A Hundred Sermons on Revelation, Sermons · Sermon 61
¶ Of the marke and numbre of the name of the beaſte. The .lxj. Sermon.
ANd he made all both ſmal and great, rych and poore, free and bonde, to receyue a marke in their ryghte handes, or in their foreheads. And that no man might by or ſell, ſaue hee that hath the marke, or the name of the beaſte, eyther the numbre of his name. Here is wiſdome. Let him that hath witte, count the numbre of the beaſte. For it is the nūbre of a man, and his nūbre is ſixe hondreth threſcore and ſixe.
He annexeth the reſt, wherby Antichriſt may be knowen, and ſhunned. And verely he maie chiefly be knowen of theſe thinges that folowe.
And he ſpeaketh of the ſubiectes of Antichriſte,The ſubiects of Antichriſte. and of this newe Kynge, and Byſhoppe. He wyll procure to hymſelfe, ſaieth he, an infinite multitude of al kynd of men, of al ſtates and degrees. For his Kyngdome ſhall be ample and large. Therfore doth the Lord reſite here, certeine kynds and ſtates of men: And vnderunder the ſame vnderſtandeth, whatſoeuer is of the ſame ſtate in the whole world. The Romiſh Antichriſt brought vnderunder his ſubiection ſmal and great, rich and poore: free, to witte nobles, and bond. For we ſee that Emperours, Kynges, Dukes, Marqueſſes, Earles and Baronnes, Realmes, Countries, Cities, Patriarches, Archbiſhops and Byſhops, Prelates, Doctours, Clarks, and Laie men obey him: alſo men of greateſt power, riches & wiſedom, together with ye poore people. There is none ſuch a kingdome, & ſo diuerſly cōpacte in the world, no not emonges the Mahometiſtes. And al theſe verely willingly are ſubiect to the ſeate: yea thei hauehave perſwaded with thēſelues, that thei cannot wel liue, that they cannot be ſaued, vnleſſe they be ſubiecte to the See of Rome.
The marke of Antichr.And lyke as Princes diſcerne their ſubiects & ſeruauntes by culloures and cogniſaunces, and the common people alſo their cattell by ſeueral brands and marks, wherby thei may be knowen whoſe they are, or whom they ſerue. For eueryevery man hath his cullours: he white and blacke, he red & blewe, an other white & red, ſome blacke & yelow, which they geue their ſoldiours & ſeruauntes to weare, & thei profeſſe thereby to be reteined to him or him. And as they marke their horſes with their brand, and ſet their marks vponupon houſehold veſſel: So ſhall Antichriſte doubtles hauehave alſo his foreign to wit, his marke, whereby he may both bynde wen to him, and ſo boūden ſhal marke, that they may be diſcerned from others, and by this meane maie weare the badge, and as it were the cullours of their Lorde and Maiſter. And he wyll geue his marke on the right hand, or on their foreheades.
The mark in the right hand or foreheades.Aretas and Primaſius, finally all expoſitours agreablie, do expounde it the confeſſion of the mouth, and ſtudie and operation of a good woorke. We hauehave hearde verely, howe Chriſte in the ſeuenth chapt. ded imprinte on the foreheades of his ſeruaunts faith, by effectual charitie. And in very dede the ſigne of Gods children, is fayth, and louelove that cometh of the ſame fayth. So do the writings of the Euangeliſtes and Apoſtles teſtifie. Neuertheleſſe, Chriſt hath alſo the externall marke of his ſeruauntes, thoſe holeſome Sacramentes of the church, Baptiſme and the Lordes Supper.
Howebeit yf any be baptized at this day, and be partaker of the Lords ſupper, cal vpō God the father with the Lordes praier, and vtter his faith by a ſincere cōfeſſion of thapoſtels Crede: morouer confeſſe thoſe to be good workes, which are done in faith after the rule of the ten cōmaundementes, and beſides this doe ſhine in good workes: ſhall he be taken for a true catholicke and right chriſten mā? In olde fime doubtles al men would hauehave imbraced him for a Brother. But what ſhuld he be at this daye in the Popes kingdome: Thou ſhalt ſeme by al theſe things to hauehave confeſſed nothing at al of the true faith, except thou plainely profeſſe yt thou beleueſt after the faith & tradition of the church of Rome: & that thou doeſt acknowledge thoſe for good workes whiche the churche of Rome hath approued. Vnleſſe thou beleue & profeſſe on this wiſe, in vaine ſhalt thou confeſſe al the fourmer matters. No though thou ſaieſt moreouer that thou beleueſt the lawe, the prophetes, the goſpel, & Apoſtles. They will like thee a great deale better, if thou ſayeſt thou arte an obedient childe of the Apoſtolicall See and church of Rome: than if thou ſhouldeſt ſaye, that thou arte the childe of God, a chriſten manne, that thou putteſt thy whole truſte in the ſonne of God, whiche is the only ſaluation and rightuouſenes. Yea ye ſhall finde thē, which wil by and by at theſe wordes crie out, that they ſmell of hereſie, & a minde infected with poyſon. I fayne nothing, experience it ſelfe wil witneſſe, that I ſaye trewth. And thus doeth the Pope marke his men both in the forehead & righthande. Thus are the Romiſhe whelpes diſcerned from other faythfull, as it were by markes.
Beſides this there is an other thing. Al papiſt…s do plainely teſtifie, that vnleſſe a man be marked in the forehead with Chreſme by the Biſhoppes hande, he is no chriſtian: how ſo euer he be baptiſed, & beleue in Chriſt Ieſus. Whereof it followeth, that they attribute more to their confirmation & annoincting of the Biſhop, than to the chriſten faith. Reade the boke called Summa angelica in the title of confirmation. This therefore is a ſealyng of the Popiſſhe religion: the Chriſten markes of Chriſt are ſufficient. The Pope alſo by an other waye imprinteth his marke in the righthande of mē, by he… ting of vowes, & perfourming of othes, as they terme it. For they that make a vowe in entryng into any religion as they call it, as it were by a ſtipulation made, do binde themſelues to the Pope and See of Rome. Furthermore Antichriſt the Pope by othes alſo to be perfourmed by the holdyng vp of the right hande doeth binde and bring in daunger to him, Emperours, Kinges, Archbiſſhoppes, Princes, Biſhoppes, Doctours, Vniuerſities, and all ſtates. They promeſſe that they will attempte nothing agaynſt the church of Rome, nor agaynſt the high Biſſhop thereof, nor yet agaynſt the priuileges and ſtatutes of the See. There remayne the maner of othes in the decrees and decretalles. I touche theſe thinges briefly. They ſee more, that ſhutte not their eyes. And al men beholde, how the Pope hath ſet his marke on the righthand and forehead of men.
He forbiddeth that no man bée nor ſelle.There followeth againe of the fierſe crueltie, and blouddy tiranny, which Antichriſt practiſeth agaynſt the Chriſtians, that is to ſaye agaynſte them whiche will not receyue the marke of the beaſte: that is, whiche will not proſtitute themſelues to the luſte of the Pope, and the ſeate of peſtilēce. Antichriſt, ſayeth the lorde, by his power ſhall brynge to paſſe, that none maye by or ſelle, ſaue he that hath the marke of the beaſte, &c. And theſe come all to one effecte, the marke of the beaſte, the name of the beaſte, and the nombre of the name of the beaſt. For he hath the marke of the beaſt, which acknowledgeth the ſeate, and profeſſeth the faith of Rome: and euen to whom the chriſten faith is not enough. He hath the name of the beaſte, who ſo euer he be that will be named an obedient childe of the holy See of Rome, and acknowledgeth the Pope to be head of the vniuerſall church. He hath the nombre of the name of the beaſte, whiche hath a ſocietie with the beaſte, whiche ſocietie that nombre bewrayeth or ſheweth. Therfore excepte thou acknowledge the Pope to be ſupreme head of the churche in Earth, with the fulnes of power: vnleſſe thou profeſſeſt to followe the fayth of the holy church of Rome, and to deteſte all thinges what ſo euer that See hath condemned, thou arte forbidden fire and water. That ſame hath the lord called to prohibite, that thou mayeſt nother bie nor ſelle. We ſaye in dutche, ſignifiyng one that is banniſhed out of al mens company. He vnderſtandeth therfore excommunication, that horrible thonderbolte of the Pope, wherewith are ſtricken all thoſe, that hauehave ſet more by Chriſt, than by the Pope, or the which hauehave lothed the Popes decrees in compariſon of the Goſpell. Let him reade, that liſte the ſixte decretall of Boniface the .8. in the .5. boke the .2. titl. de hereticis. Alſo Clement the .5. booke .3. Title. de hereticis. But he that will knowe exactely a compendiouſe treatiſe of tiranny, and a glaſſe of butcherie, let him reade the Bulle of Martin the .5. whiche is ſubiecte to the Seſſions of the Counſell of Conſtaunce, and is written to Biſhoppes and inquiſitours of heretical prauitie. Emonges other thinges, there is one, which geueth a wonderfull lighte to this place whiche we nowe expounde: where it cōmaundement, that they do not permitte them that diſpiſe the communion of the churche of Rome, to kepe or dwell in any houſe or lodgynge, to make any bargaynes, or occupie any trafficke or trade of Marchandiſe, or to hauehave any cōforte of humanitie with the faithfull of Chriſt. Reade thou the reſte, leafe .134. Herunto maye be added, that in Popiſhe churches is the greateſte biyng and ſellynge of all. But vnleſſe his crowne be ſhauen, and his handes imbrewed with oyle, that is, except he hath receiued in the foreheade or head and in the righthande the marke indelible (for ſo they terme it, that can not be put out) he hath no marchandiſe lefte him in the houſe, nor ſo much as a little corner. But Chriſt whipped theſe marchaūtes, or byers and ſellers ones or twiſe out of the temple: Antichriſt hath brought them in agayne. And this is verely a wonder, thei ſhewe more fauour at this daye to Iewes, Turkes, and heathen, than to Chriſtians. For vntounto the only goſpellers is no place permitted: verely for that they aſcribe al to Chriſte, preache Chriſte only, leaue nothing to the Pope, but rather accuſe him moſte conſtantly, and bitterly.
But what ſhall we ſaye to them,Counſell for the ſeduced. whoſe handes and foreheades hauehave ben defiled with the marke? I bid them to waſh themſelues with ye bloud of Chriſt, forſake Antichriſte, and tourne vntounto Chriſte, in relinquiſſhyng their errours and repenting them. In caſe thou haſte bounden thy ſelfe to Antichriſte by an othe, doe not perfourme that raſhe and wicked othe, by vngodly ſpeakyng agaynſt the goſpel. Do penaūce, make thy purgation, retourne vntounto Chriſt, and thou ſhalt be ſaued.
Here is wiſedome.Nowe leeſt any man here ſhould chatter, that we maye be Chriſtians, & aboundantly inſtructed in heauenly wiſedom, although we do heare or ſpeake nothing of the pope and popiſhe matters, that thoſe diſputations are vnprofitable, yea odiouſe, and to apperteyne to the ſtiring vp of troubles, and therfore to be hurteful and fooliſhe: that ſame our Lorde preuenteth, and ſayeth expreſſely, here is wiſedom in the knowledge and righte iudgemente of theſe thinges conſiſteth the trewe, heauenly and godly wiſedome. Vnleſſe we be wiſe in this thing, we ſhal be fooles, and not wiſe. The Lord therfore exciteth the hearers to the ſtudy of inquyringe after Antichriſte, and to beware of him when he is founde. For in the 14. chapt. we ſhall heare, that they ſhall drinke of the Wine of Gods wrath, as many as hauehave receyued the marke of the beaſte, and worſhipped his Image. Wherefore they ſhall drinke at the ſame table with Chriſte of the cuppe of lyfe and of the grace of God, ſo many as hauehave diſpiſed Poperie. And who ſhall denye it to be the trewe wiſedome, by the whiche we maye come from the wrath of God, to the grace felloweſhippe and participation of the ſame: Moreouer the lord adioyneth, that men indewed with vnderſtandyng, not witles, and ful of hurtful follye, ſhould recken the name of the beaſt: that is to ſaye, ſhould be dilligently occupied in this matter, that thoſe thinges ſhould be dilligently ſearched for, whiche worldely menne affirme to be curiouſely ſought and inquired after,We are cō maunded diligētly to ſeke after Antichriſt. not only without any profit, but with loſſe alſo, Moreouer the Lorde commaundeth to accompte the nombre of the name of the beaſte. He addeth that the ſame is not harde to do. For this nombre to be the nombre of a man, to witte which a dilligēt man maye eaſely by fayth & induſtrie attaine to. For ſo doeth Aretas expounde it alſo, ſaiyng, that nombre is comon and knowen to men. Let them leaue than to trouble our godly ſtudies, which blame our ſermōs made againſt the Pope, and laugh at our dilligence ſuch as it is in expoundyng popiſhe abominations, finally whiche ſuppoſe we ſpende our time in vayne in the accompte of times. They do heare here, excepte they will heare nothing, that we hauehave receiued cōmaundement of the lord, ſo to do: moreouer that the lord teſtifieth, that wiſedome is herein.
And here I geue warnyng that the maner of ſpeakyng is to be obſerued,The nōbre of ye name of ye beaſt. that we wery not in vayne bothe our ſelues and our auditours through the inquiſition of a certen name in the nombres. For that it is ſayed to be the nombre of his name, as though he wold a certaine name ſhuld be gathered & compoſed of theſe charactes foreign: as for the moſt part is gathered of theſe thre lettres or charactes foreign, this name Chriſt. Nother waūt they, which thinke how by theſe thre charactes no other thing is ſignified, than the name of chriſt: which the lord him ſelfe in the .24. of Matth. prophecied, that Antichriſte ſhould vſe. Certes he calleth him ſelf Chriſtes vicar. I know rightwell, that the proper names of great men, hauehave ben ſealed by prophecies and ſignified before: as Ioſias, Cyrus, Ieſus. But here thou canſt gather no ſuch thing, but forceably and as it were agaynſt the heere. I vnderſtande therefore by the nombre of the name of Antichriſt or beaſte, the very accōpte, wherby we come vntounto his name. And a name is a briefe definition or deſcription of any thing, whereby, it is knowen of what ſorte and maner it is. Which thing in this our cauſe, the nōbre ſupplieth, whiche bringeth vsus vntounto thoſe times, which geue him his name, whereof he taketh his name, yt is whiche times reueale vntounto vsus Antichriſt ſpoken of before in the prophetes, and ſhewe vsus who and what he is, or whō we ſhould take for Antichriſt, euen him verely, whiche hauing brought lowe three kinges, he him ſelfe ſtarteth vp of naught, and to the diſtruction of the true religion beginneth to reigne.
And nowe he ſheweth vsus expreſſely this nombre nominall as I maye calle it,The nōbre of .666. yeres is expounded. and vocalle which maye leade vsus vntounto Antichriſte, that we maye knowe who it is, and when we knowe him, we maye beware of him, and commaundeth vsus to nombre the yeres ſixe hondreth ſixtie and ſixe. For ſo many importe theſe Greke letters foreign. In expoundyng of the which nombre the expoſitours hauehave varied wonderfully. I like beſt the expoſition of the bleſſed Martir S. Ireney, which perauenture an hondreth yeres after the ſetting forth of the Apocalipſe, wrote his boke againſt hereſies, & ſaw ſome, whiche hearde S. Iohn preach, with S. Ireney maketh alſo Andreas the good biſhop of Ceſaria, which with Aretas ſpeaketh thus: the perfit rekening, & iuſte accompte of the nōbre, as likewiſe other thinges which are written of the ſame Antichriſte, the oportunitie of time ſhall open,Time ſhal reueale antichriſt. and very experience, to ſuche as will watche dilligently. For if it were neceſſary, as ſome of the Doctours ſuppoſe, that this name ſhould be manifeſtly knowē: he that ſawe him, would doubtles hauehave reuealed. But the diuine grace allowed it not, that the name of this peſtiferous beaſte ſhould in this godly boke be reherſed. Thus farre Andreas.
The expoſition of Ireneus.After the ſame ſorte alſo the holy Martir of Chriſt Ireneus before Andreas lefte written in the .5. boke agaynſt Hereſies. For aboute the ende of the booke: it is ſurer, ſayeth he, and with out daunger to abide and tary for the fulfillyng of the prophecie, than to ſuſpecte and geſſe at eueryevery name: where as many names maye be founde hauing the foreſayde nombre, whereby notwithſtanding the queſtion is not aunſwered. Yet by and by he ſayeth: the name foreign conteineth the nōbre of .666. And very like it is to be true. For this vocable hath a very kingdome. For thei be latines, that now raigne. This ſayeth he.Antichriſte ſhalbe a latine, as alſo Sibilla prophecied And doubtles this good doctour erred not one whit, indued with the holy ſpirite of God. For we ſee that the church of Rome is called the latin churche, and the Pope the high Biſſhop of the latin church. We ſee al ſeruice in churches ſayde in the latin tongue. In Courtes & al iudgementes of Biſſhoppes the latin tōgue only vſed. Moreouer no man ſhall ſerue in this churche, excepte he be a latiniſte. What wil you ſaie that theſe latiniſtes cal the Hebrewe, that is to wit, the holy tongue, by an opprobriouſe name Iewiſh, the Grece Church & tongue heretical? The Bibles in Greke and Hebrewe be of them ſuſpected. For they will hauehave the latin Bibles only to be authenticall, and to be red of all men as authenticall. But theſe thinges are better knowen, than that I nede to admoniſſhe and recite them here with many wordes. Neuertheles this holy mā Ireneus doeth not wholy affirme this his coniecture as moſte certayne, whiche notwithſtandyng he ſayed yet was moſte probable and like to be trewe. For he addeth: notwithſtandyng we will not be in hazarde herein (for he recited alſo the name foreign, the royall or tirannicall name of Nimrod) nother will we affirmatiuely pronounce, that he ſhal hauehave this name: knowing, that in caſe it were requiſite that his name ſhuld be manifeſtly preached at this preſent time, it ſhould doubtles hauehave ben vttered by him, whiche had ſene alſo the reuelation. But this nombre of the name hath he ſhewed, that we mighte beware of him when he cometh, knowyng who he is. And he concealed his name: for that is not worthy to be preached of the holy ghoſt and ſo forth.
Neuertheleſſe the ſame before this ſheweth vsus away,A place of Daniel in ye .7. chapt. lighteth this place. how to accompte thoſe .666. yeres. For thus he ſayeth: knowyng the ſure nombre, whiche is ſhewed vsus of the Scripture, that is to ſaye, of .666. let the godly abide or loke for, firſte the diuiſiō of the kingdome into ten, afterwarde the ſame reigning and beginnyng to refourme their matters, and to augment their kingedome, he that cometh vponupon the ſodayne, chalenge to him ſelfe a kingdome, and ſhal put the foreſayde kinges in feare, hauyng a name conteyning the foreſayde nombre, to knowe him verely for the abomination of deſolation. This agayne ſayeth he.
But who ſeeth not, that the holy Martir ſendeth vsus to the prophecie of Daniel, whiche in the .7. chapt. ſayeth, howe the Romane Empire ſhall be diuided into many kingedomes: & how in the middes of thoſe kinges ſhuld riſe vp a litle horne, whiche ſhould ouerthrowe and abaſe three hornes: and that the ſame ſhoulde beginne to reigne prowdely, tirannically, and wickedly, agaynſt bothe God and menne, but chiefly to the faithfull intollerable?
Let vsus ſee than, how and when theſe thinges are fulfilled.The Romane Empire falleth Where the Romane Empire had godly Emperours, nother yet would wicked Rome bowe her ſtyffe necke vntounto Chriſt, but alwaies moſt obſtinately aſpired to her olde and wonted Idolatrie, which it coueted to hauehave reſtored: and finally whē the fatal time was at hande, wherin the lord moſt rightuouſe thought to requite blouddy Rome, he armed againſt her the Gothians, Vandales and Germanes, which ſubdued & diſtroied the lady of the whole worlde, and diſtroyed the whole Empire of the which matter ſeke more in the .57. Sermō, and in the ſermons followyng.Many hornes or kinges arriſe.
And it is euident by Hiſtories, that the Romane Empire, the Gothians beginnyng to inuade it, did ſlide, prouinces reuolting in eueryevery place, and was ſeuered in many kingdome. For to ſpeake nothing of Aſia and Affricke, the Perſians waſting that, and this the Vandalles, al Grece followed the Emperour of Conſtantinople, and likewiſe other nations nere. The Weſtegothes poſſeſſed all Spayne, and the French mē of Franconie ſubdued Gaulles and Germany and the nations adioynyng to the ſame. The Eaſtegothes and Lumbardes, obteyned Italy. Thus verely mere eſtabliſſhed many kingdomes & in ſteade of Rome reygned many kinges. Howebeit whileſt theſe kinges conſidered, how they might beſte in large their kingedomes, and put downe and expulſe others, full craftely the Biſſhoppe of Rome played his parte alſo. For he obteyned the ſupremacie ouer all Biſſhoppes. And ſo gote him great authoritie with Kinges and realmes, yea and linked himſelfe in league and amitie with Kinges and Princes. Whereupon quickely and ſodenly, or as the Martir of Chriſt prophecied, vponupon the ſodayne, he ſtarte vp, and at laſte vſurped a kingedome, to witte of Rome. For by his iudgementes falſely taken for Apoſtolicall, he put downe kynge Childericke, of the lignage of Merouinges, the lawefull king of Fraunce: and auaunced Pipine, than Captaine of the French garde, to the crowne. And ſo he ouerthrewe or plucked downe one horne: and bounde vntounto him a moſt mightie Kinge, by whoſe power afterwarde he was a terrour to the kinges of Grece and Lumbardy.
Of thexarchate of Italie.For aboute the yere of our lorde .269. the Emperour of Conſtantinople, expulſing the Eaſtegothes, did inſtitute a newe gouernement in Italy. But ſins this kinde of rule and gouernemente is not knowen to all menne, I will briefly recite what and howe greate it was by the wordes of Nauclerus the Hiſtoriographer, ex generat. .20. Than beganne, ſayeth he, the Citie of Rome and Italy to hauehave a newe maner of gouernemente, by the whiche they loſte more the dignitie, glory, and feare ouer all the worlde, than of all the calamities, whiche theſe .160. yeres hauehave afflicted them, and at the laſte had lefte Rome to be inhabited of wilde beaſtes. For Longinus brought in a newe name of dignitie, thexarchate of Italie: that is the high Magiſtrate. Whiche kepyng ſtill at Rauenna, went neuer to the Citie of Rome. And in the gouernement of Italie, and of Cities he kepte firſte this order, that the preſident ſhould not gouerne the prouince or region, but eueryevery Citie had their Magiſtrate to gouerne them, whome he called Dukes. Wherefore making Rome egall with other Cities and Townes, in this thinge only he honoured the ſame, that he called the Magiſtrate place in Rome, preſidēt. But they that did ſuccede him, were called Dukes, as they were afterward many yeres, ſo that it was called the Dukedome of Rome, as the Dukedome of Narnia and Spolet. Nother after Narſet and Baſill had it any more eyther Conſulles, or Senate lawefully aſſembled: but by a Duke of Grece, whome the highe Magiſtrate ſente from Rauenna, the comon welth of Rome was gouerned a long time. Thus much he.
I ſuppoſe any manne maye hereby without any difficultie perceyue, the Prophecies to be fully accompliſſhed,Rome vtterly caſte downe. and the Romane Empire to hauehave fallen into aſſhes. For ſhee that had ben the moſte mightie Lady of the worlde, is ſene nowe to bee made a vile gouernemente, neuer a deale more excellent, than that of Spolet and Narnia. &c. And here is to be knowen, that this Exarchate in Italy, was the thirde Lordeſhippe inſtituted ſins Auguſtulus was ſlayne, in whome the Hiſtories ſaye, that the Empire of the weſte was finiſſhed and ended. For firſt when Auguſtulus was ſlayne, the Germanes vnderunder their king Odacer poſſeſſed Rome. Afterwarde the Eaſtegothes by the conduicte of theyr Duke Theodoricke of Verona, Odacer expulſed and ſlayne, reygned at Rome and in Italy. Laſte of all the Eaſtegothes by the Lumbardes expulſed and ſlayne, this Exarchate was inſtituted. And Lumbardes beyng called into Italy of the Grekes, agaynſt the Gothes, woulde no more goe out agayne, for that they ſawe the lande fertile and Riche, pleaſaunt and aboundyng with ſondry pleaſures.The Lumbardes. Warynge therefore of greate power in Italy, they ſubdewed to themſelues many Cities and people of Italy, eſtabliſſhyng nowe the fourth domion, whiche they called the kingdome of Lūbardes. They had moſt puiſſaunt kinges. Howbeit that exarchate of Rauenna, although they layde dilligent awayte for it, & wente about to inuade it. yet coulde they neuer extinguiſh it: till the Biſſhop of Rome put to his helping hande, pretendyng the ſinceritie of religion.
The mainteyning of Idolatrye maketh of the Biſhop of Rome a king.Hiſtoriographers accompte ſixtene Exarches in order, which reigned aboute an hondreth & foure ſcore yeres. The 15. of thē was called Paulus. Nauclere in the .25. generat. Leo the .3. ſayeth he, Emperour of Conſtantinople cōmaunded, that they that were ſubiecte to the Romane Empire, ſhould plucke downe al their Images, breake them, and burne thē. Contrarywiſe the Pope, (ſome will hauehave him Gregory the .2. ſome the .3.) wrote to the whole worlde, that they ſhould not obeye theſe ſo wicked cōmaundementes of the Emperour. Platina ſayeth more in the life of Gregory the .3. Gregory by conſente of the clergie of Rome depriueth Leo the .3. Emperour of Conſtantinople bothe of the Empire, and alſo of the communion of the faithfull, for that he had plucked downe Images. Nauclerus ſayeth moreouer: But ſo great authoritie at that time had the Popes decrees, that firſt they of Rauenna, and after the people and ſoldiours of Veniſe, made an open rebellion agaynſt the Emperour and thexarche in Italy. And the treaſon increaſed dayly. For Marinus Spatarius, Duke of Rome, and his ſonne Adriane, paſſing through Chā pania, were ſlaine of the Romanes. In whoſe ſtead they created Duke of Rome one Peter. They of Rauenna alſo, whileſt ſome helde with the Emperour, and ſome with the Pope, in a tumulte made, ſlewe Paule thexarche and his ſonne. Thus writeth Nauclere.
The frēch mē are ſent for into Italy by ye Pope.In theſe cōmotions the Lumbardes, ſuppoſyng the occaſion ſo long wiſſhed for to be nowe offered, through the conduite of Luitprande their king, inuade the lādes of thempire, and beſege alſo Rome it ſelf. But Pope Gregory the firebrāde of al the ſturres in Italy, the ſoldiour and practicionar of the ſame, and like no prieſt nor preacher, ſendeth for Charles Martell king Pinines father with his French chāpions into Italy againſt the Lumbardes. Howbeit this Charles perſwadeth the kinge of Lumbardes frendely to departe from the Citie. But yet not long after Aiſtulphus kinge of Lumbardes ſpoileth againe the lādes of Rauëna, reneweth the Italian warre, and winneth Rauenna it ſelfe, and demaundeth tribute of the citie of Rome. But Stephen the .2. Pope, which aſpired to the gouernement of Rauenna, & wiſſhed the Lumbardes diſtroyed, of king Pipine of Fraunce, vntounto whō not long ſins pope Zacharie by his wrongeful iudgement (as many ſuppoſe) had geuen the kingdome, required ayde, and deliueraunce, as it were offering him the kingdome. Therefore are the Frenchmen in armure, couetyng alſo to winne Italy. Whileſt king Pipine entred into Italy, he met with the Ambaſſadours of the Emperour of Conſtantinople, whiche required, that he would reſtore Rauenna and thexarchate and landes thereof, to the Empire, whoſe of righte it was, and not the Pope or Romanes. Pipine aunſwered, howe he warred for S. Peter and ye pope: and to go aboute, that the Lumbardes ſhuld not vexe the church. And that he would take from them thexarchate, and other rules of Italy, and deliuer them to the pope, whiche he perfourmed in dede. For he ouercame kinge Aiſtulphe, toke from him the gouernement of Rauenna, and deliuered it to the Biſſhop of Rome.
Herein maye all men ſee,The kings ouerthrowen, the Pope him ſelfe is made a kīg vnleſſe it be thoſe which will ſee nothing, how this contemptuouſe Biſhoppe, and very ſmal horne, hath at one puſſhe ouerthrowen two hornes. For he hath put themperour of Conſtantinople frō the gouernmēt of Italy: and hath put downe the King of Lumbardy & cauſed his people to be driuen out of Italy. For a fewe yeres after, the Pope, by the force of Charlemaigne, put downe Deſiderius the laſt king of Lumbardy, and diſtroied withall the whole people of the Lūbardes. And thus ſtarte vp the Pope, & became as it were king of olde Rome, & of the chiefe parte of Italy. And now ar the beginnings of the kingdome laied, but as yet he reigned not with full authoritie, as is declared before. Eberardus therfore Biſſhoppe of Saliſburge, whoſe wordes I recited in the preface of this boke, extendeth theſe things further. But I ſuppoſe this our expoſition to accorde with ye prophet, with the thinges & times. And the pope gaue to king Pipine for ſo great a donatiō, a title, as Platina ſheweth in the life of Stephen the .2. that al kinges of Fraūce ſhuld be called moſte Chriſten. Afterwarde was the Image of the Empire beſtowed vponupon Charles: whereof is ſpoken before.
And leeſt the Pope ſhould ſeme to hauehave receiued nothing, whileſt king Pipine gaue him therarchate, the ſtories reporte thus:The Pope made a moſt mightie king. thexarchate was diuided into two regiones, in Pentapolis and Aemilia. Pentapolis had fiue cities, Rauenna, Ceſena, Claſſe, Forum liuij, and Forum popilij. In Aemilia were, Bononie, Rhezo, Parma, Placence, and all the lādes that lie from the borders of the Placentines and Ticinians vntounto Adria, and frō Adria to Arimine, &c. But he that liſte maye reade the Donation of Ludouicus pius, in Volateranes Geographie, where he nombreth the kynges of Fraunce. We ſaye nothing yet of this that afterward he vſurped to him ſelf power ouer kings and realmes, finally ouer all churches and ſoules, ſo that we muſt confeſſe, that a more maruelouſe prince neuer liued.
Thou haſt here a briefe and compēdiouſe ſtory, declaring how the Pope hauing hūbled & ouerthrowē three kinges, he him ſelf began to be made a king. But let vsus now apply herunto the nōbre of the name of the beaſt,The popes power augmēted both in ſpiritualties & in temporallies. to thende it maye ſo be knowen to the whole world, yt there is no other Antichriſt to be loked for, than the biſhop of Rome, that is comē: which in dede laied the foundatiō of his kingdom vnderunder thēperour Phocas, did builde it vnderunder the kings of Fraūce: and inlarged the ſame vnderunder themperours Henrickes & Friderickes, finally hath eſtabliſſhed it vnderunder themperours followyng: reigneth in our time, and hath done certen ages already paſte, &c.
The ſupputation of .666. yeres muſt be rekened from the time, wherin S. Iohn ſawe the reuelation. Ireneus ſayeth: It was ſene no longe time ſins, but in a maner in our dayes, about thende of the reigne of Domitian. And Euſebius in his chronicles ſaieth, that it was in the yere of our lord .97. Therfore there remayne yet thre yeres to accompliſh an hondreth yeres from the birth of our lord. Adde therfore to an hōdreth yeres,The fatall yere of our lord .763. theſe yeres of the nōbre of the name of the beaſt .666. & ſubſtracte thoſe three yeres of the firſt hondreth, and thou ſhalt hauehave the yere of our Lord .763. whiche was the .13. yere, or there aboutes of king Pipines reigne, and the .7. of Pope Paul. Notwithſtandyng that there be wryters of ſtories and times, which attribute to Paull but one yere, &c.
Now muſte we not loke only what thing happened in the very inſtaunt of the yere .763. but what chaūced in the nexte yeres fourmer and following. Whereof I will recite a fewe thinges oute of the writers of ſtories and tymes.
Nauclerus in the .16. generat. In the yeare of our Lord.Wōders & Monſters. 750 ſaieth he, vnderunder Pope Zacharie, and vnderunder themperour Conſtantine the .5, began the .26. generatiō, in ye which was made an alteration of the Kingdome of Fraunce, an abolyſhment of the Kyngs of Lumbardie, and a tranſlatiō of the Romane Empire from the Grekes. Theſe ſo greate alterations, the wonders dyd happly pourtend, which hapned at this tyme. In Meſopotamia the Earth roue a ſunder by the ſpace of two myles, and a Mule was ſayed to hauehave ſpoken with a mans voyce. Aſhes fel downe from heauen. Ther were wonderful Earthquakes. Croſſes appered vponupon mens garmēts. Theſe things wrote Nauclerus. The lyke are red in the ſtorie of Eutropius, in ye .22. boke, vnderunder ye yeare of Cōſtantine ye .6. moreouer in the Hiſtoricall glaſſe of Vincent, & in Faſciculo temporū.
In the yere of our Lord .751.Pipine is made King through the coūſell of Zachary the Pope, Pipine the maſter of the Kyngs houſehold, oppreſſing his lord Hilderych king of Fraūce, began to reigne, and reigneth .18. yeres. This writeth Aemilius in the .2. boke of kings of Fraūce. And in the yere .755, Pipine entreth into Italie with an Armie, vanquiſheth the King of Lumbardes, and geueth the whole gouernemente of Rauenna to S. Peter, The exarchate is geuen to the Pope.againſt the wil of the Emperour of Conſtantinople. Veſpergenſis in chronicis. You ſee, howe in ſtead of ye Emperour, the Pope beginneth after a ſort, to reigne at Rome and in Italie, the hornes be ſhaken of, according to the prophecie. Mathew Palmer in his chron. vnderunder the yeare .756: the Romane Empire, ſayeth he, reuolting a pace in the Eaſte,The begynninges and preludies of the Empyre tranſlated. and the Emperour perſecuting the Chriſtians, (Idolaters he ſhoulde hauehave termed them) Pope Stephen gaue to the kynges of Fraunce the Emperiall titles and dignities, and cōfirmed Pipine, and the ſucceſſours of his ſtocke onelyonly for their kyngs, al others vtterly excluded, and in the name of the people of Rome, called hym Patricium. Hitherto Palmer.
Ihon Functius in his Chron. In the yeare of our Lord .756 the rites and ceremonies of the church of Rome,The Romiſh religion obtruted. were caried into Fraunce & firſt receiued. In the yeare of our Lord .757. Paule is made Pope, and immediately followeth that fatall yeare of our Lord .763. as the middle poinct betwixt the yere 750. & .770. or .773. Wherein theſe thinges hauehave all together chaūced, which both geue the name to Antichriſt, and whereof, as eueryevery thing els is knowen by his name, ſo hath he alſo his name and is knowen.
In the yeare of our Lorde .768. Stephen the .3. helde a counſell at Rome in the church Laterane of the byſhops of Fraūce & of Italie:Idolatry is confirmed. and decreed, that none ſhuld be ordeined biſhop of Rome, but a Cardinal. He condemned moreouer ye Greke counſell of the Emperour Cōſtantine againſt Images, which he cōmaunded both to be had and worſhipped. Theſe things writeth Antoninus in Chron. tit. 14. Cap. 1. & .5.
After this, that great Charles, the ſonne of Pipine, ſent for into Italie by pope Adriane, Charles cōfyrmeth al thinges.taketh Deſiderius King of Lumbardes, and putteth downe the Kyngdome of Lumbardes. This was done in the yeare of our Lorde .773. and alſo the two hondreth & fourth yeare, after that the Lumbardes were arryued in Italie. And he confirmed and augmented the donatiō of Pipine his father. As many Hiſtoriographers make relation. Ihon Functius in Cron. addeth, that through out the whole Realme of Fraunce,Euen ſo was the maſſe obtruted to ye Germaines. at the cōmaundement of Charles, the Ceremonies of the Romiſh church were inſtituted. We hauehave nowe than the name of Antichriſt, of the nombre .666. We knowe who he is, and whome we ſhoulde beware of.
I can not here omitte, but at fewe wordes muſte note the ſupputation of Sibilla, concerning the originall of Antichriſt to my iudgement, very agreable to the fourmer accoumpte. For the .8. bokes of Sibelles oracles, taken out of the librarie of the honorable cōmon welth of Auſpurg, were ſet forth by the moſte godly and learned man, D. Xiſtus Betuleius, in the yeare of our Lorde .1545. and that in Greke. And this Sibilla Erythreae, or whatſoeuer ſhe were, propheſieth in the .8 boke, that Rome ſhal fal, and be burnt with fier. The wordes of Sibelle in Greke are to this effecte.
The plague of God vponupon the ones ſhall fall
Prowde Rome, vntounto the grounde thou ſhalte be caſte
VntoUnto thy foes made firſt captiue and thrall
And than with flaming fier be burnt at laſte.
And this thing was accōpliſhed, at what time Totilas Kynge of Gothes fyred the Citie, as we hauehave rehearſed before. And ſhortelie after in the ſame Oracles are theſe annexed.
When Emperours that hauehave the worlde oppreſte
With bondage great from the eaſt vntounto the weſte
The numbre hauehave fulfilled of fiftene
A King ſhall come in white hatte to be ſene
Which vntounto Ponti his name ſhall nere annex
(As he that ſhall be called Pontifex)
To worldelie pleaſures geuen ſhall he lyue
And with his wicked fote rewardes will geue.
and the reſidue which are read there.
She byddeth accoumpte from the burninge of Rome fiftene Kinges. After whome ſhall come a newe Kinge, whome ſhe deſcribeth. And it is manifeſt that Rome was taken, ſpoyled and burnt, vnderunder the Emperour Iuſtinian. After ar accoumpted from Iuſtine the yonger, to the Emperour Theodoſius, 15. After Theodoſe, ſuccedeth Leo the .3. whoſe name was Iſauricus, ſhe calleth thoſe kings delicatos that is, geuē to pleaſures. Becauſe the moſt parte of them were not very valiaunt, but vnderunder Leo .3. Italie reuolteth from themperour: And ſhortlie alſo the gouernement called the Exarchate, was geuen to the pope of Kinge Pipine, againſte the Emperours mynde. We ſe therfore that the ſupputations do agree. For we hauehave alſo brought to kinge Pipine the yeares .666. And ſo a newe kynge ariſeth, whome Sibille nameth foreign notable by reaſon of his whyte hat or myter. For ſo ſhe noteth the Byſhop (which in oulde tyme dyd weare on their heades whyte miters) yt ſhuld be a king. She geueth him a name alſo. For ſhe ſayeth how he hath a name nere vntounto Ponti. For adde to the worde Ponti, fex, and you hauehave Pontifex. She annexeth certen notes or marks alſo: yt he ſhall regard earthly things, and not heauenly: and that he ſhal alſo prouide (foreign) and geue rewardes, with his vngraciouſe fote. And that is rightly ſpoken, ſins that after Domitian and Diocleſian, none of all the Kynges, ſaue the Pope, hath offered his fote to be kiſſed: whereby fooles thinke, they receyue greate rewardes. But omitting theſe thinges, let vsus retourne into the waye.
The bleſſed marter Ireneus ſpeakyng of this Kyng, in the ſame .5. boke. In the beaſt comming, ſayeth he, ther is made a recapitulation of all iniquitie, and of all deceipte, to the end that al Apoſtatical power concurring and concluded in him,Antichriſte is the ſinke of al vngodlyn…ſſe and wickednes might be throwen into a fournace of fyer. And that he hath ſpoken this thing by the ſpirite of propheſie, all men wil confeſſe, that hauehave red the lyues of the Byſhops of Rome: but eſpecially of Silueſter the .2. Benedictus the .9. Gregory the .6. Gregory the .7. Vrbanus the .2. Paſchalis the .2. Alexander the .3. Innocentius the .3. Gregory the .9, Boniface the .8. Clement the .5 Ihon ye .22. to ſpeake nothing of diuers others. What in our dayes hauehave done, Iulies, Clemētes, Leos, and Paules. Spayne, Fraūce, England, Hōgarie, and Germanie, and other Realmes ſpeake, which hauehave ben ſet together by the eares, and intangled emongs thēſelues with moſt cruel wars. The bloud of martirs ſhed ſpeaketh, which crieth vntounto ye Lord. What remaineth therfore, but yt we ſhuld take hede to our ſelues, & beware of this man of ſin, and cleaue to our redemer Chriſt our Lorde, beſeching him, that he wold come ſhorty, and delyuer vsus from all euyll. Amen, Amen.