Paraphrase on Rev. 20. by the most Learned among Kings King James of ever blessed memory proving and concluding the Pope Antichrist c. in that his learned Pen and excellent Work leaving a lasting monument to the World of his being defender of the Faith A glorious Title descending to him and to this Royal Family for ever By which Learned work of that Great Prince that Roman beast felt it self so wounded that their greatest Champion Bellarmine but under a disguise was inforced to run in and help but with so bad success that thereby occasion was given to Learned men to clear up that Truth as we find at this day above contradiction other than cavilling And yet strange it is notwithstanding to see as was said some of excellent parts in knowledge and learning among our selves now sticking here some being in that led by a reverend esteem of some others of another Judgment but so few as to be numbred and not to weigh in the ballance Of these some labour to stave off Antichrist from Rome for avoyding what they suppose inconvenient our deriving our Church and Holy Orders from an Antichristian state which needed not to trouble them But some out of a peaceable inclination designing the reconciling Rome and us in one or at least not so far to offend that party as if Rome were to be complemented and obliged thereby to favour our cause or persons the more were we in their power Whereas by such our connivance and silence not speaking out what is truth that Rome is Babylon the Pope Antichrist and that communion there is dangerous to some and to others damnable and by our tender forbearance in this Popery and that Church doth pass for Catholick Antient Holy and the very way to Salvation Whereby not few have been seduced and drawn away from the Truth professed as others may be who hear of nothing to the contrary thereby are also those of that communion fastened there they being confirmed by this our silence On which consideration and that this strikes at the root of Popery I have been led to this subject Which as first was intended but for that Honourable Auditory and place only where it was preached but by multiplied importunities of many and being awakened by an imperfect Copy taken while it was in speaking which I understood to have been dispersed and I know not how far and might be I feared to the prejudice of the Truth and to the advantage of adversaries I therefore consented to the revising and publishing thereof for avoiding those inconveniencies declaring this and none other to be what I own In which as now set forth are some things more than were delivered in Preaching yet what was intended had time permitted something also is added for further inlargement which might better pass I conceived in writing than in speaking And although that called a Sermon be swoln hereby above its ordinary bulk it is notwithstanding still short of what may be necessary for the clear opening of this great Point yet do I stop there notwithstanding at present supposing there may be an opportunity after offered for defence of that delivered by that opposition which is not to be doubted this may find from the adverse Party Whatever this is all is submitted to the judicious Reader desiring Gods blessing it to all particularly to those who yet hear not that voice from Heaven Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her Plagues Rev. 18.4 A SERMON of Antichrist Preached at Christ-Church Dublin Novemb. 12. 1676. 2 Thess. 2.3 to 13. V. 3. There shall come a falling away first and that man of sin shall be revealed the Son of Perdition v. 4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God v. 5. Remember ye not that while I was yet with you I told you these things v. 6. And now ye know what witholdeth that he might be revealed in his time v. 7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way v. 8. And then shall that wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming v. 9. Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders v. 10. And with all deceivablenes of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved v. 11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lye v. 12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness THE words read exceed much the now ordinary bounds of a Text yet being all of a piece nothing could be well omitted The words are a Prophecy of evil times to the Church and to the World by one here termed A man of Sin v. 3 and who that man of Sin is is now the enquiry and well worthy our enquiry the import of the matter and its concern generally considered The discovery of this man of Sin will appear in the description here given of him both in his Rise and Fall His Fall v. 8. His Rise before v. 3. These make up the parts of my Text. His Rise is here under four considerations by which brought together this Mâ—n of Sin will be discovered who he is 1. Here is the character condition and quality what kind of person he is a Man of Sin v. 3. 2. He is also considered as to the place where he is to be found Sitting in the Temple of God 3. Here is also the time when he is to appear in grandeur when he that did then lett or hinder should be removed then shall that wicked be revealed 4. His actions in the world when he should be revealed and by which he should be known above others he opposing and exalting himself above all that is called God c. v. 4. He to whom all these agree and in whom all meet together is that Man of Sin this Son of perdition whom we now seek after I. His condition and quality is herein to be first considered that he is a Man of Sin A Man of Sin is a Scripture-form of speaking for one above others sinful The word sinner sometimes imports the greater sort of sinners and where the word sinners is first found in Scripture Gen. â— 3. â— 3. it is said of Monsters of sin those of Sodom who were sinners before the Lord exceedingly And surely a Man of Sin intends something more than a sinner Beza renders it merum scelus meer or very wickedness A Man of Sin saith Grotius signifieth some person notably and above all others wicked And accordingly is this Man of Sin here one above
ordained Romans 13.12 standing in his place and so to be subjected to according to their degrees in Government whether to the King as supream or unto Governours under him 1 Pet. 2.13 14 and from this subjection are none exempted let every soul be subject c. The Apostles were not exempted nor is the Pope This God Commands yet see in this The Pope exalting himself above all called Gods even Emperors as vassals to him causing them to hold his Stirrup and Kiss his feet Celestine 3. crowned the Emperor Hen 3. with his toe Popes also setting their feet on the necks of Emperors as did Pope Adrian 4. and Alexander 3. Also disposiing crowns and deposing and advancing at pleasure which by Aventinus is said of the Popes from Gregory 7th to his time Hildebrand who is Gregory 7th first founded the Papal Empire which his successors for 450 years carryed on notwithstanding the oppositions of the world and Emperors resisting so as high and low were brought under and subjected to their yoke According to their will they cast down from heaven to hell and exalt from hell to Heaven again And what in this they practise they avow as due and proper to them and to them alone of which therefore I need say no more In the Pope therefore and in him alone and in none other is this sign of Antichrist found that he exalteth himself above all called Gods III. It followeth His sitting in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God Tu es alter Deus in terra Thou art another God upon earth was the speech of Christophorus Marcellus in the very Council of Lateran to Pope Julius 2. the Pope himself being present Concil Lateran Sess. 4. And in the Gloss on the Canon Law he is called our Lord God the Pope And whereas the word God so said of the Pope was by some thought too much and in some Editions omitted we find the censure of the Gloss by Pope Pius 5 and the Gloss of the Canon Law revised by Cardinals and learned men deputed for it by Pope Gregory 13. in both the word God before omitted to have been restored and put in again and that by the Popes allowance now it being what was our Lord God the Pope Nor can it be otherwise intended but that the Pope should be so esteemed while they stick not to ascribe to him Attributes proper to God as Omnipotence and Infiniteness The Pope say they may do whatsoever God doth nor can it be known what the Pope can do for the power of the Pope is infinite and what is infinite is not known and what the Pope doth is reputed as done of God for what the Pope doth he doth as God not as man Which the Popes Omnipotence is by them averred by Scripture all Power in Heaven and Earth is given me which was said by Christ of himself Mat. 28.8 and that is said of the Pope also that Power of Christ being challenged by the Pope his Vicar nor that as to Heaven and earth only but beside their Purgatory even to Hell also so as his power seems to extend so far as to deliver from Hell whence is no redemption and to forbid and command when they please and whom they think fit to be kept from thence Nolumus We declare it our pleasure that the Punishment of Hell be not inflicted on such as are signed by the cross those imployed by the Pope on his business And as Omnipotence and Infiniteness Gods attributes are attributed to the Pope so is Adoration also which God challengeth as proper to him self onely I am the Lord that is my Name and my Glory will I not give to another neither my praise to graven Images God speaking of his Worship Is. 42.8 He only is to be served or worshipped Math. 4.10 but to the Pope are Religious adorations given in a most solemn manner while the new elected Pope is placed on an Altar and there seated in his Chair with his Crown and in his Pontificalibus adored by all present Cardinals Ambassadours of Princes and all of all degrees descending from their places and with prostrations worshipping him And is not this a sitting in the Temple of God as God shewing himself that he is God IV Further a mark and sign of that wicked one is that his coming and Acting is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that Perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a Lye 2. Thess. 2.9 10 11. This say some shews Antichrist to be a Conjurer and Compactor with the devil and such saith they was Simon Magus and he Antichrist But such we knew were Popes also as to mention no more Sylvester 2. Benedictor 9th Gregory 7. which I pass at present Neither insist I on those wonders by these acted whether seeming real by Satans working with them or for them or that they be lying wonders whether feigned or imposed as true or lying serving for confirming lyes and untrue doctrines of men nor speak I of those ridiculous fables with which their Legends of Saints are stuffed such as may be wondred how learned and prudent men should give credit to them if they do And if they do it must be surely from Gods giving them over Judicially to believe a lye they not receiving the love of the truth so is the Text The seat of the beast on which the Angel poured out his vial and his Kingdom is full of darkness Rev. 16.10 But I look on this here rather as a sign and mark of Antichrist by which he should act and be known in the World his Antichristian Church boasting of wonders making miracles a sign of the true Church and upbraiding us with our want they say of Miracles To which we say 1 That for the first introducing of truth miracles might be necessary but that truth being once received such miracles were after unnecessary such were in the first planting of the Gospel done by Christ and his Apostles which we challenge as ours But that truth then delivered to the saints being received and believed what now need we more or any renewed miracles For miracles and wonders as tongues c. are for unbelievers not for them that believe 1. Cor. 14.22 and it shews a novelty in those Popish Doctrines that need fresh confirmations and shewes them unbelievers that seek such But in this is a proper mark of that Antichristian Church that and no other sort of professors or People in the world but Rome only and the Pope adhereing so to miracles V. But to proceed Another mark of this man of Sin by which he is known is that he opposeth himself that is to Christ therefore called Antichrist Obj. But how can that be said of the Pope he being
proper to the Pope alone and taken altogether not meeting in any other but in the Pope only Therefore on the whole who would not conclude the Popes being Antichrist the man of sin and son of Perdition II. By which last His being said to be a Son of perdition I am brought from Antichrists Rise to the last consideration here concerning him Antichrists down fall which follows on the other necessarily for if he be a man of sin he must be a son of perdition Of this his fall it is here said that the Lord shall consume him with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy him with the brightness of his comeing v. 8. that they all might be damned who believe not the truth v. 12. where is distruction 1. To him 2. and to his 1. To himself 1. His being consumed 2. Destroyed 1. That he consumed by the breath of the Lords mouth The breath of the Lords mouth is the preaching of the Gospel which is the word of God so Generally interpreted And to be consumed implyes a lingring wearing away and by degrees wasting and decaying not a violent and suddain destruction such as was Simon-Magus his down-fall said to have been on St. Peters breath or prayers against him Of this Consumption of the Papal power and greatness by the preaching of the word and Gospel in the world we have apparent evidence I shall give it as by Bellarmine expressed he by that waining in the Papacy arguing against the Popes being Antichrist Antichrists greatness and prevailings in the World being much spoken of whereas his fall and declining state is also described as si his greatness Bellarmines words are these Since that time when ye Protestants say the Pope began to be Antichrist the Papal Empire was so far from increasing that thenceforth it every day more and more declined And as you would have it Antichrist reigning the Roman See hath by little and little decayed it having lost almost all Africa a great part of Asia all Greece and even in our very days a great part of Germany Sweden Gothland Norwey and all Denmark A good part of England France Helvetia Poland Bohemia and part of Hungary are fallen away Bellarm de Rom Pontif. l. 3. c. 21. This way by Bellarmine written an 1577 as appears in the Preface to that work so as that decay in the Papal Empire was then within the space of 60 years accounting from the year 1517 the time of Luthers Preaching of which he speaks declaring the Pope to be Antichrist What then may be the consumption and decay there at this time being 150 years since 2. But that Consumption of this son of Perdition shall end also in destruction utter and irrecoverable whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming See this Rev. 17 where the ten horns of that scarlet coloured beast on which that woman Rome sitteth are expounded ten Kings which had not then received their Kingdom but were to receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast v. 12. These were states of the Western Empire which on the decay of the Empire did setup for themselves all with one mind giving their power and strength unto the beast and making war with the Lamb who shall overcome them v. 14 But those ten horns shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with Fire v. 16. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his Will and to agree and give their Kingdom unto the Beast till the word of God should be fulfilled v. 17. Which fall of Antichrist in several degrees is declared by several Angels in that imployed 1. An Angel preaching the everlasting Gospel Rev. 14.6 the beginning of Antichrists fall and gradual consumption 2. Another Angel declaring the downfall of that Antichristian state Rev. 14.8 3. An Angel forbidding the worshipping the beast or his image and receiving his mark in his forehead or in his hand denouncing judgments on such Rev. 14.9 10 11. 4. An Angel calling out of Babylon and to separate from her not to partake of her sins and plagues Rev. 18.4 6. 5. And another Angel giving a sign of irrecoverable destruction by casting as it were a milstone into the Sea saying Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all Rev. 18.21 Thus of Babylon Rome and Antichrist's fall as to it self considered II. See that also as to their Adherents in which our charitable thoughts of them have been by wrong measures mistaken to some disadvantage that which we say in that is 1. That there was a time when Antichristianism was a mystery not understood Antichrist not being yet so declared as after 2. And that after Antichrist was pointed at in the Church of Rome yet while erroneous doctrines there were but disputable not imposed as after in the Council of Trent to be de fide with an Anathema to such as thought of them otherwise and to such as did not understand the reach and depth of those evils and where the light of the Gospel is shut out as in some places and the knowledge of that denied and persecuted For these is our charity grounded to say well of them as of those of Thyatira who had not known the depths of Satan as they speak Rev 2.24 and those of Pergamus dwelling even where Satan's seat is yet saith our Lord thou hast held fast my name and hast not denied my Faith even in those dayes wherein Antipas my faithful Martyr was slain among them where Satan dwelleth v. 12. To be among Hereticks and not to believe Hereticks or not being led by them is St. Augustine's distinction in that case such ignorance may excuse But as to ignorance affected having Light and means of knowledge and when called on to come out of Babylon its ruine being declared and communion there declared perillous To such we say that their continuing so in that state is hazardous and full of danger Nor can such rely on ignorance it not in that case excusing For in this is condemnation where light is come and men love darkness rather than light John 3.19 and where the leaders of the People cause to err they that are led of them are destroyed Is. 9.16 and the blind by them so led both fall into the Ditch Math. 15.14 4. But as to those who are knowing and who defend and plead for Baal seducing and being seduced and so continuing the state of such is declared damnable that they all may be damned saith the Text who believe not the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness v. 12. and to such belongs that evil by the Angel declared if any man worship the beast and his image and receive his Mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the Wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his indignation and he shall