heylene (in his late book) gives the Primate, and the Articles of Ireland for it.
FIrst, For the Fathers, who lived before that defection or Apostasy, whch was to preceed, and prepare the ways for the man of sin. (2 Thes. 2, 3.) there could not be expected from them, any such direct application, unlesse they had a Spirit of Prophesie themselves; Rome was in the Primitive times a pure Church, and the least infected with Arianisme, and other heresies which then abounded in the Eastern parts; being rather a receptacle of such as were banished thence by that persecution; so that it must have been a Prophetick pen that should then have affirmed, that righteous City should become an harlot.
'Tis true, there might be a conception of that man of sin; but till his birth, there could be no judgement given of him, iniquity was breeding but in a mystery (verse the 8.) like the child in the womb, which the Mother of it, cannot then be assured, but it may prove an abortive; and harlots use to keep their conceptions close and undiscerned, till they are forced to discover them. Now this being thus in the conceiving and producing of that wicked one; the silence of the Fathers, as to so early a sentence, (whatsoever they might suspect) is not to be wondred at. Diseases may be gathering in the body, when neither the party himself is sensible, nor the most skilfull Physitian can discern of the event; fire may be kindling in the house, but the next neighbours do not cry out of it, till it be smelt; or flame forth to their view: And so there might be some such distempers, and strange fire, smothering in the Church of God for some 100's of yeares; but till it brake out, ye could not expect the Fathers of those ages, could take any notice of it; at least, digito monstrare, & dicier hic est.
Secondly, The prophesies of the New Testament, are like those of Daniel in the Old; shut and sealed up, till the Time of the fulfilling; according to that of Saint Augustine; Prophetias implericitius quam intelligi; that prophesies are fulfilled before they are understood; agreeing with that (Rev. 1. 3.) blessed is he that reads and understands, for the time is at hand; 'Tis the speech of Irenaeus aOmnes prophetiae priusquam habent efficaciam, aenigmata sunt homi…ibus, sed cum venerit tempus, & evenerit quod prephet a…um est, habent liquidam & certam exp siti…nem, &c.All prophesies before they are fulfilled, are riddles unto men; but as soon as the time is come, and the thing prophesied is come to passe, they have a clear and certain exposition, our apprehension conceives no further then our experience reacheth unto. That old Adage, Veritas est temporis filia, truth is the daughter of time, hath its place here, and in this sense, the day shall declare it; and therefore Andraeas Caesariensis, in his Commentary upon the Revelation, speaking of Babylon, and who should be meant by it, though he had his suspitions, as liviug near the time of the revealing of it; yet suspended his direct application, only saying that thebAccuratam calculi notitiam, tempus & experientia r… velabit vigilantibus. accurate knowledge of the person, time, and experience will reveale it to the diligent observers. What our Saviour said of Iohn the Baptist, for his knowledge of some mysteries foretold in the old Testament, and living after the Prophets, That he was greater then they, and the least of the Ministers of the Gospel by surviving him, to be greater then he; so is it in this sense appliable, to the after-ages of the Fathers, who lived to see the fulfilling, what is foretold of this subject by Saint Paul in the Thessalonians, and Saint Iohn in the Revelations; Which is according to the judgement of Bishop Andrews in his Tortura Torti, page 186. where having fully applyed that of Revel. 17. & 18. to the See of Rome, he addes this cMinimè verò mir…m, si i…ta quae dixi tam vel clar am, vel cerlam in-scriptis patrum interp…aetationem non habeant: Ope…abatur enim modò mysterium tum iniquitatis. Signatus ad…uc liber er…t bujus prophetiae. Verissimum autem verbum est, aenigma esse propheti…m omnem, cùm nondum completae est, ut quamvis prisci illi omni genere Charismatum▪ vitae v…rò sanctimonia longo nos intervallo supererarint, mirari tamen non debeat quis, si illis t…m non adeo explicata omnia sue…int qu…m robis per gratiam Dei jam surt, quicon summaetam jam prophe…iam illam qu…tidiè o…usis usurpamus▪ pag. 186.But it is no wonder, those things which I have said, have not so clear or certain an interpretation in the writings of the Fathers; for it was then a mystery of iniquity; which wrought, the book of this prophesie was as yet sealed up; And it is a most true speech, every prophesie is a riddle, while 'tis not fulfilled. And though those Ancients very much excelled us in all manner of gifts, and specially in the holinesse of life, yet no man hath cause to wonder, that all these things did not seem so clear to them, as by the grace of God they are now to us, who do see this prophesie now consummated daily before our eyes.
Certainly, while Rome continued in its purity, the Fathers of that age, might well have wondred with great admiration, as Saint Iohn himself did, and look upon it as incredulous, that it should have degenerated into that pride, Idolatry, Murder, and become the Mother of all abominations, &c. even as we would at this day, if the like should be foretold, of England, which hath been so famous for Religion, in being a shelter for such as have been persecuted by the See of Rome, abounded with writers against it, and the chief Church of the reformed Religion, in opposition to Popery. I say if any should take upon him a spirit of prophesie, in averring it should in time be an advancer of Popery, and be utterly over-run with it, and become a persecutor of such as should oppose the errours of it; the sinke of Heresie, Schisme, and prophanenesse, &c. would not we who now live, be as far from believeing the report, as Hazael was at what was told him by the Prophet concerning himself.
But Thirdly, There are some grounds out of the ancient Fathers, which may be accounted as foundations, whereupon to build this application the more firmly; being (as Bishop Andrews saith) a wonder they should see so much, looking on these things only, quasi per transennam.
Tertullian, who lived about 400 yeares before the Emperour, was cast out of Rome, in the Exposition of that (2 Thes. 2. 9.) and now ye know what with-holdeth, or who letteth. verse 7. he who now letteth, will let till he be taken out of the way, saith this;dQuis nisi Romanus Status, cujus abscessio i… decem Reges dispersa, Antichristum superinducet, & tunc revelabitur iniquus. Who can this be, but the Roman Empire, whose removal out of Rome, being dispersed into 10 Kingdomes, must usher in Antichrist, and then shall the wicked one be revealed; what he saith in his Apology for the Christians to the Emperour Severus, who was afraid of the multiplying of them, as Pharaoh was of the Israelites in Egypt, hath bin touched already in the former Treatises, where the principal argument against any such fear is this. viz. The eChristianis necessitatem incumbere orandi pro Imperatoribus, etiam pro omni statu Imperii, rebúsque Romanis; quod vim maximam universo orbi imminentem a…erbitates horrendas comminentem Romani Imperii commeatu scimus retardari Apol. c. 32. Commeatum dicere solet Tertullianus, spatium temporis praescriptum, &c. Vid. Down…am Epise. Derens. le Antichristo. lib. 2.Christians have need to pray for the Emperour, and even for the whole State of the Empire, and the Roman affaires, in regard we know the greatest mischief hanging over the whole world, threatning horrible and bitter things, to be retarded by the continuance of the Roman Empire: which being compared with the former exposition, must be meant in the same sense, and is so applied by Bishop Abbot (demonstrat. Antichristi. n. 92.)
Cyril Hierosolymitanus, and Ambrose say the like upon the same place, (2 Thes. 2.) Then shall that wicked one be revealed, viz. cum completa fuerint tempora Romani Imperii; post defectum Romani regni appariturum, &c. i. e. he shall appear after the failing of the Roman Empire, for, as long as that stands, he dares not appeare. Saint Chrysostome upon the samefforeign, &c. id est, Imperium Romanum, quando è medio sublaetum fuerit; tunc venit ille, &c. & vacantem Imperii principatum invadet & te…tabit ad se rapere, & hominum, & Dei Imperium. this can be no other then the Roman Empire, for as long as that stands, he dares not shew himself, but upon the vacancy of that, he shall attempt to take to himselfe both the power of God and man, which how it fits the Papacy, may easily be discerned; Saint Ierome hath much to this purpose in divers places. In his answer to the 11. q. ad Algasiam, expounding that passage, ye know who letteth, &c. remember what I told you when I was with you, &c. he saithgNen vult apertè di…ere. Romanum Imperium destruc…dum, quia tum adversum Christianos, rabiem conci…asset persecutionis. he could not openly name the Roman Emperour, lest it should have caused a cruell persecution against the Christians (who imagined their Empire to have been without end) and referres them to what they had from him by word of mouth; And indeed there was none but the Roman Empire, that could then either have let, or hindred the man of sin from that presumptuous tyranny, or that the Apostle had cause to be cautious in naming, for fear of raising that molestation of the Christians. And in his Epistle ad Gaudentium; hearing that Rome was taken by the Gothes and Vandals, and saw the Western Empire declining, he was looking for the man of sin to have sprung up in his room, at least, expected his birth then; So accordingly Saint Augustine, in his twentieth book de Civitate Dei, cap. 19. makes it to be a matter out of doubt, (nullus ambigit) that the successor to the Emperour in Rome, shall be the man of sinne: The same saith h(Donec de medi… f…t,) d…nec regnum quod nuac te…et de medi… auferatur: h…c de Imperio Romàno dictum est & propterea Paulum non id apertè scribere voluisse, ne calum…ia… incurra…, quod Romano Imperio malè …ptaverit.Primasius andiTò foreign, tenet) intelligit foreign, quod prohibet, vel impedimento est; quid. nam autem est illud, …isi Romanum Imperium, &c. nisi enim hoc solvetur, iste non veniet, &c. Oecumenius upon the place, as Theophilact (who usually followes Saint Chrysostome:) unto which divers more might be added. But by this ye see the consent of the Fathers to the first 400 yeares for the time and place of revealing him; That though some lived 200 years, others 400. before the Emperour was cast out of Rome; yet they believed it should be: and though it cannot be expected they should directly name the person before he was in being, yet that Rome must be the place, and that he that should succeed the Roman Emperour, in it must be the person, they agree in. So much for clearing it from the aspersion of Novelty.
2. Now secondly, to take off the aspersion of singularity, for which there are a multitude of votes this way, of such writers who lived after the Emperour was put out of Rome, and the Bishop of Rome had succeeded him, viz. after the 600 years after Christ. It would be endlesse to relate the Authours, who have given their testimony both in the exposition, and application of that of the 2 Thessalonians 2. to the See of Rome; Baronius himself acknowledgeth in the generall, that there was not an age, but some learned man or other appeared in it accordingly, and even some of their own Communion. And about a thousand yeares after Christ, when the man of sin was come to the height, according to the description of him, foretold by Saint Paul, there were abundance. *Avent Annal. Boior. l. 5. p. 455.Aventinus, who was one of their own) tells us in his Annals, there were many of the German Bishops and Pastors in Gregory the seventh's time, that preached it throughout Germany, applying the whole prophesie of Saint Paul to the Bishop of Rome. kIbid▪ p. 470.Qui titulo Christi, negotium Antichristi agitat, who under the title of Christ, doth the work of Antichrist. Nay, saith he, Pler…que omnes boni, justi, ingenui, Imperium Antichristi coepisse, eo tempore cernebant. i. e. that all good men and ingenuous, for the most part discerned it at that time.
A. 1100. a Bishop of Florence so publickly averred it, Antichristum advenisse, & in Ecclesia dominari; That the Bishop of Rome Paschalis the second (an. 1105.) was fein to convocate a Councel at Florence, to silence him. Eberhardus Archiepiscopus Salisburiensis in Germany, in a great meeting of Bishops, applies to the then Bishop of Rome, Gregory the seventh, divers passages in 2 Thes. 2. among which he hath this speech, speaking of the Bishop of Rome. Perditus ille homo, quem Antichristum vocare solent, in cujus fronte scriptum est; Deus sum, errare non possum, in Templo Dei sedet; i. e. That wicked one, whom they use to call Antichrist, (it seems it was a common Title given in those dayes to him as now) in whose fore-head is written, I am God, I cannot erre, he sits in the Temple of God, &c. And applies divers of the passages of the Revelation, 17. & 18. accordingly, Imperator vana appellatio & sola umbra est, Reges decem pariter existunt, qui Romanum quondam imperium partiti sunt, etc. Decem Cornua (id quod D. Augustino incredibile visum est) Romanas provincias possident, &c. i. e. See, the Emperor is a vain title, a meer shadow. Ten Kings have parted the Roman Empire among them, signified by the ten horns (which seemed incredible to Saint Augustine) Turks, Greeks, Egypt, Affrick, Spain, France, England, Germany, Sicely, Italy, &c. Avent. Annal. lib. 7. 547.
Honorius Augustadunensis mAd calcem …. Tom. Auctarii. Bibliothec▪ Elit. Paris. 16…0.in anno 1120. applies the prophesie of the Beast, and Babylon in the Revelation to Rome, and the Pope. Bernardus Cluniacensis calls the Pope the King of Babylon, Ioachimus Abbas nVide Rog. Hoved…n.in Richard the first's time, (anno 1190.) set forth his Theses, and maintained publickly, Antichristum jam natum esse in civitate Romana, & in Sede Apostolica sublimatum. i. e. Antichrist to be now born in the City of Rome, and promoted in the Apostolick See. Johannis Sarisburiensis a Monk (anno 1150.) did the like.oMatth. Pa…s. Richard Grost-head that learned, pious, and eminent Bishop of Lincoln; anno 1253. made an excellent Oration to that purpose, a little before his death, Papam esse Antichristum, and the last words of men are the more memorable. Gulielmus Ockam, anno 1350. wrote to Clement the sixth, and publickly charged that See with Heresie and Antichr…stianisme.
Franciscus Petrarcha, An. 1347. in Epist. 18. &c. applies the prophesie of the Babilonish harlot to Rome, not Heathen, but Papal, the then Court of Rome in these words; Tu es, famosa dicam, an infamis, meretrix, fornicata cum Regibus Terrae, illa equidem ipsa es, quam in spiritu sacer vidit Evangelista, illa eadem inquam es, & non alia, sedens super aquas multas, (i. e.) Thou art the famous, should I say or infamous harlot, which hast committed fornication with the Kings of the Earth; thou art the very same which in the spirit the holy Evangelist saw (i. e. Iohn,) thou art I say the same, and not another, sittingupon many waters, &c.
Besides, throughout these ages, from the year 1100. how many were there of those, whom the See of Rome pNon defueran… etiam in omnibus terris numer…si pi…rum coetus, qui toto sol… Satan… tem pore bell…m Antichrists indixerunt: cujusmodi erant, quos Papistae (cum primum sectae authorem à quo denominarentur, invenire n…n possent) à quodam Petro Waldo Lugdunensi Waldenfium & pauper…m Lugdunensium n…mina. indide…unt. Usserius Arch. Armach. de Eccles. Christ. succes. & fla…. p. 150.called Waldenses, whom Reynerus confessethto have filled France, Spaine, Italy, and most of those Western parts; they with one mouth declared accordingly, thousands of them suffering death by that See, upon that account, whom we find then in most points consenting with us, and declaring against most of the errours of the Church of Rome: being guiltlesse of those scandals put upon them by Sanders, Cocci…s, and specially F. Parsons, which are fully cleared by the late Arch-Bishop of Armagh, in his book de Eccles. Christi. Success. & statu. p. 159. even by the testimony of their own Authours; their witness agreeing not together. For Iohn Wickleiffe our Countryman, one of great learning and piety, 'tis known sufficiently to have bin his judgment and declaration, as those succeeding him, Iohannes Purveius, Iohn Hus, Savanorola, and divers others, long before Luthers time, after which, it was more generally received in the reformed Churches, and the most learned men of each, whom time would fail me, so much as to name. Only as we have given you the votes of our own country-man and others, while they lived under the tyranny of the Bishop of Rome, so let me adde the votes of the most eminent of our English Bishops, since the withdrawing our selves from him, that it may the rather appear, that the judgement of the Primate concurres with the rest of his brethren before him.
Bishop Iewell that learned Bishop of Sarisbury, in his Exposition of the second Epistle to the Thessalonians, cap. 2. is very large in the application of the whole prophesie, to the See of Rome, as that of the vision of Saint Iohn concerning Babylon, p. 373. &c. Concludes that Antichrist, shall not be a Iew but a Christian, not a King, but a Bishop, and a holy Father, and should weare a Mitre. For on whom (saith he) should an Army of Priests attend (as Gregory the great a Bishop of Rome prophesied of Antichrist) but upon a Bishop, and an universal Bishop, at least one so claiming that universality; see his recollection of the whole: pag. 319. wondring any man should doubt of it; 'tis so apparent. And what he saith, p. 279. viz. that he knew what he should speak, would be ill taken of many, such affection they bear to him, whom the Apostle deciphers to be Antichrist (though I shall say nothing, but what, the holy scriptures, and learned writings of the Fathers have left unto us, and which the Church of God hath at this time proved to be true) will be found I fear also in many of this age, whose inclinations are too much declared in the defence of that See, in this particular.
Bishop Abbot one of his successours, Bishop of Sarisbury) in that book of his called Antichristi demonstratio, which were his Lectures at Oxford, is as full also. Wherein at his entrance, having spoken of the name of Antichrist, and given some descriptiption of him, he addes these words; Haec ve … netatio nominis Antichristi, si illam integram accip…amus quadratin illum optimè, quem esse …erum illum Antichristum (D…n juvante) demonstra…mus: Rom…num dico Purtifi…m, qui se esse caput Ecclesiae Christi, Christi vicem implere glori…ur.All which are most fitly to be applied to him, whom (with Gods assistance) we shall demonstrate to be the very Antichrist, I say the Bishop of Rome, who arrogates unto himself, to be the head of the Church of Christ, and his Vicegerent, &c. and p. 92. wonders at the blindness of men, like Owls at noon day, not to see it accordingly.
Arch-bishop Whitgift in his defence of the Answer to the Admonition, often applies the Title of Antichrist to the Bishop of Rome, as a thing taken for granted. See Tract. 8. p. 349. where having spoken much of him before, he thus concludes. I know that those Sects and Heresies gave strength unto Antichrist, and at the length were one speciall meanes of placing him in his throne, even as also I am perswaded that he worketh as effectually at this day by your stirres and contentions, whereby he hath and will more prevail against this Church of England, then by any other means whatsoever. Therfore it behoveth you to take heed how you divide the Army of Christ, which should unanimitèr, fight against that Antichrist. That he means the See of Rome none can doubt.
Whosoever shall read Bishop Andrews his Tortura Torti, cannot but conceive his judgement to be the same, Where he hath many of the observations, which have been mentioned already from the situation on seven hills, and the 7 head governments. And p. 183. upon the grant on both sides that Babylon is Rome;pDe eo tantum nobis lis erit jam quae…am illa ibi Roma Babylon, aut Roma quo tempore Babylon esse coeperit; Cuirei tot ibi circumstantias adhibet S. Johannes, vix ut in ea errare …uiquam contingat. Qu… enim Babylon ibi, eadem meretrix magna dicitur, &c. Edoctum antem ibi se dicit Johannes à spiritu de rebus quae venturae essent. Quod si jam Romam ibi (quo tu sensu vis) designavit, nihil venturum edocuit spiritus; Ethnica enim tum Roma in Auge erat vel maximè. Propheticus verò is liber totus haberi solet, &c. nimis autem illa misella tum prophetia foret, si praediceret fore, ut persequeretur Rom… Christianos …idit ver… hoc priusquam in Paethmos relega…us esset, &c. p. 183, 184. and p. 185. De ca Roma quae veneficiis seducit, quae agnum specie refert, scriptam tamen in fronte blasphemiam, in Temph Dei sedet, cujus merces hominum animae; quam decem Reges igne concrematuri sunt ad perniciem sempiternam; quae per pseudo prophetam suam vim habet signa faciendi. Verè à To… dicitur Romam Christianam perditam non iri: Non cer…è sed illam Antichristianam scili…et, &c. he states the question for the time, and resolves it cannot be Rome Ethnick, for then it had been no prophesie, it being at that time a persecutor of the Christians, and a shedder of the blood of the Saints, which Saint John then had the experience of himself, with divers other arguments from her inchantments, manner of destruction, making merchandize of soules, the persons which shall burn her, which could not agree to Heathen Rome; Adding to be the same beast, which hath horns like the lamb, sits in the Temple (or Church) of God, exalts himself above all that is called God, one that was not in being in Saint Johns time, pretendeth to to the working of miracles; and so concludes, that though Rome Christian may not go into perdition, yet Rome Antichristian shall, which hath been drunk with the blood of the Saints, and the Martyrs of Iesus, &c.
Bishop Bilson on in his book of the difference, between Christian subjection, and unchristian Rebellion, delivers his judgement often accordingly, as a matter out of controversie, affirming the Tyranny of Rome to be the power of darknesse, and kingdom of Antichrist, applying the pride of the Papacie, to that of the man of sin, exalting himself in the Temple of God. 2 Thessal. 2. It was, saith he, the ancient device and drift of Antichrist, to make himself mighty: when it was first attempted by Hildebrand (Greg. 7.) and now coloured by the Papists, with the name of Religion. p. 527. 817. &c.
Bishop Hall, that elegant and pious Bishop of Norwich, hath much to this purpose, dispersed throuh his works. (No peace with Rome, Sect. 1.) Look on the face of the Roman Church, she is Gods and ours, look on the back, she is quite contrary Antichristian. Sect. 22. shall we ever grow to that height of madnesse, as to come from the Standard of God to the tents of the Roman Antichrist. The heavens shall passe away by a change, Rome by a destruction, not a change. (The Honour of the married Clergy) Were it not for this opinion (i. e. the forbidding it) the Church of Rome would want one evident brand of her Antichristianisme. (Sect. 15.) Speaking of a Popish Priest; Well doth it become the son of that Babylonish strumpet, the lips drenched in the cup of those fornications, &c. and abundance of the like, might be produced.
Bishop Downham, the learned Bishop of Derry in Ireland, (from whose mouth I have heard sufficiently that way) in his book entituled Papa Antichristus, is the most large of any we have yet named, dividing his discourse into the description of the place and person, and the designation of the time, out of the 2 Thess. 2. and Revelat. 17. and all directly applyed by him to the See of Rome.
Bishop Morton, that famous and Reverend Bishop of Durham, (coetaneous with the former) and yet living, hath much of this in divers parts of his works.
Bishop Davenant, the eminent Bishop of Sarisbury, and professor of Divinity at Cambridge, hath often declared his judgement accordingly, in his Determinations pag. 24. Pontifex Maximus Antichristianam suam superbiam, &c. audacia plusquam Antichristianâ, &c. Vniversalem Papae jurisdictionem in totam Ecclesiam, non esse jure divino, sed usurpatione Antichristiana.
Bishop Prideaux, in his Lectures saith the like often, specially in that de Antichristo, that he cannot be the Turk, but the Pope, &c, Unto which Bishops might be added, the votes of many other learned orthodox and Episcopall men, whose judgements have been declared accordingly: As that learned Professor of Divinity, Doctor Samuel Ward, in his Lectures and Determinations at Cambridge, lately printed: specially in those three questions, Romana Ecclesia est Idololatrica; Apostasia à Paulo praedicta, est adimpleta; Romana Ecclesia est schismatica, i. e. 1. The Roman Church is Idolatrous. 2. The Apostasie foretold by Saint Paul, is fulfilled. 3. The Roman Church is schismaticall. Thus concluding in relation to the See of Rome. Haec scilicet est illa Babylon, quae in corde suo dicit sedeo regina, sola sum, & non est praeter me. i. e. This is that Babylon which saith in her heart, I sit as a Queen, I am only, & there is none besides me. And who knowes not (till of later yeares) how both the Vniversities in their publick disputations, and determinations, abounded in their conclusions accordingly.
I shall only adde the judgement of that meek and judicious man, Mr. Hooker, see his Treatise of Justification, Sect. 10. God hath spoken by his Angel from heaven to his people concerning Babylon, (by Babylon we understand the Church of Rome) Go out of her my people, that ye be not partaker of her plagues, he expounds the going out of her to be specially meant, out of Popish superstitions and heresies, calling the maintainers of them Popish Hereticks, and by plagues, not only temporal but eternal. Sect. 20. compares the Pope to Ieroboam, Rome to Samaria, that played the Harlot, &c. Sect. 27. speaking of the Bishop of Rome, and the Church of Rome, addes this. As Frenzy, though it take away the use of reason, doth notwithstanding prove them reasonable creatures which have it, because none can be frantick but they, so Antichristianity being the bane and plain overthrow of Christianity, may nevertheless argue the Church wherein Antichrist sitteth, to be christian. Sect▪ 57. God did in all ages keep his elect from worshipping the Beast, and from receiving his mark in their foreheads; he hath and will preserve them from receiving any deadly wound at the hands of the man of sin, whose deceit hath prevailed over none unto death, but only such as never loved the truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessal. 2 Sect. 35. speaking of Christs mercy to the worst of men upon their repentance, saith thus; if a Pope, stripped of usurped power, Antichrist converted, penitent, and lying prostrate at the foot of Christ, &c. shall I think Christ will spurn at him. In his Sermon on Saint Iude, Sect. 14. He calls the Pope the man of sin, and son of perdition, who hath fawned upon the Kings and Princes of the earth, and by spiritual cousenage proclaiming sale of Pardons, &c. hath taken the children of the Noblest families, and made them his Cardinals, built Seminaries; and hereby as at this day, the man of sin warres against us, &c. with the cup of whose deadly abominations, this Ierob…am of whom we speak, hath made the earth so drunk, that it hath reeled under us, &c. Now of whom the Prophet speaketh this; whether of the Bishop of Rome, or some other man, needs no further resolution, and so much for Mr. Hooker.
And whether or no, those of the Remonstrants are of a contrary judgement (which some call the Arminian party) 'tis apparent, Arminius himself consented with the aforesaid Bishops and Authours, sThes 31. De Pontific… R…mano, & praecipuis qui i…si attribuuntur titulis. S. 12. Adversarii parro Dei, & Antich…isti nomen ipsi compe…ere evidentissima ratione monstratur. Prius enim illi Apostolus …, quum appellat illum homi…nem peccati filium perdition…s; adversar…um & efferentem se supra vel contra omne id quod dicitur Deus aut foreign; it a ut in templ… Dei, tanquam Deus sedeat▪ prae se ferens se esse Deum: qui ex collapso Imperio Romano exu…get, ejusque vacantem dignitatem, occ…p…bat; haec enim … Romano s…la intelligenda esse, & intelligi posse asserimus. Antichristi ver… nomen il…i compete… excellentissimè, sivè particula foreign oppositionem, sive unius re… pro altera substitutionem, vel legitimè factam aut per vim & fraud…, &c significat. S. 13. i. e. Omni instiumentor…m Satanicorum genere usus est sophistica hypocris…, men…aciis, aequ…v…cationibus, perfidia, perjuriis, violentia, veneno, a… mis; adeo ut merito dici possit, bestiae illi formidabili quae Pardo, Vrso, Le…i, similis est, & quâ Romanum Imperium significatum est, successisse, &c. Faxit Deus ut Ecclesia ab Antichristi fraudibus & Tyra…nide liberetur; Religiosae sapientiae est, Curiam Romanam, a… Ecclesia in q…â P…ntifex sedea… interstinguere, &c.in his 31. Theol. disput. intituled: Of the Bishop of Rome, and of the chief Titles which are attributed unto him. Wherein after the rejection of the title given unto him by his favourites as blasphemous, and asserting his deserts of others, viz. the false Prophet (Revel. 19. 20. cap. 16. 23. cap. 12. 14.) Which did wonders before the beast, out of whose mouth three impure spirits came forth; The overthrower and destroyer of the Church in matters of faith and worship, and raising of divisions between Princes and their subjects. S. 12. he asserts the name of Autichrist, most evidently to belong unto him: for the Apostle gives it unto him (2 Thessal. 2. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.) where he there calls him, the man of siu, the son of perdition, that opposeth and exalts himself above, or against all that is called God or worship, sitting in the Temple of God, and saying he is God; who upon the fall of the Roman Empire, should rise up in his stead; and take his vacant dignity. That these (saith he) are to be understood of the Bishop of Rome, and are to be understood of him only; we do affirm. And for the name of Antichrist, that most specially 'tis appliable to him, whether foreign be understood by way of opposition to Christ, a pretended substitution, or a subordination in his stead, &c. Sect. 13. He hath made use of all sorts of instruments, hypocrisies, lies, equivocations, treacheries, perjuries, poison, force, and armes; that he may well be said to have succeeded that beast, like to a Leopard, a Beare, and a Lion. Revel. 13. 2. by which the Roman Empire is signified, whose Image he bare; and brought it to passe, whosoever would not worship the image of the beast, should be put to death, &c. and concludes with a prayer, that God would grant; that the Church might be delivered from the fraud and tyranny of Antichrist. And so much for the judgement of Arminius.
Now, that the Divines of the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas, do generally accord also in it; need not to be inserted being sufficiently known, such as Daneus, Franciscus-Iunius, Tilenus, Morneus, Viguierus, Rivetus, Chamerus, etc. The Reformed Church of France, have made it one of their Articles in their confession, as …e may find in Chamier (Paustrat. Cathol. Tom. 2. lib. 16. de Antichristo cap. 1.) where he gives you the words of the 31, Article conceived in Synodo Papinsensi, owned by him to be the confession of the reformed Churches in France, in these words following.
t…ùm Episcop…s Romanus, erecta sibi i… orbe Christiano Monarchia, dominationem usurpet in omnes Ecclesias & pastores, in tantam erectus superbiam,Whereas the Bishop of Rome having erected to himself a Monarchy over the Christian world, doth usurp a Dominion over all Churches and Pastors; and hath rose to such a height of pride, as to call himself1ut Deum se dicat, [Can. satis dist. 96. lib. 1. Sac…ar. Cerem. cap. de Benedictiensis.] veli…q…e God, will be2ad…rari, [Concil. Lateran…ult. Se…. 1. 3. 9, …] omnemque tribui sibi potestatem in … & in terra, res Ecclesiasticas o…nes disp…nat; articulos fi lei definiat: Scripturarum author…ta…em, atque interpretationem à se esse, dicat, animarum … exerceat; veta juramentáque dispenset, novos Dei cultus, i…stituat; Tum in civilibus, legi …mam magistratu…um au…h…itatem pedib…s sub… gat, …, ablatis, … Imperiis. Credimus atque asserimus esse verum illum & G…rman…m Antichrist…m, perditicnis filium, pron…nciatum in verbo … Meretricem purpuratam it siden…em septem … in …ogna civitate; quae regnum … in Reges terrae: Expecta…sque dum Dominus pr…ut pr…sit ac jam coepit, confici…ns cum spirituoris sui, tandem ill…st… … adventu suo aboleat. adored, and all power to be given him in heaven and earth; disposeth of all Ecclesiastical things; defines Articles of Faith, saith the authority of the Scripture, and the interpretation of it, to be from him; maketh Merchandize of soules, dispenseth with vowes and oathes; institutes new worships of God. As also in civil affaires, treads upon the lawful authority of the Magistrate, in giving, taking away, translating of Empires; We do believe, and assert him to be the very proper Antichrist, son of perdition foretold in the word of God, the scarlet harlot, sitting on seven mountains in the great city; which hath obtained a rule over the Kings of the earth: and we do expect when the Lord according to his promise, and as he hath begun, will destroy him with the spirit of his mouth, and at length abolish with the brightnesse of his coming.
And Maresius in his preface to the Answer of Hugo Grotius his Observations upon the 2 Thes. 2. and other places gives us the like Article, agreed upon in Synodo Nationali Gapensi. Anno 1604. which hath very little or no difference from the former, and so needlesse to be repeated. Which do fully agree with the Synod of Ireland, by by the Arch-bishops and Bishops, and the rest of the Clergy there in the Convocation holden at Dublin, 1615. num. 80. viz. The Bishop of Rome is so farre from being the supreme head of the Vniversal Church of Christ, that his works and doctrine, do plainly discovar him to be the man of sin, foretold in holy Scripture, whom the Lord shall consnme with the spirit of his mouth, and abolish with the brightnesse of his coming.
The former Synod may possibly be undervalued with some, by bearing the name of Presbyterian; but seeing it consents with the latter which was Episcopal, why may it not be an introduction to a further moderation betweene them in other matters. And it stands but with justice; that if Presbytery have had a hand in the match of Episcopacy with Popery, (which seems to have been without consent of parties) it should upon this evidence be the more forward in assisting in the divorce.
Now in regard that above-said Article of the Church of Ireland, confirmed by the judgement of the late Primate, hath been objected against by Doctor Heylene for that (as he saith) there is no such doctrine in the book of Articles, nor in any publick monument, or record of the Church of England, but the contrary rather. … shall cite some passages out of the book of Homilies, which are approved by the book of Articles, as a larger declaration of the Doctrine of the Church of England, and leave it to the Readers judgment.
In the third part of the Sermon of good works, speaking against the Popish singing of Trentals, and the superstitious Orders in the Church of Rome, introduced to serve the Papacy, these words are as followeth: viz. Honour be to God, who did put light in the heart of King Henry the eighth; to put away all such superstitions, and Pharisaical Sects, by Antichrist invented, &c. which can be meant of no other, but the See of Rome; by the words not long after. viz. Let us rehearse some other kinds of Papistical superstitions, &c. In the second part of the Sermon of salvation, speaking against the Popish opinion of justification by works; these words are as followeth. Iustification is not the office of man, but of God; for man cannot make himself righteous by his own works, neither in part, nor in the whole, for that were the greatest arrogancy and presumption of man, that Antichrist could set up against God, etc. and so accounts it not the doctrine of a Christian, that sets forth Christs glory, but of him that is an adversary to Christ, and his Gospel; and a setter forth of mans vain-glory, &c. And that passage in the third part of the Sermon against the perill of Idolatry, p. 69. I leave to the Readers judgement, if the sense can be understood, otherwise then of the See of Rome, in these words following. viz. Now concerning (popish) excessive decking of Images and Idols, with painting, gilding, adorning with pretious vestures, pearles and stones, what is it else but for the further provocation and inticement to spiritual fornication; which the Idolatrous Church, understandeth well enough. For she being indeed, not only an harlot (as the Scripture calls her) but also a foule, filthy, old harlot (for she is indeed of ancient yeares) and understanding her lack of nature and true beauty, and great lothsomnesse, which of her self she hath; she doth (after the custome of such harlots) paint her self, and deck and tire her self with gold, pearle, stone, and all kind of pretious jewels, that she shining with the outward beauty and glory of them, may please the foolish fantasie of fond lovers, and so entice them to spiritual fornication with her. Who if they saw her (I will not say naked) but in simple apparel, would abhorre her, as the foulest, and filthiest harlot that ever was seen; According as appeareth by the description of the garnishing of the great strumpet of all strumpets, the Mother of whoredomes, set forth by Saint Iohn in his Revelation (Apoc. 17.) who by her glory provoked the Princes of the earth, to commit whoredome with her, &c, and it followeth, pag. 77. And it is not enough to deck Idols, but at the last, come in the Priests themselves likewise decked with gold and pearle, and with a solemn pace, they pass forth before these golden puppets, and fall down to the ground on their marrow-bones before the sehonourable Idols, and then rising up again, offer up odours and incense to them: &c. He that reads the whole, cannot judge of it to be meant otherwise, then of the Papacy.
And if the fifth and sixth part of the Sermon against wilful rebellion be viewed, there will be found such a large narration of the pride and ambition of the Bishop of Rome, that there will not need any further help to an application of that 2 Thes. 2. to him, which thus beginneth, viz. After that ambition and desire of dominion, entred once into Ecclesiastical Ministers, whose greatnesse (after the doctrine and the example of our Saviour) should chiefly stand in humbling themselves; And that the Bishop of Rome did by intolerable ambition challenge, not only to be the head of all the Church dispersed throughout the world, but also to be Lord of all kingdoms of the world, as is expressely set forth in the book of his own Canon-Lawes. He became at once the spoyler and destroyer both of the Church, which is the kingdom of our Saviour Christ, and of the Christian Empire, and all Christian kingdomes, as an universal Tyrant over all. The particulars of whose actions to that end, are there related. viz. The Bishop of Rome stirring up subjects to rebell against their Soveraigne Lords, even the Son against the Father, pronouncing such Schismaticks, and persecuting them, who resused to acknowledge his above-said challenge of supreme authority over them; discharging them from their oath of fidelity made not only to the Emperour, but to other Kings and Princes throughout Christendome. The most cruell and bloody wars raised amongst Christian Princes of all kingdoms: the horrible murder of infinite thousands of Christian men, being slain by Christians, the losse of so many great Cities, Countries, Dominions, and Kingdomes, sometimes possessed by Christians in Asia, Affrick, and Europe; The miserable fall of the Empire, and Church of Greece, sometime the most flourishing part of Christendom, into the hands of the Turks; The lamentable diminishing, decay and ruine of Christian Religion: and all by the practice and procurement of the Bishop of Rome chiefly, which is in the Histories and Chronicles written by the Bishop of Rome's own favourites and friends to be seen, claiming also to have divers Princes and Kings to their vassals, liege men, and subjects, &c. behaving themselves more like Kings and Emperours in all things, then remained like Priests, Bishops and Ecclesiastical; or, (as they would be called) spiritual persons in any one thing at all, &c. and so concludes with an exhortation of all good subjects, knowing those the speciall instruments of the Devill, to the stirring up of all Rebellion, to avoid and flee them.
Is not this a full description of the pride of that man of sinne. 2 Thess. 2. in exalting himselfe above all Kings and Princes, and that son of perdition (being understood actively:) who was the cause of the perdition, or losse of so many thousands of Christian mens lives.
And in the sixth part of the same Sermon, you have a more particular relation of the Bishop of Rome's blood-shed, (accoding to the description of that Harlot, Revel. 17. 6.) in these words. viz. And as these ambitio…s usurpers the Bishops of Rome, have overflowed all Italy and Germany with streams of Christian blood, shed by the rebellims of ignorant subjects against their naturall Lords and Emperours, whom they have stirred thereunto by false pretences: so is there no Countrey in Christendome, which by the like means of false pretences, hath not been over-sprinkled with the blood of subjects, by rebellion against their naturall Soveraigns, stirred up by the same Bishops of Rome, &c. And in conclusion, as the Sermon often entitles the Bishops of Rome, unsatiable wolfes, and their Adherents, Romish greedy wolfes; so doth it in speciall call the See of Rome, the Babylonicall beast, in these words; viz. The Bishop of Rome understanding the bruit blindnesse, ignorance and superstition of the English in King Johns time, and how much they were inclined to worship the Babilonical beast of Rome, and to fear all his threatnings, and causelesse curses, he abused them thus, &c.
I have transcribed these the more largely out of the Book of Homilies, both that such as have rejected them as Popish may see their errour, and those that now so much favour the See of Rome, that they call such language railing, may have their mouthes stopped, being it is from the mouth of the Church of England in her Homilies, which is a good warrant for her sons to say after her.
Let the Reader judge whether these passages do not confirme, rather then contradict, or be contrary (as Doctor Heylene saith) to the Articles of Ireland, and the Primates judgement of the See of Rome.
I shall only alledge one passage more, and that is in the conclusion of the second part of the Sermon for Whit-sunday. viz. Wicked and nought were the Popes and Prelates of Rome for the most part, as doth well appear by the story of their lives, and therefore worthily accounted among the number of false Prophets, and false Christs, which deceived the world a long while, the Lord defend us from their Tyranny and pride, that they may never enter into this Vineyard again; but that they may be utterly confounded, and put to flight in all parts of the world. And he of his great mercy so work, that the Gospel of his Son may be truly preached to the beating down of sin, death, the Pope, the Devill, and all the kingdome of Antichrist, &c.
This latter passage is only produced by Doctor Heylene, as an evidence, that the Pope is not declared to be Antichrist, either here, or any where else, in the book of Articles or Homilies, which how the force of it can be extended so farre beyond its own sphere, both not appeare: For his principal argument, that he finds here the Pope and Antichrist, distinguished as much as the Devil and the Pope. 'Tis answered, The destiuction here is not between the Pope and Antichrist, but between him and his Antichristian kingdom; for the words are not, the Pope, the Divell, and Antichrist; but, and all the kingdome of Antichrist. That Universality (all) comprehending both head and members. And if we should allow a Duumvirate, (in the Pope and Devill) for the government of that kingdom, one as the visible head, the other as the invisible, or the one him that reigneth; the other by whom he receiveth power so to do: (Rev. 13. 4.) both might be thus owned without infringing the title of either: Howsoever 'tis not the arguings from such niceties in the placing of words (which the book of Homilies, are not strict in, as might be shewed in several instances) but the observation of the scope and drist of the place, the comparing it with others, the concurrance of the judgement of severall eminent Bishops afore-cited, (who cannot be imagined to declare against the doctrine of it) will carry the sense of it accordingly, with the judicious and unbiassed Reader: and so much for the book of Homilies.
Unto which I might also adde the opinion of some learned men, liveing and dying within the outward communion of the Church of Rome. To instance onelyonly in Padrio Paulo, who wrote the History of the Councill of Trent: After whose stabbing by an Emissarie from Rome, many of the Clergy of Venice, brake out into that application, calling that See Impura, insana, superba, meretrix, pestis, ac lues mortalium; and her ruine to be expected, according to Rvelat. 18. Some of the verses are printed at the end of the Interdict writ by Padrio Paulo, and translated out of Italian into Latin by Bishop Bedell, who was often an ear-witnsse when he lived in those parts of divers learned men, producing that of 2 Thes. 2. the man of sin who exalts himself above all, &c. and shall sit in the …emple of God, &c. both as an argument that the Bishop of Rome is the person sitting; and that those who are oppressed, and tyrannised over by him, are uCalvin. Epist. 104. Under the Papacy some Church, remaineth, a Church crazed, forlorne, mistaken, yet some Church, his reason, is, Antichrist must sit in the Temple of God, which is cited by Mr. Hooker. Instit. Sect. 27. Geh…i a man though overrun with a Leprosy, and to be shunned as unclean. Antichristianismus est morbus in Christianism….the Church of God, and from thence rejecting any application to Mahumet, and fixing it upon the Bishop of Rome, some questioning, Is it he, or shall we look for another; others saying, (as the Jewes of the blind man) This is one very like him, but many, This is he?) which puts me in mind of the confident assertion of Cardinal Perron, who affirms that whosoever maintaineth this wicked doctrine, that Popes have no power to put Kings by their supreme thrones, they teach men to beleeve that there hath not been any Church for many ages past, and that indeed the Church is the very Synagogue of Antichrist; and the Pope in good consequence to be the Antichrist; which Oration the Cardinal himselfe addressed to King Iames, upon a supposition, it might have converted him. See King Iames Preface, to the defence of the right of Kings *The words of the Cardinal are these. viz. by this Article (i. e. that Kings are not deposable by the Pope) we are cast headlong into a manifest heresie, as binding us to confesse, that for many ages past, the Catholick Church hath been banished out of the whole world; for if the Champions of the doctrine contrary to this Article, do hold an impious & detestable opinion, contrary to Gods word, then doubtless the Pope for so many hundred years expired, hath not been the head of the Church, but an heretick, and the Antichrist. p. 453..
Now whereas both sides (as you have heard) are agreed upon the place, to be Rome (which checks the phansie of such as would apply it to Constantinople, or to persons that never were at either) I shall only confirm it out of one of the Popish Writers, who hath quoted most of the rest (to save the Reader any farther labour, if he hath a mind to satisfie himself in it) 'tis Tyrinus the Jesuit, in his Commentary upon the 17. Revelat. Where comparing the vision of the beast with 7 heads, and 10 hornes, cap. 13. with that of the 17. and granting it to be meant of the same, (like Pharaoh's dreames, the seven eares of corne, and the seven kine were both one) then, for the vision there; he saith by the great harlot, whose Mystical name is Babylon, cannot possibly be meant of any other then Rome: 'tis plain (saith he) she sits upon *The usual stile of the Sybils foreign. i. e. Roma septicollis in Plutarch, & Varro, a Festival among the Romans called dies septem montium. Tertul. in his time calls the people of Rome, the people of the seven hills, Ipsam vernaculam septem collium plebem convenio. Apol. l. 35.seven Mountains, and raigns over the Kings of the earth, which can agree to no other city besides. And urgeth that place of Saint Peter (2 Peter 5. 13.) the Church which is at Babylon salutes you, to be meant of Rome (for as Bishop Andrewes observes,xIta avidè avent homines …ii Petrum Romae, alicubi in Scripturâ reperire, poti…s ut Babylone… velint esse Romam, ubi Pe…us fuit, quam ut Petrus Romae n…n fuerit. Valde enim illorum interest ad …aput fidei ut Petrus Romae cred…tur fuisse, &c. Tort. Torti. p 183. rather then Peter should not be at Rome (which they have slender or no proofes for out of Scripture, but yet is of great consequence to the Papacy) they will confesse it to be Babylon.
And, though 2 Thes. 2. he saith the Temple of God, where the man of sinne sits, is Ierusalem; yet here his seat of Babylon must be Rome; Produceth the expresse Testimonies of the Fathers for it, Lactantius, Tertullian, Ierome, Ambrose, Augustine, &c. and (saith he) even our hereticks meaning the Protestant Writers (for after the same way he calls heresie; so worship we the God of our Fathers) and in conclusion, produceth most of his own associates, the Writers of the Church of Rome, Sixtus Senensis, Bellarmine, Bozius, Zuarez, Salmeran, Alcazar, unto which I may adde, Baronius, yCertissimum esse nomine Babylenis Roma…urbem significari. Anno 45. n. 18.'Tis most certaine (saith he) by the name of Babylon, the City of Rome is signified. Ribera in his Commentary upon it, saith the same, adding alsozHui… conveniunt aptissimè omnia atque illud inprimis, quod alii conve…ire non potest; optimè etiam convenisse…, quod in …odem capite, & mulier quam vidisti est civitas magna, quae habet regnum super reges terr…. all things fitly agree to it, and somewhat that can be applied to no other then Rome, as The seven heads are seven hills, and, The City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth.
Viegus saith,aExistimamus nomine Babylonis Remanam urbem significari in hoc Apocalypsis opere, ubi toties Babylon nominatur, &c. omnia quae his capitibas memorantur, in Romanam urbem aptissimè quadrant, We conceive, wheresover Babylon is mentioned in the Revelation, it signifies Rome, and all things in the 17. and 18. Revel. very fitly appliable to it.
According to that of bIohannes in Apocalypsi Passim Romam vocat Babylonem ut Tertullianus annotavit, & …pertè colligitut ex cap. 17. Apocal…p. ubi dicituy Babylon magna sedere suprà septem montes & habere imperium super reges terrae; nec enim alia civitas est, quae Iohannis tempore imperium habuerat super reges terrae quam Roma; & notissimum est supra septem colles Romam aedificatam esse. lib. 3. de Rom. Pont. cap. 13.Bellarmine (formerly quoted) and Lessius cRomaà Johanne vocatur Babylon, quia Babilon fuit figura Romae, quibus verbi… aptè designat Romam.who saith, Iohn calls Rome Babylon, as being the figure of Rome, and by his words he elearly sheweth it to be Rome, All which may well give a check to the Novelty of some among our selves, who without the ballast of sound or sollid judgement, have been carried about with the winds; of other imaginations, which yet I could easily believe, some Popish Agents (upon second thoughts) have had their hands in, to get it driven off the further from their shore; Though how farre not-withstanding our aforesaid Writers, and these are from an agreement, in the above-said, hath been made apparant in the two former Treatises; viz. Those of the Popish Writers, would have it Rome, while it was Heathen, and the fall to be with the Hearhen Empire; and ours, Rome since it became Christian, and the fall yet to come. Those of ours, who in defence of our Ordination from the scandal of Antichristian, by its passing through the See of Rome, have endeavoured to take off that See, from being such in the aforementioned places; as it was a needlesse refuge, so the cure is worse then the disease.
And those, who have with the Popish Writers, yeelded the man of sin, and the son of perdition, by that manner of expression; to be meant of a single person, were not forced to it; for it may notwithstanding be meant of a successive race of men, in one place and government; non de unitate individui, sed speciei, according to the like instance in Scripture. Esa. 23. 15. Tyre shall be forgotten 70 years, according to the days of one King. (i. e.) of one Kingdom, viz. The Empire of the Caldeans, which after Nebuchadnezar and his successors Evelmerodach and… Belshazar, was given to the Medes and Persiaus, and Dan. 7. 17. the 4 beasts are 4 Kings, (i. e.) the four successive Empires, the Chaldean, Persian, Grecian, Roman, as the seven Kings do accordingly, (Rev. 17.) signify seven succe…ive governments, and so the man of sin, may be meant accordingly, not of a particular man, but of a race of men succeeding in that Tyranny; as when they say, the Pope is the Head of the Church, they do not limit it to this or that particular Pope, but mean it of the continued succession from S. Peter.
Neither is the Article foreign, of any more force for the limitation of it to one man there, (2 Thes. 2.) then it is in Luk. 4. 4. Man lives not by bread only, or Mark 2. 27. The Sabbath was not made for man: both includeing all mankind; or, 2 Tim. 3. ult. That the man of God may be perfect, &c. which is not confined to one, but takes in all the Ministery. For which; or any thing else, concerning this controversie (which I shall not enter into) I shall referre the Reader to Bishop Downham, Bishop Iewel, Bishop Abbot, with others, from whom he may receive full satisfaction. Only thus much in confirmation of the Iudgement of those two Reverend and eminent Bishops, & a Vindication of it, from the aspersion of singularity, and novelty.