Proposition I. That Rome-Papal is Mystical-Babylon.

EAstern Babylon of Nebuchadnezzar in Chaldaea, was a famous City, Called the Lady of Kingdoms Isa. 47.1, 5. and the glory of Kingdoms Isa. 13.19. under whose Kings the People of God were Captivated and oppressed violently 2 Chron. 36.14,-20. and Jer. 51.34, 35.. For which violence done to Zion, and other God-provoking Sins, that great City and Kingdom was destroyed by Cyrus King of Persia, Isa. 45.1-4 and 47.1-9. whom God raised up to execute his righteous Judgments upon them for their Iniquities, lo [...] before [Page 2] Saint John's time. Therefore Mysterie, Babylon the great, (so Named, Revel. 17.5.) is some other great City, which doth resemble Old-Babylon for Ido­latry, Jerem. 5.47. Persecution, Lam. 5.1.5. Vio­lence, Jerem. 51.25. Oppression, Jerem. 50.33. Isa. 14.4. and Pride, Isa. 47.1, 5, 7. And thou saidst, I shall be a Lady for ever, —I am, and none else besides me. And so doth Mystical-Babylon say in her Heart, Revel. 18 7. I sit a Queen. Also Blood-guiltiness, Psalm 79.1, 2, 3. The blood of thy Servants have they shed like Water round about Jerusalem; and so doth Mystical-Babylon, Revel. 26.6. For they have shed the Blood of Saints and Prophets, Rev. 18.24. As the City Jerusalem was Spiritually called Sodom and Aegypt, Rev. 11.8. where our Lord was cruci­fied. So Rome Pagan and Papal is Mystically called Ba­bylon, where the Saints have been and shall be killed, Rev. 6.9, 10, 11. Rev. 11.7.16, 6. Rev. 18.13, 24. And in her was found the Blood of Prophets and of Saints, and of all that were slain upon the Earth. That which Jesus Christ revealed by his Angel unto his Servant John touching Mystical-Babylon in this Prophecy of the Revelation, can agree to no other City but Rome only. For first, No other City (in Saint John's time) was built upon Seven Mountains, or Hills, but Rome only, Revel. 17.5, 8, 9, 18. And the seven Heads are seven Mountains on which the Wo­man Sitteth, called the great City, verse 18. whose Name is Mysterie Babylon the great, verse 5. So Pro­pertius, Propert. Eleg. 10. l. 3. Septem urbs al­ta Jugis toti quae praesidet Orbi. Virgil, Virgil. Georg. 2. ω. Pulcherrima Roma, Septem quae una sibi Muro circum­dedit arces. Ovid. 1. de Tristibus l. 3. Elog. 7. Dum (que) suis victrix septem de Montibus Or­bem Prospiciet domitum, Martia Roma Legar. Ovid, (i) Cornel. à Lap. Cornel. à Lap. in Apoc. 17.3, 9. In septem Montibus patet denotari Romam. Bellarm. Bellar. de R. P. l. 2. c. 2. & l. 3. c. 12. So do Viegas, Suarez, Ribera, and divers others affirm, That by Babylon in the Book of the Revelation Rome is Figured forth. And the Remists in their Testament acknowledge, That by Ba­bylon is meant Rome: See their Notes on 1 Pet. 5.13. and upon the 17. and 18. Chapters of the Revelation.

[Page 3] Secondly, No other City in the World had seven Kings, that is, Seven several Kinds of Governours succeeding one another, but Rome only, Revel. 17.10. And there are seven Kings, five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come. The five Kings, that were fallen, past and gone before John's time, are men­tioned by Tit. Livius, l. 6. What the Romans did (saith Livy,) under their Kings, and after under their Consuls, Dictators, Decemvirs, and Consular-Tribunes, whither as to Wars abroad, or suppressing Troubles at home, I have set forth in five Books. And this One is Rev. 17.10. [...]. viz. the Emperour, for the Caesars were the the sixth Head of Rome, who Reigned in St. John's time; The other is not yet come, viz. the Seventh Head of Rome, or the Seventh King, or Kind of Roman-Go­vernour, to wit, the Popes of Rome, Revel. 17.11. And HE (that is, the POPE) is of the Seven, and goeth into Perdition. This Seventh Kind of Go­vernment of the Roman-Kingdom by Popes was not come in Saint John's Time. So then it is manifest, that Rome is the City, which had seven Kings, Heads, or Kinds of Governours, that succeeded one another; Now let any One shew us another City that hath had seven Kings, or several Kinds of Governours [Et erit mihi magnus Apollo] And let him be Pope.

Thirdly, No other City in Saint John's time did Reign over the Kings of the Earth, but Rome only, Rev. 17.18. And the Woman which thou sawest [ [...]] is that City the Great (verse 5. My­stery, Babylon the Great, viz. Rome) which Reigneth over the Kings of the Earth. Yea, it is very evident by the Testimony and Confession of many Popish-Wri­ters, who for their Learning, (and Dignity in the Church of Rome) were Eminent, That Rome is that great City, which by the Emperours Authority in Saint John's time, and by the Pope's Power since, hath Reign­ed and still Reigneth over the Kings of the Earth. Bellarm. lib. 3. de Pont. R. c. 13. Per Meretricem intelligi Ro­mam. Bellarmin saith, That Rome is to be understood by [Page 4] the great Whore. Cardinal Poole Polus Car­dinal. de Con­cilio. p. 91. Petri Cathe­dram super om­nia Imperato­rum Solia, & omnia Regum tribunalia Con­stituit Christus. saith, Christ hath set Peter's Chair above all the Thrones of Emperours, and above all the Tribunals of Kings, [But Christ did not sit in any such Chair of Kingly State as the Pope doth; nor did Saint Peter, nor any of Christ's Apostles, no not Saint Paul (the chiefest of all the Apostles, 2 Cor. 11.5. and 12.11.] Isodorus Musconius de Majestate Ec­clesiae Milit. l. 1. c. 7. p. 26. Venetiis, anno 1602. Pontifex Ro­manus est Ju­dex universa­lis, Rex Regum, & Dominus Dominantium. Abra. Bzovius de Pont. Rom. Coloniae A­grip. 1619. says, Papa est Christianorum Monarcha, Mortalium Supremus, Judex Coeli, Arbiter Orbis, cap. 1.3, 16, 32, 45. Celsus Mancinus, de Juribus Principatuum Romae 1596. lib. 3. cap. 1, 2, &c. saith, Papa est totius Orbis Dominus: Potestas Papae tem­poralis est omnium aliarum Potestatum eminentissima, Aliae (que) Potestates omnes ab illo de­pendent. Isodorus Musconius saith, That the Pope of Rome is the Universal Judge; HE is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. However, That Testimony recorded, Luke 2.1, 2, 3. is undeniable. And it came to pass in those Days, that there went out a DECREE from Caesar Augustus (the Roman Em­perour) that all the World should be Taxed. From what hath been Confessed and Testified by the Papists themselves, it is plain and evident, That Rome-Papal is Mystical-Babylon Viegas in Apoc. 17. Com. 1. S. 3. Inquit, Nomine Babilonis urbem Ro­mam significari in hoc Apocalypsis opere; ubi toties Babilon nominatur. vid. Orosium lib. 2. c. 3. Hist. Par. in Apoc. 14.8..

Proposition II. That the POPE of Rome is the BEAST.

THe great Monarchs and Monarchies of this World have been Figured forth by Beasts of Prey. God shewed his Prophet Daniel the four great Kingdoms of this World, viz. the Assyrio-Caldean, the Medi-Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman Kingdoms by a Vision of four Ravenous and devouring Beasts, Dan. 7.3, 4.—8. Dan. 7.7. [...] And behold a fourth Beast (the Roman-Kings and Kingdoms with seven Heads, and ten Horns, and upon the Horns ten Crowns; And upon his seventh Head two Horns, like a Lamb; Rev. 13.1.11.) dread­ful and terrible, &c. ver. 7. Exceedingly, And divers from all the other three Beasts. And Jesus Christ shewed his Apostle John the same fourth Beast, Rev. 13.2. And the Beast that I saw, was like unto a Leopard, and his Feet were as the Feet of a Bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lyon, And the Dragon That old Serpent, the Devil and Sa­tan, For the Devil and the Pope are alike (as Father and Son) in many Things: The Devil contra­dicted Gods word, Gen. 3.4. So doth the Pope 1 Tim. 4.3. forbidding to Marry. This confesseth Christ, Mark. 3.11. but denies his Laws; So doth the Pope, Rev. 13.11, 15, 16, 17. The Devil would be worshipped as God, Matth. 4.6. The Pope would be Exalted above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, 2 Thes. 2.4. gave him his Power, his Throne, and great Authority; And he spake as the Dragon, ver. 11. The most full Description of the Roman-Papal Beast is expresly written in the 17. Chapter of the Revelation. And the Angel said unto me, ver. 7. I will tell thee the Mystery of the Woman, and of the Beast, &c. This BEAST the Angel described unto St. John in three particulars (which can agree with no other Persons, Powers, Empe­rours, [Page 6] Kings, The Devil challengeth to be the dispo­ser of all King­doms of the Earth, Luke 4, 5, 6, 7. So doth the Pope of Rome, vid. Bel­larm. lib. 5. cap. 8. de Pont. Rom. nor Dominion in the World but the Popes of Rome only.) First, by his Past, Present, and Future State, ver. 8. The Beast that Was, and Is not, and yet IS. Secondly, by his twofold Number, ver. 11. HE is the Eight, and [...] of the Seven. Thirdly, by his Rise and Ruine, vers. 8. & 11. The Beast shall ascend out of the bottomless Pit, and go into Perdition: That lawless One the Son of Perdition, and goeth into Perdition.

First, The Beast is described by his PAST State, Rev. 17.8. The Beast which thou Sawest, WAS, and is not; that is to say, The Roman State and Kingdom was formerly, and even in St. John's Time, what it is not, now in our Time, in divers Respects, viz. 1. The Ro­man Kingdom was then a Power ordained of God, Rom. 13.1.7. unto which Roman-Power our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ being then in the Form of a Servant, Phil. 2.7.8. was obedient to Death. So were Christs Disciples, and the Primitive Christians, Search those Scriptures Mar. 12.17. Acts. 25.10.11. 1 Pet. 2.13, 14, 15. Tit. 3.1. Not only Paul, but Peter, and Christ himself was Subject to the Roman-Pagan Empe­rours, Kings, and Governors. But the Beast of the eighth Head the Pope of Rome will be the Supreme Power over all Kings & King­doms. In Bella Coenae Dom. Sect. 3, 4, 5. against Queen Elizabeth and all Hereticks, vid. Remonstran. Hibernorum per R. Ca­ron. part. 1. cap. 3. Sect. 4. pag. 7.. The Roman Powers though Pagan Persecutors of Christ and Christians WAS Gods Ordinance of Magi­stracy, until the Ten Kings gave the Beast (the Pope of Rome) his Power, his Throne and great Authority. Rev. 13.2. And then the Angel told St. John; HE is not; viz. The Beast of the seventh and eighth Head is not Gods Ordinance of Magistracy; nor a Power ordained of God. Here let it be Seriously considered, That the Dragon, which gave the Beast his Power, Throne, and great Authority, Was not the Roman-Pagan-Emperours, for they never gave their Power and great Authority unto the Beast of the seventh and eighth Head, viz. the Pope of Rome. The Roman-Heathen, yea and Christian Empe­rours stood in the Popes Way, and did let and hinder his Rise, and Reigning Power, until they were Removed out of his Way, as was foretold by the Apostle Paul, 2 Thes. 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10. And thus it came to pass; Constantine the Great leaving Rome, and making Con­stantinople [Page 7] the Imperial Seat, thereby (sede vacante) the then Bishop of Rome got full Possession of that City; And so the Chief Bishop of Rome continued his Primacy from that Time until (at last) the Western Empire determined in Augustulus anno 475. or thereabouts; And about the year 607. the then Bishop of Rome, Boniface the III. obtained from Phocas the Emperour of the East, That not the Patriarch of Constantinople but the Bishop of Rome be universal-Bishop. But for all this Rise and Advance, Avent. Annal. Boyor. lib. 5. and pag. 447. and lib. 9. The Beast of the eighth Head, ( the Pope of Rome) IS NOT of the Seven, that is to say, HE is not Supreme as the Roman Emperours were. For although the Empe­rours assumed the Title of Pontifex Maximus Dionys. Ha­licarnas. Ant. Rom. 12. And Godwin's An­tiq. l. 2. Sect. 2. cap. 15. and added it to the Imperial Crown; yet the Imperial Crown of the Roman Government and Kingdom was not added to the Pope of Rome, Petra dedit Petro, Petrus Di­adema Rodulpho. Bellar. de Con­cil. lib. 2. cap. l. 2. c. 17. until Henry the IV. (Emperour), whom Gregory the VII. Excommunicated and Deposed, and Made Rodulphus Emperour in his stead: And after­wards when Henry the V. came to Rome to be Crowned by Pope Pascal. II. The Pope would not consent to his Coronation, untill the Emperour did give over all Right of Election of Popes, and of Investures of Bishops by Staff and Ring. And thus the Pope gained the Power of Temporal Soveraignty, and so IS of the Seven.

Nor did all this Episcopal, Pontificial, and Imperial Dignity, Power, and Authority fill and satisfie the Beast­ly Pope of Rome, until he obtained Supremacy above all general Councils Bellarmine boasteth say­ing, The last Lateran Coun­cil under Leo 10th. expresly and professedly teacheth, That the Pope is a­bove all Coun­cils, Bellar. de Concil. l. 2. c. 17., And so the Pope became Pontifex Maximus, the chief high Priest, who translated Kings and Emperours at his Pleasure. Bellarmine Bellar de trans. Imp. Rom. in tribus libris, per Episcopi Rom. authoritatem. saith, The Roman Empire was by the Authority of the Pope, translated from the Graecians to the French, and from Charles the Great and the French unto the Family of Otho and the Saxons, which is now the Roman Papal Empire of Germany with its seven Electors.

Secondly, The Roman Beast also (that WAS) is de­scribed by his Present State, 1. Negatively, And is NOT. [Page 8] 2. Affirmatively, And yet IS Rev. 17.8, 9.. Herein lyeth another Mystery; And here is the Mind, that hath Wisdom: to know in what Respect the Roman Beast is NOT, and yet IS. I will not be positive, nor dare I presume to make a determinate Judgment, and to give a Resolution herein; but I humbly offer my Opinion, and submit it to the Mind, that hath Wisdom, and let him, that hath under­standing in this Mystery, judge what I say. It is said HE is NOT, with Respect to those five Kings, or Kinds of Kingly Government, viz. Kings, Consuls, Dictators, De­cemvirs, Ancients. Irenaeus, l. 5. ad­versus Haeres. c. 28. Tertul. de Resur. car. c. 25. Ander. Caesar. Episc. cap. 36. in Apoc. 13. v. 1. Beda in Apoc. 13. v. 1. and Tribunes, which were fallen, that is, past and gone before St. John's time. For this BEAST, which rose out of the Sea of the Troubles and Confusions in Rome, and in the Roman Empire, and out of the Earth of the Apostacies 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. and 2 Thes. 2.3, 4, 5. which the Apostle foretold should be in the latter Days, and which the Angel was now Revealing unto John Rev. 13.1. and ver. 11. and Rev. 17.3.7, 8. viz. Papal Rome, Is NOT yet Come, Rev. 17.10. that is, HE was not in Being, when St. John write this Book. And yet HE IS, that is to say ONE IS, Modern. Joan. Viguer. Instit. Theol. c. 21. Sect. 3. v. 4. Nich. Sander. l. 8. de visib. Eccl. Monarch. c. 1. in Libro octavo. Nich. Zegar in Apoc. 13. to wit the Emperour, who IS the sixth King, then in Being in St. John's time, and sometime after, Rev. 17.10. And there are seven Kings, Five are fallen, And ONE IS, And the Other is not yet come, viz. to be the Seventh head of the Roman Empire, and the Supreme Governour of the Roman Monarchy. The Roman-Pa­pal BEAST is NOT, that is to say, HE is not God's Ordinance of Magistracy, nor a lawful Power ordained of God, but he IS an Usurper of the Roman Kingdom; And an Instrument of the great Dragon, Papists. Benedict. Pererius, l. 14. in Dan. R. Bellar­minus l. 3. de R. P. c. 2.8. Francis. Rib. in Apoc. 13. Sect. 1. Hiomne Bestiam Apoc. 13.1. ip­sissimum esse An­tichristum in­ter [...]retantur. that old Ser­pent, called the Devil and Satan, Rev. 12.3.9. viz. The Roman Pagan Emperour, And also the Dragon, that old Serpent, which is the Devil, [...]ad Satan, Rev. 20.2. viz. He that beguiled Eve, through his Subtilty, 2 Cor. 2.11.3. gave the BEAST his Power, and his Throne and his Supreme Authority. So that Beast ( the Pope of Rome) hath the Roman-Power, but not Jure Divino, HE IS NOT, by God's Approbation. And yet HE IS the Supreme Roman-Governour. Yea HE IS of the Seven, [Page 9] to wit, the seventh King or kind of Kingly Government, as is before said. And HE even he is the Eighth. Rev. 17.11. Bestia sc. Papa Rom. Is octavus est, Et de septem illis est, Quia nimi­rum Papa sc. Antichristus (Cornu illud parvulum Dan. 7.20.) oriturus erat de medio Cornuum quartae bestiae, quae Imperium adumbrabat Romanum, &c. J.W. lib. de ultimo Romae Exitio. p. 6..

Thirdly, The Roman BEAST is described by his Fu­ture State: Rev. 17.10. And the other is not yet Come, that is to say, the other King or Kind of Kingly Govern­ment, viz. Popes had not gotten the Supreme Power, nei­ther Political, nor Ecclesiastical. But this Beast, that was to Come, that is, to succeed the Emperours, was the Popes, and they are the Eight and of the Seven. Rev. 17.11. Which will be made appear in the second Particular of the Angels Description of the BEAST by his twofold Number.

The Second particular, or Part of the Angels Descrip­tion of the Roman Beast is by his twofold Number, Seven and Eight, The Pope of Rome is of the Seven, or the Seventh King, or Kingly kind of Government with Re­spect of his Imperial, or Magisterial Power Bellar. con­tra. Barcl. c. 5. Non solùm in Spiritualibus quoque Impera­tore & Rege major est Papa, sed etiam in temporalibus. over Em­perours and Kings of the Roman-Kingdom; And HE IS the EIGHT with Respect of his Hierarchical, or Pon­tifical-Power Oriohou. in Chymer; 10 l. 97 Quanto creatura Deo, tanto Impe­peratoria Ma­jestas est Papae inferior. The Pope is the seventh Head in Nature and Kind: and an Eight also in Degree and Power. Hen. Bish. of Meath, of Antichrist. pag. 11. or Principality, which was also there before, under former Roman-Governments; For as to matters of Religion, the Romans had of old Instituted by Numa Pompilius their Pontifices or under-Priests and over them a Chief Priest called Pontifex Maximus, which lower Priests were exempted from civil Jurisdiction, and only Ordered and Governed by him, who was their Pontifex Maximus, HE himself not being accountable to any Dionys. Halicarnass Ant. Rom. 12. God­win's Antiq. lib. 2. Sect. 2. cap. 15.. And therefore the Pope is said to be of the SEVEN with Respect of his Imperial and Pontifical Power, unto which HE hath Advanced himself in his Dominion and Titles above all Principalities and Powers on Earth, (no Kings [Page 10] nor Emperours being excepted or exempted) Triplex im­perium habet Papa, in terra, in coelo, & (ubi Chirstus nullum habit) in Pur­gatorio, in cujus signum Tiara Papalis triplici coronâ ornata est. Caeremon. l. 1. Sect. 5 c. 9. & Sect. 7. f. 78. Hab. 3.4. and Zech. 1.18.21.. And so in his exalted Power of Imperial and Pontificial Horns the Pope of Rome became the BEAST of the Eighth Head Rev. 17.11. Who did Rise out of the Earth having two Horus like a Lamb, Rev. 13.11. Horns do signifie Power in the Prophesies of the Holy Scripture of Truth, as in Dan. 8.20, 21, 22, 23, 24. Purgatorium est peculium Pa­pae, saith Angelus Parisiensis. Antoninus part. 3. tit. 22. cap. 5. Sect. 6. & 7. Bal. in vita Leo­nis 10. &c. Patres concil. Lateran. Sess. 10. in Orat. Steph. Patra­censis.. So that the two Horns of that Beast ( the Pope of Rome) signifie his two fold Power Poli­tical and Ecclesiastical, or Imperial and Pontifical twisted and united together in his Seventh and Eighth Headship, For even HE is the Eight, and is of the Seven, Rev. 17.11. This Number of the BEAST viz. the Seventh and Eighth can agree with none of the Roman Heads, but Popes only.

The third Particular, or Part of the Angels Description of the Roman-Papal-BEAST of the Seventh and Eighth Head is by his RISE and RUINE, Rev. 17.8, 11. The BEAST shall ascend out of the Bottomless Pit, and go into Perdition, ver. 11. And goeth into Perdition. I shall here shew briefly, first his Rise, then his Ruine. Whereby it will more plainly appear, That the Pope of Rome is the BEAST.

First, as to the Rise of the Beast of the Seventh and Eight Head, viz. the Pope of Rome; we find in the Ro­man Histories, That Constantine the Great changed the Seat of the Emperour from Rome to Constantinople, there­by leaving the City of Rome, as it were vacant. After his Death the Roman-Empire was divided, and the Ro­man-Eagle having two great Wings spread her self into the Eastern and Western Empires; At last about anno 475. the Western Empire quite expired in Augustulus Ambrose, Cy­rill, Theophylact upon 2 Thes. 2.6, 7. When the Ro­man Empire shall be taken out of the Way, then shall Antichrist Come.. For the Empire having been invaded by the Goths and Vandals, and other barbarous Nations, by whom also Rome it self was taken and possessed about fifty years, The Pope or Bishop of Rome himself being also ex­pelled out the City of Rome, Chrysostome 2 Thes. 2.6, 7. [...] (saith he) [...], and put to seek (for a Time) another Place of abode. About the year 607. Boniface III. Prideaux Introduction of Histories, Interval. 7. Sect. pag. 89. then Bishop of Rome obtained from Pho­cas [Page 11] then Emperour of the East, That not the Patriarch of Constanstinople, but the Bishop of Rome should be Ʋni­versal Bishop. And now was the Title of Pope appro­priated to the Bishop of Rome, which was before communi­cated to other Patriarchs and Bishops also indifferently. After this Pope Gregory VII. contended with the Empe­rour Henry the Fourth, whom he excommunicated and deposed, and gave the Imperial Crown to Rodulphus Petra dedit Petro, Petrus, DIADEMA Rodulpho Bel­larm. de Con­cil. lib. 2. cap. 17. 2 Thes. 2.4. [...], &c. [...], Numen., with this verse. The Pope of Rome being now Risen above all Bishops Patriarchs and Emperours, HE ad­vanced himself above all general Councils, which Rise was fully attained by Pope Leo X. as Bellarmin boasteth. The Pope of Rome having ascended thus high, HE was Ambitious to Rise yet Higher. That so he might appear to be That Man of Sin, and Son of Perdition, who oppo­seth and exalteth himself above every one called God, or di­vine Power, So that HE as God might sit in the Temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. And to that End the Pope of Rome confirmed those erroneous Doctrines, and Positions of the Church of Rome, and caused them to be Concluded and Decreed for Doctrines and Articles of Faith, in the general Councils of Constance, Lateran, and of Trent. Christophorus Mercellus speaking to Pope Julius II. in the Council of Lateran, said Tu es alter Deus in Terra. Extra. Joh. 22. de verb. signif. cap. cum interp. & lib. cerem. 1. Sect. 1. fol. 16. Eberhardus E­pist. Salisbur­gensis Impress. Lugd. Anno. 1555. Edit. nov. Ant. Papae Greg. 13. Credere Dominum Deum nostrum Pa­pam non sic potuisse Statuere, prout Statuit, haereticum Censeatur. Thou art another God upon Earth. And in the Gloss on the Canon Law HE is called, Our Lord God the Pope by the Popes allow­ance, as also divine Adoration Those words, All that is called God, and worshipped, 2 Thes. 2.4. are not to be interpreted [...] of Kings, &c. nor [...] of Prelates and Priests, but [...] of Objects of divine worship, So the Athenian [...], Acts 17.23. were their Idols and Modes of Devotion, and divine Worship. So Dan. 11.36.37.40..

The Pope of Rome, the BEAST of the Seventh and Eighth Head, having ascended out of the deep Abyss, or Bottom­less Pit, and Risen at last unto this Hight of Impiety; He [Page 12] having overcome the Saints of God, Rev. 13.7. and kil­led the two Prophetical Witnesses of Christ Rev. 11.7. must go into Perdition; Rev. 17.8, 11. and goeth into Perdition: which implies his gradual Ruine, step by step. As HE did rise gradually to the hight of his Grandeur, so HE must fall by degrees into Perdition. 2 Thes. 2.8. Whom the Lord shall Consume with the Spirit of his Mouth, and shall destroy with the Brightness of his Coming. So that this BEAST, ( the Pope of Rome) shall be first Con­sumed, and afterwards Destroyed, as is foretold, Dan. 7.11, 12, 13. Now to be consumed is to decay, to wax weak, and by some Sickness or Distempers to waste, pine, and wear away, and at last to dye: even so shall the BEAST, that Man of SIN, the Son of Perdition, the Pope of Rome. Who hath been Consuming many years by the Spirit of Christs mouth, viz. The powerful and spiritual Preaching of the Gospel of free Grace: by the Propheti­cal witnesses of Christ, his godly and faithful Ministers. Bellarmin's Confession is a full Confirmation of the Popes Consumption, his words in English are these— The Roman See hath by little and little decayed, &c. Bellarm. de Rom. Pon [...]if. lib. 3. cap. 21. Scrip. 1577.. And it hath much more decayed, and been consumed since that Time, by the Preaching of the Gospel, through the powerful operation of the holy Spirit Mr. Rich. Bernar's Key of Knowledge, part. 4. pag. 126, 127, 128, 129. Since 1558. (saith he) the Pope hath no­thing Increased upon us, But we by Gods power have prevailed against him. Have not the Papists had ill Success in all their Attempts against us? And in spite of their Policy, Trecheries, and Treasons, — we stand and they fall; and so must they now (saith he) continually, for by an Oath of God it is confirmed unto us, Chap. 10. 5, 6. That there should be Time no longer. Read pag. 127, 128. & 129..

The utter downfal, and Destruction of the Roman Beast (the Pope) is also Prophesied, Rev. 14.8. Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great City, (which is Rome as hath been fully proved). Also Rev. 18.2, 8, 10, 19, 21. Therefore shall her Plagues come in one Day—and she shall be utterly burnt with Fire, for strong is the Lord God, who judgeth her. Alas, alas! that great City Babylon (that is Rome-papal) [Page 13] that mighty City, for in one Hour is thy Judgment come; and ver. 19. Alas alas! that great City (Rome) for in one hour she is made desolate. And Rev. 19.19, 20— And the BEAST, (that is the Pope of Rome) was taken, and with him the false Prophet—These both were cast alive into the Lake burning with Brimstone. Then shall Rome-Papal be found no more at all, Rev. 18.21. and Then shall the Beast, (who is the Pope of Rome) be tormented day and night, for ever and ever, Rev. 20.10.

Proposition III. That the Church of Rome is the great WHORE.

THE Church of God under the Law was Resem­bled by the Prophet   unto a comely and de­licate Woman. And the Church of Christ under the Gospel was Revealed to the Apostle Rev. 12.1. by the Simi­litude of a Woman clothed with the Sun, having a Crown of twelve Stars on her Head. Such was the Church at Jerusalem, and the Churches in Judea, in the Days of the Apostles; And such was the Church at Rome, whose Faith was Famous throughout the whole World Rom. 1.7.8. and such also were the Churches in Asia, those golden Candle­sticks (whilst Jesus Christ walked in the midst of them) and their shining Lights, Like Stars, the Able Ministers of the new-Testament called Angels, whom the Lord Jesus Christ held in his right-hand, Rev. 1.20, and 2.1. But when the Church of Rome departed from the Faith, as was foretold by the Apostle 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. and Apostatised both in Doctrine and Man­ners and fell away, as was also foretold by the same A­postle, [Page 14] 2 Thess. 2.1, 2, 3, 4-12. then she became a false Church, whom Jesus Christ shewed unto his Servant John, in a Vision and Re­velation, like a Woman, that is an Harlot, and the Mother of Harlots, and calls her the great WHORE Rev. 17.1, 5. whose Name is Mystery, Babylon the great, &c. which is Papal-Rome, as hath been clearly, and fully Proved. And I shall now prove, and plainly Demonstrate, this third Proposition,

That the Church of Rome is the great Whore.

That Church which is the Mother of Harlots, (a) by Maintaining, Commanding, and Practising spiritual Adul­teries, Whoredoms, and Fornications, is the great Whore: But the Church of Rome is the Mother of Harlots, which maintaineth, commandeth and practiseth spiritual Adul­teries, Whoredoms, and Fornications; Therefore the Church of Rome is the great Whore.

The spiritual Adultery, whoredom, and fornication of Judah, and Jerusalem, which God did so much com­plain of by his Prophets was their Idolatry, and Image-worship, Ezek. 4.11, 37. with their Idols have they com­mitted Adultery. So God complained of Nineveh, by his Prophet, Nahum 3.4, 5. Because of the Whoredoms of the well-favoured Harlot, the Mistress of Witchcraft, that Sel­leth Nations through her Whoredoms, and Families through her Witchcrafts: I will shew the Nations thy Nakedness, and the Kingdoms thy shame. And so did Christ shew the spiritual Adultery, and Idolatry of Papal-Rome under the Similitude of a Woman whose Name is Mysterie, Babylon the great, the Mother of Harlots, and of the Abominati­ons of the Earth. God's great Prohibition against this sin­ful Abomination of spiritual Whoredom, of making and worshipping Images in the second Commandement, Exod. 20.4, 5. And the grievous Judgments, which God de­nounced against, and inflicted upon the worshippers of Idols, yea against them false Prophets, and any other persons, that shall entice and perswade any to go after other Gods, and serve them, Deut. 13.1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15. sheweth us the sinfulness of this Sin of [Page 15] Idolatry, And how greatly God is provoked unto Jealou­sie by it, 1 Cor. 10.20, 21, 22. and Rev. 3.20, 21, 22. and Rev. 18.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8. So that Idolatry and false Worship is spiritual Whoredom.

Now let us examine the second Proposition, to wit, Whether the Church of Rome be guilty of this great Sin of spiritual Whoredom, Adultery, and Fornication, (called Idolatry) and be indeed the Mother of Harlots? The Ancients do with one Consent assert, that Idolatry is an Attributing of divine Honour unto the Creature, which is only due unto God. And Thomas Aquinas Aquin. in Epist. ad Ephes. c. 5. Lect. 3. Quando bo­nor soli Deo debitus, ex­hibetur Creatu­rae. Concil. Tri­dent. Sess. 9. out of all the Fathers and Ancient Writers concludes so, That is Idolatry (saith he) when the Honour, that is only due to God, is given to the Creature. The Church of Rome doth attribute that divine Honour to the Creature, which is only due to God, For she doth attribute trust and Con­fidence in their Prayers to Saints deceased, yea to their feigned Saints, as plainly appears in the publick Service-Books, Rosaries, Breviaries, Psalters, and Catechisms of the Church of Rome. Catechis. Roman. Osorius tom. 3. Concion. p. 681. Bellarm. de Sanctor. beat. lib. 1. cap. 10. The Papists praying to Saint John, say, Hail, ô holy Apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ, I intreat thee—that thou wouldest deliver me, thy unworthy Servant, from all Adversity, and receive my Soul at the Hour of Death, and wouldst bring me to life everlast­ing. To Saint George they pray thus— He save us from our Sins, that we may rest with the Blessed in Heaven. To Saint Erasmus, ô Erasmus! Grant, that by thy Merits and Prayers we may overcome all the snares of our Enemies, and be freed from eternal Death. Possevin. bibl. select. pag. 295. Boz. de sig. Eccles. Tom. 2. pag. 200. To Francis the Fryer they pray thus, O Francis— singular crucified-Saint, be thou to us the way of Life, make satisfaction for us al­way, shew to Christ the marks of thy wounds Exut Fran­ciscum tunica lacero (que) cucul­lo: Qui Fran­ciscus erat, jam tibi Christus e­rit. Francisci exuviis (si qua licet) indue Christum: Jam Francis­cus erit, qui modo Christus erat.. This Fryer Francis they make equal to Christ, as those Blasphe­mous Verses of two shameless Jesuites Turselline and Ben­cius do plainly declare. And to the Image Veronica, they pray thus, Haile, holy Face, imprinted on a Clout, Chemnit. exam. Concil, Trident. de Imagin. Purge us from all Sin within and without, &c. Thus also the Papists by the Commandements of Men, viz. Popes, Je­suites, [Page 16] Priests, yea and general Councils, and the Church of Rome do worship Images, Pictures, Crosses, Crucifixes, and Reliques, which (they say) are to be worshipped after the same Manner as Images are. Vasq. de a­doratione, lib. 3. dis. 3. cap. 2. Reliquiae eodem modo at (que) Ima­gines sunt ado­randae. Conci. Trident. De­cret. de Reliq. Sanct. It's written of Dunstan the Abbot of Glastenbury, that he blessed the right Thumb of Editha the Abbesse of Wilton, which be­ing found uncorrupted, after all her Body was turned to dust and ashes in her Grave, became a Relique. Guliel. Malmsbur, lib. 2. de Pontif. Vincent. li. 25. cap. 33. How many things about our Saviour are turned into Reliques? viz. the Manger, his linnen Cloth, his Cradle, his Shirt, the Table on which Christ eat his last Supper, the Cup wherein he gave his Blood to be drunk, are Reliques to be seen at this Day (as the Papists and other Pilgrims and Travellers report in several places and Churches in Rome, Spain, Ravenna, Pisa, at Andegavum, &c. The Church of Rome is guilty of gross Idolatry and spiritual Adul­tery in Adoring and worshipping the Host; for at the Priest's Elevation of the Host (the Papists breaden God) they all fall down upon their Knees, and worship it with very great Devotion, and whosoever refuseth so to do is counted an Heretick. Bellarm. de Sacrament. Eu­char. l. a. cap. 29. Coster. Enchir. de Euchar. Ru­bric. in Missal. Rom. And yet some Priests have poisoned the Host, intending to add Murder, yea wilful and Sacrilegious Murder thereby to their gross Ido­latry, as the Monk Bernhardine, who poisoned the Host, to the intent that he might poison the Emperour Henry of Lucenburgh, as he also did at the Instigation of Robert King of Sicily. Baronius Cuspinian. Nauclerus. Eg­nat. & Baron. Spondan. An. Eccles. an. 1055. Volateran. Ho­veden. Math. Paris. &c. tells us of a Priest that ei­ther did, or would have poisoned Pope Victor 2d. at the Sacrament. And William Arch-bishop of York was poi­soned at the Mass by his own Chaplins, by that which they put into the Chalice. What can be more Heathenish and palpable Idolatry, than to worship the Bread con­secrated by a Priest, which is maintained, commanded and Practised by the Church of Rome, by all her Priests and Papists?

Another branch of the Spiritual Whoredom and A­dultery of the great Whore, the Church of Rome, is the Adoration and worshipping the Cross it Self, on which [Page 17] Christ suffered, say they, also the Image of the Cross and the Sign of the Cross. Vasques de Adorat. l. 3. cap. 2. Bellarm. de Imagin. lib. 3. c. 27, 28, 29. Aquin. Sum. part. 3. art. 4. Vasques the Jesuit affirmeth, that this is the Doctrine of the Roman-Church, and so doth Bellarmine, and Thomas Aquinas, and many other great Doctors of the Church of Rome. It is testified Chrys. à Visitat. de virb. Domini tom. 4. Lib. 6. c. 7. that a famous Papist, and a Professor of Divinity, who dedicated his Book to Pope Clement 8th. saith thus, We worship the Cross with the same Worship wherewith we adore Christ himself, &c.

Again, Whereas we Asserted, That the Church of Rome is the Mother of Harlots; for a full proof thereof let it be considered, First, That the Church of Rome owns her self to be the Catholick and Mother-Church of all those Churches in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, &c. whether National or Parochial, that receive, believe, and practice her damnable Doctrines, and Idolatrous worship, which are false Churches and Harlots: [with whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication, and the Inhabiters of the Earth have been made drunk with the wine of her Fornication] and therefore the Church of Rome (Mysti­cal-Babylon as before proved) is called the Mother of Har­lots, Rev. 17.2, 5. And Abominations of the Earth.

Secondly, That the Church of Rome hath begotten, born, and nourished all those National and Parochial Churches, before-mentioned, which are called the Cities of the Nations, Rev. 16.19. which National Churches are Harlots (as Nineveh was called, Nahum 3.4.) because of the multitude of their spiritual Whoredoms, and abominable Idolatries: whereby it appears, that the Church of Rome is the Mother of Harlots, for She hath infused her false Do­ctrines, worships, and all her Idolatries into those Churches.

Thirdly, That the Church of Rome, (as the Mother of Harlots) imposeth her false Doctrines, Idolatrous Wor­ships, and damnable Practices upon all those and other Na­tional Churches, whom She calleth her Daughters, own­ing her Authority over them, as being their Mother.

And, First, It doth appear that the Church of Rome is the great WHORE, by her spiritual Whoredoms and For­nications; [Page 18] Rev. 17.4. And the Woman—had a golden-CƲP in her hand, full of Abominations, and filthiness of her Fornication. All kinds of Idolatry, Image-worship, and Su­perstitions in the Service of God is spiritual Whoredom, Prid. de Antichristo Lect. 11. Non in Babilona solum, sed in Sodomam Ro­ma degenera­vit, ut non [...] modo Me­retricum, sed (ut habet liber Complutensis & Regius) [...], hoc est, Catamitarum & Ganimedum Mater habea­tur. Sic Hep­tades de Anti­christo, pag. 99. 129-131. & Doun. Diatr. de Antichristo, l. 1. c. 7. Etiam M. Antonius de Dom. Archiep. Spalat. de Rep. Eccles. lib. 4. cap. 3. n. 26.-29. ac Hieron. adver. Jovin. lib. 2, &c. Marlor in Apoc. 18.24. & in Apoc. 13. p. 37. 64, 65. And such are those Images, and Idols; those Crosses and Crucifixes; those Pictures, and painted forms, or Re­presentations of our Saviour Christ, of the Virgin Mary, and of Saints deceased, whom the Papists set up, fall down before, and worship. The Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication (that is, spiritual Whoredom and Adultery) with HER: And the Inhabiters of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of HER Fornication, Rev. 17.1 2. by receiving those Idolatrous Doctrines, and by Practising those Imaginary Superstitions, which the Church of Rome Teacheth and practiceth in the Worship of God. Matth. 15.7, 8, 9. & Rev. 13.4, 8. Idem, in Apoc. 18. Meretricem Babylonicam, Ec­clesiam nempè Romanam, Scortationibus, ad immundiâ Antichristi Romani, Sanguino­lentorum scil. at (que) Belluinorum Pontificum, quorum pleri (que) Magi, Venefici, Athei, Adul­teri,—non Apostolici, sed Apotactici, & Apostatici, quales ipse Genebrardus lib. 4. Chronol. fatetur—Superstitionum, & Cultuum novorum inventores. In vain do they worship God (saith Christ) teach­ing for Doctrines the Commandements of Men, to wit, those Notoriously known Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome, the Mother of Harlots, namely, Doun. de Antichristo lib. 1. cap. 7. Dementatos & mente captos esse not at Apostolus, Apoc. 18.23. & 19.2. & 17.2, 4. qui cum ista Meretrice scortantur, ejus (que) scortationibus & Idolola­triis imbuuntur & fascinantur. Their worship­ping of Images, viz. of Christ, and of the Virgin Mary; their Invocation, Adoration, and Prayers to dead Saints; And their irrational and sensless Doctrine of Transubstan­tiation, Sacrifice, and Adoration of the Host, that is, their Breaden God; which (say they) is by Consecration changed into the very Body and Blood of Christ, which the Papists adore, kneel unto, and worship, as their God and Sa­viour.

But besides the Idolatry, and Superstition of this part of their Will-worship, let it be considered by the judicious [Page 19] and rational Papists and Protestants, First, how irrational that Doctrine and Practice of the Church of Rome is, to wit, of Transubstantiation. Admit the Sacrament of the Lords Supper be Administred in the Roman-Catholick-Church in a 100. 500 Places, (as indeed it is) at the same Time, And the Bread be by virtue of each Priest's Consecration changed into the Real Body of Christ, then Christ hath 100. 500 Real Bodies at one Time, which is absurd and irrational. Secondly, how sensless their Do­ctrine of Transubstantiation is; The Church of Rome teacheth, and the Papists senselesly are to believe, That the Bread after Consecration is the very Body of Christ. And yet they that Eat that Bread, see it is Bread, after the Con­secration, yea they taste and know it is Bread still, whilest they are eating of it: And thus they delude their Senses by a fond and false Belief. Thirdly, how damnable their Doctrine and Practice of this part of their false worship of God is, (viz. Transubstantiation). The Doctrine is Dam­nable; For the Church of Rome teacheth her Children, the Papists, to believe in, to fall down unto, and to wor­ship a breaden-God, which their Priests have made an Idol, with Solemn and Sacred Adoration. And the Practice is also damnable; For the Papists eating that Bread with a firm Belief, that it is not Bread, but the Body of Christ, do eat that Bread and drink that Cup unworthily, and so eat and drink their own damnation, 1 Cor. 11.29.

Secondly, It appears, that the Church of Rome is the great Whore; Because She is become the Mother of Har­lots Prid. de mille annis A­poc. Lect. 13. Roma est Sodoma spiritualiter, quia similis Sodomae: quâ re similis? foeditate Sodomi­ticarum libidinum in urbe magnâ horribiliter grassantium, unde & Mater Scortationum, Apoc. 17.5. vocata, &c. Vide jam magnam urbem Papatus; Quid est nisi scortationum spiritualium & corporalium foedissima Officina? Petrarcha queritur Ep. 20. Romae stu­pra, raptus, incestus, adulteria, jam Pontificialis lasciviae ludi sunt, quod cecinit Mantuanus. Ipudor in villas, si non patiantur easdem, Et villae vomicas, Roma est jam tota Lupanar. Roma, vale, vidi, satis est vidisse; revertar, Cum Leno, Meretrix, Scurra, Cinaedus, ero. Sic, Marulus in Epitaph. Ita Janus Pannonius, Etiam Johannes Sapidus. the Lupan * of Stews, and of all Abominations, Rev. 17.1, 5. The Church of Rome calls her self the Ca­tholick [Page 20] Church, and She teacheth her Children (the Pa­pists) to believe, that She is the Mother of all National-Churches, and whosoever do not acknowledg Her to be the holy Catholick-Church, and submit not to Her Ca­nons, Constitutions, Doctrines, Discipline and Worship, are Hereticks: All the National-Churches, of Germany, France, Spain and Italy, &c. are her Harlots; false Churches, and Idolatrous Worshippers of Images, Crosses, Crucifixes, &c. as before-said.

The Church at Rome was a true Church in the Apostles Time, whose Faith was famous throughout the whole World, Rom. 1.7, 8. But afterwards that Church departed from the Faith, Apostatized both in Doctrine, and in Di­scipline, yea and also in Manners. J. W. de ult. Romae exi­tio. pag. 62. ait, Joannes 13. omni Flagitio­rum generi, scil. Stupris, A­dulteriis, Ince­stis, aliis (que) sce­leribus ab ipsâ Adolescentia incumbens, Ste­phenam Concu­binam Patris sui, & duas so­rores vitiavit. Nicholaus qui­dam de Bi­brach. Erphordiensis non obscure innuit se à Martino 2. velut Ganymedem — ad turpiora quaedam expetitum. And so became a false Church, and a Synagogue of Satan, and She is now become the great Whore, and Mother of Harlots: She hath left her first Husband Christ Jesus the Lord, and hath ta­ken another Head and Husband, the POPE of Rome. She hath departed from her first Faith, which was ground­ed upon the Doctrines of Jesus Christ, and his Apostles; and now she doth believe the Doctrines of her holy Father the Pope. And She is faln from her first Purity in Disci­pline and Manners, into all manner of Licenciousness and abominable Wickedness, and so is become the Mother of Harlots, and of all the Abominations which are in all false Churches, that are her Daughters, whereby the Church of Rome is plainly manifested to be the great WHORE.

Thirdly, It appears, That the Church of Rome is the great Whore, by her barbarous and bloody Persecutions, and Murders added to her Whoredomes, Revel. 18.24. For in HER was found the Blood of Prophets, and of Saints, and all that were slain upon the Earth. And I saw the Woman (the great Whore, and Mother of Har­lots) drunken with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus, Rev. 17.1, 5, 6. Particular­ly [Page 21] of the Waldenses, Albigenses, and other. Abregè Chronol. &c. par le Sieur de Me­zeray, Paris. 1567. Tom. 3. p. 1082. 1086. ad Annum 1572. Vergerius, who was well acquainted with the Romish bloody Inqui­sition, tells us, that 150000. Protestants suffered Death in less then 30. years. The King of France in his Letters to the Pope boasteth, that in the year 1572. ( in the Massacre of Paris and elsewhere) Thuanus Hist. l. 53. ad annum 1572. p. 837. Edit. 1620. Fam. Strada de bello Belgico. l. 7. p. 373. E­dit. Romae 1648. 70000 Hereticks were slain in few days, that is 70000 Protestants were then and there murdered by the Papists. And can we forget, or omit, to mention the late bloody Butcheries of Protestants by the Barbarous cruel Irish-Papists, Anno 1641. when 100000. were murthered? And if the bloody Invasion, Anno 1588. and the Horrid Gun-powder Treason, Nov­vember 5th. 1605. And the bloody traiterous design of Po­pish Recusants, as the King calls it In his Ma­jesties Declara­tion for banish­ing all Papists Ten miles from London, Octob. 30. 1678. Even that damna­ble, and Hellish-Plot (as the Parliament voted it) contrived, and carried on by Popish Recusants, for Assassinating and Murdering the King, and for Subverting the Government, and rooting out, and destroying the Protestant Religion The Votes of the Com­mons read to the Lords, and by them also approved at a Conference, 1st. Nov. 1678. had taken Effect, many more Protestants in England had been (ere this Day) murdered and massacred by the blood-thirsty-Papists. And these barbarous, bloody, and damnable Persecutions and Practices of the Papists, are grounded on the very Doctrine, Religion, and Faith of the Church of Rome; which is not to be found in any o­ther party of the whole Christian world (so called) besides. Whereby it is evident, to those that have understanding, That the Church of Rome is the great bloody Whore, viz. that purple and scarlet Coloured Whore, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth, Revel. 17.1, 4, 5.

Proposition IV. That the Roman-Priests are the false Prophet.

BY the Roman-Priests, I mean and intend the Pope, the Cardinals, the Jesuits, and all those Priests that do receive Orders of Priest-hood from the Church of Rome, and ackowledge HER to be the Catholick Church, believe Her Doctrines, obey her Canons, and Teach Her damnable Heresies. That the Roman-Priests are the false Prophet doth plainly appear by the false Do­ctrines of the Church of Rome, which they believe, and teach. I call them the Doctrines of the Church of Rome, which are approved by the publick Authority of that Church by their established Laws, their Popes Bulls, Decretals, and Constitutions, or the Canons of their Pro­vincial, National, or general Councils, All which are approved and confirmed in their Trent Council Con. Trident. Sess. 25. de Re­formatione, cap. 20. Praecepit. Sancta Synodus, Sacros Canones, & Concilia ge­neralia omnia, nec non alias Apostolicas San­ctiones in favo­rem Ecclesiast i­carum Persona­rum & Liberta­tis Ecclesiasticae; & contra ejus Violatores editos, quae Omnia presenti Decreto innovat, exactè ab omnibus observari debere.. And all their Secular Clergy, and all who have Cure of Souls, &c. are sworn to approve, to profess, and teach the same— And to Anathematize, Reject, and Curse all contrary opinions and Doctrines. Vide Bullam Pii 4. Super formâ Juramenti Professionis fidei, in calce Sess. 25. Concilii Trident. datam Romae. Id. Nov. 1564. de Reformatione, cap. 12. I shall at present instance in three known Doctrines of the Church of Rome, 1. The Doctrine of the Popes Supremacy over all Princes, Kings, and Emperours of the Earth. This pernicious Doctrine of the Church of Rome is taught by the Roman-Priests Blasius Bagnus de S. Romanae Ecclesiae dignitatibus, Tract. 7. pag. 83, 84.85. Blasius Bagnus a Prior general tells us, That the Popes Em­pire is over all the World: and that HE is the only Vicar of [Page 23] God, who hath Supreme Power and Rule over all Kings and Princes of the Earth; Sic. Simanca Enchir. Judi­cum Tit. 67. §. 12. p. 349. An­twerp. Anno, 1573. & Jacobus Simanca a Roman-Bi­shop, whose Book is Printed cum publico Privilegio, and Commended by the Censor librorum the learned Ben. Arias Montanus, who saith, That he had read it—And that it contained nothing offensive to the Catholick Faith. Here­ticks (saith Simanca) are actually deprived of all Dominion and Jurisdiction, and their Subjects freed from their Obe­dience, and this comprehends Kings and other Lords. And Emanuel Sa a famous Jesuite affirmes Eman. Sa Aphor. Confess. Verbo Clericus, pag. 41. Col. 1599. That if a Cler­gyman Rebel against his King, it is no Treason, because (saith he) Clergy-Men are not the Kings Subjects. These false Prophets have taught, and maintained this false Do­ctrine.

2. The Doctrine of Justification by works which are (say they) meritorious and satisfactory. I need not spend Time, and wast Paper in proving that the Church of Rome, and all her Clergy own and teach this Doctrine Conc. Co­loniens. pag. 140. 141. Becan. Ibid. Concil. Trident. Sess. 6. cap. 6. Bellarm. lib. 1. de just. cap. 13. & de Purgot. lib. 1. cap. 14. Rhem. Annot. 2 Tim. 4.8. & Heb. 6.10. Greg. de Valen. tom. 3. disp. 7. q. 2. de Indul­gent. Bellarm. lib. 4. cap. 16. de Justif. & lib. 5. cap. 16, 17. Andradius or­thod. Explic. Concil. Trident. lib. 6. therefore I will briefly prove that it is false Doctrine, whereby it will appear, that the Roman-Priests are false Teachers, De­ceivers, and the false Prophet. The Apostle Paul gives it in holy writ as the Conclusion of all Christs Apostles, Rom. 3.28. Therefore we conclude (saith he) that a man is justified by Faith, without the Deeds of the Law. And Gal. 2.16. Knowing that a Man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the Faith of Jesus Christ—For by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.

It may be objected, that the Apostle James saith expres­ly, That by works a man is Justified, and not by Faith only, Jam. 2.24. and Instanceth in Abraham, ver. 21. Was not Abraham our Father justified by works?

I Answer, That a mans Person is justified by Faith be­fore God, and works justifie his Faith before Men: And this seems to be the Mind of both those Apostles; For St. Paul saith expresly Rom. 4.2. If Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. And St. James speaks of shewing our Faith by our works, be­fore Men, vers. 18. I will shew thee my Faith by my Works, [Page 24] And so Peter Martyr and other of the Ancients used to Distinguish; Faith (saith he) justifies our Persons, and good Works justifie our Faith.

3. The Doctrine of the false worship of God, which consists of many particular Parts, (that the Church of Rome Practiseth, and the Roman Priests teach) all which are asserted, confirmed, and established by the Laws, Canons, and general Councils of the Church of Rome. And the Romish Clergy (by teaching for Doctrines the Command­ments of Men touching the Worship of God Joan. Bal. in vitâ Inno­cent. 3d. saith that Innocent 3d. Com­manded, that the Words of the Canon of the Masse should be held equal to the words of the Gospel. Card. Cusanus entitleth his Book, De Au­thoritate Eccle­siae & Concilii supra & contra Scripturam. Henricus Do­ctor, magister suori palatii Roma ad Lega­tos Bohemicos sub Felice Papâ, pag 1447. saith, The Pope may Change the holy Gospel, and may give to the Gospel, according to the place and time, another Sense. Michael, Medina, Gratian, Abb. Panorm. Felinus, and all the Roman Priests assert and Teach, The Pope may dispence against jus divinum, and against the New Testament. and thereby deceiving and seducing them) are become the false Prophet: like Thyatira's Jezabel, Rev. 2.20. which cal­led her self a Prophetess, viz. The false Prophets in that Church, who taught and seduced the people of God to commit Fornication: so the Roman Priests do teach them, that worship the Beast and his Image, to worship Saints deceased, yea to worship Idols, Crosses, Crucifixes, and Images which the Church of Rome hath set up, and Com­manded to be Adored and Worshiped; especially their breaden God, and Sacrilegious Host, teaching the People and Seducing them to Believe, That the self same Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was once in the fulness of Time (and but once) made of a Woman, Gal. 4.4. by the Pow­er of God, is every Sacrament Day made of a Wafer by the power of a Romish Priest. By all which, and by several other false Doctrines, it is plain and evident to those, that have understanding in the holy Scriptures of Truth, That the Roman-Priests are the false Prophet, meant and intended by Christ, Rev. 13, 14. and 16.13. and 19, 20. As for their Doctrines of Purgatory, Pennances, Pardons, and many other false Doctrines taught by the Roman-Priests, I pass by, as not worth mentioning.

Having thus far unvailed Mystical-Babylon, that is Rome-papal, I shall now proceed to Call the People of God [Page 25] to come out of Babylon, fand to forsake Papal- Rome, to Renounce the Church o Rome, as the great Whore and Mother of Harlots, to Deny the Popes Imperial and Pon­tifical Supremacy, as the Beast with his two horns like a Lamb and not to hear nor hearken unto the Roman-Priest, (that false Prophet) which teach the false Do­ctriness of the Church of Rome, and Seduce the Servants of God. And this Call I give the People of God ( espe­cially in England) in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.