The bloudy rage of that great antechrist of Rome and his superstitious adherents, against the true church of Christ and the faithfull professors of his gospell. Declared at large in the historie of the Waldenses and Albigenses, apparently manifesting vnto the world the visibilitie of our Church of England, and of all the reformed churches throughout Christendome, for aboue foure hundred and fiftie years last past. Diuided into three parts ... / All which hath bene faithfully collected out of the authors named in the page following the preface, by I.P.P.M. ; Translated out of French by Samson Lennard.

What the workes of Antichrist are.

THe first worke of Antichrst, is to take away the truth, and to change it into falsehood and errour and heresie. The second, to couer false∣hood with the truth, and to con∣firme an vntruth, by seeming faith, and by vertue, and to mingle false∣hood with things spituall, amongst those people that are subiect vnto him, whether it bee by meanes of his Ministers or the Ministerie. Now this two-fold man∣ner of proceeding containeth a perfect and most ac∣complished malice, which could not bee in any tyrant

or powerfull Potentate from the beginning of the world vntill the time of Antichrist. Neither hath Christ had any enemy before this which could so change the way of truth into falsehood; or that had power to per∣uert those that make profession either of the one or the other; that is to say, of truth or falsehood. In such sort that our holy Mother the Church with her true chil∣dren, is trodden vnder-foot, especially for the true ser∣uice of God and the Ministery thereof, insomuch that shee and her members breake out into those mourne∣full complaints of the Prophet Ieremy; How doeth the Citie sit solitary that was full of people? How is shee be∣come a widdow, that is, destitute of the trueth of her Spouse? Shee that was great among the nations, be∣cause of that power shee had ouer sinne and errour; and the Princesse among the Prouinces, by that part shee had in the world, and the things in the world. Mourne, and behold with a carefull eye, and thou shalt finde all these things accomplished euen in these times. For the holy Church is reputed a Synagogue, and the Synagogue of the wicked, is acknowledged to bee the mother of those that beleeue in God and obey his Lawes. Falsehood is Preached for truth, wrong for right; Iniustice is held for Iustice, errour for faith, sinne for vertue, vanity for verity.

Obiect. But what other workes proceed from these first?

Answer. These that follow.

The first worke is, that hee turneth that seruice and worship which is onely proper and due vnto God, to himselfe and his workes, and to the poore creature, rea∣sonable and vnreasonable, sensible and insensible. Rea∣sonable, as to men, hee-Saints and shee-Saints, that are

departed out of this world: Vnreasonable, and to I∣mages, carrion or reliques. His workes are the Sacra∣ments, especially the Sacrament of the Eucharist, which he adoreth as God, and as Iesus Christ, seruing things blessed, and consecrated, and forbidding the worship of the onely God.

The second worke of Antichrist is, that he robbeth Christ of his merit, with all the sufficiency of grace, righteousnesse, regeneration, remission of sinnes, san∣ctification, confirmation in grace and spirituall nou∣rishment; and imputeth and attributeth it to his au∣thority, and to the forme of words, and to his workes, and to Saints, and to their intercession, and to the fire of Purgatory, drawing the people from Christ and his conduct vnto the things aboue-named, to the end men should not seeke the things of Christ, nor by Christ, but trust only to be saued by the works of their hands, and not by a liuely faith in God, and his Sonne Christ Iesus, and his holy Spirit, but by the will and workes of Antichrist, for so he teacheth that all saluation con∣sisteth in his workes.

The third worke of Antichrist consisteth in this, that he attributeth the renewing by the holy Ghost to an outward dead faith, and baptizeth children into that faith, and that by it wee haue the Baptisme and the re∣generation, and therein hee giueth Orders and Sacra∣ments, and in it he groundeth all Christianity, which is repugnant to the Spirit of God.

The fourth worke of Antichrist is, that hee hath or∣dained and placed all Religion and Sanctity of the people in the Masse, and hath patched together many ceremonies, whereof some are Iudaicall, some Hea∣thenish, some Antichristian. To the hearing whereof,

leading the congregation and the people, hee depriues them of their spirituall and Sacramentall food, and se∣parateth them from the true Religion, and the Com∣mandements of God, and withdrawes them from the workes of mercy by his Offertory, and by his Masse he setteth the people in a vaine hope.

The fift worke of Antichrist is, that hee doeth all his workes, to the end hee may bee seene of men, that he may solace himselfe in his vnsatiable auarice, that he may make gaine of all things, and doe nothing without Simony.

The sixt worke of Antichrist is, that hee giueth way to all open and apparant sinnes, without any Ecclesia∣sticall sentence, neither doth hee excommunicate the impenitent.

The seuenth worke of Antichrist is, that hee neither ruleth nor defendeth his vnity by the Word and power of the Spirit of God, but by the secular power, and hee addeth vnto his ayde things spirituall.

The eight worke of Antichrist is, that hee hateth and persecuteth, and putteth to death the members of Christ. These are in a manner the principall workes which he doth against the truth, for all of them can by no meanes bee written or numbred. Let it suffice for this present that wee haue noted the more generall, and shall likewise set downe by what workes this iniquity is couered.

• First and principally by an outward confession of Faith; whereof the Apostle sayth, They confesse they know God with their mouthes, but they deny him in their hearts.
• Secondly, hee couereth his iniquity by length of time, and in that he is maintained by certaine Sages,

• and religious Monkes, and Virgins, and Nunnes, and Widowes, and other women of austere life. As also by the people without number, of whom it is said in the Reuelation: And power was giuen vnto him ouer euery Tribe, and Language, and Nation, and all the Inhabitants of the Earth fell downe and worshipped him.
• Thirdly, hee couereth his iniquity with the spirituall authority of the Apostles, against which the Apostle saith; We can doe nothing against the truth, and power there is none giuen vs to destruction.
• Fourthly, he couereth his iniquity with many mira∣cles, of whom the Apostle saith, 2 Thes. 2.9. Whose com∣ming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signes, and lying wonders, and with all deceiueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse.
• Fiftly, by outward holinesse, prayers, fastings, wat∣chings, and almesdeeds: against which the Apostle saith; Hauing the appearance of godlinesse, but denying the power thereof.
• Sixtly, he couereth his iniquity with certaine words of Christ, and the writings of ancient Fathers, and with Councels, which they doe so farre forth obserue, as that they may no way hinder their wicked liues and plea∣sures.
• Seuenthly, by the administration of the Sacraments, viz. of Penance, by which they disgorge and vomit vp all their errours.
• Eightly, by corrections, and verball preachings a∣gainst vice; for they say, and doe not.
• Ninthly, they couer their iniquity, by the vertuous life of some, that liue dissemblingly, others truly. For the Elect of God, who will and doe that which is good, are detained as in Babylon, and are as gold wherewith

• Antichrist couereth his vanity, not permitting them to serue the onely God, or to put their trust in Christ a∣lone, or to embrace the true Religion. These things and diuers others, are as the mantell or cloake of Antichrist, wherewith he couereth his lyes and malice, to the end he may not be reiected as a Pagan, and vnder which he proceedeth dishonestly, and like a whore.

We are now to shew, both out of the Old and New Testament, that a Christian is bound by the Comman∣dement of God, to separate himselfe from Antichrist. For the Lord saith in the 52. of Esay 11. Depart ye, de∣part ye, goe ye out from thence, touch no vncleane thing, goe ye out of the middest of her; be ye cleane, that beare the ves∣sels of the Lord: For ye shall not goe out with hast, nor goe by flight, &c. And the Prophet Ieremy, Chap. 50.8. Re∣moue out of the middest of Babylon, and goe forth out of the Land of the Caldeans, and be as the hee-goates before the flockes. For loe, I will raise, and cause to come vp against Ba∣bylon an assembly of great Nations, from the North Coun∣trey, and they shall set themselues in army against her, from thence shee shall be taken. And Numbers 16.21. Separate your selues from among this Congregation, that I may con∣sume them in a moment: And againe in the 26 verse. De∣part from the Tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, least ye be consumed in all their sinnes. And again, Leuit. 20.24. I am the Lord your God, and haue separa∣ted you from other people: Yee shall therefore put difference betweene cleane beasts, and vncleane, and you shall not make your soules abominable, by beast, or by fowle, nor by any manner of liuing thing that creepeth on the ground, which I haue separated from you as vncleane. Againe, in the 34. of Exodus: Take heed to thy selfe, lest thou make a Couenant with the inhabitants of the land, for feare lest

when they goe a whoring after their Gods, and doe sacrifice vnto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eate of his sa∣crifice: And thou take of their daughters vnto thy sonnes, and their daughters goe a whoring after their gods, and make thy sonnes goe a whoring after their gods. This is likewise manifest in the New Testament, Iohn 12. That the Lord came into the world, and suffered death, to the end he might ioyne all the children of God in one. And for this truth of the vnity, and separation of others, it is said, Matth. 10.34. Thinke not I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daugh∣ter against her mother, and the daughter in law against the mother in law; And a mans soes shall be they of his owne houshold. And this diuision hee hath commanded, say∣ing, If there be any that forsaketh not father and mother for my sake, &c. Againe, Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheepes clothing. Againe, Beware of the leuen of the Pharises. Againe, Take heed lest any seduce you, for many shall come in my Name and shall seduce ma∣ny. And therefore if any one shall say vnto you, heere is Christ, and there is Christ, beleeue him not. And Reuel. 8.4. he admonisheth with his owne voyce, and comman∣deth all that are his to goe out of Babylon, saying, Come out of her my people, that you be not partakers of her sinnes, and that ye receiue not of her plagues: For her sins haue reached vnto heauen, and God hath remembred her iniquities. The Apostle affirmeth the same, 2, Cor. 6.14. Be ye not vnequally yoked together with vnbeleeuers, for what fellowship hath righteousnesse with vnrighteousnesse, and what communion h••th light with darkenesse; And what concord hath Christ with Belial, and what part hath he that beleeueth with an Infidell? And what agreement

hath the Temple of God with Idols? And therefore goe out of her, and separate your selues from her, saith the Lord, and touch no vncleane thing, and I will bee vnto you in the place of a father, and you shall bee vnto mee as sonnes and daughters, saith the Lord. Againe, Ephes. 5.7. Be not yee therefore partakers with them; for yee were sometimes darkenesse, but now are yee light in the Lord. Againe, 1. Cor. 10 20. I would not that yee should haue fellowship with deuils: yee cannot drinke the cup of the Lord, and the cup of deuils. And againe, 2. Thes. 3.6. Wee command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ, that ye withdraw your selues from euery brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he receiued of vs. For your selues know how ye ought to follow vs: And in the 14. verse. And if any man obey not our word by this Epistle, note that man, and haue no company with him, that he may be ashamed. And Ephes. 5.11. Haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse. And 2. Tim. 3.1. This also know, that in the last dayes, perillous times shall come: And Verse 5. Hauing a forme of godlinesse, but denying the power thereof: from such turne away.

By these places aboue repeated, the malice of Anti∣christ doth manifestly appeare. So it is likewise com∣manded by the Lord, that we separate our selues from him, and to ioyne our selues to the holy City, Ierusa∣lem. And therefore we that haue knowledge of these things, the Lord hauing reuealed them vnto vs by his seruants, beleeuing this reuelation deliuered in the Word, being admonished by the Commandements of the Lord to separate our selues from him, inwardly and outwardly, because we beleeue him to bee Anti∣christ, and haue conuersation and vnity of will and sin∣cere intention, purposing to please God, that wee may

be saued, by the ayde and assistance of our Lord wee ioyne our selues to the truth of Christ, and of his Spouse, how little soeuer it be in the eye of the world, so farre foorth as our vnderstanding shall direct vs. And therefore we haue determined with our selues, to make knowne to the world, what are the causes of our departure, and what our congregation is, to the end that if the Lord shall giue the knowledge of the selfe∣same truth, they that haue receiued it should loue it, to∣gether with our selues: And that if peraduenture they be not sufficiently illuminated, they may receiue com∣fort and assistance by this meanes, and be watered by the dew of heauen. And if this grace bee giuen more abundantly, and in a higher measure to any other, wee desire in all humility to bee better instructed by him, intreating our faults and defects may bee amended. These things then that follow are the causes of our se∣paration.

Be it knowne to all in generall, and euery particular person, that the cause of our separation, is for the essen∣tiall verity of Faith, and the ministeriall. The Essentiall verity of Faith, is the inward knowledge of one true God, and the vnity of Essence in three persons, which knowledge flesh and bloud hath not giuen. As also for the decent and conuenient seruice due to one onely God; for the loue thereof aboue all things; for sanctifi∣cation and the honour thereof aboue all things, and aboue all names; for a liuely hope by Christ in God; for regeneration and inward renouation by faith, hope, and charity; for the merit of Iesus Christ, with all suffi∣ciency of grace and righteousnesse; for the participation or communion with all the Elect; for remission of sinnes; for holy conuersation; and for the faithfull ac∣complishment

of all the Commandements in the faith of Christ; for true repentance; for perseuerance vnto the end, and for life euerlasting.

The Ministeriall verities are these: The outward Congregation of Ministers, with the people subiect in place, time, and truth, by the ministry of the truth a∣boue mentioned, directing, establishing, and preseruing the Church; the said Ministers by faith, and an integrity of life, shewing themselues obedient, and giuing them∣selues couragiously to the practise and vsuall cariage of our Sauiour ouer the flocke.

The things which the Ministers are bound to doe, for the seruice of the people, are these: The Euange∣licall Word; the Sacraments annexed to the Word, which certifie what the intention and vnderstanding hath beene; confirme the hope in Christ, and in the faithfull the ministeriall communion of all things, by the Essentiall verity. And if there be any other ministe∣riall things, they may all bee referred to the aboue∣named. But of these singular verities, some are essen∣tially necessary to the saluation of man, others condi∣tionally. They are contained in the twelue Articles of our Faith, and in diuers writings of the Apostles. For Antichrist hath long since raigned in the Church by diuine permission.

The errours and impurities of Antichrist, are these; that is to say, diuers and innumerable Idolatries against the Commandements of God and of Christ, by a ser∣uice giuen to the creature, and not to the Creator, visi∣ble and inuisible, corporall and spirituall, vnderstan∣ding or sensible, naturall, or made and framed by some art, and vnder the name of Christ; or hee-saints, or shee-saints, or reliques, which creature is serued by faith, by

hope, by gestures, by prayers, by pilgrimages, by almes∣deeds, by offerings and sacrifices of great charge. The which creature they serue, adore, honor after a diuers manner, with songs, orations, solemnities, and celebra∣tions of Masses, vespers, complines, to the selfe-same creatures, with prayer bookes for certaine houres, vi∣gils, feasts, purchasing of grace, which is essentially in one onely God, and in Iesus Christ meritoriously, and is obtained by faith onely, and by the holy Ghost.

For there is no other cause of Idolatry, then the false opinion of grace, of truth, of authority, inuocation, in∣tercession, which this Antichrist hath taken from God, and attributed it to his ceremonies, authorities, the workes of his hands, and to Saints, and to Purgatory. And this iniquity of Antichrist, is directly against the first Article of our Faith, and the first Commandement of the Law.

In like sort, the disorderly loue of the World, which is in Antichrist, is that from whence doe spring all the sinnes and wickednesse that is in the Church, in those that are the Leaders, and Rulers, and Officers thereof, who sinne without controlement against the truth of faith, and the knowledge of God the Father; witnesse Saint Iohn, who saith; He that sinneth, knoweth not God: for if any man loue the world, the charity of the Father is not in him. The second iniquity of Antichrist consists in the hope which he giueth of pardon, grace, righteous∣nesse, truth, and eternall life; as not being in Christ, or in God by Christ, but in men liuing and dead, in autho∣rities, ecclesiasticall ceremonies, in benedictions, sacrifi∣ces, prayers, and other things aboue mentioned; not by true faith, which brings forth repentance by charity, and a departure from euill, and cleauing to that which

is good. Now Antichrist teacheth vs not to place our hope and confidence in such things, that is to say, re∣generation, spirituall confirmation, or communion, the remission of sinnes, sanctification, eternall life; but to hope in his Sacraments, and his wicked Simony, by which the people are abused in such sort, that they make sale of all things, and inuent many ordinances old and new, to bring siluer into their chests, promising that if any man doe this or that, hee shall obtaine grace and life. And this double iniquity is called in Scriptures, adultery and fornication. And therefore such Mini∣sters as leade the brutish people into these errours, are called the Apocalipticall Whore. And this iniquity is against the second Article, and the second and third Commandement.

The third iniquity of Antichrist consisteth in this, that he hath inuented (besides those aboue-named) other false religions and orders, and Monasteries, gi∣uing hope to obtaine grace, by building oratories for Saints; as also by deuout and frequent hearing of the Masse, by the receiuing the Sacrament, by Confession, (though seldome with a contrite heart) by satisfaction, by fastings, and emptying the purse, by professing himselfe a member of the Church of Rome, by ma∣king vowes, and giuing themselues to orders of Capou∣ches and Cowles, which against all truth they affirme that men are bound vnto. And this iniquity of Anti∣christ is directly against the eight Article of our Be∣liefe, I beleeve in the holy Ghost.

The fourth iniquity of Antichrist consisteth in this, that notwithstanding hee bee the fourth Beast descri∣bed by Daniel, and the Apocalipticall whore, hee ne∣uerthelesse adorneth himselfe, with authority, power,

dignity, offices, Scriptures, and compareth himselfe, and maketh himselfe equall to the true and holy Mo∣ther the Church, in which there is saluation Ministeri∣ally, and not elsewhere, in which there is the truth of life and Doctrine, and of the Sacraments. For if he should not thus couer himselfe and his wicked Mini∣sters, being knowne for manifest sinners, hee would soone be forsaken and abandoned of euery one. For Emperours, and Kings, and Princes, thinking him to be like to the true and holy mother the Church, they haue loued and endowed him, contrary to the Com∣mandement of God. And this iniquity of Ministers, and subiects, and such as are brought vp in errour and sinne, is directly against the ninth Article: I beleeue in the holy Catholike Church. And thus much touching the first part.

Secondly, as they that are partakers of the onely outward ceremonies ordained by the inuention of men, doe beleeue and hope, truely to performe their Pastorall duties and cures, prouided onely that they be shauen, like sheepe, and anoynted like walles, and blessed by touching the Booke, and the cup, with their hands, and so publish themselues to haue taken the or∣der of Priesthood as they should: So likewise (as it hath beene sayd before) the people that are subiect vnto them doe communicate by words, by signes, by outward exercises, and by their diuers gestures and actions thinke they participate of the truth it selfe, drawne from thence. And this is against the other part of the ninth Article: I beleeue the Communion of Saints. It standeth vs therefore vpon to depart from the most wicked Communion of Monkes, whereunto carnall men are drawne, causing them for

couetousnesse to put their trust in things of naught, yea though they bee luxurious and couetous, onely to the end men should giue them, and then they tell them that they participate of their pouerty and of their cha∣stitie.

The fift iniquity of Antichrist consists in this, that he sayneth and promiseth remission of sinnes, to such offenders, as haue no true sorrow and contrition for their sinnes, and cease not to perseuere in their wicked∣nesse: and that in the first place, hee promiseth remis∣sion of their sinnes, because of their auricular confessi∣on, and humane absolution in their Pilgrimages, and all for money. And this iniquity is against the eleuenth Article of our faith: I beleeue the forgiuesse of sinnes. For that is in God by authority, in Christ by ministra∣tion, Faith, Hope, Charity, Repentance, Obedience to the Word; and in man by participation.

The sixth iniquity is, that they hope euen to their liues end, in the aboue-mentioned iniquities, and espe∣cially in extreame Vnction and deuised Purgatory, in such sort that the ignorant and rude people perseuere in their errour, by giuing them to vnderstand, that they are absolued from their sinnes, though they neuer depart from them of their owne free wills, but hope thereby to haue forgiuenesse of their sinnes, and life euerlasting. And this iniquity is directly against the eleuenth and twelfth Article of our Faith.