of the Prophetes, because that dayes are taken for yeares. As in þ^e first of þ^e Apocalips: They shalbe troubled x. dayes. Which do note the most cruell persecution of Diocletian agaynst the Christians that endured. x. yeares.MarginaliaApoc. 1. And in an other place of the Apocalips, it is written of the smoke commyng vp out of the bottomles pit. Out of which pyt there came forth Grashoppers into the earth: and to them was power geuen, as scorpions haue power, to vexe and to trouble men fiue monethes.MarginaliaApoc 9.
The beginning & end of the valiant beggarly Friers spokē of, in the Apoc. expounded of Armachanus, looke before pag 406. Now it is manifest, that from the begynnyng of the Friers minours & preachers, to the tyme that Armachanus, began to disclose and vncouer their hypocrisie, and their false foundation of valiaunt beggyng vnder the pouertie of Christ, were v. monethes, taking a moneth for. xxx. dayes, and a day for a yeare. And to Ezechiell, were dayes geuen for yeares. Wherfore it is an vnfit thyng to assigne the 42. monethes beyng appointed to the power of the beast, vnto iij. yeares and a halfe, for the reigne of that phantasticall and imagined Antichrist: specially seyng that they do apply to his reigne, þ^e 1290. dayes in Daniel, which make 42. monethes, and in the Apocalips they assigne him 42. monethes.MarginaliaNon concordat Psalterium cum cithara. It is plaine that the Psalterie and the harpe agree not. And therfore seyng that it is sufficiently shewed, that the same fablyng tale of that imagined Antichrist to come, is a fable and erroneous:MarginaliaWhether Antichrist be already come. Let vs go forward to declare whether Antichrist be already come, and yet is he hid from many, and must be opened and disclosed within a litle while, accordyng to the truth of the holy Scripture, for the saluation of the faythfull.

And because that in the first conclusion of myne aunswere, I haue cōditionally put it, who is the Antichrist lyeng priuy in the hid Scriptures of the Prophetes: I will passe on the declaration of that conclusion, bringyng to light those thinges, which lay hid in darkenes, because nothyng is hid which shall not be disclosed, and nothyng couered that shall not be knowen: And therfore, the thyng that was sayd in the darkenes, let vs say in the light: and the thyng that we haue heard in the eare, let vs preach vpō the house tops. I therefore as I haue before sayd, so say, that if the high Byshop of Rome, calling himselfe the seruaunt of God, and the chief Vicare of Christ in this world, do make and iustifie many lawes contrary to the Gospell of Iesu Christ:MarginaliaThe Pope proued Antichrist. th? is he the chief of many, which cōming in the name of Christ, haue sayd, I am Christ, who haue seduced many. Which is the first part of the first conclusion & is manifest. For Christ is called of the Hebrues the very same, that we call annoynted.MarginaliaAnointing double in scripture. And amongest them there was a double sort of legall annoyntyng by the law, the one of Kynges and the other of Priestes. And aswell were the kyngs, as the priestes, called in the law, Christes. The kynges: as in the Psalme. The kynges of the earth stode vp together, and the princes assembled themselues in one agaynst the Lord and agaynst his Christ or annoynted. And in the bookes of the kynges very often are the kynges called Christes.MarginaliaKinges and priestes annointed. And our Sauiour was Christ, or annoynted king, because he was a king for euermore vpon the throne of Dauid, as the Scriptures do very oftentimes witnes. The Priestes also were called annoynted, as where it is written: Do not ye touch my Christes, that is, mine annoynted ones, & be not ye spitefull agaynst my Prophets. And so was our Sauiour Christ, a Priest for euer accordyng to the order of melchisedech.

MarginaliaThe popes make themselues priests and kynges. Seyng then, that the Byshops of Rome do say, that they are the hygh Priestes: they say also therein that they are kynges, because they say that they haue the spirituall sword perteinyng to their priesthode, and the corporall sword which agreeth for a kynges state.MarginaliaThe Pope maketh himselfe Christ. So is it playne, that really and in very deede, they say that they are Christes, albeit that expresly they be not called Christes.MarginaliaThe Pope commeth in the name of Christ. Now, that they come in the name of Christ, it is manifest, because they say that they are his principall Vicares in this world, ordeined of Christ specially for the gouernement of the Christian Church. Therefore, seyng they say, that really and in very deede they are Christes, and the chief frendes of Christ:MarginaliaPopes proued principal Antichristes. If they make and iustifie many lawes contrary to the Gospell of Iesu Christ, then is it playne that they themselues in earth are the principall Antichristes, because there is no worse plague and pestilence, then a familiar enemy.MarginaliaThe pope an outward frende, and a priuy enemy to Christ. And if in secrete they be agaynst Christ, and yet in open appearaunce they say that they are his frendes: they are somuch the more meete to seduce and deceiue the Christian people, because that a manifest enemy shall haue much a do to deceaue a man, because men trust him not: but a priuey enemy pretending outward frendshyp, may easly seduce, yea those that be wise.

But that this matter may the more fully be knowen, let vs see what is the law and doctrine of Christ, that ought to be obserued of all faithfull people: which beyng knowen, it shalbe an easie thyng to see, if the Byshop of Rome do make or maintayne any lawes, contrary to the law of the Gospell of Iesu Christ.

MarginaliaWhether the pope doth maintayne any lawes against the lawes of Christ.I say then, that the law of Christ is charitie, which is the perfect loue of God and of Christ. This thing is playne and manifest. For Christ beyng demaunded of a certaine Doctour of the law: What is the greatest cōmaundement in the law? aunswered.MarginaliaThe law of loue commaunded in the Gospell. Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God withall thy hart, and with all thy soule, and which all thy mynde: This is the principall and greatest cōmaundement. And as for the second, it is like vnto this: Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thyne owne selfe. In these two cōmaundementes, doth the whole law and Prophetes depend. And in an other place Christ sayth: All maner of thinges therfore, that you would that men should do to you, the same also do ye vnto them. For this is the law and the Prophetes. And in Iohn the 13. chap. sayth Christ. And now do I say vnto you, I geue you a new cōmaundement, that you should loue ech other: As I haue loued you, in like maner that you also should loue one an other. In this shall all men know that you are my Disciples, if you shall haue loue one towardes an other.MarginaliaIohn. 13. And Iohn 15. chapter: This is my commaundement that you loue together as I haue loued you. Greater loue then this, hath no body, that a man should geue his lyfe for his frendes.MarginaliaIohn. 15. The Apostle Peter sayth in his first Epistle 4. chapter:Marginalia1. Pet. 4. Aboue all thinges, hauing continually charitie one towardes an other, for charitie couereth the multitude of sinnes. Be ye harborers, and intertaine ye one an other without grudgyng: euery one as he hath receaued grace, so let him bestow it vpon an other man, as the good stewardes of the manifold grace of God. If any mā speake, let him speake as the word of God. If any man do ought for an other let it be done with singlenes and vnfayned veritie, ministred of God to vs ward, that in all thinges God may be honoured through Iesus Christ our Lord. Iames in his Epistle the ij. chapter.Marginalia1. Iacob. 2. If ye performe the royall law accordyngly to the scriptures (thou shalt loue thy neighbour) ye do well: But if ye be parciall in receauyng and preferring mens personages, ye worke wickednes beyng blamed of the law as transgressours. And agayne, so speake ye, and so do ye, as you should now beginne to be iudged by the law of lybertie. What shall it auayle (my brethren) if a man say he haue fayth, and haue no workes. Neuer shall that faith be able to saue hym. For if a brother or a sister be naked, and haue neede of dayly foode, and some of you say to them, goe ye in peace, be ye made warme and satisfied: and if ye shall not geue those thyngs that are necessary for the body, what shall it auaile? Euen so faith, if it haue not workes, is dead in it selfe.

Iohn in his first epistle the 3. chap. This is the tidings which you haue heard from the beginning, that you should loue one an other. And againe, we know that we are translated from death to life, if we loue the brethren: He that loueth not, abideth in death. And agayne, herein do we know the loue of God, because that he hath layde downe hys lyfe for vs, and we ought to laye downe our lyues for þ^e brethrē. He that shall haue the substaunce of this worlde, and shall see his brother haue neede, and shall shut vp his bowelles from him: how abydeth the loue of God in hym? My litle children, let vs not loue in worde nor tounge, but in deede and truth.Marginalia1. Iohn. 3. And againe 4. chap. Most dearely beloued, let vs loue together. For loue is of God, he that loueth not, knoweth not God, for God is loue. In this thing hath the loue of God appeared in vs, that God hath sent his onely begottē sonne into the world, that we should liue by him. Herein is loue: not that we haue loued God, but that he hath first loued vs, & hath sent his sonne an atonement for our sinnes. Most dearely beloued, if God haue loued vs: we so ought to loue together. No man hath seene God at any time: if we loue together, God abideth in vs, and his loue is perfect in vs. And agayne, let vs loue God, for he hath first loued vs. If a man shall say, I loue God, and do hate his brother, he is a lyar. For he that loueth not hys brother whom he seeth, how can he loue God whom he seeth not? And this cōmaundemēt haue we of God, þ^t who so loueth God, should loue his brother. Marginalia1. Iohn. 4. also Paule the Apostle in his epistle to þ^e Rom. 13. chapter: Owe ye nothyng to no body, sauing þ^t ye should loue together, for he þ^t loueth his brother, hath fulfilled þ^e law. For ^u shalt not cōmit adultrery, ^u shalt not murther, ^u shalt not steale, thou shalt not beare false witnes, ^u shalt not couet thy neighbours good: & if there be any other c?maūdemēt, it is plentifully fulfilled vp in this word: thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe. Wherfore the fulfilling of the law is loue.

MarginaliaRom. 13. Paule to the Corinthes. 5. sayth: Marginalia2. Cor. 5.If I shoulde speake with the tounges of men and angels, and yet haue not cha-