CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Fourthly, In that Christ makes Eternal Life to lie in these two necessary things, therefore the Papists are horribly presumptuous, who add a third thing necessary to Eternal Life, which is Subesse Romano Pontifici, To acknowledge the Pope to be head of the Church, and to submit to him, This is de necessitate salutis saith Bellarmine. But they have never yet been able to make this out that there is such an universal visible and infallible head of the Church: Yea, Gregory one of the Popes said, Whosoever should arrogate to himself the Title of Universal Bishop, he was the Forerunner of Antichrist; For the great Antichristianism described by the Apostles, lieth not so much in doctrines; Though they be Antichrists also that deny Christ to be come in the flesh, 1 Joh. 2.16. yet the great Antichrist is described by the Church-power, and universal dominion; he shall take to himself in the Church, exalting himself above every thing that is called God, 2 Thes. 2.4. Therefore howsoever they pronounce such dreadful sentences upon all the Reformed Churches, that have cast off the Popes power, as if they were not in a way to Eternal Life, yet this Scripture may abundantly encourage, where there is a true knowledge of God and Christ, there is a possibility of Eternal Life.

Fourthly, In that Christ makes Eternall Life to lie in these two necessary things, therefore the Papists are horribly presumptuous, who adde a third thing necessary to Eternal Life, which is Subesse Romano Pontifici, To acknowledge the Pope to be head of the Church, and to submit to him, This is de necessitate salutis saith Bellarmine. But they have never yet been able to make this out that there is such an universal visible and infallible head of the Church: Yea, Gregory one of the Popes said, Whosoever should arrogate to himself the Title of Ʋniversal Bishop, he was the Forerunner of Antichrist; For the great Antichristianism described by the Apostles, lieth not so much in doctrines; Though they be Antichrists also that deny Christ to be come in the flesh, 1 Joh. 2.16. yet the great Antichrist is described by the Church-power, and universal dominion; he shall take to himself in the Church, exalting himself above every thing that is called God,