Hexapla in Danielem: that is, A six-fold commentarie vpon the most diuine prophesie of Daniel wherein according to the method propounded in Hexapla vpon Genesis and Exodus, sixe things are obserued in euery chapter. 1. The argument and method. 2. The diuers readings. 3. The questions discussed. 4. Doctrines noted. 5. Controversies handled. 6. Morall observations applyed. Wherein many obscure visions, and diuine prophesies are opened, and difficult questions handled with great breuitie, perspicuitie, and varietie ... and the best interpreters both old and new are therein abridged. Diuided into two bookes ... By Andrevv Willet Professour of Diuinitie. The first booke.

20. Controv. That out of this text, v. 36. it can not be prooued that the Pope is not Antichrist, as Bellarmine arrow_forward intendeth.

Bellarm. lib. 3. de Rom. Ponti••. c. 21. goeth about to prooue by diuers arguments out of this text, that the Pope can not be Antichrist.

Argum. 1. Antichrist here described, shall doe what he list, and exalt himselfe against God, as not holding himselfe tied vnto any law, nor acknowledging any superiour: so doth not the Pope, who taketh himselfe to be bound vnto the law, and confesseth Christ to be his Iudge and superiour.

Ans. The Pope confesseth thus much in words, but in effect he abrogateth the law of God, and so consequently denieth Christ to be his superiour.

1. The Pope dispenseth against the law of God, which sheweth his superioritie ouer the law: Pope Martin the 5. with the aduise of his Popish diuines, dispensed with one to mar∣rie his owne sister germane: this is committed to writing by Antoninus Florentin. summ. 3. p. tit. 1. c. 11. §. quod Papa. whome Necolaus Boerius followeth, consil. 20. vtrum papa. nu∣mer. 26. such were the incestuous mariages of Egypt: for Ptolome Philadelphus maried his owne sister Berenice, and so did Ptolome Philopator his sister Eurydice, whome he killed: Ptolome Physcon married Cleopatra his brother Philometors wife: in which very case the Pope dispensed with Henrie the 8. to marrie his brother Prince Arthurs wife.

Likewise the law of God forbiddeth the setting vp of all images to be worshipped, Le∣vit. 18. 9. which the Pope commandeth euery where to be done. The holy Apostle saith, that concupiscence is against the law, and consequently sinne, Rom. 7. 7. But the Pope in his

Councell of Trent decreed the contrarie, that concupiscence is not vere & proprie pecca∣tum, verily and properly sinne.

2. As the Pope alloweth that which Gods law forbiddeth and condemneth, so likewise he forbiddeth that, which Gods word alloweth and commandeth. As Gods word comman∣deth obedience to parents, but the Pope set Conradus and Henrie against their father Hen∣rie the 4. who warred against him; and Henrie depriued him of his Empire, and of Christian sepulture. Our Sauiour biddeth to giue vnto Cesar, the things which are Cesars; as homage, tribute, obedience: but Gregorie the 2. forbad tribute to be paied to Leo the 3. for pulling downe of images, or any obedience to be yeilded vnto him. The Scripture alloweth, that they which haue not the gift of continencie, should marrie: but Calisthus the 3. refused to dispense with the marriage of a certaine Deacon, that alledged he had not the gift of conti∣nencie, for whome also Cardinal Senensis entreated, who was afterward Pope called Pius the 2. who writ hereof vnto his friend in these words, alterum Papam expectandum, qui melior sit, that an other Pope must be expected, who should be better. Boerius loc. citat. num. 20. The Scripture counteth mariage honourable, and maketh it free for all men, Hebt. 13. 4. yet the Pope forbiddeth mariage to his Clergie, as a disgrace to their orders.

3. And that it yet may more euidently appeare, how the Pope extolleth himselfe aboue Christ: In the yeare 1447. when Felix was Bishop of Rome, who succeeded Eugen••us, this answer was made by the Cardinal of S. Angel to the Embassadors of Bohemia, Siquis non crederet Christum esse verum Deum & hominem, & idem sentiret Papa, eum, non damna∣tum ••ri, if any did not beleeue Christ to be God man, and the Pope did so thinke also, he should not be damned: and at the same time Henricus the master of the Palace said to the same Embassadors, Papa potest mutare S. Evangelium, & potest S. Evangelio pro loco & tem∣pore alium sensum tribuere, the Pope may change the holy Gospel, and may giue an other sense to the Gospel, according to time and place. ex Polan.

Argum. 2. Antichrist shall care for no God at all: But the Pope worshippeth God the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost: yea all the Saints in heauen, images and reliques in earth (if we will beleeue the Protestants, saith arrow_back Bellarmine arrow_forward ) he adoreth also.

Answ. In that the Pope inuocateth Saints, praieth vnto images, adoreth reliques, and so setteth vp other gods: it is an euident argument, that he denieth the true God.

Argum. 3. Antichrist shall ouerthrow the policies and states of kingdomes, so doth not the Pope.

Answ. The contrarie is euident: for Gregorie the 2. forbad any obedience to be yeelded to Leo the 3. and Gregorie the 3. depriued him of his Empire. Alexander the 3. so serued. Frederike the 1. Frederike the 2. and Lewes the 4. were so likewise vsed. Gregorie the 7. de∣posed Bol••slaus king of Polonia: Iulius the 2. gaue away the kingdome of Navarre. How then is not arrow_back Bellarmine ashamed, these things beeing so manifest, to say, that the Pope is not an enemie to politike states?

Argum. 4. Antichrist shall prosper: but the Pope, since the Protestants made him Anti∣christ, hath much decreased: he hath lost a good part of Germanie, of Fraunce, Helvetia, Bohemia, Pannonia, Eagland, and all Suetia, Gothia, Norway, Denmarke: but Luther hath prospered, by his carnall preaching seducing many, who of a silly Monke became as it were Pope ouer all Germanie; he rather may be taken for Antichrist.

Answ. 1. The Protestants in these dayes are not the first, that discouered Antichrist, he was so called and counted many yeares since. 2. the prospering here spoken of is not vnder∣stood of any spirituall successe by the preaching of the Gospell, but of such prosperous e∣uents as are compassed by violence and force of armes, and cunning deuises. 3. it is no car∣nall preaching to teach men not to be addicted superstitiously to carnall ••ites and ceremo∣nies, which was the scope of Luthers preaching. 4. neither did Luther affect a papall pre∣eminence ouer Germany: though it be true, that of late one Felix Peretus of a poore Monke came to be vniuersall Pope, called Sixtus 5. 5. God be thanked that many good morsells are snatched out of the wolues mouth: he speaketh but of a good part of England, that is reuolted from the Pope: But all England in generall and Scotland doe detest the Pope with his superstitious and treacherous practises, except onely a fewe tha•• are Popishly addicted; whose number I trust daily will decrease. 6. And though Antichrist doe not prosper, as he hath done, and I am sure, neuer shall: yet that followeth not, but he is Antichrist still: for he shall prosper onely for a time, not alwaies.