Apostles to the olde Church of Rome and other Churches Her Masses her Dirges her Trentalls her Prayers for the dead her Pilgrimages Processions Adoration of Images Angels and Saints departed her Vowes of Virginitie and Pouertie her Seruice in a strange tongue c. In these doth her principall worship of God consist And yet not one of these hath any colour or shadow from the doctrine and worship prescribed in the Epistle to the Romans or in any other Booke of Scriptures 2. That this Apostasie of the Church of Rome is a Catholicke Apostasie needs no proofe seeing themselues glory and boast of the Catholicknes of their Religion especially before Luther and how generally and vniuersally their Worship and Faith aforesaid haue bin receiued and professed neither hath there bin since the Apostles any profession so generall and vniuersall as the Papacie when it was at his height In this they glory But except they could iustifie the truth of their Faith and Religion this their glory is their shame For by this meanes they rather argue that they are not of the true Religion but of this Apostasie because there was to be an vniuersall departure from the true Faith in which case not the true Church but the Apostaticall must be vniuersall 3. The Church of Rome hath a Catholicke Head who in that manner rules ouer the members thereof as Christ doth ouer his Church For the Pope claimes to be the Uniuersall Head of the Church making Lawes according to his owne pleasure euen to binde the Consciences of all them that are vnder him of no lesse authoritie then the Lawes of God 4. The Religion of Popery came not in all at one time but by degrees beginning in the Apostles times and increasing more and more after the decease of the Apostles as the sinceritie of the true Religion decreased It is euidently to be seene in Historie when and by what meanes the grosse and maine points of the Popish Religion came in 5. It preuaileth against whom most Surely such as euidently shew that they beare no loue to the word but are despisers of it and the ministerie thereof Such in our experience are they that vse to be seduced men that are glad to haue any colour to be of any Religion saue that which is the true and which crosseth their corruptions 6. The whole world knoweth with what efficacie and power of Satan it hath bin vpheld how busie Satan was how oft he appeared in Goblins Fayries walking Spirts c. for the strengthning and supporting of it 7. It cannot endure the brightnes of Gods word but melteth before it as Snow before the Sunne Hitherto we haue shewed that the Religion of the Church of Rome is that Antichristian Apostasie that here is prophecied of because all the notes and marks thereof doe most liuely agree thereunto more then to any Religion and Profession in the world besides In the next place we are to shew that the Bishop of Rome is the Head of that Apostasie and that great Antichrist here prophecied of Which appeareth partly by that which hath bin said before concerning the Apostasie of that Church shall more fully appeare by those Notes whereby in this Prophecie he is described The first is this The Antichrist is a Man of Sinne. i. not onely a notorious sinner in his owne person but as Satan is a notable instrument of Satan to draw men from the obedience of Christ to sinne and rebellion against God This agrees to all the Bishops of that Sea in a manner since they became Uniuersall Bishops It is almost incredible what monstrous villaines most of them haue bin and that by the report of their owne Historians You shall not read of any Sect or Order of men whatsoeuer amongst whom so many such monsters haue bin found as amongst them Murtherers Poysoners of their Predecessors Simoniacks Negromancers Sodomites Adulterers Atheists Church-robbers c. Yea such lewd persons ordinarily their Popes haue bin that the time was in those parts where the Pope most abode that when they would note a man for a notorious extraordinarie Villaine or Knaue they would say He is a Knaue or Villaine enough to be Pope Non est opus instare Againe they are not onely such Men of sinne in their owne persons but the grand Patrons of sinne in others and fruitfull parents of lewdnesse So that it is as it were their trade to deuise how they may either by lawes force men to sinne or protect such as are wicked He is the great Patron of Ignorance vsing all the power and authoritie he hath to keep the people from the knowledge of God so that they might not know the right way to serue him He forbiddeth Mariage to all his Clergie which are innumerable the hundreth part whereof are idle bellies not forced to any paines but liuing like Epicures and Swine put vp to feeding By meanes whereof innumerable Adulteries Fornications Rapes Sodomitries Murthers of Infants and other abominable acts are committed He vpholdeth and maintaineth Stewes as it were Colledges and Societies of whores wherevnto men may freely without punishment repaire And counteth it better for some sort of persons to keepe a whore or to defile an other mans wife then to haue a wife of their owne He counteth some sinnes small and veniall not deseruing Hell fire and no sinne so grosse but that for money he can pardon it and he can dispence with Incest diuorce at his pleasure discharg men of their oaths and absolue subiects from their Oath of Allegiance c. By meanes whereof he hath bin the procurer and author of infinite treasons rebellions assassinates poysonings bloudshed of many thousands murther of Princes and Potentates and other the like villanies in all parts of Christendome The second Note followeth He is the Childe of perdition Wherein is signified that the Man of sinne shall be such an other as Iudas was And surely Iudas may well be an Emblem to represent the nature disposition and condition of the Popes of Rome for the most part Iudas was a couetous wretch and grudged that any thing should go beside his bag so is the Pope Iudas sought all meanes to betray Christ so doth the Pope in his members Iudas though Christ convinced his Conscience of the vilenes of the fact and denounced such a wo against him as might iustly haue terrified him yet for all that held on his wicked purpose so doth the Pope Iudas in words and ceremoniall complement most honoured Christ when he betrayed him so doth the Pope Iudas came to an euill end so haue the most if not all of them Iudas was the instrument of Christs death and of his owne perdition so is the Pope None liue more like men ordained to destruction then they 3. The Antichrist here spoken of is one that opposeth himselfe against and lifteth himselfe vp aboue all that is called God The Scriptures giue this Title not to God himselfe onely but to Angels also Psal
contemne and make no reckoning of the consent of their brethren though inferiors vnto them Were thy authoritie amongst Christians as great as Pauls yet it is the lesse if thou haue not the consent of Timothie and Silvanus to shew for that which thou holdest teachest and professest Vnto the Church of the Thessalonians The Persons vnto whom this Epistle was written and sent were Thessalonians i. certaine people dwelling in or about that famous Citie of Thessalonica in Macedonia built by Philip the Father of Alexander the Great and so named in memorie of a great vicâ—â—â—ie gotten ouer Thessalia a Country of Greece bordering vpon Macedonia This Epistle is not written to the whole Citie or Country there but to the Church i. To so many of them whether Citizens or others as were ioyned togither in a holy societie and communion in the worship and seruice of Christ according to his will reuealed in the Gospell for such were the Churches which the Apostles planted and wrote their Epistles vnto The speciall fruit then of this and such like Epistles is to be reaped principally by them that are members of the Church and that liue in the communion thereof Those which direct letters to whole Cities Countries or States vse therein if they be wise to treat of such matters as principally concerne the whole Bodie they write vnto Howsoeuer therefore Hereticks Schismaticks Persons excommunicated and Infidels may reap some fruit and profit by the due reading and meditating vpon this Epistle yet it being by the Spirit of God inspired and breathed for the vse of a whole Church the principall fruit thereof is to be reaped by them that are members of the Church and in the Communion of the Church Neither dâ—d either this or any other of the Apostles write any of their Epistles and Letters to Countries Cities or Persons before they were conuerted thereby to draw them to the Faith and the Communion of the Church But first they won them by preaching and then they writ vnto them to stablish and confirme them in the Faith Though therefore that which they writ bee for substance the same Gospell with that which they preached yet by this it may appeare that the principall fruit of the Gospell written is to be reaped and gathered by them which haue beene called to liue in the Communion and vnder the spirituall gouernment of the Church by the Gospell preached which is in God our Father and in our Lord Iesus Christ. He describes the Church he writes vnto by this Argument That it is in God our Father and in our Lord Iesus Christ. Wherein the Apostle declares the neere vnion coniunction between God and euery true Church if they bee in deede and truth that which they professe to bee They are in the neerest and straitest band knit vnto God himselfe yea ingraffed into him it is not possible for one Person to be so knit vnto another as the Church and members thereof are knit vnto God They are heere sayd to be in God and in Christ and other where God and Christ are sayd to be in them So that they are in God and God is in them which noteth the neerest and most inseparable and blessed Vnion that may be The Apostle amplifies this Vnion by describing that God and that Christ in which this Church was to bee his and their Father his and their Lord and Iesus So that God the Father is a Father and God the Son is a Lord and Sauiour for so Iesus signifieth vnto all those that are in this Vnion otherwise there were no comfort but horror in the same God therefore being their Father and Christ their Sauiour and Lord those that are thus ingraffed into them may presume to receiue from this Father being Almighty any good thing that they shall neede and to be secured and freed from any euill that may hurt them It is a nature ingraffed into Fathers by this heauenly Father to doe their children all the good they can and such Lords and Masters as haue beene content with a great price euen with their owne seruitude yea death to redeeme their seruants from their cruell enemies will not suffer them to haue hurt if it lie in them to inhibit it The Churches of God therefore hauing God to be their Father and Christ the Son of God to be their Lord their Iesus and Sauiour and being in the neerest bond euen by the Spirit of God knit vnto God Christ they may build vpon it that this Christ their Sauiour in whom they are will saue them from whatsoeuer may hurt them That this God their Father will shew the true and most naturall disposition of a Father towards them in prouiding for them whatsoeuer shall be for their good And this shall wee haue a liuely feeling of if in our holy communion and society with the Church wee shall behaue our selues towards God as dutifull children vnto Christ Iesus as faithfull seruants Till then wee shall neuer know what it is to bee in God our Father and in our Lord Iesus Christ. This Vse we may make of this Doctrine 1. If we desire to feele the comfort and blessing of being in God our Father and in our Lord Iesus Christ let vs become not in outward profession onely and in shew but in deede and truth true members of the Church delighting in the communion and fellowship of the Saints for this prerogatiue is heere attributed vnto such Neuer thinke that thou art in God and in Christ so long as thou art out of the Church and Communion of the Saints so long at least as thou art not in will and affection ioyned vnto the same 2. Let vs feare that wee are not true members of any Church of Christ vntill we haue some feeling of this that we are in God and so in him that he is vnto vs a Father and a Sauiour And let vs neuer rest and bee at quiet vntill wee haue a sweet and comfortable sense indeede that he is indeede our Father and our Sauiour by some infallible fruits and signes thereof for how can it bee but that they that are in God as in their Father and in Christ as in their Sauiour but they shall if they stirre vp that grace which is in them feele in some degree the vertue of a Father and of a Sauiour transfused into their Soules 3. Let euery Church esteeme this vnion as a matter of the greatest honour and prerogatiue that may bee if it had nothing els to set forth it selfe withall yet let vs esteeme this to be fulnesse of honour vnto it the fruit that springs from this Vnion the graces that are communicated in this Coniunction should abundantly content and satisfie euery true Church of Iesus Christ though she had nothing els in the world to boast of And thus much of the first part of the Epistle VERS 2. Grace bee with you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Iesus Christ. THE
full of spirit and life his discourse not extrauagant but keeping close to the point and tending mainly to the improuement of piety and godlines in regard whereof they seemed neither vnworthy to see further light nor vnable well to endure the light I was not vnwilling notwithstanding mine owne occasions and distractions otherwise out of my loue to the deceassed and desire of aduancing the common good to take some paines about the transcribing and perfecting some of them and so fitting them for the Presse And among the rest perceiuing these his Meditations on that Second to the Thessalonians to be both pithy and compendious handling an entire parcell of Scripture that in our language few haue formerly delt with as also that himselfe had begun to write them out more fairely and largely then ordinarie as intending some such thing I thought good to breake the ice with them And so beginning at the entrance into the Second Chapter where he had left transcribing out of other his owne notes containing a continued Commentarie to the end of the Epistle some defects onely supplied haue I made vp the whole worke Which if it shall finde such good acceptance as my desire is it should and as the worke it selfe I doubt not will deserue I may receiue thereby incouragement to take further paines about the finishing and fitting for publike view some other of his labors that as yet remaine with me for the good of Gods Church and the benefit of his poore Wife and foure fatherles Orphans Had he himselfe while he liued put the last hand to the two latter Chapters as he had done to the first the whole worke had bin more consummate and exact then now it is Yet as it is though not altogither so artificially compact and put togither and so wanting some of its grace that way it is for the maine matter of it in all likelyhood no other then it would haue bin had he procceded to perfect it as may appeare by comparing his second transcript with his first draught in that that he had finished That blessed Spirit accompanie the publishing of it by whose immediate inspiration the Epistle it selfe was at first endited and by whose gracious assistance these Meditations on it were formerly conceiued and deliuered and through his blessing it may proue beneficiall and comfortable to not a few in the reading of it as in hearing it hath bin the like to many already To Him commending it and thee I rest Thine in Christ T. G. AN EXPOSITION of the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians THE FIRST CHAPTER VERS 1. Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus THE principall scope of this Epistle is to confirme and strengthen this Church in the sinceritie of that Faith and Religion wherein it was first planted and therein to arme it against all tryals and temptations arising either from wicked Persecutors or corrupt and antichristian Seducers The parts of the Epistle are many knit togither in that frame and method by the Inditer thereof that was most common in those times and places amongst not onely diuine but humane writers in their Letters and Epistles The first part is a Superscription wherein is expressed 1. The Authors of the Epistle 2. The Persons to whom the Epistle is sent The principall Author was Paul by whose spirit alone stirred vp and directed by Gods Spirit it was indited Silvanus and Timothie consented thereunto whose names Paul vseth togither with his owne for the further establishing and confirming of that truth which here he writes of and to testifie that they were of the same iudgement and affection with him In these three Persons especially in the first is declared the diuine authoritie of this Epistle For these being though so much be not in this text specified the one an Apostle the other Euangelists their authoritie in the dispensation of the Gospell whether by mouth or pen was more then humane they hauing especially Paul a Spirit that led them into all Truth and therefore an Epistle written from them and vnder their names vnto any Church was to be receiued from them as if it had bin sent from heauen written with Christs owne hand and subscribed by all the Saints and Angels in heauen It must be acknowledged that though they had concealed their names as the Author to the Hebrewes doth that yet the very matter thereof would haue owned that Spirit by which it was indited Yet the prefixing of their names doth so much the more particularly confirme the authoritie thereof and adde weight and moment vnto the same We see then first of all That the very names of Paul and Silvanus c of themselues but weake and fraile men adde authoritie and credit to the word of God That which without their names would haue bin acknowledged to be of diuine authoritie is for their names sake of the greater authoritie the Spirit of God giueth authoritie to them they giue authoritie waight to it This is true also of all true Christians and not of these Worthies onely according to the degree and measure of Grace communicated vnto them The Gospell so far forth as they sincerely professe it doth not onely honour their names but their names also honour it Miserable professors are they who after such a manner professe the Gospell that neither they are a credit to it nor it a credit to them much more they and how many are they whose names are a reproch and discredit to it and it to them in the eyes of all that feare the Lord. 2. In that Paul for the further credit and authoritie of that truth which here by the Spirit of God he is moued to write vseth also the names of Timothie and Silvanus which in Gifts Office and Authoritie were inferiour vnto him it may teach vs thus much That the consent of Christians amongst themselues especially of the Ministers of the Gospell addeth much authoritie to the truth which they professe yea the consent of inferiours in gifts graces and callings addeth authoritie to that which Superiours do hold and professe Though Silvanus and Timothies authoritie be lesser then Pauls yet concurring with Pauls it makes his the greater in the Church of God The more authoritie then that a man doth desire to haue in Gods Church the more must he labour after the consent of his brethren yea of them that in gifts and authoritie are his inferiours Vaine are the conceits of them that looke to amplifie their Authoritie in Gods Church by their Singularitie God may indeed reueale that truth to one which he conceales from another neither is any such truth to be smothered or betrayed for want of this consent yet this knowledge of his in this or that diuine truth so long as it is singular is and will be amongst the people of God of so much the lesse authoritie The authoritie of Paul then flourisheth most when Silvanus and Timothie ioyne in consent with him neither are they led by Pauls Spirit that
then the foundations and grounds and principles of the Antichristian religion were secretly laying So that the Apostasie of Antichrist or the Antichristian Religion was not to rise on a sodaine but as an edifice is long before in squaring and working and at length is reared and ioyned so the Religion of Antichrist which is therefore an auncient religion at least the maine grounds whereupon it is built should be a long time preparing and priuily contriuing before it should come to be openly and eminently erected in his due proportion and full perfection 3. He telleth them that that which hindreth the manifestation of the Man of Sinne shall hinder vntill it be remoued and that as soone as it is remoued shall that wicked one be discouerd Which sheweth that Antichrist reuealed and this let and impediment could not stand togither but the one must be remoued before the other can shew himselfe in his colors Here then the Apostle giueth them a watch-word concerning the time when the Church of God was to expect the manifestation of Antichrist to wit when this let was remoued and not before then So that the Man of Sinne shall be discouered and then must be discouered when he is at his greatest height Note by the way the Title giuen this Man of Sinne here he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the lawlesse person So that Antichrist is such a one as will be lawlesse subiect and lyable to no law but will ouer-top and ouer-rule all lawes at his pleasure 4. He putteth them in minde of the end of Antichrist after he is reuealed and that is twofold 1. He shall be consumed by the breath of the Lords mouth As Antichrist shall in a speciall manner set himselfe against Christ so will Christ set himselfe in a speciall manner against him and then most when he is greatest Neither will Christ at once vtterly confound him but first he will by litle and litle consume him So that as at the first he grew by litle and litle to his greatnes so he shall by litle and litle be consumed The meanes whereby he will consume Antichrist is by the Spirit of his mouth that is by the word of God and the preaching of the Gospell See Psal. 33.6 and Esai 11.4 It is not sword and speare that shall so much preuaile against Antichrist as the Ministerie of the word Antichrists glory shall more and more vanish the more that it preuaileth This point may giue vs great light in the discouerie of Antichrist and his kingdome and of the open and secret frends thereof 2. He and his kingdome shall be vtterly abolished at the second comming of Christ and not before So that though he be the vilest and most detestable monster that euer was yet he shall not either by the word or sword be vtterly destroide vntill the latter day So that till the day of doome he shall sit in the Temple of God seducing the Saints of God and drawing men from the Gospel of Christ to his idolatry euen vntill the end of the world and then shall he and all his limmes by whose meanes his kingdome hath here bin aduanced be cast into that burning Lake Apoc. 20.10 So that Antichrist now is and hath his kingdome vpon the Earth and shall haue though euery day more and more ruinated vntill the day of doome These are the points which he calleth to their memories which formerly he had taught them and is faine to teach them ouer againe and to apply them as a speciall counter-poyson against that false error that before was mentioned concerning the neerenes of Christs second comming Vers. 9. Whose comming is by the working of Satan with all power signes lying wonders 10. And in all deceiueablenes of vnrighteousnes among them that perish THe Apostle here returneth againe to the description of Antichrist from which he had digressed shewing the meanes whereby this Man of sinne should raise himself to his height and hauing so done should vphold from time to time this his apostaticall kingdome The meanes are Generall or Speciall The generall that he will come with the efficacie of Satan that is Satan especially when he is mounted vp into his chaire of estate will worke mightily and powerfully in and by him so that he shall haue all the helpe and furtherance that Satan can afford him for the aduancement of his kingdome euen as if he and all his Champions were inspired with the diuell and had Beelzebub as a familiar with them to aduize and execute what they would No Iuglers or Coniurers no Witches and Wisards not the Soothsayers of Egypt shall come with that efficacie of Satan that he shall and therefore it must needes be wonderfull powerfull As the Spirit of God is effectuall in the ministers of Christ. Col. 1.29 1 Cor. 14.25 So shall the spirit of Satan be as effectuall to these ends and purposes in the ministers and instruments of Antichrist More particularly he sheweth 1. wherein this efficacie of Satan shall consist and 2. Vpon whome it shall take hold For the former The efficacie of Satan in him shall shew it selfe in procuring him all the power and authoritie that may be and in confirming the same with lying wonders and miracles and by all the wicked and impious fraudes and collusions that may be deuised Which sheweth that Antichrist shall be such a one as shall not deceaue of ignorance but of set purpose and shall propound to himselfe by all deuices that may be to drawe men from the truth against knowledge and conscience It shall be his glory and joy to seduce men and to withdrawe them from the true faith of Christ to the end that he may thereby the more establish his owne kingdome and greatnes vpon earth 2. The persons whome Satan by Antichrist shall seduce are such as shall perish as are reprobates Iud. 4. Apoc. 13.8 9.4 These are the true members of Antichrists kingdome in whom he shall worke most effectually So that the more wicked a man is and the more hated of God the more subiect shall he be to be deceiued by Antichrist and the more that we see men deluded and deceiued by him the more are we to feare their eternall perdition Obiect What Shall Antichrist then deceiue none but those that shall perish Sol Yes euen Gods owne people shall be in Babylon which is Antichrists kingdome Come out of her my people Apoc. 18.4 But they shall bee most effectually deluded that shall perish They shall of all other by the iust iudgement of God be most abused by him So that the vitall members of Antichrist and the peculiar limmes of his kingdome shall be a damned crue of reprobates persons ordained to perdition because they receiued the loue of the truth that they might be saued Here is the reason why those that shall perish shall thus be deceiued because they shewed no loue nor liking nor would giue any intertainment to the truth but despised the meanes
vnto them But in the middest of all his furie they shall be safe and hold on their way to heauen though they be oft foyled and ouerthrowne in the way 2. The certainty and assurance of our election is a mighty and powerfull preseruatiue against Antichrists Apostasie It is that that makes the Apostle vrge the certainty thereof vpon this occasion And this is no doubt the maine cause that makes Antichrist and all his wicked limmes such enemies thereunto There is none that comes once to be perswaded of this that he can haue any hope to seduce And mens carelesnes herein to make their election sure is a great cause that many become such Apostataes Let vs therefore labour by all meanes to come to the assurance thereof and then though Antichrist should bring with him Bishopricks Arch-bishopricks Cardinalships Popedomes with him to allure vs from Christ prisons racks gibbets and fires to terrifie and affright vs yet shall he neuer be able to withdraw vs from him The second degree is that God had done this from the beginning This may be taken either for from all eternitie or for from the fall of Adam In the one sense it is taken for the decree it selfe of Election which is eternall in the other for the first act in the execution thereof out of the corrupt masse of all mankinde in Adam It is needles to contend whether sense is truer or more fitteth this place seeing either sufficiently argueth the vnremoueable loue of God towards them and the one cannot bee vnderstood without the other Now the consideration of this also serueth notably to strengthen this Church against the feare of Apostasie For this election of God was not sudden or since their profession of the Faith but it was a matter decreed of God from all eternitie and began to be executed while they were in the loynes of Adam before they had any personall being So that the loue that God beares to his elect and chosen ones is not a sudden and a rash loue like fire in straw and dry thornes that makes vpon the sudden a great crackling and blazeth but is as soone almost out as in But it is an ancient loue an old affection yea a loue and affection as old as himselfe As soone as euer he was and he euer hath bin he loued them And therefore there is no cause to feare that he will suffer Satan or Antichrist so far to preuaile against them that are so aunciently beloued of him Seeing there can be no cause in them or vs now to make the Lord to cease to loue vs but what hath bin present before the Lord when he began to set his loue on vs and would as well haue moued him then to refuse vs as now to reject vs. Note withall by the way 1. That this may serue as a speciall signe of one elect from eternitie that Antichrist is not able to preuaile against him to withdraw him from the sinceritie of his Christian profession 2. That so long as Antichrist preuaileth against any so long litle hope thereof can be had The third degree followeth which consisteth in the meanes that God hath ordained for the attaining of that saluation which from the beginning he hath elected them vnto The Meanes are Inward Outward The first inward meanes of Saluation is Sanctification which is the puritie of the soule from such filth and pollution as it is capable of or a conformitie of our wills vnto Gods reuealed will whereby the image of God is renued againe in vs. He is an holy and sanctified man that is afraid to do any thing that God would not haue him to do yea that he doth but suspect that God will not approue and whose whole studie is how in all things he may please God Whence we may learne 1. That these two Sanctification and Saluation are not seuered in Gods Election but go togither Those whom God in his Election hath decreed to saue he hath also decreed to sanctifie and his Election is not grounded vpon our holinesse but our holinesse vpon his election So that this Sanctification is the very first act and entrance into our Saluation So long as we are in sinne and vnsanctified so long are we in the gates of Hell yea in Hell though in Heauen But when once we begin to be sanctified then are we within heauen-gate we haue one foote as it were ouer the threshold yea though we were locally amongst the damned and amidst all the Diuels in Hell In regard whereof one once said well in my minde though a Papist that he had rather be in hell without sinne then with sinne euen in heauen Now this Sanctification is described by the Author thereof the Spirit of God By the power of that Spirit whereby they were elected to saluation they are also sanctified And this Sanctification is a worke of God as well as Election and not an act of humane power or will Otherwise there were small comfort in this if we were elected to saluation through such a sanctification as were of mans owne will onely For what hope could we then haue to stand forth against all the temptations and assaults of Satan and Antichrist This sanctification therefore is of Gods owne Spirit He is the first mouer in the same Which argueth that there is in this sanctification a diuine efficacie and power indeed such as against which all the gates of Hell are not able to preuaile For it is not a dead or senseles qualitie of the soule but a qualitie that hath a Spirit in it that turnes and moues about all the motions that are in a mans soule And where Gods owne Spirit turnes the wheele one way it passeth the strength of all the Spirits in Hell to turne it an other way So that whosoeuer feeles these motions in him for they are not dead and senseles motions may thereby assure himselfe that he is one of Gods elect and one that though Antichrist should mingle heauen and earth togither yet shall he not be able to preuaile against him to his ruine and confusion Note withall that it being the sanctification of the Spirit man cannot merit thereby For what can man merit with God by that which he hath from the Spirit of God and for which therefore he standeth bound and endebted vnto God The second inward meanes is Faith in the Truth Whether this be first or second in nature I will not stand here to discusse according to the diuers acceptions or degrees of sanctification it may be in nature before or after but in time they are togither There can be no true sanctification of the heart till faith be in the heart nor can there be faith in the heart before there be sanctification there Now this is then when the sanctifying Spirit of God doth in that manner reueale vnto the elect childe of God so much of Gods will as is needfull for him to know and practise for his owne saluation that he assenteth
vnto it and embraceth it This Faith and Sanctification go hand in hand togither The motions of a sanctified spirit goe no further then the light of this truth and this eye of faith doth direct And what neede they feare to be seduced or drawne out of the way that haue such a Spirit to moue them such an eye and light and rule to direct them Vers. 14. Wherevnto he hath called you by our Gospell to obtaine the glory of our Lord Iesus Christ. THe outward meanes whereby the inward meanes were wrought was the Ministerie of the Apostles and Euangelists which he calleth their Gospell Whereby he declareth that whatsoeuer they ministred to the people it was the Gospell and therefore that we that are Ministers should tread in their steps and minister that onely to Gods people that we may avow to be Gospell By this Ministerie being nothing else but the Ministerie of the Gospell were they called saith the Apostle to sanctification and faith in the truth The Gospell then yea our Gospell .i. the Ministerie of the Gospell practised and instituted by the Apostles is Gods owne consecrated instrument whereby the Spirit worketh sanctification faith Thus doth the Lord honor his Ministerie So that they which are the despisers thereof neuer had any true faith or sanctification and therefore are a prey to Antichrist And surely who are they that he preuaileth against in our Kingdome Are they not manifest despisers of this ordinance For as for those that are called by the same vnto sanctification and faith they cannot but honor it as the blessed instrument of their conuersion and eternall saluation He sheweth further wherein the end of this their Ministerie consisted in calling of them to the obtaining of the glory of Christ. i. of that euerlasting glory and happines by Christ which Christ our Head himselfe in Heauen now enioyeth So that this is a notable meanes to debase the glory of Antichrist to fix our eyes on the glory that Christ hath purchased for vs and is entred into heauen to take seisen and possession of in our behalfe And surely one maine cause why a many are so carried away with the glittering shewes of Antichrists pompous estate is because they haue not their mindes set nor the eyes of their soules fixed on that wonderfull and vnutterable and inconceiuable glory that for all Christs faithfull followers is prepared in heauen All the glory of Antichrist would be vile in their eyes if they so did Vers. 15. Therefore Brethren stand fast and keepe the instructions which you haue bin taught either by word or by our Epistle THe Use and Application followeth As if he had said Seeing you haue so great matter of comfort Brethren stand fast c. Wherein we are to consider these 3. things 1. The dutie that he exhorteth them vnto 2. The ground of the dutie 3. The meanes of performing of the dutie The dutie is that they stand fast It is a metaphor borrowed from Souldiers who in brunt of battell gather their strength togither that they may not be ouerthrowne So he would haue them to do to gather togither all the strength they can that they may stand against the brunt and storme of Antichrist Whence we may learne 1. The beloued and elect of God shall bee powerfully and strongly assaulted by the Man of sinne and in great danger to fall into the Apostasie aforesaid if they looke not vnto themselues 2. That they must therefore gather all their force and strength togither to stand strongly to the defence of the true faith and religion that no tempests and stormes may remoue them from it 2. The ground of this dutie is implied in the word Therefore i. Seing that the Lord hath elected you c therefore stand fast The doctrine then of the certainty of our saluation and of our election is not a doctrine of securitie but it hath this nature in whomsoeuer it is found to stir vp men so much the more to stand to the truth So that the more that a man is assured of his saluation the more he will striue to keep the faith So that if he should see his name written in the booke of life yet would not this make him wax secure but so much the more carefull to please God and so much the more resolute against the enemies of God If a man should know that his body were in that case that he could not be slaine in battell howsoeuer he might be wounded maimed and hurt would that make him to yeeld himselfe to his enemies or to suffer them to wound and hurt him Would it not rather make him fight so much the more couragiously 3. The meanes follow of performing this dutie whereby they and all other may stand fast The first is that they hold fast or lay a sure hand as the word signifieth vpon the Apostles Traditions These Traditions are all such Ordinances of religion and diuine worship as were taught and established by the Apostles and Euangelists whether by word or by Epistle For vnto them whom the Apostles with their owne mouths preached their words were of equall authoritie with their writings But with vs to whom they neuer spake their writings onely are authenticall and not their words because we know not what they spake more then they writ 1. The dutiâ— then is this to lay hold with both hands on the doctrine of the Apostles and not to suffer any part or parcell thereof to be wrung forth of our hands 2. This shewes the meanes whereby Antichrist hath so much preuailed for that men haue not held fast the Apostles traditions but the Churches of Christ haue suffred now one Ordinance and then an other to be wrung out of their hands Vers. 16. Now the same Iesus Christ our Lord and our God euen the Father which hath loued vs and hath giuen vs euerlasting consolation and good hope through grace 17. Comfort your hearts and stablish you in euery word and good worke THe second meanes of standing fast is in the hand of God and it is twofold 1. Consolation of the heart Except the Lord from heauen send a comfortable and cheerefull heart that it be not daunted and terrified one shall hardly hold fast Whereas so long as the Lord comforteth the heart so long we shall vphold and maintaine the faith 2. God must also establish vs and confirme vs in euery word and good worke that we may so carry our selues in word and deed that we giue no aduantage to the aduersarie For if Antichrist can trip vs in either he will giue vs a dangerous blow The Apostle therefore concludeth this matter with a prayer to Iesus Christ and to God the Father stirring him thereunto by mention of that free fauour of his toward them whereby in Christ he hath loued them and giue them euerlasting consolation by putting them in good hope of eternall saluation through grace Thereby teaching vs that the maine ground of our assurance of future