TO say nothing of theire opinions in this point, who are either Popish or newters, or lukewarm, or temporisers, or worldlings, or which are afraid of the Popish armies; because euery wise man will easely conceiue that theire verdict in this matter must needes be partiall, as proceeding from sinister respects, or theire owne perti­cular interests: I readily acknowledge that there are many godly and learned men, greately seene in the Scriptures, who yet are soe daily excercised in the finding of the meaning of those other places of Scripture, which teach other points necessary to saluatiō, that they finde litle leisure to looke on such as declare things con­cerning Antichrist, or his ouerthrow. I may not say that it is, be­cause they care litle to vnderstand the truth of God in theese points: for I must leaue that to God, who knowes the secrets of all hearts. Neuerthelesse if any of them, who haue a good vnder­standing, be soe careles herein; they may know that it is a fault, seeing the holy Ghost saith concerning the Reuelation wherein theese things are declared; Blessed is he that readeth, Renel. 1.3.and they that heare the words of this prophesie, & keepe those things which are writ­ten therein: for the time is at hand. And againe, Chap. 22.10. Seale not the sayings of the prophesie of this booke; for the time is at hand. viz. when theese things should be fulfilled. Whereby God warneth all men to looke narrowly into this booke, that they may thereby know the Dragon, Beast and whore, and such euils as accompany them, that soe they may the better auoide them, and not pertake of theire [Page 2]sinnes, lest they receiue of theire plauges; and that espetially when theire deliuerance and her ruin are at hand.

And as this care was necessarie in those ages when the Reu. 12. Dragon reigned, and the first trumpets sounded; so more espetially in theese times of the beast & whore: wherein the euill they doe is a greate deale worse, & more dangerous to the Soules of men: for as much as notwithstanding the light of the Gospell, all the world would still wonder after him, for that holines, power and munificence, which they would imagine to reside in him: and euen many of Gods people would be so loth to flee out of Babylon, that they should be in danger of pertaking of her sinnes, and receiuing of her plauges; and should haue neede to be daily called on to make them come out from her. A duty which as it was euer neede­full to be put in practise for the drawing of Soules from her be­witching delicacies and deceites, so more espetially now when her greate abhominations are by the refulgent light of Gods Word manifested, and her last and greatest plauges must needes be approching. For if when Saint Iohn wrote, it might be saide, the time is at hand; how much more in theese our times, vpon whome the ends of the World are come? and who may see, if wee ei­ther will see, or thinke it any such blessed thinge to see, that the most of those things which concerne Antichrist, and the verrie declining of his Kingdom, are already fulfilled; and thereby eue­ry man warned to waite with a stedfast faith to see the rest ac­complished; and not to put farre away (as his fauourers doe) those euill dayes, which shall befall him and his friends; and as they doe, who would faine make the World beleeue that he shall not be destroyed till the ende of the World; and are so loth to see any thinge proued to the contrary, that they doubt not to affirme that the time can not be so much as neerely guessed at.

To whome it may be answered that the Lord would neither haue saide of the beast, Aeuel. 13.He shall haue power to doe fourtie and two monethes; and neither more nor lesse; nor of the Kings his hornes, They haue receiued noe Kingdom as yet: Chap. 12.19.but receiue power as Kings one howre with the Beast; but that he meant to shew vs some certaine time, which when his ruin should approach, might either be per­fectly, or at least verrie neerely found; as in Daniels propheticall weekes, wherein euery day stands for a yeare: and so questionlesse [Page 3]in theese monethes, which are also propheticall monethes, & which can not be literally vnderstood of three yeares and a halfe. For it followes from the Angels exposition, that Antichrist is the sea­uenth and eighth head of the seauen hilled citie, that is, a head of gouernment in a succession, Reu. 17. as the Emperours were of whome he saide, one is: Fiue are fallen, one is, and the other is not yet come. Fiue of the Roman heads or formes of gouernment were fallen be­fore, as Kings, Consuls, Dictatours, Decemuiri, & Tribuni Militum. The sixt was in the time of Saint Iohn; which was the gouernment of the Emperours haueing theire seate in Rome. This head, so longe as it should abide there, would let the comming of Anti­christ, who was to be the seauenth head of the same citie, 2. Thes. 2. & Reu. 17.9. as Saint Paul compared with Saint Iohn sheweth, saying, only he who now letteth will let, till he be taken out of the way; he saith not till he be vtterly fallen or destroied, but taken out of the way, viz. remoued; which came to passe when the seate of the, Empire was remoued from Rome to Constantinople, and not before: for till then another domineering head could not rise to rule in Rome. Therefore saint John saith of the seauenth, He is not yet come, and when he commeth he must continue a short space, And the Beast that was and is not, euen he is the eighth, and is of the seaven. This seauenth head, which is the Roman gouernment by Bishops, is saide to endure but for a short space, because of the wound, which it should soone receiue by the Gothes and Vandals; which when it should be healed was not longe to endure as a seauenth head only; but should also by reason of a new title and authority become an eighth head and more absolute, that soe he might rule and raigne the rest of his longe time, and doe all the greatest things ascribed to Anti­christ.

This eighth head did accordingly beginne in Boniface III. when he obtained to be called vniuersall Bishop; he then was the eighth, and yet of the seauen, viz. the seauenth, because he seemed but to succeede the former Bishops in that gouernment, which they had after the seate of the Empire was remoued from Rome, and which they got by abusing the Canons of Nice and Sardica, as wee shall see by and by. Howsoeuer seeing Antichrist (ye see) is a head of gouernment in a succession (as the Kings, and after them the other heads were, that had liued and ruled in Rome) [Page 4]theese 42. monethes giuen to him, can not possibly be vnderstood literally. For indeede it is impossible that this seauenth head should rise, be seated, wounded, healed, & then become an eighth head, who should first be admired and worshipped by all nations, and then make warre by himselfe and by his hornes, ouercome the Saints, yea the two witnesses, cause an Image to be made and wor­shipped, and a marke to be taken by all, small and greate; yea doe many other greate things mencioned in the Reuelation, and after send to gather the Kings of the earth to Battaile, and be taken; and all this in three yeares and a halfe. Therefore out of all doubt in theese monethes as in Daniels weekes euery day stands for a yeare; as the Lord saide to the Israelites, Num. 14.34 After the number of the dayes in which ye searched the land, euen forty dayes (each day for a yeare) shall ye beare youre iniquities, Ezech. 4.6. euen fourtie yeares: also in Ezechiel, Thou shalt beare the iniquitie of the howse of Iudah fourtie dayes, I haue ap­pointed thee each day for a yeare. Soe it must needes be in theese monethes, and soe they signifie 1260. yeares, as some haue iudi­ciously collected from Reu. 12.6.14. further also that theese yeares must needes beginne whē first the Pope had power to doe, as a head: which some thinke beganne in the time of Constantine the greate, when he left Rome, when (say they) he that hindred was taken out of the way. Some say sooner, euen from the time that Constantine came to the Empire and the Ethnick gouernment was ouerthrowen or taken out of the way. Indeede it is verry neces­sarie that the time should be searched out when theese 42. mo­nethes began; because that is the surest way to finde out the time of his ende and Finall ruin: but the time could not well begin from the time of Constantine, or when the Ethnick gouern­ment was ouerthrowen, or taken out of the way. For by either of theese computations, the time should haue beene out many yeares agoe, when indeede diuers Kingdoms were fallen from the Pope and he had noe power to doe in them, as in England, Denmarke and others, and soe indeede as his power began in som Kingdoms, before in others, soe accordingly God would that he should begin to loose it in some before in others. But yet he hath had, and still hath much power elswhere to doe great things. Which hath made some thinke that the time he hath had since, and shall yet haue is giuen him for the time of the wound, when (say they) he had noe [Page 5]power to doe. But questionlesse they are mistaken herein, as the sequell of this worke will manifest.

And indeede they seeme to me to beginne the time to soone, I meane not soe much before he was a Beast, as before he had power to doe. For the words▪ are, power was giuen him to doe fourtie and two monethes. Soe Beza, Aretius, Piseator, [...].Pareus and others reade them, potestas agendi. And I can not finde that either he did much, or had much power to doe before the time of Damasus a Spaniard, who was chosen Pope aboute the yeare 366. others say 369. and sate till after the yeare 380. then indeede he had some power to doe, (as wee shall see by & by:) or at the furthest in the time of Syricius, neere the yeare 386. or thereabouts: to which time of Damasus in the yeare 380. if you adde 1260. yeares, which seemes to be the time giuen him in the 42. monethes, they may ende before or aboute the yeare 1640. or at least within a few yeares after, that is, if he had not this time of doeing till the dayes of Syricius, or Innocent. But it may be a litle sooner, because Da­masus might haue power to doe some yeares before the yeare 380. And howsoeuer Rome may ende much sooner then the Beast: because her destruction seemeth to many to be by the fifth viall Reu. 16. his by sixth or seauenth; hers is first declared chap. 18. then his chap. 19. But while wee seeme to cast vp the time set foorth in the Reuelation, this is to be vnderstood to fall out there­abouts. First if the time of the Beasts doeing began in the time of Damasus or Syricius; and not before or after, which now wee will examin, as needefull to be knowne in theese lamētable times, wherein the beast rageth and preuaileth as if he were to raigne for euer; when indeede it is, because the Deuil in him hath but a short time. And secondly if Baronius and others that I haue followed reckon the yeares right, as for ought that I can perceiue they doe; at least they goe neere the marke; and soe therefore may wee.

As touching the first our Lord himselfe giueth vs light in two places of the Reuelation. For while he saith of the Beast, Reu. 13. power was giuen him to doe fourtie and two monethes, he sheweth that there is a certaine time when they should beginne, which time may now at the last be neerely pointed at, by any that will take the paines to search the Histories, & to see whē he first had power to doe. The second which is more plaine, and doth indeede seeme [Page 6]to shew when theese monethes were begunne is set downe, Reu. 17. Reu. 17.12. Where it is saide of thē who are hornes of the Beast; theese haue receiued noe Kingdom as yet; but receiue power as Kings one howre with the Beast: which at the soonest they did not before the time of Damasus; Ammian. Marcel. lib. 28. c. 12. lib. 30. c. 4. lib. 29. c. 10.11.12.13. lib. 31. c. 10. when indeede (as Ammianus Marcelinus sheweth) the Almanes had theire King Marcrianus of greate puissance; the Burgundians theires; the Africans theires, Nubel and then Firmus; the Franckes theire Kinge Melobaudes; and other Na­tions likewise had theires; Valens the Emperour of the East was slaine by the Gothes, who also had theire Prince. Or perhaps not so soone, may some man say, because after that Theodosius brought them againe into some subiection to the Roman Empire, which yet rather hindred then ouerthrew theire growing, if not erected Kingdoms; and indeede because he was an Emperour of greate puissance, and both greately feared and loued: therefore it may perhaps be thought by some that theese Kingdoms were not yet erected till after the death of Theodosius in the time of Pope Inno­cent, Spanish Hist. French Hist. who gouerned in the dayes of the Emperour Honorius; In whose time at the farthest, as all the best Historians shew, King­domes were plainely erected in Spaine and Afrike by the Gothes, Speede & How. Chron.Vandales, Sueuians & Alanes; one in France vnder Pharamond; who yet is saide to succeede Marcomir, Sumo and Melobaudes. In whose time also the Picts, Scots and others preuailed in Britaine; so that after the Britaines had elected diuers other Gouernours, they were faine at last to choose Vortiger theire Kinge; and to call in the Saxons, who chased the Picts and Scots, but succeeded them in power and crueltie. Other Barbarous Nations of those times preuailed in Thracia, Hungarie, Austria, Sclauonia, Panonia, Dal­matia, and other countries. Thus though the Beast might per­haps haue some litle power, to doe a litle, before the rising of theese Kings, yet they who had noe Kingdom before, while the Empire floorished, doe now receiue power as Kinge one howre with the Beast; that is to say, whether he beganne to haue that more Kingly power to doe in the time of Pope Damasus, or soone after in the time of Siricius or Innocent, which truly is somwhat hard to determin: yet it seemes to me to be in the time of Damas.

And the Reader may also giue a good guesse thereat, when he shall see how power was first giuen to theese Popes, & more then [Page 7]to any other Patriarch, or as a Kinde of head ouer all. Which power yet was not giuen him by any plaine and lawfull act of a councell, as both the sixth councell of Carthage aboute the yeare 420. and the councell of Chalcedon aboute the yeare 450. proued against him: neither indeede did he get it of many yeares after, nor by consequence iustly; therefore the thinge is not to finde when he had it giuen him lawfully, for that the Antichrist could not haue; but when some things fell out which gaue it him, as it were accidentally; when first he tooke hold of such occasion, and thenceforth openly vsed and maintained it. Which at the soonest, for ought I can finde, was not before the time of Damasus: but he indeede stroue to attaine it; and to that ende laide hold of euery litle occasion, and made vse of it. For haueing damned the he­resie of Apollinaris, in a Councell held ad Rome, Theod. lib. 5. cap. 9. aboute the yeare 379. he writeth an Epistle to the Bishops of the East, wherein he intimates vnto them the condemnatory sentence pronounced against Apollinaris, and his Disciple Timotheus: which Epistle is in­dited with the swelling pride of a loftic minde, breathing so­ueraignty and preheminence aboue all other Churches, as if the Roman Church were that only Apostolike chaire, whereunto all other Churches ought homage and reuerence. Basil. Epist. 20. ad Euseb. Samosat. Soe that S. Basil Bishop of Cesarea complaines of the pride of the West, because they cared only for theire owne preheminence, but not for the state of theire persecuted Brethren in the East vnder the Arrian Emperour Valens. Yea he saith that he purposed oft times to haue written to the cheife of them, that is to Damasus, that he should not count the Splendor superbiae. splendour of pride true dignity and honour. Aboute the yeare 380. a generall Councell was assembled at Constantinople. Whence the Fathers of the Councell wrote vnto Damasus, as to a Brother, and ranke him with other Bishops of the West, then assembled in Rome, as theire Letters shew, Theod. lib. 5. c. 9. vvhich are recited by Theodoret; To our Brothers and Colleagues, Damasus, Ambrose, Britto, Valerian, and other holy Bishops assembled in the greate City of Rome, &c. He then vvith other Bishops of the West in a Synod at Rome, beeing desired as Brethren to approue the Councell of Constantinople, did it: and Baronius vvould per­swade vs, that he confirmed it as a Superiour, and made it of force. And indeede though Damasus durst not openly professe [Page 8]so much, yet it seemes he was willing to take theire Letters in that sense, and that it should after be thought so: for he resalu­teth them as Sonnes, and saith, that indeede they had yelded all due reuerence to the See Apostolike; as if he saide desiring to haue youre acts ordered, or confirmed and made good by it. Which howsoeuer it was neuer so intented by the Councell, yet it gaue the Popes power to doe as they were disposed then, and euer after to take it, and make vse of it. For therevpon Innocent also vsed the same sleight, when the Mileuitan Councell Anno 402. and another of Carthage Anno 413. had See Plesses Myst. Iniqui. Progr. 9. without consulting with him ordered matters, and then in like manner acquainted him with theire acts, and desired that he would adde his authority; he ansvvers that they had had due regard of the Apostolicke honour, I say of him which had the care and charge of all other Churches. thus he assumed a power ouer Councels, & so power to doe as a head.

But some man will say, it seemes that as yet he had not this power, because the Popes of these times were opposed, and the power ouer Councels was not yet conferred on him. I ansvver, Antichrist was to be opposed by some in all ages, and so hath the Pope beene by perticular men, and in many Councels, and euen of late in the Councels of Constance and Basil; which declared that a Councell was aboue the Pope: yet he tooke it before, and had it as the Beast vvas to haue it, by his ovvne ambitious vsurpa­tion, and the flatterie of his follovvers. But as far as I can finde not before the time of Damasus, aboute the yeare 380. And then indeede he had also begunne to take it vpon him in the case of appeales, espetially in that Epistle vvhich he vvrote to Stephanus Archbishop of Mauritania, Po [...]. Council. vvherein he pretendeth that all the greater sort of causes ought to be referred to his hearing, and that they could not be descided but by his authority; as also that the prouision of Bishops belonged to him; vvherein also he qualifieth the Church of Rome vvith the title of the Pirmament of all Bishops, and top of all other Churches; emboldened noe doubt therevnto by Letters sent before that time vnto him from the saide Stephanies, vvho complained that certaine Bishops had beene deposed in in Afrike; adding that this vvas donne, though they all knew well enough, That Censures of Bishops & all other causes of moment ought to be reserued to the audience of the Bishop of Rome, whom he termeth the Father of Fathers; and thereby giueth him power to doe; himselfe [Page 9]beeing of that broode of Schismatiks of whome S. Cyprian com­plained in his dayes, that beeing censured would presently crosse the Seas to Rome. And indeede it is the more likely that there had beene such pride or vsurpation in Damasus, and flaterie in his followers: I. Because the Councell of Constantinople did not only limit euery Patriarch, Theod. lib. 5. cap. 9. and gaue equall priuileidges to Constanti­nople, but euen declared, that there was an auncient law and decision of the Nicene Councell, that the Bishops of euery Prouince, with those which dwelt neere vnto them, should ordaine theire owne Ministers: Concil. Const. Can. 5. & 7. Can. Graec. 3. diuiding the prouinces for the auoidance of confusion: And or­daining that if in any prouince a matter of difference hapened to arise, it should be decided by the Synod of the same prouince.

II. Because Syricius aboute the yeare 386. emboldened as it seemes by the power which Damasus had taken, & the flateries of such as followed him, feared not to say to Himerius B. of Aragon, Siricius Epi. 1. ad Himer.That it is not lawfull for any Preist of the Lord to be ignorant of the decrees and statutes of the Sea Apostolike, and therefore requesteth him to make knowne such ordinances & decrees as he should send vnto him, not only to those of his owne Diocesse, but also to those of Cartha­gena, Andalusia, Portugall, Galeace and others, that is in effect to all the Prouinces of Spaine; which could not (saith he) but be glorious vnto him, who was a Preist of so longe continuance. Purposing to vse the ambitious humour of this Prelate to extend his authority, law and traditions through Spaine. And in his 4. Epistle to the Bishops of Afrike, That without the priuitie of the Sea Apostolike, that is to say of the Primate, none might presume to ordaine a Bishop. All which makes it most cleare that he had the power to doe, which the Beast was to haue in the beginning of his raigne. His ambition was so apparāt, and men in those times so prone to flatter him with titles, that in remedy thereof, the third Councell of Carthage, anno 397. (Siricius then sitting Pope) decreed, That the Bishop of the first See should not be called the Prince or Cheife of Priests, or high Priest, or by any other such name, but only the Bishop of the first See. As for the name of vniuersall Bishop, that the Bishop of Rome it selfe should not be called by that name. Which shewes that theese titles had beene giuen him by some flatterers in those dayes, or why else should the Councell make this Canon? this Siricius, to shew the Beast was risen & had power to doe, stablished the forbiddance of [Page 10]Preists marriages, though by generall consent it had beene re­iected in the Councell of Nice, and was not receiued in the West of 600. yeares after, doe his Successors what they could.

After him came Innocent, Innocent. Epist. 2. ad Victric. anno 401. He, in his 2. Epistle to Vic­tricius B. of Roan [...], published this generall decree, That the greater causes after that they had beene censured by the Bishop should be refer­red to the See of Rome, as the Synod (saith he) hath ordained, and the laudable vse and custome of the Church requireth. He and his Suc­cessors Zozimus, Boniface, and Celestine would haue men thinke that the councell of Nice had soe ordained: which that councell did not, as the 6. councell of Carthago proued against them aboute the yeare 420. and soe did the generall councels of Constantinople and Chacedon. It was indeede the councell of Sardica, aboute the yeare 350. that gaue this power to Iulius; but that canon neuer put in practise by him, was reuoked in expresse termes in the councell of Constātinople, can. 3. which councell had now beene approued by Damasus: therefore they would not name it to be a canon of Sardica, but pretend it to be a canon of Nice. Which forgerie many perceiued not, and therefore gaue him power to doe. But if any man will yet obiect and say, It seemes he had not yet this power, because the councels of Constantinople, the 6. councell of Carthage, and the councell of Chalcedon opposed it. I answer here as before, Antechrist was to be opposed by some in all ages, and so hath the Pope, and euen of late in the Councels of Constance and Basile, but yet he had power, as the Beast was to haue it, by his owne arogant vsurpation & the flaterie of his followers, and that I thinke aboute the yeare 380. in the time of Damasus, or soone after, and not before: and so as I saide his time may expire aboute the yeare 1640. or within few yeares after, that is if his terme of doeing began not till the time of Siricius. Others perhaps will say he had it much sooner. Here I must tell the Papists, that it is to noe purpose for them to bringe for a ground of appeales, or the antiq [...] of them, the acts of any perticular Heretike, Schis­matike or Superstitious Doter before the Nicene Councell: be­cause the mysterie did worke in the Apost [...]es time, and if it were graunted that Mar [...]ian and Valentinia Hereticks had recourse to the Bishop of Rome, as Basi [...]des and [...] had, who were deposed for sacrificing to idols, and likewise diuers Scismatiks [Page 11]of Afrike in the time of Cyprian: yet this proues not that they might appeale, or he receiue: for if the Pope had had any such right, then would not Cyprian haue complained of them for ap­pealing, nor of him for receiuing; neither would the Councell of Nice haue limited his power, and giuen as much to Alexandria. But howsoeuer, the question is here of power that was giuen to the Beast after his rising; which could not be before the Nicene Councell, because he that hindred was not then taken out of the way, the Emperour not fully departed to Constantin [...]ple.

Neither could the burning mountaine (signified vnder the se­cond trumpet, Reu. 8.8.) be cast into the sea before the Nicene Councell; which will appeare to be the sea, as they abused it to rise out of it. But indeede this burning mountaine was either cast into the sea in the time of the Councell, when the Pope by his deputies might ambitiously craue of the Emperour, or of the Councell, that his might be the first see, and haue some preeminence in power; or else (as I rather thinke) so [...]ne after before the fall of Constantius into Arianisme (signified vnder the third trumpet, Reu. 8.10.) when the Pope alleaged the Nicene Councell for his authority, as Iulius did: and thenceforth the beast might indeede begin to rise and doe: yet I thinke he had not this power to doe before the time of Damasus, nor longe before the yeare 380. or perhaps not till the time of Syricius, aboute the yeare 386. or soone after. For though wee finde in Socrates and Sosomene, that before that Iulius tooke vpon him by absolute authority Socrat. lib. 2 c. 11. Edit. lat. Sozom. lib. 3. c. 7. to restore sundrie Bishops of the Easterne Churches deposed for diuers causes by theire Sy­nods, because saith he the care of all Churches belonged to him by reason of his see, therefore he wrote to the Bishops of the East telling them that they had donne verrie ill to determin and conclude any thinge against those Bishops without his priuitie; yet as Socrates and Sosom shew, they tooke his reproofes in scorne, and calling a Synod at Antioch, by common aduise & consent retourne his imputations backe vpon him­selfe with all bitternesse, telling him that he was no more to controll thē, if they thought fit to depriue any man in theire Churches, than they in­termedled at what time Nouatus was cast out of the Church of Rome: Sosomene addeth, That theire answer was full of scoffes and threats, &c. Thus as yet they gaue him noe power to doe. And it seemeth that this answer wrought vpon him: for in his next letter [Page 12]he cōplained only that they called him not to theire Synod; where­as before he pretended, that they might not call a Councell with­out his authority: he doth not alleadge for himselfe that either by virtue of his succession to S. Peter, or of the Nicene Councell, they ought to appeale to Rome; his words are only theese, The Fathers of Nice ordained, and that not without the counsell of God, that the acts of one Councell should be examined in another: whereby appeares noe greater power giuen to the B. of Rome ouer Alexan­dria, than to the B. of Alexandria ouer Rome. As for the greiuance whereof he complaineth, it is only this, that contrary to the custome, they had not written first of all vnto him, concerning the differences amongst thē, to haue his aduice for composing of them, as beeing Bishop of the first see; as also that many Synods had beene held in the East, concerning points of faith and doctrine, without giueing him notice thereof, contrary to the Rule and canon of the Church; wherein is cōtained, that none might impose any law vpon the Churches without the aduice of the Bishop of Rome. This canon gaue him in­deede that he should either be called and haue a voice in euery Councell that imposed lawes, or at least that his aduise & consent should be asked if he should be farre away, as fell out at the ge­nerall Councell of Constantinople, where Damasus was neither in Person nor by his deputies; and in noe other sense did Iulius now alleadge it: he complaineth not that they assembled without his leaue, but that they neither called him, nor vsed his aduise; he doth not say that this giues him that he should be as a head or Soue­raigne, to confirme or abrogate at his pleasure; much lesse that he should impose what law he list. He knew well enough that it made him noe more then a Patriarch, that other Patriarchs and Archbishops were his brethren, and that euery Bishop had neuer­thelesse a free voice as well as he. Neither did he now expound it, that this canon gaue him this priueleidge as to a Superiour, to whome such homage was due: therefore Iulius bad not this power to doe.

Damasus as I shewed seemeth to haue beene the first that tooke it in that proud sense; and yet not verrie plainely, but somwhat tacitely in words of doubtfull signification, as ye saw. After him Siricius and Innocent were more plaine, as I shewed. And soe in­deede he rose out of that Sea of Nice, by forging one canon, and [Page 13]wresting another: a weake foundation for so mightie a building; yet such and noe other was the foundation of this Kingdom. And thus indeede one Canon of Nice gaue him power to doe: yet not as the Councell meant it, but as he in time tooke it. And so he had it, but not before the time of Damasus, or Syricius. For Iulius as ye see had not so much power giuen him: and Liberius his next Suc­cessour, must needes haue lesse, Baron. Vol. 4. Anno 365. art. 1.2.3.4.5. &c. seeing he was conuicted of Aria­nisme, as after all excuses Baronius is forced to confesse, beholding many proofes thereof. And if (saith he) there were noe other proofe, his owne Letters are sufficient to put it out of question. And indeede he wrote to the Bishops of the East on this manner, Epist. Liberij ad Oriental, apud Hilar. in Fragment. I cast of A­thanasius from our communion, not daining so much as to receiue his Letters: I maintaine peace with you, embracing the confession of the Sirmian Councell. Which was all one as if he had in expresse words renounced the Councell of Nice: and therefore, He could haue noe power by it; nor indeede by that of Sardica, which had giuen more to Iulius, because that had confirmed the Nicene faith, to which this of Sirmium was opposit. Yet heere by the way wee may see what greate inconuenience would follow, if either of those Councels of Nice or Sardica must needes be in that point of force vnto all ages: for while Liberius ratifieth the sentence against Athanasius, and confirmeth the Councell of Sirmium, if the Councels of Nice and Sardica giue the Pope this absolute power of confirming or abrogating Councels, then they make this act of Liberius lawfull, and thereby vtterly ouerthrow them­selues, and theire owne faith and confession, which was contrarie: but the Papists will confesse that the Councels of Nice and Sar­dica doe not make this act of Liberius lawfull; vvhich to confesse is as much as if they acknowledged that those Councels did not giue absolute power to the Pope, to confirme or abrogate the Decrees of Councels.

Howsoeuer ye see Liberius could not well haue this power to doe. But then after him came Damasus, and he indeede was a man of more respect, learned, and of such good parts, as couered his ambition, so that some could not see it, and others were per­haps content to winke at it; he therefore after a while might the better chalenge some Priueleidge from that Canon of Nice. And noe doubt but that the words of Hosius vttered not longe before [Page 14]his time in the Councell of Sardica, vvhereof they so much boast, did now further him in his desired power. The words of the Canon are theese: Hosius the Bishop saide, if any Bishop be condem­ned in any cause, if the partie condemned thinke he haue iust cause not to stand to the sentence, if it please you, let vs yeeld this honour to S. Pe­ter: Let the matter be signified by Letter to Iulius Bishop of Rome, to the ende that he, with other Bishops of the Dioces, may enter againe into the knowledge of the cause. Now obserue here: 1. That it was Hosius that proposed it; and he proposed it as a new antidote against a poysen, considering that the Bishops of the East were for the greater part at that time infected with Arianisme, restrai­ning it to the person of Iulius, and would noe doubt haue donne otherwise in the person of Liberius, Successor vnto Iulius, and a professed Arrian, notvvithstanding the pretended Chaire of Saint Peter. 2. Note theese words, If it please you, let vs honour the memorie of S. Peter: for had this beene an auncient right, should he not rather haue saide, Let vs obserue the commande­ment of the Lord, or the auncient order of the Church, or the Ca­non of Nice, vvhereby it is ordained that men might appeale to Rome. 3. Is it reason that a Canon of a Nationall Councell should conclude and binde the Church in generall? 4. This Ca­non so made, and neuer practised was in expresse termes reuoked in the generall Councell of Constantinople Can. 3. and in that of Chalcedon Can. 8. This was the first that seemed to giue him any greate power; but this as ye see vvas not absolute, yet hence he tooke such occasion of rising, that some haue thought that he did rise out of it. But that vvee may finde the truth hereof, obserue: Doctrines are in holy Scriptures called waters: vvhereof some vvaters are cleane Ezech. 47.1. Ioel 3.18. Zach. 14.8. Reu. 15.2. some corrupted Reu. 8.10.11. chap. 16.3.4. some not corrupt of themselues, but partly made so by reason of somwhat cast into them: so was it vvith that Sea into vvhich the burning mountaine was cast, Reuel. 8.8. and the third part of the Sea became blood, and out of that Sea the Beast arose. Reuel. 13. Now that vvce may know vvhat that Sea is, obserue: The Sea is the place vvhere wa­ters are gathered and meete together. Riuers and Fountaines runne into the Sea, and emptie themselues there. Novv Riuers and Fountaines doe signifie the Doctors and Teachers, from [Page 15]vvhome the doctrines, that is the waters, flovv. Reu. 8.10. So vvhen the third Angell sounded, a greate starre fell from Heauen, and it fell vpon the third part of the Riuers and Fountaines of waters: this greate Starre vvas Constantius the Emperour, vvho fell into the Arrian He­resie; and he fell vpon part of the Riuers and Fountaines, viz. Bishops and Teachers, vvho vvere corrupted by him, some by persvvasion and smoth deuices, but most by force and persecu­tion. By vvhich meanes many vvere corrupted, & amonge others Pope Liberius himselfe.

The third viall is povvred on such corrupt riuers & Fountaines as are defiled vvith the filth of Babylon, Reu. 16.4. and come from the mouth of the Beast and false Prophet. Novv the place vvhere such riuers and Fountaines meere, and empty themselues must needes be a Sea: this is in Councels, vvhose doctrines and canons are therefore called the Sea. Vers. 3. Therefore vvhen the second Angel poured out his vial on the Sea: this vvas on an assembly or Councell of Antichristian doctors, and on theire vvaters or doctrines, vvhich he manifesteth to be corrupt and perintious; this was on the Councell of Trent; which was performed by Chemnitius. Examen. Concil. Tridē. Or at least by him and others, that also writ against that Councell. But the Sea out of which the Beast arose was not so corrupt in it selfe, but only became soe in some part thereof, into which the burning mountaine was cast, which corrupted it. Now if one should aske me whether the Sea out of which the Beast arose were the Councill of Nice, or that of Sardica? I thinke that if not out of both con­founded and put together by thē, then rather out of that of Nice. I. Because that was a generall Councell, and therefore more apt for his purpose and authority, as the other was not, which only restrained to the person of Iulius a priueleidge soone after reuo­ked. 2. Because that of Nice gaue him prioritie of place, and this priueleidge that a law should not be imposed on the Church without his aduise: out of which, as he tooke it, he (as ye saw) made greate aduantage, and indeede rose out of it, this beeing the ori­ginall and ground of all the power he after got. 3. Because he al­waies alleadged it for his authority; which it seemes he the rather did, because it was generall, and the more auncient & more reue­renced; and indeede because that Canon of Sardica was soone re­uoked: yea he so much desired to rise out of the Nicene Councell, [Page 16]that in alleadging as he pretended a Canon of Nice, he vseth the very words of this Canon of Sardica, See Mysterie of Iniquitie, written by M. du Plesses. only leaueing out the name Iulius, and was therefore conuicted of forgerie by the sixt Coun­cell of Carthage. 4. Because the burning mountaine signified vn­der the second trumpet, must needes be cast into the Sea before the fall of Constantius vpon the riuers, signified vnder the third, and therefore in all likelihood before the Councell of Sardica; which yet gaue him power, or increased it, as he tooke it. But by reason that Liberius, who presently succeeded, was an Arrian, and therefore could neither chalenge power by it, nor by the Nicene Councell, this power, as I shewed, was not excercised till the time of Damasus. But indeede ye haue seene that from the time of Damasus or Siricius, the Pope (as he vsed the matter) had power to doe in things that belonged to other mens iurisdictiōs, yea as an ouerseer and confirmer of Councells, as he tooke the matter; and what more as a kinde of head and lawgiuer, as ye saw in the Epistle of Siricius to Himerius Bishop of Aragon: and the Beast must needes be then risen, and in action, because soone after he began to receiue wounds, and at last his deadly wound, by the incursions of the Gothes and Vandals.

Thus power was giuen him to doe, and thus he had it, but not so soone as some haue thought. So that they who reckon his time of doeing from the time that Constantine came to the Empire, or when the heathen Emperour was cast out, or from the time of the Nicene Councell, or from the time that Constantine left Rome, or from the time of Pope Iulius may beginne to soone. And if not, then it must needes be vnderstood as others haue obserued, power was giuen him to doe fourtie and two monethes; but in the time of the wound by the Gothes and Vandals, or at least while it was sore and deadly, he had noe power to doe; therefore those yeares of the vvound, vvherein he could doe nothing, must not be reckoned, vnlesse you allovv others for them: Which yet may be fevver by many than some haue thought; because the Gothes and Vandals did not raigne so longe in Rome, as they say; and so the time of the vvound beeing lesse then they giue, vvill bringe it to the same reckoning vvee make, or very neere it. But indeede there is noe cause to expound it so, because it is cleare enough that the Beast vvas not risen, or at least had not power to doe so [Page 17]soone as they thinke; and withall that frō the time that the Gothes first tooke Rome to theire expulsion the Pope, had for the most part, power enough to doe, which is verrie behoofull to manifest; because men may thereby see that there is noe allowance to be giuen him for the time of the wound, or if any, yet but litle. For Rome was more than once saued and rescued; and though it were taken againe, yet the Popes of those times had as much power to doe, as euer theire predecessors had, if not more. Besides the Gothes became Christians; many of them were indeede but Arrians; yet Baronius sheweth that they gaue the Pope much power to doe: and questionles theire Kingdom did rather further the mysterie of iniquitie then hinder it, as wee shall see by and by. Therefore out of doubt they are much mistaken, who giue 140. yeares for the time of the Gothes Kingdom, begining is when Alaricus first tooke Rome, which they say was aboute the yeare 415. and ending it when Narses vanquished Totilas. Whereas others better skilled in historie shew that theire Kingdom lasted but 72. yeares: be­gining the time after the first comming of Theodoricus into Italie, and ending it as the former, when Totilas was vanquished. And yet before that, extirpation of Totilas, Belisares the Emperours Leiftenant had entred Rome, taken Vitiges Kinge of the Gothes, and carried him captiue to Constantinople; and after that when the Gothes, haueing chosen Totilas for theire Kinge, tooke Rome againe, Belisares recouered it the second time: But in his absence they got strength, wonne it againe, & then Narses wholly expelled them out of Italie.

Now see theire errour who begin theire Kingdom so soone, and reckon the time of the wound to be 140. yeares. Begining them in that time of Honorius wherein Rome was first taken. For themselues confesse that during the raigne of Honorius, Rome was twise taken, Alaricus and Ataulphus beeing the cap­taines, and yet the Beast had not the deadly wound in the head, seeing it was rather a shamefull then a harmefull ouerthrow (as Pompo­nius Laetus sheweth in the life of Honorius;) that when Honorius began to rouse vp himselfe, Sabell. En. 8. lib. 1.the Gothes were expelled out of Italie, and Attalus theire Kinge led in triumph to Rome, [Page 18]and after his right hand was cut off, he was carried captiue to Lipara; that so longe as Honorius and Valentinian liued, the Maiestie of the Empire was defended by theire Leiftenants Constantius and Aëtius, though theire Maisters were slacke and lasie. Yet Valentinian raigned many yeares after Honorius.

The truth is, that before that Alaricus had taken Rome; but he gaue life to such as fled to Christian Churches; and then led his armie from Rome with purpose to saile into Afrike, and setle his abode there: but eare longe he died. After his desease Ataulphus his Kinsman returned to Rome with the Gothes, resoluing to ouer­throw all there, to build another citie, to change the name of it, & call it Gothia: but his wife Placidia the sister of Honorius with perswasions diuerted him: and the Gothes then departed and ad­dressed themselues toward France and Spaine. Soe that it seemes the deadly wound was not yet giuen, nor the Popes power of doeing taken short by them. For indeede Zozimus, Boniface & Celestine tooke much on them in this time. And the Emperour Valentinian, who raigned longe after that in the west, couenanted with the Vandals & assigned them bounds in Afrike to dwell in. And soe in his time Sixtus succeeded Celestine in the papacie, and ruled 8. yeares, free enough from this wound; and after him Leo was in quiet enough for a longe time; but in his dayes indeede Attilas King of the Hunnes inuaded Rome; and so did Gensericus Kinge of the Vandals shortly after: but Leo by his eloquence re­deemed Rome from fire, when both Attilas and Gensericus would haue burned it. The later was neere aboute the yeare 450: and it hath beene thought a terrible blow: but it seemed, the deadly wound was not yet giuen till the time of Odoacer and Theodoricus. For Gensericus departed into Afrike, and the Popes after this had but too much power, as wee shall see by and by. Odoacer indeede inuaded it, tooke it, and besides the greatest part of Italie, slew Orestes, Anno 472. and compelled his Sonne Augustulus to denude himselfe of Imperiall honours; whereby the westerne Empire of Rome was for a time extinct, Baron. Vol. 6. an. 476. art. 1.2.3. while that Odoacer now raigned there. Yet as Baronius and others shew, he did not molest the Pope & Clergie. Theodoricus killed him & raigned alone in Italie for many yeares. But eare longe after his death the Gothes were beaten out of Rome by Belisares and Narses.

Some perhaps will thinke that the deadly blow vvas not giuen till the time of Totilas, after Belisares had recouered Rome; be­cause Totilas tooke it againe aboute the yeare 547. And this vvas indeede the most fearefull desolation that euer it had; in so much that this Kinge vvas called Flagellum Dei, that is the scourge of God. He cast dovvne part of the vvalls, burned the hovvses, killed the Citizens, so that neither man nor vvoman remained therein for 40. dayes. I ansvver if this vvere the vvound, it lasted not: for he vvas soone vanquished by Narses. And if the vvound vvere before in the time of Odoacer, or Theodoricus, or sooner; yet the matter is not to see hovv longe the vvound lasted vnhealed; but vvhether it hindred the Popes povver of doeing for all that time. Wee haue seene already to Leo; vvho ruled 21. yeares, & indeede tooke much on him, as appeared to the Councell of Chalcedon: but the Papists are ready enough to boast and shevv you vvhat greate povver he had to doe. After him Hilarius continued 7. yeares. Simplicius succeeded & continued 15. yeares. What power theese had, may appeare by theire Successour, vvho liued in a more dan­gerous time. This vvas Foelix the III. vvho continued neere 9. yeares. He gouerned the Church of Rome in the time of the Em­perour Zeno, vvhen Odoacer and Theodoricus contended for the Superioritie of Italie. He vvas nothing inferiour to his Anteces­sors in zeale to aduance the Supremacie of the Roman Chaire. For he was so bold as to excomunicate Acatius Patriarch of Con­stantinople, because when Petrus Moggus gaue testimonie of his repentance, and the recantation of his errour, Acatius absolued him, and did not craue the aduise of Foelix, when he receiued him, like as he craued his aduise before, when he excomunicated him, though now, there was lesse neede, while Moggus testified his repentance and recantation. And herevpon Gelasius, Gelas. in Epis. ad Dardanos. who suc­ceeded Foelix, grew so insolent as to depriue Constantinople of the right of Patriarchship, and to pronounce that the See of Rome might without a Synod of himselfe either absolue those whome a Synod had wrongfully condemned, or condemne such as had deserued it; and so setteth vp his See aboue all Councells. And againe, The Canon, Ibid. saith he, hath ordained that all Churches ought to appeale to this See, and from this See to none; because this See iudgeth of all Churches, and noe Church of it, as beeing without spot or wrinkle. Yet (as God [Page 20]iustly permitted) after this vaine boasting, his next Successor Anastatius had secret communion with the Accatian Hereticks, Liber pontif. as the Pontificall booke sheweth, adding, That therefore many Preists, and others of the Clergie withdrew themselues from his communion, &c. Symachus succeeded, though not by full or plaine election; for many held for Laurence, and each Faction kept quarter apart, till some beeing wiser thē some, the matter was referred to Theodorik the King; who preferred Symachus: and yet 4. yeares after Lau­rence was called home againe, & the Factiōs fell fairely to blowes, wherein were infinite spoiles and murders committed, Paulus Diacō. lib. 15. Nicephor. lib. 16. c. 35. as Paulus Diaconus and Nicephorus shew. After Symachus succeeded Hor­misda, who would loose noe time. If we may beleeue his Epistles, he made diuers Bishops his Ʋicars in sundrie Prouinces of the West: as Auitus Bishop of Vienna in the Prouince of Narbona, Iohn of Arragon in Spanie on this side the riuer Betis; and on the otherside Salust Bishop of Seuill. Theese Bishops desiring prece­dencie and superioritie accepted of this title, and soe gaue the Pope much power to doe in those times, at least by his Substi­tutes.

And indeede howsoeuer some thinke that the Gothes Kingdom tooke away, or hindred the Popes power of doeing, as it might seeme at some times, for a litle while: Yet to say truth for the most part it furthered and increased it. For the Emperours power was now bounded in the East; and yet to recouer authority in the West, they thought fit to hold intelligence with the Popes of Rome, and to make faire wether with them, by theire meanes to finde a doore open into Italie. And therefore whereas diuers Emperours had fauoured some herecies which the Popes had opposed, Iustine the Emperour, to be more pleasing to the Pope, was contented to send to consult with him vpon certaine points of faith: which though it were no verrie greate matter, seeing diuers Emperours haue donne as much with some Preists, and Monkes, that haue beene famous for learning, iudgement and integritie; as Charles the greate with Bertram a Preist aboute transubstantiation: Yet the Popes ye may be sure would in time make greate matters of theese presidents. Wherefore Baronius maketh much of a certaine sentence taken out of a letter which Iustine wrote to Hormisda: Baron. vol. 7 an. 519. art. 98. which sentence he causeth to be printed in greate letters: Wee [Page 21]beleeue and hold for Catholike, that which was intimated to vs by youre religious answer. Soe dangerous it is to deale fairely with theese men. For Baronius thinks he hath gotten a greate ground of Su­premacie in that the Emperour Iustine, and after him Iustinian sent vnto the Popes a confession of theire faith; which though they often did as much to other Bishops, and might haue donne it to Preists also, without any giueing of supremacie▪ yet as the Popes were pleased to take the matter, it gaue them power to doe. After Hormisda came Iohn. 1. Theodoric the Kinge sent him Ambassodor to Iustine, to craue that the Arriā Bishops whome he had bainshed might be restored to theire places againe: else the Catholike Bishops in Italie should expect the like at his hands: Liber Fontif. in Iohan. 1. which made Pope Iohn with teares to perswade the Emperour to condescend. Here the Emperour, still willing for a further ende, to please the Pope did him some honour: which yet as they take the matter gaue him power. But it soe displeased Theodoric, that at his re­tourne he clapt him in prison, where he ended his life. Platina. Foelix the 4. succeeded and ruled 4. yeares. He excomunicated Athanasius Patriarch of Constantinople for heresie; he ordained that Christians before theire departure out of this life should be anointed with oyle: This is theire Sacrament of extreme vnction, instituted as ye see by him. Whome Boniface the second succeeded, though not without schisme: for Dioscorus was competitor while he liued. In his time Eulalius Bishop of Carthage submitted himselfe vnto the chaire of Rome: whereupon Boniface tooke occasion of insolent insulting, and that so far, that he is not ashamed to write of Aure­lius Bishop of Carthage, Saint Augustine Bishop of Hippo, and of the rest of the Fathers which were present at the sixt Councell of Carthage, that they through the instigation of the deuill in the time of our Predecessours Boniface and Celestine began to exalt themselues against the Church of Rome: But Eulalius saith he now Bishop of Carthage, seeing himselfe through the sinne of Aurelius to stand sepera­ted from the communion of the Roman Church, hath repented him thereof, intreating to be receiued &c. This indeede gaue them greate power to doe, as they insolently tooke it.

Iohn the second succeeded, whenas the Emperour Iustinian beeing newly come to the crowne, that he might please the Pope, and get freinds in Italie, sent to him, to assure him of his true [Page 22]faith. Baronius here obserueth that, in his Epistle, he saith in this manner; Wee are all carefull to aduertise youre holinesse of all such things as concerne the estate of the Church; wee indeauour to submit and to vnite vnto youre holinesse all the Bishops of the East. Which words Pope Iohn laide hold on with both his hands in his answer to this letter; where he telleth him, that amonge other his vertues, this was most eminent, that he subiected all things to the See of Rome: whereas the Emperour meant only to indeauour that the Here­ticks of the East should submit to the faith, and soe be vinted to Iohn and other Bishops that professed it. Besides he, and other Emperours had saide as much to the Patriarch of Constantinople and other Bishops, Plesses myst. Iniquit. prog. 17. as Mounseire du Plesses hath proued. Yet thus the Gothes Kingdom rather furthered the Popes power then hin­dred it, while in those times the Emperour, to regaine Italie, gaue him fairer words then otherwise he would haue donne. Agapetus succeeded Iohn, and was presently sent, by Theodatus the Kinge, to Iustinian to pacifie him for the slaughter of Amalasuntha his wife; a fit commission for a Pope. When he came a Councell was called at Constantinople, wherein Anthimius the Patriarch thereof, beeing an Eutichean Heretick, was deposed. And the truth is that Agapete beeing then at Constantinople presided in the Councell wherein Anthimius was deposed, and Menas placed in his roome; which as Popes would take it, gaue them much power: he died there. And then Siluerius the Sonne of Hormisda, somtime Bishop of Rome, succeeded. He gouerned when Iustinian sent Belisares to fight against Vitiges. Theodora the Empresse sent to Siluerius desi­ring him to yeeld to the restoring of Anthimius, and deposing of Menas: Siluerius refused: wherefore Theodora sent to Belisares to Banish Siluerius, Baron. vol. 7. an. 538. art. 20. and to appoint Vigilius Bishop of Rome, who had promised to fulfill her desires: which was donne accordingly. Wherefore Baronius speaking of the entrie of Vigilius, calleth him a theife, a wolfe, a false Bishop, an Antichrist: Yet soone after he calleth him the Vicar of Christ, because he did not keepe promise in restoring Anthimius the Heretike. But therefore, as also for diuers greate crimes laide to his charge by the Romans, Anastas. in Vigilio. he was apprehended, led violently away, the people persuing him with cursings and Stones. He wast cast into prison at Constantinople, and then deliuered againe. While he was in the Citie, the fift generall [Page 23]Councell was held there: but he would not be present at it, lest the dignity of the Roman chaire should be impaired, if he sate there: For first Menas Patriarch of Constantinople, Bellar. lib. de concil. c. 19. and after him Euticheus Bishop of the same See, presided there. Neither doth Bellarmine deme it. So Nicephorus saith when Eutichius was by the Emperour put in the roome of Menas lately deceased, Ʋi­gilius, though agreeing with him in points of doctrine, yet refused to sit by him. Baron. an. 553. But yet Baronius obserueth that this Eutichius when he was chosen in the roome of Menas tendred the profession of his faith vnto Vigilius: which though it were a thinge vsually practised amonge Bishops, and Pelagius the next Pope did as much to the Bishops of Italie, yet, as Popes and Papists take the matter, it gaue him power.

Thus wee see that in almost all the yeares of the Gothes King­dom, the Pope had power to doe, and was seldom hindred, but oft times furthered by it. Pelagius the first, who succeeded Vi­gilius, had the worst time of it for a while; because the Tirant To­tilas then raged and triumphed in Rome, which he vnpeopled for 40. dayes: but he was soone vanquished: and therefore the time of the Beasts doeing was litle hindred by them: and consequently he must needes be verrie neere his ende, & may expire within 10. or 12. yeares; at least within lesse then 16. or 20. yeares from this present, or soone after; yea though his time of doeing began not till the dayes of Syricius or Innocent, because the yeares may be Egyptian yeares, as some haue thought probable. Howsoeuer though he may endure to doe a litle longer, as some thinke, yet it doth not follow that Rome shall stand soe longe; seeing it is in a manner cleare by the holy Scriptures, that he shall suruiue her de­struction. Reu. 16. For after the fifth Angell hah powred his viall on the throne or seate of the Beast, and thereupon his Kingdom waxeth darke: by which deede (as some thinke) may be meant the de­struction of Rome, seeing that is the throne or seate, and by her ruin his Kingdom must of necessity waxe darke: because it doth most of all consist off, and rest on the supposed chaire of Peter to remaine therefor euer; and a fond presumption that the gates of hell shall neuer preuaile against that Church or Citie to roote it out; after theese things wee see the Beast suruiuing, and after the pouring out of the sixth viall, the Beast sendeth to gather the Kings, Reu. 18.9.[Page 24]and they are gathered; but when the Citie should be burned, they stand afarre off for feare of her torment, lamenting her ruin: there­fore they are not then gathered when the Citie is beseiged, but afterwards, Chap. 19. when they are gathered together with the Beast, to make warre with him that sate on the horse, and against his armie. Then they doe not stand afarre off, but are gathered together and slaine; and the fowles are filled with theire flesh. This battaile therefore it seemes is after the racing of Babylon: and therefore I thinke that no man can giue any probable reason why Rome should not ex­pire within lesse then 10. yeares from this present yeare 1629. saue this only, that as yet he seeth not those Kings in armes, and sincerely endeauoring to doe it, that should burne her.

Here also hath beene some mistaking aboute the hornes that shall destroy her: which some thinke to be tenne succeeding Em­perours: and they take Charles the 5. to be the first of theese. But besides other good reasons that might be alleadged to the con­trarie, the present Emperours zeale to maintaine the Popish cause sheweth this to be absurd. Much better therefore doe they ex­pound, who take theese hornes to be all Christians Kings, free Princes and States, and that a certaine number is put for an vn­certaine. For indeede this Beast hath vpon his tenne hornes, tenne feuerall Crownes; not one Crowne, but tenne; to shew that they are so many, or at least a number of heads of seuerall Kingdoms and States: whereas the other Beast Reu. 12. which is the Ethnick Romane Empire, though it hath seauen Crownes on the seauen heads, to shew that those were seauen seuerall succeeding formes of gouernment, of which the Emperours were one; yet that beast hath not tenne crownes one his hornes, because those tenne hornes were the tenne persecutors, all Emperours or Kings of one Kingdom, haueing but one Crowne; as the hornes of the Beast in Daniel also were; Dan. 7.22. of which Antiochus Epiphanes was the litle horne. Which things, if they be well marked, proue that the hornes of the Popish beast were not at first 10. succeeding Empe­rours, who raised Romes Pope to his glorie; & that the hornes that shall hate and burne her, are not 10. succeeding Emperours; but diuers Kings, free Princes and States, that shall at one and the same time doe it. Neither let any man thinke that Rome can not be shortly destroyed, because many Kings, free Princes and [Page 25]States are yet obedient to the Pope and Church of Rome. For noe man can proue that all the hornes of the Beast shall hate the whore; or that all Christian Kings shall fight against her: yea it is in a manner certaine that some of them shall continue with the Beast & whore till the ende of the warre. For whē she should be burned wee see some Kings standing afarre off, and weeping ouer her, al­though they doe not help her for seare of her tormēt; as also that af­ter this, the Beast gathereth, & hath diuers Kings on his side, when he is taken & destroied: theese without doubt are his freinds and helpers, and by consequence may be some of the hornes: therefore though noe other King or Kingdō should be conuerted, yet Rome may be destroied by those vvho already hate her. Neither should the Saints feare the rest, seeing the Scriptures shevv that they shall stand afarre of for feare, and not helpe her. Which doe not thinke to be vvritten, as if I said that no other Kinge, State or Kingdom shall be conuerted, and soe brought to fight against her, but only those vvho are already Protestants. For though God doe com­monly, for his greater glorie, performe greate vvorkes by small meanes, and ouerthrovv the greatest enemies by a smaller povver then they themselues are; and that to some such ende, he hath see­med to take away from the Protestant power, as he did from Ge­deons armie, to shew what he cā doe by a few, & whē our strength seemes to be brought to a low ebbe; and that it is therefore likely that he will also doe so in this destruction of Rome and Antichrist; yea though now for theese many yeares noe King, State, or whole Nation haue yealded to be conuerted by the Word, and that ther­fore there is small hope of any (vnles peraduenture of Venice) seeing they haue so longe withstood the Word; yet it may please God to make any; yea that one of the Kings that shall doe this may be the Emperour then liueing, and that one of them may be the Angell of the throne; yet to say for certaine that he, or other Kings and States shall be conuerted, and shall ioyne therein, or that this or that Prince shall doe this thinge, sauours to much of presumption; seeing the Scriptures doe not name the perticular Kingdoms, nor any perticular man, as of old Iosias in a like case 1. King. 13. therfore till theire owne inclinatiō, or the euent shew this thinge, noe mā can say this Prince is that fift Angell; that other he that standeth in the Sunne, viz. in the light and confidence of the Truth.

There haue beene some other mistakings, which some haue caused by applying those things of Daniel chap. 2.43.44. chap. 7.8.9. &c. and espetially chap. 11.36. to the ende: and chap. 12. to the times of Antichrist or of the Turkish Empire, & those that should suffer vnder them; which indeede as M. Brough­ton, and Doc. Willet on Da­niel. others proue doe note out the times of Antiochus Epiphanes, & those that followed soone after him: whose acts and times, as in a manner all confesse, are described chap. 11. ver. 21. to 36. and indeede the Prophesie of the things that he should doe is certainly continued there, as may thus be proued. I. The Angell had there told Daniel of the miseries which the Iewes should suffer vnder Antiochus Epiphanes, Dan. 10.14. & chap. 11.31. chap. 12.6. who should take away the daily Sacrifice, and set vp the abhomination, &c. And question is made, saying, How longe shall it be to the ende of theese wonders? thē the time when all theese things should be fulfilled is expressed chap. 12.11. ver. 11. From the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away and the abhomination set vp, the dayes are summed to 1290. that is three yeares 7. monethes & aboute 13. dayes: therefore theese things could belonge to noe other time, much lesse to a time soe farre off, as that of the Pope or Turke.

II. The word Hamelech, chap. 11.36. this Kinge hath reference to the for­mer Historie: and the article ha is a note of demonstration poin­ting out the Kinge before spoken of. Neither is there any likeli­hood that the Angel, chap. 10.14. who came now to make him vnderstand what should befall the Iewes, chap. 11.2. and to tell him the truth of the visions, would so sodainly and at once, make such a large step, as is from the time of Antiochus Epiphanes to Antichrist, or the Turke, and that without telling Daniel, that now he would shew him another Kinge and Kingdom; which seeing he did not here, as he had donne concerning all the former See vers. 2.3.4.5.6.7.10. Kings and Kingdoms, both here and also chap. 8.20. it is plaine that he speakes of the same Kinge and Kingdom: and so indeede whereas he had spoken be­fore of the Kings of the North and South, vers. 6.7. &c. viz. Syria and Egypt in theire seuerall successions; and came at last to Antiochus Epipha­nes Kinge of the North, and his acts, both against the Kinge of the South, and also against the Iewes; he there without intermission, or variation, continueth speaking of them vnder the same titles vers. 40. which is an infallible argument, that he continueth [Page 27]speaking of the same Kinge, Kingdoms and times.

III. The sequell of the Storie answereth to the Prophesie: for Antiochus did all this, as See D. Willet on Da­niel. many haue proued out of the Maccabes, and other Histories.

Neither let any man thinke that Antichrist can not be destroied till Christ come to iudgement; and that therefore it will be in vaine to beare armes against him, and his Supporters in theese times. For if it could be so that he should stand till then; yet noe man can be sure that the day is farre off or at hand. But it is ma­nifest by the Scriptures, that those words of Saint Paul, 2. Thes. 2. Whome the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightnes of his comming, Reu. 19.14.15.17. &c. vers. 20.21. chap. 2.16. must needes be meant of that comming, when the armies follow him. Reuel. 19. For then Anti­christ is destroyed, and then also Christ fighteth with the Spirit, or sword of his mouth. So he saide of Pergamos, and the false Tea­chers in her, Repent, or else I will come vnto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Isa. 59.19.20. & Rom. 11.26. And so the deliuerer shall come to Sion, as Isaiah shewes. It is most manifest, therefore I say that Saint Paul meaneth such a bright comming against An­tichrist, both with the Word, and with the swords of Princes; and that he shall be wholly destroyed; as also that after his destruc­tion the Nations Gog and Magog shall fight with the Saints, Reu. 20.9. and that before the day of iudgement. For the day of iudgement shall come as a theife in the night, and noe man can know before when it shall be: Reu. 19.17. but when the Angell standing in the Sunne hath called many to the certaine destruction of Antichrist, and his Sup­porters, euen to eate the flesh of Kings, and the flesh of Captaines &c. and at the same time Antichrist hath also called many to fight in his defence; Antichrist is taken and destroyed: but if the World should then haue an ende, then all who are called to this Battaile, at least all that come against him, might know the day of iudge­ment: for they are called to the certaine destruction of him and his, to cate the flesh of Kings &c. but the whole World can not haue so sure and vissible a signe, of the ending of the World, seeing the Scriptures are contrarie herevnto, and shew that after this another battaile is fought with Gog and Magog: and there­fore the World can not then ende. The like might also be saide, when afterwards the Nations Gog & Magog are gathered toge­ther [Page 28]in battaile against the Saints Reu. 20.7. if the world were to ende with that battaile the Saints that meete there, might know it before. But this they doe not know, therefore the world is not to ende at that time. Yet how soone after that it shall ende God only knoweth. It seemes that as the, Isralites soone forgate his wonders in Egypt, so will those that suruiue theese two battailes; and then, they beeing in security, the day will take them or theire posteritie as a theife in the night. Soe that theese obiections doe not hinder but that all theese things may shortly be fulfilled; espe­tially Romes Ruin. Gen. 6.3. Wee must not thinke that Gods Spirit will alwaies striue with that Church, noe more then he did with the old world; to whome he gaue 120. yeares time of repentance, when once the longe suffering of God waited, while the Arke was preparing, in the dayes of Noah; 1. Pet. 3.a preacher of righteousnes; and so indeede God hath now giuē Rome well neere the like time since the preaching of Luther: an. 1517. wherein God by him and others would haue cured Babel, but she would not. Therefore when his longe suffering hath a like time waited, and they repent not to giue him glorie, her Ruin must needes approach and follow.

And indeede the warres and other troubles that are already begun amonge many nations, shew that theese things are at hand, and namely that ere longe Rome the greatest cause of them shall be destroied. The blood of the Saints shed in theese warres cries to heauen for speedie vengeance on Pope & Turke, but espetially and first of all on Rome, as the cause of all. For she deuided the Empire into East & west, and so made way for the Turke to enter by that diuision, and was therein the cause of all the slaughters which since haue beene made by Turkes vpon Christians. It would aske to much time to reckō vp all the warres that she hath caused, and the blood that she hath otherwise shed in former times. To say nothing of the execrable practises of the bloodie inquisition, if wee only looke on the warres of Christendom in theese times, wee may finde that she hath beene the increaser if not the prouoker, and so beginner of them all. Call to minde vvhat her instruments the Iesuits and Preists made the Emperour doe against the Bohe­mians, to make them reuolt, and soe to breede all those vvarres there & in the Palatinate, to the cruell martyrdom of many thou­sands of Protestants, & all still by the animation & encouragemēt [Page 29]of the Pope and Romish Clergie. See what troubles and slaugh­ters they haue raised in Garmanie, France and the Low countries; and how easie will it be to finde her guiltie of all the blood, that hath of late beene shed in all theese places? and that therefore she is like to be as dangerous to all that suruiue, if to preuent it, she be not the sooner destroyed? as it is written, Reu. 17.6. The Woman was drunken with the blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Iesus. chap. 18.24.In her was found the blood of the Saints, and of all that were slaine vpon earth. And indeede they are still so fierce in persuite of blood, and haue so greate hope of bringing all Nations to the obedience of theire Pope and Church, that there is noe probabilitie, that they will euer giue ouer, till she be destroyed.

And he that will may see, that God hath therefore permitted her to goe on in this wickenes, to the ende that all true Protes­tants, all true Christians, might be thereby moued in Christian pitie, and for the saueing of Christian blood (which otherwise she will not cease to shed) to combine theire forces to remoue her props, to weaken her greatest Supporters, the howse of Austria, the French and the Polonian; and then to pull her downe: for her sinnes haue reached vp to Heauen, and God hath remembred her wic­kednes. Christ against whome they fight, as he also against them, hath as it were by all theese things saide to them that seeke peace with or for Papists, as Iehu to each messenger, 2. King. 9.18. What hast thou to doe with peace, turne thee behinde me; and concerning Rome, as he concerning Iezabel; Who is on my side, who? Yea God hath as it were by all theese things proclaimed warrs, and shewed that he will haue warres till she be destroyed; and who then is able so to resist his will, as without her Ruin to worke peace? For the Kings must destroy her, and the warrs mencioned Reu. 17.16. and chap. 19. can not be preuented. And therefore though the Protestants in all countries doe now seeme to be in more danger then Rome and Antichrist; yet it is marueilous to see how God hath begunne to prepare, & fit all things to this worke. First by suffering the Papists to prouoke Protestant Princes and States to it by theire warres, victories and practises. Secondly by taking away, or at least binding and weakening the greatest im­pedinent and danger; and indeede by weakening, or halfe pulling away her props. The greatest impediment and danger that hath [Page 30]euer beene suspected is, that if Protestants and Papists should fight one against another, the Turke would take that for an oppor­tunitie to breake in vpon them & endanger all Christendom. But by the ill successe, which was lately giuē him in Poland, his warres with the Persians, and others, the lazines and indisposition of his Ianizaries, the sinewes of his warre, theire insolencie and stubbor­nes, who will now doe but what they list, the murder of Osmond by them, the vnapt or rather foolish humours of Mustepha that hath beene twise deposed, and the childishnes of him that now raigneth, God hath as it were takē all the cause of that feare away: and while of late he hath suffered them to doe nothing against Christendō worth the mentioning, he hath conuinced those prea­chers and others in England and elswhere of notorious flaterie & trecherie who while the Palatinate and other protestant bulwarks were in danger, to get preferment by pleasing the late Duke, his Mother and some others, hindred supplies and timely aide, by crying out against theese warres of Protestant against Papist, and saying it would bring in the Turke to get all. Which hath beene the cause of greate losses to Protestants: for in the meane while the howse of Austria and the French Kinge preuailed. Be­sides if the worst should come, viz. that the Turke should attempt it, he can only endanger the Popish Princes that lie next him, and so keepe them buisied that they should not be able to rescue Rome: neither is it likely that he could easely ouercome them. For Poland alone hath of late beene hard enough for him; and the Turke indeede is not so dangerous to our Religion as the Pa­pist, who doth daily striue more by eagre warres and practises to subdue vs, then the Turke doth. Besides the Turke suffers Chris­tians to enioy theire religion in his dominions with lesse perse­cution: the Papists in theire dominions put all Protestants to death or greate damages.

God hath also in some respects pulled aside and weakened the mightiest props of Rome and Antichrist: as first the Emperour, who notwithstanding all his Victories and strength, is, in that respect, of supporting Rome, much weakened, because he is in so much danger of the Turkes, and of his owne discontented Sub­iects, Nobels, Husbandmen and others, that he can not come to helpe her, for feare they should in the meane while ioyne against [Page 31]him with the much iniured Princes of Germanie; he beeing also farre off from Rome. The like may be saide of Poland; and in some sort of France also. Italie is diuided amonge many Princes, most of them of small force, and euer at discord. Venice the strongest of them hath longe beene at variance with the Pope. The greate whore then hath but one greate prop, one greate sup­porter, namely the Kinge of Spaine, whose state (as many haue Sr. Fran. Bacon lo. Ve­rulam, his considerations touching a marre with Spanie. proued) is nothing secure, but stands on sliperie and disunited grounds: against whome all Protestant Princes haue cause to fight as against one that seekes a Monarchie, to be vniuersall Kinge, yea to support the papacie, & to bring all to his & the Popish subiec­tiō: Isa. 30.3.4 But he that helpeth & he that is holpen shall both fall when God shall come downe to fight for Sion: And therefore when he shall please to weaken or remoue this Prop from supporting that See, the way lies open to Rome, and her finall ouerthrow. The vnited States haue dōne nobly against him, espetially of late in the Indies; and if others would as sincerely striue and indeanour to doe as much, it might soone be effected; at least if the Iesuited freinds of Rome and Spanie, that lurke in protestant States, were once dis­couered and expelled.

All which things considered, I can not enough vvonder at the coldnes of this age, vvherein there are many, some also of greate auctority & strength, vvho knovv the Beast, and see his Ministers vvorking together and tiranizing, and yet are not moued to fur­ther this vvorke by the best meanes vvith Constancie, courage & perseuerance. Are not those things fulfilled? Mat. 24.12. Phil. 2.21. Because iniquitie shall abound the loue of many shall waxe cold. All seeke theire owne, and no man that which is Christs; that so he alone might raigne in spi­rituall matters: seeing nothing indeede but the destruction of Rome can vvorke this, or giue peace and felicitie to the Church, as all mē may see, vvho either looke diligently into the Scriptures or into the practises of the enemies; and how Princes are anima­ted by Romish Spirits: yet I confesse that this can not easely be donne till the Kings of Spanie and France, her cheifest props and champions, be first vveakened, and put in feare of her torment; vvhich (indeede vvill make them stand a far off, and soe) is a part of the vvorke. But vvhen she is destroied, a greate multitude crie, Reu. 19.6.Alleluia: For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

And will they then be slack in giueing theire moneyes, wea­pons, labours, counsailes or consents to this worke? The Papists are not so in theire warre against vs. The Pope bestoweth his false blessings on them, and they shew theire greate thankfulnes for theese false benefits, in fighting manfully to aduāce his King­dom, and giueing moneyes and other helpes to further the same. Christ hath bestowed more, yea greater and truer benefits on vs, euen all wee haue in heauen and earth, by them to binde vs to be as true vnto him: and who then can escape his wrath, that is not faithfull and thankfull? 2 King. 19. chap. 20.1. Hezekia was in danger of enemies, and after sicke vnto the death: And the Lord saued Hezekia: 2. Chro. 32.25.But He­zekia rendred not againe according to the benefit donne vnto him: for his heart was lifted vp, therefore there was wrath vpon him, and vpon Iudah and Ierusalem. He hearkened to the flatteries of the Assi­rians the enemies of God, was to conuersant with them, and did not refuse them, and trust in God who saued him; which was vn­thankfulnes. chap. 16.7. &c. A fault that was also in Asa, who at first relied on the Lord, and was mightely deliuered: afterwards he relyed on the Kinge of Syria, and not on the Lord, and was therefore punished with warres. Who then would not be more thankfull, and cleaue more fast vnto Christ, then Papists doe to the Pope? and that be­cause they that follow Christ shall assuredly be Victors. Reu. 17.14. chap. 19.18.20. vers. 9. For the eyes of the Lord runne to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himselfe stronge in the behalfe of them, Tortus. pag. 51.whose heart is perfit toward him. Tortus saith, In our superna­turall birth in baptisme wee are to conceiue of a secret and implied oath, which wee take at our new birth to yeelde obedience to the spirituall Prince, which is Christs Vicar. As if he saide that in theire Bap­tisme they receiued the marke of the Beast: for See the Cha­racter of a Christian. pag. 282. & 296. that is to re­ceiue and obey his law, as on the contrarie to receiue, obey and professe Gods Word is to haue Gods marke: but wee are bapti­zed in the name of the Trinitie, not of the Pope: And if they thinke that they owe so much to the Pope, what owe wee to God and his Christ? What owe wee to our Sauiour, and our Brethren which are members of his mysticall body? When wee were baptized wee receiued the promise, and consequently the marke of God, promising to fight manfully vnder his Banner against all his [Page 33]enemies, and to be Christs faithfull Seruants and Souldiers vnto our liues ende, such as trust in him that he shall ouercome all enemies. Psal. 2.

Let not Princes therefore be like them that goe downe to Egypt for helpe, and stay on horses, and trust in Charets: Isa. 31.1.2.3.4.but looke not to the holy one of Israel, neither seeke the Lord: yet he is also wise, and will bringe euill, and not call back his words. Let therefore noe Protestant Prince seeke leauge with Papists, as Asa did with Syrians, who thereby displeased the Lord, as also by relying on them. For the Papists as the Egyptians are men and not God, and theire horses flesh and not spirit: When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen: for the Lord of hosts shall come downe to fight for Mount Sion, Let vs therefore looke into the Word of God, and see what God would haue to be donne against them; not to ioyne first (against the Turke) with them, who haue the marke of the Beast. Doth Christ seeke the helpe of his enemies? that is, the helpe of Antichrist, or of them who haue the marke of the Beast? there can be noe more safety, nor good in mingling and ioyning with them, then was vnto the Israelites in mingling with the heathen, Psal. 106.28.85. and in ioyning vnto Baal Peor, or with the Egyptians: Isa. 30.2. And if Papists ioyne with Protestants, they will worke, and haue hope to bringe them to theire religion: they are verrie subtill in perswading, working a thousand wayes, and will not sticke to compell, if it lie in theire power. They vvould cast to haue the Generall of theire religion: and if they could be persvvaded to fight vnder a Protestant Ge­nerall, yet the Scriptures shevv that in Christs armie, there shall be none that haue the marke of the Beast: Reu. 17.14. chap. 19.14. chap. 14.1. for they that are with him are called, and chosen and faithfull. They follow him clothed in fine linnen, white & cleane: and haue his Fathers name written in theire forheads; and consequently are not Papists, defiled with the marke & name of the Beast. Neither shall there be any Papists in Christs warre against the Turke, when he is ouerthrowen. For as I shewed the Saints doe first fight against the Beast, and the Kings with him: the Beast, and the Kings and people that are with him are ouer­throwen; some of them are slaine in battaile, chap. 19.23. the Beast and false Prophet are taken: but the remnant were slaine with the sword of him that sate vpon the horse: which sword proceedeth out of his mouth: that is conuerted to Christ by his Word.

And then and not before they come to be of Christs armie against the Turke chap. 20. therefore Christ vvill not haue Protestants to ioyne vvith Papists against the Turke, but rather to ioyne them­selues first against Antichrist & his, aftervvards against the Turke, neither can mortall man be vviser then God, that they should finde a better vvay then God hath determined & reuealed; vvho out of doubt vvill neuer prosper any other contrarie designe, how religiously soeuer it may seeme to be vndertaken.

Wee see they indeauour wholly to roote out all Protestants, to come into Christs inheritance, where he raigneth, and that where the Lord was lately serued, there the Pope is now worshipped, idollatrie erected, and our Brethren afflicted with miserie and death; neither are they moued to helpe rightly and speedily, whose duty it is: which pleaseth the Papists, that so when such haue suffered theire Brethren to perish, they may also roote out them. Which I write not to stirre vp any priuate man to lift vp his hand against any perticular Papist whatsoeuer; nor yet to ani­mate the Subiects of theese Popish Tirants to rise, and fight for theire religion after the exemple of the Iewes vnder Antiochus Epiphanes: of whome it is saide, Dan. 11.32 the people that doe know theire God shall be stronge and doe exploits. I rather wish them to suffer, and waite his leisure, who saith, Rom. 12.19. Vengeance is mine, and I will re­pay: as he hath denounced against theese Tirants, the Champions of Antichrist, saying, Reu. 13.10. He that leadeth into captiuitie shall goe into captiuitie: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints. Patience in waiting for this, and faith in beleeuing it; rather yelding to suffer, then to receiue the marke of the Beast, as chap. 14. chap. 14.12 Here is the patience of the Saints; here are they that keepe the commandements of God, and the faith of Iesus. But if ye, ô Princes and States, in whose power it is to helpe theese afflicted ones, be true Protestants and Seruants of Christ, thinke the Lord doth as it were aske you, whether they that thus afflict Gods Seruants be of Christs armie or noe? ye will answer, they are not; but rather of Antichrists armie, haueing the marke of the Beast in theire right hand, and bearing armes against Christ; then by consequence, they who sin­cerly resist, if they be not subiects to the Tirants, but free, are of Christs armie, and Christ is with them: and without doubt, all [Page 35]men of ripe yeares, if it be in theire power to be of either, are of one of theese armies; there is no meane betweene; for Christ saith, He that is not with me is against me. And that will such finde in the day of the Lord, when he Reu. 22. shall come to giue euery man as his worke shall be.

In the meane while, whether or no, cā wee say that wee loue our Christian Brethren, yea or God himselfe? yet wee say, 1. Ioh. 4.19. wee loue him, because he first loued vs. But S. Iohn saith, chap. 3.16. Hereby perceiue wee the loue of God, because he laide downe his life for vs, and wee ought to lay downe our liues for the brethren. See what Abraham did, Gen. 14.14 when he heard that his brother was taken captiue, he armed his trained Ser­uants, brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, the women also and the people. Gal. 3.29.And if ye be Christs, then are ye Abrahams seede. Ioh. 8.38.If ye were Abrahams children, ye would doe the workes of Abraham. Ieho­shaphat likewise 2. King. 3.7. helped Israel against the Moabits. Religion & the professours thereof were in danger; wherefore he saide vnto Iehoram, 2. Chro. 16.9.I will goe vp; I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. He trusted in God, and he prospered therin. For the eyes of the Lord runne to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himselfe stronge in the behalfe of them whose heart is perfit tow­ards him. They that cease to trust in him, and rather rely on the helpe and alliance of his enemies, them he forsakes, as wee see in Asa, who relyed on the Kinge of Syria. But Iehoshaphat helped his brethren, as Abraham did. He thought it not enough to say, I am a Prince of peace, if I may haue peace with the enemies, why should I hazard my owne to helpe others? it stands not with pol­lecie. For if such excuses would haue serued; Iudg. 5.23. the inhabitants of Meroz could haue saide much for themselues, as that they loued peace, & abhorred the sheeding of blood, and sought theire owne safety. But if the enemy knowing they will not fight be therefore the more emboldened to destroy theire brethren first, that they may afterwards destroy them, then this wilfull peace is rather merciles crueltie to theire brethren and to themselues, then true charitie to any. For enemies haue most desire to fight with them whome they perceiue to be faint hearted, as assured that they shall thereby preuaile. Therefore such polecie is rather extreame folly than true vvisdom: because God loues not, but forsakes them vvho forsake him or theire brethren. vers. 9. My heart is towards the [Page 36]Gouernours of Israel that offered thēselues willingly amonge the people.vers. 18.Zebulun and Nephtali were a people that ieoparded theire liues vnto the death in the high places of the field, viz. to helpe the Lord and theire brethren, and were therefore blessed: Meroz did not soe, and was therefore vers. 23. Cursed, as guiltie of blood that might haue beene spilt, and as one not regarding the crie of the afflicted. But God psa. 9.12. when he maketh inquisition for blood he remembreth them: he forgetteth not the crie of the afflicted. Will not he then finde such as neglect them guiltie? for as a famous Diuine saith, B. Hall. Contemp. the Rescue of Gi­beon. Euen per­mission in those things wee may remedy, makes vs no lesse actors then consent; some men kill as much by looking on, as others by smiting: wee are guiltie of all the euill wee might haue hindred. And indeede the holy Ghost saith; pro. 24.10.11.12. If thou faint in the day of aduersity, thy strength is small. If thou forbeare to deliuer them that are drawen vnto death, and those that are readie to be slaine: If thou saiest, behold wee knew it not: doth not he that pondereth in the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soule doth he not know it? and shall not he render vnto euery man according to his worke.

It therefore behooueth him to stirre who either regardeth his owne saluation, or Gods protection. Let them therefore, who may giue helpe, take heede while there is time; espetially seeing the cause is common to all, and not God and ciuill pollecie only, but euen common sense teacheth this with the Poët, Ecquid

Which saying is the more to be regarded, because he that will may know, that the Spanish Kinge who is called Catholick, aimeth at the Catholick gouernment. Howsoeuer what will he and they not doe for the Catholicke cause, as they call it, who are gouerned by the Pope, Rome, and the Iesuits and Preists? or who haue the marke of the Beast, and consequently are led by the deuill and his Agents? Reu. 16. theese frogs and locusts are Spirits of deuils. Are they not then, as much to be trusted in any thinge they pretend, as of old Antiochus Epiphanes the Syrian Kinge, who came in peaceablie to the Subiects of another Kingdom, and with gifts and flatteries wrought them Dan. 11.26 to betray it, namely Egypt? of whome therefore it was saide, chap. 8.25. By peace he shall destroy many. chap. 11.23.24.After the leauge made with him, he shall worke deceitefully, for he shall come vp, and shall [Page 37]become stronge with a small people: He shall enter peaceablie: and scatter amonge thē the pray and riches: and he shall forecast his deuises against the stronge holds for a time; viz. till he had corrupted the Egyptians, raised factions amonge them, and so prepared them to betray the Kingdom to the greate armie he intended to bringe, and which he after vers. 25. brought: also touching his craft to obtaine Iudea, and ouerthrow religion there; ver. 30. [...] He shall haue intelligence with them that forsake the holy couenant. And such as doe wickedly against the couenant shall he corrupt by flatteries. Wherein he and they were liuely types of Antichrist and his instruments, and of his secret freinds that are false brethren in other Churches and States.

Now therefore if any man thinke that Papists are more sincere in theire pretences to Protestāts; let him remember what doctrine the Councell of Constance left them, fidem Haereticis non seruandam: yea let him reade Nauar. in Manual. cap. 12. num. 18. cap. 21. & Sam. Aphor. tit. de testibus; and then tell me, whether they thinke it lawfull to equiuocate, and delude Hereticks with sub­telties? at least for the Catholick cause? and how longe they are to be trusted, I would he would iudge whome it most concerneth: and espetially seeing God hath seemed to haue lately warned vs of such dangers: I doe not meane so much by signes & prodegies, as by that which they haue donne to our brethren in other King­doms and prouinces. Howsoeuer wee know that the Pope, and his thinke and affirme Symancha. instit. cathol. cap. 45. num. 13. & Allan against the execution of Iustice, c. 5. that warre vndertaken for the cause of religion is without controuersie lawdable and good; Thuan. hist. lib. 42. ad ann. 1585. lib. 62. and lib. 63. ad ann. 1577. & Symanch. instit. Cathol. cap. 45. num. 15. Platin▪ in vita Greg, 7. that peace is not te be made, nor kept with Hereticks: yea they say that the Pope hath right Imperia, regna, principatus, & quicquid habere mor­tales possunt auferre & dare; and that to whome he will as he saith; and blasphemously he for this thinge abuseth that place Ier. 5.10. as Hadrian in an Epistle to the Archbishops of Treueire, Mentz, and Colen, whence had the Emperour the Empire but from vs? Behold the Empire is in our power to giue is to whome wee will. For therefore are wee of God set ouer nations, and Kingdoms to destroie, to plucke vp, to build and to plant. What he, and his beeing of the same body and opinion haue donne in theese times, and daily goe aboute, there is no neede to tell; the matter it selfe declareth, and that in many countries. Such is theire industrie; who (as wee may well thinke) will by theire tounges, subtelties, gifts, hands and feete [Page 38]doe all things that they can for theire religion & brethrē; whome also wee know without commandement from God to endeauour with all possible labour night and day, & to venture theire verrie liues to proffit the Pope & Church of Rome, and to roote out the Protestāts; although in all theese things, they to theire euerlasting damnation profoundlie take the marke of the Beast in theire for­heads, and in theire hands. And shall not wee then be content to goe forth for Christ, and vnder Christ to doe as much as they, while wee may both benefit the Church of Christ, and secure our selues? the voice saith of the whore sitting on many waters; Reu. 18.reward her as she hath rewarded you. Behold then what they doe, & indea­uour, and then if thou beest a sincere Christian thou wilt say, shall they doe theese things vnpunished? theese things are all donne & vndertaken not only out of coueteousnes, or in a desire of rule, but also for the Pope and Church of Romes sake, yea for the Clergies sake; and indeede by theire vncessant instigations: but when the cause why they doe theese things shall be taken away, theese will cease, peace will ensue, and Christ shall raigne alone in spirituall matters.

Wee knovv also that all things vvhich the Pope and his doe against vs for religion sake, are verrie much against Christ, as the Scriptures declare. Wee may know also, if vvee vvill how greate authority Christ hath giuen vnto his, espetiallie vnto Kings and States to take from Rome, and the Beast theire vvealth, and not only to eate her flesh, but also the flesh of her freinds Reuel▪ 19.17. and that verrie iustly; because many of our Brethren haue beene by them led captiue and slaine: for as the Lord vvould haue the deedes of Ameleck remembred, and recompensed Exod. 17.14. and 1. Sam. 15. so he saith concerning theese men, Reu. 13.9.10. If any man haue an eare let him heare. He that leadeth into captiuitie, shall goe into captiuitie: He that killeth with the sword, must be killed with the sword. And therefore though they haue no auctoritie to take from the follovvers of Christ; yet they vvhich are Christs, ought to doe his commandements against those his enemies; and vvhe­ther theese things can be donne vvithout losse to any saue Rome only, as also vvhether they that haue power should feare to doe his commandements, and what it is to haue communion vvith so greate enemies, the props of the Whore and Antichrist, as [Page 39]2. Corinth. 6.14. Deuter. 7. vvhat it is to stand afarre off, and not to fight vnder Christs Standart, let any true Chris­tian iudge, seeing as a greate Prelate saide in a like case, Epise. Win­ton. Tortura Tort. in Epis. Dedica. This cause is of that kinde wherein when a man gathereth not with Christ, he scatereth with Christs aduersarie, where vnlesse one deliuer the faith, neither shall he deliuer his Soule. Also, Now when the com­mon cause is brought into danger, let noe man be a spectatour, but euerie one an actour: and where the cause of all men is handled, there with all power and labour, with all studdie and indeauour to skirmish stoutly for it. And herein in what low state soeuer a man be, yet let him be a Christian. The cause of religion is in danger; and if they that professe the same religion helpe not, what religion the while is there in them? The name Religion commeth of a word that signi­fieth to binde, and it is a spirituall bond, whereby the men of each profession are bound one vnto another, and knit fast toge­ther in faith and loue, as one body. In the true religion they are knit together vnder Christ, and are both bound vnto him theire head, and also vnto one another, as true members of the same bo­dy. Is any member then of Christs body in danger, and will not all the rest helpe? He that will not helpe is he a member? doth he not cut himselfe off from the body, if he stand like a newter? when Iabesh Gilead was in danger, and the enemie sought 1. Sam. 11.2.7. to lay it for a reproch vpon all Israell; the feare of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out as one man: as one body; euery man shewed him­selfe a true member: there vvas true Religion. As therefore Christ counted himselfe touched vvhen his members vvere tou­ched Act. 9.4. so ought it to be amonge the members of his bo­dy, vvho vvhen one is in danger should all make it theire ovvne case, and helpe vvhat they can. Iam. 1.27. Pure religion and vndefiled before God is this, to helpe the distressed in theire affliction. True Pro­testants are novv the Is [...]aell of God; the diuers Nations, are but as the seuerall tribes; they should be all knit together vnder one head, viz. vnder Christ, and that to fight against Antichrist, vvho now raigneth. Is any member then in danger, and vvill not all the rest helpe? he that can helpe and will not, is he a member? Ioshua doth greately praise the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the halfe tribe of Manasseh, when he saith to them, Iosh. 22.1.3. Ye haue not left youre Brethren theese many dayes vnto this day, but haue kept the [Page 40]charge of the commandement of the Lord youre God. There are ma­ny who call themselues Protestants; and yet how few that truly desire this praise by protesting sincerely against the Beast, and his members, who beare his marke, and fight stoutely for him, and for one another? Psal. 2. The Kings of the earth band themselues, and the ru­lers take counsell together against the Lord and against his Anointed. Doe those who professe themselues Seruants of Christ, doe as much for Christ, and for one another? as yet they haue not. Christ saith, luk. 16.8. The children of this world are in theire generation wiser then the children of light. I would to God they were not also more zealous and bold for theire Maister. Doe wee not see what mischeife the freinds of Antichrist daily put in practise against the Seruants of Christ, and how the Pope approues of theese deedes? And how longe they who haue the marke of the Beast, are gouerned by the Pope, and led by the Iesuits are to be trusted in any thinge that they pretēd, I hartely wish that they would iudge whome it most of all concerneth. In the meane time wee must pray as Psal. 74. Haue respect vnto the couenant: Psal. 74.20.for the darke places of the earth are full of the habitations of crueltie. And as Isa. 63. & 15. to chap. 65.

Our aduersary the Deuill, who allwayes goes aboute like a roaring Lion, seeking whome he may deuoure, without all doubt labours so much the more when he knowes that he hath but a litle time for the Beast, and Whore and Dragon. He will labour to haue his Agents in all Courts and Kingdoms, that they may by all the pre­texts, proiects and deuises that may be inuented make some fight openly, and others worke secretly for the Beast and Whore; but espetially that they may vnder colour of wisdom, keepe such as are best able from aiding theire brethren, or fighting against the Whore and her props; that so noe man of power may seeke to ful­fill Gods will in aiding the Church, or ruinating the Kingdom of the Beast, but rather forsake the Spouse of Christ, and leaue her members in danger of the aduersaries; that so Papists may by de­grees recouer or destroy all. To this ende, he will labour vvhat he can to get aduantage out of all dispositions and affections; as of old out of the disposition and affection of Ahasuerus, a Kinge benigne, munificent, credulous, voide of suspition, greately lo­ueing & trusting his Seruants. The deuill therefore labours that Haman might be in grace: because he knew that no man would [Page 41]contradict him that should be most in fauour with the Kinge, but rather that euerie one would be readie to flatter him in all things whatsoeuer he goes aboute; and that therefore he might make the Kinge beleeue that his best subiects the Iewes, were the Kings greatest enemies; and that to this ende, that whereas at that time God was aboute to do some good for his people the Iewes then in captiuity, he might by this Haman wholly destroy the Iewes, and so not only frustrate Gods benignitie, and the restauration of true religion; but also by this meanes wholly destroy the Kinge, by causeing that for his iniustice and crueltie God might be his enemie. Neuerthelesse Haman vsed a pretext, saying, Esther. 8.3. It is not for the Kings proffit, or honour, to suffer them: as if he should say, they are against the Kings prerogatiue; for he saith, theire lawes are diuers from all people, neither keepe they the Kings lawes; (so others pretend Ezra. 4.12. Dan. 3. chap. 6.13.) yea Haman pre­tends that the slaughter would be verrie proffitable to the Kinge; whereas on the contrarie, chap. 7.4. if they had beene sold for bondmē & bond­women, the enemie could not counteruaile the Kings damage; so good Subiects were they, and proffitable to the Kinge; neuerthelesse by this meanes he had preuailed with the Kinge, if God had not turned it: so powerfull was the man whome the Kinge did to much loue; and that the Deuill knew well enough, and that ther­fore he vvas an instrument the fitter for such a worke; although indeede his life was most dangerous, & his death most proffitable to the Kinge, according to that; Pro. 25.5. Take away the wicked from before the Kinge, and his throne shall be established: as if he should say, otherwise it stands in danger. As Rehoboam found, 1. King. [...]. vvho vvas led by the counsell of the vvicked younge men to speake roughly to the people. The Deuill knew vvel enough that the strength of the King, did vnder God, most of all cōsist in the loue of the people, vvho vvhen they loue, and are loued vvill giue theire substance and liues for him: the Deuill therefore sought to alienate the heart of the Kinge from the people, and thereby the heart of the people from the Kinge; that so the Kingdom diuided in it selfe might not stand, but might lie open to diuision, and thereby to the Gentiles, and so that by that meanes the true Religion might also be quite put out. And wee may be sure that he hath now so laboured & still will to doe the like against religion in Protestant Kingdoms & States.

So also when God was aboute to reedifie the Citie & Temple, Ezra. 4. Nehem. 2. chap. 4. and chap. 6. the Diuell raised vp scorners and slanderers against the builders, that they might hinder the worke. And when Ioshua was aboute a good worke, Zach. 3.1. Satan stood at his right hand to hinder him. So when God vvas Iud. 13.5. aboute to deliuer Israel by Sampson; the Deuill and the Philistins raised vp a Delilah to hinder him. And his industrie is indeede alwayes so greate, that vvho can looke for better frō him in theese times? Howsoeuer wee see what Antichrist doth daily practise against Christ, & thē that are his; how also he keepes the people in blindnesse, and hinders the true preaching & obediēce of Gods Word, & therein Christs raigne; yea how the cause of the Gospel doth euery where seeme to go backwards, & the cause of Rome to waxe lustie: yet few are moued to seeke a right remedie. They who are outwardly Protestāts, inwardly Papists, they desire to rectifie all things, & vnder pretext of greate zeale & wisdom, they still seeke such an excelent remedy as shall in shew promise greate redresse, yet shall indeede come to no ende, but spend in vaine time, treasure and labour, giue the Papists opportuintie of enlarging theire bounds, make protestants be glad of peace on hard conditions, & bringe the protestant cause into a much worse state; this beeing brought aboute, thē appeares what was indeede the drift of theire designes. They that are lukewarme, and seeke theire owne, not that which is Christs, theese are willing to con­niue; they will not contradict the former, but serue the times what euer they be; others haue a desire to speake, but there is no place for them amonge Princes; others haue both place and will, but they are affraide; to such a one the holy Ghost saith; Hest. 4.14. If thou al­together holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliuerance arise to the people of God from another place, but thou and they Fathers howse shall be destroied. How greate is the coldnes? but why doe wee wonder? when as it seemeth in the time of greatest danger, the coldnesse should be so greate, that the Angell standing in the Sunne, should haue neede to crie with a loude voice: as if men feared whether they might for Christs cause hurt his enemies; peraduenture not allowing the cause of Religion to be a sufficient cause of warre, although the aduersaries neither haue beene, nor are so scrupulous; and God hath saide of the Whore, serue her, as she hath serued you; peraduenture pretending also that [Page 43]if this vvere granted, the aduersaries vvould also openly say the same things for themselues; (the Diuell, the Pope & Papists vvill desire and indeauour that vvee may alvvayes be of that minde, that in the meane time, they who are otherwise affected may pre­uaile ouer vs all:) but in the meane while theese men, who pro­fesse themselues Protestants are vnwilling to see that warre vn­dertaken as matters stand at this day both with our brethren, with the faith it selfe, yea & with our selues also, might rather be called defensiue S. Francis Bacon Lo. Verulam his Consideratiōs Touching a warre with Spaine. and preuentiue then offensiue; the zeale and Iesuited Spirits of the aduersaries giueing all protestant Princes & States, soe iust cause of feare and preuenting care. Neuerthelesse when our seeming protestāts, to maske & palliate theire owne trecherie in religion, or at least to couer theire owne lukewarmenes and cowardise, call this warre ignominious and the perswasion there­unto a Iesuiticall doctrine, they doe not, or will not see, that this is to condemne those noble Kings and theire acts, who shall make the whore desolate and naked, and burne her with fire; Is not that a warre vndertaken for religion sake, and for Christs cause?

Let them therefore remember that there is greate difference, betweene those who are of the true religion, and those who only affirme, or thinke themselues to be such, betweene those who know that they shall fight against the enemies of Christ, and those who only pretend, or imagin this thinge; betweene those vvho are moued to vvarre for the Popes, and Church of Romes sake, and those vvho are moued thereto, for Christs and theire owne safeties sake; betweene those who receiue the marke of the Beast, haue his name: for it seemes in theire mea­ning theire Armies are called Catholick Armies, and themselues Catholicks, that is vniuersals of theire ruler the Pope, who is cal­led the Catholick or Vniuersall Bishop; Isa. 63.19. in many things Christ beareth no rule ouer them, therefore they are not called by his name, at least not rightly: yea betweene them that murther the Seruants of Christ, and those who beare the marke of the liueing God, follow and obey him by rooting out his enemies to the glorie of God, and the libertie of the Church; lastly betweene them who are hereto allured by the Beast and false Prophet, and gathered together by the spirits of Deuils, working myracles; and those who are commanded of God concerning the whore [Page 44]sitting on many waters; Reward her, as she hath rewarded you, double vnto her double, &c. And if this be as Deut. 7. yet Christ who is theire leader doth Reu. 19.11.14. in righteousnes iudge and make warre; they are no better to him then cananites: and his Seruants follow him vpon white horses, clothed in fine linnen white, and cleane. The blood therefore of theese his enemies doth not defile them. Nei­ther can any ouercome him who ouercommeth the Kings, because he is chap. 17. the Lord of Lords, and Kinge of Kings, and they that are with him are called & chosen, and faithfull. There is therefore no danger or cause why theese Seruants of Christ should feare to fight, least they should be vanquished in warre, seeing vnto them the Lord hath Reu. 16.10 chap. 17.14. chap. 18.10. chap. 19.18. assured victorie, and to theire aduersaries destruction. He that hath promised this thinge is theire Leader, and vers. 11. he is called Faithfull and true. He will surely do it. Wee haue his word for this thinge. And 2. Tim. 2.13. if wee beleeue not, yet he abideth faithfull, he can not denie himselfe.

Those greate Searchers therefore that weigh the power of the aduersaries by the strength of theire humane forces and polecies, (wherein indeede they seeme to exceede vs) are like the tenne that searched Canaan, who dishartened the people with a relation of the enemies strength; so farre are they from Calebs faith and courage, who saw as much, and yet saide, Num. 13.28. let vs goe vp at once and posesse it. For though as Moses often saide, they were seauen na­tions greater and mightier then Israel, yet he knew that God had assured destruction to them, and victorie to his people. Such men therefore may doe well to remēber what Christ saith, w Reu. 21.8. the feare­full and vnbeleeuing shall haue theire part in the lake. They consider not that God doth commonly for his greater glorie ouercome the greatest enemies by a power weaker in all humane reason then themselues. Ioel 3.10. Beate therefore youre plow shares into swords, & youre pruning hookes into speares, let the weake say I am stronge, as the Prophet willeth; and let no man withhold them from this warre, fearing lest they should be defiled with blood, or thinking the issue will be doubtfull, and that therefore it would be better to perswade to peace; which yet when he most would, he shall hardly longe obtaine from them that are gouerned by the Pope. How­soeuer (as Polibius saith) Polib. Hist. lib. 4. p. 300 If peace be iust and honest, it is a worthy possession and most proffitable; but if it be dishonourable and base, it is [Page 45]of all things most shamefull & pernitious. Now if wee consider how the case hath stood, and yet doth with our brethren the followers of Truth, yea and with the Truth it selfe, wee will then graunt what one proueth: B. Hall. Con­temp. on Da­uid and Achish. viz. that the true Servants of God are in theire places, when they are in opposition to his enemies. Profession of hostility becomes them better then leauges of amity. And indeede while Pro­testants seeke, or take peace of the Souldiers of Antichrist, they both make them thinke it is feare of theire strength, and also so puffe them vp with conceite thereof, that as time serues they will be the more desirous of warre, and all occasions thereof. Yea, it causeth that while such a peace lasteth, they will not cease to en­croach, demaund, and obtaine either by flatteries or threats, till they may by peace get more to themselues and theire religion, then they could haue donne by warre. Nor is it likely, that such will longer hold it, then theire aduantage increaseth therein.

Neither is it alwaies sufficient before God to say wee desire peace; espetiallie where it is quarrell enough against thē that they haue the marke of the Beast, are the Souldiers of Antichrist, and members of the greate whore, whose destruction is commanded. For as a famous Diuine saith, B. Hall. Con­temp. on the Gibeonites.He that calls himselfe the God of peace proclaims himselfe the God of hosts: and not to fight where he hath commanded is to breake the peace with God, whiles wee nourish it with men. And who euer got by angring him to please others? or by loosing his fauour to get the momentarie, and vncertaine freindship of others? vncertaine I call it, because God that hath iniurie thereby may therefore suffer it to be turned into deceite, hatred, and greater damage. That which men doe vniustly to preuent an euill, though it seeme greate polecie, is by Gods iust iudgement often turned into a cause that bringes the same euill vpon them, as appeareth Gen. 11.4. Isa. 30.1.2.3. Ioh. 11.48. I know that in many places, causes & times that place may verrie well be alleadged; If it be possible as much as in you lieth, Rom. 12.8.liue peacea­bly with all men. But when God would that the whore should be burned, and that the seauen Angels haue begunne to powre out theire vials full of the wrath of God; yea when theese things are alreadie in theire progresse, who is there, who if he be a true Pro­testant, and Seruant of Christ will say that this, or the like place is congruently alleadged, betweene free Princes of so contrarie [Page 46]Religions? to hearken is at that time better then sacrifice, and Christ to be heard, Mat. 16.24.25.26. Ioh. 12. If any man serue me, Ioh. 12.25.26.let him follow me, and where I am there shall also my Seruant be. If in warre, then with him, if in peace, then with him. When di­uers Kingdomes forsooke the Beast and whore, to follow the Word, it was saide, The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. Reu. 11. Since that time Christ, and they that follow him haue continually skirmished against Antichrist and his followers, and should continue so doeing, till Rome and Antichrist should be destroyed, as is shewed Reuel. 14. chap. 15. chap. 16. &c. And will Princes and States then that are his Leiftenants suffer the Beast and his to recouer or spoile any of theese Kingdoms, either by force or fraude? surely if they doe, those Princes will condemne them, who with all theire might de­fend and extend the dominion of Antichrist: and so will they also who at the Popes becke led greate Armies to recouer Palestina: and that though God in Scripture require no such thinge, but ra­ther shewes that it shall lie vnder the curse till the restauration of the Iewes: Reu. 11.15. whereas he saith the contrarie of theese Kingdoms.

And yet the Iesuits, Preists and other Papists goe aboute with the firebrands of errour and sedition, that like Sampsons foxes they may at least spoile theese vines & garnaries which are Gods, and not, as his foxes did, the enemies. Now they that are in autho­rity may know if they will that Christ our Can. 8.11. Salomon had a vineard, he let it out vnto keepers; and that therefore they should thinke of that, chap. 2.15. Take vs the foxes, the litle foxes that spoile the vines. Espe­tially seeing theire cunning Preists are such as the wonderwor­king dreamer, and false Prophet, of whome God saith, Deut. 13.8.9. and chap. 17.7. Thou shalt not consent vnto him, nor hearken vnto him, neither shall thine eye pitie him, neither shalt thou conceale him. But thou shalt surely kill him. Num. 25.16.Vexe the Madianites, and smite them for they trouble you with theire wiles: Gal. 5.12.I would they were cut off that trouble you. For theese indeede are the riuers and fountaines, through which the waters of errour, which come from the Romish Sea, are conueied into euery cor­ner of the Land to the destruction of Soules. Theese fountaines and riuers are also, as it were the dougs, by which that Sea is nou­rished, as they by it. And indeede theese are they that venture to conuey floods of those waters of errour and treason into those [Page 47]Lands where Poperie is thrust out, hopeing thereby to bringe people backe from the obedience of theire Princes, and indeede of Christ himselfe vnto the obedience of the Pope theire Maister. For which they haue beene iustly punished with death, as is signi­fied Reu. 16. The third Angel powred out his viall vpon the riuers and fountaines of waters, and they became blood. Which viall was in­deede powred out aboute the yeare 1581. when in England, it was ordained by publick authoritie, that all they that should indea­uour by any meanes to draw the mindes of the subiects from theire obedience toward theire lawfull and naturall Prince to the Pope, or for that purpose should draw them to theire religion, should be put to death as traitors: the good example of which Edict was in some measure followed against the Iesuits in other Kingdoms. And questionlesse this is that which is signified by that viall. For indeede herein the Lord gaue them blood to drinke; because they that brought theese waters of Rome, brought them with the danger of theire liues; and therefore they were not only turned to blood to those that sent them, nor only to blood in themselues beeing apprehended; but also if they escaped a while to conuey them, they were also turned into blood to those that re­ceiued them, as Dauid saide, of the water of Bethlehem, which the three mightie men fetched him through the host of the Philistines; 2. Sam. 23.17.is not this the blood of the men that went in Ieopardie of theire liues? Thus the righteous God gaue the Preists, and Iesuits blood to drinke, who as wee know haue caused many good Christians to be killed by the Inquisition, and by animating Popish Princes to make warre against Protestants. This is that therefore vvhich the Angell of the waters saith there, Thou art righteous, ô LORD, which art, and wast and shall be, because thou hast iudged thus: for they haue shed the blood of Saints and Prophets, and thou hast giuen them blood to drinke, for they are worthy. If Gods Word say they be worthy, vvhat Christian vvill pleade for them that such lavves should not be executed on them? Will they doe the like by vs?

And therfore they who professe themselues Protestants, should methinkes take heede, that they doe not so much as thinke that kinde of iustice to haue beene to seuere, and espetiallie that they disswade not from the execution of such lawes, nor giue reasons against them, least they be thereby found to helpe the Beast, yea [Page 48]to charge God of iniustice, and euen to dispute against the holy Ghost, who by the Angell saith, they are worthy. Which that no man might once doubt S. Iohn saith there, I heard another out of the Altar say, Euen so Lord God Almightie, true and righteous are thy iudgements. Thus then at least the Romish Clergie are worthy. And the rest haue the name and marke of the Beast. Many of them fight his battailes, and haue sought our destructiō; yea haue slaine many of our Brethren, and led many into captiuitie, as was fore­shewed Reuel. 13.10. therefore that should be heard, and re­membred which God there saith concerning euerie one of them, He that leadeth into captiuitie shall goe into captiuitie: Reu. 13.10.he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. And indeede the grea­ter part of them haue wished our destruction, or subiection by the sword, if not contributed to the effecting thereof; and thereby haue both made themselues guiltie, and also giuen vs assured testimonie that this Scripture must shortlie be fulfilled in requi­tall of those slaughters, and other disasters wrought by them. And all of them are members of that greate Whore, which sitteth on many waters, and therefore are such as those of whome it is saide, Thou shalt not seeke theire peace, Deut. 23.6.nor theire good all thy dayes for euer. God hath saide of the Whore sitting on many wate s, Reward her as she hath rewarded you, Reu. 18.6.and double vnto her double according to her workes: in the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double, &c. and though he hath hereby principally designed the Citie of Rome; yet the Citie, or Woman is also to be considered as she sitteth on many waters, which are peoples, and multitudes and Nations. For whereas it is saide, The tenth part of the Citie fell; he doth not meane of Rome, as she sitteth on seauen mountaines, but on manie waters. From those dayes, or rather from the time when the King­doms of this World are become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; the Whore and Antichrist with her haue beene as a rotten, or ruinous howse ready to fall.

But the Iesuits & Preists haue obteined greate props to vphold her; which indeede are greate Kings, and Princes espetially the Kinge of Spaine; and howse of Austria: Now that Protestant Prince which seeketh to weaken theese props, and pillars by an honourable warre, (as of late that noble Queene Elizabeth did) he [Page 49]without doubt doth a worke verrie acceptable to God, as tending to the Ruin of Rome and of Antichrist, who otherwise can not be ouerthrowen: but if he spare the props, or strengthen them, although he vainely hope thereby to strengthen himselfe (as they did Isai. 30.2.) amonge whome will Christ our Captaine, and Iudge finde him? seeing he saith, Mat. 12.30. He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth; August. de peccator. meritis 18. and as Augustine saith, Nec est vlli vllus medius locus, vt posset esse nisi cum Diabolo, qui non est cum Christo. Neither is there any midle place for any man, that he can be with any other then the Diuell, who is not with Christ. Wee must not therefore doe such a thinge vnder the wil­full hope of doeing God the better seruice, as to his exceeding losse Saul did 1. Sam. 15. and likewise Ahab 1. King. 20.28.42. so dangerous a thinge it is for a man to make himselfe wiser then God. It is not therefore so small a matter to neglect the comman­dement of God, and all the good that may come of this obe­dience, vnder euerie pretence.

But peraduenture they who are otherwise affected will say, if to neglect this cause may be imputed to some for a fault; neuer­thelesse there is no such danger in it, if wee remember that Christ died for Sinners. Saint Paul will answer them, That he died for all, 2. Cor. 5.15.that they which liue, should not hence forth liue vnto themselues, but vnto him which died for them, and rose againe; and that must needes be, that as they should therefore liue vnto him in other things, so in this also; especially in such times as theese, when the iniuries donne vnto the Church, and euen to the Truth himselfe, seeme to require it of all that any way can giue helpe. Wee must not thinke that the members of Christ, who professe and follow the Truth must alwaies suffer vnder Antichrist, and his adherents; much lesse Christ himselfe, who is the Truth. For as wee may see Christ did many yeares agoe begin to conquer, chap. 11.13. when the tenth part of the citie fell, and the euerlasting Gospell was alreadie begunne to be preached. For of those times it is saide, feare God, and giue glory to him, for the howre of his iudgement is come; Reu. 14.6. If it were come then in the time of Luther and Caluin, how much more in theese our dayes who liue so many yeares after them? Let noe man now put off the time of iudgmēt, seeing also of those times it is saide for Gods honour, our comfort and theire terrour, [Page 50] Thou hast taken vnto thee thy greate power, chap. 11.17.18.and hast raigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be iudged, (or reuenged) and that thou shouldest giue reward vnto thy Seruants the Prophets, and to the Saints, and to them that feare thy name, small, and greate, and shouldst destroy them which destroy (or corrupt) the earth. vers. 19. Then the Temple of God was opened; and the seauen Angels come out with theire vials full of the wrath of God, as is shewed chap. 15. where see chap. 15.5.6. you may see that he commeth againe to this verrie time of the Temples ope­ning, (mencioned chap. 11.) to shew what should presently follow; and that the iudging and destroying mencioned chap. 11.18. is meant of theese seauen vials full of the wrath of God, and which are the last plauges inflicted on Antichrist and his followers, and other wicked men: and consequently that from that time for­ward, Christ doth maintaine warre against the whore, and Anti­christ; and that not spiritually only, by the word, but euen vvith the verrie svvords of Princes, as may appeare from chap. 16. in diuers of those seauen plauges, also chap. 17. vers. 16. vvhere the Kings destroie Rome, vvhich must needes be one of the 7 plauges, because theese seauen are the last plauges: it hath therefore see­meth to many to be the sift, because that is poured on the throne or seate of the Beast, vvhich is Rome; and yet the vvarre is still continued, chap. 19. vvhere vvee see that the armies called against Antichrist are saide to follow Christ, chap. 19. vvho is theire Leader, or Generall.

Is he then in the feild, and are vvee affraide to follovv him? or doe vvee thinke that all the vvarre is for a Kingdom not vvorth the labour? or vvhere the Generall beeing victour doth diuide no spoile amonge his follovvers? If it vvere so; yet methinkes vvhen Christ Iesus is the Generall, there should vvant no follovvers. The Popes Kingdom is of this vvorld, and therefore his follovvers fight for him, because he giues them temporall revvards, and pro­mises spirituall, though indeede he can not performe promise. Christs Kingdom is not of this vvorld, therefore men fight not for him; Ioh. 18.36. as he saith, My Kingdom is not of this world: if my King­dom were of this world, then would my Seruants fight. This he spake vvhen he vvas to suffer, and did not desire that any should fight to rescue him. But novv (as you haue seene) he is to subdue [Page 51]enemies by the sword, and therefore lookes for followers to fight, though his Kingdom be not of this World. Yet besides spirituall honours and blessings, our Sauiour and Generall offers greate temporalites to his followers, vvhen he saith, Reu. 17.16. they shall eate her flesh; that is indeede her riches and reuenues: and againe, Come and gather youre selues together vnto the supper of the greate God (viz. vnto a feast, that he should make them, as Isa. 25.9.) Chap. 19.17 18. That ye may eate the flesh of Kings, and the flesh of Captaines, and the flesh of mightie men; &c. that is indeede to take theire riches, pofessions and reuenues. Howsoeuer; the time beeing come, it will not suf­fice to say, vvee are like to haue no pay; Reu. 18.1. or vvee haue not yet had any such speciall commandement to goe foorth. For vvithout doubt those places of an Vers. 4. Angel descending from heauen, of a Chap. 19. voice from heauen; of an Chap. 14.Angell standing in the Sunne, are not to be taken literallie: but in those places is signified the voice of God in some Princes, Ministers, or others standing in the light and confidence of the truth: to theese other Seruants of Christ hearken, and are hereby saide, Chap. 17.14. to follow the Lambe withersoeuer he goeth; and to be truly Ioh. de Ra­da. par. 2. Theol. con­trou. inter Scotum, & Tho. cont. 20 act. 2. con­clus. 6. Parcl. de po­test. Pap. cap. 41. p. 341. called, and chosen and faithfull. The Papists boldly teach that,^f Lice: praeceptum Praelati sit irrationale, & pro tale me­ritò quand [...]que haberi potest, tenetur tamen subditus illud obseruare: though the commandement of the superiour be vnreasonable, and may well enough be thought to be so, yet the inferiour is bound to obey it: that men are bound, Papae sententiam exequi, to put the Popes sentence in execution. And so wee perceiue the Iesuits and Pre [...]sts to go foorth, perswading Princes & people by diuers meanes to roote out the Protestants; and wee see them labouring what they can to do soe; so truly do they worship the beast, and his Image: and shall they then that are Christs, and pretend to loue him, be more afraide to doe the commandements of God in roo­ting out them? espetially seeing that harlot is the common de­struction of soules. There is no feare in loue, 1. Ioh. 4.18.but perfect loue casteth out feare: he that feareth is not made perfect in loue. Why then should they feare? Doe they thinke that Christ will without theire la­bour reuenge them? he can indeede, but his purpose is not so to doe, seeing he saith to them of the whore, which sitteth on many waters, Reward her, as she hath rewarded you, fill her double, &c. Reu. 18. Num. 25.17 As of old he saide, Vexe the Midianites, and smite them: for they vexe [Page 52]you with theire wiles. Ioh. 13.17. And as he saith, If ye know theese things, happy are ye, if ye do them. O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed: happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast serued vs. Psa. 137. Ioh. 14.24. But as he saith, He that loueth me not kepeth not my sayings. If therefore theese things be not donne, let vs not laie the fault on God; but rather say vnto him, Psal. 60.4.5 as psa. 60. Thou hast giuen a banner to them that feare thee, that it may be displaied because of the truth. That thy beloued may be deliuered. psa. 68.1.Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered. The comfort is here, as Psa. 110. The people shalbe willing in the day of thy power. Psa. 110.3.Faithfull is he that hath promised, who will also doe it. And though wee haue not beleeued, 2. Tsm. 2.13 yet he abideth faithfull, he can not denie himselfe. Theese things are indeede to be more espe­tiallie considered in theese last times of Antichrist, wherein wee see or heare that our brethren haue beene in many places led captiue and slaine, Reu. 13.10. as was prophesied Reu. 13.10. and that therefore wee are to expect with confidence that recompence which for our comfort is there assured to the ad­uersaries. Here is the patience, and the faith of the Saints.