the sad Ship-wrack of a good cause which went â—…ut and returned like Solomons Ships for gold The King and the Parliament at their first sâ—…ting out promised fair and good grounds of great hopes â—…f mâ—…ch good both to Church and State appeared but soon was the King whether drawn or driven or both dâ—…parted from the right way He took the sword and sadly perâ—…shed by the sword the Lords and Commons made vowes and protestations to God and man and in the breach of them were broken Each of these with the Emperour Mauritius might justly say Jusius es Domine justa sunt tua judicia in all that hath befalâ—…en them Yet in these dreadfull frowns of his upon the Reformers we may see Gods gracious smiles upon their intended reformation whiles the clouds of Gods just displeasure oversâ—…adowed the Reformers a bright beam of his Providence shined on that cause they all professed for the King Lords and Commons that began in a good cause but afterwards were divided upon different self-interests at the very last of all met again consulted agreed and finished all three together their testimony concerning this cause and then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Revel 11. 7. God snatched both that from them and thâ—…m from us unworthy of both who contemning the golden yoke of Christs government are justly liable to the iron â—…oke of Antichrists tyranny However let the Parliaments cause in the eyes of the wise be magnified though the undertaâ—…ers of it be for ends best known to God debased let God and his cause be true though every man be found a liar before him Let not therefore the professed friends of Zion in this day of Gods dark and dreadfull providences amongst us stumble and fall as the most of professours do from their first principles let not the reproaches of â—…apists and open prophane persons on one hand nor of Sectarianâ—… on the other hand make us lose our stedfastnesse let our â—…ffections and prayers be the same for our Reformation and our Reformers as formerly let not their failings in the cause cause us to fall from the cause Angels not men are able to carry on a Reformâ—…tion without faults where shall we finde a Reformaion â—…arried on without great miscarriages At the first Nationall Reformation in the world we finde Moses the Churches Monarch in the Mount with God and Aaron the Seventie and the people his â—…riest his 〈◊〉 and his subjects in the valley that while with the Devil yâ—…t their â—…ellish smâ—…ke below did not eclipse Gods light above that day was a glorious day of Reformation notwithstanding in the eyes of all the people the two Tables werâ—… brâ—…ke by Moses their 〈◊〉 the Lords anointed in Nehemiahs time how many 〈◊〉 were gâ—…t into that box purposely so pollute the ointment of a Reformation oppressours and supplanters and Schismaticks had shrewdly 〈◊〉 blown that Reformation yet 't was carried on at last God can carry on a cause by mens miscarriages David a man after Gods one heart beganâ—…s Reformation he stumbled in limine for he should have brought home the Arke Deut. 10. 8. according to Moses prescription upon the Priests shoulders but he followes the Philistines fashion and fetcheth it home upon a Cart. Here the King and his Parliament I mean his Nobles and the Priests all stumbled and by this stumble the 〈◊〉 was shaken and Uzzah smitten yet the Ark was the same and so 〈◊〉 the nâ—…erer its appointed place We mention this to the shame of those 〈◊〉 thâ—…se dayes who pretend to follow the 〈◊〉 but startle and start aside 〈◊〉 because thâ—…se beasts that were employed to draw it have stumâ—… and 〈◊〉 it Oh Christians take heed of apostatizing from Gods caâ—…se when persecuted God takes that from Christians most grievously If God smote to the grave Uzzah for touching the Ark when it shock will he not smiâ—…e to hell those Apostates that kick their heel at the Ark now 't is shaken There were never such a number of brazen-faced Apostates seen in the World together as in these dayes England and Scotland have produced These wormes which bred in the belly of the Church made it sick and miscarry of a Reformation since they are voided the Church though for the present weak I hope â—…s neer to her recovery Let those then that long and loâ—…k for her recovery take off their hearts from murmuring at the cause and turn all their complaints against themselves ô that the spirit of supplication might passe through the Protestant Churches this day ô that all the families that fear the Lord might 〈◊〉 before the Lord this day that each might see how they have in their places fallen short of the glory of God Oh that the families of the house of David of Nathan of Levi and Shimei i. e. of the Royall blood and Priestly function might mourn this day before the Lord for their own siâ—…s and the sins of their fore-fathers ô that we might all know in thâ—…s our day of visitation the things that concern our peace The sacred prophicies tell us if we mistake them not that the Churches deliverance is nigh at hand that time when the Witnesses shall rise the everlasting Gospel shall be preached to all people and the twelve Tribes converted and also the time when the Devil the beast and the false Prophet shall be cast into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone now as Daniel Chap 9 finding out the expiâ—…ation of the 70 years captivity did thereupon betake himself to fast and pray and confesse the sins of Judah Jerusalem and all Israel with the sins of their Kings Princes and fore-fathers so ought we that look after the publick weale of the Church finding by the prophecies that the Apostasie is well nigh finished and the Antichrist appears which is the immediate fore-runner of Christs glorious comming as we shew in the ensuing Tract to raise the Witnesses and restore the Iews to betâ—…ke ourselves to solemn humiliation fasting and prayer making confession of the sins of our Kings of our Nobles of our Ministers and of our people taking to ourselves Daniels words Chap 9. 16. For our sins and the iniquity of our forefathers Ierusalem is become a reproach ô Lord to all that dwell about it now therefore cause thy face to shine upon thy Sanctuary that is desolate for the Lords sake ô Lord incline thine ear to hear open thine eyes and behold our desolations Oh that we would all turn Priests and come quickly bringing this holy â—…incense with us into the Congregation that so atonement might be made for the Churches of God against which great wrath from the Lord is gone out this day and sore plagues are upon them Gods eares are not heavy nor is his hand shortened that he cannot save us but our pride security hardnesse unbelief impenitencie and murmuring have kept back good things from us Why are we in bondage to a generation that curse their father and
enemies superstition and profanenesse have in all ages been to a powerfull and orthodox Ministry Which Ministry was hereby not onely exposed to the scorn and hatred of the people but also made liable to the Prelates persecution for did they but withstand their popish Innovations or but a little swerve from their rigorous injunctions immediately followed bitter persecutions thereby many eminently learned and godly Ministers as you may read in Mr. Clarks Lives an impartial Writer were silenced suspended vexed discouraged sequestred imprisoned and some inforced to leave the Kingdome Mean while superstitious scandalous popish and profane persons were admitted into Orders countenanced encouraged and preferred Thus did the prevailing Faction of popish Prelates for all were not so prove like those Angels Revel 7. 1. holding the winde of the Gospel from blowing on the Church of England Nor was this all but needs must these Popish Reformers go to Scotland an ancient Reformed Church that was no enemy to the ancient primitive Government of Bishops and kept the Doctrine of Christ pure though God for her security and profaneness had many things against her of which this rod was a special warning The Church of Scotland rejecting the usurpation of the English Prelates who did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in going about to exercise an unknown Iurisdiction over them these revengefull Prelates putting off all humanity and Christianity to satisfie their hellish lusts thought it more fit that their Soveraign the Lords Annointed should hazzard his own life and the lives of his Nobles together with the losse of the bloud of innocent Protestants the Kings faithfull Subjects on both sides in an unnatural War to the reproach of Religion the endangering of both Kingdoms and the infinite expence of treasure then they be crossed in carrying on their designes against the innocent Church of Scotland This War begun by them was the beginning of the Brittish Wars which Wars have ruined the Brittish Royall Family the Brittish Nobles with many of their Families the ancient Brittish Laws and the Brittish reformed Church and all begun by a brutish Clergie in that Church Cursed be their wrath for it is cruell These fire-brands of State made the Bishops odious to the Gentry and Commonalty of both the Nations insomuch that when a Parliament was called which they were accidentally the cause of a certain party of the Commons of the Parliament animated by the preposterous Petitions of the over-zealous people and 't is more then probable incouraged by some of the covetous Nobility who thereby intended to make purchase of their Lands resolved to be satisfied with nothing but the utter extirpation of Episcopacy Here a fallacy was put upon the honest hearted Protestants in the Kingdome for the subtil Lawyers of the House of Commons whose Speeches were alwayes most prevalent in that House envying the wealth and dignity of the Clergie vehemently pressed that in stead of questioning the guilty they would accuse all the Bishops and in stead of questioning their persons they would pul down their Order purposely to take away the Iurisdiction This was carried on by a private faction of Polititians in the House who drew in many honester then themselves into the Designe which although not then yet since hath been discovered The Prelates it mainly concerning them at that time clearly discovered the Designe and thereupon were most firmly united Whereas had it been for a personall reformation amongst them which the grave and moderate Members desired or removing Innovations brought in by the Popish Faction amongst them they would many of them have hung more loose if not altogether sided with the Parliament against the upholders of any Doctrines or Discipline against the true Reformed Religion especially since the King declared himself at this time for a reformation of abuses crept into the Church and having respect unto tender consciences But here lieth such a mystery of iniquity that the wisest and most scrutiâ—…ous in States mysteries cannot discover On whom to charge the overthrow of Episcopacy and the Church Government of a long time continued in their hands in the general wee know but on whom to charge the designes against the Protestant Religion in their overthrow we know not or at least wise nunc non est narrandi locus It is true the Primate of England with the insolent faction at Court became odious to the Nobility and Gentry about the Court and those of his faction elsewhere stepping up into civill Offices in the State made them odious to the Lawyers of the Kingdome whose Offices they usurped The schismaticall Separatists made it one of the chief principles of their Religion to oppose them concluding that man to have true illumination to salvation that had his eyes opened to see Episcopacy to be Antichristian The generality of the sincere Professors of the Gospel were much grieved at the barbarous rigour of their Discipline in suspending silencing and molesting learned godly orthodox Ministers because they would not wear a Surplice signe with the Crosse stand at the Creed kneel at the Sacrament observe a superstitious holi-day but most of all they were grieved that such persecution should befall them for refusing to read the book of Sports to their people a most abominable book giving liberty to people to profane the Lords day The people also generally disliked their rigour in citing them to their Courts for working on Holi-dayes or marrying without a Licence or upon a groundlesse suspicion of inchastitie Many such poor pretences meerly to drain the peoples purses did their Officers make Thus had the Prelatick party drawn the odium of the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty upon them and now a Parliament being called and in that Parliament severall Members of both Houses professed enemies to their Degree and not onely to their degree in the Church as Bishops but to their Office as since they professe as Ministers upon what designe may easily be conjectured These members also being popular took the opportunity of lifting these Protestant Churches off their hinges whiles the eyes of all men were on them for a Reformation Here I say was the fallacy that whiles they pretended to root out Popish pollution they struck at the very root of Primitive purity whiles they pretended to reform Episcopacy they struck at the very Office of the Ministry as now that wound being searched to the bottom discovers to us The King and his party saw to the bottom of this wound many yeers since Those Remonstrances now seem full of Prophecies which we have seen fulfilled But lest we should seem to throw dirt upon the Parliament and the Purliaments cause we must distinguish of a threefold party which sate in the house in plain truth the Parliaments covenant distinguisheth them There was a Popish party a Protestant party and a Schismaticall party the Protestant party made this covenant against the other two parties This Protestant party maintained the Protestant cause against all other parties No Protestant can be
pragmatick fellows made it a snare to tender consciences of the Kings party by pressing it upon them and oppressing those that refused it This was doubtlesse a grosse sinne but it cannot properly be laid to their charge as if they thereby intended to make a party for themselves against the King but to make all within their Garisons and Commands both Ministers and People true Subjects to the King to the Lawes and the Protestant Religion Whiles this was strictly observed in the Parliaments Quarters Iesuites and Popish Priests were not so frequent nor so bold as since they have beene amongst us 3. As to that of throwing down of Bishops a double scandal is taken if not given thereby 1. In their manner of proceeding without and against the King which in it self was absolute usurpation for though they did send to the King to passe it yet they resolved upon his denyal to proceed which was an absolute denyall of his Negative voyce in which implicitely they denyed him to be their Soveraign 2. In throwing down the ancient Government of the Church by Bishops which Government hath continued in the Church since the Apostles time unquestioned until within these hundred yeers and then the Orthodox onely questioned their Persons not their Office onely the Anabaptists cryed down the Office as Antichristian Now for the Parliament under pretence of Reformation of Religion to cast off that primitive Government universally received in the Churches without and against the consent of the King and solemnly ingage others in the same thing seems to be a most rash and incâ—…nsiderate act done out of blinde mislead zeale or an ungodly act done wilfully to bring to ruine the Protestant Church of England to rob the Church of its Maintenance and ruine the learned Clergie of the Nation Here we must answer leâ—…t both innocent persons and a good Cause suffer 1. The Parliament intended not by throwing down the English Hierarchie to throw down any Worship Discipline or Government according to the word of God for then their second Article would clash with the first in the Covenant so that their meaning is they will extirpate so much of Prelacy as shall be found contrary to the word of God and the Example of the best reformed Churches I suppose by Churches they meant the purest Primitive Churches for all these late Reformed Protestant Churches did before we thought of a Reformation yeild that we were better reformed then they We hold the Calvinists the best reformen Churches but saith learned Beza to the praise of the English Protestant Bishops Let the Church of England injoy this singular bounty of God which I wish may be hers for ever So far was he from thinking it a piece of Reformation to pull them down Calvin Bucer Luther Melancton Zâ—…nchy Chamier are all of them no enemies to Bishops though professed enemies to the Superstitious Idolatrous Practices of Bishops in that Age. Every solid Protestant is so far from thinking the Office of a Bishop to be Antichristian that he rather thinks it a high degree of Antichristianism to oppose that Office this is as we have shewed to deny the Father and the Son for he that denyeth an Apostle or the Successoâ—…s of an Apostle in the Office of the Ministry denyeth Christ and he that denyeth Christ denyeth God that sent him Charity therefore makes me hope that the sincere Protestants what ever other subtil Foxes designed intended no otherwise by that second Article in the Covenant then to reduce the Church of England to a Primitive Purity by removing Popish Prelates and all those humane Institutions depending on the English Hierarchy if through Error they were mis-led from the right means to this end the discovery of that Error may seasonably reduce them into a right way for wise men never think it a shame to repent It is most certain that the intent of the sincere Covenanters was to reâ—…ine not ruine the Ministry by pulling down the English Hierachy they struck not at the order of the Ministry but at the degree of Episcopacy they struck at the Discipline of the English Church therein more then at the Ministry for they pulled down Bishops as they were Superintendants over their brethren not as Ministers so that they took away their degree above their brethren but left them standing in their order as Ministers Bishops lost not their Order by the Covenant but their Degree for though they are in a distinct degree above the Presbyters which have ever been allowed them in the purest Churches since Christ time yet they never were a distinct order from the Presbyters neither the Scripture nor the Fathers make them so so that Aerius an ancient Writer in that saith truth a Bishop and a Presbyter are joined in the same Commission the Bishop imposeth hands so doth the Presbyter the Bishop administers the Sacraments and dispenseth the Ordinances so doth the Presbyter so that essentially there is no difference betwixt them what is is only gradual Now here lies the great question Whence they had this degree above their fellow Ministers in the Church If they had this from Apostolical Institution then without all doubt it was a grieveous sin in any Civil Power to pull it down and they that convenanted so to do did unadvisedly and foolishly But if this degree of Episcopacy be but an Ecclesiastical Institution though of great Antiquity the case is altered there cannot be an absolute necessity of its immutability Meer humane Institutions admit of alterations Hierom and Epiphanius say They were set up as a remedy against Schism and Heresie long after Presbytery But to come to the thing suppose this degree to be as probably it is an Apostolical Institution which continued unquestionable in the Church for many hundred years Yet here the question will still be Whether since the grand Apostasie that Paul prophesies of there hath not been an Apostasie from this Institution whether this Institution in the Apostasie did not contract much corruption This is granted by all the Protestant English Bishops especially by the late Lord Primate of England B. Laud in his Conference with Fisher Bishop Jewel and Bishop Downam hence these two latter conclude That the Hierarchy of Rome is so corrupted and apostatized from its Primitive Institution that it is become the Antichristian State nay more then that they call it the Antichrist That question then which concerns us is Whether the Hierarchy of England were so exactly conformable to the Primitive Institutution as that it needed no alteration These two things are granted 1. That the persons in that Hierarchy needed to be reformed for some of them were profâ—…ssed Papists and the most of them bitter enemies to a powerful and a painful Orthodox Ministry 2. That whatsoever is built upon an humane foundation may upon humane or divine considerations be taken down again if so then those Titles Offices and Dignities conferred meerly by men may be taken away but
blesse not their mother to a generation that are pure in their own eyes yet not washed from their filthinesse a generation ô how lofty are their eyes and their eye-lids are lifted up a generation whose teeth are swords and their jaw-teeth knives to devour the poor from off the earth and the needy from amongst men a generation of Lâ—…custs the wonder of Solomon who having no King go forth all of them by bands Would we but incline our cares to Gods counsels and turne our feet into his paths he would soon subdue our enemies and turnâ—… his hand against our adversaries the haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves but that we were disobedient to the Commanaments of the Lord. Why is the Diadem fallen from our head but because wo unto us we have sinned Why do flattering lippes proud tongues and double hearts prevail against us to the oppression of the poor and the making of the needy sigh Why do the wicked walke on every side when the vilest of the sonnes of men are exalted but because weare sinfull our Cities and our Countreys and our families of all rankes and degrees have sinned Go forth therefore ye sons and daughters of the Church weeping gird your selves in sack cloth and put ashes on your head take to you words of lamentation and bewail the sins of your Kings of your Princes of your Nobles of your Ministers before the Lord. Let the Trumpet be blown in Zion let a Fast be sanctified and a solemn Assembly called gather the people assemble the Elders let the Bridegroom go forth of his chamber and the Bride out of her closet let the Ministers of the Lord weep between the Porch and the altar and let them say Spare thy people ô Lord and give not thine heritage to reproach that Heathens should thus rule over us So soon as the people of God are thus framed God will be jealous for the land and pity his people The Churches teares usually go before the black Funerall of their enemies their tears ascend like exhalations insensibly but return in thundering and lightning stormes upon their enemies We shall finde the Churches mourning and the enemies ruine to be Zach. 12. 3 4 10. a Gospel-connexion and what himself hath joyned we cannot pull asunder Since therefore preces lachrymae are our best weapons against our enemies let us take to our selves this spirituall armour and let us thus go forth for the cause of God with much affection rejoycing as a Bridegroom commeth forth of his chamber and as a strong man rejoyceth to run a race let us rejoyce that we are counted worthy to be in arms for so great a King let us with a holy scorn disdain the enemies of our Lord the King let us defie that power and strength they bring against him Let the Counter-motions of crosse providences which make it evening by the Apostates clock put forward the hand of your faith to make it the morning of deliverance doth the Antichrist tread down all before him and oppresse the Church of God exceedingly be of good cheer for thus it is written that Antichrist must do and the Witnesses must suffer and also 't is written that then he is neer to his ruine and the Church neer to a glorious and exceeding great deliverance which is the subject of one main part of the ensuing Discourse Be not then ô ye Saints of the most High either afraid or ashamed of your afflictions Can you chuse a better Master Can you fight under a more royall Standard then Christs or can you finde a baser enemy or more accursed then the Antichrist gird on then your spirituall armour with the girdle of sincerity be stedfast in your resolutions why do the latchets of the shoes of patience hang so loose Why do you fâ—…et and startle at the news of suffering as if the fiery triall which is to try you were the fire of hell to damn you sincerity rejoyceth in the triall how will you be known from loose professeurs if your sincerity be not tried by afflictions afflictions indured with patience for Christ are the seales of sincerity this was one of Pauls seals which passed him for current among the Saints Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ. Sufferings for Christ are an evident tâ—…ken of perdition to your enemies but to you of salvation and that of God Faith is the evidence of our salvation and sufferings are the evidence of our faith Rejoyce therefore inasmuch as yeare made partakers of the sufferings of Christ for when his glory shall be revealed ye shall be glad also with exceeding joy your reproaches for Christ render you happy inasmuch as thereby the Spirit of glory resteth on you though on your enemies part Christ is blasphemed yet on your part he is glorified We have indeavoured to clear the Church of England and to clear the reformation begâ—…n and at last fiâ—…ished by the King Lords and Commons as Christs Church and Christs cause notwithstanding all those reproaches cast upon it let us then all of us that own the Church of England for a true Church and the reformation of that Church for a good cause prepare for sufferings and let us count them as so many scars of honour got in the field where the Royall Standard of our Lord the King is pitched which we shall wear forever our bodies shall lie down in the grave in the honour of them and at the Resurrection rise in the mâ—…jesty of them Let love to Christ and love to the Church of Christ constrain us to constancy let 's stop our eares against all the charmes of the Devill the world or the flesh let 's look to our Redeemer who when he was tempted upon the salvation of the chief Priests and Elders and upon the vindication of the Godhead to come down from the Crosse this seems to me to be the deepest temptation of hels forging for to destroy the work of Redemption for had Christ come down before he had died our Redemption had not been finished and we must all have been damned yet he continued in his shameful and grievous torments under all these blasphemons roproaches until the work of our Redemption was finished look up then to this great Captain of our salvation and as you have seen him do so do ye you must if you be Christs be made conformable to Christ your head by sufferings The faithful Christians of the three Kingdoms have suffered much ô let them not come down from the cross until the work be finished 't is supposed that there are sharper sufferings yet to come yet let us not â—…aint for there are more with us then are against us we have as that great person said A good Cause and a gracious God and so we have all the Angels and Saints on our sine we have the Trinity to trust to who is a strong hâ—…ld in time of trouble and knoweth every soul that trusteth in him Let love to the
characterizeth Some Learned men take this Prophesie of Pauls to be so clear a description of Antichrist that they say 't is a Commentary on Iohn who hath writ the Mysterie of Antichrist Without all doubt Paul doth say much of Antichrist in this place if we were able to dive into the bottom of his profound mysteries but the wel is deep and the cords of our abilities are but short so that we cannot go so deep as he hath digged in this sacred Fountain But of all learned sayings to this purpose give me that eminent Prideaux I mean Prideaux the Divine who saith thus ' Daniel ' hath discussed Antichrist Typically Paul more cleerly hath ' drawn him out Topically and Iohn in Rev. chap 13. 17. hath ' described him more fully I am very confident that Rev. 13. 17. do set forth the Antichrist together with this Prophecie of Paul's more fully then any other Chapters in the whole Bible In the touching upon this Prophecie we shall first endeavour to shew Pauls method and then his meaning This following is Paul ' s Analysis of the Antichrist In this prophesie is foretold the great things that shal be visible in the gosp Church before the day of Judgement which are in generall two 1. The general Apostasie is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 3. 2. The manifestation of the Man of sin the Antichrist who is described by a threefold Character 1. By his nature and that 2 wayes 2. By the time of his appearing in the world which is demonstrated 3 wayes 3. By his actions when he doth appear which are set forth by their 1. By his names given to him which are five 2. By his qualities ver 4. which are four 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 4. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 8. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 11. 1 He is a self-seeker 2 A rebell against Magistracy and Ministry 3 He is a specious hypocrite 4 An usurper over the people of God 1. By a demonstration à priori ver 5 6. they had been taught it before 2. By an ocular demonstration à praesenti ver 7. from the mystery of iniquity then working viz. to overthrow the Church From the likenesse of that present to the mystery to come the Apostle argues 3. A causa impediente from the impediments that kept down this man of Sin he argues to the time of his appearing ver 8. 1. Kind diabolical with power signes lying wonders and all deceivableness ver 9. 10. 2. Effects which are to seduce professors loose and hypocritical professors v. 11. 3. Issue end viz. the everlasting damnation of himself and followers v. 12. whose followers are characterized c. CHAP. II. NOw we come to shew the meaning of these words which that we may we wil endeavour to read them right Ver. 3. Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed that son of perdition So our English Translation reads it and to this sense do all or the most of the Latine Translations read it yet all of them acknowledg that there is not one Iota of that clause That day shall not come in the Greek Copy Those that take not in this supply of words make the sense go lame as the Syrack Interpreter Tremelius and the Vulgar Translation And how to add these words to the Copy I know not I confess I know what the Learnedâ—… say in defence of it They say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is when one through vehemency cutteth off some part of a sentence yet so as that the whole may be understood so that the Apostles words import as much as this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this brings it just to our English Translation and for confirmation of this manner of reading the Text they affirm that this figure of speech is commonly found among the Greek Writers But I much question whether all this will give a man sufficient warrant to adde these words in a Translation I confess they would do well in a Paraphrase I am sure it is the safest and best way for a Translator to keep to the Copy as near as he can to a word and therefore I shall beg leave to seek out some other English reading nearer to the word The great stumble is made at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which being not looked on as an Hebraism may be one cause of not discerning the Apostles emphatical expression therein it is true indeed that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a casual conjunction and so it is usually found both in Humane and Divine Authors but in this place I humbly conceive that it is neither particula causativa nor illativa but affirmativa and so the Learned tell us that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est particula affirmantis and also that it is used asseverandi causâ so veryemphatically the Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used in 1 Ioh. 3. 20. For if our hearts condemn us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verily God is greater then our hearts and with submission I conceive that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Iohn 8. 24 should be translated verily 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Verily ye shall dye in your sins like unto this is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Matth. 7. 23. Verily I never knew you it is used by way of asseveration And then the next Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is translated in several places of Scripture but as Matthew 26 42. Father if this cup may not passe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But I must drink it and in Galat. 2. 16. A man is not justified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but by faith And it is Learnedly observed by one that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is answerable is translated by the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but Genesis 24. 38. Beza translates it quin in the Text so that wee may read it to a word thus Verily but there shall come the Apostasie first and that man of sin shall be revealed So that this seemes to be the sense You Thessalonians by false Teachers that pretend to have revelation are taught that the day of Judgement is near at hand but we that have the true spirit of Prophesie doe assuredly know the contrary it is no such matter but verily there must come the Apostasie first and the man of sin must be revealed before that day come There is more to do for the Church then to passe presently from Egypt to Canaan they shall find a barren wildernesse to passe through and there Serpents shall bite them and enemies shall annoy them and thirst shall afflict them The Church the Spouse must be conformable while she is militant to Christ her Husband when he was militant Now Christ before in
that had such a Pilot in such a stresse This Text is the sheat-Anchor which staid the driving ship of the Church of Thessalonica they had heard Paul in person preach of the grand Apostasie and the comming of Antichrist and of thâ—… great let untill the time of Antichrists appearing and how all these must be fulfilled before the day of Judgement but they had forgot all this untill Paul had remembred them 't is certainly an excellent piece of divine policie in a time when a Church hath â—…lipt the anchor of old truths and is tossed to and fro with heresies to minde them of old truths for all errour in the Church as we said is either caused through forgetfulnesse or wilfulnesse as for wilfull Apostates they are past cure without infinite mercy and an extraordinary divine arme stretched out they are miserably ship-wracked to eternity but as for forgetful apostates what better remedie can be brought for their recovery then bringing to their remembrance ancient truths from which they have swerved What makes so many eminent professours in these our dayes turn Apostates but onely forgetfulnesse their fear and care of their persons families and estates hath made them forget their Baptismall Sacramentall Nationall Personall Engagements This sin of forgetfulnesse caused some who went to prison triumphing like Martyrs to return from prison sneaking like Malefactors they forgot Solomons words Prov. 4. 6. and a greater then Solomons in Matth 16. 25 26. and 19. 28. and Revel 21. 7 8. and 2. 7 17 26. and 3. 5 11 12. In truth such was their forgetfulnesse through fear that they forgot their own Epistles Poor souls I pity them and pray that either they may remember themselves or others may quite forget them let their shamefull acts never be published in Gath. Mark 8. 18. Do ye not remember The Apostle proves the truth of his Doctrine both from an ocular and auricular demonstration they had seen him in person mainteining it with their ears received it formerlâ—…â—…or a truth so that the Apostle drove them to this Dilemma either to be quiet and establish themselves in the truth by rejecting those seducers and their doctrines or to proclaim to the World that they were Apostates in forsaking the Light and the Truth which they once imbraced CHAP. V. ANd now ye know what with-holdeth that he might be revealed in his time This Text is neither plain to be read nor easie to be understood Some of the Fathers have onely this dark Comment upon it that they understand it not Hereupon some as darkly say of this Text that Pauls intention was not to be understood by any but the Thessalonians Venerable Beda and Dr. Estius ingeniously confesse they understand it not and several others though not in words in their works professe as much I pray God I be not one of them I am the likeliest of all men If I am 't is not for want of search For Hagar I think did not search more for a Fountain then I have done for a Stream naturally flowing from this profound Well yet am still exceeding thirsty The Text it selfe is an inference drawn from a double reason in the premisses The inference is that now they knew what hindered the appearing of Antichrist and the grounds of his inference are from v. 3 4 5. 1 There shall be a generall Apostasie v. 3. before the man of sin be revealed 2 That man of sin before he comes to be formally the man of sin must v. 4 stay the Witnesses and this was no strange or new doctrine for v. 5. he had preached it to them before so that from this double Demonstration he in this Text concludes with a confutation of their former preposterous conclusions for the forme of the Apostles speech is Elenchicall they concluded that the day of Judgement was at hand No such matter saith Paul for the generall Apostasie must continue a certain space first and then must come the man of sin in the end of that and he must slay the Witnesses and this you may remember I taught you therefore now certainly you cannot but know what lets the Antichrists appearing since you have been double taught it viz. that of the generall Apostasie which God by his revealed decree hath ordered first to be and then the slaying of the Witnesses the overcomming and suppressing of that Magistracy and Ministery which upheld Gods holy Ordinances in their purity for the Apostasie did but drive the Witnesses into the wildernesse where the Antichrist in the end of the Apostasie findes them and slayes them He opposeth and exalteth himselfe above all that is called God i. e. Magistracie or that for Religions sake is reverenced for so much the Greek word imports that is the Ministery which for their works sake are to be had in double honour The Apostle draws an argument à 〈◊〉 impedimenti that the great let must be the two Witnesses for they are the mountain which stand in the Antichrists way all his war is with them and all his Tyranny is over them and their Subjects I cannot finde in all the Scrâ—…pture what should be the great let but the two Witnesses 't is they that have fire in their mouths to devour their enemies they have power to shut heaven and power over waters to turn them to blood these all are but expressions of their prevalencie with God against their enemies those Antichristian enemies which persecute them into the Wildernesse and hence it is that Antichrist Revel 11. 7. makes war with them by which 't is clear 't is a Nationall Church under a lawfull Magistracy and Ministery which are in a capacity of levying war against the Antichrist that by the way chiefly observing this that they are the Antichrists let And v. 10. They that dwell on the earth i. e. Antichrists followers they rejoyce and make merry and send gifts one to another and what 's the matter because those two Prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth that is those Antichristian factions they i. e. the Witnesses kept down Antichrist with his followers therefore these rejoyce for their slaying I very well know the diversity of opinions on this Text Some and those of the Eastern Churches conceive the great let is the Spirit of God whose powerfull influence in the Gospel kept Antichrist under This in some sense is true yet not in opposition but confirmation of that opinion of the Witnesses being the great let for what Mediators doth the Spirit make use of betwixt his Majesty and men but only the Witnesses Moses and Aaron were thus his Mediators Others say the great let is the decree of God this in some sense though not in theirs is true for there are no events but what fall under Gods decree but we speak and so doth the Apostle of the second not of the first causes Others say the doctrine of the Gospel was that great let which kept Antichrist from appearing This opinion
perdition in regard of his nature and quality as also in regard of the time of his appearing he is the son this correlate tearm implies a father now we shall finde his father if we look but out of what wombe he came Revel 11. 7. he came out of the bottomles pit who hath the power or key of the bottomless pit but the Star faln from heaven Revel 9. 1. and that is generally by the learned'st Protestants concluded to be the Popedome who after it had opened the bottomlesse pit and let out all its locusts those monsters that poisened Nations and caused the Western Church so foully to apostatize for that 's the meaning of the 10 first verses of Revel 9. the last that appears is v. 11â—… a King whose name is in Hebrew Abaddon and in Greek Apollyon that is to say a destroyer This King most probably is the Antichrist the son of perdition and my grounds are for it because as I said before his originall is one and the same that Antichrists is his end is the same his titles are the same and the time of his appearing is at one and the same time a word on each 1 His originall is the same in Revel 11. 7. he is the beast of the bottomles pit 2 His titles are the same for here he is also call'd King and so Revel 11. 7. beast implies as Revel 17. 8. there the same beast which ariseth out of the bottomlesse pit is called the eighth that is King say the learned so that his titles are the same 3 His time of appearing is the same for here he appears the last viper of the Popedome of Romes hatching and so he appears in Revel 11. 7. after the witnesses have finished their testimony and in Revel 13. after the beast of the Sea hath tyrannized in his day and in Revel 17. he is called the eighth beast bearing up Rome when she is going to ruine and Daniel 7. calls him the little horn the last which riseth up after the ten It is supposed by some upon very good grounds that that King Apollyon Revel 9. 11. is brought in abruptly there or should be within a Parenthesis as not relating to the next following verse but set down in the end of the Vision of the Roman Apostasie to note that this King Apollyon is to appear in the latter end of the Apostasie being the Antichrist that slays the Witnesses therefore Apollyon the eighth King Revel 17. therefore King Apollyon he is to go to perdition at the great battel Revel 19. therefore Abaddon 4 His end is the same for in Revel 17. 8 11. there twice he is said to go to perdition and twice mention is made in Dan. 7. of the destruction of the little horn which is the same beast now if this King be the Antichrist then Pauls son of perdition hath the Pope for his father and hence peradventure he is called the son This son of perdition may well be called the son of the Pope if we look to the resemblance that is betwixt the father and the son The Pope the father pretends to exceeding much piety and godlinesse and so doth the Antichrist the son therefore the Antichrist is called the false prophet and Paul 2 Thess. 2. 9. calls him that person that comes with power and lying wonders and signes and all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse insomuch that if it were possible the very Elect would be deceived by him and his followers and then in his tyranny over the Saints he much resembles his father the Pope for the Popedome drove the true Church out of Rome which was once the purest Church and the famousest in the World and drove it into the Wildernesse and caused the Witnesses to sit in sackcloth that is in the poorest lowest vildest and most abject state The Popedome secluded the Emperours of Rome from their right of Dominion in Rome and hath made them sit in sackcloth mistake me not for by the Emperours of Rome I do not mean the Emperours of Germany no they are as excentrick and as unlawful in their constitution as the Pope himself who is Pope by the election of his own creatures there will be found in the world one day one that hath a lawfull title to the Empire by succession whose predecessours had their title founded upon a lawfull Conquest Now as the Pope the father together with the Eastern Apostasie drives the successors of the lawful Emperour of Rome into the wilderness which is the true Churches place observe that Revel 12. 14. so in that place the Antichrist slayes the witnesses that is the lawful anointed ones of God who finish their testimony to the truth against the grand apostasie and usurpation of Rome and after he hath slain them usurps their power and authority just like the Pope when he had drove the Emperour out of Rome seated himself in his throne and authority and trampled under feet the Ministery of Rome that neither Synods nor Censures of the Ministery were of any force except such as were of the Usurpers faction and cried him up for a Saint and a petty god Herein the Antichrist the son is also like the Pope his father Hence from the resemblance of their tyranny in Revel 13. 12. the beast of the earth which is the son of perdition Paul here mentions is said to exâ—…rcise the power of the first beast before him Or he may be called the son because as a son is born to be a support to his father in his old age so is this son of perdition destinated to bear up Rome in her old age when she is neer her grave going down to destruction Hence the Antichrist is seen to carry Rome Revel 17. 7. the woman with seven heads and ten horns when v. 1. her judgement is seen in a vision whence I conclude the Antichrist riseth long after the â—…ope and doth at that same time appear in the world when the Judgement of Rome is neer at hand this is the opinion of the most of the Fathers for Iohn in Revel 11. 7. sees not this bettomless pit beast until the Witnesses had finished their testimony nor doth he see the beast of the earth which is the same beast of the bottomlesse pit untill Revel 13. 10 11. the beast of the Sea which had led captivity was going into captivity and then appeares the beast of the earth and up comes his new Government and Tyranny Nor is the beast of the bottomlesse pit Revel 17. 8. which is the eighth Verse 11. seen carrying the woman with seven heads and ten horns until the judgement of the great Whore is seen Verse 1. so that there is great ground to believe that this son of perdition ariseth after the Apostasie and appears in the World about the time when the Apostasie shall be ended that is when God shall throw down those usurpers in the Churches and usurpers in those States which have bin the
cause of the Apostasie when God shall ruine all those irregular Orders as I may justly call them in the European Churches and aâ—…l those tyrannicall and false Governments which are got into those States which professe Christianity and shall raise up his Witnesses which shall promote the truth of the Gospel both for doctrine and worship about this time shall the Antichrist appear i. e. immediately before this time But we leave this sense We come neerer to the literal and general sense and as 't is conceived to that which the Holy Ghost alludes unto The Antichrist is called the son of perdition by way of allusion to Iudas who is called the son of perdition Iohn 17. 12. which gives us this notion that as there arose a son of perdition to betray Christ the lawful Monarch of the Iews and hereby brought a dreadful curse upon the Church and State of the Iews so as that the Gospel departed from them and went to the Geneiles so there shall about that time when God will cause the Gospel to go forth to the Iews another son of perdition arise which shall betray to death the only true Christian Monarch in the World that so the Romish Gentiles Epha may be full and God may bring upon them the judgements written and restore again in their ruine the twelve Tribes to their ancient possessions This son of the perdition is he that slayes the Witnesses Therefore saith Ambrose Catharinus he is like Iudas Eximio námque moâ—…o talis erit qui tantum audebit he is exactly like Iudas in his sin in his eminent profession of religion and his prodigious ends malicious covetous sacrilegious treacherous attempts and hypocritical politick practises in the accomplishing of those ends To conclude let the words explain themselves The man of the sin is the son of the perdition i. e. he that commits the sin of sins in the Gentile Church is the son of the perdition that is actively of the slaying of the Witnesses So that the person gives us the knowledge of the sin the sin gives us eminently to know the person and this shall be the making naked manifesting or laying open to all the world the man of the sinne the son of the perdition CHAP. III. WHo opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God sus in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God This verse gives us a description of those actions which give the esse formale to the Antichrist for 't is not the person but the sinne makes the Antichrist formally so to be This text is Antichrist's looking-glasse wherein he may see himself face to face His prodigious sin is the slaying of the Witnesses and this is the sin which the text sets forth In the words there are three generall parts 1 Antichrist's acts 2 The object of these actions 3 The end of his acts 1 His acts are set forth under two names or titles given to him 1 He opposeth 2 He exalteth himself 2 The objects of these actions are 1 All that is called god 2 Or that is worshipped 3 In the end of his actions we have 1 The ambitious aimes of the Antichrist laid open 't is to make himself supream So that he as God there 's his Supremacy 2 We have the place where Antichrist makes himselfe King and Supream and that is in the Temple of God in the true Church of God Sits in the Temple of God 3 We have also his kinde of title to all this greatness described shewing himself that he is God 't is a self-created title that he hath to his Supremacy he shewes himselfe he displayes his own colours the meaning is he is an Usurper he hath no title but what he gives himself Who opposeth and exalteth himselfe so our Translation renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beza translates it sese opponens the Vulgar qui adversatur the Syriack qui adversarius the particle â—… is restrictive in this place and therefore the expression is to be considered absolutely that person opposing or the adverse person The word comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is contra jaceo it alludes to souldiers lying in siege against a Castle who lie close in their trenches against it so doth the Antichrist lay a siege against the Witnesses watching for an opportunity to surprize them and bereave them of their power and glory The word answers saith Grotius Zanchie and Beza to the word Satan in Hebrew which signifies an adversary as they prove This turns us to a text which gives us a view of the Antichrist Zach. 3 3 4 and the Witnesses in filthy garments and the Lord rebuking Antichrist who is there twice called the adversary in the rebuking of whom there is a fair Miter put upon Ioshua the high Priests head that is the Witnesses are called up to the Throne but this text will require much time to clear and therefore at this time I passe it by We will take it as 't is byassed the other way by Commentators and so the expression as that next before it alludes to Iudas saith Chist Have not I chosen twelve and one of you is a Devil and why a Devil but because he proved a traitor to his own Master and an hypocriticall cunning traitor against him so doth Antichrist against his Liege Sovereign To conclude he is most probably called the adversary because he is the opposer of the Lords anointed ones hence the learned call him the Antichrist because Christo ex diametro oppositus And exalteth himselfe these two expressions turn us to two texts which two texts describe the Antichrist say the most of the most learned Commentators in Dan. 11. 35. Revel 11. 7. In Revel 11. 7. he makes war with the Witnesses overcomes them here in opposing them he makes war with them in overcoming them he exalts himself above them and in Dan. 11 35. you have Pauls words He shall exalt himself above every god i e saith Brightman above every Magistrate in Rom. 13. 2. he resisteth God that rebels against Magistracie Oh this is Antichrist 1 Ioh. 2. 19. 22. Thus you have the Antichrist's actions described he opposeth and exalteth that is he maketh war and overcometh Now you have in the next place the objects of his actions or the parties whom he doth oppose and exalt himself above Above every one that is called God Some Greek copies have it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 supra omnem above every man that is called god other copies read it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 supra omne above every thing that is called god the Syriack Interpreter reads supra omnem Beza saith utrovis modo legas you may read it either way Grotius reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here the Papists and the Protestants fall foul upon each other the Protestants say this is meant of the Popes usurpation in his