and that Man of sin be revealed the Son of Perdition The Apostle gives him the same Name or Title here as our Saviour has given Judas who betraied him Joh. 17.12 And the Apostle has a great deal of reason for giving Antichrist this Title for as Judas under the pretence of the greatest friendship proved our Saviour's greatest enemy why so does Antichrist and as Judas had a hand in crucifying Christ's real Body so hath Antichrist in crucifying of Christ's mystical Body the Catholick Apostolical Church Pray mind how the Apostle has laid down the Prophesie wherein he gives the infallible Marks and Characters of Antichrist First there was to be a falling away that is the Apostatizing from the true Doctrine of Faith 1 Tim. 4.1 2. Secondly The man of sin must be revealed That is he must appear visible in the Church or Temple of God in his Colours Thirdly here is his practices when he is thus revealed viz. he opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped That is above all the Civil Magistracy and above all the Ministry both which Orders of Men are called Gods in Scripture Psal 82. Joh. 10.34 35. and there is a Civil Worship or Reverence that is due unto them both above all other men But this is not all but he exalts himself above God himself and placeth himself in the room of Christ so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God and he opposeth and deposeth all power that standeth in the way of his exalting himself both Ecclesiastical and Civil and he exalted himself by taking to himself that power which belongeth only to God viz. the Soveraignty over all Kings Princes and Rulers which either his Sword or Deceit can Conquer Dan. 8.25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in and by peace shall destroy many That is those which adhere unto his Doctrine and are reconciled unto him as their Head and so are at peace with him by which peace their Souls will be destroyed for it is a peace with Satan and therefore judge what kind of fruit that peace must produce Lastly He Exalts himself above all true Worship and Worshippers which is above all Churches and over mens Souls and Consciences Rev. 18.13 And he assumes to himself one of God's Glorious Attributes namely his Holiness for none is essentially Holy nor Holiness but God So that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God That is where none but Christ ought to sit And this is his standing up against the Prince of Princes but he shall be broken without hands saith Daniel 8.25 He shall be destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming saith St. Paul 2 Thess 2.8 Therefore evil shall come upon thee thou shalt not know from whence it cometh and mischief shall fall upon him he shall not be able to put it off and it shall come suddenly saith the Propher Isa 47. When God begins he will soon make an end and her plagues shall come in one day saith John Rev. 18. that may be in one year which is at hand I doubt not Now whosoever is found under these marks and indelible characters which are here given and what I shall yet find out and and add That is the Man of Sin be he who he will that claims this universal power both Spiritual and Temporal Rev. 17.18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the kings of the earth And who this Woman is and what she doth or hath done you may see in the same Chapter Vers 5 6. And upon her forehead was a name written Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus and when I saw her I wondred with great admiration But why is he called the Man of Sin by the Apostle Paul and called a Woman by St. John in the Revelations The Reason why he is called the Man of Sin I humbly conceive respects him as a single person and a temporal Prince with all his temporal power and cruelty Dan. 7.7 And the Reason of her being called Woman is that which respects her Ecclesiastical Power as Head of the Church in conjunction with the Body so she is a Woman And as he is Antichrist the Man of Sin so he is Head and Husband to this Woman their Church which is made up of the many Antichrists As our Saviour Christ is called the Man Christ Jesus and the Holy One who alone is Head and Husband to the true Catholick Apostolick Church of God for both the false Antichristian Church whereof the Man of Sin is Head and also the true and pure Church of God whereof Christ is Head are preâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 Woman the false Antichristian Church is 〈◊〉 presented unto us as a Whorish woman a Strum 〈◊〉 Rev. 17.1 2. But the true Church is represent unto us as a Chast Virgin and a Clean Church without spot or wrinkle Ephes 5.27 And 〈◊〉 an illustrious beautiful Woman richly clothâ—â— Rev. 12.1 Psal 45.13 14 Cant. 6.10 But 〈◊〉 false Church this Whorish woman hath deserâ—â— Christ who was her Head and Husband before 〈◊〉 plaid the Harlot with many Lovers by forsake her Husbands bed the pure Worship and Ordnances of God and is become guilty of spiritual â—â—nication and adultery Rev. 17.4 5. and there 〈◊〉 Christ hath deserted her and cast her off and giâ—â— her a Bill of Divorce and so the Text tells 〈◊〉 that this Woman is in the Wilderness Rev. 17. 〈◊〉 And we have this Antichristian Church or Womâ—â— prophesied of also in Zech. 5.7 8. And behold thâ— was lift up a talent of lead and this a woman that 〈◊〉 teth in the midst of the ephah And he said Thâ—â— Wickedness Here is Antichrist the Man of Sin 〈◊〉 the Church or Temple of God and my Reaâ—â— why I look upon it to be so is this Because 〈◊〉 the Destruction of this Woman namely Wickedâ—â— which you have in the latter part of the 8th Vâ—â— Then upon this cometh forth two women wâ—â— the wind in their wings Verse 9. which are 〈◊〉 two Churches of both Jews and Gentiles which 〈◊〉 to be after the destruction of Antichrist and 〈◊〉 conversion of the Jews the one is the Jews 〈◊〉 will then be formed into a Gospel Church and 〈◊〉 other the Church of the Gentiles and this Winâ—â— their Wings I take to be their Gospel Doctrine and it signifieth their spirituality and their sâ—fâ—â— the Wings are God's Attributes for then they 〈◊〉 be built up and established and set upon her 〈◊〉 Base Verse 10.11 Then these two Women 〈◊〉 the two Churches of the Jews and Gentiles shaâ—â— beautiful and glorious in the eyes of all peâ—â— Zech. 14.20 21. So thus you see the Reason 〈◊〉 the Apostle St. Paul called Antichrist a Man 〈◊〉 why
inconsistent with the Justice of God Isa 53.5 6 10. But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin But this of our Saviour Christ's giving his flesh to eat and his blood to drink must be understood Symbolically and Sacramentally by Faith it is the sign of Christ's 〈…〉 had not Christ taken humane flesh upon him and died for sinners the whole species of the humane race had perished and been lost as all the fallen Angels were and not one soul had ever been saved and so his flesh and blood became meat and drink unto us to live upon him by faith alone who do share in all these benefits and blessings which came by Christ's taking flesh and blood upon him and is not such a wonderful great mercy as this is worthy of a holy thankful remembrance which is the principal end and design of Christ in his Instituting of this Ordinance and ought to be ours in partaking of it for if our Saviour Christ had given us his material flesh to eat and his real blood to drink it would have availed us nothing And thus are the words of our Saviour to be understood in that 6. Joh. in retort to the carnal conception of the unbelieving Jews as well as to his unbelieving Disciples which dreamed even as you do of the Roman Catholick faith that Christ spake of giving them his real substantial body to eat and his real blood to drink said the Jews How can this man give us his flesh to eat and said the Disciples This is an hard saying who can bear it But mind narrowly our Saviour's own words viz. It is the spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life It is the Spirit that begetteth faith in every true Believer and that quickeneth the new Creature or Babe of Grace after it is begotten and born of God in its first quicknings or formation and in its after-quicknings for it is of the seed Royal of Heaven Psal 89.29 and it is conveyed unto us through Jesus Christ by his holy Spirit and so we come to be made alive to God and are Children of the most High for God is the Father of Spirits and the only Spiritual Father of all that believe in Jesus Christ his only Son from all Eternity by Generation for all the rest of Gods Sons of humane race are his Sons by Adoption and Regeneration and all this is effected and brought about through the agency and aid of the Holy and ever Blessed and Eternal Spirit and therefore that which is thus begotten and born of God must be Spiritual for as Adam begot a Son in his own likeness who was himself of the Earth and Earthly so God begets all his Children in his own likeness who are all Spiritual and Heavenly Children they have all of them the Image of their Father stamped upon them which is Grace and Holiness the more holy the more like unto God they are who is Essentially holy and theefore the food which this spiritual man liveth upon must be Spiritual Heavenly food he lives upon God in Christ and feeds upon God in Christ by faith for all our springs are in him Now for any persons to imagin that a spiritual being can live and subsist upon carnal material food is but a vain imagination 〈…〉 less flesh and his blood without the least tincture of sin yet notwithstanding all that it is food beneath the new Creature to live upon for by Christ's taking flesh upon him he made himself lower than the Angels as he was man Heb. 2.7 Thou madest him a little lower than the Angels thou crownedst him with Glory and Honour and didst set him over the works of thy hands But as Christ was God so he is higher than the Heavens yea the Heavens are unclean in his sight and all the food which the new creature doth live upon is all treasured up in Christ he is the great Lord Treasurer of Heaven and Earth hâ—â— is the Dispencer of all Grace for it hath pleased the Father that in him all fullness shall dwell And in him are hid all the treasures of Wisdom and Grace there it is placed by God the Father there it is laid up for all his children for them to come and fetch by faith and prayer all whatsoever they stand in need of and we all receive from Christ's fulness and grace for grace Psal 84.11 For the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield the Lord wiâ—â— give Grace and Glory no good thing will he withhold from them that live uprightly There it is Treasurer up in Christ who is the only Infallible head of thâ— true Ancient Catholick Apostolical Church to distribute and give forth unto all his members as â—â— seeth to be needful and necessary for them both Spiritual and Temporal Blessings and Mercies Alas how can a Spiritual being subsist upon carnal substantial food it is utterly incoherent and inconsistent as our Saviour Christ said in another case 〈◊〉 cure Thomas a Didimus's unbelief viz. A spirit has 〈◊〉 flesh and bones as ye see me have Now if your Transubstantiated Christ could convince us after thâ— manner as our Saviour convinced Thomas a Didimâ—â— your Doctrine might obtain some credit amoâ—â— those sort of people that are not debarred of the 〈◊〉 of their sense and reason as yours are But Believe have not a carnal body to be fed in this sense 〈◊〉 that is fed with the meat that perisheth but thâ— fed with that meat which endureth to everlast life A Cow may as well and better live uponâ— bare Sea-Rocks and feed upon Oysters or Cockles a Fish live out of the water upon the dry land 〈◊〉 feed upon hay or straw as for the new Creature Spiritual man to live upon material substantial 〈◊〉 and blood And our Saviour Christ himself has us consequentially in effect that his flesh would fit us nothing if he should give it unto us to eaâ—â— Again in the next place this eating of Châ—â—â— flesh and drinking his blood is no more to bâ—â—â— derstood literally and properly than the Doctrine Regeneration was which our Saviour Christ 〈◊〉 red unto old Nicodemus and if you observe it gently you will find that our Saviour Christ 〈◊〉 pounded it much after the same manner as 〈◊〉 done this of eating his flesh 〈…〉 blood and gives the like check to the understanding of the one carnally and literally as he does to the other And pray take notice that our Saviour Christ is the only infallible Judg and Interpreter of the holy Scriptures
God so he could not die for his Godhead could not suffer nor die But as he was Man and surety for all sinners that ever did or that ever should believe in him so he died and as he was ordained and appointed by God the Father so to do in the Confederal Covenant between the Father and the Son Zech. 16.13 Now I pray Sir How can you Romanists eat and drink Christ personally and substantially in his Body Soul and Divinity but that Christ at the same time must of necessity suffer and die And then how many Millions of times must Christ have suffered and died by your hands according to this Doctrine of yours since you first brought it into the World For the Apostle saith plainly That if Christ be offered up often that then he must suffer often which clearly infers that as often as he is offered up so often he suffers and he also saith that Christ died but once Rom. 6.10 For in that he died he died but once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God. And I pray Sir do you roman-Roman-Catholicks look into your own Creed and there you will 〈…〉 of the Articles of your Faith that Christ suffered once under Pontius Pilate and was Buried and Descended into Hell and Rose again from the Dead the third Day and is Ascended up into Heaven and is sat down at the Right hand of God from whence he shall come to Judge the Quick and the Dead Which is very true I do own it to be so And the Holy Scriptures say clearly and positively That Christ is ascended up into Heaven and is sat down at the Right hand of God and there he is to sit until God has made his enemies his footstool And Antichrist the Man of Sin is the greatest enemy that our Saviour Christ hath upon Earth whom Christ will consume with the spirit or rod of his mouth and destroy by the brightness of his coming Tho Antichrist have usurped Christ's Throne for a long time in the Temple of God and Reigned and Ruled over the Souls and Consciences of men which is Christ's peculiar Prerogative yet the time is at hand that he shall be made his footstool this was spoken Prophetically by David of what was to be in the last times at the period of Antichrist's Reign Psal 110.1 And our Saviour himself gives it further Sanction in Matt. 22.44 The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right hand till I have made thine enemies thy footstool Mark 12.36 Luke 20.42 43. Hence we may observe That from Christ's state of Humiliation and Ascention into Glory until he comes again in Triumph in his state of Exaltation all that time that Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father by God's permissive will his enemies were to be uppermost in the World first the Heathen Emperors and after them then Antichrist the Man of Sin he got into the Temple of God and his Reign there was to be One thousand two hundred and sixty days which is so many years Ezek. 4.6 until Christ comes again and makes him his footstool But whether he will come personally as some are of opinion he will or otherwise I will not determine but I will leave the Reader to the Scriptures Acts 1.9 10 11. And when he had spoken these things while they beheld he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel which also said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Rev. 20.4 Rev. 1.7 Job 19.25 26 27. Now Does Christ so come in your Mass But now if Christ be in person sitting at the right hand of God the Father in Glory as you see clearly proved by the Holy Word of God he is and that he is not to come from thence untill his enemies be made his footstool and that when he does come from thence he is to come in like manner as he ascended 〈…〉 shall 〈◊〉 him so come and that his Body is a finite Body Why if this be so then Christ cannot be personally and corporeally present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist in so many thousand places at once as the Mass is or may be said and yet at the same time to be personally and corporeally at the right hand of God the Father in Glory making intercession with him for poor Sinners Tho Christ as God is in all places both in Heaven and Earth and excluded from no place But yet as he is the only Mediator between God and Man so he is fixed in Heaven at the right hand of God until his enemies measure of iniquity be full and then they shall all be made his footstool He is entred into Heaven as the forerunner for his people he entred into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us as an Advocate He is the first fruits of the resurrection of the dead So that this Doctrine of Christ's Personal and Corporeal Presence in the Sacrament does even contradict and destroy your own Faith or Creed as well as it does overthrow the whole current of the Holy and Sacred Scriptures As for the former I will appeal even unto you your own selves who are Romanists that do say and pretend to own and believe your own Creed whether it be not so or no And as for the latter I will appeal unto all sorts of Christians whatsoever that do own and believe the Holy Scriptures to be the revealed word and will of God whether it be not so or no And also I will appeal to their own Sence and Reason Again secondly Let us hear further what the Apostle saith for more light into this dark matter in 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. Brethren I would not that ye should be ignorant how that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed thorow the sea And were all baptized unto Moses who was a type of Christ And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea And did all eat the same spiritual meat And did all drink the same spiritual drink For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ These were all true Believers in Christ which were among the Children of Israel in Moses's days and all of them did live by Faith upon Christ and they all fed upon the same spiritual food then as we do now under the Gospel this is that hidden Manna Rev. 2.17 This is that meat which God gives his Children to eat which the World knows nothing of By Faith Moses forsook Egypt not fearing the wrath of the King for he endured as seeing him who is Invisible That was by an eye of Faith Moses saw Christ in his day that could not