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
Christ like the lightening i. e suddenly terribly when is that v. 28. when the ravenous birds of prey the Romish Eagles are feasting and rejoycing at the dead carcases of the Witnesses then followes v. 29. the vials pouring out on the apostasie and the Antichrist and then appears the signe of the Son of man in heaven and then shall all the Tribes of the earth mourn what all the Tribes yes all for v. 31. the Angels with sound of Trumpet Isa. 27. 13. that is at Iohns seventh Trumpets sounding shall call all the Tribes from the four ends of the earth Oh blessed day the Lord hasten it but is this at the day of Judgement no but at the time of Antichrists ruine for the Generation of the Jews shall not perish untill all this be fulfilled now after this Christ treats of the day of Judgement in that Chapter CHAP. IV. And lying wonders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Syriack renders it and with false prodigies Beza reads lying prodigies I dare not alter any thing and therefore may not finde fault They say the expression is an Hebraisme equipollent to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which they translate for the Text. It is observable that all the New Testament-prophecies are full of Hebraismes sure the Holy Ghost hath some holy designe in it either to informe the Hebrews that the same Spirit that inspired the Old Testament-Prophets inspired also the New and that the onely way to understand either is to believe both and compare them one with another thus I understand that of seeing eye to eye as Esay hath it Or else it is to humble us Gentiles in the remembrance of our stock We are by nature wilde Olives and all the light we have received for salvation it hath come from the Hebrews To them were committed the Oracles of the Gospel and they viz. the twelve Apostles and Paul all Hebrews did dispense those Oracles to the world which are to this day and will be the standing rule to all the Churches to the end of the world Hereby all boasting is excluded from the Gentiles Or rather to point us to the Old Testament there to search for a parallel Comment on a prophetick Text in the New Testament It may be all these designes are included in the phrase and manner of expression 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this is a degree beyond signes that Antichrist goes for signes are but things acted within the Sphere of nature but wonders beyond and above the reach of nature Hence some conceive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be all one with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which comes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to terrifie for wonders being things done beyond the course of common causes amaze and terrifie the beholders so that they stand at a gaze filled with admiration and wonder which is nothing else but the surplus of expectation Antichrists slaying of the Witnesses changing the times and lawes of that State where he slayes them Dan. 7. 25. pitching his tents in the Holy Mountain Dan. 11. ult dividing Mount Olivet Zach. 14. stripping the Church of all her strength and power which she made against him Deut. 32. 36. setting up his new strange government in the stead of the government of the slain Witnesses Revel 13. 12 13 14. these are such great things beyond the expectation of the people that are not acquainted with the signes and marks of Antichrists appearing that they wonder at his successes and are cheated by the Antichrist by the great signes v. 13. especially that of Religion and Saintship for Antichrist shall do all these unexpected things under the cloke of Religion as Solomon appeared in the sight of all the men of Israel to be that King whom God had made choice of to build him an house and that that house God chose beyond all others to be his house by the comming down of fire from heaven in the sight of Israel at which sight they being filled with holy wonder bowed down their heads and worshipped believing even so Antichrist shall by his cunning designes which he cloaks with externall formes of high devotion make the people believe that he is the man designed to pull down Antichrist and to lay the top-stone of Church-Reformation and make the times glorious times you may know Antichrist by the Livery that he gives to his black Guard in 2 Tim. 3. 2 3 4 we finde 18 of his company all in one Livery v. 5. having a form of godliness self-lovers or selfish men in the cloak of the form of godliness covetous men in the form of godliness boasters in the form of godliness proud persons in the form of godliness blasphemers in the form of godliness disobedient to parents unthankful unholy without natural affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good traitors headie high-minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God all these the Apostle tells us in the last dayes meaning the dayes of Antichrists appearing shall be cloaked in a forme of godlinesse All these Devils in these dayes arise and walk in Samuels mantle So that I may use St. Iohns words to the dispersed despised and distressed Churches in this age 1 Iohn 2. 18. Little childeren it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time they went out from us but they were not of us These are the followers of Antichrist these are the chiefs of men to be destroyed when the Witnesses rise which day God of his abundant mercy hasten I believe 't is neer at hand Antichrist and his followers by their prodigious acts under the cloak of Religion may make the World wonder but they do no no wonders for the Holy Ghost tells us they are lying wonders wonders that onely cheat the men of the earth or earthly-minded men to a subjection to bow down to their image and receive the mark of the beast Antichrists miracles are lies respectu omnium causarum saith Cornelius à Lapide in respect of the materiall efficient formall and finall cause The end of his miracles is to cheat the people into a compliance with his false wayes whereas the end of true miracles was to confirme the truth The originall of these miracles is the Devil Antichrist is helped by Sorcerers and Witches that pretend Revelations and come with all manner of cunning to cheat and deceive soules The matter of them are meer deceits for dive into the bottome of them and you shall finde the fire he pretends came from heaven is fire of his own making to delude the people Ant. Scaynus conceives his lying wonders are such as Iannes and Iambres wrought before Pharaoh which were meer delusions and no true miracles yet served the turn to harden Pharaohs heart against the true Church and to divert the people from believing and obeying the truth to their
in their sin untill they die Since they refused counsell and knowledge and the fear of God they shall have none of it I will refuse them saith the Lord they shall be given up to strong delusion to believe a lie Since they would not feed on Angels food at Christs Table they shall feed on the Devils excrements amongst the swinish herds of heretitcks destinated to damnation As Christ by his gracious wisdome did save an adulterous woman from the judgement of adulterous men by causing the shamefull sin of the condemned to flie upon the guilty consciences of the condemners So God in his glorious wisdome brings to damnation hypocrites by letting seducers baits catch those seduced souls that so greedily catch at them whereby they shamefully like those accusers of the woman go away and leave Christ his Ministers and his Ordinances In all this God is true though every one of them be liars That they should believe a lie so Beza renders it and the Syriack To a word that they should believe that lie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the lie what lie Mr. Leigh answers Antichrist Since they would not imbrace Christ the truth they shall be given up to blindenesse and hardnesse to imbrace Antichrist the lie A lie is falshood appearing in the cloke of truth and so is Antichrist which these Apostates shall imbrace They rejected and revolted from Gods anointed ones which were the Cedars of God and chose to themselves the bramble and under this scratching thorn those goates shall sit till a fire come forth from the Lord and devour both it and them They heap to themselves ignorant and unlearned Teachers perverting the Word to their damnation such as Ierome speaks of The very name Antichrist imports a lie for he is one against the truth against Christ who is the way and the truth If love of the truth be meant Christ as Chrysostome Oecumenius Theodoretus and severall other learned Authors affirm then most probably the imbracing a lie is here meant the subjecting to and closing with Antichrist or as very probably truth is put for the anointed offices the two Witnesses which these Apostates reject and imbrace the Antichrist who in opposition to them is called a lie usurpation is a lie the great usurper is the Antichrist who supplants the Witnesses and therefore called in the abstract the lie He is called in 1 Iohn 2. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the liar who is the Antichrist who denies the Father and the Sonne that is the constituted offices in the Church Luke 10. 16. for he that denieth them denieth Christ and he that denieth Christ denieth God CHAP. VII THat they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse This Verse windes up Pauls prophecie of the Antichrist and his followers It hath two parts in it The first shewes us the last of Antichrist and his subjects viz. their finall damnation The last part is an exegefis of the two foregoing verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they might be damned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is here used for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word properly signifies to judge but in the worser sense it is often in the New Testament put for to condemn as Luke 19. 22. Out of thy mouth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I condemne thee and so generally Expositors understand it that their judging here shall be cum judicio damnationis with the judgement of damnation Here we have the dreadfull Catastrophe of Antichrist but especially his companions his men of name and something more me thinks I see as matter of comfort in the Text viz. the time when he shall be thus with his followers damned or cast into hell as Revel 19. 20. expresseth it Compare it with 2 Tim. 3. 8 9. and it informes us that they shall proceed no further then to oppose the Witnesses as Iannes and Iambres did Moses Aaron when they have resisted the truth i e. the Witnesses maintaining the truth in opposition to the lie Antichrist when they have corrupted their own and others mindes with heresies and blasphemises and when they have shewed themselves reprobates concerning the faith then they shall proceed no further they shall then receive the wages of their work damnation These that Paul prophesies of to Timothy are the same that here he prophesies of to the Thessalonians for they are all professors of Religion all in one livery practising the same devillish things and being alike corrupted and depraved We finde Antichrist and his followers in Revel 11. and Chap. 13. proceeding no farther then the slaying of the Witnesses and triumphantly insulting over them and their authority for three dayes and an halfe and then on a sudden unexpectedly a cloud is seen and a loud voice is heard the Witnesses rise the 7000 names of men are slain by a great Schisme Commotion or Earth-quake which finisheth the second wo and then followes presently the third wo or seventh trumpet and then the Dragon the beast and the false Prophet are cast into hell and Hallelujahs and praises throughout the Church are thundered and no more of Antichrist appears for ever So that I will say to the true Church as Christ in Matth. 24. When ye see these things begin to come to passe know that the time of Antichrists damnation is nigh at hand even at the door Who believed not the truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Holy Ghost seems to point at some peculiar eminent truth which these hypocrites and Apostates did reject and would not believe for 't is not to be imagined that they rejected all truth and turned Infidels and Heathens for then they must necessarily cast off the profession of Christianity which they that follow Antichrist do not do and therefore I conceive it is some eminent truth which God permits to be opposed purposely to trie the knowledge faith love sincerity Christianity and courage of his people and to discover the rottennesse hypocrisie and back-sliding of formal professours this God usually doth in every age some eminent truths or other he permits to be opposed and calls out eminent professours to witnesse unto blood on their behalfe There 's never an Article in the Creed but at one time or other hath been thus victoriously in blood defended all being delivered to us sealed with our holy Ancestors blood Thereby teaching us our duty in a time when truth 's opposed God permits certain truths in severall ages to be opposed in Queen Maries dayes the doctrine of the Sacraments was opposed and the true way of externall worship and then God first sealed his truths with his Martyrs blood and then delivered them to us their posterity Now in the time of Antichrists appearing the great truth which shall be called in question to the trial of the Saints and the discovery of hypocrites and formall professors who shall reject this is the two great Offices originally Christs derivatively those whom he
colour of truth Grotius conceives the Holy Ghost points here at Caius Caligula the Successor of Tiberius in the Roman Empire who made a great apostasie from the good deeds of Augustus and Tiberius his Predecessors which they did to the Jewes and to their Religion what they did to please the Jewes this did undoe to displease and disprofit the Jews After this manner he makes him run parallel with the other part of the Prophesie but this is rather Iusus then allusio rather a sporting with then expounding of Scripture He shews us how foolish a Commentator mans fancy is of Scripture be the man never so learned and how easily a man may be deluded by the strength of his fantasie to beleeve a lye when t is so byased with its own parallels as to melt sacred Texts into its own mould and shape it to its own liking What is it but transitus à genere in genus to make historicall notions in humanity to beget the conclusions of Divinity like that high-strung Musician Aristoxenus who would out of the principles of Musick determine the nature of a humane soul and what usually is the end of such mens violent labors but only Praxitiles-like to make beguiled minds bow downe to the painted Strumpet of their fancies The reason why so many learned men have like drunken men reeled and rambled and stumbled and fel in their Treatises upon Prophetick Texts is because they â—…ipple themselves first with the brainsick wine of their own fancies drawing This hath been and to this day is I am confident the cause of those gross mistakes concerning the powring out of the vials making all the vials almost of Gods wrath to be poured out upon Rome and her adherents when if we look into Scripture soberly and into History with an unbyassed judgment we shall find not one vial as yet to be poured out I know this opinion is vineger and smoak to some but I presume not to sober men well read in these mysteries humane Histories at the best are but the worst Interpreters of the Scripture The body of the Scripture is like Solomons Temple which a wiser then Solomon hath builded for the Church of God every stone is fitted before it come hither for its fellow here window answers to window and pillar to pillar no noise of axe or hammer is heard throughout it The Scripture is like Ierusalem compact and at unitie in it self it is as Strabo saith of that City 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 well watered within it self so that we need not go any farther then the threshold of the Sanctuary we need not go over it to quench our thirsty desires of understanding it There is no Doctrinal truth for the feeding of the Church nor any Prophetick truth for the comforting of the Church but it is established 2 Cor. 13. 1. in the mouth of two or three witnesses the fault is only in our selves we are weak sighted and cannot perceive them nor distinguish them Let not the Reader think I cry down either the searching into or the applying of humane History to divine Texts but only the riotous fancies of those who in their writings set up Historie against Scripture and I had almost said reason it self I will willingly give as much worship to History in the Divinity School as the Schoolmen give to Images in the Church that is cultum respectivum but not so much worship as the Papists give to Images this day .i. cultum conjunctum My task therefore shal be to search after that testimony which the Scriptures give concerning the Apostasie and that testimony though but single will carry it against all others I shall only first mention the reason that they give that hold Paul means the ruine of the Roman Empire in this place why Paul did not speak plainly and openly of it To this the Greek and Latine Fathers answer viz. Chrysostom Oecumenius Ambrose Hierom Tertullian and several later Writers as Cajetan and Aretius c. ' Paul say they in prudence kept covert this truth ' lest hereby the Christians and the Christian Religion should ' suffer as enemies to the Empire of Rome Indeed I have read of Saint Basil and it is spoken in his commendation as a grave prudential act of his that considering the season and the predominancy of Hereticks pro temporis ratione Haereticorum principatu he did refrain from some sound expressions concerning the Deity of the Holy Ghost which others of a lower degree in the Church did boldly and frequently use Without all doubt there is a season for all things a time to speak and a time to be silent and a word spoken in due season how pleasant is it But all this shall never make me believe that Paul would for fear of Humane or Diabolical power or crueltie put Gods candle of Truth under a bushel he spake as the Spirit gave him utterance neither adding to nor detracting from any thing imparted to him by the Holy Ghost he delivered the whole mind of God to them Paul had none of that baseness in him which is so frequently found in the Ministers of this Age to baulk Truths for fear of persecution The least Truth of God is worth all the Churches in the world yea set me say it were the least Divine truth put in the scales against all the souls in the world it would out-weigh them Better all those souls should eternally miscarry then that truth should perish Though the pretended Saints of God in this age think a little of the world to be worth a great deal of Gods Truth yet those that are truly sanctified and enlightned think far otherwise Truth it is of the Essence of God for God is truth and he that will with-hold any thing of God for a carnal end will easily be drawn to let go all of God in the end and therefore this their reason I hold to be as unsound as their opinion who think Paul prophesied here of the destruction of the Roman Monarchy by peoples falling away from it Some and those not a few make the Apostafie and the Antichrist to be all one directly contrary to the light of the Text as also other prophetick Texts which run parallel with this As it is a sin to separate what God hath joyned together so 't is no lesse an error on the other hand to joyn in one that which God hath distinctly made two Cornelius à Lapide to whom the Christian world in this latter Age is beholding for his learned Labours saving his errors on the Bible saith on this prophetick Text that there are two great signes which fore goe the day of Judgment which the Apostle in this Prophesie holds out 1 This universall Apostasie and then the Antichrist himself which treads upon the heels of the apostasie and immediately follows it Oecumenius seems to point at the Idolatry of the Church of Rome for saith he the deceit of Idols shall cease and
be on a fire and colder comfort for the twelve Tribes who are like to lie in the dungeon of darknesse impenitencie and unbelief untill the day of Judgement come upon them and damn them they by this opinion shall never see Christ till he come to damn them their consciences shall be fast asleep untill hell-fire awake them their faith in Christ shall be no other then that of the devils to believe and be damned Thus making void both the gracious purposes and promises of God towards them both in the Old and New Testament It is really so for it is a generall received truth amongst the learned Expositors that the Jews generall conversion to the Gospel shall not be untill Antichrist be destroyed and it is a clear truth in Scripture But if Antichrist be not destroyed untill the day of Judgement farewell the Jewes conversion and salvation for ever Some of the learned who hold this opinion and fearing as justly they may this undeniable argument grounded on so many known prophetick promises have allowed the Jews or rather the prophetick promises about seven weeks time to accomplish their great work they say betwixt the destruction of Antichrist and the day of Judgment there shall be the space of five and fourty dayes which is the time alotted for the Jews to repent in and believe and imbrace the Gospel Here 's a little charity but blessed Jews that Gods charity is not measured to you by the Papists scant yard Miserable comforters are they which bring you here the best news from this groundlesse opinion which we shall answer two wayes The first by way of supposition Secondly Plainly and positively both to the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I Suppose it should be granted that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did alwayes signifie Christs personall presence yet is their Argument never the lesse questionable as falsly grounded for we say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here belongs not to Christ but to Antichrist for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in probabiltie relates to the Antichrist for it is usuall say the learned in that language to have the relative refer not to the proximate but to the remote antecedent after the manner of the Hebrews which we finde frequent in Scriptures so that the meaning of the text possibly is this God will destroy Antichrist when he shall appear in his outward splendor and pompe to the World when he is at the full God shall by a sudden change bring him into the wane untill he have utterly consumed in a day when he thinks not of Christ and an hour when he is not aware of him he will come upon him and cast him alive into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone The next words seem to confirme this opinion especially as the Syriack Interpreter reads them Adventus enim illius est c. where enim seems to be put causally So that the sense seems to be this the Lord shall destroy him in the brightnesse of his comming because his comming is according to the working of Satan if this be a true Exposition as for ought I know it is then are their arguments which are grounded on this Text quite overthrown But we will not adhere to this opinion therefore answer positively to the word that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies not alwayes the personall appearing of Christ it is not denied but that the word properly signifies presence essential presence oft-times signifies the coming of Christ to Judgment but not always See what our noble English Greek Critick saith he allowes it a saepè but not a semper it is oftentimes put for the personall appearance of Christ but not alwayes so saith Grotius upon this Text and so say some other learned Protestants Calvin bends this way putting an incertum est upon the generall received opinion of Christs comming to Judgement here Besides all this we have many clear Texts which prove that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not always signifie Christs personal appearance as 2 Pet. 1. 16. we made known unto you the power coming of our Lord Jesus that is his powerful coming by his Spirit in the ministery of the Gospel to convert souls to God Such a phrase Christ himselfe useth of himself in this sense Matth. 16. 28. There be some here which shall not taste of death untill they see the Son of man come in his Kingdome that is sending the Holy Ghost to propagate the Gospel by signes and miracles so say the last Annotations on the Bible or else say those Notes Christs comming in power by execution of Judgments upon the Jewes to the utter overthrow of that Nation Matth. 24. 3 30. this Text is rightly quoted but I conceive not rightly expounded had the Exposition been quite contrary it had been more consonant to the Disciples question and Christs answer to it for Christs comming Matth 24 is to save the Jews to restore them both to be a Church and State again The question that here the Disciples ask is the same that they ask of Christ after his passion Acts 1. 6. Wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdome to Israel to which question as to the matter of it Christ gives no negative but rather an affirmative answer as much as to say that time is to be but 't is in the fathers hands this is laid up in store with God and sealed amongst his treasures Deut. 32. 34. 't is the great mystery which was not for them to know This appearing of God to build up Sion Psal. 10â—… 16 17 18. that is to restore the twelve Tribes it is written for the Generations to come 't is a mystery to be unlocked to the latter ages of the World About this Kingdome the Pharisees discourse with Christ Luke 17. 20. demanding of him when it should be it seems they had faith enough to believe that there would be some glorious restauration of the Kingdome to Israel and this Christ doth not deny but shews to the end of that Chapter the signes fore-going the comming of this Kingdome the restoring of which in the next Chapter Luke 18. 8. Christ calls the comming of the Son of man and in Matth. 24. 30. the coming of Christ in the clouds and Revel 1. 7. which must necessarily be meant of the Jews wailing with penitentiall convictions and fiducial imbracings of Christ for were it meant of the damned Jews howles at the day of Judgment Iohn would never conclude it with an Even so Amen With this Text compare diligently Matth. 24. 30. and Luke 21. 27 28. and it will manifestly appear that the comming of Christ in clouds is his powerfull and glorious comming by the power of the Holy Ghost in the efficacious working of the Gospel to convert the Jews working in them godly sorrow and faith which present time is that which Luke saith is the time of the Jews redemption drawing nigh not of their finall damnation In this sense Matth. 23.
anoints or designes thereunto viz. to the Kingly Office and to the Sacerdotall or Ministeriall Office Blessed is that Nation that enjoyes them both together These two Offices Antichrist shall as we have already shewed oppose and depose and this makes him formally Antichrist Now to this Antichrists followers even against their former protestations and open professions shall consent and in the ruining of the Offices shall concurre and thus they shall rebell against the truth and become the followers of Antichrist This onely is signified Revel 13. by giving the mark to the beast and receiving the mark of the beast that is engaging against the anointed Offices to be a subject to the government of Antichrist in direct opposition to it Truth is here put in opposition to lie in the foregoing verse which is there to be understood of the Antichrist they could put confidence and trust in the lie the Antichrist the usurper but in the truth the Ordinances established by God they could repose no trust but rejected them therefore Iude the 11. these followers of Antichrist are said to perish in the gain-saying of Core who rejected the two great anointed Offices of Magistracie and Ministery Moses and Aaron and in 2 Tim. 3. 8. There the truth that these Rebels resist is specified 't is that of Magistracy and Ministery such a resistance as Iannes and Iambres made against Moses and Aaron in vilifying them their commission and authority CHAP. VIII BUt had pleasure or delighted in the iniquity This is a Rhetoricall Antithesis to the words immediately preceding them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but is an adversative particle and put here oppositively as much as to say they distrusted and fled from the truth but they would throw themselves into the armes of unrighteousnes they rebelled against Gods instituted Ordinances but willingly with all their heart submitted to an usurper the injustice that is saith Goranus the Antichrist who before is called the man of the sin and the lawlesse one and here in the abstract unrighteousnesse Because both his rising reigning and manner of being is unrighteous He works unrighteousnesse and receives the wages of unrighteousnesse with these his followers who are all justly damned for the same 'T is the highest aggravation of sin and provocative of wrath to take delight in sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is by the learned distinguished from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this comprehending the sins against God in the first Table that comprehending all sins against our neighbour in the second Table of the law of God so that taking pleasure in iniquity may be interpreted delighting in rebellion murther supplanting robbery treason slandering oppression adultery false witnesse-bearing and covetousnesse These are sins of the second Table sometimes as here in the Text we finde the word opposed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so 1 Cor. 13. 6. there the Apostle using a method much cried down by the hypocrites and apostates of these times viz. that of discovering true grace by signes having discoursed of the excellency of love gives the signes of true love which these hypocrites who are the followers of Antichrist of whom wâ—…treat have not and observe how this signe of true love meets with them rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth this is true charity and love But now the followers of Antichrist who are high-flowen professors and prate much of love and charity and tendernesse and bowels and cry out against bitternesse and rigid spirits do notwithstanding walk the Antipodes to this Text. If we compare this in the Corinthians with this we are now upon in the Thessalonians in the one you have the true reall Saint rejoycing not in iniquity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is the same word he rejoyceth not in iniquity but now the hypocrites who are the followers of Antichrist you finde them here in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taking pleasure in iniquity and what 's the reason it hath been given already in v. 10. because they loved not the truth they did professe And this is also the reason why they imbrace a lie because they want true love for true love rejoyceth in the truth but hypocrisie rejoyceth in a lie So that as the word is opposed to the truth it gives us to understand thus much that Antichrists followers are a company of hereticks that oppose both first and second table-Table-truths they kisse truth as Ioab did his brother General onely with an intent to stab it and destroy it as Christ Iâ—…h 7. 18. is truth and no unrighteousnesse is in him and as all his followers love truth and hate all unrighteousnesse so in Antichrist there is all unrighteousnesse to be found and no truth and all his followers are such as reject truth and love unrighteousnesse This is not onely the comparison that many of the Ancients make but the Scripture it selfe makes it as we have seen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a word of large extent But here I humbly conceive 't is restrained to the thing in hand and that is as we said before to the Antichrist who is in the same prophecie called the man of the sin and the son of the perdition and the exalter and opposer of the Ordinances of God Magistracy and Ministery and so the opposer of the truth and then the lawlesse one in opposition to truth established by law Gods law and mans law and natures law These are titles setting forth the effects of his power against those that oppose him after this followes from v 9. to v. 12. the manner of exercising of his power over his followers those that subject unto him His power is in signes and lying wonders and all manner of unrighteousnesse the effects of this his power is the seduction of those that follow him from which the Holy Ghost gives him two other titles or rather marks of infamy the lie and the unrighteousnesse the grand usurper and the great transgressour of the second Table the changer i. e. the breaker of the Saints laws and times In the exposition of words we must look to the scope of the matter or prophecie in hand and what in that place the word or phrase imports not what it may signifie in another place upon a different subject In this place not I but others take it to be meant of the Antichrist whose followers as they are said to reject the truth i e. the truth which Antichrist opposed and threw down viz. the Ordinances of God the mediate pillars of truth the two Witnesses so they are said to sit down with great content and propension of minde under the government of the Antichrist They are not forced to it as someare but they are Volunteers they cry him up applaud him approve of him with full consent and delight in him and so much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports it is not amisse translated Take pleasure in the unrighteousnesse The followers of the Amtichrist they love him with the
love of complacency 't is a kinde of death to them to be disswaded there they are resolved to love there to live there to die and there to be damned which the Holy Ghost tells us is their certain doom notwithstanding all their flourishes and feigned shewes of sanctity As it is impossible to pluck a reall Saint from Christ because he is elected so 't is impossible to pluck one of these mook-Saints from Antichrist because they are destinated to be damned the foregoing signes of whose damnation is their rejection of the the truth cleaving to the lie and taking pleasure in the unrighteousnesse All therefore that I have to say to the Churches in generall and to every particular Saint from what I have said is tollete legete take up the Bible and read take up Moses and read him take up the rest of the Prophets and read them take up Christs prophecies of the Antichrist and Pauls and Peters and Iudes and Iohns and see what they say What readest thou what finde ye there finde ye not that the ends of the world are come upon ye finde ye not this day those Scriptures fulfilling in your eyes Learn from them to know the times and the seasons that so the great and terrible day of the Lord which is neer upon all the Gentiles may not come upon you unawares be sober and watch unto prayer gird up the loines of your minde stand fast in the faith quit your selves like men your enemies on all hands are great and furious The Devil is now exceeding wrath knowing he hath but a little while a short reign Let 's therefore be incouraged to patience and let me write one word of comfort from my prison to those Saints of God that seem to be prisoners to the Devil that are held in the dreadfull black chains of desertion that groan out their souls in dolesul complaints Let them be comforted with this Behold the day of the Lord draweth nigh your chains are dreadful but not eternall Lift up your heads for the time of your redemption draweth nigh Satan that hath chained you shall anon be chained and sealed in hell he hath oft assaulted you but he shall assault you no more to deceive you Maintain the combate with constancie patience and faith help is at hand hope in the Lord yet a little while he that cometh will come and will not tarry he 'l come to your aid and comfort and salvation who manfully resist the Devils blaspemous injections when he 'l come to the damnation of those who willingly imbrace and joyfully entertain all his temptations leaping and laughing triumphing in the Devils chains as with bleeding hearts we hear of them see thē every day These are of the night of the black night reserved for chains of darkness but ye who are children of the light though for the present in darkness keep on in duty and in a way of obedience though you finde no comfort in it God may have most glory when you have least comfort and you therein expresse most grace most obedience Faith and patience though in the storm you see it not your acts of faith may be tossed but the habit abides firm that seed of God shall never suffer Ship-wrack in the greatest storme the Mariners skill is seen then most when he saves the ship in a stormy night when he hath neither Sun nor Moon nor Stars to direct or comfort him Keep at the helme of Ordinances let not Ministers nor the Communion of Saints be grievous or irksome to you let the oares of duty be played Pray for the day stars appearing long for the comming of Christ to destroy the beast and the false Prophet and the Dragon according to his prophetick promises for certain that great day is neer and doubtlesse that day will bring great comfort to distressed and deserted souls as well as others therefore long and pray and groane for this comming of Christ which will raise the Witnesses refresh his afflicted Saints and convert the twelve Tribes and chain up the old Dragon Even so Come Lord Iesus Christ Come quickly AMEN FINIS THE POST-SCRIPT AFter I had put an end to what I have writ upon the foregoing subject an eminently learned Text-man having viewed my papers sent to me this insuing note Sir If I mistake not you and I differ much concerning the time of the destruction of Antichrist for there are two great battells to be distinguished the one of the Resurrection of the witnesses Revel 11. which is called a great Earth-quake tending to the fall of the tenth part of the Citty the other the field Armageddon Revel 16. Such an Earth-quake as was not since men were upon the Earth so mighty and so great v. 18. then the great City and the great enemies fall together also I am of opinion that we are under the sixth Viall These words in themselves as also in their effects upon me are as Apples of Gold in pictures of Silver i. e. of ten times greater value then they promise to the outward view Nothing could come more opportunely to me for hereby I have an occasion given me to gather up those sacred mysterious fragments in the Revelations which I onely left behind because I thought Pauls basket I meane the 12. verses I treated on would not well hold them all The things then to be discoursed of from this happy occasion are first of the two great battells the one Revel 11. the other Revel 16. under this the time of the destruction of Antichrist falls to be largely and clearly discussed Secondly of the time of the pouring out of the Vialls For the first I am so far from questioning it that I fully consent to the truth thereof and rather then detract I will add a third battell to be distinguished amongst the rest or at least wise make it questionable The first Revel 11. 1◅ 13. when the witnesses rise and the Earth-quake shall beate down the tenth part of the City The second battell Revel 14. 15 16 17 18 19 20. when the Vine of the Earth i. e. the Mahumetan Church is destroyed The third battell Revel 16. 16 17 18. compared with Revel 19. 18 19 20. when the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet are destroyed Now to question much whether these two latter are not one but of that in its order we shall discusse if we have roome As for that Battle Rev. 11. though I improperly call it a Battle it is clearly distinct from that in Revel 14. 16 17 18 19. and that Revel 19. 19. I cannot well call this in Revel 11. a Battell because in the raising of the witnesses the fall of the tenth part of the City and the slaying of the seven thousand heads of men we finde not so much as a sword unsheathed nor a battell fought for it But verse 11. the Spirit of life from God entring into the witnesses hath this double contrary effect it sets the slaine