Ultima, = the last things in reference to the first and middle things

Secondly, as the Tares are hypocritical, so are they hurtful, they seem at unity, but are at enmity with the wheat about them: and these Tares are either heretics, as most Fathers understood them; or any sinner whosoever, that is a child of the wicked one, ¹as our Saviour did expound them.

Secondly, as the Tares are hypocriticall, so are they hurtfull, they seem at unity, but are at enmity with the wheat about them: and these Tares are either hereticks, as most Fathers understood them; or any sinner whosoever, that is a child of the wicked one, ¹as our Saviour did expound them.

1. 1Vers. 38.

First, they are heretics, wicked Tares indeed: and that you may know who are these: [Greek or Hebrew] is a choice, or election, at first a good word in Philosophy, taken for a right form of learning: but now in Divinity it is a word of disgrace, and intends a stubborn deviation from the deceived truth. This infection (like the Tares) first begins whiles men sleep, the Pastors negligence gives way unto it, and because of its little seed, or small beginning, it is never heeded, or regarded, till the whole house he infected: thus Popery crept up in the dark, like a thief putting out the lights, that he might rob the house more securely; and as it began with a little, so it went on by degrees, till an universal Apostasy was (as it were) over the face of the world.¹ Austin saith of Arrius his heresy, It was at first but a little spark, but it spread so at last, that the flame of it singed the whole world: so the Pope rose by degrees, first above Bishops, then above Patriarchs, then above Councils, then above Kings, then above Scriptures, even so the Apostle speaks of Antichrist, He hath exalted himself above all that is called God,