The Reformation View of
Roman Catholicism
From the works of John Flavel (1628-1691)
 Popery…is
the proper cognizance of antichrist.
Abhor popery, and be eminent in your
zeal against it. Rome is that Amalek, with whom God
will never make peace; neither should we…no
peace with Rome. My dear countrymen, I beseech you,
be not deceived with vain words; suffer not yourselves
to be circumvented by a stratagem of the enemy; let
not prejudices and discontents which they endeavor
to beget and foment in you, against your real friends,
cause any of you to fall in with the design and interest
of your enemies: It is a dangerous thing to comply
with that interest which God hath engaged himself
against, and as sure as Christ sits at his Father’s
right-hand, shall be destroyed: And what cause have
you to abhor popery, you will see, by that time I
have shewed you, that it is a FALSE, BLOODY, BLASPHEMOUS,
UNCOMFORTABLE, AND DAMNABLE RELIGION.
That which is the religion
of antichrist, is a false religion; but the popish
religion is the religion of antichrist.
O hate popery: for it is not only
a bloody, but a blasphemous religion. If we be Christians
indeed, the dishonor of God’s name should affect
us more than the shedding of the warmest blood in
our veins; this scarlet whore is "full of the
names of blasphemy," Rev.17:3. Popery
is a mere rhapsody of blasphemies. Lastly, it is a
damnable religion; we have no ground from scripture
to conclude the salvation of any among them that know
the depth of Satan, and live and die in those destructive
opinions. Hear what the scriptures say, Rev.17:8.
"The beast that thou sawest was, and is not,
and shall ascend out of the bottomless pet, and go
into perdition; and they that dwell on the earth shall
wonder, whose names are not written in the book of
life, from the foundation of the world, when they
see the beast that was , and is not, and yet is."
And II Thess.2:21. "And for this cause, God shall
send them strong delusions that they should believe
a lie, that they all might be damned that believe
not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
When their sorest plagues shall come upon them, they
shall not have a heart given them to repent: but "shall
blaspheme the name of God because of them," (Rev.16:9).
And therefore to shut up this first counsel, you that
love the Lord, hate that by which he is so much dishonored;
it will make your blood boil in your veins, to see
how he is crucified, dethroned, and trampled on by
these his enemies.
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