Anti-Christ pointed and painted out in his true colours, or, The popes of Rome proven to bee that man of sinne and sonne of perdition fore-prophesied in Scripture by the clear witnessing of Roman Catholicks themselves, who lived and died in the communion of that church / by William Guild.

CHAP. XII. Of the Popes, not onlie equalling him∣self with GOD; But extolling himself aboue GOD himself. Which is the hight of Antichri∣stian Pryde, and Matchlesse Im∣pietie. (Book 12)

HAving shown, how the Pope exalteth himself against all that is called GOD, by participation onlie of name: And, equalleth himself, also, with him, who is GOD onlie, in Essence▪ Followeth, to show, How lyke Lucifer in his Meridian, or highest ascension, hee extolleth himself, aboue GOD. 1. Extolling his Autho∣ritie, over the Scriptures; which are the WORD of GOD: And, consequent∣lie, aboue GOD himself. 2. Making himself Iudge over GODS WORD: And, what it sayeth is lawfull. Hee saying; It is unlawfull. 3. In taking from GODS WORD; and cancel∣ling some of His Commandements.

4. In the contradicting in expresse termes GODS WORD: For which Hee is justlie called Antichrist: That is, Con••••••rie in his Doctrine to CHRIST. And, 5. In dispensing against GODS WORD: And, allo∣wing that which GODS WORD condemneth.

First, then, (as their own beforeci∣ted Cassander speaketh,) Hee extolleth his Authoritie aboue the Scriptures, which are GODS WORD; in so farre (as Romanists teach;) That the Au∣thoritie of the Church, (whereof hee is head,) is aboue the Scriptures: And, that Scriptures must follow the Church, (as her Lackey;) and not the Church the Scriptures. Therefore, sayeth, Cardinall Cusanus; Sequuntur igitur Scrip∣turae Ecclesians; sed non è converso.* 1.1 That is, Therefore, the Scriptures follow the Church: But not that the Church is to follow the Scriptures; Quare nec mirum (sayeth hee,) si praxis Ecclesiae vno tem∣pore inter interpretatur Scripturam vno mo∣do, & alio tempore, alio modo, nam intel∣lectus currit cum praxi. That is, There∣fore, it is no marvell, if the practise of

the Church interpreteth the Scripture at one tyme, one way; and at another tyme, another way: For, the meaning of the Scripture runneth with the practise of the Church; in so farre as, mutato judicio Ecclesiae, (sayeth hee,) mutatum est & DEI judicium. That is, The Church changing her judgement;* 1.2 GOD must also, change His judgement. Then, which what can bee greater exalting a••oue GOD, and Blasphemie?

Secondlie; Hee extolleth himself a∣boue GOD; in so farre as hee maketh himself judge over GODS WORD. And, what it sayeth, is lawfull: hee sayeth, is unlawfull. One example whereof in place of manie, wee haue in the Popes Ca••on Law: Where it is sayd, speaking of seco••d Marriages;* 1.3 Secundam quidem accipere vxorem, secundum prec••ptum Apostoli (propter incontinentiam homi∣num,) licitum est, secundum veritatis au∣tem rationem, vere fornicatio est. That is, TO MARIE a second wyf, according to the Apostles command, (because of mens incontinencie,) it is, indeed law∣full. But according to the rule of trueth: it is truelie fornication. So that hee cen∣sureth

the Apostles command, which is GODS, to command sinne and un∣cleanesse: And, not to bee according to the Rule of Trueth. Which is highest Pryde and Blaspemie: And, nothing elss, but the mouth of the Dragon.

Thirdlie; Hee extolleth himself a∣boue GOD; in so farre,* 1.4 as hee dareth to take from GODS WORD; and blot out some of his morall commande∣ments. For example; The second Com∣mandement forbiddeth three thinges: 1. The representing of GOD by anie image: 2. The worshipping of anie image: and, 3. Anie sign of religious a∣doration; as bowing down to them. Now, lest the poor people should fynd how farre they are misled; and made to commit Idolatrie, by worshipping of images. Therefore, in their Catechismes they haue taken out the second Com∣mandement of the morall law. Nay, they are become so shamelesse, when they are prest with this Lurd Impietie: That the Iesuit Vasquez saye••h; That▪ that prohibition was onlie a positiue ce∣remoniall law;* 1.5 Ideoque tempore legis E∣uangelica, (sayeth hee,) debet cessare. That

is; And, therfore, in the tyme of the Law of the Gospell, it ought to ceasse, (sayeth hee,) as if Idolatrie were but a ceremonie; and that the Gospell did not forbid the same. Contrarie to 1. COR. 6.9.

Fourthlie: Hee extolleth himself a∣boue GODS WORD, and HIS Commandements, in contramanding; and expresse contradicting of GODS WORD. Whereof the Apostle no∣teth Therefore, two of his Doctrines; to bee Doctrines of Devils;* 1.6 In forbid∣ding of marriage; and, commanding to ab∣stain from meats, which GOD hath crea∣ted, to bee receaved with thanksgiving, of them which belieue; and know the Trueth; for everie creature is good, (sayeth the Apostle,) and, nothing to bee refused, if it bee receaved with thanksgiving. Yet, on the contrarie:* 1.7 Albeit of marriage, that the Apostle sayeth, It is honourable a∣mongst all, and the bed undefyled. 1. The Pope sayeth, It is not so amongst all: Because not amongst the Clergie, to whom hee hath therefore forbid∣den the same.* 1.8 2. Neither is the bed of Marriage, a bed undefyled, (sayeth hee,)

Because it is the vncleannesse of the flesh; and, they that are in the flesh, (sayeth hee in his Decretall of the Canon Law,) can not please GOD. Now, what do∣ctrine this is; and, how opposite to GODS: The Apostle not onlie telleth us; But, also, that worthie Martyr, Ig∣natius, the disciple of Iohn, in his sixt Epistle to the Philadelphians; saying, Si quis legitimam commixtionem, & libero∣rum procreationem corruptelam, & pollu∣tionem appellet, talis Apostatam illum dra∣conem in se habitantem fovet. That is, If anie man shall call lawfull copulation in marriage, and procreation of children, to bee carnalitie and pollution Such a one entertaineth that Apostat dragon dwel∣ling in him, (which is the devill.) Lykewyse, His prohibition and com∣manding, to abstain from meats, at such or such tymes, for conscience sake▪ contrarie both to GODS WORD▪ and Christian Libertie; what elss is it, al∣so: But, the same apostat dragons mouth? And, whyle as in lyke manner, anie who shall transgresse this his command con∣cerning meats; or anie other, which are called Precepta Ecclesiae, shall bee, and

haue beene more severelie punished than anie who transgresse the Commande∣ments of GOD: What else is this, but the exalting himself aboue GOD?

I might instance here the whole Do∣ctrines of Poperie expresslie contradicto∣rie to the Doctrine of GODS WORD; As, The Forbidding the people to reade the Scriptures: Expresslie contrarie unto CHRISTS Commandement, Iohn 5.39. And, the Apostles, Col. 3.16. The Invocatio•• of Saincts or Angels. Contra∣rie to Rom, 10.14. Prayer. also in an unknown tongue. Contrarie to 1. Cor. 14.15. Representing GOD by anie I∣mage. Contrarie to Isai 40.18. The worshipping of Images, or bowing to them. Contrarie to Exod. 20.5. The doctrine of Freewill in our conversion. Con∣trarie to 2. Cor. 3.5. Iustification by works. Contrarie to Rom. 3.21. The doctrine of Merit. Contrarie to Rom. 6.23. The doctrine of Purgatorie: con∣trarie to Revel. 14.13. Of Transubstan∣tiation in the Sacrament: contrarie to 1. Cor. 11.26. Of Keeping back the Cup. from the people: contrarie to Matth.

26.27. and, 1. Cor. 11.28, And, Of the Masse: contrarie to Heb. 10.14.

Fyftlie: Hee extolleth himself aboue GOD;* 1.9 by dispensing with the Law of GOD: Whereas it is a common recea∣ved Rule; That no inferiour can dis∣pense with the Law of a Superiour: but, on the contrarie.

Now, that the Pope arrogateth to himself, this power to dispense with the Law of GOD; both the Romish do∣ctrine, and the Popes practise conform doeth show.

And, first,* 1.10 for doctrine Angelus Cla∣vasinus, in his Summa Angelica, giveth this reason, why the Pope dispenceth sometymes with GODS Law; Be∣cause wee haue the example of GOD Him∣self, (sayeth hee,) that oftentymes hee hath dispenced himself with his own law. And, the Pope may doe all thinges, (sayeth Pa∣normitan,) which GOD Himself may doe. Lykewyse;* 1.11 The Pope may dispence against both the Old and New Testament, (sayeth hee,) Cap. licet, n••m. 3. de fe∣riis, f. 206. & Cap. 51. num. 4. de diver∣tiis, f. 69. Imo Papa tollit jus divinum▪ dispensando contra Evangelium, (sayeth

Petrus de Monte, in his Monarchia Papae.) That is, The Pope may take away GODS Law, by his dispensation against the Gospell.

Next: For practise the forenamed Angelus Clavafinus, in his Summa Angeli∣ca, f. 241. relateth that Pope Martin, the fyfth, gaue one a dispensation To marrie his own sister: And, telleth us, That Sanctus Antoninus is a conjunct Re∣corder of this with him.

Lykewyse: Villa, Scotus, and Orbellis, all three on the fourth of the Sentences,* 1.12 reporteth; How that Pope Lucius dis∣pensed with one Panormitan, to haue two wyues at once. Tho also, an Arch∣bishop; Out of the plenitude of his power, (sayd they,) against the Apostle, 1. Tim. 2.3.

And, how the Pope of late dispensed with the king of Pole, Sigismund, to marrie two sisters: As hee did Henrie the eyght before, to marrie his brothers wyf, is notore to the whole world.

From all which former, I argue thus: Hee who extolleth himself, not onlie aboue all that is called God: But, also,

aboue GOD himself: who is so in essence; Hee is that Grand Antichrist; That Man of Sinne, in an eminent way; and sonne of Perdition; As the SCRIPTURE testifieth.

But, the Pope doeth this many wayes, as wee haue shown in this preceeding Chapter.

Therefore, Hee is that Grand Anti∣christ.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ep. 7. ad Bohemos. p. 8.5.8.
• * 1.2

  Ep. 3. ad Bohemos. p. 8, 8.
• * 1.3

  ••ausa 31. c. h••s ra∣tione.
• * 1.4

  Contrarie to Revel. 22.19.
• * 1.5

  L. 2. de a∣dor. disp. q. c. 3. §. 74.
• * 1.6

  1. Tim. 4.3.4.
• * 1.7

  Heb. 13.4
• * 1.8

  Dist. 82. c. prepo∣suisti.
• * 1.9

  Summa Antonini part. 3. tit. 22. c. 6.
• * 1.10

  Tit. Papa, f. 141.
• * 1.11

  Repert. Panor. tit. Papa, 4. c. prop••sui∣sti, num. 12. f. 77.
• * 1.12

  Villa dist. 27. f. 195 Scotus, dist. 33. q. 2. f. 255. Orb. dist. 33. §. 2.