XVIII sermons on the second chapter of the 2d Epistle to the Thessalonians containing…

3. To state the progress of Antichristian Tyranny, is not for a Sermon, it filleth whole Books; but thus in short. About the year 600. or in that Century, their Ecclesiastical Power began to be raised, when the majesty of the Empire was low and weak in Italy, and therefore then was Antichrist advanced a good step: when John of Constantinople had usurped the Title of Universal Bishop, Gregory the great saith, Rex superbiae prope addest, the King of Pride is near; & sacerdotum exercitus ei praeparatur, an Army of Priests is prepared to serve him as their General, this he, (fidenter dico, I speak confidently:) and within six years or thereabouts, Phocas conferred on Pope Boniface the same Title, to ingratiate himself with the people of that part of the Empire, after the murder of his Lord and Master; and then many superstitions were gotten into the Church, as about the year 688. the Pope obtained of the Emperor the Pantheon, or Temple of All-Devils, and Consecrated the same to the Virgin Mary, and All Saints: the temporal Monarchy was long in hatching, but yet the beginning of this mystery soon bewrayed it self. In the beginning of the seventh Century, Constantine the Pope would have his foot kissed, like another Diocletian, and in defence of Image worship he openly •esisted Phillipicus the Emperor of Greece, and encouraged Justine and Anastasius, ⟨p. 135⟩Tyrants and Murderers, who submitted themselves to him with Adoration: Rebellion and Idolatry have been ever continued since. In the year 720. or thereabouts, Gregory the second and Third, continued the same Idolatry and Rebellion; And caused all Italy to withdraw their obedience from the Emperor Leo, because he had commanded all Images to be broken and burnt, and for the same cause Excommunicated him, and took to himself the Coctian Alps as the gift of the Lombards. In the same Century 749. Zechariah encourageth and assisteth Pepin, to depose his Master Childerick, King of France, and to take upon him that Kingdom. Afterward Adrian took upon him to translate the Empire of the Greeks to the Latins; and ever since deposed Emperors, and made broils in Kingdoms.

3. To state the progress of A•tichristian Tyranny, is not for a Sermon, it filleth whole Books; but thus in short. About the year 600. or in that Century, their Ecclesiastical Power began to be raised, when the majesty of the Empire was low and weak in Italy, and therefore then was Antichrist advanced a good step: when Iohn of Constantinople had usurped the Title of Universal Bishop, Gregory the great saith, Rex superbiae prope adest, the King of Pride is near; & sacerdotum exercitus ei praeparatur, an Army of Priests is prepared to serve him as their General, this he, (fidenter dico, I speak confidently:) and within six years or thereabouts, Phocas conferred on Pope Boniface the same Title, to ingratiate himself with the people of that part of the Empire, after the murder of his Lord and Master; and then many superstiions were gotten into the Church, as about the year 688. the Pope obtained of the Emperour the Pantheon, or Temple of All-Devils, and Consecrated the same to the Virgin Mary, and All Saints: the temporal Monarchy was long in hatching, but yet the beginning of this mystery soon bewrayed it self. In the beginning of the seventh Century, Constantine the Pope would have his foot kissed, like another Dioclesian, and in defence of Image worship he openly esisted Phillipicus the Emperour of Greece, and encouraged Iustine and Anastasius,