did begin to work but secretly 3. That when that impediment shall be removed then Antichrist shall be revealed First I begin with his putting them in mind of what he had told them before by word of mouth Remember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you these things This sheweth the certainty and usefulness of this Doctrine for though the event were not to be accomplished in their days yet he taught them before when present and now repeateth it again when absent he preached it in private and now writeth it for publick good and laboureth to confirm the truth of it and fasten it upon their memories Observe then that the Doctrine of Antichrist is a profitable Doctrine and a point very necessary to be preached and known 1. It is a point very necessary to admonish and warn the faithful that they be not circumvented with these delusions and be found in the opposite state to Christ Jesus and the interests of his Kingdom God hath blown his Trumpet Rev. 18.5 Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her Plagues God calleth his people out of spiritual Babylon it is dangerous and unsafe being there if we would escape Babylons punishments we must escape her sins not live in that Communion and Society where there are such Temptations to Idolatry and other detestable enormities It is disputable whether the errors of Popery be damnable or there be any possibility of Salvation in that Religion some deny all possibility others abating from the rigou◠of that opinion assert a very great difficulty 1 Cor. 3.13 Saved as by fire if so much Christianity left as to save them it is with much ado But the question is not about our benefit but our duty not whether possibly we may be saved but what is the way the Lord will have us to walk in and if there were possibility or probability of Salvation in the way in the general yet there is very little or none for them that live in a known sin and especially in a sin of such a dangerous nature as abetting an opposite faction to Christ such as is that of Antichrist 2. It is necessary to fortify and forewarn the people of God against a double Temptation 1. Against Scandal 2. Against Persecutions 1. Against Scandal it is a dangerous temptation to Atheism to see Christianity so corrupted and debauched by a vile submission to serve Worldly ends and turned into the Pageantry of empty and ridiculous Ceremonies which beget scorn and contempt of it in the minds of all considering Beholders and therefore there are more Atheists in Rome and Italy than in other Countries supernatural things disguised with a vain pomp lose their reverence and do not alarm the Conscience but harden the heart in a setled Atheism and contempt of Christ Now it is a mighty stay to the heart to see that this Degeneration was foreseen and foretold John 16.1 These things have I spoken to you that you should not be offended Mat. 18.7 Wo unto the World because of offences for it must needs be that offences come but wo to that man by whom the offence cometh 2. Against Persecutions for the man of sin is also a Son of Perdition a destroyer of the Saints and maketh havock of the people of God now it is grievous when Christians suffer by Christians and we may have many doubtings and misgivings about our cause But when Antichrist is clearly discovered we submit the more chearfully to suffer the hardest things under his Tyranny for suffering under Antichristian Persecution is Martyrdom and suffering for Christ as much as suffering under Pagan Persecution Rev. 14.13 And I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth c. not only the Primitive Martyrs who were put to death by Heathens but those that are condemned by Christians and burnt for Hereticks those are Martyrs also 3. That we may the better understand true Christianity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 opposites illustrate each other the two opposite States are Christianity and Antichristianity the one is a mystery of Godliness 1 Tim. 3.16 the other a mystery of Iniquity the design of the mystery of Godliness is to recover men from the Devil the World and the Flesh unto God the other to seduce men from God to the Devil the World and the Flesh again and that by corrupting the former mystery or the most excellent Institution that ever the World was acquainted with for the ennobling and refining mans nature so that Christs Religion is turned against himself to lull mens Consciences asleep whilst they gratify the lusts of the Eyes the lusts of the Flesh or live in Pride of Life the Devil is gratified by all sin but especially he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Synesius calleth him one that delighteth in Idols as knowing this is the best way to make men brutish or to live in an oblivion or neglect of God for an Idol is a teacher of lies Habak 2.18 doth imprint upon the mind carnal and false conceptions of a Deity 4. To confirm us in the truth of the Christian Faith when we see the Prophecies of it expresly fulfilled for that is the Lords direction to know a true Prophet Deut 18.22 If the thing come to pass and the event doth punctually answer the Prediction but when Prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord and the thing follow not nor come to pass that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken Now the Apostles did not only teach the Church the Doctrine of Christianity but by a Prophetick Spirit and Divine Revelation foretold things to come and among these the great thing which is to happen and come to pass before Christs second coming is Antichrist or the appearing of the man of sin Therefore that we may not doubt of what is past nor suspect what is further to come it is good to study these Prophecies and know they are to be fulfilled in their time that we may say that God hath kept touch with the World hitherto in all the Predictions of the word will not fail at last Use 1. To reprove them that think this is a curious point not to be searched into why then did God reveal it and that so often by S t Paul by S t Iohn in so many Prophetical Representations of it surely it is not curiosity to search into things revealed but to intrude our selves into things hidden and which God hath put under a vail of Secresy It is true men must know their measure and not attempt to run before they can go and venture upon obscure points before well versed in plain and it is true in more abstruse points men must not rashly define but soberly and modestly to enquire and compare Predictions with plain Events this is no way culpable To reprove those that are so impatient of giving a
it to the true love of God or an holy and heavenly mind and life And partly also because if a lively Christianity had been kept up Antichrist had never risen in the World And it is the way to keep him ' out still When the Servants slept the Enemy sowed Tares Matth. 13. A sleepy Religion and corruption of manners made way for corruption of doctrine worship and order It was with the Church according to the Spouses complaint I sleep but my heart waketh Cant. 5.2 Some care there was but much drowsiness and deadness in Religion and that produced the great Apostasie Partly too because there is such a complyance between the nature of Antichristianism and the temper of a carnal heart For superstition and profaneness grow both upon the same Root A lothness to displease the flesh the sensual nature of man is such that it is loth to be crossed and that breedeth profaneness For wherefore do men ingulf themselves in all manner of sensualities but because they are loth to deny their natural appetites and desires and row against the stream of flesh and blood but will walk in the way of their own heart and in the sight of their own eyes Eccles. 11.9 Again if nature be to be crossed it is only a little It â—hall only be in some external actions and obâ—ervances and dead rudiments which neveâ— kill our lusts nor promote the divine life And this pleasing superstition shall make up a Religion which is a fit pillow for a carnal heart to sleep upon Popery is the easiest Religiâ—n for the flesh that can be found out for it never biteth nor disturbeth their lusts The duties of it are like the Pharisees fasting which our Lord compareth to old Wine Matth 9.17 Fit for old dried skin Bottles Well take heed of falling away from a lively Godliness no man entreth seriously upon Religion but with some tasting or rejoicing Heb. 6. now as this decayeth we fall off The Heavenly life is obstructed if not choaked and quite lost Now to prevent this observe two things 1. Your coldness in duties 2. Your boldness in sinning 1. Coldness in duties when the will and affections grow more remiss and the worship of God which keepeth up the remembrance of him is either omitted or performed perfunctorily and in a careless and stupid manner Jer. 2.32 My people have forgotten me days without number Job 27.10 Will he always call upon God will he delight himself in the Almighty God chargeth Israel with growing weary of him and it began in not calling upon him Isa. 43.22 Now when you seldom think or speak of God and do not keep up a delightful Communion with him there is a falling away 2. Boldness sinning when men lose their tenderness and strictness and the awe of God is lessened in their hearts and they do not only sin freely in thought but freely in act have not that hatred of sin and watchfulness that formerly but more abandon themselves to a carnal life You are falling off from God a-pace 2 Pet. 2.20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the World through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ they are again entangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them than the beginning At first the heart checked you for sin but you did not kindly come off were not troubled about it hoped God would pardon it and then you are bold to venture again and so by â—egrees are entangled in the sensual and worldly life Now consider the causes of it 1. Want of Faith in God Heb. 3.12 Take heed Brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God You have not a sound belief of his being and presence 2. Want of love to God Rev. 2.4 5. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love Remember therefore from whence thou art fâ—ln and repenâ— and do thy first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of its place except thou repent Your hearts decline from that love you had to him and his ways and then your work is intermitted 3. Want of a due sense of the World to come Heb. 10.39 But we are not of them who draw back to perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the Soul 4. The love of the present World 2 Tim. 4.10 For Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present World The more that is valued the more your hearts are taken off from things to come and the care about them you have too great a liking either to the profits of the World 1 Tim. 6.10 The love of money is the root of all evil which while some have coveted after they have erred from the Faith or else the pleasures of the World 2 Tim. 3.4 Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God As the inclination of the heart groweth stronger to sensual pleasures your thoughts of God are less serious and pleasing to you Now look to these things left you grow quite weary of God and the holy life which once you had an affection unto 2. From a true Religion to a false which may be done two ways 1. Out of corruption of mind 2. Out of vile affection 1. Out of weakness of mind as those do that were never well grounded in the truth Eph. 4.14 That we henceforth be no more Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive 2 Pet. 3.16 In which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction Therefore we need to be established but the forsaking of a truth we were bred in usually cometh from some falseness of Heart Some errours are so contrary to the new nature that they discern them by the unction Joh 2.20 But ye have an unction from the holy one and ye know all things 2. Out of vile affection when they forsake the truth for the advantages of a fleshy Worldly life some places to be gotten by it c. and as the Whore of Babylon hath a Golden Cup Riches and Preferments wherewith it inviteth its Proselytes now these are worse than the former for they sell the birthright Heb. 12.16 Lest there be any fornicator or prophane person as Esau who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright Oh! Christians take beed to your selves Apostasy brought Antichrist into the Church Let it not jure postliminio bring him back again into the Land or into your hearts 2. The next step is the man of sin As the first Apostasy of Adam and Eve brought sin into the World so this great Apostasy brought in a deluge of sin into the Church and defiled the Holy Society which Christ had gathered out of the World
which was confirmed by Miracles their Wonders are lying wonders and how plausible soever they seem are lying wonders and not to be believed Surely Miracles must needs be false and pretended which are brought to confirm a Doctrine contrary to that which is already confirmed by Miracles For God is faithful and cannot deny himself and therefore he cannot be the Author of Miracles whereby things contrary to â—â—ch other may be confirmed if the Faith onâ—e be established by other Miracles we are to believe the latter Miracles to be a meer Imposture for Christ is not yea and nay but yea and Amen 1 Cor. 1.19 20. The Appariâ—ion of an Angel is a great Miracle but if an Angel preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed Gal. 1.8 It is a supposition of an impossible Case necessary to forewarn the people of God against the delusions of the Devil changing himself into an Angel of Light Sâ—rely God will never contradict himself 5. The Miracles wrought by Antichrist and his Adherents are mira but not miracula some wonderful things but no true and proper Miracles else as Austin faith figmenta mendacium hominum portenta fallacium spirituum either the fictions of lying men or the illusions of deceiving Spirits many times the matter of fact is not true at other times the thing done is but some illusion of the senses by the Devil or something taken for a Miracle which doth not exceed the power of nature either way it is an Imposture and indeed the Miracles of the Legends are so false so ridiculous so light and trivial that they expose Christianity to contempt or else if there â—e any thing in it it giveth suspicions of magical illusion and converse with the Devil which among their Votaries and Recluses is no unusual thing 6. There are seven points in Popery which they seek to confirm by Miracles and which being senseless in themselves do most scandalize Protestants 1. Pilgrimages they show the Shrine and also the Chamber of the House of the Blessed Virgin how the Virgin at Loretto was transported out of Galilee into Dalmatia and by Angels in the Air to the remote parts of Italy and setled there after some removes The Story is ridiculous and I am serious yet this draweth an infinite Company of Pilgrims there where new Miracles are pretended to be wrought continually 2. Prayers for the dead Bellarmine alledgeth out of Gregory the miraculous Apparition of Paschal his Ghost besâ—eching S t Germanus to pray for him 3. Purgatory all their Miracles are framed especially for the establishing of this point which is of such gain to them as that a dead mans skull spake to Mercarias praying When thou dost offer Prayer for the deaâ— then do we feel a little Consolation 4. The Invocation of Saintsâ— Alypius a Grammarian being forsaken of his Physicians S t Tiola appeared to him by night demanding what he ailed or what he would have He answered to shew a touch of his Art in Achilles his Speech to his Mother Thetis in Homer c. Thou knowest why should I tell thee that knowest all whereupon she conveyed a round stone to him with the touch of which he was presently healed 5. The Adoration of Images but especially of the Cross Crucifix and Image of Christ Malvenda saith that at Meliapore in the East Indies where S t Thomas was killed by those barbarous people digging to lay a foundation they found a square stone in it a bloody Cross and an Inscription implying the Saint was slain in the very act of adoring and kissing the Cross hereupon on went the building and the Chappel being finished in the beginning of the Gospel in sight of the whole multitude the Cross did sweat abundantly the sweat wiped off drops of blood appeared in the Linnen with which they wiped it till at length it returned to its own colour 6. The Adoration of the Host is made good by such a number of Miracles as fill whole Volumes Bellarmine himself telleth us of an hungry Mare kept three days wihout meat yet when Provender was poured to her in the presence of the Host she forgetting her meat with bowed head and bended knees adored the Sacrament 7. The Primacy of the Pope hath been the beginning and is the end of all Popish Legends A Bishop being excommunicated by Pope Hildebrand and inveighing against his Pride was smitten with a Thunder Clap. Baronius That while Pope Eugenius the Third was Celebrating the Mass a beam of the sun shone upon his head in which were seen two Doves ascending and descending which an Eastern Legate seeing submitted instantly to the Primacy Vse Another note of Antichrist These Impostures are not only countenanced and encouraged in that Church but made a mark of it the Power of Miracles When Antichrist first appeared ridiculous Miracles of all sorts began to be cryed up and established Yea and to this day these are pleaded challenging us for the want of them what they cannot prove by the Oracles of God they endeavour to prove by Miracles of Sathan SERMON VIII 2 Thess. 2.10 With all deceivableness of unrighteousness in tâ—â—m that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved WE have described unto you the head of the Antichristian State we come now to the Subjects especially the zealous Abettors and Promoters of this Kingdom They are described 1. By the means how they are drawn into this Apostasie and defection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Secondly By their doom or misery they are in a state of perdition in them that perish Thirdly By their sin which is the cause and reason of â—his doom because they received not theâ—love of the truth that they might be saved 1. The means with all deceivableness of unrighteousness That Antichrist shall be a deceiver and that he deceiveth by lying Miracles we have seen already and is foretold Rev. 13.14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast c. but the deceived are not altogether guiltless for the fraud would soon be discovered by an holy and pure Soul His great engine is either the baits of lust and sin which work on none but those that have pleasure in unrighteousness verse 12. the geneâ—ality of wicked and carnal Christians are easily drawn from Gods pure worship and true Godliness or by Wordly means either by the offers of preferment riches dignities or else terrors of the flesh Now none catch at these wordly baits but whose eyes the God of this World hath blinded 2 Cor. 4.4 Secondly Their misery they are said to be those that perish That beareth three senses 1. That they are worthy to perish because they do not use care and diligence to understand their duty being blinded by their wordly affections That is the mildest seâ—â—e we can put upon it they
In differences between God and Baal Christ and Antichrist few are valiant for the truth Ier. 9.3 And they bend their tongue like their bow for lies but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth for they proceed from evil to evil and they know not me saith the Lord. Contend earnestly Jude 3. It was needful for me to write unto you and to exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the Faith which was once delivered unto the Saints Again 2. There are many sensualists unclean and carnal Gospellers to these God oweth a Judgment Usually the Gospel is removed and given to a Nation that will bring forth the fruits thereof They that use the truth only or principally for their own turns hate to be reformed God will reckon with them Psal. 50.16 17. But unto the wicked God saith What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldst take my Covenant into thy mouth seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee 2. Vse shews you indeed that you love the Gospel Carentia remedii is a grievous misery or else Christ had not come as a great Blessing Neglectus remedii is a grievous sin to be lazy in a matter of such moment Those that never set their hearts to obey the truth Crassa negligentia dolus est There should be constant purpose endeavour striving and not cease striving till we in some measure prevail rejectio or contemptio remedii if we put away the word of God from us Acts 13.46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and said it was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you but seeing ye puâ— it from you and judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life loe we turn to the Gentiles God will be gone if not from the Land from thy Soul This is the most hainous iniquity of all Heb. 10.28 29. He that despised Moses his Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified aâ— unholy thing and hath done despight unto the Spirit of grace So Esau's despising his Birthright Heb. 12.15 Lest there be any Fornicator or prophane person as Esau who for one morsel of meat sold his Birthright for ye know how that afterwards when he would have inherited the Blessing he was rejected for he found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with â—ears SERMON IX 2 Thess. 2.11 12. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness WE have considered the sin of those seduced by Antichrist now the Judgment It is twofold 1. Delusion in this World verse 11. 2. Damnation in the next verse 12. 1. Delusion in this World where take notice of three things 1. The Author of it God shall send it 2. The degree or nature of the punishment strong delusion 3. The issue of it that they should believe a lie 2. Their punishment in the next World That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness where take notice 1. Of the terribleness of it it is no less than everlasting damnation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. The Justice and Equity of it They believed not the truth but had pleasure in righteousness 1. I begin with their Judgment in this World For this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie Doct. That by Gods just Judgment there is an infatuation upon the Followers and Abettors of Antichrist that they swallow the grossest errors to their own destruction To clear this I shall speak 1. To the Author 2. The degree or kind of the punishment 3. The effect and issue 1. As to the Author 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here a difficulty ariseth For God is not and cannot be the Author of sin He that is essentially good cannot be the cause of evil And he that is Vltor peccati the avenger of sin cannot be Author peccati the Author of it If he should cause man to sin how will his punishment of it be just I Answ. As it is a sin God hath no hand in it but as it is a punishment of sin God hath to do in it To clear this to you consider 1. He that is the supreme Lord and Governour of his Creatures is also their Judge For Legislation and Judgment belong to the same Authority And therefore God is called sometimes our King and sometimes oâ—r Judge Gen. 18.25 Shall not the Iudge of all the earth do right Rom. 5.6 Is God unâ—ighteous how then shall he judge the World That is his Office and Prerogative 2. Gods way of judging for the present is either external or internal As for instance there are two acts of Judicature Reward and Punishment In rewarding Gods external Government is seen in dispensing outward Blessings to his people as the fruit of their obedience Micah 2.7 Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly His promises speak good and as fulfilled do good yield protection maintenance and such a measure of outward prosperity as supporteth and maintaineth them during their service David owned Gods dealing with him in this sort Psal. 119.56 This I had because I kept thy Precepts So as to his internal Government in giving them peace of Conscience and Joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Pro. 3.17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace These are the internal rewards of obedience And so also God often rewardeth grace with grace As Isa. 58.13 14. If thoâ— turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thy own ways nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Iacob thy Father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Psal. 31.24 Be of good Courage and he shall strengthen your heart all ye that hope in the Lord. Proficiency in the same grace is a reward of the several acts and exercise of it So in punishing sometimes he useth the way of external Government by the terribâ—e Judgments exercised upon men for the breach of his Law Rom. 1.18 For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness Heb. 2.2 Every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward