pragmatick fellows made it a snare to tender consciences of the Kings party by pressing it upon them and oppressing those that refused it This was doubtlesse a grosse sinne but it cannot properly be laid to their charge as if they thereby intended to make a party for themselves against the King but to make all within their Garisons and Commands both Ministers and People true Subjects to the King to the Lawes and the Protestant Religion Whiles this was strictly observed in the Parliaments Quarters Iesuites and Popish Priests were not so frequent nor so bold as since they have beene amongst us 3. As to that of throwing down of Bishops a double scandal is taken if not given thereby 1. In their manner of proceeding without and against the King which in it self was absolute usurpation for though they did send to the King to passe it yet they resolved upon his denyal to proceed which was an absolute denyall of his Negative voyce in which implicitely they denyed him to be their Soveraign 2. In throwing down the ancient Government of the Church by Bishops which Government hath continued in the Church since the Apostles time unquestioned until within these hundred yeers and then the Orthodox onely questioned their Persons not their Office onely the Anabaptists cryed down the Office as Antichristian Now for the Parliament under pretence of Reformation of Religion to cast off that primitive Government universally received in the Churches without and against the consent of the King and solemnly ingage others in the same thing seems to be a most rash and incâ—…nsiderate act done out of blinde mislead zeale or an ungodly act done wilfully to bring to ruine the Protestant Church of England to rob the Church of its Maintenance and ruine the learned Clergie of the Nation Here we must answer leâ—…t both innocent persons and a good Cause suffer 1. The Parliament intended not by throwing down the English Hierarchie to throw down any Worship Discipline or Government according to the word of God for then their second Article would clash with the first in the Covenant so that their meaning is they will extirpate so much of Prelacy as shall be found contrary to the word of God and the Example of the best reformed Churches I suppose by Churches they meant the purest Primitive Churches for all these late Reformed Protestant Churches did before we thought of a Reformation yeild that we were better reformed then they We hold the Calvinists the best reformen Churches but saith learned Beza to the praise of the English Protestant Bishops Let the Church of England injoy this singular bounty of God which I wish may be hers for ever So far was he from thinking it a piece of Reformation to pull them down Calvin Bucer Luther Melancton Zâ—…nchy Chamier are all of them no enemies to Bishops though professed enemies to the Superstitious Idolatrous Practices of Bishops in that Age. Every solid Protestant is so far from thinking the Office of a Bishop to be Antichristian that he rather thinks it a high degree of Antichristianism to oppose that Office this is as we have shewed to deny the Father and the Son for he that denyeth an Apostle or the Successoâ—…s of an Apostle in the Office of the Ministry denyeth Christ and he that denyeth Christ denyeth God that sent him Charity therefore makes me hope that the sincere Protestants what ever other subtil Foxes designed intended no otherwise by that second Article in the Covenant then to reduce the Church of England to a Primitive Purity by removing Popish Prelates and all those humane Institutions depending on the English Hierarchy if through Error they were mis-led from the right means to this end the discovery of that Error may seasonably reduce them into a right way for wise men never think it a shame to repent It is most certain that the intent of the sincere Covenanters was to reâ—…ine not ruine the Ministry by pulling down the English Hierachy they struck not at the order of the Ministry but at the degree of Episcopacy they struck at the Discipline of the English Church therein more then at the Ministry for they pulled down Bishops as they were Superintendants over their brethren not as Ministers so that they took away their degree above their brethren but left them standing in their order as Ministers Bishops lost not their Order by the Covenant but their Degree for though they are in a distinct degree above the Presbyters which have ever been allowed them in the purest Churches since Christ time yet they never were a distinct order from the Presbyters neither the Scripture nor the Fathers make them so so that Aerius an ancient Writer in that saith truth a Bishop and a Presbyter are joined in the same Commission the Bishop imposeth hands so doth the Presbyter the Bishop administers the Sacraments and dispenseth the Ordinances so doth the Presbyter so that essentially there is no difference betwixt them what is is only gradual Now here lies the great question Whence they had this degree above their fellow Ministers in the Church If they had this from Apostolical Institution then without all doubt it was a grieveous sin in any Civil Power to pull it down and they that convenanted so to do did unadvisedly and foolishly But if this degree of Episcopacy be but an Ecclesiastical Institution though of great Antiquity the case is altered there cannot be an absolute necessity of its immutability Meer humane Institutions admit of alterations Hierom and Epiphanius say They were set up as a remedy against Schism and Heresie long after Presbytery But to come to the thing suppose this degree to be as probably it is an Apostolical Institution which continued unquestionable in the Church for many hundred years Yet here the question will still be Whether since the grand Apostasie that Paul prophesies of there hath not been an Apostasie from this Institution whether this Institution in the Apostasie did not contract much corruption This is granted by all the Protestant English Bishops especially by the late Lord Primate of England B. Laud in his Conference with Fisher Bishop Jewel and Bishop Downam hence these two latter conclude That the Hierarchy of Rome is so corrupted and apostatized from its Primitive Institution that it is become the Antichristian State nay more then that they call it the Antichrist That question then which concerns us is Whether the Hierarchy of England were so exactly conformable to the Primitive Institutution as that it needed no alteration These two things are granted 1. That the persons in that Hierarchy needed to be reformed for some of them were profâ—…ssed Papists and the most of them bitter enemies to a powerful and a painful Orthodox Ministry 2. That whatsoever is built upon an humane foundation may upon humane or divine considerations be taken down again if so then those Titles Offices and Dignities conferred meerly by men may be taken away but
enemies superstition and profanenesse have in all ages been to a powerfull and orthodox Ministry Which Ministry was hereby not onely exposed to the scorn and hatred of the people but also made liable to the Prelates persecution for did they but withstand their popish Innovations or but a little swerve from their rigorous injunctions immediately followed bitter persecutions thereby many eminently learned and godly Ministers as you may read in Mr. Clarks Lives an impartial Writer were silenced suspended vexed discouraged sequestred imprisoned and some inforced to leave the Kingdome Mean while superstitious scandalous popish and profane persons were admitted into Orders countenanced encouraged and preferred Thus did the prevailing Faction of popish Prelates for all were not so prove like those Angels Revel 7. 1. holding the winde of the Gospel from blowing on the Church of England Nor was this all but needs must these Popish Reformers go to Scotland an ancient Reformed Church that was no enemy to the ancient primitive Government of Bishops and kept the Doctrine of Christ pure though God for her security and profaneness had many things against her of which this rod was a special warning The Church of Scotland rejecting the usurpation of the English Prelates who did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in going about to exercise an unknown Iurisdiction over them these revengefull Prelates putting off all humanity and Christianity to satisfie their hellish lusts thought it more fit that their Soveraign the Lords Annointed should hazzard his own life and the lives of his Nobles together with the losse of the bloud of innocent Protestants the Kings faithfull Subjects on both sides in an unnatural War to the reproach of Religion the endangering of both Kingdoms and the infinite expence of treasure then they be crossed in carrying on their designes against the innocent Church of Scotland This War begun by them was the beginning of the Brittish Wars which Wars have ruined the Brittish Royall Family the Brittish Nobles with many of their Families the ancient Brittish Laws and the Brittish reformed Church and all begun by a brutish Clergie in that Church Cursed be their wrath for it is cruell These fire-brands of State made the Bishops odious to the Gentry and Commonalty of both the Nations insomuch that when a Parliament was called which they were accidentally the cause of a certain party of the Commons of the Parliament animated by the preposterous Petitions of the over-zealous people and 't is more then probable incouraged by some of the covetous Nobility who thereby intended to make purchase of their Lands resolved to be satisfied with nothing but the utter extirpation of Episcopacy Here a fallacy was put upon the honest hearted Protestants in the Kingdome for the subtil Lawyers of the House of Commons whose Speeches were alwayes most prevalent in that House envying the wealth and dignity of the Clergie vehemently pressed that in stead of questioning the guilty they would accuse all the Bishops and in stead of questioning their persons they would pul down their Order purposely to take away the Iurisdiction This was carried on by a private faction of Polititians in the House who drew in many honester then themselves into the Designe which although not then yet since hath been discovered The Prelates it mainly concerning them at that time clearly discovered the Designe and thereupon were most firmly united Whereas had it been for a personall reformation amongst them which the grave and moderate Members desired or removing Innovations brought in by the Popish Faction amongst them they would many of them have hung more loose if not altogether sided with the Parliament against the upholders of any Doctrines or Discipline against the true Reformed Religion especially since the King declared himself at this time for a reformation of abuses crept into the Church and having respect unto tender consciences But here lieth such a mystery of iniquity that the wisest and most scrutiâ—…ous in States mysteries cannot discover On whom to charge the overthrow of Episcopacy and the Church Government of a long time continued in their hands in the general wee know but on whom to charge the designes against the Protestant Religion in their overthrow we know not or at least wise nunc non est narrandi locus It is true the Primate of England with the insolent faction at Court became odious to the Nobility and Gentry about the Court and those of his faction elsewhere stepping up into civill Offices in the State made them odious to the Lawyers of the Kingdome whose Offices they usurped The schismaticall Separatists made it one of the chief principles of their Religion to oppose them concluding that man to have true illumination to salvation that had his eyes opened to see Episcopacy to be Antichristian The generality of the sincere Professors of the Gospel were much grieved at the barbarous rigour of their Discipline in suspending silencing and molesting learned godly orthodox Ministers because they would not wear a Surplice signe with the Crosse stand at the Creed kneel at the Sacrament observe a superstitious holi-day but most of all they were grieved that such persecution should befall them for refusing to read the book of Sports to their people a most abominable book giving liberty to people to profane the Lords day The people also generally disliked their rigour in citing them to their Courts for working on Holi-dayes or marrying without a Licence or upon a groundlesse suspicion of inchastitie Many such poor pretences meerly to drain the peoples purses did their Officers make Thus had the Prelatick party drawn the odium of the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty upon them and now a Parliament being called and in that Parliament severall Members of both Houses professed enemies to their Degree and not onely to their degree in the Church as Bishops but to their Office as since they professe as Ministers upon what designe may easily be conjectured These members also being popular took the opportunity of lifting these Protestant Churches off their hinges whiles the eyes of all men were on them for a Reformation Here I say was the fallacy that whiles they pretended to root out Popish pollution they struck at the very root of Primitive purity whiles they pretended to reform Episcopacy they struck at the very Office of the Ministry as now that wound being searched to the bottom discovers to us The King and his party saw to the bottom of this wound many yeers since Those Remonstrances now seem full of Prophecies which we have seen fulfilled But lest we should seem to throw dirt upon the Parliament and the Purliaments cause we must distinguish of a threefold party which sate in the house in plain truth the Parliaments covenant distinguisheth them There was a Popish party a Protestant party and a Schismaticall party the Protestant party made this covenant against the other two parties This Protestant party maintained the Protestant cause against all other parties No Protestant can be
characterizeth Some Learned men take this Prophesie of Pauls to be so clear a description of Antichrist that they say 't is a Commentary on Iohn who hath writ the Mysterie of Antichrist Without all doubt Paul doth say much of Antichrist in this place if we were able to dive into the bottom of his profound mysteries but the wel is deep and the cords of our abilities are but short so that we cannot go so deep as he hath digged in this sacred Fountain But of all learned sayings to this purpose give me that eminent Prideaux I mean Prideaux the Divine who saith thus ' Daniel ' hath discussed Antichrist Typically Paul more cleerly hath ' drawn him out Topically and Iohn in Rev. chap 13. 17. hath ' described him more fully I am very confident that Rev. 13. 17. do set forth the Antichrist together with this Prophecie of Paul's more fully then any other Chapters in the whole Bible In the touching upon this Prophecie we shall first endeavour to shew Pauls method and then his meaning This following is Paul ' s Analysis of the Antichrist In this prophesie is foretold the great things that shal be visible in the gosp Church before the day of Judgement which are in generall two 1. The general Apostasie is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 3. 2. The manifestation of the Man of sin the Antichrist who is described by a threefold Character 1. By his nature and that 2 wayes 2. By the time of his appearing in the world which is demonstrated 3 wayes 3. By his actions when he doth appear which are set forth by their 1. By his names given to him which are five 2. By his qualities ver 4. which are four 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 4. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 8. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 11. 1 He is a self-seeker 2 A rebell against Magistracy and Ministry 3 He is a specious hypocrite 4 An usurper over the people of God 1. By a demonstration à priori ver 5 6. they had been taught it before 2. By an ocular demonstration à praesenti ver 7. from the mystery of iniquity then working viz. to overthrow the Church From the likenesse of that present to the mystery to come the Apostle argues 3. A causa impediente from the impediments that kept down this man of Sin he argues to the time of his appearing ver 8. 1. Kind diabolical with power signes lying wonders and all deceivableness ver 9. 10. 2. Effects which are to seduce professors loose and hypocritical professors v. 11. 3. Issue end viz. the everlasting damnation of himself and followers v. 12. whose followers are characterized c. CHAP. II. NOw we come to shew the meaning of these words which that we may we wil endeavour to read them right Ver. 3. Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed that son of perdition So our English Translation reads it and to this sense do all or the most of the Latine Translations read it yet all of them acknowledg that there is not one Iota of that clause That day shall not come in the Greek Copy Those that take not in this supply of words make the sense go lame as the Syrack Interpreter Tremelius and the Vulgar Translation And how to add these words to the Copy I know not I confess I know what the Learnedâ—… say in defence of it They say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is when one through vehemency cutteth off some part of a sentence yet so as that the whole may be understood so that the Apostles words import as much as this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this brings it just to our English Translation and for confirmation of this manner of reading the Text they affirm that this figure of speech is commonly found among the Greek Writers But I much question whether all this will give a man sufficient warrant to adde these words in a Translation I confess they would do well in a Paraphrase I am sure it is the safest and best way for a Translator to keep to the Copy as near as he can to a word and therefore I shall beg leave to seek out some other English reading nearer to the word The great stumble is made at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which being not looked on as an Hebraism may be one cause of not discerning the Apostles emphatical expression therein it is true indeed that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a casual conjunction and so it is usually found both in Humane and Divine Authors but in this place I humbly conceive that it is neither particula causativa nor illativa but affirmativa and so the Learned tell us that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est particula affirmantis and also that it is used asseverandi causâ so veryemphatically the Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used in 1 Ioh. 3. 20. For if our hearts condemn us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verily God is greater then our hearts and with submission I conceive that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Iohn 8. 24 should be translated verily 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Verily ye shall dye in your sins like unto this is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Matth. 7. 23. Verily I never knew you it is used by way of asseveration And then the next Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is translated in several places of Scripture but as Matthew 26 42. Father if this cup may not passe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But I must drink it and in Galat. 2. 16. A man is not justified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but by faith And it is Learnedly observed by one that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is answerable is translated by the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but Genesis 24. 38. Beza translates it quin in the Text so that wee may read it to a word thus Verily but there shall come the Apostasie first and that man of sin shall be revealed So that this seemes to be the sense You Thessalonians by false Teachers that pretend to have revelation are taught that the day of Judgement is near at hand but we that have the true spirit of Prophesie doe assuredly know the contrary it is no such matter but verily there must come the Apostasie first and the man of sin must be revealed before that day come There is more to do for the Church then to passe presently from Egypt to Canaan they shall find a barren wildernesse to passe through and there Serpents shall bite them and enemies shall annoy them and thirst shall afflict them The Church the Spouse must be conformable while she is militant to Christ her Husband when he was militant Now Christ before in
iniquity say the last learned Notes upon the Bible is opposed to the mystery of godlinesse 1 Tim 3. 16. But to read it to a word from the Greek Copie it is not to be read mystery of iniquity but the mystery of the Illegality Beza reads it mysterium illud istius abolitionis legis that mystery of the abolition of the law so that that which stands in opposition to it is the plain and known path of God and Natures law for what is opposite to a mystery but plainness open clearness and what stands in opposition to illegality but Gods natures mans lawes so that this mystery of iniquity or illegality is a slie and cunning revolting from Gods lawes natures lawes mans lawes which they do that râ—…bell against and withdraw their allegiance from the higher powers in the State and the higher powers in the Church now this the Church of Rome hath done in casting off the Supremacie of the Emperour and setting up an usurping Tyrant in opposition both to Magistracy and Ministery debarring both of the exercise of their just power Now whereas the Greek Copie by both the Articles points to some speciall and peculiar mystery of illegality wherein Magistracy and Ministery shall be eminently rebelled against it is manifest that it points at the slaying of the Witnesses at the time of Antichrists appearing and this is clear from the subsequent sense for this mystery of iniquity shall have a stop curb or let and shall be inforced to cloke its illegalities in a mystery untill it can remove that which lieth in the way now the two witnesses are the let which vexeth and tormenteth the promoters of this illegality and hence it is that the followers of the Antichrist who slay the two Witnesses and remove the let do rejoyce and make merry and send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth they curbed the promoters of the illegality in their Career and so tor mented them but when they two are removed then is the Exlex or Generalissâ—…mo of this illegality revealed and then is the mystery no more a mystery but Revel 17. 5. written upon the womans forehead the Church of Rome's forehead Thus much I humbly conceive upon Scâ—…ripture grounds the mystery of iniquity in this place imports Now worketh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how did this mystery of illegality work in the Apostles time Beza and several other learned men answer in Iohns words 1 Iohn 2. 18. Now are there many Antichrists the mystery of illegality was begun by many Antichrists but it shall be finished by the Antichrist and his followers who are called false Christs and false prophets Matth. 24. But Paul had just cause to declare so much from the very doctrine of those seducers which in the beginning of the Chapter he refutes for the designe of the seducers was principally to defame Paul as a Preacher of false doctrine and so to cast him out of the affections of the Church of Thessalonica Here though mysteriously the seducers struck at the two great Offices of Magistracie and Ministery in the Church in striking at Paul for Paul as an Apostle was both Magistrate and Minister in the Church The Apostles were extraordinary Officers they had something of all the three Offices of Christ resplendent in them hence it was as some learned amongst the Ancients think that during the continuation of their extraordinary Office on earth that Majesticall rite of anointing whom they pleased with oil continued it was a badge of their power which was communicated to them by the Holy Ghost from the great High Priest that had made a generall and universall and all-sufficient atonement by the mighty sacrifice of his slain body upon the Crosse and afteâ—… that ascended into the holy of holies the heaven of heavens from whence he sent his Spirit to invest his twelve Apostles with power befitting the companions of such a mighty King Priest and Prophet so that anointing with oil after Christs ascension in the Church was a badge of honour and power in the persons anointing they were the sons of oil so that he that struck at an Apostle struck at all the three offices of Christ and therefore these seducers in going to undermine the Apostle and supplant him struck at Gods mans and natures law for if they could any way have proved the Apostles doctrine to be false his office had fallen to the ground so that the mystery of the illegality began in these seducers subtile practices to work then Estius conceives that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to be expounded passively now it begins to be acted now the Devils Play was begun his Histrio's were now entered upon the Stage and begun to act their severall parts here he was but in his first Act but now he hath brought it usque ad quintum Actum by which I guesse his Play is almost at an end CHAP. VIII FOr the mystery of iniquity now worketh only until what letteth be taken out of the way The meaning is as I conceive that the great Apostasie worketh alone without the appearing of the Antichrist until the slaying of the Witnesses so he said before in verse 3. Before the day of judgement there shall come the grand Apostasie and then the revelation of the man of sin first the apostasie and then the Antichrist after that until what letteth be taken out of the way Here is the exact precise time prefixed of the Antichrists appearing and the slaying of the Witnesses together with the finishing of Apostasie Parallel with this text is that in Revel 11. 7. When they have finished their testimony the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them and overcome thom this text when and the other text until are parallel for in this the mystery of the illegality which verse 3. he calls the apostasie is to work alone until what letteth be removed and in Revel 11. the Church was to be under foot by the same Gentile apostasie until the Witnesses had finished their testimony This until is also parallel with that until in Rom. 11. 25. where mention is made of the Iews unbelief under the Roman Monarchy until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in and so Israel shall be saved Where observe the time of the Witnesses slaying and rising again is the time when the Jewes shall be converted the same untill we finde in Luke 21. 24. which tells us how long the Jews dissipation and the Gentile Churches affliction shall by the Gentile Apostasie be inflicted even until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled Parallel also with the Texts until is that when Revel 10. 7. In the dayes of the seventh Angel when he shall begin to sound the mystery of God or the great mystery the mystery of mysteries shall be finished then there shall be time for the apostasie no longer Untill what letteth be removed out of the way Of
Ἡ απωστασία ὠἀντιχÏιστος OR A Scriptural Discourse of the Apostasie and the Antichrist by way of Comment upon the twelve first Verses of 2 Thess. 2. Under which are opened many of the dark Prophecies of the Old TESTAMENT which relate to the calling of the IEWS and the glorious things to be effected at the seventh Trumpet through the World Together With a discourse of slaying the Witnesses and the immediate effects thereof Written For the consolation of the Catholike Church especially the Churches of England Scotland and Ireland By E. H. REVEL 16. 15. Behold I come as a Thief Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments clean He which testifieth these things saith I come quickly Printed Anno Dom. 1653. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND AND Profound Prophetick Text men of ENGLAND Most Reverend Fathers THe Author of this short-leg'd Treatise doth humbly submit and submissively present these his mean endeavours to you whether his presumption in writing it or presenting it be the greater he knows nâ—…t upon second thoughts he blâ—…sheth at both and for both craves pardon of you His designes in it are honest and may plead his excuse hereby he would publickly acquit himselfe of the two great sins of this age Vaine glory and Heresie for though it may plausibly passe in the world amongst ordinary capacities yet you are able to discerne such failings in it as may for ever keepe him humble And Hereticks seldome or never submit their opinions to the learned his main designe is to provoke you to this honourable imployment for since he as a single spie walking along these goodly Prophesies hath made such a comfortable discovery his hopes are that you as so many Joshuah's will enter in and by removing those obscurities and false glosses which as so many Sons of Anack stand in our way give us peaceably to possesse the length and the breadth of those rich and fruitfull Prophesies For his owne part he professeth he hath been in the midst of these mellifluous Texts but as a little Bee fallen into an Ocean of Hony which after much delightfull dabling and much adoe to get out by that little be hath brought away discovers the Ocean hee hath left behind So far hath the Author been from pressing any Texts to serve him that they have pressed him in their service he thought to have gon but one mile with them and they made him goe with them twaine These Texts found him as David found the Amelekites servant faint and sick and hungry and ready to die but by their Spirituall revivings they put strength and life into him to make discovery of those accursed Amalekites who have totally devoured Ziglag the Kings and the Churches inheritance This weake Tract beggs of you most reverend Fathers as that fainting Aegyptian did of David that you will not kill it nor deliver it into the hands of these Amalekires It lies at your mercy and without your mercy at the merciless cruelty of brutish and unnaturall men it is as Lot without doors in the midst of Sodom unlesse you prove its gardian Angells and pluck it within the doâ—…res of your protection It is without you a fatherlesse friendlesse harbâ—…urlesse stranger in a strange Common wealth it was brought forth in the Dogg dayes of the Church whiles the Author laboured under the 〈◊〉 Feavor of the States displeasure in a Prison and now t is abroad far worse then the Foxes or the foâ—…ls of the times it hath not where to put its â—…ead It hath trod like constant Ruth in the wearie steps of its beloved Mother the Church though as a Widow she sit alone and have changed her name to Marah And as that vertuous Daughter it hath sought amongst the Learned for a benevolent Kinsman but unlike to her it hath return'd from their imbraces as Abishag from the royall bed untouch't The subject of the Treatise is unquestionably excellent it is of the Apostasie and the Antichrist and of the finishing and finall conclusion of both at the seventh Trumpet Oh the glorious things that are to be done at the sounding of the seventh Trumpet the meditations whereof revive the soul as another Sacrament Augustine wished in a misselanious mood 1. Videre Christum in carne conversantem 2. cernere Romam in flore ac pristino imperii splendore triumphantem 3. Audire Paulum in Cathedrâ fulminantem Might I have my wish in this world it should be auscultare septimam tubam clangentem Then shall the witnesses be established the twelve Tribes converted and restored to be a Monarchy againe great Babilon shall fall and the Nations of the world shall bow to Christs Scepter the Dragon the Beast and the false-Prophet shall be cast into the lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone These great things are foretold both by the Prophets of the Old and New Testament The Author as an humble and diligent hand-maid having laid himselfe down at the royall feet of these bigg-bellied Prophecies from thence ariseth and hasts to you the skilfull and expert Midwives to assure you that they groane and travell in pain together longing to be delivered of what the Churches expectation waits for viz. the glorious kinde of manifestation of the Son of God at the seventh Trumpet He humbly craves pardon for his hasty comming in an unready dresse into your presence his hast from them to you is that you may make the greater hast to them a high esteeme both of you and them hath put him on beyond his naturall boldnesse to what he hath done in all he hath done or whatsoever he shall do or suffer he desires to expresse himself An obedient Son and Servant to the Church and State of ENGLAND H. The Authors Preface to the Reader IT may justly be thought a high presumption for so low a person to undertake in such a learned age so lofty a task had the Author only weighed his own weaknes the fear alone of falling under the weight of so great an Argument would have taught his humble thoughts to have pitcht upon a lower subject In it self the Subject is most comfortable necessary and profitable and to speak in Gregory Nazianzens words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most sutable to the present season Though we owe an equal respect to truth in general yet some particular Truths at some times call for our more necessary defence therefore Peter adviseth us to be established 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the present truth 'T is the part of a true Souldier and of a true Christian too to repair to that guard against which the enemy makes his nearest approaches 'T is needless to tell the Church how these Prophetick Texts have their beautiful faces beaten black and blue by the polluted fists of presumptuous Iâ—…iots they lye openly woundâ—…d and bleeding and miserably stript of their proper Vâ—…stments whiles learned Cowards like the merciless Levite pass them by The Author not only by the Rabins Lawes by reason of his
years but by the Lawes of God and conscience might better by reason of his disabilities be excused from this high undertaking then any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For 't is not he that cannot do these things saith Nazianzen that shall be brought to judgment but he that can and will not shall bear the punishment Zeal rather then abilitie provoked the Author to this Work for how can any Christian endure to see and hear such ignominious things spoken and done against the City of our God without vexation If natural bowels caused Moses to pity that faulty Princesse his Sister when her face was leprous how much more ought the bowels of grace in us to cause us to mourn for our innocent mother the Church which is strip'd of all her wealth and children and with Job sits full of botches and boiles upon the dunghill of Anarchy without a comforter Vindication of a private innocent person upon a Civil account is honourable much more the vindication of a Church and State upon a Religious account This work properly belongs to the Sword and the Gown the Gown dirâ—…cts the Sword and the Sword protects the Gown and bâ—…th together protect the Church and State from injuries when bâ—…th by usurpation are exempted that Church and State lies open to all manner of Antichristian injuries and in such a case 't is the duty of a true born son of the Church to vindicate wherein he may the Church and State whereof he is a member There are foul aspersions cast upon the Church and State this day by the Papists and Apostates of this Age both which within these seven yeers were like the dogs in Egypt when Israel passed out dumb not daring to bark as now they do blasphemously against a Reformation then these Philistimes cryed as they in Samuel Wo unto us who shall deliver us out of the hands of these mighty Gods But since by the success of War they have taken the Ark they so much feared and broke the neck of Eli in the place of Iudgment I mean the Prince and the Priest for Eli was both they now subject the Ark of God to their cursed Dagon and where is he that fears the Lord and is not much affected with griefe herat Who cannot now read Ichabod upon the face of every thing Apostates those Vipers within the belly of the Church have gnawed their way out through the bowels of it and they proclaim it impudently that the Reformed Protestant Religion is Antichristianism which is as much as to say except you utterly renounce it you will undoubtedly be damned by it this our quondam brethren and fellow Professors of the same Religion with us say against us and our Religion from which they have Apostatized The Papists insult over us and our Religion to their great advantage and our shame for what say they Who would be of that Religion that leads men to Rebellion Murder Perjury Blasphemy Heresie and all manner of heathenish practices whereas we old Roman Catholiks are firm to the principles of our Religion we are where we were hundreds of years agoe Those and such like aspersions on the true Religion together with the innumerable swarmes of Romish Popish Seminaries dispersing their doctrines and books together into every corner of the nation have brought of late very many fishes to their nets which so encourageth them that they have dared to attempt the Seduction of many eminent and solid protestants Some persons of honor they have on our knowledg drawn lately from the Protestant Religion by their impetuous urging of the late monstrous actings of the English Protestants Thus do these two parties or rather one party in two shapes like a pair of sheers in the Divels hand cut the Protestant cause in pieces To the first of these our treatise answers describing the Antichrist and his followers from many texts especially from 1 John 2. 16 22. 1. They went out from us us i. e. The Ministry they forsook the Assembly of Saints 2. They are not of us i. e. they are false brethren that once in outward profession were of the Church but when they saw their time 〈◊〉 the Church by a separation from the Church Assemblies and the orâ—…ined Ministers of those Assemblies this is the disposition of the Antichrist and his followers And then there is the siâ—… which formally maketh Antichrist in v. 22. and that chiefly lieth in two things 1. In denying Iesus to be the Christ Now he that denieth the annointed offices of Iesus denieth Iesus to be the Christ. The annointed offices are the Kingly office and the Priestly office which whosoever resisteth rebelleth against or revolteth from is said to deny So Rom. 13. 2. He that resisteth thâ—… lawful Magistrate is said to resist the ordinance of God and so far as he resists Gods ordinance he resists God for man can make-no other visible resistance of God 2. The second thing which maketh Antichrist formally to be the Antichrist is he denieth the Father and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This canâ—… be interpreted but of the offices of Christ Fâ—…r if it 〈◊〉 a liâ—…ral meaning there are millions of Antichrists in the world and the generality of them out of the Church which is absurd and erroneous to affirm But that we may unlock this mysterie of Johns with his Masters Key let us turn to Luke 10. 16. and Matth. 10. 40. And we shal plainly see what 's meant by denying the Father and the Son in plain termes 't is the rejecting and despising of the Ministers the Ambassadors of Christ mark the words He that despiseth you despiseth me Saith Christ to his Apostles by whom were represented the Ministers of Christ in the succeeding ages and he that despiseth me i. e. the Son despiseth him that sent me i. e. the Father So that he that despiseth a Minister of the Gospel or any of the annointed offices of Iesus despiseth the Father and the Son what then dâ—…th he do that destroys these offices Thus you have a spiritual description of the Antichrist in vindication of the Church of England from Apostates in it and Tyrants and usurpers over it More you may find in the insuing discourse But to the last the Papist though nâ—…t the least enemy of the Protestant Church though lesse violent yet not lesse subtil nor malicious then the former Whereas they say our religion leads us to heresie murder rebellion blaspemy and Profaneness we that are protestants deny it by affirming 1. That there is not one principle in the Protestant Religion that tollerates heresie murder rebellion or blasphemie 2. That the general consent of the Protestant Churches are against heresie rebellion murder and blasphemie and have publickly protested against it 3. Those that have by their pens or publick acts pleaded for or practised murder rebellion heresie or blasphemie are such as have made an open Apostasie from their former professions and practices or such as have concealed from the publick view
their opinions tending that way 4. Those that practice such abominations are gone out from us whereby they have manifested to the world they were not of us Now for the Papists hence to insult and say where is your English Church whâ—…ts become of the Protestant Religion 't is a false Religion and a false Church We Answer that the Church of England stands â—…pon its old foundations viz upon the Apostles and Prophets from which the Church of Rome is miserably fallen both in doctrine and discipline That there are apostates from the Protestant Religion in this nation is manifestly true but this makes not the Church of England the lesse a true Church We cannot say that a figtree because it hath much rotâ—…en fruit fallen from it is therefore a thorn The Spirit speaketh expresly that in the later times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Divels speaking lies in hypocrisie having their consciences seared with an hot iron Observe here that where the true Church is there shall be Apostates Seducers Blasphemers Lyers Murderers Hypocrites Therefore 'T is a signe where these are the true Church is as by the Eagles gathering together you may finde the carcasse and by the swarms of wasps and flyes the honey not because they make it but devour it The Church indeed is by these locusts much dâ—…faced and debased but not nullified for these herds of swine being violently rushed into the Temple do onely pollute it not destroy it To argue that the Church of England is no true Church because there are many seducers apostates and blasphemers amongst them is so absurd that the contrary Conclusion is most solid and true for if it were not a true Church the Divel would not thus furiously war against it there would not be such traps and snares devised to catch mens souls in as there are No man much lesse the Divel that spiritual Fouler that great spider of hell will lay snares to catch tame birds that he hath in a cage already As Christ by his spiritual fishermen catcheth souls in the Divels ponds and feeds them in his own so the Divel alwayes goes about with his unlawful nets and poisonous baits to catch men in Christs pond the Church and carry them into the black sea of eternal misery Where the spiritual seed is sown there the birds of hell will be picking and plucking of it up The notablest Cheaters usually frequent the greatest Fairs we speak in reference to that Refermation begun in England to which the Romish Cheaters did resort The purest Church is most commonly pestered with the vilest Hereticks as the fairest fountain with the foulest toads Since these Philistims the Papists are thus upon us 't is very necessary that we play the part of Christian men that whether we live or dye we may have the hellish blot of Antichristianism wiped off from our names which we can no better do then by freeing our Religion from that aspersion which the Papists cast upon it Iâ—… Queen Maryes dayes the Martyrs dyed under the aspersion of Hreticks in these dayes they are like to suffer by the Spanish Popish Faction as Antichristian men and womon it 's therefore not impertinent to the thing in hand to tell in a word how we came to separate from the Church of Rome The Church of Rome you must know was once a pure Church and it continued so the longest of any Church for when the Eastern Asian and Affrican Churches most fouly fell into many desperate Errors especially that of the Arian Heresie she kept her garments clean and became a shelter to Orthodox Fugitives all this while there was not the least ground for any Orthodox national Church to separate from her as on all sides 't is granted we mean for near four hundred yeers after Christ for until after the year of Christ 350. we find not any of the Roman Bishops any other then such as became the Angels of the Church and faithful Overseers of Gods flock The first that we find polluted with the Arian Heresie was Liberius who soon recollecteth himself shakes off the Heresie and dies a Confessor As for the Foppâ—…ries fathered upon these Primitive Bishops of Rome by Ciaconius and Lambertus Geuterus Isodorus Mercator and several other of the Popish Writers they are in no wise to be credited such acts being scarce possible much less probable to be acted by the Bishops of Rome in such times of persecution under the Pagan Empire After Constantine had cast down the Pagan Emperors and made Romes Imperial Scepter to bow to Christs Cross the Clergy became the greatest Court-Favourites hereupon they grew in a short time great in power and wealth being totally freed from the iron rod of the Heathen Emperors Wealth and ease not simply but by accident begat security and security the foundation of all Church mischief begat Pride Luxury and Heresie which by little and little excluded that Primitive Purity once to be found in the Church of Rome Now bebegan Monks quatenus Monks to be in great esteem and then Tapers were brought into the Church and then that trisagium pretended to be taught by Angels Sancte Deus Sancte fortis Sancte immortalis then they brought in adoringâ—… of Churches and the opinion of Purgatery with a fained pretence that the Bishop of Rome had power to chastise stubborn souls there Then began the Bishops of Rome or Patriarchs to shoulder with the Emperors and exâ—…mmunicate them for not giving the supâ—…riority to Bishops and to â—…mmunicate Bishops of other Diocâ—…sses where they had nothing to do then was the Chanâ—…l divided from the Church and extreme unction to be ministred to dying men and soon after Pelagius began to claim a Supremacy from Christ himself Thus did the Angel of the Church of Rome become a Sâ—…ar fallen from heaven to earth Revel 9. 1 2. who set open the bottomless pit whose smoak soon darkned the Sun and the air After Gregory the great and Sabinianus succeeded Boniface the third about the year of Christ 605. he obtained of Phocas the usurping Emperor who got to the Throne by the murder of his Master that usurped title of Supremacy that the Church of Rome should be called the supreme head of all other Churches Here the Star fallen from heaven became the Beast of the Sea as learned Prideaux observes with seven heads and ten horns at leastwise began to appear so Revel 13 1. Soon after this Churches became Sanctuaries for Thieves and Murderers by the Popes order Lay-Monks were made equal with Ordained Ministers in the execution of their Office Witnesses at the Font were forbid to marry each other Churches were superstitiously deck'd Holy-dayes appointed and superstitiously enjoined Priests strictly forbidden to marry and enjoined to shave their heads Latine Service introduced by Popish injunction into other Churches upon which the Popes daily inchroached by the usurpation of their Faction in
of reliques and with an excommunication of all hereticks in generall they dissolved the counsell By excommunication of all hereticks they meant all those that should withstand any of their cannons which they had decreed Here the Church of Rome and the Protestants parted and if it be seriously viewed on both sides by a clear and impartial eye 't is manifest that the Church if you 'l call a faction so of Rome left us Pope Adrian 6. acknowledged that the Church and chair of Rome was at that time in many things abominable The German English and French Churches desired that those abominations might be purged out for this end a generall councell was desired and under pretence of granting it a party of men were packed to oppose this end and carry on a contrary designe to the ruine of those who desired a reformation and in stead of removing those grievances established them Which now of these two parties is in the right They that kept their faces Zion ward in the reformation of a Church generally acknowledged to be corrupted or they that hardened their necks in a resolved obstinacie to persist in that corruption and added much more abominable corruption to it and established it by a law and made those that departed from their abominations to become a prey to them This is the true case betwixt us and Rome The faction of Rome pretended with us whose hearts were set upon a reformation to reform but in stead thereof established those very grievances the Church complained of hereby 't is manifest that they starting aside like a deceitfull bow left us in the high way of a reformation If we have left them 't is because they have left the truth whiles error was in a private faction in Rome though 't were damnable yet we left not that Church but when that private faction so prevail'd as to establish damnable heresie by a Law and excommunicated all that would not drink of the same poisonous Cup with them then 't was high time to leave their Communion notwithstanding they usurp the name of the Catholick Church The Church of England left not the Church of Rome because governed by Bishops but because those Bishops were become Starrs fallen from heaven to earth apostatized toto coelo from their primitive institution The See of Rome is become the beast of the Sea with seven heads and ten hornes and upon it's heads the names of blasphemy The inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of Romes fornication therefore we come out from Rome and herein we have obeyed the voice of our Lord Iesus Revel 18. 4. We never held Bishops quatenus Bishops Antichristian though many Schismaticks and ignorant zelots have builded high upon that stramenous foundation which since the Iesuites by their Gunpowder plots have neatly fired about their ears It is true indeed the German French and British reformers that left Rome or rather were left of Rome could never attain to that reformation was requisite and they desired and the reason thereof is generally known For Rome with her Allies was alwaies so potent against them that it is rather to be admired they have a being then to be complained of that they have attained to no better a being The Churches beyond the Seas both in Germany and France by reason of their innumerable number of potent enemies were constrained to do what they might not what they would happy they that they may eat the Manna of true Doctrine though under the tents of an incompleat and insollid government Those Churches are like the wounded man betwixt Jericho and Jerusalem they have met with a friend that hath powred oyl into their wounds and brought them to an Inn but that Inn of government is not I think their proper home however happy they they are got safe out of the bloudy hands of Romish theeves unto that Inne God send them from thence safe home Let 's be thankful for pure Doctrine that the Ark but le ts not rest till we have lodg'd it within the Temple of right Government I have oft thought that the white linnen of the Saints signifies the right Government of the Church which is the Churches upper garment if so then let them wait with patience for this white linnen they shall not wear untill the Witnesses are risen the Witnesses are yet in sack-cloth or actually slain when they are restored this white Vesture of Church-Government shall be restored to the Church in splendor Let us not censure but pity and pray for those Churches that have not on this white garment confident I am that it is not for want of will but power that all this while many reformed Churches have it not on I cannot forget Bergermannus's words in the Assembly of Dort as I have them from a good hand to the Bishop of Landaff who when he had declared to him how the cause of the German divisions was for want of right Discipline he makes this affectionate replie in the midst of that Assembly Domine nos non sumus adeo fâ—…lices The Churches that protested against the Babylonish abominations established by the Popish faction at the councel of Trent have ever since born the name and title of the Reformed churches not that all or any of them are perfectly reformed for many of them are corrupt in severall doctrinal points and the most of them deficient as to the pattern of primitive government or as the sacred Rule requires Amongst these reformed churches England hath alwayes been esteemed the purest as being most conformable to primitive purity and the word both in Doctrine and Discipline This appears even from the pens of the Heads of other Reformed churches such as Calvin Camerarius Melancton Bucer Beza Zanchie Molinens Causabon Fergevil Saravia and others who many of them confesse in plain words and all by consequence conclude That the church of England of any church in the world comes the nearest to the Apostolick rule Yet for all this what by reason of the Popish pollutions on one hand and schismatical Separatists on the other hand the church of England could never put on that white garment of pure Discipline she so much endeavoured for though the Temple of Doctrine was purged and the walls of Discipline raised to a comely height under which the church flourished in Queen Elizabeth's and King James his dayes yet the Romish foxes in sheeps clothing crept up the wall of Discipline in King Charles his time and laid the church open as it is this day to the bloudy cruelty of the Babylonians The popish Prelats or rather the Spanish Faction then and ever since prevailing informing them knew the way to popish Doctrine was first to bring in popish Discipline which produced a double effect tending to their end For hereby cities and counties non ignota loquor were filled with superstition and profanenesse having liberty from the Prelates to profane the Lords day and we all know how great
the title of Lord Bishop Dean Arch-Deacon Chancellor Vicar Generall Commissary Officiall Surrogate Register Promoter c. Of which our English Hierarchical politie was compacted were meerly humane titles and offices as appears upon record In 16 of Rich. 2. Chap. 1. we find the English Bishops first putting on the title of Spiritual Lords though as Barons long before in William of Normandy's time who conferred that temporall honor on them they claimed a place in the house of Peeres These acts of grace conferred by the Kings of England on their Clergy argued their piety and true affection to religion Nor did those honours they conferred on the Clergie make those persons much lesse their office as some foolishly affirm Antichristian only thus much it argues them mutable that civil power that changeth them so farre changeth not a divine institution So farre therefore as the alteration that the Parliament of England made in the Hierarchy of England was not against the primitive institution so farre for the matter of it it was lawfull but as for their manner of proceeding in it without and against the Kings consent let him that hath skill vindicate them I am sure none that know the duties of the second Table and are sincerely pious will dare to applaud it or once open their mouth to plead for it My aym is onely to vindicate the Parliaments Cause from that fowl aspersion of Antichristianisme cast upon it as for many of their particular acts they are inexcusable 4. Another great Scandall taken and given is that the Parliament not only took away the dignities of the Clergy but the estates of the Clergie What shall we make for an answer to this monstrous Crime Before we say any thing to this we wil make a step back to former times We shall find the house of Commons almâ—…st as full of envie as of age against the Clergies wealth In the ninth of Hen. 4th We shall find the lower House exhibited a bill against the riches of the Clergie wherein they signifie to the King that he may possesse so much of thâ—… temporall possessions of the Clergie as will maintain One hundred and fifty Earles One thousand five hundred Knights six thousand two hundred Esquires and One hundred Hospitals had the King been as covetous as the Commons were base the Clergy had not been lefâ—… a prey to his successors In Henry the Eighth his raign the Lords and Commons fell upon the Clergy for their fleece took from them as saith Cambden in England and Wales Six hundred forty five Monasteries they dissolved ninety Colledges and of Chanteries and fire Chappels two thousand three hundred seventy four of Hospitals One hundred and ten The yearly value being 161100l. Besides the stocks of Cattel which the poor men and their families possessed which they took and sold. Also the timber lead bells the plate and other rich Ornaments of the Church which they robbed and spoiled the Church of And in the Reign of King Charles the last Parliament that that King called which was the gladding of the hearts of all the people of the Kingdom whose eyes were fixed upon them in hopes of enjoying some eminent good from them these alone without and against the consent of the King fell upon the Clergies Estates and swept all that away which King Henry left What shall we say here That we may not condemn the righteous with the wicked we answer 1. They never pretended at the first to any such thing Ab initio non â—…uit sic they convenanted no such thing and the most of those that were secluded and imprisoned were professed enemies to the alienating of the Church Lands from the Church and alwayes so declared themselves Lands given to the Church are sacred things and he that alâ—…enates them steals from God Indeed it is the part of the Civil Magistrate to restore to the widow the fatherlesse and the oppressed those Lands that the Clergie fraudulently got from them though they have long possessed them And also to restore that Land they have gotâ—…en from the Crown But to take away by force the lawfull rights and possessions of the Church under pretâ—…nce of Reformation is both grosse Hypocrisie and abominable Sacriledg For my owne part I really beleeve That God is this day punishing the Royall Family for that sin of their Fore-fathers Henry the Eighth's sins are not yet forgot chiefly that of Sacriledg God will punish to the third and fourth generation except we repent of those sins by endeavouring a reformation And as for the Church-robbers of this age wait but a while and without their repentance you shall see misery and shame upon them God will find them out It hath been â—…bserved that scarce any prospered an age with the alienated Lands of the Church In Henry the Eighth's time many who before they griped it lived well after they got it decayed and were brought to beggery and great want That sacred flesh stollen from the Altar had a cole in it which burnt up their nests where their other store lay God grant the guilty of this age repentance for this crying sin otherwise let David's deprecation be fulfilled upon them Psalm 83. 11 12. Make them like Oreb and Zeeb as Zeba and Zalmunna who said Let us take to our selves the houses of God in possession c. As to that scandall That when the Parliament had an opportunity to declare to the world that all their Remonstrances Declarations Vows Protestations and Covenants proceeded from a sincere heart by establishing the King when they had drove evill Counsel from about him that then directly Contrary to those declarations and vows they began upon new termes with him they must have the sword put into their hands else they could not trust him and necessity and self preservation put them upon it The self same arguments that were used as a just judgement upon them in their overthrow which soon followed To this there is a double answer by divers persons a witty one and a pious one Some say that the King desired for the Satisfaction of all parties a treaty with his Parliament before he came to be reestablished and that upon the surest grounds of reason and policie it was on both sides thought most fit for to have it yet it had been most Religious in the Parliament and more for the honour of their cause if not for the safety of it to have kept to their former Declarations and performed their word and publick promises made therein Others more piously say and those formerly of the House God in justice hath overthrown our policie with others sinful policie God shews us our own sins in their lively pictuâ—…e acted by others against us God Punisheth our foregoing sins with these present sins as they dealt with others so others dealt with them they would not trust their superior and their inferiors would not trust them Thus have we wafted over a rough Sea wherein we have discovâ—…red
the sad Ship-wrack of a good cause which went â—…ut and returned like Solomons Ships for gold The King and the Parliament at their first sâ—…ting out promised fair and good grounds of great hopes â—…f mâ—…ch good both to Church and State appeared but soon was the King whether drawn or driven or both dâ—…parted from the right way He took the sword and sadly perâ—…shed by the sword the Lords and Commons made vowes and protestations to God and man and in the breach of them were broken Each of these with the Emperour Mauritius might justly say Jusius es Domine justa sunt tua judicia in all that hath befalâ—…en them Yet in these dreadfull frowns of his upon the Reformers we may see Gods gracious smiles upon their intended reformation whiles the clouds of Gods just displeasure oversâ—…adowed the Reformers a bright beam of his Providence shined on that cause they all professed for the King Lords and Commons that began in a good cause but afterwards were divided upon different self-interests at the very last of all met again consulted agreed and finished all three together their testimony concerning this cause and then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Revel 11. 7. God snatched both that from them and thâ—…m from us unworthy of both who contemning the golden yoke of Christs government are justly liable to the iron â—…oke of Antichrists tyranny However let the Parliaments cause in the eyes of the wise be magnified though the undertaâ—…ers of it be for ends best known to God debased let God and his cause be true though every man be found a liar before him Let not therefore the professed friends of Zion in this day of Gods dark and dreadfull providences amongst us stumble and fall as the most of professours do from their first principles let not the reproaches of â—…apists and open prophane persons on one hand nor of Sectarianâ—… on the other hand make us lose our stedfastnesse let our â—…ffections and prayers be the same for our Reformation and our Reformers as formerly let not their failings in the cause cause us to fall from the cause Angels not men are able to carry on a Reformâ—…tion without faults where shall we finde a Reformaion â—…arried on without great miscarriages At the first Nationall Reformation in the world we finde Moses the Churches Monarch in the Mount with God and Aaron the Seventie and the people his â—…riest his 〈◊〉 and his subjects in the valley that while with the Devil yâ—…t their â—…ellish smâ—…ke below did not eclipse Gods light above that day was a glorious day of Reformation notwithstanding in the eyes of all the people the two Tables werâ—… brâ—…ke by Moses their 〈◊〉 the Lords anointed in Nehemiahs time how many 〈◊〉 were gâ—…t into that box purposely so pollute the ointment of a Reformation oppressours and supplanters and Schismaticks had shrewdly 〈◊〉 blown that Reformation yet 't was carried on at last God can carry on a cause by mens miscarriages David a man after Gods one heart beganâ—…s Reformation he stumbled in limine for he should have brought home the Arke Deut. 10. 8. according to Moses prescription upon the Priests shoulders but he followes the Philistines fashion and fetcheth it home upon a Cart. Here the King and his Parliament I mean his Nobles and the Priests all stumbled and by this stumble the 〈◊〉 was shaken and Uzzah smitten yet the Ark was the same and so 〈◊〉 the nâ—…erer its appointed place We mention this to the shame of those 〈◊〉 thâ—…se dayes who pretend to follow the 〈◊〉 but startle and start aside 〈◊〉 because thâ—…se beasts that were employed to draw it have stumâ—… and 〈◊〉 it Oh Christians take heed of apostatizing from Gods caâ—…se when persecuted God takes that from Christians most grievously If God smote to the grave Uzzah for touching the Ark when it shock will he not smiâ—…e to hell those Apostates that kick their heel at the Ark now 't is shaken There were never such a number of brazen-faced Apostates seen in the World together as in these dayes England and Scotland have produced These wormes which bred in the belly of the Church made it sick and miscarry of a Reformation since they are voided the Church though for the present weak I hope â—…s neer to her recovery Let those then that long and loâ—…k for her recovery take off their hearts from murmuring at the cause and turn all their complaints against themselves ô that the spirit of supplication might passe through the Protestant Churches this day ô that all the families that fear the Lord might 〈◊〉 before the Lord this day that each might see how they have in their places fallen short of the glory of God Oh that the families of the house of David of Nathan of Levi and Shimei i. e. of the Royall blood and Priestly function might mourn this day before the Lord for their own siâ—…s and the sins of their fore-fathers ô that we might all know in thâ—…s our day of visitation the things that concern our peace The sacred prophicies tell us if we mistake them not that the Churches deliverance is nigh at hand that time when the Witnesses shall rise the everlasting Gospel shall be preached to all people and the twelve Tribes converted and also the time when the Devil the beast and the false Prophet shall be cast into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone now as Daniel Chap 9 finding out the expiâ—…ation of the 70 years captivity did thereupon betake himself to fast and pray and confesse the sins of Judah Jerusalem and all Israel with the sins of their Kings Princes and fore-fathers so ought we that look after the publick weale of the Church finding by the prophecies that the Apostasie is well nigh finished and the Antichrist appears which is the immediate fore-runner of Christs glorious comming as we shew in the ensuing Tract to raise the Witnesses and restore the Iews to betâ—…ke ourselves to solemn humiliation fasting and prayer making confession of the sins of our Kings of our Nobles of our Ministers and of our people taking to ourselves Daniels words Chap 9. 16. For our sins and the iniquity of our forefathers Ierusalem is become a reproach ô Lord to all that dwell about it now therefore cause thy face to shine upon thy Sanctuary that is desolate for the Lords sake ô Lord incline thine ear to hear open thine eyes and behold our desolations Oh that we would all turn Priests and come quickly bringing this holy â—…incense with us into the Congregation that so atonement might be made for the Churches of God against which great wrath from the Lord is gone out this day and sore plagues are upon them Gods eares are not heavy nor is his hand shortened that he cannot save us but our pride security hardnesse unbelief impenitencie and murmuring have kept back good things from us Why are we in bondage to a generation that curse their father and
Church whereof you are members let love to the generations yet unborn who are to be members of the Church provoke you to constancie That they when they shall blush to read of the shameful Apostasie of many eminent Professors may rejoyce and be incouraged by your patience pray â—…aith and constancy to maintain those truths you leave them sealed with your blâ—…ud with Christian courage in the greatest storms of persecution and give glory to God on your behalf in imitation of your singular vertues wherefore stand fast and in your deepest troubles lift up your head for your Redemption draweth nigh 't is but waiting a little while and then he that cometh will come and will not tarry when he 'l come over the mountains an unexpected way and will appear to you on thâ—…se Mountains like a pleasant Roe but he 'l come as a thief upon your enemies that is suddenly unexpectedly terribly bloudily with his sword drawn in his hand spoiling them in a moment when your enemies are folâ—…ed together as thorns and whiles they are drunken as drunkards they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry but on Mount Zion shall be deliverance That thou Christian Reader mayst be found on Mount Zion in this great and terrible day of the Lord which by all Scripture-signes is neer at hand that thou mayest be one of those that keep their garments clean and wait for the comming of our Lord that thou mayest not be found amongst the number of Christs enemies when he comes but mayest discâ—…rn the times and the seasons so as thereby before-warned to flie from the wrath to come I have with much labour and diligence presented with all the affection of a sincere Christian this ensuing Treatise to thy view if thou beest a gainer by it for thy souls good give glory to God the Authors designe is fully accomplished Farewel In the first page of the Preface for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of the APOSTASIE The First Part. CHAP. 1. THis Chapter is a part of the second Epistle of Paul which he wrote to the Thessalonians I call it the second Epistle in regard of its posteriority to the first in the order of place it is in all the Greek Copies the last or second Epistle yet Learned Doctor Estius and Grotius do conceive this second in the order of time to be the first as being written by Paul first their grounds for this I shall not meddle with it not lying within my circle at this time to enquire when and where Paul writ this Epistle yet I doubt not ere I leave this Subject but to make it manifest that this Epistle is Pauls second Epistle in time as well as place to the Thessalonians That Paul was the Author of this Epistle is on all hands granted the only thing then that we shall enquire after before we come to the Text is who this Paul was Here it will not be impertinent to give a word or two 1. Of his Birth 2. His Breeding 3. His Conversion 4. His Name 1. Paul was born at Tarsus the Metropolitan City of Cilicia Acts 21. 39. The son of a Pharisee an Hebrew of the Hebrews Philip. 3. 4. 5. A man that for Natural Birth-right-Priviledges could have boasted with the proudest Iew he was of the Tribe of Benjamin out of which Tribe God gave the twelve Tribes their first King after whose name he was called these two Sauls fulfilled the dark side of that Prophecy Gen. 49. 27. being monstrous Wolves against Christs Sheep and Shepherds 2. Pauls Breeding oâ—… Education was under Gamaliel Act. 22. 3. who was a man of great Authority and Learning amongst the Iewes he was a member of the great 〈◊〉 which sate at Ierusalem and had the sole power of judging of a Prophet he was a Doctor of the Law of great repute among all the people Act 5. 34. who by his eloquence and wisdom in one Dilemma put to silence the High-Priest and all the Doctors or rather I may say he made them like Subjects fall to his opinion This Learned Doctor was Pauls Tutor Now how to reconcile Act. 18. 3. with what I have writ or rather what the Holy Ghost discovers in the forementioned Texts of Pauls Education I do not know for it is generally concluded from this Text that Paul was a Tent-maker by Trade now that Paul should be a Pharifee and a Tent-maker was as absurd amongst the Iewes as it is amongst Orthodox Christians to say a man is a Minister and a also a Cobler or a Tinker unless Paul were as by his wild Zeal he should seem to be a Tub-Pharisee indeed the Jewish Church was at that time exceedingly degenerated from its primitive Purity and that very Sect declared so much for a Pharisee was but an hypocritical Sectarian Separatist And Drusius tels us that they â—…an Division to seven there was the Praise-seeking Pharisee and the Self-justiciaty and the Self-afflicting Pharisee that wounded his head and scratched his body with thorns the Slavishly-fearful Pharisee the virtuous Pharisee the covetous Pharisee and lastly the down-look'd devoted Pharisee who wore a thing like a Mortar on his head to hinder his looking upward But I find another distinction more grave but whether more Authentick I leave to the Jewish Antiquaries to determine there are two sorts of Pharisees namely Porashim and Parushim as the Hebrews term them that is Docentes and Separati Teaching Phariseâ—…s and Laik Pharisees now this distinction is brought by Antiquaries purposely to salve that Text Luke 18. 12. where the Pharisees boast that they paid Tythe of Mynt and Cummin Now if they paid Tythes saith the Disputant how were they Church-men To this it is answered The Teaching Pharisees paid not Tythes But received them but the Laick Pharisees paid it But this distinction is not satisfactory for if none but Laicks paid Tythes then we may as well conclude that all the Levites were Laicks because the Levits paid Tythes to the Priests I humbly conceive the answer â—…would be sound and true thus That it does not follow that of absolute necessity the Pharisees that paid Tythes must be Laicks for why might not they being Church-men pay Tythes to the Priests at the Temple as well as the Levites who receive Tythes pay the Tythe of their Tythes to the Priests Numb 18. 28 29. But the Priests were Levites and the Levites called Priests Ezek. 44. 15. Heb. 7. 5. But we need none of these distinctions or answers to solve this question about Paul for we do affirm from Act. 26. 4 5. that Paul before his Conversion was no Tent-maker for Paul declares before King Agrippa that all the Jewes knew that from his youth he had lived after the strictest Sect of Iudaism a Pharisee now no body believes that the strictest Sect of Pharisees were Trades men much less Tent-makers
Likewise Act. 22. 3. proves Paul was never bound to that Trade of Tent-making for he was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel now all men know that Gamaliel was no Laick Pharisee he was no Tent-maker but a Doctor of the Law who taught Paul not Tent-making but as the Text tells us the perfect manner of the Law of the Fathers Tertullian and Hierom affirm that he was incomparably wise in the knowledge of the Scriptures Moreover Pauls Learning Eloquence and practices tell us that he never learnt before his Conversion nor ever practised the Trade of Tent-making he had a far worse Trade which hee followed too hard to be of that in stead of making Tents for men he pulled down and destroyed the Tabernacles of God the bodies of the Sainrs Such was his humane Learning that saith Chrysostome it was a great question amongst the Heathens Whether he were not more Learned then Plato 3. Next let us view Pauls Conversion This Paul that Lion that devoured the Saints that brier that scratched and wounded all that came neer him or hee could come neer that son of the Divel that imprisoned the Saints dragging them from Prison to the place of execution that Rock that could stand and see them murdered without relenting behold this Lion that devoured Gods Sacrifices now lying down amongst them and eating straw food formerly against his pallate with them This Wolfe is now found feeding not upon but meekly with the Lambs This Brier of the Wilderness that formerly drew bloud is now become a fruitful Vine in the garden of God and yeilds not only pleasant fruit but like the Apple-tree in the Forrest yeilds pleasant shade unto the Church scorched with afflictions For the Church had rest round about This Rock in the Desert of Zin as I may call him is now become a pleasant River to multitudes of thirsty souls This Paul that was the Son of the Divel in the morning and ready mounted on his message and more then three parts of his journey towards the place where he was to execute his Warrants is made the Son of God at noon This Mount Etna we find removed into the midst of the Sea and all his fiery flames put out This Cedar of Libanus is not only shaken but falls at this sudden Thunder of God This Iordan that was swiftly running into the dead sea is driven back at his rebuke Adam was not more strangely disfigured by his fall then this man gloriously transformed by his fall His fall was his promotion his blindness a giving sight Paul met with a better Tutor now then Gamaliel Gamaliel only and scarce that taught him Law but this new Master teacheth him Gospel he learnt more in one hour now then ever he learnt in all his life before he now learned the true knowledge of the Lord of life and no marvel though he were miraculously taught for he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taught by the Lord of life It is most probable that this was the time that he was rapt into the third Heaven I mean the time of his three dayes extasie at Damascus Here Christ not only made him a Saint but created him an Apostle The other Apostles had the favor to see Christ after his Resurrection but he had the honor to see him and hear him speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ineffable words which were not lawful for man to utter after his Ascension which few besides Iohn in Patmos could ever boast of After he was thus baptized with fire in heaven by Christ and with water on earth by Ananias you may behold this Christian Champion the true Hercules passing through his twelve fold Labours with mighty successe insomuch that never any man before or after him can be compared to him The Trophies of his Conquests still remaine in Europe Asia and other parts of the world The weapons of his warfare were spiritual therefore the more noble and the enemies with which he grapled and encountred were not carnal but spiritual he had to deal with principalities and powers and spiritual wickednesses in high places therefore his Conquests are the more glorious See how hee conquered that roaring Lion Sergius Paulus proconsul of Paphus and made him lie fawning at his foot See him again crushing the head of that See pent Elymas Barjesus How many wilde Boars did he came which wasted and destroyed the Church It would be too tedious to relate either the Conquests that he got or the Scarrs of honour that he bore for Christ. He that thinks he can hyperbolize in his Encomiums of Paul wee 'l take up that Proverb on Pauls behalf as once on Hercules's against Iuno against him Pâ—…strà Paulum Indeed he was mortall as other men but went to his grave with more honour then other Conquerors after all their Victories do he died in the field and yet the weapons with which he conquered are immortall which he hath left to succeeding Ages And we finde in his fourteen Epistles which like the Tower of David builded for an Armory have hanging in them a thousand bucklers all the shields of mighty men There is no weapon that the Church or any member of the Church wants at any time in any case against any Enemy but he may be ready furnished in Paul's Armory against him His Epistles are another Paradise full of fruit and flowers Thus out of Paul the man-eater came out meat for man This barren wildernesse became a spiritual Canaan to the Christian Church flowing with spiritual milk and honey Q. Why do you call him Paul when his name is Saul A. I call him as he calls himself in all his Epistles except that to the Hebrews But since it fals in my way to discourse of his name and the changing of his name I shall not baulk it but briefly touch of it and passe immediately from the Author to the Subject from the name to the thing Some think Paul had two names given him as an honor to him if so then the question will be who bestowed that Title of honor upon him who gave him that name of Paul Truely the answer will be uncouth yet very true not his Godfathers nor God-mothers I mean the Church or Company present at his Baptism nor the Minister that baptized him For they all after his baptism called him Saul Brother Saul Indeed the correlate title Brother was Paul's greatest title of Honour for however the world contemns it it is not onely a title of great honour but of exceeding great and unconceivable profit to be a true brother of the Church militant for they have undoubted Title to an everlasting Crown and Kingdome which Usurpers cannot dispossess them of Now if the Church gave not Saul the name of Paul in honour to him certainly the enemies of the Church would not doe it then it must be concluded as most probable that Saul gave himself the name of Paul and so that opinion will fall
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
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
then the Man of sin shall be revealed He makes them distinct This truth of the Scripture had need to be more then ordinarily insisted upon not in regard of its obscurity for I know not any truth cleerer in Scripture then this but in regard of its opposition and that by many learned and pious Protestants We do affirm that the general apostasie and the manifestation of the Man of sin that Antichrist are two distinct things and this we prove from their opinions that affirm the contrary for they themselves affirm these particular points 1. That this apostasie is a falling away from Christ from the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of Christ. 2. That they are Professors of the Gospel that make this apostasie for it must be a forsaking of that they did once professe how else can it be said an Apostasie 3. They say this Apostasie must be an universall and general Apostasie of all the world that is of every Church in the world for otherwise they say the Apostle would have limited his speech and not spoken indefinitely as he doth now put this with their opinion of Antichrist together If the Apostasie be universal thoughouâ—… every Church and this Apostasie and Antichrist are all one then Antichrist must be an Ubiquitary he must be in Europe Asia and Affrica at once for the Europan Churches Affrican Churches and Asian Churches are all apostatized from the Doctrine and the Discipline of the Primitive times All Protestants grant it so that by making Antichrist one with the Apostasie we shall grant that are Protestants more to the body of Antichrist then we will allow the Papists to grant to the body of Christ for we make it to be every where at one and the same time It is granted from S. Iohn's words that the spirit of antichrist was long since in the world and S. Paul here saith the Mystery of iniquity did work then but he tels us that Antichrist was not then but after that to be revealed It cannot be denyed but that the spirit of antichrist went forth with the apostasie and therefore S Iohn 1 Ioh. 2. 18. minding the Churches of the prophesie of antichrist to come in the last times tels them that there were many Antichrists already abroad i. e. that had apostatizing proud aspiring malicious trayterous thoughts and endeavours to supplant the Gospel Ordinances and Gospel Officers but he cleerly distinguisheth the antichristian spirit from the Antichrist in the self same verse and in the 22d and so doth Paul twice in this 2 Thess. 2. distinguish betwixt the Apostasie and the Antichrist In ver 3. he calls it the falling away first and then the Man of sins manifestation which will not be untill the end of the apostasie and ver 7 8. there the apostasie is called the mysterie of iniquitie which then began and but began 'T is a Text parallel with that fore-cited 1 Iâ—…h 2. 18. Now there are many Antichrists The mystery of iniquity began to work in S. Pauls time but not to that height as to carry all before it no there were lets there were the Sons of Oil which did curb it and would untill they were slain and then Mark â—…hen the Adverb of time clearly distinguisheth betwixt the Apostasie and the Antichrist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is there a discretive particle and also points us to the set time of the Antichrists appearing But more of this in its due place But it may be said that though they are distinct yet they are as the body and the soul so united as that they appear together and vaâ—…ish 〈◊〉 though they may be distinguished yet they cannot be divided asunder There is some head and Ring-leader in this 〈◊〉 saith Iaâ—…kson on this Text and that must needs be the 〈◊〉 who shall be discovered and a little after he saith that this apostasie is to be a generall and universal departure of the whole Christian world then it must follow that the Antichrist must be the head of all the Churches in the world if so then the Pope cannot be the Antichrist though he bid as fair as he can for it for he is not head of the Eastern apostates and therefore we so frequently hear learned and reverend Divines pray for the ruine of the Eastern antichrist and the Western antichrist the Turkish antichrist and the Popish antichrist by which expressions of theirs they make it evident to me that they beleeve neither the Pope nor the Turk to be the Antichrist which Iohn or Paul single out with the Greek article â—… Possibly they may mean by the Western antichrist the chiefest cause and support of the Western apostasie which Rev. 13. is called the Beast with seven heads and ten horns and without all doubt that is the Popedome the head of which being apostatized from a spiritual Pastor to a proud Usurper in Temporall affairs is called the Star which fell from heaven to earth Ministers are called Starrs therefore by Star his Office Revel 9. 1. is set forth by falling from heaven to earth is meant his eminent and shameful apostasie Hence he is called Rev. 13. 1. the beast arising out of the sea Sea being put in opposition to Earth to note that he ariseth not out of the Civil but Ecclesiastick State he is a Church-man not a Lay-man And then he is crowned and horned to note his greatnesse in Temporal affairs he is one of the Roman Emperors in power But all this doth not make him the Man of sin nor the Antichrist here spoken of nor such an antichrist as some describe him How many learned Scholars both Protestants and Papists set up a Jack-a-lent of their fancies framing and then hoot at it for Antichrist Peradventure many will take me for one of these Fantasticks The safest way is to say so much of Antichrist as the Scriptures say and no more where the Scriptures distinguish concerning the Antichrist and the Apostasie let us distinguish where they are silent let us be silent Most men say the self same that I do highly extolling Scripture and truly acknowledging what the Mythologists sabulously report of their Goddesse Pandora that 't is Gods treasure on earth filled with all manner of heavenly riches and yet mean while either through ignorance or wilful wickednesse there are many too many of these in this age that open Scripture as Epimetheus opened Pandora's Box not as the alabaster box of Spikenard which sent forth an odoriferous smel but on purpose to infect the minds of people with false Opinions Heresies Rebellion and Blasphemies I confess the best Interpreters may take up that saying of themselves What man is there that liveth and sinneth not What Interpreter is he that writeth and erreth not Those of the highest form have confessed of themselves so much Errare possum saith one Haeretious esse non possum This was a confident high speech for no man knows his own nature thus much they know that it is
charges brought no other Ornament then that of long hair with them which gross absurdity for he calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they most delighted in and cared for he calls them Dogs yea worse then Dogs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They neither remained Dogs nor became Pastors except to devour others labours I will forbeare here to insert History partly for brevity sake and principally because the Historie in the fourth and fifth Century is so easie to be read and understood of every one that can but read English especially of those that can but understand the Latine and Greek tongue and have leisure to read the Councels in those Centuries So now my intended inference from all is this That the Bishop Head or Pastor of the Church of Rome is one of the Ring leaders or general Heads of this Apostasie Now Jesus Christ foreseeing the height of Apostasie that the Roman Church would rise unto if I may pass with my expression my meaning is to what a height of wickedness in this grand Apostasie the Church of Rome in her Ecclesiastick Head or Polity would rise sets it forth in several and various expressions to Iohn as first you have him but as one of the four Angels standing on the Western corner of the earth the Patriarch of Rome and no more though much more then ever Christ by his approving providence I mean by his revealed will in his Word allowed him though how large a power the Councels in Christian prudence may grant unto a single Church-man and how far that grant doth oblige the Church in obedience to that single person I will not dispute These Patriarchs as Prideaux well observes were entering into intolerable and inexcusable Apostasie Next you have the Politie or Head of the Roman Church set forth as a Star not falling or ready to fall but fallen at that present from Heaven to Earth During the time of the heat of the Arian and Eutichian Heresies whiles the Eastern Angels kept the wind of sound Doctrine from blowing on Christs Garden the Church the Western Angel the Bishop of Rome was tolerable yeâ—… commendable for Rome was a shelter to the Orthodox Christians at that time but soon after you find the Angel now as a 〈◊〉 that fals from Heaven to Earth The Pastors of the Church 〈◊〉 we have shewed already are called Stars Christ Rev. 1. 16. held seven Stars in his hand which ver 20. tells us are the seven Angels or Embassadors of Christ of the seven Churches so that the Star there is the chief Pastor of the Church of Rome which apostatiseth as far from Christs Rule and Ordinance as Heaven is from Earth How great an Apostasie is that in a Minister to usurp a power above an Emperor to usurp a power over all Churches to take the Title of the Prince of Princes and to make it his whole design to Inthrone himself in all Civil and Ecclesiastick Power besides the Apostasie from the purity of Doctrine and Discipline The third sight Iohn hath of him is in Revel 13. 1. there Iohn hath a sight of this great apostate Bishop in his full growth he is now a Beast risen out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns ten Crowns and upon his heads the names of Blasphemy the Context of this Text and of that Revel 7. 1. of the four Angels give much light into each other in Revel 6. 12 13 14. When the sixth Seal was opened there was an earth-quake the Sun became black and the Moon became as blood and the Stars fell and heaven departed as a scrole and every mountain was moved it is parallel with Rev. 12. 7 8 9. which both signifie one and the same thing viz. the overthrow of the Heathen persecuting Emperours The first is parallel in the phrase with Isai. 34. 4. which expresseth the great fall of the Idumaeans and nothing of the general day of Judgment This kind of expression is usual when God will set forth the overthrow of the heads of Government as in Isa. 13. 10. that is a prophesie of the ruine of the Babylonish heads of Government by the Mâ—…des and Persians as ver 17 18 19 20. expound it yet there God â—…aith The Sun shall be darkned and the Moon shall not cause her light to shine and ver 13. He will shake the heavenâ—… i. â—… the Thrones of Kings and so Revel 6. 12 13 14. signifies the fall of the Pagan Emperors the heads of the Romish Throne and Government which were thrown down by Constantine the Christian Emperor the self same thing is set forth in Revel 12. where you have the Church in her Primitive purity ver 1 2. groaning to be delivered from under the bloudy Tyranny of the red Dragon ver 3. that is the bloudy state of Pagan Emperors it is parallel with cap. 6. v. 10. where under that Tyranny the Church cries How long O Lord holy and true dost thou noâ—… judge and avenge our death on those that dwell upon the earth Next you have in cap. 12. 5. the Lord delivering the Church from under the Pagan Emperors by raising up of a Christian Monarch Constantine who is the man-child brought forth in the Church to rule the Nations with a rod of iron that is to subdue them by Conquest as he did and be their Emperial head upon that lawful Title as for those that say this is meant of the birth of Christ his Incarnation Death and Resurrection they do not only mistake the phrase of the Text but the whole Prophesie for in Revel 1. 1. The Revelation is not of knowne things that were past for that 's not properly Revelation but of things which must shortly come to pass but the Incarnation of Christ was not to come to pass it being past As for that expression He was caught up unto God and to his Throne it is that which stands in direct opposition to that afterwards ver 8. of the Divels being cast out of heaven so that he that will inforce that sense upon ver 5. as that it is meant Christs Throne in heaven to which he ascended after his Resurrection must be enforced to grant that until Christs Ascension the Divel was in Heaven which is Blasphemy and therefore we must understand the war betwixt Michael and his Angels and the Dragon and his Angels as meant of the Christians war against the Pagans and Idolatrous heathens and therefore the casting of Satan and his Angels out of Heaven is meant the casting them out of the Imperial Throne from their Lordly power and Dominion and the seating of Constantine that holy Christian Emperor in the Throne 1. He was caught up unto God that is he was converted unto God and 2. He was placed in his Throne whether His hath relation to the Emperor or to God is questionable but it holds good in either sense for it was Constantines Throne by Conquest but it is most probable that His hath
the four Angels then a Star fallen from heaven to earth and now in this place you have the Head of the same Roman Church called a Beast that doth rise out of the Sea having seven heads and ten horns Now is the Apostasie come to the height He is a Beast It alludes to Daniel's four beasts to note that he usurpeth the throne of a Monarch he is got to that independent Greatnesse to be an uncontrolled Potentate therefore a beast Then he is a beast of the Sea his rise is from the Clergy from the Chair of the Church he claims his right to the Throne of universal uncontrollable Monarchie therefore Revel 9. 1. he is called a Star fallen from heaven to earth from God to the world And then his seven heads and ten hornâ—… tell us plainly that this evill Angel fallen Star and Beast of the sea is that Head or Polity over the Church in Rome for the City with seven heads and ten horns which through the bloudy cruelty and persecution of this Apostate Government and the supporters of it becomes drunk with the bloud of the Saints is by both Protestants and Papists confessed to be the City of Rome Rev. 17. Thus have I gone over a large and an uncommon circuit in this survey of the Apostasie and the heads thereof being willing to say as much as I find the Scripture to say of it and no more CHAP. IV. I Have but one word more to write concerning this Apostasie and then I have done with it and shall pass to the discription of the Antichrist and that is concerning the time of the Apostasie wherein by the assisting power of the Holy Ghost we doubt not but to make this Apostasie more manifestly distinct from the Antichrist then as yet it hath been there are five Texts give light into this Apostasie as Revel 11. 1 2. Rom. 11. 25. Luke 21. 24. Deut. 32. Dan. 12. 6 7 9 very briefly of each Of Revel 11. 2. I shall do little more at this time then repeat the words Here Iohn is commanded to measure with a reed the Temple of God the Altar and they that worship therein But the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under foot forty and two months This Text may well be put amongst those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Revelations for it is exceeding hard to be understood Iohn measures the Temple and the Altar in the Temple and they that worship in the Temple that is the Jewish Religion and those obstinate unbelieving Jewes who professed that Religion all these Iohn measures Now what the meaning of this measuring is I profess I do not know this I have learnt from the Jewish Antiquaries that the reed went as well to Mount Golgotha as to Mount Olivet it was to ruine as well as to rear up it was sometimes used to pull down and sometimes used to build up and for which of these ends Iohn is commanded to use his reed like a rod I cannot tell but if it be meant for ruine as most probable it is notwithstanding others contrary opinions then it must be meant of the ruine of the Jewish Religion that Temple which they bragged of saying The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord this Temple of the Lord must now be meted out to destruction and the Altar and those that worship therein must be measured with the rod of destruction so that according to Christs words not one stone should be left upon another and they should be led captive into all Nations I know nothing prophesied of their dissipation by the Romans in all the Revelation but this Herein Iacobs Prophecie is fulfilled Gen. 49 10. The Scepter shall not depart from Iudah untill Shiloh come i. e. there shall be a Church and State of the Jewes until Christ come and then for their Rebellion against Christ they should be both un-Churched and un-Stated and that the definite Particle until imports what ever others say my weak capacity knows not how to make sense of this Prophecie or truth of their sense other wayes And the court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not i. e. according to the former Exposition do not ruine the Gospel Church of the Gentiles with the Iewes for it is given to the Gentiles and they shall tread under foot the holy Ciâ—…y forty and two months that is the Gentile Church which worship God through Christ according to the Gospel they shal be exercised with affliction under the Gentile Apostasie As the Church and State of the Jewes by Iohns measuring line were dissolved and ruined and the Nation dissipated so the true Believers under the Gospel shall be persecuted and drove into the Wilderness by the Gentile Apostasie that is say some learned Papists by Antichrist who shall be a Gentile but I rather affirm it to be by the four Angels that were Gentiles and the by Star fallen from heaven to earth who is a Gentile and by the Beast of the Sea with ten horns and seven heads who is the Pope of Rome a Gentile to these Apostate Gentiles the Church was to be given and they were to tread the holy City under foot forty and two months not to measure it with a reed to the destruction of the Church as the Jewes By the holy City is meant the Church of God Revel 21. 2. in its state of holy conformity to Christ her Head maintaining his Truths in uprightness and sinceritie this holy City was to be trodden under foot by Apostate Gentiles for forty and two months and this is more evidenced by ver 3. which tells us that for the space of One thousand two hundred and sixty dayes which is just forty two months the two witnesses shall prophesie in sackcloth poor clothing for such worthy persons and high Officers as Monarchy and Ministry this is but to shew the sad condition of the true Church under the Apostasie of the Gentiles for if it fare thus with the Pastors how ill must it needs go with the Sheep There is one verse from Christs mouth that seems fully to comprehend all that Iohn hath said both of the Jewes dissipation and the Gentile Gospel Churches affliction in the three verses of Revel 11. and that is in Luke 21. 24. There shall be wrath upon this people meaning the Jewes and they shall fall by the edge of the sword and they shall be led away captive into all Nations here is Iohns measuring reed like a rod indeed passing over the Church and State of the Jewes to their ruine and mark what follows And Ierusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled This Prophesie is given in Iohns phrase and method by Ierusalem is meant the Church of God worshipping him according to the Gospel rule and by treading down is signified the
great devastation that by the Gentile Apostates shall be made upon the true Church and until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled signiâ—…ies the set time of the Apostate Gentiles raign and tyranny which Revel 11. 2. tells us is forty and two months never were Texts fitter matched for expression matter and method in the whole Bible then these To these let us add but one or two parallel Texts more and so we have done with the grand Apostasie in Rom. 11. 25. this Text directly with the rest 1. Points us out the Jewes misery by the expression of blindness or hardness which is the blackest side of misery 2. It points out the Gentile Apostasie and some thing more forâ—…it seems to lay the greatest part of it upon the Church of Rome And 3. It gives us to know the length of the Affliction both to the Jewes and Gentiles for this I observe that the Jewes destruction and the Gentiles Churches persecution by the Apostasie were not many yeers distant in the Histories and therefore it is that we find them joyned together in the Prophesies now as their afflictions began neare one time so they shall terminate neer about one time â—…s the Temple the Altar and those that worship thereat i. e. the Jewes were unchurched neer about that time when the Court without and the holy City that is the Gospel Church of the Gentiles began to be trodden under foot by the four Angels Apostasie which were Gentiles so the rechurching of the Jewes and the returning of the Gentile Church out of its Apostasie by the raising of the slaine Witnesses and slaying of Antichrist shall be neer about one time and this Text doth make it cleer This Text in my opinion is the comfortablest Text to the Jewes in all the Bible it prophesies plainly that the Jewes shall be converted and restored when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in that is saith Luke until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled which time saith Iohn Revel 11. 2. is to be fulfilled in forty and two months which forty and two months makes One thousand two hundred and sixty dayes the time of the Witnesses prophesying in sack-cloth which being expired the Witnesses about the end of this time being slaine shall rise again and put off their dirty sack-cloth and be cloathed in white and then the Sealed Jewes and the innumerable number of the Gentiles shall be joined in one faith to worship the Lamb Rev. 7. This Text of Pauls gives us light to the discovery of the time when this Gentile Apostasie shall have an end Paul in this Rom. 11. dehorts the Roman Church from insulting over the rejected Jewes foreseeing doubtless the pride that that Church would grow unto Now to curb this pride of that Gentile-Church 1. He shewes the Church of Rome how that all of them are not gone into that Spiritual Captivity no he himself being a Jew could testifie the contrary and the twelve Apostles who were Jewes could testifie as much and the seventie Disciples could testifie as much who are to the Gentiles under the bondage of sin as the twelve heads of the Tribes and the seventy Elders to Israel in the wilderness their Rulers and Instructors 2. The Gentiles had no cause to insult because the casting of them off was the receiving of the Gentiles into favour Had the Jewes the invited Guests come into the supper for ought I know the Gentiles had remained by the hedges and high-wayes still or else had only licked up the crumbs that had fallen from Christs Spiritual table as dogs at a Feast and therefore the Romish Church hath no cause to insult over the Jewes but rather with a holy fear to adore the infinite freeness of Gods grace that should reject the Tents of Sem to dwel in the Tents of Iapheth that the first fruits should be thrown away and the Tares and cockle received into Gods garner ver 8 16. 3. The Romish Gentiles have no cause to insult for they were by nature but the wild Olive till upon free grace they were transplanted into the Jewes stock the Church and through pride infidelity and disobedience they may as soon be cut off and the Jewes again grafted in as the Jewes for the self-same sins were cut off when they were taken in this Paul seems to tell the Romish Churches from the Spirit of Prophecie within him ver 22. He tels the Church of Rome that she shall be cut off if she walk not answerable to such rich grace received O what may the Church of Rome from this Text expect for her shameful Apostasie And Paul in the next verse by the same spirit v. 23. tels the Jews that they shall be grafted in again that is gathered to be a glorious Church again if they will believe the Gospel 4. The Romish Gentile Church hath no cause to insult over the unbelieving Jewes because they for their Pride Tyranny and disobedience shall be rejected and fall into the same condemnation when at that time the Jewes shall be restored and this is implyed and expressed in ver 25. For I would not brethren that ye should be ignorant of this mystery lest ye should be wise in your own conceits that blindness in part is hapned to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in This verse is the concluding Argument against the insulting pride of the Gentile Church over the poor rejected Jewes and every word in it is of great importance from the causal Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the last word in it For I would not brethren that is you of the Church of Rome That ye should be ignorant of this mystery that is he would by all means have them acquainted with it of all Churches he would have the Church of Rome to understand this mystery and why that Church acquainted with it more then any other The Apostle gives the reason Lest they should be wise in their own conceits Lest they should be proud in their own conceits saith a Learned Jesuit supposing that Paul useth a Metalepsis here putting one word for another Great priviledges puffe not only persons but Churches up above what is meet Paul then by the eye of prophecie saw what we and all the world see in the Church of Rome now viz. excessive pride apostasie and insultation Now to pull down this pride he would have them acquainted with this Mysterie Now the question is Where lies the mysterie Some learned and holy men affirm that the mysterie lies in the rejection of the Jews and the taking in of the Gentiles to the Gospel But this cannot be it for though the coming of Christ had been to the world a mysterie yet this mysterie was revealed to the world especially to the Roman Church by Pauls preaching This therefore though it be in it self a mysterie and the deepest of mysteries yet it is not the mysterie that Paul here would not have them ignorant of for they were
a corrupt vine and so it relates as well to the Roman Apostasie from the Gospel which is expressed in ver 32 33. Their Vine is worse then the Vine of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorrah their grapes are grapes of gall their clusters are bitter their wine is the poyson of Dragons and the cruel venome of Aspâ—… Of these words I shall gâ—…ve no other exposition then what I fetch from Scripture Observing this first before wee proceed that Vine cannot in this place relate to the Jewes as some would have it but to those their enemies that shall then oppresse them for if you please to observe it their Rock in ver 31. and their Vine ver 32. relate to each other and both stand in opposition to our Rock ver 31. But it is concluded on all hands that Our there implyes the whole Nation of the Jewes who had God for their Rock and by their profession owned him so to be 'T is granted by our opposites that ver 37 38. are or at least wise may be meant of the Gentiles their enemies if so it will easily follow that ver 32 33. must also be meant of the Gentiles for there is no disjunctive to be found betwixt them so that their Vine must either mean the Turkish or the Roman Politie but I rather incline here to the Romish Tyrannie which was most inhumane Vine signifies both the Head of a Church and the Church it self both these you have in one expression Psalm 80. 8. this Vine signifies the Church of God brought out of Egypt into Canaan before whom the Heathens fell and this also signifies CHRIST who was brought out of Egypt after the death of Herod he being Head of the Church who hath overcome the world and subdued all the powers therein to be subservient to his glory and his Churches good Now there is Gods Vine and the Divels Vine there is the Vine that Gods own right hand hath planted and there is the Vine of Sodom which is of the Divels planting which grows in the fields of Gomorrah both these Vines have grapes and clusters and yeild wine there is in Gods clusters red wine wine which maketh glad the hearts of the sons of God but there is in the Divels Vine bitter clusters and poisonous wine the wine of Dragons and no wonder here Moses his Vine yeilds the wine of Dragons for Revel 13. 2. the vine is of the Dragons planting Hee gave him his Power and Seat and great Authority Here wee take Vine for the Head of the Church i. e. of the Apostate Church of Rome and so the Pope is this Vine of the Divels planting as the next significant word expresseth for Moses by Vine of Sodom hints to us the place where this Vine shall be set and that is Rome for Rome is called Sodom say the Learned from Revel 11. 8. where when the Witnesses are slain 't is said they lay in the street of the great Citie which spiritually is called Sodom i. e. in one of the Kingdomes not all the Kingdomes subject to Rome which is this Sodom So that by Vine of Sodom is meant the head of the Church of Rome 'T is questioned whether Sodom relate to the Street or Citie If to the Street then how comes the place where the Witnesses are slain to be a Sodom 'T is answered Antichrist and his followers make it a Sodom and from such accidents it is usuall in Scripture to change the names as 2 King 23. 13. There Mount Olivet whose proper name is Har Hammishcha Mount of Unction is by reason of the Idols Chemosh and Molech set on that hill called Har Hammashchith the Mount of corruption 3. Or Vine of Sodom as it signifies a Church so it may signifie the great apostasie and generall defection that that Church hath made The Vine and Grapes and Clusters and Wine and all are mortall and deadly poyson The wild Vine 2 King 4. is rank poyson and such is the Church of Rome this day it is become the degenerate plant of a strange Vine Moses sets the Roman Church forth as Iohn under the representation of a Vine as in Revel 14. which Vine the Angels pray the Lord Christ to cutdown which ver 18 19. he doth with great furie and in Revel 17. where 't is Romes great Vintage time then when she is neer her ruine there she comes with a golden cup which she holds out to all and what is in it but the juice of her own grapes full of the filthinesse of her fornication This Revel 18. 3. is that wine of fornication which shee hath made the Kings of the earth drunk with So that by the wine of Dragons and the venome of Asps is meant the Blasphemies Idolatries Heresies and Abominations of that degenerate Vine the Church of Rome for of the Roman Monarchy neer its ruine Moses prophesies as wee shall make out and now it onely stands upheld by the Papal politie which every sober judicious Christian knows is the most idolatrous blasphemous heretical venemous Government and Power against the true Church both in its Head and Members And of this doth Moses prophesie the destruction when the Jews shall be converted to the Lord Jesus and united into one body with the true Church of Gentile gospellers Thus have you Moses in this prophetick Song of his setting forth 1. The Jews rejection of the Gospel and their captivity under the Romans as a punishment for their Apostasie 2. The mystery of the Jews conversion to the Gospel in the latter end and of the Roman Churches Apostasie from the Gospel 3. Now follows in the third place the signes of the grand Apostasies finishing and the Jews conversion for the ending of one iâ—… the beginning of the other the ending of the Apostasie is at the beginning of the Jews Conversion ver 36 37 38. Ver. 37 and 38 I take to be blasphemy of the Antichrist as in Dan. 7. 25. And he shal say I cannot see how this can be meant of God as sóme would but Antichrists boasts Where are your Gods i. e. your Magistrates What 's become of your Cause your Covenant your fasting and praying where is that God in whom ye trusted At this blasphemy of Antichrist in the next verse ver 39. God riseth up as one jealous of his honour and saith in answer to Antichrists boasting Behold now I even I am he c. 4. There 's the coming of Christ to ruine Antichrist finish this Apostasie and convert the Jews ver 39 40 41 42. 5. An Hallelujah throughout the Gentile Churches with and for the Jews conversion ver 43. the reign of Antichrist and the finishing the Apostasie parallel with Rev. 19. and Rom. 15. 10. where Paul tels us plainly that there is a day to come when the Iews and Gentiles shall rejoyce together which is not yet come In ver 36 37 38. there are two signes of the Jews conversion the Gentile Churches resurrection and the ruine
of Antichrist and the Apostasie which is called Rev. 19. 4 20. the casting of the beast and the false Prophet into the lake and the chaining of the Dragon for these are all together the ruine of these later is the establishing of the two former The reason why the Prophets oft-times joyne the true Gentile gospellers and the Jewes together in their prophecies which respect these times are as I conceive for these reasons 1. Because they come out of tribulation together 2. Because they shall be united in one Faith together There shall be no distinction in Religion betwixt Jew and Gentile and therefore for the most part the prophecies that look to the sounding of the seventh Trumpet joyn both Jew and Gentile together as in this of Moses and Isa. 27. 13 Mat. 24. Luk. 21. Mar. 13. In ver 36. there is one signe of the seventh Trumpet 's being ready to sound and that is the Jews and gospel Churches low condition When their power is gone and there is none shut up or left when the true Churches for they are Gods servants power is gone when their Armies are overthrown in the field and when all the true Churches Garisons are won that there is none shut up against a day of need nor any left i. e. unconquered this is the time even the set time for God to come to ruine his enemies and restore his Church then will God judg for his people righteous judgment for Dan. 7. 26. The Iudgment shall sit and repent himself for his peoples long and sore affliction Yet how may we take up Isaiahs lamentation this day Who hath beleeved this report or to whom is this Arm of the Lord revealed The unbelief the timorousnesse the profanenesse and the most abominable Apostasie and Antichristian complyance of Christians at this day in this Kingdom under these dispensations makes me beleeve that God hath yet some more dreadfull stroke against all sorts of Professors so that few Nobles and few Ministers and few of the Professors shall live to see these glorious Gospel days that are approaching Where can we find a soul that lives this day upon this Prophetick promise so much as to raise his hopes but even sinks by despondencie under the sad dispensations of God upon his Church or else feeds his hopes with the husks of humane helpes as if Armies or Navies could bring about these things as if Christ stood in need of Belial in the accomplishing of his glorious Prophetick promises but the Scripture must be fulfilled Luke 18. When the Son of man comes shall he find faith on the earth Scarce such a strong faith as to believe the Resurrection of the Church in such a state as now it is The other signe of the approaching of Antichrists ruine and the finishing of the mystery is the blasphemy of Antichrist in ver 37 38. where the Antichrist mocks at the Magistracy and the Ministry and the fasting and prayers and the religious ingagements of the Church parallel with Dan. 7. 8. where the Antichrist speaks great words but we shall leave them till we come to touch of the Antichrist The fourth special thing observable in this Prophetick Song of Moses is the coming of Christ the Lord to ruine Antichrist finish the grand Apostasie and the heads thereof and convert the twelve Tribes to the Gospel from ver 29. to v. 43. When Antichrist had bereaft the true Church of all its outward visible strength so that their Field power and Fort power was taken away and none was left to own the Churches cause but they were all subdued by Antichrists prevailing Armies ver 36. then in ver 37 38. doth Antichrist boast and insult in a blasphemous way over the heads of the Church and their cause and now ver 39. doth Christ appear to be the mighty Prince of all the earth who declares himself as Rev. 19. 16. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords fulfilling the Prophetick promises in restoring the Church out of its low condition and bringing its enemies down to hell therefore Dan. 12. 1 2. a parallel Text with Moses sets forth this day of wounding and healing i. e. of wounding the enemy and healing the Church as a little day of Judgment by Christ coming to deliver the poor Jewes and to bring trouble upon their enemies 'T is resembled to the Resurrection so Ezek. 37. the Holy Ghost sets forth the Jewes restauration after the Roman captivity under the resemblance of raising bones that have long lyen in the grave taking flesh upon them and living and becoming mighty and terrible and no wonder the Prophet compares the Jewes conversion to the Gospel and their restauration to the Resurrection for Paul Rom. 11. 19 saith What shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead and therefore in Rev. 20. 4 which is a continuation of the parallal Text Revel 19. 16. this day is called the living and raigning of those that were beheaded i. e. the Witnesses who Revel 11. 11. are said to have a Spirit of life enter into them and to stand upon their feet as a man rising out of his grave thence it is that this is called Revel 20. 5. the time of the first Resurrection which he is blessed that hath a part in it that is which is undefiled keeps himself a Virgin and follows the Lamb wheresoever he goeth Revel 14. 4. Keeps his mouth from guile and his person innocent ver 5. That worships not the Beast nor his Image nor receives his mark in his forehead nor his hand v. 9. But watcheth and keepeth his garments clean Revel 16. 15. These whether they live they shall live unto the Lord or whether they dye they shall dye unto the Lord whether they live or dye they shall be the Lords for on such the second death hath no power CHAP. VII BUT the great question is When shall these things be When shall Christ draw forth his sword to wound his enemies and heal and deliver the Jews and the distressed Church amongst the Gentiles Moses seems to answer in the next words v. 40. For I life up my hand to heaven and say I live for ever to this verse adde the three following and with them compare Revel 10. 5 6 7. the Text that sent us to this Chapter and now concurrs with its parallel and also Dan. 12. 6 7 9. observe here Daniel proposeth one question How long it shall be to the end of these wonders viz of ruining the little horn and of restoring the Jewes hereupon ver 7. Daniel sees him whom Moses and Iohn by the eye and ear of Prophecie saw and heard 1. Lifting up his hand to heaven 2. Swearing by him that lives for ever that it shall be for a time times and the dividing of time and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the holy people all these things shall be finished ver 9. And he said Go thy way Daniel for the words are closed up
the man because there lies the great difference betwixt the Protestants and the Papists and betwixt Protestants and Protestants It is the opinion of all that this man of sin is the Antichrist but what this Antichrist is is that which is much controverted Very many of the Protestants do hold that Antichrist is not one single person but a certain Politie or Kingdom wherein there is a succession of persons governing Brightman saith the Antichrist must be understood of a wicked Kingdom Calvin saith that the Antichrist is the head of the Apostasie Ergo no one single man but we deny his Antecedent for it will never be proved from History or Scripture that ever any one Government City or Polity was the Head of all the Churches that apostatized Neither doth the Scripture say any such thing of the Antichrist but the contrary as we shall shew hereafter We only give this as a true and full answer to his argument that there is not a word of Scripture in all the Bible to prove that the Antichrist is the head of the grand and general apostasie but for brevity sake wee 'll only give you Brightman's strange opinions of the Antichrist for him do the most Protestants follow I have briefly collected them thus 1 Antichrist saith he immediately after the ruine of the Roman Empire appeared in the Roman Throne and made that his seat 2 That Antichrist is a wicked Kingdome and no single person 3 That the time of his comming is past and not to come 4 That the Antichrist is to reign no where but in the City of Rome 5 That the Antichrist is the seventh head of the beast which reigns after the Emperours in Rome A man needs go no farther then his own arguments to fetch fire enough to turn into vapour and smoke each of these gross mistakes which have no Scripture for their bottom for the present this shall be all the confutation which is enough to that ingenuous Reader who peruseth him seriously that we shall give because we have work of more consequence to follow which will reach him fully The Protestants both Lutherans and Calvinists affirm that Paul speaks of the Antichrist in 2 Thes. 2. 4. which exalts himself above all that is called God and that he as god sits in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is god This say they is the Pope By the Temple of God they acknowledge as all men must that it is the Church of God Observe now how Bellarmine 〈◊〉 this with an argument ad hominem thus Arg. If the Pope of Româ—… sitting in the Church of Christ be Antichrist then the Calvinists the Lutherans as many as have forsaken the Church under the Pope are out of the true Church of Christ for the Church of Christ can be but only one as Christ is one But the Calvinists and the Lutherans do affirm the Pope to be Antichrist Ergo they have left the true Church If this text be meant of the Pope of Rome then do I not see how Bellarmines Argument can be answered This Argument of his is to this day not cleerly answered notwithstanding several answers I have read of Brightmans and B. Downams two learned Protestants This is an undeniable truth that the Antichrist shall arise in the midst of the purest Church in the world even when it remains pure therefore Dan. 7. 't is said He shall wear out the Saints and change their customes and lawes by which it appears it is the true Church in which he appears and that Church by their customes and lawes is a Nationall Church where should the two Witnesses be but in the true Church and where then should he arise that slayes them but in the true Church look not for Antichrist any where but in the midst of the true Church and at that time and not before when the Witnesses have finished their testimony in that place at that time look for the Antichrist But that time is not immediately after the overthrow of the Roman Pagan Emperours nâ—…r â—… the City of Rome as is evident from Revel 12. let not the Reader think I plead any thing for the Pope or the Church of Rome because I do confidently â—…ffirm that the Popedome is not the Antichrist nor Rome the seat of Antichrist as learned B. Downam would make it lib. 10. de Antichristo cap. 3 4. I do fully agree with him that Rome is mystical Babylon and the Popedome the whore of Babylon but all this makes not the Popedome the Antichrist nor mysticall Babylon the seat of the Antichrist which slayes the Witnesses as he would have it lib. 1. cap. 6. it makes the Popedome the beast with seven heads and ten horns Revel 13. 1. but not the beast of the earth Vers 12. nor the beast of the bottomless pit Revel 11. 7. which is the Antichrist Paul here describes We will not do the Church of Rome that honour to make it the Church where Antichrist usurps and tyrannizeth for that Church where Antichrist is revealed is the purest Church 't is the true Church that hath good lawes and customes else Antichrist would not think to change them we say and can prove it that the Church of Rome is an apostate degenerate Church full of all manner of abominations and filthinesse the mother of Harlots all this the Scripture saith of it and much more And we do affirm this of the Pope and Popedome that the Pope is that Star of the Roman Church fallen from heaven to earth i. e. as eminent an Apostate Church-man as ever can be in the World and by his hellish bottomlesse pitpolicie is got to be the beast of the Sea with seven heads and ten horns full of Blasphemie We will grant him the greatnesse of being that monstrous head of the Western Apostasie and this the Scripture saith of him but to affirm that the Pope or Popedome is the Antichrist that shall arise when the Witnesses have finished their testimony and shall slay the Witnesses or the little horn in Daniel rising after the ten horns or the man of sin sitting in the Temple of God then to be revealed when that which did let is removed all the learned men in the world shall never make me believe and therefore let not the Papists think their Champion hath wonne the day of the Protestants because he grounds an argument upon their mistakes no for we deny that the Pope is the Antichrist that slayes the Witnesses and yet we do affirm that the Popedome of Rome and those that have possessed that usurped charge make the beast with seven heads and ten horns which drove the Witnesses into sack-cloth and into the wildernesse they drove the woman the true Church into the wilderness into her place and what place is that but where the Witnesses finish their testimony and are slain by the Antichrist who reigns onely so long as the Witnesses lie dead which is but three
cause of the Apostasie when God shall ruine all those irregular Orders as I may justly call them in the European Churches and aâ—…l those tyrannicall and false Governments which are got into those States which professe Christianity and shall raise up his Witnesses which shall promote the truth of the Gospel both for doctrine and worship about this time shall the Antichrist appear i. e. immediately before this time But we leave this sense We come neerer to the literal and general sense and as 't is conceived to that which the Holy Ghost alludes unto The Antichrist is called the son of perdition by way of allusion to Iudas who is called the son of perdition Iohn 17. 12. which gives us this notion that as there arose a son of perdition to betray Christ the lawful Monarch of the Iews and hereby brought a dreadful curse upon the Church and State of the Iews so as that the Gospel departed from them and went to the Geneiles so there shall about that time when God will cause the Gospel to go forth to the Iews another son of perdition arise which shall betray to death the only true Christian Monarch in the World that so the Romish Gentiles Epha may be full and God may bring upon them the judgements written and restore again in their ruine the twelve Tribes to their ancient possessions This son of the perdition is he that slayes the Witnesses Therefore saith Ambrose Catharinus he is like Iudas Eximio námque moâ—…o talis erit qui tantum audebit he is exactly like Iudas in his sin in his eminent profession of religion and his prodigious ends malicious covetous sacrilegious treacherous attempts and hypocritical politick practises in the accomplishing of those ends To conclude let the words explain themselves The man of the sin is the son of the perdition i. e. he that commits the sin of sins in the Gentile Church is the son of the perdition that is actively of the slaying of the Witnesses So that the person gives us the knowledge of the sin the sin gives us eminently to know the person and this shall be the making naked manifesting or laying open to all the world the man of the sinne the son of the perdition CHAP. III. WHo opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God sus in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God This verse gives us a description of those actions which give the esse formale to the Antichrist for 't is not the person but the sinne makes the Antichrist formally so to be This text is Antichrist's looking-glasse wherein he may see himself face to face His prodigious sin is the slaying of the Witnesses and this is the sin which the text sets forth In the words there are three generall parts 1 Antichrist's acts 2 The object of these actions 3 The end of his acts 1 His acts are set forth under two names or titles given to him 1 He opposeth 2 He exalteth himself 2 The objects of these actions are 1 All that is called god 2 Or that is worshipped 3 In the end of his actions we have 1 The ambitious aimes of the Antichrist laid open 't is to make himself supream So that he as God there 's his Supremacy 2 We have the place where Antichrist makes himselfe King and Supream and that is in the Temple of God in the true Church of God Sits in the Temple of God 3 We have also his kinde of title to all this greatness described shewing himself that he is God 't is a self-created title that he hath to his Supremacy he shewes himselfe he displayes his own colours the meaning is he is an Usurper he hath no title but what he gives himself Who opposeth and exalteth himselfe so our Translation renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beza translates it sese opponens the Vulgar qui adversatur the Syriack qui adversarius the particle â—… is restrictive in this place and therefore the expression is to be considered absolutely that person opposing or the adverse person The word comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is contra jaceo it alludes to souldiers lying in siege against a Castle who lie close in their trenches against it so doth the Antichrist lay a siege against the Witnesses watching for an opportunity to surprize them and bereave them of their power and glory The word answers saith Grotius Zanchie and Beza to the word Satan in Hebrew which signifies an adversary as they prove This turns us to a text which gives us a view of the Antichrist Zach. 3 3 4 and the Witnesses in filthy garments and the Lord rebuking Antichrist who is there twice called the adversary in the rebuking of whom there is a fair Miter put upon Ioshua the high Priests head that is the Witnesses are called up to the Throne but this text will require much time to clear and therefore at this time I passe it by We will take it as 't is byassed the other way by Commentators and so the expression as that next before it alludes to Iudas saith Chist Have not I chosen twelve and one of you is a Devil and why a Devil but because he proved a traitor to his own Master and an hypocriticall cunning traitor against him so doth Antichrist against his Liege Sovereign To conclude he is most probably called the adversary because he is the opposer of the Lords anointed ones hence the learned call him the Antichrist because Christo ex diametro oppositus And exalteth himselfe these two expressions turn us to two texts which two texts describe the Antichrist say the most of the most learned Commentators in Dan. 11. 35. Revel 11. 7. In Revel 11. 7. he makes war with the Witnesses overcomes them here in opposing them he makes war with them in overcoming them he exalts himself above them and in Dan. 11 35. you have Pauls words He shall exalt himself above every god i e saith Brightman above every Magistrate in Rom. 13. 2. he resisteth God that rebels against Magistracie Oh this is Antichrist 1 Ioh. 2. 19. 22. Thus you have the Antichrist's actions described he opposeth and exalteth that is he maketh war and overcometh Now you have in the next place the objects of his actions or the parties whom he doth oppose and exalt himself above Above every one that is called God Some Greek copies have it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 supra omnem above every man that is called god other copies read it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 supra omne above every thing that is called god the Syriack Interpreter reads supra omnem Beza saith utrovis modo legas you may read it either way Grotius reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here the Papists and the Protestants fall foul upon each other the Protestants say this is meant of the Popes usurpation in his
trampling upon Kings and Emperours and trampling upon Gods Law and usurping a power even above Christ in his indulgencies and pardons On the contrary say the Papists this cannot be for say they Antichrist must deny Christ oppose God and Christ and be accounted and worshipped as God and Christ But the Pope will not be worshipped as Christ for he believes in Christ and worships Christ so farre is he from denying Christ Therefore he is not the Antichrist But if this were all the defence the Papists could make for ought I know the Pope will still remain Antichrist For there was never any professor of Christ ever lifted up his head so high against the Lord and his Christ as the Popes have done except the Antichrist But to answer their Argument we utterly deny that the Scripture holds out any such thing as that Antichrist in open words denies the Deity or that he requires divine worship as a god or that the Iews shall worship him as their Messias There is no such thing as they affirme of Antichrist to be found in Scripture the two main Scriptures which are brought to prove it are the Text we are upon and that of 1 Iohn 2. â—…2 The last we have already opened this Text in hand we shall open by Scripture and cleer its sense from all those aspersions call upon it Against every one who is called god Grotius well observes on this Text that Paul would not have us believe that those aâ—… gods of whom he speaks therefore he adds saith he the word called That it cannot be meant of the Deity in the letter is past question for who can exalt himself above him nor can it be meant of his endevours to exalt himself above God so as to assume the worship of a god for it is contrary to that Text which many learned Divines hold is literally meant of Antichrist Dan 11. 38. and the most understand it of Antichrist in the Type where the Antichrist is said to worship the god of forces or the god Mauzzim Now how can this agree together that he should exalt himself above every god assume divine worship as a god and yet in this state worship a god A quick-fighted Father of the Roman Church seeing into what absurdities this foolish opinion would bring him endeavours to salve it thus saith he Antichrist although he would be worshipped as a god publikely yet privately he worships the Devil his god Mauzzim because by his help and strength he obteined all his victories It may be that this answer may satisfie those of the Roman Church which live by an implicit faith but it can never satisfie any rational Protestant for these two reasons 1 Because he hath not an iota of Scripture for his opinion 2 He hath not so much as probability in his assertion therefore I leave him passe to the other extream of the Protestants who make this one of their arguments to prove the Pope the Antichrist But that this cannot be meant of the Popedome or Pope wil be sufficiently cleer to every unbiassed Reader as I doubt not but in part already it is by what hath been writ to this effect in this Treatise He against whom the Antichrist opposeth himself and exalts himself above is the Supream Magistrate Supremacie in the State or the Monarch and those authorized by him in the Government these he opposeth These are Psal 82. 1 6 called gods and in Exod. 4. 16. and 7. 1. Moses the first Monarch of the Common-wealth of the Hebrews is called a god See I have maâ—…e thee a god unto Pharaoh and unto Aaron thou shalt be a god This is spoken of Moses and here the title God is given to those whom the Antichrist opposeth what doth this tell us but that it is one of the sons of Oile one of the Witnesses which Revel 11. 6. have power like Moses to turn water into bloud I need say no more in confirmation of it it is the sense of several Learned Expositors Or that is worshipped 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Erasmus Beza and Vatablus translate it numen divine power others cultum The Syâ—…tack Ierome and Tertullian read religio The Vulgar which our Translators follow renders it quod colitur The word comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to reverence religiously the word is a comprehensive word 'T is by very learned men conceived to come from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which comprehends those things in Religion to whom reverence worship is due so that it not only comprehends 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 17. 23. the forms of Worship in the Church which every devout Christian reverenceth but the Administrators and Dispensers of those formes which are the Ministers of Christ which the Apostle enjoyns 1 Thess. 5. 13. To have in double honour for their works sake for Religions sake for the Gospels sake so that the object of Antichrists actions are not onely Magistracy in the State but Ministery in the Church He not onely opposeth and exalteth himselfe above and against the Civil but the Ecclesiastick Power and Government he not onely changeth the times and lawes of the one but of the other also and what is this but the slaying of the Witnesses the two Witnesses this makes him the man of the sin the son of the pâ—…rdition Next we have the end of his acts So that he as god sits in the Temple of God here is also the place where he acts these things 't is in the Temple of God that is the Church of God the true Church of God where the Gospel-Ordinances and Gospel-Officers are of Christs ordeining there doth this Antichrist when he hath pulled down the supream Monarch all those Magistrates that depended upon his Supremacie and where he hath opposed and exalted himself above and against all formes of worship and right Dispensers of those formes seat himself as god that is as supream Head and Monarch over all those Countreys and places where he hath thus made war and overcome and this the Holy Ghost tells us is in the Church of God which he calls the Temple of God so that the Reader if he will may easily finde in what place of the world the Antichrist is to arise that slayes the Witnesses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so far forth This adveâ—…b is very Emphaticall implying that the drift of his prodigious acts in slaying the Witnesses is that he may make himself the Lord possessour of their power and greatnesse of their estates and revenues 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Temple of God 't is very absurd to say that this Tempse as the Papists affirm is the Temple of Ierusalem for the Temple is destroyed at Ierusalem never to be builded again and the Papists confesse that the time of this Antichrists appearing in the world and sitting in the Temple of Ierusalem must be in the end of the Roman Monarchy We must therefore expound Temple
that had such a Pilot in such a stresse This Text is the sheat-Anchor which staid the driving ship of the Church of Thessalonica they had heard Paul in person preach of the grand Apostasie and the comming of Antichrist and of thâ—… great let untill the time of Antichrists appearing and how all these must be fulfilled before the day of Judgement but they had forgot all this untill Paul had remembred them 't is certainly an excellent piece of divine policie in a time when a Church hath â—…lipt the anchor of old truths and is tossed to and fro with heresies to minde them of old truths for all errour in the Church as we said is either caused through forgetfulnesse or wilfulnesse as for wilfull Apostates they are past cure without infinite mercy and an extraordinary divine arme stretched out they are miserably ship-wracked to eternity but as for forgetful apostates what better remedie can be brought for their recovery then bringing to their remembrance ancient truths from which they have swerved What makes so many eminent professours in these our dayes turn Apostates but onely forgetfulnesse their fear and care of their persons families and estates hath made them forget their Baptismall Sacramentall Nationall Personall Engagements This sin of forgetfulnesse caused some who went to prison triumphing like Martyrs to return from prison sneaking like Malefactors they forgot Solomons words Prov. 4. 6. and a greater then Solomons in Matth 16. 25 26. and 19. 28. and Revel 21. 7 8. and 2. 7 17 26. and 3. 5 11 12. In truth such was their forgetfulnesse through fear that they forgot their own Epistles Poor souls I pity them and pray that either they may remember themselves or others may quite forget them let their shamefull acts never be published in Gath. Mark 8. 18. Do ye not remember The Apostle proves the truth of his Doctrine both from an ocular and auricular demonstration they had seen him in person mainteining it with their ears received it formerlâ—…â—…or a truth so that the Apostle drove them to this Dilemma either to be quiet and establish themselves in the truth by rejecting those seducers and their doctrines or to proclaim to the World that they were Apostates in forsaking the Light and the Truth which they once imbraced CHAP. V. ANd now ye know what with-holdeth that he might be revealed in his time This Text is neither plain to be read nor easie to be understood Some of the Fathers have onely this dark Comment upon it that they understand it not Hereupon some as darkly say of this Text that Pauls intention was not to be understood by any but the Thessalonians Venerable Beda and Dr. Estius ingeniously confesse they understand it not and several others though not in words in their works professe as much I pray God I be not one of them I am the likeliest of all men If I am 't is not for want of search For Hagar I think did not search more for a Fountain then I have done for a Stream naturally flowing from this profound Well yet am still exceeding thirsty The Text it selfe is an inference drawn from a double reason in the premisses The inference is that now they knew what hindered the appearing of Antichrist and the grounds of his inference are from v. 3 4 5. 1 There shall be a generall Apostasie v. 3. before the man of sin be revealed 2 That man of sin before he comes to be formally the man of sin must v. 4 stay the Witnesses and this was no strange or new doctrine for v. 5. he had preached it to them before so that from this double Demonstration he in this Text concludes with a confutation of their former preposterous conclusions for the forme of the Apostles speech is Elenchicall they concluded that the day of Judgement was at hand No such matter saith Paul for the generall Apostasie must continue a certain space first and then must come the man of sin in the end of that and he must slay the Witnesses and this you may remember I taught you therefore now certainly you cannot but know what lets the Antichrists appearing since you have been double taught it viz. that of the generall Apostasie which God by his revealed decree hath ordered first to be and then the slaying of the Witnesses the overcomming and suppressing of that Magistracy and Ministery which upheld Gods holy Ordinances in their purity for the Apostasie did but drive the Witnesses into the wildernesse where the Antichrist in the end of the Apostasie findes them and slayes them He opposeth and exalteth himselfe above all that is called God i. e. Magistracie or that for Religions sake is reverenced for so much the Greek word imports that is the Ministery which for their works sake are to be had in double honour The Apostle draws an argument à 〈◊〉 impedimenti that the great let must be the two Witnesses for they are the mountain which stand in the Antichrists way all his war is with them and all his Tyranny is over them and their Subjects I cannot finde in all the Scrâ—…pture what should be the great let but the two Witnesses 't is they that have fire in their mouths to devour their enemies they have power to shut heaven and power over waters to turn them to blood these all are but expressions of their prevalencie with God against their enemies those Antichristian enemies which persecute them into the Wildernesse and hence it is that Antichrist Revel 11. 7. makes war with them by which 't is clear 't is a Nationall Church under a lawfull Magistracy and Ministery which are in a capacity of levying war against the Antichrist that by the way chiefly observing this that they are the Antichrists let And v. 10. They that dwell on the earth i. e. Antichrists followers they rejoyce and make merry and send gifts one to another and what 's the matter because those two Prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth that is those Antichristian factions they i. e. the Witnesses kept down Antichrist with his followers therefore these rejoyce for their slaying I very well know the diversity of opinions on this Text Some and those of the Eastern Churches conceive the great let is the Spirit of God whose powerfull influence in the Gospel kept Antichrist under This in some sense is true yet not in opposition but confirmation of that opinion of the Witnesses being the great let for what Mediators doth the Spirit make use of betwixt his Majesty and men but only the Witnesses Moses and Aaron were thus his Mediators Others say the great let is the decree of God this in some sense though not in theirs is true for there are no events but what fall under Gods decree but we speak and so doth the Apostle of the second not of the first causes Others say the doctrine of the Gospel was that great let which kept Antichrist from appearing This opinion
is so called because there the mystery of ruining the Pagan Empire and the mystery of the grand apostasie and the mystery of the Antichrist and the mystery of Christs comming to raise up the Witnesses â—…uine the Antichrist Rome and the Devil and convert the twelve Tribes to the Gospel is all revealed to Iohn therein But this word seems to me to import something more viz the revelation of some choice secret which the world shall be ignorant of it shall be hid from them and onely revealâ—…d to some peculiar ones as a choice mystery So you have the word in Luke 10. 22. No man hath known who the Son is but the Father and who the Father is but the Son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and he to whom the Son will reveal him that choice and beloved soul to whom Christ will communicate this â—…are secret 't is not to every one nor to many but onely to some few choice peculiar ones so you have the same word Matth 11. 25 there Christ gives thanks to his Father that he had hid the mystery of the Gospel from the wise and learned and revealed it to babes and sucklings to some few weak despised ones in the World So when Antichrist comes the World shall not know him to be Antichrist for they shall wonder after him and wonder at those that call a person of such successes and such goodly pretences Antichrist he shall be known to be the Antichrist but by a few it shall be a speciall blessing and peculiar favour of God to know Antichrist very few shall know him and those that do know him it shall be revealed to them he shall deceive if it were possible the very elect so far shall he be from being known to all men to be the Antichrist and therefore let no man vainly dream that Antichrist when he is in the height of his tyranny shall then be generally known to be the Antichrist No he shall be cried up of the loose hypocriticall and apostate professors for an eminent Saint and the destroyer of Antichrist Take this as a generall note of Antichrist that few in the world shall know him to be Antichrist onely those few peculiar choice ones to whom he shall be revealed It shall be a speciall gift given as a choice Cabinet-secret from God to know the Antichrist when he comes As few knew Christ when he came and appeared in the flesh so few shall know the Antichrist to shun him The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is limited with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in Matth. 11. 25. to signifie that this revelation is a mystery onely unfolded and made known to some few persons but hidden from the world The generality of men in the world know it not they have eyes and see not that is these mysteries other things they see and know but not this this must be revealed to them that shall understand it Thou bast hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes In his time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to a word in that his time tâ—…ese words are very emphaticall and significant in that his time it denotes that the Antichrist hath a peculiar time distinct from other enemies and proper onely to himselfe to appear in 't is called that his time in a double respect 1 In regard of the season when he appears 2 In regard of the measure of that time how long he continues when he appears Paul doth not say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that his articulate determinate time his time and season of accomplishing all his villainie his mature time so the word signifies Mark 11. 13. when Christ came to the leaved fig-tree he found nothing but leaves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for it was not the time of figs so we translate it if it should be understood of time in generall that it was not a time to expect figs we shall justifie the wicked servants words who called Christ an austere man reaping before the time of bringing forth so that this tree might justly have said to Christ as the Devils Why art thou come to curse me before my time but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is here restrictive and onely respects the opportunity of bringing forth figs it was the time of bringing forth figs with other trees but this tree had lost the season the opportune time and so with humble submission I conceive this hard Text is to be unfolded but this by the way Yet so as it informes us that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at large comprehends the person place and time it signifies the appointed fit season whether dayes moneths or years There is a certain articulate time a prefixed time when Antichrist must appear this time is say the Fathers towards the end of the Roman Monarchy and say the Scriptures when the Witnesses have finished their Testimony And secondly it is called that his time in respect of the length of it that his time of a time times and the dividing of times Dan. 7. 25. or that his time of a time times and a particle of time which is the time of his tyrannizing over the Church during the time of the slain Witnesses lying dead for these two things are observable 1 That so long as the Witnesses are in sackcloth so long the Roman Apostafie continues 2 So long as the two Witnesses lie slain so long the Antichrist tyrannizeth over the Church both which are manifest in Revel 11. and Dan. 7. 25. Mistake me not for I do not mean that Antichrists time is finished when the Witnesses arise and his 7000 names of men are slain by a great Commotion which we read Earthquake For in Revel 11. I finde not one word spoken of the slaying of the Antichrist at the great Earthquake verse 13. Where by the way you must observe that this Earthquake is not the same with that great Earthquake Revel 16. 18. for that in Revel 11. 13. is the finishing of the second wo and that in Revel 16. 18. is the finishing of the third wo which is called the seventh Trumpet Revel 11. 15. which is the last wo-trumpet cleerly expressed both in Revel 11. 15. and Revel 16. 17. What then is the difference betwixt the Earthquake at the rising of the Witnesses which fulfils the second wo and that in Revel 16. 18 and Revel 11. 15. which is the finishing of the third wo I shall only make that difference which the Scripture makes in Revel 11. 15. that houre that the Winesses rose the tenth part of the City fell by a great Earthquake in which Earthquake were slain of men 7000. The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not properly signifie an Earthquake as Piscator well observes it signifies a Concussion or quaking saith Scapula The word is not tied down to the earth it may signifie a heart-quake or a head-quake or a Common-wealth-quake as well as an Earth-quake
this let we have in the former Verse touched already shewing the various opinions of the learned upon it Some say this let was divine grace which kept back the darknesse of Antichrist from overshadowing the world Calvin saith 't is the doctrine of the Gospel otheres say Gods decree Others the Pagan Idolatry seated in the Roman Throne Others say the Roman Empire the Papists say 't is Romanum Imperium the Protestants affirm the let is Romani Imperatores some affirming the Pagans to be it others the Christian Emperours and others both Aretius and many others affirm the let to be the prevailing progresse of the Gospel for the Gospel must be first preached to all the world and then Matth. 24. Beda Augustine Anselme Estius and Fabritius Paulutius do turn the sense of the words quite another way Thus they translate the words He who holdeth let him hold untill the mystery of iniquity do go out from the midst of the Church they conceive the Apostle here exhorts the faithfull that they would persevere in the faith which they did professe until the mystery of iniquity were removed This interpretation saith learned Beza is not onely absurd but altogether disagreeing with the Greek Copie But as the text may be translated neerer to the Copy as I have endevoured leaving out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the most adde to the copie to supply the sense so there is an interpretation neerer the minde of the holy Ghost then is commonly given I humbly take the boldnesse to translate the Text thus For the mystery of the illegality now worketh only untill that that letteth be done out of the way In a word the meaning is that the grand Apostasie onely shall go on to eat out the Saints of God and the true Church of Christ occultly and in a mystery untill the Antichrist arise and slay the Witnesses and then it shall break out into open view hence it is Cornelius à Lapide compares the Apostasie to a coal amongst wood which works it selfe more and more into it untill it have set it of a bright flame which flame he compares to the time of the appearing of the Antichrist so that the meaning of that clause untill that that with-holdeth be removed is to be understood either of the vvith-holding of the Antichrist from appearing and so it is meant of the Magistracy and Ministery of that Kingdom vvhich keep Antichrist from getting up either into the Civil or Ecclesiastick power Or thus untill that that reigns or possesseth the Throne be removed for Zanchie saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to hold to detein to possesse to rule c. and then the meaning is untill the Witnesses which keep possession of the Throne be removed out of the way it is meant the Throne of that Kingdom where the Antichrist is to arise for vers 4. 't is the Antichrists work to oppose and exalt himselfe above them above all that is called God i. e. the Magistracy or for Religions sake is reverenced that 's the Ministery and v. 8. the Antichrist is at that very time revealed when the two Witnesses are removed So that the whole Text imports thus much that the Apostasie shall by little and little grow and spread in the Churches throughout the world from Pauls time to the time of the revealing of the Antichrist which Antichrist shall be known by slaying those two Witnesses which stood in his way of preferment and exaltation and did keep him from tyrannizing Herein I do not abound in the Scriptures sense the same truth being made plain in the parallels already laid before the Reader in the fore-going page Observe this by the way if the slaying of the two Witnesses be that grand prodigious act which makes Antichrist formally the Antichrist distinct from all other persons then the mark which he causeth all who expect his protection to give with their right hand must of necessity be such a subscription as gives an assent to and approbation of that prodigious act and therefore the great God awaken all those that have this mark upon them that they may speedily repent for otherwise they shall assuredly drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Revel 14 10. and on the other side Let them rejoyce and be strong in the Lord who suffer this day grievous persecution because they dare not receive the mark of the beast they shall stand on mount Sion with the Lamb Revel 14. 1. and sing the song of Moses and the Lambe Revel 15. 3. they shall ride upon triumphant horses in triumphant apparel with their Triumphant Generall whose eyes are as a flame of fire on whose head are many crowns whose vestments are dipt in blood whose Word is a sharp sword smiting the Nations and treading them as in a Wine-presse who weares on his victorious thigh a Name written The KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS This is your beloved and this is your friend ô ye daughters of Ierusalem and therefore be of good comfort and courage this day for your Lord who commeth will come and will not tarry CHAP. IX 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 There is no material difference that I can perceive either betwixt the Greek Copies or the Translators of them In the words we have two general parts 1 The reign of the Antichrist 2 The ruine of the Antichrist 1 In his reign there are these three things considerable 1 The time of his reign 2 The title given to the person reigning 3 The Apostles manner of expressing his reign 2 In his ruine we have three things considerable 1 The person who ruines him 2 The manner of his ruine 3 The time of his ruine 1 Here is the time of Antichrists reign expressed emphatically in these two little words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And then this copulative Conjunction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Adverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 betokening the present tense tell us thus much that even at that present time when the two Witnesses are removed out of the way or as other texts have it slain then the Antichrist shall appear in the World look not for the Antichrist until the Witnesses be slain that very act makes him Antichrist therefore he is said Revel 11. 7. then at that present time to arise out of the bottomless pit when he slayes the Witnesses he was doubtlesse in being as a man as one single person before that time but he was not the Antichrist before he actually made war with and overcame the Witnesses the foundation of the Antichrists Kingdome is laid upon
of the gracious promises then to be fulfilled which to this day have not been fulfilled v 9 10. There shall be no killing nor destroying in all Gods holy mountain or in the mountain of holinesse i. e. all wars shall cease amongst Christians The mountain of the Lord shall be on the top of all the mountains that is the Church shall prevail as Christianity did in Constantines dayes and much more abundant and the Gentiles shall flock in unto it hereby their union shall be wrought which shall produce a generall peace in the Church Now to this day this hath not been accompilshed therefore it is to be say many learned men yea the Rabbins themselves in a manner affirm as much that it is to be when the Lord shall come to destroy Antichrist for they say it shall be accomplished when their Messias comes which they say will be in the end of the Roman Monarchy which they call their last redemption being exceeding angry at the Christians would they had not just cause for extending many of their most ample and glorious prophecies no further then the second Temple Vide Rab. Solomon on Ier. 31. 40. and then the promise is that the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea i. e. there shall be an universal knowledge of Christ in the world which never yet hath been and then in v. 10. it shall be in that day that Christs rest shall be glory or exceeding glorious by rest is here meant either the peace and tranquillity of the Church which he calls his rest or the place of Christs residence which signifies his Church So that either way the Text hath not been yet fulfilled for the Church hath had little rest since Christs time for the generall Apostasie hindered its glory but when the Apostasie shall be taken away then the rest of the Church shall be glorious therefore this smiting the wicked one in the Text is most probably the smiting of Antichrist 3 From v. 11 12 13 14. we argue for this smiting of the wicked one shall be in that day when God will recover the remnant of his people the second time from Assyria and Egypt and Pathros and Cush this must be meant of some recovery of them after their carrying Captive into Babylon by the Assyrians for they were never set down in Scripture to be delivered above once from Assyria and that was when they were restored by Cyrus But now here is a second restoring again of the Jews which must be understood of their restoring under the Gospel which yet hath not been for their recovery v. 12. shall be from the four corners of the earth from whence they were never yet redeemed but are to be Matthew 24. 30 31. compared with Ezechiel 37. 9 to 28. And Revel 1. 7. when Christ comes in the clouds that is sits on the white cloud Revel 14. with a Sickle in his hand to cut down the vine of the earth i e. the beast of the earth the Antichrist In Isaiah Christ sets up an Ensigne and in Matth. 24. there is the signe of the Son of man by that in both the dispersed Jews are gathered from the four corners of the earth And that which most of all confirmes it that this conversion and redemption of them is to be in these latter dayes is v. 13. for Ephraims and Iudahs enemies shall be cut off and both Ephraim and Iudah i. e. the ten Tribes and the two Tribes never since Solomons time united shall be now at peace and firmly united but this hath never yet been therefore say very many this promise is to be fulfilled From all this I argue If the great Gospel-effect in uniting Jew and Gentile together of universall peace in the Churches of Christ of universall knowledge of Christ in the earth of the recovering of the Hebrews from the four corners of the earth and uniting them being recovered be to be in that day when Christ shall smite the earth with the rod of his power with the breath of his mouth slay the wicked one then this day is yet to come and in all probability this smiting is the smiting of the Antichrist after whose ruine these glorious things are to be effected as very many of the Ancients and of the pious learned Recents affirm besides many clear Texts which make it apparent The destruction of the Antichrist is onely ascribed to the Lord Jesus and to none else hence it is that in Deut. 32. 39 40 41 42. we finde Christ in fighting against him speaking of himselfe at least eleven times in the singular number I even I am he I kill I make alive I wound I heal I lift up my hand I live for ever if I whet my sword I will render vengeance I will make mine arrowes drunk with blood Christ in the first person singular he alone will have the honour of Antichrists destruction and hence it is that thrice in Daniel 7. we have the little horn the last upstart under the Roman Monarchy his ruine set out like the day of Judgement though the horn be little yet his ruine is great in v. 9. he is ruined by the Ancient of dayes who did sit this is the Lord Jesus who is Alpha and Omega who in the ruine of this little horne sets up v. 14. his own Kingdome which is an universall Kingdome and a perpetuall Kingdome that is untill the end of the World In v. 21 22. there you have the Antichrist and the quality of those over whom he tyrannizeth they are Saints which gives us by the way to know that Antichrist must tyrannize within the purest Church in that Church where are visible Saints And you have the Ancient of dayes again appearing many take this to be the day of Judgement because here is mention made of the Ancient of dayes comming which is onely to be understood of the comming of Christ to ruine Antichrist and to call the elect of Jews and Gentiles unto the profession of the Gospel the same you have again in v. 25 26. and in Dan. 11. 45. and 12. 1. when the Antichrist shall come to his end after he hath prevailed so far against the Saints as to pitch his tents in the mountain of holinesse at that time Michael shall stand up to bring trouble upon the enemies of the Church and deliverance to his distressed people this Michael is none other but the Lord Jesus Christ who by his immediate providence in making bare his Arm making naked his Bowe and appearing with the sickle in his hand all Scripture-expressions of his immediate power terribly and utterly confoundeth Antichrist and all Antichristian powers Hence also 't is that Ioel calls this great day of the destruction of the Antichrist the day of the Lord Ioel 3. 14. and what is this day of the Lord in the verse before 't is the time of his putting in his sickle to reap the great harvest of
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.
39. is th be understood Ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. Look back to the Context and it tels us that the Church and state of Iudea should be desolate untill that time that they welcomed the messengers of the Gospel whom now they despised Ye shall not see me i. e. know me 't is an intellectuall sight of him by faith ye shall not believe in me untill the day that your heart be inclined according to Isaiah's prophecie to say How beautifull are the feet of them that bring the glad tidings of peace untill then the vail should be over the eyes of their minde as Paul expresseth it but when the time is fulfilled then they shall look on him whom they have pierced i. e. by faith look on him Zach. 12. 10. Primatius sends us to Matth. 24. to learn the meaning of Paul in the Text which Texts have the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 frequently yet do not thereby set forth the personall comming of Christ to Judgement but the powerfull and extraordinary actings of his Providence in raising up the two Witnesses ruining the Antichrist and his followers and converting the twelve Tribes to the Gospel this Paul calls the brightnesse of his comming or the splendor of his comming and Matthow calls it Chap. 24. v. 30. the Son of man comming in clouds with power and great glory And in Revel 14. 14. it is expressed by the appearing of the Son of man on a white cloud with a golden crown on his head there 's his splendor and glory and a sharp sicle in his hand there is his power There may three reasons be given why one the same politie person or action are diversly described in the New Testament 1. That they may comprehend all the Old Testament-prophecies of the seventh Trumpet 2 To make us to look higher then a literal sense or to think that there are any crowns or garments or white horses or swords but onely Imperial Majesty and power with Christ in heaven and that his comming is not in person but in power 3 For cleerer information as the generall head of the Western apostasie is gradually described 1 As one of the four Angels Revel 7. 1. Next a Star fallen Chap. 9. 1. Next the beast of the Sea with seven heads and ten hornes Chap. 13. 1. And at last the whore of Babylon Chap. 17. So the Antichrist 1 He is the beast of the bottomlesse pit Revel 11 7. 2 The beast of the earth deceiving people Revel 13. 14. 3 The skarlet-coloured beast full of names of blasphemy Revel 17. 3. the eighth King v. 11. that goeth to perdition and therefore the son of perdition And lastly the false Prophet cast into hell Revel 19. 20. But all this by the way we now proceed In Habakkuks song upon the stringed Instruments i e. a prophetick song for stringed Instruments were Instruments of prophecie 1 Chron. 25. 3. Psal. 49. 4. we finde Chap. â—… 3 4. a parallel Text setting forth in all probabilitie the self-same comming of Christ for the whole song in the matter of it is parallel with Revel 14. 1 2. which is all one with that Revel 19. where Christ and his army appear in glorious aray at the time of Antichrists ruine and one with Zach. 14. 5. The Lord my God shall come all the Saints with thee In v. 3. God came from Teman and the holy One from Mount Paran Selah this is to me a note upon Sigionoth for I understand it not onely let us wade as far as we can by the hand of the Scriptures guidance a parallel Text for this we have in Deut. 33. 2. which here is stiled Moses blessing wherewith he blessed the children of Israel and he said The Lord came from Sinai and rose up from Seir unto them and he came with ten thousand Saints c. This Text I may call a typicall Comment of that in Habakkuk for as Gods coming unto Mount Sinai for so the Text may be read was the forming of the house of Iacob into a Church-government and right way of worship and as from Mount Paran he blessed the Civill Government in endowing the Elders of Israel with a large measure of his Spirit thus establishing their Church and State-Government after their glorious deliverance out of the cruel bondage of Egypt so God shall come to deliver the house of Israel from under the long and sore captivity of the Roman Monarchy by converting them to the Gospel and restoring them to their own land so forming them to be a Church and State again Thus God shall come from Teman this is the comming of Christ and the holy One from Mount Paran Teman and Paran were two Wildernesses in which the Church of God wandered and where they had these glorious apparitions of Gods favour to note that the Church under the Gospel shall be Revel 11. and 12. in the Wildernesse when God speaks thus comfortably to her Selah being a note of musick for the elevation of the voice is very Emphaticall here for when God shall restore the Jews from captivity Jacob Psal. 53. 8. shall rejoyce and Israel shall be glad therefore Iohn heares Reve. 19. after the Roman Monarchy was ruined a great voice of much people saying Hallelujah the highest song deserves the highest note the note was so high set v. 6. that it was as the voice of mighty thunderings saying Allelujah But how is this comming parallel with that of Pauls and Matthews and Iohns this is exactly parallel with them for as here he is said to come so he is said to come with great splendor and glory and with great power his glory covered the heavens and the earth was full of his praise and his brightnesse was as the light here 's the brighnesse of Christs comming and then he had hornes comming out of his hand there is the comming of Christ in power there was the hiding of his power or the mystery of his power by which it appears this comming of Christ in glory and power to destroy Antichrist and convert the Jews is a mystery as Paul Romans 11. Iohn Revelat. 10. and Moses Deuteron 32. call it This comming of Christ is glorious and powerful in regard of the effects of it 't is powerful in regard of the powerful enemies it overcomes for it overthrows the Devil the beast and the false prophet and then Christs comming is glorious because it gathers the twelve dispersed Tribes together it brings in to the royal fold of Christ infinite numbers of Gentiles from all quarters of the World it makes all the Kingdoms of this World to become the Lords and his Christs How am I in the midst of these texts like a little Bee drowned in an Ocean of honey I am not able to count the texts that illustrate this glorious and powerful comming of Christ neither am I able to marshal
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
witnesses on their feet and makes their lively merry enemies tremble with feare The great voice ver 1â—… which calls the witnesses to the Throne cast the enemies from the Throne for the same houre that the witnesses ascend to Heaven in the Throne the same houre there was a great State-Commotion for so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be translated which caused this double effect first it restored the tenth part of the City to the witnesses for by the fall of the tenth part is meant the falling away of that Kingdome or the domimon of the Beast of the bottomlesse pit to the witnesses who were ver 7. by the Warres and Conquests of that Beast cast out of that Throne and seate of Athority Secondly this great Earth-quake or Commotion slew 7000. heads of men so Beza renders it it is probably meant the ring-leaders of those that slew the witnesses these by a great Commotion shall be slaine by some grand division or intestine Warre amongst themselves Such a schism Ezekiel Prophesies Cap. 38. 11 12. which is to be about the same time of the seventh trumpet Let not then the hearts of those that keep their garments clean walk with the Lamb be afraid but let them when they see these things begin to come to passe Luk. 21. 28. look up and lift up their heads for their redemption draweth nigh T is not in the power of Armes or Navies to raise the witnesses neither must they doe it but t is the spirit of life from God Zach. 4. 6 7. a cogent text to our purpose Not by Might or Army nor by Power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts There is a time when the witnesses strength is to sit still God will make that Mountain that stands in the way of his Zerubbabel to become a plain and he shall bring forth the head-stone with shoutings Grace Grace unto it The hands of that Zerubbabel that laid the foundation of a Church and State reformation his hands shall also finish it T is a Prophetick promise extending it selfe to these last times But to our purpose whether we call it a great battle or a great Earth-quake we affirme and prove it that it is distinct from that great battle or Earth-quake Revel 16. and Revel 19. and Revel 14. 16. for this in Revel 11. is under the second woe-trumpet those in Revel 14. 16. and 16. 16. and 19. 19. are under the third woe-trumpet as appears by Revel 11. 1â—… compared with Rev. 14. 15. and Chap. 16. 18. all which prove that the Earth-quake voices and thunders are not untill the temple be opened in Heaven and the Angell came out from thence crying with a loud voice the loud voices of the seventh trumpet are made by the Angells coming out of the Temple but the Temple is not open untill the seventh Trumpet sound Revel 11. 15. 19. therefore these voices thunders and the great Earth-quake are under the seventh Trumpet Againe that Earth-quake Revelations 11. under the second woe only throws downe the tenth part of the City and slayes 7000. heads of men but that Revelations 16. and 19. 19. slayes the three grand enemies of the Devill the Beast and the false Prophet and that great Earth-quake rends the City in three parts what in particular it meanes I know not but in generall it signifies the utter ruine of it Observe this from Revel 〈◊〉 that when the witnesses rise and the tenth part of the City falls and the 7000. names of men are slaine we reade not a word of the slaying of the Beast of the bottomlesse pit No though his followers be destroyed yet he escapes he is not destroyed untill the great battle under the seventh trumpet which Revel 〈◊〉 â—…4 comes quickly and sodainly after the second is past This Beast of the bottomlesse pâ—…t is the Antichrist who is so called Revel 17. 8. and he goes into perdition therefore Paul calls him the Son of perdition in Dan. 7. 8. 24 25. he is called a little horne divers from any of the Princes or Monarchs under the Roman Empire the signes whereby to know him are he plucks up three Hornes or Kingdomes by the roote that 's expounded in ver 24. he subdues three Kings and ver 25. tells us what Kings they are Kings that defend the sacred attributes of God for in their ruine comes up a tolleration of Blasphemy it is in the text laid to his personall charge because he is the great supporter of Blasphemers Secondly they are three Kings that protected the Saints of God for in their subversion the Saints are worn out when Blasphemy is tollerated the Saints must not thinke to thrive Thirdly they are three Kingdomes which had good Lawes and Customes else Antichrist would not change them This little horne saith Hierome Theodoretus Aquinas and severall others both of the Greek and Latine Fathers is the Antichrist and considering the forecited Symptomes in the text with what immediately followes I cannot see how we can conjecture him to be any body else especially when these texts agree so fully with Rev. 11. 7. but that which cleares it most of all is ver 26 27. which compared with Revel 11. 15. evidence it clearly that this little horne is the Antichrist and that this Antichrist is to be slaine at the sounding of the seventh Trumpet And upon this very ground I conceive you have a fuller description of this little horne Dan. 11. 36 37 38. 45. whom the Fathers call the Antichrist for when he shall proceed so far against the Church as to pitch his Tents in the Mountaine of holinesse and for all that shall surely come to his end at that time Dan. 12. 1. Michael i. e. Christ shall stand up and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a Nation t is the same with Revel 18. 16. Daniel calls it a time of trouble Iohn calls it a great Commotion the Evangelists allude to this of Daniel when they speake of Christs comming in the clouds with glory and great power which is at the seventh Trumpet The Holy Ghost that we might know Antichrist when he comes hath both in Daniel and the Revelations given full and ample descriptions of him Revel 11. 7. is parallell with Dan. 7. 24. and Revel 13. 11 12 13 14 15. is parallell with Dan. 11 36 37 38. in the former you have the description of that sinne that makes him formally the Antichrist which is the slaying of the witnesses in the latter you have the plat-forme or Modell of his government which he sets up after he hath slaine the witnesses from both you have him a third time twice againe mentioned whereby you may assuredly know him in Revel 17. 8. respecting Revel 11. 7. and in Revel 19. 20. where he is called the false Prophet in relation to his cheating signes and false wonders Rev. 13. 14. and also to his government wherein he pretends to imitate Moses the
great Prophet he is a mock Moses and therefore a false Prophet Thus by the way something out of my way yet much conducing to the purpose have I given you a description of Antichrist in laying before you the texts that make mention of Antichrist I now returne onely be pleased to observe thus much to our purpose from this which we have said by the way of the Antichrist that the Antichrist which is a false Prophet is not destroyed untill the seventh Trumpet sound for that battle Revel 16. unto which the Kings of the earth and the whole world ver 14. are solicited to send aide and that Revel 16. 19. are both under the seventh Trumpet at both which which are both one the false Prophet appeares Obj. But if we are now under the sixth Viall as many learned and pious Divines affirme and as this worthy and eminent Divine my informer supposeth then is this great battle to be fought before the third woe-trumpet sound and all the enemies of the newly converted Jewes and the refined Gospell-Gentiles are to be destroyed before the seventh Trumpet sound the Judgment shall sit Dan. 7. â—…6 compared with Rev. 20. 4. the blessed time of 1335. dayes Dan. 12. 12. which is a great effect of the first Resurrection Rev. 20. 5. there 't is positively said that the ruine of those grand enemies immediately before spoken of at the great battle and thereupon the establishing of the true Church in great power and Authority Dan. 7. 26. Rev. 20. 45. this is the first Resurrection and so Revel 11. 11. the deliverance of the Gentile Gospell-Church is termed and to this is the redemption of the believing Jewes resembled Ezek. 37. 5 6 7 9 12 13. and Dan. 12. 12. all which comes to passe under the sixth Viall which is to be under the second woe now if these things come to passe before the seventh Trumpet sound there is a grosse mistake in the Calculation Sol. For answer hereunto we lay downe these two generall propositions viz. 1. That none of the seven last Plagues or Vials are poured out under the second woe Secondly that there is a threefold time in the clearing of these things to be distinguished viz. First the present time of the passing of the second woe and the things at that present time to be acted Secondly the intervenient time betwixt the passing of the second woe and the coming of the third and the things in that intervall of time to be acted Thirdly the sounding of the seventh Trumpet or the coming of the third woe and the effect of it We affirme that none of the seven Vialls are to be poured out under the second woe-trumpet The conclusion we intend from the proving of this proposition is that we at this time are not under the sixth Viall in drawing to this Conclusion we shall prove two things which confirme the Proposition First that none of the seven last plagues come untill the second woe be past Secondly that as yet the second woe is not past these being put into a Syllogisme the Conclusion followes Ergo we are not under the sixth Viall the first position I thus prove Arg. If none of the seven Vialls be poured out untill the third woe or the seventh Trumpet sound then none of the seven Vialls are poured out under the second woe or sixth Trumpet for Rev. 11. 4. the sixth Trumpet or second woe is past before the seventh Trumpet or third woe cometh But none of the Vialls are poured out untill the seventh trumpet sound Ergo none are as yet poured out the minor I thus prove If the seven Vialls are not poured out as they are not untill the seven Angels that poure them out Rev. 15. 5 6. come out of the Temple and that Temple be not open for them to come forth as it is not Revel 11. â—…9 untill after the seventh Trumpet have sounded then no Vialls are as yet poured out because the third woe is not yet come and the third woe cannot yet come because the second is not yet past this leads me to the proof of the second position viz. that the second woe is not as yet past Thus we prove it Arg. The second woe is not past untill the witnesses have finished their Testimonie be killed lye dead three dayes and an halfe i. e. three dayes and the halfe of three dayes and rise againe and ascend unto Heaven and untill the Earth-quake which throwes downe the tenth part of the City come and the 7000. names of men be slaine but the witnesses have not yet lyen dead three dayes and the halfe of three dayes i. e. foure dayes and a halfe nor are they risen nor is the tenth part of the City fallen by the Earth-quake nor are the 7000. chiefs of men as yet destroyed therefore Rev. 11. 7. â—…4 the second woe is not yet past This leads us to the second proposition There is a threefold division of time to be considered in the more full handling and clearing of this matter within each of which divisions distinct and various things and actions are limitted as first at the present time of the finishing of the second woe we see what eminent things concur in Revel 11. 1 1â—… 1â—… as but even now we have shewed For the clearing of the thing in hand let me premise a word or two of the three woes Know then that there are but three woes mentioned in this Prophesie the first woe falls upon the Western Churches caused through the foule and horrible apostacie of the heads of the Church of Rome the Papacy which is called a Star fallen from Heaven Revel 9. verse 1. to verse 11. The second wo falleth upon the Eastern Churches Rev. 9. 13. 21. the Instruments of which woe are the Turkes the Mahumetan brutish Tyrants who have not onely defaced the Christian Churches in the Easterne part of the world but also keep the Jews from possessing freely their own promised Lands and possessions Now at the end or finishing of this second woe God begins to visit his Church under her long Sackcloth state and condition and to raise up his slaine witnesses and take away one tenth from the grand enemies and at the same time to slay a great number of notable enemies of the Church and after this in a very short time comes the third woe which falls dreadfully upon all the enemies of the Church that oppose it throughout the world both the Turkes and the Papacie who have brought such woes upon the Western and Eastern Churches Now after the second â—…oe is past when the witnesses are raised and the tenth part of the City is fallen and the 7000. are slaine betwixt the second woe passing and the third woe coming there is an intervall of time which is diligently to be observed That which Iohn sees in this intervall of time is in Revel 14. 15. for Revel 12. 13. the next following the eleventh are a vision of the
Churches state under the Arrian persecution under the Papacie and under the Antichrist and his new government Revel 33. 12. 18. In Cap. 14. we have a vision of the comfortable and successefull presence of Christ in his Church that Church where the witnesses rise it is they that are redeemed from the Beast of the Earth which sing the new song upon the harp to God verse 1 2 3 and verse 6. now the witnesses are risen great preparation is made for the promulgation of the Gospell the Ministery flie swiftly through the world to call both Jewes and Gentiles from the foure corners of the Earth to bring them to the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ. And verse 8. you have the courage faith and zeal of the ministery raised to such a height that they confidently preach the certain and speedy downfall of Babilon because of her filthy blasphemous Idolatry wherewith she hath made all Nations i. e. Christian Nations drunke And in verse 9 10. compared with Revel 13. 15 16. the Ministers of that Church which verse 1. bears the name of Christ in his forehead which ver 4. is a Virgin Church which followes the lambe The Holy Ghost sets this Church out under the notion of peculiar selected persons to note that it shall not be the generallity of professors of the Orthodoxe faith that shall thus carry on Gods worke against the three grand enemies of the truth but some particular faithfull ones in those dominions where the witnesses were slaine in that Church after the witnesses are risen do the Ministers verse 9 10 11. boldly denounce damnation and the eternall vengeance of God against those that adhere to the Antichrist Now this must be in the intervall of time betwixt the passing of the second and the coming of the third woe for it cannot be after the third woe because at the third woe Revel 19. and Revel 16. all the enemies are destroyed and it is not to be thought that they will worship the Beast or receive his mark after that he is caught alive and cast into Hell And then this bold preaching it is not before the second woe be past viz. that the witnesses are risen and the power that upheld the Antichrist be overthrowne and slaine which is to be at the passing of the second woe Rev. 11. 11. 14. exempla probant for I take this bold preaching to be one eminent effect of the rising of the Witnesses and if this be one effect of the spirit of life from God entring into them you may safely swear upon the Sacred Bible they lie now dead they have no spirit in them against the Antichrist the feculent matter of predominent fear hath so stupified them that they are speechlesse like Pliny's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are mouthless men I only mean in not pleading for the great truth against the great lie in not vindicating the great truth opposed by declaring openly against the great lie that doth prevaile against it it is an infamous and irreligious piece of cowardise to quit a persecuted truth that cryes aloud come help me and strenuously to defend a truth which persecutors shake hands with is this thank worthy No t is to use a Heathens words not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 t is not only an ungodly but an unmanly act Here 's then one effect of the Witnesses rising that they dare boldly speake against the Antichrist and his government and those that are the followers of him whereas before they durst not open their mouths therefore I conceive this intervenes betwixt the second and third woe and now by way of prevention of other objections from what we have seen in Rev. 14. we observe 1. That the great preparations for an Universall Reformation and Gospel Promulgation proceed principally from that Church where the Witnesses rise Zech. â—…0 11. God will first passe through the narrow Sea So we may translate the Septuagint 2. That after the witnesses are risen though the Church shall prosper and prevail yet untill the third woe come the Church must not look to sit downe in peace without molestation the patience of the Saints and their integrity will be still tryed even to the death as the two next verses seeme to tell us Rev. 14. 1â—… 13. for though at the passing of the second woe the chief of the Antichrists followers who supported his usurpation in the tenth part of the City be slaine yet the Antichrist himself is not slaine nor all his adherents for the first viall falls upon the remainder of Antichrists adherents Rev. 16. 2. and he himselfe is plotting Rev. 16. 13. with the Dragon and the Beast againe to overthrow the Church and the risen Witnesses this vision of the plotting of the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet is another of those things which are to be placed in this intervall of time betwixt the second and the third woe I meane the passing of the second and the comming of the third for though Rev. 16. 13 14 15 16. be placed as if it were an effect of the 6. viall yet he that seriously views it will see it a distinct vision of it selfe giving us the immediate foregoing symtomes of Christs unexpected comming to pour out the vialls At this battell Christ comes like a thief i. e. suddainly terribly unexpectedly in the midnight of supine security but how will he come Rev. 19. 11. he comes on his white Horse signifying victory and triumph taking vengeance on his enemies therefore his garment ver 13. is dipt in bloud and ver 17. he comes in the greatnesse of his might bidding such defiance to his enemies that he sends a messenger before he fights his battell to invite the fowls of the aire to feast upon the slaine enemies which he intends to give them to supper 't is safe being on such a Generalls side and what flesh is it that he gives them ver 18. 't is the flesh of Kings and the flesh of Captains and the flesh of mighty men but the Beast and the false Prophet ver 10. he by the sword of his mouth i. e. by his mandatory power casteth them alive into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone they die not the common death of all men dreadfull and irrecoverable ruine is their undoubted portion for the sword of the Lord shall effect it Rev. 19. 21. Now what is all this but the immediate effects of the 7. Trumpet and what are the effects of the 7. Trumpet but the sending forth the Angels out of the Temple to pour out the seven last plagues of God upon the earth If this great battell should be any thing distinct after the vialls then the vialls cannot be the seven last plagues Rev. 15. 1. nor is all done Rev. 16. 17. when the last viall is poured out because this great battell which is greater then the greatest plague is still to come and this would lead us to the third Epecha or distance
of time by us in the second proposition distinguish'd viz. the comming of the woe or the sounding of the seventh Trumpet but we must not so leave where we 〈◊〉 Rev. 14. for at ver 14. to the end of the chap. there is another vision which may raise doubts but this vision being under the seventh Trumpet we shall passe it onely to take in the 4. first verses of cap. 15. parallel with the 4. first verses of Rev. 14. here Iohn had a sight of the seven Angels with the last plagues who or what these Angels are I cannot tell but if v. 2. be any way exegeticall of it I am of opinion that these Angels come out of that Church where Antichrist had set up his usurped government and by the great commotion Rev. 11. was thrown downe for I take Sea of glasse to signifie a refined Church and these that stand upon it the Witnesses which in the downfall of Antichrists power Rev. 11. ascended to the Throne to Heaven this I take to be the mount Sion Rev. 14. 1. on which those that openly and purely confessed Christ stood there they stand on mount Zihon there they stand on a sea of glass mingled with fire i. e. a pure and a zealous Church These are said to get the victory over the Beast and over his Image and over his mark and over the number of his name this clearly points out to us that Church which of all the nations in the Christian world shall be first purged and refined and freed from Antichristian bondage and that is that Church where the beast of the earth set up his new government These 3. verses in Rev. 15 set forth the happy progresse in a reformation which the witnesses wholly risen from under the Antichrists cruell Tyranny have made they became more pure and more zealous after their great deliverance which they thankfully publish to the world in hope that God will do great things against his enemies for the further propagating of the Gospel These are the visions which we finde to fall betwixt the passing of the second wo to the comming of the third I shall onely adde this and then passe to the third and add by way of Quaere Whether that space of time Dan. 12. 11 12. be not the space of time betwixt the passing of the second woe and the full accomplishment of the third I say full accomplishment becuse the vialls I conceive doe set forth Gods graduall proceeding against the enemies of the Church under the third wo trumpet all things under the third wo are not accomplished in a day either for the good of the Church or the ruine of the enemies Now at the end of that 1290. dayes the time of the Jews persecution and dissipation shall be at an end and they shall begin to flock in to Christ but the day of their establishment in their own land that blessed day is not to be untill the 1335. day but this we leave I proceed now to the last Epocha of time which lies within our circle and that is of the time of the third woe and the effects thereof which leads us to the second thing in the little note of my noble friend to be discussed viz of the great battell distinct from that in Rev. 11. We shall finde if I mistake not the seventh trumpet mentioned but twice in the Revelation Rev. 10. 7. and Rev. 11. 15. in chap. 10. 7. when the seventh Angel shall begin to sound the mystery of God shall be finished that is the time of the Gentiles tyranny over the Jewes and Gospel Gentiles shall be accomplished and the twelve Tribes shall be converted Rom. 11. 25. compared with Isa. 23. 13. and Luke 21. 24. as we have already shewed in the foregoing treatise The other Scripture Rev. 11. 15. mentioning the seventh Trumpet shewes the effects or consequents of it which is the opening of Gods mystery to be finished at this time and you have two sides of this cloud the darke and the bright side the bright side is the bringing in of the twelve Tribes to the Gospel and the drawing of the Gentiles after them Zach. 8. 3. Rom. 11. 12. to the same faith and worship where it is said that the Kingdomes of this world are become the Lords and his Christs and he shall reigne for evermore and then here is the dark side of this mystery which is wrath ver 18. and eternall ruine on the enemies of the Church we find this mystery thus finished Dan. 7. 26 â—…7 and Dan. 12. 1 â—… 3. there the fulfilling of the word of God or the finishing of the mystery of God is resembled to the day of judgment and so it is Revel 19. 20 and 20. 1 2 3 4 5. 'tis doomes day the day of damnation to the wicked to the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet and it is the resurrection day to the believing Jewes and sincere gospel-Gentiles ver 5. this is the first resurrection what is the first resurrection see ver 4. the establishing of the witnesses in the Throne and giving them power to reigne over the world and to purge the earth At the passing at the second woe the witnesses rise but at the comming of the third woe the witnesses are fully established in their power they will have then a large power and a lasting power You knew where he was born that by his Christian piety and courage turned the heathenish world from Idols to serve the living God he made Rome Heathen to become Rome Christian he threw downe the heathenish potentates from the same place look for a Monarch by his Christian courage and magnanimous endeavours to throw downe Rome Antichristian and carry on a glorious Church and State-reformation in Europe sanctified affections fit a noble Christian for great understandings Then are afflictions sanctified when they drive to repent for our forefathers sins our own and the nations sins and make us looke onely to Christ for mercy David by Gods providence was brought so low as to beg his bread of a rigid surly clowne Naball before he cast his shooe over Edom and made Philistia glad on any tearms to accept him Crosse providences shall make me admire the unsearchable wisdome of God but never make me dispondingly to call in question the faithfulnesse of God that which most men this day make the ground of their diffidence I make the argument of my confidence and I build my arguments on that which I am sure is more stable then Heaven and Earth viz. the prophetique promises of that God who is both a Sun and Sheild to all that believe in them a Sun to give light heat and comfort to them a Sheild to safe-guard and protect them The seventh Trumpet produceth these two generall effects the ruining of the enemies of the Church throughout the world and the redeeming of the Jewes from all parts of the world and the sending out of the Gospel to the reforming of the
the end of the Chapter Rev. 14. 14. to the end of the Chapter Rev. 15 16 17. all for the most part a preparatory vision of the seventh Trumpet The 15. Chapter tells us who shall execute the wrath of the seventh Trumpet and whence they come The 16. Chapter sheweth the manner and matter of the seventh Trumpet The 17. Chapter sheweth the two grand Enemies of the Church on whom the wrath and woe of the seventh Trumpet falls These are the great Whore ver 1. and the Beast of the bottomless pit ver 8. that carries her ver 7. From hence t is clear that the Beast of the bottomless pit and the Pope are distinct persons for if by Whore of Babilon be meant the Pope as the most learned Protestants truly affirm then the Beast of the bottomless pit which beareth the Pope cannot be Pope himself My inference hence is this Ergo The Pope is not the Antichrist for he that slayes the Witnesses is the Antichrist but the Beast of the bottomless pit slayes the Witnesses Ergo the Pope is not the Antichrist being distinct from the Beast of the bottomless pit I do not disprove that the Pope is not an Antichrist but not the Antichrist whose reign over the slain Witnesses is to continue but three dayes and the half of three dayes at the utmost as there are many Witnesses and have been in all ages yet they are quite distinct from the two Witnesses so there have been and are many Antichrists which notwithstanding are distinct from that Antichrist the Fathers and the after Churches have from Iohn to Paul desciphered In the end of the Chapter we have a vision of the Instruments of inflicting the wrath of the seventh Trumpet which are called ten horns who v. 17. gave 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Kingdome t is not Kingdomes but Kingdome by which it appears that it is that Poliarchy or supream authority in those dominions under one supream head where Antichrist slew the Witnesses that shall destroy Rome that government or that policy which through their oversight put all their power into the Antichrists hands these when the Witnesses rise shall also arise indeed their rising from under the Antichrists Tyranny is a great part of the Witnesses rising though these are profound Texts I touch upon yet my doubts are not greater then my hopes of great things and glorious for the Church of England Ireland and Scotland's good from them and that speedily In Revelations 18. is the Vision of the effect of the seventh Trumpet upon the great Babilon that is Rome say many Papists and all the Protestants And ver 9. The great lamentation of the Kings of the Earth for her ruin these Kings which committed Fornication with her i. e. were of the same Popish Idolatrous Religion with Rome the Romish Catholique Princes Observe here not the Popish Kings of Europe eat the Whores flesh and burn her with fire for they weep and wail for her I am very prone to believe that the ten horns which destroy Antichrist are those Peers or Princes who in those dominions where the Witnesses are slain arise from under the Tyranny of Antichrist after the great Commotion Revelations 11. 12 13. and Revelations 17. 16. shall destroy Rome for I beseech thee Reader observe the ten horns that Antichrist gets on his head Revelations 17. 12. they are not ten Kingdomes nor no where so called but ten Kings i. e. a certain company assuming Kingly power would that were all but have no Kingdome but receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast who set them up in the slaying of the Witnesses These usurpers are overcome in a battell with the Lamb ver 14. and after that ver 16. that lawfull power which Antichrist threw down yet pretended to set up purify and establish therefore called the ten hones on the Beast shall arise and destroy the Whore 'T is clear that both the ten horns here mentioned are those that are within the power and dominon of the Antichrist he getting power from the ten horns ver 17. to invest those other ten horns ver 12. of his faction with power to make war with the Lamb sure I am this is a clearer exposition of these Texts then that which makes the ten horns ten Kings of Europe who being Papists shall turn they say from the Pope and destroy him I wish it may be so but I can find no ground for it in Scripture In the next Chapter the quite contrary is most true In chap. 19. and chap. 20. we have the white side of this Trumpet the rejoicing of the Church for Gods glorious deliverance of it and after the finall overthrow of the three grand enemies which is parallel with Rev. 14 4. 20. the Church hath a large respite of rest from all its both secret and open enemies from Gog and Magog and the Witnesses are firmly seated in the Throne and the 12. Tribes restored to their own land Thus have I as I could endeavoured to remove all Objections to clear those Doubts and Obscurities which I find obnoxious to the mind in finding out truth or embracing that which from the written Word is laid before it There are two other Questions arise from this Discourse the one is 1. Whether the Antichrist in person shall be at the great battell at Armagedon and whether Turks and Papists shall joyn together to resist the Jews Restoration and the true Christian Reformation the Antichrist being a chief leader in this battell against them 2. Whether Rev. 21. and 22. be meant of the state of the reformed Church under the seventh Trumpet or it be a resemblance of that state of bliss which the Saints are made partakers of in the life to come To this last much may be said against what is confidently by some asserted but I wave it lest I be accounted both bold and tedious both which I disaffect in others and hate in my self Whether this Reverend Person whose Paper hath drawn all this from me will take it well or ill I know not but with humble thanks I do acknowledge his favour as the first that ever I received of this kind in shewing and correcting of my Errours for which I shall ever subscribe my self his Disciple humbly submitting whatsoever I have writ to his and such like learned prophetick Text-mens Censures FINIS 2 Pet. 1. 12. 2 Sam. 4. 7 8. As the bead of the gâ—…and Apostasie arose out of the purest Church Rome so the Antichrist ariseth out of the purest Churches at that time when they goe about to shake off the Apostasie for it is at that time when the Witnesses have finished their testimonie 1. Tim. 4. 12 Greg. Mor. 4. cap. 40. Hormisd Excommunic of Anastasius the Emperor Aâ—…n 510. Herein the Antichrist the son resembles the Pope his Father 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3 In fascicul rerum expetendarum Fruâ—…tur sanè i stâ Dei singulari beneficentiâ quae utiuam illi
est 〈◊〉 sunt extra veram Ecclesiam Christi ver santur nam Ecclesia Christi una tantùm esse potest sicut Christus unus est Confirmant autem Lutherani Calvinistae Papam Romanum esse Antichristum Ergo. Bellarmin de Rom. Pontif. Vide Dounam de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Romanae Ecclesiae lib. 5 cap. 2 3 4. 5. Jacobus Fabrus Stapulensis in Locum Object Sol. He that resisteth the Ordinances of God resisteth God Râ—…m 13. 1 2. and from the Lord shall receive his judgement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Perditus est quia à Christo deficit perdit quia alios à Christo abstrahit Gualther 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ex Oecumenii Arethae Expositionibus collectis p. 732. Ita Aretius in locum Homo peccati filius perditionis priùs peccati deinde perditionis aptissimè peccatum enim perditionis causa Estius in locum Non solum omnium Patrum sensus sed â—…otius Ecclesie consensus Grotius This adversary Isai. 27. 1. is called the Serpentine-Barâ—…e or the Serpent crossing like a bar because 't is he that shuâ—… out laws and justice and lawful Magistracie from their Seats in the State and Government Piety in the Church this is most probably a prophecie of Antichrists ruine for both the precedent and subsequent matter prove that this comming of the Lords with his sword is at that time when God will call the twelve Tribes to the Gospel parallel with this Text is Revel â—…9 10 11 to 15 16 â—…7 14. 14. The learned observe the kinde of expressions used by the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which both sound passively yet in the sense they are actively understood as Beza Grotius observe Servanda ist vis conjugaâ—…ion is Niphal reciprocâ—… And see the Greek Scholiasts expound it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. he shall oppose he shall extol Hujus ordinis Deus est autor ut qui sunt rebeâ—…es 〈◊〉 sese cum Deo ipso bellum gererâ—… Beza â—…ide Dounam lib. 4. de Antichristo Paulus ne quiâ—… illâ—… de quibus hîc agâ—…â—…os esse â—…rederet caâ—…ion is ergô addidit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grotius in Locum Non dicit sâ—…pra omnem qui est nam qui est unicus est nec de illo omnis diâ—…ur sed unus Dounam lib. 4. cap. 1. de Antichristo Non super Deum extollâ—…tur Antichristus sed super eos qui dicuntâ—…r I enaeus lib. 3. cap. 6 Antichristus 〈◊〉 publice soâ—…us colâ—… volâ—… ut deus privation 〈◊〉 coâ—…et â—…uum Dâ—…monem quem nunc upâ—…bit deum Maozim i. e. fortitudinum munitionum quia ejâ—… ope fortitudine patentiâ omnia sibi saviiciet Antichristus Com. à Lapide Deus dicitur aliquis quatuor modis priâ—…ò natutae proprietate â—…xod 20. Deus unus Secundò faâ—…â nuncupationâ—… omnes dis gentium Dâ—…monia â—…ertiò â—…ratuitâ adoptione Ego dixi dii estis Quaâ—…tò detegâ—…tá potestate Exod 7. Constitui te deum 〈◊〉 suâ—…er 〈◊〉 extellit se Antichristus 〈◊〉 Vide Dâ—…unam de Antichristo lib. 4. c. 1. Sect 3. They are calle 〈◊〉 nunâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 D 〈◊〉 contâ—…a Mâ—…r Ità 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 significaâ—… omne id quod religionis causâ homines venerâ—…ntur 3 Quidam dicunt quod nunquam usalemâ—…ec â—…ec templum reaedificabiâ—…ur sed usque ad finem perseverabit desolatio hoc aliqui Judaei credunt ideo exponitur in templo Dei i. e. in Ecclesia qu a multâ—… in Ecclesia eum â—…ecipient Aquinas in loâ—…um In templo Dei i. e. in 〈◊〉 Dei qua est templum Dei Gâ—…rranu is loâ—…um 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 333. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sedâ—…t in Ecclesiâ—… Dei quasi Deuâ—… quia magna parâ—… Ecclesiae ei adhaerebit Gorian Aquinas In templo Dei sâ—…deat i. e. principetur domineâ—…ur tanquam ipse cum suis nuntiis sit templum Dei sicut Christus cum suis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 locum Verse 5. Verse 6. Quoniam sâ—…irre illos dixit apâ—…tè but dicere nâ—…luit idâ—…o nos qui nesciâ—…us quod illi sciebant pervenire cum labore ad id quod sensit Apostolus cupiâ—…us nec valemus Beda Est Elenchus Syllogismus cum contradictione conclusionis Arist. 〈◊〉 11. B adshaw Osteâ—…dit câ—…s habere 〈◊〉 causam Aquâ—…as Benedict justin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i e. qâ—…ò 〈◊〉 paâ—…fiat Beza 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Usque ad tempus tempora particulámque temporis Tremel in Dan. 7. 25. Quest. Answ. Per synecdohen generis speiâ—…er â—…d sigifiâ—…andum terae motum usuratur Piscator â—… Luc. 21. 11. Xenoph. paed 4 Thuâ—…yd lib. 5. Verse 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nam mysterium jam operatur iniquitatis tantùm ut qui tenet nunc teneat donec de medio fiat Vulg. Iam enim agit mysterium illud istius abolitionis legis tantùm qui nunc retinâ—…t retinebit usqe dum è medio fiat Beza Mysterium enim iniqui illius jam incepit sedulâ—… agere dummodo id quod nunc detinet tollatur è medio Syriac Mysterium enim iniqui jam incipit efficax esse tantummodâ—… si quod nunc detinet tolleretur è medio Tremel A Neroâ—…e inceptum est qui zeâ—…o idolorum Apostolos interfecis Ambros. Chrysost. Hugo Cardinaliâ—… Beda August Ambros. Cath. Est status Romanus cujâ—…s â—…bscessio in deâ—… reges dispersa Antichristum superdâ—…cet Terâ—…ul l. 24. dâ—… Resur Iniquitas arcâ—…na mystica id est aut pietatis aut legitimo dominii 〈◊〉 palliata Glâ—…ss Ord. in â—…ocum This by Cornelius à Lapide is confirmed Occult è enim in impiis hypocritis haereticis operatur quae senâ—…im proserpic crescit donec per Antichristum in publicam iniquitatem prosiliat 〈◊〉 Slader Brighâ—…man Per mysterium iniquitatâ—…s non 〈◊〉 Antichristum sed praecursorâ—…s Antichristâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oecumen Mysterium mulier illa 〈◊〉 17. suotempâ—…re revelandum est non interm 〈◊〉 cum autem praesens revelatus suâ—…rit 〈◊〉 tuâ—…c palam publicè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 opeâ—…abitur Fâ—…br Paulâ—…ius Vide Cornelius à Lap de Nâ—…s per mysterium iniquitatis ipsum antichristianissimum â—…urtim clam serpentem unà cum â—…aeresibus ei viam steâ—…nentibus intelligaâ—… Zanchius Retinenda â—…uit vis articuli indicantâ—…s hîc agi non tam de simplici quâ—…piam transgressione egis sed de ipsâ quasâ—… totius cultús Dei abolitione quasi illegalitatem dicas Beza Revel 11. 10. Hoc moratur Antichristum ut qui nunc tenet Christianum Imperium unitatem fidei teneat hoc tam diu donec iniquitas quae modò est in mysterio fiat de medio id est de communitate ut sicut modò fides est in communi iniquitas in occulto sic in tempore Antichristi fides sit in occulto