A Collected pack or multitude of Hypocritical, Heretical, Blasphemous and most Scandalous Wicked Men, that have fulfilled all the Prophesies of the Scriptures, which have fore-spoken of the coming of the great Antichrist; and especially have united and combined themselves together by A Solemne League and Covenant, to slay the two witnesses of God Moses and Aaron, as Christ interpreteth them; they have Moses and the Prophets, Luke 16.29. that is the [...]reme Magistrate of the Commonwealth, and the chief Pastors and Governours of the Church of Christ.

And the Christian World is requested to Judge,

WHether the Assembly of Presbyterians consulting at West­minster; together with the Independants, Anabaptists, and Lay-preachers, be not the false Prophet and the mysticall soul of that great Antichrist? And whether the prevalent faction of the Long parliament, termed of late the Rump-parliament, and their Adherents; that killed the two witnesses of Jesus Christ, Charles th [...] [Page 2]the First King of great Brittain, and in him civilly all his Mage­strates; And William Laud Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, and civilly all the suppressed Bishops, and silenced Preachers of these three King­domes, be not the grosse and visible body of Antichrist?

Answered by George Pressick of Dublin.

BUt before I come to answer his Arguments, whereby he endea­vours to prove what is above written in his Title Page; I shall if the Lord will be pleased to inable me, from several Texts of Scripture that points out Antichrist, and without Wire-draw­ing of any Text, shew you how we may know Antichrist, who he is, and were he is: and when as near as can be gathered from the circumstances of time, place and passages concerning him, when he first appeared.

But before I proceed to that, I must crave the Readers patience to take notice of some passages in his Title Page, and in his Epi­stle; as to his Title Page, I answer.

First, That if the Bishop could prove what he asserts viz. that An­tichrist, was never before this time discovered; and if he had the art to perswade men to believe him, in so doing he should do the Pope of Rome (who will appeare to be Antichrist) more service, then all his Cardinals and Roman Clergy could ever do for him this Thousand years; for so long he hath been suspected to be the Antichrist: for I doubt not but I shall make it appear that he had his birth at the least fifteen hundred years agone.

Secondly, Whereas he saith that the Assembly of Presbyterians at Westminster, together with Independants, Anabaptists and Lay­preachers, and the Long parliament; that they have fulfilled all the Prophesies of Scripture which have fore-spoken of the coming of Antichrist.

I answer, That what he saith of these persons, is as true and no truer, then the next following words that he speaks of the above-named persons, viz. That they United and Combined themselves together by A Solemn League and Covenant, to slay the two Wit­nesses, and Christ; for I think that he will never be able to make that appear, that there is any such Clause or Article in the Cove­nant, as to bind them that took it, to slay the two Witnesses of Jesus Christ; or that that was the end and aim for which it was taken, when it was taken; but as to other things I am so far from excusing them, that I do confesse that many of the Parliament, and [Page 3]Anabaptists and Lay-preachers, were both Hypocritical and He­retical: and it is well known to most part of the Bishops in Ire­land, and to some in England, that I did Write and Print three Books against Anabaptists and Lay-preachers even when they were in their greatest prosperitie; that no Bishop that I knew but one, did appear in publick against them; for I was alwaies perswaded that the chief Ring-leaders of them were of an Antichristian brood, either Jesuits or Friars: and I wish the Church be free of them now.

In his Epistle to the Reader, he saith, That he hath long studied, and long prayed to know the meaning of the Holy Ghost in those Scri­ptures that fore-told of the coming of Antichrist, and that he might have the true understanding of them, who Antichrist should be, where he should rise, what feats he should do, how long he should continue, by what means he should be subdued and destroyed; he saith, he now believes God hath granted his request, and that he hath rightly ex­plained these Scriptures.

I answer with the Apostle, Gal. 4.18. It is good to be zealously affected alwaies in a good thing; So if his zeal and study had been guided to a right object, it had been well. But the Prophet Je­remiah tells us, that the heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; therefore it is dangerous, least it mistake out of an over-valluing opinion of some worth in ones self, or the prevalence of their prayers; especially when a man hath concei­ved a prejudicate opinion either of persons or things: and I think it will appear upon trial, that he hath missed the mark in finding out who the Antichrist should be, &c. as we shall see hereafter, and his faith whereby he said he believed that God had granted him rightly to explain these Scriptures. I think he might do well once more to examine whether that faith were not a fiction; ex­cept that part of his prayer, where he prayed, that if his endea­vours in explaining these Scriptures might not be for Gods glory, that it might be like the untimely birth of a Woman, that perish­eth before it see the Sun: And so I hope it will perish, and never gain credit with any man of understanding that needs it.

But some men are like Balaam, they mind not what answer God returns to their prayers; but first resolves with themselves to go on in such or such a designe, and then all after go to God by pray­er, as though they would seek direction from him: when they have resolved before hand thus and thus they will do: like Joha­nan the son of Kareah, and the rest of the Captains and people of [Page 4] Israel, when they intreated the Prophet Jeremiah to pray to the Lord for them, that the Lord would shew them the way wherein they should walk, Jer. 42. and promised the Prophet they would do whatsoever the Lord should send unto them by the Prophet for to do; and yet they were resolved before hand that what answer soever they received from the Lord, into Egypt they would go: and therefore the Prophet tells them, ver. 20. Surely ye dissembled in your hearts when you sent me unto the Lord your God, saying, pray for us unto the Lord our God, and declare unto us even accor­ding unto all that the Lord our God shall say, and we will doe it; and I have this day declared it unto you, but you have not obey­ed the voice of the Lord your God, nor any thing, for the which he hath sent me unto you: the reason was, because Gods answer did not sute with their former Resolutions: therefore they told the Prophet he spake falsly, the Lord had not sent unto him to say unto them go not into Egypt: and thus it was with many men, as to the answer of their prayers, when they are intended before that, such a thing they will do, and then they go to prayer to seek direction from God: and it may be for once God answers by some notion in prayer contrary to their intended purpose, as he did Balaam the first time: but they will not take this for an answer because it suits not with their mind, but have a hankering the o­ther way, and will yet go again as Balaam did, and seek for divi­nations, and trie conclusions again and again as Balaam did: and then oftentimes they are encouraged to go on in their own way to their own hurt; and thus it fares oftentimes with men and wo­men, seeking of Wives or Husbands. First, They resolve what they will doe, and then they will pray to God for direction, and ask friends advise, when they are resolved for what they will doe, let God and Friends advise and do what they will: I know some hath smarted for so doing, this is a point ought well to be regar­ded by all men in every weighty undertaking.

Again, he saith in his Epistle to the Reader, That if the Presby­terian can give him satisfaction that he is mistaken, he will willingly recant and be sorry for his error; but withal, he saith, he assures himself that the Beast with all his power, and the false Prophet with all his skill, shall not be able to do it; that is, to give him satisfacti­on; that he is mistaken,

I answer, that in these very expressions of his is proved the truth of what I have writ above, that many men first resolve what they will doe, and then they will by prayer seek direction from [Page 5]God, and from friends: so here the Bishop promises that if the Presbyterian can give him satisfaction that he is mistaken, he will recant; but he is resolved and assured before hand, that they shall not give him satisfaction with all their power and skill. And it cannot be expected that the beast or false prophet will ever shew the Bishop his mistake; for in so doing Antechrist the Pope, who is the beast or false prophet should act against himself, to the ruine of his own kingdom; nay, the beast will rather stroke his head, and hug him, as we use to say, as the Divel hug'd the Witch, for the good service he hath done him in taking so much pains to excuse him, that we should not think him to be the Antichrist, and when he dies he will cannonize him with Thomas Becket, for another English or Welsh Saint.

But to deal engeniously and truly with you, though I confess I have heard some of every sort preach, yet was I never united and joyned in Church-fellowship neither with Presbyterian, Indepen­dent, Anabaptist, or Lay-preacher as yet; and therefore being I am none of them, I will endeavour in the strength, and by the as­sistance (I hope) of the Spirit of God, to shew you your mistake; and if you be so wedded to your own opinion that you will not be satisfied, yet it may perhaps satisfie some others, and then my labour will not be lost, therefore I am resolved to put it to the triall; yet it cannot be expected that I should answer every par­ticular whimsey and cavill that is in his book, for there is much Greek and Latine in it, and I was never so great a Scholler as to understand either Greek or Latine, and therefore I must intreat the Christian Reader to bear with my weakness, if I doe miscall some words, or not spell them right, and endeavour to pick out the sense. Neither will I answer all nor half of what he hath writ in English, but so much as I think may give satisfaction to the im­partial Reader to judge whether the Bishop or I be most mi­staken.

And as I said above, we will in the first place see what the Scrip­tures say as to this business, to shew who is Antichrist &c. It is said in the 1 John 2.18. as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, Marks to know Anti­christ by. e­ven now there are many Antichrists; that is, all that walk contrary to Christs instituted Ordinances, or his Commandements and Precepts, in their practice and conversations; these act against Christ, and so are Antichrists. But these are not the Antichrists here spoken of, that should come, though he speaks of many infe­riour Antichrists that was then; but it may be demanded where [Page 6]or from whom did they hear of the great Antichrist that was to come? and what other answer can be given, but that they heard of him in the Scriptures the word of truth, where he is spoken of under other names, which is given him as so many marks and cha­racters to know him by; and if you can finde any man that fits in such a Throne, where one succeeds another in the same Throne and government, acting the same things, we may undoubtedly conclude that this is he, as what is said Revel. 17. of his seat upon seven hills or mountains, interpreted by the Angels of the Ten Kings that should give their power and authority to the Beast, &c. of him that reigns in the great City, that raigns over Kings of the earth, and that exalts himself above all Magistrates, which are called Gods, as 2 Thes. 2. and that is called the man or that man of sin; the Mitre of iniquity, he whose coming is after the work­ing of Satan, and with all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse, and teacheth the Doctrine of Divels, with many other like Cha­racters to know him by, &c.

I will begin with this last Text I named, 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. Now the spirit speaketh expresly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Di­vels, speaking lies in Hypocrisie, having their Conscience seared as with a hot Iron, forbidding to Marry, and commanding to abstaine from Meat &c. Some shall depart from the faith, and give heed to seducing spirits; by seducing spirits, I understand the Ministers of the Gospel, that fell from the truth to Errour and Heresie: and Mr. Brightman saith, That about the time of Constantine the great, there was many Pastors of the Church that fell from the truth, at which very time Antichrist had his birth or first appearance, as shall appear by and by: for this Text, and 2 Thes. doth so discribe him that he that runs may read that this is he. First, He is said to be a seducing spirit, and teaches the Doctrine of Divels, forbidding Marriage, that he shall work with all deceivablenesse of unrighte­teousnesse in them that perish, &c And thus Antichrists Doctrine is described to be a dying Doctrine, a falling from the faith a Hy­pocriticall and Divilish Doctrine, carried on with deceite and fraud, The Popes [...]ivellish do­ [...]rine of for­ [...]idding Mar­ [...]age. all which doth [...]minently appear in the Pope of Rome; for who is there in all the world besides the Pope and his Clergy, that teacheth this Divilish D [...]ctrine to forbid Marriage, to those whose age and temper may require a help meet for them, but the Pope who is that Man of sin and Antichrist of Rome? which the Apostle here charges to be the Doctor that teacheth this Divilish [Page 7]Doctrine of forbidding Marriage, which is a holy Ordinance of God instituted in Paradise, and allowed in all Nations, and to all persons whose age and temper doth require it, as 1 Cor. 7.2. to a­void fornication, let every man have his own wife, &c. and it was so until this Imposter and seducing spirit the Pope prohibited it unto the Clergy: and this is one way of his exalting himself, not only above earthly Gods, as Magistrates, but above the God of Heaven; for what God allows, this Antichrist the Pope disallows, and that for bad and wicked ends. As first, To bring a Revenue into his Treasury, by allowing Brothel Houses or Stewes, which paies him yearly no small Rent: for in Pope Paul the first his time, which was 976 years since, that Pope had upon Record in his Register, the number of five and forty thousand Whores in the stewes that paid him Rent for liberty to play the Whore, as Mr. Beard saith in his book of the Delusions of Antichrist, and there his Clergy, &c. to whom he denies Marriage have liberty to go for their recreation, and because the Pope allows them, it is not accounted any sin.

And Secondly, by this means he hath all the Clergy at his beck, to send when he will, and where he will to act their Father the Devils part, by their Hypocritical lies to seduce the Nations and Kingdomes of this world: for they would not be so willing to rainge abroad in such swarmes in every Kingdome if as other men they had wives and children to provide. for at home; Peter Marter Chap. 16. saith, How are the stews punished at Rome? Whores in Rome atten­ded like La­dies by Car­dinals. in­stead of punishment, they dwell in the fairest houses; they are carried with honour through the City, as if they were Ladies, they are mounted on ambling palfries, they are arraid with Chains of Gold, attended with persons disguised, and sometimes with Car­dinals, and especially in the night? season; in the Citie of Rome the Stews or Courtezans pass through the streets, or ride on Mules like honest Matrons or Ladies; in the midst of the day, Noblemen, Cardinals, and Priests attend upon them; we never saw such corruption but only in this City; this info [...]m [...]tion was presented unto Pope Paul the Third, saith Bishop Jewel, against Harding; also Luit Prandus in his sixth book, Chap. 6: saith, the Popes Palace at Lateran, sometime the harbour of holy Saints, is now become a stew of Whores. Amphilocheus that wrought the life of Thomas Becket, reports a woman called Emphrosyna, that dwelt 36 years in a Monkes apparel among the Monks: likewise Marina a woman lived many years in an Abby, as a Monk in [Page 8]Monks apparel: and this is the cause of the Popes divilish do­ctrine in forbidding marriage: and herein lies another part of his deceit and hypocrisie, in making them believe that he can pardon them, and perswades them that it is lesse sin for a Clergy man to have a Whore, which the Law of God forbids, then to have a Wife, which the law of God allows, and all because they could not be so fit to send for his purpose abroad: Now Bishop Williams, did ever the Presbyterians, or Independants, or Long-parlia­ment fulfil this Prophesie in teaching this Doctrine of Divels, to forbid marriage, which is one mark or Character of the great Antichrist, and not the least mark: and let the Readers Judge by this mark, whether they or the Pope be most like Antichrist; now this doctrine of Divils forbidding of Marriage, and which is the doctrine and practise of the Church of Rome only, and no o­ther Church that I have read of, and which occasious so much un­cleanness and ungodliness, and that with toleration and allow­ance, who can doubt that the Popes who are the Authors of this divi [...]ish doctrine successively one after another, but he is the great Antichrist that was prophesied that he should come into the world and that man of sin and son of perdition; and who exalts him­self above God in this particular doctrine, in forbidding of Mar­riage to those whom Gods allows to marry, Forbidding marriage the doctrine of devils. and which doctrine the holy Ghost in the word of truth tells us is the doctrine of Di­vels, that is, of Popes succeeding one another, and teaching that doctrine; and that they that teach it, are apostatized and fallen from the true faith, and are hypocritical liars, and seducers of Millions of souls, and all to establish himself in his cursed Throne; those that think the Pope not to be Antichrist, I desire them to rouse up their spirits, and rub the scales from their eyes, and ob­serve how lively here and else where, as shall be shewed, how the Apostle hath drawn Antichristes Picture in every point and limb, so just like the Pope, that all men that reads may say this is he; That marriage instituted of God in innocency, honoured by Christs presence at Canaan in Galile, the seed plot of the Church, the allowed remedy against incontinency and lust, and which the the Apostle commands as honourable in all men, Heb. 13.4. and yet forbidden by the Pope, the Scarlot Strumpit of Rome to all the whole Clergy.

Wherein besides the divilishness of the Doctrine, denying men subject to sinful lust: the lawful remedy which God allows them, and so cast men upon a necessity of sinning: they teach this Hy­pocritical [Page 9]lie with a seared Conscience; for with what Consci­ence, saith Mr. Anderson can they make marriage a Sacrament in Lay-men, and sacriledge in the Clergy? with what Conscience permit Stews and forbid marriage? with what Conscience con­fess fornication to be a sinne against the Law of God, and Priests marriage, onely against the Law of the Church, and yet make Priests marriage a fouler sin, then for a Priest to commit fornica­tion or incesse; is not this to make the transgression of the Popes laws a greater sin, then the transgression of Gods laws? with what Conscience to forbid lawful marriage to some, and yet by dispen­sation to allow unlawful marriage in others? who but Antichrist doth such things? therefore the Pope that doth them, must be the great Antichrist and man of sin; for the Long-parliament, nor Presbyterians, nor Independents, &c. never did those things, to forbid marriage and the like, which the Apostle layes down as a Character or mark to know Antichrist by, and we have reason to believe the Scriptures before Bishop Williams.

A second Mark or Character the Apostle layes down to know Antichrist by, is that, as he forbids marriage. So secondly, He commands abstinence from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanks-giving, &c. which words declare thus much unto us, that neither Marriage nor Meats, nor any other Creature, nor Ordinance of God is to be refused upon any tye of Consci­ence, provided, they be received with thanks-giving of them that believe and know the truth, with such other requisite conditions as becometh Christians; in 1 Cor. 10 25. the holy Apostle bids us, Whatsoever is sold in the Shambles, that eat, asking no question for Conscience sake, &c. and Titus 1.15. To the pure, all things are pure; so that to forbear the use out of a tye of Conscience, or a Superstious Opinion, as being unlawful at such or such a time; it is against Christian libert, either to charge the use of them with sin, or to place holiness in abstaining from the use of them.

It is the Doctrine you see the Apostle tells of, that Antichrist should teach, and this is the Pope of Rome's doctrine; for he saith, it is a sinne deserving death to eat of meats prohibited by the Church they teach, that fasting consists only in abstinance from meats, and not from drink; I have seen them, that upon one of their Superstitious fasting dayes, they would eat no meat but they would eat plentifully of Fruit, Raisons of the Sun, and Figs, and the like, and drink largely of Wine, Ale and Beer; and such kind of Fasting with them is esteemed satisfactory for sin, and merito­rious [Page 10]of eternal Life; and this is another Hypocritical mark or Charracter of Antichrist, for such Hypocritical lyes as these, passeth currant among them for sound doctrine from their holy Father the Pope, so seared is his Conscience as with a hot Iron: for with what Conscience doth the Pope allow an ordinary Priest to absolve for Murther, Adultery, Fornication, or perjury, but the great and hainous sinne of eating flesh upon a Friday or Ember­days, is left to the censure of a plenepotentiary as being beyond the power of an ordinary Priest to grant absolution for, as being a greater sin, because it is against the Law of the Church, then Mur­ther or Adultery, &c. is, which are sins against the Law of God; or with what Conscience can the Pope make the tasting of the coursest flesh, A Popish Lent Fast. a breach of Lent-fast, and surfeiting upon the delica­test Fish, to be no breach of Lent-fast? and with what conscience can he forbid the use of such and such meats, for the taming of the flesh, when he allows the use of those things which are more nou­rishing of the flesh, and more provoking to fleshly lusts; as strong Wines and such like? with what conscience can he enjoyne fast­ing for penance, and then presently release that penance for a penny? the Glosse upon the Canon saith, That he who gives a penny to redeem his penance fast, though he give mony for a spiri­tuall thing; yet he doth not commit Simony, because the contract is made with God: that is the excuse, though the contract be made with the Priest, and the Money come to the Priests pocket; well did the holy Ghost say, that Antichrist should teach lies with a seared Conscience; for if the Pope and Cardinals, Prelates and Priests, &c. if all their consciences were not seared, they would not use such pretences to varnish over their Hypocritical lies and errours, to damn so many thousand souls; and thus you see what marks and characters the holy Ghost hath laid down to know the great Antichrist and man of sin by; which things the Parliament nor Presbyterians, &c. were never guilty of.

The next Text I shall handle, that shews us who this great An­tichrist is, we have in the 2 Thes. 2. to the 12. verse; where first the Apostle earnestly beseecheth the Thessalonians Church not to be shaken in mind, nor troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, saith he, as if the day of Christ were at hand; here we have in this verse such a plain demonstration of Antichrist in his cheating, deluding & cousoning practises as we can scarce find the like; What is meant by spirit, word and letter. for by spirit, word and letter, I conceive the Apostle means all false ways that Antichrist shall make use of to deceive, as false Teachers signs, lying Miracles, Inthusiasts: such as pretend to [Page 11]have the spirit to work miracles, as your Priests that pretend to cast out Divels, 2 Cor. 11.13. which transform themselves as the Apostles of Christ, as all the Popes houlings which pretend to imi­tate the Apostles, of which I have hinted in the former part of this book; there is no lesse then 150 several Orders, or Degrees of them, and all pretending to holinesse, both in Doctrine and Dis­cipline, and yet not one of them of Divine institution: but are all popish and Antichristian humane inventions and institutions of men? and this is one main argument that the Pope is the great Antichrist, that he sets up so many Orderers, Officers and Offices in the Church of Christ, against Christ; in as much that Christ did never institute nor ordain them, and to bind mens consciences to submit to them, and other of his humane institution; and that under such penalties, as is shewed above, that he makes the breach of his own Laws, which he calls the Laws of the Church, a greater crime then the breach of the Law of God; who then can deny the Pope that thus acts to be the great Antichrist, and all these se­veral Orders, to be the limbs and members of Antichrist, and Seducers: who in their several places make it their whole business to keep people in obedience to this Antichrist, their great Lord and Master: by their lies, and lying doctrines, and lying won­ders; exalting and extolling the reliques of Saints and Martyrs, and the instituters of their Orders: the holinesse and sanctity of their habits, and the like; which things are more preached, and praised, and cryed up among them, then Christ Jesus is preached or cried up; And to gain credit to their delusions, they report what miraculous things have been done by the vertue of St. Austins Lethern Girdle for curing diseases, and easing of pains, &c. Satans delusi­on to deceive And indeed it is possible that God may suffer Satan by weak means to do some such cures, which the Devil may by permission be the Author and cause of the disease himself; and by his with­drawing his operation and working, the disease or paine may cease: and all this to make good what the Apostle in this Chapter foretold should come to passe; that because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved, therefore God shall send them strong delusions to believe lies, that all they may be damned which believe not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousnesse; Another story goes, that St. Katherine Girded her selfe, with an Iron chain so close, that it cut her flesh: and that she used to cha­stise her selfe three times a day with that chain an hour and an half at a time, until the blood run from her shoulders to her feet; [Page 12]those that can believe it, If Christ were married, why may not Priests marry? See for this Hospinian, An­tonius Franc. Modeus. are more credulous then I can be: ma­ny strange stories are recorded of her as that Christ appeared and married himself to her with a Ring; it may be that was the rea­son of using the Ring in marriage; but if they believe their own doctrine, that Christ took St. Katherine to Wife; why doe they hinder the Priests, &c. from Wives? will they not give them leave to follow Christs example in such a thing to, as is so easie to follow him? and that Christ opened her side, and took out her old heart, and put in a new one instead of the former; if that be the way of giving a new heart, then certainly all Papists hearts are old ones, there's not one of them new: and that he cloathed her with a bloody coloured garment, drawen out of his own side, so that she never felt any cold afterward. Some say this order began 1372.

They also teach, that he that dies in the habit of St. Frances, shall not be overtaken with an untimely death: and yet Fryer Barnwell hanged himself in an Apple tree hard by Dublin, in St. Frances habit: see Paul Harris book of Friers be sober: and they teach that he that dies in the habit of a Capouchan, he shall not be in Purgatory but till the fourth Saturday after his death; and the Pope hath granted the Carmalites the priviledge, The priviledge of Friers. that they shall not be in Purgatory, but till the Saturday after their Death: it seems by this, that Saturday is the day of Goal delivery, and the Cardilians have priviledge granted them, to draw a soul out of purgatary, by saying five pater Nosters, and five Ave Maries; but if the Pope have this priviledge, to give this power to others, as he pretends he hath; then why doth he not draw them all out of purgatory, but suffer his servants and children to lie in a burning fire so many hundred years; but this is another of their Jugling Deceitful tricks to get money: for no money, no pater Noster to fetch any out of purgatory: and these are some of the great Anti­christs hypocritical lies, and damnable doctrines, which they pre­tend that they are such spiritual men; that they can do all this I have named and much more; but the Apostle warns the Thessa­lonians, that they be not removed from the truth, nor troubled in mind by such spirits.

Secondly, Nor by word, nor by letter as from us; by word, I un­derstand traditions, the Apostle by the inspiration of the holy Ghost, did foresee that Antichrist would intrude upon the Church his unwritten traditions, and urge their observation of them, and expect as due obedience to be given to them, as to the written [Page 13]word of God; and so it is at this day in all the Roman Churches, the Popes Traditions is received and observed with as much, if not more care and diligence, as any precept of the word of God; as for example, the second Commandement forbids Idols and Image worship; the Pope by his Traditions received from his predecessors, commands Image, Worship and Adoration, and his command is obeyed and Gods neglected; God requires that prayer should be made unto him only: O, (or because) thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Psal. 65.2. Nay, that they shall not, saith the Pope; they shall pray to the Virgan, and St. Dominick, and St. Frances, &c. The Apostle fore-seeing this, warnes believers not to be troubled, nor turned aside from the truth, neither by deluding spirits, nor by words of traditions, saith he, as from us; for they will pretend that they received their tradition as from us; therefore saith he, ver. 14. Irrethren stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or our Epistle: as if he should say, Brethren, what traditions you have received from us by word, and what you have received in our Epistle, that observe and do: but go no further to any o­ther traditions, but what you received from us; for if an Angel from Heaven shall teach you any other Gospel, then what ye have received from us, let him be accursed: and this Anathama excludes all unwritten Traditions, and all humane institutions and inventions of men, in point of Gods Divine Worship, but what we have precept or example for from Christ and his Apo­stles: let the Pope and his prelates, and all his followers brag as much as they will for their traditions and ceremonies: let men observe the Scriptures that cannot deceive, Isa. 8.20 to the Law & to the Testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is be­cause there is no truth, nor no true light in them; they either are blind and ignorant in the wayes of God, or else they fight against their own light: for we ought not to swerve from the written word, Phil. 4.9. These things, saith the Apostle, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do, and the God of peace shall be with you: he doth not bid them follow what they should hear and see done by the Pope, or any other that should come after him; for he saith, Act. 20.29. That he knew after his de­parture there would grievous Wolves enter in among them not spa­ring the flock; and that from among themselves would men arise, speaking perverse things; which things we find true by woful ex­perience: and so again in the same Epistle, 2 Thes. 3.4. We have [Page 14]confidence, The tryal of Traditions by Gospel rule. saith the Apostle, in the Lord, touching you, that you both do, and will do the things which we command you: and we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw your selves from every brother that walkes disorderly, and not after the traditions which ye received from us; see how careful and earnest the Apostle was, least the Church should be drawen away with a­ny other traditions then what you received, saith he, from us; the the Apostles Traditions was sutable to the Gospel rule and institu­tions of Jesus Christ: and we ought not to follow any Traditions of men, that do not in all things sute with the Gospel-rule and in­stitutions of Christ, clearly deduced from the Scriptures; for your selves know, saith he, how ye ought to follow us: not the Pope, nor his Prelates: but to follow us, as you have us for an ensam­ple; For we behaved not our selves disorderly among you, nor eat any mans bread for nought, but wrought with labour and travell night and day.

But the Pope with his new Traditions and new Orders of Fry­ers; how many hundred thousand is there that work not at all, but are busie bodies, going a begging from house to house, and do not walk according to the gospel rule nor example of the Apostles; Alexander Rosse saith, there was from the year 1211. to 1384. that is, 169 years erected in Christendome, 1500 Monasteries, of the order of St: Frances: and page 304. he saith in the time of Sabel­licus, about the year 1494. there was reckoned 4143 Monasteries of Dominicans, besides divers Cloisters of them in Arminia, and Aethiopia; and 150 Covents of Dominican Nuns; what may be thought there was then of all the rest of their Orders, that live in idlenesse, contrary to Pauls command, ver. 10. that if any would not work neither should they eat, and ver. 14. if any man obey not our word by this Epistle, note that man, set a mark or brand upon him, and have no company with him: much more must we not submit to his Traditions; but these devourers of the fruits of the earth, and the labours of the poor, observe the Popes Rules and Com­mands, but not the Rules and Commands of Jesus Christ nor his Apostles; and upon this account they are all against, and there­fore so many little Antichrists under their great Lord and Master the Pope, who is the great Antichrist, and man of sin, and sonne of perdition: for he I mean the succession of Popes have confir­med all these inferiour Antichrists in their several Orders, and appointed them their work, who will pay their wages they will know in time.

[Page 15]2 Thes. 2.2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, nor troubled, nei­ther by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as that the day of Christ is at hand; These words doe sound, as if some false Teachers or Seducers did counterfeit letters, and send from one to another in the Apostles name, pretending as they had been his, which did dis­quiet the peace of the Church; for it seems by the Text, as if the effect of these letters and teaching should be, that the day of Christ was near at hand; as Hemeneus and Philetus disturbed the peace of the Church of Ephesus, teaching that the resurrection was past, 2 Tim. 2.18. So here it should seem in this Church of Thessalonica was some counterfeit false Teachers, that did coun­terfeit letters as from the Apostles, as that the day of Christ was at hand; against which the Apostle doth exhort them not to be sha­ken in mind, nor troubled, neither by spirit, or false revelations, nor by word of false teachers, nor by letters from any counterfeits, pre­tending as from us, as if the day of Christ is at hand; let no man, saith he, deceive you by these or any means: for the day of Christ shall not come, except there come a departing or falling a­way first, and that man of sin be revealed, even the son of perdi­dition; what the meaning of these words is, the day of the Lord being at hand, I will not undertake to determine; whether by it be meant the day of Judgement, or the day of the Jews conversi­on which must be, before the general Judgement; and Christs revealing himself to his people in the unvailing of the misteries of the Gospel: wherein as the Prophet saith, Dan. 7.27. The King­dome, and Dominion, and the greatnesse of the kingdome under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high. And Isa. 6.12. The Nation and Kingdome that will not serve the Lord, shall perish, and shall be utterly wasted; which of these two is meant, I will not possitively determine: but I rather think the latter is meant; but our main businesse now is in the next verse, that,

That day shall not come, except there come a departing or falling away first, and that man of sin, which is the great Antichrist be re­vealed by his falling away, which must make way for Antichrists ap­pearance: I do conceive is meant, both the Apostacy of many in the Church to Heresie, and the Apostacy of the Church, from the right manner of Government and Discipline which was instituted by Jesus Christ and his Apostles; The Apostacy to prepare the way for Anti­christ was double. I take this Apostacy here to be meant of both these: forthe first the greatest Heresie, and that did the most hurt, was the Arian Heresie, which began about the [Page 16]year 290, and over spread a great part of the Christian world; there was other Heresies at that time, but this was the most de­structive to the Christian Faith; about the year 300, when the Churches began to have some rest from persecution, and so from that time forward, Bishops had some care of preaching; but Mr. Brightman saith, the doctrine was much defiled in many heads of it, and Reliques began to be of great account in the Church, and all kind of superstition increased, and pride in Bishops: Church dignities were increased, and all things sought for that might make for outward pomp and glory in the world, more then truth was sought for; and Bishops began to be at variance one with another, as appears by Constantines Epistle, to Miltiades Bishop of Rome, about the year 310, thus he writing, Constantine the Emperour, unto Miltiades Bishop of Rome, and Marcus sendeth greeting, in so much, as many such Epistles are brought unto me from Alini­nus Livel of Africk: in which it is said, that Cicelianus Bishop of Carthage, is reprehended in many things, and this seemeth un­to me very grievous, &c. That among Bishops there should be such disagreeing and variance: it seemed good unto me, that Cecilianus himself, together with the Ten Bishops that seem to re­prehend him, and Ten other Bishops whom he thought expedient in the behalf of this Cause, do saile into Rome, that there in the presence of you all together, &c.

By this it appears, here was an Apostacy from the primitve pu­rity, even among the Bishops, as well as by Hereticks; and this dicension and difference increased daily more and more: Bishops striving for preheminence and augmentation of their Revenues, The begin­ning of the conception of Antichrist. for honours and dignity, power and command, that the instituti­ons of Christ and his Apostles, their example and practise in Government and Discipline, was laide aside and forgotten, and new inventions brought into the Church, and new Titles, Juris­diction, and power granted to the Bishops, by the Councel of Nice, which was unknown and unheard of before in the primi­tive Church; which Apostacy, from the Apostolical Goverment and diception, (if I mistake not) was a greater advantage to An­tichrist and made more way for his appearance, then all the He­resies did; for this pride and contention, and striving for pre­heminence and jurisdiction, increased still, until the calling, to­gether of the Councel of Nice: at which very time Antichrist had his Birth and first bringing forth into the world; for there he re­ceived his first authority of preheminence above other Bishops [Page 17]and Churches; he was conceived long before, and was growing in the womb of the Church; for the Apostle tells us, 2 Thes. 2.7. That the mystery of iniquity did even then begin to work, onely he which now letteth, will let until he be taken out of the way; I shall shew you what it was that did let and hinder his appearance and then return to our main businesse again.

Now that which did lett and hinder Antichrists appearance, until it was taken out of the way: was the Roman Heathen per­secuting Emperours, that did hinder, for Antichrist could not set­tle himself where he was to have his Throne, until they were re­moved: and a Christian Emperour came in place, under whom he might have shelter in his minority, until he grew up to some strength; which Christian Emperour was Constantine the great, who besides his defending of Christians from persecution; he left Rome holy to the Pope to raign and rule in, and himself went to Bezantum, which now is called Constantible, and settled himself there.

We read in Revel. 6. what fell out in the Churches upon the opening of the six seals. I must give you a hint concerning them, before I come to the businesse I intend; Ʋpon the opening of the first seal, St. John beheld a White Horse, and he that sate on him had a Bow, and a Crown was given unto him, and he went out con­quering and to conquer, or that he might overcome: by this Vision, some think is meant the Ministry of the word of God, preached by the true Worshippers in the primitive Church next after the Apo­stles and their Successors, Psalm. 45.3, 4. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most mighty, with thy Glory and Majesty ride on pro­sperously, because of truth, and meeknesse, and righteousnesse; for Christ did conquer wonderfully while his Ordinances was kept pure, without mixture of humane inventions and institutions, and superstitious observations; which it may be is the cause why the Ministry doth so little good, and doth not work so effectually up­on the Hearers as it did in former times.

And upon the opening of the second seal, there appeared a Red Horse, and he that sate thereon had power given him to take peace from the Earth, and that they should kill one another: by which is meant the cruel persecutions, blood and war, that followed the preaching of the Gospel, which is to be understood of the Ten persecutions; and I think also what hath happened in every King­dome since▪ where the Gospel hath prevailed, Antichrist and his instruments hath raised war and persecution and sowed sedition, [Page 18]and endeavoured to corrupt the Ordinances, and to kill men in their souls, if they cannot kill their bodies.

And upon the opening of the third seale, there appeared a Black Horse, and he that sate upon him had ballance in his hand: by which is signified samine and scarcity of Food, which for the most part doth follow wars; for the contempt of the Gospel brings wars, and wars brings famine; and it is recorded that about the year 316 there was a grievous Famine &c.

Ʋpon the opening of the fourth seal, there appeared a Pale Horse, and his name that sat on him was death: which signifies the Pesti­lence, and other Contagious diseases, whereby men are suddenly taken away by death.

And upon the opening of the fifth seal, John in a Vision, saw un­der the Altar the souls of them that were kiled for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held, erying, How long Lord, holy and true, dost thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth? but we must not imagine that these Marryrs have any real desire of revenge: for Saints in Heaven are not affected with any such passion: but it is rather to be understood, that as Abels blood crved for Vengeance, Gen. 4.10. So the [...]e Martyrs blood cries for Revenge. But Mr. Brightman rather thinks this revenge to signifie, their earnest desire of delivering the innocent party from their persecuters, which the blood of these soules cries for; and the answer that they receive is, that they must rest for a little season, until their brethren and fellow servants which should be killed, as they were meaning under Antichrist, were fulfilled, for Antichrist was not far of.

And when he opened the sixth seal there was a great Earthquake, and the Sun became black as sack cloth, and the Moon became blood, and the Stars of Heaven fell to the Earth &c. by Earthquake in Scripture, is oftentimes signified [...]omotions, troubles, uproars in Commonwealths, and alteration of State and Kingdoms; as when the Psalmist speaks of the Children of Israel coming out of Egypt, Psal. 68.8. The Farth was moved, the Heavens also dropped at thy presence O God, and the Sun became black, &c. shews that the perse­cution signified thereby, should be very cruel. So the Prophet speaking of the destruction of Babylon Isaiah 13.10. The Starrs of Heaven, and the Constellations thereof shall not give their light, the Sun shall be darkned in his going forth, and the Moon shall not cause her light to shine. And Ezek. 32.7.8. I will cover the Heavens and make the Stars to be dark, I will hide the Sun in a Cloud, and the [Page 19]Moon shall not make her light to shine: all the lights that shine in the Heavens will I make dark upon thee, and will bring darknesse upon thy Land, saith the Lord God. Aretas reports out of the works of Andreas, that many said this Earthquake was taken for the perse­cution, until the coming of Antichrist: and that thus, the Scri­ptures are wont to speak of any notable change, by the name of an Earthquake, and he said truly, only he mistook the time af An­tichrist coming.

For Mr. Brightman saith, by this Earthquake is to be under­stood, that persecution which was more cruel then any that was before it, which fell out in the raign of Diocleasian and Maximini­an, the last two persecuting Emperours, about the year 300. and by the stars falling in this book of the Revelation is ment, the Mi­nisters and Pastors of the Church, who are called stars for the shining light of the Gospel, which they Minister, while they pre­serve the doctrine of the Gospel pure from Heresie: and the disci­pline from mingling it with the inventions of men, are compared to stars; and by the stars falling from Heaven, is meant, their fal­ling from the sincerity of their profession to Heresie. Superstition, or Idolatry, either in Doctrine, in Discipline, or Practise; and many did fall about this time, through the rage of these two par­secutors, who endeavoured to rout out Christianity and the Scri­ptures by the Roots: and published their Proclamations, that the Books of Scriptures should be burned in the Market place; we saw, saith Eusebius, with these very eyes, the holy and divine Scriptures perish in the very Fire where they were thrown. The Scriptures for it's glorious light, may well be compared to the Sun: and here you see how this Sun, the Scriptures was dark­ned in this Earthquake, and consumed with fire in this persecu­tion, a City in Phrygia, wholy inhabited with Christians, the soul­diers compassed it about, and burnt it to Ashes, and the Men Wo­men and Children that were in it; and besides the demolishing of Churches, and burning the Scriptures, and Slaughter, and other Tortures of Christians; there came forth another Prolamation, to attath the Governours and Pastors of Churches, and compell them to sacrifice to Idols; here many held out manfully, and suf­fered Martyrdome: others with terrour were like blocks and be­came feeble, and out of heart at the first onset, saith Eusebius, in his Eighth Book, Chap. the Third: so that the whole Church was covered over with blacknesse, that it did scarce appeare any where.

[Page 20]And now follows the last act of this Tragedy, in the 15 and 16 verses of this 6 Chapter of the Revelations; And the Kings of the Earth, and the great Men, and rich Men, and the chiefe Captains, and the mighty Men, and every bond Man, and every free Man hide themselves in Dens, and the rocks of the Mountains, and said unto the Mountains and Rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the Face of him that sits upon the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath is coming, and who shall be able to stand? And here we have reason to stand admiring at the wonderful grace and mercy of God, who by his spirit in his servant, John 1. hath so punctually set down these passages throughout the whole Reve­lation: whereby we may find out the great Antichrist, the man of sin: and when he first appeared in the world, for all these pas­sages relate to Antichrists appearance, as Aretus said, though he missed of the time; for observe, here in the fight of these calami­ties, how Jesus Christ the Lamb, that sits upon his Throne, put forth his divine power from Heaven, and suddenly alayes these Tempests, that these persecuting Emperours and Nobles should flie at his appearance: for what other thing could it be, that forced these two Tyrant Emperours, Diocleasian and Maximinian, when they both were at the top of honour, and so raging mad, with de­sire to root out Christianity: that they both should so suddenly, and voluntarily put themselves out of their Empires, and betake themselves to a private life. Eusebius in his 8 Book, Chap. 14. and Ignatius to the same purpose, saith, that it is a marvellous matter, (and to this time the like unknown) that both these Emperours should give up their Empires, and return to a private life, being not opprest with old age, nor difficulty, and greatness of matters: but some impute it to Frensie: and Nicephorus saith, it was rage and madnesse, because they saw they took pains in vain to root out Christianity: but they mistook the matter, for we may learn from these Texts, that the true and real cause was only this: that the Lamb that sits upon his Throne, and who is the deliverer of his Church, did smite them with inward terrour, wounding them with the sting of conscience for their wickednesse, and with fear of Gods vengeance: that they were ready to cry to the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them, and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb: and as he is a Lamb to his Church, so he is a Lyon, the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, who when he begins to reckon with his Enemies, he will teare them in pieces, and rent the Gall from the Liver: and accordingly, the Lamb shewed himselfe a [Page 21]Lyon in this respect, and smote the chiefest of these persecuting Emperours, Maximinius, as Eusebius saith in his 8 Book, and Chap. 17. That a plague from above light on him: The dreadful Judgement of God upon the persecu­tors. First taking root in his flesh, and after proceeded even unto his soul: for there arose in the secret parts of his body, an impostume or running sore: af­terwards in the lower parts of his privities a botch corrupt boyle, with a fistula: whence issued corrupt matter, eating up the inward bowels, and an unspeakable company of Lice swarmed out with such a stinck, that the Physicians were not able to abide it, nor able to help with any Physick; therefore they were cruelly exe­cuted, and the Tyrant in this loathsome condition died. Diocle­sian in like manner pined away with diseases, and Maximinian hanged himself: and you must think, though Histories mention it not, that these three Emperours did not feel the stroke of Gods hand alone, but as the Text saith, The chief Captains, so also the great Men, and rich Men, and bond-men and free, were all driven to their wits end with this stroke: that they were ready to cry to the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them, and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb; for some write, that besides the pi­ning diseases that Dioclesian had to hid himselfe from the Lambs wrath, he drank poyson; and Gelerius ran into the bottom of the River Tyber to hid himself.

Thus these Heathen persecuting Emperours, which hindred the great Antichrists coming to his Throne, 2 Thes. 2.7. being as the Apostle saith, taken out of the way; Constantine the great, a Chri­stian Emperour, came in their place about the year of Christ 306. this Emperour put an end to the Heathen persecution: That which hindred was removed. he sent out his edicts to encourage the Christian Assemblies, and to build the Churches the former Tyrants had caused to be demo­lished: but after a while, now the Churches having rest, the Bi­shops were set on Fire by spiteful contentions among themselves, striving for dignities and preheminence, and also about several points of the Christian faith; it is conceived by some, that what is said, Rev. 8.3. Of the Angell with the golden Viol that offered o­dors, with the prayers of the Saints upon the Golden Altar which was before the Throne: that this is meant of such as were sou [...]d in the Faith, that their prayers was to this effect, that it would please God, who had so wonderfully appeared for his Church and people in removing the persecuting Emperours, that he would not suffer the truth (which now for a short time had triumphed) to be clou­ded againe by the pride and contention of the Bishops, &c. but [Page 22]that some way might be found out to establish the truth, and that those that did outwardly professe themselves to be of the houshold of Faith, and yet made such dissention in the Church, that some way might be found out to stay such strife and controversies; and indeed Constantine the Emperour used his endeavour to calm and quiet these contentions; for besides the Epistle I mentioned be­fore, that he wrote to the Bishop of Rome, that Cecilianus Bishop of Carthage, and the ten Bishops that were against him, and ten Bishops more that he should chuse of his side, &c. should meet be­fore the Bishop of Rome about that controversie; he also write ano­ther Epistle to Christus Bishop of Syracusa, where he intimates to him, that he had commanded divers Bishops out of sundry Pro­vinces, to meet at the City of Orleance, where he requires him al­so to be, that such things as was in difference might be ended; he also writ another Epistle to Alexander Bishop of Alexandrea, about contentions that arose in that Church.

But notwithstanding the Emperours godly endeavours, these contentions ceased not, but rather increased; whereupon he cal­led the Councel of Nice, in which Council after they had deter­mined the businesse about the Co-essentiall nature of the second person in the Trinity; and made the confession of Faith against the Arian Heresie; They addresse themselves to make Canons, whereby the Ecclesiasticall Discipline should be governed, where the Bishop of Rome was made Primate and Metrapolitan of the first See: and that the Bishop of Alexandria should have power over all the Churches of Egypt, or Libea and Pentapolis: because the Bishop of Rome had the like priviledge and so the Church of An­tioch and others, every one had their honour and dignity appoin­ted them, and what other Bishops and Churches should be under their Jurisdiction, &c.

Now Josealil to the Reader, whether here began not all the mi­sery where they thought to end it: so great difference there is be­tween the ways of God and the ways of men, for here at this time was the very first birth of Antichrist, the Bishop and Pope of Rome, the Primate and Metrapolitan of the first See: this was his begin­ning, for the Bishops before the council, by their contentions and the Bishops in the council, both falling away and departing from the sincerity of the Gospel, and from the institutions of Christ and his Apostles, and making new officers and orders in the Church, with new titles of Primacy and Metrapolitans, and Diocesans, with a number more that depend upon them, as is shewed in the for­mer [Page 23]part of his book, one hundred and fifty by name, Here was the birth of Anrichrist. of severall Titles and Religious Orders now in the Church of Rome and not one of them of Jesus Christ nor his Apostles institution, but all of humans invention, without any president, precept or example, or any Text in the New Testament to ground them upon: the original and chief Titles of all, was devised and decreed in this council for making the Pope of Rome Primate and Metrapolitan of the first fear; from this Title and Jurisdiction then given him, he took occasion thereby from that very time, to advance himself, and to claim authority over all other Churches, and as I said a­bove Antichrist, had his conception long before; for Rome being the chief City of the Empire, and above all other Cities; so the Bishop of Rome thought to be above all other Bishops; and the Apostle tells us, 2 Thes. 2.7. That the mystery of iniquity did even then begin to work in his time: Antichrist had this conception then, and he grew biger and biger in the womb of the Church, until this Council sate: and then this Council was as the Mid­wise to his birth to bring him forth, and so by the power he recei­ved by that decree, he was nursed up and grew stronger and stronger, until the year 606, and then he came to the full strength of a man or rather a Beast, for so the Scriptures terms him, Rev. 17. And the man of sin, 3 Thes. 2.4 For then he obtained the Title of universal Bishop, and after in the year 684. he obtained to be called Christs Vicar; so that now he was armed with Titles, and Authority, to make him the complear Antichrist, to act against Je­sus Christ: so as never none before him nor since, did nor could do: for none had the like Authority, Power and Preheminence, as this Council of Nice gave unto him, and that by their falling away and departing from the Apostolical institutions, and Gospel puriey; so that from the time of this Council, every age grew more corrupt then the former, as shall appear in several particu­lars.

For first, Whereas in the first Primitive Church, according to the appostolical institutions, Bishops, or Pastors and other Offici­cers of the Churches, they were elected and chosen by the belie­ving Church or Churches, to whom they were to officiate; for we see the Apostles themselves, even when they were altogether in Council; & had more authority then ever any man or council had since, yet durst not they, as Arelatenses said in the council of Basill, they durst not, nor would not take the power that belonged to the believing Church from them, no, not to appoint inferiour officers [Page 24]of the Church, much lesse Bishops or Pastors; as you may see Acts the 6.2. &c. The Twelve called the multitude of the Disciples unto them and said, look ye out seven men among you of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and Wisdome, whom we may appoint over this bu­sinesse: and the saying pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Steven a man full of faith, and of the holy Ghost, and Philip, &c. The salling away from Gospel insti­tutions. whom they set before the Apostles; and when they had prayed they laid their hands on them, and the word of God increased, and the number of the Disciples multiplied; that is, they multiplyed while they walked in Gods way, in divine institutions; but this way the Bishops before, and also the council of Nice were fallen away from, and then and ever since Bishops or Pastors, and other Officers of the Churches are not elected and chosen by the belie­ving Disciples of the Churches, but are chosen by Money and Friendship, as Pope [...] before mentioned, sould for Money three hundred of the best Benefices in England at once unto the Romans, to place their Friends and Children in: Thus you see what the falling away of these Bishops and council, from the Apo­stolical institutions brought to passe: together with their new de­vised Titles and Jurisdictions given to Bishops, &c.

Secondly, As the Bishops, and after the council were fallen a­way from the Apostical institution, as to the election of Inferiour Officers of the Church: so also they were fallen away from the order of electing of Bishops or Pastors of the Church; you shall see this in Acts the first, when they were to chuse one in Judas place, Acts 1.15. In those dayes Peter stood up in the middest of the disciples, and said (the number of the names were about an hundred and twenty) men and brethren; this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake be­fore concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus, &c. wherefore of these men that have accompanied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out amongst us, begin­ning from the Baptisme of John, unto the same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witnesse with us of his resurrection: and they appointed two, that is I conceive 120 of the Church, as they did the Deacons, Act. 6. The Church ele­cted and appointed two Josephs, called Barsabas, who was surna­med Justas and Matthias: and they prayed, that is, the Apostles and the 120, and said, Thou Lord which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part with this Ministry and Apostleship: and they gave forth their Lots, [Page 25]and the Lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbred with the Ele­ven Apostles; mind this beloved Christian Friends, for thus it ap­pears by these two places, that by the Apostolical institutions, Bi­shops ought first to be elected by the believing Churches, to whom they are to officiate, and to elect two or more, and bring before other Bishops, who have been elected in like manner: and then after prayer and supplication to God, their Lots to be given out, Election and Lots would end all strife. that God who knows the hearts of all men, may make his choice, which he in his wisdome knows is most fit for that office; for the Lot is cast into the Lap, but the whole disposing thereof is from the Lord, Prov. 16.33. And also the Holy Ghost saith, Prov. 18.18. The Lot causeth contention to cease, and parteth between the mighty; & if this order were observed our contentions would cease: if Bi­shops and other Church Officers were elected and chosen ac­cording to the Apostles institutions, then every man would think himself bound in conscience to own and obey them, which per­haps do now think otherwise, because the Gospel order is not ob­served; for since the falling away of the Bishops before the coun­cil of Nice, and the falling away of the council of Nice from the Apostolical institutions, and first primitive purity, and their ma­king and giving of new Orders and Officers in the Church, with new Titles and Jurisdictions, which was never of Christs instituti­on, nor never heard of, nor known in the first primitive Church, and which is the very falling away the Apostle speaks of, 2 Thes. 2 3. which was to make way for the great Antichrist; whereby he was not only brought forth to the birth, but hath been nursed up until he came to his full growth, and so hath continued this 1300 years, and hath been the occasion of all the slaughter, blood, and burnings, vexation and martyrdome that hath befallen the Christian Churches to this da [...], by falling away from the Apostles institutions; and setting up Bishops and others for Money and favour of Friends, and those to whom they should officiate, that ought to elect and chuse them to their offices, and after been con­firmed by the Supreme Magistrate, they are rejected and cast off, and Gods ways and institutions rejected and neglected, and mens humane inventions and institutions is followed and practised; and this hath been and is the cause of difference.

And thirdly, they fall away from the Apostolical insti­tution, of electing members to sit in council: for though it belong to the Supreme Magistrate, to call a council or S [...]nod, and to order the time and place for their meeting and sitting; ye I [Page 26]have not found in all that I have read in my life, that either this council of Nice, or any other council or Synod since, that the members that sate were elected and chosen according to the Gos­pel order and institution; so that it seems, the falling away of the Bishops by their pride and covetousnesse, mallice and envy, con­tention and strife, which occasioned the calling of this councell, together with the falling away of the councel, by their acting and decreeing so contrary to the Apostles institutions, as is said above; and also the members sitting in Councel, not being elected to sit, according to the Apostles example in the like case, and the pra­ctise of the first primitive Church; who can deny but this was the greatest falling away that ever hath been since the Apostles days unto this day? considering as we shall hear after the things that followed after, and doth still continue occasioned by this their falling away.

And that the Members of this Councel, nor of any other Coun­cel or Synod since, as farre as I can learne, was not elected nor chosen according to the institutions and example of the Apostles; and first Primitive Churches, it will appear very plain from, Acts 15. that the believing Church, as is shewed above by the Apostles order, had their votes in electing and chusing, First, Of Bishops, Acts 1. Secondly, Of Inferiour Church-officers, Acts 6. Thirdly, Of Members to sit in Councel, as here Acts 15. The Apostle Paul and Barnabas, who I dare say had as much Authority and more, and more lawfully called to their Authority, then any Pope and Prelate in the world; Members of Synod ought to be elected. yet durst not they when the difference fell out in the Church of Anteoch, about which they had no small dis­putation; go to the Councel about that question, without a lawful call, until they were lawfully elected, and chosen by the believers, the Church of Antioch: as ver. 3. They determined (that is, the Church determined) to send Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of the brethren, to go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders; Mark here, the Elders sate in Councel with the Apostles about this question, which was such another question as was disputed in the Councel of Nice; but neither Paul nor Barnabas, nor the o­ther members of the Church would offer to go, until they were elected, and appointed by the Church to go; and when they came to Jerusalem, they were received of the Church, and of the Apostles and Elders: where you see the Apostles and Elders are not here called the Church, as some do vainly think, that the Apostles and Elders are the Church; they indeed are members of the Church, [Page 27]but not the Church it self: for here the Church is spoken of di­stinctly from the Apostles and Elders; they were received of the Church, that is, of the Congregation or body of believers, and of the Apostles and Elders; and thus our Nineteenth Article of the Church of England, discribes the visible Church of Christ to be a Congregation of faithful men, &c. But I have discoursed more largely of this in the former part of this book, and therefore will say no more here.

And it cannot be doubted, but these brethren of the Church of Antioch, though Laymen that were elected by the Church of An­tioch, to go with Paul and Barnabas to the councel at Jerusalem: but they were permitted to sit in councel with the Apostles and Elders; that, as well as to acquaint the councel with the state of the Church, that had elected and sent them: so also that their vote and conscience might go along in the determination; and accor­ding to this, Arelatenses disputing against Lodovicus and Paenorme­tan, in the Council of Basill, saith, that the dignity of Fathers is not to be respected in the Council, but onely reason, nor any thing more to be looked after then Truth; neither, saith he, will I prefer a lye of a Bishop, though he be never so great, before the Truth of a poor Priest: neither ought a Bishop to disdaine, if a man be unlearned, for wisdome dwelleth oftner under a bare and ragged cloak, then in rich Ornaments and Apparel; wherefore, saith he, I pray you my Lord Bishops do not so much contemne your Inferiours; for the first that dyed for Christ; and opened the way of Martyrdome, was no Bishop but a Levite; but if we repeat the example of old Councels, we shall find that the inferiours were always present with the Bishops in Councels: and what is more comely saith he, for us to follow, then the doctrines and cu­stomes of the Apostles; as it is said, Acts 15. It seemed good to the holy Ghost and to us: that is, the Apostles and Elders with the Church, and the word it seemed good, signifieth in this place, not only consultation, but decision and determination; whereby it appears that others besides Apostles or Bishops had determinating voyces in Councels; and in another place saith, that is Acts the 6. which is spoken to above, saith he, when the Apostles would in­treat of any weighty matter, Lay-men a Ministers ought to in Counce with Bish they durst not determine by them­selves, but the twelve called together the multitude. And seeing all things were written for our learning, it seem the Apostles would give us example that in such weighty matters we should admit our inferiours, as Athanasius in the Councell of Nice, who then was [Page 28]but a Priest, yet he did manfully withstand the Arrians. Also in the Councel of Calcedon, which was counted one of the four prin­cipall Councels, there was present four hundred Priests, and we have most evident testimony for inferiours in Councels; for the chiefe and principal of all the divines St. Augustine saith upon these words, where Christ saith to Peter, I will give thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; he saith, by these words judiciall power was given not only to Peter, but also to the other Apostles, and also to the whole Church, Bishops and Priests. If therefore Priests have a judicial power in the Church, what should let but that they also may have determinate voyces in the Councels and Sy­nods; and saith he, if Abbots who were not instituted by Christ, have their determinate voices in Councels, as they alwaies have, why should not Priests have the same? mark here the Councel con­fesseth that Abbots are not of Christs institution: see for this, the Acts and monuments of the Primitive Church page 624.

Thus you see what the practise of the Apostles was, and their admiting of Ministers and Lay-men that were godly and lawfully elected into their councels; and which was also practised in an­cient councels, though since this councel of Nice; I do not read that Lay-men have been admitted, though hear in this councel of Basill, God stirred up this man to contend for the truth: but the occasion of this dispute in the councel of Basill, was not about Lay-men, but the Bishops would have had Priests and Deacons, and all excluded from having a determining Vote, but onely Bi­shops, and I think they have had it so ever since, both in Coun­cels and Synods: except it were some of their own creatures, that would say as they say; but as to the due election of members to be in the councels, according to the Apostolical institution that hath been altogether neglected this 1300 years, since the councel of Nice, through the pride and presumption of Bishops, and the prevalence of Antichrist then brought forth by that councel: which practise you see is contrary to the Apostles institution and example, and is also contrary even to reason, and to the practise of Kingdoms in civil affairs; as Parliaments that give and make Laws for the Government of the Kingdome in civil affairs, they are elected and chosen by the countrey, so that what Lawes they make as to the Government of the outward man, they are bound to stand to and obey, for it is their own act; they elected and in­trusted them to make such Laws as should be for their wealth and safety.

And can any man be so bruitish, as to think that believers, who [Page 29]are the misticall body of Jesus Christ, and who alone are the Church in Scripture sense: & can any man think that Christ would have them excluded from medling with the affairs of the Church, which particularly belongs unto them, and which Church they are: is there not as much reason, that they should have their Vote in electing them, that are to sit in councels, or Synods, to make Laws to bind their conscience, as to have a vote in electing those in Parliament, that make Laws to bind the outward man: and are not these examples and practises of the Apostles and first primitive Church, in these three several points spoken to above, as sure and safe rules to walk by, as can be shewed for any other assembly or meetings to make Laws by, &c.

For can it be thought that Jesus Christ would appoint for such a work, Necromancers, Witches, Conjurers, Sorcerers, Astrono­mors, Simoniacks, Sodomites, abusers of themselves with mankind, incesteous persons, and covetous Idolaters; Lyers, Swearers, Judge if these be sit to make Laws for the Church of Christ. Sab­both-breakers, Murtherers. Per jured persons, full of Wrath and Strife, Mallice and Envy, Sedition and Heresie, Adulterers, For­nicators, Drunkards, abounding in all the works of the flesh, as a great part both of Popes and Prelates have been and are: that these and such like should give Lawes to his Church and Spouse, that their acts and determinations should be reputed and taken for the acts and determinations of the Church; who are not, as I have proved in the former part of this Book, so much as true members of any particular rightly constituted Church of Jesus Christ in Scripture sence themselves, and who never had a right call to their office, nor to sit in councel, nor Synod, according to the Scripture order as is shewed above: they came not in at the door, but at the window like thieves and robbers: that these should make Laws for Christs Spouse, to bind their consciences to Su­perstitious and Idolatrous Observations, and will-worship contra­ry and against the written word of God; and by their magnifi­cent outward power and authority to compel men to obedience against their conscience, and restraine them from worshipping God according to his own institutions. Beloved, such wayes and doings as these are not of God: consider it in time, and lay it to heart, for the Lord is a God of Judgement, by him actions are weighed; and thus all these things said together, and justly weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary, it will appear, that this Apostacy and falling away of the Bishops, before the councel of Nice, and of the Bishops in the councel of Nice, to be the greatest Apostacy and [Page 30]falling away from the institutions and example of Jesus Christ and his Apostles, and of the longest continuance that ever was in the world, this 1660 years: for it is of 1300 years continuance, and the greatest evil and mischief it hath produced to the Churches of Jesus Christ; for the Arian Herefie, is gone, and other Herefies are gone, but the effects of this falling away continues still.

O ye Christian Princes, An admoniti­on to Christi­an Princes. into whose hands God hath put the Sword of Justice; you see by what is said above, that there is an absolute necessity of a Reformation, according to the word of God, and you bear not the Sword for nought. O therefore set upon this good work of Reformation: happy and blessed will he be both by God and Men, that first begins an effectual Reformation; God expects your endeavours in it, for he works by means, and you are the persons prophesied of that must do it, Rev. 17.16. and who knows how near this prophesie is to be fulfilled; For her Plagues shall come suddenly, Rev. 18.8. and the holy Ghost shewes the reason why it shall so come to passe, For strong is the Lord that judgeth her, therefore whatsoever your hands finde to do, do it with all your might, for cursed is he that doth the work of the Lord negligently: Try all things by the word of God, so as nothing may be done against the word; as it is in our 34 Article of the Church of England; For it is not lawfull (saith the 20 Article) to ordain any thing that is contrary to the word of God written; nor it hath neither strength nor authority (saith the 21 Article) unlesse it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture; and the good Lord direct you according to that rule, for then you will have the prayers and assistance of many Thousands, whose hearts now are made sad, because of these abominations.

But yet a word or two more, to shew how great this Apostacy and falling away of the Bishops was, before the councel of Nice. Alexander Bishop of Alexandria, wrote in an Epistle to his bre­thren and fellow Ministers through the Churches, after this man­ner; But in as much as Eusebius, now Bishop of Nicomedea, suppo­seth the whole state of the Church to be under his Jurisdiction; by which you may see what contention and strife there was amongst them for superiority and preheminence; and for that he is be­come the Patron and Ringleader of Apostacies: I think it neces­sary, &c. The first Book of Socrates, Chap. 3. And this was a lit­tle before the councel of Nice, which falling away of the Bishops appears further by the Testimony of Constantine the Emperour; for besides his Epistles I have already spoken of, which shews, that [Page 31]the Bishops contentions was the cause of calling the councel of Nice; and the next day after the councel met the Emperour in the councel made an Oration, and exhorted them to concord and agreement: and to remove from their minds all private malice and grildge, which they had one towards another; for divers of them had accused one another, and the day before had put up Libels to the Emperour against one another. See Socrates first, book, Chap. 5. See also Chap. 22. At another councel at Tyrus, where thus he writes; Verily I know not what matters Assembly through Tumult and Troublesome stirre hath decreed; Methinks the truth it selfe, you have in a manner subverted, The Apostacy of the Bishop a very great Apostacy. by means of your Hurle­burly, and kindled heat of contention; for you prosecute your private spite and hatred one towards another, and seem to neglect the service of God, and furtherance of truth; and after he charg­eth them that seeme to maintaine the holy Misteries of Christs Church, that they do practise nothing else but that which breed­eth discord and discention; to be short, that which tendeth to the utter overthrow and destruction of mankind, by all which it doth manifestly appear, that this Apostacy and falling of the Bi­shops and the councel, was a very exceeding great falling away from the Apostles institutions and example; and most like of any to be that very falling away that the Apostle spake of, 2 Thes. 2.3. With the which the great Antichrist and man of sin should be ushered in.

So that it is manifest, all the evil and misery that hath befallen the Christian Churches ever since, by the prevalency of the Pope, the great Antichrist: came in by the falling away of the Bishops, What evil the Decree of Nice producued. and by the falling away of the Councell; for that decree of Lord Primats, Metrapolytans, and Lord Diocesans, &c. and giving them such large Jurisdiction and Authority over others, their e­quals; though they might pretend that these should sit as in so ma­ny watch towers, to oversee the rest, and to keep out Heresie and Schisme; but how fair a pretence soever they, or any else can de­vise to excuse their doings: it may teach us how dangerous a thing it is, to step aside out of Gods way, for their decree being a hu­mane instituion, and a falling away from the institutions of the Apostles, as you heard above; the event that it produced, was not only the bringing in of Antichrist, but a multitude of Heresies more, and the increasing of those Heresies that then was. I think you may easily read the sin in the punishment, as you shall hear anone; for Eusebius, Bishop of Necomedia, and Theognis Bishop of [Page 32] Nice, and Marris Bishop of Calcedone, &c. all Arian Bishops; they also were enabled and authorized by this decree of this councel, with such power and jurisdiction in their Provinces, over inferi­our Bishops &c. that they compelled the other Bishops to side with them, or else they cast them out: that in short time this Heresie overspread a great part of the Christian World; for they called Synods and councels in their own jurisdictions, and condemned, and excommunicated the Orthodox Bishops and Pastors; the o­ther party again condemned and excommunicated them, so that these councels and Synods, cursed and excommunicated one a­nother, as I have shewed in the former part of this book, of above Twenty councels, that cursed and excommunicated one the o­ther; And Athanasius, who was a great stickler in the Nicen councel, in making that decree; he felt the effect of what it pro­duced, for he was five or six times banished into Exile, and forced by Hereticks to fly for to save his life; and thus persecution began again, for many tumults and bickrings there was and great slaugh­ter made, and cruel Tortors and Torments devised and executed upon such as would not be of their side; so that the persecutions is said by some, to be as cruel as the former, only it had changed the name; for the former persecutions was by Heathens, and this was by pretended Christians; thus it appears in part what misery that decree and falling away from the Gospell institutions did bring forth: for it furnished the Pope with authority to make him the Antichrist: he took occasion from these broyls and discenti­ons, to hear and determine causes of both sides, whereby he ever after clamed a Supremacy over all other Churches, and at last at­tained it; that decree also furnished and inabled Arians, Masi­donians, Novisians and other Hereticks to work their feats, so that soon after this councel had made that decree Heresies never came in to the Ghurch half so fast, neither before nor since, as at that time, for the space of 30 years. For Pope Liberus, about the year 352 was an Arian, and Pope Felix, about 358, was also an Arian, so that this falling away of the Bishops and councel was exceeding great, and hath produced so many new inventions in Religion, and so many ceremonies; and that is another part of their fal­ling from the examples of the Apostles. Acts 15.28. Their care was to abolish ceremonies, and lay no heavier burthen up­on them but necessary things; but the Pope and Prelates hath burthened the Church with unnecessary ceremonies; and with above 150 Religious Orders, that not one of them is of Divine [Page 33]institution, to all which this Councel of Nice in that decree laid the foundation.

But this was not all that followed upon that new decree and bu­mane institution: Bishops Au­thority cannot keep out He­resie. for immediately followed a number of Heresies more, which that decree made way for: that every Bishop in his own Province might make what Lawes he pleased. As first the Photiniuns, about the year 323, Photinus was Bishop of Syrmium, the Luciferians in 333, there was another sort of them called Ho­monymians, the Jovinians in 335, the Aetians in 331. Aetius was a Deacon; the same time the Eunomians, whose Author was Bishop of Cyzicum; the Audians in 338, and were after called Anthro­morphets, the Semarians, the Author was Bishop of Cesaria in the year 330. the Meletians from Meletus a Theban Bishop, a little be­fore the Councel of Nice; the Manichees, of which came the Ca­tharists and Macarii in 340; the Donatists from Donatus, who be­cause Cecilian was preferred to be Bishop of Carthage before him, he turned Heretick, so ambitious were they of honour and juris­diction in 348, from him sprang the Parmetiaists and Montenses, the Priscilliunists in 348. the Apollinarists in 350 the Antedico Ma­rianits, and the Heluidians 355: the Messalians in 341. whose He­resie was divided into several Sects, as Martyrianies, Inthuaste, Euphemite Satanici; the Metangismonits in 341. the Proclianits and Patricians in 387. the Collyridians, and the Paterniani in 357. the Aerians in 340. the Abolenite 370. the Pilagians in 382. The Predestinati and Timotheans, about the same time there was also the Enstathius, who renewed the Heresie of Sabilecus and Paulus, Somosatenus, and the Ancyrogalatian, the Patropassians, the Nesto­rians and Eutichians, Theodotians and many others; here is 40 odd, of which there was about 55 of these Heresies came rushing into the Church in Twenty years time, after the Councel of Nice; whereby the Church was almost as much distressed, if not altoge­ther, as it was under the Heathen Persecutors: The Judge­ment that befel the Church after the decree of Nice. that however the Councel and others since may pretend that these new Officers and Offices invented by them of Pope and Lord Primate, and Lord Metrapolitan, and Lord Dioceasan &c. together with their large Jurisdiction and Authority given them: with preheminency of priority & superiority, was the way to keep out Heresie: yet that God might let both them and us see how dangerous it is to leave his divine institutions, and imbrace or devise novelties in any part of his Worship or Service, though upon never so faire pretences; how suddenly after did all these Heresies arise in the Church, to [Page 34]let them see both their sinfulnesse and foolishnesse, in forsaking the institutions and rules laid down in the Scriptures for us to walk by; the forsaking whereof, with what it produced, which conti­nues to this day, may convince us both of the sin, and shew us the punishment; and it is not to be past over without taking notice of: that the City of Nice, where first this wicked decree was made, it was the very first City that was given up into the hand of the Oramen Family (which now we call Turks.) as a punishment upon the very place, as we have ground to think.

This Nicen Councel, Mr. Brightman saith, did sit under the blowing of the second Trumpet; the effect of which is, that a great mountain burning with Fire was cast into the Sea, and the third part of the Sea became blood, &c. by the Sea, he under­stands the Doctrine of the Gospel in it's purity: and by a third part becoming blood, is meant, the mingling of Prince-hood, and Lord Primacy, with the Doctrine of the Gospel, and institutions of Christ and his Apostles: which was done by this Councel, as you have heard above: that through the pride of Bishops striving for dignities, they were embroiled in bloody wars and Persecuti­ons, Mingling Doctrines of men with the Gospel. as then it came to passe; and by Mountaines, is meant in Scri­pture, Princes, and Peers, and Great Men, as Isa. 2.12.14. The day of the Lord of host is upon all that are proud and haughty, and upon all the high Mountains, and upon the Halls that are lifted up: and which may well be applyed to the pride of Popes and Prelates: and by the 3d part of the creatures in the Sea dying; if by the Sea we un­derstand with Brightman the Doctrine of the Gospel, then by the 3d part dying in the Sea, we may understand, the destruction of the multitude that have received the doctrine of that humane decree of Nice, and mingled it with the pure doctrine of the Gospel, and the doctrines of the Popes and Prelates, and all the rabble of Monks and Fryers, &c. that mingle their inventions of doctrine and discipline, ceremonies and the like, with the institutions of the Gospel, of which a third part died.

So insatiable they were of honour, and to have preheminency, that in the next age following, that, three most holy Popes, who no doubt could not erre; which was Zozimus, Boniface, and Celestine; yet were all three convicted of Forgery, for falcefying the Act; of the Nicen Councel, to exable their Principality, though the Coun­cel of Nice had given them more before, then Christ had left them; but what authority the Councel had given them, they laboured to improve, and did, until they accomplisht their desire to have a [Page 35]universal power over all Churches; and this made them the great Antichrist and man of sin, other wise he could not have been Anti­christ; for it was foretold of him, that he should exalt himself a­bove all that was called Gods, that is, above all Magistrates and Officers who are called God, Psal. 82.6. I said ye are Gods, &c. Therefore the Councel of Carthage writ to Celestine, and admo­nished him, not to commit such a sin, as to bring in the Smoke and and Swelling pride of the world, of Antichrist they might have said, into the Church of Christ; and thus in time their impudence grew up to its height: you may see from hence, how dangerous it is to bring innovations into the Church of Christ to mingle mens institutions, with Gods institutions; to make and institute Offi­cers and Offices in the Church, which Christ ordained not, nor will not own, but will say unto them, Get ye behind me, or depart ye cursed I know ye not; by these Lordly Titles and Jurisdictions that you have exercised, I ordained them not; for will any man fearing God, that is in his right wits, think that Jesus Christ and his Apostles, who had an immediate call from Christ to their office, and were endowed with an infallible and unerring spirit that they did not know better then any Pope or Prelate, councel or other, what Officers and order was best for the Church: but that men dare presume to reject and neglect Christs order and institutions, and make orders and institutions of their own; it is good to draw neer to God, but it is dangerous to go from him, and run out of his way that he hath prescribed for us to walk in; it is said, Rev. 2.1. That Christ holdeth the stars in his right hand: by stars is meant the Pastors of the Church, which while they walk in Gods way, Christ holds them in his right hand, to keep and direct them: as it is said, He shall keep thee in all thy wayes: and he is a powerfull keeper, and a faithful maintainer of all his faithful servants; but those that walk out of Gods way, have no promise of protection in such cursed crooked ways.

Thus having hitherto set down the manner of the great Anti­christs appearance, how he came to his Throne by the removing of the Heathen Emperours, which was it that hindred, until it was taken out of the way: and also of the falling away of the Bishops before the councel, and of the Bishops in the councel of Nice: how both fell away from the institutions and example of Christ and his Apostles, and the first primitive purity, both as to the election of Bishops, and other Church Officers, and as to the election of mem­bert to sit in councels: all which rules is laid down in the Scri­pture [Page 36]for us to walk by, which the Bishops and councel; not only fell from, but they made new institutions and canons of their own without, and contrary to the Scripture, which was both as Mid­wife and Nurse, to bring forth and Nurse up Antichrist, to his full strength, &c. And now I come to speak of the thing, that Anti­christ should do after he is come; and the Apostle saith; 2 Thes. 2.4. That he should oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God, How Anti­christ exalteth himself above all Gods.or that is Worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the Tem­ple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Bellarmine to excuse the Pope, that he should not be Antichrist saith from this Text, That Antichrist shall not suffer any God, either true or false, nor any Idol to be worshipped, but only himself: but this cannot be here meant by this Text, for the Text saith, He shall sit in the Temple of God; the Scriptures notes out Antichrist to be a false Prophet: now a Prophet whether true or false, must be a Prophet to some God, and when he sits in the Temple of God; let Bellarmine tell us, whether this must be in the Temple of another God, or in his own Temple: if in anothers Temple, then he must own a God above him: if in his own Temple, then the Apostle spake improperly, for he should not have said, He sits in the Temple of God as God, but rather, He sits in his own Temple as God: and how should An­tichrist be known by this sign, when it is not known what manner of Temple he should have? but we will take the words as they are in the Text, and leave Bellarmines deceitful Glosse.

St. Hierom interpreteth Antichrists sacrilegious pride, to be a kind of immoderate power over all Religion; for thus he saith; Autichrist shall war against the Saints, and overcome them, and shall be puffed up with so great pride, as he shall attempt to change Gods Laws and Ceremonies, subjecting all Religion to his own will; In which he points out the Pope of Rome to the life to be the great Antichrist, for that humane Authority the Councel of Nice gave him, he hath improved: that in the present Church of Rome and so far as the Popes power extends, the Laws of God are almost a­bolished, and new instituted Orders, Officers, and Discipline is established, and almost all things is become new, as is shewed in the former part of this book, yea 150 new Religious orders, and not one of them of Christs institution, and many more things the like; so that by the Testimony of St. Heirome, the Pope of Rome must be the great Antichrist and man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalts and opposeth all that is called, God, that is, Psal. 82.6. all earthly Magistrates; I said ye are gods, but ye shall die like men, [Page 37]&c. and it is manifest that the Pope of Rome doth claim and ex­creise authority over all Emperours, Kings and Princes, who are earthly gods: and over all authority Civil and Ecclesiastical, and he hath promo [...]ed and established false worship, and siteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God; that is, he sits both in his own person, and by his power and authority in the Christian Congregations; shewing himself that he is god, that is, an earthly god and the greatest of all earthly gods, by his com­manding power over other earthly gods; and that Christian As­semblies where the Pope exerciseth his power, is called the Temple of God, see the Ephes. 2.22. In whom you also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit, and 1 Cor. 3.16, 17. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and if any man defile the Temple of God, him shall God destroy; Look to thy self Pope, and all Popelings, for [...]ve have defi [...]ed the Temple and Church of God, and him shall God destroy: for the Temple of God is Holy, which Temple are ye, that is all true believers, and 1 Cor. 6.19. What know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price: Let the Pope and his Prelate then take heed how they defile these Temples that God hath bought with so dear a price, that they defile them not with their humane institutions and ceremonies, &c.

So that as it is said of the Pope of Rome in his extravigance, that he is neither god nor man, but a middle person between both: so he sits in the Temple of God as god over all Emperours, Kings and Princes &c. He sits in the Christian Assemblies and Congregations, which is the Temple and House of Gods there he sits claiming and exercising a power over them all as a God; thus you see how lively the Holy Ghost in this Text hath Pictured out the Pope of Rome to be the great Antichrist and man of sin; sit­ting as a god, over all other earthly gods that is worshipped with a civil outward worship; But what lesse then divine worship was it that was given to the Pope, and which he did arrogate to himself, when the Ambassador of the Emperour of Sicily lay grouling up on the ground, and cryed to the Pope, The blasphe­mous honour given to the Pope. Thou that takest away the sins of the World, have mercy upon us; Thou that takest away the sins of the World, grant us thy peace: See Paul Amicla, Book 7. also Simon Bigimus, Bishop of Modrusium: speaking to Pope Leo in the Councel of Latteran ses. 6. Behold, saith he, speaking of the Pope. Behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, the root of Jesse: [Page 38] we have waited for thee O blessed Leo to be our Saviour: O wicked blesphemous Bishop, and wicked blasphemous Pope, to receive such Worships: unto these we may joyne Cornelins Bishop of [...] ­pontum, who laid open his blockishnesse in wondring at this Beast the Antichrist, in the Councel of Trent, in these words; The Pope is come a light into the world, and men love darkness more then light: out pon you blasphemous Claw backs, saith Mr. Brightman: Is it not enough for you to adore the man of sin, with the praise of the Saints, but you must rob God, and give that honour to Antichrist, that is proper only to Jesus Christ: Gregory saith, in his 4th Book, Chap. 38. What answer wilt thou make unto Christ the head of the Ʋniversal Church, when thou shalt be examined at the last Judge­ment, that thou hast called thy self the only Bishop, and goest about by the name Ʋniversal, to make all his members subject unto thee: and in another place, I speak it boldly, saith he, whosoever calleth himself universal Bishop, or in the pride of his heart desireth so to be called, he is the fure-runner of Antichrist: The testimony of ancient writers against the Pope. and I have shewed you, that before the Councel of Nice, they were aiming at such a thing; as Alix­ander Bishop of Alixandrea write to other Bishops and Churches, That Eusebius Bishop of Necomedia, supposed the whole state of the Church to be under his Jurisdiction; whereby you may perceive Bishops had aspiring thoughts, that was, as John Bishop of Constan­tinople writ to Pope Gregory, That he might be called Ʋniversall Bishop, &c.

Armulphus in the Councel of Remes, saith thus, speaking of the Pope: What think ye Reverend Fathers of this man, siting on high, in his Throne glittering in purple and cloth of Gold? what think ye him to be? Verily if he be void of Charity, and blown up with pride, then is he Antichrist, siting in the Temple of God, and shewing him­self that he is God.

Bernard speaking of that time, saith, The Bishops who new have charge of Gods Church, are not Teachers, but Deceivers, they are not Feeders, but Beguilers, they are not Prelates, but Pilates; and in Vincicto Remancie, he saith, Ye are called Bishops, but ye are Rave­ners. O my Brethren, Jesus at this time hath chosen unto him many Divels to be Bishops; they are not Feeders, but they are Traytors; but Fernard mistook, for they were not of Jesus Christs chusing: Christs institution was cast aside, for if they had been chosen as they ought to be, by Lot as Matthias was, Acts the first, Jesus Christ would have made a better choice, but they were cho­sen by men that had not right to chuse them and that was the rea­son [Page 39]that they were such a plague to the Church as they were.

Abertus in his 10 Chap. speaks to the same purpose: they saith he that now governt the Church, for the most part be Thieves and Murtherers, more catchers, then feeders, more spoylers, The Fathers testimony concerning Antichrist.then defen­ders, more killers, then keepers, more deceivers, then Doctors, more bo­guilers, then guids; these be the fore-runners of Antichrist, and the subverters of the sheep of Christ: See for this Bishop Jewels book against Harding: what need we any further witnesses to prove what is said above, and to prove the Pope to be Antichrist: for he hath already been set out by such marks of Scripture, and by the Testimony of these Authors, so proved against him, and which cannot properly be applyed to any but the Pope of Rome, that no man need be any longer in doubt, but that we have found out both, who Antichrist is, and where he is, and when he first ap­peared: namely, that the succession of the Popes of Rome, is the great Antichrist, and that he had his first birth, in the first Coun­cel of Nice: there he drew his first breath, which hath been so con­tagious, that it hath insected almost all the Christian world.

In the first book of Socrates, Chap. 5. it is said, That there was in the Councel of Nice, certain Logicians, who were ready to defend each others part that came in controversie; but a Lay man, one of the number of Confessours, of a simple and sincere mind, set himself against them, and told them in plain words, that neither Christ nor his Apostles had delivered unto us the Art of Logick, neither vain Fallacies, but an open and plain mind, to be preferred of us with faith and good works. which when he had spoken, all that were there present, held with his sentence, and the Logicians quieted and set­led themselves aright. It seems that the primitive order of admit­ting Lay-men into the Councel, was not altogether laid aside by this Councel of Nice, though the primitive order, as-to the electi­on of members to sit, was neglected: and also the manner of act­ing: for the Apostles in their councel did abolish ceremonies Acts 15.28. this councel and others since, have burthened the Church with unnecessary ceremonies: which hath been a clog to many a tender conscience: so that all things duely considered, this falling away hath been the greatest that ever was, since Jesus Christ lived upon the earth; the effect whereof hath not only brought forth Antichrist, but hath been his support to this day, even he whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signes, Amichrist, deceitful workin [...] and lying wonders, and with all deceiveableness of unrighteous­nesse in them that perish; and I pray you, what is this power and [Page 40]deceit that Antichrist works by? is not the power of the councel of Nice, that first set him up, and gave him his Authority, that he works by, and which hath been confirmed to him since by other councels; that if any question his authority, is not that his refuge, such and such councels, saith thus and thus to confirm my way, and what I do: and all these councels had their original from this of Nice, and from that apostatising decree that furnished them all with authority: and they have been such apt Scholars, they have ever since writ after their copy: the Arian Apostacy, and all the Hereticks that have been since, putting them all together, could never have served Antichrists turn to bring him forth, and to fur­nish him with such authority, as the falling away of the Bishops and the councel of Nice hath furnished him withal; for the Arian fal­ling away was palpable and known to the world, therefore men were more shie of it; neither would it serve Antichrists turne to shelter himself under it, for Antichrist was to be one that should pretend to truth, but by deceit; now this falling away of the Bi­shops and the councel, fitted them to the life, for they, as he, pre­tended to the truth: and as grosse as their actings and falling away was, comparing it with the Gospel institutions, as above from which they fell; yet few hath discerned it, if they have, they have been so over-powred, that they durst not mutter against it; and the acts of that councel, hath been cryed up as lawful acts, of a lawful councel; whereas you see by these four Scriptures above mentioned; neither was the councel lawful, nor their act lawful, and so undiscernably it was the bringer forth of Antichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition, which hath been 1300 years in the world, and yet was so covertly brought forth, that men will not yet believe he is come.

The next Text I shall treat of for the discovery of the great An­tichrist, is, Rev. 9. For I shall but give a hint at some of the chief, ver. 1. And the fifth Angel blew the Trumpet, and I saw a Star fall from Heaven unto the Earth, and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit, and he opened the pit, and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnice, and the Sun and the Air was darkned by the smoke of the pit, and out of the smoke came forth Locusts upon the Earth, and to them was given power, as the Scor­pions of the Earth have power: and in the 11 ver. it is said, That they have a King over them, which is the Angel of the bottomlesse pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek Apollyon, which Expositors say, doe both signifie destroying. By a Star [Page 41]falling from Heaven to Earth, is meant, some eminent person in the Church, falling from heavenly things to earthly things; which some think, is meant of, some Master of an Heresie: but Joachimus Abbas thinks it to be some Clergy-man, and both is true, and may easily be found in one man: namely, the Pope of Rome, the great Antichrist, for he is both a Clergy-man and a Master of Heresie, yea, and of more Heresies then ever one man was Master of. For as I have proved in the first part, the present Religion of the Church of Rome is compo­sed of above forty several Heresies: and this Star falling from Hea­ven to earth, cannot so fitly be compared to any man upon the earth, as to the Pope; for this Trumpet is thought to blow about the year 607. at which time Pope Boneface the Third, obtained of Pho­cas, the Traytor and Murthering Emperour who murthered his ma­ster, granted the Pope to be called universal Bishop: to get the Popes favour to help to uphold him in his usurped Throne of Murther; and he again as a requiral, confers upon the Pope this usurped and Here­tical Title of universal Bishop over all other Churches; other prece­ding Popes had been striving long to obtain that dignity of universal Bishop but could not obtain it till now: also John Bishop of Constan­tinople sought for it: upon which account, Gregory the great did write in his Fourth book, Epistle the 34. By this pride, saith he what thing else is signified but that Antichrist is at hand; and again, in the same book saith he, The King of pride (meaning An [...]christ) is near coming to us: and which is not lawful to be spoken, there is an Ar­my of Priests ready to fight his battels, that is these Locust, here spo­ken of: that when the Pope, the fallen Star, opened the bottomlesse pit, the Locusts came out of the smoke of the pit, which is these Priests Gregory saith should fight Antichrists battels; for when the Po [...]e re­ceived this Title of Universal Bishop, he also received the Key of the bottomless pit, to let out these Locusts: for now his authority and jurisdiction was inlarged. I hope Gregory being a Pope himself, and in a manner prophesied of this but about three or 4 years before it came to passe; methinks Bishop Williams and others might give some credit to it seeing it did come to passe so soon after, and should not thus fight against the truth as he doth, &c.

The Key was given to the Pope after this manner, the Emperour by his Edict decreed that the Pope of Rome should have full power to call and dismiss Synods, to confirm or abolish whatsoever was decreed in the Synods at his pleasure; and that the City of Rome should be the head-s [...]ring from whence all Ecclesiastical govern­ment and orders should issue and how forth, whereas before that Constantinople was so accounted, because there the Emperour had [Page 42]his feat, unto whom those prerogatives did formerly belong, as Pom­pon letus saith in the history of Phocas, Antichrist hath the Keys of Hell not of Heaven. and what was there then that this Key could not open, after he had received this power: there was other Popes that fell before this, as lesser Stars we may count them, because their fall was not so great: Antichrist was but then in his groth, but now he was grown up to his full Stature; This Pope was the great Star to whom the Key of the bottomlesse pit was given; for now he was furnished with compleat Authority every way, to do all the works that belonged to Antichrist to do, he brags indeed that he hath the Keys of the Kingdome of Heaven; but you see the Holy Ghost tells us, that he hath the Keyes of the bottomlesse pit of Hell, and calls him the King of the Locusts, which come out from thence: and so he is, for all the rabble of the popish Clergy are at his com­mand: for when the order of Jesuits, which doth exceed the rest for Learning, &c. were confirmed, it was ordained that they should be at the Popes command, to undertake any service that he should require of them in any Kingdome, and that readily and willingly, without puting him to any charge, or asking a question or reason of the thing commanded: this shews his Kingly power over these Lo­custs, for as Solomon saith, Who may say unto the King, what doest thou? thus you see how lively the Holy Ghost hath set forth the Pope, by what his practise now is, to be the King of the bottomless pit: see for proof of this, Christianus, Franken Colloq. Surius, and Hospinian.

This King of pride, Antichrist the Pope, he opens the bottomlesse pit, and there arose the smoke of the pit; Mr. Brightman saith, by this smoke is meant, the over-spreading of Heresie, both in Doctrine, and Superstition in Worship: and we may well take the words in that sense, for as a great smoke doth darken the Sun and the Air: so cor­ruption in Doctrine, and Superstitious Idolatrous worship, doth dar­ken and Eclips the heavenly light of Gods truth: and there was ne­ver in the world such a great over-spreading Heresie, as popery is, as is proved before, that the present Church of Rome is both Hereti­cal, Blasphemous, and Idolatrous; there was some smoke and darkness before the Councel of Nice, The Pope of Rome, the great­est Here­rick in the world. among the Bishops and in the Councel of Nice an Heresie in falling away from the institutions and exam­ple of Christ and his Apostles; but now the smoke and darknesse grew both thicker, and spread further by reason of this universal Ti­tle and Jursdiction, obtained by Phocas the Traytor and Murtherer; it was unlikely to be any profit to the Church of Christ, that was brought forth by such an instrument; indeed the Councel of Nice laid the foundation hereof, but the Popes were never able to accom­plish what they desired, and aimed at, until now: and from this [Page 43]time the smoke and darknesse grew Thicker and Thicker; for this Popes next Successor, Pope Boneface the 4th. The Temple called Pan­theon, Dedicated to all the Heathen Gods; this abominable stye of wickednesse, this Pope converted to the honour of all Saints, and or­dained a yearly Feast to be kept to it, and to exercise the same impi­ety as the Heathens had done, but under another name: but no more command or precept in the word of God for the one, then for the other, and therefore no more pleasing to God; and as the Hea­then had their Idoll Gods to pray unto, so these had their Idol Saints to pray unto, to whose honour the Idol Temple was appointed, &c. Then come in the shaving of Crouns, the Chanting in Quires, the forbidding of Priests marriage; the Lattine Masse, and Kissing of the Pax, and soon after the varnishing of Images, with a number more the like, whereby the smoke and darknesse increased more and more: the next Successour to this Pope Theodotus, and decreed, that parents who had been witnesses together to any Children in Baptisme, should not live any longer together in marriage, but must be separated, and the Woman have her Dowry againe, and a year after have liberty to Marry another; this was a strange kind of in­cesse, by means of a spiritual Kindred, being witnesses together in Baptisme, which the Pope found out that God had no knowledge of, when he made Lawes concerning incesse, and unlawful Marriages, Levit. 18. Boneface the 5th. which was the next Pope that succeeded after him, added to these, That men are delivered by Christ from Ori­ginall sin, which is the Doctrine of some of the Anabaptists: he added moreover, That the Law doth require no more of a man, then what he is able to perform by his own strength, or at least by the help of Gods grace. And the next that succeeded, was Pope Honorius, who was censured by the third Counsel of Constantinople, to be a Mono­thelite: that is, to ascribe onely one will, and one nature unto Christ; Thus you see after the receiving of the Key of the bottom­lesse pit, what a smoke came out under these five popes, after one an another, and so continued whereby the darknesse did so increase, that the light of the Sun of the Gospel is almost quite obliterated, and put out; to be short, it came to this at lasts to bring every mans neck under this yoak, that every soul that meant to be saved, ought to professe the form of the Romish Traditions, and to acknowledge the decrees of the Pope were to be received and believed, as if they had been confirmed by a divine voice, &c.

And there came out of the smoke Locusts upon the earth, and what are these, but all the whole crue or spawne of Religious orders in the Church of Rome, of which I have named in the former part of this [Page 44]book one hundred and fifty orders, and all of humane invention and institution for the brood must be like the dam; for after men attri­buted their salvation to their own meritorious works, and new devi­sed ways of will-worship; there was daily new Religions and new Religious orders and ways of worship invented: all men desire sal­vation and when once they were perswaded by their Leaders, that it was in their own power, in observing such things as they could ea­sily perform, there could be no Superstition devised, from which they would hold back their hands so that one man is not more commonly begotten of another, then these orders of locusts were increased and multiplyed, and one order divided into several branches out of this smoke; to such members that one general of the Minorites promised the Pope, towards the leavying of an Army against the: Turks, thirty thousand tall Warriers out of the family of Franciscans; what an in­finite number was there then of all the rabble of other orders?

These kind of Vermin are called Rev. 16.13. Three unclean spirits like Froggs coming out of the mouth of the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet, they are the spirits of Divels working miracles and which go unto the Kings of the earth, to gather them to battel, &c. The Dra­gon, that is the Devil, by which was understood, the Heathen Empe­rours for their rage and madnesse against the Church of Christ; for they acted the Devils part, and when the Devil saw that he must be cast our; that Diocleasian and Maximinian must be gone, the Devil made sure to provide himself of a successor, sending the Beast the Pope into his seat before; for Dioclesian lived at Nicomedia, and Maxi­minian at Mediolanum, when they gave over their Empires: leaving Rome empty for the Beast to domineer and play rekes in, for saith the Text, Rev 13.2. The Dragon gave him, that is, the Beast with Seven Heads and Ten Horns, The Pope proved to be the dragon, beast, and false Pro­phet.the Dragon gave him his power, and his Throne, and great Authority: and when Constantine came in to be Emperor, and see the seat taken up by the Pope, Constantine got him away to Byzantum, now called Constantinople, and there made himself a place, so that Antichrist the Pope of Rome, is in this sense called the Dra­gon; the dragon gave him his power, and throne, and authority, from whence we learn by whose power and authority it is, that the Pope of Rome acts by; namely, the Devil the Dragon, and the Beast and the false Prophet is one and the same Antichrist; as he hath a double power, both spiritual and temporal, he is the Beast in respect of his civil power, and the false Prophet in respect of his ecclesiastical po­wer, out of whose mouth, these unclean spirits, like Frogs, are said to come forth: these three unclean spirits do signifie all the Popes Clergy, especially the three orders of Dominicans, Franciscans, and [Page 45] Jesuits, from whom the greatest part of their other orders doe pro­ceed: They are compared to Frogs, because, as Frogs delight in miery & filthy places of dung & filth: so do these delight in the filthy stinking abominations of their own inventions & doctrine of merrit, and justification by the dung of their own righteousnesse; for so the holy Apostle Paul judged his righteousness as losse and dung, Phil. 3.8. but these Frogs, for so they are rightly termed in this respect, they will be saved by their own dungie works of righteousness, which they have done [...] they will not be beholding to Christ for his righteous­nesse, for which cause they are called ver. 14. The spirits of Divels: for who else but Devils will reject Christ and his Righteousness, to be justified and saved by their own righteousness; they are also said, To go unto the Kings of the Earth, to gather them to battel: and what Kings Court is there where these Frogs are not Crocking, yea, in Parliaments, Councels and Synods, and all Assemblies to bring about their mischievous designes: and if they cannot prevail, then to stir up Kings and Princes to Wars, yea, and Subjects to, to fight and de­vour one another: witnesse the late Horrid Rebellion in Ireland, where a hundred fifty four thousand of Men, Women, and Children were murthered, as it's recorded: besides what was killed in battel: and the Irish Rebels were stirred up thereunto, by these Frogs and spirits of the Devil: many more the like passages might be shewed, but I would not be tedious: Thus the holy Ghost hath given such a character of them, to know these Frogs by, that any man that is not wilfully blind in judgement, cannot deny, but these I have named are they: And they are said to come out of the mouth of the Beast, &c. because the Popes breath doth authorize them, as I said above: the Jesuits at their mission, do engage to go at the Popes command, where he will send them, without asking a reason: and they are called spi­rits, perhaps, because they shall approve themselves to be no lesse in­dustrious in dispatch of their business then spirits, or because they are like to that breath that cometh out of the mouth, which hath great affinity with those from whom it is breathed, for cooling and giving life: for these three golyasses are joyned in great league and friendship with their Lord the Pope: they draw life and heat from him, and they mutually return the like to him again, by their indu­stry for him; but these things cannot be applyed to the Long-par­liament nor Presbyterians. &c.

They are said to be the spirits of Divels working miracles, because of the divilesh and prodigious works that they are employed in, by the Devil, who hath given to the Pope his power, and his throne, and great authority; for the Pope is the Devils instrument to work by, and he is Lord and King over these Locusts and Frogs to command [Page 46]them upon his service. And as to their miracles I have spoken some­thing before, and therefore will not relate it here again; only this I will say, that suppose these miracles they tell us of were true, as they are not probable they should be; yet we read that Pharaohs magicians by permission and by the help and assistance of the Devil, did work as great miracles as they, and the Divel both hath done, and will do the like among them for their delusion, Popish mi­racles though true, yet they are delusions, & in effect saying, Come let us go after other Gods and to advance his own kingdome, and to hearten and incourage both the Actors and beholders in their Superstitious Idolatrous worship; and upon this account I wonder not, if the Divel suffer himself to be cast out by their conjuration, and exercisme, or rather willingly go forth of the possessed at such a time: for by such means he hath drawen away many hundred thousands from the right way of truth, and this doth fulfil what was prophesied, what Antichrist and his Instruments should do, 2 Thes. 9.11. that his coming should be, by the working of Satan with power, and signs and lying wonders, and in all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse in them that perish: that because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved, therefore God shall send them strong delusians to believe lies, &c. and such delusions as these God hath given us warning of, Deut. 13.1, 2, 3. That if there arise among you a Prophet, or Dreamer of Dreams, and shews thee a sign or a won­der, and that sign or wonder whereof he spake unto thee, come to passe, saying, let us go after other Gods, thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that Prophet, for the Lord thy God doth it to prove you, whe­ther ye love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul; Mark ye, God doth not suffer such signs and wonders to be wrought to try us, whether we will hold fast the truth or turn aside to such delusi­ons: for though the thing prove true, yet it is but a delusion, because it is beyond what is written for our instruction, for miracles are now ceased in these dayes, and therefore to the Law and Testimony, Isa. 8.20. If they speak not according to this word, it is because the light is not in them; so that what the Prelate, Priest or Fryer, Jesuite or other doth in that respect, though the thing prove true, yet the effect is, as if he should say, Come let us go after other Gods, as in the Text above, and is a meer delusion.

For such Conjuration and Exercisme is no institution of Jesus, Christ nor his Apostles; no not the Masse it selfe, nor their Frenzy carriage and deportment at M [...]sse, the Jestures, Vestments, &c. The Priest begins with a Psalme, then he combs his head, and washeth his hands, then he sprinkles holy water, then they sing again, while the Priest is approaching towards the Altar, between a Priest and a Deacon, if there be so many; before whom march two Taper bear­ers, [Page 47]and before them is carried the Censor and Incense; in going up to the Altar, the Priest bows himself, then at the Altar the Priest o­pens the book and kisseth it, A discrip­tion of a Popish Masse. during the time of Messe he bows himself eight times: after Confession and Absolution he blesseth the incense and puts it in the censor, then kisseth the Altar, and remove [...]h, to the right side of the Altar; the Kyriele [...]son is said nine times in one Masse, then the Angelical Hymne is Sung: then the Priest turning to the people, he salutes them with these words, The Lord be with you, the Quire answers, And with thy spirit; seven times in the Mass, the Priests salutes the people, but turns to them but five times, then the collects or prayers are read, and the Epistle; then the Priest removes to the left side of the Altar, and the Gospel is read by the Deacon in a high place, with his face towards the North: the Cross, the Cen­for, and two Lights is carried before the Gospel; at the reading of it the people stand up and crosse themselves, after that the Creed is read, & all this is but the first part of their Masse; it would be to long to relate it all: sometimes the Priest prays softly to himself, some­times with an audible voice, several times Crossing the Hoste and Challis, first three times, next five times, in all 25 times, besides other crossings of himself, &c. the Priest washeth his hands three times in the Masse. I do here but give a hint of the Fopperies that these Lo­custs and Frogs useth, their Agnus Dei, their Tapers, their Candels, their reading one part of their service in own place, another part in another place, their Tracting forward and backward to the right hand and to the left, like Stage-players or Conjurers with their oyle, salt, water and wine mixed, which they use at the dedication of Churches and in baptism; at the consecration of their Alters, they use water, salt, wine, and ashes mixed; but in this they make the same things to have another signification then they had before. They are like the divel whose works they doe, for they can transform themselves into several shapes, and make one thing have several significations; they consecrate all their ornaments, garments, vestments, &c. of their service, the Euchristical or Pix, whereas they pretend Christs body is kept representing Christs sepulcher, their Censors, Insence, Christs coffers in which the Saints bones are kept, their Crosses, Images, Tapers, Fonts, First-fruits, Holy-water, Salt, Oyle, Wine, Ashes, Church-yards, Bells, all are consecrated; Bells are baptized, and are given names. All these are but part of their antick tricks, wherewith these locusts and frogs delude the simple, and make them believe that the divel is afraid of these consecrated things, they are so holy after the Priest hath muttered a few conjuring words over them, but I can hardly think that the Divel is such a coward as [...].

[Page 48]But to make it yet more plain, Friar Do­minick &c. like bar­red horses. who these Locusts are, it is said vers. 7. that the form of the Locusts were like unto horses prepared to battle, that is for fierceness; and I pray you what souldiers did Pope Inno­cent the 3d. muster up against the Abbeneses but Frier Dominick and 12 other Abbots sent with him and they were so fierce, as it is said above, in stirring up the Kings of the earth to battle, that these 13. so stirred up the Princes that they took up armes and slew one hundred thousand of the Abbenenses, so that Dominick and his fellows proved themselves to be as fierce as barred horses running to battel. This Dominick a little after became one of the 4 Capcains over the beg­ging Friars, of whom an army was raised to root out all hereticks as they called them; and this was declared before by Gregory the great as is said aboue, that the Antichrist should have an army of Priests to fight his battels.

And on their heads were as it were Crowns; these Crowns is the polling or shaving of Friers crowns, for when the locks are cut round and the top of the head is shaven it shews like a Crown, for the text doth not say they had crowns, but like as it were crowns; & so their shaven crowns appears; & what account was made of shaven crowns Bellarmin shews out of Hieroms 26. Epistle to Augustin I beseech your crown to salute in my name my Lord Alipius and my Lord Enolius; and Augustine, in his 147 Epistle to roculian the Bishop, Your men do ab­jure us by our crown, and our men do abjure you b [...] your crown; by this we see what great esteem their crowns were had in at that time, and their faces were like the faces of men; these Locusts make a pleasant outward shew of humility, but it is without sincerity; full well did Hildegard prophesie of them, They shall saith she, be courteous but yet great flatterers perfidious traytors, holy hypocrites, I shall anon set down the whole prophesie. Thus they are but like men in outward appearance, and shape of men for inwardly they are little divels, in malice against Gods truth and people; and differ not from great divels but want of power, as is manifest by their proceeding against the Albegenses.

And they had hair as the hair of women. Before shaving came in fashion it is said that Epiphanius inveighed against the Monks of Me­sopotamia for wearing long hair like women; but the signification may be this, that they shall shroud themselves under the names of women, as the Hagarins had their name from Hagar Sarahs hand­maid; which people are now called Saracens, as is thought, they chan­ged their name from the hand-maid to the mistris. So these think it their glory to shroud themselves under the name of women, as they call the Virgin Mary their protectriss, they pray to her to command [Page 49]her son to have mercy on them, and to turn the countenance of God toward them; they trust in him, [...] and ascribe their salvation and all they haveto her, as the author & giver of all good, as is shewed in the former part. Besides, there are many orders of Friers that have their names from her, as St. Maries servants, Monks of Jesu Maria, the Order of the Virgin in Mount Carmell, Monks of St. Mary of the Redemption, & of the Annunciation of our Lady. Frier Dominick devided one part of his Monastery to be for contemplative sisters, some of his Order weare a white coat under a black, which they say was prscribed by the Virgin Mary. Pope Honorius the 3d. called the Carmelites Monks of the Virgin Goddess. Pope Ʋrban the 2d. ordained the Cesterian Monks, & that they should observe Canonicall hours to our Lady, and every day Mattins, and hours of the day should be observed to her, and that every Saturday should be said our Ladies Mass, and the day spent to her service, and Anthims appointed to be sung. There was also Monks of Sr. Bridgit, and of St Mary Magdalin: Now womens hair being given to them for a covering, and these Locusts making the Virgin Mary their protectoriss and patronisse, and so many of their Orders having their title and denomination from her and other wo­men, praying more to her then to Christ himself; for whereas they say one Pater noster they say 4 or 5 Ave maries. From all which we may see with what hair the Friers are adorned, therefore it may well be said, they have hair as the hair of women; for as hair is given wo­men for a covering, so the Friars takes women for their covering, Friers are effeminate to cover their sins, and to deliver them from sin, and that she should command her son to have mercy on them as is made appear before, for they expect not to have Jesus Christ favourable to them any o­ther way, but by the mediation of the Virgin; for so they call her their Mediatrix, their patronisse, and protectresse: thus in this sense they have hair as the hair of Women, also they are effeminate per­sons given to delicacy, lust and wantonnesse; they are drowned in Whordome, and Fornication, and Sodomy, and all Beastlinesse, wit­nesse, their Stews of both kinds, &c. They have hair as the hair of Women.

And their teath were as the teeth of Lyons, that is to snatch and catch all they can come by; they Croke like Frogs every where, and give not over Croking until they have their prey; they have such teeth that they devour all the fat morsels: they got Church li­vings into their hands, they first made impropreations, they incroa­ched upon temporal mens Lands: if you look upon Abbies, Priories and Nunneries also the Jesuits increased so fast, that 75 years after their order began, they raised, as Ribadneira saith, A yearly reve­nue [Page 50]out of their Colledges, of twenty hundred thousand Crowns yearly: you may easily judge by this what Teeth they had.

Ver. 9. And they had Habergions like Habergions of Iron; that is, they are so strongly armed with the defence and countenance of the Pope, who is set over them, and which the 11 ver. calls the King of the bottomlesse pit: they are so strongly armed by his defence and priviledges granted to them, as if they were covered over with Cap­apee, that no secular power dare quitch them. Pope Gregory the 9th. Canonized Frier Dominick for a Saint, and granted him privi­ledge, that his order should not be subject to any ordinary but the Pope: that they might preach in any mans pulpit, without asking leave of the Bishop, and to make Noblemen and Ladies confesse to them, and not to their Curates: to administer the Sacrament when they pleased: See here the armor of the Locusts. to be exempt from all ecclesiastical censors; the Francis­eans likewise had many priviledges, which is ascribed to him, as that should bear Christ in his armes, that he had the mark of Christs five wounds upon him, and that his mantion in Heaven is next unto Christs; who dare then disturb them on earth, that have such power and place in heaven? they have priviledge to make masters of Divi­nity among themselves: Pope Paul the 3d. granted to the Jesuits, for the advancement of their order, to admit as many into their so­ciety, as their general shall please: he also gave them power to preach, administer the Sacrament, hear confessions, and to absolve in any place where they please; their general may excommunicate and im­prison delinquents, and is not this better to them then any armour of proof? who dare oppose them that are thus priviledged? they are exempted from all secular power, from all Taxes and Tythes; they have power to exercise all Episcopal functions, to ordain, anoint, exercise, confirm, consecrate, dispense, all these priviledges was gi­ven by Pope Paul the 3d. Pope Julius that succeeded, priviledged them to erect universities where they pleased; to confer degrees, to dispense with fasting and prohibited meats; Pope Pius 5th granted them leave to read in any university where they come, without ask­ing leave, and that none must hinder them, but all are bound to hear them; See for this Alix. Ross, His view of all Religions, p. 304. and 340. Thus you see with what armour of proof, these Locusts and Frogs are armed withal: that when the University of Paris brought a blasphemous book to the pope, written by the Domicans, which they called the everlasting Gospel; the pope disalowed of their book, yet would he not have it publickly condemned, least the dignity of the Monks should thereby be impeached. Magdeburg Centur. 13. Chap. 8. So that you see, whosoever durst dart against these Locusts, [Page 51]it was all one, as if they cast a dart against an Iron Brigandine, or Habbergion of Iron. And the sound of their wings, was like the sound of chariots, when many horses run unto battel; you heard above how these Locusts are armed, that they are without all fear, even as chariot and horses running into battle; they stand in awe of none, but keeps others in awe to them; for if they be moved, that any dare to speak against their Religion and Authority, what a fluttering doe they keep, with terrible noise and threatnings to uphold their King­dome, as once Frier Dominick, &c. did against the Albigenses; for if these Locusts do but flutter and stir up themselves, they are a Terror to all Kingdomes to keep them in awe, to the pope their King and Governour; for when they consider that there are so many Thou­sand of these Vermin within the bowels of their kingdome, ready at the popes command, that by the clapping of their wings in Churches, Pulpits, and all Assemblies; how soon can they set all on an uproar, as if they were runing into battel, to maintain the pope and themselves in their gainful Trade of Idolatry and Superstition, &c.

And ver. 10. They had Tayles like Scorpions, and stings in their Tayls; the Tayle is every thing that is the worse in its kind, so that by Tayle in this place, we may understand the begging Friers, for they are the worse of that kind of Vermin, as Isa. 9.15. The ancient and honourable he is the Head, and the Prophet that teacheth lies, he is the Tayle, for the leaders of this people cause them to erre, and they that are led of them are destroyed; See how fitly they are compared to the Tayle, for their Venemous Doctrine is their sting, wherewith they have slung many hundred thousands to death; so faith the Pro­phet, They that are led by them are destroyed, and they had power gi­ven them to hurt men five moneths, that is, all the time of Antichrists raign, until he and they be destroyed together.

Ver. 11. And they have a King set over them, which is the Angle of the bottomlesse pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek A­pollyon, that is, destroying; and so he is called, in 2 Thes. 2.3. The Son of perdition: which shewes, that this King of the Locusts, and that Antichrist, 2 Thes. 2. is all one, and to shew you that the Pope is this King over these Friars the Locusts. Pope Boneface the 3d. received the Key, about the year 607. and opened the bottomless pit for these Locusts to come out; and Boneface the 4th. 2 or 3 years after made them of his Clregy: it was after decreed in the Councel of Lateran, by Pope Innocent, that no man without the Popes approbation, should devise any new Religion: and that whosoever would convert to any Religion, he should join to one that was before allowed of, and this decree was again renewed by Gregory the Tenth, at the Coun­cel [Page 52]of Lyons. Now what else is this, but for the Pope to make him­self King over these Locusts, to bind them with Lawes in those things, which before was free, and this is his Kingly power over them▪ so that no man, can now as they are described, justly make doubt, either who is the Angel of the bottomless pit, or who are his hellish Army; I think it is plainly made out by undeniable reasons and arguments, that the Pope, and the succession of popes, is the Angel of the bottom­lesse pit; and that his whole Clergy, especially his several orders of Friers, they are the Locusts and Frogs here spoken of, and that these things cannot so properly be applyed to any in the whole world, as to them; the Bishop of Osserie with all his skill shall not find us out any other, to whom these things do so suit, as with the Pope and his Clergy.

IN the 6 first pages of his Book, he endeavours to possess the Reader that the persecution in these late daies of the Long Parliament, &c. did exceed in cruelty the persecutions in King Henry the eighth, and Queen Maries daies.

I answer, and do confess, that in reference to his Majesty, both King Charles the first, and King Charles the scond, it [Page 80]did exceed the former; for King Henry and Queen Mary were not persecuted, but they were the chief causers of the persecutions: but what he saith to the persecution of any o­thers, I think moderate men that are not oversway'd with prejudicate opinions, they will say that the persecutions that was in these late daies, was much inferiour to that in King Henry the eighth, and Queen Mary's daies: when the Bishop of Canterburie, Bishop Ridley, Bishop Hooper, Bishop Latimer, and Bishop Farrar of Saint Davids, all five Bi­shops were burned to ashes; also long time after their death, the bones of Martin Bucer, and Paulus Phagius were taken out of their Graves and burnt, and the body of Peter Martyrs Wife taken out of her grave and baryed in a dunghil, by Cardinal Poules order, the year One thousand five hundred fifty seven, bloudy Bonner himself in three years condemned three hundred Christians to the fire; what was there then in all parts of the Kingdom, it would amount to some thou­sands: did ever any man before you, except he were a Pa­pist, say as you affirm in your fourth page, that these Bi­shops and other Martyrs in King Henry and Queen Mary's daies, were used after a far better manner, and were more justly proceeded against, and more fairly handled, and less cruelly dealt with, than others were by the Long Parlia­ment, &c. these, it is true, plundered and cast out of part of their estates; but the others suffered flames of fire, and their whole estates confiscate, &c. mistake me not, I come not in the least to excuse them, for it is granted they were too cruel; but my aim is, if you will not be made sensi­ble of your own mistakes, yet to endeavour to make others sensible of it; because I would not have all, nor any thing that you have written in excuse of the Pope, the great enemy of God and of his Church, to be believed; for if you had not excused the Pope, I had held my peace, and should not have troubled my self nor others.

In the seventh and eight pages, he saith that the preva­lent faction of the Long Parliament, did move him to settle his thoughts to search the Scriptures that foretold of the coming of the great Antichrist, and to pray most earnest­ly night and day for the help of Gods grace and Spirit to guide him in the true understanding thereof, and by reading the best Authors to help him in the same.

[Page 81]I answer, I will not say much of what force his prayers might be, but the Tree is known by the fruit, and when men obtain the thing prayed for or somthing equivolent to it, they have ground of comfort that their prayers are heard; but as I said in the be­ginning, som men are like Iohanan, &c. 42. of Ier. that resolv be­forehand that thus and thus they will do, and then they go and pray, though they intend not to alter their Resolution: for, though he prayed to understand the meaning of such Texts, by reaping the best Authors, yet in his 24th. page he says Mr. Mead, Doctor Hamond, the Magdeburgenses, Calvin, Beza and in another place the Author of the Revelation unrevealed, and saith, he found many good and probable arguments produced by them, and Luther, Iuneus, Chytreus, Tilenus, Mouresius, Powel, Whitaker, Tomson, Brightman, Downham, and many others, whom he saith do unanimously affirm, Rev. 17.5 that Text mysterie, that great Babilon, the mother of Whoredom and Abomination of the earth, is the same with 1 Pet. 5.13. the Church that is at Babylon, and is interpreted-by the Ancient Fathers to signifie Rome, as Papius, Eu­sebius, Tertullius, Adversus, Iudeus, S. Hierom, Augustin, and divers others of late Writers. Here you see the names of above twenty Authors, and saith them and divers others besides, that he hath read, and finds many probable arguments from them all, and prays that by reading of Authors he may be helped in his work; yet ob­serve the fruit of his Prayer, for he saith he must crave leave to dis­sent from them, and all others, as he saith in the 43d page of the second part of his book, and that you may know what his Opini­on is, and wherein he dissents from all men; I will set down his own words in that place, When (saith he, by the Wars of Alaricus, The Bishops dissent from all other Au­thors, and in what. in the year 410. and of Attalas in 451, and Gensericus in 455. Hea­thenism and Idol-worship was fully destroyed in Rome, and Christiani­ty became victorious. I desire the Reader to consider what truth can there be in what he here saith, that Heathenism and Idol-worship was fully destroyed in Rome, and Christianitie was victorious, at this time when Rome was in the hands of bar barous Heathen Ido­laters, as the Goths, Vandals, and Hunnes, so that in 132. years Rome was taken and ransackt five times, and Odoaces that took it the fourth time, reigned there fourteen years; and if you look Socrates seventh Book, ch. 10. you shall see that this Alaricus that he speaks of his taking Rome the first time, he ransackt and spoiled both Town and Country as he went, at length he took the City of Rome, and ransackt the City, defaced and fired many Monu­ments, and violently spoiled the Citizens, executed many of the [Page 82]Emperor; and if you look the 7th. book of Evagrius Scholasticus, chap. 7. you shall finde that Rome was taken by Gensericus, being a Barbarian, who set the City on fire, carried away the spoil, took away Eudoxia the Empress, and her two daughters with him to Li­bia. This was the very time of the beasts being wounded, as it were unto death, And about this time He­resie did more prevail than at any time before or since. as above is shewed; and that the Barbarians, Goths, Vandals and Hunnes who were Heathens had the upper hand, how then should Atheism, Heathenism, and Idol-worship be fully de­stroyed in Rome, and Christianity be victorious, as he saith, let the Christian Reader judge, whether the Bishop be not mistaken or not, though perhaps he will not own it? for he is resolved before hand, that no man shall convince him, for he will be singular, all other Authors are but Novices to him.

In the 10th. page he saith, That Bishop Mountague sets down Rea­sons which this Bishop complyes with, why the Turks should rather be Antichrist than the Pope, and his first Reason is, the Turks apostacy from the Doctrin and Gospel of Christ.

I answer, I dare not betray my Master Christ his truth, and there­fore must make bold to tell both the Bishops that their first Reason hath no reason in it▪ for the Turk did never own Jesus Christ, as he is truly Christ, to be King, Priest, and Prophet to his Church; the which [...]hing the Turk did never own, and therefore it cannot properly and truly be said, that the Turk did fall and apostatize from the Doctrin and Gospel of Christ, because he never did re­ceive it nor own it as the Doctrin and Gospel of Christ, as King, Priest and Prophet, but hath alwayes denyed it, and been an Ad­versary unto it: But the Pope and Church of Rome hath outward­ly in words, though they deny it in their Deeds, as is proved be [...] fore; yet in outward profession they own Christ as King, Priest and Prophet; but are apostatized from the doctrin and institutions o [...] Christ, and therefore the Pope is the great Antichrist.

Page 14. He saith, It is agreed of all sides, not only by Bellarmin a [...] other Popish Writers, but also the most learned Protestant Divine [...] That as Darnel grows among Wheat, so Antichrist should arise out [...] the truest and purest Church of Christ: and if so, and that he will ha [...] the Pope to be Antichrist, then the Church of Rome not only was, [...] must be confessed to be and continue stil the truest Church of Christ, a [...] so Calvin and others are out of the true Church in separating from t [...] Church of Rome.

I answer, That for the agreement of the Writers, I shall n [...] say much, but I find no Scripture that saith it, neither doth [...] prove it; for as to Darnel growing among Wheat, it no more relat [...] [Page 83]to Antichrist, than to any other wicked mans being in the outward visible Church, and suppose that Antiochus be a type of Antichrist as you say, yet that proves nothing as to the place where he shall arise, only it types out what he shall do when he is come. But suppose I grant that Antichrist should a [...]ise out of the purest Church, and so catch you in your own Snare; it is easily proved that the Church of Rome was once the truest Gentil Church that was in the World; and that when the Apostle writ his Epistle to the Romans, as Rom. 1.8. I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your Faith is spoken of through the whole World; which com­mendation is not given to any other Church in the World; there­fore by your own Argument Antichrist was to arise in the Church of Rome, for it was the truest and purest Church; but that it should so continue, and be the truest Church at the time when Antichrist should appear, is but yours and Bellarmin's, &c. fancy, without Scripture or reason to ground upon: For if the Church where Antichrist did arise, had been the purest Church when he did arise, Antichrist would then soon have been discovered and op­posed, and hissed at, he could not have shrowded himself and his hypocritical waies, but would have been discerned; neither do you, nor can you prove, that the Church of Rome, being once a true Church, that it should so continue still, and that we are Schis­maticks for departing from it: This is fine Prelatical Popish Do­ctrine, without proof of Scripture, but if you, or Bellarmin, or an Angel from Heaven (saith the Apostle) teach any other Do­ctrine than we have received in the Scripture, let him be accursed, Gal. 1.8. The seven Churches of Asia, and many more besides them, were true Churches, but are not so now: And so the Primitive Church of Rome, the first hundred or two hundred years, was a true Church, but is not so now, as is proved in the former part of this Book at large.

But besides these Reasons, I will come a little nearer to you by Scripture proof, that Antichrist should arise out of a Church, which at that time of his rising should be a corrupted Apostatized Church, 2 Thes. 2.1, 2, 3, verses. Consider whe­ther the words of men or Scri­pture is fit to be believed.I beseech you Brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not shaken in mind, nor troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter from us; And I may adde, nor by Bellarmin [...]e, nor Bishop Williams's Interpretations, as if the day of Christ were at hand, for that day shall not come except their come a falling away first, and that man of sin which is Antichrist be revealed; Here you see in this Text is plainly held forth that the Church where Antichrist [Page 84]should arise, should be one that was a true Church, but should fall away from the Truth, and that Antichrist could not come untill first the Church where he should arise did fall away from the Truth, and then Antichrist should be revealed, that so in this apostatized Church he might the more covertly work his feats and not be di­scerned: Now here is set before you Truth and Error, chuse whether you will believe a poor man confirming what he writes by Scripture, or believe Cardinal Bellarmin, or a Bishops words without Scripture.

Page 15. he saith, but I do not believe him, That it is agreed of all sides, and by all Interpreters, old and new, Papists and Protestants, that the great Antichrist should come toward the end of the World, and at the last period of the last times, as the Scripture (he saith) doth evidently testifie.

I answer that these Scriptures he means to prove it by, is yet un­written, for I am sure he never read them; for though he quote 1 Tim. 4.1. that Text makes directly against him, and nothing for him; For saith the Apostle, Now the Spirit speaketh expresly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, and give heed to seducing spirits, What is meant by latter times.and Doctrines of Devils; and those devilish Do­ctrines are said (verse 3) to be the forbidding of Marriage, and commanding to abstain from meats, &c. I am glad the Bishop doth confess this Text to be meant of Antichrist: But because the Apostle speaks of the latter times, must it therefore needs be under­stood as he saith, of the last period of the last times, or as he saith in the 30. pape of his 2d. Book, That Antichrist shall reign but three years and a half, or much about that time, and very shortly after must be the last Judgment. But let us see what other Scriptures say, that we may expound Scripture by Scripture; Gen. 49. Jacob called his Sons together that he might shew them what should befall them in the last daies; surely this is not meant three years and a half before the end of the World, as he calls it, the last period of the last times, &c. Verse 19. Gad a troop shall overcome him, but he shall overcome at the last. So Daniel 4.8. and 1 Peter 1.20. and so Matth. 26.60. By the last times in these Texts, is understood the fulnesse of the time appointed and determined of God, for the affecting and bringing to passe what God hath intended to have done, and the time he hath appointed; and so that Text before 1 Tim. 4.1. in the latter daies, that is, the daies before determin'd and appointed, that Antichrist should forbid marriage and meats, and it is now 980. years since marriage was forbidden in the Council of Constance, [...]nd Antichrist doth reign still, this is a long three years and an [Page 85]half, that is stretched out to more then three times three hundred years, since Antichrist preached that Dectrine, and yet the Bishop either cannot, or will not see his mistake.

Page 16. he saith, He cannot sufficiently wonder at M [...]. Meade, Ma­refius, Tilenus, the Synod of Gappe, and other Divines aforesaid, that they should imagin that God would be so regardlesse, so unmindful, and so severe, though in Justice he might, as to suffer the great Antichrist to reign and rage against his Saints so many hundred years, as they prescribe that makes the Pope Antichrist.

I answer, Who can sufficiently wonder that a man of such a place and dignity as a Bishop, should be so far mistaken himself, as in writing lesse than half one Leaf so grosly to contradict himself, The Bishop contradicts himself. &c. For even now he said that it was agreed upon by all Papista and Protestants, old and new, that Antichrist should come to­wards the end of the World, and now he confesseth that Mr. Mead, Maresius, and Tilenus, and others afore-named, which was above twenty, are of contrary opinion, and the Synod of Gappe to boot, who can, to use his own words, sufficiently wonder at this, so great a Doctor, a finder out of a new Antichrist, which the world never dreamed of; but besides his slighting the Judgment of so many Authors before-named by himself, together with the Magde­ [...]urgerses and Synod of Gappe, who can sufficiently wonder that he should charge God to be regardlesse, and unmindful of his Saints, to suffer Antichrist so many hundred years to tyrannize over them, as if Gods Actions were to be measured by his Reason; he hath forgotten that God suffered all Nations, except the Jewes, and some few Proselites, to walk in their own waies almost four thou­sand years, For with him a thousand years is but as one day, &c. And as is said above, the Beast, that is, the seventh Head, When he cometh he must continue a short space, Rev. 17.10. and yet this short space was 87. years before he received his wound, and then was 132. years after before the wound was fully healed, which was but a short space in comparison of the time that Antichrist hath reigned; was ever the Church of God without enemies since the Creation, that you should count it a greater wonder now, then it was in for­mer Ages, but I let this passe.

Page 17. he tells us, That the Apostle shewes, but he neither doth, nor can tell us where the Apostle shewed it, nor to whom, that God would raise up Reformers to root out Errors out of the Church, and to prescribe a Form of Godliness, these are his very words, A Form of Godlinesse, and then follow [...], or a Set-form of God's Worship, whereby the Church should be guided in the true Faith, and these Reformers, he saith, are stiled [...]

[Page 86]I Answer, I do not read of a Form of Godlinesse in any place of Scripture, but in 2 Tim. 3.5. in which Text the holy Apostle doth admonish us to turn from such, as have no more than a Form of Godliness: And in the four foregoing Verses, what manner of persons they would be that would set up a Form of Godlinesse, That perillous times should come, A Form of Godliness for the Govern­ment of the Church of Christ.that men should be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, cursed speakers, disobedient to Parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of them that are good, traytors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a Form of Godlinesse, but denying the power thereof, from such turn away; or be­cause they are such, therefore turn away from such: Is such a brood as this (Sir) your Reformers, to root out Heresie, as you say, and to settle a Form of Godlinesse, whereby the Church of Christ should be guided; a woful condition is that Church in who have such Reformers, and such Guides. The Apostle branches them into eighteen several ranks or qualities, of which I dare say there was ne­ver a one of them, that ever was a good Refomer of the Church of Christ, but rather Deformers. And as for that Text you bring, which you say calls such Reformers good men, as they were indeed, say you; But I know not who will believe it, for under favour, I must tell you, it is falsly applyed, for the Apostle there is foretel­ling what Antichrist should do when he came into the World, viz. That he should depart from the true Faith, and be a seducing spi­rit, that he should be a lyer, an hypocrite, that his conscience should be seared, or benumbed in the practice of wickednesse, that he should teach the Doctrine of Devils, as the forbiding of marriage, and commanding to abstain from meats, which may be received with thanksgiving of them that believe and know the Truth. And saith holy Paul to Timothy, If thou put the Brethren in the remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good Minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of Faith and of good Doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained: But the Apostle doth not say as you do, that if thou bring in a Form of Godlinesse, or a Set-form of God's worship, thou shalt be a good man or a good Minister of Jesus Christ, that was far from the Apostles meaning; he rather meant, If thou put the Brethren in remembrance to shun a Form of Godlinesse, and turn from them, and all other wiles and deceits of Antichrist, then thou shalt be a good Minister of Jesus Christ.

Page 23. he saith, That as Christ and the whole multitude of Be­lievers, his Members, make up one Christ, so likewise the Congregation of the wicked, the whole body of the Devil, which are all the company of [Page 87]wicked Reprobates and ungodly men, are as it were the Spouse of their Head and Husband the Devil, and the Soul and Body of the Beast and Antichrist, and page 26. he doth confidently avouch, That the great Antichrist is a great pack or company collected and combined together by a Solemn League and Covenant, to do such and such feats and facts, &c.

I answer, First, That if all the whole Company and body of wicked Reprobates and ungodly men are the Spouse of the Devil, their Head and Husband, and so the Beast and Antichrist; then he may if he please see his own mistake, in applying it to a particular company of wicked ungodly men, the long Parliament and Presby­terians, &c. for they were neither all nor the hundred thousand part of all the wicked Reprobates and ungodly men that were in the world, which are, as he saith, the Spouse of the Devil, and makes up the body of Antichrist, whose seat and residence is not in any particular City in the world: but he saith, page 60. to be under­stood for the great and spacious confused City of the world, and in­deed he makes a confused businesse of it; for if it be so, then this pack or company of wicked Reprobates, that is, the Spouse of the Devil, and the Antichrist, The Bishop contradicts himself. must contain all the wicked Reprobates of his spacious confused City of the whole world, and therefore is improperly applyed to the long Parliament, &c. and what he saith in the 60th. page is a flat and absolute contradiction to what he saith in the 26th. page.

2ly. If the long Parliament and Assembly of Divines at Westmin­ster, &c. had been all the body of Reprobates and ungodly men in the confused City of the world, (that there had been no more to be found in the world but they) then sure he might have found many purer Churches in the world for Antichrist to have risen up in than the Church of England was, which by his computation contains the whole company of Reprobates and wicked men; for before this their Apostacy there was many wicked Reprobates in it. Thus all men that reads may see what pure non-sence here is brought to prove the long Parliament and Presbyterians, &c. to be the great Antichrist, and to excuse the Pope, who is the Antichrist; for his own Arguments makes directly against himself, as to the businesse for which he intended them, and yet he thinks no man can shew him his mistake.

3ly Whereas you avouch, That Antichrist is a company of men combin'd together in a Solemn League and Covenant, to do such and such feats and facts; of which feats and facts you say, page 24. that this conglutinate Pack have one mind or will, one course or end, and one [Page 88]main scope and desire to destroy the Truth, to overthrow the Church of Christ, the right service of God, and all Piety from the Earth; as you say, the Holy Ghost saith, these wicked Senators have which are thus combin'd in a Solemn League, &c.

I answer, and first advise you herafter to take heed of fathering Lyes upon the Holy Ghost, for I dare avouch you never read where ever the Holy Ghost said any such thing, of any people at Westminster in a Solemn League and Covenant, and you know how dangerous a thing it is to sin against the Holy Ghost; and your base assertion in things of such concernment, is not sufficient without Scripture-proof; and where can you, or any else that will take your part, as you have too many, shew us one text of Scripture that saith Antichrist shal be such a Pack, &c. and then cunningly propound the question. Whether the Assembly at Westminster were not such a Combination, and fulfilled all the Prophecies that prophecyed of Antichrist. I take not upon me to defend the Covenant, but demand of you, or any else, how it can be proved, that those that took it were thereby conglutinate to have all one mind, one will, one course or end, to destroy the Truth, and overthrow the Church of Christ, &c. as you have af­firmed? And suppose it were so, that an accursed Assembly com­bined together to do mischief were the great Antichrist for as you say truly, page 25. A multitude of men in such a Case can do more mischief than one single Person, yet so as one single Person may be the Head, By right ap­plying the Bi­shops words, the Pope and Council of Trent is the great Anti­christ.&c. Then where in all the world will such a cursed wicked pack of men be found as the Pope, taking him for the Head, as you say, and the last Council of Trent for the Body, to destroy the Truth, as the Pope and that Council did, who in the third Session of that Council, April 8. 1546. rejected the Hebrew and Greek Copies of the Scriptures, and established a corrupt Latin Translation to be Authentick. These, Sir, are your own words in your 32. page, if you had apply'd them right, but you bring it in upon another account, where also their unwritten Traditions were set in equal dig­nity with the Scriptures, where they took away the power and au­thority of the Scriptures, making them subject to the Popes will and pleasure, to put what sence or interpretation upon the Scriptures he pleaseth, and none else to be received, but what he will allow of, so that the Scriptures were never in this world by any so much dis­graced and undervalued; Here indeed was a pack of vile wicked persons combined together against the Lord and his anointed Jesus Christ, and who had all one mind and one will, and desire and end to destroy the Truth and Authority of the Scriptures, which is the ground and pillar of Truth, the like wickednesse against the truth [Page 89]and right worship and service of Jesus Christ was never known, nor never acted by the long Parliament nor assembly of Divines, nor no Assembly under Heavens that owned a God and Saviour, never since Christ himself was upon earth in person. If you apply it right this is the great Antichrist, that changes Laws, yea, even the Law and Word of God, utterly abolish the second commandement, and ma­king another Commandement into two, assuming to himself an uni­versal authority over all Churches as head thereof, as if the whole state of the Church did hang so upon the Pope, that if there were no Pope, there were no Church; or that if the Pope were not the Pope, the Church were not the Church.

Page 27. He demands, if they be rightly applyed, Whether all Notes, Acts, Arguments and Testimonies of Scripture that are set down as marks of Antichrist, are not all to be found in the long Par­liament and Presbyterians, &c.

And it is answered, That they are not; for the long Parlia­ment and Presbyterians, &c. did never forbid Marriage, nor 2ly. they never commanded abstinence from Meat, 3ly. they did not exalt themselves above all that are called Gods, as the Pope doth; though they exalted themselves here, yet not above other Emperors and Kings; 4ly. they did not delude with lying Miracles, Signes and Wonders; 5ly. the key of the bottomlesse pit was not given to them to let out the Locusts. 6ly. they did not deny Jesus to be Christ in his three Offices of King, Priest and Prophet; 7ly. they had not their seat and residing in the City built upon seven Hills or Mountains; which reigneth over the Kings of the earth; 8ly. they could not properly be said to be the Beast that was and is not, and yet is; 9ly. they were not the seventh head, which John spake of, say­ing, five are fallen, one is, and the other is not yet come; 10ly. they are not the Beast that had the wound of a Sword, and did live; 11ly. nor the Beast with seven Heads and ten Horns; 12ly. they did not shed the bloud of all the Saints and Martyrs, as Revel. 18.24. though I must needs say they shed too much, but all these and many more are applycable to the Pope, and cannot properly be applyed unto them.

That which the Apostle in the 2 Thes. 2 calls a falling away or apostacy, he perverts the Text and calls it a Rebellion; and because he would excuse the Pope from being Antichrist, where the Apostle speaks of an Apostacy before Antichrist should be revealed in his 34th. page. he saith, We find no rebellion in the Church of Rome a­gainst their Governors, but (saith he) the Leaders of the Church de­ [...]ive the Church, and so her Apostacy is the more excusable, and less [Page 91]abominable to God. Observe here how he contradicts the truth and himself both, for page 31. he speaks of the Heresies that was in the Church of Rome, and he names the Nicolaitans, the Ebionites, Ce­rinthians, Montanists, Ʋalentinians, Arians, Nestorians, Eutyehians, Pelagians, Manicheans, and Donatists, and many others whom he saith rebelled against their Governors; and here he saith, there was no rebellion in the Church of Rome, and I have in the former part of this book shewed that there was twenty times two Popes at once one rebelling against another, and many times the pople rebelled and deposed one Pope, and set up another; Thus you see he shames not to write any thing, so he might defend and excuse the Pope not to be Antichrist. Besides, take notice he saith, The Leaders of the Church deceive the Church, therefore their Apostacy is the more excusable: I beseech you, whether is the greater Apostacy, of the Leaders of the people, that should know the truth and teach others, for them to apostatize and draw multitudes after them, and for most part sin against the light of their own Consciences; or for ignorant common people to apostatize and sin through ignorance, is not the apostacy of the Governors of the Church the greater, and doth the more mischief, and leads the more astray? and yet this Bishop saith, the apostacy of the Governors of the Church is more excusable and lesse abominable in the sight of God: It seems he thinks that God seeth as he seeth; I will not say that this, What less than Blasphe­my? and some other things we have spoken of, are blas­phemy against God and his Truth: but I refer it to wise men to judge.

There is little more of account to take notice of until the 58th. page, where, in a sort, he contradicts himself in what was said last, viz. that Governors apostacy are more excusable than others; and here he tels us, That the Church of Rome compelleth all men to submit unto her, more with the Sword of the Magistrate than with Aarons Rod, witnesse their cruelties to the poor Indians, their mas­sacres in France, their inquisition in Spain, and their unmerciful persecution in England in King Henry the 8th. and Queen Marys dayes, and the Gunpowder-treason: and then he tels of the cruel­ty of the Arians against the Orthodox was more than barbarous, they infected and afflicted the Church, most grievously, being arm­ed with several weapons; and he tels us, that Novatus exceeded all the rest, for he would neither give his Father bread when he was ready to starve, nor bury his corps when he was dead; he spurned his own Wife out of doors being with child, and killed the child in her belly; these are the Bishops own words, but he saith above, that [...] prove it; for as to [...] growing [...] [Page 90]Apostacies are more excusable, because they were guides of the Church.

Page 59. he saith, The most learned of the Jesuits do confesse the As­sirian Babylon to be the type and figure of the Italian Rome, and is so understood by the Apostle, 1 Pet. 5.13. The Church that is [...] Babylon salute you.

I Answer, If in this Text, as is granted, by Babylon Italian Rome is understood, then we must in all those places in the Revelation where Babylon is spoken of understand Rome; which if it be gran­ted, as the Bishop doth grant it here, and saith, that the most learned of the Jesuits do grant it, then must Babylon, which is Rome, be the Seat and Throne of Antichrist, which Rev. 1 [...].5. is called mistery, great Babylon the mother of whoredom, and abomination of the earth. And Chap. 18.2. It is fallen, it is fallen, Babylon, that great City, the habitation of Devils, and the hold of all foul spirits, and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird, for all Nations have drunk of the Wine of the wrath of her Fornication, &c. this notes out her utter ruine and destru­ction: And this is Rome, as Rev. 16.19. And that great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the Cup of the fierceness of his wrath. Yet neverthelesse he hath said above, that by Babylon is meant Rome; so self willed and self-conceited is our Bishop, that he flies off again, page 61. and saith, that what is said Rev. 17.18. cannot be understood of Rome without trope or figure, for that it is said, that in Babylon was found the blood of the Prophets and Saints, and all that were slain upon Earth, which cannot (saith he) be referred to any one City in the World, but only the great City of the World, and so in a li­teral sense true, and what need we use tropes and figures, when the sense is true in the letter. But observe, I pray you, how often he contradicts himself to maintain an Error; for first he saith, Observe how many Contra­dictions is here together. That by Babylon is meant Rome, then he saith, It cannot be so without a trope or figure, and saith, It is true in the Letter as to the great City of the World; but I say no, it is not true in that sense neither, without a trope or figure, for there is no Text in all the Scripture that calls the universal World, the great City of the World, as he doth [...]o find out a Ba­bylon that the Scriptures do not speak of, and reject that Babylon the Scriptures do so often speak of, and he must go to tropes and fi­gures for this Babylon too, but if his eyes were open, he might here see his own f [...]lly in another thing, which is this, for where will he find a Text of Scripture, as it is in the letter, that saith, the long Parliament and Presbyterians, &c. is the great Antichrist, which he brings so many senslesse Arguments to prove, and labors alto­gether to prove it by tropes and figures in a mustical [...] [Page 92]it about, which never no man thought of but himself, that he might appear to be some body. And if he will allow of tropes and figures, and a mystical and spiritual understanding Scriptures to prove a false and a seigned Antichrist, why doth he not allow the same Arguments and means to find out the real and undoubted of Antichrist in the judgment of many reverend and worthy Di­viner, all whose Judgments this man rejects, because he will be singular.

But besides, If Babylon be the great City of the World, then where must they flie that go out of Babylon. you shall see the absurdity that will follow, by take­ing Babylon to be the universal World, or as he calls it, the great City of the World, Rev. 16.4. And I heard another voice from Hea­ven saying, go out of her my people, lest ye be partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues; but where must they go, they can­not go out of the World, therefore it is not to be understood of the great City of the World, but this Babylon from which they are bid to go. Two Verses above he speaks of the fall of this Babylon: And so Jerem. 51.6. Fly out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver e­very man his Soul, be not cut off in her iniquity: And Chap. 52. and 8. But if by Babylon be meant Bishop William's great City of the World, then the People of God hath no place to flee unto, but must there abide, and partake of her plagues; and then whereunto serves that Admonition, or rather a command to flie out of Baby­lon: And thus you see he is one time here, another while there, saying, and gain saying, and contradicting himself, that his whole Book is a Babel of confusion.

But this is not all, he doth not stay here, for in the 65. Page he saith, There are heaps of Expositors of this Point that understands Ba­bylon literally to be Rome; but he understands it not so Gram­matically as they do, but altogether mystically, for the great City of this World, so that one while he is for a mystical sense, and a­nother time he will have a literal sense, so that he will be any thing, so he could perswade the World that the long Parliament, &c. were Antichrist, that he might excuse the Pope. And he saith further in the same Page, That we ought to accept and follow a late and newly delivered Truth, and recede from the old and antient Error, though never so generally imbraced by former Authors, because Truth, whensoever, or by whomsoever discovered, is to be received and preferred before Error, how antient or how generally soever it hath been delivered. To which I do willingly subscribe, if it be a Truth that is delive­red, and confirmed by evident Texts of Scripture, it ought to be received: For I have read twenty years ago, that a Lay man bring­ing Scripture to prove his assertion, was to be preferred before a [...] [Page 93]whole Council that decreed things which could not be made good by Scripture, but by wresting and abusing the Texts: But the Doctrine this Bishop teacheth, is not onely new, but it wants both Scripture and Reason to confirm it, and therefore not to be recei­ved, though he be a Bishop that teach it.

Page 71. He tells us of the Prophet Daniel's Description of the four Beasts, which typified the four great Monarchies of the World, the Assyrian, the Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman, and the little horn that sprang up among the other ten horns, and he saith that Antiochus Epiphanes was the little horn that sprang up among the ten horns; and in the next words he saith, He was not another Horn besides the ten, but the last of the ten Horns.

I answer, That we have no reason to believ one word that this Bi­shop writes, for still all along he either contradicts the Scriptures, or himself, one, or both. For Dan. 7.7, 8. speaking of the beast that had ten horns, considered the horns, & behold the incom up among them, that is, among the ten horns, another little horn. And in the 20. ver. Daniel desired to know the truth of the fourth Beast, Another Con­tradiction. and of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up which other was the little horn. And ver. 24. The ten horns out of this Kingdom, are ten Kings that shall arise, and another shall arise after them, & he shall be unlike the first: This other is the little horn, for all these three Texts speaks of the little horn distinctly from the ten horns, and that before it three of the ten Kings shall fall: Here are three witnesses of Scripture speaking of a little horn distinct from the ten horns; And the Scripture saith, In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established; but Bishop Williams, in effect, saith no, it shall not be so established, for he hath found out another inter­pretation, For he saith, The little horn was not another besides the ten, but the last of the ten horns; so that it appears the Bishop sticks not to contradict God in his Word, and the Angel expounding the meaning of the little horn to Daniel, and all men, let them be ne­ver so Orthodox, he will contradict and forsake all their sayings, to have his own whimsie to find out a new Antichrist, and to ex­cuse the Pope, and this is it which he calls his late and new delive­red Truth, Page 65.

And he further saith, That Antiochus Epiphanes is as the little born, and that he was very little indeed at first, and was to come to his Kingdom by the destruction of other Kings, which he saith, are three Kings that fell before that born, and saith that Antiochus is the most lively type of Antichrist that is in all the Scriptures,—which he ap­plies to the Parliament coming to this Kingdom.

[Page 94]I Answer first, That if this Argument of his were of force, we might easily prove the Pope to be Antichrist, the Bishop himself confesseth, Page 72. That many of the Popes came to their dig­nity by the destruction and ejection of other Popes: The Bishops arguments prove the pope Anti­christ. Yea, I have shewed that twenty times there were two Popes at once until one was overcome, but the Popes got not their dignity only by the de­struction of other Popes, but by the destruction of Emperors and Kings. Pope Gregory the 7th. called Hildebrand, because the Em­peror Henry the 4th. opposed him, the Pope, in his Emperial dig­nity which he claimed over Emperors and Kings, sought his de­struction, and after twice excommunicating him, and making him take a long Journey in frost and snow barefoot, and stand three dayes and nights barefoot at the Popes gates to beg pardon, while the Pope was playing with his Dallilah. Pope Constantine de­posed the Emperor Philipicus, and caused his eyes to be put out; Pope Zechary caused the Emperor to kisse his foot; Pope Adrian de­posed Deserius the Lombard King, and took his kingdom to the patrimony of Peter; was not Childrick King of France deposed by the Pope, and Pipin his Servant set up in his place; and Phocas mur­dered the Emperor his Master, and made himself Emperor. What murthers and deposing of Emperors and Kings did the Popes ex­ercise untill they got the Temporal Imperial dignity into their hands, as well as the Ecclesiastical by bloud and murther, Histories are full to this purpose: so that if this were a sufficient argument to discover who is the Antichrist, it were an easie matter to prove the Pope to be the Antichrist.

2ly. I must tell you, that many godly and able Divines takes Antiochus to be rather a type of the kingdom of the Turks than, of Antichrist, and Mr. Brightman saith, upon the 11th. of Daniel, that many men are in doubt whether the things there spoken of belong to Antiochus or to some other King, and saith, that Calvin doth a­vouch that it can by no means be referred to Anticchus; for how should he do what he list against God, when the ships of Shittim limited him, verse 30. we will not deny, but, as you say, he was for a time one of the cruellest enemies to the Jewes that ever the Church had, and a Blasphemer of God: but that doth not prove him neither to be the fourth Beast, to whom the ten horns belong, nor the little horn that sprang up amongst them; What is meant by the little Horn. for the fourth Beast is the fourth Monarchy which is the Roman Monarchy, which Anti [...]chus had nothing to do with, and the ten hornes in the se­venth of Daniel, and those ten hornes in Revelations 17. signifie [...] and the same thing, which is the Roman Monarchy, onely [...] [Page 95] Daniel mentions another little horn that sprang up among the ten, and which should be diverse from the first; and therefore I think it may rather be referred to Antichrist the Pope, who is diverse from all that were before him, because of his double government, and he sprang up among the ten hornes, that is, in the Roman Monar­chies, the which Antiochus did not, and it is true in the Pope which you apply to Antiochus page 71. that he was at first but a very lit­tle Horn, and had no right to the Kingdom, and Jurisdiction, and Authority that now he exerciseth, for both his Civil and Eo­clesiastical power is usurped, but he grew up to such dignity, that as Daniel saith verse 20. His looks were more stout then his Fellows; for what Emperor or King was there in Europe but a few years since, that he did not look over with such stoutnesse, that he had them all at his beek, none durst oppose him, for he had a mouth that spake great things, for he calls himself Universal Bishop, and Christ's Vicar, and Peter's Successor: And speaks great words against the most High, and wear out the Saints, speaking presum­ptuously of his Apostolical Authority and power to forgive sins, which is against the most High, for none can forgive sins but God only: I could inlarge my self much in these things, but I strive for brevity.

Moreover, this little Horn is to continue till the antient of dayes sit, verse 9, 11. I beheld because of the voice of the presum­ptuous words which the Horn spake: and I beheld till the Beast was slain: Here the Horn is called the Beast, as Antichrist is in the Re­velations; by the antient of daies sitting, I conceive is not meant the day of the last Judgment, but the determined time appointed, that God will judge Antichrist the Pope of Rome, at the pouring forth of the fifth Vial upon the Throne of the Beast, and that will when God shall put it into the heart of the ten Horns, that is, ten Kings belonging to that Monarchy, or that did belong unto it, which hitherto hath given their Kingdoms to the Beast, that is, their aid and assistance to maintain & uphold the Pope in his King­dom, until the Word of God be fulfilled, as Rev. 17.13, & 17. for v. 16. the ten horns are they that shall hate the whore, &c. for God is strong that judgeth her, and so may well be made for the conversion of the Jewes, for when the antient of daies shall fit, and Judgment shall be given, Dan. 7.22. in the Saints behalf, and the time come, saith the Text, that the Saints possessed the Kingdom, as verse 26, and 27. Judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his Domini­on, that is Antichrist's, the little horn, to consume and destroy it [Page 96]unto the end, that is, it shall never recover again, and the King­dome, and Dominion, and the greatnesse of the Kingdom under the whole Heavens, shall be given to the Saints of the most High, his Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and all Dominions shall serve and obey him, that Nation and Kingdom that will not serve the Lord shall perish, yea, those Nations shall be utterly wasted, Isa. 60.12. Take courage all ye that truly fear God, for such a time is not far of, it bastens greatly, though to the outward appearance it seems contrary, I believe every tittle of Gods word shall be fulfilled, for as soon as that blasphemous Horn is cut off, there will be a gathering of the Saints, for these things belong to the little Horn, which is Anti­christ, and not Antiochus, for the effects of the little Horns work­ing, you see by Dan. 7. and Rev. 17. must continue untill Anti­christ be destroyed. I refer the consideration of this to the godly wise, whether Antichrist or Antiochus be meant by the little Horn.

Page 77. he saith, That the tricks and fallacies of the Antichrist to get Proselites and Followers after him, to effect his wickednesses, are six-fold.

First, A feigned and dissembling sanctity to be well thought of by all men.

Secondly, Smoothnesse of Language, and fair speeches to gain love and favour.

Thirdly, Wit and Eloquence to perswade men to aid and assist him.

Fourthly, Large promises and great gifts to win them un­to him.

Fifthly, Signs and wonders, all pretended to be done from God, to draw men to a good belief of all his acti­ons, and if all these cannot serve the turn to make men be­come his Adherents and Assistants, then

Sixthly, Terrors and Tortures shall do the deed.

Whence it is demanded if this six-fold Art was not most exquisite in the Presbyterians, and the prevalent Faction of the Long Parliament?

And the Question is Answered and proved, that these six Arts, as you call them, are more exquisitly to be found in Antichrist the Pope of Rome, then they are to be found in these you name, or any others in the World be­sides.

[Page 97]First Antichrists faigned and dissembling sanctity appears in making above fourscore holy daies in a year, besides Sab­bath daies; which are kept and observed with no less reverence and devotion than the Lords day: and also his faigned dissembling holy water, Crosses, Crucifixes, Agnus Dei, beads, baptising of Bels, consecrating of Altars, Gar­ments, the corporal body of Christ, the Chalice, the Linnen to cover the Altar; the Eucharistical, the Sensor, Incense, the Chests or Coffers wherein the Saints bones are kept: Crosses, Images, Easter Tapers, Fonts, First-fruits, salt Church-yards: all these things are consecrated, and these are but a part of Antichrists faigned dissembling sanctity.

Secondly, His smoothness of language and fair speeches, appears in that he calls himself Christs Vicar, and Peters Suc­cessor, a Father to the Church, and the people are his Chil­dren, and bears his name, Papists, from the name Pope, he tells them that he is the servant of all Christs servants, which if he were so indeed, as they believe him to be, this were sufficient to make him to be as well thought on by all men, as he is by all his followers.

Thirdly, His wit and Eloquence to perswade men to aid him, appears in his insinuating himself into the affections of Emperors, and Kings, and Clergy, &c. calling them his most honourable and obedient Sons; as Pope Julius to the Synod of Constantinople, salntes them thus, In that your cha­rity, my most honourable Sons, doth yield due reverence to the A­postolical Chair; therein ye get unto your selves much reverence, for although it belong unto us especially to sit at the Helm, which we have taken upon us to govern in that holy Church where the holy Apostle sate as Doctor, yet we acknowledge our selves unwor­thy of so great honour, Theodor. Book 5. and 9. I think he shew­ed his wit and eloquence here, to get aid and assistance to set him a step higher; and also in the benediction, and privi­ledges which he grants to his obedient Sons.

Fourthly, His large promises and great gifts, appears in that he promises the pardon of sins, and the Kingdom of Heaven, and such promises are of great force with those that believe that he hath power to do it; for to win men unto him, for he not only pardons what is past, but if they please him well, he will pardon sins for a great while to come, and establish Emperors and Kings in their Kingdoms, and if they [Page 98]displease him, he can soon turn them out, whether they belong to Church or State, and set up others in their stead; therefore it is no wonder if his promises and gifts gain men unto him, and seek all waies and means to please him.

Fifthly, His signs and wonders pretended to be done from God, appears in this, that whatsoever is done to confirm an errour, may be said to be a fraudulent sign or miracle, as to confirm their [...]ransubstantiation, it hath been said the Priest hath so [...]nningly ordered the matter, that after consecra­tion, the wafer being pricked with a bodkin a drop of bloud hath appeared, but we will set down the famous miracles of Pope Sylvester, one is, that by sacred Baptism he cured Con­stantine of a leprosie: but this is a Romish lying fable to en­crease the Popes authority; for he was not baptised by Syl­vester; but by Eusebius at Nio [...]medea, as Socratis 1. book chap. 26. His second miracle, that he raised up a great Bull, that was killed by Zambres a Jewish Sorcerer: his third that he bound a Dragon after a miraculous manner; saith Mr. Brightman in his confutation of Bellermin, these are some of Antichrists signs and wonders. I have spoken of many of them before, and therefore shall passe it over here, for Anti­christs Church of Rome is known to exceed all the world for signs and wonders.

Sixthly, If all these will not serve his turn, then terrours and torments must do it, and that appears first by his thun­dring excommunications, as Pope Hildebrand said in an Epi­stle to the Germans that Henry the fourth was striken with a Thunderbolt, when he was excomunicated by Hildebrand, that which once was said of Nebuchadnezzer may not be un­fitly applyed to Antichrist the Pope; for his power was once extended so far, that all Nations feared before him, for whom he would he set up, and whom he would he pulled down; and Gentius King of Iliricum would not submit to this Tyrant, until he was taken Prisoner to Rome with his Wife and Children: did not Pope Alexander cause Henry the se­cond to go barefoot with bleeding feet to Thomas Beckets Tomb at Canterbury, for displeasing this Tyrant? and did not Pope Innocent the third, because King John would not submit to him, at last so terrifie him, that he made him kneell down to Pandolphus his Legat and kiss his foot, and also to kiss Steven Langton; Bishop of Canterbury his foot? and Pope [Page 99] Innocent the second took th Dukedom of Sicily from the Em­peror and made Roger King thereof, and Pope Alexander made Fredrick the Emperor to fall flat upon the ground while the Pope trode upon his neck; one might multiply examples of this nature to prove, that what the Pope cannot do by other means to make men adhere unto him, that he compels them by terrors and torments for to do it: so that, if these be in­fallible signs of the great Antichrist, as Bishop Williams produ­ceth them for that end, but then it cannot be denyed that the Popes of Rome are the great Antichrist; for they have excee­ded all the Christian world in the exquisite practice of these six signs of the Antichrist, which cannot so properly be ap­plicable to the Long Parliament and Presbyterians, &c. nor to any one else in the world, as to the Pope of Rome.

Page the 79. he saith the Apostle, in calling Antichrist the Man of sin, and not the Man of sins; 2 Thes. 2.3. gives us to understand, and his meaning is, that Antichrist should commit some singular and peculiar, sin, that should only and properly be the sin of the Antichrist, and of none else; and which he saith is not the sin against the Holy-Ghost, nor Ido­latry, nor Infidelity, nor blasphemy, but the highest degree of man-slaughter, or the unjust murthering of an innocent Person; Page 80. and page 82. he saith it is worse than A­dams sin, and page 87. he further saith, this sin is a judicial condemning of an innocent Person or Persons, their supe­riors, (as Christ was) unto death, and that by a representa­tive of a whole Kingdom.

I Answer first to the latter part, how? or by what Scrip­ture? or what authority can be produced for proof of what he saith page 80. and 82. and 87? for his bare word is not suf­ficient ground for any man to pin their faith upon, without either Scripture or reason to confirm it, but such fancies or fictions as these, you may remember that in his 65. page he calls them new delivered truths, and therefore saith, we should recide from former errors or opinions, though never so generally embraced by former Authors; for he is the only man, for to find out a new Antichrist, and to clear the old Antichrist from that stain and polution, if any man will be­lieve him.

But secondly, how can any man of any indifferent know­ledge, believe any thing that he writes, who doth so often, [Page 100]as you have heard, contradict himself and the Scriptures also? and so again, here in this place, where he saith the Apostle gives us to understand in that 2 Thes. 2. that Antichrist shall commit one singular peculiar sin, that should only and pro­perly be the sin of Antichrist, and none else: whereas nei­ther that text, nor any other in the whole Scriptures, doth speak of any singular or peculiar sin that makes him to be Antichrist; but the Scriptures speak of many sins, in many several places, that should declare him to be the great Anti­christ, as is shewed in many places of this Book, and even in this Text from whence he would gather his assertion; His contradi­crion of Scrip­ture. the Text speaks the absolute contrary: as first, that Antichrist shall exalt himself above all that is called God: Secondly, that he should sit in the Temple of God: Thirdly, that he should shew himself that he is God; that is, the highest God on earth, above all other Gods either in Church or State: Fourthly, that his coming should be, after the working of Satan, with power; and that is shewed above, how he claims and exerciseth a po­wer above all, &c. Fifthly, that he should come with sigus: Sixthly, with lying: Seventhly, with working wonders, with deceit and unrighteousness: Eightly, that he should forsake the truth, and not receive it in love; besides several sins spoken of 1 Tim. 4. and 1 John 2. and all along in the Revelations, and elsewhere, of many sins that Antichrist should be known by: and this man rejects all, and will have him known by one singular, peculiar sin, which no Text in all the Scripture, nor no Author that ever did write, did particularly point him out by, for if that had been the peculiar sin to know him by, then should they have been Antichrist that crucifi­ed Christ, the Apostle would not after have writ of another Antichrist, and which the same sin should make him Anti­christ; which never can the like be committed with such a height of rebellion against God, and with such a rage reach­ing up to Heaven, by any other rebellion, or murther, nei­ther by Parliament nor Phocas, or any else.

And as our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was put to death by a Roman Power and Authority, I think we may upon better grounds than you bring, argue that it may imply thus much, that Antichrist should have his rise, seat, and residence in that very place from whence the power and au­thority came, that crucified our Lord Jesus Christ; and [Page 101]though there be no Text of Scripture to prove this, except perhaps it might be proved by consequence, comparing Scripture with Scripture; yet I will not be curious to search into it, but leave it to the judgment of others: however if I mistake not it, it seems to carry more force in it, than all the new fangle stories you tell us of.

Page 95. he draws a conclusion from the writings of Tre­mellius and Beza, that Antichrist shall exalt himself above the Bishops, and indeed, in this I grant that he saith very true, for the Pope of Rome hath so exalted himself by his univer­sal Priest-hood, as head of the Church, and Christs Vicar, and Peters Successor, that he claims an authority over all the Bishops in the World, and doth exercise that authority in many Kingdoms, more than any one doth besides; and therefore by the Bishops own argument the Pope of Rome is the great Antichrist and man of sin, &c. for the Pope saith, it standeth upon necessity to salvation, that every humane creature be subject unto him; and therefore requisite and necessary for men that will be saved, to know the dignity of his See, and excellency of his Dominion, for his Priest-hood was prefigured in Aaron, and other Bishops under him was prefigured by the Sons of Aaron, to be under him: thus he exalts himself above the Bishops, as is said before.

Page 99. he saith that the denying Jesus to be the Christ, is the proper note and undeniable mark of the great Antichrist, who is the head of all other inferiour Antichrists, as 1 John 2.22. Who is a lyer but he that denyeth that Jesus is Christ, the same is Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Son.

I answer, I shall not trouble the Reader to relate what the Bishop saith from this Text to the purpose he aims at, but I shall (as I have done by other Texts and Arguments) shew you how undeniable this Text rightly applyed doth prove the Pope to be Antichrist: first, he is said in this Text to be a lyar, and so in the Text before named 2 Thes. 2.9. that is, a crafty deceiver of the People, by granting pardons and in­dulgences, and many other priviledges which are so well known I need not repeat them, and which are all as so many lies, for there is no truth in them; nor no Scripture to prove that he hath any such power or authority, but that by his lies he causeth the People to believe him; and he is a lyar also, in professing outwardly in words, what he denieth in [Page 102]his practice, as might be made appear in many several things, and as appears in the former part of this Book; he is a lyar that denies Jefus to be Christ: Jesus signifies a Saviour, thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sine; and Christ fignifies anointed, that is, to be King, Priest and Prophet to his Church; a King to rule and govern his Church, to appoint Laws, and Officers, and Ordinances in the Church; a Priest to offer Sacrifice for the sins of the Peo­ple, and that he did, especially when he offered himself, Heb. 9.13. If the blood of Bulls and Goats, and the ashes of an Hei­fer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Jesus Christ, who through the e­ternal spirit offered himself without spot to God, cleanse your con­sciences from dead works to serve the living God? 3ly He is a Pro­phet to teach & instruct his Church; every man would be con­tent to have him for their Jesus to save them from their sins, but few are willing to have him for their Christ, that is, to be their King, Priest and Prophet, to rule and govern, &c.

And first, the Pope denies Christ his Kingly office in his Church, to rule and govern it by his own instituted Ordi­nances, and Officers, &c. for the Pope hath in his Church one hundred and fifty several Orders of Church-Officers and religious Orders, which not one of them is of Christ nor his Apostles institution, which in the former part is nomi­nated by their names. Secondly, the Pope denies Christ his Kingly office, in challenging an universal Power and Authority over all Churches; which Power and Authority belongs only unto Christ, The Pope de­nying Christ his Kingly of­fice. and not to any man upon earth: Thirdly, in making his Laws and Decrees equal or rather above the Decrees and institutions of Christ; for the Popes Laws are observed, as forbiding marriage, and com­manding to abstain from meats, and many other the like; and Christs Laws are rejected that doth allow of these things, which the Pope prohibits; and forbideth many things, as in­vocation of Saints, worshiping of Images, Adultery and For­nication, and many the like, which the Pope alloweth: thus Gods Law is neglected, and the Popes observed: Fourthly, the Pope denies Christs Kingly office in his instituted Ordi­nances, by establishing his own humane inventions, of Mas­ses, Crosses, Crucifixes, Prayer upon beads, and in an un­known tongue, Pilgrimages, Conjuration or exorcism and [Page 103]the like, and seting up a religion composed of above forty heresies, as is named and shewed before: And fifthly, in de­nying and bloting out the second Commandment, that for­bids the worship of false Gods, or of the true God in a false way, and giving the worship and honour that is due to God to the Virgin Mary, to Saints and Images; all which is a denying of Christ his Kingly rule and Government; and which makes the Pope of Rome to be the great Antichrist here spoken of in this Text, as well as in others before nam­ed.

Secondly, The Pope of Rome denies Christ the exercise of his Priestly office, for first, whereas it is said Heb. 9.25, 26. that Christ is entred into Heaven to appear in the presence of God for us, not that he should offer himself often, for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: and Chap. 10.14. for with one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are san­ctified; but this the Pope denies in his practice, The Pope de­nies Christ in his Priestly office. that Christs once offering himself is satisfactory to take away sin; and therefore he is offered again by the Papists every day, and sometimes in many thousand places in one day, in their Ido­latrous Masses, from which practice of theirs I shall propound one question, viz. where, or what Text of Scripture can they or any man bring to prove, that either the Pope or any of his shaveling Priests, Jesuites or Friers, are commanded to offer Jesus Christ an unbloudy propitiatory Sacrifice for the quick and the dead? or in what part of Scripture are the massing Priests called Sacrificers in the New Testament, and authori­zed to sacrifice Jesus Christ? or did ever the Apostles offer Je­sus Christ a Sacrifice for the quick and dead? if these things cannot be proved by Scripture to be of Christs institutions, then it cannot be denyed but the Pope doth deny Christ both of his Kingly and Priestly offices, and so he is the great An­tichrist and man of sin that was prophecyed of, to come into the world.

Secondly, the Pope and all Papists deny Christ his Priestly office in offering up their prayers to God in any other name or by any other intercessor or mediator but Jesus Christ only, John 16.23. verily verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you; and 1 John 5.14. this is the assurance that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us; but we have no assurance [Page 104]in any text of Scripture to be heard in the name of the Virgin Mary, nor any other Saint, nor no Scripture to prove that to ask in their name, or to make them mediators, or she Me­diatrix, as they call the Virgin; no Scripture proves it to be according to his will, and therefore have no promise to be heard with acceptance; for there is no other Mediator be­tween God and man, but the man Christ Jesus, 1 Tim. 2.5. so that by these Scriptures it is clear that the Pope doth re­ject and deny Jesus Christ in his Priestly office; and not only so, but the Pope is guilty of the sins of many hundred thou­sands more, whom he doth make to deny Christ in his King­ly and Priestly offices, and leads them without repentance to destruction with himself.

Thirdly, the Pope of Rome denies Jesus to be Christ, in de­nying Christ the exercise of his Prophetical office, to teach and instruct his Church, for whereas all the Service and wor­ship that is given and done to God, ought in every thing, to be performed, both as to the matter and the manner of per­formance according to the word of God, and the example of Christ and his Apostles, and their institutions; both for Ordinances, Officers and Offices; the Pope of Rome, and Church of Rome doth not, so far as I know, perform any one part of Gods worship and service in any one Ordi­nance, Pope de­ [...] Christ [...] Propheti­ [...] office. nor with any one Church Officer rightly elected to his Office, according to Jesus Christ and his Apostles exam­ples and institutions: in their preaching they come the near­est, but both their Sermons are stuffed with many foolish fi­ctions and fables, so that a man may justly say, they do not preach but prate; for no man preacheth, but he that preacheth Christ; and their Preachers, even those that are esteemed the best and greatest Schollars, are not of divine in­stitution, no more than Anabaptists, and lay Preachers: their Eucharist, their Baptism, their Prayers, their Masses, name what you will, there is so much of human invention mixed with it, that bring it to the touch-stone of the word of God, and divine institution, and it will upon tryal prove so full of drosse, that it will not hold out weight in the B [...] ­lance of the Sanctuary, therefore the Pope of Rome is Anti­christ.

Did ever Christ or his Apostles institute any one of 150 ne­ligious Orders, they have in their Church? or did they e­establish [Page 105]a Religion, and force men with fire and sword to the observation of it, and that composed of above forty He­resies? did they ever in Baptism use Crism, Spittle, Oyl, Salt, or holy, or conjured Water to scare the Divel? did they ever use such Vestments, with Crosses in Banners, Ta­pers, Altars, &c. after Christs ascention? did they hold black and green, white and red colours more sacred than o­thers? did they observe canonical hours, pray for the dead? go processions, keep 86 holy daies in a year, besides the Sa­baths? did they ever use relicks of Saints, &c. Pictures, Ima­ges, Crucifixces, Crosses, Agnus Dei, or such like? did they say Masses to deliver souls out of Purgatory, or teach that there was a Purgatory, or that men might merrit salvation by their works? and not only so, but do works of super-er­rogation, to be by the Pope converted into payment for o­thers and the like? did they ever teach that the Cordilians should draw a soul out of Purgatory, for saying five Pater nosters, and five Ave Maries with more the like? did the A­postles ever worship the Crosse, or teach others to worship it, with the same worship that God is worshipped with, as Tho­mas and other Popish Doctors teach? or did they ever pray in any Language that themselves did not understand, or pray upon a string of Beads? or did they ever teach abstinence from marriage or meats, which God hath created to be re­ceived with thanksgiving? or did they forbid marriage and allow Whores, and Sodomy, as the Popes have done? dare any man say that these are the Ordinances and Institutions of Jesus Christ and his Apostles? are they not more like the Doctrines of Devils, and those that teach and practice them, the Slaves and Vassals of the Devil, to do his drudgery? If these things cannot by Scripture, be proved to be the Ordi­nances of God, instituted by Jesus Christ and his Apostles; then it cannot be denyed but the Pope who is the Author, & [...]he Papists who are the practisers of these things, they do [...]ll reject and deny Jesus to be Christ, in all his three Offices [...]f King, Priest and Prophet; and will not suffer him to rule [...]m as their King, nor to be their alone and only Mediator [...] Intercessor between God and man as their Priest; nor [...]o be, their Prophet to teach them the Laws and Ordinances [...] Church, nor the Officers and Offices in his Church, &c. I therefore the Pope, as chief Author of these things, doth [Page 106]deny Jesus to be Christ: and upon that account cannot be denyed to be the great and abominable Antichrist, that was prophecied should come into the world: for this is the plain­est Text in all the Scriptures, to prove who is the great Anti­christ; 1 John 2.22. namely, he that denies Jesus to be Christ, that is, to be anointed King, Priest and Prophet: and to con­fess that in words, and deny it in deeds, is no more than the Devil doth, for he will confess it in words; and how it is proved that the Pope denies it in deeds; you have heard how he is the great Lyer, professing Christ in words to be King, Priest and Prophet, and denying it in deeds; who is a lyer but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? he is Antichrist that de­nieth the Father and the Son: for in denying the Son he deni­eth the Father also, for that follows in the next vetse; who­soever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: therefore the Pope denieth both, he is the great Antichrist, &c.

These as you have heard are some of the Doctrines and of their practice, whereby Antichrist the Pope doth in a most high and contemptuous manner rejects and denie Jesus to be the Christ; and will not allow of those Ordinances and Officers of the Church, which Christ hath taught us in the New Testament and instituted for the Churches use; Antichrist sound out who he is. but An­tichrist the Pope hath framed a new form of worship, with new Ordinances and Officers, teaching for Doctrines his own precepts and inventions, so that now we have found out the great abominable Antichrist, that doth in the highest and most contemptible manner of any one in the world reject and deny Jesus to be the Christ annointed of the Father, King, Priest, and Prophet to his Church: and therefore we may conclude that the Pope of Rome is the great lyar and the Antichrist.

In the 7. page of his second Book, he saith that the 1260 daies spoken of Revel. 11.3. they are to be understood of so many years, which in the 8. page he saith that the 1260 years began at the year 382. and ended in the year 1642. during which time, he saith the Orthodox Bishops in all the Chri­stian Kingdoms, of Spain, France, Germany, England, S [...] ­land, Ireland and others had full power and free liberty [...] preach the Doctrine of faith, and they were not only pr [...] ­cted from wrongs and violence of their opposers; but [...] were also assisted to reduce all transgressors to repeutar [Page 107]And in the 27. page he saith that Ecclesiastical Histories do undoubtedly declare, that from the Reign of Teodosius for 1260 years, until the year 1642. the Churches of God had rest, and was freed from any bloudy persecution; for any profession of the true faith, and the right service of God, and the two Witnesses of Christ, the Kings as chief; and the Bishops and Preachers in their Cloisters and Monasteries as in in a Wilderness, secluded from all Worldly affairs; had free li­berty (through the protection and assistance of nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers) to publish the mysteries of our Chri­stian Religion, and the truth of the two Testaments and Doctrine of Faith, &c.

I answer first, by comparing together what the Bishop saith in these two places, we must examine what he means by Or­thodox Bishops, whether Protestant Bishops, or the Papist Bishops; which he saith in all Christian Kingdoms of France, Spain, &c. had free liberty to preach the Doctrine of Faith, and were protected from the violence of their opposers: The Bishop hath now confessed himself a Pa­pist. cer­tainly he means the Popish Bishops; for who else could they be for 1260 years, which was he saith from the year 382. unto the year 1642. that could, or had liberty freely with­out persecution, to preach the Doctrine of true Faith, in that 1260 years, but Papists, and be protected from all vio­lence of opposers: for he saith further in the 27. page that these Orthodox Bishops were one of Christs Witnesses; which he describes to be Bishops and Preachers in their Cloisters and Monasteries: which must be understood of Bishops, Priests, Friers, and Jesuites, for these live in Cloisters and Mona­steries; and not our Protestant Bishops and Preachers: and these Orthodox Bishops and Preachers, in their Cloisters and Monasteries, were saith he, secluded from the world, and protected in our Christian Religion; where by our Christian Religion, it must be supposed he means his own Religion, together with those that are of the same opinion with him, and that is the Bishops in Cloisters and Monasteries, who are Papists: so that now at last he hath openly declared himself [...] be a Papist, if they be Papists that live in Cloisters and Mo­ [...]steris, secluded as he saith from the world; who did preach the true Faith, and right Service of God, and published our [...]istian Religion; in which word our Christian Religion, includes himself for one of that Religion, preached by [Page 108]the Cloisterers, &c. for the space of one thousand two hun­dred and fixty years, free from any bloudy persecution, for the profession of their faith, which no Church in Europe was but the popish Church: therefore seeing it is thus, that we have now found him out what he is, we need no longer won­der why he misapplyeth Scripture, and forsaketh the opi­nion of all other Writers, to find out a new Antichrist, and to stickle so hard to excuse and defend the Pope.

And that it may clearly appear that he takes the Papist Church of Cloisterers, &c. to be the true Church, and their Doctrine, to be the Orthodox Doctrine; and their Faith and Service of God, to be the true Faith and right Service of God: as in his 27. page so in the 7. page speaking of one of the Witnesses, which he saith, is these Orthodox Bishops, and of the Witnesses prophecying in sackcloath 1260 years, by his own interpretation, he saith their prophecying in sackcloath doth signifie their conforming themselves unto the Doctrine that they preached, & not their mourning for the polution of the true Church; which saith he, during that time of 1260 years of their Prophecy, was not poluted: as Mr. Mead and others do suppose: a strange interpretation differing from all men that ever I read or heard of, that the true Church of Christ should be without any bloudy persecution, and with­out any polution, The Church, saith the Bi­shop, without trouble 1260 years. for the space of 1260 years; and yet the Witnesses of Christ to be all that time clothed in Sackcloath, which is a mourning weed, and did alwaies signifie that those that wore it were in a sad and low condition, a deformed and mournful estate; stripped of all their glory, as those are that go in black & mourn at Funerals: whereas if the Bishop's in­terpretation of the glory and beauty of the Church had been true, that it had been without trouble and without polution; the Witnesses should rather have put on their glorious and beautiful garments, and have rejoiced in the prosperity, and glory, and purity of the Church, which he saith was with­out polution: but the word of God tels us another story, of the cause of the Witnesses wearing Sackcloath, Revel. 17.7, 8▪ that the Beast that cometh out of the bottomless pit, should make war against them, and overcome them, and kill them, and their corps should lie in the street without burial, &c. and was this a time in which the Church was not poluted, [...] the Witnesses and faithful Worshippers persecuted: wh [...] [Page 109]they must be slain, and their bodies lie without burial? I leave it to the godly-wise to judge, how the Bishops interpre­tation can be true, that is so contrary to the Scriptures.

And whereas he saith the true Church of God had rest, and was freed from any bloudy persecution for the profession of the true Faith and right Service of God for 1260 years, be­ginning the year 382: the quite contrary will appear to be most true; for as ancient Histories do relate, the Apostolical Protestant Religion, Of the first planting the Gospel in England. was settled in England in the later end of the reign of Tyberius the Emperor, under whom Christ suffered: Gildas saith that Joseph of Aramathea was sent by Phillip the Apostle into Brittain, who here laid the founda­tiou of Christian Religion: Origin in his fourth homily on Ezechiel saith, that the true Faith of Christ was in Brittain before Elutherius was Bishop of Rome, which was about the year 180 after Christ: Nicephorus in his second Book Chap. 40. saith that Simon Zelotes did also preach the Gospel in Bri­tain; by all which it doth appear, that England received the Christian Faith long before Austin was sent hither by Gre­gory the great; for he indeed sent him hither to settle Po­pery 600 years after Christ, but not to settle the Gospel of Christ, for that was settled before, as doth appear in the be­ginning of this Book. At a treaty between the Nobility of England, and Hingist King of the Saxons, about the year 460. where neither party was to have any weapons; Hingist secret­ly ordered the matter, his men had every one a long knife in his hose, that upon the watchword given every man should kill him he talked with: so that there was murthered that day upon the place of English Nobility, some stories say 460 by the Saxons; the King was taken prisoner, for whose ran­som, London, York, Lincolne, Winchester with other strong holds, being granted; the Saxons made havok of the English Nation, destroyed the Citizens, pulled down Churches, kil­led the Pastors of the Churches, burned the Books of holy Scriptures: and all this and more to be done by Heathens upon Christians, it seems is no bloudy persecution in Do­ [...]or William's account; the Church had free liberty, &c. saith he: This persecution continued in Brittain, for in the [...] 568 Ministers were driven out, so that the Arch-Bishop London and York were both forced to fly into Wales; but fore this there was eleven thousand Christian Virgins mur­thered: [Page 110]there was about this time above two thousand Monks at the Abby of Bangor in Wales, who were driven out of Brittain: who all lived by the sweat of their brows, and labour of their hands; these men differed nothing from o­ther ordinary men, but only in strictness of life, and were such as now are called Puritans or Round-heads: for Augu­stine saith, [...]imative [...]onks were such as now are called Puritans, &c. there was such as were called Monks, that were but lay-men, only led a more severe and strict kind of life than others, in his Book De moribus Ecclesioe Chap. 13. also Hierom, ad Heliodorum, one thing saith he, appertains to Monks, another thing to them of the Clergy; and in the 4. Canon of the Councel of Calcedon, it is provided that Monks should not meddle with matters of the Church; Sozomen saith in his 3. Book, Chap. 16. speaking of Monks of that time, which lived in Cities and had several Mansions and differed nothing from other men, but that they were of a stricter life: which since by their enemies have been called by other names; as names of infamy, as some in our time are called Puritans; which if, saith he, taken in the right sense if they deserve it, tends to their comfort and prayers; Athanasius a man to be credited of all, in his epistle de Dra­contium, saith that he knew both Monks and Bishops mar­ried men and had Children, and such were the Protestant Monks of Bangor: this is shewed more fully in the beginning of this Book.

About the year 833 the Danes invaded England, spoiled Churches, murthered Ministers with men women and chil­dren after a most barbarous cruel manner, the space of 255 years: and after them William the Conqueror slew of the En­glish 66654 about the year 1264 was four bloudy battels in England, between the King and his Barrons; also between King Edward and the Scots was slain in two battels of the Scots, besides English 57000 about the year 1295 and 1298. and was all this nothing with you? was there none of your Orthodox Bishops in all these broils? were they free from bloud and persecution?

What say you then to the Wars among the Popes and Em­perors; Pope Alexander the second, and another Pope set up by the Emperor, about the year 1062 they had two great Battels, and many slain of both sides; but the Pope brought it at last, that he set his foot upon the Emperors neck: an [Page 111]Pope Hildebrand by giving the Empire from the Emperor Henry to Rodolphus, there was four bloudy Battels fought between their Armies: and by means of Pope Pascalus there was two great Battels between Henry the 4. and his own Son, in 1102. and about the year 1234 there was such Wars be­tween Pope Gregory the 9. and the City of Rome, that there was 30 thousand of the Cittizens slain in one battel: and a­bout the year 1251 the Sarazens slew of English, French and other Nations 80 thousand; also there was great War be­tween the Pope and Fredrick the Emperor: and in 1255 the Pope having Wars with the Apulians, the Popes Army was utterly destroyed but only the Family of Marchisius: in 1241 a great Army of Sythians invaded Europe in two places, and at the same time an Army of five hundred thousand of Tar­tarians who spared neither sex nor age: about the year 1409 King Henry the fourth of England, wrote to Pope Gregory a­bout the division between the two Popes, which then had continued 29 years, intimating to the Pope that he had re­ceived intelligence, that there had been slain in the Wars be­tween the two Popes two hundred and thirty thousand men; and Pope Julius who died in the year 1513, it is related by Writers, The Bishops mistake as to the Witnesses prophecying in Sackcloath. that there was slain in his Wars two hundred thou­sand more: and Sir, is all these nothing with you? that by the divisions of three or four Popes that four hundred and thirty thousand men should be slain, besides all other Popes and Emperors Wars, and these of your Orthodox Cloisterers, &c. and yet you are not ashamed to write and print that the Church was at this time at rest, and free from any bloudy persecution for 1260 years together: and could these mur­thers, and slaughters, banishment, and riping of women with child, as was in England, &c. be without persecution: I could produce more the like if I were minded, but I think here is enough to let others see your mistake, if you will not see it your self; I could add to this the burning and martyr­dom of many hundred thousands more in England, Scotland, France, Spain, Germany, Tholose, Piedmond, Waldensea, Albe­ [...]ences, and many other Countries in Alsatia one hundred [...]artyred in one day for defending the truth; and much more might be said, to prove the direct contrary to what you [...] said to be true; namely, that the 1260 years of the [...]nesses prophecying in Sackcloath, that it was a mourn­full [Page 112]time of the persecutions of the true Church of Jesus Christ, and not a time of freedom and liberty of the Chur­ches enjoyment of the Ordinances of Jesus Christ in their pu­rity, and that with protection and defence against all their opposers as you pretend.

In the 24. page, he compares the light that was held forth to the Church of Christ by the ministery of the 12 Apostles, but to the light of 12 stars; but after the year 382 spoken of before; the ministery held forth by Hierom, Ambrose, Au­gustine, Basil, Gregory, Nazianzen, Epiphanius, and Cirillus, he saith, was as the light of the Sun in the firmament.

I answer, we need not now so much wonder at the cor­ruption of the Church of Rome, who equal their Mass with the Gospel of Christ, and the Popes unwritten traditions with the Canons of the Scripture; The Bishop saith the Mi­nistery of the Apostles was [...] the Stars, and the mini­stery of the [...]ncient Fa­thers as the Sun. when our Bishop so much undervalues the doctrine and ministery of the Apostles, who had an imediate call from God to their ministery, and were guided by the Holy-Ghost in their ministery; and what they writ was left unto us as the athentick Word of God for our istruction, and testified by the Apostle Peter, 2 Pet. 1.20. that it is not of any privat interpretation, but holy men of God spake as they were endowed by the Holy-Ghost: and yet that these ser­vants of Jesus Christ, that their ministery should be but com­pared to the light of the Stars, and the ministery of Herom, Ambrose, &c. should be compared to the light of the Sun: so far exceeding the ministery of the Apostles, as the light of the Sun exceeds the light of the Stars, for that is the mean­ing: it is such a Doctrine as I think was never taught by an English or Irish Bishop before, that ever I read of; nor I hope the like will never be taught again: a man would think that upon a review of what he hath don, he should own his mistake, for if these be not mistakes I know not what is: but I must correct my self and remember what he confesseth of himself before, as to the freedom and liberty of the Orthodox Bi­shops, in their cloisters and Monasteries the 126 years; which he further speaks of in his 44. page, and saith, that the two Witnesses were furnished with a larger measure of Gospel­light, to enlighten the Church, being fled into the Wilder­ness from the face of the Dragon, and to govern the Church in a far better manner, than ever they did or could do be­fore: but this is strange if it could be so, in their Sackcloa [...] [Page 113]and mournful condition; and he further saith, that when Phocas the Traytor, the murthering Emperor granted the pre heminency to Pope Boniface the third to be universal Bishop; then the Sword of Satan, he saith, had neither edge, strength, nor abilitie, to suppresse the Word of God, nor to abate one jot of the power of the Witnesses, but that the Church was freed from all fear and tyranny, &c. this, I confesse, is true understanding it of the Pope and Papist Church; which I never knew any but Papists yet that ever took it in that sence as the Bishop doth: for as is shewed above, that time of the Church being in the Wildernesse, was the time of the Churches affliction and persecution; and Phocas granting that power to the Pope, instead of blunting Satans Sword it sharpened his Sword, and made it cut both waies, so that he ceased not until he had gotten both Civil and Ecclesiasti­cal Government into his hands, and suppressed the Word of God, as is shewed above by the Councel of Trent, and made it subject to his will and interpretation, and set up his own humane institutions; and the institutions of Christ and his Apostles, was, and is rejected, so as Christ hath not the exer­cise of his offices among them, neither of King, Priest, nor Prophet, as before is shewed; which I leave to the judgment of the Christian Reader.

Page 30. he saith, that time, times, and half a time, are interpreted by many of the learned to be three years and a half; or as some think three years, and half three, that is four years and a half: but he conceives it should be taken for some short time, but for a certain truth it shall either be at that time directly, or much about that time, though not exactly to a day, yet it may be to a minute; which he takes to be the time that Antichrist shall reign and rage against the two Witnesses.

I answer, how can this he here saith be true? and yet the Long Parliament, &c. be the Antichrist; for they reigned a­bove twice three years and a half, or twice four years & a half; and therefore according to his own computation, the Long Parliament, &c. cannot be the Antichrist: and as the Bishop and Bellermin agrees in the reign of Antichrist to be but three years and a half; so Bellermin saith that this three years and a half is to be a little before the end of the world: therefore if the long Parliament had been Antichrist, and their opi­nion [Page 114]true of the end of the world a little after; then should the Jews have been converted er'e this time, for they must, the Scriptures say, be converted and gathered to their own Land; and there must be the Battels of Gog and Magog, and many things to be done which will require a longer time than they allow for them, by their interpretation; for how is it possible that Antichrist should do all the feats that is to be done by, him all the world over? or if it were him Europe, and Asia, he must course over many hundred thousand miles every day, to effect it in three years and a half, which is un­reasonable to imagine: but the Bishop and Bellermin doth both agree, that by the little horn in the seventh of Daniel is meant Antichrist; and becausent is said verse 9. I beheld till the Thrones were placed, and the Ancient of daies sute, &c. the Angel expounding the vision, shews that this little horn An­tichrist, should subdue three Kings, and they shall be given into his hand, until a time, times and the dividing of times; which they take for three years and a half; The Bishop and Beller­mins mistake concerning the little horn. but the Judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his Dominion to consume and de­stroy it unto the end: now here is their mistake, because it is said, the Judgment shall sit, and they shall destroy his Dominion unto the end; therefore they conclude that in a very short time after Antichrists three years and a half reign, that he shall be destroyed, and the world shall have an end: not considering what is said in the 13 and 14 verses, that one like the Son of man came to the Ancient of daies, in the clouds of Heaven, and dominion, and honour, and Kingdom was given him, and all Nations and Languages should serve him: that is him that shall destroy the Pope, the Antichrist who is the little horn; for this Judgment as I have said before; is not meant of the last and general Judgment, but of the judgment and destruction of Antichrist; and Jesus Christ shall be universal King, whom all Nations shall serve: but shall there be any distinction of People, Nations and Languages after the last Judgment? but this is made more plain, for verse 22. it is said, the ancient of daies came, and Judgment was given to the Saints of the most high, and the time approached that the Saints possessed the Kingdom; mark ye, upon the judgment and destruction of Antichrist the time approached that the Saints possessed the Kingdom: and verse 27. and the Kingdom, and Dominion, and [Page 115]the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven, shall be gi­ven to the people of the Saints of the most high; whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and all powers shall serve and obey him: that is, Christs Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom; but this King­dom of the Saints after the destruction of Antichrist is an earthly Kingdom under the Heavens, verse 27. that the Saints must have before the last Judgment, saith Mr. Brightman.

Where first we may observe that the jurisdiction of this Kingdom must be of things under Heaven, for the time ap­preached that the Saints possessed the Kingdom: and secondly, that it shall be a Kingdom of holy and high Saints, and that all powers shall serve this Kingdom, as Isa. 60. for there will be an universal flowing in of the Jews to the faith of Christ: under the pouring forth of the fifth Viol Antichrist is to be destroyed, and Rome which is his Throne; for the fifth Viol is poured out upon the Throne of the Beast, and many do think that the Jews will not be converted until af­ter Rome is destroyed; Mr. Brightman saith that Rome and the Idolatry of the Church of Rome, is a main impediment and hinderance to their conversion: and after once it is de­stroyed, they shall embrace the true Faith, for it is not possi­ble, saith he, that the people that crucifyed the Lord, should ac­knowledge him to be their Lord, as long as Rome flourish­eth, yea, or hath any being in the world, as which was the place that gave them power and authority to crucifie him: and the sixth Viol is to be poured out upon the great River Euphrates, and the waters thereof will be dried up, that the way of the Kings that come from the East may be prepared; Euphrates slideth through Mesapotomia on the east side of Ju­dea: the event of this Viol, is the removing of what impedi­ments may hinder the passage into that Country, and dry­ing up the waters, as the Red Sea was dried up before the Jews in old time; and it is conceived most of these people are in those eastern Countries: the reason why they are cal­led Kings of the East, is, as Rev. 1.6. Christ doth make all true believers Kings and Priests unto God his Father, and Mr. Brightman saith, as soon as Rome is destroyed, there shall be a rumor among all the true Churches of the Gentiles, of the gathering of the People of the Jews unto their own Land, the Christian faith shall flourish exceedingly among them, [Page 116] Rom. 11.25, 26. the Apostle saith, I would not brethren that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, that blindness in part is hapned to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in: and so all Israel shall be saved as it is written, the deliverer shall come out of Sion, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob, for this is my Cove­nant unto them when I shall take away their sins: Lactantius saith, in his 7. Book Chap. 15. the Romish name and authority wherewith the world is now ruled, my heart trembleth to speak it, but yet saith he, I will speak it, because it is a thing that shall one day be taken away from the earth, and the Empire shall return into Asia, and the east shall have the dominion once again, and the West shall be in subjection: you see how his words doth agree with the Scriptures that that prophecie of the downfall of Rome, and of the glory of the eastern Church, when the Jews shall be converted, and therefore they carry the more force.

I think it not amisse in this place, to shew how great a hin­derance the Idolatry of the Roman Church is to the conver­tion of the Jews, to set down one thing I have observed in a narrative written by Mr. Samuel Brette an English man and a Traveller, concerning the proceedings of a great Councel of three hundred Rabbies of the Jews, assembled in the plain of Ageda, the 12th of October 1650. to examine the Scriptures concerning Christ, he saith that the seventh and last day of their Councel the question was, if Christ were come, then what was the rules and orders he left his Church to walk by; whereupon two Jesuites, two Friers of the order of Saint Augustine, and two of the order of Saint Frances, sent thither by the Pope, these being admitted into the Councel, began to open unto them the Rules and Doctrine of the Church of Rome, instead of the Rules of Christ, which they magnified to be the holy Catholick Church of Christ, and their Do­ctrine to be the infallible Doctrine of Christ, and their Rules to be the Rules which the Apostles left to the Church for to be observed, and that the Pope is the holy Vicar of Christ, and the Successor of Saint Peter, they affirmed the reall prelence of Christ in the Sacrament, the religious ob­servation of their holy daies, the invocation of Saints, pray­ing to the Virgin Mary, and spoke of her commanding power in Heaven over her Son, of the holy use of the Crosse, and [Page 117]Images with the rest of their Idolatrous superstitious worship, all which they commended to the Assembly of the Jews, for the doctrines and rules of the Apostles. But as soon as the assembly of the Jews had heard these things, they were gene­rally exceedingly troubled thereat, and fell into high cla­mours against them and their religion, crying out no Christ, no woman God, no intercession of Saints, no worshiping of Images, no praying to the Virgin Mary, and cried out aloud blasphemy, blasphemy, and rent their cloaths, and cast dust upon their heads; and upon this the Gouncel brake up, the Relator saith, he doth believe there was many Jews there that would have owned the Lord Jesus, if it had not been for these Jesuites and Friers, and that there had been Protestant Ministers in their stead: thus it appears what hinderance the idolatry of the Roman Church is to their conversion.

Page 31. he saith that Antiochus who is the most lively type of Antichrist that is to be found in the Scriptures, reigned but just three years and a half, and so the persecution of An­tichrist should be but three years and an half.

I answer, that what is said before might be a sufficient an­swer to this, but besides I shall disprove what he saith, in the first Chapter of the first book of Maccabees, for Antiochus Epi­phanes after he came to reign, he made war against the King of Aegypt and wone many strong Cities, and took away the spoil of the Land, and returned in the year 143, and went up against Jerusalem, verse 21, 22. and Chap. 3. verse 37. the King took the half of the Hoast, and departed from Antiochia his royal City, in the year 147. and Lyfias whom the King left Overseer of his business, at the same time sent Ptomeas, Nicanor and Gor­gius with forty thousand footmen, and seven thousand Horsemen into the Land of Juda, which Army was defeated: then Chap. 4.28, the next year following gathered Lysius threescore thousand footmen and five thousand horsemen to fight against Jerusalem: and Chap. 6.16. Antiochus died in the 149. year of his reign; that was six years he reigned after he made war against Jerusalem, besides the time he reigned when he made war against Aegypt, and took many Cities and brought away the spoil; and this is but all three years and an half with our Bishop, if you will believe him; which these chapters makes it appear to be fix years.

[Page 118]Much more such like stuff might be shewed, but I forbear; thus far I thought good to answer him in his folly, lest he should be wise in his own conceit; and I thought not fit to an­swer him any further, lest I should be like him: and my book is swelled biger already than I intended it at first, and although it be but small, yet it is biger than I can well spare money to pay for the printing, to bring it forth to light.