MYSTICAL BABYLON UNVAILED.  
Wherein is Proved, 

I. That Rome-Papal is mystical-Babylon.  
II. That the Pope of Rome is the Beast.  
III. That the Church of Rome is the great Whore.  
iv That the Roman-Priests are the false Prophet.    
ALSO A CALL To all the People of God To come out of BABYLON.  
By HANSERD KNOLLYS, a Servant of Jesus Christ.  
Isa. 57.14. Take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my People.  
Rev. 18.6. Reward her even as she Rewarded you.  
Printed Anno Domini, 1679.   


Isaiah Thomas  NEC ELATUS NEC DEJECTUS   

An Epistle to the Reader.  
Ingenuous Reader,  
IT is an Astonishment beyond the ●●nary Comprehensions of Nature, Reason and Religion, that the Papists (esp●●●●●● the Priests and Jesuits of the Church of Rome so odious in their bloody Tenants, so prodigious in their Hellish Plots, such inc●●crable Incendiaries, and furious Assigns for murdering of Princes, should be suffered to increase, and indulged to multiply in a Protestant Nation, as of late years they have done in this Kingdom. Assuredly it could never have been so, but that the Lord in his just Indignation against us for our God-provoking Sins of Atheism, Idolatry, Profaneness, Adultery, and other heinous wickedness, intends (and suffers us to ripen, and be prepapared for some) dreadful Judgement, which God may justly bring upon this Land and Nation by the hand of the Papists, if we Repent not of those Abominations, and do not reform them. It is more than Manifest by woeful Experience, that the main End of the Papists in all their Plots and Conspiracies is the utter Destruction of the Protestants (whom they call Heretics) and the Protestant-Religion in England especially, and the Re-establishment of the Popish-Religion of the Church of Rome in this Kingdom; which End the Popish-Recusants in England (in this Bloody and Traitorous design, that Damnable and Hellish Plot contrived and carried on by them for Assassinating and Murdering the King, Subverting the Government, and for Rooting out and Destroying the Protestant-Religion, as the King and Parliament have voted and declared) are still endeavouring 〈◊〉 effect, and bring to pass. The concurrent 〈◊〉 our grand and greatest Enemies 〈◊〉 the World durst not entertain a Thought of Invasion, did they not Hope, (when Time serves) to find amongst us a Side and Faction of numerous and Seditious Papists to join, with them. Were we rid of the Papists, and were Idolatry, Atheism, Whoredom and Blasphemy put away, as in Policy, Reason, and Religion these aught to be, The Royal Person of the King would be safe from Assassination, and the Government secure from Subversion. And the Protestants, and Protestant-Religion free from utter Destruction, by the blessed Protection of Almighty God. Conformity unto all Oaths, Tests, and outward formal Satisfactions of State, concurring with a full   

Mystical-Babylon Vnvailed.  
The Method that I have chosen to Unveil Mystical-Babylon, is, by proving these four Propositions, viz.  

1. That Rome-Papal is Mystical-Babylon.  
2. That the Pope of Rome is the Beast.  
3. That the Church of Rome is the great Whore.  
4. That the Roman-Priests are the false Prophet.   

Proposition I. That Rome-Papal is Mystical-Babylon.  
EAstern Babylon of Nabuchadnezzar in Chaldaea, was a famous City, Called the Lady of Kingdoms 
(a) Isa. 47.1, 5.  and the glory of Kingdoms 
(b) Isa. 13.19.  under whose Kings the People of God were Captivated and oppressed violently 
(c) 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, 
(d) Isa. 45. 14 and 47. 1-9.  whom God raised up to execute his righteous Judgements upon them for their Iniquities, lo●● before Saint John's time. Therefore Mystery, 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 Bloodguiltiness, 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 Egypt, 
(e) 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, 
(f) 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 Mystery Babylon the great, verse 5. So Propertius, 
(g) Propert. Eleg. 10. l. 3. Septem urbs alta Jugis toti quae praesidet Orbi.  Virgil, 
(h) Virgil. Georg. 2. ω. Pulcherrima Roma, Septem quae una sibi Muro circumdedit arces. Ovid. 1. de Tristibus l. 3. Elog. 7. Dumque suis victrix septem de Montibus Orbem Prospiciet domitum, Martia Roma Legar.  Ovid, (i) Cornel. à Lap. 
(k) Cornel. à Lap. in Apoc. 17.3, 9 In septem Montibus patet denotari Romam.  Bellarm. 
l 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.  
Secondly, No other City in the World had seven Kings, that is, Seven several Kind's of Governors 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, Dictator's, 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 
(m) Rev. 17.10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  viz. the Emperor, 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 Kind's of Governors, that succeeded one another; Now let any One show us another City that hath had seven Kings, or several Kind's of Governors [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 Emperor's Authority in Saint John's time, and by the Pope's Power since, hath Reigned and still Reigneth over the Kings of the Earth. 
(n) Bellarm. lib. 3. de Pont. R. c. 13. Per Meretricem intelligi Romam.  Bellarmin saith, That Rome is to be understood by the great Whore. Cardinal Poole 
(o) 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 Emperors, 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.] 
(p) 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, etc. saith, Papa est totius Orbis Dominus: Potestas Papae temporalis est omnium aliarum Potestatum eminentissima, Aliaeque 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 Emperor) 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 
(q) 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 Monarches and Monarchies of this World have been Figured forth by Beasts of Prey. God shown 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. 
(a) 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, etc. ver. 7. Exceedingly, And divers from all the other three Beasts. And Jesus Christ shown 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 Lion, And the Dragon 
(b) 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 God's 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 spoke as the Dragon, ver. 11. The most full Description of the Roman-Papal Beast is expressly 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, etc. This BEAST the Angel described unto St. John in three particulars (which can agree with no other Persons, Powers, Emperors, 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 Ruin, 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, WASPE, 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 Christ's Disciples, and the Primitive Christians, Search those Scriptures 
(c) 
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 Emperors, 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 Heretics, vid. Remonstran. Hibernorum per R. Charon. part. 1. cap. 3. Sect. 4. pag. 7.  . The Roman Powers though Pagan Persecutors of Christ and Christians WAS God's 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 God's 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 Emperors stood in the Pope's 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 the Imperial Seat, thereby (seed vacant) 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 Emperor 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 Emperors were. For although the Emperors assumed the Title of Pontifex Maximus 
(e) 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, 
(f) Petra dedit Petro, Petrus Diadema Rodulpho. Bellar. de Concil. lib. 2. cap. l. 2. c. 17.  until Henry the iv (Emperor), whom Gregory the VII. Excommunicated and Deposed, and Made Rodulphus Emperor 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, until the Emperor 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 Sovereignty, and so IS of the Seven.  
Nor did all this Episcopal, Pontificial, and Imperial Dignity, Power, and Authority fill and satisfy the Beastly Pope of Rome, until he obtained Supremacy above all general Councils 
(g) Bellarmine boasteth saying, The last Lateran Council under Leo 10th. expressly 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 Emperors at his Pleasure. Bellarmine 
(h) 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 Grecians 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. 2. Affirmatively, And yet IS 
(i) Rev. 17.8, 9 . Herein lieth 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 Judgement, 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 Kind's of Kingly Government, viz. Kings, Consuls, Dictator's, 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 risen out of the Sea of the Troubles and Confusions in Rome, and in the Roman Empire, and out of the Earth of the Apostasies 
(k) 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 
(l) 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 writ this Book. And yet HE IS, that is to say ONE IS, 
Modern. Joan. Viguer. Instit. Theol. c. 21. Sect. 3. v. 4. Nich. Saunder. l. 8. de visib. Eccl. Monarch. c. 1. in Libro octavo. Nich. Zegar in Apoc. 13.  to wit the Emperor, 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 Governor 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 Emperor, And also the Dragon, that old Serpent, which is the Devil, ●ad Satan, Rev. 20.2. viz. He that beguiled Eve, through his Subtlety, 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, to wit, the seventh King or kind of Kingly Government, as is before said. And HE even he is the Eighth. Rev. 17.11. 
(m) 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, etc. 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 Emperors, 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 Angel's Description of the BEAST by his twofold Number.  
The Second particular, or Part of the Angel's 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 
(n) Bellar. contra. Barcl. c. 5. Non solùm in Spiritualibus quoque Imperatore & Rege major est Papa, sed etiam in temporalibus.  over Emperors and Kings of the Roman-Kingdom; And HE IS the EIGHT with Respect of his Hierarchical, or Pontifical-Power 
(o) 
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 
(p) 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 nor Emperors being excepted or exempted) 
(q) 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 signify Power in the Prophecies of the Holy Scripture of Truth, as in Dan. 8.20, 21, 22, 23, 24. 
(r) 
Purgatorium est peculium Papae, saith Angelus Parisiensis.  
Antoninus' part. 3. tit. 22. cap. 5. Sect. 6. & 7. Bal. in vita Leonis 10. etc.  
Patres council. Lateran. Sess. 10. in Orat. Steph. Patracensis.  . So that the two Horns of that Beast (the Pope of Rome) signify 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 Pope's only.  
The third Particular, or Part of the Angel's Description of the Roman-Papal-BEAST of the Seventh and Eighth Head is by his RISE and RUIN, 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 show briefly, first his Rise, than his Ruin. 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 Emperor 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 herself into the Eastern and Western Empires; At last about anno 475. the Western Empire quite expired in Augustulus 
(s) 
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 itself was taken and possessed about fifty years, The Pope or Bishop of Rome himself being also expelled out the City of Rome, 
chrysostom 2 Thes. 2.6, 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (saith he) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉,  and put to seek (for a Time) another Place of abode. About the year 607. Boniface III. 
(t) Prideaux Introduction of Histories, Interval. 7. Sect. pag. 89.  then Bishop of Rome obtained from Phocas then Emperor of the East, That not the Patriarch of Constanstinople, but the Bishop of Rome should be Universal Bishop. And now was the Title of Pope appropriated to the Bishop of Rome, which was before communicated to other Patriarches and Bishops also indifferently. After this Pope Gregory VII. contended with the Emperor Henry the Fourth, whom he excommunicated and deposed, and gave the Imperial Crown to Rodulphus 
(u) 
Petra dedit Petro, Petrus, DIADEMA Rodulpho Bellarm. de Concil. lib. 2. cap. 17.  
2 Thes. 2.4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, etc. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Numen.  , with this verse. The Pope of Rome being now Risen above all Bishop's Patriarches and Emperors, 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, showing 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 
(w) 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 Pope's allowance, as also divine Adoration 
(x) Those words, All that is called God, and worshipped, 2 Thes. 2.4. are not to be interpreted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Kings, etc. 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 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 Ruin, step by step. As HE did rise gradually to the height 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 die: 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 Christ's 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 Pope's Consumption, his words in English are these— The Roman See hath by little and little decayed, etc. 
(x) 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 
(y) 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 God's power have prevailed against him. Have not the Papists had ill Success in all their Attempts against us? And in spite of their Policy, Treacheries, 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 downfall, 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) that mighty City, for in one Hour is thy Judgement 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 
(a)   unto a comely and delicate Woman. And the Church of Christ under the Gospel was Revealed to the Apostle 
(b) 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 
(c) 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, 
(d) Rev. 1.20, and 2.1.  But when the Church of Rome departed from the Faith, as was foretold by the Apostle 
(e) 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3.  and Apostatised both in Doctrine and Manners and fell away, as was also foretold by the same Apostle, 
(f) 2 Thess. 2.1, 2, 3, 4-12.  than she became a false Church, whom Jesus Christ shown 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 
(g) Rev. 17.1, 5.  whose Name is Mystery, Babylon the great, etc. 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 show the Nations thy Nakedness, and the Kingdoms thy shame. And so did Christ show the spiritual Adultery, and Idolatry of Papal-Rome under the Similitude of a Woman whose Name is Mystery, 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 Commandment, Exod. 20.4, 5. And the grievous Judgements, which God denounced against, and inflicted upon the worshippers of Idols, yea against them false Prophets, and any other persons, that shall entice and persuade any to go after other Gods, and serve them, Deut. 13.1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15. showeth us the sinfulness of this Sin of Idolatry, And how greatly God is provoked unto Jealousy 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 
(a) 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 public Service-Books, Rosaries, Breviaries, Psalters, and Catechisms of the Church of Rome. 
(b) Catechis. Roman. Osorius tom. 3. Contion. p. 681. Bellarm. de Sanctor. beat. lib. 1. cap. 10.  The Papists praying to Saint John, say, Hail, o holy Apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ, I entreat thee— that thou wouldst 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, o Erasmus! Grant, that by thy Merits and Prayers we may overcome all the snares of our Enemies, and be freed from eternal Death. 
(c) Possevin. bibls. select. pag. 295. Boz. de sig. Eccles. Tom. 2. pag. 200.  To Francis the Friar they pray thus, O Francis— singular crucified-Saint, be thou to us the way of Life, make satisfaction for us always, show to Christ the marks of thy wounds 
(d) 
Exut Franciscum tunica laceroque cucullo: Qui Franciscus erat, jam tibi Christus erit.  
Francisci exuviis (si qua licet) endue Christum: Jam Franciscus erit, qui modo Christus erat.  . This Friar Francis they make equal to Christ, as those Blasphemous Verses of two shameless Jesuits Turselline and Bencius do plainly declare. And to the Image Veronica, they pray thus, Hail, holy Face, imprinted on a Clout, 
(e) Chemnit. exam. Council, Trident. de Imagine.  Purge us from all Sin within and without, etc. Thus also the Papists by the Commandments of Men, viz. Popes, Jesuits, Priests, yea and general Councils, and the Church of Rome do worship Images, Pictures, Crosses, Crucifixes, and Relics, which (they say) are to be worshipped after the same Manner as Images are. 
(f) Vasq. de adoratione, lib. 3. dis. 3. cap. 2. Reliquiae eodem modo atque 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 Abbess of Wilton, which being found uncorrupted, after all her Body was turned to dust and ashes in her Grave, became a Relic. 
(g) Guliel. Malmsbur, lib. 2. de Pontif. Vincent. li. 25. cap. 33.  How many things about our Saviour are turned into Relics? viz. the Manger, his linen 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 Relics 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, etc. 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 Heretic. 
(h) 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 Emperor Henry of Lucenburgh, as he also did at the Instigation of Robert King of Sicily. Baronius 
(l) Cuspinian. Nauclerus. Egnat. & Baron. Spondan. An. Eccles. an. 1055. Volateran. Hoveden. Math. Paris. etc.  tells us of a Priest that either did, or would have poisoned Pope Victor 2d. at the Sacrament. And William Archbishop of York was poisoned at the Mass by his own chaplains, 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 itself, on which Christ suffered, say they, also the Image of the Cross and the Sign of the Cross. 
(m) Vasques de Adorat. l. 3. cap. 2. Bellarm. de Imagine. 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 
(n) 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, etc.  
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 herself to be the Catholic and Mother-Church of all those Churches in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, etc. whether National or Parochial, that receive, believe, and practise 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, , 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; Rev. 17.4. And the Woman— had a golden-CVP 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, 
(f) 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. & Down. 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, etc. 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. 
(g) 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. atque Belluinorum Pontificum, quorum plerique 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 Commandments of Men, to wit, those Notoriously known Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome, the Mother of Harlots, namely, 
(h) Down. de Antichristo lib. 1. cap. 7. Dementatos & ment captos esse not at Apostolus, Apoc. 18.23. & 19.2. & 17.2, 4. qui cum ista Meretrice scortantur, ejusque 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 senseless 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 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 Administered 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, than Christ hath 100 500 Real Bodies at one Time, which is absurd and irrational. Secondly, how senseless their Doctrine of Transubstantiation is; The Church of Rome teacheth, and the Papists senselessly 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, whilst 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 
(k) 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, etc. 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 herself the Catholic Church, and She teacheth her Children (the Papists) to believe, that She is the Mother of all National-Churches, and whosoever do not acknowledge Her to be the holy Catholick-Church, and submit not to Her Canons, Constitutions, Doctrines, Discipline and Worship, are Heretics: All the National-Churches, of Germany, France, Spain and Italy, etc. are her Harlots; false Churches, and Idolatrous Worshippers of Images, Crosses, Crucifixes, etc. 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, Apostatised both in Doctrine, and in Discipline, yea and also in Manners. 
(l) J. W. de ult. Romae exitio. pag. 62. ait, Joannes 13. omni Flagitiorum generi, scil. Stupris, Adulteriis, Incestis, aliisque 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 fallen from her first Purity in Discipline and Manners, into all manner of Licentiousness 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 Whoredoms, 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 of the Waldenses, Albigenses, and other. 
(m) Abregè Chronol. etc. 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 than 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) 
(n) Thuanus Hist. l. 53. ad annum 1572. p. 837. Edit. 1620. Fam. Strada de bello Belgico. l. 7. p. 373. Edit. Romae 1648.  70000 Heretics 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 murdered? And if the bloody Invasion, Anno 1588. and the Horrid Gunpowder Treason, Nowember 5th. 1605. And the bloody traitorous design of Popish Recusants, as the King calls it 
(o) In his Majesty's 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 
(p) The Votes of the Commons read to the Lords, and by them also approved at a Conference, 1st. Nou. 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 IU. That the Roman-Priests are the false Prophet.  
BY the Roman-Priests, I mean and intent the Pope, the Cardinals, the Jesuits, and all those Priests that do receive Orders of Priesthood from the Church of Rome, and acknowledge HER to be the Catholic 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 public Authority of that Church by their established Laws, their Pope's Bulls, Decretals, and Constitutions, or the Canons of their Provincial, National, or general Councils, All which are approved and confirmed in their Trent Council 
(a) Con. Trident. Sess. 25. de Reformatione, cap. 20. Praecepit. Sancta Synodus, Sacros Canon's, & 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, etc. are sworn to approve, to profess, and teach the same— And to Anathematise, Reject, and Curse all contrary opinions and Doctrines. 
(b) Vide Bullam Pii 4. Super formâ Juramenti Professionis fidei, in calce Sess. 25. Concilii Trident. datam Romae. Id. Nou. 1564. de Reformatione, cap. 12.  I shall at present instance in three known Doctrines of the Church of Rome, 1. The Doctrine of the Pope's Supremacy over all Princes, Kings, and Emperors of the Earth. This pernicious Doctrine of the Church of Rome is taught by the Roman-Priests 
(c) Blasius Bagnus de S. Romanae Ecclesiae dignitatibus, Tract. 7. pag. 83, 84.85.  Blasius Bagnus a Prior general tells us, That the Pope's Empire is over all the World: and that HE is the only Vicar of God, who hath Supreme Power and Rule over all Kings and Princes of the Earth; 
(d) 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 Catholic Faith. Heretics (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 Jesuit affirms 
(e) 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) Clergymen are not the King's 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 waste Paper in proving that the Church of Rome, and all her Clergy own and teach this Doctrine 
(f) 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 Christ's 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 expressly, 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 man's Person is justified by Faith before God, and works justify his Faith before Men: And this seems to be the Mind of both those Apostles; For St. Paul saith expressly Rom. 4.2. If Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. And St. James speaks of showing our Faith by our works, before Men, vers. 18. I will show thee my Faith by my Works, And so Peter Martyr and other of the Ancients used to Distinguish; Faith (saith he) justifies our Persons, and good Works justify 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 
(g) 
Joan. Bal. in vitâ Innocent. 3d. saith that Innocent 3d. Commanded, that the Words of the Canon of the Mass 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 dispense 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 herself 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 Worshipped; 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 fullness 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 to come out of Babylon, found to forsake Papal- Room, to Renounce the Church oh Rome, as the great Whore and Mother of Harlots, to Deny the Pope's 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.   

A Call to all the People of God to come out of Babylon.  
REvel. 18.4. And I heard another voice from Heaven, saying, Come out of HER my People, That ye be not Partakers of her Sins, And that ye receive not of her Plagues. This Call is the Call of God our Saviour unto all his People in Mystical- Babylon (Papal-Rome) to come out of HERALD Come out of her my People: which Call of Christ was given by an audible voice, And I heard another voice from Heaven saying, etc. And this Call from Heaven is urged and enforced upon the People of God by two Cogent Arguments or Reasons, 1. That ye be not partakers of HER Sins: 2. That ye receive not of her Plagues.  
Two things in this Call need Explanation, 1. What this voice was? 2. What it is to come out of HER? To both these I shall speak briefly, and then proceed to speak more largely of this Call.  
First, This voice hath Heaven's Authority, It was from Heaven, to wit, the voice of Christ in the Ministry of the Gospel ordinarily, and by the powerful Efficacy of the holy Spirit also, 1 Thes. 1.5. For our Gospel came not unto you in Word only, but also in Power, and in the holy Spirit, and in much assurance. So had the voice of the Angels of God by whom Christ then Spoke unto his Servant John, Rev. 14.6.— 13. with a loud voice, ver. 7. which St. John heard from Heaven, ver. 13. And so have the voice of the faithful Ministers of God, by whom Christ also now speaks unto his People, Luke 10.16. He that heareth you, heareth me, etc. to wit, Heaven's Authority.  
Secondly, To come out of HER, is to Separate themselves from the Church of Rome, which is now become a false Church, called the great Whore, and Mother of Harlots. 2 Cor. 6.14.— 18. ver. 17. Wherefore Come out from among them, and be ye Separate, saith the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ would have his People to be Separated under the Gospel from the unbelieving Jews, and their false worship (which Christ calleth vain worship, Matth. 15.8.9.) And St. Paul did Separate the Disciples from the Jewish Synagogue of unbelievers, Acts 19.8, 9 And also from Idolatrous Gentiles, that worship Images, (as the Church of Rome doth) and from their Idol-Temples, Churches, and Chapels, For the Gentile Papists, and Church of Rome, their Pope, Cardinals, Jesuits, and all the Roman-Priests do tread under foot the holy City, Rev. 11.2. Jerusalem, viz. the Church and People of God, 2 Cor. 6.16, 17. What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? For ye are the Temple of the living God, as God hath said, Levit. 20.24.26. and 26.12. I will dwell among them, and walk among them, And I will be their God, and they shall be my People: wherefore Come out from among them, and be ye separated saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean Thing, etc. The Papists Images, Crosses, Crucifixes; their Consecrated Wafers, holy Waters, and Saints Pictures, the Image of the Virgin-Mary, and of our Saviour upon the Cross, unto which Images the Papish Priests and people fall down and worship; yea their Ave Maria, and prayers to Saints deceased, all their holy Bells, Beads, Prayer-Books, and Candles, etc. are all as an unclean thing, and aught to be separated from, and not touched by the People of God, whom Christ calls upon with a loud voice to come out from among them.  
These two particulars explained the Argument which Christ urgeth to enforce this his Call unto his People followeth, That ye be not Partakers of HER Sins, and that ye receive not of HER Plagues. As if Christ had said, I do by the voice of my faithful Ministers Call and Command you my People to Come out of Mystical- Babylon (Papal-Rome) and to Separate yourselves from the Church of Rome, which is fallen, is fallen from her Apostolical Purity in Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline or Ecclesiastical Government, and is become an Harlot, a false Church, the great Whore, the Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth, The Synagogue of Satan, the Habitation of Devils, the Hold of every foul Spirit, and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird. But if you my People (as if Christ had said) will not obey my voice, nor hear my Call, If you will not come out from the Church of Rome, and separate yourselves from the Papists, and leave going to and worshipping in their Popish Temples, Churches, Chapels, and private Cloisters, Nunneries, Priories, Religious Houses, Meeting-places, and holy Roods of Auricular Confession, etc. then in the first Place you will be Partakers of their Sins, that is, you will become guilty of their Will-worship, and spiritual Fornication, Rev. 17.2. of their Idolatries, Adulteries, Thefts, Murders, etc. Rev. 9.20, 21. And of their Impenitency added unto their Iniquities. And in the next Place you shall receive of her Plagues, Death and Mourning and Famine, etc. Rev. 18.8. And these shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God, which is poured out without Mixture into the Cup of his Indignation, Rev. 14.9, 10, 11, 12.  
The Motives and Encouragements I shall propound to the People of God to Come out of Mystical- Babylon, and to Separate from the Church of Rome are these, 1. You cannot come to Zion, until you come out of Babylon, Isa. 35.10. And the Ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads. 2. You cannot worship God in Spirit and Truth, unless you first separate yourselves from false Worship and Worshippers, John 4.22, 23, 24. Ye worship ye know not what,— The true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and Truth. 3. You cannot enjoy Communion with God, whilst you hold a Communion with Idols, and Image-worshipers 2 Cor. 6.14, 15, 16, 17. What Communion hath Light with Darkness? And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? Wherefore Come out from among them, and be ye Separate, saith the Lord.  
Consider whilst you continue in Babylon, (the Church of Rome) you are under the Guidance of the Pope and Roman-Priests, who are so far from being infallible Guides, (as they pretend) that they are erroneous, false, and blind Leaders of the blind into Perdition; The Roman-Priests are those false Teachers, Seducers, Deceivers; which were foretold by the Apostles of Christ, 2 Pet. 2.1, 2. and 2 John 7. and 2 Tim. 3.13. and 1 Tim. 4.1. and 1 John 2.26. These things have I written unto you concerning them that Seduce you. Therefore look to yourselves, saith the Apostle, 2 John 8. vers. Beloved (saith he) 
(a) 1 Epist. of Joh. 4.1, 2. etc.  Believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits, whether they be of God, for many false Prophets are gone out into the World. You may do well to Consider also, what Diversities, and Divisions in Principles, Opinions, and Practices in Religion there are at this Time, in the World, especially among Teachers, false Teachers, who privately bring in Damnable Heresies: And many follow their pernicious ways, 2 Pet. 2.1.23. By Reason of whom the WAY of TRUTH is evil spoken of. Now God hath in great Mercy unto the Souls of his People out of the exceeding Riches of his free Grace, and marvellous loving Kindness towards them, (That they might not be led away with the Errors of the Wicked), appointed them a threefold Guide, which God hath plainly declared in the holy Scripture of Truth to direct, lead and guide his People in the WAY of TRUTH until they come to Heaven: namely, 1. His holy Spirit, 2. His written Word, and 3. his faithful Ministers.  
First, God hath given his holy Spirit unto his People, Gal. 4.6. To lead them, Rom. 8.14. and guide them into all the Truth, John 16.13. and to Teach them all things, John 14.26. and 1 John 2.20, 27. And lest his People should be deceived, deluded, or seduced by Satan's transforming himself into an Angel of Light, or by false Apostles, deceitful workers, (who are his Ministers) transforming themselves into the Ministers of Christ, 2 Cor. 11.13, 14, 15. God hath Secondly given his People a Sure Word, (his written Word to Guide them, Psalm 43.3) 2 Pet. 1.14. Unto which, they do well, if they take heed, as unto a Light, that shineth in a dark place, etc. And thus God Counselled and Cautioned his People of old by his Prophet, Isa. 8.20. To the Law, and to the Testimony; If they speak not according to that Word, it is, because there is no Light in them. And the Apostle testifies, 2 Tim. 3.15, 16, 17. That all Scripture is given by Inspiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, and for Instruction in Righteousness, etc. And thirdly, God hath also given his people able Ministers of the New-Testament, not of the letter only, but of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3.5, 6. and Ephes. 4.11, 12, 13. And he gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers, for the work of the Ministry, etc. 
Heb. 13, 7, 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 etc.  And God Set them in his Church, 1 Cor. 12.4, 28. to be Guides unto his people, (b) Heb. 13.7, 17. Remember your Guides, ver. 7. Obey your Guides, ver. 17. And submit yourselves, for they watch for your Souls, as they that must give account. Will any godly wise Man or Woman judge in themselves, that it is safe for them to forsake and refuse this threefold Sure Guide of the Spirit, Word, and Ministry of Christ, 
Math. 24.4, 5, 11.23, 24, 25.21. Act. 20.29, 30. 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. 2 Tim. 4.3, 4. 2 Pet. 2.1.2, 3. 1 Joh. 4.1, 2, 3.  which God hath ordained, and to give up the conduct of their Souls unto the Church of Rome, to be guided by her Laws, Canons, Counsels, Popes, Cardinals, Jesuits, and the rest of the Roman-Clergy, who are blind Guides, and Antichristian Ministers: and so to hazard their own eternal Salvation? which false Teachers, and their false and damnable Errors, Doctrines, and Practices our blessed Saviour and his holy Apostles have forewarned us of in the Scripture of Truth.   

2. A Call to the Kings of the Earth to hate the Whore, to make her Desolate, and to burn her with Fire.  
MY Warrant to give this Call to the Kings of the Earth is that Prophecy, Rev. 17.16. And the ten Horns, which thou sawest upon the BEAST, these shall hate the Whore, and shall make her desolate, and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her with Fire. The ten Horns are those ten Kings, which had formerly agreed, and given their Kingdom, Power, and Strength unto the Beast, Rev. 17.12, 13, 17. until the Words of God shall be fulfilled. These ten horns are the European Kings of Italy, Spain, Germany, France, England, etc. who have formerly submitted themselves and their Kingdoms unto the BEAST (the Popes of Rome) and to the Church of Rome (that great Whore and Mother of Harlots) As was here fore- Prophesied, and as all Historians have testified. But it is the Revealed Will of God recorded in the Scripture of Truth, That the ten Horns shall hate the Whore, etc. And upon this Scripture Ground I take this humble boldness to give this CALL unto the Kings of the European World to hate the Whore, etc. And the Reasons, which I shall humbly Propose to them are these, viz. 1. Because it is the Revealed Will of God that they should so do (in this very Scripture, Rev. 17.16,) and They shall do so. 2. Because, the great Whore (the Church of Rome) hath given her golden Cup, full of Abomination and filthiness of her Fornication, into the Hands of the Kings of the Earth, and caused them to drink, and they and the Inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk with the Wine of HER Fornication, Rev. 17.1.2, 4. 3. Because SHE (the Church of Rome) hath Reigned over the Kings of the Earth, Rev. 17.18. Deposing Emperors, and Kings; putting down one, and setting up another, at the Pope's Pleasure (who is HER Head, Lord, and Lawgiver) as hath been proved, pag. 3.10, 11. of this Treatise: and appears 
(a) 
Century 8. Pope Zachary deposed Childerick King of France.  
Gregory the 7th, deposed Henry the fourth, Cent. 11. Pope Sylvester the third Excommunicated Henry the fifth, Cent. 12. Pope Innocent the 4th, deposed the Emperor Frederick 2d. Century, 13. Pope Gregory the 2d, deposed the Emperor Leo Isaurus, because he was against Images.  
Baron Annal, ad annum 730. Num. 5. and ad annum 593 Num. 86. and Tom. 8. ad An. Christi, 593. Num. 86. Non modo deponi, sed etiam excommunicari, & in aeterno examine damnari Decrevit. Damnatio & Excommunicatio Hen. 8. by Pope Paul the 3d. & Elizabethae. by Pope Pius the 5th. The Title fixed to the Pope's Bulls.   4. Because SHE hath shed the blood of the Prophets, Saints, and Martyrs of Jesus, Rev. 16, 6, 7. and 17.6. and 18.24. Therefore Reward her even as she Rewarded you; and double to her double, according to her Work, Rev. 18.1, 2, 3, 5 6, 7, 8, 20, 21-24. And of all the Nations in Europe, no Kings, or Kingdoms have more just Cause to hate, and to be Avenged on Mystery, Babylon the great, the Mother of Harlots, that great WHORE, the Church of Rome, and her Head the Pope, that BEAST, and the Roman-Priests, the false Prophet, than this our Nation, King, and Kingdom; If his Royal Majesty, and his great Council Assembled in Parliament seriously consider all the Papists former Plots and Conspiracies against the Kings and Kingnom of England; but most especially this late bloody traitorous design of Popish Recusants, even this damnable and Hellish Plot 
(b) The Votes of the House of Commons approved by the Lords in a Conference, Novemb. 1. 1678.  contrived and still carrying on by them to Assassinate the King, to subvert the Government, and to Root out the Protestant Religion, and all the Protestants in England.  
All which I most humbly submit to the Wisdom of the King's Majesty and his great Council when Assembled in Parliament, for whom I daily pray.   
FINIS.