A compend of the controversies of religion wherin the trueth is confirmed, and errour convinced, by authoritie of Scripture, witnessing of antiquitie, and confession of partie. Most necessary for all, in this backe-slyding age. By W.G. minister of God's word.

CHAP. XX. AN APPENDIX, OF ANTICHRIST.

To the Reader. Of the necessitie of this Appendix.

AFter the pro∣clayming of the Eternall Gospel, Re∣vel. 14.9. there is a fearfull Commi∣nation, agaynst all those that any more follow the Beast, or receiue his marke: to wit, That they shall drinke of the VVyne of the VVrath of GOD, and bee tormented with eternall Fyre. It is, therefore, verie behooffull, for everie Chri∣stian to know this Beast: that as the People fol∣lowed Absolon, tho in their simplicitie; so men follow not lyke-wyse, in obstinacie, against

revealed Light, that detected dissembler now, and Traytor to GOD'S Trueth.

For this cause, as the Starre made the VVyse-men know CHRIST, and where Hee was: So haue I set the Starre of GOD'S VVord before thyne Eyes, to leade thee to the knowledge of Antichrist lyke-wyse, and where hee is. And what-so-ever place of Scripture I haue adduced to indigitate Antichrist, (as the finger of the Baptist pointed out CHRIST) I haue, for thy better satisfaction, and con∣vincing of the Adversarie, brought eyther the Exposition of ancient Fathers, or Romane Doctors, there-on; and haue made the appli∣cation, out of the Records of their owne Hi∣stories: so that their owne mouth, shall in∣dyte their owne Dittie, and saue that paynes to their silent partie.

And all this I haue taken from ancient vn∣suspected Bookes of their owne, which I haue beside mee: vsing all fidelitie for thy assu∣rance, and all perspicuous brevitie that is possible, for thy contentment and ease.

OF ANTICHRIST.

§. 1. VVhat sort of Adversarie hee is, to wit, not an open Enemie, but a counterfeit, or a masked Foe, vn∣der the Christian name.

2. THes. 2.3. Let no mā deceiue you, by any means, for that day shall not come, ex∣cept there bee a falling away first, and that man of sinne bee revealed, the sonne of perdition.

Note then, That Antichrist shall bee an Apostate Christian, and no Iew, vnder the Christian name, making defection from the trueth of CHRIST: for so sayth Bellarmine, (Lib. 3. de Pontif. cap. 2. §. ad postremum.) By this falling away, (sayth hee) most rightlie may Antichrist bee vnderstood; for hee shall bee so no∣table

an Apostate, that hee may be cal∣led the Apostasie it selfe.

Remarke also, That therefore hee get∣teth Iudas stile, and is called The sonne of perdition: because as Iudas was the ring-leader of those that came against Christ, yet professing him-selfe a chiefe Disci∣ple, and saluting Christ as his Master; so is Antichrist the ring-leader and head of those that are against the trueth of Christ, yet professing him-selfe a chiefe christian, and a Deputie for Christ: there∣fore sayth Augustine (tract. 3. in Epist, Io∣hannis,) that Antichrist is the greater liar, who professeth with his mouth Ie∣sus to bee Christ, but denyeth him by his deedes: which beeing contrarie to the doctrine of Christ, they are contra∣rie to the Word of God, which Word of God is Christ. Therefore he conclu∣deth, Let vs then (sayeth hee) take heed, not to his tongue, but to his deeds; and where his deeds speake, wherefore require wee words?

Revel. 13.11. And I behelde an-other Beast, comming out of the Earth, and hee had two harnes, like the Lambe, and hee spake as the Dragon.

Note then, That heere againe Anti∣christ

is descrybed, (as all men confesse.) And this is that Beast, sayeth Augustine, (Hom. 11. in Apocalip.) which vnder the christiā name resembleth the Lambe, that hee may secretlie powre in the poy∣son of the Dragon. This is that here∣ticall church, which would not coun∣terfeit the likenesse of the Lambe, if shee did openlie speake; but shee counter∣feiteth christianitie, that the more se∣curelie shee may deceiue the simple. And there-after hee sayeth more expresselie, That this hereticall, and antichristian church, shall heere-in make her selfelike to Christ; which altho her members be spirituallie persecuting Christ, yet they will seeme to glorie of the signe of the Crosse of Christ.

§. 2. The tyme which is fore-tolde of An∣tichrist's comming, and that the same is alreadie past.

2. THess. 2.7. Onlie hee who now letteth, vvill let, till hee bee taken out of the vvay.

This Bellarmine expoundeth, accor∣ding to common consent, (lib. 3. de pont. c. 5.) to bee the decay of the olde Romane Empire.

Now that this is performed, let a clowde of Popish Authors testifye: Aqui∣nas on this place of Paul's, sayeth thus, That as it was a signe of Christ's com∣ming, to wit, the domining over all of the Romane Empire; so is it a signe of Antichrist's comming, to wit, the re∣volt of Countreyes from the Romane Empire. But (sayeth hee) Countreyes haue long since revolted from the Ro∣mane Empire. Wherefore hee is forced to grant, that in place there-of, there is onlie to bee seene a spirituall Monar∣chie at Rome: and from whence wee therefore conclude inevitablie, That An∣tichrist is come.

So sayth Haymo also, a Germane Arch∣bishop, on this place, who wrote in the 800. yeare of God: The Apostle sho∣weth, (sayeth hee) that our Lord shall not come to judgement, while first a de∣cay bee of the Romane Empire; which wee now see fulfilled, and that Anti∣christ doeth now appeare in the World, who shall kill the Martyres of Christ.

Lyra lykewyse, on this place of Paul, sayth, that in his time, the whole King∣domes of the World had alreadie revol∣ted from the Romane Empire.

And the Author of Fasciculus tempo∣rum, in the life of Honorius 1. showeth, that this irrecoverable decay begā anno 639. So that now, (sayth hee) all the

foure Monarchies are decayed, and there resteth none now, but that of Antichrists.

Revel. 17.12. And the ten hornes vvhich thou sawest, are ten Kinges, vvhich haue received no Kingdome as yet, but receiue po∣wer as Kings at one houre with the Beast.

This Bellarmine expoundeth (lib. 3. de Pont. c. 5.) to bee the dissolving of the Romane Empire, in-to severall free Kingdomes, which before were but tri∣butarie Provinces; and which must bee vnderstood of the olde Romane Empire, which was in Sainct Iohn's dayes, and so is alreadie fulfilled: and can-not so bee vnderstood of this new one, which con∣sisteth not of so manie Kingdomes, and is but an image onlie of the olde, ere∣cted by the Pope, and subject vnto him. And so (according to Iohn's wordes) is not divisible in so manie Kingdomes.

That this dissolution then of the olde Empire is alreadie accomplished, by the revolt of tributarie Kingdomes from the same, and their assuming of power, to bee free Monarches, is alreadie proven by the fore-named testimonies: and in speciall, by that of Lyra's, whose words are these, The whole Kingdomes of the

World (sayth hee) haue alreadie, as it were, revolted from the Romane Empire, denying to be subject there-to, or to pay tribute: and now manie Yeares agoe, the Empire hath also wanted an Em∣perour.

Whence it followeth, that as sure An∣tichrist is come, as it is sure that the olde Romane Empire standeth not entire, but is dissolved, by the revolt of Kingdomes there-fra, which of olde were subject there-to: and that at that same instant time, when those assumed power, as free Kings over their Countreyes, that even then Antichrist was alreadie come, and grew great in the Church: seeing it is expresselie saide, that those Kings at one houre receiue power with the Beast.

§. 3. The place in generall where-in An∣tichrist is to bee found.

2. THess. 2.4. Who sitteth in the Temple of God:

That is, (as not onelie expound Ie∣rome and Theodoret, but their owne Sainct Aquinas, and Lyra, on this place,) who ruleth in the Church: or, as Augustine sayth, (Lib. 20. de civitate Dei, c. 19) who giveth him-felfe out, as if he, & his followers, were the onlie true Church.

Both which, that the Pope doeth, Bel∣larmine beareth witnesse, proving his Monarchicke ruling in the Church. Lib. 2. de Pont. c. 12. and that hee, and his followers, are onlie the true Church, in his fourth Booke, De Ecclesia, through∣out.

§. 4. The place in speciall, where-in An∣tichrist his seat is to be found.

REvelat. 17.9. The seaven heads, are seaven Mountaynes, where-on the Woman sitteth.

Which signify Rome, sayeth Bellar∣mine, (Lib. 1. de Eucharist. Cap. 11. §. re∣spondeo Sacramentalem) which is situated on seaven Hilles.

Where-vnto the Rhemists also are for∣ced to consent, saying, on the fift verse of this same Chapter, As in the begin∣ning of the Church, Nero, and the rest of the persecuting Emperours, (which were figures of Antichrist) did principal∣lie, sit in Rome: So also (say they) the great Antichrist shall haue his seat there, as it may well bee.

Note then, That Antichrist must not onelie (by the Papists owne confession) rule as a Monarch in the Church gene∣rallie:

but also, that Rome must bee his seate particularlie. Where-in that hee hath sitten long a-goe, hath beene pro∣ved by the tyme of his comming, and is clearlie testifyed by their Petrarch, a Romane Arch-deane, and Channon, who lived anno 1350. and who thus testi∣fyeth of Rome in his tyme, That it was even then the seate of the Whore; & that even then the Kinges of the earth did drinke the Wyne of her Fornication. So that no-thing more was to be expected, than the performance of that which the Angel sayeth, Babylon is fallen. Pe∣trarch, Lib. Epist. 18.

§. 5. His Qualities and Actions, where-by to know him: and first, his exor∣bitant Pryde.

2. THess. 2.4. Who opposeth and exalteth him-selfe aboue all that is called God.

That is (as saith their Carthusian) aboue all creatures, that are eyther reputed, or for some singular perfection, or eminen∣cie, are so called, gods; beeing such by participation of name onelie, as sayeth their Aquinas.

Now, these are eyther heavenlie An∣gels,

so called, Psal. 97.7. and expoun∣ded so to bee, Hebr. 1.6. or they are earthlie Princes, so stiled, Psal. 82.6.

But to applie, that the Pope exalteth him-selfe aboue all these, let his Cardi∣nall Turrecremata testifie, where hee sayeth, (Lib. 2. summa, cap. 52.) That as Christ got dominion from His Father, aboue all Principalities, and power aboue all creatures what-so-ever that haue beeing, that all knees should bow to Him: So Hee hath granted most fullie this domi∣nion and power to Peter, and his succes∣sours. Hence was that prowde word in the Bull of Clement the fift, concerning those that died comming to his Iubile, saying, VVee command the Angels, &c. And hence also is that prowde claime of Boniface the eight, in his decretall, Ex∣travagant, lib. 1. tit. 8. vnam sanctam. Affirming, that he was to judge all men, and to bee judged of none; and that all men (whether Kings, or Subjects) vnder paine of damnation, should pro∣fesse their subjection to him, as their onlie supreame Lord, both in spirituall things, and temporall.

§. 6. His Blasphemie.

2. THess. 2.4. So that hee as God, sitteth in the Temple of GOD, shewing him-selfe that hee is God.

Revel. 17.3. And I saw a Woman, sit vpon a scarlet-coloured Beast, full of names of Blasphemie.

Now, that in both these places An∣tichrist is descrybed, all men admit. Let vs see then, if the Pope sitteth as God, in the Temple of God; 1. Vsurping the stile of God, 2. as also, His proper prerogatiues: 3. and last, by vsurping the proper stiles of the Sonne of God; let vs see, if hee bee that Beast, full of the names of Blasphemie.

1. First then, that hee assumeth the stile of God, is evident out of his canon Law, (Dist. 96. c. satis, &c.) whence Pope Nicolas 2. inferreth, that hee is to bee judged by none. Which priviledge seeing hee granteth not to anie Prince, it is evident, that he vsurpeth not that stile in that sense, that it is attributed to Magistrates in Scripture, and who are

never, but in the plurall number onlie, called Gods, but not anie of them, a God, in the singular.

2. Next, that hee vsurpeth God's pro∣per prerogatiues, is evident in his dis∣pensing with God's Law: the reason where-of is, because (sayth Angelus Cla∣vasinus, in his Summa Angelica, tit. Papa, f. 141.) wee haue by the example of God him-selfe, that hee oft-tymes hath dispensed with his owne Law. There∣fore it followeth, that the Pope lyke∣wyse doing so, showeth him-selfe, that hee is God, or God's equall. For it is a common rule amongst them-selues, that an inferiour can-not dispence a∣gainst the command of a superiour. (Summa Antonini. Part. 3. tit. 22. cap. 6. §. 2.) And it agreeth also with common sense and reason.

A few examples of such dispensations, in place of manie, wee will bring out of their owne Authors. The fore-said Angelus, in his summa Angelica (f. 141.) relateth, that Pope Martin the 5. gaue one a dispensation that married his owne Sister: and showeth, that Sainct Anto∣ninus is a conjunct recorder of this with him.

Lyke-wyse, Villa, Scotus, and Orbellis, all three, on the fourth Booke of Sen∣tences, reporte, howe that Pope Lu∣cius

dispensed with Panormitan, an Arch∣bishop, to haue two Wiues at once, out of the fulnesse of his power, (say they) against that Apostolicall precept, 1. Tim. 3.2. (Villa. f. 195. dist. 27. Scotus, f. 255. d. 33. q. 2. Orbellis, d. 33. §. 2.

3. Last, that hee vsurpeth the proper stiles of the Sonne of God, and so is that Beast, Full of the names of blasphemie, let these instances testify: 1. Hee is cal∣led, That light that came into the world, and which the world received not (Iohn, 1.10.) for so the Bishop of Bitonto, in his oration before the Counsell of Trent, publicklie proclaimed him. Which title to bee onlie competent to Christ alone, both the text manifesteth, verse 8.9.10. and, 12, and their owne Authors, Car∣thusian, Lyra, Ferus, and manie moe, on that place testify. 2. Hee is called, The Husband of the Church, by Bellarmine (lib. 2. de Pont. cap. 31.) which Aquine, Ly∣ra, and Lombard, (on 2. Cor. 11.2.) sho∣weth, to bee the proper stile of Christ Iesus allanerlie. 3. By the same Bel∣larmine, in his Preface, De summo Ponti∣fice, hee is called, That corner stone, pro∣ved and precious: which title of Christ's alone, Lyra; Hugo de S. Charo, Pintus, and Perusin (on Isai. 28.) showeth, to be in∣communicable to anie what-so-ever: hee being called [the corner stone,] be∣cause

hee coupleth (say they) both Iew and Gentile in one vnitie of fayth, [pro∣ven] by the passion of his crosse, and [precious] in respect both of the infi∣nite value of his person, being God and Man, as also of the merite of passion, which redeemed the whole World. And last, hee is called by Turrecremata, (lib. 3. summae, cap. 9.) King of Kings, which is onlie proper to our Saviour, (Revel. 19.16.) and due to him allanerlie.

§. 7. His Idolatrie, or spirituall VVhore∣dome.

REvel. 17.6. And vpon her fore-head, was a name writ∣ten, Mysterie Babylon, the Mother of Harlots, and ab∣hominations of the Earth.

Now of the veritie here-of in Rome, let their owne doctrine and confessions, in one instance onelie, concerning the worshipping of Images, clearlie beare witnesse.

Their doctrine is this, That the same honour is due to the Image of Christ, which is due to Christ him-selfe: for so say their canonized Saincts, in their au∣thorized

wrytings, Sainct Aquinas, 3. parte. q. 25. and Sainct Bonaventure.

Like-wise, That the Images of Christ, and of the Saincts, are to bee worship∣ped, not onlie by accid••nt, or impro∣perlie; but also by them-selues, and pro∣perlie; so that the worship stayeth in the image it selfe, and as they are conside∣red, even in them-selues, and not onlie as they supplie the place of that which they represent. So teacheth Bellarmine, (lib. 2. de reliq. c. 21.)

Their confession of the Idolatrie that is amongst them, conforme to this do∣ctrine, is such: Polydorus Virgilius sayth, (lib. 6. de inventione rerum, cap. 13.) that in his tyme, it was come to that madnesse and impietie, that those car∣ved and painted Images, were so wor∣shipped, as if they had sense and that the rude people did more confyde in them, than in Christ him-selfe, or the Saincts.

Cassander also (lib. consuls. c. de imag.) affirmeth, that the worship of Images, was come to that highest adoration a∣mongst them, that ever was vsed by Pa∣gans, to bee given to their Idoles; and to that extreame vanitie, that they haue left no-thing vndone, which the verie Heathens performed, in dressing and de∣coring their Images. And there after concludeth, that as long as the occa∣sion

of such errour is not taken away, but that Images decked with golde, and silke, and precious stones, are set in Churches, and on Altars, that so long no ende of superstition is to bee hoped for.

§. 8. His Crueltie.

REvel. 17, 6. And I saw the Woman drunken vvith the Blood of the Saincts, and of the Martyres of IESVS.

This to bee true of the Popes, I shall adduce onlie their owne witnesses: Pla∣tina, in the lyfe of Sylvester the 3, testi∣fyeth, That the Popedome was at that time come to this passe, that hee who ex∣ceeded most in pryde, and bryberie, at∣tained to that degree of honour, all good men being opp••essed by them: which fa∣shion (says he) I wish our times had not kept: and except God prevent it, wee are to see worse.

In lyke manner, thus doeth the Au∣thor of Fasciculus exclaime, (f. 49.) saying of the 900. yeare. O worst time that ever was! (sayth hee) where-in the godlie man is perished, and Trueth is de∣cayed

amongst the sonnes of men! O what contentions are in the Apostolicke seat! what emulations, sects, envie, am∣bition, intrusion; yea, and persecution is now! Alace, what companie, what assemblie, yea, what man then, may bee now secure?

Also in the life of Boniface the seavēth, he sayth, that manie were slaine, as in the primitiue Church, for that (to wit) which the Pope called Heresie.

And in the lyfe of Innocent the third, like-wise hee showeth, that 100000. of the VValdenses were partlie slaine, and put to flight, by the Earle of Mont∣ferrat, assisted at the Pope's command, with Bishops and Abbots.

And that in Mysticall Babylon, the blood shed in the whole Earth, may bee found, Onuphrius, in the lyfe of Iulius the se∣cond, showeth, that the Pope was the ve∣rie fyre-brand, and stirrer vp of Warres, everie-where through-out all Christen∣dome.

This is then, that killing of the two Witnesses, (Rev. 11.3.) whom Au∣gustine, (hom. 8. in Apoc.) and Beda on that place, expound to bee the true pro∣fessours of Christ's Church: and for number, called two, because (sayeth Beda) of that illumination by the light of the two Testaments, whose trueth they purelie professe, and whence, (sayth

Augustine) all that suspicion of some, is al-together excluded, who thinke, that those two Witnesses shall bee two men, who before Christ's comming had in the Clouds ascended vnto Heaven.

§. 9. His Simonie, or spirituall Merchan∣dize.

2. PEt. 2.3. And thorow co∣vetousnesse, shall they with feigned vvordes make merchandize of you.

Therefore, Revel. 18. amongst the merchandize of Mysticall Babylon, is re∣counted last, as most speciall, to summe vp all the soules of men.

Of the practise of this simonie, first, in an ordinarie custome of buying and selling the Papacie it selfe, let that testi∣monie of the Popes Secretarie, Platina, in the lyfe of Sylvester the third, suffice, who sayeth, that they who most excee∣ded in Pryde, and Bryberie, attained to that degree.

Next, for selling of inferiour cures of soules, let first a Pope him-selfe speake, to wit, Pius the second, who before his comming to the Popedome, in his fourth Epistle to Iohn Peregall, his Procutor at

Rome, writeth thus: There is no-thing (sayth hee) that the Court of Rome gi∣veth without Money: for the verie im∣position of hands, and the gifts of the holie Ghost are solde: neither is the re∣mission of sinne bestowed vpon anie, without large Money.

Here-of also testifieth their Poët, and Carmelite Frier, Mantuan, in his Booke Of the calamities of tyme, saying, All things are to bee solde at Rome, Chur∣ches, Priesthoods, Masses, holie Orders, &c. Prayers, yea, Heaven, and God Him∣selfe are to bee solde there.

Whence it is, that their owne Duaren testifyeth, in his Booke for defence of the liberties of the French Church, that in the time of Pius the third, for the an∣nats of benefices in three yeares, the Pope drew out of France fyue and twen∣tie hundreth thousand Crownes; and for dispensation, to haue two or three Benefices together, that hee got two hundreth thousands of Crownes.

Whence also it is, that the Abbot of Ʋrsperg, in his Chronicle (f. 321.) sayth, That the water-floods of all the Trea∣sures of the Earth, did flow to Rome, to quench her thirst of Money, which was al-wayes vnsatiable, and which her Chancellarie & Penitentiarie Courts sufficientlie can testifye.

§. 10. His false Miracles, or lying VVon∣ders.

2. THess. 2.9. Whose comming is after the working of Sa∣tan, with all power, and signes, and lying wonders.

Now, Augustine (de vnitate Ecclesiae) calleth these Miracles, lying: not onlie because they induce to lies, but because they are either feigned by men, and so are not true, or else they are the tricks of lying spirits, and so either à falso, or ad falsum.

Now, that both these last sorts haue beene frequent, and ordinarie in the Po∣pish Church, is more than notorious.

Of the first sort then, their owne Lyra, testifyeth thus, in his exposition on Da∣niel, 11. Some-tymes now also in the Church, (sayeth hee) is a great decei∣ving of the people, by miracles feigned by Priests, and their adherents, for their worldly gaine.

Of the second sort, where-by they chiefelie ectablished their Purgatorie, thus speaketh Chrysostome, (hom. 29. in Ma∣theum) These voyces (sayth hee) that say, I am the soule of such a one, pro∣ceede

from the fraude and deceit of the Devill: for it is not the soule of the de∣parted that sayth that, but Satan, who, that hee may deceiue the hearers, feig∣neth him-selfe to bee that foule.

Of all Miracles then, that are preten∣ded to bee wrought in the latter dayes by the Romane Church, we may answere with Augustine's words, saying, The Lord hath made vs warie of these Mi∣racle-workers, fore-telling vs, That in the last dayes, false prophets shall aryse, working signes & wonders, that they may seduce (if it were possible) the ve∣rie elect: so that how manie Miracles they obtrude for them, with as many ar∣guments furnish they vs, against them: seeing no Church, but the false Church of Antichrist, is fore-tolde, in the lat∣ter dayes, to worke, or pretende such.

§. 11. His Name, and Marke.

HIs Name, that most ancient Father Ireneus, in his fyft Booke, sayeth most probablie, is, Latinus: devota∣ting there-by, that hee shall bee a La∣tine, or a Romane Bishop. And the im∣posing of which name on others, is, by professing of them-selues to bee Roma∣nists, that all men may acknowledge

there-by subjection to his Sea, and ser∣vice; or at least, bee of the number of his name: that is, (as Carthusian expoun∣deth) that they bee at least so accoun∣ted by others, that they are his follo∣wers.

But beside this, hee hath a Marke, which hee imprinteth on his speciall ones; and which Augustine, Beda, Lyra, and Carthusian, expounded, to bee a full conformitie to his obedience, and do∣ctrine, and which Ʋnder Christ's Name, in Hypocrisie, (say they) they shall take vpon them, in their fore-heads, by an open and impudent profession: and in their right hand, by a resolute practise and action. And which may clearlie now-a-dayes bee seene true, both in those Iesuits, and their Iesuited follo∣wers; as-well in their practise of Idola∣trie against GOD, as also in their trea∣cherous crueltie against man lyke-wyse.

§. 12. Of Antichrist's daylie consumption, and finall destruction at last.

2. THess. 2.8. And then shall that wicked man bee re∣vealed, whom the LORD shall consume by the Breath of His

Mouth, and shall destroy with the brightnesse of His comming.

This Cardinall Cajetan so expoun∣deth, By the Breath of His Mouth, that is, (sayth hee) by the spirituall vertue of the Worde of the Gospell, piece and piece, turning away men from Antichrist's following, and leading them to imbrace the trueth of the Gospell. And this is that victorie of the Lambe, spoken of, Revel. 17.14. over those European Kings and Countreyes, who before, as his se∣cular arme, gaue their power, with one accord, to the Beast, & persecuted Christ's Servants; but beeing converted now, by the spirituall vertue of the Go∣spell, hate that idolatrous Whoore, and shall make her desolate, and burne her with fyre, for her thre∣shing is come: and yet but a little, and the tyme of Harvest shall come. Even so, Come Lord Iesus.