44 THE FOURTH SERMON. [2 ThES. IL 4.
of the churcli or Pope to raake new articles of faith ; another, that the best penitence of all is the new life. QuifacH Deos cUvosque Deo major est. The Pope doth canonise saints, and his decrees must be received as oracles, &c.
The first 7(se is to give us a clear discovery where to find Antichrist ; every tittle of this is fulfilled in the bishop of Kome, that we need no longer be in doubt, and say, ' Is this he that should come, or shall we look for another ? ' Who is the avriKei/Mevo^;, but he that opposeth himself to that humble state and frame wherein Christ left the church, and will be prince of all pastors, and swear them to his obedience, and hath made such troubles in the world to make himself acknowledged for head and chief ? Who is he that exalteth himself above all that is called God, and is august in the world, but he that takes upon him to deprive and depose emperors, kings, and princes, by his ex- communications, suspensions, interdictions, and decrees, discharging subjects of their allegiance and oaths, and giving away their kingdoms ; that doth crown and uncrown emperors with his feet, and tread upon them as one would do upon a viper ? Who is he that sitteth as God in the temple of God — that is, atfecteth the honour due to our Lord Jesus Christ — but he that doth thus imperiously aspire, suhesse Ro- mano Fontifici definimus esse de necessitate salutis ; that takes upon him a power to make a new creed, and say we are bound to obey him ; that saith he can change the things which God hath commanded in his word, and dispense with them, and so by his decrees make the commandment of God of none effect ; and can forgive sins, not only already committed, but to be committed, which God himself never would do ; that lords it over consciences, enslaving the world to his usurpations : in short, that will be obeyed in those things which God hath forbidden, and take upon himself an office which no human creature is capable of ? Who is he that showeth himself that he is God, but he that suffereth himself to be decked with the spoils of God's own attributes ; to be optimum maxinuan, the best and chief- est, our Lord God the Pope, a visible deity ; and will be adored by all the potentates of the earth, with such veneration as greater could not be given to Christ himself if he were corporally present, and will have all the world to submit to his decrees as being infallible ; that chal- lengeth a power over angels, purgatory, and hell ? These things are as clear as daylight, and ought to be regarded by us, partly that we may bless God, who hath freed us from this tyranny, and have a liberty of judging of truth and falsehood out his holy and blessed word ; partly that we may stand fast in this liberty. Those that were never pope- bitten know not the mischiefs that attend this spiritual tyranny ; and God grant that we never more know it to our bitter cost. There- fore, as Samuel dealt with the Israelites when they would cast off the theocracy, or God's government, under which they had been well and safely governed, unless they forfeited the protection by their own sin, that they might be like all the nations round about them, 1 Sam. viii. 20 ; — Samuel telleth them what would be the manner of the king that should reign over them: 1 Sam. viii. 11-13, 'And he said, This shall be the manner of the king that shall reign over you : he will take your sons, and aj^point them for himself, for his chariots, and to
2 ThES. II. 4.] THE FOURTH SERMON. 45
be his horsemen ; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties ; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants,' &c. ; — so if such a wanton humour should possess us, that we must have the religion of the nations round about us, consider whom you receive spiritually to reign over you — the king of pride, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or is worshii)ped, &c., one that will not only devour your substance, but lord it over your con- sciences, and put out the eye of j'our reason, that you may the better swallow his damnable errors, pestilent superstitions, and idolatries, and bold usurpation on the authority of Christ ; or else burn your bodies with temporal fire, and cast out your name as one to be condemned to that which is eternal. It is easy to open the flood-gate, but when that is done, it is not so easy to call back the waters ; and when you come to discern the difference between the blessed yoke of Christ and the iron yoke of Antichrist, it will be too late for a remedy to repent of your error.