of reliques and with an excommunication of all hereticks in generall they dissolved the counsell By excommunication of all hereticks they meant all those that should withstand any of their cannons which they had decreed Here the Church of Rome and the Protestants parted and if it be seriously viewed on both sides by a clear and impartial eye 't is manifest that the Church if you 'l call a faction so of Rome left us Pope Adrian 6. acknowledged that the Church and chair of Rome was at that time in many things abominable The German English and French Churches desired that those abominations might be purged out for this end a generall councell was desired and under pretence of granting it a party of men were packed to oppose this end and carry on a contrary designe to the ruine of those who desired a reformation and in stead of removing those grievances established them Which now of these two parties is in the right They that kept their faces Zion ward in the reformation of a Church generally acknowledged to be corrupted or they that hardened their necks in a resolved obstinacie to persist in that corruption and added much more abominable corruption to it and established it by a law and made those that departed from their abominations to become a prey to them This is the true case betwixt us and Rome The faction of Rome pretended with us whose hearts were set upon a reformation to reform but in stead thereof established those very grievances the Church complained of hereby 't is manifest that they starting aside like a deceitfull bow left us in the high way of a reformation If we have left them 't is because they have left the truth whiles error was in a private faction in Rome though 't were damnable yet we left not that Church but when that private faction so prevail'd as to establish damnable heresie by a Law and excommunicated all that would not drink of the same poisonous Cup with them then 't was high time to leave their Communion notwithstanding they usurp the name of the Catholick Church The Church of England left not the Church of Rome because governed by Bishops but because those Bishops were become Starrs fallen from heaven to earth apostatized toto coelo from their primitive institution The See of Rome is become the beast of the Sea with seven heads and ten hornes and upon it's heads the names of blasphemy The inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of Romes fornication therefore we come out from Rome and herein we have obeyed the voice of our Lord Iesus Revel 18. 4. We never held Bishops quatenus Bishops Antichristian though many Schismaticks and ignorant zelots have builded high upon that stramenous foundation which since the Iesuites by their Gunpowder plots have neatly fired about their ears It is true indeed the German French and British reformers that left Rome or rather were left of Rome could never attain to that reformation was requisite and they desired and the reason thereof is generally known For Rome with her Allies was alwaies so potent against them that it is rather to be admired they have a being then to be complained of that they have attained to no better a being The Churches beyond the Seas both in Germany and France by reason of their innumerable number of potent enemies were constrained to do what they might not what they would happy they that they may eat the Manna of true Doctrine though under the tents of an incompleat and insollid government Those Churches are like the wounded man betwixt Jericho and Jerusalem they have met with a friend that hath powred oyl into their wounds and brought them to an Inn but that Inn of government is not I think their proper home however happy they they are got safe out of the bloudy hands of Romish theeves unto that Inne God send them from thence safe home Let 's be thankful for pure Doctrine that the Ark but le ts not rest till we have lodg'd it within the Temple of right Government I have oft thought that the white linnen of the Saints signifies the right Government of the Church which is the Churches upper garment if so then let them wait with patience for this white linnen they shall not wear untill the Witnesses are risen the Witnesses are yet in sack-cloth or actually slain when they are restored this white Vesture of Church-Government shall be restored to the Church in splendor Let us not censure but pity and pray for those Churches that have not on this white garment confident I am that it is not for want of will but power that all this while many reformed Churches have it not on I cannot forget Bergermannus's words in the Assembly of Dort as I have them from a good hand to the Bishop of Landaff who when he had declared to him how the cause of the German divisions was for want of right Discipline he makes this affectionate replie in the midst of that Assembly Domine nos non sumus adeo fâ—…lices The Churches that protested against the Babylonish abominations established by the Popish faction at the councel of Trent have ever since born the name and title of the Reformed churches not that all or any of them are perfectly reformed for many of them are corrupt in severall doctrinal points and the most of them deficient as to the pattern of primitive government or as the sacred Rule requires Amongst these reformed churches England hath alwayes been esteemed the purest as being most conformable to primitive purity and the word both in Doctrine and Discipline This appears even from the pens of the Heads of other Reformed churches such as Calvin Camerarius Melancton Bucer Beza Zanchie Molinens Causabon Fergevil Saravia and others who many of them confesse in plain words and all by consequence conclude That the church of England of any church in the world comes the nearest to the Apostolick rule Yet for all this what by reason of the Popish pollutions on one hand and schismatical Separatists on the other hand the church of England could never put on that white garment of pure Discipline she so much endeavoured for though the Temple of Doctrine was purged and the walls of Discipline raised to a comely height under which the church flourished in Queen Elizabeth's and King James his dayes yet the Romish foxes in sheeps clothing crept up the wall of Discipline in King Charles his time and laid the church open as it is this day to the bloudy cruelty of the Babylonians The popish Prelats or rather the Spanish Faction then and ever since prevailing informing them knew the way to popish Doctrine was first to bring in popish Discipline which produced a double effect tending to their end For hereby cities and counties non ignota loquor were filled with superstition and profanenesse having liberty from the Prelates to profane the Lords day and we all know how great
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
their opinions tending that way 4. Those that practice such abominations are gone out from us whereby they have manifested to the world they were not of us Now for the Papists hence to insult and say where is your English Church whâ—…ts become of the Protestant Religion 't is a false Religion and a false Church We Answer that the Church of England stands â—…pon its old foundations viz upon the Apostles and Prophets from which the Church of Rome is miserably fallen both in doctrine and discipline That there are apostates from the Protestant Religion in this nation is manifestly true but this makes not the Church of England the lesse a true Church We cannot say that a figtree because it hath much rotâ—…en fruit fallen from it is therefore a thorn The Spirit speaketh expresly that in the later times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Divels speaking lies in hypocrisie having their consciences seared with an hot iron Observe here that where the true Church is there shall be Apostates Seducers Blasphemers Lyers Murderers Hypocrites Therefore 'T is a signe where these are the true Church is as by the Eagles gathering together you may finde the carcasse and by the swarms of wasps and flyes the honey not because they make it but devour it The Church indeed is by these locusts much dâ—…faced and debased but not nullified for these herds of swine being violently rushed into the Temple do onely pollute it not destroy it To argue that the Church of England is no true Church because there are many seducers apostates and blasphemers amongst them is so absurd that the contrary Conclusion is most solid and true for if it were not a true Church the Divel would not thus furiously war against it there would not be such traps and snares devised to catch mens souls in as there are No man much lesse the Divel that spiritual Fouler that great spider of hell will lay snares to catch tame birds that he hath in a cage already As Christ by his spiritual fishermen catcheth souls in the Divels ponds and feeds them in his own so the Divel alwayes goes about with his unlawful nets and poisonous baits to catch men in Christs pond the Church and carry them into the black sea of eternal misery Where the spiritual seed is sown there the birds of hell will be picking and plucking of it up The notablest Cheaters usually frequent the greatest Fairs we speak in reference to that Refermation begun in England to which the Romish Cheaters did resort The purest Church is most commonly pestered with the vilest Hereticks as the fairest fountain with the foulest toads Since these Philistims the Papists are thus upon us 't is very necessary that we play the part of Christian men that whether we live or dye we may have the hellish blot of Antichristianism wiped off from our names which we can no better do then by freeing our Religion from that aspersion which the Papists cast upon it Iâ—… Queen Maryes dayes the Martyrs dyed under the aspersion of Hreticks in these dayes they are like to suffer by the Spanish Popish Faction as Antichristian men and womon it 's therefore not impertinent to the thing in hand to tell in a word how we came to separate from the Church of Rome The Church of Rome you must know was once a pure Church and it continued so the longest of any Church for when the Eastern Asian and Affrican Churches most fouly fell into many desperate Errors especially that of the Arian Heresie she kept her garments clean and became a shelter to Orthodox Fugitives all this while there was not the least ground for any Orthodox national Church to separate from her as on all sides 't is granted we mean for near four hundred yeers after Christ for until after the year of Christ 350. we find not any of the Roman Bishops any other then such as became the Angels of the Church and faithful Overseers of Gods flock The first that we find polluted with the Arian Heresie was Liberius who soon recollecteth himself shakes off the Heresie and dies a Confessor As for the Foppâ—…ries fathered upon these Primitive Bishops of Rome by Ciaconius and Lambertus Geuterus Isodorus Mercator and several other of the Popish Writers they are in no wise to be credited such acts being scarce possible much less probable to be acted by the Bishops of Rome in such times of persecution under the Pagan Empire After Constantine had cast down the Pagan Emperors and made Romes Imperial Scepter to bow to Christs Cross the Clergy became the greatest Court-Favourites hereupon they grew in a short time great in power and wealth being totally freed from the iron rod of the Heathen Emperors Wealth and ease not simply but by accident begat security and security the foundation of all Church mischief begat Pride Luxury and Heresie which by little and little excluded that Primitive Purity once to be found in the Church of Rome Now bebegan Monks quatenus Monks to be in great esteem and then Tapers were brought into the Church and then that trisagium pretended to be taught by Angels Sancte Deus Sancte fortis Sancte immortalis then they brought in adoringâ—… of Churches and the opinion of Purgatery with a fained pretence that the Bishop of Rome had power to chastise stubborn souls there Then began the Bishops of Rome or Patriarchs to shoulder with the Emperors and exâ—…mmunicate them for not giving the supâ—…riority to Bishops and to â—…mmunicate Bishops of other Diocâ—…sses where they had nothing to do then was the Chanâ—…l divided from the Church and extreme unction to be ministred to dying men and soon after Pelagius began to claim a Supremacy from Christ himself Thus did the Angel of the Church of Rome become a Sâ—…ar fallen from heaven to earth Revel 9. 1 2. who set open the bottomless pit whose smoak soon darkned the Sun and the air After Gregory the great and Sabinianus succeeded Boniface the third about the year of Christ 605. he obtained of Phocas the usurping Emperor who got to the Throne by the murder of his Master that usurped title of Supremacy that the Church of Rome should be called the supreme head of all other Churches Here the Star fallen from heaven became the Beast of the Sea as learned Prideaux observes with seven heads and ten horns at leastwise began to appear so Revel 13 1. Soon after this Churches became Sanctuaries for Thieves and Murderers by the Popes order Lay-Monks were made equal with Ordained Ministers in the execution of their Office Witnesses at the Font were forbid to marry each other Churches were superstitiously deck'd Holy-dayes appointed and superstitiously enjoined Priests strictly forbidden to marry and enjoined to shave their heads Latine Service introduced by Popish injunction into other Churches upon which the Popes daily inchroached by the usurpation of their Faction in
other Nations Christian Burial was prohibited to those persons be they never so great that should deny the Popes Supremacy the Liturgy of the Church augmented and put into tune to be sung the Paxe injoyned to be kissed the usurped Title of the Vicar of Christ given to Popes and the Roman Emperors Authority contemned by them they making their leige Masters to kiss their feet Images were brought into the Church and Emperors not permitted to pull them down Rebellion against Emperors was taught upon this account so that the Emperors for withstanding Images lost the Roman Throne Sacrifices and Prayers were enjoined to be made for the dead Kings of forrain Kingdomes were by the Popes Usurpation dethroned Bishopricks as it were by a Conquest subjected daily to the Sea of Rome Bastards Bribers Rebels beastly Fellows Atheists and Magicians for the most part possessed the Episcopal Chair of Rome which makes Bellarmine call these times Saeculum insoelix The Sun and the Air were miserably darkned by these hellish locusts these times were full of ignorance and prophaneness whereby the Church was miserably eclipsed and deformed through the prevailing Factions of the scandalous Roman Clergy usurping the Roman Throne as well as the Pontifick Seat yet was not the Roman Church utterly defaced or unchurched hereby for notwithstanding the prevailing Faction in Rome gave themselves to such abominable wickednesse and persisted in it so that one in his Learned History of the Roman Bishops saith They proceeded from usurping Nimrods to luxurious Sodomites and from luxurious Sodomites to Egyptian Magicians and from Egyptian Magicians to devouring Abaddons and from devouring Abaddons to incurable Babylonians yet it is most probable that in Rome it self there were to be found Godly Ministers and people that were none of the time servers as it is manifest there were in other Churches where the Popes and their Faction usurped a Power This is most certain that in Rome it self until the Pope and his Faction became incurable Babylonians men might with freeness profess and practise the principles of true religion The Apostles Creed the ten Commandments and the Lords Prayer the sum of a Christians Faith Worship and Obedience were alwaies in profession maintained in the Roman Church though violently opposed by the wicked practices of the Pontifick Professors So that there was no absolute necessity for other Churches to renounce the Church of Rome but only the Vices and Corruptions and Heresies of a prevailing Faction in the Church of Rome which both the Kings and the Clergy of England since William the Norman Successor to the Saxons have in every Age manifestly done and not only England but other Churches also for when they as we said came to be incurable Babylonians the Churches in Germany and France and England cryed out aloud of them Guicciardine Mâ—…ntuan Sanavarola and Machiavel all of them laid out to publick view the villany of the Papacy Machiavel was a discoverer of the hellish policie used by the Pope and his creatures not an allower or practitioner of that black Art he discovered And in Leo the Tenths time Budeus Mirandula Erasmus Stapulensis and others both learned and grave publickly derided and reproved the Roman Apostasie and corruption So far did Erasmus leave the Roman Church and cleave to the reformation beginning in Germany that a witty Popeling thus plays upon his name Si sit eras verbum mus nomen quid sit Erasmus Participium Signifying that he took part with the Chuch of Rome and part with the Protestants so called a little afterwards as a Participle doth part of a Verb and part of a Nown The German Churches gave no lesse then Centum gravamina to the Legate of Adrian 6. desiring a speedy redresse of them and the secular Estates both of the higher and lower sort of the Empire did beseech his Holynesse to remove those grievances or else they themselves would This Pope ingenuously confesseth that the Chair of Rome was very filthy in hac sede sancta saith he aliquot jam annis multa abominanda fuisse This stirring of the German States revived Luther who stomacking the Dominican pardon-seller Tercelius had wâ—…it against that sinfull trade in Leos time and now in Adrians time finding more friends then he expected he designes the abolishing of the Masse and the framing of a new Liturgie The Pope and his faction fearing to what this of Luthers might come writ to the Emperour and the German Princes to suppresse Luthers doctrines Thereupon a general councel was desired as the means of reconciliation which was at last granted and called to sit at Trent They had three severall meetings at Trent In the third Session of the first meeting they i. e. the Popes packt party decreed that the old Latine translation should only be used and authentick in Schools and Churches In the fourth Session they decreed that original sin was so taken away in Baptism that the concupiscence which remains after Baptism is not to be accounted a sin untill we consent thereto and farther they decreed as truth that the Mother of Christ was not conceived in original sin In the fifth Session they decreed that since the fall there remains a freedom in mans will to good which being excited concurrs with Gods grace In the seventh Session seven Sacraments were decreed after this the Pope removes the Councel to Bononia which discontents the Emperour which puts an end to the Councell for that time At the second meeting of the Bishops in the councell of Trent the King of France declared as the Queen of England before had done that neither he nor his Subjects were bound to obey a Convention of Bishops whose design was meerly thereby to advantage the private interest of the Pope to the generall disprofit of the Church At the second Session the doctrine of Transubstantiation was established At the third Session that pennance and extreme unction were new Testament Sacraments At this Session the Protestants would but were not permitted to bring in their confession of faith the Popes Legat withstanding them The warrs then breaking out in Germany the councel was dismissed Nine years after they met again the third time At the fifth Session whereof they decreed that it was in the power of the Pope to dispose of the Sacramentary elements as he saw expedient for the good of the people provided that the substance were kept Thus denying the cup in the Communion to the people At the sixth Session 't was concluded that the whole Mass was a propitiatory sacrifice for quick and dead and whoever should say otherwise should be accursed At the eight Session they pronounce him accursed who shall deny that the Church hath power to dispense with Gods Law Lev. 18. in giving liberty to incestuous matches against the word and forbidding lawful matches according to the word At their last Session they confirmed the doctrine of Purgatory Invocation of Saints bowing to images giving of indulgences and preserving
shall omit the sifting of them until we come to explain them The Doctrinal part may be summed up in this negative Proposition The day of Iudgment is not presently to come In the General we are led to take notice of Pauls modus procedendi his wise and orderly dealing with these affrighted Thessalonians where there is first the Subject matter and secondly the introduction to this matter The Introduction is Rhetorical the Subject matter in the form of it is Logical and may be reduced to this Syllogism You are shaken and troubled in mind because the day of Christ is at hand But the day of Christ is not at hand Ergo you need not be troubled or shaken in mind CHAP. III. IN his Rhetorical Introduction we have 1. His form of delivery 2. his terms of expression 1. His form of delivery is not mandatory but supplicatory he does not say mandamus but rogamus 2. His terms of expression he gives them are not harsh but mild and full of affection he does not say vos Thessalonicenses or vos amici but vos frates Ver. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But we beseech you brethren Though Humane Authors as the Learned observe seldom use this word in a Petitionary way yet the holy Apostles use it often so in the Scriptures The word is like Solomons Chariot paved with love it comes from a word signifying love So that the word seems to carry all this honey in its loyns We lovingly beseech you Hee that by his Apostolicall Authoritie might have come with a rod of correction and sharp conviction becomes a Petitioner in love and meeknesse we lovingly beseech you brethren 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 brethren a significant word full of bowels and naturall affection as much as to say You that are uterini of the same womb with me that sucked one and the same milk with me Herein the wisdom of that Lamb-like Lion as I may call him Paul doth much appear Paul perceived how the design of the Seducers was to undermine his new planted Church at Thessalonica by disquieting their souls with terrifying Doctrines as that Doomes-day would be within a yeer and for proof hereof they quoted Paul Wonder not then if the new planted Church of Thessalonica which were all but tender Lambs were much tossed and perplexed in their mindes at the hearing of this strange Doctrine for if Felix that lion was made to tremble but at the hearing of that day well might these Lambs who daily expected to see it This tender Church was to be fed with milk and not with such strong to say truth poysoned meat They were begotten by Paul to the true faith but not to that heighth of evidentiall faith as not to be moved to hear that on a sudden they their wives and children should be brought to judgment These boisterous windes of false Doctrine raised by these incarnate Divels the false teachers and beating so impetuously upon the fluctuant passions of these new planted Christians raised so great a storm against that holy house and houshold that had it not been built upon the rock it had doubtlesse fallen and great had been the fall thereof To allay this storm it seems to me a harder task for Paul at land then for Christ at sea to effect Christ first rebuked the wind and then commanded the water to be still and they were so but contrariwise Paul begins first to allay the waves as the onely means to dispell the winde Paul like a wise Physician layes his finger on the right pulse he there began the cure where the enemy began the wound their passions had made them enraged distractions caused through sudden fear had made them as it were mad and therefore Paul comes in good season with his heavenly melodious charm to allay them We lovingly beseech you brethren Thus Paul like another Orpheus or rather like David with the well-tuned harp of Rhetorick perswades these brain-stung Thessalonians to take a cure He hath half done the cure upon the judgment that hath but allayed the timorous distempered affections of a seduced soul. Paul comes in the same method here to the Thessalonians that Christ came to his disciples in after his Resurrection the first word is peace it was a word in season from the Prince of peace to his poor disconsolate and disquieted servants He that would settle Truth must first make Peace The first word of Command is Peace which being made is commonly the introduction to Obedience Behold here also the vehement desire of Paul and the exceeding earnestnesse of his spirit to repair the ruâ—…nes that this sudden Church-quake had caused in Thessâ—…lonica What must a King put off his Crown to his subjects Must he become petitioner that ought to be petitioned Indeed in reason and conscience it ought not But Paul voluntarily falls upon his face to set them fallen upon their feet Paul saw the dangerous consequences that would follow and therefore as Aretius observes Paul useth these supplicatory terms as a prudent Ambassador of Christ who knew the times and seasons the time when to imbrace and when to refrain from imbracing when to come with a rod and when to come in love Thus you have Paul's Exordium 2. The second thing observable in the doctrinal part is the Matter it self which though in its form it be Supplicatory yet in its quality it is Dehortatory In the Supplicatory dehortation may I beg leave to call it os the Apostle dehorts the Thessalonians from three things in which leaving their Affections he comes home to their Judgments by most plain conviction 1. He dehorts them from the matter of their present fear as if the day of Judgment were at hand 'T is no such matter saith Paul Wherein 2. He dehorts them from the intrinsecall causes of this fear viz. instability in the Truth through forgetfulnesse of it and groundlesse credulity in receiving every new fangle of false Teachers without searching the Scriptures so intangling themselves to their own trouble making themselves miserable before their time without any ground A sin against Philosophie 3. He dehorts them from the external causes of their trouble and those are Seducers be sure so long as their hearts were a Magazeen of powder these fire-brands would never cease until they had blowed them up by the sparks of false Doctrine cast in amongst them therefore the Apostle dehorts them from crediting such persons whom he describes by their subtile practices commonly putting on one of these three cloaks when they went a cheating 1. Either fained revelations 2 Or fained words 3. Or fained Epistles Of the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ and of our gathering together to him for so we read the Text. The whole verse runs thus We beseech you brethren of or concerning the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ and our gathering together to him This verse is imperfect in its sense without the other therefore this of the next must be
Moon and caused a great Eclipse in the minds of the Thessalonians They that Paul left confirmed in the Truth are now shaken off from the Truth This Moon that was as white as snow in the truth is now turning into blood and darkned through the deceits of these impostors Hoodwink a Church with error or mis-belief and in that mopish fit it is apt to be led any way by Seducers The Scholiasts interpretation on this Text is notable That ye be not shaken in mind i. e. to be troubled or terrified out of ignorance of mind and servility ofâ—…t in prostituting it to the lusts of Seducers There is no way to lead a Religious mind but by darkning it and terrifying it Other Learned Interpreters by mind here understand the faith conceiving mind to be put by a Metonimy of the Subject for the faith it being the seat of faith and in this sense they understand it who read the words à vestro sensu that is say they from the truth I Paul taught you concerning the day of Judgment and the great Apostasie of the Gospel Church before that day which you by faith embraced Others conceive that Paul speaks here of the Regenerate mind whereby they did apprehend the truths of the Gospel as if he should say after once you have been brought to know aright and imbrace the saving Doctrine of faith suffer not your selves to be removed from this saving knowledg Grotius expounds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sentence or Doctrine delivered Since these various and Learned opinions do circle the Truth I will not give the precedency to any but as Augustin in such a like case said so shall I and I suppose it best becomes me to say Why may not all these interpretations be taken in since there is so much probability of truth in all and so little clashing betwixt any Nor be troubled The Greek word comes from a word say the Criticks which signifies the clamour or noise of those that make a tumult To this Zanchie agrees Therefore Nor be troubled he thus expounds Be not ye terrified with the clamor and noise of those Incendiaries those false Alarmers of the Church which as Aretius observes from the word with their mouthing terrible words of deceit and lyes went about to raise a storm in a quiet Haven to the intent to shipwrack the Church An Army sometimes is more easily overthrown by a false Alarm in the night then by a pitched Battel in the day this was the way that these Seducers went first they went to make it night in their understandings by leading them from the truth and then they intended to give them a false Alarme to distract them fear them and disorder them As Gideon by his Rams horns sounding his Pitchers chinking and his new and sudden light appearing ruined that strong and mighty Army so did these Seducers intend by the chinking of their Pitchers producing of their new and unexpected light and crying the word of the Lord and the word of Paul intend to rent and ruine the Church of Thessalonica Now Paul that he might prevent the mischief indeavours to remove the cause which lay more in the weak minds and timorous hearts of the Thessalonians then in any thing else for had they held fast to Pauls Truth which it seems by ver 5. they had forgot and not been terrified these Seducers had been utterly disappointed of their ends for they came into this Church but as Pick-pockets into a Fair making an uproar on purpose thereby with more ease to beguile the people therefore the Apostle saith to this effect O ye Thessalonians Non solum non moveamini quoad intellectum sed neque terreamini quoad affectum Gorhanus Having thus discovered the inward causes of this Church-commotion he proceeds to discover by way of dehortation from the extrinsick causes of this Church-quake CHAP. IV. NEither by Spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us Christ when he plucked up the pale of his only quondam Royal Park the Jewish Church He chose the Gentiles for his Forrest and Paul that had been the Divels Huntsman heretofore is now made Christs Ranger of this Forrest he with his commission from Christ goes â—…like another Orpheus with an harp from Apollo and makes such melodious Musick upon that heavenly harp the Gospel that by the Almighty power of him that sent him he made multitudes of people like woods to follow him he made the trees of the Forrest to bud and bring forth fruit to God He tamed the wild Beasts and turned stones to living creatures which became the sons and daughters of Abraham In this Forrest there were many night-walkers who did hunt with vnlawful nets and went about to destroy Christs Spiritual Game they had many baits and snares about every Burrough especially this at Thessalonica Now that Paul might spoil their unlawful Game he breaks their nets and spoiles their baits which he does by discovering them for these Seducers like cunning Fishers had mudded and troubled the waters that so their nets might not be discovered they raised a storm in that Church and then like Syrens sang their deceitful tunes in that storm Neither by Spirit Some conceive that Paul useth the word Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mimically in an holy scoffe at those Spirit-mongers who came with their empty vain dreams and opinions pretending them to be revelations of the Spirit therefore saith Iohn Believe not every Spirit 1 Ioh. 4. 1. i. e. every fellow that pretends to have the Spirit Primasius conceives by Spirit is meant the strange signes that Seducers shall shew pretending them to be done by the Spirit such Juglers there were doubtless in those dayes as well as those we live in Spirit say others by a Metonimy is here put for the revelation of the Spirit because the Spirit is the Efficient cause of revelation these false Teachers came and fained revelations as Zanchie hath it and then fathered it on the Spirit as Oecumenius hath it although those false Prophets themselves were the Authors of it Some conceive that by Spirit here is meant Prophesie and not unlike for the Spirit of Prophesie was then one special gift of the Holy Ghost and that which Christians were to give much heed unto and to try them by the Rule i. e. of the old Testament Prophesies as wel as by the new delivered by the Apostles Now this being the likeliest way to deceive the people in came these Seducers at this golden gate Hence Theophylact expounds it Prophecie because as he conceives certain men did counterfeit a Prophecie as that the day of Judgment was at hand If I should quote Beza Aretius Piscator and many more Commentators it would but inform us that they vary only in expression scarce any thing in sense Therefore I leave the Reader to follow whom he pleaseth Nor by word Here must be added As from us and probably as from
us hath relation both to Spirit Word and Epistle and so the Apostles meaning may be We had no such revelation from the Spirit we never delivered any such thing in any Sermon nor did we ever write any Epistle that expressed any such Doctrine The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Learned observe is here put for a specious pretence So it is used in Coloss. 2. 23. which things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have a shew of wisdom a specious pretence of high Divinity Others as Hyperius and Zanchy conceive the word imports as much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a perswasory speech 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A word that Paul useth Col. 2. 4. Lest any one beguile you with inticing words or probability of speech 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is an adapted perswasory speech to make that which is spoken be it true or false seem to be a reall clear and undobted truth It is in Logick called a Paralogisme which saith Aretius the false Apostles here made drawing their false conclusions from 1 Thess. 4. 15 17. Thus they might argue from these words Then we which remain alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Now if Paul reckon himself and the present Saints of Thessalonica amongst the number of them that shall be alive to be caught up with Christ then the day of Judgment must be near for Paul is well stricken in yeers and many of the Saints of Thessalonica are old and ready to go to their graves But say they Paul expresly saith Wee that are alive shall be caught up together with him Ergo The day of Judgment is neer at hand Such kind of Sophisme Zuinglius Primasius Hyperius and Aretius conceive the Apostle means Cornelius à Lapide and Estius by word understand the word or sermon of Paul as if Paul should say any such thing that the day of Judgment was at hand for saith Estius the false Apostles affirmed se ex ore Pauli audivisse that they heard Paul speak it That the day of Judgment was at hand from beleeving which the Apostle dehorts them flatly denying that any such word ever proceeded out of his mouth Nor by letter as from us This is to a word according to the Vulgar Translation which reads it so from the Greek Copie 'T is generally conceived that those false Apostles did either forge Epistles in Paul's name or set false glosses upon those he writ Therefore saith Theophylact these Seducers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They fained Epistles as if they had been written and sent forth by Paul and Zanchy as others conceives that either they did forge Epistles in Pauls name or else Paul alludes to the former Epistle where he had treated of this day of Judgment Beza hath a notable saying upon these words very fit to be applyed to our times alluding to the hereticks of those times he lived in If Beza which saw those monsters but in their babieclouts did conceive this Text to be fulfilled in his time what would he have said if he were now alive in England to see these monsters in their full strength and power But I leave this As that the day of Christ is at hand or instantly to be Some conceive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies here the time past and so the false doctrine here they make to be the same with that in 2 Tim. 2. 17 18. of Hymeneus and Philetus who affirmed that the Resurrection was already past but there is no word in the Greek Copie in all this Text to draw any such Interpretation from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But we have parallel texts to prove that the word signifies the present time whether the present year or the present generation it is indifferent but it signifies present 1 Cor. 3. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either things present Some conceive possibly the Apostle here repeats the words in derision of the false Apostles who made it all their cry The day of Christ is coming upon us 'T is close at hand t is close at hand Zuinglius affirms that the Apostle took occasion to write this dehortation from a certain book that was writ Anno 24. which had this false doctrine of the day of Judgment 's being at hand This may have some probability if Zuinglius mean the 24 yeer after Christs Ascension But I can neither fully beleeve him nor cleerly disprove him But the most learned conceive that the Apostle grounds his Dehortation upon certain false teachers Doctrine that of meer envie took upon them the profession of Christianity possibly they were crafty Jews of that City on purpose to overthrow it when they saw an opportunity and Paul being absent they thought the fittest time to do mischief was then Now the mischef they intended was twofold 1. To bring Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus into the greatest disgrace that might be by defaming them as Seducers false prophets Baals priests Antichristian Ministers c. for if the day of Judgment did not fall out at their false set time Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus should be in all the blame these false teachers would have seriously professed that they were misled by those false prophets Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus but now their eyes were opened to perceive plainly that they were seducers and for their part they would no longer follow them nor their Doctrine which was so evidently false Such an engine in that age as well as this might have blowed up a whole Church at once and have made professors turn Apostates and hate their Ministers 2. By this Doctrine they intended to bring the Christian Religion into publick disgrace not onely to cast out Paul but Paul's doctrine out of all esteem for could they have possessed the people that the day of Judgment would certainly be that present year for 't is conceived that that was their designe the Christians that beleeved it would have neither sowed their seed nor dressed their vineyards nor provided for their families for to what purpose 〈◊〉 had been when they daily expected fire from heaven to consume all Now what a hardening would this have been both to the heathens on one hand and to the Jewes who had there a Synagogue on the other hand when they should have seen these poor Christians and their Families in extreme want of family necessaries meerly through the delusions of their Religion what shame reproach would it be to Christians and how would the Christian Religion have been cryed down as a most false deceitfull Religion and what a door had here been opened for weak Christians to have apostatized to their former Atheisme Many hundred yeers after our Ecclesiastical histories tell us that the Divell by such a cheat drew away many Professors to become Atheists when they saw the day of Judgment according to their Seducers Predictions came not to pass Ver. 3.
Let no man deceive you by any means The Apostle proceeds from intreating to commanding and that negatively that it might be the more obligatory at all times to their consciences Let no man deceive you by any means 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as noble Leigh that famous Critick observes signifies such a deceit which a false theef useth to a traveller offering himself a guide to direct him a better way to his journeys end and so leading him to some dismal place that he may rob him By any means 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to a word it is thus By any version and so the meaning most probably is this Let no one deceive you by any misinterpretation or subtil kinde of false glosses upon any Sermon I preached or Epistle that I writ to you or any other of the Churches and so this negative precept is brought in as a vehement reiteration of his dehortatory Petition which mightily confirms his Doctrine that the general day of Judgment is not at hand This doctrine he confirms in the ten next Verses Thus I have done with the Doctrinal part The Second Part. Of the general Apostasie from the true Profession of Christianitie and of the Anti-christ Ver. 3. FOr that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition 4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God 5. Remember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you these things 6. And now ye know what with-holdeth that he might be revealed in his time 7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work only he who now leteth will let untill he be taken out of the way 8. And then shall that wicked be revealed whom the Lord will consume with the Spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming 9. Even he whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders 10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved 11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie 12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness CHAP. I. THis portion of Scripture stands amongst Pauls Epistles like the Tower of Ophel upon the wall of Ierusalem clouded and shadowed with sacred Mysteries it may wel be put amongst his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hard places of Scripture to be understood which not only the unlearned but some Learned have wrested for ought I know to their own and others destruction Here we may truly take up the Rabins saying meeting with a hard place of Scripture Opusâ—…st hiâ—… quadringentis Camelis onust is commentariis rationem reddere We had need of four hundred Camels loads of Commentaries to give us light into this Prophesie The Prophesie in general is of the great Apostasie in the Gentile Gospel Church and of the Anti-christ Now such and so numerous are the various opinions of Learned men about Anti-christ that it gives occasion to many men who regard not the times or the seasons scoffingly to give out that Anti-christ is some ignis fatuus that is now in this Kingdom now in that anon no where and presently again every where some make him a Divel some a State some a particular man a King a General Others give out that Anti-christ is like the Philosophers Stone much talked on but never seen yet or known But all these Scoffers do not one jot diminish the truth of the sacred Word concerning Anti-christ for as for example there are many Ignoramuses this day in States affairs amongst whom my self is one that do not distinctly know who are the Custodes Libertatis Angliae some say the General Councel of the Army some say the House of Commons as now modelled others the Councel of State others the Keepers of the Great Seal and others the Judges of the Land now because we through our ignorance do not know them will it therefore follow that there are no Custodes Libertatis Angliae this would prove in the end but a bad conclusion for my part I draw no such conclusions but my prayer to God and my hope is that he will speedily dispel all fogs and mists of ignorance from deceived people that at last they may eminently and clearly perceive who are the Veri Custodes Libertatis Angliae But to our purpose That there have been and are many Anti-christs and that there is to be eminently the Anti-christ in the world before the day of Judgment none can deny that do confess the truth of the Scriptures In 1 Ioh. 2. 18. 22 there you have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the petty Antichrists and twice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the great Antichrist eminently Antichrist Of this Antichrist there are various opinions which arise many of them from the very word as say some Antichrist must be one that pretends to be for Christ but is the great enemy to Christ and his Saints and this they draw from the Preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which our Grammers tel us signifies both for and against in opposition it is put for for and so both Humane Authors and the Scripture frequently inform us as Ioh. 1. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Grace for Grace But Criticks who give this gloss do affirm that both in opposition and composition it signifies for and against but I suppose it seldom signifies for in composition but against and so generally Authors understand the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for one that opposeth Christ So saith Hillary it is the property of the name of Antichrist to be contrary to Christ Nominis Antichristi propriet as est esse Christo contrarium and so say other Authors But if we wil have the full signification of this compound word we must look as well to the signification of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to annoint and so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies against the Annointed who the Annointed are Rev. 11. 4 5 6. compared with Zach. 4. 3 11 14. tel us In the Church under the Ceremonial Law the King and the Priests only were annointed indeed Prophets were annointed sometimes but that was extraordinary not by Ceremonial constitution but immediate command These two Sacred functions are not destroyed but refined under the Gospel so that probably the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is he that slaies the Witnesses for his proper name is the Opposer of the Lords Annointed the enemy that makes war with and overcomes the sons of Oyl the Witnesses the two Olive trees This is that Antichrist which Paul in this place
his Humane Nature he became actually quod ad nos triumphant he was drove into Egypt he was carried into the Wildernesse where he was extraordinarily afflicted forty dayes and then he was assaulted by the old Dragon the Divel and after that forsaken of all betrayed by a bosome-friend and murdered by hypocrital Professors but plain Apostates who reproached him more then the Heathens that knew not God even so must the Gospel Church in the representative body viz. in her lawful Magistracie and Ministry be drove into the Wildernesse bitten by Hereticks Rebels and Apostates and at last slaine by hypocritical Professors as Revel 11. informs us together with this prophesie of Paul's Thus Paul in the generall gives the Churches of Christ to know that their passage from earth to heaven in all ages shal be rough and craggie through many afflictions we must enter into the kingdome of heaven We may say of the Church as Christ said of himself Ought not the Son of man to suffer these things and to ascend into glorie He first debased his head to drink of the torrent of afflictions here before he lifted up his head unto glory So ought not the Eastern Churches defection Mahumetan idolatry and Popish blasphemie and Apostasie to drive the Church into the wildernesse and ought not the Antichrist to slay the Witnesses before there be a glorious resurrection of the Church yes doubtlesse there is a necessitie for it for the holy Ghost hath foretold it and she must be conformable to her head who was made perfect by sufferings Psal. 110. He shall drink of the brook in the way 'T is not his way but the way and the brook to note that that way and that brook is the general road wherein the Church must follow Christ that brook they must wade thorow The way and the brook remain still though the deadly poison of the brook be totally taken away and the fatal precipiâ—…es in that way be levelled by Christ he hath sanctified the way in going before us in it There is the wrath of men and divels in this way still but there 's not one dram of the wrath of God in this way nor in this brook The deadly poison Christ drank which killed him since which it hath no power on us But to the work intended Explication 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Agustin translates it for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 refuga a lawlesse runagate person whether his translation misled him in the interpretation or his mistake in his interpretation a common error caused him to translate it to his purpose I cannot tell but both Theodoretus Irenaeus and Augustine conceive that it is to be understood of the Antichrist yet not properly but by a figure they say by a Metonymie Anti-christ is called the Apostacie because he is the cause of an universall Apostasie such a strange kinde of mistake is that which makes the Popedome the Man of Sin But observe what inconsiderate things follow this opinion for if by the Apostasie be meant Antichrist then the Apostasie is to be but three yeers and a half and at the end of three yeers and a half or within few dayes after the day of Judgment comes by these mens own confessions if we take but a larger view of their opinions concerning Antichrist and so the Prophesies of the witnesses in sack-cloth and the Church in the Wildernesse and the witnesses slaying and the day of Judgment must be all included within the compass of three years and a half for they say Antichrist must raign but three years and a half and then comes the day of Judgment when he and all his followers shall be destroyed now such necessary consequences do both contradict their own writings and many of the Fathers who complaineâ—… of the Apostasie in their daies but my intent is not to confute opinions for that were endless on this Subject Tertullian reads abscessio a departing away this is neer to the Copy The Syriack reads rebellio a rebellion and so say the most Interpreters the word signifies Mariana shoots three arrows at this Mark he saith that by the Apostasie here is meant 1. Either the Rebellion against Nero the Roman Emperor or 2. The Rebellion of the Iewes against Florus or 3. It is meant of the ruine of the Roman Monarchy Hugo the better Archer of the two at this mark saith it may be understood either of the civil Empire or of the Ecclesiastick Empire of Rome or of Antichrist or of the Apostasie from the faith Lyra a Learned Christian Jew conceives that Paul speaks occultly of the Ruine of the Roman Empire or of the Spiritual Government of the Church or of the departure from the faith Montanus Fab. Paulutius Estius Hugo Cardin Salmeron Pererius Primasius Anselm Piscator Calvin and very many others do say that by the Apostasie is meant the general Apostasie from the faith Calvin wonders that ever Learned men should have such an erroneous judgment as to think it is meant of the Apostasie from the Roman Emperor Aquinas treating on this Subject and viewing the opinions of the Fathers especially Augustin who from the Image Dan. 2. typifying four Kingdomes or Monarchies the last of which being the Roman Monarchie at the end of which Antichrist would come and ruine it and then Christ would come to Judgment and ruine him and this Augustin makes the signum conveniens because the Roman Monarchy was standing firme and under its power the Gospel should in probability be preached to all the world And then the end saith Christ cometh But saith Aquinas how can this be true of the Roman Empire when the Nations have long since revolted from it and yet neither Antichrist is come nor Christ to Judgment seeking therefore for a more convenient sign he makes use of Pope Leo his Sermon upon the Apostles who affirmeth that Rome is changed from a Temporal to a Spiritual Kingdom and so the departure from the Roman Empire is to be understood of the Apostasie from the Spiritual that is from the Roman Catholick faith and he makes this the signum conveniens of Antichrists coming viz. the general Apostasie by an Argument taken from the rule of contraries for as Christ came when the Roman Empire ruled over all so Antichrist shall come when there is a general defection from it viz. the faith of Christ professed in the Roman Church which he calls the Spiritual Empire In the application of this Text we finde the Papists and Protestants clashing against each other the Papists say this Apostasie is that of the Protestants from the Roman Church and the Protestants say that this Apostasie is that of the Roman Church from the purity of Doctrine and Discipline which was once to be found in the Roman Church and herein the Protestants utterly overthrow the Papists proving the Apostasie of the Roman Church so clearly that there is none can stand against them or gain-say them with any
then the Man of sin shall be revealed He makes them distinct This truth of the Scripture had need to be more then ordinarily insisted upon not in regard of its obscurity for I know not any truth cleerer in Scripture then this but in regard of its opposition and that by many learned and pious Protestants We do affirm that the general apostasie and the manifestation of the Man of sin that Antichrist are two distinct things and this we prove from their opinions that affirm the contrary for they themselves affirm these particular points 1. That this apostasie is a falling away from Christ from the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of Christ. 2. That they are Professors of the Gospel that make this apostasie for it must be a forsaking of that they did once professe how else can it be said an Apostasie 3. They say this Apostasie must be an universall and general Apostasie of all the world that is of every Church in the world for otherwise they say the Apostle would have limited his speech and not spoken indefinitely as he doth now put this with their opinion of Antichrist together If the Apostasie be universal thoughouâ—… every Church and this Apostasie and Antichrist are all one then Antichrist must be an Ubiquitary he must be in Europe Asia and Affrica at once for the Europan Churches Affrican Churches and Asian Churches are all apostatized from the Doctrine and the Discipline of the Primitive times All Protestants grant it so that by making Antichrist one with the Apostasie we shall grant that are Protestants more to the body of Antichrist then we will allow the Papists to grant to the body of Christ for we make it to be every where at one and the same time It is granted from S. Iohn's words that the spirit of antichrist was long since in the world and S. Paul here saith the Mystery of iniquity did work then but he tels us that Antichrist was not then but after that to be revealed It cannot be denyed but that the spirit of antichrist went forth with the apostasie and therefore S Iohn 1 Ioh. 2. 18. minding the Churches of the prophesie of antichrist to come in the last times tels them that there were many Antichrists already abroad i. e. that had apostatizing proud aspiring malicious trayterous thoughts and endeavours to supplant the Gospel Ordinances and Gospel Officers but he cleerly distinguisheth the antichristian spirit from the Antichrist in the self same verse and in the 22d and so doth Paul twice in this 2 Thess. 2. distinguish betwixt the Apostasie and the Antichrist In ver 3. he calls it the falling away first and then the Man of sins manifestation which will not be untill the end of the apostasie and ver 7 8. there the apostasie is called the mysterie of iniquitie which then began and but began 'T is a Text parallel with that fore-cited 1 Iâ—…h 2. 18. Now there are many Antichrists The mystery of iniquity began to work in S. Pauls time but not to that height as to carry all before it no there were lets there were the Sons of Oil which did curb it and would untill they were slain and then Mark â—…hen the Adverb of time clearly distinguisheth betwixt the Apostasie and the Antichrist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is there a discretive particle and also points us to the set time of the Antichrists appearing But more of this in its due place But it may be said that though they are distinct yet they are as the body and the soul so united as that they appear together and vaâ—…ish 〈◊〉 though they may be distinguished yet they cannot be divided asunder There is some head and Ring-leader in this 〈◊〉 saith Iaâ—…kson on this Text and that must needs be the 〈◊〉 who shall be discovered and a little after he saith that this apostasie is to be a generall and universal departure of the whole Christian world then it must follow that the Antichrist must be the head of all the Churches in the world if so then the Pope cannot be the Antichrist though he bid as fair as he can for it for he is not head of the Eastern apostates and therefore we so frequently hear learned and reverend Divines pray for the ruine of the Eastern antichrist and the Western antichrist the Turkish antichrist and the Popish antichrist by which expressions of theirs they make it evident to me that they beleeve neither the Pope nor the Turk to be the Antichrist which Iohn or Paul single out with the Greek article â—… Possibly they may mean by the Western antichrist the chiefest cause and support of the Western apostasie which Rev. 13. is called the Beast with seven heads and ten horns and without all doubt that is the Popedome the head of which being apostatized from a spiritual Pastor to a proud Usurper in Temporall affairs is called the Star which fell from heaven to earth Ministers are called Starrs therefore by Star his Office Revel 9. 1. is set forth by falling from heaven to earth is meant his eminent and shameful apostasie Hence he is called Rev. 13. 1. the beast arising out of the sea Sea being put in opposition to Earth to note that he ariseth not out of the Civil but Ecclesiastick State he is a Church-man not a Lay-man And then he is crowned and horned to note his greatnesse in Temporal affairs he is one of the Roman Emperors in power But all this doth not make him the Man of sin nor the Antichrist here spoken of nor such an antichrist as some describe him How many learned Scholars both Protestants and Papists set up a Jack-a-lent of their fancies framing and then hoot at it for Antichrist Peradventure many will take me for one of these Fantasticks The safest way is to say so much of Antichrist as the Scriptures say and no more where the Scriptures distinguish concerning the Antichrist and the Apostasie let us distinguish where they are silent let us be silent Most men say the self same that I do highly extolling Scripture and truly acknowledging what the Mythologists sabulously report of their Goddesse Pandora that 't is Gods treasure on earth filled with all manner of heavenly riches and yet mean while either through ignorance or wilful wickednesse there are many too many of these in this age that open Scripture as Epimetheus opened Pandora's Box not as the alabaster box of Spikenard which sent forth an odoriferous smel but on purpose to infect the minds of people with false Opinions Heresies Rebellion and Blasphemies I confess the best Interpreters may take up that saying of themselves What man is there that liveth and sinneth not What Interpreter is he that writeth and erreth not Those of the highest form have confessed of themselves so much Errare possum saith one Haeretious esse non possum This was a confident high speech for no man knows his own nature thus much they know that it is
exceedingly prone to be Heretical This therefore I say and intend to follow it That it is a safe way to interpret Scripture by Scripture and to make the Interpretation conformable to the rules of Interpreters with this resolution I return again to the Text where we shall indeavour to clear those premised Scruples concerning the Apostasie and the Antichrist CHAP. III 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Apostasie 'T is concluded on all hands that it is a general Apostasie both of the Easterne and Western Churches By the Eastern Churches I mean the Greek and Asian Churches which must necessarily be included in this Apostasie for it was prophesied amongst them over and over and therefore of them as well as other Churches if so then the Apostasie must not cannot be until after Constantine for not till after his Reign began the general Apostasie of the Eastern and Western Churches It is not denyed but that there were great Hereticks in the Church before as 1 Cor. 15. those that denyed the Resurrection and the Nicolaitan Doctrine Apoc. 2. of which read Clem. Alex. Strom. 3. Act. 6. And Eusebius tels us lib. 3. cap. 27. of the Ebionites and Martionites lib. 4. cap. 14. But these and many others though they spotted the Church and infested it yet they drew noâ—… the Church into a general Apostasie which Paul and Iohn foretel Two Texts Rev. 7. 1. and Rev. 13. 1 seem to point out the heads of this Apostasie the Texts seem to run parallel with each other The opening of the sixth Seal Rev. 6. 12. to 17. is that which immediately precedes Revel 7. 1. Now the sixth Seals opening say the soundest and best that ever writ is the overthrow of the Heathen Empire by Constantine The Pagan Emperors were the grand enemies before the Apostasie for I take Iohns Prophesies to be put under four periods of time the first under the Roman Heathen Emperors until Constantine the next under the grand Apostasie under the four Angels and the Beast of the Sea the third under the Antichrist and the fourth under the general restauration of Jewes and Gentiles under the Government of Jesus Christ by the Witnesses to each of which the Holy Ghost prefixeth a time a certain time The third viz. that of the Apostasie may be included in the second Two of these periods fall within my compass at this time to discourse of viz. that of the Apostasie and that of the Antichrist now this Apostasie being acknowledged by all or the most Protestants to be 1. An Apostasie of Gospel Churches from the faith 2. and this Apostasie to be a general Apostasie these two things must follow 1. That one person cannot well be the head or ringleader of this general Apostasie I know what may be said against this yet the utmost of it maketh not my consequence invalid 2. It will follow That the Ring-leaderâ—… of this Apostasie must be men that profess Christianity as well as those that they lead into Apostasie for as for the Turks prophesied of Rev. 9. 15 16 17 they were rather the punishers of the apostate Churches then the Ring-leaders of the Churches in 〈◊〉 East into Apostasie this all men that know any thing in Church-Historie know espcially they that read wisely the Revelations for as the four Angels Revel 7. 1. had by their Apostasie which is gradually set forth Revel 8. destroyed a third part of the trees and a third part of the Sea of the creatures therein and the Ships thereupon and the third part of the Rivers and a third part of the Sun and of the Moon and of the Stars which are said to be smitten all these expressions setting forth the gradations of the Apostasie both in corrupting of the Doctrine of Religion and also the Falling away of all sorts and degrees of Professors unto those corrupt Doctrines and all this effected by the four Angels Revel 7. 1. standing on the four corners of the earth for no other end but this then to hold the four winds of the earth that they should not blow on the earth nor on the sea nor on any tree even so the four Angels that were bound in the great River Euphrates Revel 9. 14 15. are now loosed to slay the third part of men that is to subdue and punish and inslave and utterly ruine those Apostates The Turks were raised up as a scourge to the apostate Christian world hundreds of years after the Apostasie began and therefore their Mahomet cannot properly be said to be the head of the Apostasie he being no professor of Christianity The great question then will be Who are those four Angels who are accounted the heads of the Apostasie If I knew how I would here baulk this question for the avoiding of Novelty and contention but if I am mistaken it is but a weak mans opinion and so amongst many others it may harmelesly pass By these four Angels I conceive are meant the four Patriarchies of Rome Constantinople Alexandria and Ierusalem these were designed for the four quarters of the Christian earth indeed they were designed for the propagating of the Gospel but we very wel know that at last those very Patriarchs by turning from the truth corrupted the Church and turned the whole world after Arianism as one of the Fathers complains Nothing in History runs parallel with this Text like this of the Patriarchs who being eminent Professors made an eminent Apostasie from the Truth and led infinite numbers of people after them every Author even the Romish Historians that have writ latest give us plentiful examples of this Apostasie Object But where is your Scripture to prove these four Angels the four Patriarchs you make fair promises of holding forth nothing as credible but what you bring Scripture for Answ. I confess it is a hard task to prove this positively by any Text only in a word as near as I can thus From their denomination as they are called Angels the Holy Ghost calls the Bishops of the several Churches where this Defection afterward was made Angels Revel 2. To the Angel of the Church of Ephesus and to the Angel of the Church of Smyrna and to the Angel of the Church in Pergamus that is to the Bishop of Ephesus Smyrna and Pergamus So that we see the Holy Ghost stiles the heads of the Church who have the Pastoral charge of it Angels upon this account therefore are these four heads of the Church called Angels because they were the designed heads of the Church in their several Divisions and therefore on the four corners of the earth because they divided the Christian world amongst them The grand Apostasie began in the heads of the several Churches they grew proud and covetous and idle and whiles they thus slept the enemy sowed the tares of Heresie in their hearts Profaneness in a Church-man is the high Road to Heresie and Apostasie Such was their prophaneness saith Nazianzen that those that took upon them Pastoral
charges brought no other Ornament then that of long hair with them which gross absurdity for he calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they most delighted in and cared for he calls them Dogs yea worse then Dogs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They neither remained Dogs nor became Pastors except to devour others labours I will forbeare here to insert History partly for brevity sake and principally because the Historie in the fourth and fifth Century is so easie to be read and understood of every one that can but read English especially of those that can but understand the Latine and Greek tongue and have leisure to read the Councels in those Centuries So now my intended inference from all is this That the Bishop Head or Pastor of the Church of Rome is one of the Ring leaders or general Heads of this Apostasie Now Jesus Christ foreseeing the height of Apostasie that the Roman Church would rise unto if I may pass with my expression my meaning is to what a height of wickedness in this grand Apostasie the Church of Rome in her Ecclesiastick Head or Polity would rise sets it forth in several and various expressions to Iohn as first you have him but as one of the four Angels standing on the Western corner of the earth the Patriarch of Rome and no more though much more then ever Christ by his approving providence I mean by his revealed will in his Word allowed him though how large a power the Councels in Christian prudence may grant unto a single Church-man and how far that grant doth oblige the Church in obedience to that single person I will not dispute These Patriarchs as Prideaux well observes were entering into intolerable and inexcusable Apostasie Next you have the Politie or Head of the Roman Church set forth as a Star not falling or ready to fall but fallen at that present from Heaven to Earth During the time of the heat of the Arian and Eutichian Heresies whiles the Eastern Angels kept the wind of sound Doctrine from blowing on Christs Garden the Church the Western Angel the Bishop of Rome was tolerable yeâ—… commendable for Rome was a shelter to the Orthodox Christians at that time but soon after you find the Angel now as a 〈◊〉 that fals from Heaven to Earth The Pastors of the Church 〈◊〉 we have shewed already are called Stars Christ Rev. 1. 16. held seven Stars in his hand which ver 20. tells us are the seven Angels or Embassadors of Christ of the seven Churches so that the Star there is the chief Pastor of the Church of Rome which apostatiseth as far from Christs Rule and Ordinance as Heaven is from Earth How great an Apostasie is that in a Minister to usurp a power above an Emperor to usurp a power over all Churches to take the Title of the Prince of Princes and to make it his whole design to Inthrone himself in all Civil and Ecclesiastick Power besides the Apostasie from the purity of Doctrine and Discipline The third sight Iohn hath of him is in Revel 13. 1. there Iohn hath a sight of this great apostate Bishop in his full growth he is now a Beast risen out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns ten Crowns and upon his heads the names of Blasphemy the Context of this Text and of that Revel 7. 1. of the four Angels give much light into each other in Revel 6. 12 13 14. When the sixth Seal was opened there was an earth-quake the Sun became black and the Moon became as blood and the Stars fell and heaven departed as a scrole and every mountain was moved it is parallel with Rev. 12. 7 8 9. which both signifie one and the same thing viz. the overthrow of the Heathen persecuting Emperours The first is parallel in the phrase with Isai. 34. 4. which expresseth the great fall of the Idumaeans and nothing of the general day of Judgment This kind of expression is usual when God will set forth the overthrow of the heads of Government as in Isa. 13. 10. that is a prophesie of the ruine of the Babylonish heads of Government by the Mâ—…des and Persians as ver 17 18 19 20. expound it yet there God â—…aith The Sun shall be darkned and the Moon shall not cause her light to shine and ver 13. He will shake the heavenâ—… i. â—… the Thrones of Kings and so Revel 6. 12 13 14. signifies the fall of the Pagan Emperors the heads of the Romish Throne and Government which were thrown down by Constantine the Christian Emperor the self same thing is set forth in Revel 12. where you have the Church in her Primitive purity ver 1 2. groaning to be delivered from under the bloudy Tyranny of the red Dragon ver 3. that is the bloudy state of Pagan Emperors it is parallel with cap. 6. v. 10. where under that Tyranny the Church cries How long O Lord holy and true dost thou noâ—… judge and avenge our death on those that dwell upon the earth Next you have in cap. 12. 5. the Lord delivering the Church from under the Pagan Emperors by raising up of a Christian Monarch Constantine who is the man-child brought forth in the Church to rule the Nations with a rod of iron that is to subdue them by Conquest as he did and be their Emperial head upon that lawful Title as for those that say this is meant of the birth of Christ his Incarnation Death and Resurrection they do not only mistake the phrase of the Text but the whole Prophesie for in Revel 1. 1. The Revelation is not of knowne things that were past for that 's not properly Revelation but of things which must shortly come to pass but the Incarnation of Christ was not to come to pass it being past As for that expression He was caught up unto God and to his Throne it is that which stands in direct opposition to that afterwards ver 8. of the Divels being cast out of heaven so that he that will inforce that sense upon ver 5. as that it is meant Christs Throne in heaven to which he ascended after his Resurrection must be enforced to grant that until Christs Ascension the Divel was in Heaven which is Blasphemy and therefore we must understand the war betwixt Michael and his Angels and the Dragon and his Angels as meant of the Christians war against the Pagans and Idolatrous heathens and therefore the casting of Satan and his Angels out of Heaven is meant the casting them out of the Imperial Throne from their Lordly power and Dominion and the seating of Constantine that holy Christian Emperor in the Throne 1. He was caught up unto God that is he was converted unto God and 2. He was placed in his Throne whether His hath relation to the Emperor or to God is questionable but it holds good in either sense for it was Constantines Throne by Conquest but it is most probable that His hath
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
of God as the Apostate expounds it in other places the Church of God and sâ—… the most judicious of the Papists expound it and generally all the Protestants so expound it fetching their warrant not onely from the Fathers but from the Scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because this is Gods habitation he dwels there so that the Antichrists seat cannot be Rome that apostate Church but that Church where God in an especiall manner dwels in the purity of his Gospel-Ordinances 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sits as God here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is very Emphaticall implying thus much that he is but an usurper he is not really nor rightfully the supream head he is but a would-be-King and an insolent usurper of what he possesseth he sits as God God is here to be expounded as before he opposeth and exalteth himselfe above every god that is Magistrate and here he sits as God that is as supream Head Governour or Monarch in the room of them he threw down and all this in the midst of the Church the truest and purest Church Augustine hath a prophetick glosse upon this text he conceives by sitting in the Temple of God is meant his domineering and insulting in a Church-way as if he and his followers were the only true Church the only Saints and all others but in the dark foolish professours and far short of him and his followers in point of Saint-ship Some Books for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the people of God so that he as God sits upon the people of God for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to a word is in populum this reading doth neither contradict the precedent nor the following sense but rather confirms it shewing that the Antichrist shall sit as Monarch over and against the people of God therefore Dan. 7. 25. he is said to weare out the Saints of the most High and to change their times and lawes and they are said to be given into his hands i. e. to be delivered up to his Tyranny for three years and the half of three in which time he shews himself as if he were the sole Monarch of those Kingdomes which the true Professours of the Gospel do possesse Shewing himself that he is God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the vulgar renders it ostendens so our Translators render it in English Erasmus reads it ostâ—…ntans boasting or bragging Beza reads prae se ferens pretending I may so translate it The Greek word answering to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Morâ—…h which in English is making himself to appear that he is God that is that he is in the power and authority of them whom he did subdue which are called gods the supream Governours he sets himself out to be the Supream 't is a selâ—…created title and power that he hath none in lawfull authority gave him any such great authority but he takes it to himselfe so in Dan. 11. 36 he exalts himself and magnifies himself 't is the Kingdome that he seeks for himself self-promotion is his end that he may be mighty in the eyes of the world he makes himselfe god i. e Monarch Some read tanquam sit deus as if he were god that is demonstrating to the world by his imperious acts that he is no lesse then an absolute Monarch he is no whit inferiour to a King in power therefore he is as a King and this he makes the World to know by his actions therefore saith 〈◊〉 Paul doth not say saying but endeavouring to make it appâ—…ar that he is supream his actions shall tell the World what he is nâ—…t his words for his words are smoother then oil therein he is like the Pope the first beast before him Revel 13. 12. CHAP. IV. REmember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you thâ—…se things The most of Expositors passe by this Verse as being plaine and easie to be understood and so it is therefore it should be observed There is nothing difficult in the Copies or the Translators of them Zaâ—…chie saith no more of it then this which is just nothing Hic verâ—…us nihil habet obscuritatis In the like manner do the rest ride pâ—…st over it This Text is like a two-edged sword in the hand of Paul that spirituall hampion whereby he divides asunder betwixt the seducers and the seduced A man would take this Text primâ—… intuitâ—… to be very abruptly brought in that in the very middle of a prophecâ—…e of such mighty importance he should bring in such a parenthâ—…sis seâ—…ms harsh but ô the wisdome and prudence of this mighty man or rather of the mighty Spirit of God in this Apostle There is that vis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or kinde of formative vertue here in Pauls words whereby each faculty of the soul that by Hereticks had been alarumed and routed is rallied again and put into a stronger posture thenever to withstand the enemy This Text confirmes the truth of his Doctrine confutes their sluggish ignoble demeanure in not searching the Scriptures like the Bereans their neighbours and re-establisheth them in the truth by putting them in minde how that it was nothing but that which he had taught them and they had received for truth before Hereby Paul confounds the Hereticks and Seducers Thus comes Paul as the Sun which at once dispelleth darknesse and administers heat light and refreshment Remember ye not Interrogatio haec quandam reprehensionis speciem prae se fert saith loyall Bradshaw the Divine upon this Text. Remember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you these things All errours and heresies in a person or a constituted Church such as that of Thâ—…ssalonica arise either from wilfull wickednesse or ignorance and that ignorance ariseth either through carelesse negligence or forgetfulnesse either from neglect of learning and understanding truth or through forgetfulnesse of those tâ—…uths they had been taught this was the Thâ—…ssalonians fault the Devil had picked the jewel of truth out of the Cabinet of their memory that now any shining stone was imbraced as precious never regarding whether it were true or false At this great losse comes Paul with the lost Jewell and restores it to its former Cabinet he returns it again cum paterna exprobratione lâ—…niter eos castâ—…gans Remember ye not Old truths forgot presage much 〈◊〉 to ensue upon the peccant Churches or persons 't is like slipping Anchor in a dangerous sea this Church rode safe at Anchor against all the windes and storms of heretical doctrines whiles they kept in memory Pauls truths but having cut that golden Cable on a sudden that Church was dangerously driven amongst the Rocks and now in this storme comes Paul like another Saviour walking upon this troubled Sea châ—…ding these windes and bidding them be still he brings them once again unto an Anchor by remembring them of what truths they had forgot happy Thessalonica