10 October 2015 A.D. Jewel’s “Apology”— Roger Bacon: “These so many errors require us to look for Antichrist.”
10 October 2015
A.D. Jewel’s “Apology”— Roger Bacon: “These so many
errors require us to look for Antichrist.” Gerson: “…the substance and
efficacy of sacred divinity was brought unto a glorious contention and
ostentation of wits, and to very sophistry.” Friars of Lyons boldly affirmed
“that the Romish Church was the very same `harlot of Babylon and rout of
devils,’” pp.99-100
Bernard the abbot, above four hundred years past,
writeth thus: “Nothing is now of sincerity and pureness amongst the clergy:
wherefore it resteth, that the man of sin should be revealed.” The same
Bernard, in his work of the conversion of Paul; “It seemeth now,” saith he,
“that persecution hath ceased: no, no; persecution seemeth but now to begin,
even from them which have chief pre-eminence in the Church. Thy friends
and neighbours have drawn near, and stood up against thee: from the sole of thy
foot to the crown of thy head there is no part whole. Iniquity is
proceeded from the elders, the judges, and deputies, which pretend to rule thy
people. We cannot say now, Look how the people be, so is the
priest. For the people is not so ill as the priest is. Alas, alas,
O Lord God, the selfsame persons be the chief in
persecuting thee, which seem to love the highest place, and bear most rule in
Thy Church!” The same Bernard again, upon the Canticles, writeth thus:
“All they are thy friends, yet are they all thy foes: all thy kinsfolk, yet are
they all thy adversaries. Being Christ’s servants, they serve
Antichrist. Behold, in my rest, my bitterness is most bitter.”
Roger Bacon, also a man of great fame, after he had in a vehement oration
touched to the quick the woeful state of his own time: “These so many errors,”
saith he, “require and look for Antichrist.” Gerson complaineth, that in
his days all the substance and efficacy of sacred divinity was brought unto a
glorious contention and ostentation of wits, and to very sophistry. The
friars of Lyons, men, as touching the manner of their life, not to be misliked,
were wont boldly to affirm, that the Romish Church (from whence alone all
counsel and order was then sought) was the very same “harlot of Babylon and
rout of devils,” whereof is prophesied so plainly in the Apocalypse.
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