TO say nothing of theire opinions in this point , who are either Popish or newters , or lukewarm , or temporisers , or worldlings , or which are afraid of the Popish armies ; because euery wise man will easely conceiue that theire verdict in this matter must needes be partiall , as proceeding from sinister respects , or theire owne perticular interests : I readily acknowledge that there are many godly and learned men , greately seene in the Scriptures , who yet are soe daily excercised in the finding of the meaning of those other places of Scripture , which teach other points necessary to saluation , that they finde litle leisure to looke on such as declare things concerning Antichrist , or his ouerthrow . I may not say that it is , because they care litle to vnderstand the truth of God in theese points : for I must leaue that to God , who knowes the secrets of all hearts . Neuerthelesse if any of them , who haue a good vnderstanding , be soe careles herein ; they may know that it is a fault , seeing the holy Ghost saith concerning the Reuelation wherein theese things are declared ; Blessed is he that readeth , Renel . 1.3 . and they that heare the words of this prophesie , & keepe those things which are written therein : for the time is at hand . And againe , Chap. 22.10 . Seale not the sayings of the prophesie of this booke ; for the time is at hand . viz. when theese things should be fulfilled . Whereby God warneth all men to looke narrowly into this booke , that they may thereby know the Dragon , Beast and whore , and such euils as accompany them , that soe they may the better auoide them , and not pertake of theire sinnes , lest they receiue of theire plauges ; and that espetially when theire deliuerance and her ruin are at hand .

And as this care was necessarie in those ages when the * * Reu. 12. Dragon reigned , and the first trumpets sounded ; so more espetially in theese times of the beast & whore : wherein the euill they doe is a greate deale worse , & more dangerous to the Soules of men : for as much as notwithstanding the light of the Gospell , all the world would still wonder after him , for that holines , power and munificence , which they would imagine to reside in him : and euen many of Gods people would be so loth to flee out of Babylon , that they should be in danger of pertaking of her sinnes , and receiuing of her plauges ; and should haue neede to be daily called on to make them come out from her . A duty which as it was euer needefull to be put in practise for the drawing of Soules from her bewitching delicacies and deceites , so more espetially now when her greate abhominations are by the refulgent light of Gods Word manifested , and her last and greatest plauges must needes be approching . For if when Saint Iohn wrote , it might be saide , the time is at hand ; how much more in theese our times , vpon whome the ends of the World are come ? and who may see , if wee either will see , or thinke it any such blessed thinge to see , that the most of those things which concerne Antichrist , and the verrie declining of his Kingdom , are already fulfilled ; and thereby euery man warned to waite with a stedfast faith to see the rest accomplished ; and not to put farre away ( as his fauourers doe ) those euill dayes , which shall befall him and his friends ; and as they doe , who would faine make the World beleeue that he shall not be destroyed till the ende of the World ; and are so loth to see any thinge proued to the contrary , that they doubt not to affirme that the time can not be so much as neerely guessed at .

To whome it may be answered that the Lord would neither haue saide of the beast , Aeuel . 13. He shall haue power to doe fourtie and two monethes ; and neither more nor lesse ; nor of the Kings his hornes , They haue receiued noe Kingdom as yet : Chap. 12.19 . but receiue power as Kings one howre with the Beast ; but that he meant to shew vs some certaine time , which when his ruin should approach , might either be perfectly , or at least verrie neerely found ; as in Daniels propheticall weekes , wherein euery day stands for a yeare : and so questionlesse in theese monethes , which are also propheticall monethes , & which can not be literally vnderstood of three yeares and a halfe . For it followes from the Angels exposition , that Antichrist is the seauenth and eighth head of the seauen hilled citie , that is , a head of gouernment in a succession , Reu. 17. as the Emperours were of whome he saide , one is : Fiue are fallen , one is , and the other is not yet come . Fiue of the Roman heads or formes of gouernment were fallen before , as Kings , Consuls , Dictatours , Decemuiri , & Tribuni Militum . The sixt was in the time of Saint Iohn ; which was the gouernment of the Emperours haueing theire seate in Rome . This head , so longe as it should abide there , would let the comming of Antichrist , who was to be the seauenth head of the same citie , 2. Thes. 2. & Reu. 17.9 . as Saint Paul compared with Saint Iohn sheweth , saying , only he who now letteth will let , till he be taken out of the way ; he saith not till he be vtterly fallen or destroied , but taken out of the way , viz. remoued ; which came to passe when the seate of the , Empire was remoued from Rome to Constantinople , and not before : for till then another domineering head could not rise to rule in Rome . Therefore saint John saith of the seauenth , He is not yet come , and when he commeth he must continue a short space , And the Beast that was and is not , euen he is the eighth , and is of the seaven . This seauenth head , which is the Roman gouernment by Bishops , is saide to endure but for a short space , because of the wound , which it should soone receiue by the Gothes and Vandals ; which when it should be healed was not longe to endure as a seauenth head only ; but should also by reason of a new title and authority become an eighth head and more absolute , that soe he might rule and raigne the rest of his longe time , and doe all the greatest things ascribed to Antichrist .

This eighth head did accordingly beginne in Boniface III. when he obtained to be called vniuersall Bishop ; he then was the eighth , and yet of the seauen , viz. the seauenth , because he seemed but to succeede the former Bishops in that gouernment , which they had after the seate of the Empire was remoued from Rome , and which they got by abusing the Canons of Nice and Sardica , as wee shall see by and by . Howsoeuer seeing Antichrist ( ye see ) is a head of gouernment in a succession ( as the Kings , and after them the other heads were , that had liued and ruled in Rome ) theese 42. monethes giuen to him , can not possibly be vnderstood literally . For indeede it is impossible that this seauenth head should rise , be seated , wounded , healed , & then become an eighth head , who should first be admired and worshipped by all nations , and then make warre by himselfe and by his hornes , ouercome the Saints , yea the two witnesses , cause an Image to be made and worshipped , and a marke to be taken by all , small and greate ; yea doe many other greate things mencioned in the Reuelation , and after send to gather the Kings of the earth to Battaile , and be taken ; and all this in three yeares and a halfe . Therefore out of all doubt in theese monethes as in Daniels weekes euery day stands for a yeare ; as the Lord saide to the Israelites , Num. 14.34 After the number of the dayes in which ye searched the land , euen forty dayes ( each day for a yeare ) shall ye beare youre iniquities , Ezech. 4.6 . euen fourtie yeares : also in Ezechiel , Thou shalt beare the iniquitie of the howse of Iudah fourtie dayes , I haue appointed thee each day for a yeare . Soe it must needes be in theese monethes , and soe they signifie 1260. yeares , as some haue iudiciously collected from Reu. 12.6.14 . further also that theese yeares must needes beginne when first the Pope had power to doe , as a head : which some thinke beganne in the time of Constantine the greate , when he left Rome , when ( say they ) he that hindred was taken out of the way . Some say sooner , euen from the time that Constantine came to the Empire and the Ethnick gouernment was ouerthrowen or taken out of the way . Indeede it is verry necessarie that the time should be searched out when theese 42. monethes began ; because that is the surest way to finde out the time of his ende and Finall ruin : but the time could not well begin from the time of Constantine , or when the Ethnick gouernment was ouerthrowen , or taken out of the way . For by either of theese computations , the time should haue beene out many yeares agoe , when indeede diuers Kingdoms were fallen from the Pope and he had noe power to doe in them , as in England , Denmarke and others , and soe indeede as his power began in som Kingdoms , before in others , soe accordingly God would that he should begin to loose it in some before in others . But yet he hath had , and still hath much power elswhere to doe great things . Which hath made some thinke that the time he hath had since , and shall yet haue is giuen him for the time of the wound , when ( say they ) he had noe power to doe . But questionlesse they are mistaken herein , as the sequell of this worke will manifest .

And indeede they seeme to me to beginne the time to soone , I meane not soe much before he was a Beast , as before he had power to doe . For the words ▪ are , power was giuen him to doe fourtie and two monethes . Soe Beza , Aretius , Piseator , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Pareus and others reade them , potestas agendi . And I can not finde that either he did much , or had much power to doe before the time of Damasus a Spaniard , who was chosen Pope aboute the yeare 366. others say 369. and sate till after the yeare 380. then indeede he had some power to doe , ( as wee shall see by & by : ) or at the furthest in the time of Syricius , neere the yeare 386. or thereabouts : to which time of Damasus in the yeare 380. if you adde 1260. yeares , which seemes to be the time giuen him in the 42. monethes , they may ende before or aboute the yeare 1640. or at least within a few yeares after , that is , if he had not this time of doeing till the dayes of Syricius , or Innocent . But it may be a litle sooner , because Damasus might haue power to doe some yeares before the yeare 380. And howsoeuer Rome may ende much sooner then the Beast : because her destruction seemeth to many to be by the fifth viall Reu. 16. his by sixth or seauenth ; hers is first declared chap. 18. then his chap. 19. But while wee seeme to cast vp the time set foorth in the Reuelation , this is to be vnderstood to fall out thereabouts . First if the time of the Beasts doeing began in the time of Damasus or Syricius ; and not before or after , which now wee will examin , as needefull to be knowne in theese lamentable times , wherein the beast rageth and preuaileth as if he were to raigne for euer ; when indeede it is , because the Deuil in him hath but a short time . And secondly if Baronius and others that I haue followed reckon the yeares right , as for ought that I can perceiue they doe ; at least they goe neere the marke ; and soe therefore may wee .

As touching the first our Lord himselfe giueth vs light in two places of the Reuelation . For while he saith of the Beast , Reu. 13. power was giuen him to doe fourtie and two monethes , he sheweth that there is a certaine time when they should beginne , which time may now at the last be neerely pointed at , by any that will take the paines to search the Histories , & to see when he first had power to doe . The second which is more plaine , and doth indeede seeme to shew when theese monethes were begunne is set downe , Reu. 17. Reu. 17.12 . Where it is saide of them who are hornes of the Beast ; theese haue receiued noe Kingdom as yet ; but receiue power as Kings one howre with the Beast : which at the soonest they did not before the time of Damasus ; Ammian . Marcel . lib. 28. c. 12. lib. 30. c. 4. lib. 29. c. 10.11.12.13 . lib. 31. c. 10. when indeede ( as Ammianus Marcelinus sheweth ) the Almanes had theire King Marcrianus of greate puissance ; the Burgundians theires ; the Africans theires , Nubel and then Firmus ; the Franckes theire Kinge Melobaudes ; and other Nations likewise had theires ; Valens the Emperour of the East was slaine by the Gothes , who also had theire Prince . Or perhaps not so soone , may some man say , because after that Theodosius brought them againe into some subiection to the Roman Empire , which yet rather hindred then ouerthrew theire growing , if not erected Kingdoms ; and indeede because he was an Emperour of greate puissance , and both greately feared and loued : therefore it may perhaps be thought by some that theese Kingdoms were not yet erected till after the death of Theodosius in the time of Pope Innocent , Spanish Hist. French Hist. who gouerned in the dayes of the Emperour Honorius ; In whose time at the farthest , as all the best Historians shew , Kingdomes were plainely erected in Spaine and Afrike by the Gothes , Speede & How . Chron. Vandales , Sueuians & Alanes ; one in France vnder Pharamond ; who yet is saide to succeede Marcomir , Sumo and Melobaudes . In whose time also the Picts , Scots and others preuailed in Britaine ; so that after the Britaines had elected diuers other Gouernours , they were faine at last to choose Vortiger theire Kinge ; and to call in the Saxons , who chased the Picts and Scots , but succeeded them in power and crueltie . Other Barbarous Nations of those times preuailed in Thracia , Hungarie , Austria , Sclauonia , Panonia , Dalmatia , and other countries . Thus though the Beast might perhaps haue some litle power , to doe a litle , before the rising of theese Kings , yet they who had noe Kingdom before , while the Empire floorished , doe now receiue power as Kinge one howre with the Beast ; that is to say , whether he beganne to haue that more Kingly power to doe in the time of Pope Damasus , or soone after in the time of Siricius or Innocent , which truly is somwhat hard to determin : yet it seemes to me to be in the time of Damas .

And the Reader may also giue a good guesse thereat , when he shall see how power was first giuen to theese Popes , & more then to any other Patriarch , or as a Kinde of head ouer all . Which power yet was not giuen him by any plaine and lawfull act of a councell , as both the sixth councell of Carthage aboute the yeare 420. and the councell of Chalcedon aboute the yeare 450. proued against him : neither indeede did he get it of many yeares after , nor by consequence iustly ; therefore the thinge is not to finde when he had it giuen him lawfully , for that the Antichrist could not haue ; but when some things fell out which gaue it him , as it were accidentally ; when first he tooke hold of such occasion , and thenceforth openly vsed and maintained it . Which at the soonest , for ought I can finde , was not before the time of Damasus : but he indeede stroue to attaine it ; and to that ende laide hold of euery litle occasion , and made vse of it . For haueing damned the heresie of Apollinaris , in a Councell held ad Rome , Theod. lib. 5. cap. 9. aboute the yeare 379. he writeth an Epistle to the Bishops of the East , wherein he intimates vnto them the condemnatory sentence pronounced against Apollinaris , and his Disciple Timotheus : which Epistle is indited with the swelling pride of a loftic minde , breathing soueraignty and preheminence aboue all other Churches , as if the Roman Church were that only Apostolike chaire , whereunto all other Churches ought homage and reuerence . Basil . Epist. 20. ad Euseb. Samosat . Soe that S. Basil Bishop of Cesarea complaines of the pride of the West , because they cared only for theire owne preheminence , but not for the state of theire persecuted Brethren in the East vnder the Arrian Emperour Valens . Yea he saith that he purposed oft times to haue written to the cheife of them , that is to Damasus , that he should not count the * * Splendor superbiae . splendour of pride true dignity and honour . Aboute the yeare 380. a generall Councell was assembled at Constantinople . Whence the Fathers of the Councell wrote vnto Damasus , as to a Brother , and ranke him with other Bishops of the West , then assembled in Rome , as theire Letters shew , Theod. lib. 5. c. 9. which are recited by Theodoret ; To our Brothers and Colleagues , Damasus , Ambrose , Britto , Valerian , and other holy Bishops assembled in the greate City of Rome , &c. He then with other Bishops of the West in a Synod at Rome , beeing desired as Brethren to approue the Councell of Constantinople , did it : and Baronius would perswade vs , that he confirmed it as a Superiour , and made it of force . And indeede though Damasus durst not openly professe so much , yet it seemes he was willing to take theire Letters in that sense , and that it should after be thought so : for he resaluteth them as Sonnes , and saith , that indeede they had yelded all due reuerence to the See Apostolike ; as if he saide desiring to haue youre acts ordered , or confirmed and made good by it . Which howsoeuer it was neuer so intented by the Councell , yet it gaue the Popes power to doe as they were disposed then , and euer after to take it , and make vse of it . For therevpon Innocent also vsed the same sleight , when the Mileuitan Councell Anno 402. and another of Carthage Anno 413. had * * See Plesses Myst . Iniqui . Progr . 9. without consulting with him ordered matters , and then in like manner acquainted him with theire acts , and desired that he would adde his authority ; he answers that they had had due regard of the Apostolicke honour , I say of him which had the care and charge of all other Churches . thus he assumed a power ouer Councels , & so power to doe as a head .

But some man will say , it seemes that as yet he had not this power , because the Popes of these times were opposed , and the power ouer Councels was not yet conferred on him . I answer , Antichrist was to be opposed by some in all ages , and so hath the Pope beene by perticular men , and in many Councels , and euen of late in the Councels of Constance and Basil ; which declared that a Councell was aboue the Pope : yet he tooke it before , and had it as the Beast was to haue it , by his owne ambitious vsurpation , and the flatterie of his followers . But as far as I can finde not before the time of Damasus , aboute the yeare 380. And then indeede he had also begunne to take it vpon him in the case of appeales , espetially in that Epistle which he wrote to Stephanus Archbishop of Mauritania , Po●● . Council . wherein he pretendeth that all the greater sort of causes ought to be referred to his hearing , and that they could not be descided but by his authority ; as also that the prouision of Bishops belonged to him ; wherein also he qualifieth the Church of Rome with the title of the Pirmament of all Bishops , and top of all other Churches ; emboldened noe doubt therevnto by Letters sent before that time vnto him from the saide Stephanies , who complained that certaine Bishops had beene deposed in in Afrike ; adding that this was donne , though they all knew well enough , That Censures of Bishops & all other causes of moment ought to be reserued to the audience of the Bishop of Rome , whom he termeth the Father of Fathers ; and thereby giueth him power to doe ; himselfe beeing of that broode of Schismatiks of whome S. Cyprian complained in his dayes , that beeing censured would presently crosse the Seas to Rome . And indeede it is the more likely that there had beene such pride or vsurpation in Damasus , and flaterie in his followers : I. Because the Councell of Constantinople did not only limit euery Patriarch , Theod. lib. 5. cap. 9. and gaue equall priuileidges to Constantinople , but euen declared , that there was an auncient law and decision of the Nicene Councell , that the Bishops of euery Prouince , with those which dwelt neere vnto them , should ordaine theire owne Ministers : Concil. Const. Can. 5. & 7. Can. Graec. 3. diuiding the prouinces for the auoidance of confusion : And ordaining that if in any prouince a matter of difference hapened to arise , it should be decided by the Synod of the same prouince .

II. Because Syricius aboute the yeare 386. emboldened as it seemes by the power which Damasus had taken , & the flateries of such as followed him , feared not to say to Himerius B. of Aragon , Siricius Epi. 1. ad Himer . That it is not lawfull for any Preist of the Lord to be ignorant of the decrees and statutes of the Sea Apostolike , and therefore requesteth him to make knowne such ordinances & decrees as he should send vnto him , not only to those of his owne Diocesse , but also to those of Carthagena , Andalusia , Portugall , Galeace and others , that is in effect to all the Prouinces of Spaine ; which could not ( saith he ) but be glorious vnto him , who was a Preist of so longe continuance . Purposing to vse the ambitious humour of this Prelate to extend his authority , law and traditions through Spaine . And in his 4. Epistle to the Bishops of Afrike , That without the priuitie of the Sea Apostolike , that is to say of the Primate , none might presume to ordaine a Bishop . All which makes it most cleare that he had the power to doe , which the Beast was to haue in the beginning of his raigne . His ambition was so apparant , and men in those times so prone to flatter him with titles , that in remedy thereof , the third Councell of Carthage , anno 397. ( Siricius then sitting Pope ) decreed , That the Bishop of the first See should not be called the Prince or Cheife of Priests , or high Priest , or by any other such name , but only the Bishop of the first See . As for the name of vniuersall Bishop , that the Bishop of Rome it selfe should not be called by that name . Which shewes that theese titles had beene giuen him by some flatterers in those dayes , or why else should the Councell make this Canon ? this Siricius , to shew the Beast was risen & had power to doe , stablished the forbiddance of Preists marriages , though by generall consent it had beene reiected in the Councell of Nice , and was not receiued in the West of 600. yeares after , doe his Successors what they could .

After him came Innocent , Innocent . Epist. 2. ad Victric . anno 401. He , in his 2. Epistle to Victricius B. of Roan● , published this generall decree , That the greater causes after that they had beene censured by the Bishop should be referred to the See of Rome , as the Synod ( saith he ) hath ordained , and the laudable vse and custome of the Church requireth . He and his Successors Zozimus , Boniface , and Celestine would haue men thinke that the councell of Nice had soe ordained : which that councell did not , as the 6. councell of Carthago proued against them aboute the yeare 420. and soe did the generall councels of Constantinople and Chacedon . It was indeede the councell of Sardica , aboute the yeare 350. that gaue this power to Iulius ; but that canon neuer put in practise by him , was reuoked in expresse termes in the councell of Constantinople , can. 3. which councell had now beene approued by Damasus : therefore they would not name it to be a canon of Sardica , but pretend it to be a canon of Nice . Which forgerie many perceiued not , and therefore gaue him power to doe . But if any man will yet obiect and say , It seemes he had not yet this power , because the councels of Constantinople , the 6. councell of Carthage , and the councell of Chalcedon opposed it . I answer here as before , Antechrist was to be opposed by some in all ages , and so hath the Pope , and euen of late in the Councels of Constance and Basile , but yet he had power , as the Beast was to haue it , by his owne arogant vsurpation & the flaterie of his followers , and that I thinke aboute the yeare 380. in the time of Damasus , or soone after , and not before : and so as I saide his time may expire aboute the yeare 1640. or within few yeares after , that is if his terme of doeing began not till the time of Siricius . Others perhaps will say he had it much sooner . Here I must tell the Papists , that it is to noe purpose for them to bringe for a ground of appeales , or the antiq●●●●● of them , the acts of any perticular Heretike , Schismatike or Superstitious Doter before the Nicene Councell : because the mysterie did worke in the Apost●es time , and if it were graunted that Mar●ian and Valentinia Hereticks had recourse to the Bishop of Rome , as Basi●des and 〈◊〉 had , who were deposed for sacrificing to idols , and likewise diuers Scismatiks of Afrike in the time of Cyprian : yet this proues not that they might appeale , or he receiue : for if the Pope had had any such right , then would not Cyprian haue complained of them for appealing , nor of him for receiuing ; neither would the Councell of Nice haue limited his power , and giuen as much to Alexandria . But howsoeuer , the question is here of power that was giuen to the Beast after his rising ; which could not be before the Nicene Councell , because he that hindred was not then taken out of the way , the Emperour not fully departed to Constantin●ple .

Neither could the burning mountaine ( signified vnder the second trumpet , Reu. 8.8 . ) be cast into the sea before the Nicene Councell ; which will appeare to be the sea , as they abused it to rise out of it . But indeede this burning mountaine was either cast into the sea in the time of the Councell , when the Pope by his deputies might ambitiously craue of the Emperour , or of the Councell , that his might be the first see , and haue some preeminence in power ; or else ( as I rather thinke ) so●ne after before the fall of Constantius into Arianisme ( signified vnder the third trumpet , Reu. 8.10 . ) when the Pope alleaged the Nicene Councell for his authority , as Iulius did : and thenceforth the beast might indeede begin to rise and doe : yet I thinke he had not this power to doe before the time of Damasus , nor longe before the yeare 380. or perhaps not till the time of Syricius , aboute the yeare 386. or soone after . For though wee finde in Socrates and Sosomene , that before that Iulius tooke vpon him by absolute authority * * Socrat. lib. 2 c. 11. Edit. lat. Sozom. lib. 3. c. 7. to restore sundrie Bishops of the Easterne Churches deposed for diuers causes by theire Synods , because saith he the care of all Churches belonged to him by reason of his see , therefore he wrote to the Bishops of the East telling them that they had donne verrie ill to determin and conclude any thinge against those Bishops without his priuitie ; yet as Socrates and Sosom shew , they tooke his reproofes in scorne , and calling a Synod at Antioch , by common aduise & consent retourne his imputations backe vpon himselfe with all bitternesse , telling him that he was no more to controll than , if they thought fit to depriue any man in theire Churches , than they intermedled at what time Nouatus was cast out of the Church of Rome : Sosomene addeth , That theire answer was full of scoffes and threats , &c. Thus as yet they gaue him noe power to doe . And it seemeth that this answer wrought vpon him : for in his next letter he complained only that they called him not to theire Synod ; whereas before he pretended , that they might not call a Councell without his authority : he doth not alleadge for himselfe that either by virtue of his succession to S. Peter , or of the Nicene Councell , they ought to appeale to Rome ; his words are only theese , The Fathers of Nice ordained , and that not without the counsell of God , that the acts of one Councell should be examined in another : whereby appeares noe greater power giuen to the B. of Rome ouer Alexandria , than to the B. of Alexandria ouer Rome . As for the greiuance whereof he complaineth , it is only this , that contrary to the custome , they had not written first of all vnto him , concerning the differences amongst them , to haue his aduice for composing of them , as beeing Bishop of the first see ; as also that many Synods had beene held in the East , concerning points of faith and doctrine , without giueing him notice thereof , contrary to the Rule and canon of the Church ; wherein is contained , that none might impose any law vpon the Churches without the aduice of the Bishop of Rome . This canon gaue him indeede that he should either be called and haue a voice in euery Councell that imposed lawes , or at least that his aduise & consent should be asked if he should be farre away , as fell out at the generall Councell of Constantinople , where Damasus was neither in Person nor by his deputies ; and in noe other sense did Iulius now alleadge it : he complaineth not that they assembled without his leaue , but that they neither called him , nor vsed his aduise ; he doth not say that this giues him that he should be as a head or Soueraigne , to confirme or abrogate at his pleasure ; much lesse that he should impose what law he list . He knew well enough that it made him noe more then a Patriarch , that other Patriarchs and Archbishops were his brethren , and that euery Bishop had neuerthelesse a free voice as well as he . Neither did he now expound it , that this canon gaue him this priueleidge as to a Superiour , to whome such homage was due : therefore Iulius bad not this power to doe .

Damasus as I shewed seemeth to haue beene the first that tooke it in that proud sense ; and yet not verrie plainely , but somwhat tacitely in words of doubtfull signification , as ye saw . After him Siricius and Innocent were more plaine , as I shewed . And soe indeede he rose out of that Sea of Nice , by forging one canon , and wresting another : a weake foundation for so mightie a building ; yet such and noe other was the foundation of this Kingdom . And thus indeede one Canon of Nice gaue him power to doe : yet not as the Councell meant it , but as he in time tooke it . And so he had it , but not before the time of Damasus , or Syricius . For Iulius as ye see had not so much power giuen him : and Liberius his next Successour , must needes haue lesse , Baron . Vol. 4. Anno 365. art. 1.2.3.4.5 . &c. seeing he was conuicted of Arianisme , as after all excuses Baronius is forced to confesse , beholding many proofes thereof . And if ( saith he ) there were noe other proofe , his owne Letters are sufficient to put it out of question . And indeede he wrote to the Bishops of the East on this manner , Epist. Liberij ad Oriental , apud Hilar. in Fragment . I cast of Athanasius from our communion , not daining so much as to receiue his Letters : I maintaine peace with you , embracing the confession of the Sirmian Councell . Which was all one as if he had in expresse words renounced the Councell of Nice : and therefore , He could haue noe power by it ; nor indeede by that of Sardica , which had giuen more to Iulius , because that had confirmed the Nicene faith , to which this of Sirmium was opposit . Yet heere by the way wee may see what greate inconuenience would follow , if either of those Councels of Nice or Sardica must needes be in that point of force vnto all ages : for while Liberius ratifieth the sentence against Athanasius , and confirmeth the Councell of Sirmium , if the Councels of Nice and Sardica giue the Pope this absolute power of confirming or abrogating Councels , then they make this act of Liberius lawfull , and thereby vtterly ouerthrow themselues , and theire owne faith and confession , which was contrarie : but the Papists will confesse that the Councels of Nice and Sardica doe not make this act of Liberius lawfull ; which to confesse is as much as if they acknowledged that those Councels did not giue absolute power to the Pope , to confirme or abrogate the Decrees of Councels .

Howsoeuer ye see Liberius could not well haue this power to doe . But then after him came Damasus , and he indeede was a man of more respect , learned , and of such good parts , as couered his ambition , so that some could not see it , and others were perhaps content to winke at it ; he therefore after a while might the better chalenge some Priueleidge from that Canon of Nice . And noe doubt but that the words of Hosius vttered not longe before his time in the Councell of Sardica , whereof they so much boast , did now further him in his desired power . The words of the Canon are theese : Hosius the Bishop saide , if any Bishop be condemned in any cause , if the partie condemned thinke he haue iust cause not to stand to the sentence , if it please you , let vs yeeld this honour to S. Peter : Let the matter be signified by Letter to Iulius Bishop of Rome , to the ende that he , with other Bishops of the Dioces , may enter againe into the knowledge of the cause . Now obserue here : 1. That it was Hosius that proposed it ; and he proposed it as a new antidote against a poysen , considering that the Bishops of the East were for the greater part at that time infected with Arianisme , restraining it to the person of Iulius , and would noe doubt haue donne otherwise in the person of Liberius , Successor vnto Iulius , and a professed Arrian , notwithstanding the pretended Chaire of Saint Peter . 2. Note theese words , If it please you , let vs honour the memorie of S. Peter : for had this beene an auncient right , should he not rather haue saide , Let vs obserue the commandement of the Lord , or the auncient order of the Church , or the Canon of Nice , whereby it is ordained that men might appeale to Rome . 3. Is it reason that a Canon of a Nationall Councell should conclude and binde the Church in generall ? 4. This Canon so made , and neuer practised was in expresse termes reuoked in the generall Councell of Constantinople Can. 3. and in that of Chalcedon Can. 8. This was the first that seemed to giue him any greate power ; but this as ye see was not absolute , yet hence he tooke such occasion of rising , that some haue thought that he did rise out of it . But that wee may finde the truth hereof , obserue : Doctrines are in holy Scriptures called waters : whereof some waters are cleane Ezech. 47.1 . Ioel 3.18 . Zach. 14.8 . Reu. 15.2 . some corrupted Reu. 8.10.11 . chap. 16.3.4 . some not corrupt of themselues , but partly made so by reason of somwhat cast into them : so was it with that Sea into which the burning mountaine was cast , Reuel. 8.8 . and the third part of the Sea became blood , and out of that Sea the Beast arose . Reuel . 13. Now that wce may know what that Sea is , obserue : The Sea is the place where waters are gathered and meete together . Riuers and Fountaines runne into the Sea , and emptie themselues there . Now Riuers and Fountaines doe signifie the Doctors and Teachers , from whome the doctrines , that is the waters , flow . Reu. 8.10 . So when the third Angell sounded , a greate starre fell from Heauen , and it fell vpon the third part of the Riuers and Fountaines of waters : this greate Starre was Constantius the Emperour , who fell into the Arrian Heresie ; and he fell vpon part of the Riuers and Fountaines , viz. Bishops and Teachers , who were corrupted by him , some by perswasion and smoth deuices , but most by force and persecution . By which meanes many were corrupted , & amonge others Pope Liberius himselfe .