John Trapp on 2 Thessalonians 2:7

Verſe 7. Doth already work] In thoſe ancient Apoſtates and Antichriſts S. [illegible: 1 letter]ohn complaineth of. Tertullian condemneth the Biſhops ſprouting ambition in theſe words, I hear that there is a peremptory edict ſet forth alate. Pontiſex ſcilicet maximus, Epiſcopus Epiſcoporum dicit, This he called, [non-Latin text not transcribed] &c. Thus ſaith the chief-Prieſt, the Biſhop of Biſhops, &c. Odi faſtum illius Eccleſiae, ſaith Baſil, Vehicalis inſidentes circumſpecte veſsiti, epulas curantes proſu at, &c. I hate the pride of that Weſtern Church. Ammia[illegible: 1 letter]us Marcellinus (a Heathen Hiſtorian) ſharply taxeth the roman Biſhops of his time for their pride and prodigality. How ſtifly did Gregory the great oppoſe Iohn of Conſtantinople for affecting the title of Univerſall Biſhop? And yet how baſely did the ſame Gregory collogue with Phocas the Emperour, that himſelf might be ſo ſtiled.Zonaras. This Phocas, a wilde, drunken, blo[illegible: 2 letters]y, adulterous tyrant, advanced the Biſhop of Rome (Gregories ſucceſſour) to the primacy, and was therefore ſlaughtered by Heracliut, who cut oft his wicked hands and feet, and then his genitals by piece-meal.

Vntill he be taken out of the Way] That is, The Roman Emperour have removed his ſeat to Constantinople, that Rom[illegible: 1 letter] may become the neſt of Antichriſt.In mari, biſtor. Ioannes de Columna writeth, That Otho Emperour of Germany thought to have [illegible: 1 letter]uated himſelf at Rome (as former Emperours had done) and began to build him there a ſtately palace. But at the earneſt importunity of the Romans he gave over that deſign. the like had been attempted 300 years before by Conſtans nephew to Heraclius, Theophanes. Zonaras. [illegible: 1 letter]i[illegible: 2 letters]enu[illegible: 1 letter]. Genebr. Chron. but could never be effected. This was by a ſingular providence of God (ſaith Genebrard, a Popiſh Chronologer) that the kingdome of the Church prophecied of by Daniel might have it's ſeat at Rome. If he had ſaid, that the kingdom of Antichriſt, prophecied of by S. Paul and S. Iohn might have it's ſeat in that City ſeated upon ſeven hils, he had ſaid the very truth, he had hit the nail one the head.