A FRIENDLY DEBATE BETWEEN A Roman Catholick AND A PROTESTANT Concerning the Doctrine of TRANSUBSTANTIATION WHEREIN The said Doctrine is utterly Confuted and Antichrist is clearly and fully Described and his inevitable Destruction predicted With a Challenge to all the Romish Doctors that Preach and Teach the said Doctrine to Answer it LICENSED September 24. 1688. LONDON 〈…〉 A FRIENDLY DEBATE BETWEEN A Roman Catholick AND A PROTESTANT CONCERNING THE Doctrine of TRANSUBSTANTIATION c. PRotestant Sir Do you believe that there is a Real Change wrought upon the Elements of Bread and Wine after they are Consecrated by the Priest in the Sacrament of the Eucharist into the Substantial Material Living Body and Blood of Christ which makes up his Real Person to wit of Body Soul and Divinity Roman Catholick Yes Sir I do believe that the Elements are Transubstantiated into the very living person of Christ to wit of Body Soul and Divinity that is into the very same Body which he assumed before he died the same Body in which he suffered and died upon the Cross without the Gates of Jerusalem the same Body that laid in the Grave three days and the very same Body in which he ascended up into Glory and is sat down at the right hand of God in Glory Prot. I must confess Sir according to the genuine sense of your Doctrine of Transubstantiation it must be so or else it is a mere sham and mockery For if the Elements be Transubstantiated into the very Body Soul and Divinity of Christ and then be offered up a sacrifice propitiatory and sufficient for the sins of the living and the dead then Christ must be alive or else you do offer a dead sacrifice But I do utterly deny it and therefore Sir I 〈…〉 Rom. Yes Sir I will prove it by Scripture from our Saviour Christ's own words and also from the words of the Apostle St. Paul. Prot. Pray Sir let me hear that Rom. First of all I shall prove it from our Saviour Christ himself by the words of Institution when he Instituted this Ordinance of the Sacrament of the Eucharist Luke 22.19 20. And as they were cating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my Body Likewise the cup after supper saying This cup is the new-testament in my blood Matt. 26.26 27 28. And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my body And he took thâ— cup and gave thanks and gave it to them for this â—â— my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins And in John 6.52 53 54 I am the living bread which came down from heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for every And the bread that I will give is my flesh which I wiâ—â— give for the life of the world Then Jesus said unto them Verily verily I say unto you except ye eat thâ—â— flesh of the son of man and drink his blood ye have 〈◊〉 life in you Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh mâ— blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at thâ— last day Thus you see I have clearly 〈◊〉 〈…〉 That it is Christ's Real Body and Blood that we do eat and drink in the Sacrament of the Eucharist And secondly I shall prove this Doctrine from the Apostle St. Paul's words also in the 1 Cor. 11.24.25 where he saith Take Eat this is my Body which is broken for you After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood. Thus you see I have proved this Doctrine of Transubstantiation by Scripture and I could also prove it by Councils and Decrees and Canons and Traditions of our Fathers and the like And besides all that has been said it is an Article of the faith of our Church which is infallible and cannot err And we are bound to believe as the Church believes and commands us to believe And therefore this Doctrine must be infallibly true Prot. Sir is this all that you have to say to prove this Doctrine of your Infallible Church Rom. Yes Sir and I think it is a sufficient proof of it too Prot. Why then I pray Sir Give me leave to answer you as well as I can from Scripture and from Reason also Rom. Yes Sir with all my Heart Prot. Why first of all Sir in the first place give me leave to tell ye you have not taken the whole verses or sentence in some of these Scriptures which you have quoted you have gone away with part of a Text even so far as will serve your turn which is a very dangerous thing for it is no less than to clip the King of Heavens Coyn which is Spiritual High Treason which is the worst of Treason and is punishable with no less than all the Curses of the Book of the Holy Word of God without true Repentance Rev. 22.18 19. Deut. 4.2 Prov. 30.6 Sir you know Satan when he tempted our Blessed Saviour Christ he quoted part of a Text of Scripture to serve his own turn Matth. 4.5 6. Then the Devil taketh him up into the holy City and setteth him on a pinacle of the Temple and saith unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down for it is written He shall give his Angels charge concerning thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone 'T is written saith Satan quoting Psal 91.11 12. for he shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways they shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone The Devil leaves out that part of the Text to wit He shall keep thee in all thy ways Sir you do own and believe these Scriptures which you have quoted to be understood literally and properly and not Mystically and Spiritually but according to the plain letter of them Rom. Yes Sir I do for the Text is plain and clear Prot. Now Sir I will answer you from the words of our Saviour Christ in the same Chapters and in some of the same verses which you have quoted and also from the words of the Apostle Paul in that same Chapter which you have made use of and also in many other places of the Holy Scriptures whereby you shall see by God's assistance this Doctrine of yours overthrown and utterly confuted therefore let us bring it to the Touchstone of Gods Word To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8.20 1. First of all By the words of our Blessed and only Mediator and Redeemer in Luk. 22.19 20. And he took Bread and gave thanks and brake it and gave it unto them saying
are all partakers of that one bread Believers have Communion with a Crucified Saviour in this Ordinance by Faith in him and Love to him And our Saviour Christ and the Apostles gave both the Bread and the Wine unto all the Members that did partake as well to the Lay-People as to the Ecclesiasticks without any the least Exception in them words of our Saviour's command Drink ye all of it and you will hear that it is called Bread and breaking of Bread in several places of the Sacred Scripture Acts 2.42 And they continued stedfast in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers 1 Cor. 10.16 17. The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread that is Christ the Bread of Life Here it is said Communion with the Blood and with the Bread that is thus Believers have Communion with a crucified Redeemer and Communion and Fellowship one with another in that Holy Ordinance of the Lords Supper As you may see in the same Chapter 20 21. verses all those that make a Sacrifice of the Ordinance of the Lords Supper have fellowship with Devils But in the 17 verse there the true Gospel-Church is called Bread and so is Christ her Head also both the Head and the Body which is the Church are called Bread. And in Acts 20.7 And upon the first day of the week when the Disciples came together to break bread Paul preached unto them ready to depart on the morrow Thus you see it was called Bread and not Flesh both in the first Institution of the Ordinance by our Saviour Christ himself and likewise by the Apostles at the Celebration of this Holy Ordinance among the Disciples Therefore this eating of Christ's Body and drinking his Blood is to be understood no otherwise than our Saviour Christ intended and appointed it which was Spiritual and Sacramental for to commemorate his death and sufferings and all the blessed fruits and effects that do flow therefrom into the souls of Believers There is a feeding upon Christ in every Spiritual Gospel-Ordinance of God in Religious Worship and Discipline by Faith the Gospel-Ordinances are a feast of fat things full of marrow of wine from the lees well refined as the Prophet Isaiah calls it and on them the souls of Believers do feed and feast with and upon the Lord Jesus Christ And this feeding upon Christ's Body and drinking his Blood in the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper as well as in all other Ordinances of the Gospel aforesaid is to be done by faith as I have already proved for every believing soul doth live upon Christ by faith who is 〈…〉 of Scriptures to prove the veracity or truth of thâ— same and here following I shall lay down some feâ—â— Scriptures instead of many which do import anâ—â— clearly manifest the same and I will begin witâ—â— Joh. 8.24 I said therefore unto you that ye shall die 〈◊〉 your sins for if ye believe not that I am he ye shall dâ—â—â— in your sins 1 Joh. 3.23 And this is his Commanâ—ment that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesâ—â— Christ Here is God the Father's command for iâ—â— Christ doth not say If you do not eat me Body Soul and Divinity ye shall die but if you do nâ—â— believe that I am he ye shall die in your sins because ye believed not that I am he because ye dâ—â— not obey me nor my Father's command as if ouâ—â— Saviour should have said Rom. 10.9 10. That 〈◊〉 thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shaâ—â— believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the heart maâ—â— believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation Act. 16.30 31. Wheâ— the sturdy Jaylor was convinced he said Sirs Whaâ— must I do to be saved The Apostles did not tell him that he must go and eat Christ's substantial Body No but they told him that he must believe on thâ— Lord Jesus Christ and he should be saved and his house Joh. 12.46 I am come a light into the world thaâ— whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness Joh. 17.3 And this is Life Eternal that they might know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hasâ— sent How must they know God and Christ so aâ— they might have Eternal Life why only by believing in him Joh. 20.21 But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus ss the Christ the Son of God and believing ye might have life through his name Joh. 3.16 17 36. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life For God seâ—â— not his Son into the world to condemn the world but thaâ— the world through him might be saved He that believetâ— on the Son hath eternal life and he that believeth nâ—â— the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideâ— on him Joh. 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you 〈◊〉 that believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting lifâ— and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life Joh. 6.29 Jesus answered and faâ—â— unto them This is the work of God that ye believe 〈◊〉 him whom he hath sent Thus you see dear Sir that I have answered yoâ— fully and clearly and I have faithfully prove from the Holy Bible which is my only Library and also I have proved from Reason for God deaâ—eth with us as Rational Creatures that our Saviour Christ is to be eaten and drunken by faith and iâ— love Spiritually and Sacramentally in that Hoâ—â— Ordinance of the Lords-Supper for it is a Lovâ— feast in remembrance of the greatest love that 〈…〉 gave his only begotten Son to die for it and this â—ove of Christ that was stronger than death we are â—o commemorate in that Ordinance by feeding by â—aith upon a Crucified Saviour and not to eat him Corporeally and Substantially in his Person as you of the Roman Catholick Perswasion do vainly pretend to believe and imagine the Lord inlighten your minds in the true Knowledg of Christ and sanctifie your understandings and change your wills and make you willing in the day of his power for this is a very dangerous gross Error and such a one as cannot be parallell'd but in the case of the poor blind Jews for by this Doctrine of Personal Priests and Material Altars and Sacrifices you do put your selves back from under the Gospel dispensation and lay your selves under the Mosaical Law and the consequence of it is this it is inevitably and clearly a down-right denying Jesus Christ being come in the Flesh Pray Sir Consider what I have said and so
This is my Body which is broken for you so far you go but you leave out and omit this do in Remembrance of me likewise also the Cup after Supper saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you Mat. 26.26 27. And as they were cating Jesus took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take Eat this is my Body and he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it Here pray Sir observe by the way that it is said that Christ took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples what is to be understood by this word it why it was it Bread for had it been Christ's Real Corporeal Substantial Body it should have been more properer thus He took the Bread and blessed him and brake him and gave him to the Disciples And he took the Cup and gave Thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it Now if your Doctrine were true then it should have been After Christ had given Thanks he gave him to them saying Drink ye all of him and not drink ye all of it that is all the Congregation both Minister and People that are Christ's true Disciples must all partake of the Cup or Wine in the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper But by what Authority your Priests are so uncharitable as to deny the Lay-people the Cup I know not when as our Saviour Christ commands expresly that all his Disciples must drink of it that is of the Wine in the Cup and not of his Material Blood that was then running in his Humane veins and the Cup may rather be taken for the Blood of Christ than the Wine if it be to be understood literally because the Cup only is mentioned and not the Wine for it is said This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you Christ himself did partake of this Holy Ordinance at the same time when he did institute it The same night in which he was betrayed But now if your Doctrine be true then Christ did eat his own Substantial Body and drink his own Material Blood and yet was visible with his Disciples before their Eyes without any alteration in the least It is said His Blood is shed for many for the remission of sins And yet then at that time Christ had not actually and properly shed his Blood but virtually in the Decree of God he had done it before the foundation of the world for all those that ever were saved before Christ came in the flesh and for all that ever should be saved after he came in the flesh down throughout all Ages to the end of the world 1 Pet. 1.20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for you Revel 13.8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Act. 2.23 Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledg of God ye have taken and by wicked hands have Crucified and slain This Ordinance of the Lords-Supper is to be kept up and practised in the Churches of God for a Remembrance of Christ's Death and Passion from them words of our Saviour which words you omit and leave out namely Do this in Remembrance of me as will yet further appear by and by from the Apostle St. Paul's words when he celebrated this Holy Ordinance of the Lords-Supper in the Church of Corinth But again from our Saviour's words which you do take and interpret as if spoken literally whereon you lay so much stress and make it serve for a foundation to build this Doctrine of Transubstantiation upon which was spoken before the Ordinance of the Lords-Supper was Instituted by our Saviour himself in Joh. 6.51 53 54. I am the living Bread which came down from Heaven if any man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever And the Bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world Then Jesus said unto them Verily verily I say unto you Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood ye have no life in you Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath Eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day Here you see it is Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood c. How so what is the meaning of that word of our Saviour Christ viz. Whoso eateth c why this refers to what Christ had been speaking before in the same Chapter which leads to this Discourse of Eating his flesh and drinking his blood in setting out the usefulness and excellency of the Grace of Faith and the absolute necessity of it vers 35 40 47 48. here you shall see that this Whoso eateth Christs flesh and drinketh his blood is this viz. Whosoever believeth in Christ and resteth upon him alone for Spiritual life here and Eternal life in Glory hereafter Pray mark the words of our Saviour And Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst And this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me hatâ— everlasting life I am that bread of life What bread of life Why that bread which by faith in his Righteousness and Merits alone justifies and acquits the soul from the guilt and pollution of sin without any works or righteousness of ours in conjunction or iâ— competition with Christ's for he will have no Rival he will have all the honour of saving a sinner tâ— himself for he is made the only Spiritual bread oâ— flesh for the new creature to live upon and it is nourished and strengthened thereby even as our natural bodies are fed and nourished and strengthened by our natural food Joh. 3.16 For God so loved tâ—â— world that he gave his only begotten Son that whose ever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life It is not said here whosoever eateth the material flesh of Christ shall be saved but whosoever believeth on Christ shall have Everlasting liâ—â— Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only Spiritual bread for every believing soul to live and feed upon Spiritually by the mouth of faith But you will say Here is a plain Text of Scripture for your Doctrine viz. This is the Bread which cometh down from Heaven that a man may eat thereof and not did I am the living bread which came down from Heaven 〈◊〉 any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever and tâ—â— bread that I will give is my flesh which I
hear how our Saviour Christ hath expounded his own meaning who spake as never man spake like him he has given a clear interpretation of these mystical Scriptures afore mentioned that this eating of his flesh and drinking of his blood is to be understood Symbolically Spiritually and Sacramentally by faith to Commemorate the great love of God in the Transaction of mans Redemption by the Death and Sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ But thus much for the words of our Saviour Christ for the present But secondly in the second place let us hear the full of what the Apostle Paul saith unto this Doctrine also for give me leave to tell ye Sir that you have quoted but part of the Apostle's words you have curtailed his words also in the 1 Cor. 11.23 25 26. For I have received of the Lord that which also I deliver unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take this my body Thus far you go Take Eat this my body what Body was that why it was Christ's Sacramental Body namely the Bread and Wine which are the Signs of his Body which prefigures out unto us his real material Body which was Crucified without the Gates of Jerusalem it is to Commemorate the Death and Sufferings of Christ and all the Benefits and Blessings which did flow forth unto poor lost and undone fallen man for all that ever did believe or that ever should believe in him and expect eternal life and salvation upon the account of his Righteousness and Merits alone through the aid and agency of the Eternal blessed and holy Spirit and all this comes flowing unto us from that Blessed fountain of all the Christians Mercies namely the Eternal love of God the Father which was the efficient or first moving cause of all And as the Glorious Trinity had all a hand in making man so they all have a hand in redeeming man. But again this is that Body which was evidently set forth Crucified before the Galatians eyes Gal. 3.1 It was the Representation of Christ's Crucified Body in the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper among the Galatians and not the Real Crucifixion of his Substantial Body without the Gates of Jerusalem And this is that Body which the Apostle saith Take Eat this my body that was his Sacramental body or the sign of his body In the Sacrament of the Lords Supper that was crucified and nothing else and this is that body which all true believers in the Sacrament do discern and partake of and eat now in the Churches of Christ and all this is done by faith in a holy Reverential Remembrance of Christ to shew forth his Death till he come After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my blood this do ye as often as ye drink it in remembrance Which latter words you always omit and take no notice at all of them which words carry great weight in them if you would but be so kind unto your own souls as to adhere unto them for saith the Apostle As often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lords Death till he come This Ordinance was Instituted by our Saviour Christ himself the same night in which he was betrayed And at that time Christ did partake of iâ— with his Disciples so that if your Doctrine oâ— Transubstantiation be true then Christ must make his body at that time and eat himself body soulâ— and Divinity and so he had two bodies one to eaâ— with and the other to be eaten or otherwise hâ— must give the same body which he was then in unto his Disciples to eat and to drink nay that 〈◊〉 not all for he must eat his own body and yet 〈◊〉 visible at the Table with them at the same time nay that is not all for he must eat all his Disciple or Members and also all his Members that partaâ—â— of this Ordinance must eat him for every true believer is in Christ and Christ is in them nay thâ— is not all for every true believer when he partakeâ— of this Ordinance according to your Doctrine mâ— not only eat Christ carnally but he must also 〈◊〉 his own self Nay that is not all for he must 〈◊〉 the Church too for all is in Christ and Christ is God. I in them saith our Saviour and thou in 〈◊〉 that they may be one as thou art one And in the 1 〈◊〉 10.16 17. The cup of blessing which we bless is it 〈◊〉 the communion of the blood of Christ the bread which break is it not the communion of the body of Christ 〈◊〉 we being many are one bread and one body for we 〈◊〉 all partakers of that one bread Here the Church called bread and it is called body also as our 〈◊〉 viour Christ is in the Sacrament and at the Sacrament also in 〈…〉 once more Every individual person that partaketh of this Ordinance must eat the body of Christ singly and intirely or else they divide Christ and so eat but a part of a Christ as you Laicks do for you have but a very dry lifeless Christ that hath not one drop of blood in his veins so that so many partakers so many Christs there must be which must be a jolly company of them indeed But Christ as he was God did make or prepare his own material body Heb. 10. but whither will these Absurdities hurry us I could name many more that this Doctrine affords us some of which will necessarily and consequentially fall in my way in the remaining part of my Discourse Secondly Again in the next place this Ordinance is to be kept up and celebrated during Christ's absence until some eminent and glorious appearance of his in his Churches which appearance I humbly conceive under correction will â—ender this Ordinance useless by the Apostle's words viz. Ye do shew the Lords Death till he come that is until Christ come I do not remember that I tread that Christ after he Instituted this Ordinance did ever partake of it himself nor his Disciples neither during Christ's personal presence with them until after his Ascension And this Ordinance doth also shew unto the world â—he great undertaking of Christ who trod the Wine-press of God's wrath alone and of the people there was none with him he bore the wrath of God for sin that was due unto sinners that poor sinners might be made partakers of the love and grace of God he was made a curse for sinners Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every â—ne that hangeth on a tree He bore the curse to purchase the blessing of Eternal life and Salvation for all that believe in him And this is that which will mightily aggravate the condemnation of the wicked world
was not a sufficient Sacrifice for the sins of his people and therefore you 〈◊〉 offer up Christ often even as often as the Mass said as a Sacrifice sufficient and propitiatory for tâ—â— sin of the living and the dead which is to profâ—â— that you do know God but in works you deny hâ—â— at the highest rate that ever can be imagined by aâ—â— that ever called themselves Christians for you sâ—â— it clearly proved that as often as Christ is offeâ—â— up so often must he suffer and if it be so wâ—â— then how many millions of times must Christ haâ—â— suffered by your Priests since this opinion has beâ—â— broacht in the world among you that the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper is a Sacrifice and thâ— you do offer up Christ in the Mass in Body Soul aâ—â— Divinity a Sacrifice sufficient and propitiatory fâ—â— the sins of the living and the dead and is not thâ— to say plainly that Christ's Sacrifice of himself wâ—â— not a sufficient and propitiatory Sacrifice for the sin of his people nothing can speak bolder and plainâ—â— than this does Again fourthly Let us hear furthermore whâ—â— the Apostle St. Paul saith who himself lived 〈◊〉 Rome which is more than I can understand thâ—â— ever the Prince of the Apostles did I cannot saâ—â— that St. Paul never dreamed of this new-found Doctrine of yours but yet this I am sure in the fiâ—â— place that he never taught any such kind of Doctrine there And secondly That he did see in his daâ—â— by a Prophetick Spirit that there would be such 〈◊〉 Doctrine brought after his time which I shâ—â— prove anon But to our purpose before us Heb. 〈◊〉 9 10 11 12 13. Then said he Lo I come to do 〈◊〉 will O God He taketh away the first that he may establish the second By the which will ye are sanctiâ—â— through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once 〈◊〉 all And every Priest standeth dayly ministring offing oftentimes the same sacrifice which can never 〈◊〉 away sin But this man after he had effered one sacrifice for sins for ever sat down at the right haâ—â— God expecting till his enemies be made his footâ—â— But why is it said that Christ is expecting till 〈◊〉 enemies be made his footstool Why Christ repects it because God the Father hath determined 〈◊〉 promised it in Psal 110.1 The Lord said unto my Lâ—â— sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies footstool This does unavoidably lead me to a digrâ—â— on therefore Sir I must beg leave of you for 〈◊〉 present to pursue this digression But I will certainly meet you again anon upon the same Topâ—â— and discourse out the point with you In the first place God the Father hath said 〈◊〉 Christ his only Son Sit thou at my right hand 〈◊〉 I make thine enemies thy footstool God the Fâ—◠〈…〉 of all his Enemies why it must be infallibly him that opposeth Christ most And pray who is that Why It is the Man of sin Antichrist His very Titles as well as his Characters and Practises signifie the same It is he that is gotten into the Temple of God and claims a power and soveraignty over Kings and Rulers and over Mens souls and Consciences But he is but a Usurper for he exalts himself unto that Power and Dominion for it is a power that properly and peculiarly belongeth unto Jesus Christ for it is he that is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the only Ruler of Princes Rev. 19.16 Rev. 17.14 1 Tim. 6.15 Prov. 8.15 16. By me Kings reign and Princes decree justice by one Princes Rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the earth Here you see whose right it is to Rule over Kings and Princes and Judges of the Earth Ay and Christ is to have this power restored unto him again because God the Father hath promised it unto him And also it is his right in Ezck. 21.27 I will overturn overturn overturn it and it shall be no more until he come whose right it is and I will give it him Rev. 17.16 17. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast these shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall cather flesh and burn her with fire for God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will. I am apt to think that this is Antichrist's will which they fulfil and to agree and give their Kingdom to the Beast until the Word of God shall be fulfilled Dan. 8.25 He shall stand up against the Prince of Princes but he shall be broken without hands Isa 47.8 9 10 11. Rev. 18.7 8. And that which is to antecede or go before the destruction of Antichrist to usher it in upon him you have in Rev. 16.17 18 19 20 21. Here is already or will be suddenly a threefold division among them and strange unusual thunder and lightning and fire and great hail of that magnitude that it will be sufficient to knock down an Ox and great earthquakes both literal and metaphorical But you will ask me who this Antichrist the Man of sin is why my answer in the genral is this That the Apostle Paul has described him and set several infallible marks upon him that he may easily be distinguished from all other persons in the World he is the head of the many Antichrists which did Apostatize from the true Gospel Worship Doctrine and Discipline he is the chief head and promoter of all wickedness and therefore called the Man of sin by way of Eminency as you may see in that famous descriminating Chapter 2 Thess 2.2 3 4. Here the Apostle brings it in by way of caution to the Christians of that day and in the spirit of Prophesie also viz. that ye be not soon shaken in mind or troubled neither by Spirit nor by Word nor by Letter as 〈…〉 that the 〈◊〉 Christ is at hand Pray hath had his day for as Antichrist hath sat upon Christ's Throne viz. the Temple of God and made his people his footstool which is indeed to make Christ his footstool for what is done to his people is done to himself As you may see in the Case of this Apostle Paul when he was a Persecutor Acts 9. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Who art thou Lord I am Jesus whom thou persecutest Why so Christ will depose the man of sin and take the Throne himself and make Antichrist his footstool for if Antichrist will exalt himself above all that is called God and sit in the seat of God himself then he must be abased and made Christ's footstool For the Word of God saith He that exalteth himself shall be abased And therefore Antichrist must be made Christ's footstool for Christ in his day of Exaltation will debase this Usurper and tread him under his feet But to return to what I was upon let no man deceive you by any means for that shall not come except there come a falling away first
and that Man of sin be revealed the Son of Perdition The Apostle gives him the same Name or Title here as our Saviour has given Judas who betraied him Joh. 17.12 And the Apostle has a great deal of reason for giving Antichrist this Title for as Judas under the pretence of the greatest friendship proved our Saviour's greatest enemy why so does Antichrist and as Judas had a hand in crucifying Christ's real Body so hath Antichrist in crucifying of Christ's mystical Body the Catholick Apostolical Church Pray mind how the Apostle has laid down the Prophesie wherein he gives the infallible Marks and Characters of Antichrist First there was to be a falling away that is the Apostatizing from the true Doctrine of Faith 1 Tim. 4.1 2. Secondly The man of sin must be revealed That is he must appear visible in the Church or Temple of God in his Colours Thirdly here is his practices when he is thus revealed viz. he opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped That is above all the Civil Magistracy and above all the Ministry both which Orders of Men are called Gods in Scripture Psal 82. Joh. 10.34 35. and there is a Civil Worship or Reverence that is due unto them both above all other men But this is not all but he exalts himself above God himself and placeth himself in the room of Christ so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God and he opposeth and deposeth all power that standeth in the way of his exalting himself both Ecclesiastical and Civil and he exalted himself by taking to himself that power which belongeth only to God viz. the Soveraignty over all Kings Princes and Rulers which either his Sword or Deceit can Conquer Dan. 8.25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in and by peace shall destroy many That is those which adhere unto his Doctrine and are reconciled unto him as their Head and so are at peace with him by which peace their Souls will be destroyed for it is a peace with Satan and therefore judge what kind of fruit that peace must produce Lastly He Exalts himself above all true Worship and Worshippers which is above all Churches and over mens Souls and Consciences Rev. 18.13 And he assumes to himself one of God's Glorious Attributes namely his Holiness for none is essentially Holy nor Holiness but God So that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God That is where none but Christ ought to sit And this is his standing up against the Prince of Princes but he shall be broken without hands saith Daniel 8.25 He shall be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming saith St. Paul 2 Thess 2.8 Therefore evil shall come upon thee thou shalt not know from whence it cometh and mischief shall fall upon him he shall not be able to put it off and it shall come suddenly saith the Propher Isa 47. When God begins he will soon make an end and her plagues shall come in one day saith John Rev. 18. that may be in one year which is at hand I doubt not Now whosoever is found under these marks and indelible characters which are here given and what I shall yet find out and and add That is the Man of Sin be he who he will that claims this universal power both Spiritual and Temporal Rev. 17.18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the kings of the earth And who this Woman is and what she doth or hath done you may see in the same Chapter Vers 5 6. And upon her forehead was a name written Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus and when I saw her I wondred with great admiration But why is he called the Man of Sin by the Apostle Paul and called a Woman by St. John in the Revelations The Reason why he is called the Man of Sin I humbly conceive respects him as a single person and a temporal Prince with all his temporal power and cruelty Dan. 7.7 And the Reason of her being called Woman is that which respects her Ecclesiastical Power as Head of the Church in conjunction with the Body so she is a Woman And as he is Antichrist the Man of Sin so he is Head and Husband to this Woman their Church which is made up of the many Antichrists As our Saviour Christ is called the Man Christ Jesus and the Holy One who alone is Head and Husband to the true Catholick Apostolick Church of God for both the false Antichristian Church whereof the Man of Sin is Head and also the true and pure Church of God whereof Christ is Head are preâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 Woman the false Antichristian Church is 〈◊〉 presented unto us as a Whorish woman a Strum 〈◊〉 Rev. 17.1 2. But the true Church is represent unto us as a Chast Virgin and a Clean Church without spot or wrinkle Ephes 5.27 And 〈◊〉 an illustrious beautiful Woman richly clothâ—â— Rev. 12.1 Psal 45.13 14 Cant. 6.10 But 〈◊〉 false Church this Whorish woman hath deserâ—â— Christ who was her Head and Husband before 〈◊〉 plaid the Harlot with many Lovers by forsake her Husbands bed the pure Worship and Ordnances of God and is become guilty of spiritual â—â—nication and adultery Rev. 17.4 5. and there 〈◊〉 Christ hath deserted her and cast her off and giâ—â— her a Bill of Divorce and so the Text tells 〈◊〉 that this Woman is in the Wilderness Rev. 17. 〈◊〉 And we have this Antichristian Church or Womâ—â— prophesied of also in Zech. 5.7 8. And behold thâ— was lift up a talent of lead and this a woman that 〈◊〉 teth in the midst of the ephah And he said Thâ—â— Wickedness Here is Antichrist the Man of Sin 〈◊〉 the Church or Temple of God and my Reaâ—â— why I look upon it to be so is this Because 〈◊〉 the Destruction of this Woman namely Wickedâ—â— which you have in the latter part of the 8th Vâ—â— Then upon this cometh forth two women wâ—â— the wind in their wings Verse 9. which are 〈◊〉 two Churches of both Jews and Gentiles which 〈◊〉 to be after the destruction of Antichrist and 〈◊〉 conversion of the Jews the one is the Jews 〈◊〉 will then be formed into a Gospel Church and 〈◊〉 other the Church of the Gentiles and this Winâ—â— their Wings I take to be their Gospel Doctrine and it signifieth their spirituality and their sâ—fâ—â— the Wings are God's Attributes for then they 〈◊〉 be built up and established and set upon her 〈◊〉 Base Verse 10.11 Then these two Women 〈◊〉 the two Churches of the Jews and Gentiles shaâ—â— beautiful and glorious in the eyes of all peâ—â— Zech. 14.20 21. So thus you see the Reason 〈◊〉 the Apostle St. Paul called Antichrist a Man 〈◊〉 why
which if it were true would be a higher degree of perfection than ever any Church of Christ has yet 〈…〉 and the Apostles time We read of Seven Churches at one time in Rev. 2. and Rev. 3. but we find they had all of them their failings there was neither Infallibility nor Supremacy to be found among them tho notwithstanding it is true the Gospel true Catholick Apostolical Church is perfect and infallible but not in nor of her self but she is so in Christ her Infallible Head for there her perfection lieth Ephes 5.26 27. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Therefore this Doctrine of Infallibility of theirs must also be another Lie which they speak or teach in Hypocrisie for the Scripture saith in Jam. 3.2 In many things we offend all And in Eccles 7.20 For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Therefore the Man of Sin cannot be infallible altho in conjunction with all these many Antichrists and false Prophets which do belong unto him And pray mind what another Servant of God saith tho acted by the same spirit as Paul was 1 Joh. 2.18 19. Little children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby ye know that it is the last time And here followeth their Apostatizing from the true Church and Worship of God They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us Pray observe it was these many Antichrists that went out from the Church of Christ and made the first rent or schism But the true Church of Christ kept her standing tho perhaps not so visible in some Centuries or Ages because she fled into the Wilderness into her place prepared by God for her and was hid there after the Dragon by the permissive will of God got into the Temple of God which is called Heaven in his Son Antichrist for as God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ so o◠the contrary the Dragon is Antichrist's Father Re◠12.1 2 3 6. After this great fight in Heave◠which was persecution of the Church is the W◠man or Church of Christ fled into the Wilderne◠where she hath a place prepared by God that the should feed her there 1260 days which is all the reign of Antichrist And the Antichristian Church that woman is in the Wilderness also Rev. 17.3 B◠as the true Church is in the Wilderness in mere to her because she is in her place which God d◠prepare for her to hide her in from the Dragon the cast out floods of wrath and malice after her 〈◊〉 the false Antichristian Church is in the Wilderness in judgment to her for she is bewildered and I 〈◊〉 there These many 〈…〉 did not go first from them for she kept close to Christ's Standard in all Ages They followed the Lamb whithersoever he went and did not flinch nor run from their Colours but these Antichrists deserted the service of Christ and run from their Colours to Satan the Enemy And now to clench this Nail that is driven into the head of Antichrist the Man of Sin pray look into the same Chapter where he is described and prophesied of and observe strictly what is the cause that produced this dreadful effect namely what was it that provoked God to bring this tremendous judgment upon them and there you shall find that it is charged upon them by way of prediction for their despising and departing from the Faith 1 Tim. 4.1 which is from the whole Doctrine of Faith namely the Gospel of God 2 Thes 2.9 10 11 12. Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believe not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness They please themselves with the conceit of being saved by their own righteousness which is unrighteousness in competition with the Righteousness of Christ for Justification they departed from the very Doctrine of Faith the means of Grace and Salvation which is the Spiritual food under Christ for the souls of true Christian Believers to live upon Psal 19.8 9 10. Now that person must needs perish and die that refuseth and despiseth his natural food and will not feed upon it but pretend to live upon the wind why even so it is with a respect to Spiritual food that soul or souls must needs perish and be damned that reject and refuse the means of Grace and Salvation Because saith the Apostle they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned That is the whole of their Faith Doctrine Discipline and Worship is one great lie as the whole of the true Gospel-Faith Doctrine Discipline and Worship is called the Truth in the same Chapter in opposition this great Lie. So that the whole of their Spiritual opinion is only a heap of lies and deceit wrapt up and incorporated together And therefore called by the Holy Ghost a strong delusion and a lie It is a Delusion full of Delusions or a Lie full of Lies The Apostle by the Holy Ghost prophesied clearly what a dreadful Judgment God would inflict upon all them that would be thus horribly guilty For this cause God shall send them strong Delusions first hence we may observe that God did not proceed in 〈…〉 we may observe that this Judgment did not come of it self but God sent it Thirdly God sent them the Truth but they did not receive it in the love of it Fourthly you may observe that it was not an ordinary weak puny Judgment or Delusion that God sent which should not be able or strong enough to do the work no but it was a strong delusion that should overcome them Fifthly you may observe that this strong Delusion was not then come because that the Man of Sin was not yet revealed Sixthly the cause of it was then commencing for the Mystery of Iniquity did then begin to work Seventhly hence we may observe that they themselves did chuse these Delusions which was their great sin by which they provoked God to give them up unto them and so God in his Justice made their sin their punishment for it is said The Backslider in heart
wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect Behold I have told you before Wherefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desert go not forth behold he is in the secret chambers believe it not And Antichrist was to arise and come with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders saith the Apostle which is the same character which our Saviour gives of him This desert where these false Christs are I take it to be a Church or People professing the name of Christ in words but deny him in works being abominable disobedient and unto every good work reprobate Titus 1.16 They are a Company of Deserters that have deserted Christ and run from the true Christian Colours for you see they are a sort of nominal Christians that do own Christ's Name but they do follow another Jesus as I have already shewed from the Apostles words 2 Cor. 11.4 They are a people that have deserted Christ's Standard who himself is Generalissimo of all the Christian spiritual Soldiers or Army But these false Prophets and others are those that are gone over to Antichrist who is Head and Generalissimo of all the many Antichrists and Apostates Now that our Saviour Christ prophesied here of Antichrist's rising it appeareth to me to be as clear as the Sun that shineth in the firmament because the Apostle hath laid down the very same Character of Antichrist and his Disciples and false Prophets as our Saviour had done before for our Redeemer saith that there should arise false Christs and false Prophets which should shew great signs and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very elect And the Apostle saith that the Man of sin Antichrist should come after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish Our Saviour saith consequentially Signs and Wonders and Deceit And the Apostle also saith Signs Wonders and Deceit If it were passible they shall deceive the very elect saith our Saviour that is by their great Signs and Lying Wonders They shall come with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish saith the Apostle And then here followeth their desertion of the Standard of Christ their General Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved Here they first desert God and then God deserts them as you may see in those following words of the Apostle as I have already proved And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believe not the truth That is those who believe not the Gospel of God in opposition to this lie but had pleasure in unrighteousness Surely then this must needs be a dreadful desert when a Church or people desert and leave God And God doth cast off them and desert and leave them this I humbly conceive to be the meaning of our Saviour Christ in Matt. 24. which does agree and suit so well with that of the Apostle Paul's description of Antichrist the Man of Sin this is that desert where these swarms of false Christs and false Prophets are and do reside it is a deserted false worship And hear again what is said in 1 John 2.18 19. with which Scripture I shall close this Head and so go on towards the finishing of this Discourse Little children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time There be the false Prophets which Christ tells us should arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive the credulous people And here followeth their Apostatizing or Desertion to wit They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us But they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us Thus you see that this Doctrine of yours is not true and your Tronsubstantiated Christ is but a false Christ and of the number of those Christs that are out in the Desart Now I pray Sir do not take it amiss that I deal thus plainly with you nor do not think much of my repeating over some things that have been mentioned under former Heads for you know in a trial at Law among Men you have often one and the same thing repeated over and over by the Witnesses and others c. Ay and we have it so in Scripture also in many places and in many cases and I will give you one which relates unto this our Tryal or Discourse Gal. 1.6 7 8 9. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel Which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ But tho we or an angel frem heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again If any man preach aâ— other gospel unto you than that ye have received 〈◊〉 him be accursed And what the Apostle saith 〈◊〉 say I and let all good men say Amen to it 3. Thirdly If this Doctrine of yours be truâ—â— then after Consecration as you call it there would appear all the lineaments of a Man visibly to aâ— the spectators with all the faculties of a Man for 〈◊〉 was Christ when he was here upon Earth personallâ— in Body Soul and Divinity before he laid dowâ— his Life and after he took it up again viz. after he arose again from the dead Luke 24.39 Behoâ—â— my hands and my feet that it is I my self handle 〈◊〉 and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see 〈◊〉 have If this Doctrine of yours be really truâ— why then it would necessarily follow that all thâ— spectators as well as the partakers would be satisfied that it is so and not an imaginary fancy for such is the nature of Miracles as you see haâ—â— been clearly proved by several instances both from Scripture and Reason which do witness the trutâ— of it 4. Fourthly If this Doctrine of Transubstantiation in your sense be true viz. That Christ is iâ—â— tire in his person with all the lineaments and facuâ—ties of Man after Consecrating the Elements in thâ— Sacraments then Sir I would fain know what 〈◊〉 the Reason that he doth not speak or what should hinder or impede Christ from speaking personally and vocally now as well as he did to his Disciple after he arose from the dead when they were under doubts and fears whether it was he or no wheâ— he said unto them Why are ye troubled and why 〈◊〉 thoughts arise in your hearts Behold my hands and mâ—â— feet that it is I my self handle me and see for a spirâ—â— hath